Chapter IV: Part 4

[12] for. M.

[13] the. 1577.

[14]

And set or remoue what fruite ye loue. 1577.

34.

_Of trees or fruites to be set or remooued._

1 Apple trées of all sorts.

2 Apricocks.[E146]

3 Barberies.

4 Boollesse,[E147] black & white.

5 Cheries,[E148] red and black.

6 Chestnuts.[E149]

7 Cornet plums.[E150]

8 Damsens,[1][E151] white & black.

9 Filbeards,[E152] red and white.

10 Goose beries.[E153]

11 Grapes,[E154] white and red.

12 Gréene or grasse plums.[E155]

13 Hurtillberies.[E156]

14 Medlars[E157] or marles.

15 Mulberie.[E158]

16 Peaches,[E159] white and red.

17 Peares of all sorts.

18 Perareplums,[2][E160] black & yelow.

19 Quince[E161] trées.

20 Respis.[E162]

21 Reisons.[E163]

22 Small nuts.

23 Strawberies, red and white.

24 Seruice trées.[E164]

25 Walnuts.[E165]

26 Wardens,[E166] white and red.

27 Wheat plums.

[28] Now set ye may the box and bay, Haithorne and prim, for clothes trim.

[1] Damisens. 1577.

[2] _sic_ also in 1577.

35.

¶ _Januaries husbandrie.

Chap._ 32.

A kindly good Janiuéere, Fréeseth pot by the féere.

Forgotten month past, Doe now at the last.

[Sidenote: Husbandly lessons.]

1 When Christmas is ended, bid feasting adue, goe play the good husband, thy stock to renue. Be mindfull of rearing, in hope of a gaine, dame profit shall giue thee reward for thy paine.

2 Who both by his calfe and his lamb will be knowne, may well kill a neate and a sheepe of his owne. And he that can reare vp a pig in his house, hath cheaper his bacon and sweeter his souse.

3 Who eateth his veale, pig and lamb being froth,[E167] shall twise in a weeke go to bed without broth.[1] Vnskilfull that passe not, but sell away sell, shall neuer haue plentie where euer they dwell.

4 Be greedie in spending, and careles to saue, and shortly be needie and readie to craue. Be wilfull to kill and vnskilfull to store, and looke for no foison,[2] I tell thee before.[E168]

5 Lay dirt vpon heapes, faire yard to be seene, if frost will abide it, to feeld with it cleene.[E169] In winter a fallow some loue to bestowe, where pease for the pot[3] they intend for to sowe.

[Sidenote: Quick set now.]

6 In making or mending as needeth thy ditch, get set to quick set it, learne cunningly whitch.[4] In hedging (where clay is) get stake as ye knowe, of popler and willow, for fewell to growe.

[Sidenote: Kéepe cleane thy douehous.]

7 Leaue killing of conie,[5] let Doe go to buck, and vermine thy burrow, for feare of ill luck. Feed Doue (no more killing), old Doue house[E170] repaire, saue doue dong for hopyard, when house ye make faire.

[Sidenote: ¶ Runciual peason.]

8 Dig garden, stroy mallow, now may ye at ease, and set (as a daintie) thy runciuall pease.[6] Go cut and set roses, choose aptly thy plot, the rootes of the yoongest are best to be got.

[Sidenote: Timelie prouision for fewell.]

9 In time go and bargaine, least woorser doo fall, for fewell, for making, for carriage and all. To buie at the stub[E171] is the best for the buier, more timelie prouision, the cheaper is fier.

[Sidenote: Ill husbandrie.]

10 Some burneth a lode at a time in his hall, some neuer leaue burning til burnt they haue all. Some making of hauock, without any wit, make many poore soules without fire to sit.

[Sidenote: Pruning of trées.]

11 If frost doo continue, this lesson doth well, for comfort of cattel the fewell to fell: From euerie tree the superfluous bows now prune for thy neat therevpon to go brows.[7]

[Sidenote: Mistle and iuie.]

12 In pruning and trimming all maner of trees, reserue to ech cattel their properly fees. If snowe doo continue, sheepe hardly that fare craue Mistle and Iuie for them for to spare.

[Sidenote: Lopping of pollengers.]

13 Now lop for thy fewell old pollenger growen, that hinder the corne or the grasse to be mowen. In lopping and felling, saue edder and stake,[E172] thine hedges as needeth to mend or to make.

14 In lopping,[8] old Jocham, for feare of mishap, one bough stay vnlopped, to cherish the sap: The second yeere after then boldly ye may, for driping his fellowes, that bough cut away.

[Sidenote: The propertie of soft wood.]

15 Lop popler and sallow, elme, maple, and prie, well saued from cattle, till Sommer to lie. So far as in lopping, their tops ye doo fling, so far without planting yoong copie will spring.[E173]

16[9] Such fewell as standing a late ye haue bought, now fell it, and make it, and doo as ye ought. Giue charge to the hewers (that many things mars), to hew out for crotches, for poles, and for spars.

[Sidenote: Hoppoles and crotches.]

17 If hopyard or orchard ye mind for to haue, for hoppoles and crotches in lopping go saue. Which husbandlie spared may serue at a push, and stop by so hauing two gaps with a bush.

18 From Christmas, till May be well entered in, some cattle waxe faint, and looke poorely and thin. And cheefly when prime[E174] grasse[10] at first doth appeere, then most is the danger of all the whole yeere.

[Sidenote: A medicen for faint cattell.]

19 Take vergis and heate it, a pint for a cow, bay salt a hand full,[11] to rub tong ye wot how. That done, with the salt, let hir drinke off the rest: this manie times raiseth the feeble vp best.

[Sidenote: To fasten loose téeth in a bullock.]

20 Poore bullock with browsing and naughtily fed, scarce feedeth, hir teeth be so loose in hir hed: Then slise ye the taile where ye feele it so soft, with soote and with garlike bound to it aloft.[12]

[Sidenote: Ewes vpon eaning.]

21 By brembles and bushes, in pasture too full, poore sheepe be in danger and loseth their wull.[13] Now therefore thine ewe, vpon lamming so neere, desireth in pasture that all may be cleere.

22 Leaue grubbing or pulling of bushes (my sonne) till timely thy fences require to be donne. Then take of the best, for to furnish thy turne, and home with the rest, for the fier to burne.

[Sidenote: Stubbing of gréenes.]

23 In euerie greene,[14] if the fence be not thine, now stub vp the bushes, the grasse to be fine. Least neighbour doo dailie so hack[15] them beliue,[E175] that neither thy bushes nor pasture can thriue.

24 In ridding[16] of pasture with turfes that lie by,[17] fill euerie hole vp, as close as a dy. The labour is little, the profit is gay, what euer the loitering labourers say.

25 The sticks and the stones go and gather vp cleene, for hurting of sieth or for harming of greene.[18] For feare of Hew prowler,[E176] get home with the rest, when frost is at hardest, then carriage is best.

[Sidenote: Yoong lambes.]

26 Yoong broome or good pasture thy ewes doo require, warme barth and in safetie their lambes doo desire. Looke often well to them, for foxes and dogs, for pits and for brembles, for vermin and hogs.

27 More daintie[19] the lambe, the more woorth to be sold, the sooner the better for eaw that is old. But if ye doo minde to haue milke of the dame, till Maie doo not seuer the lambe fro the same.

[Sidenote: Rearing of lambes.]

28 Ewes yeerly by twinning rich maisters doo make, the lamb of such twinners for breeders go take. For twinlings[E177] be twiggers, encrease for to bring, though som for their twigging _Peccantem_[E178] may sing.

[Sidenote: Rearing of calues.]

29 Calues likely that come between Christmas and Lent, take huswife to reare, or else after repent: Of such as doo fall betweene change and the prime,[20] no rearing, but sell or go kill them in time.

[Sidenote: Howsing of cattel.]

30 Howse calfe, and go sockle it twise in a day, and after a while, set it water and hay. Stake ragged to rub on, no such as will bend, then weane it well tended, at fiftie daies end.[21]

31 The senior weaned his yoonger shall teach, how both to drinke water and hay for to reach.[22] More stroken and made of when ought it doo aile, more gentle ye make it, for yoke or the paile.[E179]

[Sidenote: Of gelding.]

32 Geld bulcalfe and ram lamb, as soone as they fall, for therein is lightly no danger at all. Some spareth the ton for to pleasure the eie, to haue him shew greater when butcher shall bie.

[Sidenote: ¶]

33 Sowes readie to farrow this time of the yeere are for to be made of and counted full deere. For now is the losse of a fare of the sow more great then the losse of two calues of thy cow.

[Sidenote: ¶ Rearing of pigs.]

34 Of one sow togither reare few aboue fiue, and those of the fairest and likest to thriue. Ungelt of the best keepe a couple for store, one bore pig and sow pig, that sucketh before.[E180]

[Sidenote: ¶ A way to haue large bréed of hogs.]

35 Who hath a desire to haue store verie large, at Whitsontide let him giue huswife a charge, To reare of a sow at once onely but three, and one of them also a bore let it bee.

[Sidenote: ¶ Gelding time.]

36 Geld vnder the dam, within fortnight at least, and saue both thy monie and life of the beast. Geld later with gelders as many one do, and looke of a doozen to geld away two.

[Sidenote: Gelding of horse coltes.]

37 Thy colts for thy saddle geld yoong to be light, for cart doo not so, if thou iudgest aright. Nor geld not but when they be lustie and fat: for there is a point, to be learned in that.

[Sidenote: Gelding of fillies.]

38 Geld fillies (but tits) er an nine daies of age, they die else of gelding (or gelders doo rage). Yoong fils[E181] so likelie of bulke and of bone: keepe such to be breeders, let gelding alone.

[Sidenote: Reare the fairest of al things.]

39 For gaining a trifle, sell neuer thy store, what ioy to acquaintance, what pleasureth more? The larger of bodie, the better for breede: more forward of growing, the better they speede.

[Sidenote: ¶ Of cow and sow.]

40 Good milchcow, well fed, that is faire and sound, is yeerely for profit as good as a pound: And yet by the yeere, I haue prooued er[23] now, as good to the purse is a sow as a cow.

[Sidenote: ¶]

41 Keepe one and keepe both, with as little a cost, then all shall be saued and nothing be lost. Both hauing togither what profit is caught, good huswifes (I warrant ye) need not be taught.

[Sidenote: ¶]

42[24] For lamb, pig and calfe, and for other the like, tithe so as thy cattle the Lord doo not strike. Or if yee deale guilefully, parson will dreue, and so to your selfe a worse turne ye may geue.

43 Thy garden plot latelie well trenched and muckt, would now be twifallowd, the mallowes out pluckt,[25] Well clensed and purged of roote and of stone, that falt therein afterward found may be none.

[Sidenote: Wéeding of hopyard.]

44 Remember thy hopyard, if season be drie, now dig it and weed it, and so let it lie. More fennie the laier the better his lust, more apt to beare hops when it crumbles like dust.

[Sidenote: Trimming up arbors.]

45 To arbor begun, and quick setted[26] about, no poling nor wadling[27] till set be far out. For rotten and aged may stand for a shew, but hold to their tackling there doe but a few.[28][E182]

[Sidenote: Sowing of otes. Late sowing not good.]

46 In Janiuere[29] husband that poucheth the grotes will break vp his laie, or be sowing of otes, Otes sowen in Janiuere, laie[30] by the wheat, in May by the hay for the cattle to eat.[31][E183]

47 Let seruant be readie, with mattock in hand, to stub out the bushes that noieth the land: And cumbersome rootes, so annoieng the plough, turne vpward their arses with sorrow inough.

[Sidenote: Breaking up lay in som countrie.]

48 Who breaketh vp timelie his fallow or lay, sets forward his husbandrie many a way. This trimlie well ended doth forwardly bring,[32] not onelie thy tillage, but all other thing.

49[33] Though lay land ye breke vp when Christmas is gon, for sowing of barlie[34] or otes therevpon, Yet hast[e] not to fallow til March be begun, least afterward wishing it had ben vndun.

50 Such land as ye breake vp for barlie to sowe, two earthes at the least er ye sowe it bestowe.[35] If land be thereafter, set oting apart, and follow this lesson, to comfort thine hart.

51 Some breaking vp laie soweth otes to begin,[36] to suck out the moisture so sower therein. Yet otes with hir sucking a peeler is found, both ill to the maister and worse to som ground.

52 Land arable driuen or worne to the proofe, and[37] craueth some rest for thy profits behoofe. With otes ye may sowe it, the sooner to grasse, more soone to be pasture to bring it to passe.

Thus endeth Januaries husbandrie.

[1] "Broath is still us'd in some Farm Houses for Supper Meat, and Roast Meat look'd upon as very ill Husbandry."--T.R.

[2] looke not for foyzen. 1577. "_Foyzon_ is Winter Food."--T.R.

[3] "Pease boyling or not boyling is one of the Farmers occult Qualities; but fresh, and next to it, well dunged Grounds are observed to produce the best Boylers, perhaps because they retain most moisture."--T.R.

[4] "By Experience Garden Quicksets are found to be the best, ... because they are all of an age."--T.R.

[5] "The common time of ending their Slaught (or Slaughter as the Warreners term it) is _Candlemas_."--T.R.

[6] "The most forward Pea is the Rogue, they are pick'd from the Hasting and Hotspur."--T.R.

[7] "Since the use of Turneps Cattel need not be hard put to it in snowy weather as formerly."--T.R.

[8] "This is more proper in Underwood than Pollards, at least more in use at present; few Pollards perish for want of it, but Runt-wood will."--T.R.

[9] St. 16 is not in 1577.

[10] "Prime Grass appears commonly in woody moist Grounds, on Hedge Banks, and is so called from its earliness; when Cattle have tasted this they begin to loath their dry food. It is often sprung before _Candlemas_."--T.R.

[11] full a hand. 1577.

[12] "This remedy still is in Practice.... The first indication of corrupt blood is from the staring Hairs on the Tail near the Rump. Some instead of Soot and Garlick put a Dock Root, or the Root of a Bears Foot, which they call a Gargat Root, others flay the Dewlaps to the very Shoulders."--T.R.

[13] "Large Ant-Hills is much the best shelter for Ewes and Lambs."--T.R.

[14] "This is understood of Hedge Greens ... a space next the Hedge of a Rod or more in breadth."--T.R.

[15] make. 1577.

[16] "When you rid it of Bushes or Ant Hills."--T.R.

[17] with turnes so bye. 1577.

[18] "Hedge Greens."--T.R.

[19] "Likely, or thriving, such as will soon require more Milk than his old Dam can afford him."--T.R.

[20] "The first three days after the new moon or change."--T.R.

[21] "At present we rarely wean under twelve weeks."--- T.R. 1710.

[22] "The hay is given them stuck in cleft sticks."--T.R.

[23] or. 1577.

[24] St. 42 is not in 1577.

[25] "In trenching, bury no Mallow, Nettle-dock, or Briony Roots."--T.R.

[26] "Quick setted Arbors are now out of use, as agreeing very ill with the Ladies Muslins."--T.R. 1710.

[27] "Wattles are wood slit."--T.R.

[28] they cannot but feaw. 1577.

[29] January. 1577.

[30] "lay them by thy wheate" in _100 Good Points_.

[31] "Such early sown Oats it is likely may be clearer of weeds; and if I buy my Hay in May, that is, before my Chapman knows what Quantity he shall have, he is rul'd by his Necessity for some ready money in Hand."--T.R.

[32] This tilth is a tilture, well forward doth bring. 1577.

[33] Sts. 49 and 50 are not in 1577.

[34] "Barley is now very rarely, if at all, sown on lay land. The fallow he speaks of I take to be the second ploughing for Barley."--T.R. 1710. Gervase Markham, in his _English Husbandman_, directs a digging in May, another, with manuring, in October, and "the last time of your digging and setting shall be at the beginning of April."

[35] "Barley-Ground ought to be as fine as an Ash-heap."--T.R.

[36] "Where the Ground is over rich, it fines and sweetens it."--T.R.

[37] "It" in _Tusser Redivivus_. "and." 1577.

36.

¶ _Februaries abstract._

* * * Februaries Abstract and Februaries Husbandry in the edition of 1577 differ much from that of 1580.

_Chap._ 33.

1 Lay compas ynow, er euer ye plow.

2 Place doongheapes alowe, more barlie to growe.

3 Eat etch er ye plow, with hog, shéepe and cow. Sowe lintels ye may, and peason gray. Kéepe white vnsowne, till more be knowne.

4 Sow pease (good trull) the Moone past full. Fine séedes then sowe, whilst Moone doth growe.

5 Boy, follow the plough, and harrow inough. So harrow ye shall, till couerd be all.

6 Sowe pease not too thin, er plough ye set in.

7 Late sowen sore noieth, late ripe, hog stroieth.

8 Some prouender saue, for plowhorse to haue. To oxen that drawe, giue hay and not strawe. To stéeres ye may mixe strawe with hay.

9 Much carting, ill tillage, makes som to flie village.

10 Use cattle aright, to kéepe them in plight.

11 Good quickset bie, old gatherd will die.

12[1] Stick bows a rowe, where runciuals growe.

13 Sowe kirnels and hawe, where ridge ye did drawe.

14 Sowe mustard séed, and helpe to kill wéed. Where sets doo growe, sée nothing ye sowe.

15 Cut vines and osier, plash hedge of enclosier. Féed highly thy swan, to loue hir good man. Nest high I aduise, least floud doe arise.

16 Land meadow spare, there doong is good ware.

17 Go strike off the nowles of deluing mowles. Such hillocks in vaine lay leauelled plaine.

18 To wet the land, let mowle hill stand.

19 Poore cattle craue some shift to haue.

20 Cow little giueth that hardly liueth.

21 Rid barlie al now, cleane out of thy mow. Choice séed out drawe, saue cattle the strawe.

22 To coast man ride Lent stuffe to prouide.

Thus endeth Februaries abstract, agréeing with Februaries husbandrie.

¶ Other short remembrances.

[23] Trench medow and redge, dike, quickset, and hedge. To plots not full, ad bremble and hull.

[24] Let wheat and the rie for thresher still lie. Such strawe some saue, for thacker to haue.

[25] Poore cunnie, so bagged, is soone ouer lagged. Plash burrow, set clapper, for dog is a snapper.[E184]

[26] Good flight who loues, must féed their doues. Bid hauking adew, cast hauke into mew.[E185]

[27] Kéepe shéepe out of briers, kéepe beast out of miers. Kéepe lambes from fox, else shepherd go box.

[28] Good neighbour mine, now yoke thy swine. Now euerie day, set hops ye may.

[29] Now set for thy pot, best herbes to be got. For flowers go set, all sorts ye can get.

[30] As winter doth prooue, so may ye remooue. Now all things reare, for all the yeare.

[31] Watch ponds, go looke to wéeles and hooke. Knaues seld repent to steale in Lent.

[32] Alls fish they get that commeth to net.[E186] Who muck regards makes hillocks in yards.

Here ends Februaries short remembrances.

[1] Stanza 12 is 4, and st. 22 is 1 in 1577.

37.

¶ _Februaries husbandrie.

Chap._ 34.

Feb, fill the dike[E187] With what thou dost like.[1]

Forgotten month past Doe now at the last.

1 Who laieth on doong er he laieth on plow, such husbandrie vseth as thrift doth alow. One month er ye spred it, so still let it stand, er euer to plow it, ye take it in hand.

2 Place doong heape a low by the furrough along, where water all winter time did it such wrong. So make ye the land to be lustie and fat, and corne thereon sowen to be better for that.

3 Go plow in the stubble, for now is the season, for sowing of fitchis, of beanes, and of peason. Sowe runciuals timelie, and all that be gray, but sowe not the white till S. Gregories day.[2]

4 Sowe peason and beanes in the wane of the Moone,[3] who soweth them sooner, he soweth too soone. That they with the planet may rest and arise, and flourish with bearing most plentifull wise.

5 Friend, harrow in time, by some maner of meanes, not onely thy peason, but also thy beanes. Unharrowed die, being buried in clay, where harrowed florish, as flowers in May.

6 Both peason and beanes sowe afore ye doo plow,[4] the sooner ye harrow, the better for yow.[5] White peason so good for the purse and the pot: let them be well vsed else well doo ye not.

7 Haue eie vnto haruest what euer ye sowe, for feare of mischances, by riping too slowe. Least corne be destroied, contrarie to right, by hogs or by cattel, by day or by night.[6]

8 Good prouender labouring horses would haue, good haie and good plentie, plow oxen doo craue. To hale out the muck and to plow vp thy ground: or else it may hinder thee many a pound.

9 Who slacketh his tillage, a carter to bee, for grote got abrode, at home lose shall three. And so by his dooing he brings out of hart both land for the corne and horse for the cart.

10 Who abuseth his cattle and sterues them for meat, by carting or plowing, his gaine is not great. Where he that with labour can vse them aright, hath gaine to his comfort, and cattle in plight.

11 Buie quickset at market, new gatherd and small, buie bushes or willow, to fence it withall. Set willowes to growe, in the steede of a stake, for cattel in sommer, a shadow to make.

[Sidenote: ¶ Runciual peason.]

12 Stick plentie of bows among runciuall pease[7] to climber thereon, and to branch at their ease. So dooing, more tender and greater they wex, if peacock[8] and turkey leaue iobbing their bex.[E188]

13 Now sowe and go harrow (where redge ye did draw[9]) the seed of the bremble, with kernell and haw. Which couered ouerlie, soone to shut out, goe see it be ditched and fenced about.[E189]

[Sidenote: Sowe mustard séede.]

14 Where banks be amended and newly vp cast, sow mustard seed,[10] after a shower be past. Where plots full of nettles be noisome to eie, sowe therevpon hempseed, and nettle will die.

[Sidenote: Cut or set vines.]

15 The vines[11] and the osiers cut and go set, if grape be vnpleasant, a better go get. Feed swan, and go make hir vp strongly a nest, for feare of a floud, good and high is the best.

[Sidenote: Catching of mowls.]

16 Land meadow that yeerly is spared for hay, now fence it and spare it, and doong it ye may. Get mowle catcher cunninglie mowle for to kill, and harrow and cast abrode euerie hill.[E190]

17 Where meadow or pasture to mowe ye doo laie, let mowle be dispatched some maner of waie. Then cast abrode mowlhill, as flat as ye can, for many commodities following than.

18 If pasture by nature is giuen to be wet, then bare with the mowlhill, though thick it be set. That lambe may sit on it, and so to sit drie, or else to lie by it, the warmer to lie.[E191]

[Sidenote: Looke well to thy fence.]

19 Friend, alway let this be a part of thy care, for shift of good pasture, lay pasture to spare. So haue you good feeding, in bushets and lease,[E192] and quickly safe finding of cattel at ease.

20 Where cattel may run about, rouing at wil, from pasture to pasture, poor bellie to fil, There pasture and cattel both hungrie and bare, for want of good husbandrie worser doo fare.

21 Now thresh out thy barlie, for malt or for seed, for bread corne (if need be) to serue as shall need. If worke for the thresher ye mind for to haue, of wheat and of mestlen[E193] vnthreshed go saue.

22 Now timelie for Lent stuffe[12] thy monie disburse, the longer ye tarie for profit the wurse, If one penie vantage be therein to saue, of coast man or fleming be sure to haue.[E194]

Thus endeth Februaries husbandrie.

[1] with what ye like. 1577.

[2] 12th of March.

[3] "Pease and Beans sown during the Increase do run more to Hawm or Straw, and during the Declension more to Cod, according to the common consent of country men. And I must own I have experienced it; but I will not aver it so as that it is not lyable to exceptions."--T.R.

[4] "This is called sowing under furrow, just before the second ploughing, which if neatly done lays them in rows."--T.R.

[5] "Because if they lye until they are swell'd the horse-footing is apt to endanger them."--T.R.

[6] "This regards Field Land; for in our Author's time Enclosures were not so frequent as now."--T.R. 1710.

[7] "Runcival pease find now very little Entertainment in Gentlemen's Gardens.... In their room are got the Egg pea, the Sugar pea, Dutch admirals, etc."--T.R., 1710.

[8] "A Peacock, altho' a lovely Fowl to look on, ... is a very ill-natured Bird."--T.R.

[9] "A way of quicksetting or fencing Enclosures out of the common Field they had in the days of our Author."--T.R.

[10] "This is most in practice in Marshy Countreys."--T.R.

[11] "Those that thrive best with us are the small black Grape, the white Muscadine, and the Parsley grape."--T.R.

[12] "This Article is very much unregarded by Farmers at present, for fear, I suppose, of falling into Popery and Superstition; but lay that quite aside, and let us consult our Interest, Health, and Gratitude."--T.R. The writer of _Tusser Redivivus_ here enlarges on the advantages, personal and national, of fish diet. Under Marches Husbandry, stanza 3, he mentions "Salt Fish, Furmity, Gruel, Wigs, Milk, Parsnips, Hasty-pudding, Pancakes, and twice a week Eggs," as the Farmer's Lenten Diet.

38.

¶ _Marches abstract.

Chap._ 35.

1 White peason sowe, scare hungry crow.

2 Spare meadow for hay, spare marshes at May.

3[1] Kéepe shéepe from dog, kéepe lambes from hog. If foxes mowse[2] them, then watch or howse them.

4 March drie or wet, hop ground go set. Yoong rootes well drest prooue euer[3] best. Grant hop great hill to growe at will. From hop long gut away go cut.

5 Here learne the way hop rootes to lay.

6 Rootes best to prooue, thus set I looue.

7 Leaue space and roome, to hillock to coome.

8 Of hedge and willow hop makes his[4] pillow. Good bearing hop climes vp to the top. Kéepe hop from sunne, and hop is vndunne.

9 Hop tooles procure that may endure. Iron crowe like a stake, déepe hole to make. A scraper to pare the earth about bare. A hone to raise roote, like sole of a boote. Sharpe knife to cut superfluous gut.

10 Who graffing looues, now graffing prooues. Of euerie suite, graffe daintie fruite. Graffe good fruite all, or graffe not at all.

11 Graffe soone may be lost, both grafting and cost. Learne here[5] take héed what counsell doth béed.[6]

12 Sowe barlie that can, too soone ye shall ban. Let horse kéepe his owne, till barlie be sowne. Sowe euen thy land, with plentifull hand. Sowe ouer and vnder, in claie is no woonder.

13[7] By sowing in wet, is little to get.

14 Straight folow the plough, and harrow inough. With sling go throwe,[8] to scare away crowe.

15 Rowle after a deaw, when barlie doth sheaw. More handsom to make it, to mowe and to rake it.

16 Learne here ye may best harrowing way.

17[9] Now rowle thy wheat, where clods be too great.

18 Make readie a plot, for séeds for the pot.

19 Best searching minds the best waie finds.

20 For garden best is south southwest.

21 Good tilth brings séedes, euill tilture, wéedes.

22 For sommer sowe now, for winter sée how.

23 Learne time to knowe, to set or sowe.[10]

24 Yoong plants soone die, that growes too drie.

25 In countrie doth rest, what season is best.

26 Good peason and léekes makes pottage for créekes.

27 Haue spoone meat inough, for cart and the plough. Good poore mans fare, is poore mans care. And not to boast, of sod and roast.

28 Cause rooke and rauen to séeke a new hauen.

Thus endeth Marches abstract, agréeing with Marches husbandrie.

¶ Other short remembrances.

[29] Geld lambes now all, straight as they fall. Looke twise a day, least lambes decay.

[30] Where horse did harrow, put stones in barrow, And[11] laie them by, in heapes on by.

[31] Let oxe once fat lose nothing of that. Now hunt with dog, vnyoked hog.

[32] With Doues good luck, reare[12] goose and duck. To spare aright spare March his flight.

[33] The following additional couplets are in 1577.

Saue chikins poore buttocks from pye, crowe, & puttocks.

Some loue now best yong rabbets nest.

Now knaues will steale pig, lamb, and veale.

Here learne to knowe what seedes to sowe.

And such to plant whose seedes do want.

[1] St. 3, first couplet,

What champion useth woodland refuseth. 1577.

[2] mouth them. 1573 (M.); mowse. 1577.

[3] the. 1573, 1577.

[4] her. 1577.

[5] to. 1577.

[6] bid, 1577; beed, 1585; breed, 1614.

[7] St. 13 is not in 1577.

[8] sling or bowe. 1577.

[9] Stanzas 17, 26, and first couplet of 27 are not in 1577.

[10] Lines transposed in 1577.

[11] or. 1577.

[12] hen. 1577.

39.

_Seedes and herbes for the Kitchen._

1 Auens.[E195]

2 Betanie.[E196]

3 Bléets or béets,[E197] white or yellow.

4 Bloodwoort[E198] [Bloodwoorth, 1577].

5 Buglas.[E199]

6 Burnet.[E200]

7 Burrage.[E201]

8 Cabage remoue in June.

9 Clarie.[E202]

10 Coleworts.[E203]

11 Cresses.

12 Endiue.

13 Fenell.[E204]

14 French Malows.

15 French Saffron set in August.

16 Langdebiefe.[E205]

17 Léekes[E206] remoue in June.

18 Lettis remoue in May.

19 Longwort.[E207]

20 Liuerwort.[E208]

21 Marigolds[E209] often cut.

22 Mercurie.[E210]

23 Mints at all times.

24 Nep.[E211]

25 Onions [Oyneons, 1577] from December to March.

26 Orach[E212] or arach, redde and white.

27 Patience.[E213]

28 Perceley.

29 Peneriall.[E214]

30 Primerose.[E215]

31 Poret.

32 Rosemary[E216] in the spring time [to growe south or west].[1]

33 Sage red and white.

34 [English][2] Saffron[E217] set in August.

35 Summer sauerie.

36 Sorell.

37 Spinage.[E218]

38 Suckerie.

39 Siethes.[E219]

40 Tanzie.[E220]

41 Time.

42 Violets of all sorts.

43 Winter sauerie.

[1] Omitted in 1577.

[2] Omitted in 1577.

40.

_Herbes and rootes for sallets and sauce._

1 Alexanders, at all times.

2 Artichoks.

3 Blessed thistle,[E221] or _Carduus benedictus_.

4 Cucumbers in April and May.

5 Cresies, sowe with Lettice in the spring.

6 Endiue.

7 Mustard séede, sowe in the spring and at Mihelmas.

8 Musk million, in April and May.

9 Mints.

10 Purslane.[E222]

11 Radish, and after remoue them.

12 Rampions.[E223]

13 Rokat,[E224] in April.

14 Sage.[E225]

15 Sorell.

16 Spinage, for the sommer.

17 Sea holie.[E226]

18 Sperage, let growe two yeares, and then remoue.

19 Skirrets, set these plants in March.

20 Suckerie.

21 Tarragon, set in slippes in March.[1]

22 Violets [of all coulors].[2]

These buie with the penie, Or looke not for anie.

1 Capers.

2 Lemmans.

3 Oliues.

4 Orengis.

5 Rise.

6 Sampire.[E227]

[1] Tarragon, April, 1577.

[2] Omitted in 1577.

41.

_Herbes and rootes to boile or to butter._

1 Beanes, set in winter.

2 Cabbegis,[E228] sowe in March, and after remooue.

3 Carrets.

4 Citrons,[E229] sowe in May.

5 Goordes in May.

6 Nauewes sowe in June.

7 Pompions in May.

8 Perseneps in winter.

9 Runciuall pease set in winter.

10 Rapes sowe in June.

11 Turneps in March & April.

42.

_Strowing herbes of all sortes._

1 Bassel,[E230] fine and busht, sowe in May.

2 Baulme, set in March.

3 Camamel.

4 Costmarie.[E231]

5 Cousleps and paggles.[E232]

6 Daisies of all sorts.

7 Swéete fennell.

8 Garmander.[E233]

9 Isop, set in Februarie.

10 Lauender.

11 Lauender spike.

12 Lauender cotten.[E234]

13 Maierom knotted, sowe or set at the spring.

14 Mawdelin.[E235]

15 Penal riall.

16 Roses of all sorts, in Januarie and September.

17 Red mints.

18 Sage.

19 Tanzie.

20 Violets.

21 Winter sauerie.

43.

_Herbes, branches, and flowers, for windowes and pots._

1 Baies,[E236] sowe or set in plants in Januarie.

2 Batchelers buttons.[E237]

3 Botles, blew, red, and tawnie.

4 Collembines.[E238]

5 Campions.

6 Cousleps.[1]

7 Daffadondillies.[E239]

8 Eglantine,[E240] or swéet brier.

9 Fetherfew.[E241]

10 Flower armor[2][E242] sowe in May.

11 Flower de luce.[E243]

12 Flower gentle,[E244] white and red.

13 Flower nice.

14 Gileflowers,[E245] red white and carnations, set in spring, and at Haruest in pots, pailes or tubs, or for sommer in beds.

15 Holiokes,[E246] red, white and carnations.

16 Indian eie,[E247] sowe in May, or set in slips in March.

17 Lauender of all sorts.

18 Larkes foot.

19 Laus tibi.[E248]

20 Lillium cum valium.[3][E249]

21 Lillies, red and white, sowe or set in March and September.

22 Marigolds double.

23 Nigella Romana.[E250]

24 Pauncies or hartesease.[E251]

25 Paggles, gréene and yelow.

26 Pinkes of all sorts.

27 Quéenes gilleflowers.

28 Rosemarie.

29 Roses of all sorts.

30 Snag dragons.[4]

31 Sops in wine.[E252]

32 Swéete Williams.[E253]

33 Swéete Johns.[E254]

34 Star of Bethelem.

35 Star of Jerusalem.[E255]

36 Stocke gilleflowers of all sorts.

37 Tuft gilleflowers.[E256]

38 Veluet flowers,[E257] or french Marigolds.

39 Violets, yellow and white.

40 Wall gilleflowers of all sorts.

[1] Omitted in 1577.

[2] armour. 1577; amour. 1614.

[3] convallium. 1617

[4] Snap dragons. 1577.

44.

_Herbes to still in Sommer._

1 Blessed thistle.

2 Betanie [Betonye, 1577].

3 Dill.

4 Endiue.

5 Eiebright.[E258]

6 Fennell.

7 Fumetorie.[E259]

8 Isop.

9 Mints.

10 Plantine.

11 Roses red and damaske.

12 Respies.

13 Saxefrage.

14 Strawberies.

15 Sorell.

16 Suckerie.

17 Woodrofe[E260] for swéete waters and cakes.

45.

_Necessarie herbes to growe in the garden for Physick, not rehersed before._

1 Annis.

2 Archangel.[E261]

3 Betanie.

4 Charuiel.

5 Cinqfile.

6 Cummin.[E262]

7 Dragons.

8 Detanie,[1][E263] or garden ginger.

9 Gromel[E264] séed, for the stone.

10 Hartstong.

11 Horehound.

12 Louage[E265] for the stone.

13 Licoras.

14 Mandrake.[E266]

15 Mogwort[E267] [Mogworth, 1577].

16 Pionées.

17 Poppie.

18 Rew.[E268]

19 Rubarb.

20 Smalach, for swellings.

21 Saxefrage, for the stone.

22 Sauin, for the bots.[E269]

23 Stitchwort.[E270]

24 Valerian.

25 Woodbine.[E271]

[26] Thus ends in bréefe, Of herbes the chéefe, To get more skill, Read whom ye will, Such mo to haue, Of field go craue.

[1] Betany, in 1577. Thus mistakes in synonyms arise.

46.

¶ _Marches husbandrie.

Chap._ 36.

March dust to be sold, Worth ransome of gold.

Forgotten month past, Doe now at the last.

[Sidenote: [Sowing of white peason. 1577.]]

1 White peason, both good for the pot and the purse,[1] by sowing too timelie, prooue often the wurse. Bicause they be tender and hateth the cold, prooue March er ye sowe them, for being too bold.

[Sidenote: Spare eating of meadowe.]

2 Spare meadow at Gregorie,[E272] marshes at Pask, for feare of drie Sommer, no longer time ask. Then hedge them and ditch them, bestow thereon pence: corne, meadow and pasture, aske alway good fence.

[Sidenote: In Lent haue an ey to shéep biters.]

3 Of mastiues and mungrels,[E273] that manie we see, a number of thousands too manie there bee. Watch therefore in Lent, to thy sheepe go and looke, for dogs will haue vittles,[2] by hooke or by crooke.[E274]

[Sidenote: Setting of hops.]

4 In March at the furdest, drie season or wet, hop rootes so well chosen, let skilfull go set. The goeler[3] and yonger the better I loue; well gutted[4] and pared, the better they proue.

5 Some laieth them croswise, along in the ground, as high as the knee they doo couer vp round. Some prick vp a stick in the mids of the same, that little round hillock the better to frame.

6 Some maketh a hollownes, halfe a foot deepe, with fower sets in it, set slant wise a steepe: One foot from another, in order to lie, and thereon a hillock, as round as a pie.

7 Five foot from another ech hillock would stand, as straight as a leaueled line with the hand. Let euerie hillock be fower foot wide, the better to come to on euerie side.

8 By willowes[E275] that groweth thy hopyard without, and also by hedges thy meadowes about. Good hop hath a pleasure to climbe and to spred, if Sunne may haue passage to comfort hir bed.

[Sidenote: Hop tools.]

9 Get crowe made of iron, deepe hole for to make, with crosse ouerthwart it, as sharpe as a stake. A hone[5] and a parer, like sole of a boote,[6] to pare away grasse and to raise vp the roote.

[Sidenote: Graffing.]

10 In March is good grafting, the skilfull doo knowe, so long as the wind in the East doo not blowe. From Moone being changed til past be the prime,[7] for grafting and cropping is verie good time.

11 Things graffed or planted,[8] the greatest and least, defend against tempest, the bird[9] and the beast. Defended shall prosper, the tother is lost, the thing with the labour, the time and the cost.

[Sidenote: Sowing of barlie.]

12 Sowe barlie in March, in April and Maie, the latter[10] in sand, and the sooner in claie.[11] What worser for barlie than wetnes and cold? what better to skilfull than time to be bold?[E276]

13[12]

Who soweth his barlie too soone or in raine,
of otes[13] and of thistles shall after complaine.
I speake not of Maie weed,[E277] cockle[E278] and such,
that noieth the barlie, so often and much.

14 Let barlie be harrowed, finelie as dust, then workmanly trench it and fence it ye must. This season well plied, set sowing an end, and praise and praie God a good haruest to send.

[Sidenote: Rowling of barlie.]

15 Some rowleth their barlie straight after a raine, when first it appeareth to leauell it plaine. The barlie so vsed, the better doth growe, and handsome ye make it at haruest to mowe.

16 Otes, barlie and pease, harrow after you sowe,[14] for rie harrow first, as alreadie ye knowe.[E279] Leaue wheat little clod, for to couer the head, that after a frost, it may out and go spread.

17[15] If clod in thy wheat wil not breake with the frost, if now ye doo rowle it, it quiteth the cost. But see when ye rowle it, the weather be drie, or else it were better vnrowled to lie.

[Sidenote: ¶ Gardening.]

18 In March and in April,[16] from morning to night, in sowing and setting, good huswiues delight: To haue in a garden, or other like plot, to turn vp their house, and to furnish their pot.

[Sidenote: ¶]

19 The nature of flowers dame Physick doth shew, she teacheth them all to be knowne to a few. To set or to sowe, or else sowne to remoue, how that should be practised, learne if ye loue.

[Sidenote: To know good land.]

20 Land falling or lieng full South or southwest, for profit by tillage is lightly the best. So garden with orchard and hopyard I finde, that want the like benefit, growe out of kinde.

[Sidenote: ¶]

21 If field to beare corne a good tillage doth craue, what thinke ye of garden, what garden would haue? In field without cost[E280] be assured of weedes, in garden be suer thou loosest thy seedes.

[Sidenote: ¶]

22 At spring (for the sommer) sowe garden ye shall, at haruest (for winter) or sowe not at all. Oft digging, remoouing, and weeding (ye see), makes herbe the more holesome and greater to bee.

[Sidenote: ¶]

23 Time faire, to sowe or to gather be bold, but set or remooue when the weather is cold.[17] Cut all thing or gather, the Moone in the wane, but sowe in encreasing, or giue it his bane.

[Sidenote: ¶]

24 Now set doo aske watering with pot or with dish, new sowne doo not so, if ye doo as I wish.[E281] Through cunning with dible, rake, mattock, and spade, by line and by leauell, trim garden is made.

25 Who soweth too lateward, hath seldome good seed, who soweth too soone, little better shall speed. Apt time and the season so diuers to hit, let aier and laier[18] helpe practise and wit.

[Sidenote: ¶]

26[19] Now leekes are in season, for pottage full good, and spareth the milchcow and purgeth the blood. These hauing, with peason for pottage in Lent, thou sparest both otemell and bread to be spent.[E282]

[Sidenote: ¶]

27 Though neuer so much a good huswife doth care, that such as doe labour haue husbandlie fare. Yet feed them and cram them til purse doe lack chinke, no spoone meat, no bellifull, labourers thinke.

[Sidenote: Destroie pie, rooks, and rauens nest, etc.]

28 Kill crowe, pie and cadow, rooke, buzard and rauen, or else go desire them to seeke a new hauen. In scaling the yoongest, to pluck off his beck, beware how ye climber, for breaking your neck.

Thus endeth Marches husbandrie.

[1] "The Retailer now sells them for 2¾d. the Quart."--T.R. 1710.

[2] In Lent, dog's meat was scarce, and "a mort Lamb now and then was very apt to whet their appetite for Mutton."--T.R.

[3] goeler. 1577. goodlier. 1614. "The goeler is the yellower, which are the best setts, old roots being red."--T.R.

[4] "Well taken off from the old Roots."--T.R.

[5] "A common Rubber or Whetstone."--T.R.

[6] "The best, in my minde, are those triangular ones used by the Fen men and Bankers."--T.R. 1710.

[7] cf. _ante_, ch. 36, st. 4.

[8] plainted. 1577.

[9] "That impudent bird, a Tomtit, is not easily frighted."--T.R.

[10] "later."--T.R.

[11] "Barley is rarely sown in Clay, at present."--T.R. 1710.

[12] St. 13 is not in 1577.

[13] Gervase Markham says: "You shall take care that in your seede Barly there be not any Oates, for although they be in this case amongst Husbandmen accounted the best of weede, yet are they such a disgrace," etc.;... and he adds that "some grounds will ... bring forth naturally a certaine kinde of wilde Oates."--_English Husbandman_, Pt. I. ch. v.

[14] "That is, in our Countryman's Phrase, ... above furrow, that is upon land after the last ploughing."--T.R. Cf. _ante_, ch. 37, st. 6.

[15] St. 17 is not in 1577.

[16] In March, April, and May. 1577.

[17] "There is an old Sawe to this purpose:

"'In Gard'ning never this Rule forget, To Sow dry, and Set wet.'"--T.R.

[18] "By _Aier_ I understand Situation, Weather, etc.... By _Laier_, Composition, the Nature of the Soil, Heart of the Land, etc."--T.R.

[19] Sts. 26 and 27 are not in 1577; but instead--

Good peason and leekes, to make porredge in lent,
and pescods in July, saue fish to be spent.
Those hauing with other things plentifull than,
thou winnest the hart of the labouring man.

47.

¶ _Aprils abstract.

Chap._ 37.

1[1] Some champions laie to fallow in Maie.

2 When tilth plows breake, poore cattle cries creake.

3 One daie er ye plow, spred compas ynow.

4 Some fodder buieth, in fen where it lieth.

5 Thou champion wight, haue cow meat for night.

6 Set hop his pole, make déepe the hole.

7 First, bark go and sell, er timber ye fell.

8 Fence copie in, er heawers begin.

9 The straightest ye knowe, for staddles let growe.

10 Crab trée preserue, for plough to serue.

11 Get timber out, er yéere go about.

12 Som cuntries lack plowmeat, and som doe want cowmeat.

13 Small commons and bare, yéelds cattell ill fare.

14 Som common with géese, and shéepe without fléese. Som tits thither bring, and hogs without ring.

15 Some champions agrée as waspe doth with bée.

16 Get swineherd for hog, but kill not with dog. Wher swineherd doth lack, corne goeth to wrack.

17 All goes to the Deuill, where shepherd is euill.

18 Come home from land, with stone in hand.

19 Man cow prouides, Wife dairie guides.

20 Slut Cisley vntaught hath whitemeat[E283] naught.

21 Some bringeth in gaines, some losse beside paines.

22 Run Cisse, fault known,[2] with more than thine own, Such Mistris, such Nan, such Maister, such Man.

Thus endeth Aprils abstract, agréeing with Aprils husbandrie.

* * * In 1577 st. 11 is followed by sts. 20, 21, 22; then follows--

Such Mistres such Nan, such master such man. By such ill gestes, poore Cis il restes. Such fautes as thease good dame will ease. These faultes all ten, abhorreth all men. A warning for Cysse for doing amysse.

[1] Sts. 1-5 are not in 1577.

[2] cf. _post_, ch. 48, st. 21.

48.

¶ _Aprils husbandrie.

Chap._ 38.

Swéete April showers, Doo spring Maie flowers.

Forgotten month past, Doe now at the last.

1[1] In Cambridge shire forward to Lincolne shire way, the champion maketh his fallow in May. Then thinking so dooing one tillage woorth twaine, by forcing of weede, by that meanes to refraine.

2 If April be dripping, then doo I not hate, (for him that hath little) his fallowing late, Else otherwise fallowing timelie is best, for sauing of cattel, of plough and the rest.

3 Be suer of plough to be readie at hand, er compas ye spred that on hillocks did stand: Least drieing so lieing, doo make it decaie, er euer much water doo wash it awaie.

4 Looke now to prouide ye of meadow for hay, if fennes be vndrowned, there cheapest ye may.[2] In fen for the bullock, for horse not so well, count best the best cheape,[E284] wheresoeuer ye dwell.

5 Prouide ye of cowmeate, for cattel at night, and chiefly where commons lie far out of sight: Where cattel lie tied without any meat, that profit by dairie can neuer be great.

[Sidenote: Put poles to your hophils.]

6 Get into thy hopyard with plentie of poles, amongst those same hillocks deuide them by doles. Three poles to a hillock[3] (I pas not how long)[4] shall yeeld thee more profit, set deeplie and strong.

[Sidenote: Felling of timber.]

7 Sell barke to the tanner er timber yee fell, cut lowe by the ground[5] or else doo ye not well. In breaking[6] saue crooked, for mill and for ships, and euer in hewing saue carpenters chips.[E285]

8 First see it well fenced er hewers begin, then see it well stadled,[7][E286] without and within; Thus being preserued and husbandlie donne, shall sooner raise profit, to thee or thy sonne.

[Sidenote: Stadling of woods.]

9 Leaue growing for stadles the likest and best, though seller and buier dispatched the rest. In bushes, in hedgerowe, in groue, and in wood, this lesson obserued is needfull and good.

10 Saue elme, ash and crabtree, for cart and for plough, saue step for a stile, of the crotch of the bough. Saue hazel for forks, saue sallow for rake, saue huluer[8] and thorne, thereof flaile for to make.

[Sidenote: Discharge thy woods.]

11 Make riddance of carriage, er yeere go about, for spoiling of plant that is newlie come out. To carter (with oxen) this message I bring, leaue oxen abrode[9] for anoieng the spring.[E287]

12[10] Allowance of fodder some countries doo yeeld, as good for the cattel as haie in the feeld. Some mowe vp their hedlonds[11] and plots among corne, and driuen to leaue nothing, vnmowne, or vnshorne.

13 Some commons are barren, the nature is such, and some ouer laieth the common too much. The pestered commons small profit doth geeue, and profit as little some reape I beleeue.

14 Some pester the commons, with iades and with geese, with hog without ring and with sheepe without fleese. Some lose a daie labour with seeking their owne, some meet with a bootie they would not haue knowne.[E288]

15 Great troubles and losses the champion sees,[12] and euer in brauling, as wasps among bees: As charitie that waie appeereth but small, so lesse be their winnings, or nothing at all.

16 Where champion wanteth[E289] a swineherd for hog, there many complaineth of naughtie mans dog. Where ech his owne keeper appoints without care, there corne is destroied er men be aware.

17 The land is well harted with helpe of the fold, for one or two crops, if so long it will hold. If shepherd would keepe them from stroieng of corne, the walke of his sheepe might the better be borne.

18 Where stones be too manie, annoieng thy land, make seruant come home with a stone in his hand. By daily so dooing, haue plentie yee shall, both handsome for pauing and good for a wall.

[Sidenote: ¶ Dairie matters.]

19 From April beginning, till Andrew be past, so long with good huswife, hir dairie doth last. Good milchcow and pasture, good husbands prouide, the resdue good huswiues knowes best how to guide.

[Sidenote: ¶ Ill huswiferie.]

20 Ill huswife vnskilful to make hir owne chees, through trusting of others hath this for hir fees. Her milke pan and creame pot, so slabbered and sost, that butter is wanting and cheese is halfe lost.

[Sidenote: ¶]

21 Where some of a cow doo raise yeerelie a pound, with such seelie huswiues no penie is found. Then dairie maid (Cisley) hir fault being knowne, away apace trudgeth, with more than hir owne.

[Sidenote: ¶ Ill huswiues saiengs.]

22 Then neighbour, for Gods sake, if any you see, good seruant for dairie house, waine[13] her to mee.[E290] Such maister such man,[E291] and such mistris such maid, such husband and huswife, such houses araid.[14]

[1] Sts. 1-5 are not in 1577.

[2] "Now ye may see what medows are well laid up, and what not, and accordingly chuse your ground."--T.R.

[3] "I suppose in our Author's time they made the Hills less than they do now."--T.R. 1710.

[4] "Overpoling (especially in height) is worse than underpoling."--T.R.

[5] "Six inches at the but may be more worth than two foot in another part."--T.R.

[6] "Sawing out; it being called breaking-up by workmen in those parts near where our Author lived."--T.R.

[7] "To stadle a Wood is to leave at certain distances a sufficient number of young Trees to replenish it."--T.R.

[8] "or Holly ... heavy enough for flail swingels."--T.R.

[9] T.R. reads "leave not oxe abroad," and explains spring to mean the young buds of felled underwood.

[10] Sts. 12 to 18 are not in 1577.

[11] "The laying of headlands for grass is frequently used in Norfolk to this day."--T.R. 1710.

[12] "Our Author liv'd in the Reigns of King Henry the Eighth, King Edward the Sixth, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth: during which time there were several commotions about the taking in of Common Field Land.... The greatest part of the privileges of Common Fields, etc., are but so many privileges to wrong and quarrel with their neighbours."--T.R.

[13] waynes, 1573 (M.); wayne. 1577

[14] and house is araid. 1573 (M.); "such houses arayde." 1577.

49.

¶ _A lesson for dairie maid Cisley, of ten toppings gests._[E292]

(a) As wife that will good husband plese, Must shun with skill such gests as these.

(b) So Cisse that serues must marke this note, What fault deserues a brushed cote.

[Sidenote: ¶ Ten toppings gests vnsent for.]

(c) Gehezie, Lots wife, and Argusses eies,[E293] Tom piper, poore Cobler, and Lazarus thies, Rough Esau, with Mawdlin, and Gentils that scrall, With Bishop that burneth, thus knowe ye them all.[1]

(d) _These toppingly gests be in number but ten, As welcome in dairie as Beares among men. Which being descried, take heede of[2] you shall, For danger of after claps, after that fall._

[Sidenote: ¶ White and drie.]

1 Gehezie his sicknes was whitish and drie, such cheeses, good Cisley, ye floted[3] too nie.[E294]

[Sidenote: Too salt.]

2 Leaue Lot with her piller (good Cisley) alone, much saltnes in whitemeat is ill for the stone.

[Sidenote: Full of eies.]

3 If cheeses in dairie haue Argusses eies, tell Cisley the fault in hir huswiferie lies.[4][E295]

[Sidenote: Houen.]

4 Tom Piper hath houen and puffed vp cheekes, if cheese be so houen, make Cisse to seeke creekes.[E296]

[Sidenote: Tough.]

5 Poore Cobler he tuggeth his leatherlie trash, if cheese abide tugging, tug Cisley a crash.[E297]

[Sidenote: Full of spots.]

6 If Lazer[5] so lothsome in cheese be espied, let baies amend Cisley, or shift hir aside.[E298]

[Sidenote: Full of heares.]

7 Rough Esau was hearie from top to the fut, if cheese so appeareth, call Cisley a slut.[E299]

[Sidenote: Full of whey.]

8 As Mawdlin wept, so would Cisley be drest, for whey in hir cheeses, not halfe inough prest.

[Sidenote: Full of gentils.]

9 If gentils be scrauling, call magget the py,[E300] if cheeses haue gentils, at Cisse by and by.

[Sidenote: Burnt to the pan.]

10 Blesse Cisley (good mistris) that Bishop doth ban for burning the milke of hir cheese to the pan.[E301]

[11] _If thou (so oft beaten)[6] Amendest by this:

I will no more threaten,
I promise thee Cis._