A BOOK Of Merry RIDDLES: Very meet and Delightful for Youth to try their WITS.  
●●ndon, Printed by E. C. for J. Wright, ●t the Globe in Little-Brittain. 1672.   

DIVERS PRETTY RIDDLES, With other Dark SENTENCES.  Question, 
WHat judge on the Earth did give the greatest sentence when he did live?  Sol. Pilate 
when he pronounced sentence of Condemnation against Christ jesus.  Q. 

I maid there was that married a man  
By whom was many children gotten:  
Yet all they died and went away,  
Before the mother as begotten:   Sol. 
It was Eve and her children, who all died ere she was begotten, for she was neither born nor begotten, but created.  Q. 

What bloody tyrant was that wight,  
That with a murdering blow,  
The fourth part of the Earth did stay,  
Which thou canst tell I trow?   Sol 
Cain in slaying of his brother Abel.  Q. 

Foul is my fault that féeds me full  
To gorge on mother still:  
I went abroad to seek my flre,  
And my wife's son I do desire:  
Such an one the man must be,  
As the Son of man to me.   Sol. 
Joseph went to seek Christ, whom he found in the Temple, Preaching amongst those of the Synagogue.  Q. 
What was that God commanded to be done, and was not done, and yet God was well pleased?  Sol. 
The sacrificing of Isaac.  Q. 
In what place crew the Cock so loud that all men heard it out of doubt.  Sol. 
In the Ark of Noah.  
Q. judge of me by perfect skill,  
My youths restored by casting bill.  Sol. 
An Eagle.  Q. 

When I am old, I cast my skin,  
Whereby I do come young again.   Sol. 
A Snake.  Q. 

White I am and black withal,  
I have eyck yet am blind:  
Eain nor loss not without brawl,  
I do procure as you shall find.   Sol. 
Dice.  Q. 

I wound the heart & please the eye,  
Tell me what I am by and by?   Sol. 
Beauty.  Q. 

I am within as white as Snow,  
Without as green as her us that grow:  
I am higher than a house,  
And yet am lesser than a Mouse;   Sol. 
A Walnut hanging on a tree.  Q. 

What Mother a child doth beget,  
And she of it is got again?  
Which although strange seems to be,  
Yet it is true I tell you plain.   Sol. 
Water turning to jee, and jee again turning to water.  Q. 

'Tis black without & black within  
And hath four corners as I win.   Sol. 
A dry turse.  Q. 

Oedipus that while loom hast resolved a great doubt.  
Unfold this Riddle unto me that now I shall put out,  
When I did live, than was I dumb, and yet did yield no harmony:  
But being dead, I do afford most pleasant melody.   Sol. 
Any music instrument that is of wood.  Q. 

Yet once again I mean to prode thy skill in a jest:  
Which it thou dost resolve to me, thou settest thy mind at rest.  
Whether was man created first before the beard or else.  
The beard before the man? that show and thou shalt win the bells.  
Sol. All creature were created before man in their kind,  
And so was the bearded Gait, as we in books do find.   Q. 

In at window when I do look,  
(Beat not your brain long about this)  
Then in the house about I go,  
Now tell me quickly what is this?   Sol. 
The shining of the Sun.  Q. 

There dwess four sisters near this town,  
In favour like, and like in gown:  
When they run for a prize to win,  
All at once they do begin:  
One runs as fast as doth the other.  
Yet cannot overtake each other.   Sol. 
The four wings of a Mill.  Q. 
When it through the wood doth go it toucheth every thing below?  Sol. 
It is Snow.  Q. 

When through the wood it goeth.  
It toucheth never a thing forsooth.   Sol. 
A penny in a ●●kns purse.  Q. 
What is that most notches hath. within a house made of plate,  Sol. 
The hangers where the Pot-hooks hang upon.  Q. 

I am soul to look unto,  
Yet many seek me for to win;  
Not for my beauty nor my skin.  
But for my wealth and force to know;  
Hard is my meat whereby I live,  
Yet I bring men to dainty fare:  
If I were not then, All Knights would  
Tosing this song so bold,  
Nutmeg, Ginger, Cinnomon, & Cloves,  
They gave us this jolly red nose.  
The fourth part of the Earth I show,  
The Times and hours as they do go,  
As needful am I to mankind,  
As any thing that they can find:  
Many do take me for their guide,  
Who otherwise would run aside.   Sol. 
It is a Loadstone, for without it no  were able to guide a Ship in the Ocean Seas.  Q. 

I am the chief strength of the land,  
When upon four pillars I stand:  
And if these four should fail indeed,  
Then can I find two more at need?  
And the fifth shall not stand a side,  
Four lights I have to be my guide,  
For it is far brighter than the Sun,  
And doth remain when life is gone,  
And though one corpse three heads it wear  
No Monster yet it is I swear:  
Unknit this knot and tell to me,  
At leisure Sir, what I might be.   Sol. 
A hors-man being on horseback, who hath four Eyes with those of his horse, and the fifth in his reasonable soul, whereby he is chief guided, and is not subject unto death.  Q. 

Six Hares did come within a plain whom hounds had started out of their nest  
Hill up, hill down they came amain, till they were ready and did rest;  
They caught him once and scaped again, more eager went they than before;  
And took more pain than (as I win) to bear away the gain and more,  
The hounds and hunters all were one, each liked his game, and took his prey:  
But when their sport was past and done, they lost their. Hares and came away.   Sol. 
'Tis a match at Bowls played in a Bowling-alley.  Q. 
Ten men's length, and ten men's strength, and ten men cannot break it.  Sol. 
A cable rope which ten men cannot break by force.  Q. 

A man I was, a man I am:  
But yet as tame as any Lamb,  
Though I am blind, the way I show,  
Which all that see must go:  
And to put your mind out of doubt,  
Eight I have that bear about,  
My burden more than any hath,  
Unless he be in my estate;  
In time therefore do learn of me,  
Is I before have done of thee.  
If he had known that brought my woe  
Ventured I had upon his foe,  
But for his fault we subject be,  
To this estate in which you see me:  
I am that which you least destre,  
But yet that you should most require,  
Guess what I am (good sir) therefore,  
Before you do knock at the door.   Sol. 
It is a dead man, and these four that do carry him to his grave, with Adam our first Parent, who brought death into the world.  Q. 

In open field I cannot lie,  
And yet I may rest quietly,  
in a box of Ivory.   Sol. 
It is a feather in a windy day.  Q. 

I am as little as a nit,  
And serves the King at every bit.   Sol. 
Salt.  Q. 
Who wears his end about his middle Once in his time? tell me this riddle.  Sol. 
A Thief, whose arms are tied with the halter, wherewith he shall be executed.  Q. 

My flesh and skin is red,  
But white is all my heart,  
Where round about the wall is set,  
Beaten with every dart.   Sol. 
It is a cherry, and a cherry-stone:  Q. 
Yonder it is, and here I have it.  Sol. 
A man's breath, or other living creatures.  Q. 

What wight is he doth others feed,  
And yet himself doth die for need?   Sol. 
It is a preacher instructing others and doth quite contrary to his own doctrine, and by that means starveth his own Soul.  Q. 

Tell me good sir whom I might be;  
I Father I had, but Mother none:  
Yet many Mother have had of me,  
Who all to earth with me are gone.   Sol. 
Our first parent Eve who had no Mather, and no other Father but God Almighty.  Q. 

What is most like a horse.  
(Besides a Mare he means)  
That feedeth upon hay and grals,  
Upon Pease and upon Beans.   Sol, 
It is a Gelding.  Q. 

My husband gives two gowns to me  
Of sundry colours every year  
Green is the one which I do wear,  
So long till it be all thread bear;  
White is the other s the Sun,  
Of many pieces up and down:  
Yet like to that few work men can.  
Devise to make another gown,  
The witer sort, wherein they dote,  
Do call me fool upon a toy,  
But yet of me they make a note:  
That death is passed when I do joy.   Sol. 
It is a Mulbery-trée green in the summer, and white with snow in the winter, which in Latin is called Morus, which signisteth in Greek, a fool: it is a tree of this nature, that it will not cast any buds before all other trees have, whereby we certainly know when she gins to bud that the cold and winter is altogether past for that present season.  Q. 

A Ship there drives upon the tide,  
That Sails doth bear and hath no mast,  
An oar she had on each side,  
And doth the Snow in whiteness pass,  
In her front wears two lanterns bright,  
but when she is upon point to fall,  
Then lend an ear, for great delight,  
of Music she affords to all.   Sol. 
It is a Swan, who being near her death sings most sweetly, as Authors do record.  Q. 

Round I am, yet cannot rest,  
When I am spited of the best.   Sol. 
A tennits ball, when two good players play together.  Q. 

What man is he of wit so base,  
That wears both his eyes in a case,  
For fear of hurting them it is,  
And I do find it not amiss.   Sol. 
It is he that cannot see well without Spectacles and doth carry them about him in a case for fear of breaking them.  Q. 

My prey I seek in fields and Woods about,  
And have more tooth than beasts within the land,  
And whensoever my game I have found out.  
Then sat I bring it to my Master's hand  
Upon my back the Dear he lays,  
And there doth sometime more,  
He shuts me up and goes his ways,  
Better contented than before.   Sol. 
It is a comb, and a louse killed upon the back of it.  Q. 

A tree there is that boughs doth bear  
In number five as I do know,  
Of equal length they never were,  
And on their tops do horns grow  
Yet they are tied about with gold,  
Except the longest without doubt:  
Which for use sake may be controlled,  
If it with Gold were hooped about.   Sol. 
It is one's hand, and his finger that are full of Gold Rings, the middle most except, because a Ring doth not fit that finger.  Q. 

I was not, I am not, and shall not be,  
yet I do walk as men may see,  
I run and speak to get a fee,  
though I am not in any degree.   Sol. 
It was a man whose Surname was Not.  Q. 

Deaf I am and cannot hear,  
and when I work I feel no pain:  
Some do curse me, some speak me fair,  
though well I know it is in vain.   Sol. 
Dice and Dicers.  Q. 

In what place of the Earth,  
doth the sky seem to be,  
No broader than a yard or twain?  
I pray thee tell me.   Sol. 
In the bottom of a well.  Q. 

A thing I take and that I lose,  
yet nothing to my woe,  
And that I took not, that I keep,  
yet would it fain forge,   Sol. 
He that is all lousy, those licd which he takes he throws them away, and th●●● that he cannot take he kéeps them still, and yet would fain be rid of them.  Q. 

What thing is only upon the ear●●  
not subject unto fear:  
Nor doth not weigh the threaten  
of tyrant's pin or hair?   Sol. 
It is a good Conscience.  Q. 

What doth with the root upwards grow,  
And downwards with his head doth show.   Sol. 
It is an Icicle.  Q. 

What is lesser than a Mouse,  
And hath more windows than a House?   Sol. 
It is a Spider in the midst of his web, or else a thimble.  Q. 

I do walk, yet I do not go,  
I do drink, yet no thirst slack,  
I do eat yet not feed,  
I do walk yet no work make.   Sol. 
It is a man that dreams, who in his dream seems to do all these things, and intéed does none of them.  Q. 

Is bitter as gall,  
As sweet as milk,  
As high as a hall, and hard withal,   Sol. 
It is a Walnut upon a Tree.  Q. 

I am no fish, nor flesh, nor voice,  
Yet when I am born I make a noise;   Sol. 
I Fart, or else Thunder.  Q. 

When we by the way do go,  
Upon our shoulders we do bear away,  
If we were not, than many should be so  
Wet to the skin in a rainy day.   Sol. 
Masons, Tilers, and men of such like occupation, carrying ladders upon their shoulders, to build and tile houses.  Q. 

M. and I. made great moan,  
When C. upon C. was left alone;   
Sol. Marry and John made great moan, when Christ upon the Cross was left alone:  Q. 

When I to the wood doth go,  
Then my head forward I do show.   Sol. 
It is an Ax.  Q. 
In me are many shining lights.  Sol. 
It is a burning Candle.  Q. 

In the last minute of mine age,  
I do wax young again.  
And have so still continued,  
Since the world did first begin.   Sol. 
It is the Moon.  Q. 

I do owe most yet nothing pay,  
Evil I am the worst I say.   Sol. 
Ingratitude, which monster receiveth good turns and payeth Vengeance.  Q. 

What men are those that backwards gain,  
Their small living not without pain.   Sol. 
Gardeners and Rope-makers.  Q. 

Old I am when I was born,  
And when I am hatched take heed of me,  
Or else thou mayst soon be forlorn,  
If thou dost nothing look to thee.   Sol. 
The grudge of a secret enemy long conceived in mind ere it us put in execution  Q. 

Hitty titty within the wall,  
And hitty titty without the wall,  
If you touch hitty titty my joy,  
Hitty titty will vite the boy.   Sol. 
It is a nettle.  Q. 

Chink clunk under a bank,  
Ten about four near the flank.   Sol. 
A maid milking of a Cow.  Q. 

Tipto tap in a gap,  
As many feet as a hundred sheep.   Sol. 
It is Hail when it falls.  Q. 

A wicked Father did beget,  
A daughter fit unto his hand:  
But such good children she did get,  
That are the drops of every Land,   Sol. 
The Devil begat sin, and sin procured good Laws, which are the stays of all governments.  Q. 

Gods-peed fair Ladies,  
I am sent I cannot till to whom,  
And I do bring I cannot tell what,  
I count her wise that tells me that.   Sol. 
A lover sent to his love a messenger to put her in mind of her promise as to come unto him, and she sent back this answer unto him.  
Tell thy Master in my Name,  
When trees are turned and wells be dry,  
And dead with quick, then come I  
Meaning at midnight, when firebrands should be turned upwards, the pots should be empty, and the fire raked up with the cold ashes, than she would come.  Q. 

I know a child born of my mother,  
natural as other children be.  
That is neither my sister nor my brother  
answer me shortly what is he?   Sol. 
It is the person that speaketh the word, for he is neither brother nor sister to himself.  Q. 

I have a smith without a hand;  
That doth the work that no man can:  
He forgeth bonds, and do men ease,  
Without any fire in his furnace?   Sol. 
It is a Been that maketh Honey and Wax.  Q. 

What is that in the morning  
upon four legs doth go;  
About noon standeth fast  
upon two and no more;  
In the evening again it hath  
no less than three in store:  
Which tell me Sir, art thou not he,  
whom I do take thee for?   Sol. 
It is a man; for when he is a child than he doth creep upon hand and feet, but when be is a man, than he standeth straight upon two legs, when he is old & decrepit besides his legs, than he useth a Staff to support his body. This riddle gave Sphinx a Serpent, 'tis the passengers that went by her den: amp; those that could not resolve it, them she devoured, and so Oepidus at last passing by & having resolved the doubt, did rid his Country of this evil incorporate.  Q. 

As reund as any hoop I am,  
most part when it is day:  
But being night then am I long,  
as any spa●e I say.   Sol. 
It is a woman's girdle which she wears about her middle.  Q. 

I eat my nurse and féeds me full,  
Consume my mother that bears me still,  
And I am such unthankful wight,  
That when I die and lose my sight,  
I make all blind that do delight.   Sol. 
The Sun.  Q. 

I am called by the name of man,  
Yet am as little as a mouse;  
When winter comes I love to be,  
With my red gorget near the house.   Sol. 
A Bird called Robin Redbreast.  Q. 

Although my body ittle is,  
yet I do please the hearers ear:  
If I were ta'en it were not amiss,  
than I could live in lesser fear.   Sol. 
The Nightingale.  Q. 

What is it more eyes doth wear,  
than forty men within the Land;  
Which glister like the Crystal clear  
against the Sun when they do stand.   Sol. 
A Peacock's tail.  Q. 

When I go to the water side,  
at home I leave my heart behind.  
Tell me what I am without pride,  
if it by any means you find.   Sol. 
It is a Pillowbear.  Q. 

My head is round my body small,  
yet I am that which favours all.   Sol. 
It is Pepper and Salt.  Q. 

Head and eyes I am only,  
What I may be tell me.   Sol. 
A button of Copper or Metal.  Q. 

A bird upon the house I saw.  
Six legs it had yet but one tail,  
Two legs more than a Daw,  
Name me this Bird and win the Ale.   Sol. 
A Hearnshow had taken a Frog, and brought in to her young ones in the nest, made upon the top of the house.  Q. 

All my body belly is,  
and lesser than my mouth is not:  
I do contain what makes man mad,  
What I am Sir, pray tell me that?   Sol. 
A Malt-sack full of Malt wherewith strong drink is brewed.  Q. 

My belly is bigger than all the rest,  
Where men use to put the best,  
Broad is my foot short is my neck,  
If ill you use me fear a check.   Sol. 
A bottle made of Glass.  Q. 

My coat is green and I can prate,  
Of divers things about my grate,  
In such a prison I am set,  
That hath more loophole than a net.   Sol. 
A Parrot in a Cage of Wire.  Q. 

I do assemble many a wight,  
yet I keep me out of their eye,  
And do once come in their sight,  
yet every day they may see me,   Sol. 
A Bell tolling to a Sermon.  Q. 

What Mill is that hath two win,  
which fly about with the wind,  
A greasy Miller looks to all things,  
whiles it doth turn and doth not grind.   Sol. 
It is a Jack, and a greasy Miller is the Cook.  Q. 

It is no bigger than a Plumb,  
And yet serves the King,  
From Town to Town.   Sol. 
It is an Eye,  Q. 

It was not, nor is not,  
nor never will be,  
Hold up your hand  
And you shall see.   Sol. 
It is the little finger, that was not, nor is not, nor will it be so great as the rest of the fingers.  Q. 

Down in the yard I have three swine  
The more meat I give them,  
the louder they cry,  
The lesser I give them,  
the stiller they lie.   Sol. 
It is three Mills.  Q. 

There dwells a shoemaker near the hall  
That makes his shoes without an awl,  
They that buy of them, do not wear  
Yet men of them have many a pair.   Sol. 
It is a Smith, that makes shoes for Horses.  Q. 
Riddle me, riddle me what is this? Two legs sat upon three, with one leg in his hand, in came four legs and snatched away one leg, than upstarts two legs, and fling three legs at four legs, and so got one leg again.  Sol. 
A man sitting upon a three footed stool, with a leg of Mutton in his hand, a dog came and snatched it from him, and he fling a three footed stool at the dog, and so got the leg of Mutton again.  Q. 
I have a Meadow and in that Meadow are ten Oaks, under every Oak are ten Coats, and in every Coat are ten S●ws, and every Sow hath ten Pigs, tell me ho●● many Pigs will be of these.  Sol. 
Ten thousand.  
FINIS.   

 four representations of men, one a seated king, with orb and sceptre  
 a man walking