Poem by John Heywood

Of Catching a Fly

A boy on his book clapped hand to catch a fly. 
“Hast her?” cried his master. “Nay, God wot I.” 
“Then thou shalt drink!” “Master, I have her, I think.”
“If thou have her,” said the master, “thou shalt drink.”
To furious masters, what helpeth fair speeches?
Flies caught, or not caught, up go boys’ breeches!

1. Of Holding an Inn
2. Of a Hand-gun and a Hand
3. Of Treading a Shoe Awry
4. Of Good News to a Man
5. A Loss by the Devil’s Death. Otherwise. 4. The devil is dead: who shall his land rightly win?

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