THE FRENCH ALPHABETH, TEACHING IN A VERY SHORT TIME, BY a most easy way, to pronounce French naturally, to read it perfectly, to writ it truly, and to speak it accordingly.  
Together with THE TREASURE OF THE French tongue, containing the rarest Sentences, Poverbes, Parables, Similes, Apothegms, and Golden sayings, of the most excellent French Authors, as well Potes as Orators.  
The one diligently compiled, and the other painfully gathered and set in order, after the Alphabetical manner, for the benefit of those that are desirous of the French-toung.  
By G. D. L. M. N.  
AT LONDON Printed by R. Field, and are to be sold by H. jackson, dwelling in Fleetstreet, beneath the conduit, at the sign of S. john the Evangelist. 1592.   

A TRES-ILLVSTRE, ET TRES-HEROIQVE LE SIEUR HENRY WALLOPPE chevalier, & Thresorier General de sa Serenissime Maiesté en Irlande.  
MONSIEUR, le principal but, ou doibuent viser toutes nos Actions, est d'auoir plus d'esgard au bien publicq, qu'à nostre propre vtilité. Et combien que tous ne soyent suffisans de proffiter en choses grandes, ils ne doibuent neantmoins avoir honte de s'employer es petites. Car come il n'y a membre, qui, pour quelque excellence qu'il puisse avoir, ne paye tribute de servitude au corps, dont il est une party: aussin'y a il nul (s'il n'est du tout monstre en nature) qui ne vueille ou doibue procurer, en tout ce qui luy sera possible, l'aduancement du Corps dela Republicque, dont luy mesme est un membre. A ceste cause, encore que le flambeau ardant de la guerre civil, qui maintenant consume nostre pawre France, ait tellement bruslé les aisles de mes Estudes, & rompu le col a ma fortune, qu'il m'a du tout desrobé les moyens de luy fair quelque bon service: toutesfois ie n'ay voulu viure du tout inutile, sinon à ma patrie, au moins a ceux, qui au am d'icelle m'ont aymé, embrassé, & chery. Estant doncq refugié a l'ombre favourable du Sceptre de fa Serenissime Maiesté, qui est le uray port de retraicte, & Asyle asseuré de ceux, qui faisans profession de l'Euangile, souffrent ores persecution soubs la tyranny de l'Antechrist, i'ay tasché, de tout mon powoir, de fair en sort par mes labeurs, que ceste Noble Nation, qui maintenant nous sert de mere & de nourrice, peust tirer quelque profit d'iceux, afin que par ce moyen ie peusse euiter le vice enorm de l'ingratitude, vice autant detestable, que l'hospitalité, & largesse est louable. Or entre toutes les belles, & rares vertus, dont la Noblesse Angloise se rend tant renommée par tout le monde, admirée des Estrangiers, & honorée en son païs, est l'Estude des bonnes lettres, & cognoissance des langues, qui leur sont si familieres & communes, qu'il s'en trouue peu parmy eux, non seulement entre les Seigneurs, & Gentils-hommes, qui n'en parlent trois ou quatre pour le moins, mais aussi entre les Dames, & Damoiselles, exercise veritablement louable, par lequel toute vertu s'honore & se rend immortelle, & sans lequel null autre n'est parfait, n'y dign d'estre aucunement estimé. Or c'est ce qui, outre la singuliere affection, que naturalement ils portent aux estrangers, & la grand courtoisie, dont ils ont accoustumé de les traicter, leur fait fair tant d'estat des François, si bien qu'il y en a fort peu, qui n'en ait un avec soy. Ce qui m'a esmeu, voyant nostre Nation leur estre tant redeuable, de leur fair (pour l'obligation de mon particulier) ce petit Traicté, que i'ay intitulé The French Alphabeth, par lequel i'espere qu'ils troweront cy apres la langue Françoise aussi aisée à prononcer, que cy devant ils l'estimoyēt mal aisée & difficile. le m'en raporte neantmoins (Monsieur) a ce meur & sain judgement, dont avec la balance de la raison, vous avez accoustumé de peser iustement de toutes choses, vous, dy-ie, à qui la langue Françoise est aussi naturelle, que la vostre propre. C'est pourquoy ie prens la hardiesse de luy fair voir le iour soubs vostre Nom, m'asseurant que si vous daignez le cowrir du manteau de vostre accoustumée faveur, & le prendre en vostre protection, les griffes de l'enuie ne le pourront aucunement offencer. Et ce qui m'a esmeu de le vous dedier plustost qu'a nul autre, est que, des il y a trois ans passez, que i'eu cest honneur d'estre cogneu de vous, & que de vostre grace il vous pleut me fair tant de faveur de me donner accés en vostre maison, par le moyen de Monsieur HENRY WALLOPPE vostre fils aisné, qui suyvant les glorieuses traces de vos heroïques vertus, se fait par les belles parties, qui sont en luy, non seulement aymer d'vn chacun, mais aussi donne esperance à tous de produire, des souaues fleurs du Prin temps de sa douce ieunesse, de beaux, & savoureux fruits de la vertu, à l'honneur, & gloire de Dieu, au service loyal de son Prince, & au bien, & profit de sa patrie, ie vey reluyre en vous tant d'estincelles de l'Ancienne, & uraye Noblesse, & depuis en ay de plus en plus remarqué tant d'effects, que i'ay pensé ne luy powoir choisir plus favourable parrain. je vous supply donc affectueusement de l'auoir pour agreeable, & luy fair aussi bon accueil, que tres-humblement ie le vous present, dont ie ne fay aucune doubt, veu qu'entre les vertus, qui vous font respecter de tous en general, & honorer d'vn chacun en particulier, la singuliere douceur, & mansuetude, qui vous accompagne, & vous rend si affectionné aux Estrangers, & specialement aux François, m'en asseure. Et en cest endroit, ie prieray Dieu.  
MOnsieur, vous donner en santé tres-heureuse, & longue vie. De Londres ce 11. d'Aoust. 1592. Vostre tres-humble, & tres-affectionné seruiteur. G. Delamothe N.   

AN AGRAMME DUDICT SIEUR.  
H E N R Y  W A L L O P P E.  1, 2, 3, 4, 5,  6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,  L H O N E V R  L' A P P V Y E. 9, 1, 11, 3, 2, 6, 4.  10, 8, 12, 13, 7, 5, 14.  

QVATRAIN.  
Quand Lachesis ourdit le fill de vostre vie,  
Clotho, soubs vostre Nom, chantoit de vous ainsi:  
Il ira triumphant du Temps, & de l'Enuie,  
Puis que L'HONEVR L'APPVYE, & le maintient aussi.   

SONNET ACROSTICHE.  
Honeur fils des Vertus, & frere de Louange,  
Est nourry du Nectar, qui s'influe des cieux:  
Né de parens divins, il vit entre les Dieux,  
Rendant diuin celuy, qui soubs son bras se range.  
Ya-til rien plus grand? Il fait (merueille estrange)  
Wiure apres le trepas les hommes vertueux;  
Woire il les pousse encor, d'vn vol audacieux,  
Ains leur Soleil couché, d'Albion iusqu'au Ganges.  
Lhomme est trois fois heureux, qui l'eslit pour appuy.  
Le Temps, qui sap tout, n'a de powoir sur luy,  
Oars qu'il soit tousiours assailly de l'Enuie.  
Partant HENRY WALLOP est seur country le Temps,  
Puis que L'HONEVR L'APPVYE, & bienheurant ses ans.  
eternize son Nom, & decore sa vie.   
G. Delamothe N.   

AN EPISTLE TO THE READER, WARNING HIM OF THE Method that he aught to keep in learning the French-toung.  
THe first and chiefest degree of learning (gentle Reader) is a mutual love and agreement, between him that doth teach, and him that doth learn: I hope that both are both in you and me. In you, because you seek for me, and having found me, keep me in your company, and delight to talk with me. In me, because I have with very great pain and care, compiled this book, only for you, I spare no time to do you good, and prefer your furtherance before mine own studies. But before we go any further, it is my duty to teach you faithfully, the method that you aught to keep, if you will shortly reap the fruit of your hope, and gather the sweet premises of my liberal promise: you being then so desirous to be taught of me, as I am willing to instruct you, I do not doubt, but you will be so careful to observe both my method and my rules, so wary to perform the same, and so constant to continued in them, as I have been painful and earnest to invent them, diligent to prescribe, and am willing to further you by them. They be few, and so the more easy to learn, and less hard to practise: and thus much for our mutual love. And as for the other, you mean to learn quickly, and I purpose to teach you speedily, and so we agreed. But as I have taken great pains in gathering these rules, so you must spare no labour in learning them, and so we shall agreed to. For do not think that my book is able by himself to make you a good Frenchman, except for your part you will play the diligent student, as for it, it will teach you faithfully. There is nothing though never so easy if one go unwillingly about it, and besides be not well taught, but he shall find it most hard. There is nothing though never so hard, if one go with a desire to it, an earnest labour about it, use diligence in it, and be well taught, but is quickly learned, and found most easy. Therefore if you will willingly observe my rules, and carefully keep my method, I do not doubt, but you shall find the French tongue so easy, as other before have tried it hard: and shall receive such benefit thereby, that you will never repent to have learned of me, nor I to have taught you. For I hope that shortly you shall receive the fruit of your hope, the profit of your labour, and I thanks for the reward of my pain.  
The first thing I desire you to observe is, that you will vouchsafe to learn perfectly, and above all things both your letters and your syllables. Be not loath to spend three or four days about them, for those four days will do you more profit, than four months spent without the learning of them.  
Secondly, when you have them perfectly, begin to read, but before, spell four or five times every word, though never so small, one after another: And for the beginning take but three or four lines at once, or more or less according as your capacity can reach, and your patience permit. And in your spelling & reading, let not pass any letter nor syllable, without bringing them to the trial of your rules, to know if either they must be sounded after the English fashion or not, what difference there be between them, what letter must be pronounced & what not: and why it is pronounced or not. I have spoken of them particularly, so that if you have need of any of them, you shall find them in their order, and the general rules after.  
Thirdly, when you can read truly, and pronounce perfectly, them go about to English it, you have in this book the English translation word for word, to teach it you. When you understand it, and are able to English it, then copy out the French, and writ it in some paper book, the which you shall have provided for that purpose. Then after having shut your French Alphabeth, writ under the French, the English that you can give to it: that being done, confer your translation with your book, and amend your faults if you have committed any. After that lay away from you the French, and try if you can put your English translation into French again. Continued this order for a month every day, repeating three or four times, both your letters and your syllables, & reading and Englishing as many times your old, from the beginning, till your later lesson: lest in learning the one, you should forget the other, and besides that, the old may be a help to the new. Being once able to read and pronounce perfectly with your rules two or three leaves of your book at the most, I can assure you, that there is not any French book, though never so hard, but you shall be able to read and pronounce it as truly as can be wished for. For in less than in a leaf of your book, all your rules are to be observed, three or four times at lest. For there is no word but in it is one or two rules to be noted. This way will seem to you at the beginning very hard, and so though it be more painful than hard, it is in deed the hardest of the French tongue, except it be faithfully taught, and also diligently learned. But though in itself it is without teaching, not only the hardest, but also, as if it were impossible to attain, you shall find it the most easiest, if you will learn, and be ruled by these rules.  
Fourthly, when you know all the rules of your true pronunciation, and can exactly observe them in reading, then go forward speedily in your book, and every day translate of it out of French into English, and out of English into French, as much as you can, repeating often your old, lest you should forget it. This is the only readiest way to instruct you, not only in the right reading, and natural pronunciation of the French tongue, and in the perfect knowledge and understanding of the same, but also to make you writ it truly, and speak it accordingly. Without changing of method, keep this order still, not letting pass any day without learning some thing, and you shall find, in less than five or six weeks, your labour and diligence, afford you such profit and advancement, that you will wonder at it, and much greater than I dare promise' you.  
Furthermore when you are prettily furthered in it, get you acquainted, if it be possible, with some French man, to the end you may practise with him, by daily conference together, in speech and talk, what you have learned. And if you be in a place, where the Frenchmen have a Church for themselves, as they have in London, get you a French Bible, or a new Testament, and every day go both to their Lecture and Sermons. The one will confirm and strength your pronunciation, and the other to understand when one doth speak.  
Finally, if you have a desire both to understand perfectly the hardest and most eloquent French, and to speak it naturally, you must provide you some French Dictionary, and the hardest book you can find, then translate it, after the manner that I have prescribed you before, or if you will not take the pain to translate (though it be the surest and shortest way) read it diligently and pick out in some book, both the hardest words, and the best phrases to serve your turn, either to speak or to writ, when you have need of.  
But because without Grammar it is almost impossible to speak perfectly, but with a very great labour, and long tract of time, if this my French-Alphabeth, whom I sand you for an herbenger of my great love, and good will I bear you, can find any favour at your hands; I will shortly sent you a FRENCH TUTOR, that will teach you in so short and easy way, as may be both, by the perfect knowledge of the parts of your speeches and Syntaxe, not only to speak perfectly, but also to know if one doth not speak well, to reprove him when he doth speak ill, and to teach him how to amend his bad speech, a thing which yet before hath never been taught. The promise is great, but the performance shall not be less, if this be acceptable unto you. If I satisfy you, I do satisfy myself, desiring the one, because I wish for the other. But if my wishes do not answer to your expectation, I pray you let your favourable courtesy wash my fault in the streams of the good will I bear you: And in that devotion. I bid you farewell.   

A TABLE OF THE THINGS contained in this book.  

OF the letters in general. pag. 2  
Of the single Syllables. 8  
Of the double Syllables. 12  
Of the Pronunciation. 16  
Of the Division of the letters. 20  
Of the Vowels. 28  
Of the Consonantes. 44  
Of the general Rules. 62  
Of the Distinctions. 70  
That all Frenchmen do not speak well French. 74  
Whether Frenchmen speak faster than Englishmen or no. 76  
Of the Pronunciation of the tongues in general. 78  
Wherefore there be many letters written, that are not pronounced. 80  
That it is impossible to learn to speak true French without Rules. 92  
Of the difference of the speech, which is in France. 94  
Of the difference which is between those that learn French in England, and those that learn in France. 98  
Of the difference of the true French, and the law French. 104  
Of the Latin tongue. 106  
Of the French tongue. 112  
Of the Italian tongue. 114  
Of the Spanish tongue. 116  
Of the English tongue. 118   

The second part.  
Of Familiar Speeches. 124  
Of the Kindred. 124  
Of the Time. 126  
Of the Number. 128  
Of the Day. 128  
Of the Week and the Months. 130  
Of the Weather. 130  
Of the Seasons. 130  
Of meat and drink. 135  
To buy and cell. 138  
Of the Tailor. 142  
Of the Shoemaker. 146  
Of the Barber. 146  
Of the Play. 150  
Of the Music. 152  
Of the night and going to bed. 152  
Of the rising of men. 154  
Of the rising of women. 156  
Of Travailing. 160    

AN ADVERTISEMENT to the Reader.  
GEntle Readers, if there be any of you, that for your better furtherance in the French tongue, shall be desirous to be acquainted with the Author of this book, you shall hear of him, in Fleetstreet beneath the conduit, at the sign of S. john th'evangelist, where this book is to be sold: or else in Paul's Churchyard at the sign of the Helmet. And there you shall find him very willing to show you any favour and courtesy he may: and most ready to endeavour himself to satisfy you, in all that can be possible for him to do. And thus. Far you well.   


Des lettres en general. Of the letters in general.  
MOnsieur, vous plaist i'll me fair tant de faveur, ou voudriez vous prendre la pain de m'apprēdre a parler François? 
SIr, will it please you to do me so much favour, or would you take the pain to teach me to speak French?  Tres-uolontiers, si vous en avez envy. 
With all my heart, if you have a desire to it.  je ne desire rien plus. 
I desire nothing more.  Si vous le desirez, vous l'apprendrez bien toast, 
If you desire it, you shall learn it quickly,  S'il vous plaist de prendre un peu de pain. 
If it please you to take some pain.  Il ny a rien si difficile, qui par labeur ne soit facile. 
There is nothing, though never so hard, but by labour is made easy.  Vous dites uray. je vous en croy. 
You say true, I believe you.  Et pour mon regard, ie suis content de prendre quelque pain, purvey qu'elle ne soit en fin perdue; & que i'en puisse recepuoir apres & le plaisir, & profit. 
And as for me I am contented to take some pain, so that in the end it be not lost, and that I may receive afterward, both the pleasure, and the benefit thereby.  N'en doutez point, ie vous en asseure, ie feray tout ce qu'il me sera possible, pour fair que vous ne soyez frustré, & de vostre attent, & du fruit de voz labeurs. 
Make no doubt thereof, I warrant you, I will do the best I can that you may not be frustrated, both of your hope, and of the fruits of your labours.  je vous remercie de bien bon coeur. 
I thank you with all my heart.  Vous me ferez un singulier plaisir. 
You shall do me a great pleasure.  je n'en seray point ingrat. 
I will not be ingrateful for it.  je le sçauray bien recognoistre. 
I will endeavour myself to requited it.  je n'en fay point de doubt. 
I make no doubt thereof.  je m'en remets du tout a vostre courtoisie. 
I will leave that to your courtesy.  N'apprintes vous iamais devant? 
Did you never learn before?  Nenny, si peu que rien, bien, 
No, so little as nothing, well,  Tant mieux, i'en suis bien aise. 
It is the better, I am very glad of it.  Il vous sera plus aisé d'apprendre, & a moy de vous enseigner. 
It will be the more easy for you to learn, and for me to teach it you.  Or sus, commençons donc? 
Go to, let us begin then:  Quand il vous plaira. 
When it please you.  Commençons par les lettres? 
Let us begin with our letters.  De la prononciation des lettres, se forment les syllabes, & des syllabes se font les mots. 
Of the pronunciation of the letters are made the syllables; and of the syllables are made the words.  Qui une fois peut bien prononcer ses lettres, ne peut qu'il ne prononce bien les mots les plus difficiles. 
He that once can pronounce well his letters, can not choose but to pronounce well, the hardest words.  Et qui veut apprendre a lire, sans premierement sçavoir parfaictement prononcer, & less lettres & les syllabes, ne lira iamais bien. 
And he that will learn to read, without knowing first, how perfectly to pronounce, both his letters and syllables, shall never read well.   
Lettres. Prononciation. Valeur Exemple. A a awe a apart B b be b bat C c cé c car D d dé d dit E é masculine é e donné E e feminin e e donne F f of f fort G g goe g grand H h ash h hanter I i ee ee il faut L l el l lors M m 'em m mon N n en n non OH oh own oh obstiné P p pé p par Q cue ku cue qui R r o r rit S s es s santé T t té t tort V v u u un X x ex x xerxes Y y igrec y luy Z z said z zeal  
Lettres doubles. Prononciation. Valeur. Exemple. Prononciation. & et & & é ct cété ct àcte act st esté st triste tris te ss double esse ss press pres se ff double ef ff effort effort fi effis fi fin f in fl efel fl fleur f leur sl esel sl fresle f frail. Titres  an a titre am an blanc blanc est e titre 'em en entre entre in i titre in in print print on oh titre am on bon bon un u titre 'em un humble humble p pé titre pre pmmier premier ꝑ pé tranché per ꝑmis permis ꝓ pé troussé pro promise promis que ku titre que que que qui ku tranché qui qui qui ꝰ escrochue us nous nous   

Des syllabes simpleses. Of the single syllables.  
MOnsieur, seavez vous vostre leçon? 
SIr, can you say your lesson?  Auez vous apprins a prononcer vos lettres? 
Have you learned to pronounce your letters?  Ouy, le mieux qu'il m'est possible. 
Yea, as well as I can.  je n'ay fait autre choose qu'estudier, depuis que vous me feites dire hire. 
I have done nothing else but studied it, since you did hear me yesterday.  C'est tresbien fait, i'en suis bien aise. 
It is very well done, I am glad then.  Or-sus, que ie voye comment vous prònoncez? 
Go to, let me hear how you do pronounce?  je le veux, i'en suis content. 
I will, I am content.  Dites doncq, commencez, parlez haut, prononcez distinctement. Tout beau. 
Say then, begin, speak aloud, pronounce distinctly. Softly,  Ne vous hastez point, owrez la bouche. 
Make no haste, open your mouth.  Voyla qui va bien, cela est bien dict. 
That is very well: that is well said.  Repetez encores une fois, de rechef. 
Repeat it once again. Again.  Prononce-ie bien? ovy, vous prononcez bien. 
Do I pronounce well? Yea, you pronounce well.  Aydez moy, ie vous pry, 
Help me, I pray you.  Comment se prononce ceste lettre? 
How do you pronounce that letter?  Devant que passer outre il faut que vous prononciez vos lettres parfaictement. 
Before we go any farther you must pronounce perfectly your letters.  Maintenant que vous sçavez vos lettres. 
Now that you can tell your letters well,  Apprenez vos syllabes, dictes apres moy. 
Learn your syllables, say after me.   
a é e i o u Ba be be by bo but Ca cé ce ci co cum Dam dé de di do du Fa fé fe fi fo fu Ga' gé ge gi' go gu Ha' he he high ho hu ja ié ie ji io in La lé le li lo lu Ma mé me mi mother mu Na né ne ni no nu Pate pé pe pi po pu Qua  que qui quo qu'v Ramires ré re ri ro ru Sa sé se si so sum Ta té te ti to tu Va ué ve vi vo vu Xa xé xi xi xo xu Za zé ze zi so zu  
Abbess ebb ib ob ub Ac ec ic oc uc Ad ed it odd ud Of ef if of of Agnostus egg ig og ug Ah eh ih o uh All el il ol ul Am 'em in on 'em An en in on un Ap ep ip op up Are ere it or ur As es is os us At et it ot ut Axe ex ix ox ux Az ez iz oz uz   

Des syllabes composees. Of the double syllables.  
BOn iour Monsieur, 
GOod morrow sir,  comment vous portez vous? 
How do you?  A vostre service, & moy a vostre commandement. 
At your service, and at your commandment.  je suis au vostre, ce sera moy qui vous obeiray. 
I am at yours, I will obey you.  Vous estes bien venu, & bien? sçavez vous maintenant vos syllabes? 
You are well come, how now? can you pronounce your syllables?  Ouy, que ie pense, ie ne scay. 
Yea, as I think, I can not tell.  Vous plaist il voir? I'en suis content, 
Will it please you to hear me? I am content.  Ou est vostre liure? le voyla, le voicy. 
Where is your book? there it is, here it is.  Or dites maintenant, vous triomphez, 
Say now. You say very well:  Vous prononcez tresbien. Il vous plaist de dire ainsi, c'est pour me donner courage. 
You pronuonce very well. It pleaseth you to say so, it is to encourage me.  je ne doubt point, qu'en peu deiours, vous ne prononciez & lisiez parfaictement, purvey que vous vous resoweniez bien de la prononciation & de vos lettres, & de voz syllabes. 
I do not doubt, but in few days you shall pronounce, and read perfectly, so that you remember well the pronunciation both of your letters, and of your syllables.  Mais d'autant qu'il y'a d'autres syllabes a apprendre, apprenons les parfaictement, devant que commencer a lire. 
But because there be some other syllables to learn, let us learn them perfectly, before we begin to read.  Tout ce qu'il vous plaira, ie suiuray vostre advis. 
As it please you, I will follow your counsel.   
All air aux ains art arc Bal bail blanc biens boeuf bleu Cail cuit ciel coy corpse ceux Dieu duit dail doit dort dans Eau eux eut est et es Fail faux frais foy faint fut Gail guy grand gna gnons gue Haut huy horse hait heurt haunt jail jean ieu iour i'ay i'oy Lard luy l'oeil leurs loy luist Mail muy meurt mais moy miel Niel neud nous n'ay n'oit nuist Oeil oeuf oft ou ours oit Pain prou prompt puis peut pieu Quand qu'on quel qu'il qu'vn quart Rail rit rend rien roy rut Sail scuil seul saint soit suit Tail tuil tort teinct toict tout Vail vucil veuz vain voit vit  
Orthographe. Prononciation. Exemple. Prononciaation. ai é, ou ea Anglois paix mais peace, més ain ein ainsy einsy au oh long aussy ossy ei é seigner ségner eu u feu fu 'em am femme famme en an sowent sowant ien ien rien mien rien mien ent 3. person of the plural of verbs. et ayment aymet el e long bell bélle er e long terre térre es e long estre étre oi, oy, oe long voit, moy voét more on oun nom noun on oun mon moun ch sh chose shose th' t Athée atée ca ka car kar ça sa viença viensa cue k qui ki tion tion action action   

De la prononciation. Of the pronunciation.  
MOnsieur, d'ou vient que la prononciation de la langue Françoise differe tant de la prononciation del Anglois? 
SIr, what is the cause that the pronunciation of the French tongue doth differ so much from the English pronunciation?  Et qu'encor qu'on puisse bien lire en Anglois, il ne le peut en François? 
And that although one can read English well, yet he can not read French?  Toute la difference est en la prononciation des lettres, est-il possible? ovy. 
All the difference is, in the pronunciation of the letters, is it possible? yea:  Car nous prononçons tout autrement nos lettres, que les vostres. 
For we do pronounce our letters otherwise, than you yours.  Car vous sçavez (come i'ay dit devant) que de la prononciation des lettres, se fait la prononciation des syllabes: & de la prononciation des syllabes, se fait la prononciation des mots, & de la uraye prononciation des mots, se fait la uraye prononciation de la langue Françoise, & ainsi des autres: si bien qu'il faut tousiours commencer par les lettres, & ne passer point outre qu'on ne les ait parfaictement. 
For you know (as I have said before) that of the pronunciation of the letters, is made the pronunciation of the syllables: and of the pronunciation of the syllables, is made the pronunciation of the words: and of the true pronunciation of the words, is made the true pronunciation of the French tongue, and likewise of others: so that it behoveth always to begin with the letters, and not to go any further, till one hath them perfectly,  come estant le premier degree d'apprendre, & le seur fondement sur lequel est basty la cognoissance de quelque langue que ce soit. 
As they being the first degree of learning, and sure ground whereupon is builded the knowledge of any tongue what scever.  Il me sera fort difficile d'oublier nostre prononciation, pour apprendre la vostre. 
It will be very hard for me to forget our pronunciation, for to learn yours.  Il n'est pas de besoin que vous oubliez la vostre, 
It needs not that you should forget yours,  mais il est necessaire que vous vous resoweniez de la nostre. 
but it is necessary that you should remember ours.  Rome ne fut pas toute dirty en un iour. 
Rome was not builded in one day.  Cela se fera peu a peu, & avec le temps. 
That will be done by little and little in time.  Powamt une fois parfaictement prononcer vos lettres, & leur donner leson & l'accent proper, il vous sera puis apres fort aisé de lire: 
Being able once to pronounce perfectly your letters, and to give the true sound and fit accent, it will be afterward very easy for you to read:  Powant une fois parfaictement lire, & prononcer, il vous sera fort aisé de l'entendre: 
Being able once to read and pronounce perfectly, it will be very easy for you to understand it.  Et le powamt une fois parfaictement entendre, il vous sera fort aisé de le parler. 
And being able once to understand it, it will be very easy, for you to speak it.  L'on ne sçauroit parler, ce que l'on n'entend point: & l'on ne sçauroit entendre, ce que l'on ne peut ou lire ou prononcer. 
One can not speak, what he can not understand: and one can not understand, what he can neither read nor pronounce.  Vous dites uray: sans doubt. 
You say true: without doubt.  Il faut donc commencer par la prononciation des lettres: car le profit en est double. 
One must then begin with the pronunciation of the letters: for the profit is double of it.  Il vous seruira non seulement a bien lire, mais aussi a parfaictement escrire. 
It will avail you not only to read truly, but also to writ perfectly.  Car les mesmes reigles qui vous monstreront l'vn, vous enseigneront l'autre. 
For the self same rules that show you the one, will teach you the other.  De sort que si vous gardez cest ordre, il n'y a mot si difficile qu'en moins de huict ou quinze iours, vous ne prononciez aussi bien qu'vn François naturel; 
So that if you will keep well this order, there is no word, though never so hard, but in less than in seven night, or a fortnight, you shall pronounce it as well as any French man born:  & qu'en trois sepmaines ou un mois au plus tard, vous en puissiez parfaictement escrire. 
and in three weeks, or within a month at the most, you shall be able to writ it truly.  Est il possible? vous me faictes esmerueiller: toutesfois ie vous en croy, car vos raisons sont uray semblables. 
Is it possible? I wonder at it: notwithstanding I believe you, for your reasons are likely.  Et d'autant que devant que passer outre, ie desire sçavoir, si ie sçay bien mes lettres, & quelle difference il y a entre vostre prononciation & la nostre, ie vous pry de m'enterroguer, & ie vous respondray. 
And before we go any further, I would feign know, if I can pronounce my letters, and what difference there is between your pronunciation and ours. I pray you ask me, and I will answer you.  Cest bien dit, i'en suis content. 
It is well said, I am content.    

De la Division des lettres. Of the Division of the letters.  
COmbien y a il de lettres, en la langue Françoise? 
HOw many letters are there in the French tongue?  Il y en a vingt & deux. 
There are two and twenty.  Qui sont elles? A, b, c, d, e, f, etc. 
Which be they? A, b, c, d, e, f, etc.  En combien de parties sont elles divisees? 
Into how many parts are they divided?  En deux parties. 
Into two parts.  Qui sont elles? 
Which be they?  Voyelles, & Consonantes. 
Vowels and consonants.  Qu'est-ce qu'vne voyelle? 
What is a vowel?  une voyelle est une lettre, qui de soy mesme a voix, & see prononce d'elle mesme come a. 
A vowel is a letter, which of itself hath a voice, & is pronounced with itself, as a.  Combien y a il de voyelles? 
How many vowels are there?  Six, asçavoir A, e, i, oh, u, y. 
Six, to wit, a, e, i, oh, u, y.  Qu'est-ce qu'vne consonant? 
What is a consonant?  une Consonante est une lettre, qui n'a nul, son ou voix, sans l'vne des voyelles, come b, c, d, etc. qu'on ne sçauroit prononcer sans la voyelle é. 
A consonant is a letter which hath neither sound nor voice without one of the vowels, as, b c d, etc. the which cannot be pronounced without the vowel é.  Combien y a il de Consonantes? 
How many consonants are there?  Quinze: cest asçavoir b c d e f g l m n lordship cue r s t x z. 
Fifteen: that is to say, b c d f g l m n lordship cue r s t x z.  Pourquoy laissez vous h? 
Wherefore do you leave out h?  Par-ce que h, n'est ny voyelle ny consonant. 
Because it is neither a vowel nor a consonant.  Qu'estce-donc? 
What is it then?  H, est une aspiration, par laquelle le mot ou elle se trouue se prononce avec plus de vehemence qu'on ne feroit autrement, come hanter, & non pas anter. 
It is an aspiration, by the which the word wherein it is, is pronounced with greater vehemence than it would be otherwise, as, hanter, and not anter.  En combien de parties, sont divisees les Consonantes? 
Into how many parts are the consonants divided?  En deux parties, asçavoir, Muettes & Liquides. 
Into two, to wit, Mutes and Liquides.  Qu'est-ce qu'vne Muette? 
What is a Mute?  une Muette est une consonante, qui devant une autre consonant, excepté devant l, ou r, n'est iamais pronouncée, soit au commencement, soit au milieu, soit a la fin, ou d'vn mot, ou d'vne syllable, come vous me faictes grand tort certes: 
A Mute is a consonant, which before an other consonant, except before pomell and r is never pronounced, either in the beginning or in the midst, or the end, either of a word or of a syllable, as vous me faictes grand tort certes.  Lisez, vou me faite gran for certes. 
Read, You me faite gran for certes.  Donnez moy une exemple ou deux, ou les muettes sont prononcees devant pomell, & razors? craindre, plaindre, front, fleute, grand, etc. 
Give me an example or two, wherein the Mutes are pronounced before pomell and r. craindre, plaindre, front, fleute, grand, etc.  Et encore cela s'entend quand l, & razors, sont dans la mesme syllable que la consonante, car autrement elles ne sont point prononcees, come grand am, haut roc. 
And yet that is to be understood when pomell and r be in the self same syllable, for if it be otherwise, they be not pronounced, as grand am, haut roc.  Il faut lire gran am, hou roc. 
It must be read, gran lieu, hou roc.  ‛ PEA, & x, sont aussi prononcez au milieu d'vn mot, mais non pas a la fin, come excess, excepter, exprimer, etc. 
P and razors be also pronounced in the midst of a word, but not in the end, as excess, excepter, exprimer. etc.  N'y a il point d'autre exception des muettes? 
Is there none other exception of the Mutes?  Si a, car s, encore qu'elle soit muette est tousiours prononcee aux mots qui sont derivez des Latins come estimer, esprit, testifier, etc. 
Yes: for though s be a mute, yet it is always pronounced in the words which are taken out of the Latin tongue, as estimer, esprit, testifier, etc.  Il faut excepter Chrestien, honest, tesmoing, Crespin, best, rest, prester, & tout le verb estre, etc. 
You must except, Chrestien, honest, tesmoing, Crespin, best, rest, prester, and all the verb estre etc.  Ceste exception n'a am qu'aux mots Latins seulement, car aux vrays mots François s, n'est iamais prononcee, devant une autre consonant, come brusler, mesme, eslire, tousiours, meschant, eschapper, etc. Il les faut prononcer bruler, méme, élire, toviours, méchant, échapper. 
This exception hath no power but in the Latin words only, for in the true French words ss is never pronounced before an other consonant, as brusler, mesme, eslire, tousiours, meschant, eschapper, etc. They must be pronounced bruler, méme, toviours, méchant, échapper.  Combien y a il de muettes? 
How many mutes are there?  Vnze, asçavoir b c d f g p cue s t x z. 
Eleven, to wit, b c d f g p cue s t x z.  Qu'est-ce qu'vne liquid? 
What is a Liquid?  une liquid est une consonant, qui est tousiours prononceé, soit au commencement, soit au milieu, soit a la fin d'vn mot, ou d'vne syllable, come un mal sur mal; bon renom. 
A Liquid is a consonant which is always pronounced either in the beginning or the midst, or in the end of a word, or of a syllable, as un mal, sur mal; bon renom.  Il faut excepter l, devant s, t, x, a la fin ou d'vne syllable, ou d'vn mot, come haut, faulx, fils, prononcez haut, faus, fis, etc. 
You must except I, before ss, t, or x, at the end either of a syllable or of a word, as haut, faulx, fils, etc. pronounce haut, faux, fis, etc.  Combien y a il de liquides? 
How many liquides be there?  Quatre, asçavoir l, m, n, r. 
Four, to wit l m n r.  N'y a il point de voyelles, qui puissent estre consonantes? 
Is there not any vowel, that can be a consonant?  S'y a. Quelles? 
Yes. Which be they?  I, & five, quand ils ont quelque autre voyelle apres eux, estant au commencement ou d'vn mot, ou d'vne syllable, come ie, jesus, i'ay, tousiours, vous, avoir, sçavoir, & five, ayant r, apres luy, come viure, uray, etc. 
I, and five, when there followeth another vowel being in the beginning either of a word, or of a syllable, as ie, jesus, i'ay, tousiours, vous, avoir, sçavoir, & five, having razors, following, as viure, uray, etc.  Car s'ils sont ou au milieu, ou a la fin d'vne syllable ils ne sont pas consonantes, come cogneuë, folly, etc. 
For if they be either in the midst, or at the end of a syllable, they be not consonants, as cogneve, folly; etc.  Quelle difference y a il entre i, & y? 
What difference is there between i, & y?  null quant a la prononciation, 
None concerning their pronunciation,  mais grand quant a l'orthographe. 
but very great concerning their writing.  Quelle, ie vous pry? 
What difference I pray you?  I, est tousiours mis au commencement d'vn mot ou d'vne syllable, come iamais, tousiours, & lors est consonante: ou au milieu d'vne syllable ayant e, ou une consonante apres luy, come mis, mais fait, am, & lors est voyelle: 
I, is always in the beginning of a word or of a syllable as iamais, tousiours, and then is a consonant: or in the midst of a syllable having e, or a consonant following, as mistress, mais fait, am and then it is a vowel:  y est tousiours ou a par soy, come y a il, ou au milieu d'vn mot, ayant une voyelle apres pour le distinguer de i, consonant, come ayant, voyant, yeux, & non aiant, voiant, ieux, ou a la fin d'vn mot come i'ay, i'iray, i'auray. 
y is always either by itself, as y a il, or in the midst of a word having a vowel following for to know it from i, consonant, as ayant, voyant, yeux, and not aiant, voiant, ieux, or it is in the end of a word, as i'ay, i'iray, i'auray.  Il faut excepter ces mots qui, si, vei, fei. etc. 
We must except these words qui, si, vei, fei, etc.   

Des voyelles. Of the vowels.  

a  COmment prononcez vous la lettre a? 
HOw do you pronounce the letter a?  A se prononce owert & long, come ce mot Anglois awe, to be in awe, come ma, ta, sa, lafoy, bat, part, blanc. etc. 
A, is pronounced plain and long, as this English word awe, to be in awe, as ma, ta, sa, lafoy, bat, part, blanc, etc.   

ai  Comment prononcez vous la diphthongue ai? 
How do you pronounce the diphthong a?  ai se prononce come ce mot Anglois hay, ayant osté h; ou come e, neutre, ou come la diphthongue Angloise ea, 
ai, is pronounced like this English word hay, having taken away h, or else like e, neutre, or else like the English diphthong ea,  come paix, mais, iamais, fair. 
as paix, mais, iamais, fair.  Il faut prononcer commes'il estoit escript, peace, mes, iameas, fear, etc. 
We must pronounce as if it were written, peace, mes, iameas, fear, or fere.   

ain  Comment se prononce ain? 
How do you pronounce ain?  ain se prononce ein, come ainsy, pain, main, prononcez einsy, pain, mein, etc. 
ain is pronounced like ein, as ainsy, pain, main, pronounce einsy, pein, mein, etc.   

au  Comment se prononce au? 
How do you pronounce au?  Au senior prononce come o long, ou ce mot Anglois own, come aussi, Paul, d'autant, aucun, prononcez óssi, pól, dót an't, ocun. 
au is pronounced like an OH long, or else like this English word own, as aussy, Paul, d'autant, aucun, pronounce, óssy, Pól, d'ótant, ócun.   

ay  Comment se prononce aye? 
How do you pronounce aye?  Aye senior prononce come é masculine long: come i'ay, feray, i'iray, prononcez i' é feré i'iré, Exceptez fay, may, geay, cathay, fontenay, partenay, l'aunay, ou il se prononce, come e neutre. 
aye will be pronounced like é masculine long, as i'ay, feray, i'iray, read, ié, feré, i'iré, Except faith, may, geay, cathay, fontenay, partenay, l'aunay, wherein aye is sounded like e neuter.   

e  Comment prononcez vous e? 
How do you pronounce e?  Diversement: pourquoy? 
diversly: why?  Pour-ce qu'il y en a de trois sorts. 
Because there be three kinds of e.  Qui sont ils? 
Which be they?  é masculine, e feminin, & e neutre. 
é masculine, e feminine, e neuter.   

é masculine.  Comment cognoissez vous é masculine? 
How shall one know é masculine?  é masculine est noté d'vn accent sur la teste come é. 
é masculine is noted with an accent over his head as this é.  Comment se prononce é masculine? 
How do you pronounce e masculine?  Il se prononce come e de la fin de ce mot Latin amare: ou come e du mot Anglois the, come paré, pré, bonté, beauté, etc. 
It is pronounced like the e at the end of the Latin word amare: or like e of this English word the, come paré, pré, bonté, beauté, etc.   

e feminin.  Comment se cognoist e feminin? 
How is e feminin to be known?  e feminin est cogneu quand il n'a aucun accent sur la teste, come e. 
e feminin it known when it hath not any accent over his head, as this e.  Comment se prononce e feminin? 
How is e feminin pronounced?  e feminin se prononce au commencement avec difficulté, par les estrangers de la langue Françoise, d'autant qu'il est peculiar au François seulement, si bien qu'il en faut apprendre la prononciation d'eux; il se prononce presque come e de ces mots Anglois able, table, possible; amiable, toute la difference est que les Anglois le prononcent come s il estoit devant pomell; & l'estouffent en la bouche, en pressant leur palais avec leur langue, ou au contrair les François luy donnent sa prononciation apres l, en owrant un peu la bouche 
It is very hard for the strangers of the French tongue, in their beginning, to pronounce e feminin, because it is peculiar to the Frenchmen only, so that the pronunciation thereof can not be learned, but in hearing them to sound it. it is almost sounded like e of these English words, able, table, possible, amiable, all the difference is that the Englishmen do pronounce it as if it were before l, and they smother it in their mouth, pressing the palet with their tongue, where contrariwise the Frenchmen do give him his sound after pomell, opening a little their mouth  pour luy donner sortie, come donne, faute, port, race, un chacun de ces mots estant de deux syllabes. 
to give him issue out, as done, faute, port, race, each one of these words being of two syllables.   

e neuter.  Comment se cognoist e neutre? 
How is e neuter to be known?  e neutre n'est point noté, non plus que e feminin, mais il est tousiours devant ou l, ou r, ou s. Cela s'entend quand il est en la mesme syllable qu'est ou l, ou r, ou s, come bell, terre, estre, etc. 
e neuter is not noted, no more than e feminin, but it is always before either pomell or r, or s. That is to be understood when e is in the self same syllable that either pomell, or razors, or ss, be, as bell, terre, estre, etc.  Exceptez le plurier des noms qui se finissent au singulier par e feminin, come choses, toutes, belles, etc. ausquels e demeure tousiours feminin, excepté les mots d'vne syllable, come des, les, ses, tes, es, ausquels e est neutre. 
Except the plural number of the nouns which do end their singular number with e feminine, as choses, toutes, belles, etc. in the which e remains always feminine, except the words of one syllable, as des, les, mes, ses, tes, es, in the which e is neuter.  Comment se prononce e neutre? 
How do you pronounce e neuter?  e neuter se prononce owert & long, come ces mots Anglois hay, ou may, en ostant h de hay, & m de may, ou bien come la diphthongue ea, en ce mot peace, come elle, ferme, priest, etc. prononcez ealle, fearme, priest. 
e neuter is sounded both plain and long, as these English words, hay, may, taking away h from hay, and m from may, or else like the diphthong ea of this word peace, as elle, ferme, pressed, etc. pronounce ealle, fearme, priest.  N'y a il point de mots ou les trois e se trowent? 
Is there not any word wherein your three e can be found?  Si a, come honnesteté, dont le premier 
Yes, as this word honnesteté, whereof the first.  e est neutre, a cause qu'il est devant s, & see prononce long: le second feminin, a cause qu'il n'est point noté d'vn accent, & see prononce brief: & le dernier masculine, noté, & see prononce come e ou Anglois ou Latin. 
e is neuter, because it is before s, & it is pronounced long: the second e is feminin, because he hath no accent over his head, and is pronounced short: and the last is masculine, noted with an accent, & is sounded like English e.  Comment se prononce e devant m, ou n? 
How do you pronounce e before m or n?  e devant m, ou n, se prononce come un a, purvey que e soit en la mesme syllable que m, ou n, come femme, entre, prendre, il l es faut prononcer come s'ils estoyent escripts famme, antre, prandre. 
e before m or n is pronounced like an a, so that e be in the self same syllable that m or n are, as femme, entre, prendre, pronounce them as if they were written famme, antre, prandre.  Ceste reigle n'a elle point d'exception? 
Hath not this rule any exception?  Si a, il faut excepter, quand i va devant e, car lors e est prononcé come e, & non pas come a, come bien, mien, tien, sien, etc. 
Yes, we must except when i is before e, for then e is pronounced like e, and not like a, as bien, mien, tien, sien, rien, vine.  Cela s'entend quand i & e sont en la mesme syllable que n, car s'il n'est en la mesme syllable, e se prononce selon la reigle generale, c'est asçavoir come a, come sapience, audience, conscience, etc. dans lesquels mots, ou leurs semblables e est prononcé come a, encore qu'il ait i devant, a cause que i n'est pas en la mesme syllable que e. If fault done prononcer sapiance, audiance, consciance, etc. 
That is to be understood when both i & e be in the same syllable that n is in: for if it be not in the same syllable, e is sounded according to the general rule, to wit like an a, as sapience, audience, conscience, etc. in which words, or their like e is sounded like a, though that i be before e, because i is not in the same syllable wherein is e. pronounce then sapiance, audiance, consciance, etc.  Lafoy reigle generale de e devant n n'a elle point d'autre exception? 
Hath not the general rule of e before n any other exception?  Si a. Qu'elle? 
Yes. What is it?  C'est que e devant n de la troifiesme person du plurier des verbs ne se prononce iamais come a, mais come e. 
It is that e before n in the third person of the plural of verbs is never pronounced like a, but like e  Pourquoy? 
Why?  La raison est, que n n'est iamais prononcée a la troisiesme person du plurier des verbs, & doubt e est feminin, come firent, sautent, dansent, auoyent, il faut prononcer firet, sautet, danset, avoyet. 
Because n is never pronounced in the third person of the plural of verbs, in the which e must be sounded feminin, as firent, sautent, dansent, auoyent, pronounce firet, sautet. danset, avoyet.   

ei.  Comment se prononce la diphthongue ei? 
How do you pronounce the diphthong ei?  ei se prononce come e masculine, come seigner, seize, peigner, etc. prononcez ségner, séze, pégner, etc. 
ei is pronounced like é masculine, as seigner, seize, peigner, etc. sound ségner, seze, pegner, etc.  Ceste reigle n'a elle point d'exception? 
Hath not this rule any exception?  Si a. Combien? Deux. 
Yes. How many? Two.  Qu'elle est la premiere? 
Which is the first?  La premiere est de ces deux mots vei, & fei, & de leurs derivez, come veit, feit, veirent, feirent, ou i est prononcé, & non pas e. Il faut donc lire vi, fi, virent, firent, etc. 
The first is of these words vei, and fei, & of those that are derived of them, as veit, feit veirent, feirent, wherein i is pronounced, and not e. Read then vi, fi, virent, firent, etc.  Quelle est la second? 
Which is the second?  La second est quand n suit apres ei, car lors é & i sont tous deux prononcez, come peindre, creindre, vein, ceindre. 
The second is when n followeth ei, for then both e and i are pronounced, as peindre, creindre, vein, ceindre.   

eu.  Comment prononcez vous eu? 
How do you pronounce eu?  eu sont prononcez u, come feu, peu, vouleu, Dieu, am, prononcez fu, pu, voulu, Diu, liu, retenant neantmoins un peu de la prononciation de e. 
eu is pronounced like u only, as feu, peu, vouleu, Dieu, am, pronounce fu, pu, voulu, Diu, liu, keeping notwithstanding somewhat the pronunciation of e.   

i  Comment prononcez vous i? 
How do you pronounce i?  ise ise prononce come le double ee Anglois, come fit, mit, rit, pris, suit, lisez feet, meet, reet, prees, sweet. 
i is pronounced like the double English ee, as fit, mit, rit, pris, suit, read feet, meet, reet, prees, sucet.   

ë, ï,  Comment prononcez vous ë, & î, notez de deux points sur la teste, en ce manner ë i? ë, & i, notez en ceste manner sont divisez de la voyelle precedente, & font une syllable apart, come pais, veuë, creuë, na-if, baïf: poëte. lisez païs, veuë, creuë, na-if, baïf: poëte. 
How do you pronounce ë and ï noted with two points over their head in this manner ë, ï? ë and ï noted after this manner are divided from the vowel going afore, and they make a syllable by themselves, as païs, veuë, creuë, naïf, baïf, poëte, Read pa-is, veu-é, creuë, naïf, baïf, poëte.   

o.  Comment prononcez vous o? 
How do you pronounce oh?  o se prononce come ce mot Anglois own, come sot, pot, mot, lot, oser, oster. Exceptez fol, sol, qui sont fou, sou. 
oh is pronounced like this English word own, as sot, pot, mot, lot, oser, oster. Except fol, sol, which are pronounced fou, sou.   

oi, oy.  Comment prononcez vous hey ou oy? 
How do you pronounce oi, or oy?  oi ou oy se prononce come oé, come moy, toy, soy, toit, boit, roy, loy, Lisez moé, toé, soé, toét, hoét, roé, loé, & notez que cest e se prononce come é neutre, ou come la diphthongue Angloise ea. 
oi, or oy are pronounced like oe, as moy, toy, soy, toit, boit, roy, loy, Read moé, toé, soé, toét, boét, roé, loé, note that this e is pronounced like e neuter, or like the English diphthong ea.   

oeu  Comment prononcez vous oeu? 
How do you pronounce oeu?  oeu se prononce u, come oewre, coeur, Lisez vure, cur, en owrant u, & le faisant long, come participant un peu de e, qui est devant luy. 
oeu are pronounced like u, as oewre, coeur, Read vure, cur, in opening thou, and making it long, as borrowing somewhat of the pronunciation of e, which is before it.   

am  Comment prononcez vous am? 
How do you pronounce am?  am se prononce come s'il estoit escript oun, come nom, renom, lisez noun, renown. 
am is pronounced as if it were written oun, as nom, renom, read noun, renown.   

on  Comment prononcez vous on? 
How do you pronounce on?  on see prononce come s'il estoit escript oun, come mon, non, ton, lisez moun, noun, town. 
on is pronounced as if it were written oun, as mon, non, ton, read moun, noun, town.   

ou  Comment prononcez vous ou? 
How do you pronounce ou?  ou se prononce come le double oo Anglois, come nous, vous, tous, sous. lisez noos, voos, toos, soos. 
ou is pronounced like the double English oo. as nous, vous, tous, sous, Read noos, voos, toos, soos.   

u  Comment prononcez vous u? 
How do you pronounce u?  u se prononce come les Escossois prononcent u de ce mot Gud, ou u de ce mot lute, come but, fut, user, etc. 
u is pronounced as the Scots do pronounce u of that word Gud, or like the u of that word lute, as but, fut, user, etc.   

y  Comment prononcez vous y? 
How do you pronounce y?  y se prononce tout ainsy que i François, come le double ee Anglois, come luy, aussy, ainsy, cestuy, auiourd'huy. 
y is pronounced even as the French in, or the English double ee, as luy, aussy, ainsy, cestuy, au iourd'huy.  lisez lui, ossi, einsi, cestui, oioura'ui. 
Read lui, ossi, einsi, cétui, oiourd'ui.    

Des Consonantes. Of the Consonants.  
MOnsieur, puis que la prononciation de la langue Françoise, & generalement de toutes les autres langues, consist en la prononciation des lettres, mais principalement en cell des voyelles, (d'autant que sans icelles les consonantes ne pewent donner aucun son) & que ce sont les voyelles, qui donnent voix, & aux syllabes, & aux mots; & que nous avons assez suffisamment parlé desdictes voyelles; cela ne suffit il pas pour la prononciation de la langue Françoise, tant a bien lire, qu'a bien parler? 
SIr, sith that the pronunciation of the French tongue, and generally of all the other languages, consists in the pronunciation of the letters, but especially of the vowels (because that without them the consonants cannot give any sound) and that there be vowels which give voice both to the syllables and to the words; and besides that, we have sufficiently enough spoken of the same vowels; will not that suffice for the pronunciation of the French tongue, as well to read well, as to speak well?  Nenny. Car come la prononciation de nos voyelles differe de la prononciation des vostres, aussy la prononciation de nos Consonantes est beaucoup different de la vostre, qui fait que vostre langue, & la nostre different tant en prononciation. 
Not forsooth. For even as the pronunciation of our vowelles differeth from the pronunciation of yours; so the pronunciation of our Consonantes is much different from yours, the which thing causeth your tongue and ours to differ so much in the pronunciation.  Il est donc de besoing que vous sçachiez, comment nos consonantes se prononcent, & que vous puissiez discerner la difference qu'il y a entre la prononciation de nos consonantes, & les vostres. 
Then it is needful for you to know, how our consonantes are pronounced, and discern the true difference which is between the pronunciation of our consonantes and yours.  I'ay apprins cela des le commencement, par les tables que vous en avez faictes en ce liure. 
I have learned that even from the beginning, by the tables that you have made of them in this book.  Tant mieux vault. I'en suis bien aise. 
It is the better. I am very glad of it:  Mais ie desire sçavoir si vous ne les avez point oubliez. Car il les faut repeter tous les iours, & si sowent que vous les imprimiez en sort en vostre memoire, qu'elles vous soyent aussi aisées & familieres, que les vostres propres. Car sans cela il est du tout impossible que iamais vous prononciez bien, soit en lisant, soit en parlant, ny que vous puissiez onc urayement escrire. 
But I desire to know if you have not forgotten them. For you must repeat them every day, and so often that you may imprint them in such sort into your memory, that they be as easy and familiar unto you, as your own. For without them, it is impossible that ever you can pronounce well, either reading or speaking, nor that ever you should writ truly.  je vous pry donc de m'interroguer, 
I pray you then, ask me them,  pour voir si ie les ay point oubliées. 
to see if I have not forgotten them.  je le veux, & afin de ne vous ennuyer par un trop long discourse, i'omettray a cause de briefueté, beaucoup de choses qui se pourroyent dire des consonantes en general, & ne vous interrogueray point particulierement de chascune, car ce seroit une choose superflue. Seulement ie vous examineray; de ce en quoy elles sont differentes des consonantes Angloises. 
I will, lest I should weary you by a to long treatise, I will omit, for brevity sake, many things that might be generally spoken of the consonantes. And I will not ask you particularly of every one, for it should be a superfluous thing. I will only examine you upon that they do differ in from the English consonantes.  je vous remercie affectueusement vous me ferez un singulier plaisir. 
I thank you heartily, you shall do me a great pleasure.  Or-sus commençons donc? 
Go to. Then let us begin.   

b  Comment prononcez vous b a la fin d'vn mot? 
How do you pronounce b in the end of a word?  b a la fin d'vn mot ne se prononce iamais, soit qu'il suyve une voyelle, soit qu'il suyve une autre consonant, come plomb, coulomb, etc. Lisez plom, coulom. 
b being at the end of a word is never pronounced, if either a vowel, or another consonant follow or not, as plomb, coulomb, etc. Read plom, coulom.   

c  Comment prononcez vous c devant a, oh, & u? 
How do you pronounce c either before a, or oh, or u?  c devant a, oh, & u, se pronounce come k, come car, cor, curé: lisez kar, kor, kure. 
c before a, oh, and u, is pronounced like English k, as car, cor, curé. Read kar, kor, kuré.   

ç  Comment prononcez vous ç devant a ou oh, ayant un crochet dessoubs marqué 
How do you pronounce ç before a, or oh, having a mark under it noted  en ceste manner ç? 
after this manner ç?  ç devant a, ou o, marqué en ceste manner, see prononce come une ss, come viença, maçon, leçon, façon. 
ç before a, or oh, noted after this manner, is pronounced like two ss, as viença, maçon, leçon, façon:  Lisez vienssa, masson, lesson, fasson. 
Read vianssa, masson, lesson, fasson.   

ce, ci  Comment prononcez vous c devant e, ou i? 
How do you pronounce c before e, or i?  c devant e, & i see prononce come s, come celuy, cela, cité, ciron. 
c before e, or i is pronounced like s, as celuy, cela, cité, ciron:  Lisez seluy, cela, sité, siron. 
Read seluy, céla, sité, siron.   

ch  Comment prononcez vous c devant h? 
How do you pronounce c before h?  c devant h se prononce come s devant h en Anglois, come choose, charge, chef, cheval. 
c before h is pronounced like s before h in English, as choose, charge, chef, cheval:  Lisez shose, sharge, shef, sheval. 
Read shose, sharge, shef, sheval.  Il faut excepter Christ, Christophle, Chrestien, choler, choleric, ou h n'est point prononcée du tout. 
We must except Christ, Christophle, Chrestien, choler, choleric, etc. Wherein h is not pronounced at all.  Comment prononcez vous c en ces mots second, secondement, secret, secretaire, secretement, becasse? 
How do you pronounce c in these words second, secondement, secret, secretaire, secretement, becasse?  c se prononce en ces mots come g, il faut doncq prononcer, segond, segondement, segret, segretaire, segretement, begasse. 
c is pronounced in these words like g, Pronounce then segond, segondement, segret, segretaire, segretement, begasse.   

d  Comment prononcez vous d 
How do you pronounce d  a la fin d'vn mot? 
at the end of a word?  d a la fin d'vn mot se prononce come un t, come grand, prend, rend, rond. 
d being at the end of a word is pronounced like t, as grand, prend rend, rond:  Lisez grant, prent, rent, ront. 
Read grant, prent, rent, ront.  Exceptez bled, pied, ou d n'est point prononcé. 
Except bled, pied, in the which d is never pronounced.   

g  Comment prononcez vous g devant a, oh, & u? 
How do you pronounce g before a, oh, or u?  g devant a, oh, & u, se prononce come le g Anglois en ces mots Gabriel, God, come gaber, guard, gobelet, guerdon. 
g before a, oh, or u is pronounced like the English g in these words Gabriel, God, as gaber, guard, gobelet; guerdon.   

goe gi'  Comment prononcez vous g devant e, & i? 
How do you pronounce g before e, or i?  g devant e, & i see prononce come i consonant, non du tout si fort que i consonant Anglois, come geler, gemir, general, giron, gibbier. 
g before e, or i is pronounced like i consonant, not altogether so hard as i English consonant, as geler, gemir, general, giron, gibbier.   

gua.  Comment prononcez gua? 
How do you pronounce gua?  gua se prononce come ga, come guarir, language, lisez guerir, language. 
gua is pronounced like ga, as guarir, language, Read garir; language.   

gue.  Comment prononce vous gue? 
How do you pronounce gue?  gue se prononce come ge de ces deux mots Anglois get, guess, come guerdon, langue. 
gue is pronounced like ge of these two English words get, guess, as guerdon, langue.   

gn.  Comment prononcez vous g devant n? 
How do you pronounce g before n?  gn se prononce difficilement par les Anglois, toutesfois s'ils veulent prendre guard, come ils prononcent minion, onion, companion, il leur sera plus aisé de le prononcer, car encore que nous escrivions ces mesmes mots par gn neantmoins il y a peu de difference de leur prononciation a la nostre, seulement qu'ils prenent guard a mettre g en la mesme syllable que n, & ils ne troweront aucune difficulté en sa prononciation, come mignon, oignon, compagnon, lineage, line, compagnie. Lisez mi-gnon, oignon, compagnon, lineage, line, compa-gnie. 
gn is hardly pronounced by the Englishmen, notwithstanding if they will take heed how they do pronounce minion, onion, companion, it will be easy for them to pronounce it, for though we do writ the self same words with gn, nevertheless there is small difference between their pronunciation and ours, let them take heed only to sound g in the same syllable that n is, and then they shall not find any hardness in his pronunciation, as mignon, oignon, compagnon, lineage, line, compagnie, Read mi-gnon, oignon, compagnon, lineage, line, compa-gnie.  Exceptez sign, cygne, dign, cognoistre, & ses composez, ou g n'est point prononcé. 
Except, sign, cygne, dign, cognoistre, etc Wherein g is not pronounced at all.   

h.  Comment prononcez vous h? 
How do you pronounce h?  h se prononce par aspiration, asçavoir aux mots qui sont vrays François, ausquels elle est tousiours prononcée, come hache, hanter, hay, honte, etc. Il faut excepter haleine, huict, alas, heur, heureux, 
h is pronounced with aspiration, to wit in words that are true French, in the which h is always pronounced, as hache, hanter, hay, honte, etc. We must except haleine, huict, alas, heur, heureux,  & tous les mots derivez du Latin, qui se commencent par h; come homme, honneur, heritage, etc. ausquels elle n'est iamais prononcée: 
and all the words that are derived from the Latin which begin with h; as homme, honneur, heritage, etc. wherein h is never pronounced:  Lisez donc omme, onneur, eritage, etc. 
Read then omme, onneur, eritage, etc.   

ll  Comment prononcez vous deux ll au milieu d'vn mot, ayant i devant, & une simple l a la fin d'vn mot, ayant deux ou trois voyelles devant? 
How do you pronounce two ll in the midst of a word, having i before: and a single l at the end of a word, having two or three vowels afore?  Deux ll au milieu d'vn mot, ayant i devant; come fill, baille: & une simple l a la fin d'vn mot, ayant deux ou trois voyelles devant, come oeil, dueil, or gueil, se prononcent difficilement par les Anglois, toutesfois s'ils prenent guard come ils prononcent ces deux mots scallion, scoulion, il leur sera plus facile de les prononcer, car elles se prononcent presque de mesme: come baille, taille, vaille, fill, veille. Excepté ville. 
Two ll in the midst of a word having i before, as fill, baille: and a single l at the end of a word, having two, or three vowels before, as oeil, dueil, orgueil, are hardly pronounced by the Englishmen, notwithstanding if they will take heed, how they pronounce these two words scallion, sculion, they shall find more easy to pronounce it: for they are pronounced almost like, as baille, taille, vaille, fill, veille, Except ville.  Ceste reigle la n'a elle pas am au mots ou il y a une antre voyelle, que i come a, e, oh, u, devant deux ll? 
Is not this rule to be understood in the words, wherein there is an other vowel than i, as a, e, oh, u, before two ll?  Nenny car lors il n'y a que l'vne des l qui se prononce, come pall, mall, bell, sell, folle, null, seulle: lisez 
Not, for then there is but a single pomell pronounced as pall, mall, bell, sell, folle, null, seulle, Read  pale, male, bele, sele, fool, null; seulle. 
pale, male, bele, sele, fool, nule, seule.   

m.  Comment prononcez vous m a la fin d'vn mot? 
How do you pronounce m at the end of a word?  in a la fin d'vn se prononce come n, come nom, renom: lisez non; renon. 
m in the end of a word is pronounced like n as nom, renom: Read non renon.   

ph.  Comment prononcez vous ph? 
How do you pronounce ph?  ph senior prononce come f, come philosophe, prophet, phlegm: 
ph is pronounced like f, as philosophe, prophet, phlegm:  Lisez filosofe, prophet, phlegm. 
Read filosofe, prophet, phlegm.   

qu.  Comment prononcez vous cue? 
How do you pronounce cue?  qu se prononce come k Anglois, come qui, que, quiconque, quand: 
qu is pronounced like English k, as qui, que, quiconque, quand:  Lisez king, ke, kiconke, kand. 
Read ki, ke, kiconke, kand.   

r.  Comment prononcez vous un simple razors, au milieu d'vn mot? 
How do you pronounce a single razors being in the midst of a word?  r simple se prononce come r de ce mot Anglois borrow, il la faut prononcer fort doucement, & sans force, come si elle estoit joincte avec la lettre de devant, encore qu'elle ne le soit, come pair, peer, mere, mare, more, guerre, etc. 
a single r is pronounced like razors of this English, word borrow, it must be pronounced very sweetly, and without force, as if it were joined with the letter going afore, though it be not in deed, as pair, peer, mere, mare, more, guerre, etc.  Et au commencement d'vn mot elle se prononce come razors do ce mot Anglois ravish, come ravir, neprendre. 
And in the beginning of a word razors is pronounced like razors of this English word ravish, as ravir, reprendre,  rhymer, room, rumeur. 
rhymer, room, rumeur.  Comment prononcez vous deux rr? 
How do you pronounce two rr together?  Deux rr se prononcent plus rudement, & avec plus de force que la simple razors, & see prononce come les deux rr de ce mot Anglois warrior, domme terre, guerre, bar, etc. 
Two rr are pronounced more hardly, and with more force than the single r is; and are pronounced like the two rr of this English word warrior, as terre, guerre, bar, etc.   

s.  Comment prononcez vous s entre deux voyelles? 
How do you pronounce s between two vowelles?  s entre deux voyelles se prononce come un z, come choose, mawaise, priser: 
s between two vowels is pronounced like z as choose, mawaise, priser:  Lisez choze, mawaize, priser. 
Read choze, mawaize, prizer.   

ss.  Comment prononcez vous deux ss? 
How do you pronounce two ss?  Deux ss se prononcent come un c, come press, feisse, fossae, trousse: 
Two ss are pronounced like c, as press, feisse, fossae, trousse:  Lisez préce, feice, foce, trouce. 
Read préce, feice, foce, trouce.  Comment prononcez vous s a la fin d'vn mot? 
How do you pronounce s at the end of a word?  s a la fin d'vn mot se prononce come z, come pas, bas, nous, vous, tous, rois: 
s at the end of a word, is pronounced like z as pas, bas, nous, vous, tous, rois,  Lisez paz, baz, nouz, vouz, touz, roiz. 
Read paz, baz, nouz, vouz, touz, roiz.   

th'.  Comment prononcez vous th'? 
How do you pronounce th'?  th' senior prononce come t sans h, come Timothee, thesme, atheist: 
th' is pronounced like t without h; as Timothee, thesme, atheist:  Lisez Timotee, tesme, ateiste. 
Read Timotee, tesme, ateiste.   

tion.  Comment prononcez vous tion? 
How do you pronounce tion?  tion se prononce come s'il estoit escripttion, come action, affection, prononciation: 
tion is pronounced as if it were written tion, as action, affection, prononciation:  Lisez action, affection, prononciation. 
Read action, affection, prononciation.   

x.  Comment prononcez vous x a la fin d'vn mot? 
How do you pronounce x at the end of a word?  x a la fin d'vn mot se prononce come z, come aux, paix, faix, lieux, mieux: 
x at the end of a word is pronounced like z, as aux, paix, faix, lieux, mieux:  Lisez auz, paiz, faiz, lieuz. 
Read auz, paiz, faiz lieuz, mieuz.     

Des Reigles generales. Of the general Rules.  
MAintenant que nous auons particulierement parlé des lettres Françoises, tant voyelles que consonantes; & que ie sçay quelle difference il y a entre leur prononciation, & celles des lettres Angloises, que me rest il pour parfaictement lire & bien parler? 
NOw sir, that we have particularly spoken of the French letters, as well vowels as consonantes, and that I know what difference there is between their pronunciation and the English letters, what lack I to perfectly read, and speak well?  Il vous rest encore quelques reigles generales, qu'il faut diligemment observer, sans iamais errer a l'encontre, si vous desirez bien prononcer; mais qui sont fort aisées, d'autant qu'elles sont peu en number. 
You lack yet some general rules, the which aught diligently to be observed, without transgressing them in any wise, if you desire to prononce well, but they be very easy because, they be few.   

La premiere Reigle. The first Rule.  
QVelle est la premiere? 
WHich is the first?  La premiere est, que si un mot se finist 
The first is, that if a word endeth  par e feminin, & que le mot suyvant se commence par une voyelle, e feminin n'est iamais prononcé, & les deux, ou trois, ou quatre mots sont joincts ensemble, come s'ils n'estoyent qu'vn, come bell amye aim estre aymée: 
with e femimn, and that the word following beginneth with a vowel, e feminin is never pronounced, and the two, or three, or four words are joined together, as if they were but one word, as bell amye aim estre aymée:  Lisez bell-amy-aym-estr-aymée. 
Read bell-amy-aym-estr-aymée.  Et si un mot se finist par é masculine, ou par quelque autre voyelle, & que le mot suyvant se commence par une autre voyelle, é masculine, ou quelque autre voyelle quelle quelle soit (excep té e feminin) doibt elle estre prononcée? 
But if a word endeth with é masculine, or with an other vowel, and that the word following beginneth with another vowel, must é masculine, or some other vowel whatsoever (except e feminin) be pronounced?  Ouy, dictes donc I'ay donné a mon pere, & non pas i aye donn a mon pere. 
Yea, say then I'ay donné a mon pere, and not i'ay donn-a mon pere.  Prononcez il donna a amour, & non pas il donn amour. 
Pronounce il donna a Amour, and not i'll donn-Amour.  Prononcez il est uni & joinct, & non pas il est un & joinct. 
Sound il est uni & joinct, and not il est un & joinct.  Dictes i'll a coureu a Londres, & non pas il a cour a Londres: & ainsy des autres leurs semblables. 
Say il a coureu a Londres, and not i'll a cour a Londres: and even so of other their like.    

Lafoy second Reigle. The second Rule.  
QVelle est la second Reigle generale? 
WHich is the second rule?  Lafoy second est, que si un mot se finist par une consonant, & que le mot 
The second rule is. If a word endeth with a consonant, and the word  suyvant se commence par une voyelle, les deux, ou trois, ou quatre mots sont prononcez ensemble, come s'ilz n'estoyent qu'vn mot, come il aymoit assez a chanter en Music, prononcez come since n'estoit qu'vn mot, ilaymoitassezachanteren Music. 
following beginneth with a vowel the two or three, or four words are pronounced together, as if they were but one word, as il aymoit assez a chanter en Music, pronounce as if it were but one word, Ilaymoitassezachanteren Music.  Ceste reigle n'a elle point d'exception? 
Hath this rule no exception?  Nenny, sinon en ce mot et, qui tousiours est prononcé é, soit qu'il ait une voyelle, soit qu'il ait une consonante apres. 
Not, but in this word et, which always is pronounced é, without t, whether a vowel, or a consonant doth follow after him.    

La troisiesme Reigle. The third rule.  
QVelle est la troisiesme Reigle generale? 
WHich is the third general rule?  La troisiesme reigle est, que si un mot se finist par une, ou deux consonantes, & le mot suyvant se commence par une autre consonant, les consonantes de la fin du mot ne sont iamais prononcées, come i'ay faict cela: c'est trop toast parlé: 
The third rule is, if a word endeth with one, or two consonantes, and that the word following, beginneth with another consonant, the consonantes in the end of the word are never pronounced, as i'ay faict cela: c'est trop toast parlé:  Lisez i'ay fai cela. Cé trow to parlé. 
Read i'ay fai cela, cé trow to parlé.  Cestre reiglen'a elle point d'exception? 
Hath this rule no exception?  See a; Il faut excepter les Liquides l, m, n, r, & des Muttes c, quand il est le dernier du mot, car s'il estoit penultime il ne seroit prononcé, come pour les Liquides mon loyal seruiteur faict son devoir. Ila acquis un nom fameux, 
Yes. The liquides l, m, n, r, are excepted and the muts c, when it is the last letter of a word, for otherwise it must not be pronounced, as for the liquides mon loyal seruiteur faict son devoir. Il a acquis un nom fameux.  Et pour c, avec moy, un sac plain de bled. 
And for c, avec moy, un sac plain de bled.     


Apostrophe.  
QVe signify ceste mark ' mice entre deux lettres d'vn mot? 
WHat doth this mark ' mean being put between two letters of a word?  ‛ Ceste marnque s'appelle Apostrophe, & vault autant qu'vn e feminin, elle se met pour e de ces mots d'vne syllable ce, de, ie, le, me, ne, que, se, te, si le mot suyvant se commence par une voyelle, come c'est pour ce est, d'amour, pour de amour, i'ay pour ie ay, l'amy, pour le amy, m'enseigner: pour me enseigner, n'est, pour ne est, qu'il, pour que il: s'esbatre, pour se esbatre: t'apprendre, pour te apprendre, & ainsy des autres leurs semblables & pareillement en ce mot si come s'ils pour si ils, & la come l'aureille pour la aureille. 
‛ This mark is called Apostrophe and it stands for an e feminin, it is put for an e in these words of one syllable ce, de, ie, le, me, ne, que, se, te, if the word following beginneth with a vowel, as c'est, for ce est, d'amour, for de amour, i'ay for ie ay, l'amy, for le amy, m'enseigner for me enseigner, n'est for ne est, qu'il, for que il: s'esbatre, for se esbatre: t'apprendre, for te apprendre, and even so of other their like, and likewise in this word si, as s'ils for si ils: and lafoy, as I'aureille for la aureille.    

Liaison. Band.  
QVe signify ceste mark? 
WHat doth this marke-meane?  Ceste marque-signifie que le mot au milieu duquel elle se trouue est composé de deux mots, qui se doibuent prononcer ensemble sans division, come porteflambeaux, donne-iour, grave-doux. 
This marke-showeth that the word in the midst of the which it is found is compounded of two words, which aught to be pronounced together with any division, as porteflambeaux, donne-iour, grave-doux.    

Admiration.  
QVe signify ceste mark?! 
WHat doth this mark! signify?  Ceste mark! se met apres les paroles d'admiration, ou exclamation, come alas! las moy miserable! o quel august port! quelle Angelique face! etc. 
This mark! is commonly set after the words of admiration, and exclamation, as alas! las moy miserable! o quel august port! quelle Angelique face! etc.    

Interrogation.  
QVe signify ceste mark?? 
WHat doth this mark? signify?  Ceste mark? se met apres les paroles d'interrogation, ou demand, come Qui a faict cela? Est-ce vous? 
This mark? is put after the words of interrogation, or ask, as Qui a faict cela? est-ce vous?  Ce qui ce doibt prononcer avec un peu de vehemence. 
The which aught to be pronounced with some vehemency.    

Des Distinctions. Of Distinctions.  
QVe signify ceste mark, estant a lafin d'vn mot? 
WHat doth this mark, signify being at the end of a word?  Ceste mark, qui se nom comma signify qu'en lisant, ou parlant il faut lire, ou parler sans s'arrester iusques la; & la prendre un peu haleine, puis suyure, d'autant que le sens de la sentence n'est pas encore parfaict, come Qui a bon voisin, a bon matin. 
This mark, which is called comma, showeth us in reading, or speaking that we must either read or speak thitherto, without any staying or breathing, and being there we must breathe a little, then follow, because the whole sense of the sentence is not yet perfect, as Qui a bon voisin, a bon matin.  Que signify ces deux points?: 
What do these two points: signify?  Ceste mark: qui s'appelle colon, 
This mark: which is called colon,  signify qu'il faut s'arrester deux fois autant la qu'au coma, & que la sentence n'est encore paracheuée, come Les choses faictes avec deliberation, apportent honneur a qui les faict, si elles sont bien faictes: & au contrair deshonneur au conseiller, si elles sont mal faictes. 
teacheth us that we must stay there twice as much as the comma, and that the sentence is not yet endeth, as Les choses faictes avec deliberation, apportent honneur a qui les faict, si elles sont bien faictes: & au contrair deshonneur au conseiller, si elles sont mal faictes.  Que signify ce point seul?. 
What doth this point alone. signify?  Ceste mark. signify que la sentence est parfaicte, & que la il faut prendre bonne haleine, deux fois autant au moins qu'on en prend au colon, ou deux points, come. 
This mark. teacheth us that the sentence is ended, and that we must there breathe long twice as much, as at the Colon at lest, as  L'homme rusé, par long usage, 
L'homme rusé, par long usage,  N'est folement avantereux: 
N'est folement avantureux:  Et qui par son peril, est sage, 
Et qui par son peril est sage,  S'appelle sage malheureux. 
S'appelle sage mal'heureux.  Que signify ceste mark? () 
What doth this mark () signify?  Ceste mark () qui s'appelle parenthese entrecouppe le sens de la sentence, & ce qui est contenu en icelle se doibt prononcer plus bas que le rest, come je sçay bien (& ne me feray iamais donner la gesne pour le confesser) qu'ily a plus d'ignorance en moy, que de science en vous. 
This mark () which is called parenthesis. divideth the sense of the sentence: and that which is contained in it aught to be pronounced more low than the rest, as je sçay bien (& ne me feray iamais donner ja geine pour le confesser) qu'il ya plus d'ignorance en moy, que de science en vous.  Or maintenant voyla tout, ie suis infiniment aise de voir, que vous avez si bien retenu vos reigles de prononciation: si vous les powez aussi bien observer & pratiquer come vous les sçavez, & que vous 
Now there is all, I am very glad to see, that you can so well remember your rules of the pronunciation, if you can observe and practise them so well as you can tell them, and as you  m'auez respondu, sans avoir faict aucune faute, il ne se peut fair que vous ne prononciez, & lisiez aussi bien & parfaictement qu'vn François naturel, voire mesme beaucoup mieux que beaucoup de François qu'il y a. 
have answereth me without having committed any fault, you can not choose but to pronounce and read as well and perfectly as any natural Frenchman, yea much better than many Frenchmen themselves.  Ce seroit une choose estrange que moy, qui suis estranger, peusse mieux prononcer la langue d'vn pais, que celuy qui est né au mesine pais. 
It were a strange thing that I, which am a stranger, should pronounce better the language of some country than he which is born in that country.  je vous dis verité. Tous ceux qui sont François ne prononcent, ny ne parlent pas bien François, come vous entendrez cy apres. 
I tell you true: all Frenchmen do not pronounce and speak French well, as you shall hear hereafter.  je suis content de vous croire pour ne vous frustrer de vostre desir, qui est de me donner courage, dont ie vous remercie tres-affectueusement. 
I am content to believe you, jest I should frustrate you from your desire, which is to encourage me. I thank you heartily for it.  Vous le trowerez ainsy. 
You shall find it so.  Maintenant que ie vous ay satisfaict, touchant les reigles de la prononciation, que de vostre grace vous m'auez apprises, vous plaist i'll me fair tant de faveur, pour adiouster une second obligation a la premiere, de me resouldre de quelques doubts, ou ie suis, & me respondre a quelques demands, que i'ay a vous fair de la prononciation encore. 
Now that I have contented you, concerning the rules of the pronunciation, the which by your own courtesy you have taught me, will it please you to do me the favour (for to add a second band to the first) to resolve me of some doubts wherein I am, and answer me upon some questions that I would fayne yet ask you of the pronunciation.  Vous ne me sçauriez saire plus de plaisir, 
You could not do me a greater pleasure,  C'est le uray moyen d'apprendre. 
It is the true way of learning.  On monte a la doctrine par les degrez du doubt. Or sus donc, commencez. 
We mount up to knowledge through the steers of doubt. Go to, let us then begin.     

Si les François parlent plustost que les Anglois ou non. Whether Frenchmen speak faster than Englishmen or no.  
D'Ou vient que les François parlent si toast? 
WHat is the cause that Frenchmen speak so thick and fast?  Il le vous semble ainsy: mais ils ne parlent pas plus toast que les Anglois: les François en pensent autant des Anglois s'ils n'entendent leur language, pour le moins ie l'estimois ainsi, quand ie vins en Angleterre, mais ie trouue du contrair maintenant que i'entens leur langue: vous le trowerez tout de mesme, quand vous entendrez la nostre; & y trowerez fort peu, ou point de difference, ie ne veux pas nigher qu'il n'y en ait, qui ne parlent plustost les vns que les autres selon la disposition de leur esprit, come ceux qui ont l'esprit plus vif & prompt parlent plus vitement, & promptement que ceux qui ont l'esprit tardif & lent, qui parlent fort lentement, sinon que les vns se temperent & corrigent par le judgment, & les autres s'amendent par l'exercice, autrement ie n'y voy aucune difference. Il y a une autre raison qui vous 
It seemeth so unto you, but they do not speak faster than the Englishmen: the Frenchmen think so much of the Englishmen, if they do not understand their tongue, as for me I thought so when I came unto England, but I find the contrary now that I understand their tongue: you shall find it so, when you shall understand ours, and you shall find very little difference, or none at all. I will not deny, but there be some that speak faster one than others, according the disposition of their wit, as those whose wit is more sharp and quick do speak more fastly and readily then those whose wit is blunt and slack, which in deed do speak very slackly, unless one correct himself by judgement, and the other amend their fault by practice, otherwise I see not any other difference. There is another reason that makes  faict penser que nous parlons si toast, c'est que la plus grand part de nos mots sont plus longs que les vostres, qui presque tous sont d'vnesyllabe, si bien qu'vn de nos mots vous semble estre deux, ou trois, ou quatre des vostres, selon autant de syllabes qu'il a. Il y a plus, c'est que nous joingnons tellement nos mots ensemble, par une mutuelleliaison & proportion de voyelles & consonantes, qu'il semble que chasque coma n'est qu'vn mot, car encore qu'il y en ait quelque fois sept, ou huict ils sont si bien mariez & enchainez ensemble, qu'on ne les peut desjoindre, sans rompre les reigles de la uraye & naturelle prononciation: Ce qui, tant s'en faut qu'il nous face parler tossed, qu'au contrair il donne grace, & distinstion a la prononciation. 
you think that we speak so fast, to wit the most part of our words be longer than yours, which are almost all of one syllable, so that one of our words seemeth unto you to be two or three or four of yours, according as many syllables, as it hath. Besides, we knit and join together so our words with a mutual knot and proportion, both of vowelles and consonantes, that it seemeth that every comma is nothing but a word: for though they are sometimes seven or eight together, they are so well joined and feathered one with another, that they can not be unknitted without breaking the rules of the true and natural pronunciation: The which thing so much lacked that it will make us speak fast, but by contrary it giveth both grace and distinction to the pronunciation.    

De la prononciation des langues en general. Of the pronunciation of tongues in general.  
ET en quoy consist la prononciation des langues? 
ANd in what thing consists the pronunciation of tongues?  La prononciation des langues consist en la, uraye & naïsue prononciation de toutes les lettres; mais principalement des voyelles, car il n'y a aucune syll able qui 
The pronunciation of tongues doth consist in the true and lively pronunciation of all the letters, but namely of the vowelles, for there is not any syllable, but it  n'ait une voyelle au moins, laquelle voyelle donne le son a la syllable, & sans laquelle la syllable, ou mot ne sçauroit estre prononcé, come bat, bell, fit, sot, fut, ou vous voyez que le mot bat est prononcé par a, bell par e, fit par i, sot par o, fut par u; & que bt sans a, bl sans e, ft sans i, st sans oh, ft sans u, ou quelque autre voyelle, & ainsi des autres, ne pewent avoir aucune prononciation, voire quand toutes les consonantes seroyent ensemble: Mais au contrair une voyelle seule peut faired'elle mesme unesyllabe, voire un mot sans l'aide d'aucune consonante, come y a il, unir, ou vous voyez que y, a, & u, font trois syllabes d'eux mesmes, & ainsi des autres. Mais ce n'est pas ainsi des consonantes. Tellement que qui peut une fois donner aux voyelles leur uray, & naturel son, se peut bien vaunter qu'il a attaint la meilleure part de la prononciation, de la langue qu'il apprend: puis que la prononciation d'icelle en depend entierement. 
hath one vowel at lest, the which vowel giveth sound to the syllable, & without which the syllable or word could not be pronounced, as bat, bell, fit, sot, fut, wherein you may see that the word bat is pronounced by a, bell by e, fit by i, sot by oh, fut by u; & that bt, without a, bl, without e, ft, without i, st, without oh, ft, without u, or some other vowel, and likewise of other, can not have any pronunciation, ne when all the consonantes were together: But contrariwise a vowel alone can make by itself a syllable, yea a word without the help of any consonant, as y a il, unir, wherein you may see that y, a, & u, make three syllables by themselves, and in like manner of others. But it is not so of the consonantes. In such sort that he that can once give to the vowels their true and natural sound, canvante himself that he hath got the best part of the pronunciation of the tongue that he learn, seeing that the pronunciation of it doth wholly belong to it.    

Pourquoy on escrit les lettres qui ne sont point prononcées. Wherhfore Frenchmen do writ many letters that are not pronounced.  
ENquoy consist la douceur & facilité d'vne langue? 
IN what doth consist the sweetness and facility of a tongue or speech?  La douceur & facilité d'vne langue consist en la multitude des voyelles, & au contrair la difficulté & rudesse proceed des consonantes, de sort que les langues, ou il y a plus de voyelles, come la Grecque, & la Latin, & autres leurs semblables, sont beaucoup plus douces a prononcer, & plaisantes a over, que celles, ou pour une voyelle, il y a tousiours trois, ou quatre consonantes: & afin qu'on ne pense que i'en parle par affection, i'en laisse le judgment au lecteur debonair, qui tout ainsi que i'en parle sans affection particuliere, en voudra iuger, sans passion, & peser les raisons en la balance d'vn arbitre indifferent. C'est pourquoy il y a tant de consonantes en la langue Françoise, qui ne sont point prononcées: car si deux, ou trois, ou quatre consonantes s'entresuiuent sans aucune voyelle, soit au commencement, soit au milieu, soit a la fin d'vn mot, ou de deux, ou de trois, ou de quatre, il n'y a que la derniere qui soit prononcée, exceptant pomell, m, n, r, & x, & lordship, au milieu d'vn mot, & non pas a la fin, come nous avons dit devant. 
The sweetness and facility of a tongue consists in the multitude of vowels, and contrariwise both the hardness and rudeness ethereof proceedeth of the consonantes, so that the tongues, wherein vowels exceed the number of consonantes, as the Greek and Latin tongue, and other their like, are much more sweeter to be pronounced, and pleasant to be herded, than those wherein for a vowel there is always three or four consonantes: And to the end one should not think that I speak of it by affection. I leave the judgement of it to the gentle reader, which even as I speak of it without particular affection, both will judge of it without passion, and weigh the reasons in the balance of an indifferent arbitrement. That is the cause wherefore there be so many consonants in the French tongue which are not pronounced: for if two, or three or four consonantes do follow one another, without any vowel: either in the beginning, or in the midst, or in the end of a word, or two, or three, or sour, none but the last is pronounced, excepting pomell, m, n, r, and likewise x, & lordship, so that they be in the midst of a word, and not in the end as we have said before.  Pourquoy les escript on donc, sion ne les prononce? Pour trois raisons principales. 
Wherefore are they then written, if they be not pronounced? For three principal reasons.  La premiere pour demonstrer que les mots, au 
The first is for to show, that the words in the  milieu desquels une consonante n'est point prononcée, sont empruntez du Latin, come prompt, faict, faulx, ou le dernier lordship de prompt, & le c de faict, & l de faulx, ne sont point prononcez, mais sont escripts pour demonstrer qu'ils sont derivez des mots Latins promptus, factum, falsum, & ainsi des autres: combien que cela n'a pas am en tous les mots Latins, selon les exceptions que nous en avons donné, come excepter, excess, exprimer, ou x, & lordship, sont tousiours prononcez au milieu du mot, encore qu'ilz soyent derivez de excipere, excessus, exprimere. 
midst of which a consonant is not pronounced are borrowed of the Latin tongue as prompt, faict, faulx, wherein the last lordship, of prompt, and c, of faict, and l, of faulx, are not pronounced, but are written to show that they are derived of those Latin words promptus, factum, falsum, and the like of others: although that it is not observed in all the Latin words, according the exceptions that we have given before, as excepter, excess, exprimer, wherein x, and p. are always pronounced in the midst of the word, though they be derived from excipere, excessus, exprimere.  Quelle est la second raisin pourquoy on escript, au milieu d'vn mot, des consonantes qu'on ne prononce point? 
What is the second reason, wherefore they writ in the midst of a word some consonants, that are not pronounced?  C'est, ou pour rendre la lettre de devant la consonante longue, qui autrement seroit briefue, come teste, best, eust, cognoist, ou pour monstrer que les mots, ou elles sont escriptes, & non prononcées, sont Noms du plurier number, lequel est formé du singulier en adioustant s, ou z, come de mot mots, d'est ang estangs, de long longs, de grec grecz, de grand grands, de chef chefs, ausquels pluriers la penultime consonante n'est iamais prononcée n'y en autres leurs semblables, Lisez mos, estans, lons, 
It is for to make the letter which is before the consonant long, which otherwise should be short, as teste, best, eust, cognoist, or for to show that the words wherein they be written and not pronounced, are Nouns of the plur all number, the which is form of the singular, adding thereunto either ss, or z, as of mot mots, of estang estangs, of long longs, of grec, grecz, of grand grands, of chef chefs: in the which plurals numbers the last consonant, saving one, in never pronounced nor in other their like, Read than mos, estans, lons,  grez, grans, chés, etc. 
grez, grans, chés, etc.  Quelle est la troisiesme & derniere? 
Which is the third and the last?  La troisiesme est de tous les mots, qui se finissent par une consonante, laquelle encore qu'elle ne soit iamais prononcée, excepté les liquides devant une autre consonant, come il faut tousiours cercher vertu, ou n'y t, en faut n'est point prononcé, a cause que le mot suivant tousiours, see commence par une autre consonant, n'y s, devant i, en ce mot tousiours, d'autant que t, devant une voyelle est consonante, n'y s, a la fin du mot tousiours, d'autant que le mot suivant cercher, se commence par la consonant c, si bien qu'il faut prononcer il fau toviour cercher vertu: encore di-ie qu'on ne prononce point une consonante, estant a la fin d'vn mot, quand il suit une autre consonant, elle doibt neantmoins estre escripte, d'autant que s'il suit une voyelle elle est prononcée, come il faut aymer tousiours unité, ou t, en faut est prononcé, d'autant que le mot suivant aymer see commence par une voyelle, & pareillement la derniere s, de tousiours a cause que le mot suivant unité se commence par une autre voyelle, & ainsi des autres. 
The third is of all the words, which do finish with a consonant, the which though it never be pronuunced, excepting the liquides before another consonant, as il faut tousiours cercher vertu, wherein neither t, in the word faut, is not pronounced, because the word following tousiours, is begun with another consonant; nor ss, before i, in the word tousiours, because i, before a vowel is consonant; nor ss, at the end of the word tousiours, because the word following cercher, beginneth with the consonant c, so that it must be pronounced il fau toviour cercher vertu: though I say we do not pronounce a consonant being at the end of a word, when another consonant followeth, it aught notwithstanding to be written, because if a vowel doth follow, it is pronounced, as il faut aymer tousiours unité, wherein t, in the word faut is pronounced, because the word following is begun with a vowel, and likewise the last ss, of the word tousiours, because the word following unité beginneth with another vowel, and likewise in other their like.  C'est donc une choose tres-necessaire qu'on escrives ces consonantes (encore qu'on ne les 
It is then a most necessary thing that such consonantes should be written (though they  prononce point) tant pour la distinction des mots qui ont diverse signification, diverse orthographe, & neantmoins pareille prononciation, que pour fuir le baaillement, qui se feroit a cause des voyelles, si l'on n'interposoit entre elles des consonantes; come de ceux qui ont diverse signification diverse orthographe, & pareille signification, Il a perdu le sens de la veue, Il a perdu le sang des veins. Il ne viendra point sans moy. Ou vous voyez que ces trois mots sens, sang, & sans, se prononcent l'vn come l'autre, neantmoins l'vn signify une chose, & l'autre l'autre, c'est asçavoir sens signify sense en Anglois, & sang blood, & sans without, & ainsi des aut res. 
be not pronounced) as well for the distinction of the words that have divers signification, divers spelling, and notwithstanding like pronunciation, as to eschew a bleating which should follow, because of the vowels, if we should not intermingle between them some consonants, as for example of those that have both divers signification, divers spelling, and like pronunciation, il a perdu le sens de la veue, il a perdu le sang des veins. Il ne viendra point sans moy. Wherein you may see that these three words since, sang, sans, are pronounced like one another notwithstanding one signifieth one thing, and the other another, to wit since signifieth sense in English, and sang blood, and sans without, and likewise of other their like.  je vous pry donnez moy une exemple des mots, ou il faut que la consonante soit escripte, encore que s'il ne suit une voyelle, elle n'est point prononcée? 
I pray you give me an example of the words, wherein a consonant must be written, though except a vowel doth follow it is pronounced?  Ceste cy vous seruira pour toutes. 
This will serve you for all others.  Il faut fair cela, ou t, du mot faut n'est point prononcé, a cause que le mot suivant fair se commence par une consonant, toutesfois il faut escrire le t, pour tenir le mot en sa nature, premierement pour la signification, come pour le distinguer de faux en ceste exemple faux teston, & prestez moy une 
Il faut fury cela, wherein t, in the word faut is not pronounced, because the word following fair beginneth with a consonant, notwithstanding t, must be written, for to keep the word in his nature, & virtue, first for his signification, as for to distinguish it of the word faux in this example faux teston, and prestez moy une  faulx pour coupper mes prez, ne faux point a fair cela, ou ces quatre mots faut, faux, faulx, faux, ont quatre significations, encore qu'ils n'ayent qu'vne mesme prononciation, a cause des consonantes qui suivent un chacun d'iceux. Secondement il les faut escrire pour la prononciation car s'il suivoit une voyelle elles, sont prononcées, come il faut aymer ou t, en faut est prononcé a cause que le mot suivant aymer see commence par une voyelle, & ainsi des autres autrement il se feroit un baaillement de voyelles, qui seroit aussi difficile a prononcer, que rude a over, come si on prononçoit il fau aymer, pour il faut aymer, ie vou en croy, pour ie vous en croy. Car la plus douce prononciation consist en une deuë liaison de voyelles, & consonantes ensemble, si bien que s'il exceed ou de l'vne, ou de l'autre de plus de deux, ou trois au plus, la prononciation en est beaucoup plus rude. 
faulx pour coupper mes prez, ne faux point a fair cela, wherein these four words fault, faux, faulx, faux, have four significations, though they have but one self same pronunciation, because of the consonants that follow each one of them. Secondly they must be written, because of the pronunciation, for if a vowel doth follow, they be pronounced, as il faut aymer: wherein t, in the word faut is pronounced, because the word following aymer beginneth with a vowel, and likewise others their like, otherwise it should follow a gaping and bleating, because of the vowels which should be as hard to pronounce, as rude to be herded, as if one would pronounce il fau aymer, for il faut aymer: ie vou en croy, for ie vous en croy. For the sweetest pronunciation consists in an even and apt joining together both vowels and consonants, in such sort that if it doth exceed either of one, or of the other above two or three, the pronunciation is much more the harder.  Maintenant vous voyez en qu'elle erreur tombent ceux qui veulent qu'on escrive come on prononce, & qu'on prononce ainsi qu'on escript, & qu'elle absurdité s'en ensuiuroit. 
Now you may see unto what error do fall those that will have us to writ as we pronounce, and to pronounce as we do writ, and what absurdity should follow of it.  Il est uray. Mais dites moy, ie vous pry, est-il de besoing que les François apprenent toutes ces reigles, quand ils apprenent a 
Is it true. But tell me I pray you, is it needful that Frenchmen should learn all those rules, when they begin to learn both  lyre, & escrire. 
to read, and writ.  Nenny: car la naturelle prononciation de nostre langue en parlant, & le continuel usage que nous avons en lisant, nous l'apprent, en sort que si on vouloit parlour, ou lire come il est escript, il seroit aussi difficile (i'entens de ceux qui parlent naturellement bon François) a prononcer mal, soit en parlant soit en lisant, come il est mal aise aux estrangiers de le bien prononcer sans observer les reigles. 
Not: for the natural pronunciation of our tongue, when we speak, and the continual use that we have in reading, do teach us in such sort, that if one would either speak, or read as it is written, it were so hard to him (I mean of those that naturally speak good French) to pronounce ill either speaking or reading, as it is hard to strangers to pronounce it well, without observing the rules.  Est-il donc de besoin que pour bien lire, bien prononcer, & bien parler, on observe toutes ces reigles? 
Is it then necessary for to read well, to pronounce well, and to speak well, one should observe all these rules?  Ouy necessairement. Car tout ainsi qu'il est impossible de discerner l'air, & Music d'vne chanson iouée sur le lut, pour bell qu'elle soit, si celuy qui jove n'obserue le temps, la cadance, & measure requise: ainsi celuy qui parle, s'il ne prononce come il faut, faisant une syllable briefue qui deuroit estre longue, & longue cell, qui deuroit estre briefue, ou donnant a une lettre leson, qui est deu a une autre, ou ostant celles qu'on doibt retenir, ou retenant celles qu'on doibt oster, host non seulement la grace de la langue, mais aussine peut estre entendu qu'auec grandedifficulté: car les paroles ne sont autre choose que les forms, ou images 
Yea necessarily. For even as it impossible to discern the tune and Music of a song played upon a lute, though never so good, except he that playeth, doth observe both time and measure fit and apt for it: even so he that speaketh, except he doth pronounce as he aught to do, making a syllable short, that aught to be long, and long that which aught to be short: or giving to a letter the sound which is due to an other, or taking away the letters that must be kept, or keeping those that aught to be taken away, taketh away not only the grace of the tongue: but also can not be understood but with much a do: for the words are nothing else, but the shaps and images of  des choses que nous avons conceu, & que nous voulons exprimer, si bien que si ces forms sont desguifées par une autre prononciation, que cell qui leur est deven, & leur sert de couleur, il est fort difficile de les cognoistre tells qu'elles sont. 
things, that we have conceived, and that we will express and declare in such sort, that if these shapes are disguised with another pronunciation, then with the same which they must have, and that serveth them in steed of a colour, it were very hard to know them such as they are.  Vous avez raison. Mais si est-ce que i'en cognoy plusieurs, qui ont esté en France trois ou quatre ans, qui ont apprins longuement, & qui se persuadent de bien parler, voire mesine quelques François qui n'obseruent pas toutes ces reigles. 
You say true: But nevertheless I know many which have been in France three or four years, which have learned long time and persuade themselves they speak well, yea some Frenchmen themselves, which observe not all these rules.  je vous en croy: car ie vous asseure que s'ils n'ont ou frequenté la Court, ou hanté la noblesse, ou apprins de quelque homme de lettre, il leur est impossible n'y de bien prononcer, n'y de bien parler. 
I believe you: for I promise' you if they have not either frequented the Court or haunted both the Nobility and Gentility, or learned of some learned man, it is impossible for them, either to pronounce well, nor to speak well.  Et quoy ne peut on pas aussi bien apprendre du commun peuple que des Gentils-hommes? 
But I pray you, can not one learn so well of the common sort as of the Gentlemen?  Non: car il n'y a n'y province, n'y ville, n'y place en France, ou l'on parle le uray & parfaict François, tel qu'on le list par les liures; excepté parmy les Courtesans, entre les Gentils-hommes, Dames, & Damoiselles, & generalement parmy ceux qui font profession des lettres, come aux Courts de Parlements, & Vniversitez: qui seuls se sont reseruez la naïfueté de la langue Françoise. 
Not truly: for there is neither province, nor city, nor any place in France, where they speak the true and perfect French, such as it is to be read in the books, saving among the courtiers, Gentlemen, Ladies, Gentlewomen, and generally among those that profess learning, as in the Courts of Parliament and Universities, which only have reserved to them the true nature and perfection of the French tongue.  Comment donc parle le vulgaire? 
How then speaketh the common sort?  Le vulgaire parle un François corrompu & bastard, & pour le moins aussi esloingné du uray François, que l'Italien est du Latin & qui plus est, aussi divers & different l'vn de l'autre, tant en la prononciation qu'aux terms, qu'il y a non pas seulement de Provinces, ou Citez, mais mesmes de Bourgs & Villages. 
The common sort speaketh a broken and bastard French, and at lest so far from the true French, as the Italian is of the Latin: and which is more, so divers and so differing from one of the other, both in the pronunciation and terms, as there be not only many Provinces, or Cities, but also as there be many Towns and Villages.  Vous i faictes esmerueiller? Est-il possible que le language des Gentils-hommes differ tant du language common? 
I wonder at it? Is it possible that the gentlemen's speech differreth so much of the common language?  Aussi uray que ie vous le dis. Il y a d'auantage: c'est que la plus part de ceux du vulgaire qui ont appris & a lyre, & a escrire, encore que quand ils lisent un liure, ils le lisent bien, & que quand ils escrivent une lettre, ou autre choose ils le facent raisonnablement bien, & que s'ils vouloyent bien parler, ils parleroyent aucunement bien: neantmoins s'ils ne conversent ordinairement avec la Noblesse, come nous avons dict, ils n'oseroyent bien parler, d'autant que parlant autrement que le vulgaire, le vulgaire se mocqueroit d'eux, & l'attribueroit a orgueil & presumption, disant qu'il vouldroyent trencher du Gentil-homme, ou du Courtesan. 
As true as I tell you. There is more than that, to wit, that the most part of the common sort, which have learned both to read and writ, although that when they read a book, they read it well, and when they do writ a letter, or any other thing else, they do it raisonable well, and besides, if they would speak well, they should speak reasonable, yet notwithstanding if they be not conversant ordinarily with Gentlemen, as we have said before, they dared not speak well, because if they would speak otherwise than the common sort doth, they would laugh at them and mock them, and they would think it to be done by pride and presumption, and say that they would play the part either of a Courtier or of a Gentleman.  Iem'en estonne. Comment est-ce donc que ceux qui vont en France pewent apprendre 
I wonder at it. Those than that go into France how can they learn to speak good French.  a parler bon François? Il ne le feront iamais avec le vulgaire. Il faut qu'ils s'aident des moyens dont i'ay parlé, ou iamais ne le parleront bien. S'il estoit ainsi il ne seroit point de besoing de sortir d'Angleterre, pour apprendre a parler François? 
They can never do it with the common sort, they must need use the means whereof I have spoken, or else they shall never speak it well. If it were so, it were not need to go out of England to learn to speak French.  Aussi n'est il, purvey qu'ils ayent un homme lettré pour les enseigner. 
No more it is not, so they have a learned man to teach it them.  je cognoy des Dames Angloises, des Gentils-hommes, & Damoiselles, qui n'ont iamais sorty d'Angleterre, qui sans comparaison parlent beaucoup mieux que d'autres que ie cognoy, qui on esté en France l'espace de trois ou quatre ans. 
I know some English Ladies, some Gentlemen, and Gentlewomen that never went out of England, but yet without comparison they speak much better than some others I know, which have been in France by the space of three or four years.  Cela est estrange. 
That is strange.  Ne vous en esmerueillez point. Car la plus part de ceux qui vont en France apprenent par routine, sans reigles, & sans art, de sort qu'il leur est impossible d'apprendre, sinon avec une grand longueur de temps: Au contrair, ceux qui apprenent en Angleterre, s'ils apprenent d'vn qui ait bonne method, il ne se peut fair qu'ils n'apprenent en brief. d'avantage ce qu'ilz apprenent est beaucoup meilleur que le François qu'on apprend en France par routine, car nous ne powons parler ce que nous n'auons appris, & que nous ignorons. Ceux qui apprenent du vulgaire, 
Do not marvel at. For the most part of those that go into France do learn by rote, without rules, and without art, so that it is impossible for them to learn, but with a very great space of time: Contrariwise those that learn in England, if they do learn of one which hath a good method of teaching, they can not choose but to learn in a very short time: Furthermore what they learn is far better than the French which is learned in France by rote. For we can not speak, that we have not learned and of that we are ignorant. Those that learn of the common people can not speak but  ne pewent parler que vulgairement, d'autant que leurs phrases & manieres de parler sont vulgaires, communes, & basses, d'vn François corrompu: Au contrair, ceux qui apprennent par liures, parlent selon ce qu'ils apprennent: or est-il que les terms & phrases des liures sont le plus pur & naïf François (bien qu'ily ait distinction de liures) il ne se peut donc qu'ils ne parlent plus purement, & naïfuement (come i'ay dict) que les autres. 
commonly and vulgarilie, because their manner of speech and terms be common, base and broken of a broken French. Contrariwise, those that do learn by books, they speak according that they learn. But thus it is, that the terms and phrases of the books are the purest, finest, and liveliest French (although there is a distinguishing of books) they can not choose then but to speak more purely, and more lively (as I have said before) then others.  Et quoy voudriez vous qu'on parlast aussi elegamment qu'on pourroit escrire? 
But what? would you have one to speak so eloquently, as one could writ?  Cela seroit a desirer, s'il se powoit fair, mais il n'est pas possible. 
That were to be wished for, if it were possible but it can not be.  Aussi n'est-ce pas ce que ie veux dire, il y a difference de parler purement, & elegamment. Ceux qui ont tant soit peu de judgment pewent fair distinction, & election des mots, soit pour parler, soit pour escrire. 
Therefore, that is not what I mean, there is difference between to speak purely, and to speak eloquently. Those that have never so little judgement, can make distinction and choice in words, either to speak, or to writ.  Il y a d'auantage. C'est que tout ainsi qu'il y a divers argumen & matieres, ainsi y a il diversité de liures. Les vns traictent de choses familieres, les autres de subject grave & serieux: le language des vns est doux & commun. Les terms des autres eloquens & graves. Si l'on parle come ceux-cy, l'on ne sçuroit estre repris de bien parler: Si l'on escript come ceux-la, 
Furthermore. Even as there be divers arguments, and matter of writings, so there is diversity of books. Some of them do handle familiar matter: others a subject more grave and more serious. The terms of one are sweet and common: the phrases of others be eloquent and grave. If we speak as these, we can not be reproved, but in speaking well: If we do writ as those, the worse we can get  l'on n'en peut remporter que louange. 
is but praise worthy.  Mais ceux qui vont en France, pewent aussi bien apprendre par liure, que ceux qui apprenent en Angleterre. 
Yea but those that go into France can learn as well by book, as those that learn here in England.  Il est uray: S'ils auoyent qu'elqu'vn pour les les enseigner par method, come on trouue icy, mais il y en a là peu ou point, qui en facent profession. 
I grant it, so they have some to teach them with method, as there be some here, but there be few ornone at all there which profess it.  Or de le fair sans un long usage & experience d'enseigner, il est du tout impossible. 
Now to do it, but with a very long use and experience of it in teaching, is impossible at all.  Si est-ce que ceux qui vont en France, ont un grand advantage sur ceux, qui apprenent icy, d'autant qu'estant là, & n'oyant rien sinon parler François, il est impossible qu'ils n'apprenent incontinent? 
Nevertheless, those that go into France, have a very great advantage of these that learn here, because being there, and hearing nothing but to speak French, they can not choose but to learn, in a very short time.  A la verité cela leur aid beaucoup, si d'autre costé ils apprenent par liure, mais s'ils ne le font, ie vous puis bien asseurer, que I'on aura aussi toast apprins a parlour de deça estant enseigné qu'eux a l'entendre de par dela nel'estant point. 
In truth that helpeth them much, if of the other side, they learn by books. But if they do not, I can assure you that one can learn so soon to speak it here, being taught, than they to understand it there, being not taught.  I'adiouste tant de credit a vostre dire que i'ayme mieux le croire, que de le revocquer en doubt. Et afin de ne vous ennuyer d'auantage en vous repliquant trop, ie me tairay sur ce propos, pour vous fair une autre question, qui est la derniere que i'ay a vous fair, vous priant que, come vous avez faict des autres, il vous plaise 
I give so much credit to your saying, that I had rather to believe it, then to doubt of it. And to the end I trouble you no longer in replying you to much, I will hold my peace concerning this speech, to ask you another question, which is the last that I have to ask you, beseeching you that even as you have done in others, it will please you to resolve me  me resourdre des doubts d'icelles. 
of the doubts of the same.  je suis a vostre commandement: Dites, & tout ce que ie pourray ne vous sera denié, & si ie suis si heureux que de vous satisfaire, me voyla content, car ie ne desire rien plus que de vous plaire. 
I am at your commandment: Say and all that I do shall not be denied unto you, and if I am so happy as to satisfy you, I am contented myself, for I desire nothing more, then to please you.  je vous remercie tres-humblement, ie vous pry donc de me dire, d'ou vient la difference de la prononciation du uray language François, & du François de nos loix d'Angleterre? 
I thank you with all my heart, I pray you then to tell me, what causeth the difference, both of the pronunciation of the true French tongue, and of the French of your English laws.  La difference vient de la prononciation de vostre langue, & de la nostre. Car ceux qui apprennent les loix, apprennent a prononcer le François d'icelles selon la prononciation Angloise; & non pas selon la prononciation Françoise, de sort que leur prononciation differe tant de la nostre qu'il est du tout impossible qu'vn François les puisse aucunement entendre. 
The difference cometh from the pronunciation of your tongue, and of ours. For those that learn the laws, learn to pronounce the French of them, according the English pronunciation, and not according to the French pronunciation, so that their pronunciation differreth so much of ours as it is impossible for a Frenchman to understand them.  Mais il semble qu'il differe non seulement en la uraye prononciation, mais aussi en orthagraphe? 
But it seemeth that it differreth not only in the true pronunciation, but also in the orthography.  Il est uray, car de la faute de l'vn n'est l'erreur de l'autre. Il le veulent escrire come ils le prononcent, & le prononcer come ils l'escriuent, ce qui faict qu'il est maintenant du tout corrompu: & pourroit a bon droit estre comparé a quelques vielles measures d'vn beau bastiment, ou il y a tant 
It is so, for of the fault of the one, springeth the error of the other. They will writ it, as they do pronounce it, and they will pronounce it, as they have written it, the which thing maketh, that now it is allaltered and corrupted, so that it may be worthily compared to some old ruins of some fair building, where so many  creu de ronces & espines, qu'a grand pain il apert que iamais ily ait eu de maisons, car devant qu'on eust trowé l'Imprimerie, on la tant de fois coppié, & chaque escrivain, l'escriuant a sa fantasy & ne retenant l'orthographe Françoise, que maintenant il semble, qu'il n'y a presque language plus esloigné du uray François que ce François de vos loix: N'y ayant presque mot que par interposition, ou addition, ou diminution, ou changement de lettre en une autre, l'on n'ait du tout corrompu. 
brambles and thorns are grown, that scarcely it appeareth that ever there had been any house. For before they had found how to Print, they have copied it out so many times, each scrivener writing it as his own fancy, keeping not the true French orthographe, or spelling, that now it seemeth that almost there no language more far from the true French, than the French of your laws: There is not almost any word, which either by an intermingling, or adding, or diminishing, or changing of a letter into another, they have not altered and corrupted.  A ce que ie voy, il se faut bien donner guard de prononcer une langue estrangere selon que nous prononçons nostre langue maternelle, si nous ne voulons changer sa prononciation, puis que chaque langue a sa peculiere prononciation? 
As I see we must take great heed, not to pronounce a strange tongue, as we do pronounce our mother's tongue, except we will change his pronunciation, seeing that every tongue hath his own proper pronunciation?  Il est uray. Car si, selon la prononciation des lettres de nostre langue naturelle, nous prononçons une langue estrangere, nous luy ostons non seulement sa naturelle prononciation, mais aussi sa grace. C'est pourquoy il y a autant de diverses prononciations de la langue Latin, qu'il y a de nations qui la parlent, car un chacun la prononce selon son propre language, & tous la prononcent mal 
It is true. For if according the pronunciation of the letters of our mother's tongue, we should pronounce a strangers tongue, we take away from it, not only his natural pronunciation, but also his grace. That is the only reason why there be so many pronunciations of the Latin tongue, as there is nations which do speak it, for every one pronounceth it according to his own language, and all pronounce it not well  for'rs les Italiens, qui ont retenu en leur langue la plus proche prononciation des lettres Latines, dont leur langue approach plus pres que null autre, quoy qu'on veille dire du contrair de l'Espagnole. 
except the Italians, which above the rest have kept in their own tongue the nearest pronunciation of the Latin letters, of the which their tongue cometh nearer than any other, whatsoever it be spoken to the contrary, for the Spanish tongue.  je vous pry de me prower cela par quelque similitude? 
I pray you to prove me that, by some similitude?  come un portrait, que quelque peintre excellent a tiré de quelque bell face, ou il y a plusieurs & divers lineamēs a remarquer, represent de plus pres tous ses traicts, que ne sçauroit fair un autre, qui n'auroit esté tracé que sur le mesme portrait; qui nonobstant quelque excellence qu'il sçauroit avoir, ne peut rien estre que l'ombre du corpse qu'il figure: & qu'vn tiers tiré sur le second en est encore plus esloigné, & pareillement le quart sur un troisiesme, le cinquiesme, sur le quatriesme, & ainsi consecutiment. Ainsi la langue Italienne, qui est la plus vive image de la langue Latin, & qui en represent plus de traicts, que null autre, pour avoir esté la premiere, qui ait esté depeinte sur la bell face d'icelle, doibt a bon droit luy resembler le plus en prononciation. Ce qui se pourroit prower par si grand number d'exemples, tant de lettres, que de mots, 
Even as picture that some excellent painter hath drawn of some fair visages, wherein there be many and divers lines to mark, representeth more lively all his draughts, then can do another, which only had been drwen, but upon the same picture, the which, though never so rare, can not be but, as it were, the shadow of the body, which it representeth, and besides, as a third drawn after upon the the second is yet more unlike than the other, and likewise the fourth after the third: the fift after the fourth, and so consequently: So the Italian tongue, which is the livelier picture, or Image, or shape of the Latin tongue, and which representeth more draughts of it then any other, because it had been the first, which hath been drawn of the fair face of it, aught worthily to be the more like to it, in pronunciation. The which thing may be proved by so many examples, as well of the letters, as of the words,  qu'il suffiroyent a en fair un gros liure, a qui s'y voudroit amuser. 
that they would suffice to make a great book of it, if one would spend time about it.  Tous ceux, qui ont quelque estincelle de judgment, & qui tant peu que ce soit sont versez aux langues, le confesseront. Il n'y a nul qui ne sçache que tant plus un peintre est prez de quelque corpse, & tant mieux il le voit, & remark les traicts qu'il a: Et au contrair, tant plus il en est loing, & moins il les peut discerner & imiter. C'en est ainsi de la langue Italienne a la Latin. 
All those that have any sparkle of judgement and which have, though never so little knowledge of the tongues, will grant it. There is none but he knoweth that the more a painter is near to some body, much more he seethe it, and marks the lines and draughts that be in it: Contrariwise, much more he is far of, the less he candiscerne and imitate them. It is even so of the Italian tongue, to the Latin tongue.  Il n'y en a point de si proche qu'elle, car elle en est si proche, qu'elle est mesme eu sa place. C'estoit a Rome, & en toute l'Italie ou l'on parloit entierement Latin: c'est a Rome, & par toute l'Italie, on l'on parle maintenant Italien. Et faut fair estate que ceux qui sont plus esloignez d'Italie, & dont leur langue a moins de mots Latins, sont aussi plus esloignez de la uraye prononciation Latin. Les François & Espagnols' en sont les moins esloignez. C'est pourquoy leur prononciation y a plus d'affinité que null autre, combien que ie ne veux nigher qu'ils ne different en beaucoup de choses. Mais ce beaucoup est peu en comparaison des autres prononciations, quoy que chacum se vueille attribuer la meilleure. 
There is none so near to it then that same, for it is so near to it, that now it is in the place of that same. It was at Rome, and through all Italy where they spoke altogether Latin: it is now at Rome, and through all Italy where they speak Italian. And we must deem that those that be more far from Italy, and whose tongue hath less Latin words, are also more far from the true Latin pronunciation. The Frenchmen and the Sparniardes are the nearest of. Therefore their pronunciation have greater likeness to it, than any other (though I will not deny) but they dissagree and differre in many things, but these many things are sew in comparison of others pronunciations, though every one will attribute to himself the best.  L'on ne sçauroit nigher que langue Latin, n'ait 
One can not deny but the Latin tongue hath  trois filles, dont l'aisnée est Italienne, lafoy second Espagnolle, & la troisiesme Françoise. Or il est uray semblable que les filles suçans le laict de la mere ont aussi apprins a parler d'elle: Et bien qu'elles ayent changé les idioms des mots, elles n'ont pas changé la prononciation, ou si elles l'ont changé elles en doibuent avoir plus retenu que ceux qui en estoyent du tout estrangiers. 
three daughters, whereof the elder is the Italian tongue, the second the Spanish tongue, and the third the French tongue. But it is very like that the daughters, sucking of their mother's milk, have also learn to speak of her: And though they have changed the Idioms of words they have not changed the pronunciation, or if they have changed it, it is like that they have kept more of it, than the strangers.  La langue Italienne n'est autre choose qu'vn Latin & François corrompu. 
The Italian tongue is nothing but broken Latin and French mingled together.  La Françoise que le viel language des Gaulois, & Latins marié ensemble. 
The French tongue nothing but the old French and Latin married together.  L'Espagnolle qu'vn Latin & Sarrasin meslé peslemesle. 
The Spanish tongue nothing but Latin and Sarrasin mingled together.  En quel temps commença la langue Françoise? 
In what time did the French tongue begin?  La langue Françoise eut sa naissance du temps de jules Caesar. Car Caesar ayant subiugué les Gauls, & rendu les Gaulois tributaires aux Romans, i'll apporta leurs loix en France, qui depuis y ont continué, si bien que les François furent contraincts d'apprendre le Latin, afin de les mieux entendre, de sort que tous les escripts & playdoyers, qui se faisoyent estoyent en Latin: Ce qui ayda beaucoup a corrompre le viel language Gaulois. 
The French tongue hath his beginning in the time of julius Caesar. For Caesar having conquered the Gauls, and make the Frenchmen yield tributary to the Romans, he brought their laws into France, which since have still remains there, in such ways that the Frenchmen were constrained to learn the Latin tongue, to the end they should understand them the better, in such sort that all the writings and plea made before the judges were in Latin tongue: The which thing helpeth much to corrupt and altar the old tongue of the Gauls.  Il y a plus c'est qu'il falloit que les Signior, & Gentils-hommes Gaulois, qui vouloyent viure a la Court des Lieutenans de Rome, en Gaul, apprinsent a parler Latin: si bien que de ce changement se feit aussi le changement de la langue Gauloise. Car come un chacun sçait, ceux qui veulent bien parler imitent, en tout ce qu'ils pewent, le language des Courtesans come ceux qu'on estime parler le mieux, & dont le language est plus necessaire a ceux qui ont affair a la Court: & ainsi print le commencement de la langue Françoise, qui depuis iusques icy a tellement creu, & s'est enrichie en sort qu'on la voit auiourd'huy en sa perfection. 
Besides, it was necessary that the Lords and Gentlemen of Gaul, which would live at the Court of the Lieutenants of Rome in Gaul, should learn to speak Latin: in such manner that of this changing, was made the change of the tongue of the Gauls. For as every one knoweth, those that will speak well, do imitate as much as they can, the speeches of the Courtiers, as of those which are accounted to speak best, and whose tongue is more necessary for those, which have some suit at the Court: and so the French tongue hath his beginning, which since hitherto hath grown so much, and is enriched in that sort, that now it is in his perfection.  En quel temps commença la langue Italienne? 
In what time did the Italian tongue begin?  Aussi toast que les François eurent secoué le ioug de l'Empire de Rome, & qu'ils eurent chassé les Romans de Gaul, la langue Italienne commença. Car les Romans remporterent en Italy tant de mots Gaulois, que par curiosité il auoyent apprins des Gaulois, come les Gaulois en auoyent apprins d'eux, qu'estans retournez a Rome, ou estoit la Court ils changerent entierement la langue Latin. Car pour nowelleté un chacun s'estudia, en tout ce qui leur fut possible, d'imiter leurs 
Asdruball soon as the Frenchmen had laid done the yoke of the bondage of the Empire of Rome, and that they had cast the Romans out of Gaul, the Italian tongue began. For the Romans' carried away with them so many French words, which by curiosity they had learned of the Gauls, as the Gauls had learned some of them, that being returned to Rome, where the Court was kept, they did wholly change and altar the Latin tongue. For novelty sake every one endeavoureth, the best they could, to imitate both their  phrases de parlour: come de nostre naturel nous sommes tous plus enclins aux choses nowelles, qu'aux anciennes: mais principalement a celles qui s'inuententa la Court, qui n'est autre choose qu'vn modelle, sur lequel se façonne tout le rest d'vn païs. Et ces noweaux Latins Gaulois, ayans ietté les premiers fondemen de la langue Italienne, les Gets vindrent apres, qui avancerent bien le bastiment. Mais les voyages de Charlemaigne en Italy, & les continuelles guerres, que presque depuis nous y auons eu, & en temps de paix le frequent commerce & trafficq d'vne Nation vers l'autre, a apporté la derniere main a l'oeuure, tel que nous le voyons auiourd'huy, 
words, and their phrases: as of our nature we are more inclined to new things, then to old: but namely to them which are invented at the Court, the which is nothing but a moold, on the which all the rest of the country, will frame himself. And these new Latins of Gaul, having cast the first foundations of the Italian tongue, the Goths came after which helped much to set the building forward. But the journeys of Charlemaigne into Italy, and the wars that we had almost continually with the Italians since, and in time of peace the daily traffic of one Nation, with the other, have set the last hand to the work and have finished it, such as we see it at this day.  En quel temps commença l'Espagnolle? 
In what time did the Spanish tongue begin?  L'Espagnolle eut son origine des conquests de Pompée en Espagne, qui eut pour principe pareils acccidens qu'eurent l'Italienne & Françoise. 
The Spanish tongue began in the conquests of Pompeius in Spain, which for his principles and beginnings, had like accidens, as the Italian and the French tongues.  Il y a tell affinité en ces trois langues, que qui en sçait une, peut aisément entendre les autres, & en peu de temps les apprendre a parler. 
There is such affinity between these three tongues, that whosoever can speak one of them, may easily understand the others, and in a short time learn to speak them.  je suis bien aise d'auoir entendu le commencement de ces langues. je vous en remercie: Mais ie vous pry de me dire ce que vous pensez 
I am very glad to have herded the beginning of these tongues. I thank you for it: But I pray you to tell me, what you think  de la nostre Angloise? 
of our English tongue?  L'Angloise a sa principale origine des Saxons, & depuis des Normans. Car les Saxons, ayans conquis l'Angleterre, apporterent avec eux leur language. Ce qui ce peut prower par les mots monosyllabes que vous avez, qui sans doubt sont presque tous Saxons. 
The English tongue had his first beginning of the Saxons, and after of the Normans. For the Saxons, having conquered England, brought with them their speech. The which thing can be proved by the words of one syllable that you have, which doubtless are almost all of the Saxons.  Les Normans vindrent apres, avec Guillaume le Conquereur, qui firent un tel melanage du Saxon & du Normand, qu'ils en bastirent vostre langue Angloise, qui depuis peu de temps s'est fort enrichie, par les lettres qui maintenant fleurissent en ce royalme, a cause du regne tranquil & pacific qu'il a pleu a Dieu, par sa divine grace, d'y establir soubs les aisles favorables de sa Serenissime majesty, pour estre l'asile & refuge des pawres Eglises affligées en ces derniers iours, soubs lafoy tyranny de l'Antechrist. 
The Normands came after, with William the Conqueror, which made such mingling both of the Saxon tongue, and the Normans, that they made your English tongue of it, the which not many years ago hath been much enriched and beautified by the learning that now flourish in this kingdom, because of the most quiet and peaceable reign, that it hath pleased God by his divine mercy to establish in, it, under the favourable wings of her most Royal Majesty, to the end it might be the retreat & refuge of all the poor afflicted Churches in these latter days, under the tyranny of the Antichrist.  A ce que ie voy, il n'y a donc rien qui enrichisse plus les langues que la paix, n'y qui les change & corrompent plus que la guerre. 
As I perceive there is nothing which enricheth more the tongues than peace, nor which altereth and corrupteth them more than war?  Il est uray. Car les langues ont leurs saisons, tout ainsi que les Empires & Monarchies & see pewent accomparer a l'age de l'homme. 
It is true. For the tongues have their seasons and time, even as the Empires and Monarchies have there's: besides they may be compared to the age of a man.  Du temps d'Ennius, l'Empire de Rome ne faisoit guere que commencer. Aussi la langue Latin n'estoit qu'en son enfance. Or tout ainsi que les enfans ne pewent si bien parler que lors qu'ils sont paruenus en l'age d'hōme parfaict: aussi en ce temps la, la langue Latin avoit a grand pain apprins a parlour, & ne faisoit que commencer a begayer, tout ainsi que l'enfant apres sa nourrice. 
In the time of Ennius, the Empire of Rome, was but in the beginning. Even so the Latin tongue was but in his infancy. Now even as the children can not speak so well, as when they are come unto the perfect age of a man: so in that time the Latin tongue had scarcely learned to speak, and as it were, did nothing but stammer, as a child after his nurse.  Du temps de Caesar, Pompee, Ciceron, & Saluste, la Monarchy Roman estoit en son age viril & parfaict, aussi de leurs temps la langue Latin estoit en sa perfection. 
In the time of Caesar, Pompey, Cicero, and Sallust, the Monarchy of Rome was in his most perfect age, so in their time the Latin tongue was in his perfection.  Du temps de Quintilian, Pline, Tite Live, & Seneque l'Empire de Rome estoit en sa viellesse, soubs Traian & Neron: aussi la langue Latin commençoit a dotter, de sort que l'Empire croissant, creut la langue; & l'Empire diminuant, diminua aussi iusques a venir a son dernier period, & a en mettre un autre en sa place, qui est l'Italian. On pourroit fair tell comparaisons de toutes les autres langues & Monarchies, qui ont esté devant, & depuis cell des Romans, a qui voudroit si amuser, mais d'autant que le discourse seroit trop long a fair, & trop ennuyeux a over, ie me contenteray de vous avoir parlé de la Latin pour une exemple, 
In the time of Quintilian, Plinius, Livius, and Seneca, the Empire of Rome was in his latter age under Traian and Nero: so the Latin tongue began them to dote, in such sort that when the Empire did increase so did the Latin tongue, and when the Empire did diminish the language diminished also, till that it had come to his last point of all, and had put another into his place, which is the Italian. One might make such comparisons of all the other tongues and Monarchies, that have been before and after the Romans, if one would go about it, but because the discourse of it should be to long to utter, and to tedious to be herded, it will suffice to have spoken of the Latin tongue, and of the Empire of the Romans, for  veu principalement que les autres ne font rien a nostre propos, & que ce seroit une choose superfluë d'en discourir. 
an example, sith namely that the other serve nothing for our purpose, and that it were a superfluous thing to speak of it.  Il n'en est point de besoing, ie vous remercie tres-affectueusement. 
It is not need, I thank you most heartily.  C'est assez pour ceste fois, mesme i'ay peur de vous avoir importuné. 
Is it enough for this time, yea I am afraid that I have been to importunate.  Et moy ie crains que ie ne vous aye ennuyé. Le singulier desir que i'avois de vous satisfaire m'a fait fair un si long discourse. je vous pry de le prendre en bonne part, & s'il y a quelque faute la voisler du manteau de vostre faveur & courtoisie. 
And as for me, I fear that I have been to troublesome to you. The great desire, that I have to satisfy you, hath caused me to make you so long a discourse. I pray you to take it in good part, and if there be any fault, shadow it with the veil of your favourable courtesy.  Vostre modesty est si grand, & mon merit si petit, que ie ne voy aucune faute, sinon en moy, qui n'ay point craint de vous importuner, mais ie la repareray ou i'auray moyen de vous fair plaisir & service. Et afin de ne vous ennuyer d'auantage, pour le present, ie prendray congé de vous iusques a demain, ou i'espere que me ferez ceste faveur de me fair parler au Tuteur François, que vous nous avez promis de nous donner. 
Your modesty is so great, and my desert so little, that I do not see any fault, but in me which dared abuse of your patience, but I will amend it, when I am able to do you any pleasure and service. And to the end I trouble you no longer at this time, I will take my leave of you till to to morrow, and I hope you will grant me the favour as to bring me acquainted with the French Tutor, whom you have made promise of.  je n'y faudray point, Dieu aydant, a qui ie vous recommande. 
Without fail, God willing, to whom I commend you.  A Dieu Monsieur. 
God be with you Sir.  Dieu vous doint bonne vie & longue. 
Far you well.     


Devis Familiars. Familiar Speeches.  
BOn iour Monsieur. Bon soir Madame. 
GOod morrow sir. Good evening my Lady.  Bon soir bon-nuict mademoiselle. 
Good night mistress, or Gentlewoman.  Comment vous portez vous ce matin? 
How do you this morning?  A vostre commandement. A vostre service. 
At your commandment. At your service.  je suis au vostre Monsieur, bien pour vous obeir, bien pour vous seruir. 
I am at your sir, very well to obey you, well to serve you.  Ce sera moy qui vous obeiray. 
I will be he that shall obey you.  Ce sera moy qui vous seruiray. 
I will be he that shall serve you.  Comment se port Monsieur vostre pere? 
How doth your father?  Bien Dieu mercy, bien, graces a Dieu. 
Well God be thanked, well thanks be to God.  Il se recommande a vos bonnes graces, Il vous baise bien humblement les mains. 
He hath him heartily commended to you, he most humbly kisseth your hands.  Dieu luy doint bonne vie & longue. 
God grant him a good and long life.  Et a vous aussi. 
And to you also.    

Du Parentage. Of Kindred.  
COmment se port, mon pere, ma mere, ton grandpere, ta grandmere, son beaupere, sa bell mere, vostre frere, vos freres; ma seur, mes seurs, nostre oncle, & tante, nos cousins, voz cousines, tes amis; son beaufrere, sa belleseur, ses parens, ses enfans, mon gendre, sa bru, ton voisin, nostre voisine, son compere, sa commere, mon parrain, ma marraine, vostre fils, vostre fill, ton fillieul, ta fillieule, mon 
HOw doth my father, my mother, thy grandfather, thy grandmother, his father in law, his mother in law, your brother, your brethren, my sister, my sisters, our uncle, and Ant, our cousins, our she cousines, thy friends, his brother in law, his sister in law, his kinsfolks, his children, my son in law, my daughter in law, thy neighbour, your she neighbour, his gossip, his she gossip, my Godfather, my Godmother, your son, your daughter, thy Godson, thy God-daughter, my  nepueu, ta niepce. 
nephew, thy nice.    

Du Temps. Of Time.  
QVand les veistes vous? Higher, l'autre iout, auiourd'huy, ce matin, ce soir, il n'y a pas long temps, depuis peu de yours ença, il y a huict iours, il y a quinze iours, il y a trois sepmaines, il y a un mois, il y a long temps, il y eut l'vndy huict iours, il y a auiourd'huy quinze iours, il y aura demain trois sepmaines, il y aura mardy un mois. 
WHen see you them? yesterday, the other day, to day, this morning, this evening, not long ago, a few days ago, a seven night ago, a fourtennight ago, three weeks ago, a month ago, long since, a monday come seven night, this day seven night, it shall be to morrow three weeks, a teusday shall be a month.  Quand les verrez vous? 
When shall you see them?  Quand esperez vous le voir? 
When hope you to see them?  Demain Dieu aydant, d'auiourd'huy en huict iours, de demain en quinze iours, de mercredy en trois sepmaines, de ieudy en un mois, a Noël, aux estreines, aux Rois, a la Chandeleur, au mardy grass, a Caresme prenant, en Caresme, a la my Caresine, a Pasques, a la nostre Dame de Mars, a la Pentecoste, a la Saint jehan, a la Saint Michael, a la Toussaincts. 
To morrow God willing, this day seven night, to morrow come fouten night, wednesday come three weeks, thursday come a month, at Christmas, at new years tide, in the twelve day, at Candlemas, at shrovetide, on asheswensday, in Lent, at Middlelent, at Easter, at our Lady day in Lent, at Whitsuntide, at Midsummer, at Michelmasse, at All hallontyde.  je vous pry de me recommander a ses bonnes graces, ie vous supply de luy baiser bien humblement les mains de ma part. 
I pray you commend me to him I beseech you to remember my humble duty unto him.  De bien bon coeur. 
With all my heart.   

Du Number. The Number.  
QVel age avez vous? 
HOw old are you?  Quell age avoit i'll? 
How old was he?  un an, deux ans, trois, quatre, cinq, six, sept, huict, neuf, dix, onze, douze, treize, quatorze, quinze, seize, dixsept, dixhuict, dixneuf, vingt, vingt & un, vingt & deux, etc. Trent, quarante, cinquante, soixante, septante, octante, ou quatrevingts, nonante, ou quatrevingts dix, cent, six vingts, cent, six vingts, cent cinquante, deux cents, etc. mill, dix mile, cent mile, million, etc. 
A year old, two years old, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirten, seven, fourteen, sixten, seventen, eighten, ninten, twenty, one and twenty, two and twenty, etc. Thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, or four score, ninety, or fourscore and ten, a hundred, six score, hundred and fifty, two hundred, etc. thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand, million, etc.    

Du jour. Of the Day.  
QVelle heure est il? 
WHat is it a clock?  Il est midy, un quart d'heure, demie heure, trois quarts d'heure, une heure, deux heures, etc. Apres midy, il est passé douze heures, il est sept heures passées, il n'est pas encore huict heures, il est haute heure, il est tard, il est encore matin, il est tantost nuict, il est au point du iour, a l'aube du iour, de grand matin, au matin, a Soleil levant, devant Soleil leué, apres Soleil leué, au soir, a Soleil couché, a Soleil couchant a iour couché, a minuict, apres minuict. 
It is twelve a clock, a quarter of an hour, half an hour, three quarters of an hour, an hour, two a clock, etc. After noon, after twelve a clock, it is past seven a clock, it is not yet eight a clock, it is far day, it is late, it is early yet, it is almost night, it is the breaking of the day, the dawning of the day very early, in the morning, at the suns rising, before Sun rising, after Sun rising, at the evening, after setting of the Sun, at the setting of the day, at midnight, after midnight.    

Les iours de la Sepmaine. The days of the Week.  
QVel iour est-ce auiourd'huy? 
WHat is it to day?  Lundy, Mardy, Mercredy, jeudy, Vendredy, Samedy, Dimanche. 
Monday, teusday, wednesday, thursday, friday, suterday, sunday.    

Les Mois. The Months.  
LE quamtiesme du mois est-ce auiourd'huy? 
WHat day of the month is to day?  Le premier de januier, le second de Feburier, le troisiesme de Mars, le quatriesme d'Apuril, le cinquiesme de May, le sixiesme de Iuin, le jeptiesme de juillet, le huictiesme d'Aoust, le neufiesme de September, le dixiesme d'Octobre, l'vnziesme de Novembre, le douziesme de December, etc. le treziesme, le quatorziesme, le quinziesme, etc. 
The first of januarie, the second of February, the third of March, the fourth of April, the fift of May, the sixt of june, the seventh of july, the eight of August, the ninth of September, the tenth of October, eleventh of November, the twelfth of December, etc: the thirteenth, the fourteenth, the fifteenth, etc.  Quell temps fait il? 
What weather is abroad?  Il fait beau temps, il fait mawais temps, il fait fort grand chaud, il fait grand froid, il pleut, il vent, il neige, il ton, i'll gresle, il gele, il degele. 
It is fair weather, it is foul weather, it is very hot, it is very cold, it raineth, it bloweth, it snoweth, it thundereth, it haileth, it freezeth, it thaweth.  De quel costé est le vent? 
Of what side is the wound?  Il est du costé d'Orient, d'Occident, de Midy, de Septentrion. 
It is East, West, South, North.  En quelle faison de l'année sommes nous maintenant? 
In what season of the year are we now?  Au Printemps, en l'Esté, en l'Automne, en l'Hyuer. 
In the spring time, in summer, in the falling of the leaf, in winter.     

La Table. The Table.  
VOus estes le tresbien venu Monsieur. 
YOu are very well come Sir.  je vous remercie tres-humblement. 
I thank you heartily.  Est-ce apres desieuner? Auez vous desieuné. 
Is it after breakfast? Have you broken your fast?  Desieunerons' nous? Irons nous desieuner? 
Shall we go to breakfast?  Vous plaist i'll disner? collationer, supper? 
Will you dine, will you have your drinking, will you sup?  come il vous plaira, i'en suis content. 
As you will, I am content.  Car i'ay bon appetit, ie n'ay pas desieuné, disné, souppé. 
For I have a very good stomach, I have not broken my fast, I have not dined, none supped.  I'ay grand faim, i'ay grand soif, i'ay grand chaud, i'ay grand froid. Auez vous faim, soif, chaud, froid? Approchez vous du feu, chauffons nous, mets un faggot au feu, & des charbons, faictes bon feu, n'espargnez pas le bois, chambriere mettez la nap, apportez la saliere, & du sell sur la la table, mettez des assiettes, & des seruiettes, apportez nous quelque choose a manger. Ca lavons les mains, garçon pren ce bassin, verse de l'eau, essuyons nous voyla la tovaille. 
I am very hungry, I am very thirsty, I am very hot, I am very cold, are you hungry, thirsty, hot, cold, come near the sire, let us warm ourselves, put a faggot on the fire, and some coals, make a good fire, do not spare the wood, maiden, lay the clot, bring the salt seller, and some salt upon the table, lay some trenchers, and some napkins, bring us some thing to eat, come, let us wash, boy take this bassin; power some water, let us wipe our hands, there is the towel.  Messieurs vous plaist il vous seoir? 
Sir please you to sit down?  Seez vous là en ceste chair, ie me seoray sur ce banc, Monsieur, prenez c'est escabeau, & un coissin, ie vous pry de me prester un cousteau, car ie n'en ay point, mangez vostre pottage, donnez moy du pain ie vous pry, duquel vous plaist i'll; du 
Sat you there in that chair, I will sit on this form: Sir, take this stool and a cooshin, I pray you lend me a knife, for I have none, eat your porridge. I pray you give me some bread: what bread will you have, some  blanc, du bis, du noir, du tendre, du rassis, duquel il vous plaira, voylà de bon beurre frais, & de bons oeufs. Garçon, baillez moy a boire: que vous plaist il boire, Monsieur? versez moy du vin clared, du vin blanc, donnez moy du sec, de la muscadele, de la maluoisie, du vin du Rhin. Apportez moy de l'eau en ceste esguiere? emplis moy ce voirre, ceste couppe, holla, c'est assez, a vos bonnes graces, Monsieur. 
white bread, some brown bread, some new bread, some stolen bread, what you will. There is very good new butter, and goodegs, boy, give some drink, what pleaseth it you drink Sir: power me some clared wine, white wine, give me some sake, some muscadine, some malmsey, some Rhenish wine, bring me some water, in that Ewer, fill me this glass, that cup, hold, it is enough, I drink to you Sir.  je vous baise bien humblement les mains. 
I thank you Sir.  je vous feray maintenant raison. 
I will pledge you by and by.  Vous plaist il de cecy? vous coupperay-ie de cela? Deseruez le bovilly, apportez nous maintenant le rosty, donnez moy un trenchoir net, vous trencheray-ie de ce boeuf, mouton, veau, agneau, cochon, connils? De quelle viande vous plaist i'll manger? du chappon, d'vne perdrix des pigeons, des becasses, d'vn cocq d'Inde, de ce pasté de venaison? come il vous plaira. 
Will you some of this, shall I cut you some of that, take away the boiled meat, bring us now the roast meat, give me a clean trencher, shall I carve you some of the beef, mooton, veal, lamb, pig, rabbits? What meat will you eat? some cappon, some partriche, some pigeons, some woodcock, some of the Turkiecocke, some of this venison pie, as you will.  Apportez nous le poisson, comment Monsieur? voulez vous mesler le poisson avec la chair? il n'y a point de danger. Reculez ce plat, ostez ceste escuelle, & says cuilliers, faites place a ceste carp: veistes vous iamais un plus beau brochet? ce saumon est fort frais, voyla une bell 
Bring us the fish: how now sir? will you mingle both fish and flesh together: there is no danger, it is all one, set farther this plate, take way that dish, and these spoons, make room for this carp, did you ever see a fairer pike, this saulmon is very fresh, there is a fair  anguille, un beau rouget, un solle, de la ray, une truite, du merlang, une tench, apportez nous le dessert, despechez vous, ne nous faites point attendre, seruez le fourmage. Mangeastes vous iamais d'vne meilleure tart, de meilleures pommes, poires prunes, cerises, noix, etc. 
Eelle, a fair Gornet, a Sole, some Thornbacke, a trout, some whittings, a tench, bring us the fruit, the second course, dispatch you, make us not tarry, serve up the cheese, did you ever eat of a better tart, better apples, pears, plumes, cherries, nuts, etc.  Vous plaist il de ce gasteau, & de ce flan? 
Will you have some of this cake, of that flawn?  Non pas s'il vous plaist, ie vous remercie de bon coeur. Il est impossible de plus, me voyla bien Dieu mercy. Or sus donc, garçon, desseruez nous, ostez tout cecy, apportez le tapis. 
Not I thank you heartily, I can do no more, I am very well God be thanked, go to then, boy, take away, take all this, bring the carpet.  Rendons graces a Dieu. C'est bien dict. 
Let us say grace. It is well said.  Louange a Dieu de tous ses biens, etc. 
Thanks be to God for all his gifts, etc.  Prouface Messieurs, prouface. 
Much good do it you, sirs, much good do it you.    

Pour Vendre & Acheter. To buy and Sell.  
QVe ferons nous maintenant? 
WHat shall we do now?  Ce qu'il vous plaira. Irons nous nous promener? I'en suis content, mais devant allons acheter quelque chose dont i'ay besoing. je le veux, allons, de quel costé irons nous, ou vous vou drez, entrons en ceste boutique, Dieu soit ceans, ne vous desplaise, que vous plaist il Messieurs, avez vous de bon drape, carisé, sarge, taffetas, damas, satin, veloux. 
What you will, shall we go walk? Content, but before, let us go buy some things we have need of, I will, let us go, of what side shall we go what side you will, let us go into that chop. God be here, by your leave: what lack you Sirs? have you any good clot, kersey, sarge, taffeta, damask, satin, velvet.  je vous en monstreray d'aussi bon qu'il s'en peut trower. Que ie voye, de quelle 
I can show you as good as can be, let us see it. Of what  couleur vous en plaist i'll? 
colour will you have it?  Denoir, de blanc, de rouge, iaune, verd, gris, tané, cramoisi, bleu, bleu celeste, couleur de peschier, violet, orangé, de pourpre, etc. 
Black, white, red, yellow, green, grey, taney, crimson, blue, watchet, peach colour, violet, orange colour, purple colour, etc.  Monstrez m'en de meilleur, si vous en avez? autrement vous n'aurez point de mon argent? En voyla une piece que si vous alliez par toutes les boutiques de Londres, vous n'en sçauriez trower de meilleur. I'en aye veu de meilleur, & de pire aussi. 
Show me some better, if you have any, or else you shall not have of my money? There is a piece that if you will go through all the shops of London, you could not find better. I have seen better and worse also.  Combien me coustera l'aulne de cestuy cy? 
What shall I pay for the yard of this?  Combien vendez vous la verge de cestuy la? 
How cell you the elle of that?  Vous n'en payerez que vingt sols, un escu, quatre liures, six francs, etc. C'est trop. Il en faut rabattre. je n'en donneray que trent, quarante sols. C'est trop peu, ce n'est pas assez. Il m'en couste d'auantage. Vous plaist i'll me le donner? je vous en donneray cinq sols dix deniers d'avantage. I'y perdrois. je n'en donneray non plus. Regardez si vous le voulez. Ne m'enuoyez point ailleurs. Mon argent est aussi bon que d'vn autre. Bien Monsieur, d'autant que i'espere, que vous me reviendrez revoir une autre fois vous l'aurez, combien que ie vous assure, ie n'y gaingne rien dessus. 
You shall pay but twenty shillings, a crown, four pounds, six francs, etc. It is to much. You must bate some of it. I will give but thirty, forty, etc. it is to little, it is not enough. It cost me more than that. What will you give me? I will give you five shillings ten pennies more. I should lose by it. I will give no more: See if you can take it. Let me not go into another place. My money is as good as another man's. Well Sir, Because I hope that you will come see me another time you shall have it, though I assure you, I get nothing by it.  I'espere que vous n y perdrez rien aussi. 
I hope, you lose nothing neither.  Or sus combien vous en plaist i'll? Trois aulness & demie, & un quart. Mesurez le. 
Well, how much will you have? Three yards and half and a quarter. Measure it.  Faites bonne measure. Voyla estes vous content. 
Give good measure. Here it is, are you content.  Tenez voyla vostre argent. Ceste piece d'or n'est pas de poix. Elle est legere de quatre grains. En voyla une autre. Rendez moy mon rest? Le voyla, s'il y a quelque autre choose ceans dont vous ayez affair ne l'espargnez pas. je vous remercie, adieu. 
Hold here is your money. This piece of gold is not weight. It is to light by four grains. Here is another. Give me the rest. There it is, if there be any thing else here you have need of, spare it not. I thank you, God be with you.  Dieu vous doint bonne vie & longue. 
God give you a good and long life.  Allons, avez vous acheté tout ce qu'il vous faut? Nenny pas encore. Il me faut avoir; un bas d'estame, un bas de soye, un chappeau, un bonnet de nuict, une fraize, un rabat, un mouchoir, des pendants d'espée, une pair de gands, etc. 
Let us go, have you bought all you lack? Not yet. I must needs have a pair of stockms of worsted, a pair of silk stockings, a hat, a night cap, a roof band, a falling band, a handkerchief, some hanggers, a pair of gloves, etc.  Or sus, n'auez vous plus rien a acheter? 
Now have you no more to buy?  Nenny. Retournons nous en doncq? 
No. Then let us return home.  je le veux, mais passions par chez le Tailleur, a qui ie veux laisser ces estoffes, pour me fair des habits. Voyla sa boutique, entrons. 
I will, but let us pass by the Taillor, with whom I will leave this stuff, to make me some apparel. There is his shop, let us go in.   

Le Tailleur. The Tailor.  
Have la. Qui est-là? Amy, owrez la port. 
H Oe. Who is there: A friend of yours, open the door.  Ou est vostre master? il n'est pas ceans, il est la haut, il est en ville. Allez le querir. 
Where is your master? he is not at home, he is above, he is in the town, go and fetch him.  je m'y en vay. Prenez un peu de patience. 
I go. Take some patience.  Attendez un peu, ie ne demeureray guere. 
Tarry a little, I will not tarry long.  Courez vistement, & ne tardez pas, car nous 
Run quickly, and tarry not, for we  auons haste, hastez vous. je seray incontinent de retour. Maistre, il y a un Gentil-homme a la maison, qui vous pry de venir parler a luy. Qui est il? C'est Monsieur, etc. 
have great haste, make speed, I will come again presently. Sir, there is a Gentleman at home, which desireth you to come to speak with him. What is his name? It is Monsieur N.  je ne le cognoy pas. je pense que c'est pour fair fair des habits. je m'y en vay, ie seray aussi toast que vous. Le voyci qui vient. Vous estes les bien venus messieurs. 
I do not know him. I think it is to make some suits of apparel. I will come, I shall be so soon at home as you. He cometh. You are very well come Sir.  je vous pry dem'excuser, si ie vous ay fait tant attendre. C'est tout un. Nous nous sommes reposez, car nous estions las. 
I pray you to excuse me, because I make you, tarry so long. It is all one, we have rest ourselves, for we were weary.  Mais quoy? Estes vous fort empesché maintenant? Auez vous force besongne? Me sçauriez vous me fair un manteau, un pourpoint, un haut de chausses? Ouy dea Monsieur. Quand vous plaist il les avoir? 
But what? Are you now very busy? Have you much work? Can you make me a cloak, a doublet, or hose? Yes forsooth Sir. When would you have them?  D'icy a quatre ou cinq iours, vous les aurez, il n'y aura point de faute. je vous en pry, n'y faillez pas, car il me fault aller bien toast aux champs. Fiez vous en moy. Ou font voz estoffes? les voyla: les voulez vous voir tailler devant vous? come vous voudrez. 
Four or five days hence: you shall have them, there shall be no fault. I pray you fail not, for I must needs go shortly into the country. Trust to me, where is your stuff? here it is, will you see them cut? as you will,  Prendray-ie vostre measure? ovy, ne faites pas les manches trop estroictes. Else seront assez largesse. Mais il fault de la doubleure, du cotton, du passement, de la soye, du fill, des boutons. Achetez en vous mesmes pour moy, & ie vous rembourseray l'argent. je le veux, il me faut par mesme moyen 
shall I take your measure? yea, make not the sleeves to narrow: they shall be large enough, but you lack some lining, bombasse, some lace, some silk, some third, some bouttons: buy you some for me, and I will give you the money again. I will, I must by the same mean  acheter des aiguiles, car ien'en ay plus, ie m'oubliois de vous dire que le tout soit bien cousu, ne faites point de construe au dos de mon pourpoint. N'en ayez pas peur. Quand commencerez vous a le coudre. Tout a ceste heure, ie m'en vay apres. Or sus, a Dieu doncq, iusques revoir. 
buy me some needles, for I have no more, I did forget to desire you that all be well sown, make no seam in the back of my doublet, be not afraid of that, when will you begin to do it, by and by, I go about it, very well, farewell then, till I see you again.    

Le Cordonnier. The Shoemaker.  
PVis que nous sommes si pres du Cordonnier, entrons en sa boutique pour voir si nous nous pourrons accommoder. Auez vous de bons souliers a double semele, a triple semele, des souliers liegez, des mules, des pentousles, des escarpins de marroquin, de bonnes botts. Vous en trowerez ceans a choisir. Monstrez m'en d'autres, i'en veux de meilleurs, en voyla une bonne pair, il ne font que d'estre tirez de la form, vous plaist il les essayer? nenny d'autant que ie suis botté, mais apportez les demain matin a mon logis, & nous les essayerons. come il vous plaira, n'y faillez pas ie vous pry, ie m'attēdray a vous. Il n'y aura point de faute, a Dieu, bonne vie & longue. 
Sigh we be so near the shoemaker, let us go into his shop, to see if he can fit us. Have you any good shoes with double solles, with three solles, some corkeshoes, some pantoples', some slippers, some Spanish leather pomps, some good botts? you shall find here to choose, show us some others, I will have some better. There is a good pair, they are newly taken out of the last, will you try them: no because I am booted, but bring them to morrow morning to my lodging, we shall try them, as you will, fail not then I pray you, I will look for you: there shall be no fault, farewell, God give you a good and a long life.    

Le Barbier. The Barber.  
AVez vous maintenant despesché toutes vos affairs? non pas encore, il me faut 
Have you dispatched all your business? not yet, I must have  fair fair ma barb, & mes cheveux: voyla la boutique d'vn Barbier. irons nous la dedans? ovy. Entrons donc, Dieu soit ceans. Vous estes les tres-bien venus messieurs, vous plaist i'll fair coupper vos cheveux? voulez vous fair razor vostre barb? ovy donnez des linges blancs. ie ne vous en donneray point d'autres. Garçon, donnez moy cest estuy ou sont ces cizeaux, ce peigne, & ce rasoir. Ne couppez pas ceste moustache. Donnez vous en guard, ie vous pry? vous n'ettoyeray-ie les aureilles? voyla le miroir, regardez estes vous bien, vous plaist il estre laué, la face & le col? nenny, me voyla bien. Combien vous faut il? Ce qu'il vous plaira. Adieu. 
my beard cut, and my hears. There is a Barber's shop, shall we go in? yea, come let us go. God be here: you are verte well come sirs. Will you have your hears cut? will you have your beard shaven? yea, give us some clean clotheses. I will give you none other. Boy, give me that case wherein are the scissors, the comb, and the razor. Do not cut that lock, take heed of it I pray you. Shall I make clean your ears, here is the glass, see are you well, will you have your face and neck washed. Not, I am well. How much must you have. What you will. Farewell.  IRons nous maintenant? quamd il vous plaira. Retournons a la maison par ce chemin. Comment s'appelle ceste rue? comment nommez vous ce temple? je ne sçay certes. Voila un fort beau logis. Hastons nous, i'ay peur que nous les fassions attendre a supper. Il est desia tard. Frappez a la port. Qui est la? Amy. Ouurez. Vostre master & mistress ont ils souppé? Ouy. I'en suis bien aise. Prouface messieurs. Est-ce apres supper? Nenny. Vous venez donc bien tard, car 
SHall we go now? when you will. Let us go home this way. How do you call this street? How do you call that Church? I can not tell truly. There is a fair house. Let us make haste. I am afraid that we shall make them tarry for us at supper, it is might already. Knock at the door. Who is there? A friend of yours. Open the door. Have your master & mistress supped? yea, I am very glad of it. Much good do to you sirs. Is it after supper? Yea, you come to late, for  nous avons souppé come vous voyez, encore que nous vous ayons attendu longuement, i'en suis fasché. Il n'en estoit point de besoing. Or sus sus. Seez vous, nous avons gardé quelque choose. je vous remercie, i'ay si bien disné que ie n'ay point d'appetit, n'y moy aussi Or sus, nous ferons comllation, apportez nous des confitures des dragées, du coudignac, du biscuit, etc. 
we have supped as you see, though we have tarried for you very long. I am sorry for that. There was no need of it. Go to go to, set you down, we have kept some thing for you. I thank you, I have dine so well, that I have no stomach: nor'is neither. Well then, we shall eat some thing bring us some preserves, some confits, some marmelat, some biscuit, etc.  Voyla qui est fort bon. Et bien quelles nowelles? Qu'auez vous apprins de noweau en ville? Rien qui soit. 
That is very good. What good news? What news have you herded in the City? Nothing at all.     

Du jeu. Of Plays.  
OR ça que ferons nous? Ce que vous voudrez, joverons nous? A quel ieu voulez vous iover? Voulez vous iover aux Dames, aux Dez, aux Tarots, aux Eschets, etc. Non, iovons au charts, afin que toute la compagnie jove ensemble. C'est bien dict. A quel ieu ioverons nous, au Cent, a la Premiere, a la Triumph? etc. Soit. Meslez les Cartes, couppez, baillez, voyla un Roy de coeurs, i'ay une Royne de carreaux, & moy, le valet de picques, & moy l'as de treffles, a combien de ieux ioverons nous? a cinq, a six, a sept, a huict, etc. I'ay le ieu, i'ay un leave plus que vous. Or sus. C'est assez. 
COme, what shall we do? What you will, shall we play? What game will you play at? will you play at Tables, at Dice, at Tarots, at Chesses, etc. Not, let us play at Cards, to the end that all the company may play together. It is well said. At what game shall we play? at Saint, at Primera, at Trump, etc. Let it be so. Shoofle the Cards, cut, deal there is a King of hearts, I have a Queen of diamonds, and I the knave os spades, and I the ace of clubs: how many games shall we play? five, six, seven, eight, etc. I have a trick more than you. Well. It is enough.    

De la Music. Of Music.  
QVe ferons nous maintenant? 
WHat shall we do now?  Chanterons' une chanson a quatre parties. 
Shall we sing a song of four parts?  C'est bien dict. Vous chanterez la Basle-contre, 
It is well said. You shall sing the Base.  Monsieur N. chantera le Contra-tenor, ie chanteray le Tenor, & mademoiselle chantera le Superius. Chantons de measure. 
Master N. shall sing the Contertenor, I will sing the Tenor, and Mistress N. shall sing the Triple. Let us keep tyme.  Commencez. Voyla une fort bell chanson. 
Begin, there is a very fine song.  Monsieur vous plaist il la iover sur le lut? 
Sir, will you play it upon the lute.  Et ie la ioveray sur l'Espinette. Accordez vostre lut. L'espinette n'est pas d'accord. 
And I shall play it upon the Virginals, tune your lute. The virginals is not in tune.  Vostre chanterelle est trop base. Messieurs vous plaist i'll danser? Voulez vous une gaillarde, un bransle, la courante, la volte, lafoy pavane? etc. come il vous plaira, voyla un bon fredon. C'est fort bien dansé. 
Your treble is to low. Sirs will you dance? Will you have a galliard, the measures, the courante, the volte, the pavane, etc. As you will, There is a very good song. You dance very well.  Vous gardez bien la cadance. C'est assez, ie suis las, ie ne sçauroy plus danser. Il est temps de s'aller reposer. Il est nuict. 
You keep time well. It is enough, I am weary. I can dance no more. It is tune to go to bed, it is night.    

Le Soir & le Coucher. The Evening and going to bed.  
CHambriere: Apportez nous de la lumiere. 
MAiden, bring us some light.  Allumez lafoy chandelle, mettez la dans le chandelier. Donnez moy ceste bougie, fermez la port, & les fenestres de la salle. 
Light the candle, put it within the candlestick. Give me the wax candle, shut the gate, and the hall windows.  Nous irons au lict quand il vous plaira. 
We will go to bed when you please.  Il est tard, il est temps de s'aller coucher. 
It is very late, it is time to go to bed.  jacques menez Monsieur N. a sa chambre. 
james, bring Master N anto his chamber.  Monsieur commandez ceans come si vous estiez en vostre maison. je vous remercie tres-humblement. Bon soir bon-nuict Monsieur, etc. Par icy, moutons ces degrez, cest escallier, voyci une fort bell chamber, un bon lict, de beaux rideaux, un beau buffet. Vous plaist i'll vous desabiller. Ostez mes esperons. Tirez mes botts, mes chausses. Attens un peu, ie ne suis pas desiarté. Mets la mes iartieres', & ma ceinture, mon espée, & mon poignard. 
Sir, command in this house as if you were in your own. I thank you most heartily. God give you good night Sir, etc. Here is the way, let us go up these steers: here is a very fair chamber, a good bed, fair courtines, a fair cupboard. Will you make yourself unready. Take away my spurs? Pull of my boots, my hose. Tarry a little, I am not ungartred. Say there my garters, my girdle, my rapier, and my dagger.  Voyla de fort beaux linceux, & fort blancs. 
There be very fine sheets, and very clean.  Estes vous bien avez vous assez de cowerture, Mettez cest aureiller soubs vestre teste, car le travers-lict ou chevet est trop bas. Me voyla bien maintenant. Si vous avez affair de quelque chose ne l'elpargnez pas. 
Are you well, have you clotheses enough, Say that pillow under your head, for the bolster is to low. I am well now. If you have need of any thing else. Do not spare it.  je vous remercie. je vous pry de me resueiller demain a quatre heures, & m'appeller, car ie me veux leuer de grand matin. Il n'y aura point de faute Monsieur. 
I thank you. I pray you to awake me to morrow at four a clock and call me. For I will rise very early. I will not fail Sir,  Esteindray-ie la chandelle? Ouy, ie t'en pry, car autrement ie ne sçauroy dormir. Et bien, bon soir bon-nuict, Monsieur, bon soir bon-nuict. 
shall I put out the candle. Yea I pray thee, for otherwise I could not sleep. Very well. God give you good night Sir, good night.    

Le Leuer des Hommes. The Rising of Men.  
MOnsieur vous plaist il vous leuer? 
SIr, will you rise?  Il est fort haute heure. Quelle heure est il? Il est six heures. Donnez moy une 
It is far of the day. What is it a clock? It is six a clock. Give me a  chemise blanch. je veux changer, car la mienne est salle. La chauferay-ie? Ouy, car elle est encore toute trempée, inovillée, moiety, say du feu icy, ou la va chauffer la bas a la cuisine, ou en la fall, s'il y a du feu allumé. 
clean shirt. I will shifted mine, for it is foul, shall I warm it? yea, for it is wet, and moist, and dankish, make here some fire, or go & warm it below in the kitchen, or in the hall, if there be any fire made there.  Tenez, la voila, elle est fort chaude. je pense que tu l'as bruslée, pardonnez moy. Baillez moy mon pourpoint. Ten moy mes chausses, aid moy a vestir ma iuppe, Espoussette mon manteau, & mon chappeau, aydez moy a attacher mes esguillettes, va moy querir le chaussepied pour chausser mes souliers: apport moy un bassin, une esguiere, de l'eau net pour me laver les mains, la bouche, la face, & les yeux, donne moy ceste seruiette, cest essuyemain, ceste tovaille pour m'essuyer. 
Hold. There it is. It is very hot, I think you have burn it. Not: give me my doublet. Rech me my hosen, help me to put on my jerkin, brush my cloak, and my hat, help me to tie my points, fetch me a shoeinghorne, to put on my shoes: bring me a hassin, the ewer, some clean water to wash my hands, my mouth, my face, & mine eyes. Give me that napkin, that towel, to wipe me.  Or sus, me voyla priest, ie suis abillé. 
Well. I am ready.  mademoiselle est elle leuée? je ne sçay. Va voir, & luy donne le bon iour de ma part. 
Is mistress N. up, I can not tell. Go and see, and bid her good morrow from me.    

Le Leuer des Femmes. The Rising of Women.  
APpellez moy la servant, car ie me veux leuer. Marie. Playst i'll, mademoiselle vous demand. je m'y en vay. donnez moy ma Cotte, mon Cotillon, lacez moy ma rob, crochetez moy, ou sont les vergettes, espousetez mon chapperon de veloux, 
CAll me the maiden, for I would feign rise. Marie: Anon for sooth. My mistress doth ask for you I come, give me my Petticot, lace my gown, clasp me, where is the brush? brush my Frenchhoode,  mon devat de rob. Ou est mon escoffion, baillez moy ce peigne pour me peigner. Frizez mes cheveux, tendez moy ma dorure, mon carquan, mes manchons, mes manchettes, ou poignets, prestez moy une espingle pour attacher mon mask. Voyla vostre ceinture, vostre bource, vos cousteaux, vos ciseaux. Ou est mon garderobe, mon esuentoir, & mon escharpe. 
my kertle, where is my call? give me that comb to comb me, courle my hears, reach me my border, my carcanet, my sleeves, my cuffs, lend me a pin, to pin my mask. There is your girdle, your purse, your knives, your scissors. Where is my safeguard, my fan, and my scarf?  Ostez ce miroir, pliez toutes mes hardes dans mon desabiller, & les serrez. 
Take away that glass, fold all my things within my cooshin clot, and put them up safe.  Nettoyez la chambre. 
Sweep the chamber, and make it clean.  Ou est le balay, ostez toutes ces ordures. 
Where is the broom, take away all that filth.  Faites le lict, & quand vous aurex faict venez moy trower. 
Make the bed, and when you have done come to meet me.    

De l'Hostelerie. Of the Inn.  
OV est le parefrenier? Il est a l'estable. 
WHere is the hostler? He is in the stable.  Appellez le. Tenez mon cheval. 
Call him. Take my horse.  Promenez le. Menez le boire apres. 
Walk him. Water him after.  Pensez le bien. Ne le desselez point. 
Dress him well. Take not away his saddle.  Faictes luy bonne littiere. 
Give him good litter.  Donnez luy de bon foin, de bonne avoine. 
Give him good hay, and good oats.  Desbridez le. 
Vnbridle him.  Gardez bien sa bride. 
Keep well his bridle.  Attachez le par son licol. 
Tie him by his halter.  Dessanglez le. 
Vngirte him.  Donnez vous guard qu'on ne desrobe ses sangles, ses éstrieux, sa croupiere. 
Take heed that his girtes be not stolen away, nor his stirrups nor his cropper.  Il y a une boucle rompue a sa sell. 
There is a buckle broken in his saddle.  Allez moy querir le sellier pour la racoustrer. 
Go, and fetch me the Saddler to amend it.  je m'y en vay. 
I will.  Quand vous serez de retour, frottez le bien. 
When you are come again, rub him well.  Estrillez le bien, & luy troussez sa queuë, car ie veux tantost partir. 
Comb him well, and tie up his tail. For I will departed by and by.    

Pour Demander le Chemin. For to Ask the Way.  
COmbien y a il d'icy a Londres? 
HOw many miles to London?  Dix lieux, vingt mil. 
Ten leagues, twenty miles.  Quell chemin faut il tenir? 
What way must we keep?  Ou est le plus court chemin d'icy a la Rye? 
Which is the shortest way to go to Rye?  Suyvez tousiours le grand chemin. 
Keep always the great way.  Ne vous fouruoyez n'y a dextre n'y a senestre. 
Do not stray neither at the right nor at the left hand.  Combien vous doy-ie maintenant? 
What do I own you now?  Deux sols. 
Two shillings.  Les voyla. 
Here it is.  Amenez moy mon cheval. 
Bring me my horse.  Vous plaist i'll monter a cheval? 
Will you take up your horse?  Ouy. 
Yea.  I'espere que ie ne descendray que ie ne soy arriué a Londres. 
I hope I shall not alight till I be come to London.  A Dieu, Bonne vie & longue. 
God be with you. Farewell.    
FIN. FINIS.   

Faults escaped in the Printing of the French.  
Page 17. line 5. il ne le, Read on ne, page 17. line 9 que les, read que vous les, page 17. line 20. read parfaictement apprinses, page 21. line 2. vous en, read vous ne, page 25. line 8. how roc, read hau roc, page 41. line 18. Ince manner, read en ceste manner, page 45. line 10. come le, read ou come le, page 47. line 18. oubliez, read oubliées, page 53. line 20. prononcez gua, read prononcez vous gua, page 59 line 5. d'vn see, read d'vn mot se, page 61. line 5: prononce, read prononcent, page 63. line 16. celles, read cell, page 105. line 23. n'est, read naist, page 119. line 26. corrompent, read corrompe.  

In the English.  
page 24. line 7. how, read hau.  
page 32. line 11. it known, read is known.    

THE TREASURE OF THE FRENCH TONGUE CONTAINING THE RAREST Sentences, proverbs, Similes, Apothegms and golden sayings, of the most excellent French Authors, as well Poets, as Orators. Diligently gathered, and faithfully set in order, after the Alphabetical manner, for those that are desirous of the French tongue. By G. D. L. M. N.   printer's device of Richard Field, featuring an anchor surrounded by laurels (McKerrow 164) 
ANCHORO SPEI  
Printed by R. Field, and are to sold by H. jackson.   

A TRESNOBLE ET TRES-VERTVEVSE DAMOISELLE mademoiselle TASBURGH.  
mademoiselle, il y a tantost un an, que par vostre express commandement, estant a Oxford avec Monsieur R. Wenman vostre fils aisné, & Messieurs ses freres, ie fei le Recueil de ce Tresor de Sentences, que ie vous donnay pour Estreines au premier iour de l'An. Vous luy feistes, de vostre grace, un si favourable accueil, qu'il n'a voulu sortir en lumiere soubs autre Nom, & protection que la vostre, s'assurant qu'il ne manquera point de faveur ailleurs, si vous daignez estre sa Marraine. S'il advient que ie sois si heureux qu'il proffite à quelques vns, c'est vous que l'on en doibt remercier. Car tout ainsi que ie ne le fei que pour vous obeir, aussi ne voit ille ionr que pour seruir à la face de tout le monde d'vne generale Action de graces, que ie vous fay des biens, que de vostre seule liberalité i'ay diuerses fois receu de vous, lors que i'avois cest honneur d'Instruire la langue Françoyse à mademoiselle E. Wenman, & mademoiselle L. Cressey vos filles, qui imitans les vestiges glorieux de vos rares vertus, donnent esperance a un chacun d'estre un iour du nombre de celles, qui tiennent le premier rang, non seulement en beauté, mais aussi en honneur. Et combien que ce soit une bien petite recompense, pour une si grand debt, neantmoins i'ayme mieux estre estimé vous demeurer tousiours redeuable, avec une liberale confession de n'estre suffisant a vous payer, qu'ingrat faisant banqueroute à mon devoir, & ne mefforçant à vous satisfaire, sinon en tout ce que ie doibs, pour le moins en tout ce que ie puis. La benign & gracieuse bonté de nature qui vous accompagne, & qui come un Soleil donne lumiere à toutes les autres belles & heroïques vertus qui vous sent domestiques, & que vous avez tiré du Tres-ancien & Tres-noble sang des Seigneurs de la war, dont vous avez pris vostre heureuse naisance, m'asseure que ce mien essay ne vous sera des-agreable, & que vous aurez plus des-gard a la sincere affection dont il depart qui est infinie, que non pas à sa petitesse, qui veritablement seroit du tout indign de porter vostre liurée, si vous mesmes ne l'en rendez dign. Il la port neantmoins pour inciter les plus Doctes a a vous dedier leurs Escrits, afin que par la faveur que vous faictes au Muses, vostre Nom glorieux se puisse lire par la posterity, au front gracieux de leurs oewres immortelles: & a m'ayder a vous rendre graces des plaisirs, que vous m'auez desia faicts, & de ceux qu'a mon exemple ils receuront de vostre accoustumée faveur. Et en ceste devotion ie prieray Dieu.  
Mademoiselle vous donner tres-longue & heureuse vie. De Londres ce 11. d'Aoust. 1592. Vostre tres-humble & tres-affectionné seruiteur. G. De la Mothe. N.   


A  ABon commencement faut donner bonne fin. 
A Good beginning will have a good ending.  A la fin d'vn chef d'oeuure on iuge de l'ouurier. 
At the end of his work, we judge of a workman.  A la fin du combat se cognoist la victoire. 
At the end of the fight is known the victory.  Aux moeurs, & non aux mots, if faut iuger de l'homme. 
By his works and not by his words, we must judge of a man.  Aux fruits, & non aux fleurs, on cognoist le bon arbre. 
By the fruits and not by the flowers, we do know the good tree.  Amour fait trower beau ce qui de soy n'est beau. 
Love makes us judge a thing fair, though it be foul.  Au prix du mal d'amour, tout autre mal est doux. 
All sour is sweet, being compared with the sweet sour of love.  Au leuer du Soleil les tenebres s'enfuyent. 
At the suns rising, all darkness doth fly away.  Amour ne fut iamais ou sans peur, ou sans pleurs. 
Love never was without both fear and tears.  A un bon entendeur ne faut que demi mot. 
A word suffises for a wise man.  Au fait, & non au front, l'homme sage se judge. 
By his doings not by his face, the wise is to be judged.  Apres un fascheux soir vine un beau l'endemain. 
After araynie evening, may well follow a fair morning.  avec le bell honneur le labeur est util. 
With credit and honour, labour is profitable.  Apres la mort ne sert d'apporter le remedy. 
When death is come, remedy is to late.  Apres un peu de joy on sent mieux la tristesse. 
After a little joy, we feel the greater annoy.  Apres le temps perdu vain est la repentance. 
When time is lost, repentance is but vain.  A la queuë d'Aspic consist le venom. 
An Adder keeps his venom at his tail.  A chat cendreux iamais ne tomb rien en gueule. 
A muffled Cat is no good mouse hunter.  Au milieu des perils la prudence reluist. 
Wisdom doth shine in the midst of danger.  A ceux qui ont failly, rien ne sert l'ignorance. 
Ignorance doth not excuse the faulty.  Aspirer iusqu'au ciel n'est pas dans le ciel estre. 
To aspire to heaven, is not to be in heaven.  avec un peu de far un petit homme s'arme. 
With a small store of steel, a little man is armed,  A fool question ne faut point de response. 
We must answer a fool with silence.  Alors que nous pensons estre plus miserables, 
When we do think to be most miserable,  Cest alors que les Dieux nous sont plus favorables. 
God unto us is then most favourable.  A peuple rebel Prince vindicatif. 
To a rebellious people, a cruel Prince is due.  A rude chien faut dur lien. 
A cursed dog must be tied short.  Autant d'hommes autant de volontez. 
So many men, so many minds.  Autant de testés autant d'opinions. 
So many heads, so many wits.  Autant de païs autant de customs. 
So many countries, so many laws.  A chaque oiseau son nid luy semble beau. 
The Crow doth think her own birds the fairest.  Amour & Royaulté ne veulent point desgal. 
Love and Royalty, can suffer no equal.  Au besoin se cognoist l'amy de l'ennemy. 
In our want we do know, a good friend from a foe.  A un petit mercier convient petit panier. 
A small pack becomes a little peddler.  A rude cheval done rude esperon. 
To a restif horse, we must give a sharp spur.  Au valet on cognoist communement le master. 
Commonly we do know the master by the man.  A tell Saint tell offrande. 
Such a Saint, such an offering.   

B  Bien fair a l'homme ingratest est semer sur du sable. 
To do good to the ingrateful, is to sow on the sand.  Baille sans esperer d'en recepuoir vsure. 
Give without hope to receive any usury thereof.  Bonne cause a sowent bon besoing d'estre aydée. 
A good cause hath often need of help.  Bon loup iamais ne quest au pres de sa tasniere. 
A good wolf will never hunt to near his den.  Bien que le corpse soit beau, l'ame est encor plus bell. 
Though the body be fair, the soul is fairer.  Beauté est le miroir de la beauté divine. 
Beauty is the true glass of divine virtue.  Bien fair a l'indigent merit double gloire. 
To do good to the poor, deserves double glory.  Baille a qui te demand, & ne le fay attendre. 
Give to him that asks thee, and make him not tarry.  Balance les designings, & non pas les paroles. 
Weigh the meaning, and look not at the words.  Beauté dompte les coeurs, & l'or vaincq la beauté. 
Beauty doth tame the heart, and gold doth overcome beauty.  Bon vin n'a point besoin qu'on luy donne d'enseigne 
Where is the best wine, there needs to have no sign.  Beauté d'esprit se rend par vertu immortelle. 
Beauty of the mind, maketh itself by virtue immortal.  Beauté sans la vertu ne merit estre aymée. 
Beauty without virtue, doth not deserve to be loved.  Bonne doctrine prend en luy, qui se chastie ꝑ autruy. 
Happy is he that can beware by an other man's harm.  Bonne renommée vault mieux que ceinture dorée. 
Good fame is better worth than a golden crown.  Bany de tes costez toute trouppe meschante. 
Banish far from thy eye, all wicked company.  Banquets, dances, & ieux effeminent les hommes. 
Both feasts, dances and plays, do effeminate men.  Beauté du corpse resemble a la fleur du Printemps. 
Beauty of the body, is like to the flowers of the spring.  Broncher aucunesfois fois est choose supportable. 
To stumble so that it be not often is a thing sufferable.  Bien-heureuse est la douce nouriture, 
Thrice blessed is the good nurture,  Qui sçait pollir une rude nature. 
That can amend a bad nature.  Bon faict avoir amy accord, 
'tis good to have a wise and discrete friend,  Quand on a process a la Court. 
If in the law we have a suit to end.  Beau parler n'escorche langue. 
Fair words breaks no bones.  Bon vin de bonne vigne. 
Good wine of a good vineyard.  Bon fruit d'vn bon arbre. 
Good fruit of a good tree.  Bonne moisson d'vne bonne semence. 
Good corn of a good seed.   

C  Cela qui se fait bien ce fait prou vitement. 
We do it soon enough, if what we do be well.  C'est plus de cruauté de differer la pain. 
Cruelty is more cruel, if we defer the pain.  Celuy qui n'est qu'vn sot habile homme pense estre. 
Though one be but a fool, yet he thinks himself wise.  Cognoistre & ne powoir est un double malheur. 
To know and not to be able to perform, is a double (mishap.  C'est heur aux malheureux de ne rien esperer. 
To have no hope, is a hap to th'unhappy.  C'est la seule vertu qui donne la noblesse. 
'tis virtue only that gives nobility.  Ce qui estoit hire ne se voit auiourd'huy. 
Some thing was yesterday, that is nothing to day.  Cela qu'vn iour nous donne un autre iour nous l'oste. 
What one day gives us, another takes away from us.  Chien qui iappe de loing n'ose approcher pour mordre. 
A dog that barks far of, dares not come near to bite.  Cercher en un mouton cinq pieds au am de quatre. 
To seek in a sheep five feet, where there is but four.  Cheual roigneux ne peut endurer qu'on l'estrille. 
A scabed horse cannot abide the comb.  Covard amant n'eut onc n'y n'aura bell amye. 
A cowardly lover, shall never have a fair paramour.  Ce qui est amer en la bouche est sowent doux au coeur. 
What is sweet in the mouth, is often bitter at the heart. heart.  Ce qui est doux en la bouche est sowent amer au coeur. 
What is bitter in the mouth, is often sweet at the  Celuy scent en son coeur une excessive pain, 
The man doth feel in his heart great pain,  Qui va mourant de soif aupres de la fontaine. 
That starves for thirst, by a goodly fountain.  Ce n'est tout d'auoir bell entrée si lissue n'est bell 
A good beginning is nothing worth, except the end be good.  C'est une saint guerre, de deffendre sa terre. 
It is a holy war to fight for our country.  Ce qui fut ce refait. Tout cowl come une eau: Et rien dessoubs le ciel ne se voit de noweau. 
That which was done, is done again, all slideth like a spring: And under the large Cope of heaven, we see not a new thing.  Communement toutes choses retiennent, 
Commonly every thing do keep still as we see,  Le naturel du am d'ou elles viennent. 
The nature of the place from whence they come to be.  Celuy doibt a iamais demeurer miserable, 
Let him for ever live in misery and grief:  Qui languist en un mal dont il se peut guerir. 
That will languish in pain, when he may have relief.  C'est estre temeraire, de vouloir resister, quand on ne le peut fair. 
Rash is the man that will resist when he can not.  C'est plus grand vertu d'aider aux affligez, que soustenir ceux qui sont en prosperité. 
It is greater virtue to relief and help those that be in adversity, them to maintain those that be in prosperity.  C'est trop tard de fermer l'estable, quand les chevaux s'en sont allez. 
It is to late to shut the stable door, when the steed is stolen.  Chat eschaudé craint l'eau froide. 
A scalded Cat doth fear the coldest water.  Chacun villain est Roy chez soy. 
Every clown is king at home.   

D  Dieu bat ceux qu'il cherist dubers iusqu'au cercueil. 
God doth chasten those he loves, even from their cradle to their grave.  Dieu nous ayant battu jest la verge au feu. 
God having beaten us, doth cast his road into the fire.  Dieu ton plus sowent qu'il ne foudroye pas. 
God thundereth more often, than he doth strike & beat.  Dieu nous frappe du doigt, & non de tout le bras. 
God strikes with his finger, and not with all his arm.  Dieu depart l'ire au poix, & sans poix la pitié. 
God giveth his wrath by weight, and without weight his mercy.  Dieu a des pieds de lain, & ses bras sont de far. 
God hath his feet of woollen, his arms be iron.  D'vne nowelle amour viennent nowelles larmes. 
Of a new love, new spring of tears come forth  D'abondance du coeur sowent la bouche parle. 
Of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.  Deux contrair ' opposez s'entredonnent lumiere. 
Two contraries, give light the one to the other.  Dieu fait habiter l'homme entre le bien & mal. 
God makes the man to devil, betwixt the good and evil.  D'amis plus que d'argent faut estre desireux. 
Of friends more than of gold, we must be desirous.  Deux testes sur un corpse est chose monstrueuse. 
Two heads on a body, is a monstrous thing.  D'vn bien petit ruisseau sort sowent grand' riviere. 
Often of a little brook, comes forth a great river.  De peu de mots viennent de grands effects. 
Often of few words, may great effects ensue.  De noweau Prince nowelle servitude. 
Of a new Prince, new bondage.  De temeraire esperance fin perilleuse. 
Of rash hope, perilous end.  De noweau tout est beau. 
All new things seems commonly to be fair.  De fol lug brieve sentence. 
Of a foolish judge, rash sentence.  Donner a garder la brebis au loup. 
To give the sheep to the wolf to keep.  Deux montaignes ne se rencontrent iamais, ce que font bien deux hommes. 
Two hills can never meet, two men may often meet.  Difficile est en toute affair, Entierement a chacun satisfaire. 
'tis very hard to please all men in all things.  Deux petits chiens font grand peur a un grand. 
Two little dogs, make a mastif afraid.  De deux grands maux faut eslire le moindre. 
Of two evils, the lest is to be choose.   

E  Enseigner l'ignorant est le moyen d'apprendre. 
To teach the unlearned, is the true way to learn.  Entre deux bancs rompus demeurer cull a terre. 
Betwixt two broken stools, to fall flat to the ground.  Entretien tes amis quand tu les acquis. 
Keep well thy friends, when thou hast got them.  Entretenir amis est choose difficile. 
To keep his friends, 'tis a very hard thing.  Eschappé d'vn danger guard d'y retomber. 
Being escaped from a danger, take heed to fall again.  Endure de celuy qui est plus fort que toy. 
Endure of him which is stronger than thou.  Ensuyure la vertu est choose commandable. 
To follow virtue, is a commendable thing.  Entasser l'or sur l'or est se rendre servile. 
To get gold upon gold, is to make himself slave to gold.  Escoute cestuy la qui te bien admonneste. 
Hear him that doth give you a good warning.  Eslargy de tes biens aux pawres souffreteux. 
Give of thy goods to the poor and needy.  Esperer country espoir provient d'vn grand courage. 
To hope against all hope proceeds of a great mind.  Esprower ses amis est sowent profitable. 
To try his friends, is often profitable.  Euiter le destin est du tout impossible. 
To eschew destiny, is wholly impossible.  En faisant ce qu'on doibt ne faut de recompense. 
In doing what we aught, we deserve no reward.  Entre la bouche & le verre, le vin sowent tomb a terre. 
Between the lip and cup, often the wine is spilled.  En petit am sowent se cache un grand thresor. 
Often in a little place, a great treasure is hide.   

F  Fay ce que tu voudrois qu'on fit a ta person. 
Do that thou wouldst to be done unto thee.  Folier bien appoint est sign de sagesse. 
To play the fool well, is sign of wisdom.  Fin country fin n'est bon a fair de doubleure. 
Two crafty men, can never well agreed.  Fortune aux vns est mere, & aux autres marastre. 
Fortune to one is mother, and to another stepmother.  Folly qui veut voler haut sur des ails de cire. 
A fool is he that will fly with wings done with wax.  Fortune ne peut rien sur la discretion. 
Fortune hath no power on discretion.  Fortune aid aux hardis, & less covards mesprise. 
Fortune doth help the hardy men, and despiseth the cowards.  Fortune vaincq tousiours, & n'est iamais vaincue. 
Fortune overcomes all, and it can not be overcome.  Fortune host les biens, mais non pas la vertu. 
Fortune cantake away our goods, but never our virtue.  Facilement on croit ce qu'on craint & desire. 
We soon believe the thing, that we fear and desire.  Fascher l'homme fasché est redoubler sa pain. 
To trouble a troubled man, is to redouble his pain.  Faveur par or acquise est trop cheer vendue. 
Favour got by gold, is to dearly bought.  Flatteurs cerchent leur bien, & non de ceux qu'ils flattent. 
Flatterers seek their own good and not those they flatter.  Flatter un homme sage est faute de sagesse, 
To flatter a wiseman, comes of want of wisdom.  Fault commise express ne doibt estre excusée. 
A fault purposely committed, aught not to be excused.  Fuir ce qu'il faut suiure est suiure sa ruin. 
To fly from that which we should follow, is to follow our own destruction.  Franchise & liberté vallent tout l'or du monde. 
Freedom and liberty be better worth than all the gold of the world.  Franc se peut appeller qui maistrise son ame. 
Free is the man that well can master his soul.   

G  Grand diseurs sont sowent les plus petits faiseurs. 
Those that do speak the most, often do the lest.  Gratieuse est la fin qui termine nos pains. 
Gracious is the end, that doth end all our pains.  Gratieux sont les pieds qui apportent la paix. 
Gracious be the feet, that do bring us peace.  Gratieux est le front qui ne promet qu'amour. 
Gracious is the face, that promises nothing but love.  Garnir ses coffres d'or est se garnir de pain. 
To fill his treasure with gold, is to fill himself with pain.  Grand heur ne suit tousiours ceux qui sont en grandeur. 
Good fortune always doth not follow those that be in great estate.  Gravité est requise a une barb grise. 
Gravity is to be desired in a white beard.  Gowerner un estate, est un peasant fardeau. 
To rule an estate, is a heavy burden.  Garny toy de sagesse, & rien ne te faudra. 
Garnish thee with wisdom, & thou shalt want nothing.  Garde le bon renom que tu auras acquis. 
Keep the good fame, that once thou hast got.  Gain de richesse fait, sowent perdre les cieux. 
Gain of gold, makes often a man to lose his soul.  Gloire s'aquiert avec, la sueur & le sang. 
Glory is got both in sweeting and blood.   

H  Heureux qui peut du mal d'autruy devenir sage. 
Happy is he that can beware, by another man's harm.  Heureux qui peut tirer, un grand gain de sa part. 
Happy is he that makes a great gain of his loss.  Horse de soy la vertu, n'a point de recompense. 
Out of itself virtue can not have any reward.  Haine n'apporte rien, que repentir a l'homme. 
Hate brings nothing but repentance to man.  Hanter les vicieux, est se tacher de vice. 
To haunt the vicious, is to blot himself with vice.  Hardiesse sans crainte, est seur de la folly. 
Hardiness without fear, is the sister of folly.  Hair ce qui nous aim, est chose monstrueuse. 
To hate that doth love us, is a monstrous thing.  Honneur sans le repos, nuist plus qu'il ne profit. 
Honour without some rest, hurteth more than it doth profit.  Humilité se voit aux faits, & non aux gests. 
Humility is seen in deed, rather than in gesture  Humilier le grand, est aggrandir sa gloire. 
To abase the great, is to increase his own glory.  Heur & malheur se suyvent tour a tour. 
Good and evil follows the one after the other.  Heureux est celuy la, qui plus rien ne desire. 
Happy is the man that desireth no more than he hath.  Heur ne se parfaict point, sinon apres la mort. 
Happiness is never perfect, but after death.   

I  Il faut battre le far, ce pendant qu'il est chaud. 
We must strike the Iron whilst it is hot.  Il n'est si bon cheval, qui quelques fois ne bronche. 
It is a good horse, that doth never stumble.  Il ne fait iamais bon, se iover a son master. 
It is not good to play with his master.  Il n'y a si petit, qui ne puisse un iour nuire. 
There is no man though never so little, but sometimes he can hurt.  Il vaudroit beaucoup mieux se taire, que trop dire. 
It were far better to hold the tongue, then to speak to much.  Il vault mieux parler moins, & fair d'auantage. 
It were far better to speak less, and to do more.  Il faut seruir devant que powoir estre master. 
One must be a servant, before he be a master.  jamais ne fut mocqueur, sans estre en fin mocqué. 
There is never a scoffer, but in the end is scoffed at.  Il faut d'vn juge faint, redoubter le courroux. 
We must fear the anger of a dissembling judge.  Il vit en Loup-garou qui vit sans compagnie. 
The man that lives alone, doth live like a wild Cat.  Il fait bien bon iover, mais il fait mawais perdre. 
'tis good to play, but displeasant to lose.  Il faut bien peser tout pour iuger droictement. 
We must weigh all things well to judge rightly.  Il n'est rien si certain, qu'il faut que l'homme meure. 
There is nothing so sure as once a man must dye.  N'y rien si incertain qu'elle en doibt estre l'heure. 
Neither so uncertain, when shall be his last day.  Il faut porter au front la honte de mal fair. 
We must bear in our face the shame of doing evil.  Il faut prendre le temps ainsi come il nous vient. 
We must needs take the time as it doth come.  Il nous advient sowent un bien que l'on n'attend. 
Often some good happeneth to us, when we least look for it.  Il faut country fortune opposer la vertu. 
We must with our virtue, withstand against fortune.  Il faut plus resister plus on est combatu. 
The more we be assailed, the more we must withstand.  Il n'est pas rechappé qui train son licol. 
The horse that draws after him his halter, is not altogether escaped.  jamais un bell esprit n'est deux fois abusé. 
A wise man can not be twice abused.  Il n'y a loy qu'on puisse a l'amour comparer. 
There is no law to be compared with love.  Il ne faut craindre pis, mais bien esperer mieux. 
We must fear the worst, and also hope the best.  Il n'est rien si caché qu'en fin l'on ne descowre. 
There is nothing so well hidden, but it may be discovered.  Il n'est si bell fleur qu'vn orage ne fane. 
There is no flower so fair, but it may be withered with storms.  Il vault bien mieux sçavoir bien fair que bien dire. 
'tis better to do well, then to speak well.  Il faut semer devant qu'on puisse moissonner. 
We must both till and sow, before that we can reap.  Il est bien mal aisé de se taire ayant mal. 
'tis very hard to hold his tongue, when one hath cause to mourn.  Il se faut reculer un peu pour mieux psalter. 
We must recoil a little, to th'end we leap the better.  Il n'est de laid amour, ny de bell prison. 
There was never a foul love, nor a fair prison.  Il n'y a soubs le ciel chance, qui ne return. 
There is not under heaven any chance, but it returns again.  Il fait tres-bon avoir deux cords en son arc. 
It is good to have two strings to his bow.  Il descowre S. Paul pour en cowrir S. Pierre. 
To rob Saint Paul for to give to S. Peter.  Il ne faut pas clocher devant un viel boiteux. 
One must not halt before an old lame man.  Il n'est de iour si clair, qui n'ait quelque nuage. 
There is no day never so clear, but it hath some dark clouds.  Il n'est si petit crin, qui ne port son ombre. 
There is no hair never so small, but it hath his shadow.  Il n'y a point de feu, qui ne jest fumée. 
There is never a fire, but it must have his smoke.  Il n'est homme si fin qu'a la fin on n'affine. 
There is no man never so crafty, but he may be deceived.  Il faudroit acheter les homme ' au poix de l'or. 
We must esteem men as the weight of the most precious gold.  Il n'est si fort qu'en fin plus fort que soy ne trouue. 
There is no man though never so strong, but there is a stronger.  jamais le loup ne fait guerre a un autre loup. 
A wolf will never make war against another wolf.  Il n'est counsel si clos qu'en fin l'on ne desrobe. 
There is no counsel so secret, but it may be disclosed.  jamais il n'est clarté, ou lumiere sans ombre. 
There was never any light, but it had some shadow.  Il ne faut pas laisser pour le son, la farine. 
We must not leave the meal, to take the bran.  Il vault mieux n'estre né que de n'estre enseigné. 
It were better to be unborn, then to be untaught.  Il faut que nous aymions come devans haïr. 
We must love, as looking one day to hate.  Il faut que nous haissions come esperans aymer. 
We must hate, as looking one day to love.  Il faut long temps penser devant qu'executer. 
We must think upon, before we execute.  Il est plus de comperes que d'amis. 
There are more dissemblers then faithful friends.  Il ne faut demander a un malade s'il veut santé. 
We must not ask of a sick-man, if he will have his health.  Il est fol qui pour autruy s'oublie. 
The man is unwise, that forgets himself for another.  Il vault mieux tard que iamais. 
It is better late than never.  Il ne faut qu'vne brebis rongneuse pour gaster tout un troupeau. 
One scabed sheep, will infect a whole flock.  Il n'y sauce que d'appetit. 
A good stomach is the best sauce that one can have.  Il est empesché come une paul qui n'a qu'vn poulet. 
He is as busy as a hen that hath but one chicken.  Il ne faut approcher le feu des estouppes qui ne veut qu'elles ne bruslent. 
We must not bring the flax to near the fire, except we will have them burn.  Il ne faut coupper du cuir d'autruy large courroye. 
We must not cut a large thong of another man's leather.  Il a beau se leuer matin, qui a bruit de se leuer haute heure. 
In vain he rises early, that was wont to rise late.  Il a beau se coucher tard, qui a le bruit de se leuer matin. 
In vain he goeth to bed late, that is wont to rise early.  Il faut hazarder un petit poisson afin d'en prendre un grand. 
We must adventure a small fish, to take a great one.  Il n'y a chose si bell qui n'ait quelque vice en elle. 
There is nothing so fair, but it hath some fault.  Il fait bon avoir des amis & en paradis & en enfer. 
It is good to have some friends both in heaven and hell.  Il faut coupper sa rob selon la grandeur de son drape. 
We must cut our coat according to our clot.  Il peut advenir en une heure ce qui n'aduient en mile. 
A thing may happen in an hour, that happens not in a thousand.  jamais le bien ne sera bon trowé, 
Good shall never be found to be good,  Si par le mal il n'est premier prowé. 
Unless it have been first proved by the evil.  Il n'est meilleure rent, que d'vne ame content. 
There is nothing better, than a contented mind.  Il y a plus de tristesse a perdre les richesses', qu'il n'y a de plaisir a les posseder. 
There is greater sorrow in losing riches, than pleasure in getting them.  Il vault beaucoup mieux garder un homme des scions, qu'en tuer cent de ses ennemis. 
It is better to save a man of his own, then to kill a hundredth of the enemies.  Il est malheureux qui sert, plus malheureux qui offence: & tres-malheureux qui ne se cognoist. 
Unhappy is he that desireth, unhappier that offendeth and unhappiest that knoweth not himself.  Il n'y a point de plus grand pestilence qu'audace, & puissance accompagnez d'ignorance. 
There is no greater plague than boldness and power when they be accompanied with ignorance.  Il n'y a routte que de vieux renards. 
There is no surer way to follow, than that of an old fox.  Il est impossible en guerre, entre vaillans ennemis, De mettre un chacum ꝑ terre, sans iamais y estre mis. 
It is impossible in war against valiant enemies, to overcome always, and never to be overcome.  Il n'est rien si certain qui ne soit esbranlé, Du soir au lendemain. 
There is nothing so sure, but it may be changed between the evening and the morning.  jamais le Marinier ne fit de long voyage, Qu'ores par le beau temps, & oars par l'orage. 
A good Mariner never made a good voyage, but sometimes with fair weather, and sometimes with tempestuous storms.  Il ne faut pas crier victoire devant qu'auoir combatu. 
We must not cry victory, before we have fought.  Il est bien miserable qui refuse de voir la clarté du Soleil. 
He is most miserable, that denieth to see the suns light.  Il vault sowent mieux iover des aureilles que de la langue 
It is often better to play with our ears, then with our tongue.  Il vault mieux avoir un enemy descowert qu'vn amy sophistiqué. 
It is better to have an open foe, than a dissembling friend.  Il faut plustost cercher un homme qui ait besoing de richesses', que de richesses' qui ayent besoing d'vn homme. 
We must rather seek for a man that wants wealth, then for wealth that wants a man.  Il faut s'accommoder au temps, aux lieux, & aux personnes, & obeïr a la necessité. 
We must frame ourselves both to time, to place, and to people, and obey their necessity and laws.  Il faut manger un muy de sell avec un homme devant que le bien cognoistre. 
We must eat a bushel of salt with a man, before we can know him well.  Il vault mieux se monstrer sans esprit, que d'entrer en la voye d'ingratitude. 
It is better to show himself without wit, then to enter into the way of unthankfulness.  Il est mal aisé de bien viure, mais bien aisé de mal mourir. 
It is very hard to live well, but very easy to dye ill.  Il vault mieux perdre avec vertu, que gaigner sans icelle. 
It is better to lose with virtue, then to gain without it.  Il est bien mal aisé de plaire a tout le monde. 
It is hard to please all, but very easy to displease.  Il fait beau voir une ame qui assemble, Et les vertus, & les beautez ensemble. 
It is a fair sight to see a body, that gathereth both the virtues and the beauty together.  Il n'est rien si secret qu'en fin l'on ne cognoisse. 
There is nothing so secret, but it may be known.  Il n'est rien si caché que le temps ne descowre. 
There is nothing so hiden, but time can discover it.  Il est bien mal aisé que qui bien vit mal meure. 
It is almost impossible, that a man that lives well, should dye ill.  Il est bien mal aisé que qui mal vit, bien meure. 
It is almost impossible, that a man that lives not well, should dye well.  Il est bien difficile de tondre sur un oeuf. 
It is very hard to shave an egg.  Il fait bon tenir son asne par la bride. 
It is good to hold the ass by the bridle.  Il ne faut iamais courir apres son esteuf. 
It is not good to run after his ball.   

L  Les sains sçavent donner bon counsel aux malades. 
The healthful man can give good counsel to the sick.  La mort d'vne ieune loup n'est iamais trop hastée. 
The death of a young wolf, doth never come to soon.  La volonté doibt estre estimée pour faict. 
The will must be accounted for the deed.  La rage d'vn sanglier brigande plus d'vn bois. 
The rage of a wild boar, is able to spoil more than one wood,  L'homme propose en terre, & Dieu dispose au ciel. 
Man doth purpose in earth, & God disposeth in heaven.  La coustume a la fin en nature se change. 
Custom in time, unto nature is changed.  L'ignorant perira avec son ignorance. 
The ignorant shall perish, with his ignorance.  La douleur augmentée augment les complaints. 
Grief being increased, doth increase the complaints.  Le chantre est ignorant, qui ne sçait qu'vne notte. 
Unskillful is the Musician, that can sing but one song.  Le neud que l'amour joint, la mort ne peut deffaire. 
The knot that love doth knit, death can not unknit.  La mort vient assez toast, voire trop vistement. 
Death cometh soon enough, yea it cometh to so.  La brebis qui est seule est en danger du loup. 
The sheep alone is in danger of the wolf.  L'homme est bien chastié d'vne grand repentance. 
Man is punished enough with a great repentance.  Le ciel n'est pas acquis, si tossed que souhaitté. 
Heaven is not got, so soon as wished for.  Le peu fait tousiours peu peu de bois peu de flame. 
Little makes always little, of little wood little flame.  Le sage delibere avant que de conclure. 
The wise considers well, before he doth conclude.  Le trompeur choit sowent aux lacz de trumpery. 
The deceitful man, falls often into the snares of deceit.  La vertu fuit le coeur de l'homme mercenaire. 
Virtue flies from the heart of a mercenary man.  L'ame base ne peut iuger de choose haute. 
A basewit, can not judge of a high thing.  L'enfer est en tout am, ou l'Eternel n'est pas. 
Hell is in every place, wherein the Lord is not.  L'eau qui ne court se rend & puante & mal sane. 
The water that doth not run, is soon infected.  L'air n'est presque iamais sans vens, ou sans nuages. 
The air is never without either some wound or clouds.  Le ciel cessera d'estre en cessant de courir. 
Heaven shall cease to be, when it shall cease to run.  Le seul vice est mawais, la vertu seule est bonne. 
The only vice is ill, the only virtue good.  Les membres ne sont beaux, quamd tout le corpse est laid. 
The limbs can not be fair, when the body is foul.  L'aueugle ne peut voir le deffaut de ses yeux. 
The blindman can not see the deffaute of his eyes.  Les gens lepreux ne font que des enfans lepreux. 
The leprous man can not get but leprous children.  L'ire & pitié de Dieu se suyvent tour a tour. 
The wrath and love of God, doth follow one another.  L'homme cruel mourra d'vne cruelle mort. 
A cruellman, shall dye by cruel death.  Les enfans derniers nez sont tousiours plus aymez. 
The children born the last, be often loved the best.  Le nocher vient sowent fair naufrage au port. 
The sailor comes often to make shipwreck in the port.  Le riuage est tousiours plus seur que la mer haute. 
The coast is always surer than the main sea.  Les deniers sont les nerfs, & force de la guerre. 
Money is the sinews, and the force of war.  La langue du meschant soville l'homme de bien. 
The tongue of the wicked, doth defile the righteous.  La presence du mal fait le bien apparoistre. 
The presence of the evil, makes goodness appear.  Le repos est plus doux, apres un long malaise. 
Most sweet is rest after a long travail.  L'homme sage & prudent prend le temps come il vient. 
The wise and discreet man, takes the time as it comes.  L'honneur, sans le profit, laisse l'homme en arriere. 
Credit without profit, doth leave a man behind.  Le profit sans l'honneur ne profit de guere. 
profit without credit, doth lose his best reward.  Le bon cheval sowent a besoing d'esperon. 
A good horse often hath need of a good spur.  La Rose a la parfin se flestrist & desseiche. 
The fairest rose in the end is withered.  La foudre rue a bas les plus superbes tours. 
The thunder overthroweth the highest towers.  Le toict d'vn bergerot sans peur dure tousiours. 
The cottage of a swain, without fear still doth stand.  Le loup mange sowent des ovailles contées. 
The wolf eateth often, of the sheep that have been told.  Les fols & les enfans prophetisent sowent. 
Fools and children often doth prophesy.  L'or au fourneau s'esprouue & l'amy en malaise. 
Gold is approved in the furnace, and the friend in troubles.  Le counsel pris, quand la choose est parfaicte, 
Counsel taken after the thing is done,  N'est qu'vne pluye apres la moisson fact. 
It but as rain after harvest is past.  L'homme ne doibt d'aucun estre blasmé, 
A man must not of any man be blamed,  S'il aim peu, quand il n'est point aymé. 
If he loves but little, when he is not loved at all.  Le feu cowert a plus de violence, Que n'a celuy qui ses flames eslance. 
Fire which is hiden, hath greater violence, then that, that gives his flames.  Le champ qui quelques ans demeure come en friche, Quand il est resemé fait un raport plus rich. 
The soil that some years is left fallow, is the more fruitful, when it is tilled and sown again.  L'arc, qui pour quelques iours desencordé demeure, Enfonce plus avant la mortelle blesseure. 
The bow that for some days is left unbente, shoots deeper his deadly wound, than it did before.  Le renard, ne powamt atteindre aux hautes meures, Dit lors qu'il n'en veut point, & qu'elles ne sont meures. 
When the fox can not reach the blackeberyes, he says that he will none, because they be not ripe.  L'eau qui dort est pire que cell la qui court. 
The standing water, is worse than the water that runneth.  Le chat aim bien le poisson, mais il craint de moviller la pat. 
A Cat loves fish well, but she will not wet her feet.  Le repentir suit sowent court plaisir. 
A long repentance, often follows a short pleasure.  Lafoy chose guere veuë est cheer tenuë. 
The thing seldom seen, is accounted dear.  La souris qui n'a qu'vne entrée est incontinent happée. 
The mouse that hath but a hole, is quickly taken.  La pierre qu'on remue sowent n'amasse iamais mousse. 
The rolling stone, doth never gather moss.  Le Roy pert son droit, ou il n'y a que prendre. 
The King doth lose his right, where there is nothing to be had.  Le diable n'est tousiours a la port d'vn homme. 
The Devil is not always at a poor man's door.  Le plaisir est trop cher vendu, 
A pleasure is bought to dear,  Qui longuement est attendu. 
When it is looked for to long.  Lafoy buy va si sowent au puys, qu'en fin lance y demeure. 
The water pot is so many time carried to the well, that in the end it cometh broken home.  La maison est malheureuse & meschante, Ou la paul plus haut que le coq chante, 
Unhappy and cursed is the house, wherein the hen singeth higher than the cock.  L'arc tousiours tendu ne peut durer long temps sans rompre. 
The bow always bent, can not last without breaking.  Le temps perdu iamais ne se recowre. 
The time lost, can not be recovered again.  Le temps s'en va, & iamais ne revient. 
The time passeth away, and never comes again.  La bell pleume fait le bell oyseau. 
The fair feathers, makes a fair foul.  Le feu n'est iamais sans chaleur. 
The fire is never without heat.  L'vn au matin senfle en son bien, Qui au Soleil couché n'a rien. 
One in a morning swelleth for pride of his goods, that at the suns setting hath lost all.  La fleur des ans, qui peu seiourne, S'enfuit & iamais ne return. 
The flower of our years, that last but little, vanisheth away, and never comes again.  Le filet te monster combien, La vie est un fragile bien. 
The thread teacheth us, how weak and frail is this poor life.  Les murailles ont des aureilles. 
The walls may have some ears.  L'amy qui flat est enemy. 
The friend that doth flatter, is a foe.  Le uray amy iamais ne dissimule, 
A true friend will never dissemble.  L'Ire aveugle le judgment. 
Wrath and anger, doth blind the judgement.  La fin couronne l'oeuure. 
The end doth crown the work.  La farine du diable s'en va moitié en son. 
The meal of the devil, is half turned into bran.  Les pommes aigres de nature pewent devenir douces par industry. 
Crabs by nature may become good apples by art.  L'amy n'a plus seur thresor que l'amy en la necessité. 
A man hath no greater treasure in his adversity, than a true friend.  L'homme est bien aveuglé, qui s'amuse a iover aux eschets, alors que sa maison brusle. 
Very careless is the man, that will play at chess, when his house is on fire.  La menace, est tres-bonne, qui donne aduertissement. 
Most good is the threatening, that gives a good warning.  La diversité des viands empesche la digestion. 
The diversity of meats doth hinder digestion.  Le cheval brusque peut tirer & son master & soy horse du danger. 
A good horse can draw out of danger, both his master and himself.  Le cheval restif met son master & soy en danger. 
A jaide puts in danger, both his master and himself.  L'amour des subjects est la ferme coulomne d'vn Prince. 
The love of the subjects, is the strongest pillar of a Prince.  La ou la haine reign, signory n'a point de seureté. 
Where hate doth reign, Lordship hath no surety.  Le bien fait a un ingrat n'est iamais bien employé. 
The good turn done to an ingratfulman, is ill bestowed.  Les promesses lungs sont figures de cruauté. 
Long promises be figures of cruelty.  Les bras des Roys sont de grand estendue. 
The arms of kings do reach very far.  La necessité engendre a l'homme la guerre avec soy mesme. 
Necessity engendereth in man war against himself.  La moindre choose de ce que nous ignorons est plus grand que tout ce que les hommes pewent sçavoir. 
The jest thing whereof we be ignorant, is greater than all that men can know.  La difficulté de toutes choses est precieuse. 
Scarcity of things is always precious.  Le pardonner n'est moindre vertu aux grands, quand ils sont offencez, que la vengeance, vice eux petits, quand ils sont iniuriez. 
To forgive is no less virtue in Princes, when they be offended, then revenge a vice in the common sort, when they be wronged.  Le petits se vengent pour l'honneur, Les grands pardonnent pour la vertu. 
The common sort do take revenge for their credit, Lords forgive for their virtue.  Le bon counsel asseure sowent les choses douteuses. 
Good counsel often assures the doubtful things.  Les choses faictes en colere se pesent avec repentance. 
The things done in anger, are weighed with repentance.  La hastiveté est damageable, & la tardiveté seure. 
Hastiness is hurtful, but slowness is sure.  Les innocens ne doibuent moins craindre la fortune, que les coupables la loy. 
The guiltless aught not to fear less fortune, than the guilty the laws.  L'homme rusé par long usage, N'est follement avantureux. 
A man that hath experience by a long usage, will not rashly hazard himself.  Et qui par son peril est sage, Celuy est sage malheureux: 
And he which is wise by his own folly, may be called unhappy wise.  Le beau soulier bless sowent le pied. 
The fairest shoes, do often hurt the foot.  L'honneur surmonte la foible honte, s'on est vainqueu par un brave vainqueur. 
Honour overcometh the feeble shame, if we be overcome by a valorous warrior.  Le am n'honnore l'homme, mais l'homme honnore ou deshonnore le lieu. 
The place doth not honour the man, but the man honoureth or dishonoureth the place.  L'Eternel tient devant sa port, 
The Lord of heaven hath at his gate,  Deux tonneaux, dont il fait plewoir: 
Two great Tons, from whence doth reign.  Tout ce qui aux hommes apport, 
All that bring to men the cause  Dequoy joy & tristesse avoir. 
Both of their joy, and also pain.  Les peines importunes, ne sont volontiers loing des plus hautes fortunes. 
The trouble some pains, be not commonly far of the most prosperous fortune.  Le mal venu il le faut endurer. 
We must endure the evil, when it is come.  Le comfort des malheureux est d'auoir des semblables. 
The comfort of the unlucky, is to have for fellows many unlucky.  L'homme bon, en mourant, laisse le bon renom. 
The righteous man dying, doth leave a good name.  L'homme mawais mourant, laisse le mawais nom. 
The wicked man dying, leaves after him an ill name.  La mort n'a de powoir sur le los des vertus. 
Death hath no power, on the praises of virtue.  L'honneur qu'vn iour nous donne, un autre iour nous l'oste. 
One day taketh away from us, the credit that another hath given us.  La course d'vn malheur est tousiours trop hastive. 
The course of ill fortune is always to swift.  La course d'vn bon heur n'est iamais trop hastive. 
The course of good fortune is never to swift.  La mediocrité rend la person heureuse. 
Mediocrity makes a man happy.  Le haut degré d'honneur est choose dangereuse. 
The high degree of honour, is a dangerous thing.  La mort nous va suivant come l'ombre le corpse. 
Death doth still follow us, as the shadow doth the body.  La mort nous tient tousiours un cousteau sur la gorge. 
Death holdeth always a sword upon our throats.  La seule opinion fait les hommes armer. 
Opinion only makes men arm themselves, one against another.  Le changement d'honneurs aussi change les moeurs. 
The changing of honours, doth change also the manners.  La seule vertu peut les hommes decorer. 
Virtue only can deck and honour men.  Le sage par counsel devance son damage. 
The wise man by counsel may prevent an ill hap.  Le plaisir n'est plaisant, s'il ne couste bien cher. 
Pleasure is not pleasant, unless it doth cost dear.  Le coeur en nostre corpse tous les membres address. 
The heart in our body, doth rule all the rest of the limbs.  Les Princes, sans amiss, sont tousiours malheureux. 
Princes without friends, be always unhappy.  La beauté n'est beauté, sinon qu'auec vertu. 
Beauty is not beauty, but only with virtue.  L'enuie nuist tousiours a ceux qui sont en vie. 
Envy can not offend, but those that be alive.  L'enuie ne peut rien sur les vertus d'vn mort. 
Envy hath no power, upon the virtue of a dead body.  Le bon heur tousiours train un bon heur a se queve. 
Good luck brings always an ill turn after him.  La raison ne peut rien, quand la force command. 
Reason hath no power, when force doth command.  Le feu ne seroit feu s'il cessoit d'estre chaud. 
Fire were not fire, if it were not hot.  La nature est tousiours plus forte que la loy. 
Nature is always stronger than the laws.  Le malade aim l'eau, qui luy est deffendue. 
The sick-man loves water, though it be forbidden him.  La mort est le recours des hommes miserables. 
Death is the recourse of miserable men.  La joy & la douleur commandent tour a tour. 
Gladness and sadness, doth rule one after another.  Le penser aux amans, sert de langue & de veuë. 
Thoughts serve to lovers, both for tongue and ears.  L'homme sage obeit, ne powant commander. 
The wise man will obey, when he can not command.  L'auctorité ne sert, qui n'a contentement. 
Honour availeth nothing, except we be content.  L'honneur est moins que rien, quand l'homme est miserable. 
Honour is worth nothing, when man is miserable.  Le desir n'est content que l'espoir reconforte. 
Love whom hope comforteth, is not altogether content.  Le desir nous tourment, & l'espoir nous content. 
Desire tormenteth us, and hope comforteth us.  Les Dieux du ciel ont mis la sueur au devant, De la haute vertu, à qui la va suyvant. 
God of heaven hath put before us virtue, sweat, and labour, for those that will follow it.  Le chat qui une fois a tasté du fromage. N'a iamais de repos qu'il n'en ait davantage. 
The Cat that once hath tasted of the cream, will not be quiet, till she hath got more.  L'honneur suit les hasards, & l'homme audacieux, Par son malheur s'honnore, & see rend glorieux. 
Honour followeth dangers, and the hardy man by his mishap honoureth himself, & maketh himself glorious.  Les effects sont les masles, & les paroles les femeles. 
The deeds are manly, and the words womanly.  Les mouches vont tousiours, aux chevaux maigres. 
The flies go to lean horses.  Le mal vient par liures, & s'en va par onces. 
Mischief cometh by pounds, and goeth by ounces away.  La mort des loups, est la saweté des brebis. 
The death of the wolves, is the safety of the sheep.   

M  Mieux vault le peu en paix, que l'abondance en guerre. 
Little is better worth in peace, than great store in war.  Mettre de l'huile au feu, n'est le vouloir esteindre. 
To cast oil into the fire, is not the way to quench it.  Maistriser ses desires, est grand signory. 
To rule his own desire, is the greatest Lordship.  Maintenir le meschant est fair tort au bon. 
To maintain the wicked, is to do wrong to the godly.  Maintenir l'innocent, est oewre charitable. 
To take the part of a guiltless man, is a charitable work.  Malheureux qui ne voit, que par les yeux d'autruy. 
Unhappy is he that seethe nothing, but by the eyes of others.  Malheureux qui desire, & n'est iamais content. 
Unhappy is he that desireth continually, being never content.  Meilleure au miserable, est la mort que la vie. 
Death is better to the miserable than life.  Mawaises nowelles sont le plus sowent veritables. 
Ill news be commonly to true.  Matin le iour se leave, pour mourir sur le soir. 
One rises in health in the morning, that doth dye before the evening.  Mal dessus mal n'est pas santé. 
Sore upon sore is not a salve.  Mawaise guard payest sowent le loup. 
An ill shepherd, doth often feed the wolf.  Ma chemise m'est plus proche que ma rob. 
My shirt is nearer to my skin, than my coat.  Mieux vault plier que rompre. 
It is better to bow then to break.  Mettre la charrue devant les bcufs. 
We must not put the cart, before the oxen.  Moustarde apres disner. 
After dinner mustard.  Merchant qui pert ne peut rire. 
The Merchant that loses can not laugh.   

N  Nous desirous le plus, ce que l'on nous deffend. 
We desire most the thing forbidden us.  Ne regard en la bouche, au cheval qu'on te donne. 
Never look in the mouth of a horse that hath been given thee.  Nigher la verité est sign d'impudence. 
To deny the truth known, is a great impudency.  Necessité est mere & nourrice des Arts. 
Necessity is mother, and nurse of all Arts.  Ne laissons le chemin pour suyure un faux sentier. 
Let us not leave a true way, for to follow an uncertain pathway.  Nature s'esiouist en la diversité. 
Nature hath pleasure in diversity.  N'admirons le fourreau, pour m'espriser la lame. 
Let us not admire the scabbard, for to despise the blade.  Nul homme n'est heureux, sinon apres la mort. 
No man is happy, but after death.  Nous conseillons bien mieux les autres, que nous mesmes. 
We can give always better counsel to other, then to ourselves.  Nous ne sçavons rien mieux, que ce que nous desirous sçavoir. 
We know nothing better, then that we desire to know.  Necessité n'a point de loy. 
Necessity hath no law.  Nous ne sçavons rien moins, que ce que nous pensons le plus. 
We know nothing less, than when we think to know most.  nouriture pass nature. 
Bringing up goeth beyond nature.  Nous nous persuadons aysément ce que nous desirous. 
We easily believe, what we do desire.  Nul ne doibt entreprendre outre les limits de sa capacité. 
No man aught to undertake any thing more, than he is able to perform.  Nul bien sans pain. 
Not good without pain.  null fumée sans feu. 
No smoke without fire.  Ne dites iamais que vous estes en la ville, iusques a ce que vous en ayez passé les ports. 
Do never say that you are in the City, until you have passed the gates thereof.  Nous devons plus aymer ceux qui nous sont obligez, que ceux, a qui nous sommes obligez. 
We aught to love those better that be beholding to us, than those to whom we be beholding.  Ne faisons a autruy ce que nous ne voudrions qu'on nous fist. 
Let us not do to others, the thing that we would not to be done to us.  Nous ne tenons en nostre main, Leiour d'hier ny de demain. 
We do not hold in ours hands neither yesterday nor the morrow.   

OH  On se doibt espiner, qui veut cueillir des Roses. 
The thorns will prick us, if we will gather any roses.  On peut beaucoup mieux vaincre un enemy que deux. 
It is easier to overcome one enemy then two.  On pert parole & temps, quamd on parley a des sourds. 
We lose both our speeches and time, when we do speak to a deaf man.  On fait perdre le corpse, en trop cerchant l'esprit. 
He mars his body, that seeks to much for the spirit.  On fait perdre l'esprit, en trop flattant le corpse. 
He mars his wit, that pampereth his body to much.  On frotte tant le far qu'a la fin il s'eschauffe. 
We rub the Iron so much, that in the end we heat it.  On peut a pain aymer, & ensemble estre sage. 
We can scarce both love, and be wise together.  On le visage est beau, le coeur doibt sstre doux. 
When the face is fair, the heart must be gentle.  On ne voit pas tousiours en mesme estate les cieux. 
We see not the heavens always in one self same estate.  On ne sçauroit voler, devant qu'auoir des aisles. 
One can not fly, before he hath wings.  On ne peut a grands coups, fair douce Music. 
One can not with great blows, make sweet Music.  On ne dit rien que l'on n'ait dit devant. 
Nothing is said, that hath not been said before.  On voit qu'en fin, par un commun malheur, Tousiours le pire est master du meilleur. 
We see that commonly by a common mischance, that the worse overcometh the best.  On ne sçauroit fair d'vne buse un esprevier. 
It is impossible to make a good hawk of a kite.  On ne sçauroit fair d'vne fill deux gendres. 
One can not have at once two sons in law of a daughter.  Ostez un villain du gibbet, il vous y mettra. 
Save a thief from the gallows, and he will put you in his place.  On sera mesuré de la measure mesme qu'on measure autruy. 
We shall be measured by the same measure, that we measure others by.  On doibt donner les dignitez aux hommes, & non pas les hommes aux dignitez. 
We must give dignities to men, and not give men to dignities.  On endure sowent d'vn mawais seruiteur pour l'amour de son master. 
We do endure often of a bad servant, for his master's sake.  Oingnez villain il vous poindra, 
Anoint a knave, and he will gall you,  Poingnez villain il vous oindra. 
Gall a knave, and he will anoint you.   

P  Plus on veut s'auancer, & plus on se recule. 
The more haste, the worse speed.  Pardonner, & sawer, est le propre des Dieux. 
To forgive, and to save, is the virtue of God.  Plus la joy est extreme, & plus elle est fuitive. 
The greater that joy is, the sooner it flies away.  Par un ordre incertain, toutes choses se muent. 
By an uncertain order & course, all things do move & stir.  Pour fair ce qu'on doibt, il ne faut de salaire. 
In doing our duty, we deserve no reward.  Par les plays du front, le soldat se signale. 
By the scars of his face, the soldier doth get fame.  Pour bien tirer il faut prendre visée. 
For to shout right, and hit the white, one must lenell.  Presque tousiours, la recheute est mortelle. 
The falling again, is almost always deadly.  Plus de beauté plus de torment apport. 
Where there is great beauty, great torment it brings.  Par les hazards, l'honneur se doibt cercher. 
Through perils, credit aught to be sought.  Plus penser que dire, & espoir de mieux. 
Think more than thou speaks, and hope for the best.  Pour bien servingman & loyal estre, De seruiteur on devient master. 
In serving well, and being faithful, one may become of a good servant, a good master.  Petit feu fait sowent une grand fumée. 
A small fire, makes often a great smoke.  Petite pluye abbot grand vent. 
Small rain alleys great wound.  Petit homme abbot grand chesne. 
A little man may fallen a great oak.  Pour un plaisir mill douleurs. 
For one pleasure, a thousand griefs.  Pres de l'Eglise loing de Dieu. 
Nearer the Church, further from God.  Petites gens deviennent grands. 
Children may become men.  Peu de paroles & beaucoup defects. 
Few words, and many deeds.  Patience pass science. 
Patience passeth science.  Petite flame peut s'accroistre en un grand feu. 
A little flame, may increase to a great fire.  Peu d'eau n'esteint grand feu. 
A little water cannot quench a great fire.  Parmy la voix des trumpets, la voix de bonnes loix ne peut bien estre entendue. 
Amongst the sound of trumpets and drums, the voice of the good laws can not be herded.  Point d'argent point de valet. 
No money no man.   

Q  Qui ne voudra danser, ne se met en la danse. 
He that will not dance, must not come to dances.  Qui merit le mieux, est le moins guerdonné. 
He that deserves the best, is commonly the worst rewarded.  Qui console le mal le fait renoweller. 
He that comforts a grief, makes it renew again.  Qui vice loing, iamais ne rend son coup heureux. 
He that levels far, shall never hit the white.  Qui n'a tousiours du bon, n'est pas tousiours vaincu. 
He that doth not overcome always, is not always overcome.  Qui bless le cerueau, va blessant tout le corpse. 
He that doth hurt the brains, doth hurt the whole body.  Qui surmonte un vainqueur, merit double gloire. 
He that conqueres a conqueror, deserveth double glory.  Qui n'a gousté d'aigreur, la douceur ne merit. 
He that hath not tasted of the sour, deserveth not the sweet.  Qui veut bien accuser, n'ait rien dont on l'accuse. 
He that will reprove, must be blameless himself.  Qui une fois est né, doibt une fois mourir. 
He that once is born, once must dye.  Qui aim pour son bien, ne se peut dire amy. 
He that loveth for his own good and profit, can not be called friend.  Qui par trop entreprend en fera penitence. 
He that under taketh more than he is able to perform, shall make penance thereof.  Qui l'ayant bien acquis, guard son heritage. 
Let us keep fast the wealth, that once we have got.  Qui acquiert fait beaucoup, qui guard, d'auantage. 
He that doth get, doth much, he that doth keep, doth more.  Qui meurt pour le public, meurt honorablement. 
He that dieth for the common wealth, dieth honourably.  Qui fait honneur aux Roys, il fait honneur a Dieu. 
He that honoureth the king, doth honour God also.  Qui veut battre son chien, trowe assez de bastons. 
The man that will beaten his dog, can found cudgels enough.  Quand beau vient dessus beau, le beau pert sa beauté. 
When beauty comes on beauty, than beauty loses her beauty.  Qui n'a qu'vn oeil ait grand peur de le perdre. 
He that hath but an eye, must be afraid to lose it.  Qui monte plus haut qu'il ne doibt, Descend plus bas qu'il ne voudroit. 
He that mounteth higher than he aught, shall descend lower than he would.  Qui ne veut quand il peut, il ne pourra quand il voudra. 
He that will not when he may, shall not when he would.  Qui bien se mire, bien se voit, 
He that beholds himself in a glass, may see himself well:  Qui bien se voit, bien se cognoist. 
He that doth see himself well, doth know himself well.  Qui bien se cognoist peu se prise, 
He that knoweth himself well, despiseth himself,  Qui peu se prise, sage est. 
He that despiseth himself is wise.  Qui se fait brebis le loup la mange. 
He that makes himself a sheep, shall be eaten by the wolf.  Qui a bon voisin, il a bon matin. 
He that hath a good neighbour, hath also a good morrow.  Qui m'ayme, aim mon chien. 
He that loveth me, loves my dog.  Qui desrobe un oeuf, desroberoit bien un beuf. 
He that stealeth away an egg, will steal an ox.  Qui pledge, pay. 
He that will be a surety, shall pay.  Qui fait ce qu'il ne doibt, Luy advient ce qu'il ne voudroit. 
He that doth what he aught not to do, shall find what he would not.  Qui veut entretenir son amy, N'ait rien affair avec luy. 
He that will keep his friend, let him have nothing to do with him.  Qui contesans son host, luy convient conter deux fois. 
He that reckoneth without his host, shall reckon twice.  Qui trop se haste, loing se recule. 
He that maketh to great haste, doth hinder himself.  Qui rien ne hazard, rien ne prend. 
He that will adventure nothing, shall get nothing.  Qui a terre, si a guerre. 
He that hath some land, must have also war & debat.  Quand la choose est faite, tout counsel est vain. 
When a thing is done, all counsel is in vain.  Qui voit brusler la maison d'autruy, doibt avoir grand peur de la sienne. 
He that seethe an other man's house on fire, must be afraid of his own.  Quatre yeux voyent plus que deux. 
Four eyes can see more than two.  Qui a affair de feu le doibt cercher. 
He that wanteth fire must needs seek for it.  Qui bien aim, bien chastie. 
He that loveth well, doth punish well.  Qui debat country son master ordinairement pert sa cause. 
He that will strive against his master commonly loses his cause.  Quand orgueil chevauche le premier, honte & damage le suyvent de pres. 
When Pride doth ride, shame and damage doth follow after.  Qui ne sçait dissimuler, ne sçait pas regner. 
He that can not dissemble, can not rule.  Quand on combat a lances d'argent, on a sowent la victoire. 
They that fight with golden lances, gets commonly the victory.  Quand ton enemy voudra fuïr, fay luy un pont d'argent. 
When thy enemy will fly, make him a golden bridge.  Qui trop se promet, rien n'obtient. 
Whosoever promises himself to much, gets nothing.  Qui honore, & qui aim, Le seruiteur de Roy, honore le Roy mesme. 
He that honoureth and loveth the servant of a king, doth honour and love the king himself.  Qui pert le sien, pert le sens. 
He that loses his good, loses his senses.  Qui une fois au mal a voulu s'adonner, une & vn'autresfois ne craint d'y returner. 
He that once hath given himself to evil, cares not to return to it another time.  Qui n'a la foy, n'a rien. 
He that hath no faith, hath nothing.  Qui ne peut avoir ce qu'il veut, doibt seulement vouloir ce qu'il peut. 
He that can not have what he would, must wish what he can.  Qui bien recompense, ensign autruy d'estre bien recompensé. 
He that rewardeth well others, teacheth how to be well rewarded.  Quand le coeur est embrovillé de passions, ' les aureilles sont closes au counsel. 
When the heart is wrapped with passions, the ears be shut to any good counsel.  Qui veut estre craint, force luy est qu'il craigne. 
He that will be feared, aught to fear also.  Qui a peur des fueilles, ne doibt aller au bois. 
He that is afraid of the leaves, must not go to the wood.  Qui voudra seurement ramer, jamais ne cingle en haute merchant 
He that will sail without danger, must never sail in a main sea.   

R  Raison doibt surmonter les appetits de l'ame. 
Reason must overcome the desires of the soul.  Raison deuroit tenir la clef de tous nos faicts. 
Reason aught to keep the key of all our actions.  Raisondoibt estre en nous la Royne, & la mistress. 
Reason must be in us, both the Queen and mistress.  Raison pert lafoy raisin, quand passion domine. 
Reason loses her reason, when passions ruleth.  reproach de bienfait, rend le bienfait trop cher. 
The upbraiding of a pleasure, makes it to dearly bought.  Richesse de l'esprit ne se peut iamais perdre. 
The riches of the mind, can never be lost.  Rare sont les thresors que le sage possede. 
Rare be the treasures that the wiseman possesseth.  Rome ne fut toute en un iour dirty. 
Rome was not builded in one day.  Rire sans cause est sign de folly. 
To laugh without cause, is sign of mere folly.  Reprens' autruy, mais corrige toy mesme. 
Reprove others, but correct thyself.  Repos d'esprit & patience, Sont instruments de la science. 
The rest of the mind, and patience, be the instruments of a good science.  Remets en droicte voye, Celuy la qui fouruoye. 
Turn again in the way, the man that goeth astray.   

S  Simo le coeur n'y consent, la faute est excusable. 
Except the heart agreeth, the fault is excusable.  Sage est celuy qui croit a qui bien l'admonneste. 
Wise is the man that believes him, that gives him a good warning.  Se bien cognoistre, est le plus grand sçavoir. Que l'on sçauroit desirer & avoir. 
To know himself well, is the greatest knowledge that one can have, or wish for.  Sçavoir le mal est sowent profitable, Mais en user est tousiours evitable. 
To know the evil is often profitable, but the use of it, is always to be eschewed.  Si nostre chemise sçavoit nostre secret, nous la deurions brusler. 
If our shirt know our secrets, it were to be burned.  Sur l'enclume du reproach, est bien sowent forge le vice d'ingratitude. 
Upon the Anuil of upbraiding, is often forged the vice of unthankfulness.  Se mettre en rang d'oignon, & ne valloir une eschallotte. 
To put himself in the number of onions, and not to be worth a scallion.  Sowent a mawais chien, tomb un bon os en gueulle. 
Into the mouth of a bad dog goe, falls often a good bone.   

T  Tousiours le changement est fascheux a porter. 
The change, is always hard to be born.  Tous ceux qu'ayment les Dieux ne vivent pas long temps. 
All those that God loves, do not live long.  Tuer un miserable est act de pitié. 
It is an act of pity, to kill a miserable man.  Tout mistere d'amour, merit estre caché. 
All mystery of love aught to be hidden.  Tout ce qui est au monde, est un ieu d'inconstance. 
All that is in this world, is nothing but a play of inconstancy.  Tant plus on se voit pres d'vne chose esperée, Tant plus l'affection s'en fait demesurée. 
The nearer we see ourselves, to that we desire, the more our affection to it is increased & augmented.  Tousiours' l'exces d'amour se change en controversy. 
The excess of love, is always changed into jealousy.  Tu pers l'occasion si tu ne la sçais prendre. 
Thou losest the occasion, if thou knowest not how to take it.  Tout ce qui prend naissance est perissable aussi. 
All that hath beginning, hath also an ending.  Trop tard on se repend, quand on est embarqué. 
It is to late to repent, when we are imbargued.  Tell fleurist auiourd'huy, qui demain flestrira. 
Some flourisheth to day, that to morrow shallbe withered.  Tell flestrist auiourd'huy, qui demain fleurira. 
Some is withered to day, that to morrow shall flourish.  Tant que l'ennemy vit, la guerre n'est pas morte. 
So long as the enemy liveth, the war is not ended.  Tell se cuide estre au port, ayant la mer bonace, Qui de vens effrontez soudainement desplace. 
One thinks to be in the haven with a calm sea, which in the end is constrained to departed by tempest.  Tant plus un bien est longuement caché, Plus est requis attendu & cerché. 
The more a thing is hidden and forbidden, much more it is looked for, desired and sought.  Tout ce monde est douteux: la seule heure derniere, Parfait nostre bon heur, ou bien nostre misere. 
All this world is doubtful, the only last hour, hath power to end, either our happiness, or unhappiness.  Tout homme quel qu'il soit, ou né de race haute, Ou forty de bas am, a en soy quelque faute. 
Any man whosoever, whether he be born of a high or of a low degree, hath some fault in him.  Tout ainsi que le vent sans retourners'en vole, ans espoir de retour, s'eschappe la parole. 
Even as the wound passeth away, without returning any more, so styeth away our words, without any hope to call them back again.  Tort bien plaidé rend bon droit inutile. 
An ill cause well pleaded, maketh a good cause unprofitable.  Toute chose naturelle appete son semblable 
All natural things loveth that, which is most like to it.  Trop grand familiarité engendre du mespris. 
To great familiarity breeds contempt.  Toute choose se pass, & rien seur ne demeure, en ceste terre base. 
All things passeth away, and nothing remains sure, in this earth below.  Toute pain merit salaire. 
All pains taking, deserveth his reward.  Tout ce que l'homme pense n'aduient pas. 
All that man thinks, cometh not to pass.  Tant plus on foul au pied, le saffran & meilleur il en est. 
The more saffron is trodden under foot, the better it is.  Tout ce qui a semblance de verité n'est verité pourtant. 
All that which hath likeness of truth, is not truth.  Tell faint estre simple come un agneau, qui est cauteleux come un renard. 
Some feign themselves to be as simple as a lamb, which are as crafty as a fox.  Trop d'artifice enuers l'amy, Est une mark d'ennemy. 
To much Art towards a friend, is a token of a foe.  Trop achette le miel, qui sur espines le leech. 
Honey licked on the thorns, is to dearly bought.  Trop tard se repend qui n'a plus de remedy. 
To late repent the man, that hath no more remedy.  Tell refuse, qui apres muse. 
Some refuseth a thing, that he wisheth for after.  Trop parler nuist, trop gratter cuist. 
To much speaking doth hurt, to much galling do smart.  Trop enquerre n'est pas bon. 
It is not good to inquire to much.  Tout vient a point, qui peut attendre. 
All things may come time enough, if we canhave the patience to stay.  Tousiours' pesche qui en prend un. 
Sill fisheth he, that catcheth one.  Trop toast vient a la port, Qui mawaise nowelle apport. 
He cometh to soon at our gate, that brings with him ill news.  Tout ce qui luist n'est pas or. 
All that glistereth, is not gold.  Tell seem, qui ne moisonne. 
One soweth, that reapeth not.  Tell bat les buissons, qui ne prend les oisillons. 
One beats the bushes, that catcheth not the birds.  Tousiours le pire, est master du meilleur. 
The worst is commonly master of the best.  Tell cuide prendre, qui est pris. 
One thinketh to catch, when he himself is caught.  Tout ce fait avec le temps. 
All things are done with time.  Toute choose a son tour. 
Every thing hath his turn.  Tell vie tell fin. 
Such a life, such an end.  Tout ce qui est de beau ne se guard long temps. 
All that which is fair, is not to be kept long.  Toute rigueur s'amollit par priere. 
All rigours is assuaged with prayer.  Tell a grand peur qui bien sowent menace. 
Some manis greatly, afraid that sometime doth threaten.  Tousiours propice aux bons est Dieu la justice. 
The justice of God, is always favourable to the good.  Tout homme volontiers ses ancestor's ressent. 
Commonly every man, is like to his ancestors.  Tant plus les hommes ont, plus ils veulent avoir. 
The more men have, the more they desire.  Tout choose prend fin & rien n'en est exempt. 
Every thing hath an end, and nothing is free from it.  Tout le monde ne peut pas estre master. 
Every one can not be a master.  Toute chair n'est pas venaison. 
All flesh is not venison.  Trop ne vault rien. 
To much is stark nought.   

FIVE  une second erreur n'est pas dign d'excuse. 
A second fault, aught not to be pardoned.  une beauté parfaicte est de mawaise guard. 
A perfect beauty is of an ill guard.  une beauté cruelle est un monster en nature. 
A cruel beauty, is a monster in nature.  un Dieu, sans se vanger, n'endure estre offencé. 
God without the fault, will never be offended.  Vin de grain est plus doux, quen'est pas vin de press. 
The wine of the grapes, is sweeter than the wine of the press.  une amour par contrainte est plus chaude rendue. 
Love doth increase, when it is withstood.  une parfaite amour ne se peut desguiser. 
A perfect love can not be disguised.  une parfaite amour dure eternellement. 
A perfect love doth last eternally.  une extreme douleur ne peut estre durable. 
An extreme grief can not continued long.  un contrair est tousiours mieux veu par son contrair. 
One contrary, is always better known, by his contrary.  un bon peintre sçait peindre & un Diable, & un Ange. 
A good painter, can draw as well a devil, as an Angel.  un homme sans argent, est come un corpse sans ame. 
A man without money, is as a body without the soul.  un coup de langue est plus dangereux qu'vn coup de lance. 
The biting of the tongue is more dangerous, than the blow of a lance.  Vin vieux & amiss vieux, sont lovez en tous lieux. 
Old wine, and old friends, are praised every where.  Ville qui parlement, est a demi rendue. 
The City that doth parley, is more than half got.  une once de discretion vault mieux, qu'vne liure de hardiesse. 
An ounce of difcretion, is better worth, than a pound of hardiness.  un noweau mal fait de noweaux effects. 
A new sore giveth new effects.  une mawaise cause avec l'art bien plaidée, Est plus que le bon droit sowent recommandee. 
A bad cause with good skill well pleaded, is often above the good right commended.  un bon counsel est la force d'vn Roy. 
Good counsel is the force of a king.  un fort desir tout counsel va domptant. 
A greedy desire, overcometh all good counsel.  un seul sentier n'est clos a la vertu. 
There is not any way shut to virtue.  un malheur iamais ne vient tout seul. 
An ill chance never comes alone.  Virtue n'a iamais bonne bourse. 
Virtue hath never a good purse.  un clou est repoussé, par un autre plus fort. 
One nail is driven out by an other nail.  Vneliure d'or vault mieux, qu'vne once d'honneure. 
A pound of gold is better worth, than an ounce of honour.  une abeille morte ne fait plus de miel. 
A dead Bee maketh no honey.  un viel chien iamais ne iappe en vain. 
An old dog will never bark in vain.  un piteux medicine fait une mortelle play. 
A pitiful Physician maketh a deadly wound.  un magnanime coeur volontiers nes'excuse. 
A courageous heart, will not commonly seek for an excuse.  un magnanime coeur se cognoist a l'effect. 
A courageous heart is known by his deeds.  un juge partial ne sçauroit bien iuger. 
A partial judge, can never judge well.  un Prince est bien voulu pour son humanité. 
A Prince is well beloved, for his gentleness.  un Empereur est craint pour sa severité. 
An Emperor is feared, for his severity.  un Prince trop cruel ne dure longuement. 
A Prince to cruel, can not continued long.  un Prince trop humain ne regne seurement. 
A Prince to gentle, doth not reign in security.  un magnanime coeur ne se plaint des malheurs. 
A courageous heart, will never complain of his ill hap.  un magnanime coeur ne peut viure en servage. 
A courageous heart, can not live in thraldom.  un sac percé ne peut tenir le grain. 
A broken sack, can not hold any corn.  un fol ensign bien aucunefois un sage. 
The fool some time, doth teach the wise.  une mawaise parole s'estend incontinent par tout. 
An ill word is quickly spread abroad.  un bon subject doibt mourir pour son Roy. 
A good subject, must dye for his Prince.  une bell vie engendre bell mort. 
A good life, engendereth good death.   
FIN. FINIS.