SCOTTISH PROVERBS.
A
- ALl things hath a beginning (God excepted)
- A good beginning makes a good ending.
- A sloathfull man is a beggers brother.
- A vaunter and a lier is both one thing. —
- All is not tint that is in perrell.
- All is not in hand that helps.
- A toome purse makes a bleat merchant.
- As long runs the fox as he feet hath.
- A hastie man never wanted woe.
- A wight man wanted never a weapon.
- A fooles bolt is soon shot.
- A given horse should not be lookt in the teeth.
- A good asker should have a good naysay.
- A dear ship stands long in the haven.
- An ole it mother makes a sweir daughter.
- A racklesse hussie makes monie thieves.
- A lyer should have a good memorie.
- [Page]A black shoe makes a blythe heart.
- A hungrie man sees far.
- A sillie bairne is eith to lear.
- A half pennie cat may look to the King.
- A greedie man God hates.
- A proud heart in a poore breast, hes meikle dollour to dree
- A skade mans head is soon broken
- A skabbit sheep flees all the flock.
- A burnt bairne, fire dreads.
- Auld men are twise bairnes.
- A tratler is worse then a thief.
- A borrowed len should come laughing hame.
- A blythe heart makes a blomeand visage.
- A year a nurish, seven years a da.
- An unhappie mans cairt is eith to tumble.
- An old hound bytes sair.
- A fair bryde is soon buskt, and a short horse soone wispt.
- As good had as draw.
- A man that is warned, is half armed.
- An ill win pennie will cast down a pound.
- All the corne in the countrey, is not shorne by kempers.
- Ane begger is wae that another be the gate gae.
- A travelled man hath leave to lie.
- Ane ill word meets another, and it were at the bridge of London.
- A hungrie louse bytes fair.
- A gentle horse would not be over sair spurred.
- A friends dinner is soon dight.
- An ill hooke wald have a good claver.
- A good fellow tint never, but at an ill fellows hand.
- At open doores, dogs comes in.
- A word before, is worth two behinde.
- A still sow eats all the draff.
- [Page]A dumme man holds all.
- All failes that fooles thinks.
- A woole seller kens a woole buyer.
- All fellows, Jock and the Laird.
- As the sow fils, the draffe soures.
- A full heart lied never.
- As good merchant tynes as wins.
- All the speid is in the spurres.
- As sair greits the bairne that is dung afternoon, as he that is dung before noon.
- An ill life, an ill end.
- Anes wood, never wise.
- Anes pay it never cravit.
- A good ruser, was never a good rider.
- All the keys of the countrey hangs not at ane belt.
- A dum man wan never land.
- As soone comes the lambeskin to the market, as the old sheeps.
- As many heads, as many wits.
- A blinde man should not judge of colours:
- As the old cocke crawes, the young cock leares
- A skabbed horse is good enough for a skald squir
- A mirk mirrour is a mans minde.
- As meikle upwith, as meikle down with.
- An ill shearer gat never a good hook.
- A tarrowing bairn was never fat.
- A good cow may have an ill calf.
- A cock is crouse in his own midding.
- A new bissome soupes clean.
- As sair fights wranes as cranes.
- A yeeld sow was never good to gryses.
- As the carle riches he wretches,
- A foole when he hes spoken hes all done.
- [Page]An old seck craves meikle clouting.
- An old seck is ay skailing.
- A fair fire makes a roome flet
- An old knave is na bairne.
- A good yeaman makes a good woman.
- A man hath no more good then he hath good of.
- A foole may give a wise man a counsel.
- A man may speir the gate to Rome.
- As long lives the merrie man as the wretch for all the craft hee can.
- All wald have all, all wald forgive.
- Ane may lead a horse to the water, but foure and twentie cannot gar him drink.
- A bleat cat makes a proud mouse.
- An ill willy kow should have short hornes.
- A good peice steil is worth a pennie.
- A shored tree stands lang.
- A gloved cat was never a good hunter.
- A gangand fit is ay getting.
- All is not gold that glitters.
- A swallow makes not summer or spring time.
- A man may spit on his hand and do full ill.
- An ill servant will never be a good maister.
- An hyred horse tyred never.
- All the winning is in the first buying.
- Anuch is a feast (of bread and cheise.)
- A horse may snapper on foure feet.
- All thing wytes that well not faires.
- All things thrives but thrice.
- Absence is a shroe.
- Auld sinne new shame.
- A man cannot thrive except his wife le [...] [...]m.
- A bairne mon creep or he ga [...]g.
- [Page]As long as ye serve the tod, ye man bear up his tail.
- All overs are ill.
- A man may wooe where he will, but hee will wed where his hap is.
- A mean pot plaid never evin.
- Among 24 fooles not ane wise man.
- Ane mans meat, is another mans poyson.
- A foole will not give his bable for the tower of Lun.
- A foule foot makes a full wombe.
- A man is a lyon in his own cause.
- A heartie hand to give a hungrie meltith.
- A cumbersome cur in companie, is hated for his misscariage
- A poore man is fain of little.
- An answer in a word.
- A beltlesse bairn cannot lie.
- A Zule feast may be quat at Pasche.
- A good dog never barket but a bone.
- A full seck will take a clout on the side
- An ill hound comes halting home.
- All things helps (quod the Wran) when she pished in the sea.
- All crakes, all beares.
- A houndlesse man comes to the best hunting.
- All things hes an end, and a pudding hes twa.
- All is well that ends well.
- As good hads the stirrep, as he that loups on,
- A begun work is half ended.
- A Scottish man is wise behinde the hand.
- A new tout in an old horne.
- As broken a ship hes come to land.
- As the foole thinkes, ay the bell clinks.
- A man may see his friend need, but he will not see him bleed
- A friend is not known but in need.
- A friend in court, is better nor a pennie in the purse.
- [Page]All things is good unseyit
- A good goose indeed, but she hes an ill gansell.
- All are not maidens that wears bair hair.
- A mache and a horse shoe are both alike.
- Airlie crooks the tree, that good cammok should be.
- An ounce of mothers wit is worth a pound of clergie.
- An inch of a nage is worth the span of an aver.
B
- BEtter sit idle nor work for nought.
- Better learn by your neighbors skaith nor by your own.
- Better half egge nor toome doupe.
- Better apple given nor eaten.
- Better a dog fan nor bark on you.
- Bodin geir stinkes.
- Bourd neither with me, nor with my honour:
- Buy when I bid you.
- Better late thrive then never.
- Better hand louse nor bound to an ill baikine.
- Better lang little nor soon right nought:
- Better give nor take.
- Better bide the the cookes nor the mediciners.
- Better saucht with little aucht, nor care with many kow.
- Bring a kow to the hall, and she will to the byre a gain.
- Bear wealth, povertie will bear it self.
- [Page]Better goodseal nor good eall.
- Better wooe over midding nor over mosse.
- Blaw the winde never so fast it will lowne at the last.
- Bind fast, finde fast.
- Better auld debts nor auld saires.
- Better a fowle in hand nor two flying.
- Better spaire at the breird nor at the bottome.
- Binde the seck or it be full.
- Better be well loved nor ill won geir.
- Better finger off nor ay warkin.
- Better rew sit, nor rew flit.
- Bourd not with bawtie.
- Better say, Here it is, nor here it was.
- Better playes a full wombe, nor a new coat.
- Better be happie nor wise.
- Better happie to court, nor good service.
- Better a wit coft, nor twa for nought.
- Better bow nor break.
- Better two seils, nor ane sorrow.
- Better bairnes greit nor bearded men.
- Betwixt twa stooles, the arse falls down.
- Better na ring nor the ring of a rashe.
- Better hold out nor put out.
- Better sit still, nor rise and get a fall.
- Better leave nor want.
- Better unborne nor untaught.
- Better be envyed nor pittied.
- Better a little fire that warmes, nor a meikle that burnes.
- Be the same thing that thou wald be cald,
- Black will be no other hew.
- Beautie but bountie availes nought.
- Beware of had I wist.
- [Page]Better be alone, nor in ill companie.
- Better a thigging mother, nor a ryding father.
- Before I wein and now I wat.
- Bonie silver is soon spendit.
- Better never begun nor never endit.
- Byting and scarting is Scots folks wooing.
- Breads house skaild never.
- Bairns mother burst never.
- Bannoks is better nor na kin bread.
- Better a laying hen nor a lyin crown
- Better be dead as out of the fashion.
- Better buy as borrow.
- Better have a mouse in the pot as no flesh.
C
- COurt to the towne, and whoore to the window
- Cadgers speaks of leadsadles.
- Changing of works is lighting of hearts:
- Charge your friend or you need.
- Cats eats that hussies spares.
- Cast not forth the old water while the new come in.
- Crabbit was, and cause had.
- Comparisons are odious.
- Come not to the counsel uncalled.
- [Page]Condition makes, and condition breaks.
- Cut duelles in every town.
- Cold cooles the love that kindles over hot.
- Cease your snowballes casting.
- Come it aire, come it late, in May comes the cowquake.
- Courtesie is cumbersome to them that knowes it not.
- Calke is na sheares.
D
- DO in hill as ye wald do in hall.
- Do as ye wald be done to.
- Do weill and have weill.
- Dame deim warilie.
- Dead and marriage makes tearm-day.
- Draff is good enough for swine.
- Do the likliest, and God will do the best.
- Drive out the inch as thou hast done the span.
- Dead men bytes not.
- Daffing dow nothing.
- Dogs will red swine.
- Dirt parts companie.
- Drink and drouth comes sindle together.
- Daft talk dow not.
- Do well and doubt na man, and do weill and doubt all men.
- [Page]Dead at the one dore, and hership at the other.
- Dummie cannot lie.
E
- EArlie maister, lang knave
- Eaten meat is good to pay.
- Eeild wald have honour.
- Evening ortes is good morning fodder.
- Every land hes the lauch, and everie corne hes the casse.
- Every man wishes the water to his own mylne.
- Everie man can rule an ill wise but he that hes her.
- Eat measurelie and defye the mediciners.
- Everie man for himself (quoth the Merteine)
- Everie man flames the fat sowes arse.
- Experience may teach a fool.
- Every man wates best where his own shoe bindes him.
- Efter lang mint, never dint.
- Efter word comes weird.
- Efter delay comes a lette.
F
- [Page]FAr fowles hes fair feathears.
- Fair heghts makes fooles fain.
- Fooles are fain of flitting.
- Falshood made never a fair hinderend.
- Freedome is a faire thing.
- For tint thing care not.
- Foole haste is no speed.
- Fooles sets far trystes.
- For love of the nourish, monie kisses the bairne.
- Follie is a bonnie dog.
- Faire words brake never bane, foule words breaks many ane
- Foul water slokens fire.
- Far sought, and dear bought, is good for Ladies.
- For fault of wise men, fooles sits on binks.
- Fooles makes feasts, and wise men eats them.
- Fooles are fain of right nought.
- Forbid a thing, and that we will do.
- Follow love and it will flee thee, flee love and it will folow thee
- Fegges after peace.
- Fooles should have no chappin sticks.
- Friendship stands not in one side.
- Few words sufficeth to a wiseman.
- Fire is good for the farcie.
- Fidlers dogs and flies comes to feasts uncalled.
- Fill fow and had fow makes a stark man.
G
- [Page]GRace is best for the man.
- Giff gaff makes good friends.
- Good wine needs not a wispe.
- Good cheir and good cheap garres many haunt the house.
- God sends men cauld as they have clothes to
- Gods help is neirer nor the fair evin.
- Give never the wolfe the wedder to keep.
- Good will should be tane in part of paiment.
- God sends never the mouth but the meat with it
- Girne when ye knit, and lauch when ye louse.
- Go to the Devil and bishop you.
- Go shoe the geese.
- God sends meat, and the devil sends cookes.
H
- HUnger is good kitchine meat.
- He that is far from his geir, is neir his skaith.
- Had I fish, was never good with garlick.
- He mon have leave to speak that cannot had his tongue.
- He that lippins to bon plowes, his land will ly ley.
- He rides sicker that fell never.
- He that wil not hear motherhead, shal hear stepmotherhead
- He that crabbes without cause, should mease without mends
- [Page]He that may not as he would, mon do as he may.
- He that spares to speak, spares to speed.
- He is well easit that hes ought of his own, when others goes to the meat.
- He that is welcome, faires weil.
- He that does ill hates the light.
- He that speakes the thing he should not, hears the things hee would not.
- He that is evil deemd, is half hanged.
- Help thy self, and God will help thee.
- He that spends his geir on a whoore, hes both shame and skaith.
- He that forsakes missour, missour forsakes him.
- Half a tale is enough to a wise man.
- He that hewes over hie, the spaill will fall into his eye.
- He that eats while he last, will be the war while he die.
- He is a weak horse that may not bear the saidle.
- He that borrows and bigs, makes feasts and thigs, drinkes and is not dry, these three are not thirstie.
- He is a proud Tod that will not scrape his own hole.
- He is wise when he is well, can had him sa.
- He is poore that God hates.
- He is wise that is ware in time.
- He is wis that can make a friend of a foe.
- Hair and hair, makes the cairles head baire:
- Hear all parties:
- He that is redd for windlestrawes, should not sleep in lees.
- He rises over earlie that is hangit or noone.
- He is not the foole that the foole is, but he that with the foole deals.
- He that tholes overcomes.
- He loves me for little, that hates me for nought.
- He that hes twa huirds, is able to get the third.
- [Page]He is a sairie begger that may not gae by ane mans doore.
- Hall binkes are sliddrie.
- He is not the best wright that hewes the maniest speals.
- He that evil does, never good weines.
- Hooredome and grace, can never byde in one place.
- Hee that compts all costes, will never put plough in the eard.
- He that slayes, shall be slain.
- He that is ill of his harberie, is good of his way kenning.
- He that will not when he may, shall not when he wald.
- Hanging ganges be hap.
- He is a foole that forgets himself.
- Happie man, happie cavil.
- He that comes uncald, sits unservd.
- He that comes first to the hill, may sit where he will,
- He that shames, shall be shent.
- He gangs earlie to steal, that cannot say na.
- He should have a long shafted spoon that sups kail with the devil.
- He sits above that deals aikers.
- He that ought the cow, goes nearest her tail.
- He is worth na weill that may not byde na wae,
- He should have a hail pow, that cals his neighbour nikkienow.
- He that hes gold may buy land.
- He that counts but his hoste, counts twise.
- He that looks not or he loup, will fall or he wit of himself
- Haste makes waste,
- Hulie and fair, men rides far journeys:
- He that marries a daw, eats meikle dirt.
- He that marries or he be wise, will die or he thrive.
- Hunting, hawking, and paramours, for ane joy, a hundred displeasures.
- [Page]Hald in geir, helps well.
- He is twise fain, that sits on a staine.
- He that does his turne in time, sits half idel.
- He plaints early that plaints on his kail.
- He is good that faild never.
- Half aunch, is half fill.
- He is a fairie cook that may not lick his own finger.
- Hunger is hard in a hail maw.
- He should wear iron shone that bydes his neighbours deed.
- Hame, is hamelie.
- He that is hated of his subjects, cannot be counted a king.
- Hap and a half-pennie, is warlds geir enough.
- He cals me skabbed, because I will not call him skade.
- He is blinde that eats his marrow, but far blinder that lets him.
- Have God, and have all.
- Honestie is na pride.
- He that fishes afore the net, lang or he fish get.
- He tint never a cow, that grate for a needle.
- He that hes na geir to tyne, hes shins to pine.
- He that takes all his geir fra himself, and gives to his bairns, it were weill ward to take a mell and knock out his harnes.
- He sits full still that hes a riven breik.
- He that does bidding, serves na dinging.
- He that blaws best bears away the horne,
- He is weill staikit thereben, that will neither borrow nor len
- Hea will gar a deaf man hear.
- He is sairest dung when his awn wand dings him.
- He hes wit at will, that with angrie heart can hold him stil.
Proverbiall speeches of persons given to such vices or vertues as follows.
Of greedie persons it is said,
- HE can hide his meat and seek more.
- He will see day light at a little hole.
- He comes for drink, though draff be his erand.
Of well skilled persons.
- He was born in August.
- He sees an inch before his nose.
Of wilfull persons.
- He is at his wits end.
- He hears not at that ear.
- He wald fain be fordwart if he wist how.
- He will not give an inch of his will, for a span of his thrift.
Of vousters or new upstarts.
- His winde shakes no corne.
- He thinks himself na payes peir,
- He counts himself worthie meikle myce dirt.
- Henrie Cheike never slew a man while he came to him:
Of sleyit persons.
- [Page]His heart is in his hos [...]:
- He is war fleyit nor he is hurt.
- He looks as the wood were full of theeves.
- He lookes like the laird of pitie.
- He looks like a Lochwhaber axe.
Of false persons.
- He will get credit of a house full of unbored milstones.
- He lookes up with the one eye, and down with the other.
- He can lie as weill as a dog can lick a dish.
- He lies never but when the holen is green.
- He bydes as fast as a cat bound with a sacer.
- He wald gar a man trow that the moon is made of green cheis, or the cat took the heron.
Of misnortured persons.
- He hes a brasen face.
- He knowes not the doore be the doore bar.
- He spits on his own blanket.
Of unprofitable foolish persons.
- [Page]He harpes ay on ane string.
- He robs Peter to pay Paul.
- He rives the kirk to theik the quier
- He wags a wand in the water.
- He that rides or he be ready, wants some of his geir.
Of weillie persons.
- He can hald the cat to the sun,
- He kens his groats among other folks kail.
- He neiffers for the better.
- He is not so daft as he lets him.
Of angrie persons.
- He hes pisht on a nettle.
- He hes not gotten the first seat of the midding the day.
- He takes pepper in the nose.
Of unconstant persons.
- He is like a widder cock.
- He hes changed his tippet, or his cloak on the other shoulder
- He is like a dog on a cat.
- His evening song and morning song are not both alike.
- He is an Aberdeens man, taking his word again.
Of persons speaking pertinently.
- [Page]He hes hit the nail on the head.
- He hes touched him in the quick.
Of weasters and divers.
- He hes not a heal nail to claw him with.
- He he hes not a pennie to buy his dog a leaf
- He is as poore as Joh.
- He is as bair as the birk at Zule evin.
- He begs at them that borrowit at him.
- He hes brought his pack to a fit spead.
- He is on the ground.
- His hair grows through his hood.
- He hes cryed himself diver.
Of proud persons.
- He counts his half pennie good sliver.
- He makes meikle of his painted sheits.
- He goes away with born head.
- He spils unspoken to.
- He hes not that bachell to swear by.
Of untymous persons.
- [Page]He is as welcome as water in a rivin ship.
- He is as welcome as snaw in harvest.
Of rash persons.
- He sets all on sex or sevin.
- He stumbles at a strea and loupes at a brea.
Of ignorant persons.
- He does as the blind man when he casts his staff.
- He brings a staff to his own head.
- He gars his awn wand ding him.
- He breads of the gate that casts all down at evin.
- He hes good skill of rosted wool, when it stinkes it is enough.
Of effeminate persons.
- He is John Thomsones man, coutching carle.
- He wears short hose.
Of drankards.
- [Page]His head is full of bees.
- He may write to his friends.
- His hand is in the creill.
- He is better fed nor nortured.
- He needs not a cake of bread at all his kin.
Of hypocrites.
- He hes meikle prayer, but little devction.
- He runs with the hound and holds with the hair.
- He hes a face to God, and another to the devill.
- He is a wolfe in a lambs skin.
- He breaks my head, and syn puts on my how.
- He can say, My jo, and think it not.
- He sleeps as dogs does, when wives sifts meal.
- He will go to hell for the house profit.
I
- [Page]IT is a sairie brewing, that is not good in the newing.
- It is tint that is done to childe and auld men.
- Ill weids waxes weill.
- In some mens aught mon the auld horse die.
- It is a soothe bourd that men sees wakin.
- In space comes grace.
- It is ill to bring out of the flesh that is bred in the bane.
- Ill win, ill warit.
- It is a sillie flock where the zowe bears the bell.
- It is a sin to lye on the devil.
- It is eith till, that the awn self will.
- It is good mowes that fils the wombe.
- It is na time to stoup when the head is aff.
- It is fair in hall, where beards wags all.
- It will come in an houre that will not come in a year.
- If thou do na ill, do na ill like.
- If thou steal not my kail, break not my dyke.
- If ye may spend meikle, put the more to the fire.
- If I can get his cairt at a walter, I shall lend it a put.
- If I may not keep goose, I shall keep gesline.
- It is kindlie that the poke sare of the hearine.
- It is eith to cry zule on another mans cost.
- Ilke a man as he loves, let him send to the cooks.
- It is eith to swimme where the head is holden up.
- It is well warit they have sorrow that buys with their silver
- If ane will not, another will.
- It is ill to take a breik off a bairarse.
- It is dear bought honey that is lickt off a thorne.
- If God be with us, wha will be against us.
- It is weill warit that wasters want geir,
- It is ill to bring butte the thing that is not there benne.
- It that lyes not in your gate, breaks not your shinnes.
- [Page]It is na play where ane greits, and another laughs.
- If a man knew what wald be dear, he wald be but merchant for a year.
- It is true that all men sayes.
- I have a good bow, but it is in the castle.
- It is hard to fling at the brod, or kick at the prick.
- Ilk man mend ane, and all will be mendit.
- It is a sairie collope that is tain off a Capone.
- Ill bairnes are best heard at home.
- It is ill to wakin sleeping dogs,
- Ill hirds makes fat wolffs.
- It is hard to wife, and thrive in a year.
- It is good sleeping in a heal skin.
- It is not tint that is done to friends.
- It is ill to draw a strea before an auld cat.
- It is a paine both to pay and pray.
- It is good fishing in drumling waters.
- It is little of Gods might, to make a poore man a knight.
- It is good baking beside meal.
- It is a good goose that drops ay.
- It is not the habite that makes the monk.
- It is not good to want and to have.
- It hes neither arse nor elbow.
- I shall sit on his skirt.
- It is a bair moore that he goes over and gets not a cow.
- I shall hold his nose on the grindstone.
- It goes as meikle in his heart as in his heel.
- It goes in at the one ear, and out at the other.
- It is na mair pittie to see a woman greit, nor to see a goose go bair fit.
- It is weill said, but wha will bell the cat.
- It is short while seen the louse boore the langelt.
- I have a sliddrie eill by the tail.
- [Page]It is as me it as a sow to bear a sadle.
- It is as meet as a thief for the widdie.
- I wald I had as meikle pepper as he compts himself worthy myse dirt.
- It will be an ill web to bleitch.
- I cannot finde you baith tailes and eares.
- It is ill to make a blowen horne of a tods tail.
- If ever ye make a luckie pudding I shall eat the prick.
- It that God will give, the devil can not reave.
- In a good time I say it, in a better I leave it.
- Its a sillie pack that may not pay the custome.
- I have seen as light green.
- Its a cold coal to blow at.
- Its a sair field where all are dung down.
- Its a sair dung birn that dare not greit.
- I wat where my awn shoe bindes me.
- If ye wanted me and your meat, ye wald want ane good friend.
K
- [Page]KAme single, kame sair.
- Kindnesse comes of will.
- Kindnesse will creep where it may not gang.
- Kindnesse cannot be bought for geir.
- Kail spaires bread.
- Kamesters are ay creeshie.
- Knowledge is eith born about.
- Kings are out of play.
- Kings and Bares oft worries their keepers.
- Kings hes long ears.
- Kings caff is worth other mens corne.
- Kindnesse lyes not ay in ane syde of the house.
L
- LIttle intermerting makes good friends.
- Long tarrying takes all the thank away.
- Little good is soon spendit.
- Lang lean makes hameald cattel.
- Little wit makes meikle travell.
- Lcar young, lear fair.
- Like drawes to like, and a skabbed horse to an ald dyke.
- Laith to the bed, laith out of the bed.
- Little may an ald horse do, if he may not nye.
- Let them that are cold blow at the coal.
- Lang standing, and little offering makes a poore prise.
- Love hes na lack.
- Leave the court, or the court leave thee.
- [Page]Light supper makes long life.
- Lykit geir is half bought.
- Lordships changes manners.
- Light winning makes a heavie purse.
- Live and let live,
- Livelesse, faultlesse.
- Little said, soon mendit.
- Laith to the drink, and leath fra it.
- Lightlie comes, lightly goes.
- Last in the bed, best heard.
- Lata is lang and dreich.
- Little waits an ill hussie what a dinner holds in.
- Laddes will be men.
- Lauch and lay down again.
- Likelie lies in the myre, and unliklie goes by it.
- Let him drink as he hes browin.
- Like to die, mends not the kirk yard.
- Luck and a bone voyage.
- Lang or ye cut Falkland wood with a pen knife.
- Love me little, and love me lang.
- Let alone makes mony lurdon.
- Little troubles the eye, but far lesse the soul.
- Little kens the wife that sits by the fire, how the winde blowes cold in hurle burle swyre.
M
- [Page]MOny yrons in the fire part mon coole.
- Maidens should be meek while they be married.
- Men may buy gold over dear.
- Mony purses holds friends together
- Meat and cloath makes the man.
- Mony hands makes light work.
- Make not twa mews of an daughter
- Meat is good, but mense is better.
- Mony masters, quoth the poddock to the harrow when everie tind took her a knock,
- Mint or ye strike.
- Measure, is treasure.
- Mony men does lack, that yat wald fain have in their pack.
- Misterfull folk mon not be mensfull.
- Many smals makes a great.
- Maisterie mawes the meadows down.
- Mony speaks of Robin Hood, that never shot in his bow.
- Mister makes men of craft.
- Meikle water runs where the millar sleeps
- Meikle mon a good heart tholl.
- Mony cares for meal that hes bakin bread enough.
- Meikle spoken, part mon spill.
- Messengers should neither be headed nor hanged.
- Men are blinde in their own cause.
- Mony words wald have meikle drink.
- Man propons, but God dispons.
- Mony man serves a thanklesse master.
- Mony words fils not the furlot.
- Mony kinsfolk, but few friends.
- Men goes over the dyke at the laichest.
- [Page]Might, often times overcomes right.
- Mends is worth misdeeds.
- Meikle head, little wit.
- Mustard after meat.
- Millers takes ay the best multar with their own hand.
- Monie man speirs the gate he knowes full well.
- Mussell not the oxens mouth.
- Meikle hes, wald ay have mair.
- Monie tynes the halfe marke whinger, for the halfe pennie whange.
- Make not meikle of little.
- Mony man makes an erand to the hall, to bid the Ladie good-day.
- Mony brings the raike but few the shovell.
- Make no balkes of good bear land.
- March whisquer was never a good fisher.
- Meat and masse never hindred no man.
N
- NAture passes norture.
- Na man can baith sup and blaw at once.
- Nothing enters in a close hand.
- Need makes vertue.
- Need hes na law.
- Neirest the Kirk, farrest fra God.
- Neirest the King, neirest the widdie.
- [Page]New lords, new laws.
- Na man may puind for unkindnesse.
- Neirest the heart, neirest the mouth.
- Never rade, never fell.
- Need gars naked men run, and sorrow gars websters spin.
- Neir is the kirtle, but neirer is the sark:
- Nothing is difficile to a well willit man.
- Na man makes his awn hap.
- Na plie is best.
- Nothing comes sooner to light, then that which is long hid.
- Na man can play the fool sa weill as the wise man.
- Na pennie, na pardon.
- Na man can seek his marrow in the kirne, sa weill as hee that hes been in it himself.
O
- OVer fast, over louse.
- Of anuch men leaves.
- Over great familiaritie genders despite.
- Oft compting makes good friends.
- Over narrow compting culzies na kindnesse.
- Out of sight, out of langer.
- Of twa ills choose the least.
- Of other mens lether, men takes large whanges.
- Over jollie dow not.
- Of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks
- Of all war, peace is the finall end.
- [Page]Of ill debtours men takes eattes,
- Of need make vertue.
- Of the earth mon the dyke be biggit.
- Of ane ill, comes many.
- Over hote over cold.
- Over heigh, over laich.
- Over meikle of ane thing, is good for nathing.
P
- PEnnie wise, pound foole,
- Priests and doves makes foule houses.
- Pride and sweirnesse wald have meikle uphald.
- Put your hand na farder nor your sleive may reeke.
- Poore men are fain of little thing.
- Play with your peirs.
- Pith is good in all playes.
- Put twa half pennies in a purse, and they will draw together
- Painters and poets have leave to lie.
- Possession is worth an ill chartour.
- Pryde will have a fall.
- Povertie parts good company, and is an enemie to vertue.
- Put not your hand betwixt the rind and the tree.
- Poore men they say hes na souls.
- Patience perforce.
- Provision in season, makes a rich meason.
- [Page]Put that in the next few,
- Peter in, and Paul out.
- plentie is na daintie:
- puddings and paramours wald be hotelie handlit.
Q
- Quhair the Deer is slain, some bloud will lye.
- Quhen the eye sees it saw not, the heart will think it thought not.
- Quhen wine is in, wit is out.
- Quhen the steed is stowne, steik the stable doore.
- Quhen the Tod preaches, beware of the hens.
- Quhen the cup is fullest, bear it evinest.
- Quhat better is the house that the da rises in the morning.
- Quhen theeves reckons, leall men comes to their geir.
- Quhen I am dead, make me caddell.
- Quhiles the hawk hes, and whiles he hunger hes.
- Quhen the craw flees, her tail follows.
- Quhen the play is best, it is best to leave.
- Quha may wooe but cost.
- Quhiles thou, whiles I, so goes the bailleri.
- Quhen a man is full of lust, his womb is full of leesings
- Quha may hold that will away.
- Quhen taylours are true, there little good to shew.
- Quhen thy neighbours house is on fire, take tent to thy awn
- Quhen the iron is hot, it is time to strike.
- Quhen the bellie is full, the bones wald have rest.
- Quhom God will help, na man can hinder.
- [Page]Quhen all men speaks, na man hears.
- Quhen the good man is fra hame, the boardcleaths tint,
- Quhair stands your great horse.
- Quhair the pig breaks, let the shells ly.
- Quhen friends meets, hearts warmes.
- Quhen the well is full, it will run over.
R
- REason band the man.
- Ruse the foord as ye finde it.
- Ruse the fair day at evin.
- Racklesse youth, makes a goustie age.
- Ryme spares na man.
- Reavers should not be rewers:
- Rule youth weill, and eild will rule the sell.
- Rome was not biggit on the first day.
S
- [Page]Sike man, sike master.
- Seldome rides, tynes the spurres.
- Shod in the cradle, bairfoot in the stubble,
- Sike lippes, sike latace.
- Sike a man as thou wald be, draw thee to sik companie.
- Soothe bourd is na bourd.
- Seldome lyes the devil dead by the dyke side
- Saying goes good cheap-
- Spit on the stane, it will be wet at the last.
- Soft fire makes sweet malt.
- Sorrows gars websters spin.
- Sturt payes na debt.
- Sillie bairns are eith to lear.
- Saw thin, and maw thin.
- Soon rype, soon rotten.
- Send and fetch.
- Self deed, self fa.
- Shame shall fall them that shame thinks, to do themselves a good turn.
- Sike father, sike son, &c.
- Seill comes not while sorrow be gone.
- Shees a foule bird that fyles her own nest.
- Speir at Jock thief my marrow, if I be a leal man.
- Soon gotren, soon spendit.
- Sike priest, sike offering.
- Shee is a sairie mouse that hes but ane hole.
- Surfeit slayes ma [...] nor the sword.
- Seik your sauce where you get your ail.
- Sokand seall is best.
- Sike answer as a man gives, sike will he get.
- [Page]Small winning makes a heavie purse.
- Shame is past the shedd of your haire.
- Send him to the sea and he will not get water.
- Saine you weill fra the devill and the Lairds bairns.
- She that takes gifts her self, she sels, and shee that gives, does not ells.
- Shroe the ghast that the house is the war of.
- Shew me the man, and I shall shew you the law.
- Swear by your burnt shines.
- Sairie be your meil poke, and ay your neive in the nook of it.
T
- THe mair haste, the war speid.
- Tyde bydes na man.
- Twa daughters and a back door, are three stark theeves
- There was never a cake, but it had a make.
- There came never a large fart forth of a Wrans arse.
- Toome bagges rattles.
- The thing that is fristed, is not forgiven.
- Take part of the pelf, when the pack is a dealing.
- Tread on a worme, and she will steir her tail.
- They are lightlie herrite that hes their awn.
- The Craw thinks her awn bird fairest.
- There is little to the rake to get after the bissome.
- They buy good cheap that brings nathing hame.
- Thraw the wand while it is green.
- The Sowters wife is worst shod.
- The worst warld that ever was, some man wan.
- [Page]They will know by a half pennie if a priest wil take offering
- Tyme tryes the truth.
- The weeds overgaes the corne.
- Take tyme while time is, for time will away.
- The piper wants meikle that wants the nether chafts.
- They are welcome that brings.
- The langer we live, the mae farlies we see.
- There are many soothe words spoken in bourding.
- There is na thief without a resetter.
- There is many fair thing full false.
- There came never ill of a good advisement.
- There is na man sa deaf, as he that will not hear.
- There was never a fair word in flyting.
- The mouth that lyes, slayes the soul.
- Trot mother, trot father, how can the foal amble.
- They were never fain that fidgit.
- Twa wolfs may worrie ane sheep.
- Twa fooles in ane house is over many.
- The day hes eyne, the night hes ears.
- The tree fals not at the first straike.
- The mair ye tramp in a turde, it growes the breader.
- There is none without a fault.
- The devil is a busie bishop in his awn diocie.
- There is no friend to a friend in mister.
- There is na foole to an auld fool.
- Touch a good horse in the back, and he will fling.
- There is remeid for all things but stark deid.
- There is na medicine for fear.
- The weakest goes to the wals.
- That which hussies spares, cats eats.
- Thou wilt get na mair of the cat but the skin,
- There mae madines nor makine.
- They laugh ay that winnes,
- [Page]Twa wits is better nor ane.
- They put at the cairt that is ay gangand.
- Three may keep counsel if twa be away.
- They are good willie of their horse that hes nane.
- The mae the merrier, the fewer the better chear.
- The blinde horse is hardiest.
- There mae wayes to the wood nor ane
- There is meikle between word and deed.
- They that speirs meikle, will get wot of part.
- The lesse play the better.
- The mair cost, the mair honour.
- There is nothing more precious nor time.
- True love kyths in time of need.
- There are many fair words in the marriage making, but few in the tochergood paying.
- The higher up, the greater fall.
- The mother of mischief is na mair nor a midge wing.
- Tarrowing bairns were never fat.
- There little sap in dry peis hooles:
- This bolt came never out of your bag.
- Thy tongue is na slander.
- Take him up there with his 5 eggs, and 4 of them rotten.
- The next time ye daunce, wit whom ye take by the hand.
- The goose pan is above the rost.
- Thy thumbe is under my belt.
- There is a dog in the well.
- The malt is above the beir.
- Touch me not on the sair heel.
- The shots overgaes the ald swine,
- Take a man by his word, and a cow by her horne.
- There meikle hid meat in a goose eye.
- They had never an ill day that had a good evening.
- There belongs mair to a bed nor foure buir legs.
- [Page]The greatest clarks are not the wisest men.
- Thou should not tell thy foe when thy fit slides
- the grace of God is geir enough.
- Twa hungrie mel [...]its makes the third a glutton
- This warld will not last ay.
- The Devil and the Dean begins with a letter, when the Devil hes the Dean, the kirk will be the better.
- They are as wise that speir not.
- There is nothing so crouse as a new washen louce.
W
- VVRang hes nea warrand.
- Will hes that weill is.
- Well done, soon done.
- Weapons bodes peace.
- Wiles helps weak folk.
- Wishers, and walders are poore househalders,
- Words are but wind, but dunts are the devil.
- Wark bears witnesse wha weill does.
- Wealth gars wit waver.
- Weill bydes, weill betydes,
- Wrang compt, is na paiment.
- Wrang hears, wrang answer gives.
- With emptie hand, na man should hawkes allure
- Weill wats the mouse, the cats out of the house.
- [Page]We ill worth aw, that gars the plough draw.
- We hounds slew the hair, quoth the messoun.
- Wonder lasts but nine nights in a town,
- Women and bairns keeps counsel of that they know not.
- Wont beguilt the Ladie.
- Waken not sleeping dogs.
- We have a craw to pluck.
- Well good mother daughter.
- Wood in wildernesse, and strength in a fool.
- Wit in a poore mans head, mosse in a mountain availes nothing.
- VVeils him and wooes him that hes a bishop in his kin.
- Vse makes perfectnesse.
- Unskild mediciners, and horsemarshels, slayes both man and beast.
- VVhatrax of the feed, where the friendship dow nought.
Y
- YE will break your neck and your fast alike in his house
- Ye strive against the stream
- Youth never casts tor perrill.
- Ye seek hot water under cold y [...]e [...]
- Ye drive a snail to Rome.
- Ye ride a bootlesse erand.
- [Page]Ye seek grace at a gracelesse face.
- Ye learn your father to get bairns.
- Ye may not sit in Rome and strive with the Pope.
- Youth and age will never agree.
- Ye may puind for debt, but not for unkindnesse.
- Ye breid of the cat, ye wald fain eat fish, but yee have n [...] will to weet your feet,
- We breid of the gouk, ye have not a ryme but ane.
- Ye should be a king of your word.
- Ye will get war bods or Belten.
- Ye may drink of the burn, but not byte of the brae:
- Ye wald do little for God an the devil were dead:
- Ye have a readie mouth for a ripe cherrie.
- Ye breed of the millers dog, ye lick your mouth or the po [...] be open.
FINIS.