When the Marquis of Winchester, Lord High Treasurer, was presented with a copy of this book by the author, he inquired what it contained, and being answered, "All the proverbs in English," replied, "What! all? No, no. 'Bate me an ace, quoth Bolton'"—a form of speech once much in vogue. "By my faith," said Heywood, "that is not in."
It happened that the marquis casually uttered the only proverb not in the book.
Camden mentions an interview of Heywood with Queen Mary, at which her Majesty inquired what wind blew him to court. He answered, "Two, specially—the one to see your Majesty."
"We thank you for that," said the Queen; "but I pray you, what is the other?"
"That your Grace," said he, "might see me."
The curious work on proverbs is in rhyme, and contains many sayings that are now forgotten, as well as allusions to superstitions still remaining.
ENGLISH AND ENGLISH.
Most American boys and girls feel confident that they are tolerably familiar with the English language, and they are right in so feeling; but sometimes one cannot but wonder, in reading over the English newspapers, whether some expressions which are common enough to the English mind would prove puzzling to the American reader or not. For instance, here is a specimen paragraph from the Western Morning News, published in England:
"An Extraordinary Express.—The Cornish corridor express from Paddington, on the morning of the 31st ult., was one of the heaviest fast trains ever sent out of a London terminus. It started with 15 eight-wheel bogie coaches on, reckoned as equal to 22½ ordinary vehicles. But as these corridor carriages weigh about 25 tons each, the coach load must have been over 370 tons, or quite equal to a train of 30 six-wheeled coaches. This for an express run at over 53 miles an hour! There were two engines on of the largest class. West of Swindon the train was split into two parts."