A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

He that has an ILL name is half hanged

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  a 1400 in C. Brown Religious Lyrics of XlVth Century (1957) 193 Ho-so hath a wicked name Me semeth for sothe half hongid he is. 1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs II. vi. I2 He that hath an yll name, is halfe hangd. 1614 T. ADAMS Devil’s Banquet IV. 156 It is a very ominous and suspitious thing to haue an ill name. The Prouerbe saith, he is halfe hanged. 1897 M. A. S. HUME Raleigh xii. Were.. not an ill name half hanged . . he would have been acquitted. ■ reputation
  

It’s ILL waiting for dead men’s shoes
The earlier form of the proverb, exemplified in quots. c 1549 and 1721, is no longer found. The metaphorical phrase to wait for dead men’s shoes is also illustrated below.

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  1530 J. PALSGRAVE L^claircissement de la Langue Frangaise 306^V Thou lokest after deed mens shoes. c 1549 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs I. xi. C5 Who waitth for dead men shoen, shal go long barfote. 1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 148 He goes long bare Foot that wears dead Mens Shoon. Spoken to them who expect to be some
  

Man’s Heir, to get his Place, or Wife, if he should dye. 1758 A. MURPHY Upholsterer I. ii. You have very good pretensions; but then its waiting for dead Men’s Shoes. 1815 SCOTT Guy Mannering II. xvi. That’s but sma’ gear, puir thing; she had a sair time o’t with the auld leddy. But it’s ill waiting for dead folk’s shoon. 1912 E. V. LUCAS London Lavender iv. I pointed out that I was executor to no fewer than three persons . . ‘It’s ill waiting for dead men’s shoes,’ Naomi quoted. 1963 C. BUSH Case of Heavenly Twin xvi. Perhaps I was right when I suggested he told Staffer he was waiting for a dead man’s shoes. “expectation
ILL weeds grow apace
Cf. 14th-cent. Fr. male herbe croist, bad grass thrives.

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  c 1470 in Anglia (1918) XLII. 200 Wyl[d] weed ys sone y-growe. Creuerat herba satis, que nil habet utilitatis.1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs I. x.C4^V Ill weede growth fast Ales [Alice], wherby the corne is lorne [lost]. 1578 J. FLORIO First Fruits 31^V An yl weede groweth apace. 1594 SHAKESPEARE Richard III II. iv. 13 ‘Ay,’ quoth my uncle Gloucester, ‘Small herbs have grace: great weeds do grow apace.’.. I would not grow so fast, Because sweet flow’rs are slow and weeds make haste. 1738 SWIFT Polite Conversation i. 23 ‘Don’t you think Miss is grown?’.. ‘Ay; ill Weeds grow a-pace.’ 1905 A. MACLAREN Gospel according to St. Matthew II. 208 The roots of the old lay hid, and, in due time, showed again above ground. ‘Ill weeds grow apace.’ 1986 M. SLUNG More Momilies 67 It’s always the weeds that grow the best. “good and evil; wrong-doers