E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Yorkshire.
I’se Yorkshire, too. I am as deep as you are, and am not to be bamboozled. The North-countrymen are proverbially “long-headed and cannie.” A tale is told of a Yorkshire rustic under cross-examination. The counsel tried to make fun of him, and said to him, “Well, farmer, how go calves at York?” “Well, sir,” said the farmer, “on four legs, and not on two.” “Silence in the court!” cried the baffled bigwig, and tried again. “Now, farmer—remember you are on your oath—are there as many fools as ever in the West Riding?” “Well, no, sir, no; we’ve got our share, no doubt; but there are not so many as when you were there.”
