With this little bit of criticism, let me take the liberty of recommending to such of your readers, and I trust they are many, who seek for knowledge and wisdom in the richly-stored tomes, especially of the divines, whose appearance imparted a further glory to the days of our "good queen Bess," to note down the "wise saws and modern instances" which lie scattered along their glowing periods, like "dew-drops on the flow'ry lawn," for the purpose of transferring them to your very appropriate pages. The remark of our old lexicographer, Florio[3], that "daily both new words are invented, and books still found that make a new supply of old," may, in its latter part, very fitly be applied to our proverbial philosophy; for, great as is the light which has already been thrown upon the subject, it must be admitted that a more _systematic_ examination than they have yet received, of the works of the Elizabethan writers, would elucidate it to an extent that can scarcely be appreciated. [Footnote 3: _Worlde of Wordes_, Ital. and Eng. Pr. 1598.] With these observations I offer you my little string of pearls, under the hope that row after row may be added to it. "1. A contentious man wil never lacke wordes. 2. A Judge must walke with feete of lead. 3. An ignorante Judge was never indifferente. 4. A simple eie is soone beguiled. 5. By a smal draughte of sea-water, though maiste judge the verdure of the whole. 6. Error can not be defended, but by error. 7. Evils must be cured by theire contraries. 8. He is very doumbe, and can speak but little, that cannot speake ill. 9. He that cannot judge Golde by sounde, or in sight, yet may trie it by the poise. 10. Il wil is ever plentiful of il woordes. 11. In the fairest rose thou maiste soonest finde a canker. 12. It is a desperate cause, that with woordes and eloquence maie not be smoothed. 13. It is very course woulle that will take no colour. 14. Let Reason leade thee; let Authoritie move thee; let Truthe enforce thee. 15. Of an Impossibilitie yee maie conclude what yee liste. 16. Oftentimes he is hardiest man to speake, that hathe leaste to saie. 17. One demanded this question of Zoilus the Railer: Why takest thou sutche pleasure in speaking il? Zoilus made answere, Bicause, whereas I woulde doo it, I am not hable. 18. Rashe judgemente argueth somme folie. 19. The Heares of a mannes Bearde, or Heade, never ware white al togeather. 20. The mouthe which speaketh untruth killeth the soule. 21. The report of an enimie maketh no proufe. 22. The slowe paced horses kepe backe the chariot. 23. The Truthe wilbe hable evermore to beare it selfe. 24. To mainteine a fault knowne, is a double faulte. 25. To spende woordes without cause, is affliction of the sprite, and losse of time. 26. Vesselles never geve so great a sounde, as when they be emptie. 27. Untruthe cannot be shielded, but by untruthe.