Bolton's Ace

Ray's anecdote concerning the proverb, "Bate me an ace, quoth Bolton," is perhaps more correctly told in the *Witty Aunsweres and Saiengs of Englishmen* (Cotton MS. Jul. F. x.): "William Paulett, Marques of Wynchester and Highe Treasurer of Engelande, being presented by John Heywoode with a booke, asked hym what yt conteyned? and when Heywoode told him 'all the proverbs in Englishe.' 'What all?' quoth my Lorde; 'No, *Bate me an ace, quoth Bolton*, is that in youre booke?' 'No, by my faith, my Lorde, I thinke not,' annswered Heywoode." The "booke" presented by Heywoode to the Marquis of Winches…