¶ A hundredth good points of Husbandry, lately married unto a hundredth good points of Housewifery: newly corrected and amplified with divers proper lessons for Householders, as by the table at the latter end, more plainly may appear: Set forth by Thomas Tusser Gentle man, servant to the right honourable Lord Paget of Beudesert.  
In aedibus Richardi Tottylli Cum privilegio. Anno. 1570.   

The Preface.  

WHat lookest thou here for to have?  
Trim verses, thy fancy to please?  
Of Surry (so famous) that crave,  
Look nothing but rudeness in these.   

What other thing lookest thou then?  
Grave sentences herein to find?  
Such Chaucer hath twenty and ten,  
You thousands to pleasure thy mind.   

What look ye, I pray you? show what,  
Terms painted with rhetoric fine?  
Of makers of English look that,  
But never in me nor in mine.   

What lookest thou then at the last?  
Good lessons for thee and thy wife?  
Then keep them in memory fast,  
From youth, to the last of thy life.   

What look ye for more in my book?  
Things needful in time for to come?  
Else miss I of that I do look,  
If pleasant thou findest not some.    

The commodities of husbandry.  

Let house have to fill her,  
Let land have a tiler.  
No dweller, what good doth the house for to stand?  
What profit unhabited, bringeth the land?   

No labour, no meat,  
No host, die in street.  
No husbandry used how soon shall we starve?  
House keeping neglected, what comfort to serve?   

Ill father no gift,  
No knowledge, no thrift.  
The father an unthrift, what hope to the son?  
The ruler unskilful, how quickly undone?   

As true as thy faith,  
Thus husbandry saith.  

The praise of husbandry.  I Seem but a drudge, yet I pass any king,  
To such as can use me great wealth I do bring.  
Since Adam first lived, I never did die,  
When No was a sea man there also was I  
The earth is my store house, the sea my fisheponde:  
What they have to pleasure with, is in my hand.  
what hath any life, but I help to preserve,  
What thing without me, but is ready to starve?  
In Woodland, or Champion, City or town,  
If I be long absent, what falleth not down?  
If I be long present, what goodness can want,  
Though things at my coming, were never so scant.  
Of such as do love me (what need to recite)  
(You though of the poorest) whom make I not knight.  
Great Kings I do succour, else wrong it would go:  
The King of all kings hath appointed it so.    

To the right honourable and my special good Lord and master the Lord Paget of Beudesert.  

T TIme trieth the truth in every thing,  
H How ever man doth blaze his mind:  
O Of works, which best may profit bring.  
M Men apt to judge be often blind.  
A As therefore truth in time doth crave:  
SAINT So let this book just favour have.   

T Take you my Lord, and Master than,  
V Unless mischance mischaunceth me:  
S Such homely gift of me your man,  
SAINT Since more in court I may not be.  
A And let your praise won heretofore,  
R Remain abroad for evermore.   

M My serving you, thus understand,  
A And God his help, and yours withal,  
D Did cause good luck to take mine hand  
E Erecting one most like to fall.  
M My serving you I know it was,  
E. Enforced this to come to pass.   

Since being once at Cambrige taught,  
Of Court ten years I made assay.  
No music than was left unsought,  
Such care I had to serve that way.  
My joy 'gan slack, than made I change,  
Expulsed mirth, for music strange.   

My music since hath been the plough,  
Entangled with some care among,  
The gain not great, the pain enough,  
Hath made me sing another song,  
Which song if well I may avow,  
No man I crave to judge but you.   
Your servant Thomas Tussar.   

To the Reader.  

I Have been prayed  
to show mine aid,  
in taking pain  
not for the gain,  
but for good will  
to show such skill  
as show I could:   

That husbandry  
with housewifery  
(as Cock and Hen  
to Country men)  
all strangeness gone  
might join in one  
as lovers should.   

I trust both this  
performed is,  
and how that here  
if shall appear,  
that I by proof  
to thy behouse  
have brought to pass?   

That such as wive,  
and fain would thrive,  
may here be taught  
almost for nought,  
to judge and spy  
of husbandry  
as in a glass.   

What should I gain,  
to show in vain  
my losses past,  
that ran more fast,  
than running stream,  
from ream to ream,  
that fleeth so swift:   

For that I could  
not get for gold  
to teach me how,  
as this do you,  
so plain a way  
from day to day  
to come by thrift   

What is a groat  
(or twain) to note,  
once in thy life  
for man and wife,  
to save a pound  
in house and ground  
each other week?   

What more for wealth?  
what more for health?  
what needeth less,  
run jacke help Bess,  
to stay amiss  
thou having this  
not for to seek.   

I do not crave  
more thanks to have,  
than given to me,  
all ready be:  
but this is all  
that such as shall  
peruse this book:   

That for my sake  
they gently take  
what ere they find  
against their mind,  
when he or she  
shall minded be  
thereon to look.   
FINIS.   

The description of Husbandry.  

OF husband doth husbandry challenge that name,  
of husbandry husband doth likewise the same.  
Where housewife and housewifery joineth with these,  
there weith in abundance is gotten with ease.   

The name of a husband, what is it to say?  
of wife and of household the band and the stay.  
Some husbandly thriveth that never had wife,  
yet scarce a good husband in goodness of life.   

The husband is he that to labour doth fall,  
the labour of him I do husbandry call.  
If thrift by that labour be any way caught,  
then is it good husbandry, else is it nought.   

So household and housholdrie I do define,  
for folk and the goods that in house be of thine.  
Houskeping to them as a refuge is set,  
which like as it is, so report it doth get.   

Thus household and housewifery lovers must be,  
with husband and housewife: yea further we see,  
Housekeping and husbandry (if they be good)  
must love one another as cousins in blood.    

The Ladder to thrift.  

1  
TO take thy calling thankfully,  
To shun the path to beggary.   

2  
To grudge in youth no drudgery,  
To come by penny luckily.   

3  
To get more to it wittily.  
To keep thy gettings covertly.   

4  
To spend at first but niggardly,  
To lay for age continually.   

5  
To hark to profit earnestly,  
To currey favel willingly.   

6  
To get good plot to occupy,  
To store and use it husbandly.   

7  
To get good wife for company,  
To live in wedlock honestly.   

8  
To store thy house with housholdrie,  
To make provision thriftily.   

9  
To join to wife good family,  
To keep no more but needfully.   

10  
To govern household skilfully,  
To suffer none live idly.   

11  
To courage wife in housewifery,  
To use well doers gently.   

12  
To buy and cell with policy,  
To meddle not with pylferie.   

13  
To keep thy touch substantially,  
To make thy bonds advisedly.   

14  
To use thy neighbour neighbourly,  
To use no friend deceitfully.   

15  
To take good heed of surety,  
To love to live at liberty.   

16  
To hate to live unthriftylye,  
To stop thy mouth fro perjury.   

17  
To win thy foe by honesty,  
To undermine his subtlety.   

18  
To answer stranger courteously,  
To keep thy doings secretly.   

19  
To do thy doings orderly,  
To play the subject subiectly.   

20  
To trouble no man wilfully,  
To hinder no man wittingly.   

21  
To offer no man villainy,  
To stay a mischief speedily.   

22  
To keep that thine is manfully,  
To live by all men quietly.   

23  
To think well in adversity,  
To do well in prosperity.   

24  
To get good love and amity,  
To help relieve the poverty.   

25  
To keep good hospitality.  
To hate all prodigality.   

26  
To keep thyself fro malady,  
To ease thy sickness speedily.   

27  
These be the steps unfeignedly,  
To climb to thrift by husbandry.    

XXiiii. Lessons always to be observed.  

1  
GOd never sent mouth, but he sent it meat,  
who doing his will ever wanted to eat?  
Love God above all things, who allthings doth give,  
show love to thy neighbour, and lay for to live,   

2  
True wedlock best is, for avoiding of sin,  
the bed undefiled much honour doth win.  
Though love be in choosing far better than gold,  
let love come with somewhat the better to hold.   

3  
Where couples agreed not is rancour and strife.  
where such be together is never good life:  
Where couples in wedlock do lovely agreed,  
there foysen remaineth if wisdom there be.   

4  
Who looketh to marry must lay to keep house,  
for love may not always be playing with dowse.  
If Children increase and no house of thine own,  
what trouble it is, to thyself shallbe known.   

5  
Good husbands that loveth good houses to keep,  
be often full careful when others do sleep:  
To spend as they may, or to stop at the furst,  
for running behind hand, or fear of the worst.   

6  
Then count with thy coffers when harvest is in,  
thy Cards being told, how to save or to win:  
Of tone of them both, if a savour we smell,  
house keeping is godly where ever we devil.   

7  
Make money thy drudge for to follow thy work,  
make wisdom controller, good order thy Clerk:  
Provision Cater, and skill to be Cook,  
make Steward of all, pen, ink and thy book.   

8  
Make hunger thy sauce as a medicine for health,  
make thirst to be Butler as Phisyke for wealth.  
Make eye to be Usher, good usage to have,  
make bar to be Porter to stop out a knave.   

9  
Make Husbandry Bailie, abroad to provide,  
make housewifery daily at home for to guide.  
Make coffer fast looked, thy treasure to keep,  
make house to be sure the safer to sleep.   

10  
Make Bandog thy watchman to bark at a thief,  
make courage (for like) to be captain chief,  
Make trapdoor thy Bulwark, make Bell to begin,  
make gunstone and arrow show who is within.   

11  
The Husband he trudgeth to bring in the gains,  
the housewife she drudgeth refusing no pains.  
Though Husband without be to count ye wots what  
the housewife within is as needful as that.   

12  
What helpeth in store, to have never so much,  
half lost by ill usage, ill housewives and such?  
So twenty load bushes cut down at a clap,  
such heed may be taken shall stop but a gap.   

13  
With some upon Sundays their tables do reek,  
and half the week after their dinners to seek:  
At no time to much, but have always enough,  
is housholdly fare, and the guise of the Plough.   

14  
Each day to be feasted what husbandry worse?  
each day for to feast is as ill for the purse.  
Yet measurely feasting with neighbours among.  
shall make thee beloved and live the more long.   

15  
Make handsomely all things as 'cause ye do see.  
but build not for glory that thinkest to thee:  
Who fond in doing consumeth his stock▪  
in th'end for his doing doth get but a mock   

16  
Spend none but thine own howsoever thou spend  
for bribing and shifting have never good end.  
Tithe truly for all thing, with God do not wrist,  
the just in his dealing God prospereth best.   

17  
At sometime to borrow esteem it no shame,  
if justly thou keepest thy touch for the same.  
Who quick be to borrow, and slow be to pay,  
their credit is nought go they never so gay.   

18  
Who living but lends? and be lended they must,  
else forty years purchase might lie in the dust:  
But crafty and naughty that desperate are,  
make many full honest the worse to far.   

19  
Use Legem pone to pay at thy day,  
Oremus (to bear with thee) use not (I say)  
But Presta quesumus out at a grate,  
of all other collects, the lender doth hate.   

20  
Leave Princes affairs untalked upon,  
and tend to such doings as standeth thee on.  
Although that thy substance be never so much,  
delight not in parasites, harlots, and such.   

21  
Keep truly thy Saboth the better to speed,  
keep servant fro gadding but when it is need.  
Keep Fish day and fasting day, when they do fall,  
what custom thou keepest let others keep all.   

22  
Pay weakly thy workmen their households to feed  
pay quarterly servants to buy what they need.  
Give garment to such as deserve and no more,  
lest thou and thy wife without garment do go.   

23  
Beware raskabilia slothful to work,  
proloyners and filchers that loveth to lurk.  
Away with such lubbers so loath to take pain,  
that spendeth a shilling for one penny gain.   

24  
Good wife and good children, are worthy to eat,  
good servant, good labourer, earneth their meat.  
Good friend, and good neighbour, that fellowly gest  
with welcome at all times should have of the best.    

A hundredth good points of husbandry.  

¶ August.  

1  
WHen harvest is ended, take ship or go ride,  
for saltfish and stockfish for Lent to provide.  
To buy them at first as they come to the road,  
shall pay for thy charges thou spendest abroad.   

2  
Choose wisely thy saltfish not burnt at the stone,  
buy such as be good, or else let them alone:  
Get home that is bought, and go stack it up dry,  
with pease straw between it the safer to lie.   

3  
(Thou going abroad) bid thy folk to make speed,  
to compost thy Barley land when it is need:  
One acre well compost, exceedeth some three,  
thy Barn shall at harvest declare it to thee.   

4  
This good shallbe learned by riding about,  
the prices of victuals, the year throughout:  
Both what to be selling, and what to refrain,  
and what for to buy, to be likely to gain.   

5  
Though buying and selling, doth wonderful well,  
to him that hath knowledge to buy and to cell:  
Yet chopping and changing I can not commend,  
with knave and his fellow, for fear of ill end.   

6  
The rich in their bargaining need not be taught,  
of feller and buyer fro far they be taught:  
Yea herein consisteth a part of the text,  
who buyet at first hand, and who at the next.   

7  
At first hand he buyeth that payeth all down,  
at second that hath not so much in the town,  
At third hand he buyeth that all borrow must,  
at his hand who buyeth shall pay for his lust.   

8  
As often as ye bargain for better or worse,  
let always one bargain remain in the purse.  
Good credit doth well, but thy credit to keep,  
is pay and dispatch him or ever ye sleep.   

9  
Be mindful abroad of the Mihelmas spring,  
for thereon dependeth a husbandly thing.  
When gentles use walking with Hawks on their hands,  
good husbands by grazing do purchase their lands.   

10  
Thy market dispatched turn home again round,  
lest gaping for penny thou losest a pound.  
Provide for thy wife (else look to be shent)  
good milchcow for Winter, an other for Lent.   

11  
In travailing homeward, buy xl good Crones.  
and fat up the bodies of those silly bones.  
Leave milking & dry up old muley thy Cow,  
the crooked and aged to fatting put now.   

12  
Get downn with thy brakes, ere the showers do come,  
that cattle the better may pasture have some.  
In june and in August, as well doth appear,  
is best to mow Brakes, of all times in the year.   

¶ Wife pluck fro thy karl, thy fimble hemp clean,  
this looketh more yellow, the other more green.  
Take this to thy usage, leave Michael the other,  
for shoethreede, for halter, for rope and such other.   

¶ While wormwood hath seed, get a bundle or twain  
to save against March, to make flea to refrain.  
Where chamber is swept, & the wormwood is strowne,  
no flea for his life, dare abide to be known.   

¶ Get gryest to the Mill, to have plenty in store.  
lest Millers lack water as many do more.  
The meal the more yieldeth, if servant be true,  
if Miller that tolleth take none but his due.   

¶ Pare Saffron between the two saint Mary days  
or set, or go shifted it, that knowest the ways:  
What year will ye shifted it, the better to yield?  
the fourth in the garden, the third in the field.   

¶ In having but forty foot cunningly dight,  
take Saffron enough for the house of a knight.  
All winter time after (as practice doth teach)  
what plot can be better thy linen to bleahce.   

13  
Some ploweth, some burneth their wheat stubble low  
some after their barley, lay wheat for to sow.  
Which ever thou mindest, now time it is best,  
else spare it for cattle and so let it rest.   

14  
Some useth the first year his fallow to make,  
the next to sow Barley the better to take:  
The third year his peason, the same year his wheat,  
then fallow again or to pasture for neat.   

15  
Still crop upon crop many farmers do take,  
and gain little money for greediness sake,  
Though wheat after Barley a cropper be found,  
no cropper count Pease but a comfort to ground.   

16  
Ere winter doth come while the wether is good,  
for gutting thy pasture, get home with thy wood.  
Now carry thy gravel to fill up a hole,  
thy timber, thy furzen, thy turf, and thy coal.   

17  
House sedges and turf, chip and coal of the land  
pile tallwood and billet, stack all that hath band.  
Root, block, pole & bough, set upright to the thetche,  
the nearer more handsome in winter to fetch.   

18  
At Bartilmew tide, or at Sturbrege fair,  
buy all thing that needeth thy house to repair.  
Then cell to thy profit thy butter and cheese,  
who selleth it sohner, the more he doth lose.    

¶ September.  

19  
thrash seed & to fanning, the plough may not lie  
September doth bid ye be sowing of Rye.  
Go harrow the ridges, ere ever ye strike,  
this point of good husbandry Suffolk doth like.   

20  
Take heed to thy man in his fury and heat,  
with whipstock & ploughstaffe for maiming thy neat  
To thresher for hurting thy beast with his flail,  
or making thy hen to play tapple up tail.   

21  
Sow winter corn timely to follow his last,  
sow wheat as ye may, but sow Rye in the dust.  
Be careful for seed, or else such as you sow,  
look justly and surely to reap or to mow.   

22  
Thy seed being sown, waterforow thy ground  
that rain when it cometh may run away round.  
Then out with thy slings, with thine arrows & bows,  
till ridges be green, set a boy to keep crows.   

23  
Saint Mighel doth bid thee, amend thy marshwal  
the breck, and the crabhole, the foreland and all,  
One noble in season, bestowed thereon,  
may save thee an hundredth, ere winter be gone.   

24  
Go geld with the gelder, the Ram, and the bull,  
buy cattle for Rowen, cell webster thy wool.  
Thy Hops go and gather, but not in the dew,  
and crabs and thy walnuts for feat of a shrew.   

¶ Now burn up the Bees, of the Hive that ye drive,  
at Midsummer drive them and save them alive.  
Allow them one cottage set Southly and warm,  
and take for thy labour twice yearly a swarm.   

25  
At Mighelmas safely, go sty up thy Boar,  
lest mast being plenty, thou see him no more,  
The leaner thou puttest thy Boar into sty,  
the sounder he proveth, this proved have I   

26  
To look to thy mast, it shall stand the upon,  
set servants together, ere must be all gone.  
Some left among bushes, shall pleasure thy swine,  
for fear of a mischief keep Acorns fro Cows.   

27  
For routing thy pasture, ring hogs thou hast need  
which being well ringed, the better do feed.  
The young with the elder, will ever keep best,  
than yoke well the greatest and favour the rest.   

28  
Yoke never thy swine, while the acorn do last,  
for divers misfortunes, that happen to fast.  
Or if that thou lovest whole ear on thy hog,  
give eye to thy neighbour, and ear to his dog.   

29  
The Moon in the wane, gather fruit on the tree  
less shaken more profit, for graff, and for thee.  
But Mychers that love not to buy nor to crave,  
make some gather sooner, else few for to have.    

¶ October.  

30  
THy Rye in the ground, while September doth last,  
October for Wheat sowing, calleth as fast.  
What ever it cost thee, what ever thou give,  
have done sowing wheat, before Hallomas eve.   

31  
Get up with the barley land, dry as ye can,  
when ever ye sow it, so look for it than.  
Get always before hand, be never behind,  
lest Winter preventing, do hinder thy mind.   

32  
Sow Acorns ye owners, that Timber do love,  
let Hawes be sown with them the better to prove.  
If cattle or Coney, may come for to crop,  
no sooner Oak cometh, but of goeth his top.   

33  
When rain will not let thee be doing abroad,  
get flail into Barn, and to threshing good load.  
thrash clean bid the threshers, though lesser they earn  
and (looking to thrive) have an eye to the Barn.   

34  
If house room will serve thee, lay stover up dry  
and every sort by itself let it lie:  
Or stack it for litter if room be to poor,  
and thetche out the residue for noying thy door.    

¶ November.  

35 A Thallomas slaughter time entereth in,  
and then doth the husbandman's feasting begin:  
From that time to shrovetide, kill now & then some,  
their offal for household the better shall come.   

36  
Both Barley and bullimong, thrash out to malt.  
let Maulter be cunning, else loose it thou shalt.  
Thincrease of a seam, is a bushel for store,  
the Barley is bad or some filcheth the more.   

37  
To winnow or fan, which is better we swerver  
but casting is best if the flower will serve.  
For seed go and cast it, for malt do not so,  
but get out the Cockle, and so let it go.   

38  
thrash Barley (as yet) but as need shall require,  
fresh threshed for stover, poor beast doth desire.  
And therefore that threshing forbear as ye can,  
till Candlemas come, for to give it them then.   

39  
Save chaff of thy Barely, thy wheat & thy Rye,  
from bird and from foystnesse where it doth lie,  
First pike out the feathers, and sift out the dust,  
then give it thy horses when labour they must.   

40  
Once every week, go make up thy flower,  
though slothful and pilferer thereat do lower.  
Take tub for a season, take sack for a shift,  
yet cellar for grain, is the best for thy thrift.   

¶ Set Garden beans after S. Edmond the king  
the Moon in the wane, thereon hangeth a thing,  
Thincrease of a gallon, well proved of some,  
shall pleasure thy household, or Peascod do come.   

41  
(For Easter) at Martilmas hung up a beef,  
for Pease fed and stall fed, play pick purse the thief.  
With that & such like, ere and grass beef come in,  
thy folk shall look cheerly, when others look thin.   

42  
When ploughing is done (and no pasture to eat)  
then stable thy plough horse, & tend them with meat.  
Let season be dry when ye take them to house,  
for danger of nits, or for fear of a louse.    

¶ December.  

43  
WHen frost will not suffer to dyke nor to hedge,  
then get the an heat with thy beetle & wedge.  
Once Hallomas come, and a fire in thy hall,  
such slyvers do well, for to lie by the wall.   

44  
Get grindstone & whetstone to sharpen thy tool  
or else go and loiter, or let like a fool.  
A Whelebarow also be sure for to have,  
at hand of thy servant thy compost to save.   

45  
give cattles their fodder, the plot dry and warm,  
and count them for myering, or other like harm.  
Young Colts with thy wennels together go serve,  
lest lurched by others, they happen to starve.   

46  
The rack I commend for the saving of dung,  
so set as the old cannot mischief the young.  
If tempest be great, or the wind in the East,  
warm barth under hedge, is a comfort to beast.   

47  
Get trusty to serve them, not lubberly squire,  
that loveth all day to hung nose over fire.  
Nor trust not to children thy cattle to feed,  
but serve them let such as may help at a need.   

48  
Serve first out the Rye straw, than wheat & then pease  
then oat straw, them barley, them hay if ye please.  
But serve them with hay, while the straw stoves last  
they love no more straw, they had rather to fast.   

49  
Yokes, forks, & the like let thy servant spy out,  
and gather the same, as he walketh about.  
And after at leisure let this be his hire,  
to beath them, and make them, at home by the fire.   

50  
As well at the full of the moon, as at the change  
sea rages in winter, be often full strange.  
Then look to thy marches, if doubt be to fray,  
for fear of Ne forte drive cattle away.   

51  
Good fruit and good plenty, doth well in thy fit,  
then make thee an Orchard and cherish it often.  
For plant, and for stock, lay afore hand to cast,  
but set, or remove it ere Christmas be past.   

52  
Set one from another full twenty foot wide,  
to stand as he stood, is a part of his pride.  
The fairer gotten, is best as ye know,  
the deeper ye set it, more likely to grow.   

53  
Ere Twelftide be gone, let thy horse be let blood.  
for divers intentes, it shall do them much good.  
The day of Saint Steven, old husbands did use,  
if that do mislike thee, some other day choose.    

A digression  
Leave husbandry sleeping a while ye must do,  
to learn of housekeeping a lesson or two.  
What ever is sent thee, by travail and pain,  
a time there is lent thee, to spend it again.  
Though thou dost defend it unspent for to be,  
another shall spend it, no thank unto thee.  
How ever we climb to accomplish the mind,  
we have but a time, thereof profit to find.   

A description of time and the year.  

OF God to thy doings a time there is sent,  
which endeth with time, that in doing is spent.  
For time is itself but a time for a time,  
forgotten full soon, as the tune of a chime.   

In spring time we rear, we do sow, set and plant,  
in summer get victuals, lest after we want.  
In harvest we carry in corn and the fruit,  
in winter to spend as we need of each suit.   

The year I compare as I find for a truth,  
the spring unto childhood, the summer to youth.  
The harvest to manhood the winter to age,  
all quickly forgotten as a play on a stage.   

Time past is forgotten, ere men be ware,  
time present is thought on with wondered care.  
Time coming is feared, and therefore we save.  
yet often ere it come we be gone to the grave.    

¶ A description of life and riches.  

WHo living, but daily discern it he may,  
how life as a shadow doth vanish away.  
And nothing to count on so sure and so just,  
as surely to die, and to turn into dust.   

The lands and the riches that here we possess,  
be none of our own, if a God we profess.  
But lent us of him, as his talon of gold,  
which being demanded who can it withhold.   

God maketh no writing that justly doth say.  
how long we shall have it, a year or a day:  
But leave it we must (how soever we live)  
when death shall come pluck us from hence by the slive.   

To death we must stoop, be we high, be we low,  
but how, and how suddenly, few be that knowe.  
what carry we then but a sheet to the grave,  
to cover this carcase, of all that we have.    

A description of house keeping,  

WHat then of this talon, while here we remain  
but study to yield it to God with a gain?  
And that shall we do, if we do it not hide,  
but use and bestow it as God doth us did.   

What good to get riches by breaking of sleep,  
but (having the same) a good house for to keep?  
Not only to bring a good fame to thy door,  
but also the prayer to win of the poor.   

Of all other doings house keeping is chief,  
for always it helpeth the poor with relief.  
The neighbour, the stranger, & all that have need,  
which causeth thy doings the better to speed.   

Though hearken to this we should ever among,  
yet chief at Christmas of all the year long  
Good cause of that use may appear by the name,  
though such as know lest disalloweth the same,    

A description of Christmas.  

OF Christ cometh Christmas, the name with the feast,  
a time full of joy to greatest and lest.  
At Christmas was Christ (our saviour) borne,  
the world through sin altogether forlorn.   

At Christmas the day doth begin to take length,  
of Christ our faith doth begin to take strength.  
As Christmas is only a figure or trope,  
so only in Christ is the strength of our hope.   

At Christmas we banquet the rich with the poor,  
who then (but the Miser) but openeth his door?  
At Christmas of Christ, many Carols we sing.  
and give many gifts, in the joy of that king.   

At Christmas in Christ, we rejoice and be glad,  
as only of whom our comfort is had.  
At Christmas we joy altogether with mirth,  
for his sake that joyed us all with his birth.    

A description of apt time to spend.  

LEt such (so fantastical) liking not this,  
(nor nothing else honest, that ancient is)  
Give place to the time that so apt we do see,  
appointed of God, as it seemeth to be.   

At Christmas good husbands have corn in the ground  
in Barn and in cellar worth many a pound.  
Things plenty in house (beside cattle and sheep,  
all sent them (no doubt on) good houses to keep.   

At Christmas the hardness of Winter doth rage.  
a nipper of all thing in every age.  
Then lightly poor people, the young with the old,  
be sorest oppressed with hunger and cold.   

At Christmas by labour is little to get,  
that wanting the poor man in danger is set.  
What better a time than o● all the whole year,  
thy needy poor neighbour to comfort and cheer.    

Against fantastical scruplenesse.  

AT this and at that thing some make a great matter,  
some help not, but hinder the poor with their clatter.  
Take custom from feasting what cometh then, last  
where one hath a dinner, a thousand shall fast.   

To dog in the manger, some liken I could,  
that hay will eat none, nor let other that would.  
Some scarce in a year give a dinner or two,  
nor well can abide any other to do.   

Play thou the good fellow and hearken to me,  
hate none that be honest, though merry they be.  
For often times seen, no more very a knave,  
than he that doth counterfeit most to be grave.    

Christmas husbandly fare.  

GOod husband & housewife now (chief) be glad,  
things handsome to have as they aught to be had  
They both do provide against christmas do come,  
to welcome their neighbours, good cheer to have some.  
Good bread and good drink, a good fire in the hall,  
brawn pudding and sauce & good mustard withal.  
Beef, mutton, and pork, and good Pies of the best,  
pig, veal, goose and capon, and Turkey well dressed.  
Cheese, apples & nuts, and good Charrols to hear,  
as then in the country is counted good cheer.   

What cost to good husband is any of this?  
good household provision only it is.  
Of other the like, I do leave out a many,  
that costeth the husband never a penny.   

At Christmas be merry and thankful withal,  
& feast thy poor neighbours the great with the small.  
Yea all the year long to the poor let us give,  
gods blessing to have here as long as we live.    

¶ januarye.  

54  
WHen Christmas is ended, bid feasting adieu,  
go play the good husband, thy stock to renew.  
Be mindful of rearing, in hope of a gain,  
dame profit shall give thee reward for thy pain.   

55  
Who both by his calf, & his lamb will be known,  
may well kill a neat, and a sheep of his own.  
And he that will rear up a pig in his house,  
hath cheaper his bacon, and sweeter his sauce.   

56  
who eateth his veal, pig & lamb being froth,  
shall thrice in a week go to bed without broth.  
Unskilful that pass not but cell away cell,  
shall never keep good house where ever they devil.   

57  
Be greedy in spending and careless to save,  
and shortly be needy and ready to crave.  
Be wilful to kill and unskilful to store,  
and never look long to keep house any more.   

58  
Lay dirt upon heaps fair yard to keep seen,  
when frost will abide, into field with it clean.  
In winter a fallow some love to bestow,  
where pease for the pot they intend for to sow.   

59  
In making or mending, (as needeth) thy ditch,  
get set to quick set it, learn cunningly which.  
In hedging (where clay is) cut stake as ye know,  
of Poplar and Sallow, for fuel to grow.   

60  
Leave kill of Coney, let Do go to Buck,  
and vermin thy borrow for fear of ill luck.  
Feed Dove (not more kill) old dove house repair,  
save Dove dung for hopyard, in making holes fair.   

¶ Dig Guard, stroy mallow now may ye at ease,  
and set (as as a dainty) thy runcyfall pease.  
Go cut and set Roses the best to be got,  
of all the year long, better time there is not.   

61  
In time go and bargain jest worse do fall,  
for fuel, for making, for carriage and all.  
To buy at the stub, is the best for the buyer,  
more timely provision, more cheaper the fire.   

62  
Some burneth a load at a time in his Hall,  
some never leave burning, till burned they have all.  
Some making havoc with out any wit,  
make many poor souls without fire to sit.   

63  
From Christmas, till May be well entered in,  
all cattle wax faint, and look poorly and thin.  
But when as the prime grass, at first doth appear,  
than most is the danger of all the whole year.   

¶ Calves fair, that come between Christmas & Lent  
take housewife to rear, or else after repent.  
Of such as fall between change and the prime,  
no rering, but cell, or go kill them in time.   

¶ House Calf, and go suckle it twice on a day,  
and after a while set it water and hay,  
Stake ragged to rub on, no such as will bend,  
then wean it (well tended) at fifty days end.   

¶ The signior weaned, his younger shall teach,  
both how to drink water, and hay for to reach.  
Moore strooken, more made on, when aught they do ail,  
more gentle ye make them for yoke or to pail.   

64  
Young broom or good pasture, thine ewes do reqre  
warm barth and in safety their Lambs do desire:  
Look often well to them for Foxes and dogs,  
for pits and for brimbles, for vermin and hogs.   

65  
Geld bulcalfe & ram lamb, as soon as they fall,  
for therein is lightly no danger at all.  
Some spareth the tone for to pleasure the eye,  
to have him show great when the butcher shall buy.   

¶ Sows ready to farow, this time of the year,  
are for to be made on and counted full dear.  
For now is the loss of a fare of thy Sow,  
more great than the loss of two calves of thy Cow,   

¶ Of one Sow at once rear few above five,  
and choose of the fairest and likest to thrive.  
Vngelt of the best keep a couple for store,  
one Boar pig, one Sow pig, that sucketh before.   

66  
Geld under the dame within fortnight at lest,  
and save both thy money and life of thy beast.  
Geld later with Gelder's as many one do,  
and look of a dozen to geld away two.   

67  
Thy Colts for the saddle geld young to be light.  
for Cart do not so if thou judgest aright.  
Nor geld them but when they be lusty & fat.  
for there is a point to be learned in that.   

68  
Geld Fillies but tittes, ere & nine days of age,  
they die else of gelding, else many do rage.  
But Fillies most likely, of bulk and of bone,  
keep such to bring Colts, let their gelding alone.   

69  
For gaining a trifle, cell never thy store,  
what joy to acquaintance what pleasureth more?  
Moore larger of body the better to breed,  
more forward of growing, the better they speed.   

70  
A Cow good of milk that is fair and sound,  
is yearly for profit as good as a pound.  
And yet by the year have I proved or now,  
as good to the purse, is a Sow as a Cow.   

71  
Keep one and keep both with as little a cost,  
than all shallbe saved and nothing be lost.  
Both having together, what profit is taught,  
good housewives I warrant ye need not be taught,   

¶ Go look to thy Bees if the hive he to light,  
set water and honey together well dight.  
Put straws in a dish to the same in the hive,  
from dangers a number ye save them alive.   

72  
In january husband that poucheth up groats,  
will break up his lay or be sowing of Oats.  
Oats sown in january lay by the wheat,  
in May by thy hay, for the cattle to eat.    

¶ Februarye.  

73  
NOw timely for Lentstuffe, thy money disburse,  
the longer thou tarriest (for profit) the worse.  
If one penny vantage be therein to save,  
of Coastman or Fleming now look it to have.   

74  
Thy Vines and thy osiers cut and go set,  
if grape be unpleasant a better to get.  
Feed Swan and go make her up strongly a nest,  
for fear of a flood, good and high is the best.   

75  
Go ear in thy stubble, take timely thy season,  
be sowing of Beans, thy tars, and thy peason.  
The sooner thou sowest, the sooner they come,  
and better for household they fill up a room.   

76  
White peason, both good for the pot & the purse,  
by sowing to timely prove often the worse.  
Because they be tender and hateth the cold,  
prove March ere ye sow them, then may ye be bold.   

77  
In every green, if the fence be not thine,  
go stub up the bushes, the grass to be fine.  
Else neighbour will daily so hack them believe,  
that neither thy grass, nor thy bushes shall thrive.   

78  
Go lop for thy fuel, the pollengers grown,  
that hindereth the corn, or the grass to be mown.  
In lopping and cropping, save edder and stake,  
thine hedges, where need is to mend or to make.   

79  
In lopping old jocham, for fear of mishap,  
leave one bough unlopped to cherish the sap.  
The second year after then boldly ye may,  
for hindering his fellows, that bough cut away.   

80  
The sticks & the stones, go & gather them clean,  
for hurting thy Scythe, or for harming thy green.  
For walkers by Moon shine get home with the rest,  
when frozen the ground is then carriage is best.   

81  
In cropping or felling, take heed to this thing,  
be skilful and careful for saving the spring.  
Leave topping of timber for making of waist,  
lest landlord by law, doth avoid thee in haste.   

82  
Spare meadows at shrovetide, thy marshes at pask,  
for fear of dry Summer no longer time ask.  
Then hedge them & dych them, bestow thereon pence,  
corn, meadow, and marshes, crave ever good fence.   

83  
Friend, always let this be a part of thy care,  
for shifted of good pasture, lay pasture to spare.  
Then seaver thy grounds, and so keeping them still,  
and cattle at ease, and have pasture at william.   

84  
Kill crow, pie, & caddow, rook, buzzard, & raven,  
or else go desire them to seek a new haven,  
In scalling the young for to pluck of his beck,  
beware how thou scalest for breaking thy neck.    

¶ March.  

85  
Sow Barley in March, and in April & May,  
the latter in sand and the sooner in clay.  
What worse for Barley, than witness and cold?  
what thing to take time when a man may be bold?   

86  
Keep Crows and go harrow it finely as dust,  
then woorkmanly trench it, and fence it ye must.  
This season well handled, set sowing an end,  
and praise and pray God, a good harvest to send.   

87  
Sow wheat in a measure, sow Rye not to thin,  
let beans and thy Peason be scattered in.  
Sow Barley & Oats good and thick, do not fear,  
land looketh for seed, or the weed for to bear.   

88  
Oats Barley and Pease, harowe after ye sow,  
for Rye harrow first (not after I trow.)  
Leave Wheat little clod for to cover his head,  
that after a frost he may forth and go spread.   

89  
In March is good graffing, that skilful doth know.  
as long as the wind in the Cast doth not blow.  
From Moon being changed, till past be the prime,  
for graffing and cropping is excellent time.   

90  
Things sown set, or planted, the greatest & lest  
defend against tempest, the bird, and the beast.  
Defended shall prospero, the t'other is lost,  
the thing with thy labour, the time and the cost.   

¶ In March and in April, from morning to night,  
in sowing and setting good housewives delight.  
To have in their Garden or other like plot,  
to trim up their house, and to furnish their pot.   

¶ The virtue of herbs dame Physic doth show,  
time teacheth them all to be known, save a few.  
To set or to sow, or once sown to remove,  
how this should be learned, by practice go prove.   

¶ Good parsnip and Melons, all Winter & Lent,  
beans plenty in july, save fish to be spent.  
Those having with pottage the belly full than,  
thou winnest the heart of thy labouring man.    

¶ April.  

FRom April begin to saint Andrew be past,  
so long with good housewives their dairies do last.  
Good lease & good pasture, good husbands provide,  
the residue good housewives know how for to guide.   

¶ Such housewives as know not to make their own cheese  
with trusting of others have this for their fees.  
Milk flapped in corners, cream slabbred and soft,  
milk pan so nigh flot, that the cheses be lost.   

¶ Where some of a Cow, do make yearly a pound,  
with these silly housewives, no penny is found.  
The servants rebuked for that they have done,  
with one thing or other away they do roone.   

¶ Then neighbour for god sake, if any you see,  
good servant for dairy, help wane her to me.  
Such master such man, & such Mistress such maid,  
such husband and housewife, such houses arrayed.   

91  
Cell bark to the Tanner ere timber ye fell,  
fell low by the ground, or else do ye not well.  
In breaking save crooked for mills and for ships,  
and ever in hewing save Carpenter's chips.    

¶ May.  

92  
From May till October leave cropping, learn why,  
in wood sere what ever thou croppest will die.  
Where ivy embraceth the tree very sore,  
kill ivy, or tree else will addle no more.   

¶ Good flax & good hemp, for to have of her own,  
good housewife in May will see it be sown.  
And afterward trim it to serve at a need,  
the fimble to spin, and the karl for her seed.   

¶ The knowledge of stilling is one pretty feat,  
the waters be wholesome, the charges not great.  
What timely thou gettest, while Summer doth last,  
think Winter will help thee to spend it as fast.   

¶ In May is good sowing, thy buck or thy frank,  
that black is as Pepper, and smelleth so rank.  
It is to thy land, as a comfort or muck,  
and all thing it maketh as fat as a buck.   

93  
At Philip and jacob, go put of thy lambs,  
that thinkest to have any milk of their dams.  
At Lammas leave milking for fear of a thing,  
lest Requiem eternam in Winter they sing.   

94  
To milk and to fold them, is much to require,  
except thou have pasture to fill their desire.  
The nights being short, such heed ye may take,  
not hurting their bodies, much profit to make.   

¶ Five ewes to a Cow milk, go prove by a score,  
shall double thy dairy, else trust me no more.  
Yet may a good housewife, that knoweth the skill,  
have mixed, or unmixed, at her pleasure and william.   

95  
Greedy of gain over lay not thy ground,  
and then shall thy cattle be lusty and sound.  
But pinch them of pasture, while summer doth last,  
and pluck at their tails, ere and winter be past.   

96  
To grass with thy calves in some meadow plot near  
where never their mothers may see them nor here:  
Where water enough is, and barth to fit warm,  
and look well unto them for taking of harm.   

97  
Pinch wennels at no time of water or meat,  
if ever ye hope for to have them good neat.  
In Summer at all times, in Winter in frost,  
if cattle lack drink, they be utterly lost.   

¶ From May to mid August, from dinner to two,  
let patch sleep a snatch how so ever ye do,  
Though sleeping one hour refresheth among.  
yet trust not Hob grouthed for sleeping to long.   

98  
In May at the furthest twy fallow thy land,  
much drowt may else after cause plough for to stand.  
This tilth being done, thou hast passed the worst,  
then after who ploweth, plough thou with the furst.   

99  
Get home with thy fuel meed ready to fet,  
the sooner, the easier, carriage to get.  
Take heed to thy Bees, that be ready to swarm,  
the loss thereof now is a crowns worth of harm.    

¶ june.  

100  
IN june get a wedehoke, and a knife & a glove,  
& weed out such weeds as the corn doth not love  
slack never thy wedding, for dearth nor for cheap,  
the corn shall reward it, or every reap.   

101  
The May weed doth burn, & the thistle do fret  
the time pulleth downward the Rye & the Wheat.  
The Dock and the Brake, noy corn very much,  
like Boddle to Barley, no weed there is such.   

102  
Wash sheep (for the better) where water doth run,  
and let them go cleanly (and dry) in the Sun.  
Then share them & spare not, at two days an end,  
the sooner, the better, their corpse will amend.   

103  
Reward not thy sheep when thou takest his cote  
with two or three notches as broad as a groat.  
Let no such ungentleness happen to thine,  
lest fly with his gentleness make it to pine.   

104  
Let lambs go unclipped till june be half worn,  
the better their coats will be grown to be shorn.  
The Pie will discharge the for pulling the rest,  
the lighter poor sheep is, then feedeth it best.   

105  
At midsummer down with thy brimbles & brakes  
and after abroad with thy forks and thy rakes.  
Set mowers a work, while the meadows be grown,  
the longer (now) standing the worse to be mown.   

106  
Provide of thine own to have all thing at hand  
lest work & the workman, unwroughten do stand.  
Love seldom to borrow, that thinkest to save,  
for he that once dareth, twice looketh to have.   

107  
Good husbands that lay to save all thing upright  
for tumbrels and carts have a shed ready dight.  
A store house for trinkets as close as a jail,  
that nothing be wanting the worth of a nail.   

108  
Thy carts would be searched without & within  
well clouted and greased ere hay time begin.  
Thy hay being carted, though Carters had sworn,  
carts bottom well boarded, is saving of corn.    

¶ july.  

109  
GO muster thy servants be captain thyself,  
providing them weapon, and other like pelf.  
Get bottles and wallets, keep field in the heat,  
the fear is not much, but the danger is great.   

110  
With tossing and taking and setting on cocks,  
grass lately in swaths is hay for an Ox.  
That done, go and Cart it and have it away,  
the battle is fought, ye have gotten the day.   

111  
Let hay be well made, or avise else a vous,  
for moulding in goef, or for firing thy house.  
Lay coarsest aside for the Ox and the Cow,  
the finest for sheep, Calf and Gelding allow.   

112  
Than down with thy hedlondes the corn about  
leave never a dalop unmowne and had out.  
Though grass be but thin about barley and pease,  
yet picked up clean, it shall do thee great ease.   

113  
Thy fallow betime for destroying of weed,  
lest Thistle and Dockefall to blooming and seed.  
Such season may chance, it shall stand thee upon.  
to till it again ere the Summer be gone.   

114  
Thy houses and barns would be looked upon,  
and all thing amended ere harvest come on.  
Things thus set in order at quiet and rest,  
shall further thy harvest and pleasure thee best.   

115  
Saint Iaimes doth advise to get reapers at had,  
the corn being ripe doth but shed if it stand.  
Be thankful and saving what ever is sent,  
God sendeth the same for none other intent.   

116  
Grant harvest Lord more by a penny or two,  
to call on his fellows the better to do.  
Give reapers thy largesse, a largesse to cry,  
and always to loiterers have a good eye.   

117  
Reap well, scatter not gather clean that is shorn,  
bind fast, shock a pace, have an eye to thy corn.  
Lode safe, carry home, follow time being fair,  
golf just in the barn, it is out of despair.   

118  
In goeving at harvest, learn skilfully how,  
each grain for to lay by itself on a mow.  
Sede barley, and peason golf out of the way,  
all other nigh hand golf as just as ye may.   

119  
Corn carried, let such as be poor go and clean,  
and after let cattle go mouse it up clean.  
Then spare it for pasture till Rowen be past  
to lengthen thy dairy no better thou hast.   

120  
All harvest time, harvest folk, servants and all,  
must make altogether good cheer in thy Hall.  
Go fill them the black bowl of bleeth to their song,  
and let them be merry all harvest time long.   

121  
Once ended thy harvest let none be beguiled,  
please such as did help thee, man, woman, and child  
Thus doing (with always such help as they can)  
thou winnest the name of a husbandly man.   

Now think upon God, let thy tongue never cease,  
in thanking of him for his mighty increase.  
Accept my good will, for a proof go and try,  
the better thou thrivest, the gladder am I     

¶ Of all thing this seemeth the sum, one going, another to come.  
World lasting look never to lin,  
year ended again to begin.  
Who looketh to wealth to attain,  
must travail again and again.  
Good therefore it is (as I say)  
providing for age, while we may.   

The kindly property of every month.  

11 ¶ january  
A kindly good Janivere.  
freaseth pot by the fire.   

12 ¶ February  
Fill (Feverill) dike,  
with what thou dost like.   

1 ¶ March  
March dust to be sold,  
worth ransoms of gold,   

2 ¶ Aprill  
Sweet April showers,  
do spring the May flowers.   

3 ¶ May  
Cold May and a windy,  
makes Barnes fat and findy.   

4 ¶ june  
Calm weather in june,  
corn setteth in tune.   

5 ¶ july  
No tempest good july,  
lest all things look ruly.   

6 ¶ August  
dry August and warm,  
doth harvest no harm,   

7 ¶ September  
September blow soft,  
till fruit be in loft.   

8 ¶ October  
October good blast,  
to shake the Hog mast,   

9 ¶ November  
November take flail,  
let ship no more sail.   

10 ¶ December  
O dirty December,  
for Christmas remember.    

¶ Compairing good husband with unthrift his brother, the better descerneth the tone from the t'other.  

1  
IL husbandry braggeth to go with the best,  
good husbandry baggeth up gold in his chest.   

2  
Ill husbandry trudgeth with unthrifts about,  
good husbandry snudgeth for fear of a doubt,   

3  
Ill husbandry spendeth abroad like a mome,  
good husbandry tendeth his charges at home.   

4  
Ill husbandry selleth his corn on the ground,  
good husbandry smelleth no gain that way found.   

5  
Ill husbandry loseth for lack of good fence,  
good husbandry closeth and gaineth the pence.   

6  
Ill husbandry trusteth to him and to her,  
good husbandry lusteth himself for to stir.   

7  
Ill husbandry eateth himself out a door,  
good husbandry meateth his friend and the poor.   

8  
Ill husbandry dayeth or letteth it lie,  
good husbandry payeth the cheaper to buy.   

9  
Ill husbandry lurketh and stealeth a sheep,  
good husbandry worketh his household to keep.   

10  
Ill husbandry liveth by that and by this,  
good husbandry giveth to every man his.   

11  
Ill husbandry taketh and spendeth up all,  
good husbandry maketh good shift with a small.   

12  
Ill husbandry prayeth his wife to make shift,  
good husbandry sayeth take this of my gift.   

13  
Ill husbandry drowseth at fortune so awke,  
good husbandry rouseth himself like a hawk.   

14  
Ill husbandry lieth in prison for debt,  
good husbandry spieth where profit to get.   

25  
Ill husbandry ways hath to fraud what he can,  
good husbandry praise hath of every man.   

16  
Ill husbandry never hath wealth to keep touch,  
good husbandry ever hath penny in pouch.   

17 Good husband his boon or request hath a far,  
ill husbandry assoon hath a toad with an R.    

¶ A Sonnet where plainly ye see, each word to begin with a T.  
THe thrifty that teacheth the thriving to thrive,  
teach timely to traverse the thing that thou trive.  
Transferring thy toil to the times to thee taught,  
that teacheth thee temperance to temper thy thought.  
Think truly to travail, that thinkest to thee,  
the trade that the teacher taught truly to thee.  
Then temper thy travail to tarry the tide,  
this teacheth thee thriftiness twenty times tried.  
Take thankfully things, thank tenderly those,  
that teacheth thee thriftily thy time to transpose.  
Troth teached thee two times, teach thou two times ten,  
this trade thou that takest, take thrift to thee then.  
Thomas Tusser.   

A Comparison between Champion and Several.  

THe country enclosed I praise,  
the t'other liketh not me.  
For nothing the wealth it doth raise,  
to such as inferior be.  
Though Champion partly I know,  
what need I much thereof to show?   

2  
There swineherd that keepeth the hog,  
there neathearde with cur and his horn,  
There shepherd with whistle and dog,  
be fence to the meadows and corn.  
There horse being tayed on a baulk,  
is ready with thief for to walk.   

3  
Where all thing in common doth rest.  
corn field with the pasture and meed,  
Though comen thou do for the best,  
yet what doth it stand thee in stead?  
There common as communers do,  
as good else to cobble a shoe.   

4  
What layer much better than there?  
or cheaper (thereon to do well)  
What drudgery more any where,  
less good thereof where can ye tell?  
What gotten by Summer is seen,  
that winter there eateth not clean.   

5  
Example by Leicester shire,  
what soil can be better than that,  
For any thing heart can desire.  
and yet it doth want ye see what,  
Mast, covert, close pasture, and wood,  
and other things needful as good.   

6  
All these doth enclosure bring,  
experience teacheth no less,  
I speak not to boast of the thing.  
but only a troth to confess.  
Example (if doubt ye do make)  
by Essex and Suffolk go take.   

7  
Moore plenty of mutton and beef,  
corn butter, and cheese of the best:  
Moore wealth any where (to be brief)  
more people, more handsome and priest,  
Where find ye? (go search any coast)  
than there where enclosure is moaste.   

8  
Moore work for the labouring man,  
as well in the town as in the field,  
Or thereof (devise if ye can)  
more profit what country do yield?  
Moore seldom where see ye the poor,  
go begging from door unto door?   

9  
Moore profit is quieter found,  
(where pastures in several Bee)  
Of one seely acre of ground,  
than Champion maketh of three.  
Again what a joy is it known,  
when men may be bold of their own.   

10  
The tone is commended for grain,  
yet bread made of beans they do eat:  
The t'other for one loaf have twain,  
of mastlin, of rye, or of wheat.  
The Champion liveth full bore,  
when woodland full merry doth far.   

11  
Tone giveth his corn in a dearth  
to horse, sheep and hog ery day,  
The t'other give cattle warm barth,  
and feed them with straw and with hay.  
Corn spent of the tone so in vain,  
the t'other doth cell to his gain.   

12  
Tone barefoot and ragged doth go,  
and ready in winter to starve,  
When other ye see do not so,  
but hath that is needful to serve.  
Tone pain in a cottage do take,  
when other trim bowers doth make.   

13  
Tone layeth for turf and for sedge,  
and hath it with wonderful suit,  
When other in every hedge,  
hath plenty of fuel and fruit.  
Evils twenty times worser than these,  
enclosure full quickly would ease.   

14  
In woodland the poor men that have,  
scarce fully two acres of land,  
Moore merrily live, and do save,  
than tother with twenty in hand,  
yet pay they as much for the two,  
as other for twenty must do.   

15  
The labourer coming from thence,  
in woodland to work any where.  
(I warrant you) goeth not hence  
to work any more again there.  
If this same be true (as it is)  
why gather they nothing of this?   

16  
The poor at enclosing do grudge,  
because of abuses that fall.  
Lest some men should have but to much,  
and some again nothing at all.  
If order might therefore be found▪  
what were to the several ground.   
FINIS.   

The Preface to the book of housewifery.  

TAke weapon away, of what force is a man?  
take housewife from husband & what is he than?   

2  
As lovers desireth together to devil,  
so husbandry loveth good housewifery well.   

3  
Though husbandry seemeth to bring in the gains,  
yet housewifery labours seem equal in pains.   

4  
Some respite to husbands the weather doth sand,  
but housewives affairs have never none end.   

As true as thy faith,  
This housewifery saith.   

I Serve for a day, for a week, for a year, 
The praise of huswiferye.   
for life time, for ever, while man dwelleth here.  
For richer for poorer, from north to the south,  
for honest, for hardhed, or dainty of mouth.  
For wed, and unwedded, in sickness and health,  
for all that well liveth in good common wealth.  
For City, for country, for Court and for Cart,  
to quiet the head, and to comfort the heart.    

To the right honourable and my special good Lady and Mistress, the Lady Paget.  

THough pain seemeth much,  
and favour to fickle,  
yet good will doth tickle  
my pen for to writ,   

Some knack not unpretie,  
of housewifery nettie,  
how housewives should jetty  
from morning to night.   

Not minding by writing,  
to set them a spitting,  
but show by enditing,  
as troth may be bold:   

How husbandry easeth,  
so housewifery pleaseth,  
and many purse greaseth  
with silver and gold.   

Because I did fear me  
lest some would forswear me  
of troth I do bear  
upright as ye see:   

Full bend for to love all  
and not to reprove all  
but only to move all  
good housewives to be.   

For if I should mind some  
or descant behind some,  
and miss where to find some,  
displease so I mout:   

Or if I shoudl blend them  
and so to offend them,  
what talk God should sand them  
I stand in a doubt.   

As now if I make this  
and some do well take this,  
if other forsake this,  
what profit were that   

nought else but to pain me  
and nothing to gain me  
but make them disdain me  
I wot near for what.   

Lest clock miss with dial,  
lest proof make denial,  
lest some stand to trial,  
some murmur and grudge:   

give judgement I pray you  
(for justly so may you)  
so fancy so say you,  
I make you my judge.   

In time you shall try me,  
by troth you shall spy me,  
so find so set by me  
according to skill:   

How ever tree groweth  
the fruit the tree showeth  
your Ladyship knoweth  
my heart and good william.   

Though Fortune doth measure,  
and I do lack treasure,  
yet if I may pleasure  
your honour with this:   

Then will me to mend it,  
or mend ere ye sand it,  
or any where lend it,  
if aught be amiss.   
Your Ladyship's servant Thomas Tusser.   

¶ A description of housewife and housewifery.  

OF housewife doth housewifery challenge that name,  
of housewifery housewife doth likewise the same.  
Where Husband & Husbandry joineth with these,  
there wealth being got is preserved with ease.   

The name of a housewife, what is it to say?  
the wife of the house, to the Husband a stay.  
If housewife doth that, that belongeth to her,  
if Husband be honest there needeth no stir.   

The housewife is she that to labour doth fall,  
the labour of her I do housewifery call.  
If thrift by that labour be saved or got;  
then is it good housewifery, else is it not.   

The woman the name of a housewife doth win,  
by keeping her house, and her doings therein.  
〈◊〉 she that with husband will quietly devil,  
〈◊〉 think on this lesson and follow it well.   
FINIS.   

Twenty Lessons always to be observed.  

¶ Serve God is the first, 1  
THe principal point of housewife in deed,  
is God to remember the better to speed.   

¶ True love is not worst. 2  
A very good lesson of housewifery thought  
is housewife with husband to live as she aught.   

¶ Wife comely no grief, 3  
Though tricksy to see to, be gallant to wive,  
yet comely and wise is the housewife to thrive.   

¶ Man out housewife chief. 4  
The husband abroad, the good wife must be chief,  
and look to their labour that eateth her beef.   

¶ Both out not allow, 5  
Where husband & housewife be both out of place,  
there servants do loiter and reason their case.   

Keep house housewife thou. 6  
The housewife so named of keeping the house,  
must tend on her profit as Cat on the Mouse.   

¶ Seek home for thy rest, 7  
As housewives keep home and be stirrers about,  
so speedeth their winnings, the year throughout.   

¶ For home is the best 8  
Though home be but honly yet housewives are taught  
that home hath no fellow to such as have aught.   

¶ Use all thing with skill 9  
Good usage with skill, being sober with all,  
make housewives to shine as the sun on the wall.   

¶ And ask what ye william. 10  
What husband refuseth things comely to have,  
that hath a good wife that will housewifely save.   

¶ Be ready at need, 11  
The case of good housewives thus daily doth stand  
what ever shall chance, to be ready at hand.   

¶ That thine is to feed. 12  
This care hath a housewife each hour in her head,  
that all thing in time may be huswifely fed.   

¶ By practice go muse, 13  
Dame practice is she that to housewife must tell,  
which way for to govern her family well.   

¶ How household to use. 14  
Use labourers gently, keep this as a law,  
make child for to fear thee, keep servant in awe.   

¶ Who careless do live 15  
Have every where a respect to thy ways,  
that none of thy life any slander may raise.   

¶ Occasion do give 16  
What many do know, though a time it be hid,  
at length will abroad when a mischief shall bid.   

¶ Not neighbour reprove 17  
The love of thy neighbour shall stand the in steed  
the poorer the gladder to help at a need.   

¶ So shalt thou have love. 18  
Use friendly thy neighbour else trust him in this,  
as he hath thy friendship, so trust unto his.   

¶ Strike nothing unknown 19  
Revenge not thy wrath upon any man's beast,  
lest thine by thine enemy come to like feast.   

¶ Take heed to thine own. 20  
What husband provideth with money his drudge,  
that housewife must look to, which way it doth trudge   

A digression  

NOw out of the matter this lesson I had,  

Cock crowing.  concerning Cockcrowing, what profit is had.  
Experience teacheth as true as a clock,  
how winter nights passeth by marking the Cock.  
At midnight one Cock croweth timely but six,  
with pause to his neighbour to answer betwixt.  
At three a clock thicker, and then as ye know,  
like all in to matins near day they do crow.  
At midnight, at three, and an hour ere day,  
cocks crow in their language, & thus they do say.   

¶ If noise ye do here  
look all thing be clear.  

Chant. midnight Answer  How dame it is midnight, what rubbing is that?  
take heed to false harlots, and more ye wot what.   

¶ Both maiden and man  
mend now what ye can.  
Maids iii a clock, knead, 
Chant. Three a clock.  lay your bucks or go brew  
and cobble and botch ye that can not buy new.   

¶ Maid up I beseech you  
lest Mistress do breech you.  

Answer Chant. Toward day. Answer  Passed five a clock holla maid sleeping beware,  
least quickly thy dame do uncover thy bore.   

Count labour half won  
that early îs done.  
Count gain half lost.  
with watching cost.    

A hundredth good points of Huswiferye.  

¶ Not sooner Sun up.  

morning.  GEt up in the morning as soon as thou wilt,  
with over long slugging good servant is spilled.   

¶ But nose in the cup. 2  
Some slovens from sleeping no sooner be up,  
but hand is in Aumberie, and nose in the cup.   

¶ That early is done. 3  
Some works in the morning may trimly be done,  
that all the day after can never be won.   

¶ Count huswifely won. 4  
Good husband without maketh wealthy and fat,  
good housewife within is as needful as that.   

¶ Cast dust in the yard. 5  
Sluttes corners avoided, shall farther thy health,  
much time about trifles shall hinder thy wealth.   

¶ Go spin and go card. 6  
Set some about charning, some seething of sauce,  
some carding, some spinning, some trimming up house.   

¶ Do as ye shall think. 7  
Set some to grind malt, or thy rushes to twine,  
set some to peel hemp, or to seething of brine.   

¶ Let meat never stink. 8  
Some corneth, some brineth, some will not be taught  
where meat taketh vent, there the housewife is nought.   

¶ To breakfast that come.  

Breakfast  9 Call servants to breakfast by day star appear,  
a snatch and to work fellows, tarry not here.   

¶ give every one some. 10  
Let housewife be carver, let pottage be eat,  
a dishfull each one with a morsel of meat.   

¶ Not more tittle tattle. 11  
What tack in a pudding saith greedy gut wringer  
give such ye wot what, ere pudding they finger.   

¶ To serving your cattles.  

Before none works.  12 Let servants once served, thy cattles go serve,  
else master and mistress may quickly go starve.   

¶ Learn you that will thee. 13  
No breakfast of custom provide not to save,  
but only to such as deserveth to have.   

¶ Some dainty will be. 14  
No showing to servant what victuals in store,  
show servants their labour and show them no more.   

¶ Of havoc beware. 15  
Where all things is common, what needeth a hutch?  
where wanteth a saver, there havoc is much.   

¶ False Cats will not spare. 16  
Where windows stand open the cats make a fray  
yet wild cats with two legs are worse than they.   

¶ Look well unto thine. 17  
An eye in a corner who useth to have,  
revealeth a drab, and preventeth a knave.   

¶ Slut slothful must whine. 18  
Make maid to be cleanly, or make her cry creak,  
& teach her to stir when her mistress doth speak.   

¶ Let holly wand threat. 19  
A wand in thy hand though ye fight not all,  
make youth to their business the better to fall.   

Let fisgig be beaten. 20  
For fear of a fool had I witted 'cause thee to wail  
let fisgig be taught to shut door after tail.   

¶ To easy the wicket. 21  
With her that will clicket, make danger to cope,  
least happily her wicket be easy to ope.   

¶ Will still appease clicket. 22  
As rod little mendeth where manners be spilled,  
so nought willbe naught say and do what thou wilt.   

¶ Fight seldom ye shall. 23  
Much brawling with servants what man can abide  
pay home when thou fightest but love not to chide.   

¶ Love never to brawl. 24  
As order is heavenly where quiet is had,  
so error is hell, or a mischief as bad.   

¶ What better law. 25  
Such law as a warning will 'cause to beware,  
doth make the whole house the better to far.   

¶ To servants than awe. 26  
The less of thy council thy servants doth know  
their duty the better such servants shall show.   

¶ Good music regard. 27  
Such servants are often both painful and good  
that sing in their labours as birds in the wood.   

¶ Good servants reward 28  
Good servants hope justly some friendship to feel,  
and look to have favour what time they do weal.   

¶ By one time or twice. 29  
Take runagate Robbins to pity their need,  
and look to be filched as true as thy Creed.   

¶ Is good to be wise. 30  
Take warning by once, that a worse do not hap,  
foresight is the stopper of many a gap.   

¶ Some change for a shift. 31  
Make few of thy council to change for the best,  
lest one that is trudging in fetcheth the rest.   

¶ Much change little thrift. 32  
The stone that is rolling can gather no Moss,  
for Mistress and maids, by often changing is loss.   

¶ Both liberal sticketh. 33  
One Dog for a Hog, and one Cat for a Mouse,  
one ready to give is enough in a house.   

¶ Some provender pricketh. 34  
One gift ill accepted, keep next in thy purse,  
whom provender pricketh are often the worse.   

¶ Brew somewhat for thine. 35  
Where brewer is needful be brewer thyself,  
what filleth the roof, will help furnish thy shelf.   

¶ Else bring up no Swine. 36  
In buying thy drink by the firkin or Pot,  
the score doth arise, the Hog profiteth not.   

¶ Well brewed worth cost. 37  
One bushel well brewed, out lasteth some twain  
two troubles for one thing is cost to no gain.   

¶ Ill used half lost. 38  
To new is no profit, to stolen is as bad,  
drink sour or dead maketh husband half mad.   

¶ Remember good Gill. 39  
Put grains to more water while grains be yet hot,  
& seeth them & stir them as oatmeal in pot.   

¶ Take pain with thy swill. 40  
Though heating be costly, such swill yet in store,  
shall profit thy porkelings a hundredth times more.   

¶ New bread is the Devil. 41  
New bread is a waster, but mouldy is worse,  
what Dog getteth that way that loseth the purse.   

¶ Much crust is as evil. 42  
Much dowebake I praise not, much crust is as ill  
the mean is the housewife, say nay if ye wil   

¶ Good daîry doth ease. 43  
Good servant in dairy that needs not be told,  
deserveth her fee to be paid her in gold.   

¶ Good cookery doth please. 44  
Good Cook to dress dinner, to bake & to brew,  
is better than gold being honest and true.   

¶ Good droye young or old. 45  
Good droy to serve hogs, to help wash & to milk,  
is some time as needful as some in their silk.   

¶ Good whitemeat worth gold. 46  
Keep dairy house cleanly, keep pan sweet and told  
keep butter and cheese to look yellow as gold.   

¶ Make cleanly thy guts. 47  
Save charmmilke, save welcord, save puddig and souse,  
such offal doth stop many gaps in a house.   

¶ And learn to know sluttes. 48  
Though homely be milker, let cleanly be Cook,  
for dropnose and slut may be known by their look.   

¶ In dairy no Cat. 49  
Though Cat being good is a jewel in house,  
yet ever in dairy have trap for a mouse.   

¶ Lay bane for a Rat. 50  
Take heed how thou layest the bane for the rats,  
for poisoning servants, thyself and thy brats.   

¶ Not scouring for pride. 51  
Though scouring be needful, yet scourig to much  
is pride without profit, and robbeth thine hutch.   

¶ Keep kettle whole side, 52  
Keep kettles from knocks, & set tubs out of sun,  
for mending is costly, and cracked is soon done.   

¶ Take heed when ye wash. 53  
Maids wash well & wring well, but beaten ye wots how.  
if any lack beating, I fear it be you.   

¶ Else run in the lash. 54  
In washing by hand, have an eye to thy bowl,  
for Launders and millers be quick of their toll.   

¶ Dry Sun or dry wind. 55  
Go wash well saith Summer, with sun I shall dry,  
go wring well saith winter, with wind so shall I.   

¶ Safe bind and safe find. 56  
To trust without heed is to venture a joint,  
give tale and take count is a huswifely point.   

¶ Where none fall a packing. 57  
When hens fall a cackling, take heed to their nest  
when drabs fall a whistring take heed to the rest.   

¶ There nothing is lacking. 58  
What Husband refuseth things comely to have,  
that hath a good wife that will huswifely sane.   

¶ Ill made better left. 59  
The place may be so, & the Kill may be such,  
to make thine own Malt, shall profit thee much.   

¶ Wood dried hath a west. 60  
Some drieth with straw, & some drieth with wood  
wood asketh more charge, & yet nothing so good.   

¶ Let Malt be made well. 61  
Malt being well spered the more it will cost,  
malt being well dried the longer will last.   

¶ Take heed to thy kell. 62  
Let Gillet be singing, it doth very well,  
to keep her from sleeping and burning the kell.   

¶ For hunger or thirst. 63  
By noon let your dinner be ready and neat,  
let meat tarry servant not servant his meat.   

¶ Dress cattle well first. 64  
The plough teme a baiting, 
Dinner.  call servants to dinner,  
the thicker, so much be the charges the thinner.   

¶ Together is best. 65  
Dew season is best, altogether is gay,  
dispatch hath no fellow, make short and away.   

¶ For hostis and gest. 66  
Beware of Gill laggose disordering thy house,  
more dainties who catcheth than crafty fed Mouse.   

¶ Let such have enough. 67  
Give servants no dainties, but give them enough,  
to many chaps walking doth beggar the plough.   

¶ That follow the plough. 68  
Poor seggons half starved work faintly & dull,  
and lubbers do loiter, their bellies to full.   

¶ give never to much, 69  
Feed lazy that thresheth a flap and a tap,  
like slothful that all day be stopping a gap.   

¶ Too lubbers and such. 70  
Some housholdly lubber more eateth then two,  
yet leaveth undone that a stranger will do.   

¶ Spare such as thou hast, 71  
Some cutteth thy linen, some spilleth their broth  
bore table to such doth as well as a cloth.   

¶ Where nothing will last. 72  
Trene dishes doth well, wooden spoons go to wrack  
where stone is no lastre, take tankard and jack.   

¶ Knap boy on the thumbs, 73  
That pewter is never for mannerly feast,  
that daily doth serve an uninanerly beast.   

¶ And save him his crumbs. 74  
Some gnaweth & leaveth sun crusts & some crumbs,  
eat such their own leavigs, or gnaw their own thumbs   

¶ Serve God ever furst, 75  
At Dinner, at Supper, at Morning at Night,  
Give thanks unto god for his gifts in thy sight.   

¶ Take nothing at worst. 76  
Good husband and housewife will some tune alone,  
dine well with a morsel and sup with a bone.   

¶ Enough thou art told, 77  
Three dishes well dressed, and welcome withal,  
both pleaseth thy friend and becometh thine Hall.   

¶ To much will not hold. 78  
Enough is a plenty, to much is a pride,  
unskilful the holder, plough goeth aside.   


After none works.  ¶ Make company break, 79  
When Dinner is ended set servants to work,  
and follow such Merchants as loveth to lurk.   

¶ God cherish the weak. 80  
To servant in sickness see nothing ye grudge.  
a thing of a trifle shall comfort him much.   

¶ who many do feed, 81  
Put chipping in dippings, use parings to save,  
fat Capons or Hens ye that look for to have.   

¶ Save much they had need. 82  
save drippings and skimmings how ever ye do,  
for medicine, for cattles, for Cart, and for shoe.   

¶ Leave Capon unmeet, 83  
All of corn thy pulleine must have for their fee,  
feed willingly such as do help to feed thee.   

¶ Fat costly unsweet. 84  
Though fat fed be dainty, of this I the warn,  
be cunning in fatting for robbing thy barn.   

¶ Piece hole to defend, 85  
Good semesters be sowing of fine pretty knacks,  
good housewives be mending and piecing their sacks.   

¶ Things timely amend. 86  
Though making & mending be huswifely ways,  
yet mending in time is the housewife to praise.   

¶ Buy new as ye may. 87  
Though Ladies may rend and by new ery day,  
good housewives must mend & by new as they may.   

¶ Loose nothing I say. 88  
Call quarterly servants to court and to let,  
writ every Coverlet, Blanket and sheet.   

¶ Shifted slovenly elf, 89  
Though shifting to often be a thief in a house,  
yet shifted goodman sloven for fear of a louse.   

¶ Be Jailer thyself. 90  
Grant doubtful no key of his chamber in purse,  
lest Chamber door lock be to thiefrie a Nurse.   

¶ save feathers for gest, 91  
Save wing for thresher when Gander doth die,  
save feathers of all thing the softer to lie.   

¶ These four rob chest. 92  
Much spice is a thief, so is candle and fire,  
sweet sauce is as crafty as ever was Friar.   

¶ wife make thine own candle, 93  
Provide for thy tallow ere frost cometh in,  
and make thine own Candle ere winter begin.   

¶ Leave penny to handle. 94  
If penny for all thing be suffered to trudge,  
trust long not to penny, to have him thy drudge.   

¶ Time drawing to night, 95  
When hens go to house, set thy cook to dress meat  
some milk, & serve hogs, and set some to serve neat.   

¶ See all things go right. 96  
Where twain be enough, be not served with three  
more knaves in a company worse they be.   

¶ Make Lackey to trudge, 97  
For every trifle leave iauncing thy Nag,  
but rather make Lackey of jack boy thy Nag.   

¶ Make servant thy drudge. 98  
Make servant at night, lug in wood or a Log.  
let none come in empty but slutte and thy Dog.   

¶ False knave ready priest, 99  
Where pulleine use nightly to perch in the yard,  
there two legged Foxes keep watches and ward.   

¶ All well is the best. 100  
See cattle well served without and within,  
and all thing at quiet ere Supper begin.   

¶ Take heed it is needful, 101  
Not clotheses in garden, 
Evening works  no trinkets without,  
no door left unbolted for fear of a doubt.   

¶ True pity is meedefull. 102  
Thou woman whom pity becometh the best,  
grant all that hath laboured, time to take rest.   

¶ Use mirth and good word,  

Supper  103 Provide for thy husband to make him good cheer,  
make merry together while time ye be here.   

¶ At bed and at board. 104  
At bed and at board how so ever be fall,  
what ever God sendeth be merry withal.   

¶ Not skirmishing make 105  
No taunts before servants for hindering thy fame  
no jarring to loud for avoiding of shame.   

No jealousy take. 106  
As frenzy and heresy roveth together,  
so jealousy leadeth a fool ye wot whether.   

¶ Reward as ye have, 107  
Young children & chickens would ever be eating,  
good servants look duly for gentle entreating.   

¶ Not talkative knave, 108  
Not servant at table use sausly to talk,  
lest tongue set at large out of measure do walk.   

¶ Not snatching at all, 109  
Not lurching, no snatching, nor striving at all,  
lest one go without and another have all.   

¶ Sirs hearken now all, 110  
Declare after Supper, take heed thereunto, 
Works after supper.   
what work in the morning each servant shall do.   

¶ Thy soul hath a clog, 111  
Remember those children whose parents be poor,  
which hunger, yet dare not to crave at thy door.   

Forget not thy Dog. 112  
Thy bandog that serveth for dyucrs mishaps,  
forget not to give him thy bones and thy scraps.   

¶ Make keys to be keepers, 113  
Where mouths be many to spend that thou hast  
set keys to be keepers for spending to fast.   

¶ To bed drowsy sleepers. 114  
To bed after supper, let drowsy go sleep,  
lest knave in the dark to his marrow do creep.   

¶ Keep keys as thy life, 115  
Such keys lay up safe ere ye take ye to rest,  
of dairy, of Buttery of Cuphorde and Chest.   

¶ Fear candle good wife. 116  
Fear candle in hay fit in Barn and in Shed,  
fear flea smock, & mendbreech, for burning their bed.   

¶ Night works trouble head, 117  
The day willeth done what so ever ye bid,  
the night is a thief if ye take not good heed,   

¶ Lock doors and to bed. 118  
Wash dishes, lay leavens, safe fire and away,  
lock doors and to bed a good housewife will say.   

¶ To bed know thy guise, 119  
In winter at nine; and in Summer at ten,  
to bed after Supper both maidens and men.   

¶ To rise do likewise. 120  
In winter at five a clock servant arise,  
in Summer at four is ever the guise.   

¶ Live well and long.  
forbear now among.  
Be lowly not solen if aught go amiss,  
what wresting may loose thee, that win with a kiss,  
Both hear and forbear now and then as ye may,  
than Wench God a mercy thy husband will say.    
FINIS.   

The plough man's feasting times.  

This would not be slept,  
old guise must be kept.  
GOod housewives whom God hath enriched enough 
Feasting days   
forget not the feasts that belong to the Plough,  
The meaning is only to joy and be glad,  
for comfort with labour would sometune be had.   

¶ Plough Monday.  
Plough Monday, the next after Twelftide be past, 
At twelve tide   
biddeth out with the plough, the worst husband is last.  
If Ploughman get hatchet or whip to the screne,  
maids loseth their Cock if no water be seen.   

¶ shrovetide.  
At shrovetide to shroving, go thrash the fat hen, 
At shroftid   
if blindfilde can kill it then give it thy men.  
Maids fritters and Pancakes enough see ye make,  
let slutte have one pancake for company sake.   

¶ Sheep shearing.  
Wife make us a feast, spare flesh neither corn, 
At midsummer.   
make Wafers & Cakes, for our sheep must be shorn,  
At sheep shearing neighbours no other thing crave,  
but good cheer & welcome, like neighbours to have.   

¶ The wake day.  
To Oven with the flawnes maid, pass not for sleep, 
Wake day.   
to morrow thy father his wake day shall keep:  
Then trimly go dance with what Lover ye will,  
though love make you beaten, keep Lover yet still.   

¶ Harvest home.  

In August.  For all this good feasting yet art thou not lose,  
till thou give the Ploughman in harvest his goose.  
Though goose go in stubble, yet pass not for that  
let goose have a goose be she lean be she fat.   

¶ Seed Cake.  

At Hallomasse.  Wife some time this week if that all thing go clear,  
an end of wheat sowing we make for this year.  
Remember you therefore, though I do it not,  
the Seed Cake, the Pasties, and Furmentie pot.   

¶ Twice a week roast.  
Good Ploughmen look weakly of custom & right,  

Twice a week roast.  for roast-meat on Sundays & Thursdays at night.  
Thus doing and keeping such custom and guise,  
they call thee good housewife, they love thee likewise.    

The good huswifely Physic.  
GOod housewives provide ere an sickness doth come,  
of sundry good things in her house to have some.  
Good Aqua composita, Vinegar tart,  
Rose water and Treacle to comfort the heart,  
Cold herbs in her Garden for Agues that burn,  
that over strong heat to good temper may turn.  
With Endive and Succory, with spinach enough,  
all such with good pot herbs should follow the plough.  
Get water of Fumetory, liver to cool,  
and others the like, or else go like a fool.  
Conserve of Barbary, Quinces and such,  
with Sirops that easeth the sickly so much.  

Physician  Ask Medicus council ere medicine ye make,  
and honour that man for necessities sake.  
Though thousands hate Physic because of the cost  
yet thousands it helpeth that else should be lost.  
Good broth & good keeping doth much now & than,  

good diet  good diet with wisdom best helpeth a man.  
In health to be stirring shall profit thee best,  
in sickness hate trouble, seek quiet and rest.  
Remember thy soul, 
Think on thy soul Have a good heart  let no fancy prevail,  
make ready to Godward let heart never quail.  
The sooner thyself thou submittest to God,  
the sooner he ceaseth to scourge with his rod.   

The good motherly Nusserie.  
Good housewives take pain, 
Mother best nurse  & do count it good luck,  
to make their own breasts their own child to give suck  
Though wrauling and rocking be noisome so near,  
yet lost by ill nursing is worse to hear.  
But one thing I warn thee, let housewife be nurse,  
lest husband doth found thee to frank with his purse.  
What hilbacke and fill belly maketh away,  
that help to make good, 
Hilbak & fill belly Big and the twig.  or else look for a fray.  
Give child that is fitly give baby the big,  
give hardness to youth and give coperipe a twig  
We find it not spoken so often for nought,  
that children were better unborn than untaught.  
Some Cockneiss with cocking are made very fools  
fit neither for Apprentice, for plough nor for schools.  
Teach child to ask blessing, 
serve god  serve God & to church,  
then bless as a mother: else bless him with burch.  
Thou housewife thus doing what further shall need,  
but all men to call thee good housewife in deed.   

Think on the poor.  
REmember the poor, that for God's sake do call,  
for God both rewardeth and blesseth with all.  
Take this in good part, what so ever thou be,  
and wish me no worse than I wish unto thee.  
FINIS.   

 

  

  

  

  

  

   

For men a perfect warning, what child shall come by learning.  

ALl you that feign would learn a perfect way,  
to have your children in music some thing seen:  
Ask nature first what thereto she doth say,  
ere further suit ye make to such a Queen.  
For doubtless Crossum Gaput is not he,  
of whom the learned Muses seen will be.   

Once tried that nature trim hath done her part,  
and Lady Music far in love withal:  
Be wise who first doth teach thy child that art,  
least homely breaker mar fine ambling ball.  
Not rod in madbraines hand is that can help,  
but gentle skill doth make the proper whelp.   

Where choice is hard, count good for well a fine,  
skill mixed with will, is he that teacheth best:  
Let this suffice for teaching child of thine,  
choose quickly well for all thy linger rest.  
Mistaught at first how seldom proveth well?  
trim taught (O God) how shortly doth excel?   

Although as ships must tarry wind and tide,  
and perfect hours abide their stinted time:  
So likewise, though of learning (daily tried)  
space must be had ere wit may thereto climb:  
Yet easy steps, and perfect way to trust,  
doth cause good speed, confess of force we must.   

Thus in the child though wit enough we find,  
and teacher good near hand, or other where:  
And time as apt as may be thought with mind,  
nor cause in such thing much to doubt or fear:  
Yet cocking Mams, & shifting Dads from schools,  
make pregnant wits to prove unlearned fools.   

Ere learning come, to have first art thou taught,  
apt learning child, apt time that think to frame,  
Apt cunning man to teach, else all is nought.  
apt parents glad to bring to pass the same.  
On such apt ground the Muse's love to build,  
this lesson learn: adieu else learned child.    

A sonnet to the Lady Paget.  

SOme pleasures take, and can not give,  
but only make poor thanks their shift:  
Some meaning well in debt do live,  
nor cannot tell how else to shifted.  
Some knock and feign would ope the door,  
to learn the vain good turn to praise:  
Some show good face, and be but poor,  
yet have a grace good fame to raise.  
Some own and give, yet still in debt,  
and so must live for aught I know:  
Some wish to pay and cannot get,  
but night and day still more do owe.   

Even so must I for pleasures past,  
still wish you good while life doth last.    

A Comparison between good Housewifery and evil.  

Comparing together good housewife and bad,  
The knowledge of either the better is had.   

1  
IL housewifery lieth till nine of the clock,  
good housewifery trieth to rise with the Cock.   

2  
Ill housewifery tooteth to make herself brave,  
good housewifery looketh what household must have.   

3  
Ill housewifery trusteth to him and to her,  
good housewifery lusteth herself for to stir.   

4  
Ill housewifery cares not for this nor for that.  
good housewifery spareth for fear ye wot what.   

5  
Ill huswiferye pricketh herself up in pride,  
good housewifery tricketh her house as a bride.   

6  
Ill housewifery oh thing or other must crave,  
good housewifery nothing but needful will have.   

7  
Ill housewifery moveth with gossips to spend,  
good housewifery loveth her household to tend.   

8  
Ill housewifery wanteth with spending to fast,  
good huswiferye scanteth, the longer to last.   

9  
Ill huswiferye easeth herself with unknown,  
good huswiferye pleaseth herself with her own.   

10  
Ill housewifery brooketh mad toys in her head,  
good housewifery looketh that all things be fed.   

11  
Ill housewifery bringeth a shilling to nought,  
good housewifery singeth, her coffers all fraught.   

12  
Ill housewifery renteth and casteth a side,  
good housewifery mendeth, else would it go wide.   

13  
Ill housewifery sweepeth her linen to gauge,  
good housewifery keepeth to serve her in age.   

14  
Ill housewifery craveth in secret to borrow,  
good housewifery saveth to day for to morrow.   

15  
Ill housewifery pineth (not having to eat)  
good huswifrie dineth with plenty of meat.   

16  
Ill housewifery letteth the Devil to take all,  
good housewifery setteth good brag of a small.   

17  
17 Good housewife good fame hath of best in the town,  
ill housewife ill name hath of every Clown.   
FINIS.   

Husbandly posies for the hall.  

1  
Friend here I devil, and here I have a little worldly pelf:  
which on my friend I keep to spend, as well as on myself.   

2  
What ever far thou hap to find, take welcome for the best:  
that having then, disdain thou not, for wanting of the rest.   

3  
Bachyting talk, the flattering blabs, know wily how to blenge,  
the wise doth note, the friend doth hate, the enemy will revenge.   

4  
The wise will spend, or give & lend, yet keep or have in store:  
if fools may have from hand to mouth, they pass upon no more.   

5  
Where ease is sought, at length we see, that plenty waxeth scant:  
who careless live, go borrow must, or else, full often want.   

6  
The world doth think the wealthy man is he that lest shall need  
but God doth know the virtuous man is he that best shall speed.    

Posies for the parlour.  

1  
AS hatred is the serpent's noisome rod,  
so friendship is the loving gift of God.   

2  
The drunken friend is friendship very evil,  
the frantic friend, is friendship for the Devil.   

3  
The quiet friend all one in word and deed,  
great comfort is like ready gold at need.   

4  
With brawling fools, that wrall for every wrong,  
firm friendship never can continued long.   

5  
In time that man shall seldom friendship miss,  
that weigheth what thing, touch kept in friendship is.   

6  
Often times a friend is got with east cost,  
which used evil, is often as quickly lost.   

7  
Hast thou a friend as heart may wish at will?  
then use him so to have his friendship still.   

8  
Wouldst have a friend? wouldst know what friend is best?  
have God thy friend, who passeth all the rest.    

Posies for the guests chamber.  

1  
THe sloven and the careless man, the roynish nothing nice,  
to lodge in chamber comely decked, are seldom suffered twice.   

2  
With curtain some make scabert clean, with coverlet their sho,  
all dirt and mire some wallow head, as spaniels love to do.   

3  
Though boots & spurs be never so foul what passeth some thereon  
what place they foil, what thing they tear, by tumbling thereupon.   

4  
Fowl male some cast on fair board, be carpet near so clean,  
what manners careless master hath, by knave his man is seen.   

5  
Some make the Chimney chamber pot, to smell like filthy sink,  
yet who so bold so soon to say, fough how these houses stink.   

6  
They therefore such as make no force, what cleanly thing they spill  
must have a kabben like themselves, although against their william.   

7  
But gentlemen will gently do, where gentleness is showed,  
observing this, with love abide, or else hence all beshrewd.    

Posies for thine own bed Chamber.  

1  
WHat wisdom more, what better life, than pleaseth God to sand  
what worldly goods, what longer use than pleaseth god to lend   

2  
What better fare than well content, what mirth to quiet wealth,  
what better gest than trusty friend, in sickness and in health?   

3  
What better bed than quiet rest, to pass the night with fleepe,  
what better work than daily care, fro sin thyself to keep.   

4  
What better thought than think on God, & daily him to serve,  
what better gift than to the poor, that ready be to starve?   

5  
What greater praise of God and man, than hatred to forsake,  
what merciless shall mercy get, that mercy none will take.   

6  
What worse despair than loath to die, for fear to go to Hell,  
what greater faith than trust in god, through christ in heaven to dwell.    

Principal points of Religion.  

1 TO prey to God continually.  
2 To learn to know him rightfully.  
3 To honour God in Trinity, 

The Trinity in Unity,  
The Father in his Majesty,  
The Son in his humanity,  
The Holy ghosts benignity,    
4 To serve him always holily.  
5 To ask him all thing needfully.  
6 To praise him always worthily.  
7 To love him always steadfastly.  
8 To dread him always fearfully.  
9 To ask him mercy heartily.  
10 To trust him always faithfully.  
11 To obey him always willingly.  
12 To abide him always patiently.  
13 To thank him always fatherly.  
14 To live here always virtuously.  
15 To use thy neighbour honestly.  
16 To look for death still presently.  
17 To help the poor in misery.  
18 To hope for heavens felicity.  
19 To have faith, hope, and charity.  
20 To count this life but vanity. 

be points of Christianity.      

¶ The husband man's belief.  

1  
THis is my steadfast Creed, my faith and all my trust,  
that in the heavens there is a God, most mighty true & just.  
That made the hanging Skies, so decked with divers lights,  
of darkness made the cheerful days, and all our restful nights,   

2  
That clad this earth with herb, with trees of sundry fruits,  
with beast, with bird, both wild & tame, of strange & sundry suits  
That intermixed the same, with mines (like veins) of ore:  
of silver, gold, or precious stones, and treasures many more.   

3  
That joined brooks to Dales, to Hills fresh water springs:  
with Rivers sweet alongst the Medes to profit many things.  
That made the hoary Frosts, the flaky Snows so trim,  
the honey dews, the blustering wind to serve as pleaseth him.   

4  
That made the surging Seas, in course to ebb and flow:  
that skilful man with sailing ship, might travel to and fro.  
And stored so the same, for man's unthankful sake,  
that every nation under heaven, might thereby profit take.   

5  
That sendeth thundering claps, like terrors out of Hell,  
that man may know what God it is that in the heavens doth devil  
That sendeth threatening plagues to keep our lives in awe,  
his benefits if we forget, or do contemn his law.   

6  
This is that Lord of hosts, the father of us all,  
the maker of what ere was made, my God, on whom I call.  
Which for the love of man, sent down his only Son,  
begot of him before the worlds were any whit begun.   

7  
This entered Mary's womb, as faith affirmeth sure.  
conceived by the holy ghost, borne of that virgin pure,  
This was both God and man, of jews the hoped king,  
and lived here, save only sin, like man in every thing.   

8  
This was that virgin's child, that same most holy priest,  
that Lamb of God the Prophet great, whom scripture calleth Christ.  
This that Messiah was, of whom the Prophet spoke,  
that should tread down the serpent's head, & our atonement make.   

9  
This judas did betray to false dissembling jews:  
which unto Pilate being judge, did falsely him accuse.  
Who (through that wicked judge) and of those jews despite,  
condemned and tormented was with all the power they might.   

10  
To living wight more ill what could such wretches do?  
more piercing wounds, more bitter pains, than they did put him to.  
They crowned him with thorn that was the king of kings,  
that thought to save the soul of man above all worldly things.   

11  
This was the Paschal lamb, whose love for us so stood,  
that on the mount of Caluerine, did shed for us his blood.  
Where hanging on the Cross, no shame he did forsake,  
till death given him by piercing spear, an end of life did make.   

12  
This joseph seeing dead, the body thence did crave,  
and took it forthwith from the Cross, and laid it in his grave.  
Down thence he went to hell, in using there his will,  
his soul I mean, his slayed corpse, in Tomb remaining still.   

13  
From death to life again, the third day this did rise,  
and seen on earth to his elect, times often in sundry wise.  
And after into heaven, ascend he did in sight,  
and sitteth on the right hand there of God the father of might.   

14  
Where for us wretches all, his father he doth pray,  
to take respect unto his death, and put our sins away.  
From thence with sounded trump, which noise all flesh shall dread,  
he shall return with glory again, to judge the quick and dead.   

15  
Then shall that voice be heard, come come ye good to me,  
get you to hell you workers evil where pain shall ever be.  
This is that loving Christ, which I my Saviour call,  
and only put my trust in him, and in none else at all.   

16  
In God the holy ghost I firmly do believe,  
which from the father and the Son proceeding, life doth give.  
Which by the prophets spoke, which doth all comfort send,  
which I do trust shallbe my guide, when this my life shall end.   

17  
A holy Catholic Church, on earth I grant there is,  
and those which frame their lives by that, shall never speed amiss.  
The head whereof is Christ, his word the chiefest post,  
preserver of this Temple great, is God the holy ghost.   

18  
I do not doubt, there is a multitude of Saintes,  
more good is done resembling them, then showing them our plaints.  
Their faith and works in Christ, that glory them did give,  
which glory we shall likewise have, if likewise we do live.   

19  
At God of Heaven there is, forgiveness of our sins,  
through Christ's death, through faith in it, & through none other give  
If we (whiles here we live) repentant mercy crave,  
through stead fast hope & faith in Christ, forgiveness we shall have.   

20  
I hope and trust upon the rising of the flesh:  
this corpse of mine (that first must die) shall rise again afresh.  
The body and soul even then, in one shall joined be:  
As Christ did rise from death to life, even so through Christ shall we.   

21  
As Christ is glorified, and never more shall die,  
As Christ ascended is to heaven, through Christ even so shall I  
As Christ I count my head, and I a member of his:  
so God I trust for Christ his sake, shall settle me in bliss.  
Thus here we learn of God, that there be persons three,  
the Father, Son, the holy ghost, one God in trinity.  
In substance all like one, one God, one Lord, one might:  
whose persons yet we do divide, and so we may by right.  
As God the father is, the maker of us all:  
so God the Son redeemer is, to whom for help we call.  
And God the Holy ghost, doth make us pure and clean:  
and moveth us to wail for grace, we being over seen.  
This is that God of Gods, whom every soul should love:  
whom all men's hearts should quake for fear, his wrath on them to move  
That this same mighty God, above all other chief,  
shall save my soul from doleful Hell, is all my whole belief.    

Of the omnipotency of God and debility of man.  

1  
O God thou glorious god what god is like to thee,  
what life, what strength is like to thine, as all the world may see?  
Thy heavens, thine earth, the Seas, and all thy works therein,  
do show to whom thou wouldst to know what thou hast ever been.   

2  
But all the thoughts of man are bend to wretched evils,  
man doth commit Idolatry, bewitched of the Devils.  
What evil is left undone, where man may have his will:  
man ever was an hypocrite, and ever will be still.   

3  
What daily watch is made, the soul of man to slay,  
by Lucifer, by Balsabub, Mammon, and Asmode.  
In devilish pride, in wrath, in covering to much,  
in fleshly lust, the time is spent, the life of man is such.   

4  
The joy that here he hath, is as a spark of fire,  
his acts be like the smouldering smoke, himself but dirt and mire:  
His strength even as a reed, his age like to the flower,  
his breath or life is but a puff, uncertain every hour.   

5  
But for the Holy ghost, and for his gifts of grace,  
the death of Christ, the mercy great, man were in woeful case.  
O grant us therefore Lord, tamende that is a miss,  
and when from hence we do departed, to rest with thee in bliss,   
Th. Thusser.  
FINIS.   

Note that those staves which be marked with this mark or Paraph (¶) before them, do appertain to housewifery, & are fitly intermixed with husbandry for the apt time and use of them.   

The table to Husbandry  

THe Preface. fo. 2  
The commodity of husbandry. fo. 2  
The praise of husbandry fo. 2  
The Epistle to the Lord Paget. fo. 3  
The Epistle to the reader fo. 3  
The description of husbandry. fo. 4  
The Ladder to thrift. fo. 4  
xxiiii. Lessons alway to be observed. fo. 5  
Husbandry for August. fo. 7  
Husbandry for September fo. 9  
Husbandry for October. fo. 10  
Husbandry for November fo. 10  
Husbandry for December. fo. 11  
A digression. so 12  
A description of time and the year. fo. 12  
A description of life & riches. fo. 12  
A description of housekeeping fo. 13  
A description of Christmas. fo. 13  
A description of apt time to spend fo. 13  
Against fantastical scruplenes. fo. 14  
Christmas husbandly fare fo. 14  
Husbandry for january fo. 14  
Husbandry for February fo. 16  
Husbandry for March. fo. 17  
Husbandry for April fo. 18  
Husbandry for May fo. 18  
Husbandry for june fo. 20  
Husbandry for july, fo. 20  
The kindly property of every month. fo. 22  
A comparison between good husbandry and evil fo. 20  
A Sonnet fo. 23  
A comparison between Champion and Several. fo. 23    

The table to housewifery.  

THe Preface fo. 26  
The praise of housewifery fo. 26  
The Epistle to the lady Paget. fo. 26  
A description of housewife and housewifery. fo. 27  
Twenty Lessons alway to be observed. fo. 27  
A digression of Cock crowning. fo. 28  
housewifery before breakfast or morning works fo. 29  
housewifery between breakfast & dinner or forenoon works. fo. 29  
Dinner. fo. 32  
After noon works fo. 33  
Evening works. fo. 34  
Supper. fo. 34  
Works after supper fo. 35  
The Ploughman's feasting days fo. 36  
The good huswifely physic. fo. 36  
The good motherly nurssery. fo. 37  
What children should be trained up in Music. fo. 37  
A Sonnet to the Lady Paget fo. 38  
A comparison between good housewifery and evil. fo. 38  
Husbandly poesies for the hall. fo. 39  
Poesies for the Parlour. fo. 39  
Poesies for the Geastes Chamber. fo. 40  
Poesies for the bed chamber. fo. 40  
Principal points of religion. fo. 41  
The Husbandman's belief fo. 41  
Of the omnipotency of God, and debility of man. fo. 43   
FINIS.   

Imprinted at London in Fleetstreet within Temple bar at the sign of the Hand and star, by Richard Tottel. Anno. 1570.  
Cum privilegio.