quarto *, without date or name of the printer, but probably from the press of Berthelette or Rastell. The Play of Love. The Play of the WEATHER, or a new and a very mery

ENTERLUDE of all maner of WEATHERS, printed in quarto by William Rastell, 1533, and again by Robert Wyerb. A mery Play betweene the PARDONER and the FRERE, the CURATE, and neybour Prarte, in quarto, by William Rastell, dated the fifth day of April, 1533. The Play of Genteelnes and Nobilitie, in two parts, at London, without date. The Pinner of Wakefield, a COMEDIE. Philotas Scotcht, a COMEDIE. A mery Play betweene Johan the husband, Tyb the wife, and syr Johan the preeste, by William Rastell, in quarto, 1533.

His EPIGRAMS, six hundred in number, are probably some of his jokes versified †; and perhaps were often extemporaneous sallies, made and repeated in company. Wit and humour are ever found in proportion to the progress of politeness. The miserable drolleries and the contemptible quibbles, with which these little pieces are pointed, indicate the great want of refinements; not only in the composition but in the conversation of

[* Reprinted in Dodsley's collection of it as perillous to deal cards as play.” Old Plays, from an edition sine anno Lond. 1566.-1577.–1587.-1597.4to. vel loco. Herbert says it was printed See John HEYWOODES WOORKES, Anno by J. Alde in 1569, and by W. Middle- domini 1576. Imprinted at London in ton without date. Typog. Ant. p. 576. Fleete-streate, etc. by Thomas Marshe. - Park.]

In quarto. The colophon has 1577. 6 In duodecimo. No date. Pr. “Ju- This edition is not mentioned by Ames. piter ryght far so far longe as now were [The earliest edition I have seen was to recyte."

dated 1562, and this included the six + [Langbaine expressed a confident centuries of Epigrammes, and both parts belief that Philotas and the Pindar of of the dialogue on proverbs, -Park.). Wakefield were not Heywood's compo #[Gabriel Harvey in a note on Speght's sitions, and Mr. Reed fully coincided Chaucer, (penes Bp. Percy) says that in the same belief.- Park.]

some of Heywood's epigrams are sup* See three hundred Epigrammes on posed to be conceits and devices of pleathree hundred Proverbes. Pr. “ If every sant Sir Thomas More.--Park.] man mend one,” London, without date, § (Heath well observed in his first but certainly before 1553. Again, 1577. Century of Epigrams, 1610, that

– 1587.—1598. The first hundred Epi; Heywood the old English epigrammatist grammes. Pr. “Ryme without reason.' Lond. 1566.-1577.–1587. 4to. The

Had wit at will, and art was all he mist : fourth hundred of Epigrammes, Lond. Have art and labour with wits penurie.

But now adaies we of the inodern frie without date. Again, 1577.--1587.1597. 4to. Pr. PROL. Rymne without Puttenham had some time before rereason, and reason. The fifth and sixth marked with critical discrimination, that hundredth of Epigrammes. Pr. “ Were “Heywood came to be well benefited for

our ancestors. This is a specimen, on a piece of humour of Wolsey's Fool, A saying of Patch my lord Cardinal's foole.

Maister Sexton", a person of unknowen witte,
As he at my lord Cardinal's boord did sitte,
Greedily raughte at a goblet of wine :
Drinke none, sayd my lord, for that sore leg of thyne:
I warrant your Grace, quoth Sexton, I provide
For my leg : for I drinke on the tother side. F

The following is rather a humorous tale than an epigram, yet with an epigrammatic turn.

Although that Foxes have been seene there seelde,
Yet was there lately in Finsbery Feelde h
A Foxe sate in sight of certaine people,
Nodding, and blissing', staring on Poules steeple.
A Maide toward market with hens in a band
Came by, and with the Foxe she fell in hand k.
“What thing is it, Rainard, in your braine plodding,
That bringeth this busy blissing, and nodding ?
I nother' nod for sleepe sweete hart, the Foxe saide,
Nor blisse for spirites", except the divell be a maide:
My nodding and blissing breedth of wondern
Of the witte o of Poules Weathercoke yonder.
There is more witte in that cocks onely head
Than hath bene in all mens heds that be dead.
As thus—by common report we finde,
All that be dead, did die for lacke of winde :

the myrth and quiknesse of his conceits, • The real name of Patch, Wolsey's more than for any good learning which Fool. was in him.” Art of Eng. Poesie. e reached. Park.]

i First HUNDRED. Epigr. 44. * (When Sir Thomas More had re 6 seldom.

Finsbury field. signed the Chancellorship, he gave his i bowing and blessing. fool Paterson to the Lord Mayor of * joined company. London upon this condition, that he peither. should every year wait on him who suc to drive away evil spirits. ceeded to the office. See More's Life of proceeds froin wonder, Sir Thomas More, p. 108. Park.]

o wisdom.

But the Weathercocks wit is not so weake
To lacke winde-the winde is ever in his beake.
So that, while any winde blowth in the skie,
For lacke of winde that Weathercocke will not die.”
She cast downe hir hennes, and now did she blis,
“ Jesu," quod she, “in nomine patris !
Who hath ever heard, at any season,
Of a Foxes forgeing so feat a reason ?"
And while she preysed the Foxes wit so,
He gat her hennes on his necke, and to go!
“ Whither away with my hennes, Foxe?” quoth she.
“ To Poules pig' as fast as I can," quoth he.
Betweene these Hennes and yonder Weathercocke,
I will assaie to have chickens a flocke;
Which if I may get, this tale is made goode,
In all christendome not so Wise a broode !" S.
Another is on the phrase, wagging beards.

It is mery in hall, when beardes wagge all.
Husband, for this these woordes to mynd I call;
This is ment by men in their merie eating,
Not to wag their beardes in brauling or threating:
Wyfe, the meaning hereof differth not two pinnes,

Between wagginge of mens beards and womens ching.' On the fashion of wearing Verdingales, or farthingales.

Alas! poore verdingales must lie in the street,
To house them no dore in the citee made meete.
Synce at our narrow doores they in cannot win",

Sende them to Oxforde, at brodegates to get in. W Our author was educated at Broadgate-hall in Oxford, so called from an uncommonly wide gate or entrance, and since

gram 2.

P cross herself.

EPIGRAMMES on PROVERBES. Epi"began to steal off. pike, i.e. spire, or steeple.

enter in. Win is probably a con• The FIRST HUNDRED. Epigr. 10. traction for go in. But see Tyrwhitt's There are six more lines, which are su Gloss. Ch. (See vol. i. p. 168, note q.) perthuous.

W Firte HUNDRID. Epigr. 55.

1

converted into Pembroke college. These EPIGRAMS are mentioned in Wilson's RHETORIKE, published in 1553*.

Another of Heywood's works, is a poem in long verse, entitled, A DIALOGUÈ contayning in effect the number of al the PROVERBES in the English tongue compact in a matter concerning two marriagest. The first edition I have seen, is dated 1547*. All the proverbs of the English language are here interwoven into a very silly comic tale.

The lady of the story, an old widow now going to be married again, is thus described, with some degree of drollery, on the bridal day

In this late olde widow, and then olde newe wife,
Age and Appetite fell at a strong strife.
Her lust was as yong, as her lims were olde.

The day of her wedding, like one to be solde, *[" The English proverbes gathered by “ That your Grace," said he, "might see Ihon Heiwoode helpe well in this be- me." Sir John Harrington has an Epihaulfe (allegory), the whiche commonlie gram on a witty speech of Heywood to are nothyng els but allegories and darke the Queene, another on young Heydevised sentences,” fol. 90. a. Again, wood's answer to Lord Warwick, and a “ for furnishing similitudes the pro- third on old Heywood's sons.-Park. ] verbes of Heiwoode helpe wonderfull * In quarto. Others followed, 1549. wele for thys purpose,” fol. 96. b. -1562.-1566.-1576.-1587.–1598. Park.]

4to. + [The following anecdote relating to (Davies, of Hereford, in his “Scourge this work has been transmitted among of Folly," about 1611, printed a Descant some “witty aunsweres and saiengs of upon Englishe proverbes, and exhibited Englishmen" in Cotton MS. Jul. F. x. with a retrograde taste, not only the man“William Paulett, Marques of Wyn- ner, but the dull rhymth (?) of his prechester and highe treasurer of Enge- cursor, in the following metrical adlande, being presented by John Hey- dress woode with a booke, asked him what yt conteyned ? and when Heywoode told To old John Heywood the Epigramhim. All the proverbes in Englishe'

matist. What, all ?' quoth my Lorde; No, Bate me an ace, 'quoth Bolton,' is that in Olde Heywood have with thee in his od

No, by my faith, my vaine Lorde, I thinke not,' aunswered Hey- That yet with booksellers as new doth woode." But the neatest replication remaine. of this professed court-wit seems to be New poets sing riming, but thy rymes recorded in Camden's Remaines, 1005,

advance p. 234. Heywood being asked by Queen Themselves in light measures : for thus Mary “What wind blew him to the they doe dance. court?” He answered, “ Two specially: Ilegather some proverbes thou gatherdst the one to see your Majestie.'

before, thank you for that,” said the Queen; To descant upon them as thou didst of “ but, I pray you, what is the other?"

yore, &c.-Park.]

youre booke?"

We

She set out herself in fyne apparell:
She was made like a beere-pot, or a barrell.
A crooked hooked nose, beetle browde, blere eyde,
Many men wisht for beautifying that bryde.
Her waste to be gyrde in, and for a boone grace,
Some well favoured visor on her ill favourd face;
But with visorlike visage, such as it was,
She smirkt and she smilde, but so lisped this las,
That folke might have thought it done onely alone
Of wantonnesse, had not her teeth been gone.
Upright as a candel standeth in a socket,
Stoode she that day, so simpre de cockety.
Of auncient fathers she tooke no cure nor care,
She was to them as koy as a Crokers mare.
She tooke the’ntertainment of the yong men,
All in daliaunce, as nice as a nuns hen2.
I suppose, That day her eares might well glow,
For all the town talkt of her hie and low.
One sayd a wel favourd olde woman shee is:
The devill shee is, saide another: and to this
In came the third with his five egges, and sayd,
Fifty yere agoe I knew her a trim mayde.
Whatever she were then, sayde one, she is nowe,
To become a bryde, as meete as a sowe,
To beare a saddle. She is in this mariage,
As comely as a cowe in a cage.
Gup with a gald back, Gill, come up to supper,
What mine old mare would have a newe crupper,

And now mine olde hat must have a new band, &c. a The work has its value and curiosity as a repertory of proverbs made at so early a period. Nor was the plan totally void

Y I do not understand this, which is is used in Wilson's Arte OF RHETORIKE, marked for a proverb. [The phrase oc “ I knewe a priest that was as nice as a curs in Skelton's Punnyng of Elynour Nunnes Hen, when he would say masse Rummin :

he would never saie DOMINUS VOBISAnd gray russet rocket

CUM,

but Dominus Vobicum." fol. 112. a. With symper the cocket.-Park.] edit. 1567. 4to. ? An admirable proverbial simile. It a Second Paar. ch. i.