Chapter II: Part 2

[A lesson where and when to plant good hopyard.]

Julies abstract.

Julies husbandrie [agréeing with his former abstract _and hay harvest_].

Augusts abstract.

[Workes after haruest.]

Augusts husbandrie [agréeing with his former abstract _& corne haruest_].

[Corne haruest equally diuided into ten partes.]

[_The conclusion of the whole booke set out in_ 12 _verses euery word beginning with a T ye first letter of the Authors name_.]

[A briefe conclusion in verse, euerie word beginning with a T.]

Mans age [_divided into xij prentiships_, from seuen yeares to fourescore and foure].

[_A briefe description of thenclinations of mans age by the similitude of the Ape, Lion, Foxe, & the Asse_.]

[Another diuision of the nature of mans age.]

A comparison betwéene good husband[rie] and [bad _euill_].

A comparison betwéene [_woodland &_ Champion] countrie and Seuerall.

[The description of an enuious and naughtie neighbour.]

[_A Sonet howe to set a candle afore the Deuill_.]

A Sonet against a slaunderous tongue.

A Sonet [_to his Lord & Master of his first vij yeres seruice_ vpon the Authors first seuen yeres seruice].

[The Authors _A_] dialogue betweene two Bachelers [_batchillers_], of wiuing & thriuing, by affirmation & negation [_& the maryed mans iudgment thereof_].

[The wedded mans iudgement taking vp the matter of wiuing and thriuing.

How ewes should be vsed that are néere lambing.

How lambes should be vsed when they are yoong.

What times are most méete for rearing of calues.

How to cure the wrigling of ye taile in a shéepe or a lambe.

Of gelding horsecolts.

A waie how to haue large bréede of hogs.

A medicine for faint cattle.

Howe to fasten loose téeth in a bullocke.

How to preuent the breeding of the bots in horses.

A medicine for the cowlaske.[E5]

Of burieng dead cattle.

A waie how to preserue bées.

What is to be done with measeled hogs.

What times are most méete for letting of horses blood.]

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.

[Sidenote: _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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: _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.

[Sidenote: _Ceres_, Goddesse of husbandry.]

2
Though fence well kept is one good point,
and tilth well done, in season due;
Yet needing salue in time to annoint,
is all in all and needfull true:
As for the rest,
thus thinke I best,
as friend doth gest,
With hand in hand to leade thee foorth
to _Ceres_ campe, there to behold
A thousand things as richlie woorth,
as any pearle is woorthie gold.

[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._

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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]

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: Thee for thriue.]

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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]

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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]

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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]

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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]

[Sidenote: 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 ye 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]

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: Midsommer.]

[Sidenote: 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]

[Sidenote: Hallomas.]

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: A caueat.]

[Sidenote: 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:

[Sidenote: Fish daies.]

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: At the spring.]

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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]

[Sidenote: 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]

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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 a too 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.

[Sidenote: 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 a sunder 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.

[Sidenote: 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._]

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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]

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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.

[Sidenote: 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]

[Sidenote: Whitest hempe best sold.]