Scottish Presbyterian

Scottish Proverbs

David Fergusson (d 1598) · 7,573 words · 34 min

The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/B03446.0001.001

Project Note

This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.

The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.

This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.

Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.

However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.

This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.

Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org

SCOTTISH PROVERBS: GATHERED TOGETHER BY DAVID FERGUSSON sometime Minister at DUNFERMLINE: And put ordine Alphabetico when he departed this life, ANNO 1598.

EDINBURGH, Printed by ROBERT BRYSON, and are to be sold at his Shop at the sign of Jonah 1641.

The Printer to the merry, judicious and discreet Reader.

IT is well known, that every Nation hath the own Proverbs, and proverbial speeches, yea every Shire or part of a Nation hath some proverbial speeches, which others hath not: so that a man can hardly gather together all such speeches, yet some are more inclined to such kind of speeches then others. Therefore many in this Realm that hath heard of David Fergusson sometime Minister at Dunfermbline, and of his quick answers and speeches, both to great persons, and others inferiors, and hath heard of his Proverbs which he gathered together in his time, and now are put down according to the order of the Alphabet: and many of all ranks of persons being very desirous to have the saids Proverbs, I have thought good to put them to the press, for thy better satisfaction. And because many will say, that there are many Proverbs which I have not set down, I have left a blank at the end of every Letter, that thou may supply that want, as every manthinks good: So shall I be blameless that could print no more then I received the copy of, and thou contented that may set down what Proverbs are inlacking in thy conceit. I know there may be some that will say and marvel that a Minister should have taken pains to gather such Proverbs together: but they that knew his form of powerful preaching the Word, and his ordinar talking, ever almost using proverbial speeches, will not find fault with this that he hath done. And whereas there are some old Scottish words not in use now, bear with that, because if ye alter those words, the Proverb will have no grace: And so recommending these proverbs to thy good use, I bid thee farewell.

SCOTTISH PROVERBS.

ALl things hath a beginning (God excepted)
A good beginning makes a good ending.
A slothful man is a beggars brother.
A vaunter and a liar 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 hasty man never wanted woe.
A wight man wanted never a weapon.
A fools bolt is soon shot.
A given horse should not be looked 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 liar should have a good memory.
A black shoe makes a blythe heart.
A hungry man sees far.
A silly bairne is eith to lear.
A half penny cat may look to the King.
A greedy man God hates.
A proud heart in a poor breast, hes meikle dollour to dree
A skade man's head is soon broken
A skabbit sheep flees all the flock.
A burnt bairne, fire dreads.
Auld men are twice 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 unhappy man's cairt is eith to tumble.
An old hound bytes sair.
A fair bryde is soon buskt, and a short horse soon wispt.
As good had as draw.
A man that is warned, is half armed.
An ill win penny will cast down a pound.
All the corn in the country, is not shorn by kempers.
Ane beggar 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 hungry louse bytes fair.
A gentle horse would not be over sair spurred.
A friends dinner is soon dight.
An ill hook wald have a good claver.
A good fellow tint never, but at an ill fellows hand.
At open doors, dogs comes in.
A word before, is worth two behind.
A still sow eats all the draff.
A dumb man holds all.
All fails that fools thinks.
A woole seller kens a woole buyer.
All fellows, Jock and the Laird.
As the sow fills, the draff soures.
A full heart lied never.
As good merchant tynes as wins.
All the speid is in the spurs.
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 country hangs not at ane belt.
A dum man wan never land.
As soon comes the lambeskin to the market, as the old sheep's.
As many heads, as many wits.
A blind man should not judge of colors:
As the old cock crawes, the young cock leares
A skabbed horse is good enough for a skald squir
A mirk mirror is a man's mind.
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 yield sow was never good to gryses.
As the carle riches he wretches,
A fool when he hes spoken hes all done.
An old seck craves meikle clouting.
An old seck is ay skailing.
A fair fire makes a room 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 fool may give a wise man a counsel.
A man may speir the gate to Rome.
As long lives the merry man as the wretch for all the craft he can.
All wald have all, all wald forgive.
Ane may lead a horse to the water, but four and twenty cannot gar him drink.
A bleat cat makes a proud mouse.
An ill willy kow should have short horns.
A good piece steil is worth a penny.
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 master.
An hired horse tired never.
All the winning is in the first buying.
Anuch is a feast (of bread and cheise.)
A horse may snapper on four feet.
All thing wytes that well not fairs.
All things thrives but thrice.
Absence is a shroe.
Auld sin new shame.
A man cannot thrive except his wife le • •• m.
A bairne mon creep or he ga • g.
As long as ye serve the tod, ye man bear up his tail.
All overs are ill.
A man may woo where he will, but he will wed where his hap is.
A mean pot plaid never evin.
Among 24 fools not ane wise man.
Ane man's meat, is another man's poison.
A fool will not give his bable for the tower of Lun.
A foul foot makes a full womb.
A man is a lyon in his own cause.
A hearty hand to give a hungry meltith.
A cumbersome cur in company, is hated for his misscariage
A poor 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 bears.
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 behind the hand.
A new tout in an old horn.
As broken a ship hes come to land.
As the fool thinks, 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 penny in the purse.
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 clergy.
An inch of a nage is worth the span of an aver.

BEtter sit idle nor work for naught.
Better learn by your neighbors skaith nor by your own.
Better half egg nor toome doupe.
Better apple given nor eaten.
Better a dog fan nor bark on you.
Bodin geir stinks.
Bourd neither with me, nor with my honor:
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 naught:
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, poverty will bear itself.
Better goodseal nor good eall.
Better woo over midding nor over moss.
Blaw the wind never so fast it will lowne at the last.
Bind fast, find fast.
Better auld debts nor auld saires.
Better a fowl in hand nor two flying.
Better spaire at the breird nor at the bottom.
Bind 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 plays a full womb, nor a new coat.
Better be happy nor wise.
Better happy to court, nor good service.
Better a wit coft, nor twa for naught.
Better bow nor break.
Better two seils, nor ane sorrow.
Better bairnes greit nor bearded men.
Betwixt twa stools, the arse falls down.
Better na ring nor the ring of a rash.
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 envied nor pitied.
Better a little fire that warms, nor a meikle that burns.
Be the same thing that thou wald be called,
Black will be no other hew.
Beauty but bounty avails naught.
Beware of had I wist.
Better be alone, nor in ill company.
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.

COurt to the town, and whore 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.
Condition makes, and condition breaks.
Cut duelles in every town.
Cold cools the love that kindles over hot.
Cease your snowballes casting.
Come it air, come it late, in May comes the cowquake.
Courtesie is cumbersome to them that knows it not.
Calke is na sheares.

DO in hill as ye wald do in hall.
Do as ye wald be done to.
Do well and have well.
Dame deim warilie.
Dead and marriage makes term-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 company.
Drink and drouth comes sindle together.
Daft talk dow not.
Do well and doubt na man, and do well and doubt all men.
Dead at the one door, and hership at the other.
Dummie cannot lie.

EArlie master, lang knave
Eaten meat is good to pay.
Eeild wald have honor.
Evening ortes is good morning fodder.
Every land hes the lauch, and every corn 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 sows arse.
Experience may teach a fool.
Every man wates best where his own shoe binds him.
Efter lang mint, never dint.
Efter word comes weird.
Efter delay comes a let.

FAr fowls hes fair feathears.
Fair heghts makes fools fain.
Fools are fain of flitting.
Falsehood made never a fair hinderend.
Freedom is a fair thing.
For tint thing care not.
Fool haste is no speed.
Fools sets far trystes.
For love of the nourish, monie kisses the bairne.
Folly is a bonnie dog.
Faire words brake never bane, foul words breaks many ane
Foul water slokens fire.
Far sought, and dear bought, is good for Ladies.
For fault of wise men, fools sits on binks.
Fools makes feasts, and wise men eats them.
Fools are fain of right naught.
Forbid a thing, and that we will do.
Follow love and it will flee thee, flee love and it will follow thee
Fegges after peace.
Fools should have no chappin sticks.
Friendship stands not in one side.
Few words sufficeth to a wiseman.
Fire is good for the farcie.
Fiddlers dogs and flies comes to feasts uncalled.
Fill fow and had fow makes a stark man.

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
God's help is neirer nor the fair evin.
Give never the wolf the wedder to keep.
Good will should be tane in part of payment.
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.

HUnger is good kitchine meat.
He that is far from his geir, is neir his skaith.
Had I fish, was never good with garlic.
He mon have leave to speak that cannot had his tongue.
He that lippins to bon plows, his land will lie ley.
He rides sicker that fell never.
He that will not hear motherhead, shall hear stepmotherhead
He that crabbes without cause, should mease without mends
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, fairs weil.
He that does ill hates the light.
He that speaks the thing he should not, hears the things he would not.
He that is evil deemd, is half hanged.
Help thyself, and God will help thee.
He that spends his geir on a whore, 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, drinks and is not dry, these three are not thirsty.
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 poor 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 early that is hangit or noon.
He is not the fool that the fool is, but he that with the fool deals.
He that tholes overcomes.
He loves me for little, that hates me for naught.
He that hes twa huirds, is able to get the third.
He is a sairie beggar that may not gae by ane man's door.
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 bide in one place.
He that compts all costs, will never put plough in the eard.
He that slays, 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 fool that forgets himself.
Happy man, happy 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 early 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 well that may not bide na wae,
He should have a hail pow, that calls his neighbor nikkienow.
He that hes gold may buy land.
He that counts but his host, counts twice.
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.
Hald in geir, helps well.
He is twice fain, that sits on a stain.
He that does his turn 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 neighbors deed.
Hame, is hamelie.
He that is hated of his subjects, cannot be counted a king.
Hap and a half-penny, is warlds geir enough.
He calls me skabbed, because I will not call him skade.
He is blind that eats his marrow, but far blinder that lets him.
Have God, and have all.
Honesty 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 well 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 horn,
He is well 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 angry heart can hold him still.

Proverbiall speeches of persons given to such vices or virtues as follows.

Of greedy 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 willful 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 wind shakes no corn.
He thinks himself na pays peir,
He counts himself worthy meikle myce dirt.
Henry Cheike never slew a man while he came to him:

Of sleyit persons.

His heart is in his hos • :
He is war fleyit nor he is hurt.
He looks as the wood were full of thieves.
He looks like the laird of pity.
He looks like a Lochwhaber axe.

Of false persons.

He will get credit of a house full of unbored millstones.
He looks up with the one eye, and down with the other.
He can lie as well 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 brazen face.
He knows not the door be the door bar.
He spits on his own blanket.

Of unprofitable foolish persons.

He harps 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 angry 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 inconstant 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.

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 penny to buy his dog a leaf
He is as poor 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 cried himself diver.

Of proud persons.

He counts his half penny 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.

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 roasted wool, when it stinks it is enough.

Of effeminate persons.

He is John Thomsones man, coutching carle.
He wears short hose.

Of drankards.

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 devil.
He is a wolf 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.

IT is a sairie brewing, that is not good in the newing.
It is tint that is done to child and auld men.
Ill weids waxes well.
In some men's 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 silly flock where the zowe bears the bell.
It is a sin to lie on the devil.
It is eith till, that the awn self will.
It is good mowes that fills the womb.
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 hour 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 man's cost.
Ilke a man as he loves, let him send to the cooks.
It is eith to swim 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 licked off a thorn.
If God be with us, wha will be against us.
It is well warit that wasters want geir,
It is ill to bring butte the thing that is not there benne.
It that lies not in your gate, breaks not your shinnes.
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 says.
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 pain both to pay and pray.
It is good fishing in drumling waters.
It is little of God's might, to make a poor man a knight.
It is good baking beside meal.
It is a good goose that drops ay.
It is not the habit 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 pity to see a woman greit, nor to see a goose go bair fit.
It is well 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.
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 find you baith tails and ears.
It is ill to make a blown horn of a tods tail.
If ever ye make a lucky pudding I shall eat the prick.
It that God will give, the devil cannot reave.
In a good time I say it, in a better I leave it.
Its a silly pack that may not pay the custom.
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 binds me.
If ye wanted me and your meat, ye wald want ane good friend.

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 men's corn.
Kindnesse lies not ay in ane side of the house.

LIttle intermerting makes good friends.
Long tarrying takes all the thank away.
Little good is soon spendit.
Lang lean makes hameald cattle.
Little wit makes meikle travel.
Lcar young, lear fair.
Like draws 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 poor prize.
Love hes na lack.
Leave the court, or the court leave thee.
Light supper makes long life.
Lykit geir is half bought.
Lordships changes manners.
Light winning makes a heavy purse.
Live and let live,
Livelesse, faultless.
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 mire, 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 money lurdon.
Little troubles the eye, but far less the soul.
Little kens the wife that sits by the fire, how the wind blows cold in hurl burle swyre.

MOny irons in the fire part mon cool.
Maidens should be meek while they be married.
Men may buy gold over dear.
Money purses holds friends together
Meat and clothe makes the man.
Money hands makes light work.
Make not twa mews of an daughter
Meat is good, but mense is better.
Money masters, quoth the poddock to the harrow when every tind took her a knock,
Mint or ye strike.
Measure, is treasure.
Money 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.
Money 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.
Money cares for meal that hes bakin bread enough.
Meikle spoken, part mon spill.
Messengers should neither be headed nor hanged.
Men are blind in their own cause.
Money words wald have meikle drink.
Man propons, but God dispons.
Money man serves a thankless master.
Money words fills not the furlot.
Money kinsfolk, but few friends.
Men goes over the dyke at the laichest.
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 knows full well.
Mussell not the oxens mouth.
Meikle hes, wald ay have mair.
Monie tynes the half mark whinger, for the half penny whange.
Make not meikle of little.
Money man makes an erand to the hall, to bid the Lady good-day.
Money brings the raike but few the shovell.
Make no balkes of good bear land.
March whisquer was never a good fisher.
Meat and mass never hindered no man.

NAture passes norture.
Na man can baith sup and blaw at once.
Nothing enters in a close hand.
Need makes virtue.
Need hes na law.
Neirest the Kirk, farrest fra God.
Neirest the King, neirest the widdie.
New lords, new laws.
Na man may puind for unkindness.
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 well as the wise man.
Na penny, na pardon.
Na man can seek his marrow in the kirne, sa well as he that hes been in it himself.

OVer fast, over louse.
Of anuch men leaves.
Over great familiarity genders despite.
Oft compting makes good friends.
Over narrow compting culzies na kindness.
Out of sight, out of langer.
Of twa ills choose the least.
Of other men's lether, men takes large whanges.
Over jollie dow not.
Of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks
Of all war, peace is the final end.
Of ill debtors men takes eattes,
Of need make virtue.
Of the earth mon the dyke be biggit.
Of ane ill, comes many.
Over hot over cold.
Over heigh, over laich.
Over meikle of ane thing, is good for nothing.

PEnnie wise, pound fool,
Priests and doves makes foul houses.
Pride and sweirnesse wald have meikle uphald.
Put your hand na farther nor your sleive may reeke.
Poor men are fain of little thing.
Play with your peirs.
Pith is good in all plays.
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.
Poverty parts good company, and is an enemy to virtue.
Put not your hand betwixt the rind and the tree.
Poor men they say hes na souls.
Patience perforce.
Provision in season, makes a rich meason.
Put that in the next few,
Peter in, and Paul out.
plenty is na dainty:
puddings and paramours wald be hotelie handlit.

Quhair the Deer is slain, some blood will lie.
When the eye sees it saw not, the heart will think it thought not.
When wine is in, wit is out.
When the steed is stowne, steik the stable door.
When the Tod preaches, beware of the hens.
When the cup is fullest, bear it evinest.
What better is the house that the da rises in the morning.
When thieves reckons, leall men comes to their geir.
When I am dead, make me caddell.
Quhiles the hawk hes, and whiles he hunger hes.
When the craw flees, her tail follows.
When the play is best, it is best to leave.
Quha may woo but cost.
Quhiles thou, whiles I, so goes the bailleri.
When a man is full of lust, his womb is full of leesings
Quha may hold that will away.
When taylours are true, there little good to show.
When thy neighbors house is on fire, take tent to thy awn
When the iron is hot, it is time to strike.
When the belly is full, the bones wald have rest.
Quhom God will help, na man can hinder.
When all men speaks, na man hears.
When the good man is fra hame, the boardcleaths tint,
Quhair stands your great horse.
Quhair the pig breaks, let the shells lie.
When friends meets, hearts warms.
When the well is full, it will run over.

REason band the man.
Ruse the foord as ye find it.
Ruse the fair day at evin.
Racklesse youth, makes a goustie age.
Ryme spares na man.
Reavers should not be rewers:
Rule youth well, and eild will rule the sell.
Rome was not biggit on the first day.

Sike man, sike master.
Seldom rides, tynes the spurs.
Shod in the cradle, bairfoot in the stubble,
Sike lips, sike latace.
Sike a man as thou wald be, draw thee to such company.
Soothe bourd is na bourd.
Seldom lies 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 pays 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 foul 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.
She is a sairie mouse that hes but ane hole.
Surfeit slays 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.
Small winning makes a heavy purse.
Shame is past the shedd of your hair.
Send him to the sea and he will not get water.
Saine you well fra the devil and the Lairds bairns.
She that takes gifts herself, she sels, and she that gives, does not ells.
Shroe the ghast that the house is the war of.
Shew me the man, and I shall show you the law.
Swear by your burnt shines.
Sairie be your meil poke, and ay your neive in the nook of it.

THe mair haste, the war speid.
Tide bydes na man.
Twa daughters and a back door, are three stark thieves
There was never a cake, but it had a make.
There came never a large fart forth of a Wrans arse.
Toome bags rattles.
The thing that is fristed, is not forgiven.
Take part of the pelf, when the pack is a dealing.
Tread on a worm, and she will steir her tail.
They are lightly 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 nothing hame.
Thraw the wand while it is green.
The Sowters wife is worst shod.
The worst world that ever was, some man wan.
They will know by a half penny if a priest will take offering
Tyme tries the truth.
The weeds overgaes the corn.
Take time 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 lies, slays the soul.
Trot mother, trot father, how can the foal amble.
They were never fain that fidgit.
Twa wolfs may worrie ane sheep.
Twa fools in ane house is over many.
The day hes eyne, the night hes ears.
The tree falls not at the first straike.
The mair ye tramp in a turde, it grows the breader.
There is none without a fault.
The devil is a busy bishop in his awn diocie.
There is no friend to a friend in mister.
There is na fool to an auld fool.
Touch a good horse in the back, and he will fling.
There is remeid for all things but stark deed.
There is na medicine for fear.
The weakest goes to the walls.
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 wins,
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 cheer.
The blind horse is hardiest.
There mae ways to the wood nor ane
There is meikle between word and deed.
They that speirs meikle, will get wot of part.
The less play the better.
The mair cost, the mair honor.
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 dance, wit whom ye take by the hand.
The goose pan is above the roast.
Thy thumb 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 horn.
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 four buir legs.
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 hungry mel • its makes the third a glutton
This world 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.

WRang hes nea warrand.
Will hes that well is.
Well done, soon done.
Weapons bodes peace.
Wiles helps weak folk.
Wishers, and walders are poor househalders,
Words are but wind, but dunts are the devil.
Wark bears witness wha well does.
Wealth gars wit waver.
Weill bydes, well betydes,
Wrang compt, is na payment.
Wrang hears, wrang answer gives.
With empty hand, na man should hawks allure
Weill wats the mouse, the cats out of the house.
We ill worth awe, 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 Lady.
Waken not sleeping dogs.
We have a craw to pluck.
Well good mother daughter.
Wood in wilderness, and strength in a fool.
Wit in a poor man's head, moss in a mountain avails nothing.
Weils him and woos him that hes a bishop in his kin.
Use makes perfectness.
Unskild mediciners, and horsemarshels, slays both man and beast.
Whatrax of the feed, where the friendship dow naught.

YE will break your neck and your fast alike in his house
Ye strive against the stream
Youth never casts tor peril.
Ye seek hot water under cold y • e •
Ye drive a snail to Rome.
Ye ride a bootless erand.
Ye seek grace at a graceless 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 unkindness.
Ye breid of the cat, ye wald fain eat fish, but ye 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 ready mouth for a ripe cherrie.
Ye breed of the millers dog, ye lick your mouth or the po • be open.

FINIS.