She could understand the negative by the headshaking, but not anything else.
"An Autobiography"
Catherine Helen Spence
Sermons and "good" books were not yet in the sixteenth century an extensive branch of literature, and "good" people could without remorse of conscience vary their limited theological reading by frowning over the improprieties and sins of their neighbours as depicted in the "Ship," and joining, with a serious headshaking heartiness, in the admonitions of the translator to amendment, or they might feel "strengthened" by a glance into the "Mirrour of good Maners," or edified by hearing of the "Miseryes of Courtiers and Courtes of all princes in generall," as told in the "Eclogues."
"The Ship of Fools, Volume 1"
Sebastian Brandt
Farnsworth repeated the headshaking.
"Anything You Can Do"
Gordon Randall Garrett