Chapter VI: Part 6

17 For commons these commoners crie, enclosing they may not abide: Yet some be not able to bie a cow with hir calfe by hir side. Nor laie not to liue by their wurke, but theeuishlie loiter and lurke.

18 The Lord of the towne is to blame, for these and for many faults mo.[E391] For that he doth knowe of the same, yet lets it vnpunished go. Such Lords ill example doth giue, where verlets[E392] and drabs so may liue.

19 What footpathes are made, and how brode! annoiance too much to be borne: With horse and with cattle what rode is made thorow erie mans corne! Where champions ruleth the roste,[E393] there dailie disorder is moste.

20 Their sheepe when they driue for to wash, how careles such sheepe they doo guide! The fermer they leaue in the lash, with losses on euerie side. Though any mans corne they doo bite, they will not alow him a mite.

21 What hunting and hauking is there! corne looking for sickle at hand: Actes lawles to doo without feare, how yeerlie[8] togither they band. More harme to another to doo, than they would be done so vntoo.

22 More profit is quieter found (where pastures in seuerall bee:) Of one seelie aker of ground, than champion maketh of three. Againe what a ioie is it knowne, when men may be bold of their owne!

[Sidenote: Champion.]

[Sidenote: Seuerall.]

23 The tone is commended for graine, yet bread made of beanes they doo eate: The tother for one loafe haue twaine, of mastlin, of rie, or of wheate. The champion liueth full bare, when woodland full merie doth fare.

[Sidenote: Champion.]

[Sidenote: Seuerall.]

24 Tone giueth his corne in a darth, to horse, sheepe, and hog euery daie; The tother giue cattle warme barth, and feede them with strawe and with haie. Corne spent of the tone so in vaine: the tother doth sell to his gaine.

[Sidenote: Champion.]

[Sidenote: Seuerall.]

25 Tone barefoote and ragged doth go, and readie in winter to sterue: When tother ye see doo not so, but hath that is needfull to serue. Tone paine in a cotage doth take, when tother trim bowers doo make.

[Sidenote: Champion.]

[Sidenote: Seuerall.]

26 Tone laieth for turfe and for sedge, and hath it with woonderfull suit: When tother in euerie hedge, hath plentie of fewell and fruit. Euils twentie times worser than thease, enclosure quickly would ease.

[Sidenote: Seuerall.]

27 In woodland the poore men that haue scarse fully two akers of land, More merily liue and doo saue, than tother with twentie in hand. Yet paie they as much for the twoo as tother for twentie must doo.

28 The labourer comming from thence, in woodland to worke any where: (I warrant you) goeth not hence, to worke anie more againe there. If this same be true (as it is:) why gather they nothing of this?

29 The poore at enclosing doo grutch, because of abuses that fall, Least some man should haue but too much, and some againe nothing at all. If order might therein be found, what were to the seuerall ground?

Thus endeth Husbandry. 1577.

Here followeth Huswifery. 1573.

* * * "It is likely this was wrote soon after Ket's rebellion, as a dissuasive from the like, and to persuade the poorer sort quietly to endure Enclosures."--T.R.

[1] countery. 1577.

[2]

Because of them both I do know
I mind thereof somewhat to show. 1577.

[3]

There common as commoners do,
As good else to cobble a shoe. 1573 (M.) and 1577.

[4] "In Norfolk (in our Author's time) there was a considerable Rebellion, call'd Ket's Rebellion against Inclosures, and to this day they take the Liberty of throwing open all Enclosures out of the Common Field, these are commonly call'd Lammas Lands, and half Year Lands."--T.R.

[5] sheep and with swine. 1577.

[6] one. 1577.

[7] Stanzas 12-21 are not in 1577.

[8] _Query_, yarely.

64.

¶ _The description of an enuious and naughtie neighbour.[E394]

Chap._ 53.[1]

An enuious neighbour is easie to finde, His cumbersome fetches are seldome[2] behinde. His hatred procureth from naughtie to wurse, His friendship like Iudas that carried the purse.[E395] His head is a storehouse, with quarrels full fraught, His braine is vnquiet, till all come to naught. His memorie pregnant, old euils to recite, His mind euer fixed each euill to requite. His mouth full of venim, his lips out of frame,[E396] His tongue a false witnes, his friend to defame. His eies be promooters, some trespas to spie, His eares be as spials,[E397] alarum to crie. His hands be as tyrants, reuenging ech thing, His feete at thine elbow, as serpent to sting. His breast full of rancor, like Canker[3] to freat, His hart like a Lion, his neighbour to eat. His gate like a sheepebiter,[E398] fleering aside, His looke like a coxcombe,[E399] vp puffed with pride. His face made of brasse, like a vice in a game, His iesture like Dauus,[E400] whom Terence doth name. His brag as Thersites,[E401] with elbowes abrode. His cheekes in his furie shall swell like a tode.[E402] His colour like ashes, his cap in his eies, His nose in the aire, his snout in the skies. His promise to trust to as slipprie[4] as ice, His credit much like to the chance of the dice. His knowledge or skill is in prating[5] too much, His companie shunned,[6] and so be all such. His friendship is counterfait, seldome to trust, His dooings vnluckie and euer vniust. His fetch is to flatter, to get what he can, His purpose once gotten, a pin[7] for thee than.

[1] This chapter precedes the Author's Life in 1577 edition.

[2] sieldome. 1614.

[3] Coprus. 1577.

[4] slipper. 1577.

[5] parting. 1577.

[6] shenned. 1577.

[7] penny. 1577.

[In the edition of 1577 the following piece is inserted here.]

64.*

_To light a candell before the Deuill._[E403]

To beard thy foes shews forth thy witt,
but helpes the matter nere a whit.

My sonne, were it not worst
to frame thy nature so,
That as thine vse is to thy friend,
likewise to greet thy foe:
Though not for hope of good,
yet for the feare of euill,
Thou maist find ease so proffering vp
a candell to the deuill.

This knowne, the surest way
thine enemies wrath to swage;
If thou canst currey fauour thus,
thou shalt be counted sage.
Of truth I tell no lye,
by proofe to well I knowe,
The stubborne want of only this
hath brought full many lowe.

And yet to speak the trouth
the Deuill is worse then naught,
That no good turne will once deserue,
yet looketh vp so haught.
Exalt him how we please,
and giue him what we can,
Yet skarcely shall we find such Deuill
a truly honest man.

But where the mighty may
of force the weake constraine,
It shal be wysely doone to bow
to voyd a farther payne,
Like as in tempest great,
where wind doth beare the stroke,
Much safer stands the bowing reede
then doth the stubborne oke.

And chiefly when of all
thy selfe art one of those
That fortune needes, will haue to dwell
fast by the Deuils nose:
Then (though against thine hart)
thy tongue thou must so charme
That tongue may say, where ere thou come
the Deuill doth no man harme.

For where as no reuenge
may stand a man in steede,
As good is then an humble speech,
as otherwise to bleede.
Like as ye see by him
that hath a shrew to wife,
As good it is to speak her faire
as still to liue in strife.

Put thou no Deuill in boote
as once did master Shorne:[E404]
Take heede as from madde bayted bull
to keepe thee fro his horne.
And where ye see the Deuill
so bold to wrest with lawe,
Make _congé_ oft, and crouch aloofe,
but come not in his clawe.

The scholer forth of schoole
may boldlier take his mind,
The fields haue eyes, the bushes eares,
false birds can fetch the wind.[E405]
The further from the gone
the safer may ye skippe,
The nerer to the carters hand
the nerer to the whippe.

The neerer to the whippe
the sooner comes the jerke,
The sooner that poore beast is strucke
the sooner doth he yerke.
Some loueth for to whippe,
to see how ierkes will smart,
In wofull taking is that horse
that nedes must drawe in cart.

Such fellow is the Deuell,
that doth euen what he list,
Yet thinketh he what ere he doth
none ought dare say, but whist.
Take therefore heed, my sonne,
and marke full well this song,
Learne thus with craft to claw the deuell,
else liue in rest not long.

65.

¶ _A sonet against a slanderous tongue._[E406]

¶ _Chap._ 54.

Doth darnell good, among the flowrie wheat? Doo thistles good, so thick in fallow spide? Doo taint wormes good, that lurke where ox should eat Or sucking drones, in hiue where bees abide? Doo hornets good, or these same biting gnats? Foule swelling toades, what good by them is seene? In house well deckt, what good doth gnawing rats? Or casting mowles, among the meadowes greene? Doth heauie newes make glad the hart of man? Or noisome smels, what good doth that to health? Now once for all, what good (shew who so can?) Doo stinging[1] snakes, to this our Commonwealth?

_No more doth good a peeuish slanderous toung,
But hurts it selfe, and noies both old and young._[E407]

[1] stinking. 1577.

66.

¶ _A sonet vpon the Authors first seuen yeeres seruice.

Chap._ 55.

Seuen times hath Janus[E408] tane new yéere by hand, Seuen times hath blustring March blowne forth his powre: To driue out Aprils buds, by sea and land, For minion Maie, to deck most trim with flowre. Seuen times hath temperate Ver,[E409] like pageant plaide, And pleasant Æstas eke hir flowers told: Seuen times Autumnes heate hath béene delaide,[E410] With Hyems boistrous blasts, and bitter cold. Seuen times the thirtéene Moones[E411] haue changed hew, Seuen times the Sunne his course hath gone about: Seuen times ech bird hir nest hath built anew, Since first time you to serue, I choosed out.

_Still yours am I, though thus the time hath past,
And trust to be, as[1] long as life shall last._

[1] so. 1577.

67.

Man minded for to thriue
must wisely lay to wiue.
What hap may thereby fall
here argued find ye shall.

¶ _The Authours Dialogue betweene two Bachelers, of wiuing and thriuing by Affirmation and Obiection._[E412]

_Chap._ 56.

_Affirmation._ [1] Frend, where we met this other day, We heard one make his mone and say, Good Lord, how might I thriue? We heard an other answere him, Then make thee handsome, trick and trim, And lay in time to wiue.

_Obiection._ [2] And what of that, say you to mee? Do you your selfe thinke that to be The best way for to thriue? If truth were truely bolted out,[E413] As touching thrift, I stand in dout, If men were best to wiue.

_Affirmation._ [3] There is no doubt, for proue I can, I haue but seldome seene that man Which could the way to thriue:[E414] Vntill it was his happie lot, To stay himselfe in some good plot,[E415] And wisely then to wiue.

_Obiection._ [4] And I am of an other minde, For by no reason can I finde, How that way I should thriue: For where as now I spend a pennie, I should not then be quit with mennie, Through bondage for to wiue.

_Affirmation._ [5] Not so, for now where thou dost spend, Of this and that,[E416] to no good end, Which hindereth thee to thriue: Such vaine expences thou shouldst saue, And daily then lay more to haue, As others do that wiue.

_Obiection._ [6] Why then do folke this prouerbe put, The blacke oxe neare trod on thy fut,[E417] If that way were to thriue? Hereout a man may soone picke forth, Few feeleth what a pennie is worth, Till such time as they wiue.

_Affirmation._ [7] It may so chaunce as thou doest say, This lesson therefore beare away, If thereby thou wilt thriue: Looke ere thou leape, see ere thou go, It may be for thy profite so, For thee to lay to wiue.

_Obiection._ [8] It is too much we dailie heare, To wiue and thriue both in a yeare,[E418] As touching now to thriue: I know not herein what to spie, But that there doth small profite lie, To fansie for to wiue.

_Affirmation._ [9] In deede the first yeare oft is such, That fondly some bestoweth much, A let to them to thriue: Yet other moe may soone be founde, Which getteth many a faire pounde, The same day that they wiue.

_Obiection._ [10] I graunt some getteth more that day, Than they can easily beare away, Nowe needes then must they thriue: What gaineth such thinke you by that? A little burden, you wote what, Through fondnesse for to wiue.

_Affirmation._ [11] Thou seemest blinde as mo[E419] haue bin, It is not beautie bringeth in The thing to make thee thriue: In womankinde, see that ye do Require of hir no gift but two, When ere ye minde to wiue.

_Obiection._ [12] But two, say you? I pray you than Shew those as briefly as you can, If that may helpe to thriue: I weene we must conclude anon, Of those same twaine to want the ton, When ere we chance to wiue.

[Sidenote: Honestie and huswiferie.]

_Affirmation._ [13] An honest huswife, trust to mee, Be those same twaine, I say to thee, That helpe so much to thriue: As honestie farre passeth golde, So huswiferie in yong and olde, Do pleasure such as wiue.

_Obiection._ [14] The honestie in deede I graunt, Is one good point the wife should haunt, To make hir husband thriue: But now faine would I haue you show, How should a man good huswife know, If once he hap to wiue?

_Affirmation._ [15] A huswife good betimes will rise, And order things in comelie wise, Hir minde is set to thriue: Vpon hir distaffe she will spinne, And with hir needle she will winne, If such ye hap to wiue.

_Obiection._ [16] It is not idle going about, Nor all day pricking on a clout, Can make a man to thriue: Or if there be no other winning, But that the wife gets by hir spinning, Small thrift it is to wiue.

_Affirmation._ [17] Some more than this yet do shee[1] shall, Although thy stocke be verie small, Yet will shee helpe thee thriue: Lay thou[2] to saue, as well as she, And then thou shalt[3] enriched be, When such thou hapst[4] to wiue.

_Obiection._ [18] If she were mine, I tell thee troth, Too much to trouble hir I were loth, For greedines to thriue: Least some should talke, as is the speech, The good wiues husband weares no breech,[E420] If such I hap to wiue.

_Affirmation._ [19] What hurts it thee what some do say, If honestlie she take the way To helpe thee for to thriue? For honestie will make hir prest, To doo the thing that shall be best, If such ye hap to wiue.

_Obiection._ [20] Why did _Diogenes_ say than, To one that askt of him time whan, Were best to wiue to thriue? Not yet (quoth[5] he) if thou be yong, If thou waxe old, then holde thy tong, It is too late to wiue.[E421]

_Affirmation._ [21] Belike he knew some shrewish wife, Which with hir husband made such strife, That hindered him to thriue: Who then may blame him for that clause, Though then he spake as some had cause, As touching for to wiue?

_Obiection._ [22] Why then I see to take a shrew, (As seldome other there be few) Is not the way to thriue: So hard a thing I spie it is, The good to chuse, the shrew to mis, That feareth me to wiue.[E422]

_Affirmation._ [23] She may in something seeme a shrew, Yet such a huswife as but few, To helpe thee for to thriue: This prouerbe looke in mind ye keepe, As good a shrew is as a sheepe,[E423] For you to take to wiue.

_Obiection._ [24] Now be she lambe or be she eaw, Giue me the sheepe, take thou the shreaw, See which of vs shall thriue: If she be shrewish thinke for troth, For all her thrift I would be loth To match with such to wiue.

_Affirmation._ [25] Tush, farewell then, I leaue you off, Such fooles as you that loue to scoff, Shall seldome wiue to thriue: Contrarie hir, as you do me, And then ye shall, I warrant ye, Repent ye if ye wiue.

_Obiection._ [26] Friend, let vs both giue iustly place, To wedded man to iudge this cace, Which best way is to thriue: For both our talke as seemeth plaine, Is but as hapneth in our braine, To will or not to wiue.

¶ _Wedded mans iudgement
Vpon the former argument._

[Sidenote: Moderator.]

[27] As Cock that wants his mate, goes rouing all about, With crowing early and late, to find his louer out: And as poore sillie hen, long wanting cock to guide, Soone droopes and shortly then beginnes to peake aside: Euen so it is with man and wife, where gouernment is found, The want of ton the others life doth shortly soone confound.

[28] In iest and in earnest, here argued ye finde, That husband and huswife togither must dwell, And thereto the iudgement of wedded mans minde, That husbandrie otherwise speedeth not well: So somewhat more nowe I intende for to tell, Of huswiferie like as of husbandrie tolde, How huswifelie huswife helpes bring in the golde.

[1] they. 1577.

[2] you. 1577.

[3] you shall. 1577.

[4] you hap. 1577.

[5] quod. 1577.

_Thus endeth the booke of_ Husbandrie.

[Finis (1577).]

The points of Huswiferie, vnited to the comfort of Husbandrie, newly corrected and amplified, with diuers good lessons for housholders to recreate the Reader, as by the Table at the end hereof more plainlie may appeere.

Set forth by Thomas Tusser Gentleman.

68.

_To the right Honorable and my especiall good Ladie and Maistres, the Ladie Paget._[E424]

1 Though danger be mickle, and fauour so fickle, Yet dutie doth tickle my fansie to wright: Concerning how prettie, how fine and how nettie, Good huswife should iettie,[1] from morning to night.

2 Not minding[2] by writing, to kindle a spiting, But shew by enditing, as afterward told: How husbandrie easeth, to huswiferie pleaseth, And manie purse greaseth with siluer and gold.

3 For husbandrie wéepeth, where huswiferie sléepeth, And hardly he créepeth, vp ladder to thrift: That wanteth to bold him, thrifts ladder to hold him, Before it be told him, he falles without shift.

4 Least many should feare me, and others forsweare me, Of troth I doo beare me vpright as ye sée: Full minded to looue all, and not to reprooue all, But onely to mooue all, good huswiues to bée.

5 For if I should mind some, or descant behind some, And missing to find some, displease so I mought: Or if I should blend them, and so to offend them, What stur I should send them I stand in a dought.

6 Though harmles ye[3] make it and some doo well take it, If others forsake it, what pleasure were that? Naught else but to paine me, and nothing to gaine me, But make them disdaine me I wot ner for what.

7 Least some make a triall, as clocke by the diall, Some stand to deniall, some murmur and grudge: Giue iudgement I pray you, for iustlie so may you, So fansie, so say you, I make you my iudge.

8 In time, ye shall try me, by troth, ye shall spy me, So finde, so set by me, according to skill: How euer trée groweth, the fruit the trée showeth,[E425] Your Ladiship knoweth, my hart and good will.

9 Thogh fortune doth measure, and I doo lacke treasure, Yet if I may pleasure your Honour with this: Then will me to mend it, or mend er ye send it, Or any where lend it, if ought be amis.

Your Ladiships Seruant,

_Thomas Tusser._

[1] yettie. 1557.

[2] minded. 1577.

[3] I. 1577.

69.

¶ _To the Reader._[1]

1 Now listen, good huswiues, what dooings are here set foorth for a daie, as it should for a yere. Both easie to follow, and soone to atchiue, for such as by huswiferie looketh to thriue.[E426]

2 The forenoone affaires, till dinner (with some,) then after noone dooings, till supper time come. With breakfast and dinner time, sup, and to bed, standes orderlie placed, to quiet thine hed.

3 The meaning is this, for a daie what ye see, that monthlie and yeerlie continued must bee. And hereby to gather (as prooue I intend), that huswiuelie matters haue neuer an end.

4 I haue not, by heare say, nor reading in booke, set out (peraduenture) that some cannot brooke, Nor yet of a spite, to be dooing with enie, but such as haue skared me many a penie.

5 If widow, both huswife and husband may be, what cause hath a widower lesser than she? Tis needfull that both of them looke well about: too careles within, and too lasie without.

6 Now therefore, if well ye consider of this, what losses and crosses comes dailie amis. Then beare with a widowers pen as ye may: though husband of huswiferie somewhat doth say.[E427]

[1] "First introduced in the edition of 1580" (M.).

70.

¶ _The Preface to the booke of Huswiferie._

1 Take weapon away, of what force is a man? Take huswife from husband, and what is he than?

2 As louers desireth together to dwell, So husbandrie loueth good huswiferie well.

3 Though husbandrie seemeth to bring in the gaines, Yet huswiferie labours seeme equall in paines.

4 Some respit to husbands the weather may send, But huswiues affaires haue neuer an end.

71.

As true as thy faith, Thus huswiferie saith.

[Sidenote: The praise of huswiferie.]

_I serve for a daie, for a weeke, for a yere, For life time, for euer, while man dwelleth here. For richer, for poorer, from North to the South, For honest, for hardhead, or daintie of mouth. For wed and vnwedded, in sicknes and health, For all that well liueth, in good Commonwealth. For citie, for countrie, for Court, and for cart, To quiet the head, and to comfort the hart.

72.

¶ _A description of Huswife and Huswiferie._[E428]

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

2 The name of a huswife what is it to say? the wife of the house, to the husband a stay. If huswife doth that, as belongeth to hur: if husband be godlie,[1] there needeth no stur.

3 The huswife is she that to labour doth fall, the labour of hir I doo huswiferie call. If thrift by that labour be honestlie[2] got: then is it good huswiferie, else is it not.

4 The woman the name of a huswife doth win, by keeping hir house, and of dooings therein. And she that with husband will quietly dwell, must thinke on this lesson, and follow it well.

[1] wittie. 1577. Cf. _post_, ch. 100, st. 6.

[2] be sued or got. 1577.

[Finis (1577).]

73.

_Instructions to Huswiferie._[E429]

Serue God is the furst,
True loue is not wurst.

1 A dailie good lesson, of huswife in deede, is God to remember, the better to speede.

2 An other good lesson, of huswiferie thought, is huswife with husband to liue as she ought.

Wife comely no griefe,
Man out, huswife chiefe.

3 Though trickly to see to, be gallant to wiue, yet comely and wise is the huswife to thriue.

4 When husband is absent, let huswife be chiefe, and looke to their labour that eateth hir biefe.

Both out not allow,
Keepe house huswife thow.

5 Where husband and huswife be both out of place, there seruants doo loiter, and reason their cace.[E430]

6 The huswife so named (of keeping the house,) must tend on hir profit, as cat on the mouse.

Seeke home for rest,
For home is best.

7 As huswiues keepe home, and be stirrers about, so speedeth their winnings, the yeere thorow out.

8 Though home be but homely, yet huswife is taught, that home hath no fellow to such as haue aught.[E431]

¶ Vse all with skill,
Aske what ye will.

9 Good vsage with knowledge, and quiet withall, make huswife to shine, as the sunne on the wall.

10 What husband refuseth all comely to haue, that hath a good huswife, all willing to saue.

Be readie at neede,
All thine to feede.

11 The case of good huswiues, thus daily doth stand, what euer shall chance, to be readie at hand.

12 This care hath a huswife all daie in hir hed, that all thing in season be huswifelie fed.

By practise go muse,
How houshold to vse.

13 Dame practise is she that to huswife doth tell, which way for to gouerne hir familie[E432] well.

14 Vse labourers gently, keepe this as a lawe, make childe to be ciuill, keepe seruant in awe.

Who careles doe liue,
Occasion doe giue.

15 Haue euerie where a respect to thy waies, that none of thy life any slander may raies.

16 What many doo knowe, though a time it be hid, at length will abrode, when a mischiefe shall bid.

No neighbour reprooue,
Doe so to haue looue.

17 The loue of thy neighbour shall stand thee in steede, the poorer, the gladder, to helpe at a neede.

18 Vse friendly thy neighbour, else trust him in this, as he hath thy friendship, so trust vnto his.

¶ Strike nothing vnknowne,
Take heede to thine owne.

19 Reuenge not thy wrath vpon any mans beast, least thine by like malice be bid to like feast.

20 What husband prouideth with monie his drudge, the huswife must looke to, which waie it doth trudge.

74.

_A digression._

[1] Now, out of the matter, this lesson I ad, concerning cock crowing, what profit is had. Experience teacheth, as true as a clock: how winter night passeth, by marking the cock.

[2] Cock croweth at midnight, times few aboue six, with pause to his neighbour, to answere betwix. At three a clock thicker, and then as ye knowe, like all in to Mattens, neere daie they doo crowe.

[Sidenote: Cocke crowing.]

[3] At midnight, at three, and an hower ere day, they vtter their language, as well as they may. Which who so regardeth what counsell they giue, will better loue crowing, as long as they liue.

For being afraid,
Take heede good maid:
Marke crowing of cock,
For feare of a knock.

[4] ¶ _The first cock croweth._ Ho, Dame it is midnight: what rumbling is that? The next cock croweth.[1] Take heede to false harlots, and more, ye wot what.

If noise ye heare,
Looke all be cleare:
Least drabs doe noie thee,
And theeues destroie thee.

[5] ¶ _The first cock croweth._ Maides, three a clock,[E433] knede, lay your bucks,[E434] or go brew, The next cock croweth. And cobble and botch, ye that cannot buie new.

Till cock crow agen,
Both maidens and men:
Amend now with speede,
That mending doth neede.[2]

[6] ¶ _The first cock croweth._ Past fiue a clock, Holla: maid, sleeping beware, The next cock croweth. Least quickly your Mistres vncouer your bare.

Maides, vp I beseech yee,
Least Mistres doe breech yee:
To worke and away,
As fast as ye may.

[1] showeth, here and in stanzas 5 and 6. 1577.

[2]

Both mayden and man mend now what ye can. Leave gibber gabber mend slibber slabber. 1577.

75.

¶ _Huswiferie._

[Now listen, good huswiues, what doings are here
set out for a day as it should for a yere. 1577.]

¶ _Morning workes._[1]

No sooner some vp,
But nose is in cup.

1 Get vp in the morning as soone as thou wilt, with ouerlong slugging good seruant is spilt.

2 Some slouens from sleeping no sooner get vp, but hand is in aumbrie, and nose in the cup.

That early is donne,
Count huswifely wonne.

[Sidenote: Morning workes.]

3 Some worke in the morning may trimly be donne, that all the day after can hardly be wonne.

4 Good husband without it is needfull there be, good huswife within as needfull as he.

Cast dust into yard,
And spin and go card.

5 Sluts corners auoided shall further thy health, much time about trifles shall hinder thy wealth.

6 Set some to peele hempe or else rishes to twine, to spin and to card, or to seething of brine.

Grind mault for drinke,
See meate do not stinke.

7 Set some about cattle, some pasture to vewe, some mault to be grinding against ye do brewe.

8 Some corneth, some brineth, some will not be taught, where meate is attainted, there cookrie is naught.

[1] This and other sub-titles are not in 1577.

76.

¶ _Breakefast doings._

To breakefast that come,
Giue erie one some.

[Sidenote: Breakefast.]

1 Call seruants to breakefast by day starre appere,[E435] a snatch and to worke, fellowes tarrie not here.

2 Let huswife be caruer, let[1] pottage be heate, a messe to eche one, with a morsell of meate.

No more tittle tattle,
Go serue your cattle.

3 What tacke in a pudding, saith greedie gut wringer, giue such ye wote what, ere a pudding he finger.

4 Let seruants once serued, thy cattle go serue, least often ill seruing make cattle to sterue.

[1] see. 1577.

77.

¶ _Huswifely admonitions._

[Sidenote: Thée for thriue.]

Learne you that will thee,
This lesson of mee.[1]

1 No breakefast of custome prouide for to saue, but onely for such as deserueth to haue.

2 No shewing of seruant what vittles in store, shew seruant his labour, and shew him no more.

Of hauocke beware,
Cat nothing will spare.

3 Where all thing is common, what needeth a hutch? where wanteth a sauer, there hauocke is mutch.

4 Where window is open, cat maketh a fray, yet wilde cat with two legs is worse by my fay.

Looke well vnto thine,
Slut slouthfull must whine.

5 An eie in a corner who vseth to haue, reuealeth a drab, and preuenteth a knaue.

6 Make maide to be clenly, or make hir crie creake, and teach hir to stirre, when hir mistresse doth speake.

Let hollie wand threate,
Let fisgig be beate.

7 A wand in thy hand, though ye fight not at all, makes youth to their businesse better to fall.

8 For feare of foole had I wist[2][E436] cause thee to waile, let fisgig be taught to shut doore after taile.

Too easie the wicket,
Will still appease clicket.

9 With hir that will clicket make daunger to cope, least quickly hir wicket seeme easie to ope.

10 As rod little mendeth where maners be spilt, so naught will be naught say and do what thou wilt.

Fight seldome ye shall
But vse not to brall.

11 Much bralling with seruant, what man can abide? pay home when thou fightest, but loue not to chide.

12 As order is heauenly where quiet is had, so error is hell, or a mischiefe as bad.

What better a lawe
Than subjects in awe?

13 Such awe as a warning will cause to beware, doth make the whole houshold the better to fare.

14 The lesse of thy counsell thy seruants doe knowe, Their dutie the better such seruants shall showe.

Good musicke regard,
Good seruants reward.

15 Such seruants are oftenest painfull and good, that sing in their labour, as birdes in the wood.

16 Good seruants hope iustly some friendship to feele, and looke to haue fauour what time they do weele.

By once or twise
Tis time to be wise.

17 Take runagate Robin, to pitie his neede, and looke to be filched, as sure as thy creede.

18 Take warning by once, that a worse do not hap, foresight is the stopper of many a gap.

Some change for a shift,
Oft change, small thrift.

19 Make fewe of thy counsell to change for the best, least one that is trudging infecteth the rest.

20 The stone that is rolling can gather no mosse,[E437] for maister and seruant, oft changing is losse.

Both liberall sticketh,
Some prouender pricketh.

[Sidenote: One liberall.]

21 One dog for a hog, and one cat for a mouse, one readie to giue is ynough in a house:

22 One gift ill accepted, keepe next in thy purse, whom prouender pricketh are often the wurse.

[1] How daintie some be. 1573.

[2] "A wise man saith not, had I wist."--Uncertain Author in _Tottel's Miscellany_ (p. 244, Arber's ed.).

78.

¶ _Brewing._

Brew somewhat for thine,
Else bring vp no swine.

[Sidenote: Brewing.]

1 Where brewing is needfull, be brewer thy selfe, what filleth the roofe will helpe furnish the shelfe:

2 In buieng of drinke, by the firkin or pot, the tallie ariseth, but hog amendes not.[1]

Well brewed, worth cost,
Ill vsed, halfe lost.

3 One bushell well brewed, outlasteth some twaine, and saueth both mault, and expences in vaine.[2]

4 Too new is no profite, too stale is as bad, drinke dead or else sower makes laborer sad.[E438]

Remember good Gill,
Take paine with thy swill.

[Sidenote: Séething of graines.]

5 Seeth grains in more water, while grains be yet hot, and stirre them in copper, as poredge in pot.

6 Such heating with straw, to haue offall good store, both pleaseth and easeth, what would ye haue more?

[1] Score quickely ariseth, hog profiteth not. 1577.

[2] Two troubles for nothing, is cost to no gaine. 1577.

79.

¶ _Baking._[E439]

Newe bread is a driuell.
Much crust is as euill.

[Sidenote: Baking.]

1 New bread is a waster, but mouldie is wurse, what that way dog catcheth, that loseth the purse.

2 Much dowebake I praise not, much crust is as ill, the meane is the Huswife, say nay if ye will.

80.

¶ _Cookerie._

Good cookerie craueth,
Good turnebroch saueth.

[Sidenote: Cookerie.]

1 Good cooke to dresse dinner, to bake and to brewe, deserues a rewarde, being honest and trewe.

2 Good diligent turnebroch and trustie withall, is sometime as needfull as some in the hall.

81.

¶ _Dairie._

Good dairie doth pleasure,
Ill dairie spendes treasure.

[Sidenote: Dairie.]

1 Good huswife in dairie, that needes not be tolde, deserueth hir fee to be paid hir in golde.

2 Ill seruant neglecting what huswiferie saies, deserueth hir fee to be paid hir with baies.[E440]

Good droie[E441] woorth much.[1]
Marke sluts and such.

3 Good droie to serue hog, to helpe wash, and to milke, more needfull is truelie than some in their silke.

4 Though homelie be milker, let cleanlie be cooke, for a slut and a slouen be knowne by their looke.

In dairie no cat,
Laie bane for a rat.

[Sidenote: Traps for rats.]

5 Though cat (a good mouser) doth dwell in a house, yet euer in dairie haue trap for a mouse.

6 Take heede how thou laiest the bane for the rats, for poisoning seruant, thy selfe and thy brats.

[1] Though droy be, etc. 1577.

82.

¶ _Scouring._

No scouring for pride,
Spare kettle whole side.

[Sidenote: Scouring.]

1 Though scouring be needfull, yet scouring too mutch, is pride without profit, and robbeth[1] thine hutch.

2 Keepe kettles from knocks, set tubs out of Sun, for mending is costlie, and crackt is soone dun.

[1] rubbeth. 1573, 1577.

83.

_Washing._

Take heede when ye wash,
Else run in the lash.

[Sidenote: Washing.]

1 Maids, wash well and wring well, but beat ye wot how, if any lack beating, I feare it be yow.

2 In washing by hand, haue an eie to thy boll, for launders and millers, be quick of their toll.

Drie sunne, drie winde,
Safe binde, safe finde.

3 Go wash well, saith Sommer, with sunne I shall drie, go wring well, saith Winter, with winde so shall I.

4 To trust without heede is to venter a ioint, giue tale and take count, is a huswifelie point.

Where many be packing,
Are manie things lacking.

5 Where hens fall a cackling, take heede to their nest, where drabs fall a whispring, take heede to the rest.

6 Through negligent huswifes, are many things lacking, and Gillet suspected will quickly be packing.

84.

_Malting._

Ill malting is theft,
Wood dride hath a weft.

[Sidenote: Malting.]

1 House may be so handsome, and skilfulnes such, to make thy owne malt, it shall profit thee much.

2 Som drieth with strawe, and some drieth with wood, wood asketh more charge, and nothing so good.[E442]

Take heede to the kell,
Sing out as a bell.

3 Be suer no chances to fier can drawe, the wood, or the furzen, the brake or the strawe.

4 Let Gillet be singing, it doth verie well, to keepe hir from sleeping and burning the kell.

Best dride best speedes,
Ill kept, bowd breedes.

5 Malt being well speered, the more it will cast, malt being well dried, the longer will last.

6 Long kept in ill soller, (vndoubted thou shalt,) through bowds without number loose quickly thy malt.[E443]

85.

¶ _Dinner matters._

For hunger or thirst,
Serue cattle well first.

[Sidenote: Dinner time.]

1 By noone[E444] see your dinner, be readie and neate, let meate tarrie seruant, not seruant his meate.

2 Plough cattle a baiting, call seruant to dinner, the thicker togither, the charges the thinner.

Togither is best,
For hostis and gest.

3[1] Due season is best, altogither is gay, dispatch hath no fellow, make short and away.

4 Beware of Gill laggoose, disordring thy house, mo dainties who catcheth, than craftie fed mouse!

Let such haue ynough,
That follow the plough.

5 Giue seruant no dainties, but giue him ynough, too many chaps walking,[E445] do begger the plough.

6 Poore seggons halfe starued worke faintly and dull, and lubbers doo loiter, their bellies too full.

Giue neuer too much,
To lazie and such.

7 Feede lazie that thresheth a flap and a tap, like slothfull, that all day be stopping a gap.

8 Some litherly lubber more eateth than twoo, yet leaueth vndone that another will doo.

Where nothing will last,
Spare such as thou hast.

9 Some cutteth thy linnen, some spoileth[2] their broth, bare table to some doth as well as a cloth.

10 Treene dishes be homely, and yet not to lack, where stone is no laster take tankard and iack.

Knap boy on the thums,
And saue him his crums.

11 That pewter is neuer for manerly feastes, that daily doth serue so vnmanerly beastes.

12 Some gnaweth and leaueth, some crusts and some crums, eat such their own leuings, or gnaw their own thums.

Serue God euer furst,
Take nothing at wurst.

[Sidenote: Grace before and after meate.]

13 At Dinner, at Supper, at morning, at night, giue thankes vnto God, for his gifts so in[3] sight.

14 Good husband and huswife, will sometime alone, make shift with a morsell and picke of a bone.

Inough thou art tolde,
Too much will not holde.

15 Three dishes well dressed, and welcome withall, both pleaseth thy friend and becommeth thine hall.

16 Enough is a plentie,[E446] too much is a pride, the plough with ill holding, goes quicklie aside.

[1] Stanzas 3-12 are not in 1577.

[2] spilleth. 1577.

[3] in thy. 1577.

86.

¶ _Afternoone workes._

Make companie breake,
Go cherish the weake.

[Sidenote: Afternoone workes.]

1 When Dinner is ended, set seruants to wurke, and follow such fellowes[1] as loueth to lurke.

2 To seruant in sicknesse see nothing ye grutch, a thing of a trifle shall comfort him mutch.

Who manie do feede,
Saue much they had neede.

3 Put chippings[E447] in dippings, vse parings to saue, fat capons or chickens that lookest to haue.

4 Saue droppings and skimmings, how euer ye doo, for medcine for cattell, for cart and for shoo.

Leane capon vnmeete,
Deere fed is vnsweete.

5 Such ofcorne as commeth giue wife to hir fee, feede willingly such as do helpe to feede thee.

6 Though fat fed is daintie, yet this I thee warne, be cunning in fatting for robbing thy barne.

Peece hole to defende.
Things timely amende.

7 Good semsters be sowing of fine pretie knackes, good huswifes be mending and peecing their sackes.

8 Though making and mending be huswifely waies, yet mending in time is the huswife to praies.

Buie newe as is meete,
Marke blanket and sheete.

9 Though Ladies may rend and buie new ery day, good huswifes must mend and buie new as they may.

10 Call quarterly seruants to court and to leete,[E448] write euerie Couerlet, Blanket, and Sheete.

Shift slouenly elfe,
Be gayler thy selfe.

11 Though shifting too oft be a theefe in a house, yet shift slut and slouen for feare of a louse.

12 Graunt doubtfull no key of his chamber in purse, least chamber doore lockt be to theeuerie a nurse.

Saue feathers for gest,
These other rob chest.

[Sidenote: Saue feathers.]

13 Saue wing for a thresher, when Gander doth die, saue feather of all thing, the softer to lie.

14 Much spice is a theefe, so is candle and fier, sweete sauce is as craftie as euer was frier.

Wife make thine owne candle,
Spare pennie to handle.

[Sidenote: Candle making.]

15 Prouide for thy tallow, ere frost commeth in, and make thine owne candle, ere winter begin.

16 If pennie for all thing be suffred to trudge, trust long, not to pennie, to haue him thy drudge.

[1] marchants. 1577.

87.

¶ _Euening workes._

Time drawing to night,
See all things go right.

[Sidenote: Euening workes.]

1 When hennes go to roost go in hand to dresse meate, serue hogs and to milking and some to serue neate.

2 Where twaine be ynow, be not serued with three, more knaues in a companie worser they bee.

Make lackey to trudge,
Make seruant thy drudge.

3 For euerie trifle leaue ianting thy nag, but rather make lackey of Jack boie thy wag.

4 Make seruant at night lug in wood or a log, let none come in emptie but slut and thy dog.

False knaue readie prest,
All safe is the best.

5 Where pullen vse nightly to pearch in the yard, there two legged foxes keepe watches and ward.

6 See cattle well serued, without and within, and all thing at quiet ere supper begin.

Take heede it is needeful,
True pittie is meedeful.

7 No clothes in garden, no trinkets without, no doore leaue vnbolted, for feare of a dout.

8 Thou woman whom pitie becommeth the best, graunt all that hath laboured time to take rest.

88.

¶ _Supper matters._

Vse mirth and good woorde,
At bed and at boorde.

[Sidenote: Supper time huswiferie.]

1 Provide for thy husband, to make him good cheere, make merrie togither, while time ye be heere.

2 At bed and at boord, howsoeuer befall, what euer God sendeth be merrie withall.

No brawling make,
No ielousie take.

3 No taunts before seruants, for hindring of fame, no iarring too loude for auoyding of shame.

4 As fransie and heresie roueth togither, so iealousie leadeth a foole ye wot whither.

Tend such as ye haue,
Stop talkatiue knaue.

5 Yong children and chickens would euer be eating, good seruants looke dulie for gentle intreating.

6 No seruant at table vse sausly to talke, least tongue set at large out of measure do walke.

No snatching at all,
Sirs, hearken now all.

7 No lurching,[E449] no snatching, no striuing at all, least one go without and another haue all.

8 Declare after Supper, take heede therevnto, what worke in the morning ech seruant shall do.

89.

¶ _After supper matters._

Thy soule hath a clog,
Forget not thy dog.

[Sidenote: Workes after supper.]

1 Remember those children whose parents be poore, which hunger, yet dare not craue[1] at thy doore.

2 Thy Bandog[E450] that serueth for diuerse mishaps, forget not to giue him thy bones and thy scraps.

Make keies to be keepers,
To bed ye sleepers.

3 Where mouthes be many, to spend that thou hast, set keies to be keepers, for spending too fast.

4 To bed after supper let drousie go sleepe, least knaue in the darke to his marrow do creepe.

Keepe keies as thy life,
Feare candle good wife.

5 Such keies lay vp safe, ere ye take ye to rest, of dairie, of buttrie, of cubboord and chest.

6 Feare candle in hailoft, in barne, and in shed, feare flea smocke and mendbreech, for burning their bed.

See doore lockt fast,
Two keies make wast.

7 A doore without locke is a baite for a knaue, a locke without key is a foole that will haue.

8 One key to two locks, if it breake is a greefe, two keies to one locke in the ende is a theefe.

Night workes troubles hed,
Locke doores and to bed.

9 The day willeth done whatsoeuer ye bid, the night is a theefe, if ye take not good hid.

10 Wash dishes, lay leauens, saue fire and away, locke doores and to bed, a good huswife will say.

To bed know thy guise,
To rise do likewise.

[Sidenote: Bed time.]

11 In winter at nine, and in sommer at ten, to bed after supper both maidens and men.

[Sidenote: Time to rise.]

12 In winter at fiue a clocke, seruant arise, in sommer at foure is verie good guise.[E451]

Loue so as ye may
Loue many a day.

13 Be lowly not sollen, if ought go amisse, what wresting may loose thee, that winne with a kisse.

14 Both beare and forebeare now and then as ye may, then, wench God a mercie, thy husband will say.

[1] to. 1577.

90.

¶ _The ploughmans feasting daies._

This would not be slept,
Old guise must be kept.

1 Good huswiues, whom God hath enriched ynough, forget not the feastes that belong to the plough. The meaning is onelie to ioie and be glad, for comfort with labour is fit to be had.

[Sidenote: Leicestershire.]

Plough Monday.[E452]
2
Plough Monday, next after that Twelftide is past,
bids out with the plough, the woorst husband is last.
If ploughman get hatchet or whip to the skreene,
maides loseth their cock if no water be seene.[E453]

[Sidenote: Essex and Suffolke.]

Shroftide.[E454]
3
At Shroftide to shrouing, go thresh the fat hen,
if blindfild can kill hir, then giue it thy men.
Maides, fritters and pancakes ynow see ye make:
let slut haue one pancake, for companie sake.

[Sidenote: Northamptonshire.]

Sheepe shearing.
4
Wife make vs a dinner, spare flesh neither corne,
make wafers and cakes, for our sheepe must be shorne.
At sheepe shearing neighbours none other thing craue,
but good cheere and welcome like neighbours to haue.

[Sidenote: Leicestershire.]

The wake day.[E455]
5
Fill ouen full of flawnes,[E456] Ginnie passe not for sleepe,
to morow thy father his wake day will keepe.
Then euerie wanton may daunce at hir will,
both Tomkin with Tomlin, and Jankin with Gill.

Haruest home.
6
For all this good feasting, yet art thou not loose,
till ploughman thou giuest his haruest home goose.[E457]
Though goose go in stubble, I passe not for that,
let goose haue a goose, be she leane, be she fat.

[Sidenote: Essex and Suffolke.]

Seede cake.
7
Wife, some time this weeke, if the wether hold cleere,
an end of wheat sowing we make for this yeere.
Remember you therefore though I doo it not:
the seede Cake, the Pasties, and Furmentie pot.[E458]

Twise a week roast.
8
Good ploughmen looke weekly, of custome and right,
for roast meat on Sundaies and Thursdaies at night.
This dooing and keeping such custome and guise,
they call thee good huswife, they loue thee likewise.

91.

¶ _The good huswifelie Physicke._

[1] Good huswiues prouides, ere an sicknes doo come, of sundrie good things in hir house to haue some. Good Aqua composita,[E459] Vineger tart, Rose water and treakle, to comfort the hart.

[2] Cold herbes in hir garden for agues that burne, that ouer strong heat to good temper may turne. While Endiue and Suckerie, with Spinnage ynough, all such with good pot herbes should follow the plough.

[3] Get water of Fumentorie, Liuer to coole, and others the like, or els lie like a foole. Conserue of the Barberie, Quinces and such, with Sirops that easeth the sickly so much.

[Sidenote: Physition.]

[4] Aske _Medicus_ counsell, ere medcine ye make, and honour that man, for necessities sake. Though thousands hate physick, because of the cost, yet thousands it helpeth, that else should be lost.

[Sidenote: Good diet.]

[5] Good broth and good kéeping do much now and than, good diet with wisedome best comforteth man. In health to be stirring shall profit thée best, in sicknes hate trouble, séeke quiet and rest.

[Sidenote: Thinke on thy soule and haue a good hope.]

[6] Remember thy soule, let no fansie preuaile, make readie to Godward, let faith neuer quaile. The sooner thy selfe thou submittest to God, the sooner he ceaseth to scourge with his rod.

92.

¶ _The good motherlie nurserie._

[1] Good huswiues take paine, and doo count it good luck, to make their owne brest their owne childe to giue suck. Though wrauling and rocking be noisome so neare, yet lost by ill nursing is woorser to heare.

[2] But one thing I warne thee, let huswife be nurse, least husband doo find thée too franke with his purse. What hilback and filbellie maketh away, that helpe to make good, or else looke for a fraie.

[3] Giue childe that is fitly, giue babie the big, giue hardnes to youth and to roperipe a twig. Wee find it not spoken so often for naught, that children were better vnborne than vntaught,

[4] Some cockneies[E460] with cocking are made verie fooles, fit neither for prentise, for plough, nor for schooles. Teach childe to aske blessing, serue God, and to church, then blesse as a mother, else blesse him with burch. Thou huswife thus dooing, what further shall néede? but all men to call thée good mother in déede.

93.

¶ _Thinke on the poore._

Remember the poore, that for Gods sake doo call,
for God both rewardeth and blesseth withall.
Take this in good part, whatsoeuer thou bee:
and wish me no woorse than I wish vnto thee.

94.

¶ _A comparison betweene good huswiferie and euill._[E461]

Comparing togither, good huswife with bad,
The knowledge of either, the better is had.

1 Ill huswiferie lieth till nine of the clock. Good huswiferie trieth to rise with the cock.

2 Ill huswiferie tooteth, to make hir selfe braue.[E462] Good huswiferie looketh what houshold must haue.

3 Ill huswiferie trusteth to him and to hir. Good huswiferie lusteth hir selfe for to stir.

4 Ill huswiferie careth for this nor for that. Good huswiferie spareth for feare ye wot what.

5 Ill huswiferie pricketh hir selfe vp in pride. Good huswiferie tricketh hir house as a bride.

6 Ill huswiferie othing or other must craue. Good huswiferie nothing, but needfull will haue.

7 Ill huswiferie mooueth with gossep to spend. Good huswiferie loueth hir houshold to tend.

8 Ill huswiferie wanteth with spending too fast. Good huswiferie canteth[1][E463] the lenger to last.

9 Ill huswiferie easeth hir selfe with vnknowne. Good huswiferie pleaseth hir selfe with hir owne.

10 Ill huswiferie brooketh mad toies in hir hed. Good huswiferie looketh that all things be fed.

11 Ill huswiferie bringeth a shilling to naught. Good huswiferie singeth, hir cofers full fraught.

12 Ill huswiferie rendeth, and casteth aside. Good huswiferie mendeth, else would it go wide.

13 Ill huswiferie sweepeth her linnen to gage. Good huswiferie keepeth, to serue hir in age.

14 Ill huswiferie craueth in secret to borow. Good huswiferie saueth to day for to morow.

15 Ill huswiferie pineth, not hauing to eate. Good huswiferie dineth, with plentie of meate.

16 Ill huswiferie letteth the Diuell take all. Good huswiferie setteth good brag of a small.

Good huswife good fame hath of best in the towne,
Ill huswife ill name hath of euerie clowne.

[1] scanteth. 1577.

_Thus endeth the booke of Huswiferie._

95.

_For men a perfect warning How childe shall come by larning._

1 All you that faine would learne the perfect waie, To haue your childe in Musick something séene, Aske nature first what thereto she doth saie, Ere further suite ye make to such a Quéene. For doubtlesse _Grossum caput_ is not he Of whom the learned Muses séene will be.[E464]

2 Once tride that nature trim hath done hir part, And Ladie Musick farre[1] in loue withall, Be wise who first doth teach thy childe that Art, Least homelie breaker mar fine ambling ball.[E465] Not rod in mad braines hand is that can helpe, But gentle skill doth make the proper whelpe.