The Table of Huswiferie you shall finde at the ende of the booke.

FINIS.

* * * Tusser's references to pages are omitted.

[1.]

¶ The Author's Epistle to the late Lord William Paget, wherein he doth discourse of his owne bringing vp, and of the goodnes of the said Lord his master vnto him, and the occasion of this his booke, thus set forth of his owne long practise.

Chap. 1.

1[E6]
T Time trieth the [troth],[E7] in euerie thing,
H Herewith let men content their minde,[1]
O Of works, which best may profit bring,
M Most rash to iudge, most often blinde.
A As therefore troth in time shall craue,
S So let this booke iust fauor haue.

2
T Take you my Lord and Master than,
U Vnlesse mischance mischanceth me,[E8]
S Such [homelie] gift, of me your man,
S Since more in Court I may not be,
A And let your praise, wonne heretofore,
R Remaine abrode for euermore.[E9]

3
M My seruing you, (thus vnderstand,)
A And God his helpe, and yours withall,[E10]
D Did cause good lucke to take mine hand,
E [Erecting] one most like to fall.

M My seruing you, I know it was,
E Enforced this to come to pas.

4
Since being once at Cambridge taught,
Of Court ten yeeres I made [assaie],
No Musicke then was left vnsaught,
Such care I had to serue that waie.
When ioie gan [slake], then made I change,
[Expulsed][2] mirth, for Musicke strange.

5
My Musicke since hath bene the plough,
Entangled with some care [among],
The gaine not great, the paine ynough,
Hath made me sing another song.
Which song, if well I may auow,
I craue it iudged be by yow.

Your seruant Thomas Tusser.

[1] How euery man doth please his mind. 1577.

[2] Expelled. 1585.

[2.]

¶ To the Right Honorable and my speciall good Lord and Master, the Lord Thomas Paget of Beaudesert, sone and heire to his late[1] father deceased.

Chap. 2.

1
My Lord, your father looued me,
and you my Lord haue prooued me,
and both your loues haue mooued me,
to write as here is donne:
Since God hath hence your father,
such flowers as I gather,
I dedicate now rather,
to you my Lord his sonne.

2
Your father was my founder,
till death became his [wounder],
no subiect euer sounder,
whome Prince aduancement gaue:
As God did here defend him,
and honour here did send him,
so will I here commend him,
as long as life I haue.

3
His neighbours then did [blisse] him,
his seruants now doe misse him,
the poore would gladlie kisse him,
aliue againe to be:
But God hath wrought his pleasure,
and blest him, out of measure,
with heauen and earthlie treasure,
so good a God is he.

Ceres the Goddesse of husbandrie.

4
His counsell had I vsed,
and Ceres art refused,
I neede not thus haue mused,
nor droope as now I do:
But I must plaie the farmer,
and yet no [whit] the warmer,
although I had his [armer],
and other comfort to.

Æsops fable.

5
The Foxe doth make me minde him,
whose glorie so did blinde him,
till taile cut off behinde him,
no [fare] could him content:
Euen so must I be proouing,
such glorie I had in loouing,
of things to plough [behoouing],
that makes me now repent.

Salust.

6
[Loiterers] I kept so [meanie],
both Philip, Hob, and [Cheanie],
that, that waie nothing [geanie],
was thought to make me thriue:
Like Iugurth, Prince of Numid,[E11]
my gold awaie consumid,
with losses so perfumid,[E12]
was neuer none aliue.

7
Great fines so neere did [pare] me,
great rent so much did [skare] me,
great charge so long did [dare] me,
that made me at length crie creake:[E13]
Much more[2] of all such fleeces,[E14]
as oft I lost by [peeces],
among such wilie geeces
I list no longer speake.

8
Though countrie health long [staid] me,
yet [lesse][3] expiring [fraid] me,
and ([ictus sapit][E15]) praid me
to seeke more steadie staie:
New lessons then I noted,
and some of them I [coted],[4]
least some should think I [doted],
by bringing naught awaie.

Pallas, Goddesse of wisdome and cunning.

9
Though Pallas hath denide me,
hir learned pen to guide me,
for that she dailie [spide] me,
with countrie how I stood:
Yet Ceres so did [bold] me,
with hir good lessons told me,
that [rudenes] cannot hold me,
from dooing countrie good.

10
By practise and ill [speeding],
these lessons had their [breeding],
and not by [hearesaie], or [reeding],
as some abrode haue [blowne]:
Who will not thus beleeue me,
so much the more they greeue me,
because they grudge to geeue me,
that is of right mine owne.

11
At first for want of teaching,
at first for trifles [breaching],
at first for [ouer reaching],[5]
and lacke of taking [hid],[6]
was cause that [toile] so [tost] me,
that practise so much cost me,
that rashnes so much lost me,
or hindred as it did.

12
Yet will I not despaier
thorough Gods good gift so faier
through friendship, gold, and praier,
in countrie againe to dwell:
Where rent so shall not paine me,
but paines shall helpe to gaine me,
and gaines shall helpe maintaine me,
New lessons mo to tell.

13
For citie seemes a [wringer],
the [penie] for to finger,
from such as there doe linger,
or for their pleasure lie:
Though countrie be more [painfull],
and not so [greedie gainfull],
yet is it not so [vainfull],
in following [fansies] eie.

14
I haue no labour wanted
to prune this tree thus planted,
whose fruite to none is [scanted],
in house or yet in feeld:
Which fruite, the more ye taste of,
the more to eate, ye haste of,
the lesse this fruite ye waste of,[7]
such fruite this tree doth yeeld.

15
My[8] tree or booke thus [framed],
with title alreadie named,
I trust goes forth vnblamed,
in your good Lordships name:
As my good Lord I take you,
and neuer will forsake you,
so now I craue to make you
defender of the same.

Your seruant Thomas Tusser.

[1] In the edition of 1575 the word Thomas, and the words following Beaudesert, do not occur, and the whole Epistle precedes that to Lord William Paget.

[2] mort. 1620.

[3] lease. 1585 and 1620.

[4] quoted. 1585 and 1620.

[5] reacing. 1599.

[6] hede. 1577.

[7] Which fruite to say (who hast of)
though nere so much they taste of
yet can they make no waste of. 1577.

[8] this. 1573. 1577.

[3.]

¶ To the Reader.

Chap. 3.

1
I have been praid
to shew mine aid,
in taking [paine],
not for the gaine,
but for good will,
to shew such skill
as shew I could:
That husbandrie
with huswiferie
as cock and hen,
to countrie men,
all [strangenes] gone,
might ioine in one,
as louers should.

2
I trust both this
performed is,
and how that here
it shall appere,
with iudgement right,
to thy delight,
is brought to passe:
That such as wiue,
and faine would thriue,
be plainly taught
how good from naught
may [trim] be tride,
and [liuely spide],
as in a glasse.

3
What should I win,
by writing in
my losses past,
that ran as fast
as running streame,
from [reame] to reame
that flowes so swift?
For that I could
not get for [gould],
to teach me how,
as this doth yow,
through daily gaine,
the waie so plaine
to come by thrift.

4
What is a grote
or twaine to note,
once in the life
for man or wife,
to saue a pound,
in house or ground,
ech other weeke?[E16]
What more for health,
what more for wealth,
what needeth lesse,
run Iack, helpe Besse,
to staie amis,
not hauing this,
far off to seeke?

5
I do not craue
mo thankes to haue,
than giuen to me
alreadie be,
but this is all
to such as shall
peruse this booke:
That for my sake,
they gently take,
where ere they finde
against their minde,
when he or she
shall minded be
therein to looke.

6
And grant me now,
thou reader thow,
of termes to vse,
such choise to chuse,
as may delight
the countrie [wight],
and knowledge bring:
For such doe praise
the countrie phraise,
the countrie acts,
the countrie facts,
the countrie toies,
before the ioies
of anie thing.

7
Nor looke thou here
that euerie [shere][E17]
of euerie verse
I thus reherse
may profit take
or [vantage] make
by lessons such:
For here we see
things seuerall bee,
and there no [dike],
but champion like,
and sandie soile,
and claiey toile,
doe suffer[1] much.

8
This[2] being waid,
be not afraid
to [buie] to proue,
to reade with loue,
to followe some,
and so to come
by practise true:
My paine is past,
thou warning hast,
th' experience mine,
the vantage thine,
may giue thee choice
to crie or reioice:
and thus [adue].

Finis T. Tusser.

[1] differ. 1573; suffer. 1577.

[2] Thus. 1577.

[4.]

¶ An Introduction to the Booke of Husbandrie.[1]

Chap. 4.

1
Good husbandmen must [moile] & toile,
to laie to liue by laboured feeld:
Their wiues at home must keepe such [coile],[E18]
as their like actes may profit yeeld.
For well they knowe,
as shaft from bowe,
or chalke from snowe,
A good round rent their Lords they giue,
and must keepe touch in all their paie:
With [credit crackt] else for to liue,
or trust to legs and run awaie.

Ceres, Goddesse of husbandry.

2

Though fence well kept is one good point,

[1] This Introduction is not in the editions of 1573 or 1577.

[5.]

¶ A Preface to the buier of this booke.

Chap. 5.

1
What lookest thou herein to haue?
Fine verses thy fansie to please?
Of many my betters that craue,
[Looke] nothing but rudenes in thease.[E19]

2
What other thing lookest thou then?
Graue sentences many to finde?
Such, Poets haue twentie and ten,
Yea thousands contenting the minde.

3
What looke ye, I praie you shew what?
Termes [painted] with Rhetorike fine?
Good husbandrie seeketh not that,
Nor [ist] any meaning of mine.

4
What lookest thou, speake at the last?
Good lessons for thee and thy wife?
Then keepe them in memorie fast,
To helpe as a comfort to life.

5
What looke ye for more in my booke?
Points needfull and meete to be knowne?
Then dailie be suer to looke,
To saue to be suer thine owne.

* * * Mason remarks that this metre was peculiar to Shenstone.[E20]

[6.]

The commodities of Husbandrie.

Chap. 6.

1
Let house haue to fill her,
Let land haue to till her.
No dwellers, what profiteth house for to stand?
What goodnes, vnoccupied, bringeth the land?

2
No labor no bread,
No host we be dead.
No husbandry vsed, how soone shall we sterue?
House keeping neglected, what comfort to serue?

3
Ill father no gift,
No knowledge no thrift.
The father an [vnthrift], what hope to the sonne?
The ruler vnskilfull, how quickly vndonne?

[7.]

Chap. 7.

As true as thy faith,
This riddle thus saith.

The praise of husbandrie.

I seeme but a [drudge], yet I passe any King
To such as can vse me, great wealth I do bring.
Since Adam first liued, I neuer did die,
When [Noe] was shipman, there also was I.
The earth to susteine me, the sea for my fish:[E21]
Be readie to [pleasure] me, as I would wish.[1]
What hath any life, but I helpe to preserue,
What wight without me, but is ready to sterue.
In woodland, in Champion, Citie, or towne
If long I be absent, what falleth not downe?
If long I be present, what goodnes can want?
Though things at my comming were neuer so scant.
So many as looue me, and vse me aright,
With treasure and pleasure, I richly acquite.
Great kings I doe succour, else wrong it would go,
The King of al kings hath appointed it so.

[1] The earth is my storehouse, the sea my fishpond,
What good is in either, by me it is found. 1577.

[8.]

¶ The description of Husbandrie.

Chap. 8.

1
Of husband, doth husbandrie challenge that name,
of husbandrie, husband doth likewise the same
Where huswife and huswiferie, ioineth with thease,
there wealth in abundance is gotten with ease.

2
The name of a husband, what is it to saie?
of wife and the houshold the band and the staie:
Some husbandlie thriueth that neuer had wife,
yet scarce a good husband in goodnes of life.

3
The husband is he that to labour doth fall,
the labour of him I doe husbandrie call:
If thrift by that labour be any way caught,
then is it good husbandrie, else it is naught.

4
So houshold and housholdrie I doe define,
for folke and the goodes that in house be of thine
House keeping to them, as a refuge is set,
which like as it is, so report it doth get.

5
Be house or the furniture neuer so rude,
of husband and husbandrie, (thus I conclude:)
That huswife and huswiferie, if it be good,
must pleasure togither as cosins in blood.

[9.]

¶ The Ladder to thrift.

Chap. 9.

1
To take thy [calling] thankfully,[E22]
and shun[1] the path to beggery.

2
To grudge in youth no drudgery,
to come by knowledge perfectly.

3
To count no trauell slauerie,
that brings in penie [sauerlie].

4
To folow profit earnestlie
but meddle not with [pilferie].

5
To [get] by honest [practisie],
and kéepe thy [gettings] [couertlie].

6
To [lash] not out too [lashinglie],
for feare of [pinching] [penurie].

7
To get good [plot] to occupie,
and store and vse it husbandlie.

8
To shew to landlord [curtesie],
and kéepe thy couenants [orderlie].

9
To hold that thine is lawfullie,
[for] [stoutnes] or for flatterie.

10
To wed good wife for companie,
and liue in wedlock honestlie.

11
To furnish house with [housholdry],
and make prouision skilfully.

12
To ioine to wife good familie,[E23]
and none to kéepe for [brauerie].

13
To suffer none liue idlelie,
for feare of idle [knauerie].

14
To courage wife in huswiferie,
and vse well dooers [gentilie].

15
To keepe no more but [néedfullie],
and count excesse [vnsauerie].

16
To [raise] betimes the [lubberlie],
both [snorting] Hob and Margerie.[2]

17
To walke thy pastures vsuallie,
to spie ill neighbours [subtiltie].

18
To hate [reuengement] hastilie,
[for] loosing loue and [amitie].

19
To loue thy neighbor neighborly,
and shew him no [discurtesy].

20
To answere stranger ciuilie,
but shew him not thy [secresie].

21
To vse no friend deceitfully,
to offer no man [villeny].

22
To learne how foe to pacifie,
but trust him not too [trustilie].

23
To kéepe thy touch [substanciallie],
and in thy word vse [constancie].

24
To make thy [bandes] aduisedly,
& com not bound through [suerty].

25
To meddle not with vsurie,
nor lend thy monie foolishlie.

26
To hate to liue in infamie,
through craft, and liuing [shiftingly].[3]

27
To shun all kinde of [treachery],
for treason endeth horribly.

28
To learne to eschew ill cōpany,
and such as liue dishonestly.

29
To [banish] house of blasphemie,
least [crosses] [crosse] vnluckelie.[E24]

30
To stop mischance, through policy,
for [chancing] too vnhappily.

31
To beare thy crosses patiently,
for worldly things are slippery.

32
To laie to kéepe from miserie,
age comming on so [créepinglie].

33
To praie to God continuallie,
for aide against thine enimie.

34
To spend thy Sabboth holilie,
and helpe the needie pouertie.[4]

35
To liue in conscience quietly,
and kéepe thy selfe from malady.

36
To ease thy sicknes spéedilie,
er helpe be past recouerie.

37
To séeke to God for remedie,
for witches prooue vnluckilie.

[38]
These be the steps [vnfainedlie]:
to climbe to thrift by husbandrie.

[39]
These steps both reach, and teach thee shall:
To come by thrift, to [shift] withall.

* * * Stanzas 25, 27, 28, 32, 37 are not in the edition of 1577. After 31 the edition of 1577 has:—

29
To train thy child vp vertuously
that vertue vice may qualifie.

30
To bridle [wild otes fantasie],[E25]
to spend thee naught [vnthriftely].

[1] shonne. 1577.

[2] To rise betimes up readely. 1577.

[3] naughtily. 1573, 1557.

[4] poore in misery. 1577.

[10.]

¶ Good husbandlie lessons worthie to be followed of such as will thriue.

Chap. 10.

1
God sendeth and giueth both mouth and the meat,
and blesseth vs al with his benefits great:
Then serue we that God that so richly doth giue,
shew loue to our neighbors, and lay for to liue.

2[1]
As bud by appearing betokneth the spring,
and leafe by her falling the contrarie thing:
So youth bids vs labour, to get as we can,
for age is a burden to laboring man.

3
A competent liuing, and honestly had,
makes such as are godlie both thankfull and glad:
Life neuer contented, with honest [estate],
lamented is oft, and repented too late.

4
Count neuer wel [gotten] that [naughtly] is got,
nor well to account of which honest is not:[E26]
[Looke] long not to prosper, that [wayest] not this,
least prospering faileth, and all go amisse.

Laie wisely to marrie.

5
True wedlock is best, for auoiding of sinne,
the bed vndefiled much honour doth winne:
Though loue be in choosing farre better than gold,
let loue come with somewhat, the better to hold.[E27]

Concord bringeth foyson.

6
Where [cooples] agree not is [ranker] and strife,
where such be together is seldome good life:
Where cooples in wedlock doe louelie agree,
there [foyson] remaineth, if wisedome there bee.

Wife and children craue a dwelling.

7
Who looketh to marrie must laie to keepe house,
for loue may not alway be plaieing with [douse]:
If children encrease, and no [staie] of thine owne,
what afterwards followes is soone to be knowne.

Thee for thriue.

Hostisses grudge: nurses craue.

8
Once [charged] with children, or likelie to bee,
giue ouer to [sudgerne], that thinkest to [thee]:[E28]
Least [grutching] of [hostis], and crauing of nurse,
be costlie and [noisome] to thee and thy purse.

Live within thy [Tedder].

9
Good husbands that loueth good houses to keepe
are oftentimes careful when other doe sleepe:
To spend as they may, or to stop at the furst,
for running in danger, or feare of the wurst.

By haruest is ment al thy stock.

10
Go count with thy cofers,[2] when haruest is in,
which waie for thy profite, to saue or to win:
Of [tone] of them both, if a [sauer] wee smel,[E29]
house keeping is godlie where euer we dwel.

Be thine own purs bearer.

11
Sonne, think not thy monie purse bottom to burn,
but keepe it for profite, to serue thine owne turn:
A foole and his monie be soone at debate,
which after with sorrow repents him too late.[E30]

12
Good bargaine a dooing, make [priuie] but few,
in selling, refraine not abrode it to shew:
In making make haste, and awaie to thy pouch,
in selling no haste, if ye dare it [auouch].[E31]

Euill landlord.

13
Good Landlord who findeth, is blessed of God,
A [cumbersome] Landlord is husbandmans rod:
He noieth, destroieth, and al to this [drift],
to strip his poore tenant of [ferme] and of thrift.

Rent corne.

14[3]
Rent corn[E32] who so paieth, (as worldlings wold haue,
so much for an [aker]) must liue as a slaue:
Rent corne to be paid, for a [reasnable] rent,
at reasnable prises is not to lament.

Foure beggers.

15
Once placed for profit, looke neuer for ease,
except ye beware of such [michers][E33] as thease:
Unthriftines, Slouthfulnes, Careles and Rash,
that thrusteth thee headlong to run in the [lash].

Thrifts officers.

16
Make monie thy drudge, for to follow thy warke,
Make wisedome controler, good order thy clarke:
Prouision [Cater], and skil to be cooke,
make steward of all, pen, inke, and thy booke.

Thrifts phisicke.

17
Make hunger thy sauce,[E34] as a medcine for helth,
make thirst to be butler, as physick for welth:
Make eie to be [vsher], good vsage to haue,
make bolt to be porter, to keepe out a knaue.

Thrifts bailie.

18
Make husbandrie [bailie], abrode to prouide,
make huswiferie dailie at home for to guide:
Make cofer fast locked, thy treasure to keepe,
make house to be sure, the safer to sleepe.

Husbandly armors.

19
Make [bandog][E35] thy [scoutwatch], to barke at a theefe,
make courage for life to be [capitaine cheefe]:
Make trapdore thy bulwarke, make bell to be [gin],[4]
make [gunstone] and arrow shew who is within.

Théeves to thrift.

20
The credite of maister, to [brothell] his man,
and also of mistresse, to [minnekin] Nan,
Be causers of opening a number of gaps,
That letteth in mischiefe and many mishaps.[E36]

Friends to thrift.

21
Good husband he [trudgeth], to bring in the gaines,
good huswife she drudgeth, refusing no paines:
Though husband at home be to [count][5] ye [wote] what,[E37]
yet huswife within is as needfull as that.

Enimie to thrift.

22
What helpeth in store to haue neuer so much,
halfe lost by ill vsage, ill huswiues, and such:
So, twentie lode bushes, cut downe at a [clap],
such heede may be taken, shall stop but a gap.[E38]

Sixe noiances to thrift.

23
A [retcheles][6] seruant, a mistres that [scowles],
a rauening mastife, and hogs that eate fowles:
A [giddie braine] maister, and [stroyal] his knaue,
brings ruling to ruine, and thrift to hir graue.

Inough is a praise.

24
With some vpon Sundaies, their tables doe [reeke],
and halfe the weeke after, their dinners to [seeke]:[E39]
Not often exceeding, but alwaie inough,
is husbandlie fare, and the guise of the plough.

25
Ech daie to be feasted, what husbandrie wurse,
ech daie for to feast, is as ill for the purse:
Yet measurely feasting with neighbors among,
shal make thee beloued, and liue the more long.

Thrifts aduises.

26
Things husbandly handsom let workman contriue,
but build not for glorie, that thinkest to thriue:
Who [fondlie] in dooing consumeth his stock,
in the end for his follie doth get but a mock.

Spoilers to thrift.

27
Spend none but your owne, howsoeuer ye spend,
for [bribing][7] and [shifting], haue seldom good end:
In substance although ye haue neuer so much,
delight not in [parasites], harlots, and such.[8]

28
Be [suretie] seldome, (but neuer for much)
for feare of [purse penniles] hanging by such:
Or Skarborow warning,[E40] as ill I beleeue,
when (sir I arest yee[E41]) gets hold of thy sleeue.

29
Use (legem pone[E42]) to paie at thy daie,
but vse not (Oremus[E43]) for often delaie:
Yet (Præsta quæsumus[E44]) out of a [grate],
Of al other collects,[E45] the lender doth hate.

30[9]
Be [pinched] by lending, for [kiffe] nor for kin,
nor also by spending, by such as come in;
Nor [put to] thy hand betwixt bark and the tree,
least through thy owne follie so pinched thou bee.[E46]

31
As lending to neighbour, in time of his neede,
winnes love of thy neighbour, and credit doth [breede],
So neuer to craue, but to liue of thine owne,
brings comforts a thousand, to many vnknowne.

32
Who liuing but lends? and be lent to they must;
else buieng and selling might [lie in the dust];
But shameles and craftie, that desperate are,
make many ful honest the [woorser] to [fare].[E47]

33
At some time to borow, account it no shame,
if iustlie thou keepest thy touch for the same:
Who quick be to borow, and slow be to paie,
their credit is naught, go they neuer so gaie.

34[10]
By [shifting] and borrowing, who so as liues,
not well to be thought on, occasion giues:
Then lay to liue [warily], and wisely to spend,
for prodigall liuers haue seldom good end.

35[11]
Some [spareth] too late, and a number with him,
the foole at the bottom, the wise at the brim:[E48]
Who careth nor spareth, till spent he hath all,
Of bobbing, not robbing, be fearefull he shall.

36
Where [welthines] floweth, no friendship can lack,
whom pouertie pincheth, hath friendship as slack:
Then happie is he by example that can
take heede by the fall of a [mischieued] man.[E49]

37
Who [breaketh his credit], or [cracketh] it twise,
trust such with a suretie, if ye be wise:
Or if he be angrie, for asking thy due,
once euen, to him afterward, lend not [anue].

38
Account it wel sold that is iustlie well paid,
and count it wel bought that is neuer denaid:
But yet here is tone, here is tother doth best,
for buier and seller, for quiet and rest.

39
Leaue Princes affaires [undeskanted] on,
and [tend] to such dooings as [stands thee vpon]:[E50]
Feare God, and offend not the Prince nor his lawes,
and keepe thyselfe out of the Magistrates clawes.[12]

40
As interest or vsurie plaieth the dreuil,
so [hilback] and [filbellie] biteth as euil:
Put [dicing] among them, and [docking the dell]:
and by and by after, of [beggerie] smell.[13]

Thrifts Auditor.

41
Once weekelie remember thy charges to [cast],
once monthlie see how thy expences may last:
If quarter declareth too much to be spent,
for feare of ill yeere take [aduise] of thy rent.

42
Who orderlie entreth his paiment in booke,
may orderlie find them againe (if he looke.)
And he that intendeth but once for to paie:
shall find this in dooing the quietest waie.

43
In dealing vprightlie this counsel I teach,
first [recken], then write, er[14] to purse yee doe reach,
Then paie and dispatch him, as soone as ye can:
for lingring is hinderance to many a man.

44
Haue [waights], I aduise thee, for siluer & gold,
for some be in knauerie now a daies bold:
And for to be sure good monie to pay:
receiue that is [currant], as neere as ye may.

45
Delight not for pleasure two houses to keepe,
least charge without measure vpon thee doe creepe.
And Jankin and Jenikin[E51] coosen thee so
to make thee repent it, er yeere about go.

46
The stone that is rouling can gather[15] no mosse,[E52]
who often remooueth is sure of losse.
The rich it compelleth to paie for his pride;
the poore it [vndooeth] on euerie side.

47
The eie of the maister enricheth the [hutch],
the eie of the mistresse auaileth as mutch.
Which eie, if it gouerne, with reason and skil,
hath seruant and seruice, at pleasure and wil.

48
Who seeketh reuengement of euerie wrong,
in quiet nor safetie continueth long.
So he that of wilfulnes trieth the law,
shall striue for a [coxcome], and thriue as a daw.[E53]

49
To hunters and haukers, take heede what ye saie,
milde answere with curtesie driues them awaie:
So, where a mans better wil open a gap,
resist not with rudenes, for feare of mishap.[E54]

50
A man in this world for a [churle] that is knowne,
shall [hardlie] in quiet keepe that is his owne:
Where lowlie and such as of curtesie smels,
finds fauor and friendship where euer he dwels.

51
Keepe truelie thy Saboth, the better to speed,
Keepe seruant from [gadding], but when it is need.
Keepe [fishdaie] and [fasting daie], as they doe fal:[E55]
what custome thou keepest, let others keepe al.

52[16]
Though some in their [tithing] be slack or too bold,
be thou vnto Godward not that waie too cold:
Euill conscience grudgeth, and yet we doe see
ill [tithers] ill thriuers most commonlie bee.

53
Paie weekelie thy workman, his houshold to feed,
paie quarterlie seruants, to buie as they need:
Giue garment to such as deserue and no mo,
least thou and thy wife without garment doe go.

54
Beware [raskabilia], slothfull to wurke,
[purloiners] and [filchers], that loueth to lurke.
Away with such lubbers, so loth to take paine,
that [roules] in expences, but neuer no gaine.

55
Good wife, and good children, are worthie to eate,
good seruant, good laborer, earneth their meate:
Good friend, and good neighbor, that [fellowlie] gest,
with [hartilie] welcome, should haue of the best.

56
[Depart] not with al that thou hast to thy childe,
much lesse vnto other, for being [beguilde]:
Least, if thou wouldst gladlie possesse it agen,
looke for to come by it thou wottest not when.

57
The greatest [preferment] that childe we can giue,
is learning and [nurture], to traine him to liue:
Which who so it wanteth, though left as a [squier],
consumeth to nothing, as [block in the fier].

58
When God hath so blest thee, as able to liue,
and thou hast to rest thee, and able to giue,
Lament thy offences, serue God for [amends],
make soule to be readie when God for it sends.

59
Send fruites of thy faith to heauen aforehand,
for mercie here dooing, God blesseth thy land:
He maketh thy store with his blessing to [swim],
and after, thy soule to be blessed with him.

60
Some [lay] to get riches by sea and by land,
and ventreth his life in his enimies hand:
And [setteth] his soule vpon sixe or on seauen,[E56]
not fearing nor caring for hell nor for heauen.

61
Some pincheth, and spareth, and pineth his life,
to [cofer vp] bags for to leaue to his wife:
And she (when he dieth) sets open the chest,
for such as can [sooth] hir and all away [wrest].

62
Good husband, [preuenting] the [frailnes] of some,
takes part of Gods benefits, as they doo come,
And leaueth to wife and his children the rest,
each one his owne part, as he thinketh it best.

63
These lessons approoued, if wiselie ye note,
may saue and auantage ye many a grote.
Which if ye can follow, occasion found,
then euerie lesson may saue ye a pound.

[1] Stanzas 2, 3, and 4 are wanting in 1573 and 1577.

[2] coefers. 1577.

[3] St. 14 is not in ed. of 1577.

[4] be ginne. 1577.

[5] compt. 1577.

[6] reachelesse. 1577.

[7] bringing. 1577.

[8] In lieu of last two lines, the edition of 1577 reads:

Tithe duely and truely with harty good will,
that god and his blessing may dwell with thee still.

[9] Stanzas 30 and 31 are wanting in 1573 and 1577.

[10] Stanza 34 is not in 1577.

[11] Stanzas 35 and 36 are not in 1577.

[12] In lieu of last two lines, the edition of 1577 reads—

In substance, although y^e have never so much,
delight not in parasites, harlots, and such.

[13] and smell of a begger where ever ye dwell. 1577.

[14] or. 1577.

[15] gether. 1577.

[16] St. 52 is not in 1577; sts. 56, 58, 59 not in 1573 (M.); 56, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62 not in 1577.

[11.]

¶ An habitation inforced better late than neuer,
vpon these words Sit downe Robin and rest thee.[E57]

Chap. 11.

My friend, if cause doth [wrest] thee,
Ere follie hath much opprest thee:
Farre from acquaintance [kest] thee,
Where countrie may [digest] thee,
Let wood and water request thee,
In good corne soile to [nest] thee,
Where pasture and meade may [brest] thee,
And [healthsom] aire [inuest] thee.
Though enuie shall detest thee,
Let that no whit molest thee,
Thanke God, that so hath blest thee,
And sit downe Robin & rest thee.

* * * The title in the edition of 1577 reads:
An habitation enforced aduisedly to be followed better late than never, &c.

[12.]

[Not in 1577.]

¶ The fermers dailie diet.

Chap. 12.

1
A [plot] set downe, for fermers quiet,
as time requires, to frame his diet:
With sometime fish, and sometime fast,
that houshold store may longer last.[E58]

Lent.

2
Let Lent well kept offend not thee,
for March and Aprill [breeders] bee:
Spend herring first, saue saltfish last,
for saltfish is good, when Lent is past.

Easter.

3
When Easter comes, who knowes not than,
that Veale and Bakon is the man:[E59]
And [Martilmas] beefe[1][E60] doth beare good [tack],
when countrie folke doe dainties lack.

Midsommer.

Mihelmas.

4
When Mackrell ceaseth from the seas,
[John Baptist] brings [grassebeefe] and pease.
Fresh herring plentie, [Mihell] brings,
with fatted [Crones],[2] and such old things.[E61]

Hallomas.

Christmas.

5
All Saints doe laie for porke and [souse],
for sprats and [spurlings] for their house.[E62]
At Christmas play and make good cheere,
for Christmas comes but once a yeere.

A caueat.

Fasting.

6
Though some then doe, as doe they would,
let thriftie doe, as doe they should.
For causes good, so many waies,
keepe [Embrings][E63] wel, and fasting daies:

Fish daies.

A thing needful.

7
What lawe commands, we ought to obay,
for Friday, Saturne, and Wednesday.[E64]
The land doth will, the sea doth wish,
spare sometime flesh, and feede of fish.

The last remedie.

Where fish is scant, and fruit of trees,
Supplie that want with butter and cheese.

T. Tusser.

[1] "Dry'd in the Chimney as Bacon, and is so called because it was usual to kill the Beef for this Provision about the Feast of St. Martin, Nov. 11th."—T.R.(= Tusser Redivivus, here and elsewhere)

[2] "A Crone is a Ewe, whose teeth are so worne down that she can no longer keep her sheep-walk."—T.R.

[13.]

[Not in 1577.]

A description of the properties of windes all the times of the yeere.

Chap. 13.

In winter.

1
North winds send haile, South winds bring raine,
East winds we bewail, West winds blow amaine:
North east is too cold, South east not too warme,
North west is too bold, South west doth no harme.

At the spring.

Sommer.

2
The north is a [noyer] to grasse of all suites,
The east a destroyer to herbe and all fruites:
The south with his showers refresheth the corne,
The west to all flowers may not be [forborne].

Autumne.

3
The West, as a father, all goodnes doth bring,
The East, a [forbearer], no manner of thing:
The South, as vnkind, draweth sicknesse too neere,
The North, as a friend, maketh all againe cleere.

God is the gouerner of winde and weather.

4
With temperate winde we be blessed of God,
With tempest we finde we are beat with his rod:
All power we knowe to remaine in his hand,
How euer winde blowe, by sea or by land.

5
Though windes doe rage, as windes were [wood],
And cause spring tydes to raise great flood,
And loftie ships leaue [anker] in mud,[E65]
Bereafing many of life and of blud;
Yet true it is, as cow chawes cud,
And trees at spring doe yeeld forth bud,
Except winde stands as neuer it stood,
It is an ill winde turnes none to good.[E66]

[14.]

[Not in 1577.]

¶ Of the Planets.

Chap. 14.

1
As huswiues are teached, in stead of a clock,
how winter nights passeth, by crowing of cock;
So here by the Planets, as far as I dare,
some lessons I leaue for the husbandmans share.

Of the rising and going down of the sun.

2
If day star appeareth, day comfort is ny,
If sunne be at south, it is noone by and by:
If sunne be at westward, it setteth anon,
If sunne be at setting, the day is soone gon.

Of the Moone changing.

3
Moone changed, keepes [closet] three daies as a Queene,
er she in hir [prime] will of any be seene:
If great she appereth, it [showreth out],
If small she appereth, it signifieth [drout].[E67]
At change or at full, come it late or else soone,
[maine sea] is at highest, at midnight and noone:
But yet in the creekes it is later high flood,
through [farnesse] of running, by reason as good.

Of flowing and ebbing to such as be verie sick.

4
Tyde flowing is feared, for many a thing,
great danger to such as be sick it doth bring:
Sea [eb] by long ebbing some respit doth giue,
and sendeth good comfort to such as shal liue.[E68]

[15.]

¶ Septembers Abstract.

Chap. 15.

1[1]
Now enter John,
old fermer is gon.

2
What champion vseth,
that woodland refuseth.

3
Good ferme now take,
kéepe still, or forsake.

4
What helpes to reuiue
the thriuing to thriue.

5
Plough, fence, & store
aught else before.

6
By [tits] and such
few gaineth much.

7
Horse strong and light
soone charges [quite].[2]
Light head and purse,
what lightnes wurse.

8
Who goeth[3] a borrowing,
goeth a sorrowing.[E69]
Few lends (but fooles)
their working tooles.[4]

9
Gréene rie haue some,
er Mihelmas come.

10
Grant soile hir [lust],
sowe rie in the dust.

11
Cleane rie that sowes,
the better crop mowes.

12
Mix rie aright,
with wheat that is [whight].

13
Sée corne sowen in,
too thick nor too thin.
For want of séede,
land yéeldeth wéede.

14
With sling or bowe,
kéepe corne from Crowe.

15
Trench hedge and forrow,
that water may [thorow].
Déepe dike saues much,
from drouers and such.

16
Amend marsh wall,
Crab holes and all.

17
[Geld] bulles and rams,
[sewe] ponds, amend dams.
Sell [webster ]thy wull,
fruite gather, grapes pull.
For fear of drabs,
go gather thy [crabs].

18
Plucke fruite to last,
when Mihell[5] is past.

19
Forget it not,
fruit brused will rot.
Light ladder and long
doth trée least wrong.
Go gather with skill,
and gather that will.

20
Driue hiue, good [conie],
for waxe and for honie.
No driuing of hiue,
till yéeres past[6] fiue.

21
Good dwelling giue bée,
or hence goes[7] shée.

22
Put bore in stie,
for Hallontide nie.

23
With bore (good Cisse)
let naught be amisse.

24
[Karle hempe], left gréene,
now pluck vp cléene.
Drowne hemp as ye néed,
once had out his séed.
I pray thee (good Kit)
drowne hempe in pit.

25
Of al the rest,
white hempe is best.
Let skilfull be gotten
least hempe prooue rotten.

26
Set strawberies, wife,
I loue them for life.

27
Plant [Respe] and rose,
and such as those.

28
Goe gather vp mast,
er[8] time be past.
Mast [fats vp] swine,
Mast kils vp kine.

29
Let hogs be [roong],
both old and yoong.

30
No mast vpon oke,
no longer[9] vnyoke.
If hog doe crie,
giue eare and eie.

31
Hogs haunting corne
may not be borne.

32
Good neighbour thow
good custome [alow],
No scaring with dog,
whilst mast is for hog.

33
Get home with the [brake],
to [brue] with and bake,
To couer the shed
drie ouer the hed,
To lie vnder cow,
to rot vnder mow,[10]
To serue to burne,
for many a turne.

34
To sawpit drawe
boord log, to sawe.
Let timber be [haile],
least profit doe [quaile].
Such boord and pale
is readie sale.

35
Sawne [slab] let lie,
for stable and stie,
sawe dust spred thick,
makes [alley] [trick].

36
Kéepe safe thy fence,
scare [breakhedge] thence.
A drab and a knaue
will prowle to haue.

37
Marke winde and moone,
at midnight and noone.
Some [rigs] thy plow,
some milks thy cow.

38
Red cur or black,
few prowlers lack.

39
Some steale, some [pilch],
some all away filch,
Mark losses with gréefe,
through prowling théefe.

Thus endeth Septembers abstract, agréeing with Septembers husbandrie.[11]

¶ Other short remembrances.[12]

[40]
Now friend, as ye wish,
goe [seuer] thy fish:
When friend shall come,
to be sure of some.

[41]
Thy ponds renew,
put éeles in stew,
To léeue[13] till Lent,
and then to be [spent].

[42]
Set [priuie] or [prim],
set boxe like him.
Set [Giloflowers][14] all,
that growes on the wall.

[43]
Set herbes some more,
for winter store.
Sowe séedes for [pot],
for flowers sowe not.

Here ends Septembers short remembrances.[15]

[1] Stanzas 1 and 2 not in 1577.

[2] quight. 1577.

[3] goes. 1577.

[4] After st. 8, in 1577, follow sts. 36, 37, of August's Abstract. Many stanzas of Sept. Abst., 1577, occur as Aug. Works after harvest in 1580.

[5] Migchel. 1577.

[6] nere. 1577.

[7] goeth. 1577.

[8] nere. 1577.

[9] lenger. 1577.

[10] To lie under mow,
to rot under kow. 1577.

[11] This and similar notes under other months do not occur in 1577.

[12] This and similar notes under other months do not occur in 1577.

[13] liue. 1577.

[14] Gelliflowers. 1577.

[15] This and similar notes under other months do not occur in 1577.

[16.]

¶ Septembers husbandrie.

Chap. 15.

September blowe soft,
Till fruite be in loft.

Forgotten, month past,
Doe now at the last.[1]

1[2]
At Mihelmas lightly new fermer comes in,
new husbandrie forceth him new to begin:
Old fermer, still taking the time to him giuen,
makes August to last vntill Mihelmas euen.[E70]

2
New fermer may enter (as [champions] say)
on all that is fallow, at Lent ladie day:
In woodland, old fermer to that will not yeeld,
for loosing of pasture, and feede of his feeld.[E71]

Ferme take or giue over.

3
Prouide against Mihelmas,[3] [bargaine] to make,
for ferme to giue ouer, to keepe or to take:
In dooing of either, let [wit] beare a stroke,
for buieng or selling of pig in a [poke].[E72]

Twelue good properties.

4
Good ferme and well stored, good housing and drie,
good corne and good dairie, good market and [nie]:
Good shepheard, good [tilman], good Jack and good Gil,
makes husband and huswife their [cofers][4] to fil.

Haue euer a good fence.

5
Let pasture be stored, and fenced about,
and tillage set forward, as needeth without:
Before ye doe open your purse to begin,
with anything dooing for fancie within.

Best cattle most profit.

6
No storing of pasture with [baggedglie tit],
with ragged,[5] with aged, and euil [athit]:[6]
Let carren and barren be shifted awaie,
for best is the best, whatsoeuer ye paie.

Strong and light.

7
Horse, Oxen, plough, [tumbrel], cart, waggon, & [waine],
the lighter and stronger, the greater thy gaine.
The soile and the seede, with the sheafe and the purse,
the lighter in substance, for profite the wurse.

Hate borowing.

8
To borow to daie and to-morrow to [mis],
for lender and borower, [noiance] it is:
Then haue of thine owne, without lending [vnspilt],
what followeth needfull, here learne if thou wilt.[7]

* * * The stanzas of No. 16 are continued after the following Digression.

[17.]

A digression to husbandlie furniture.

Barne furniture.

1
Barne locked, [gofe ladder], short pitchforke and long,
flaile, [strawforke] and rake, with a fan that is strong:
Wing, cartnaue and bushel, peck, [strike] readie hand,
get casting [sholue],[E73] broome, and a sack with a band.

Stable furniture.

2
A stable wel [planked], with key and a lock,
walles stronglie wel lyned,[8] to [beare off] a knock:
A rack and a manger, good litter and haie,
swéete chaffe and some prouender euerie daie.

3
A pitchfork, a doongfork, [seeue], [skep][E74] and a bin,
a broome and a paile to put water therein:
A handbarow, wheelebarow, sholue and a spade,
a currie combe, [mainecombe], and whip for a [Jade].

4
A [buttrice][9] and pincers, a hammer and naile,
an [aperne][E75] and [siszers] for head and for taile:
Hole bridle and saddle, [whit lether][E76] and [nall],
with collers and harneis, for [thiller] and all.

5
A [panel] and [wantey], packsaddle and [ped],[E77]
A [line] to fetch litter, and halters for hed.
With crotchis and pinnes, to hang [trinkets] theron,
and stable fast chained, that nothing be gon.

Cart furniture.

6
Strong [exeltred] cart, that is [clouted][10] and [shod],[11][E78]
cart ladder and [wimble], with [percer] and [pod]:
[Wheele ladder] for haruest, light pitchfork and tough,
[shaue], whiplash[12] wel knotted, and cartrope ynough.

A [Coeme] is halfe a quarter.

7
Ten sacks, whereof euerie one holdeth a coome,[E79]
a pulling hooke[E80] handsome, for bushes and broome:
Light tumbrel and [doong crone], for easing sir wag,
sholue, pickax, and mattock, with bottle and bag.

Husbandry tooles.

8
A [grinstone], a whetstone, a hatchet and [bil],
with hamer and english [naile], sorted with skil:
A [frower] of iron, for cleaning of lath,
with [roule] for a sawpit, good husbandrie hath.

9
A short saw and long saw, to cut logs,
an ax and a [nads],[E81] to make [troffe] for thy hogs:
A Douercourt beetle,[E82] and wedges with steele,
strong leuer to raise vp the block fro the wheele.

Plough furniture.

10
Two ploughs and a plough [chein], ij [culters], iij [shares],
with ground cloutes & side [clouts] for soile that so tares:
With [ox bowes] and [oxyokes], and other things mo,
for [oxteeme] and [horseteeme], in plough for to go.[E83]

11
A plough beetle, [ploughstaff],[E84] to further the plough,
great clod to that breaketh so rough;
A [sled] for a plough, and another for [blocks],
for chimney in winter, to burne vp their [docks].

12
[Sedge collers][13] for ploughhorse, for lightnes of neck,
good seede and good sower, and also seede [peck]:
Strong oxen and horses, wel shod and wel clad,
wel [meated] and vsed, for making thee [sad].

13
A barlie rake toothed, with yron and steele,
like [paier] of harrowes, and roler doth weele:
A sling for a [moether],[E85] a [bowe] for a boy.
a whip for a carter, is hoigh de la roy.[E86]

14
A [brush] [sithe] and grasse sithe, with [rifle] to stand,
a [cradle][E87] for barlie, with [rubstone] and sand:
Sharpe sikle and weeding hooke, haie fork and rake,
a [meake] for the pease, and to swinge vp the brake.

Haruest tooles.

15[14]
Short rakes for to gather vp barlie to binde,
and greater to rake vp such leauings behinde:
A rake for to hale vp the fitchis that lie,
a [pike] for to pike them vp handsom to drie.

16[15]
A [skuttle] or [skreine], to rid soile fro the corne,
and [sharing] sheares readie for sheepe to be shorne:
A fork and a hooke, to be [tampring] in claie,[16]
a lath hammer, trowel, a hod, or a [traie].

17
Strong yoke for a hog, with a [twicher] and rings,
with tar in a tarpot,[E88] for dangerous things:[17]
A sheepe [marke], a tar kettle, little or [mitch],
two pottles of tar to a pottle of pitch.

18
Long ladder to hang al along by the wal,
to reach for a neede to the top of thy hal:
Beame, scales, with the weights, that be [sealed] and true,[E89]
sharp [moulspare] with barbs, that the mowles do so rue.

19[18]
Sharpe cutting spade, for the deuiding of [mow],
with [skuppat] and [skauel], that[ marsh men] alow:
A sickle to cut with, a [didall] and [crome]
for draining of ditches, that noies thee at home.

20[19]
A [clauestock] and [rabetstock], carpenters craue,
and seasoned timber, for [pinwood] to haue:
A [Jack] for to saw vpon fewell for fier,
for sparing of firewood, and sticks fro the mier.

21
[Soles], [fetters], and [shackles], with [horselock] and [pad],
a cow house for winter, so meete to be had:
A stie for a bore, and a [hogscote] for hog,
a roost for thy hennes, and a couch for thy dog.

Here endeth husbandlie furniture.

* * * In the edition of 1577 stanzas 31-46 of Augusts Husbandrie (post) are found here.

[16 contd.]

Sowing of rie.

9
Thresh seed and to fanning, September doth crie,
get plough to the field, and be sowing of rie:
To harrow the [rydgis], er euer ye [strike,][E90]
is one peece[20] of husbandrie Suffolk doth like.

10
Sowe timely thy whitewheat, sowe rie in the dust,
let seede haue his [longing], let soile haue hir lust:
Let rie be partaker of Mihelmas spring,
to [beare out] the hardnes that winter doth bring.

[Myslen].

11[21]
Some mixeth to miller the rie with the wheat,
[Temmes lofe] on his table to haue for to eate:
But sowe it not mixed, to growe so on land,
least rie [tarie] wheat, till it shed as it stand.

12
If soile doe desire to haue rie with the wheat,
by growing togither, for safetie more great,
Let white wheat be ton, be it deere, be it cheape,
the sooner to ripe, for the sickle to reape.

Sowing.

13
Though beanes be in sowing but scattered in,
yet wheat, rie, and peason, I loue not too thin:
Sowe barlie and [dredge],[E91] with a plentifull hand,
least weede, steed of seede, ouer groweth thy land.

Kéeping of crowes.

14[22]
No sooner a sowing, but out by and by,
with [mother][23] or boy that Alarum can cry:
And let them be armed with sling or with bowe,
to skare away [piggen], the rooke and the crowe.[E92]

Water furrough.

15
Seed sowen, draw a [forrough], the water to draine,
and dike vp such ends as in [harmes][24] doe remaine:
For driuing of cattell or rouing that waie,
which being preuented, ye hinder their praie.

Amend marsh walles.

16
Saint Mihel[25] doth bid thee amend the marsh wal,[E93]
the [brecke] and the crab hole, the foreland and al:
One [noble] in season bestowed theron,
may saue thee a hundred er winter be gon.

Gelding of rams.

17
Now geld with the gelder the ram and the bul,
sew ponds, amend dammes, and sel webster thy wul:
[Out] fruit go and gather, but not in the deaw,
with crab and the wal nut, for feare of a [shreaw].

Gathering of fruit.

18
The Moone in the wane, gather fruit for to last,
but winter fruit gather when Mihel is past:
Though michers that loue not to buy nor to craue,
makes some gather sooner, else few for to haue.

Too early gathering is not best.

19
Fruit gathred too [timely] wil taste of the wood,
wil shrink[26] and be bitter, and seldome prooue good:
So fruit that is shaken, or beat off a tree,
with brusing in falling, soone faultie wil bee.

Driuing of hiues.

20
Now burne vp the bees that ye mind for to [driue],
at Midsomer driue them and saue them aliue:
Place hiue in good [ayer], set [southly] and warme,
and take in due season wax, honie, and swarme.

Preseruing of bées.

21
Set hiue on a plank, (not too low by the ground)
where herbe with the flowers may compas it round:
And boordes to defend it from north and north east,
from showers and rubbish, from vermin and beast.

Stie up the bore.

22
At Mihelmas safely go stie vp thy Bore,
least straying abrode, ye doo see him no more:
The sooner the better for Halontide nie,
and better he [brawneth] if hard he doo lie.[E94]

23
Shift bore (for il aire) as best ye do thinke,
and twise a day giue him fresh vittle and drinke:
And diligent Cislye, my dayrie good wench,
make cleanly his [cabben], for [measling][E95] and stench.

Gathering of winter hempe.

24
Now pluck vp thy hempe, and go beat out the seed,
and afterward water it as ye see need:
But not in the riuer where cattle should drinke,
for poisoning them and the people with stinke.[E96]

Whitest hempe best sold.

25
Hempe huswifely vsed lookes [cleerely] and bright,
and selleth it selfe by the colour so whight:
Some vseth to water it, some do it not,[27]
be skilful in dooing, for feare it do rot.

Setting of strawberies & roses, &c.

26
Wife, into thy garden, and set me a plot,
with strawbery rootes, of the best to be got:
Such growing abroade, among thornes in the wood,
wel chosen and picked prooue excellent good.

Gooseberies & Respis.

27
The Barbery, Respis, and Goosebery too,
looke now to be planted as other things doo:
The Goosebery, Respis, and Roses, al three,
with Strawberies vnder them trimly agree.

Gathering of mast.

28
To gather some mast, it shal stand thee vpon,
with seruant and children, er mast be al gon:
Some left among bushes shal pleasure thy swine,
for feare of a mischiefe keepe acorns fro kine.[E97]

Rooting of hogs.

29
For rooting of pasture ring hog ye had neede,
which being wel ringled the better do feede:
Though yong with their elders wil lightly keepe best,
yet spare not to ringle both great and the rest.

Yoking of swine.

30
Yoke seldom thy swine while the [shacktime][28] doth last,
for diuers misfortunes that happen too fast:
Or if ye do fancie whole eare of the hog,
giue eie to il neighbour and eare to his dog.

Hunting of hogs.

31
Keepe hog I aduise thee from medow and corne,
for out aloude crying that ere he was borne:
Such lawles, so [haunting], both often and long,
if dog set him [chaunting] he doth thee no wrong.[E98]

[Ringling] of hogs.

32
Where loue among neighbors do beare any stroke,
whiles shacktime indureth men vse not to yoke:
Yet surely ringling is needeful and good,
til frost do [enuite] them to brakes in the wood.

Carriage of brakes.

33[29]
Get home with thy brakes, er an sommer be gon,
for [teddered] cattle to sit there vpon:
To couer thy houel, to brewe and to bake,
to lie in the bottome, where houel ye make.

Sawe out thy timber.

34
Now sawe out thy timber, for boord and for pale,
to haue it [vnshaken],[E99] and ready to sale:
[Bestowe] it and [stick] it,[30] and lay it aright,
to find it in March, to be ready in [plight].

Slabs of timber.

35
Saue slab[31] of thy timber for stable and stie,
for horse and for hog the more clenly to lie:
Saue sawe dust, and brick dust, and ashes so fine,
for alley to walke in, with neighbour of thine.

Hedge breakers.

36
Keepe safely and warely thine vttermost fence,
with [ope gap] and breake hedge do seldome dispence:
Such runabout prowlers, by night and by day,
see punished iustly for prowling away.

Learne to knowe Hew prowler.

37
At noone if it bloweth, at night if it shine,
out trudgeth Hew make shift, with hooke & with line:[E100]
Whiles Gillet, his [blouse], is a milking thy cow,
Sir Hew is a [rigging] thy gate or the plow.

Black or red dogs.

38
Such walke with a black or a red little cur,
that [open] wil quickly, if anything stur;
Then [squatteth] the master, or trudgeth away,
and after dog runneth as fast as he may.

39
Some prowleth for fewel, and some away rig
fat goose, and the capon, duck, hen, and the pig:
Some prowleth for acornes, to fat vp their swine,
for corne and for apples, and al that is thine.

Thus endeth Septembers husbandrie.[32]

* * * Many stanzas do not occur or are not in the same order in 1577.

[1] In 1577 these and similar couplets at the beginning of each month's Husbandrie, precede the month's Abstract instead.

[2] Sts. 1 and 2 not in 1577.

[3] Mighelmas. 1577.

[4] coefers. 1577.

[5] rakged. 1577.

[6] at hyt. 1577.

[7] Or borow with sorow as long as thou wilt. 1577.

[8] liened. 1577.

[9] To pare horse's hoofs with.-T.R.

[10] "Clouting is arming the Axle-Tree with Iron plates."—T.R.

[11] "Arming the Fellowes with Iron Strakes, or a Tire as some call it."—T.R. Strakes are segments of a tire.

[12] "Of a tough piece of Whitleather."—T.R.

[13] "Lightest and coolest, but indeed not so comly as those of [Wadmus]."—T.R.

[14] St. 15 not in 1577, but as follows:—

Rakes also for barley, long toothed in bed,
and greater like toothed for barley so shed.

and first couplet of st. 16.

[15] St. 16 not thus in 1577; see note above, and next note.

[16] In 1577 the second couplet of st. 16 makes a stanza with the following:

Strong fetters and shakles, with horslock and pad;
Strong soles, and such other thinges, meete to be had.

[17] Hog yokes, and a twicher, and ringes for a hog,
with tar in a pot, for the byeting of dog. 1577.

[18] St. 19 not in 1577.

[19] St. 20 not in 1577.

[20] This point of good husbandry, etc. 1577.

[21] St. 11 not in 1577.

[22] Sts. 14 and 15 not in 1577, but nine stanzas which do not occur here.

[23] Cf. ante, [ch. 17, st. 13] and note [E85].

[24] Cf. post, [ch. 19, st. 6].

[25] Mighel, here and in st. 18. 1577.

[26] "If Fruit stand too long it will be mealy, which is worse than shrively, for now most Gentlemen chuse the shriveled Apple."—T.R.

[27] "Ther is a [Water-retting] and a [Dew-retting], which last is done on a good [Rawing], or aftermath of a Meadow Water."—T.R.

[28] "After Harvest."—T.R.

[29] This is placed before st. 9 in 1577.

[30] "Laying the Boards handsomely one upon another with sticks between."—T.R.

[31] The outermost piece.

[32] Cf. [note 12, p. 33].

[18.]

¶ Octobers abstract.

Chap. 16.

1
Lay drie vp and round,
for barlie thy ground.

2
Too late doth kill,
too soone is as ill.

3
Maides little and great,
pick cleane séede wheat.
Good ground doth craue
choice séede to haue.
[Flaies][E101] lustily [thwack],
least plough séede lack.

4[1]
Séede first go fetch,
for [edish] or etch,
Soile perfectly knowe,
er edish ye sowe.

5
White wheat, if ye please,
sowe now vpon pease.
Sowe first the best,
and then the rest.

6[2]
Who soweth in raine,
hath wéed [to] his paine.
But worse shall he spéed,
that soweth ill séed.

7
Now, better than later,
draw furrow for water.
Kéepe crowes, good sonne,
sée fencing[3] be donne.

8[4]
Each soile no [vaine]
for euerie graine.
Though soile be but bad,
some corne may be had.

9
Naught proue, naught craue,
naught venter, naught haue.

10
One crop and away,
some countrie may say.

11
All grauell and sand,
is not the best land.
A [rottenly] mould
is land woorth gould.

12
Why wheat is smitten
good lesson is written.

13
The iudgement of some
how thistles doe come.

14
A iudgement right,
of land in plight.
Land, all forlorne,
not good for corne.

15
Land barren doth beare
small strawe, short eare.

16
Here maist thou réede
for soile what séede.

17
Tis tride [ery] hower,
best graine most flower.

18
[Grosse] corne much bran
the baker doth ban.

19[5]
What [croppers] bée
here learne to sée.

20
Few [after crop] much,
but [noddies] and such.

21
Som woodland may [crake],
thrée crops he may take.

22
First barlie, then pease,
then wheat, if ye please.

23
Two crops and away,
must champion say.

24[6]
Where barlie did growe,
Laie[7] wheat to sowe.
Yet better I thinke,
sowe pease after [drinke].
And then, if ye please,
sowe wheat after pease.

25
What champion knowes
that custome showes.

26
First barlie er rie,
then pease by and by.
Then fallow for wheat,
is husbandrie great.

27
A remedie sent,
where pease lack vent.
Fat [peasefed] swine
for drouer is fine.

28
Each diuers soile
hath diuers toile.

29
Some countries vse
that some refuse.

30
For wheat ill land,
where water doth stand.
Sowe pease or dredge
belowe in that redge.

31
Sowe acornes to prooue
that timber doe looue.

32
Sowe [hastings][E102] now,
if land[8] it alow.

33
Learne soone to get
a good [quickset].

34
For feare of the wurst
make [fat] away furst.

35
Fat that no more
ye kéepe for store.

36
Hide [carren] in graue,
lesse noiance to haue.

37
Hog measeled kill,
for [flemming] that will.

38[9]
With [peasebolt] and brake
some brew and bake.

39
Old corne[10] worth gold,
so kept as it shold.

40
Much profit is rept,
by sloes well kept.

41
Kéepe sloes vpon bow,
for [flixe] of thy cow.

42
Of [vergis] be sure,
poore cattel to cure.

Thus endeth Octobers abstract, agréeing with Octobers husbandrie.

¶ Other short remembrances.[11]

[43]
Cisse, haue an eie
to bore in the stie.
By malt ill kept,
small profit is [rept].

[44]
Friend, ringle thy hog,
for feare of a dog.
Rie straw up stack,
least Thacker doe lack.

[45]
Wheat straw drie saue,
for cattell to haue.
Wheat chaffe lay vp drie,
in safetie to lie.

[46]
Make handsome a bin,
for chaffe to lie in.

[47]
(Séede thresht) thou shalt
thresh barlie to malt.
Cut bushes to hedge,
fence medow and redge.

[48]
[Stamp] crabs that may,
for rotting away.
Make vergis and [perie,][E103]
sowe kirnell and berie.

[49]
Now gather vp fruite,
of euerie [suite].
Marsh wall too slight,
strength now, or [god night].

[50][12]
Mend wals of mud,
for now it is good.
Where soile is of sand,
quick set out of hand.

[51]
To plots not full
ad bremble and hull.
For set no bar
whilst month hath an R.[E104]
Like note thou shalt
for making of malt.
Brew now to last
till winter be past.

Here ends Octobers short remembrances.[13]

[1] 1577 inserts—

Plie sowing a pace,
in euery place.

[2] St. 6 is not in 1577.

[3] furrowing. 1577.

[4] Sts. 8-30 do not occur here in 1577; but sts. 32-37 follow.

[5] Sts. 19 and 20 are in Septembers Abstract in 1577.

[6] In Septembers Abstract in 1577.

[7] strike. 1577.

[8] ground. 1577.

[9] In 1577, sts. 38 to the end are much transposed.

[10] graine. 1577.

[11] Cf. [note 12, p. 33].

[12] First couplet of st. 50 not in 1577.

[13] Cf. [note 12, p. 33].

[19.]

¶ Octobers husbandrie.

Chap. 17.

October good blast,
To blowe the hog mast.

Forgotten month past,
Doe now at the last.

Laie vp barlie land.

1
Now lay vp[E105] thy barley land, drie as ye can
when euer ye sowe it so looke for it than:
Get daily aforehand, be neuer behinde;
least winter preuenting do alter thy minde.

2
Who laieth vp fallow[E106] too soone or too wet,
with noiances many doth barley beset.
For weede and the water so [soketh] and sucks,
that goodnes from either it vtterly plucks.

Wheat sowing.

3
Greene rie in September when timely thou hast,
October for wheat sowing calleth as fast.
If weather will suffer, this counsell I giue,
Leaue sowing of wheat before Hallomas eue.

Sowe edish betimes.

4
Where wheat vpon edish ye mind to bestowe,
let that be the first of the wheat ye do sowe:
He seemeth to hart it and comfort to bring,
that giueth it comfort of Mihelmas spring.

Best wheat first sowen.

5
White wheat vpon [peaseetch] doth grow as he wold,
but fallow is best, if we did as we shold:[1]
Yet where, how, and when, ye entend to begin,
let euer the finest be first sowen in.[2]

6[3]
Who soweth in raine, he shall reape it with teares,
who soweth in harmes,[4] he is euer in feares,
Who soweth ill seede or defraudeth his land,
hath eie sore abroode, with a coresie at hand.

7[5]
Seede husbandly sowen, [water furrow][6] thy ground,
that raine when it commeth may run away round,
Then stir about Nicoll, with arrow and bowe,
take penie for killing of euerie crowe.

[Not in 1577.]

A digression to the usage of diuers countries, concerning Tillage.

8
Each soile hath no liking of euerie graine,
nor barlie and wheat is for euerie vaine:
Yet knowe I no countrie so barren of soile
but some kind of corne may be gotten with toile.

9
In Brantham,[E107] where rie but no barlie did growe,
good barlie I had, as a meany did knowe:
Five seame of an aker I truely was paid,
for thirtie lode muck of each aker so laid.

10
In Suffolke againe, where as wheat neuer grew,
good husbandrie vsed good wheat land I knew:
This Prouerbe experience long ago gaue,
that nothing who practiseth nothing shall haue.

11
As grauell and sand is for rie and not wheat,
(or yeeldeth hir burden to tone the more great,)
So peason and barlie delight not in sand,
but rather in claie or in rottener land.

12
Wheat somtime is [steelie] or burnt as it growes,
for [pride][7] or for pouertie practise so knowes.
Too lustie of courage for wheat doth not well,
nor after sir peeler he looueth to dwell.[E108]

13
Much wetnes, hog rooting, and land out of [hart],
makes thistles a number foorthwith to vpstart.
If thistles so growing prooue lustie and long,
it signifieth land to be hartie and strong.

14
As land full of tilth and in hartie good plight,
yeelds [blade] to a length and encreaseth in might,
So crop vpon crop, vpon whose courage we doubt,
yeelds blade for a [brag], but it holdeth not out.

15
The straw and the eare to haue bignes and length,
betokeneth land to be good and in strength.
If eare be but short, and the strawe be but small,
it signifieth barenes and barren withall.

16
White wheat or else red, red [riuet] or whight,
far passeth all other, for land that is light.
White [pollard] or red, that so richly is set,
for land that is heauie is best ye can get.

17
[Maine] wheat that is mixed with white and with red
is next to the best in the market mans hed:
So Turkey or [Purkey wheat][E109] many doe loue,
because it is flourie, as others aboue.

18
Graie wheat is the [grosest], yet good for the clay,
though woorst for the market, as [fermer] may say.
Much like vnto rie be his properties found,
coorse flower, much bran, and a peeler of ground.

19
Otes, rie, or else barlie, and wheat that is gray,
brings land out of [comfort], and soone to decay:
One after another, no comfort betweene,
is crop vpon crop, as will quickly be seene.

Crop vpon crop.

20
Still crop vpon crop many farmers do take,
and reape little profit for greedines sake.
Though [breadcorne] & drinkcorn[E110] such [croppers] do stand:
count peason or [brank], as a comfort to land.

21
Good land that is seuerall, crops may haue three,
in champion countrie it may not so bee:
Ton taketh his season, as commoners may,
the tother with reason may otherwise say.

22
Some vseth at first a good fallow to make,
to sowe thereon barlie, the better to take.
Next that to sowe pease, and [of] that to sowe wheat,
then fallow againe, or lie lay for thy neat.

23
First rie, and then barlie, the champion saies,
or wheat before barlie be champion waies:
But drinke before bread corne with Middlesex men,
then lay on more compas, and fallow agen.

24
Where barlie ye sowe, after rie or else wheat,
if land be [vnlustie],[8] the crop is not great,
So lose ye your cost, to your [coresie] and smart,
and land (ouerburdened) is cleane out of hart.

25
[Exceptions] take of the champion land,
from [lieng alonge] from that at thy hand.
(Just by) ye may comfort with compas at will,
far off ye must comfort with fauor and skill.

26
Where rie or else wheat either barlie ye sowe,
let [codware] be next, therevpon for to growe:
Thus hauing two crops, whereof codware is ton,
thou hast the lesse neede, to lay cost therevpon.

27
Some far fro the market delight not in pease,
for that ery [chapman] they seeme not to please.
If [vent] of the market place serue thee not well,
set hogs vp a fatting, to drouer to sell.

28
Two crops of a fallow enricheth the plough,
though tone be of pease, it is land good ynough:
One crop and a fallow some soile will abide,
where if ye go furder lay profit aside.

29
Where peason ye had and a fallow thereon,
sowe wheat ye may well without [doong] therevpon:
New broken vpland, or with water [opprest],
or ouer much doonged, for wheat is not best.

30
Where water all winter annoieth too much,
bestowe not thy wheat vpon land that is such:
But rather sowe otes, or else [bullimong][E111] there,
gray peason, or runciuals, fitches, or [tere].

Sowing of acorns.

31
Sowe acornes ye owners, that timber doe looue,
sowe hawe and rie with them the better to prooue;
If cattel or cunnie may enter to crop,
yong [oke] is in daunger of loosing his top.

Sowing of Hastings or fullams.

32
Who pescods delighteth to haue with the furst,
if now he do sowe them, I thinke it not wurst.
The greener thy peason and warmer the roome,
more lusty the layer, more plenty they come.

33
Go plow vp or delue vp, aduised with skill,
the bredth of a ridge, and in length as you will.
Where speedy quickset for a fence ye wil drawe,
to sowe in the seede of the bremble and hawe.[E112]

A disease in fat hogs.

34
Through plenty of acornes, the [porkling] to fat,
not taken in season, may perish by that,
If [ratling] or swelling get once to the throte,
thou loosest thy porkling, a crowne to a grote.[E113]

Not to fat for rearing.

35
What euer thing fat is, againe if it fall,
thou [ventrest] the thing and the fatnes withall,
The fatter the better, to sell or to kil,
but not to [continue], make proofe if ye wil.

Burieng of dead cattell.

36
What euer thing dieth, go burie or burne,
for tainting of ground, or a woorser il turne.
Such pestilent smell of a [carrenly] thing,
to cattle and people great peril may bring.

Measeled hogs.

37
Thy measeled bacon, hog, sow, or thy bore,
shut vp for to [heale], for infecting thy store:
Or kill it for bacon, or [sowce] it to sell,
for Flemming, that loues it so [deintily] well.[E114]

Strawwisps and peasbolts.

38
With [strawisp] and peasebolt, with ferne and the brake,
for sparing of fewel, some brewe and do bake,
And heateth their copper, for seething of graines:
good seruant rewarded, refuseth no paines.[E115]

Olde wheat better than new.

39
Good breadcorne and drinkcorne, full xx weekes kept,
is better then new, that at harvest is rept:
But [foisty] the breadcorne and [bowd] eaten malt,[E116]
for health or for profit, find noysome thou shalt.

40[9]
By [thend] of October, go gather vp sloes,
haue thou in a readines plentie of [thoes],
And keepe them in [bedstraw], or still on the bow,
to [staie] both the flixe of thyselfe and thy cow.

A medicin for the cow flixe.

41
[Seeith] water and [plump] therein plenty of sloes,
mix chalke[10] that is dried in powder with thoes
Which so, if ye giue, with the water and chalke,
thou makest the [laxe] fro thy cow away walke.[E117]

42[11]
Be sure of vergis (a [gallond] at least)
so good for the kitchen, so needfull for beast,
It helpeth thy cattel, so feeble and faint,
if timely such cattle with it thou acquaint.

Thus endeth Octobers husbandrie.

[1] White wheat upon pease etch is willing to grow
though best upon fallow as many do knowe. 1577.

[2] After st. 5, 1577 has st. 31 post.

[3] St. 6 not in 1577.

[4] "In harms or harms way, whether of Roads, ill Neighbours, Torrents of Water, Conies, or other Vermin."—T.R. Cf. ante, [ch. 16, st. 15].

[5] In Septembers Husbandry, 1577.

[6] "Furrows drawn cross the Ridges in the lowest part of the Ground."—T.R.

[7] "or too much Dung."—T.R.

[8] "There is a sort of Barley, called Sprat Barley, or Battledore Barley, that will grow very well on lusty land. "—T.R.

[9] Stanza 40 is not in 1577.

[10] chawlk. 1577.

[11] Stanza 42 is not in 1577.

[20.]

¶ Nouembers abstract.

Chap. 18

1
Let hog once fat,
loose nothing of that.
When mast is gon,
hog [falleth] anon,
Still fat vp some,
till Shroftide come.
Now porke and souse,
[beares] tack in house.

2
Put barlie to malting,
lay flitches a salting.
Through follie too [beastlie][E118]
much bacon is [reastie].[1]

3
Some winnow, some fan,
some [cast] that can.[2]
In casting prouide,
for séede lay aside.

4
Thresh barlie thou shalt,
for chapman to malt.
Else thresh no more
but for thy store.

5[3]
Till March thresh wheat,
but as ye doo eat,
Least baker forsake it
if [foystines] take it.

6
No chaffe in bin,
makes horse looke thin.

7[4]
Sowe hastings now,
that hastings alow.

8
They buie it full déere,
in winter that réere.

9
Few fowles, lesse swine,
rere now, friend mine.

10
What losse, what sturs,
through rauening curs.

11
Make Martilmas béefe,
déere meate is a théefe.

12
Set garlike and pease,
saint [Edmond] to please.

13
When raine takes place,
to threshing apace.

14
Mad braine, too rough,
[marres] all at plough.
With flaile and whips,
fat hen short skips.

15
Some threshing by taske,
will steale and not aske:
Such thresher at night
walkes seldom home light.
Some corne away [lag]
in bottle and bag.
Some steales, for a iest,
egges out of the nest.

16
Lay [stouer][E119] vp drie
in order to lie.
Poore bullock[5] doth craue
fresh straw to haue.

17
Make wéekly vp flower,
though threshers do [lower]:
Lay graine in loft
and turne it oft.

18
For muck, regard,
make cleane foule yard.
Lay straw to rot,
in watrie plot.

19
Hedlond vp plow,
for compas ynow.

20
For herbes good store,
trench garden more.

21
At midnight trie
foule priuies to [fie].

22
Rid chimney of soot,
from top to the foot.

23
In stable, put now
thy horses for plow.

24
Good horsekeeper will
laie muck vpon hill.

25[6]
Cut molehils that stand
so thick vpon land.

Thus endeth Novembers abstract, agréeing with Nouembers husbandrie.

¶ Other short remembrances.

26
Get pole, boy mine,
beate hawes to swine.
Driue hog to the wood,
brake rootes be good.

27
For mischiefe that falles,
looke well to marsh walles.
Drie [laier] get neate,
and plentie of meate.

28
Curst cattel that [nurteth],
poore [wennel] soon hurteth.
Good neighbour mine,
ring well thy swine.

29
Such winter may serue,
hog ringled[7] will sterue.
In frost kéepe dog
from hunting of hog.

Here ends Nouembers short remembrances.

[1] resty. 1577

[2] 1577 reads—

Let husbandly man
make clene as he can.

[3] Not in 1577.

[4] Stanzas 7-10 are not in 1577.

[5] kow.

[6] St. 25 is not in 1577.

[7] ringd. 1577.

[21.]

¶ Nouembers husbandrie.

Chap. 19.

Nouember take flaile,
Let ship no more saile.

Forgotten month past,
Doe now at the last.

Slaughter time.

1
At [Hallontide], slaughter time entereth in,
and then doth the husbandmans feasting begin
From thence vnto shroftide kill now and then some,
their offal for houshold the better wil come.[E120]

Dredge is otes and barlie.

2
Thy dredge and thy barley go thresh out to malt,
let malster be cunning, else lose it thou shalt:
[Thencrease] of a [seame] is a bushel for store,
bad else is the barley, or huswife much more.

Winnowing, fanning, and casting.

3
Some vseth to winnow,[1] some vseth to fan,
some vseth to cast it as cleane as they can:
For seede goe and cast it, for malting not so,
but get out the cockle,[2] and then let it go.[E121]

Threshing of barlie.

4
Thresh barlie as yet but as neede shal require,
fresh threshed for stoouer thy cattel desire:
And therefore that threshing forbeare as ye may,
till Candelmas comming, for sparing of hay.

5
Such wheat as ye keepe for the baker to buie,
vnthreshed till March in the sheafe let it lie,
Least [foistnes] take it if sooner yee thresh it,
although by oft turning ye seeme to refresh it.[E122]

Chaffe of corne.

6
Saue chaffe of the barlie, of wheate, and of rie,
from feathers and foistines, where it doth lie,
Which mixed with corne, being sifted of dust,
go giue to thy cattel, when serue them ye must.

7[3]
Greene peason or hastings at Hallontide sowe,
in hartie good soile he requireth to growe:
Graie peason or runciuals cheerely to stand,
at Candlemas sowe, with a plentifull hand.

8
Leaue latewardly rering, keepe now no more swine,
but such as thou maist, with the offal of thine:
Except ye haue wherewith to fat them away,
the fewer thou keepest, keepe better yee may.

9
To rere vp much [pultrie], and want the barne doore,
is naught for the [pulter] and woorse for the poore.
So, now to keepe hogs and to sterue them for meate,
is as to keepe dogs for to bawle in the streate.

10
As cat a good mouser is needfull in house,
because for hir commons she killeth the mouse,
So rauening curres, as a meany doo keepe,
makes master want meat, and his dog to kill sheepe.[E123]

Martilmas beefe.

11
(For Easter) at Martilmas hang vp a beefe,
for [stalfed] and pease fed plaie pickpurse the theefe:
With that and the like, er an grasse [biefe] come in,
thy folke shal looke cheerelie when others looke thin.

¶ Set garlike and beanes.

12
Set [garlike] and beanes, at S. Edmond[4] the king,
the moone in the wane, thereon hangeth a thing:[E124]
Thencrease of a [pottle] (well prooued of some)
shal pleasure thy houshold er peskod time come.

Threshing.

13
When raine is a let to thy dooings abrode,
set threshers a threshing to laie on good lode:
Thresh cleane ye must bid them, though lesser they [yarn],
and looking to thriue, haue an eie to thy barne.

Cattle beaters.

14
Take heede to thy man in his furie and heate,
with ploughstaff and [whipstock], for maiming thy neate:
To thresher for hurting of cow with his flaile,
or making thy hen to plaie [tapple vp taile].[E125]

Corne stealers.

15
Some pilfering thresher will walke with a staffe,
will carrie home corne as it is in the chaffe,
And some in his [bottle] of leather so great[E126]
will carry home daily both barlie and wheat.

Kéepe dry thy straw.

16
If houseroome will serue thee, lay stouer vp drie,
and euerie sort by it selfe for to lie.
Or stack it for litter, if roome be too poore,
and thatch out the residue noieng thy doore.[5]

Euery wéeke rid thy barne flower.

17
Cause weekly thy thresher to make vp his flower,
though slothfull and pilferer thereat doo lower:
Take tub for a season, take sack for a shift,
yet garner for graine is the better for thrift.

18
All maner of strawe that is scattered in yard,
good husbandlie husbands haue daily regard,
In pit full of water the same to bestowe,
where lieng to rot, thereof profit may growe.

Digging of hedlonds.

19
Now plough vp thy hedlond,[6] or [delue] it with spade,
where otherwise profit but little is made:
And cast it vp high, vpon hillocks to stand,
that winter may rot it, to compas thy land.

Trenching of garden.

Clensing of priuies.

21
Foule priuies are now to be clensed and [fide],
let night be appointed such [baggage] to hide:
Which buried in garden, in trenches alowe,
shall make very many things better to growe.

Sootie chimneyes.

22
The chimney all sootie would now be made cleene,
for feare of mischances, too oftentimes seene:
Old chimney and sootie, if fier once take,
by burning and breaking, soone mischeefe may make.[E127]

Put horse into stable.

23
When ploughing is ended, and pasture not great,
then stable thy horses, and tend them with meat:
Let season be drie when ye take them to house,
for danger of [nittes], or for feare of a louse.[E128]

Sauing of doong.

24
Lay compas vp [handsomly], round on a hill,
to walke in thy yard at thy pleasure and will,
More compas it maketh and handsom the plot,
if horsekeeper daily forgetteth it not.

25[7]
Make hillocks of molehils, in field thorough out,
and so to remaine, till the yeere go about.
Make also the like [whereas] plots be too hie,
all winter a rotting for compas to lie.

Thus endeth Nouembers husbandrie.

[1] winnew. 1557.

[2] "If the Cockle be left in, it will work, and some say make the Drink the stronger."—T.R.

[3] Stanzas 7-10 are not in 1577.

[4] 20th November.

[5] "The rest may lie in the open Yard, for the Cattle to tread into Dung, which is the practice now a days, so that our Farmers are not so afraid of noying their Doors it seems as formerly, and that not without good reason."—T.R.

[6] T.R. thinks that here is meant "such Ground in Common Field-land, which the whole Shot (or parcel of Land belonging to many Men against which it lies) turn upon."

[7] St. 25 is not in 1577.

[22.]

¶ Decembers abstract.

Chap. 20.

1
No season to hedge,
get [béetle] and wedge.
Cleaue logs now all,
for kitchen and hall.

2
Dull working tooles
soone courage cooles.

3
Leaue off [tittle tattle],
and looke to thy cattle.
Serue yoong poore [elues]
alone by themselues.

4
Warme barth for neate,
woorth halfe their meate.
The elder that nurteth
the yonger soone hurteth.

5
Howse cow that is old,
while winter doth hold.

6
Out once in a day,
to drinke and to play.

7
Get trustie to serue,
least cattle doo sterue.
And such as in déede
may helpe at a néede.

8
Obserue this law,
in seruing out straw.

9
In walking about,
good [forke] spie out.

10
At full and at change,
spring tides are strange.
If doubt ye fray,
driue cattle away.

11
[Dank] ling forgot
will quickly rot.

12
Here learne and trie
to turne it and drie.

13
Now [stocks] remooue,
that Orchards looue.

14
Set stock to growe
too thick nor too lowe.
Set now, as they com,
both cherie[1] and plom.

15
Shéepe, hog, and ill beast,
bids stock to ill feast.[2]

16
At Christmas is good
to let thy horse blood.

17
Mark here what [rable]
of euils in stable.

18
Mixe well (old [gaffe])
horse corne with chaffe.
Let Jack nor Gill
fetch corne at will.

19[3]
Some countries gift
to make hard shift.
Some cattle well fare
with fitches and tare.
Fitches and tares
be Norfolke [wares].

20
Tares threshed with skill
bestowe as yée will.

21
Hide strawberies, wife,
to saue their life.

22
[Knot], border, and all,
now couer ye shall.

23
Helpe bées, sweet conie,
with [licour] and honie.

24
Get [campers] a ball,
to [campe] therewithall.

Thus endeth Decembers abstract, agréeing with Decembers husbandrie.

¶ Other short remembrances.

[25]
Let Christmas spie
yard cleane to lie.
No labour, no sweate,
go labour for heate.
Féede dooues, but kill not,
if stroy them ye will not.
Fat hog or ye kill it,
or else ye doo spill it.

[26]
Put oxe in stall,
er oxe doo fall.
Who séetheth hir graines,
hath profit for paines.
Rid garden of mallow,
plant willow and [sallow].

[27]
Let bore life render,
sée brawne [sod] tender,
For wife, fruit bie,
for Christmas pie.
Ill bread and ill drinke,
makes many ill thinke.
Both meate and cost
ill dressed halfe lost.

[28]
Who hath wherewithall,
may [chéere] when he shall:
But charged man,
must chéere as he can.

Here ends Decembers short remembrances.

[1] chearrey. 1577.

[2] St. 15.

Wind north, north east
bids stock to il feast. 1577.

[3] Sts. 19 and 20 are not in 1573 (M.); sts. 19, 20, and 24 are not in 1577.

[23.]

¶ Decembers husbandrie.

Chap. 21.

O dirtie December
For Christmas remember.

Forgotten month past,
Doe now at the last.

Béetle and wedges.

1
When frost will not suffer to dike and to hedge,
then get thee a heat with thy beetle and wedge
Once [Hallomas] come, and a fire in the hall,
such [sliuers] doo well for to lie by the wall.

Grinding stone and whetston.

2
Get grindstone and whetstone, for toole that is dull,
or often be [letted] and [freat] bellie full.
A wheele barrow also be readie to haue
at hand of thy seruant, thy compas to saue.

Seruing of cattle.

3
Giue cattle their fodder in plot drie and warme,
and count them for [miring] or other like harme.
Yoong colts with thy wennels together go serue,
least [lurched] by others they happen to sterue.[1]

Woodland countrie.

4
The rack is commended for sauing of doong,
so set as the old cannot [mischiefe] the yoong:[E129]
In tempest (the wind being northly or east)
warme barth[E130] vnder hedge is a [sucker][2] to beast.

Housing of cattel.