Selected quad for the lemma: country_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
country_n	city_n	great_a	village_n	1,731	5	9.2720	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A58161	A collection of English proverbs digested into a convenient method for the speedy finding any one upon occasion : with short annotations : whereunto are added local proverbs with their explications, old proverbial rhythmes, less known or exotick proverbial sentences, and Scottish proverbs / by J. Ray, M.A. and Fellow of the Royal Society.	Ray, John, 1627-1705.	1678 (1678)	Wing R387; ESTC R14323	169,995	424

small pursued one of the bulls being madded with noise and multitude clean through the town This sight so pleased the said Earl that he gave all those meadows called the castle meadows where first the Bull duell begin for a common to the butchers of the Town after the first grass was eaten on condition they find a mad Bull the day six weeks before Christmas day for the continuance of that sport every year He was born at little Wittham Little Wittham is a village in this County It is applied to such as are not overstock't with acuteness being a nominal allusion of the like whereto we have many current among the vulgar Grantham gruel nine grits and a gallon of water It is appliable to those who in their speeches or actions multiply what is superfluous or at best less necessary either wholly omitting or less regarding the essentials thereof They hold together as the men of Marham when they lost their common Some understand it ironically that is they are divided with several factions which ruines any cause Others use it onely as an expression of ill success when men strive and plot together to no purpose Middlesex MIddlesex clowns Because Gentry and Nobility are respectively observed according to their degree by people far distant from London less regarded by these Middlesexians frequency breeds familiarity because abounding there abouts It is generally true where the common people are richer there are they more surly and uncivil as also where they have less dependence on the Gentry as in places of great trade He that is at a low ebb at Newgate may soon be aflote at Tiburn M r Bedwell descript of Tottenham Chap. 3. When Tottenham wood is all on fire Then Tottenham street is nought but mire That is when Tottenham wood standing on an high hill at the west end of the Parish hath a foggy mist hanging over it in manner of a smoke then generally foul weather followeth Idem ibid. Tottenham is turned French It seems about the beginning of the reign of King Henry the eighth French mechanicks swarmed in England to the great prejudice of English artisans which caused the insurrection in London on ill May-day A. D. 1517. Nor was the City onely but the Countrey villages for four miles about filled with French fashions and infections The Proverb is applied to such who contemning the customes of their own Countrey make themselves more ridiculous by affecting forreign humours and habits London A London Jury hang half and save half Some affirm this of an Essex others of a Middlesex Jury and my charity believes it equally true that is equally untrue of all three It would fain suggest to credulous people as if Londoners frequently impannel'd on Juries and loaded with multiplicity of matters aim more at dispatch then justice and to make quick riddance though no hast to hang true men acquit half and condemn half Thus they divide themselves in aquilibrio between justice and mercy though it were meet the latter should have the more advantage c. The falseness of this suggestion will appear to such who by perusing history do discover the London Jurors most conscientious in proceeding secundùm allegata probata always inclining to the merciful side in saving life when they can find any cause or colour for the same London lick-penny The countrey man coming up hither by his own experience will easily expound the meaning thereof London bridge was made for wise men to goe over and fools to goe under A London Cockney This nickname is more then four hundred years old For when Hugh Bigot added artificial fortifications to his naturally strong Castle of Bungey in Suffolk he gave out this rhythme therein vaunting it for impregnable Were I in my castle of Bungey Upon the river of Waveney I would ne care for the King of Cockney Meaning thereby King Henry the second then quierly possessed of London whilst some other places did resist him though afterwards he so humbled this Hugh that he was fain with large sums of money and pledges for his loyalty to redeem this his Castle from being rased to the ground I meet with a double sence of this word Cockney 1. One coaks'd and cocquer'd made a wanton or Nestle-cock delicately bred and brought up so as when grown up to be able to endure no hardship 2. One utterly ignorant of countrey affairs of husbandry and housewivery as there practised The original thereof and the tale of the citizens son who knew not the language of a Cock but called it neighing is commonly known Billings-gate language Billings was formerly a gate and as some would make us believe so called from Belinus the brother of Brennus it is now rather portus a haven then porta Billings-gate language is such as the fishwives and other rude people which flock thither use frequently one to another when they fall out Kirbes castle and Megses glory Spinola's pleasure and Fishers folly These were four houses about the City built by citizens large and sumptuous above their estates He that would know any thing more of the builders of these houses let him consult the Authour He was born within the sound of Bow-bell This is the Periphrasis of a Londoner at large This is called Bow-bell because hanging in the steeple of Bow Church and Bow Church because built on bows or arches saith my Author But I have been told that it was called from the cross stone arches or bows on the top of the steeple S t Peters in the poor Where no Tavern Alehouse or sign at the door Under correction I concelve it called in the Poor because the Augustinian friers professing willful poverty for some hundreds of years possessed more then a moiety thereof Otherwise this was one of the richest Parishes in London and therefore might say Malo pauper vocari quàm esse How ancient the use of signs in this city on private houses is to me unknown sure I am it was generally used in the reign of King Edward the fourth Good manners to except my Lord Major of London This is a corrective for such whose expressions are of the largest size and too general in their extent I have dined as well as my Lord Major of London That is though not so dubiously or daintily on variety of costly dishes yet as comfortably as contentedly according to the Rule Satis est quod sufficit Enough is as good as a feast and better then a surfet As old as Pauls or as Pauls steeple Different are the dates of the age thereof because it had two births or beginnings one when it was originally cofounded by King Ethelbert with the body of the Church Anno 610. another when burnt with lightning and afterwards rebuilt by the Bishops of London 1087. He is onely fit for Ruffians-hall West Smithfield now the house-market was formerly called continuer of Stows annals Ruffians-hall where Ruffians met casually and otherwise to try masteries with sword and buckler A