Five hundredth points of good husbandry united to as many of good housewifery, first devised, & now lately augmented with diverse approved lessons concerning hops & gardening, and other needful metters together with an abstract before every month, containing the whole effect of the said month with a table & a preface in the beginning both necessary to be read, for the better understanding of the book: Set forth by Thomas Tusser gentleman, servant to the honourable Lord Paget of Beudesert.  
Imprinted at London in Flete street within Temple bar at the sign of the Hand & star, by Richard Tottill, anno. 1573.  
Cum Privilegio.   

¶ The Table containing the contents of this book with a lesson how to confer every abstract with his month.  

1 THe Epistle to the Lord Thomas Paget second son & now heir to the late lord William Paget his father. fol. 1.  
2 The Epistle to the lord William Paget deceased & the occasion first of this book. fol. 3.  
3 The Epistle to the reader. fol. 4.  
4 The preface: fol. 5.  
5 The commodity of husbandry ●ol. eodem  
6 The praise of husbandry by a ●iddle. eodem  
7 The description of husband & husbandry. fol. 6.  
8 The ladder of xxxiiij steps to thrift. eodem  
9 Good husbandly lessons worthy to be 〈…〉 such as will thrive. fol. 7.  
10 An habitation enforced advisedly, 〈…〉 never made upon these words, sit down Ro●●n & 〈…〉. fo. 11  
11 Septembers abstract. eodem  
12 Septembers husbandry with the 〈◊〉 furniture. 〈◊〉 the ●arne, stable, plough, cart, 〈…〉 together with the manner of gathering hops, drying & keeping them. fol. 14.  
13 October'S abstract. 20.  
14 October'S husbandry. 21.  
15 Nouembers abstract 22.  
16 Nouembers husbandry. 23.  
17 December's abstract 24.  
18 December's husbandry 25.  
19 A digression directing to hospitality 27.  
20 A description of time & the year eodem  
21 A description of life & riches. eodem  
22 A description of house keeping fol. 28.  
23 A description of Christmas eodem  
24 A description of apt time to spend eodem  
25 Against fantastical scruplenesse fol. 29  
26 Christmas husbandly fare eodem  
27 A Christmas carol eodem  
28 Januaries abstract & at the end thereof divers forts of trees & fruits to be their set or removed following the order of the alphabet to cross row. fol. 30.  
29 januaries husbandry fol. 32  
30 Februaries abstract fol. 36  
31 Februaries husbandry fol. 37  
32 Marches abstract & at the end thereof, the names of seeds, herbs, flowers and roots than to be sown or set, unless the time be otherwise noted by express words, as well for kitchen herbs, stroweing herbs & flowers, as herbs to still & for physic, set after the order of the alphabet or cross row. fol. 38  
33 Marches husbandry with the manner of setting hops. fol. 42  
34 April's abstract fol. 44  
35 April's husbandry with a lesson for dairy maid Cisseley & of x.  
36 Toppins gests in her white meat, better lost than found. eod.  
37 Mayes abstract fol. 46  
38 May's husbandry fol. 47  
39 junes abstract fol. 49  
40 junes husbandry with a lesson to choose a meet plot for hops & how then to be doing with the same fol. 50  
41 julies' abstract fol. 52  
42 July's husbandry & hay harvest eodem  
43 August's abstract fol. 53  
44 august's husbandry & corn harvest fol. 54  
45 The conclusion of the whole book set out in .12. verses every word beginning with a T. the first letter of the Author's name. fol. 56  
46 Man's age divided into twelve prenticeships eedem  
47 A brief description of thinclination of man's age by the similitude of the Ape, Lion, Fox & the Ass fol. 57  
48 A comparison between woodland & Champion fol. 58   
Thus endeth the table of husbandry.   


In every month, ere in aught be begun,  
Read over the month, what avails to be done  
So neither this travel, shall seem to be lost:  
Nor thou to repent, of this trifling cost.   

The figure of abstract, & month do agreed,  
Which one to another, relations be,  
The lessons that after those figures do stand:  
Be points of themselves, to be taken in hand.    

To the right honourable & my special good Lord & Master, the Lord Paget of Beudesert. Chap. 1.  

MI Lord your father loved me,  
and you my lord, have proved me,  
And both your loves have moved me,  
to wright as here is done:  
Since God hath hence your father,  
such flowers as I gather,  
I dedicated now rather,  
to you my Lord his son,   

Your father was my founder,  
till death become his wonder,  
no subject ever sounder,  
whom prince advancement gave:  
As God did here defend him,  
and honour here did sand him.  
so will I here commend him,  
as long as life I have.   

His neighbours than did bliss him,  
his servants now do miss him,  
the poor would gladly kiss him,  
alive again to be:  
But God hath wrought his pleasure,  
and blest him out of measure,  
with heaven & earthly treasure,  
so good a god is he.   

His counsel had I used,  
and Ceres art refused,  
I need not thus have mused,  
nor droop as now I do:  
But I must play the farmer,  
and yet no whit the warmer,  
although I had his armer,  
and other comfort to.   


Aesop's fable  The fox doth make me mind him,  
whose glory so did blind him,  
till tail cut of behind him,  
no fare could him content:  
even so, must I be proving,  
such glory I had in loving,  
of things to plough behoving,  
that makes me now repent.   

Loiterers I kept so meany,  
both philip hob & cheany,  
that that way nothing geany,  
was thought to make me thrive:  

Sallust.  Like jugurth Prince of Numid,  
my gold away consumid,  
with losses so perfum'id,  
was never none alive.   

Great fines, so near did pair me,  
great rent, so much did scare me,  
great charge, so long did dare me,  
that made me at length cry creak:  
Much more of all such fleeses,  
as often I lost by pieces,  
among such wiely geeses,  
I list no longer speak.   

Though country health long stayed me,  
yet lease expiering frayed me,  
and (ictus sapit) prayed me,  
to seek more steady stay:  
New lessons than I noted,  
and some of old I quoted,  
lest some should think I doted,  
by bringing nought away.   

Though Pallas hath denied me,  
her learned pen to guide me,  
for that she daily spied me,  
with country how I stood:  
yet Ceres, so did bold me,  
with her good lessons told me, 
Ceres' the Goddess of husbandry.   
that rudeness cannot hold me,  
from doing country good.   

By practice & ill speeding,  
these lessons had their breeding,  
and not by hear say or reeding,  
as some abroad have blown,  
who, will not thus believe me,  
so much the more they grieve me,  
because they grudge to geive me,  
that is of right mine own.   

At first for want of teaching,  
at first for trifles breaching,  
at first for over reaching,  
and lack of taking hid:  
was cause, that toil so tossed me,  
that practise so much cost me,  
that rashness so much lost me,  
or hindered as it did.   

Yet will I not despair,  
through God's good gift so fair,  
through friendship, gold & prayer,  
in Country again to devil:  
Where rent so shall not pain me,  
but pain shall help to gain me,  
and gain shall help maintain me,  
new lessons more to tell.   

For City seems a wringer,  
the penny for to finger,  
from such as there do linger,  
or for their pleasure lie:  
Though country be more painful,  
and not so greedy gainful,  
yet is it not so vainefull,  
in following fancies eye.   

I have no labour wanted,  
to prune this tree I planted,  
whose fruit to none is scanted,  
in house nor yet in field:  
Which fruit to say (who haste of)  
though near so much they taste of,  
yet can they make no waste of,  
such fruit this tree doth yield.   

This tree or book thus framed,  
with title already named,  
I trust goes forth unblamed,  
in your good Lordship's name:  
As my good Lord I take you,  
and never will forsake you,  
so now I crave to make you,  
defender of the same.   
Your most humble servant Thomas Tusser.   

The author's epistle to the late Lord william Paget, wherein be doth discourse of his own bringing up, and of the goodness of the said Lord his Master unto him, and the occasion of this his book, thus set forth of his own long practice. Chap. 2.  

T Time tryth the troth, in every thing  
H How ever man, doth blaze his mind,  
O Of works, which best way profit bring,  
M Men rash to judge, seem of ten blind.  
A As therefore troth, in time shall crave:  
SAINT So let this book, just favour have.   

T Take you my Lord, & Master than,  
V Unless mischance mischansith 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 ever more.   

M My serving you, thus understand,  
A And God his help and yours with all:  
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 Cambridge taught,  
Of court ten years I made assay:  
Not music then, was left unsought,  
Such care I had, to serve that way.  
when joy 'gan slake, 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 a vow,  
I crave, it judged be by you.   
Your servant Thomas Tusser.   

To the Reader Chap. 3.  

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 huswiferye,  
as cock & hen  
to country men,  
all strangeness gone  
might join in one  
As lovers should.   

I trust both this,  
performed is,  
and how that here,  
it shall appear,  
with judgement right  
to thy delight  
is brought to pass:  
That such as wive  
and feign would thrive,  
be plainly taught  
how good from nought,  
may trim be tried  
and lively spied  
as in a glass.   

What should I win  
by wrighting in,  
my losses past  
that ran as fast,  
as running stream  
from ream to ream,  
that flows so swift:  
For that I could  
not get for gold,  
to teach me how  
as this doth you,  
through daily gain,  
the way so plain,  
to come by thrift.   

What is a groat  
or twain to note,  
once in the life  
for man or wife,  
to save a pound  
in house or ground  
each other week:  
What more for health,  
what more for wealth,  
what needeth less  
run jack, help Bess,  
to stay a miss  
not having this  
far of to seek.   

I do not crave  
more thanks to have,  
then given to me  
all ready be,  
but this is all  
to 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  
therein to look.   

And grant me now  
thou reader thou,  
of terms to use  
such choice to choose,  
as may delight  
the country wight  
& knowledge bring:  
For such do praise  
the country phrayse,  
the counttey acts  
the country facts,  
the country toys  
before the joys  
of any thing.   

Nor look thou here  
that every shear,  
of every verse  
I thus rehearse,  
may profit take,  
or vantage make  
by lessons such:  
For here, we see  
things several be,  
and there, no dyke  
but champion like,  
and sandy soil  
and clayey toil  
do differ much.   

This being weighed  
be not afraid,  
to buy to prove  
to read with love,  
to follow some  
and so to come  
by practice true:  
My pain is past  
thou warning haste,  
thexperience mine  
the vantage thine,  
may give the choice  
to cry or rejoice,  
and thus adieu.   
Finis.  
T. Tusser.   

The Preface. Chap. 4.  

WHat lookest thou herein to have,  
fine verses thy fancy to please?  
Of many my betters that crave,  
Look nothing but rudeness in these.   

What other thing lookest thou then?  
Grave sentences many to find?  
Such poets have twenty and ten  
Yea thousands contenting the mind.   

what look ye (I pray you show what?)  
Terms painted with rhetoric fine?  
Good husbandry seeketh not that,  
Nor is't any meaning of mine.   

what lookest thou (speak at the last)  
Good lessons for thee and thy wife?  
Then keep them in memory fast,  
To help as a comfort to life.   

What look ye for more in my book?  
Points needful and meet to be known?  
Then daily be sure to look,  
To save to be sure thine own.    

The commodities of Husbandry. chap. 5.  
Let house have to fill her,  
Let land have to till her.  
Not dwellers, what profiteth houses to stand,  
what goodness, unoccupied bringeth the land.  
No labour no bread,  
No host we be dead.  
No husbandry used, how soon shall we starve,  
housekeeping 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.   

The praise of Husbandry. Chap 6.  
As true as thy faith,  
this Riddle thus saith.  
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 shipman, there also was I  
The earth is my storehouse, the sea my fyshponde,  
what good is in either, by me it is fond,  
What hath any life, but I help to preserve,  
what wight without me, but is ready to starve.  
In woodland, in Champion, City or town,  
if long I be absent, what falleth not down.  
If long I be present, what goodness can want,  
though things at my coming, were never so scant.  
So many as love me, & use me aright,  
with treasure & pleasure, I richly acquit.  
Great kings I do succour, else wrong would it go,  
the king of all kings, hath appointed it so.   

The description of husbandry. Chap. 7.  

Of husband, doth husbandry challenge that name  
of husbandry, husband doth likewise the same.  
where housewife & housewifery, joineth with these:  
there wealth in abundance, is gotten with ease.   

The name of a husband, what is it to say,  
of wife & the household, the band & 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 & housholdry, I do define,  
for folk & the goods, that in house be of thine.  
House keeping to them, as a refuge is set:  
which like as it is, such report it doth get.   

Be house or the furniture, never so rude,  
of husband & husbandry, (thus I conclude)  
with housewife & housewifery, if it be good,  
must pleasure together, as cousins in blood.    

The Ladder to thrift. chap. 8.  

1  
TO take chy calling thankfully,  
and shoonne the path to beggary.   

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

3  
To count no travel slavery,  
that brings in penny savourly.   

4  
To follow profit earnestly,  
but meddle not with pilfery.   

5  
To get by honest practisy,  
and keep thy gettings covertly.   

6  
To lash not out too lashingly,  
for fear of pinching penury.   

7  
To get good plot to occupy,  
and store & use it husbandly.   

8  
To show to landlord courtesy,  
and keep thy covenants orderly.   

9  
To hold that thine is lawfully,  
for stoutness, or for flattery.   

10  
To wed good wife for company,  
and live in wedlock honestly.   

11  
To furnish house with housholdry,  
and make provision skilfully.   

12  
To join to wife good family,  
and none to keep for bravery.   

13  
To suffer none live idly,  
for fear of idle knavery.   

14  
To courage wife in housewifery,  
and use well doers gently.   

15  
To keep no more but needfully,  
and count excess unsavoury   

16  
To raise betimes up readily,  
both snorting Hob & Margery.   

17  
To walk thy pastures usually,  
to spy ill neighbour's subtlety.   

18  
To hate revengement hastily,  
for losing love & amity.   

19  
To live by neighbour neighbourly,  
and show him no discurtesy.   

20  
To answer stranger cively,  
but show him not thy secrecy.   

21  
To use no friend deceitfully,  
and offer no man villainy.   

22  
To learn how foe to pacify,  
but trust him not too trustily.   

23  
To keep thy touch substantially,  
and in thy word use constancy.   

24  
To make thy bands advisedly,  
and come not bond through surety.   

25  
To hate to live in infamy,  
through craft & living naughtily.   

26  
To banish house of blasphemy,  
lest Crosses cross unluckily.   

27  
To stop mischance, through policy,  
for chansing too unhappily.   

28  
To bear thy crosses patiently,  
for worldly things are slippery.   

29  
To train thy child up virtuously,  
that virtue, vice may qualify.   

30  
To bridle wild oats fantazye,  
to spend thee nought unthriftily.   

31  
To pray to god continually,  
to aid thee against thine enemy.   

32  
To spend the Saboth holily,  
and help the poor in misery.   

33  
To live in conscience quietly,  
and keep thyself from malady.   

34  
To ease thy sickness speedily,  
ere help be past recovery.   

These be the steps unfeignedly:  
to climb to thrift by husbandry.   

These steps both reach  

The lesson.  and teach thee shall,  
to come by thrift,  
to shift with all.    

Good Husbandly lessons worthy to be followed of such as will thrive. Chap. 9  

GOd sendeth & giveth, both mouth & the meat,  
and feedeth us all, with his benefits great.  
Serve willingly god, that so richly doth give,  
show leave to thy neighbour, & lay for to leave.   

2  
True wedlock is best, 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 ranker & strife,  
where such be together, is seldom good life.  
where coopples in wedlock, do lovely agreed:  
there foison remaineth if wisdom there be.   

4  
Who looketh to marry, must lay to keep house,  
for love may not always, be playing with douse.  
If children increase, & no stay of thine own,  
what afterwards follows, is soon to be known.   

5  
Once charged with children, or likely to be,  
give over to sudgerne, that thinkest to thee.  
Lest grudging of hosts, & craving of nurse:  
be costly & noisome, to thee & thy purse.   

6  
Good husbands that loveth, good houses to keep  
are oftentimes careful, when others do sleep. 
Thee for thrive.   
To spend as they may, or to stop at the first,  
for running in danger, or fear of the worst.   

7  
Go count with thy coefers, when harvest is in,  
which way for thy profit, to save or to win.  
of tone of them both, if a saver we smell:  
house keeping is godly, where ever we devil.   

8  
Son, think not thy money, purse bottom to burn  
but keep it for profit, to serve thine own turn.  
a fool & his money, be soon at debate:  
which after with sorrow, reputes him to late.   

9  
Good bargain a doing, make privy but few,  
in selling, refrain not abroad it to show.  
in making make haste, & a way to thy pouch:  
in selling no haste, if ye dare it avouch.   

10  
Good landlord who findeth, is blessed of god,  
a cumbersome landlord, is husband man's rod.  
he noyeth, destroyeth & all to this drift,  
to strip his poor tenant, of farm & of thrift.   

11  

4 beggars  Once placed for profit, look never for ease  
except ye beware of, such mychers as these.  
unthriftnes, slothfulness, careless & rash,  
that thrusteth thee headlong, to run in the lash.   

12  

Thrifts officers.  Make money thy drudge, for to follow thy wark  
make wisdom controller, good order thy clerk.  
provision Cater, & skill to be cook:  
make steward of all, pen & ink & thy book.   

13  
Make hunger thy sauce, as a medcen for health,  
make thirst to be butler, as physic for wealth.  
make eye to be usher, good usage to have:  
make bolt to be porter, to keep out a knave.   

14  
Make husbandry bailie, abroad to provide,  
make housewifery daily, at home for to guide  
make coefer fast locked, thy treasure to keep:  
make house to be sure, the safer to sleep.   

15  
Make bandog thy scoutwach, to bark at a thief  
make courage for life, to be captain chief.  
make trap-door thy bulwark, make bell to begin:  
make gunstone & a-row, show who is within.   

16  
The credit of master, to brothel his man,  
and also of mistress, to minnekin nan,  
be causers of opening, a number of gaps:  
that letteth in mischief, & many mishaps.   

17  
Good husband he trudgeth, to bring in the gains  
good housewife she drudgeth refusing no pains,  
though husband at home be to count ye wots what  
yet housewife within, is as needful as that.   

18  
What helpeth in store, to have never so much,  
half lost by ill usage, ill housewives & such.  
so, twenty load bushes, cut down at a clapp:  
such heed may be taken, shall stop but a gap.   

19  
A reachelesse servant, a mistress that skowles,  
a ravening mastiff, & hogs that eat fowls,  
a giddy brain master, & stroy all his knave:  
brings rueling to ruwen, & thrift to her grave.   

20  
With some upon Sundays, their tables do reek  
and half the week after, their dinners to seek.  
not often exceeding, but always enough:  
is husbandly fare, and the guise of the plough.   

21  
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 the beloved, & live the more long.   

22  
Things husbandly handsome, let workman contrive  
but build not for glory, that thinkest to thrive.  
who fond in doing, consumeth his stock:  
in th'end for his folly, doth get but but a mock.   

23  
Spend none but your own, how soever ye spend  
for bribing & shifting, have seldom good end.  
Tithe duly & truly, with hearty good will:  
that god & his blessing, may devil with thee still.   

24  
Be surety seldom, (but never for much)  
for fear of purse penyles, hanging by such.  
Or skarborow warning, as ill I believe,  
when (Sir I arrest ye) gets hold of thy sleeve.   

25  
Use (legem pone) to pay at thy day,  
but use not Oremus, for often delay.  
Yet (Presta quesumus) out of a grate:  
of all other collets, the lender doth hate.   

26  
Who living but lends, & be lent to they must,  
else buying & selling, might lie in the dust.  
But shameless & crafty, that desperate are:  
make many full honest, the worse to far.   

27  
At sometime to borrow, account it no shame,  
if justly thou keepest, thy touch for the same.  
who quick be to borrow, & slow be to pay:  
their credit is nought, go they never so gay.   

28  
who breaketh his credit, or cracketh it twice,  
trust such with a surety, if ye be wise.  
Or if he be angry, for ask thy due:  
once even, to him afterward, lend not a new.   

29  
Account it well sold, that is justly well paid,  
& count it well bought, that is never denayed.  
But yet here is tone, here is to there doth best:  
for buyer & seller, for quiet & rest.   

30  
Leave princes affairs, untalked upon,  
& tend to such doings, as standeth thee on.  
In substance, although ye have never so much,  
delight not in parasites, harlots & such.   

31  
As Interest or usury, playeth the drevel,  
so, hilb ack & filbelly, byeteth as evil.  
Put dyesing among them, & docking the dell,  
& all thy life long, of a beggar go smell.   

32  
Once weekly remember, thy charges to cast,  
once monthly see how, thy expenses may last.  
If quarter declareth, too much to be spent,  
for fear of ill year, take advise of thy rent.   

33  
who orderly entereth, his payments in book,  
may orderly find them, again if he look.  
And he that intendeth, but once for to pay:  
sbal find this in doing, the quietest way.   

34  
In dealing uprightly, this council I teach,  
first reckon, then writ, or to purse ye do reach.  
then pay & dispatch him, as soon as ye can,  
for lingering is hindrance to many a man.   

35  
Have weights I advise thee, for silver & gold  
for some be in knavery, now adays bold.  
and for to be sure, good money to pay:  
receive that is currant, as near as ye may.   

36  
Delight not for pleasure, two houses to keep,  
lest charge without measure, upon thee do creep,  
and jankin & jenykin, cozen thee so:  
to make thee repent it, or year about go.   

37  
The stone that is rolling, can gather no moss,  
who often removeth, is sure of loss.  
the rich it compelleth, to pay for his pride,  
the poor, it undoth on every side.   

38  
The eye of the master, enritcheth the hutch,  
the eye of the mistress, availeth as much.  
which eye, if it governs with reason & skill:  
hath servant & service, at pleasure & william.   

39  
Who seeketh revengement, of every wrong,  
in quiet nor safety, continueth long.  
so he that of wilfulness, trieth the law:  
shall strive for a coxcomb, & thrive as a daw.   

40  
To hunters & hawkers, take heed what ye say  
mild answer with courtesy, drives them away.  
so, where a man's better, will open a gap:  
resist not with rudeness, for fear of mishap.   

41  
A man in this world, for a churl that is known  
shall hardly in quiet, keep that is his own.  
where lowly & such as of courtesy smells:  
finds favour & friendship, where ever he dwells.   

42  
Keep truly thy Saboth, the better to speed,  
keep servant fro gadding, but when it is need.  
keep fyshday & fastingday, as they do fall:  
what custom thou keepest, let others keep all.   

43  
Pay weakly thy workman, his household to feed,  
pay quarterly servants, to buy as they need.  
give garment to such, as deserve & no more:  
lest thou and thy wife, without garment do go.   

44  
Beware raskabilia, slothful to work,  
proloyners & filchers, that loveth to lurk.  
away with such lubbers, so loath to take pain:  
that rolls in expenses, but never no gain.   

45  
Good wife, & good children, are worthy to eat,  
good servant, good labourer, earneth their meat.  
good friend & good neighbour, that fellowly gest:  
with heartily welcome, should have of the best.   

46  
The greatest preferment, that child we can give  
is learning & nurture, to train him to live.  
which who so it wanteth, though left as a squire:  
consumeth to nothing, as block in the fire.   

47  
These lessons approved, if wisely ye note,  
may save & advantage ye, many a groat.  
which if ye can follow, occasion found,  
than every lesson may save thee a pound.    

An habitation enforced advisedly to be followed better late than never: made upon these words, sit down Robin and rest thee. Cap. 10.  
MY Friend if cause doth wrist thee,  
(ere folly hath much oppressed thee)  
Far from acquaintance kest thee,  
where country may digest thee.  
Let wood & water request thee,  
In good corn soil to nest thee,  
where pasture and mead may breast thee,  
And helthsom air invest thee.  
Though envy shall detest thee,  
Let that no whit molest thee,  
thank God that so hath blest thee,  
And sit down Robin and rest thee.   

Septembers abstract. Cap. 11.  

September blow soft,  
Till fruit be in lost.   

Forgotten month past,  
Do now at the last.   

1  
GOod farm now take,  
Keep still or forsake.   

2  
What helps revive,  
The thriving to thrive.   

3  
Blow, fence, & store,  
Aught else before.   

4  
By titts and such,  
Few gaineth much.   

5  
Horse strong & light,  
soon charges quite.   

Light head & purse,  
what lightness worse.   

6  
Few lends but fools,  
their working tools.   

7  
For stable & barn,  
what furniture learn.   

What more doth need,  
hear mayst thou reed.  
¶ Read still down lower,  
till twenty & four.   

25  
Take shipping or ride,  
lent stuff to provide.   

26  
Let Haberden lie,  
in pease straw dry.   

27  
Lay muck out of hand,  
upon Barley land.   

28  
Some gain spy out,  
by riding about.   

Mark now of year,  
what cheap, what dear.   

29  
Some skill doth well,  
to buy & cell.   

Of thief who buyeth,  
in danger lieth.   

30  
Commodity known,  
abroad is blown.   

31  
At first hand buy,  
at third let lie.   

32  
Have money priest,  
to buy at the best.   

33  
Some cattle home bring,  
for Mighelmas spring.   

By hawk & hound,  
small profit is found.   

34  
Dispatch look home,  
to loitering mome.   

Provide or repent,  
milk kow for lent.   

35  
Now crone thy sheep,  
fat those ye keep.   

Leave milking old kow,  
fat aged up now.   

36  
Blow, burn or mow,  
great stubble low.   

Eat etche ere ye plough,  
with hog, sheep & kow.   

Mown hame a patch,  
get home to thatch.   

37  
Where Barley did grow  
strike, wheat to sow.   

Yet better I think,  
sow pease after drink.   

38  
Land telleth the plough,  
enough is enough.   

Each divers soil,  
hath divers toil.   

39  
Know ploughing land,  
let plough else stand.   

Some countries use,  
that some refuse.   

40  
Few after crop much,  
but nodyes & such.   

What croppers be,  
here look & see.   

Rye, Barley & Wheat,  
be croppers great.   

Though Oats do suck,  
yet pease do muck.   

41  
Still carydg is good,  
for timber & wood.   

Not longer delays,  
to mend the high ways.   

42  
Home fuel fet,  
learn where to set.   

43  
In piling of logs,  
make hovel for hogs.   

44  
Get home with the brake  
to brew with & bake.   

To cover the shed,  
dry, over the head.   

To lie under mow,  
to rot under Kow.   

45  
Grene Rye have some,  
ere Myhell come.   

46  
Grant soil her lust,  
sow Rye in the dust.   

Such seed ye sow,  
such reap or mow.   

47  
See corn sown in,  
to thick nor to thin.   

For want of seed,  
land bringeth weed.   

48  
Trench redge & forough,  
that water may through.   

With sling or bow,  
keep corn fro crow.   

49  
Cell butter & cheese,  
good fairs few lose.   

At fairs buy,  
home want to supply.   

50  
If hops look brown,  
go gather them down.   

But not in a dew,  
nor piddling with few.   

51  
Of Hops this knack,  
put in thy pack.   

Hops had thy fill,  
go cover his hill.   

52  
Take Hop to thy dole,  
but break not his pole   

53.  
Learn here thou stranger  
to frame hop manger.   

54  
Hop pole preserve,  
again to serve.   

Hop pole by & by,  
lay safe by & dry.   

Lest poles were scant,  
lay new to plant.   

55  
The Hops kell dried,  
will best abide.   

Hops dried in fit,  
ask tendance often.   

56  
Hops dried small cost,  
ill kept half lost.   

Hops soon be spilled,  
take heed, if thou wilt.   

57  
Amend marsh wall,  
Crab holes & all.   

58  
Geld Bulls & Rams,  
seaw ponds, mend dams.   

Cell webster thy wool,  
fruits gather, grapes pull.   

For fear of drabs,  
go gather thy crabs.   

59  
Pluck fruit to last,  
when Mighel is passed.   

60  
Forget it not.  
fruit bruised will rot.   

Light ladder & long,  
doth tree least wrong.   

Go gather with skill,  
and gather that william.   

61  
drive hive good coney,  
for were & honey.   

No driving of hive,  
till years past five.   

62  
Good dwelling give be,  
or hence goeth she.   

63  
Put boar into sty,  
for Halllontyde nigh.   

64  
With Boar good Sysse,  
let nought be amiss.   

65  
Karle Hemp left green,  
now pluck up clean.   

Drown hemp as ye need  
once had out seed.   

I pray thee good Kit,  
drown hemp in pit.   

66  
Of all the rest,  
white hemp is best.   

Let skilful be gotten,  
lest hemp prove rotten.   

67  
Set Strawberries wife,  
I love them for life.   

68  
Plant Resp & Rose,  
and such as those.   

69  
Go gather up Mast,  
ere time be past.   

Mast fats up swine,  
mast kills up kine.   

70  
Let hogs be roung.  
both old & young.   

71  
Not mast upon Oak,  
no longer un yoke.   

If hogg do cry,  
give ear & eye.   

72  
Hogs haunting corn,  
may not be borne.   

73  
Good neighbour thou,  
good custom allow.   

No scaring with dog,  
while mast is for hog.   

74  
Keep safely thy fence,  
scare break hedge thence.   

A drab & a knave,  
will proule to have.   

75  
Mark wind & moon,  
at night & noon.   

Some riggs the plough,  
some milks the Kow.   

Some peel some pilch,  
some linen filch.   

76  
Read kur or black,  
few proulers lack.   

77  
Mark loss with grief,  
through prouling thief.   

78  
To saw pit draw,  
board long to saw.   

79  
Let log be hail,  
lest profit quail.   

Such board & pale,  
is ready sale.   

80  
Sawn slab let lie,  
for stable & sty.   

Saw dust spread thick,  
makes alley trick.   

¶ Now as ye wish,  
go sever thy fish.   

When friend shall come,  
to be sure of some.   

Thy ponds renew,  
put Geles in stew.   

To live till lent,  
and then to be spent.   

Set privy or prim,  
set bor like him.   

Set herbs some more,  
for winter store.   

Set gilly flowers all,  
that grows on the wall.   

Sow seeds for the pot,  
for flowers sow not.    

Chap. 12.  

Provide against Mighelmas, bargain to make  
For ferme to geive over, to keep or to take.  
In doing of either, let wit bear a stroke  
For buying or selling, of pig in the poke.   

2  
Good farm & well stoered, good howsing & dry  
Good corn & good dairy, good market and nigh.  
Good shepherd, good tilman, good jack & good Jill  
Makes husband and housewife, their coefers to fill.   

3  
Let pasture be stoered, and fenced about  
And tillage set forward, as needeth with out,  
Before ye do open, your purse to begin,  
with any thing doing, for fancy within.   

4  
No storing of pasture, with baggedgly tit,  
with ragged with aged, and evil athit.  
Let karren and barren, be shifted away,  
For best is the best, what so ever ye pay.   

5  
Horse, oxen, plough, tumbril, cart waggon & wain  
The lighter and stronger, the greater thy gain.  
The soil & the seed, with the sheaf and the purse,  
The lighter in substance, for profit the worse.   

6  
To borrow to day, and to morrow to miss  
For lender & borrower, noyance it is.  
Then have of thine own, with out lending unspilled  
Or borrow with sorrow, as long as thou wilt.   

7  
Barn locked, gofeladder, short pitchfork & long  

Barn furniture.  Flail, strapwork & rake, with a fan that is strong  
wing, cartnave & bushel, peck, strike ready hand:  
Brome, casting sholue, sack that is close with a band   

8  

Stable furniture.  A stable well planked, with key and a lock  
walls strongly well liened, to bear of a knock  
A rack & a manger, good litter & hay  
Sweet chaff & some provender every day.   

9  
A pitch fork a dung fork, sieve, skep & a been  
A broom and a pail, to put water there in,  
A handbarowe, whelebarowe, sholue & a spade,  
A currey comb, mainecombe, & whip for a jade.   

10  
A buttrice & pincers, a hamer & nail,  
an Apern & syssers, for head & for tail.  
Hole bridle & saddle, whit leather & awl:  
with collar & harness, for thyller and all.   

11  
A panel & wantey, packsaddle & bed,  
a line to fetch litter, & halters for head.  
with Crutches & pins, to hung trinkets there on:  
And stable fast chained, that nothing be gone.   

12  
Strong exeltred cartt, hat is clouted & shod,  
cart, ladder & wimble, with piercer & pod.  
wheel ladders for harvest, light pitchfork & tough  
shave, whyplash well knotted, & cart rope enough.   

13  
Ten sacks, where of ery one holdeth a come,  
a pulling hook handsome, for bushes & broom.  
Light Tumbril, a dung throne, for easing sir wag:  
sholue, pickax & mattock, with bottle & bag.   

14  
A Grynstone, a whetstone, a hatchet & bill,  
with hamer & English nail, sorted with skill. 
Husbandry fools.   
A frower of Iron, for cleaving of lath,  
with roll for a sawpyt, good husbandry hath.   

15  
A short saw, & long saw, to cut atoo logs, 
Plough furniture.   
an axe & a nads, to make troffe, for thy hogs.  
A Dover court beetle, & wedges with steel:  
strong leaver to raise up, the block fro the wheel.   

16  
Two blows & a plowchein, two. coulters, three shares  
with ground clouts, & side clouts, for soil that so tars.  
with oxbowes & oxyokes, & other things more:  
for oxteme & horseteme, in plough for to go.   

17  
A plough beetle, ploughstaff, to further the plough  
great clod to a sunder, that breaketh so rough.  
A sled for a plough, & another for blecks,  
for chimney in winter, to burn up their dacks,   

18.  
sedge collars for plowhorse, for lightness of neck  
good seed & good sower, & also sede peck.  
Strong oxen & horses, well shod & well clad,  
well meated & used, for making thee sad.   

19  
A barley rake toothed, with Iron & steel,  
like payer of harrows, & rowler doth we'll.  
A sling for a moether, a bow for a boy,  
a whip for a carter, is hoy de la roye.   

20  
A brush sith, & grass sith, with rifle to stand,  
a cradle for barley, with rubstone & sand.  
Sharp sickle & weeding hook, hayforke & rake,  
a meek for the pease, & to swinge up the brake.   

21  
Rakes also for barley, long toothed in head,  
and greater like toothed, for barley so shed.  
with scuttle or skreive, to rid soil fro the corn,  
and sharing shears ready, for sheep to be shorn.   

22  
Long Ladder to hung all along by the wall,  
to reach for a need, to the top of the hall.  
Beam, scales with the weights, that are sealed & true,  
sharp mowl spare with barbs, that the mole do so rue.   

23  
Hog yokes, & a twitcher, & rings for a hog.  
with tar in a pot, for the byeting of dog.  
A sheep mark, a tar ketle, little or mytch,  
two pottles of tar, to a pottle of pitch.   

24  
A fork & a hook, to be tampering in clay.  
a lath hamer, trowel, a hod or a tray.  
Strong fetters & shakkles, with horflock & pad,  
strong soles & such other things, meet to be had.   

25  
¶ When harvest is ended, take shipping or ride,  
ling, saltfish & herring, for lent to provide.  
To buy at the first, as it cometh to road,  
shall pay for thy charges thou spendest abroad.   

29  
Choose skilfully saltfish, not burnt at the stone,  
buy such as is good, or else let it alone.  
Get home that is bought, & go stack it up dry,  
with pease straw between it, the safer to lie.   

27  
ere ever ye journey, cause servant with speed,  
to compass thy barley land, where it is need.  
One acre well compassed, passeth some thre●:  
thy barn shall at harvest, declare it to thee.   

28  
This lesson is learned, by ryeding about,  
the prieses of victual, the year through out.  
Both what to be selling, & what to refrain,  
& what to be buying, to bring in again.   

29  
Though buying & selling, doth wonderful well,  
to such as have skill, how to buy & to sell.  
yet chopping & changing I cannot commend,  
with knave & his marrow, for fear of ill end.   

30  
The rich in his bargaining, needs not be taught,  
of buyer & seller, full far is he sought.  
Yet herein consisteth, a part of our text:  
who buyeth at first hand, at second & next.   

31  
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 buyeth of trust:  
at his hand who buyeth, shall pay for his lust.   

32  
As often as ye bargain, for better or worse,  
to buy it the cheaper, have thinks in thy purse.  
Touch kept is commended, yet credit to keep,  
is pay & dispatch him, oer ever ye sleep.   

33  
Be mindful abroad of a Mighelmas springe  
For there on dependeth, a husbandly thing,  
Though some have a pleasure, with hawk upon hand  
Good husbands get treasure, to purchas their land.   

34  
Thy market dispatched, 〈◊〉 home again round  
Lest gaping for penny, 〈…〉 fist a pound,  
Provide for thy wife, or else look to be shent  
Good m●●ch kow for winter, another for lent.   

35  
In traveling homeward, 〈◊〉 good crones,  
And fat up the bodies, of those selybones,  
Leave milking & dry up, old mulle thy cow,  
The crooked & aged, to fatting put now.   

36  
Some ploweth, some burneth, the wheat stubble low  
Some after their barely, la●e wheat for to sow,  
which ever thou mindest, now time it is best,  
Or spare it for cattles, & so let it rest.   

37  
Some useth the first year, a fallow to make,  
The next to sow barely, the better to take,  
Next that to sow pease, & the next to sow wheat,  
Then fallow again, or to pasture for neat.   

38  
Two crops & a fallow, enrichith the plough,  
Though tone be of pease, it is land good enough,  
One crop & a fallow, some soil will abide,  
where if ye say further, lay profit a side.   

39  
In Essex & Suffolk, such land I do know,  
where excellent rye is, as any can grow,  
In five year yet there of, a crop & away,  
If more ye do take, ye were better to play.   

40  
Still crop upon crop, many farmers do take  
And reap little profit, for greediness sake,  
Though wheat upon barely, a cropper is found,  
No cropper is pease, but a comfort to ground.   

41  
ere winter preventith, while weather is good  
For guttinge of pasture, get home with thy wood  
And carry out gravel, to fill up a hole.  
Both timber & furzen, the turf & the coal.   

42  
House, charkole & sedge, chip & turf of the land,  
Pile, tallwood & billet, stack all that hath band  
Block roots, pole & bough, set upright to the thetch  
The nearer, more handsome, in winter to fetch.   

43  
In stacking of bavin, & pieling of logs  
Make under thy bavin, a hovel for hogs,  
And warmly enclose it, all saving the mouth  
And that to stand open, & full to the south.   

44  
Get home with thy brakes, ere an summer be gone  
For teddered cattles, to sit there upon,  
To cover thy hovel, to brew & to bake  
To lie in the bottom, where mow ye do make.   

45  
thrash seed & to fanning, September doth cry  
get plough to the field, & be sowing of rye  
Go harrow the redgis, ere ever ye strike,  
This point of good husbandry, Suffolk doth like   

46  
Sow winter corn timely, to follow his lust,  
sow wheat as ye may, & the rye in the dust.  
Be careful of seed, or else such as ye sow,  
be sure at harvest, to reap or to mow.   

47  
Though beans be in sowing, but scattered in,  
yet wheat, rye & peason, I love not to thyu.  
Sow barley & dredge, with a plentiful hand:  
lest weed stead of seed, overgroweth thy land.   

48  
Seed husbandly sown, water sorrow thy ground  
that rain when it cometh, may run away round.  
Then stir about Nicholl, with a-row & bow,  
a penny for kill, of every Crow.   

49  
At Bartilmewtide, or at Sturberedge fair,  
buy that as is needful, thy house to repair.  
Then cell to thy profit, both butter & cheese,  
who buyeth it sooner, the more he shall lose.   

50  

Hops gathering.  If Hops do look brownish, then are ye to slow  
if longer ye suffer, those hops for to grow.  
Now, sooner ye gather, more profit is found,  
if weather be fair, & dew of a ground.   

51  
Not break of but cut of, from hop the hop string,  
leave growing a little, again for to spring.  
whose hill about pared, & therewith new clad,  
shall nourish more sets, against March to be had.   

52  
Hop hillock discharged, of every let,  
see then without breaking, each pole ye out get.  
which being untangled, above in the tops:  
go carry to such, as are plucking of hops.   

53  
Take sout which or hair (that covers the kell)  
set like to a manger, & fastoved well.  
with pole upon Crutches, as high as thy breast:  
for saving & riddance, is husbandry best.   

54  
Hops had, the hop poles, that are likely preserve,  
from rotting & breaking, again for to serve.  
And plant ye with alders, or willows some plot,  
where yearly as needeth, more poles may be got.   

55  
Some skilfully drieth, their hops on a kell, 
Hops drying.   
and some on a cellar, often turning them well.  
Kell dried will abide, foul weather or fair,  
where drying & lying, in fit do despair.   

56  
Some close them up dry, in a hogshead or fat, 
Keeping of Hops.   
yet canvas or sowtage, is better than that.  
By drying & lying, they quickly be spilled,  
thus much have I showed, do now as thou wilt.   

57  
Saint Mihel doth bid thee, amend the marsh wall  
the breck & the crab hole, the foreland & all.  
one noble in season, bestowed thereon.  
may save thee a hundred, ere winter be gone.   

58  
Now geld with the gelder, the ram & the bull,  
sew ponds, amend dams, & cell webster thy wool.  
Out fruit, go & gather, but not in the dew,  
with crab & the wall nut, for fear of a shraew.   

59  
The Moon in the wane, gather fruit for to last,  
but winter fruit gather, when Mighel is passed.  
Though mitchers that love not, to buy nor to crave  
make some gather sooner, else few for to have.   

90  
Fruit gathered to timely, will taste of the wood  
will shrink & be bitter, & seldom prove good.  
So fruit that is shaked, or beat of a tree:  
with bruising in falling, soon faulty will be.   

61  
Now burn up the Bees, that ye mind for to drive  
at midsummer drive them, & save them alive.  
Place hive in good air, set southly & warm:  
& take in due season, were, honey & swarm.   

62  
Set hive on a plank (not to low by the ground,  
where herb with the flowers, may compass it round,  
And boards to defend it, from north & north east:  
from showers & rubbish, from vermin & beast.   

63  
At Mighelmas safely, go sty up thy boar,  
Lest straying abroad, ye do see him no more.  
The sooner, the better, for Hallontyde nigh:  
and better he brawneth, if hard he do lie.   

64  
Shifted sty (for ill air) as best ye do think,  
and twice a day give him, fresh victual & drink.  
and diligent Cysle, my dairy good wench:  
make cleanly his cabin, for measling & stench.   

65  
Now pluck up the hemp, & go beaten out the seed  
and afterward water it, as ye see need.  
But not in the river, where cattle should drink,  
for poisoning them, & the people with stink.   

66  
Hemp huswifely used, looks cheerly & bright,  
and selleth itself, by the colour so white.  
Some useth to water it, some do it not,  
be skilful in doing, for fear it doth rot.   

67  
Wife into thy garden, & set me a plot,  
with strawberry roots, of the best to be got.  
Such growing abroad, among thorns in the wood  
well chosen & pyeked, prove excellent good.   

68  
The Barbery, respis & goosebery too,  
look now to be planted, as other things do.  
The goosebery, Respis & Roses all three:  
with strawberries under them, trimly agreed.   

69  
To gather some mast, it shall stand thee upon,  
with servant & children, er mast be all gone,  
Some left among bushes, shall pleasure thy swine:  
for fear of a mischief, keep acorns fro kine.   

70  
For rooting of pasture, ring hog ye had need,  
which being well ringled, the better do seed.  
Though young with their elders, will lightly keep best  
yet spare not to ringle, both great & the rest.   

71  
Yoke never thy swine, while the shacktime doth last,  
for divers misfortunes, that happen to fast.  
Or if ye do fancy, whole ear of the hog:  
give eye to ill neighbour, & ear to his dog.   

71  
Keep hog I advise thee, from meadow & corn,  
for out aloud crying, that ere he was borne.  
Such lawless so haunting, both often & long:  
if dog set him chanting, he doth thee no wrong.   

73  
where love among neighbours, do bear any stroke  
whiles shacktime endureth, men use not to yoke.  
yet surely ringling, is needful & good:  
till frost do invite them, to brakes in the wood.   

74  
Keep safely & warely, thine uttermost fence,  
with lope gap & break hedge, do seldom dispense.  
Such runabout proulers, by night & by day:  
see punished justly, for prouling away.   

75  
At noon if it bloweth, at night if it shine,  
out trudgeth hue make shift, with hook & with line.  
whiles Gillet his blouse, is a milking thy kow:  
sir Hue is a rigging, thy gate or the plow.   

76  
Such walk with a black, or a read little cur,  
that open will quickly, if any thing stir.  
then skwattith the master, or trudgeth away:  
and after dog runneth, as fast as he may.   

78  
Some prouleth for fuel, & some away rig,  
fat goose & the capon, duck, hen & the pig.  
Some prouleth for acorns, to fat up their swine:  
for corn & for apples, & all that is thine.   

79  
Now saw out thy timber, for board & for pale  
to have it unshaken, & ready to sale.  
Bestow it & stick it, & lay it aright,  
to find it in March, for workmen in plight.   

80  
Save slab of thy timber, for stable & sty,  
for horse & for hog, the more cleanly to lie.  
Save saw dust, & brick dust, & ashes so fine:  
for alley to walk in, with neighbour of thine.    

October'S abstract. Chap. 13.  

October good blast,  
To blow the hog mast.   

Forgotten month past,  
do now at the last.   

1  
Lay dry up & round,  
for barley thy ground.   

2  
To late doth kill,  
to soon is as ill.   

3  
Maids little & great,  
pych clean seed wheat.   

Good ground doth crave,  
choice feed to have,   

Flails lustily thwack,  
lest ploughseede lack.   

4  
Ply sowing a pace,  
in every place.   

5  
Soil perfectly know.  
er eddish ye sow.   

Seed first go fetch,  
for eddish or etch.   

White wheat if ye please  
now sow upon pease.   

Sow first the best,  
and then the rest.   

Keep Crows good son,  
s●e furrowing done.   

6  
Sow Acorns to prove,  
that timber do love.   

7  
Sow haesting now,  
if ground it allow.   

8  
Learn soon to get,  
a good quick set,   

9  
For fear of the worst,  
make fat away furst.   

10  
Fat that no more,  
ye keep for store.   

11  
Hide karen in grave,  
less noyance to have.   

12  
Hog measeled kill,  
for slemming that will.   

Sys have an eye,  
to Boar in the sty.   

13  
Keep slow upon bow,  
for slir of thy kow.   

14  
With pease bolt & brake,  
some brew & bake,   

¶ friend ringle thy hog,  
for fear of a dog.   

Rye straw up stack,  
lest thetcher lack.   

Wheat straw dry save,  
for cattles to have.   

Wheat chaff lay up dry,  
in safety to lie   

Make handsome a been,  
for chaff to lie in.   

Seed threshed thou shalt,  
thrash barley for malt.   

Cut bushes to hedge,  
fence meadow & redge.   

Stamp crabs that may,  
for rotting away.   

Make vergis & perye,  
sow kernel & bury.   

Now gather up fruit,  
of every suit.   

Marsh wall too slight,  
strength now or god night   

Where soil is of sand,  
quick set out of hand.   

To plots not full,  
add bremble & hull.   

For set no bar,  
while month hath an R.   

Like note thou shalt,  
for making of malt.   

Brew now, to last,  
till winter be past.    

October'S husbandry. Chap. 14.  

NOw lay up thy barley land, dry as ye can,  
when ever ye so we it, so look for it than.  
Get always aforehand, be never behind:  
lest winter preventing, do altar thy mind.   

2  
Who layeth up fallow, to soon or to wet,  
with noyances many, doth barley beset.  
For weed & the water, so soeketh & sucks:  
that goodness from either, it utterly plucks.   

3  
Green rye in September, when timely thou hast,  
October for wheat sowing, calleth as fast.  
If weather will suffer, this council I give:  
leave sowing of wheat, before Hallomas eve.   

4  
Where wheat upon edish, ye mind to bestow,  
let that be the first, of the wheat ye do sow.  
He seemeth to heart it, & comfort to bring:  
that giveth it comfort, of Mihelmas spring.   

5  
white wheat upon pease etch, is willing to grow  
though best upon fallow, as many do know.  
But where, how or when, ye intend to begin:  
let ever the finest, be first sown in.   

6  
Sow Acorns ye owners, that timber do leave  
sow haw & rye with them, the better to prove.  
If cattles or Coney, may enter to crop:  
young oak is in danger, for losing his top.   

7  
who peskods delighteth, to have with the furst,  
if now he do sow them, I think it not worst.  
the greener thy peason, & warmer the room,  
Moore lusty the layer, more plenty they come.   

8  
Go plough up or delve up, advised with skill  
the breadth of a redg, & in length as ye will,  
where speedy quick set, for a fence ye will draw  
to sow in the sede, of the bremble and hawe.   

9  
Through plenty of acorns, the porkling to fat,  
not taken in season, may perish by that,  
if rattling & swelling, get once to the throat,  
thou losest thy porkling, a crown to a groat.   

10  
What ever thing fat is, again if it fall,  
thou ventrist the thing, & the fatness with all,  
the fatter the better, to cell or to kill.  
But not to continue, make proof if ye wil   

11  
What ever thing dyeth, go bury or burn  
for tameting of ground, or a worse ill turn,  
such pestilent smell, of a karrenly thing  
to cattles and people, great peril may bring.   

12  
Thy measeled baken hog, sow, or thy boar,  
shut up for to heal, for infecting thy store,  
Or kill it for baken, or souse it to cell  
for flemming that loves it, so deintelye well.   

13  
Seith water, & plump there in plenty of sloes,  
mix chawlk that is dried, in powder with those.  
which so, if ye give, with the water & chalk:  
thou makest the lax, fro thy kow away walk.   

14  
With straw, whip & pease bolt, with serve & that broke  
for sparing of fuel, some brew & do bake.  
and heateth their copper, for seething of grains,  
good servant rewarded, refuseth no pains.    

Nouembers abstract. Chap. 15.  

November take flail,  
Let ship no more sail.   

Forgotten month past,  
Do now at the last.   

1  
Let hog once fat,  
loose nothing of that,   

When mast is gone,  
hog falleth anon.   

Still fat up some,  
till shrovetide come.   

Now pork & souse,  
bears tack in house.   

2  
Lay flitches a salting,  
put barley to malting.   

Through folly to beastly,  
much bacon is reasty.   

3  
In casting provide,  
for seed lay a side.   

4  
thrash barley thou shalt,  
for chapman to malt.   

Else thrash no more,  
but for thy store.   

5  
No chaff in been,  
makes horse look thin.   

6  
Make Martilmas beef,  
dear meat is a thief.   

7  
Set garlic & pease,  
Saint Edmond to please.   

8  
When rain takes place,  
to threshing a pace.   

9  
Mad brain to rough,  
mars all at plough.   

With flail & whips,  
fat hen short skips.   

10  
Some threshing by task,  
will steal & not ask.   

Such thressher at night,  
walks seldom hour light   

Some corn away lag,  
in bottle & bag.   

Some steal for a jest,  
eggs out of the nest.   

11  
Lay stooner up dry,  
in order to lie.   

Poor kow doth crave,  
fresh straw to have.   

12  
Make weekly up flower,  
though thresher do lower.   

Lay grain in fit,  
and turn it often.   

13  
For muck regard,  
make clean foul yard,   

Lay straw to rot,  
in watery plot.   

14  
Headlong up plough,  
for compass enough.   

15  
For herbs good store,  
trench garden more.   

16  
At midnight try,  
foul privy to fie.   

17  
Rid chimney of soot,  
from top to the foot.   

18  
In stable put now,  
thy horses for plow.   

19  
Good horsekeeper will,  
lay muck upon hill.   

¶ Get pole boy mine,  
beaten haws to the swine.   

drive hogs to the wood,  
broke roots be good.   

For mischief that falls,  
look well to marsh walls.   

Dry layer get neat,  
and serve them with meat.   

Kurst cattles that nurteth,  
poor wennel soon hurteth   

Good neighbour mine,  
ring well thy swine.   

Such winter may serve,  
hog ringed, will sterye.   

In frost keep dog,  
from hunting of hog.    

Novembers' Husbandry. Chap. 16.  

1  
AT hallontide, slawter time enterith in  
& then doth the husband man's, feasting begin.  
from thence unto shroftyde, kill now & than some:  
their, of all for howsold, the better will come.   

2  
Thy dredg & thy barely, go thrash out to malt,  
let maltster be cunning, else loose it thou shalt.  
then crease of a seam, is a bushel for store,  
bade else is the barely, or housewife much more.   

3  
Some useth to winnew, some useth to fan,  
some useth to cast it, so clean as they can.  
for seed go & cast it, for malting not for  
but get out the cockle, & then let it go.   

4  
thrash barely as yet, but as need shall require,  
fresh threshed for stooner, thy cattles desire.  
& therefore that threshing, forbore as ye may:  
till candlemas coming, for sparing of hay.   

5  
Save chaff of the barely, of wheat & of rye  
from feathers & foistenes, where it doth lie.  
which mixed with corn, being sifted of dust,  
go geive to thy cattles, when serve them ye must.   

6  
(For Easter, at Martilmas, hung up a beife  
for stall fed & pease fed, play pickpurse the thief.  
with that & the like, oer an grass beife come in,  
thy, olk shall look cheerly, when others look thin.   

7  
Set garlic & beans, at S. Edmond the king,  
the moon in the wane, thereon hangeth a thing.  
Thincrease of a pottle, well proved of some:  
shall pleasure thy household, ere peskod time come.   

8  
When rain is a let, to thy doings abroad,  
set thrashers to threshing, & lay on good load.  
thrash clean, ye must bid them, though lesser they yarue  
& looking to thrive, have an eye to thy barn.   

9  
Take heed to thy man, in his fury & heat,  
with ploughstaffe & whipstock, for manning thy neat.  
To thressher for hurting, of kow with his flail:  
or making thy hen, to play tapple up tail.   

10  
Some pilfering thressher, will walk with a staff,  
will carry home corn, as it is in the chaff.  
And some in his bottle of leather so great:  
will carry home daily, both barley & wheat.   

11  
If houseroom will serve thee, lay stover up dry  
and every sort, by itself for to lie.  
Or stack it for litter, if room be to poor:  
and thatch out the residue, noying thy door.   

12  
Cause weakly thy thressher, to make up his flower  
though sloughful & puferer, thereat do lower.  
Take tub for a season, take sack for a shift:  
yet garne for grayve, is the better for thri●t.   

13  
All manner of straw, that is scattered in yard,  
good husbandly husbands, have daily regard.  
In pit full of water, the same to bestow,  
where lying to rot, thereof profit may grow.   

14  
Now plough up thy hedlond, or delve it with spade,  
where otherwise profit, but little is made.  
And cast it up high, upon hillocks to stand,  
that winter may rot it, to compass thy land.   

15  
If Garden require it, now trench it ye may,  
one trench not a yard, from another go lay.  
which being well filled, with muck by & by:  
go cover with mould, for a season to lie.   

16  
Fowl privies are now, to be cleansed & fy,  
let night be appointed, such baggage to hide.  
which buried in garden, in trenches a low:  
shall make very many things, better to grow.   

17  
The chinney all sooty, would now be made clean  
for fear of mischances, to oftentimes seen.  
Old chimney & sooty, if fire once take,  
by burning & breaking, some mischief may make.   

18  
when ploughing is ended, & pasture not great,  
then stable thy horses, & tend them with meat.  
Let season be dry, when ye take them to house:  
for danger of nitts, or for fear of a louse.   

19  
Lay compass up handsomely, round on a hill,  
to walk in thy yard, at thy pleasure & william.  
more compass it maketh, & handsome the plot,  
if horsekeeper daily, forgetteth it not.    

December's abstract. Chap. 17.  

O dirty December  
For Criestmas remember.   

Forgotten month past,  
do now at the last.   

1  
No season to hedge,  
get beetle and wedge.   

Cleave logs now all  
For kitchen & hall.   

2  
Make sharp dull fools  
or labour like fools.   

3  
Leave of tittle tattle  
& look to thy cattles   

Serve young, poor, elves  
alone by themselves.   

4  
Warm barth to neat  
worth half their meat.   

The ellder that nurtrith  
the younger soon hurtith.   

5  
House cow that is old  
while winter doth hold.   

6  
Out once in a day  
to drink & to play.   

7  
Get trusty to serve  
lest cattles do starve.   

And such as in deed  
may help at a need.   

8  
Observe this law  
to serve out straw   

9  
In walking about  
good fork spy out.   

10  
At full & at change  
springe tides are strange.   

If doubt ye fray  
drive cattles away.   

11  
Dank linge forgot  
will quickly rot.   

12  
Here learn & try  
to turn it and dry.   

13  
Now stocks remove  
that orchards love.   

14  
Set stock to grow  
to thick nor to low.   

Set now as they come  
both chearry & plome.   

15  
Wind North north east  
bydds stock to ill feast.   

16  
At Crystmas is good  
to let thy horse blood,   

17  
Mark here what rabble  
of evils in stable.   

18  
mix well (old gaffe)  
horse corn with chaff.   

Let jacke nor gill  
fetch corn at william.   

19  
Hyde strawbories wife  
to save their life.   

20  
Knot, border & all  
Now cover ye shall.   

21  
Help bees sweet coney  
with lickour and honey.   

Let Cristmas spy  
yard clean to lie.   

No labour no sweat  
go labour for heat.   

Food doves, but kill not  
if stroy them ye will not.   

Fat hog, ere ye kill it  
or else ye do spill it.   

Who sethith her grains  
hath profit for pains.   

Set willow & sallow  
rid garden of mallow.   

Let boar life tender  
senior brawn sod tender.   

For wife fruit buy  
for Cristmas pie.   

Ill bread & ill drink  
makes many ill think.   

Both meat & cost  
ill dressed is lost.   

Who hath where with all  
may cheer when he shall.   

But charged man  
must cheer as he can.    

December, Husbandry. Chap. 18.  

1  
When frost will not suffer, to dyke & to hedge  
then get the a heat, with thy beetle & wedge  
●nce hallomas come, & a fire in hall,  
such slyvers do well, for to lie by thy wall.   

2  
Get grindstone & whetstone, to sharpen thy tool,  
or else go & loiter, or let like a fool.  
A whelebarow also, be sure to have:  
at hand of thy servant, thy compass to save.   

3  
give cattles their fodder, in plot dry & warm,  
and count them for myring, or other like harm.  
young colts with thy wennels, together go serve:  
lest lurched by others, they happen to starve.   

4  
The rack is commended, for saving of dung,  
so set as the old, cannot mischief the young.  
In tempest (the wind) being northely or east  
warm hearth under hedge, is a sucker to beast.   

5  
The housing of cattles, while winter doth hold,  
is good for all such, as are feeble & old.  
It saveth much compass, & many a sleep:  
and trymlie refresheth, the walk of thy sheep.   

9  
For charges so little, much quiet is won,  
if strongly & handsomely, all thing be done.  
but use to untackle them, once in a day:  
to rub & to lick them, to drink & to play.   

7  
Get trusty to tend them, not lubberly squire,  
that all the day long, hath his nose at the fire.  
Nor trust unto children, poor cattles to feed:  
but such as be able, to help at a need.   

8  
serve rye straw out first, them wheat straw & pease  
then otestraw & barley, than hay if ye please.  
But serve them with hay, while the straw stover last  
then love they no straw, they had rather to fast.   

9  
Yokes forks & such other, let bailie spy out,  
and gather the same, as he walketh about.  
and after at leisure, let this be his hire,  
to beath them & trim them, at home by the fire.   

10  
As well at the full of the moon, as the change,  
sea rages in winter, be suddenly strange.  
then look to thy marshes, if doubt be to fray:  
for fear of (ne fort) have cattles away.   

11  
Both saltfish & lingfish (if any ye have,)  
through shifting & drying, from rotting go save.  
Lest winter with moistness, do make it relent:  
and put it in hazard, ere ere it be spent.   

12  
Broome faggot is best, to haberden on,  
lay board upon ladder, if faggots be gone.  
For breaking (in turning) have very good eye,  
and blame not the wind, so the weather be dry.   

13  
Good fruit & good plenty, doth well in thy fit  
then make thee an orchard, & cherish it often.  
For plant or for stock, lay afore hand to cast:  
but set or remove it, oer Christmas be past.   

14  
Set one for another, full forty foot wide,  
to stand as he stood, is a part of his pride.  
more fair, more worthy, of cost to remove,  
more steady ye set it, more likely to prove.   

15  
To teach & unteach, is unmeet in a school,  
to do & undo, is the part of a fool.  
then orchard or hopyard, so trimmed with cost,  
should not through folly, be spoiled & lost.   

16  
ere Christmas be passed, let horse be let blood,  
for many a purpose, it doth them much good  
the day of saint Stephan, old fathers did use  
if that do mislike the some other day choose.   

17  
Look well to thy horses, in stable thou must,  
that hay be not foislie, nor chaff full of dust,  
nor stone in their provender, feather nor clotts:  
nor fed with green peason, for breeding of botts.   

18  
Some horskeper, lasshith out provender so,  
some gillian spendall, so often doth go.  
for hog's meat & hens meat, for that & for this:  
that corn is consumed, ere chapman hath his.   

19  
If frost do continue, take this for a law,  
the strawberries look, to be covered with straw.  
laid overly trim, upon Crutches & bows  
& after uncoverd, as weather allows.   

20  
The gilleflower also, the skilful do know,  
do look to be covered, in frost & in snow:  
the knot & the border, & rosemary gay,  
do crave the like suckour, for dying away.   

Go look to thy bees, if the hive be to light  
saith water & honey, with rosemary dight,  
which set in a dish, full of stir●● in the hive▪  
from famen & danger, ye save them alive.    

A digression to hospitality. Chap. 19  
Lean husbandry sleeping,  
a whiter ye must do:  
to learn of housekeeping,  
a lesson or two▪  
What ever is sent thee  
by travel & pain▪  
a time there is sent thee  
to rendrit again.  
Although ye defend it  
unspent for to be:  
another shall spend it  
no thank unto thee.  
How ever we climb  
to accomplish the 〈◊〉▪  
we have but a time  
thereof profit to find.   

A description of time and they are▪ Chap. 20.  

Of God in thy doings, a time there is ●e●●e,  
which endeth with time, that in doing is spent,  
For time is itself, but a time for a time▪  
forgotten full soon, as the time of a ch●●se▪   


Spring. Summer.  In spring time we rear, we do sow & we plant,  
in Summer get victuals, lest after we want.  

Harvest. Winter.  In harvest, we carry in corn & the fruit:  
in Winter, to spend, as we need of each suit.   


childhood. youth.  The year I compare, as I find for a truth,  
the spring, unto childhood, the Summer to youth.  

Manhood.  The harvest to manhood, the winter to age,  

Age.  all quickly forgot, 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, & therefore we save:  
yet often ere it come, we be gone to the grave.    

A description of life & riches. Chap. 21.  

Who living, but daily discern it he may,  
how life as a shadow, doth vanish away.  
And nothing to count on, so sure & just:  
as sure of death, and to turn into dust.   

The lands & the riches, that here we possess,  
be none of our own, if a God we profess.  
But lent be 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 (howsoever we leave:)  
when Atrop shall pluck us from hence by the sleeve.   

To death we must stoop, be we high, be we low,  
but how, & 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. Chap. 22.  

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 hid:  
but use and bestow it, as Christ doth us bid.   

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 daily 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 nigerly nigards, do kick at the same.    

A description of Christmas. Chap. 23.  

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

At Christmas the day, doth begin to take length,  
of Christ our faith, do 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 opeith 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. chap. 24.  

LEt such (so fantastical) liking not this,  
nor any thing honest, that ancient is.  
give place to the time, that so meet we do see:  
appointed of God, as it seemeth to be.   

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

At Christmas, she hardness of winter doth rage,  
a grieper of all things, & specially age.  
Then lightly poor people, the young with the old,  
be sorest oppressed, with hunger & cold.   

At Christmas, by labour is little to get,  
that wanting the pooreish in danger are set.  
what season then better, of all the whole year:  
thy needy poor neighbour, to comfort & cheer.    

Against fantastical scruplenesse. chap. 25.  

At this thing & the thing, some make a great matter,  
some help not, but hinder the poor with their clatter.  
Take custom from feasting, what cometh them last  
where one hath a dinner, a hundred shall fast.   

To dog in the manger, some licken 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, seek none to misdeem  
hate ner that be honest, though merry they seem.  
For often time seen, no more very a knave,  
than he that doth counterfeit, most to be grave.    

Christmas husbandly fare. chap. 26.  

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 neighbour, good cheer to have some   

Good bread & good drink, a good fire in the hall,  
brawn pudding & sauce & good mustard withal.  
Beef, mutton, & pork, shred pies of the best,  
pig, veal, goose & capon, & Turkey well dressed:  
Cheese, apples & nuts, jolly Caroles to here,  
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 husbandman, never a penny.    

A Christmas Karrol of the birth of Christ, upon the tune of King Solomon. Chap. 27.  

WAs not Christ ower Saviour,  
sent unto us, from God above,  
not for ower good behaviour:  
but only of his mercy & love.  
if this be true, as true it is,  
truly in deed:  
Great thanks to God to yield for this,  
than had we need.   

2  
This did our God for a very troth,  
to train to him, the soul of man,  
and justly to perform his oath:  
to Sara & to Abraham than,  
that through his seed, all nations should  
blessed be:  
As in due time, performed he would,  
all flesh should see.   

3  
which wondrously is brought to pass,  
and in our sight all ready done,  
By sending, as his promise was  
(to comfort us) his only son,  
even Christ (I mean) that virgin's child  
in bethelem borne.  
that lamb of God, that prophet mild,  
with crowned thorn.   

4  
Such was his love to save us all,  
from danger of the curse of God,  
that we stood in by Adam's fall,  
& by our own deserved rod  
that through his blood & holy name,  
to such as believes,  
And fly from sin, & abors the same,  
free mercy he gives.   

5  
For these glad news, this feast doth bring  
to God, the Son and holy Ghost,  
let man give thanks rejoice & sing.  
from world to world, from cost to cost,  
for all other gifts so many ways,  
that God doth sand.  
Let us in Christ, give God the praise,  
while life shall end.  T. Tusser.  

At Christmas be merry, & thankful withal,  
& feast thy poor neighbours, the great with the small.  
yea all the year long▪ to the poor let us give:  
God's blessing to follow us, whiles we do leave.    

januaries abstract. Chap. 28.  

A kindly good Ia●●●ere  
Freesith pot by the fear.   

Forgotten month past,  
Do now at the last.   

1  
Bid christmas adieu,  
thy stock renew.   

2  
Who killeth a neat,  
hath cheaper his meat.   

Fat, home fed souse  
is good in a house.   

3  
Who dainties love,  
a beggar will prove.   

Who all away sells  
in hunger dwells.   

4  
Who nothing save  
shall nothing have.   

5  
Lay dirt upon heaps,  
some profit it reaps.   

When weather is hard,  
get murk out a yard.   

A fallow bestow,  
where pease shall grow.   

6  
Go gether quick set  
the yongist go get.   

To plots not full  
and bremble and hull.   

Dig garden stroy mallow  
set willow and sallow.   

Grene set as a stake  
in bank they will take.   

7  
Let Do go to buck  
wish coney good luck.   

Spare labour nor money  
store borough with coney.   

Get warrener bound  
to vermin thy ground.   

Feed doves, but kill not,  
if loose them ye will not.   

Dove house repair  
make dove hole fair.   

For hop ground told  
dove dung worth gold.   

8  
Good gardener mine  
make garden ●●●e.   

Set garden pease  
and beans if ye please.   

Set respis & rose  
young roots of those.   

9  
The timely buyer  
hath cheaper his fire.   

10  
Some burns without wit  
Some fierles sit.   

11  
Now seas●n is good,  
to lop or fell wood.   

Prune tree, some allows,  
for cattles to brows.   

12  
give sheep to their fees,  
the mystle of trees.   

13  
Let lop be shorn,  
that hindrith corn.   

Save edder & stake  
strong hedge to make.   

14  
For say as ye know,  
let one bough grow.   

Next year ye may  
that bough cut away.   

15  
A lesson good,  
to increase more wood.   

16  
How ever ye skotch,  
save pole and crotch.   

17  
From Christmas to May,  
weak cattles decay.   

18  
With verge's aquaynte,  
poor bullock so faint.   

This medicine approved,  
is for to be loved.   

19  
Let plaster lie,  
three days to try.   

To long if ye stay.  
tail rots away.   

20  
Ewes ready to yeane,  
craves ground rid clean.   

21  
Keep bushes from bill,  
till hedge ye william.   

22  
Not bushes of mine▪  
if fence be thine.   

23  
In stubbed plot,  
fill hole with clot.   

Take for thy turn,  
their roots go burn.   

24  
Rid grass of bones,  
of sticks & stones.   

25  
Warm barth give lambs  
good food to their dams.   

Look daily well to them,  
lest dogs undo them.   

26  
Young lamb wield sold,  
fat lamb, worth gold.   

27  
Keep twins for breed,  
as ewes have feed.   

28  
One calf if it please ye,  
now reered shall ease ye.   

calves likely rear,  
at riesing of year.   

Calf large & lean,  
is best to wean.   

29  
Calf licked take away,  
& house it ye may.   

This point I allow,  
for servant & kow.   

30  
Calves younger than other,  
learn one of another.   

31  
Not danger at all,  
to geld as they fall.   

Yet Myhell cries,  
please butcher's eyes.   

32  
Sow ready to fars,  
craves housewives care.   

33  
Leave sow but five,  
the better to thrive.   

34  
Wean such for store,  
as sucks before.   

Wean only but three,  
for breeders to be.   

35  
Lamb, bulchin & pig,  
geld under the big.   

36  
Learn wit sir dolt,  
in gelding of colt.   

37  
Geld young thy fylly,  
else perish will gynny,   

Let gelding alone,  
of large of bone.   

By brethely titts,  
few profit hits.   

38  
Breed ever the best,  
and do of the rest.   

Of long & large,  
take housewife a charge.   

39  
Good milk ●ow & sound,  
yields yearly a pound.   

Good faring sow,  
holds profit with kow.   

40  
Who keeps, both twain  
the more may gain.   

41  
Thy garden twyfallow,  
stroy hemlock & mallow.   

42  
Like practice they prove,  
that hops do love.   

43  
Now make & wandin,  
tryin bower to stand in.   

Leave waddling about.  
till arbour be out.   

44  
Who now sows oats,  
gets gold & groats▪   

Who sows in may.  
gets little that way.   

45  
Go break up land,  
get mattock in hand.   

Stub root so tough,  
for breaking of plough.   

46  
What greater crime,  
than loss of tyme.   

47  
Small profit is found,  
by peeling of ground.   

48  
Land past the best,  
cast up to rest.   

Get pulling hook (sirs,)  
for broom & firs.   

Pluck broom, broom still,  
Cut broom, broom kill.   

Brome plucked by & buy,  
break up for rye.   

Friend ringle thy hog,  
or look for a dog.   

For set, no bar,  
while month hath an r.   

So mark thou shalt,  
for making of malt.   

In casting provide,  
for seed lay a side.   

Get dung friend mine,  
for stock & vine.   

If earth be not soft,  
Go dig it a fit.   

For quamier get boots,  
stub alders & roots.   

Hop poles wax scant,  
for poles more plant.   

Set chest nut & walnut,  
set filbert & smallnut.   

peach plum-tree & cherry,  
young bay & his bearye.   

Or set there stone,  
unset leave out none.   

Sow kernels to bear,  
of apple & pear.   

All trees that bear gome,  
set now as they come.   

And set or remove,  
what fruit ye love.   

¶ Of trees & fruits  
1 Apple trees, of all sorts.  
2 Apricockes.  
3 Barberies.  
4 Boollesse black & white.  
5 Cherries, read & black.  
6 Chestnuts.  
7 Cornet plums.  
8 Damiscus, white & black  
9 filberts, read & white.  
10 Goose berries.  
11 Grapes white & read.  
12 Grene or grass plums.  
13 Hurtilberies.  
14 Medlars or marles.  
15 Mulberry.  
16 Peaches, white & read,  
17 Pears of all sorts,  
18 Peareplons, black & yellow  
19 quince trees.  
20 Respis.  
21 Reisons.  
22 Small nuts.  
23 Strawberries read & white.  
24 Service trees.  
25 Wall nuts,  
26 Wardens white & read,  
27 Wheat plums.   

Now set ye may,  
the box & bay.  
hawthorn & prim,  
For clotheses trim.    

januaries Husbandry. Chap. 29.  

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:  
deign profit shall give thee, reward for thy pain.   

2  
Who, both by his calf, & his lamb will be known  
may well kill a neat, & a sheep of his own.  
& he that will rear up, a pig in his house:  
hath cheaper his bacon, & sweeter his souse.   

3  
who eatith his veal, pig & lamb being froth,  
shall twice in a week, go to bed without broth.  
unskilful, that pass not, but cell away cell:  
shall never have plenty, where ever they devil.   

4  
Be greedy in spending, & careless to save,  
& shortly be needy, & ready to crave.  
be wilful to kill, & unskilful to store,  
& never look long, to keep house any more.   

5  
Say dirt upon heaps, fair yard to be seen,  
if frost will abide it, to filled with it clean.  
in winter a fallow, some love to bestow,  
where pease for the pot, they intend for to sow.   

6  
In making or mending, as needeth thy ditch,  
get set to quick set it, learn cunningly whitch.  
in hedging (where clay is) get stake as ye know  
of popeler & willow, for fuel to grow.   

7  
Leau● 〈…〉 Cunney, let do go to buck,  
and ve●●●●●e thy burrow, for fear of ill luck.  
Feed Dove (not more kill) old dove house repair  
save dove dung, for ●hep●ard, when house ye make fair.   

8  
Dig garden, stroy mallow, now may ye arease,  
and set (as a dainty) thy rantifall ●ease.  
Go cut & set roses, those aptly the plot:  
the roots of the youngest, are best to be got.   

9  
In tune go & bargain, lest worse● do fall,  
for fuel, for making, for carriage & all.  
to buy at the stub, is the best for the buyer:  
more timely provision, cheaper the fire.   

10  
Some burneth a load, at a time in his hall,  
some never leave burning, till burned they have all.  
Some making of havoc, without any wit:  
make many poor souls, without fire to sit.   

11  
If frost do continued, this lesson doth well,  
for comfort of cattles, the fuel to fallen  
From every tree, the superfluous bows:  
now prune for thy neat, thereupon to go brows.   

12  
In pruning & trumming, all manner of trees,  
reserve to each cattles, their properly fees.  
If snow do continued, sheep hardly that fare:  
crave mistle & ivy, for them for to spare.   

13  
Now lordship for thy fuel, old pollenger grown  
that hinders the corn, or the grass to be mown.  
In lopping & felling, save edder & 〈◊〉  
thine hedgiss as needeth, to mend or to make.   

14  
In lopping old Jocha●, for fear of mishap,  
one bough stay unloyned, to cherish the sap.  
the second year after, then boldly ye may:  
For dripping 〈◊〉 fellows, that bough cut away.   

15  
Lordship poplar & sallow, elm, maple & pry,  
Well saved from cattles, till summer to lie.  
so far as in lopping, their tops ye do fling:  
so far without planting, young copy will springe.   

16  
If hopyard or orchard, ye mind for to have,  
for hoppoles & Crutches, in lopping go save.  
which husbandly spared, may serve at a push:  
& stop, by so having, two gapps with a bush.   

17  
From Christmas till May, be well entered in,  
some cattles wax faint, & look poorly & thin,  
and chiefly, when prime grass at first doth apere:  
then moest is the danger, of all the whole year.   

18  
Take vergis & heat it, (a pint for a kow)  
bay salt full a hand, to rub tongue ye wot how.  
That done, with the salt, let her drink of the rest:  
this many tunes raiseth, the feeble up best.   

19  
Poor bullock with browsing, & naughtily fed,  
scarce feedith, her teeth be so loose in her head.  
then slice ye the tail, where ye feel it so soft:  
with soot & with garelyck, bound to it a fit.   

20  
By bre●●bles & bushes, in pasture to full,  
poor sheep be in danger, & loseth their wool.  
Now therefore thine ewe, upon lambing so near:  
desireth in pasture, that all may be clear.   

21  
Leave grubbing or pulling, of bushes (my son)  
till timely thy fences, require to be done.  
then take of the best, for to furnish thy turn,  
& home with the rest, for the fire to burn.   

22  
In every green, if the fence be not thine,  
now stub up the bushes, the grass to be fine.  
Lest neighbour do daily, so hack them believe:  
that neither thy bushes, nor pasture can thrive.   

23  
In ridding of pasture, with turfs so buy,  
fill every hole up, as close as a die.  
The labour is little, the profit is gay:  
what ever, the loitering labourers say.   

24  
The sticks & the stones, go & gather up clean,  
for hurting of sith, or for harming of green.  
For fear of Hue prouler, get home with the rest,  
when frost is at hardist, than carrige is best.   

25  
young broom or good pasture, thy ewes do require  
warm barth & in safety, their lambs do desire.  
look often well to them, for foxes & dogs:  
for pits & for brambles, for ve●●in & hogs.   

26  
Moore dainty that lamb, the more worth to be sold,  
the sooner the better, for ewe that is old.  
But if ye do mind, to have milk of th● dame:  
till May do not sea●er, the lamb fro the same.   

27  
Eaws yearly by twining, rich masters do make  
the lamb of such twynners', for breeders go take.  
For twinlings be twiggers, increase for to bring:  
though some for their twigging, peccantem may sing   

28  
Calves likely, that come between Christmas & lent,  
take housewife to rear, or else after repent.  
Of such as do fall, between change & the prime:  
no rering, but cell, or go kill them in time.   

29  
House calf, & go sockle it twice in a day,  
and after a while, set it water & hay.  
Stake ragged to rub on, no such as will bend:  
then wean it well tended, at fifty days end.   

30  
The signior weaned, his younger shall teach,  
both how to drink water, & hay for to reach.  
Moore stroeken & made of when aught it do ail  
more gentle ye make it, for yoke or the pail.   

31  
Geld bull calf, & ramlamb, as soon as they fall,  
for therein is lightly, no danger at all.  
Some spareth the ton, for to pleasure the eye:  
to have him show greater, when butcher shall buy.   

32  
Soowes ready to farrow, this time of the year,  
are for to be made of, & counted full dear.  
For now is the loss of a fare of the soow:  
more great than the loss, of two calves of thy koow   

33  
Of on● sow together, rear few above five,  
and those of the fairest, & likest to thrive.  
Vngelt of the best, keep a couple for store:  
one bore pig & sow pig, that sucketh before.   

34  
Who hath a desire, to have store very large,  
at whysontide, let him give housewife a charge.  
To rear of a sow at once, only but three:  
and one of them also, a boar let it be.   

35  
Geld under the dam, within sortnight at lest,  
and save both thy money. & life of the beast.  
Geld later with gelder's, as many one do:  
and look of a dozen, to geld away two.   

36  
Thy colts for the saddle, geld young to be light,  
for cart do not so, if thou judgest aright.  
Nor geld not, but when they be lusty and fat:  
for there is a point, to be learned in that.   

37  
Geld fillies (but titts) ere an ix. days of age,  
they die else of gelding, or gelder's do rage.  
young fillies so likely, of bulk & of bone:  
keep such to be breeders, let gelding alone.   

38  
For gaining a trifle, cell never thy store,  
what joy to acquaintance, what pleasureth more.  
the larger of body, the better for breed:  
more forward of growing, the better they speed.   

39  
Good milchkow well fed, that is fair & sound,  
is yearly for profit, as good as a pound.  
and yet by the year, have I proved oer now:  
as good to the purse, is a sow as a kow.   

40  
Keep one & keep both, with as little a cost,  
than all shall be saved, & nothing be lost.  
Both having together, what profit is caught:  
good housewives (I warrant ye) need not be taught.   

41  
Thy garden plot lately, well trenched & muckt:  
would now be twyfalowd, the meadows out plucked  
well cleansed & purged, of root & of stone:  
that fault therein afterward, found may be none.   

42  
Remember thy hop yard, if season be dry,  
now dig it & weed it, & so let it lie.  
Moore fenny the layer, the better his lust:  
most apt to bear hops, when it crumbles like dust.   

43  
To arbour begun, & quick setted about,  
no poeling nor waddling, till set be far out.  
For Rotten & aged, may stand for a show:  
but hold to their tackling, they cannot but few.   

44  
In Janivere, husband that poucheth the groats  
will break up his lay, or be sowing of oats.  
Oats sown in Janivere, lay by thy wheat:  
in may, by thy hay, for thy cattles to eat.   

45  
Let servant be ready, with mattock in hand,  
to stubb out the bushes, that noyeth the land.  
And cumbersome roots, so annoying the plough  
turn upward their arses, with sorrow enough.   

Who breaketh up timely, his fallow or say,  
sets forward his husbandry, many away.  
this tilth in a tilture, well forward doth bring:  
not only thy tillage, but all other thing.   

47  
Some breaking up lay, soweth oats to begin,  
to suck out the moisture, so sour therein.  
yet oats with her sucking, a peeler is found:  
and ill to the master, & worse to some ground.   

48  
Land arable driven, or worn to the proof,  
and craveth some rest, for thy profits behoof.  
with oats ye may sow it, the sooner to grass:  
and so to good profit, to bring it to pass.    

Februaries abstract. Chap. 30.  

Febb. fill the dyke,  
with what ye like.   

Forgotten month past,  
do now at the last.   

1  
To costeman ride,  
lent stuff to provide.   

2  
Sow now ye may,  
beans, peason grey.   

Keep white unsowne,  
till more be known.   

3  
Where clods great fall,  
there harrow ye shall.   

Stick boowes arrow,  
where rouncivalls grow.   

5  
Sow kernels & hawe.  
where ridge ye did draw.   

6  
Sow hemp to kill weed,  
sow mustard seed.   

Where sets do grow,  
see nothing ye sow.   

7  
Cut wines & osier,  
plash hedge of enclosier.   

Feed highly thy swan,  
to love her good man.   

Nest high I advise,  
lest flood do arise.   

8  
Land meadow spare,  
there dung is good ware.   

9  
Poor cattles crave,  
some shift to have.   

10  
Kow little giveth,  
that hardly leaveth.   

Go strike at the noewles,  
of delving moewles.   

Such hillocks in vain,  
lay leveled plain.   

¶ Trench meadow & redge,  
dike, quickset & hedge.   

To plots not full,  
and bremble & hull.   

Poor Cunney so bagged  
is soon over lagged.   

Plash borrow set clapper,  
for dog is a snapper.   

Good flight who loves,  
must feed their doves.   

Bid hawking adieu,  
cast hawk into mewe.   

Keep sheep out of briars,  
keep beast out of miers.   

Keep lambs from fox,  
else shepherd go box.   

Good neighbour mine,  
now yoke thy swine.   

Now every day,  
set hops ye may.   

Now set for the pot,  
best herbs to be got.   

For flowers go set,  
all sorts ye can get.   

As winter doth prove,  
so may ye remove.   

For all the year,  
now all thing rear,   

Watch ponds go look,  
to weeles & hook.   

Knaves never repent,  
to steal in lent.   

All fish they get,  
that cometh to net.    

Februaries Husbandry. Chap. 31.  

NOw timely for lent stuff, thy money disburse,  
the longer ye tarry, for profit the worse.  
if one penny vantage, be there in to save:  
of costeman or Fleming, be sure it to have.   

Go plough in the stubble, take timely this season,  
be soweing of fitchiss, of beans & of peason.  
Now, sooner ye sow them, the sooner they come:  
& better for how sold, they fill up a room.   

3  
Go harrow the peason, ye buried so deep,  
lest clod do compel them, for ever to sleep,  
or thistles so meaney (that cumbersome weed.)  
where clay hath the mastery, come up in their stead   

4  
stick plenty of boows, among runcifall pease,  
to climber there on, & to branch at their ease.  
so doing more tender, & greater they wax,  
if peacock & turkey, leave jobbing their becks.   

5  
Now sow & go harow (where redge ye did draw)  
the seed of the bremble, with kurnel & hawe.  
which covered overlye, soon to shut out:  
go see it be ditched, & fenced about.   

6  
Where banks be amended, & newly up cast,  
sow mustard seed, after a shower be past.  
where plots full a nettles, be noisome to eye:  
sow thereupon hempseed, & nettles will die.   

7  
The vines & the osiers, cut & go set,  
if grape be unpleasant, a better go get.  
Feed swan, & go make her up, strongly a nest:  
for fear of a flood, good & high is the best.   

8  
Land meadow, that yearly is spared for hay,  
now fence it & spare it, & dung it ye may.  
get mouleketcher, cunningly mole for to kill:  
& harow & cast abroad, every hill.   

9  
Friend, alway let this, be a part of thy care,  
for shifted of good pasture, lay pasture to spare.  
so have ye good feeding, in bushets & leaze:  
& quickly safe finedinge, of cattles at ease.   

10  
where cattles may run about, roeving at will,  
from pasture to pasture, poor belly to fill.  
there pasture & cattles, both hungry & bore:  
for want of good husbandry, worse do far.    

Marches abstract. Chap. 32.  

March dust to be sold,  
Worth ransoms of gold.   

Forgotten month past,  
Do now at the last.   

1  
White peason sow,  
Scare hungry crow.   

2  
spare meadow for hay,  
spare marshes at May.   

3  
What champion useth,  
woodland refusith.   

Keep sheep from dog,  
Keep lamb from hog.   

If fox's mouse them,  
then, nightly house them.   

4  
March dry or wet,  
hop ground go set.   

young roots well dressed,  
prove ever the best.   

Hop gut or string,  
is a naughty thing.   

5  
Here learn the way,  
hop roots to say   

6  
Roots best to prove,  
thus set I love.   

7  
Leave space & room,  
to hillock to come.   

8  
Of hedge & willow,  
hop makes her pillow.   

Good bearing hop,  
climbs up to the top.   

Keep hop from son,  
& hop is undone.   

9  
Hop tools procure,  
that may endure.   

Iron crow, like a stake,  
deep hole to make.   

A scraper to pair,  
the earth about bore.   

A hone to raise root,  
like sole of a boot.   

Sharp knife to cut,  
superfluous gut.   

10  
Who graffing loves,  
now graffing proves.   

Of every suit,  
most dainty fruit.   

Graff good fruit all,  
or graft not all.   

Sow even the land,  
with plentiful hand.   

Sow over & under,  
in clay is no wonder.   

13  
Strait follow the plough,  
& harrow enough.   

With sling or bow,  
go scare away crow.   

14  
Roll after a dew,  
when barely doth sheawe   

Moore handsome to make it,  
to mow & to rake it.   

15  
Learn here ye may,  
best harrowing way.   

16  
Make ready a plot,  
for seeds for the pot.   

17  
Best searching minds,  
the best way finds.   

18  
For garden best,  
is South south-west.   

19  
Good tilth brings seeds,  
ill tilture weeds.   

20  
For summer sow now,  
for winter see how.   

21  
To set or sow,  
learn time to know.   

22  
young plants soon die,  
that grow to dry.   

23  
In country doth rest,  
what season is best.   

24  
Good poor man's fare,  
is poor man's care.   

And not to boast,  
of sod & roast.   

25  
'Cause rook & raven,  
to seek a new haven.   

¶ Geld lambs now all,  
straight as they fall.   

Look twice a day,  
lest lambs decay.   

Keep corn from crow,  
with arrow & bow.   

Where horse did harrow  
put stones in barrow.   

Or lay them buy,  
in heaps on high.   

Let oxen fat,  
loose nothing of that.   

Now hunt with dog,  
unyoked hog.   

Wish doves good luck,  
hen, goose, & duck.   

To spare a right,  
spare March his flight.   

Save chickens poor buttocks,  
from pie, crow & puttocks.   

Some love now best,  
young rabbits nest.   

Now knaves will steal,  
pig, lamb & veal.   

Here learn to know,  
what seeds to sow.   

And such to plant,  
whose seeds do want.   

¶ Seeds & herbs for the kichen.  
1 AVens.  
2 Bleetes or beets, white or yellow.  
3 Blood wort.  
4 Buglas  
5 Burnet.  
6 Borage.  
7 Cabage remove in june.  
8 Clarye.  
9 Coleworts  
10 Cresses  
11 Dyttanye or garden ginger.  
12 Endive  
13 Fenell  
14 French mallows.  
15 French Saffron. Set in August.  
16 Harsttong. no seed.  
17 Lang debiefe.  
18 Leeks. remove in june  
19 Lettuce remove in May  
20 Long wort  
21 liver wort  
22 marigolds often cut.  
23 Mercury  
24 Mints at all times.  
25 Nep  
26 Oyneons from December to March.  
27 Orach or arach, read & white.  
28 Patience.  
29 Percelye.  
30 Penetall,  
31 Primrose,  
32 Poret.  
33 rosemary, in the spring-time,  
34 Sage, read & white.  
35 Saffron. set in August.  
36 Summer savoury.  
37 Sorrell.  
38 Spinnage.  
39 Suckerye.  
40 Siethees.  
41 Tanzye.  
42 Time.  
43 Violettes, of all sorts  
44 winter savoury.   

¶ Herbs & roots for salads & sauce.  
1 Alexander's, at all times.  
2 Artichokes.  
3 Blessed thistle, or Carduus Benedictus.  
4 Cucumbers, in April & may.  
5 Cressis, sow with lettuce in the Spring.  
6 Cudive  
7 Mustard sede, sow in the spring & at Mighelmas.  
8 Musk millions, in April & May.  
9 Mints.  
10 Purslane,  
11 Redish.  
12 Rampions.  
13 Rockat. in April.  
14 Sage.  
15 Sorrell.  
16 spinach, for the summer  
17 Sea helye.  
18 Sperage, let grow two years & then remove,  
19 Skirrets. set their plants in March.  
20 Suckerye.  
21 Tarragon. April.  
22 Violets.   

¶ These buy with the penny, or look not for eny.  
1 Capers.  
2 lemans.  
3 Olives.  
4 Orrengis.  
5 Rise.  
6 Sampire.   

¶ Herbs & roots to boil or to butter.  
1 Beans, set in winter.  
2 Cabbegis, sow in March, & after remove,  
3 Carrots.  
4 Citrons. sow in May.  
5 Gourds, in may.  
6 navews, sow in june.  
7 Pompiones, in May.  
8 Parceneps in winter.  
9 Roncifall pease. set in winter.  
10 Rapes. sow in june.  
11 Turnepes, in March & April.   

¶ Strowing herbs of all sorts.  
1 basel, fine & bushed, sow in May.  
2 Bawlme. set in March.  
3 camomile.  
4 Costemarye.  
5 Cowsleps, & paggles.  
6 Daysles, of all sorts.  
7 Sweet fonnell.  
8 Germander,  
9 Isop, set in February.  
10 Lavender.  
11 Lavender spike,  
12 Lavender ●otten.  
13 marjoram knotted, sow or set at the Spring.  
14 Maudlin.  
15 Penny rial.  
16 Roses, of all sorts in jan. & Sept.  
17 Read mints.  
18 Sage.  
19 Tanzey.  
20 Violets.  
21 Winter savoury.   

¶ Herbs, branchis & flowers for windows & pots.  
1 Bays, sow or set in plants in januarie.  
2 Bachelors buttens,  
3 Bottles, blue, read & tauney,  
4 Collembines.  
5 Campions.  
6 Daffadondillies.  
7 Eglantine, or sweet briar.  
8 Fetherfewe.  
9 Flower armour, sow in may.  
10 Flower deluce,  
11 Flower gentle, white & read.  
12 Flower nice.  
13 Gelyflowers, read, white & carnations, set in Spring, & harvest in pots, pails or tubs, or for summer in beds.  
14 Holiokes, read, white & carnations.  
15 Indian eye, sow in may, or set in slips in March.  
16 Lavender, of all sorts.  
17 Larks foot.  
18 Laus tibi.  
19 lilium cum valium.  
20 Lilies, read & white, sow or set in March, & September  
21 Marigolds double.  
22 Nigella romana.  
23 Pansies, or heartsease.  
24 Pagells, green & yellow.  
25 Pinks, of all sorts.  
26 Quenegeliflowers.  
27 Rose marry.  
28 Roses of all sorts.  
29 Snap dragons.  
30 Sops in wine.  
31 Sweet williams.  
32 Sweet Ihons'.  
33 Star of Bethelem.  
34 Star of jerusalem.  
35 Stock geliflowers of all sorts.  
36 Tuft gelyflowers.  
37 Velvet flowers, or frenchmarigold  
38 Violets yellow & white.  
39 Wall geliflowers of all sorts.   

Herbs to still in summer.  
1 Blessed thistle.  
2 Betonye.  
3 Dill.  
4 Endive.  
5 Eye bright.  
6 Fennel.  
7 fumetory.  
8 Isop.  
9 Mints.  
10 Plantine.  
11 Roses, read & damask.  
12 Respies.  
14 Strawberries.  
15 Sorrell.  
16 Suckerie  
17 Woodrofe, for sweet waters & cakes   

¶ Necessary herbs to grow in the garden for Physic & baths not rehearsed before.  
1 ANnys  
2 Archangel  
3 Betany  
4 Charuyle  
5 Cinqfile  
6 Cummin.  
7 Dragonnes.  
8 Detanye  
9 Gromell seed for the stone  
10 Horehound  
11 Lovage for the stone.  
12 Lycoras  
13 Mandrake  
14 Moogworth  
15 Pyonees  
16 poppy sow in March.  
17 rue.  
18 Rhubarb  
19 Smalache  
20 Sarefrage. for the stone.  
21 Savin for the botts.  
22 Stitchwort  
23 Valerian  
Woodbine   

Thus ends in brief,  
of herbs the chief.   

To get more skill,  
read whom ye will.    

Marches Husbandry. Chap. 33.  

White peason both good, for the pot & the purse  
by sowing to timely, prove often the worse.  
because they be tender, & hateth the cold:  
prove March ere ye sow them, for being to bold.   

2  
Spare meadow at Gregory, marshes at Pask,  
for fear of dry summer, no longer time ask.  
Then hedge them & ditch them, bestow thereon pennies,  
for meadow & pasture, crave ever good fence.   

3  
Of Mastiffs & mongrels, that many we see,  
a number of thouzands, to many there be.  
watch therefore in lent, to thy sheep go & look:  
for dogs will have victuals, by hook or by croak.   

¶ The manner of setting of hops.  
4  
In March at the furthest, dry season or wet,  
hop roots so well choesen, let skilful go set.  
The goeler & younger, the better I love:  
well gutted & pared, the better they prove.   

5  
Some layeth them crosswise, along in the ground,  
as high as thy knee, they do cover up round.  
Some prick up a stick, in the mids of the same:  
that little round hillock, the better to frame.   

Some maketh a hollowness, half a foot deep,  
with four sets in it, set slantwise a steep.  
one foot from another, in order to lie:  
and thereon a hillock, as round as a pie.   

7  
Five foot from another, each hillock would stand,  
as strait, as a leveled line with the hand.  
Let every hillock, be four foot wide:  
the better to come to, on every side.   

8  
By willows that groweth, thy hop yard with out,  
and also by hedges, thy meadows about.  
Good hop hath a pleasure, to climb & to spread:  
if son may have passage, to comfort her head.   

9  
Get crow made of Iron, deep hole for to make,  

Hopfooles.  with cross overthwart it, as sharp as a stake.  
A hone & a parer, like sole of a boot:  
to pair away grass, & to raise up the root.   

10  
In March is good graffing, that skilful do know,  
so long as the wind, in the east do not blow.  
From moon being changed, till past be the prime:  
for graffing & cropping, is very good time.   

11  
Things graffed or planted, the greatest & lest,  
defend against tempest, the bird & the beast.  
Defended shall prospero, the t'other is lost:  
the thing with the labour, the time & the cost.   

12  
Sow barely in March, & in April & may,  
the later in sand, & the sooner in clay.  
What worse for barley, than wetnes & cold:  
what better with skilful, than time to be bold.   

13  
Let barley be harrowed, finely as dust,  
and workmanly trench it, & fence it ye must.  
This season well plied, set sowing an end,  
& praise & pray God, a good harvest to sand.   

14  
Some roewlith their barley, strait after a rain  
when first it appeareth, to level it plain,  
the barely so used, the better doth grow:  
& hamsome ye make it, at harvest to mow,   

15  
Oats, barely & pease, harow after ye sow,  
for rye harow first, as already ye know.  
leave wheat little clod, or to cover the head:  
that after a frost, it may out & go spread.   

16  
In March, May & April, from morning to night  
in soweing & setting, good housewives delight.  
to have in a garden, or other like plot:  
to trim up their house, & to furnish their pot.   

17  
The nature of flowers, dame physic doth show  
she teacheth them, all to be known to a few.  
to set or to sow, or else fowne, to remove:  
how that should be practised, learn if ye love.   

18  
Land falling or lying, full South or south west,  
for profit by tillage, is lightly the best.  
so garden, & orchard, & hopyard I find:  
that want the like benefit, grow out a kind.   

19  
If filled to bearne corn, a good tillage doth crave  
what think ye of garden, what garden would have.  
in filled without cost, be assured of weeds:  
in garden be sure, thou losest thy seeds.   

20  
At spring (for the summer) sow garden ye shall,  
at harvest (for winter,) or sow not at all.  
often digging, removing, or wedding (I see)  
makes herb the more wholesome, & greater to be.   

21  
Time fair, to sow or to gather be bold,  
but set or remove, when the weather is cold,  
cut all thing or gather, the moon in the wane:  
but sow in increasing, or give it his bane.   

22  
New set do ask watering, with pot or with dish  
new sown do not so, if ye do as I wish.  
through cunning with dybble, rake, mattock & spade:  
by line & be level, trim garden is made.   

23  
who soweith to late ward, hath seldom good seed  
who soweith to soon, little better shall speed.  
apt time & the season, so diverse to hit:  
this book may instruct him, that hath any wit.   

24  
Good peason, & leeks, to make porridge in lent  
& peascods in july, save fish to be spent.  
those having with other things, plentiful then:  
thou winnest the heart, of the labouring man.   

25  
Kill crow, pie & cadow, rook buzzard & raven,  
or else go desire them, to seek a new haven.  
in scaling the yongist, to pluck of his beck:  
beware how ye climber, for breaking your neck.    

April's abstract. Chap. 34.  

Sweet April showers  
do spring May flowers.   

Forgotten month past,  
do now at the last.   

1  
Set hop his pole,  
make deep the hole.   

2  
First bark go cell,  
or timber ye cell.   

3  
Fence copy in,  
er heawers begin.   

4  
The best ye know,  
for staddles let grow.   

5  
Crab tree preserve,  
for blow to serve.   

6  
Get timber out,  
oer year go about.   

7  
Man, cow provides,  
wife dayrye guides.   

8  
Slut Cisley untaught,  
hath whitemeat nought.   

9  
Some bringeth in gains,  
some loss beside pains.   

Run Cys, fault known  
with more than thine own   

10  
Such mistress such nan,  
such master such man.   

11  
By such ill gests,  
poor Cys, ill rests▪   

Such faults as these,  
good dame will ease.   

These faults all ten,  
abhorreth all men.   

12  
A warning for Cysse,  
for doing amiss.    

April's Husbandry. chap. 35.  

GEt in to thy hopyard, with plenty of poeles,  
among those same hillocks, divide them by doeles  
three poeles to a hillock (I pass not how long)  
shall yield thee more profit, set deeply & strong.   

2  
Cell bark to the Tanner, ere timber ye fell,  
cut low by the ground, or else do ye not well.  
In breaking, save crooked, ●or mill & for ships:  
and ever in heawing, save carpenters chips.   

3  
First see it well fenced, or heawers begin,  
then see it well staddled, without & within.  
thus being preserved, & husbandly done:  
shall sooner raise profit, to thee or thy son.   

4  
Leave growing for staddles, the likeist & best,  
though seller & buyer, dispatcheth the rest.  
In bushet, in hedgerowe, in grove & in wood:  
this lesson observed, is needful & good.   

5  
Save elm, ash & crabtre, for cart & for plough,  
save step for a style, of the crotch of the bough.  
Save hazel for forks, save sallow for rake:  
save hulver & thorn, there of flail for to make.   

6  
Make riddance of carryge, ere year go about,  
for spoiling of plant, that is newly come out.  
To carter (with oxen) this message I bring:  
leave oxen abroad, for annoying the spring.   

7  
From April beginning, till Andrew be past,  
so long with good housewife, her dairy doth last.  
Good beast & good pasture, good husbands provide  
the resdue, good housewives, know best how to guide   

8  
Ill housewife unskilful, to make her own cheese,  
through trusting of others, have this for her ●eese.  
Her milk pan & cream pot, so slabberd & soft:  
that butter is wanting, & cheese is half lost.   

9  
Where some of a kow, do raise yearly a pound,  
with such silly housewives, no deny is found.  
Then dairy maid (Cisle) her fault being known:  
away apace trudgeth, with more than her own.   

10  
Then neighbour for god's sake, if any you see,  
good servant for dairy house, wain her to me.  
Such master such man, & such mistress such maid:  
such husband & housewife, such house is arrayed.   

A lesson for dairy maid Cysley of ten Toppins gests.  

As wife that will,  
good husband please,  
must shun with skill  
such gests as these:  
So Cysse that serves  
must mark this note,  
what fault deserves  
a brushed rote.   

Gehezy Lot's housewife, & Argusses eyes,  
Tom Pyeper, poor Cobbler & Lazarus thighs.  
Rough Esaw & Maudlin, with gentles that skrall,  
with Bishop that turneth, & burneth up all.   

These toppingly gests, be in number but ten,  
as welcome in dairy, as bears among men.  
which being descried, take heed of you shall,  
for danger of after claps, after that fall.   


White & dry.  Gehezy, his sickness was whightish & dry,  
such cheeses good Cisley, ye floated to nigh.   


To salt.  Leave Lot with her pillar, (good Cisley) alone,  
much saltness in whitemeat, is ill for the stone.   

3  

Full of eyes  If cheeses in dairy, have Argusses eyes,  
tell Cisley the fault, in her housewifery lies.   

4  

Hoven  Tom Pyeper, hath hoven & puffed up cheeks,  
if cheese be so hoven, make Cis to seek creeks.   

5  

Tough  Poor Cobbler he toggeth his leatherly trash,  
if cheese abide togging, at Cisley a crash.   

6  

full of spots  If lazar so loathsome, in cheese he espied,  
let bays amend Cisley, or set her aside.   

7  

full of hears  Rough Esaw was hairy, from top to the foot,  
if cheese so appeareth, call Cisley a slut.   

8  

full of whey  As Maudlin wept, so would Cisley be dressed,  
for whey in her cheeses, not half enough priest.   

9  
If gentills be skrauling, call maggot the pie,  

full of gentiles  if cheeses have gentills, at Cis by & by.   

10  

Burned to the pan  Bless Cisley (good mistress) that bishop doth ban  
for burning the milk of her cheese to the pan.   

amend so often beaten,  
for doing amiss,  
I will no more threaten:  
I promise thee Cysse.   

Tus dairy maid Cisley, rehearsed ye see.  
what faults with ill housewife, in dairy house be.  
Of market abhorred, to household a grief:  
to master & mistress, as ill as a thief.     

May's abstract. Chap. 36.  

Cold may & a winedye,  
Barn filleth up finely.   

Forgotten month past,  
Do now at the last.   

1  
Put lamb from ewe,  
to milk a few.   

2  
Be not to bold,  
to milk & sold.   

3  
Five ewes allow,  
to every kow.   

4  
Sheep wriggling tail,  
hath mads without fail.   

5  
Beat in the reed,  
as house hath need.   

6  
Leave cropping from may  
till Mikelmas day.   

Let ivy be killed,  
or tree will be spilled.   

7  
Now thrashers warn,  
to rid the barn.   

8  
Be sure of hay,  
till th'end of may.   

9  
Let sheep fill flank,  
where corn is to rank.   

8  
In woodland ever,  
in champion never.   

10  
To weeding away,  
as soon as ye may.   

11  
For corn here reed,  
what naughty weed.   

12  
Who wedding slackith,  
good husbandry lackith.   

13  
Sow buck or branck,  
that smells so rank.   

14  
Sow hemp & flax,  
that linen lacks.   

15  
Teach hop to climb,  
for now it is time.   

16  
Through fowls & weeds,  
poor hop ill spedes.   

Cut of, or crop,  
Superfluous hop.   

17  
The tytters or tyne,  
now rake out fine.   

18  
New sets do crave,  
some wedding to have.   

19  
Now damn as ye like,  
both fen & dike.   

20  
Watch bees in May,  
for swarming away.   

Both now & in june,  
mark master bees time.   

21  
Twy fallow thy land,  
lest plough else stand.   

22  
Not longer tarry,  
out compass to carry.   

23  
Where need doth pray it,  
there see ye lay it.   

24  
Set jack & Ihone,  
to gather up stone.   

25  
To grass with calves,  
take nothing to halves.   

26  
Be sure thy neat,  
have water & meat.   

27  
By taineting of ground  
destruction is found.   

28  
Now carridg get,  
Home fuewell to fet.   

Tell faggot & billet,  
for filching gillet.   

29  
In summer for firing,  
let city be buying.   

Mark colliers packing,  
lest coeles be lacking.   

she opened sack,  
for two in a pack,   

30  
Let nodding patch,  
go sleep a snatch.   

31  
Wife if ye will,  
now ply your still.   

32  
〈◊〉 ●●●ell sows▪  
in a pot to grow.   

Fine ser●●s sow now,  
(before ye saw how.)   

From 〈…〉, 
S. Helen's day.   
till Christmas ●●●●st.   

From he●●ar 〈…〉 thee,  
till Lammas as both by ●the●.    

May's Husbandry. Chap. 37.  

AT Philip & jacob, away with the lambs,  
that thinkest to have, any milk of their dams.  
At Lammas leave 〈◊〉, for fear of a thing:  
lest (requiem eternam) in winter they sing.   

2  
To milk & to ●olde them, is much to require,  
except ye have pasture, to fill their desire.  
yet many by making (such heed they do take)  
not hurting their bodies, much profit to make.   

3  
Five Ewes to a kow, make a proof by a shore,  
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 & william.   

4  
If sheep or thy lamb, fall a wriggling with tail,  
go by & by search it, whiles help may prevail.  
That barberlye handled, I dare thee assure:  
cast dust in his arse, thou hast finished thy cure.   

5  
Where houses be reeded (as houses have need)  
now pair of the moss, & go beaten in the reed.  
The juster ye drive it, the smother & plain:  
more handsome ye make it, to shut of the rain.   

6  
From May till October, leave cropping for why  
in woodsere, what ever thou cropest will die.  
where ivy embraceth, the tree very sore:  
kill ivy, or tree else, will addle no more.   

7  
Keep threshing for thressher, till May be come in  
to have to be sure, fresh chaff in the been.  
and somewhat to skamble, for hog & for hen:  
& work when it raineth, for loitering men.   

8  
Be sure of hay, & of provender some,  
for labouring cattles, till pasture be come.  
And if ye do mind, to have nothing to stern:  
have one thing or other, for all thing to serve.   

9  
Ground compassed well, & a following year,  
(if wheat or thy barley, to rank doth appear)  
Now eat it with sheep, or else mow it ye may:  
for ledging & so, to the birds for a pray.   

10  
In may get a weed hook, a crotch & a glove.  
and weed out such weeds, as the corn do not love  
For wedding of winter corn, now it is best:  
but june is the better for wedding the rest.   

11  

Ill weeds.  the May weed doth burn, & the thistle doth fret  
the fitches pull downward, both rye & the wheat.  
The brake & the cockle, be noisome to much:  
yet like unto body, no weed there is such.   

12  
Slack never thy wedding for dearth nor for cheap  
the corn shall reward it, oer ever ye reap.  
and specially where ye do trust to for seed:  
let that be well weeded, the ve●●●er to speed.   

13  
In may is good soweing, thy buck or thy brank  
that black is as pepper, & smelleth so rank.  
It is to thy land, as a comfort or muck:  
and all thing it maketh, as fat as a bu●k.   

14  
Good flax & good hemp, for to have of her own,  
in May, a good housewife will see it be sown.  
And afterward trim it, to serve at a need:  
the nimble to spin, & the karse for her seed.   

15  
Get in to thy hop yard, for now it is time,  
to teach Roben hop, on his pole how to climb.  
To follow the Sun, as his property is:  
and weed him & trim him, if aught go amiss.   

16  
Grass, thistle & mustard seed, hemlock & burr,  
tine, mallows & nettles, that keep such a stir,  
with peacock & turkye, that nibbles of top:  
are very ill neighbours, to silly poor hop.   

17  
From wheat go & rake out, the titters or tine,  
if ear be not forth, it will rise again fine.  
use now in thy rye, little raking or none:  
break time from his root, & so let it alone.   

18  
Banks newly quicksettid, some wedding do crave,  
the kindlier nourishment, there by to have.  
then after a shower, to wedding a snatch:  
more easily weed, with the root to dispatch.   

19  
The Fen & the quamere, so marish be kind,  
& are to be drained, now win to thy mind.  
which yearly undrayned, & suffered uncut:  
annoyeth the meadows, that there on do but.   

20  
Take heed to thy bees, that are ready to swarm  
the loss there of now, is a ●r●unes worth of harm  
let skilful be ready, & diligence seen:  
lest being to careless, thou losest thy been.   

21  
In May at the furdist, twy fallow thy land,  
much ●●owt may else after, cause plough for to stand  
this tilth being done, ye have passed the worst:  
then after who ploweth, plough thou with the furst.   

22  
Twye fallow once ended, get tumbril & man,  
& compass that fallow, as soon as ye can.  
Let skilful bestow it, where need is upon:  
more profit the sooner, to follow there on.   

23  
hide hedlonds with muck, if ye will to the knees,  
so dripped & shadowed, with bushes & trees.  
bore plots full of galls, if ye blow overthwart,  
& compass it then, is a husbandly part.   

24  
Let children be hired, to say to their bones,  
from fallow as needeth, to gather up stones.  
what wisdom, for profit adviseth unto:  
that husband & housewife, must willingly do.   

25  
to grass with thy calves, in some meadow plot near  
where neither their mothers, may see them nor here  
where water is plenty, & barth to set warm:  
and look well unto them, for taking of harm.   

26  
Pinch never thy wennels, of water or meat,  
if ever ye hope, for to see them good neat.  
in summer tune daily, in winter in frost:  
if cattles lack drink, they be utterly lost.   

27  
for coveting much, over lay not thy ground,  
& then shall thy cattles, be lusty & sound.  
but pinch them of pasture, while summer doth last,  
& lift at their tails, ere an winter be past.   

28  
Get home with thy fuel, made ready to fet,  
the sooner, the easier, caridg to get.  
or otherwise linger, the carridge there on:  
till (where as ye left it) a quarter be gone.   

29  
His firing in summer, let citizen buy,  
lest buing in winter, make purse for to cry.  
For carman & collier, harps on a string.  
in winter they cast, to be with the to bring.   

30  
From May till mid August, an hour or two,  
let patch sleep a snatch, how somever ye do.  
though sleeping one hour, refreshith his song:  
yet trust not hob growthed, for sleeping to long.   

31  
The knowledge of stilling, is one preaty feat,  
the waters be wholesome, the charges not great.  
what timely thou gettist, while summer doth last:  
think winter will help thee, to spend it as fast.   

32  
Fine hazel desireth, it may be her lot,  
to grow as the geliflower, trim in a pot.  
that ladies & gentles, for whom she doth serve:  
may help her as needeth, pure life to preserve.    

junes' abstract. Chap. 38.  

Calm weather in june.  
corn sets in june.   

forgotten month past,  
Do now at the last.   

1  
wash sheep for to share,  
that sheep may go bore.   

2  
Though fleece ye take,  
no patches make.   

3  
Share lambs no whit,  
or share not yet.   

4  
If meadow be grown,  
let meadow be mown.   

5  
Plough early ye may.  
and then carry hay.   

6  
'tis good to be known,  
to have of thine own.   

7  
who goeth a borrowing,  
goeth a sorrowing.   

8  
See cart in plight,  
and all things right.   

9  
Make dry over head,  
Both hovel & shed.   

10  
Of hovel make stack,  
with pease on his back.   

11  
good store house needful,  
in order, speedefull.   

12  
Thy barn repair,  
make flower fair.   

13  
Such shrubbs as noye,  
in summer destroy.   

14  
Swinge brimbles & brakes  
get forks & rakes.   

15  
Spare hedlond some.  
till harvest come.   

16  
Cast ditch & pond,  
to say upon land.   

17  
Where hops will grow,  
here learn to know.   

hops many will come,  
in a rood of room.   

18  
Hop hates the land,  
with gravel & sand.   

19  
Dry rotten moolde,  
for hop is worth goold.   

20  
The son south west,  
for hop yard best.   

21  
Hop plot once found,  
Now dig the ground.   

22  
Hops favorith malt.  
hops, thrift doth exalt.   

Of hops more read,  
as time doth need.    

junes' husbandry. Chap. 39,  

Wash sheep (for the better) where water doth run  
& let him go cleanly, & dry in the sun.  
then share him & spare not, at two days an end:  
the sooner the better, his corpse will amend.   

2  
Reward not thy sheep (when ye take of his cote)  
with twitchiss & patchiss, as broad as a groat.  
let no such ungentleness, happen to thine:  
lest fly with her gentiles, do make it to pine.   

3  
Let lambs go unclipped, till June be half worn,  
the better their fleeses, will grow to be shorn.  
the Pie will discharge thee, for pulling the rest:  
the lighter the sheep is, then seedeth it best.   

4  
If meadow be forward, be moweing of some,  
but mow as the makers, may well over come.  
take heed to the weather, the wind & the sky:  
if danger approacheth, than cock apace cry.   

5  
Plough early till ten a clock, then to shy hay,  
in ploughing & carting, so profit ye may.  
by little & little, was doing ye win:  
that plough shall not hinder, when harvest tones in.   

6  
Provide of thine own, to have all thing at hand,  
lest work & the workman, unoccupied stand.  
Love seldom to borrow, that thinkest to save:  
for he that once dareth, twice looketh to have.   

7  
To borrow to day, & to morrow to miss,  
to lender & borrower, noyance it is.  
then have of thine own, with out lending unspilled:  
or borrow with sorrow, as long as thou wilt.   

8  
Let Cart be well searched, without & within,  
well clouted & greased, ere hay●●ime begin.  
Thy hay being carried, though carter had sworn:  
carts bottom well boerded, is saving of corn.   

9  
Good husbands that lay, to save, allthing upright,  
for tumbrells & cart, have a shed ready dight.  
where under the hog, may in winter lie warm,  
to stand so enclosed, as wind do no harm.   

10  
So likewise a hovel, will serve for a room,  
to stack on thy peason, when harvest shall come.  
and serve thee in winter, more over then that:  
to shut up the porkling, thou mindest to fat.   

11  
What husbandly husbands, except they be fools  
but handsome have store house, for trinkets & tools.  
And all in good order, fast locked to lie:  
what ever is needful, to find by & by.   

12  
Thy houses & barns, would be looked upon,  
and all thing amended, ere harvest come on.  
Things thus set in order, in quiet & rest:  
shall further thy harvest, & pleasure thee best.   

13  
The bushes & thorn, with the shrubbs that do noy  
in woodsere or summer, cut down to destroy.  
But whereas decay, to the tree ye will none:  
for danger in woodsere, let hacking alone.   

14  
At midsummer, down with the brimbles & brakes  
and after, abroad with thy forks & thy rakes.  
set mowers a moweing, where meadow is grown  
the longer (now standing) the worse to be mown.   

15  
Now down with the grass, upon hedlonds about,  
that groweth in shadow, so rank & so stout.  
But grass upon hedlond, of barley & pease:  
when harvest is ended, go mow if ye please.   

16  
Such muddy deep dieches, & pits in the field,  
that all a dry summer, no water will yield.  
By fieing & casting, that mud upon heaps:  
commodities many, the husband man reaps.   

A lesson where and when to plant good hopyarde.  

17  
whom fancy persuadeth, among other crops,  
to have for his spending, sufficient of hops.  
must willingly follow, of choices to choose:  
such lessons approved, as skilful do use.   

18  
Ground, gravely, sandy, & mixed with clay▪  
is naughty for hops, any manner of way.  
Or if it be mingled, with rubbish & stone:  
for dryness & barrenness, let it alone.   

19  
Choose soil for the hop, of the rottenest mould,  
well dounged & wrought, as a garden plot should  
not far fro the water (but not overflown)  
this lesson well noeted, is meet to be known.   

20  
The sun in the South, or else southly & west,  
is joy to the hop, as a welcomed gest.  
But wind in the north, or else northely & east:  
to hop is as ill, as a fray in a feast.   

21  
Meet plot for a hopyard, once found as is told  
make thereof account, as of jewel of gold.  
Now dig it, & leave it the Sun for to burn:  
and afterward fence it, to serve for that turn.   

22  
The hop for his profit, I thus do exalt,  
it strengtheneth drink, & it favoureth malt.  
And being well brewed, long kept it will last:  
and drawing abide, if ye draw not to fast.     

julies' abstract. Chap. 40.  

No tempest good julie,  
Lest all, look ruelie.   

Forgotten month past,  
Do now at the last.   

1  
Gowe sirs & away,  
to led & make hay.   

If storm draws nigh,  
than ●o●kapace ●●ye.   

2  
Let hay still bide,  
till well it be dried.   

Hay made, away carry,  
no longer carry.   

3  
Who best way tyetheth,  
he best way thriveth.   

4  
Two good hay makers,  
worth twenty crackers.   

5  
Let dalops about,  
be mown & had out.   

Se hay do look green,  
se field ye rake clean.   

6  
Thry fallow I prithee,  
lest thistles bewray thee.   

7  
Cut of good wife,  
ripe bean with a knife.   

8  
Ripe hemp out kull,  
from karl to pull.   

Let seed hemp grow,  
till more ye know.   

9  
Some wormwood save,  
for March to have.   

10  
Get grist to the mill,  
for wanting at william.   

Go reap or pluck,  
thy brank or buck.   

Dried flax get in,  
for maid to spin.    

July's husbandry. Cap. 41.  


hay harvest  GO muster thy servants, be captain thyself,  
providing them weapon, & other like pelf.  
get bottles & wallets, keep filled in the heat:  
the fear is as much, as the danger is great.   

2  
With tossing & raking, & setting on cocks,  
grass lately in swaths, is hay for an ox:  
that done, go & cart it, & have it away:  
the battle is fought, ye have gotten the day.   

3  
Pay justly thy tiethes, what ever thou be,  
that God may in blessing, sand foizen to the.  
though curate be had, or the parson as evil:  
go not for thy tiething, thyself to the devil.   

4  
Let hay be well made, or avise else avous,  
for moulding in goef, or of firing the house.  
lay coursist aside, for the ox & the cow:  
the finest for sheep, & thy gelding allow.   

5  
Then down with thy hedlond, the groweth about  
leave never a dalop, unmowen & had out.  
though grass be but thin, about barely & pease.  
yet picked up clean, ye shall find therein ease.   

6  
Thrye fallow betime, for destroinge of weed,  
lest thistle & dock, fall a blooming & seed.  
such season may chance, it shall stand the upon:  
to till it again, ere an summer begun.   

7  
Not rend of, but cut of, ripe bean with a knife,  
for hindering stalk, of her vegetive life:  
so gather the loweist, & leaving the top:  
shall teach the a trick, for to double thy crop.   

8  
Wife pluck fro thy seed hemp, the fimble hemp clean  
this lokith more yellow, the other more green.  
use ton for thy spinning, leave Mihell the t'other:  
for shoothrede & halter, for rope & such other.   

9  
while woormwoode 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.   

10  
Get grist to the mill, to have plenty in store,  
lest miller lack water, as meany do more.  
the meal the more yieldeth, if servant be true:  
& miller that towleth, take none but his due.    

August abstract. Chap. 42,  

Dry August & warm,  
Doth harvest no harm.   

forgotten month past,  
Do now at the last.   

1  
Thry fallowing won,  
get compass donne.   

2  
In june & in Aw,  
swinge brakes for a law.   

3  
Pair saffron plot,  
forget it not.   

His dwelling made trim  
look shortly for him.   

When harvest is gone,  
their saffron comes on.   

4  
A Little of ground,  
brings saffron a pound.   

Keep colour in drying,  
(well used) worth buying.   

The pleasure fine,  
the profit thine.   

5  
Now strike up droom,  
now harvest man come.   

Take pain for a gain,  
one knave marrith twain   

Get reapers by day,  
Lest corn do decay.   

By great is the cheaper,  
if trusty were reaper.   

7  
give gloves to reapers,  
blow horn for sleapers.   

8  
Well doings who loveth,  
these harvest points proveth.   

9  
pay God his part furst,  
and not of the worst.   

That person may,  
tithe carry away.   

10  
Keep cart gap we'll,  
keep hog from wheel.   

11  
Mown barley les cost,  
ill mown, much lost.   

12  
Mowe barely, with hand,  
that will not stand.   

12  
Let grenest stand  
for making of band.   

Bands made, without dew  
will hold but a few.   

13  
Two rakes to a binder,  
lay band, to find her.   

14  
Rake after sith,  
& pay thy tieth.   

Corn carried all,  
then rake it ye shall.   

15  
Let shock take sweat,  
lest goefe take heat.   

yet is it best reason,  
to take it in season.   

16  
Moore often ye turn,  
more pease ye out spurn.   

yet winnow them in,  
ere carridg begin.   

17  
thy carrige ply,  
while weather is dry.   

18  
Bid gooving climb,  
gove just & trim.   

19  
Say pease upon stack,  
if hovel ye lack.   

And cover it strait,  
from doves that weight.   

20  
Let gleaners glean,  
the poor I mean.   

Which ever ye sow,  
that first eat low.   

The other forbore,  
for rowen to spare.   

21  
Come home lord singing,  
come cart, corn bringing.   

Be merry in hall,  
Let berdes wag all.   

22  
Once had thy desire,  
pay workman his hire.   

Let none be beguiled,  
man, woman nor child.   

23  
Thank God so ye shall,  
& adieu for all.    

August husbandry. Chap. 43.  

Thry fallow once ended, go strike by & by,  
both wheat land, & barely, & so let it lie:  
& as ye have leysor, go compass the same:  
when up ye do say it, more fertful to frame.   

2  
Get down with thy brakes, ere an showers do come  
that cattles the better, may pasture have some.  
In june & in August, as well doth appear:  
is best to mow brakes, of all times in the year.   

3  
Pair saffron, between the two S. Marry days,  
or set or go shifted it, that knowest the ways.  
What year shall I do it, (more profit to yield?)  
the fourth in garden, the third in the field,   

4  
In having but forty foot, cunningly dight,  
take saffron enough, for a lord & a knight.  
All winter time after, as practice doth teach:  
what plot have ye better, for linen to bleache.   

5  

Corn harvest  Make sure of reapers, get harvest in hand,  
the corn that is ripe, do but shed as it stand.  
Be thankful to God, for his benefits sent:  
and willing to save it, with earnest intent.   

6  
To let out thy harvest, by great or by day,  
let this by experience, lead thee away.  
By great will deceive thee, with lingering it out:  
by day will dispatch, & put all out of doubt.   

7  
Grant harvest lord more, by a penny or two,  
to call on his fellows, the better to do.  
give glooves to thy reapers, a largesse to cry:  
and daily to loiterers, have a good eye.   

8  

Good harvest points.  Reap well, scatter not, gather clean that is shorn  
bind fast, shock apace, have an eye to thy corn.  
Lode safe carry home, follow time being fair:  
gone just, in the barn it is out of despair.   

9  
Corn tithed (Sir parson) together go get,  
and 'cause it on stocks, to be by & by set.  
Not leaving it skattering, abroad on the ground:  
nor long in the field, but away with it round.   

10  
To cart gap & barn, set a guide to look we'll,  
and hoy out (sir carter) the hog fro the wheel.  
Lest greedy of feeding, in following cart:  
it noyeth or perisheth, spite of thy heart.   

11  
The moweing of barley, if barley do stand,  
is cheapest & best, for to rid out a hand. 
Mowing of barely.   
Some mow it & rake it, & sets it on cocks:  
some mow it & binds it, & sets it on shocks,   

12  
Of barley the longest, & grenest ye find,  
leave standing by dalops, till time ye do bind.  
Then early in morning (while dew is thereon)  
to making of bands, till the dew be all gone.   

14  
One spreadeth those bands, so in order to lie,  
as barley (in swaths,) may fill it thereby.  
which gathered up, with the rake & the hand:  
the follower after him, bindeth in band.   

14  
Where barley is raked, (if dealing be true)  
the tenth of such raeking, to person is due.  
where scattering of barley, is seen to be much:  
there custom nor conscience, tyething should grudge.   

15  
Corn being had down, any way ye allow,  
should whither as needeth, for burning in mow.  
such skill apertaineth, to harvest man's art:  
& taken in time, is a hus bandly part.   

16  
Not turning of peason, till carrige ye make,  
nor turn in no more, than ye mind for to take.  
lest beaton with showers, so turned to dry:  
by turning & tossing, they shed as they lie.   

17  
If weather be fair, & tyedy thy grain,  
make speedily carrige, for fear of a rain.  
for tempest & showers, deceiveth a many:  
& lingering lubbers, loose meany a penny.   

18  
In goeving at harvest, learn skilfully how,  
each grain for to say, by itself on amow:  
seed barely the purist, gove out of the way:  
all other nigh hand, gove as just as ye may.   

19  
Stack pease upon hovel, abroad in the yard,  
to cover it quickly, let owner regard.  
lest dove & the cadow, there finedinge a smack:  
with stormy ill weather, do perish thy stack.   

20  
Corn carried, let such as be poor go & glean,  
& after thy cattles, to mowthit up clean.  
then spare it or rowen, till Mihel be passed:  
to lenghthen thy dairy, no better thou hast.   

21  
In harvest time, harvest folk, servants & all,  
should make all to gether, good there in thy hall,  
& fill out the blackboll, of bleedeth to their song:  
and let them be merry, all harvest time long.   

22  
Once ended thy harvest, let none be beguiled,  
please such as did help thee, man, woman & child.  
Thus doing, with all way, such help as they can:  
thou, winnest the praise, of the labouring man.   

23  
Now look up to Godward, let tongue never cease  
in thanking of him, for his mighty increase.  
Accept my good will, for a proof go & try:  
the better thou thrivest, the gladder am I    


A brief conclusion where you may see,  
each word in the verse to begin with a T.  Cap. 44.  

THe thrifty, that teacheth the thriving to thrive.  
Teach timely to traverse, the th●g that thou trive. 
Trive for contrive.   
Transferring thy toiling, to timelines taught,  
This teacheth thee temperance, to temper thy thought.  
Take trusty (to trust to) that thinkest to thee, 
Thee for thrive.   
That trustily thriftiness, trowleth to the.  
Then temper thy travel, to tarry the tide,  
This teacheth the thriftiness, twenty times tried.  
Take thankful thy talon, thank thanfully those,  
That thriftily teacheth, thy time to transpose.  
Troth, twice to thee teached, teach twenty times ten  
This trade thou that takest, take thrift to the then.  Thomas Tusser.   


Man's age divided, here ye have,  
By prenticeships, from birth to his grave.  Chap. 45.  

7 The first seven. years, bring up as a child.  
14 The next, to learning, for waxing to wild.  
21 The next, keep under sir hobber de hoy.  
28 The next, a man, no longer a boy.  
35 The next, let lusty, lay wisely to wive.  
42 The next, lay now or else never to thrive.  
49 The next, make sure for term of thy life.  
56 The next, save somewhat for children and wife.  
63 The next, be stayed give over thy lust.  
70 The next, think hourly whither thou must.  
77 The next, get chair & Crutches to stay.  
84 The next to heaven, god sand the the away.   

Who loosith their yewth,  
shall rue it in age.  
who heateth the truth,  
in sorrow shall rage's.    


A brief declaration,  
of man's inclination.  Chap. 46.  
The Ape, the Lion, the Fox, the Ass:  
Thus sets forth man, as in a glass.  

Ape, Like Apes we be toying, till twenty & one.  
Lion, Then hasty as Lions, till xl be gone.  
Fox, then wily as Foxis, till xl. & three:  
Ass, than after, for Asses accounted we be.   

Who plays with his better, this lesson must know,  
what humbleness, fox to the lion doth owe.  
for ape with his toyenge, & rudeness of ass:  
brings (out of good hour) displeasure to pass.    

¶ Comparing good husband, with unthrift his brother the better decerneth, the tone from the t'other. Chap. 47.  

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

Ill husbandry trudgeth,  
with unthrifts about.  
good husbandry snudgith,  
for fear of a doubt.   

3  
Ill husbandry spendith  
abroad like a mome,  
good husbandry tendith,  
his charges at home.   

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

5  
Ill husbandry loseth  
for lack of good fence,  
good husbandry closeth,  
& gainith the pence.   

6  
Ill husbandry trustith  
to him & to hur,  
good husbandry lustith  
himself for to stur.   

7  
Ill husbandry eatith  
himself out a door,  
good husbandry meatith,  
himself & the poor.   

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

9  
Ill husbandry lurkith,  
& stealith a sleep,  
good husbandry workith  
his howsold to keep.   

10  
Ill husbandry leiuith  
by that & by this,  
good husbandry geiuith  
to ery man his.   

11  
Ill husbandry taketh  
& spendith up all,  
good husbandry maketh  
good shift with a small.   

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

13  
Ill husbandry drowseth  
at fortune so awke,  
good husbandry rowsith  
himself, as a hawk.   

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

15  
Ill husbandry ways  
hath to fraud what he can,  
Good husbandry, praise  
hath of every man.   

19  
Ill husbandry never  
hath wealth to keep touch,  
good husbandry ever.  
hath penny in pouch.   

Good husband his boon  
or request hath a far:  
Ill husband, as soon  
hath a toad with an R.    

A Comparison between Champion & Several. Chap. 48.  

THe country enclosed I praise,  
the t'other delighteth not me,  
For nothing the wealth it doth raise  
to such as inferior be.  
Because of them both I do know:  
I mind thereof somewhat to show.   

2  
There, swineherd that keepeth the hog  
there, neatherd with cur & his horn,  
There, shepherd with whistle & dog  
be fence, to the meadow 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 mead:  
Though common ye do for the best,  
yet what doth it stand ye 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 up clean.   

5  
Example by Leycester shire,  
what soil can be better than that,  
For any thing heart can desire.  
and yet doth it want ye see what,  
Mast, covert, close pasture, & 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 Suffolk & Essex go take.   

7  
Moore plenty of Mutton & beef,  
corn, butter & cheese of the best,  
Moore wealth any where (to be brief)  
more people, more handsome & priest.  
where find ye? (go search any coest,  
than there, where enclosure is moest.   

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

9  
In Norfolk, behold the despair,  
of tillage, to much to be borne,  
By droevers from fair to fair:  
and others destroying the corn.  
By custom & covetous pates,  
by gapps & by opeing of gates.   

10  
what speak I of commoners buy,  
with drawing all after a line,  
So noying the corn, as it lie,  
with cattles, with sheep & with swine.  
when all is bestowed the cost,  
look half of the same to be lost.   

11  
The flocks, of the lords of the soil,  
do yearly the winter corn wrong,  
The same in a manner they spoil.  
with feeding so low & so long.  
And therefore, that champion field:  
doth seldom good winter corn yield.   

12  
Moore profit is quieter found,  
(where pastures in several Bee)  
Of one silly acre of ground,  
Then Champion maketh of three.  
Again what a joy is it known,  
when men may be bold of their own.   

13  
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.   

14  
Tone, giveth his corn in a dearth,  
to horse, sheep & hog ery day,  
The t'other, give cattle warm barth,  
and feed them with straw & with hay.  
Corn spent of the tone, so in vain,  
the t'other, doth cell to his gain.   

15  
Tone, barefoore & 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 cottage doth take,  
when other, trim boowers do make.   

16  
Tone, layeth for turf & for sedge,  
and hath it with wonderful suit,  
when tother, in every hedge,  
hath plenty of fuel & fruit.  
Evils twenty times worser than these,  
enclosure full quickly would ease.   

17  
In woodland the poor men that have,  
scarce fully two acres of land,   

14  
Moore merrily live, & do save.  
than other, 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?   

26  
The poor, at enclosing do grudge,  
because of abuses that fall,  
Lest some man should have but to much,  
and some again nothing at all.  
If order might there in be found,  
what were to the several ground.   
Thus ended husbandry, here followeth huswifrie.   

Man, minedid for to thrive,  
must wisely lay to wive,  
what had may thereby fall:  
here argued find ye shall.  
The dialog between two bachelors, of wiving and thriving by Affirmation and Objection.  Affirmation. 
Friend, where we met this other day,  
We heard one make his moan and say,  
Good Lord, how might I thrive:  
We heard an other answer him,  
Then make the handsome trick & trim:  
& lay in time to wive.  Objection. 
And what of that, say you to me,  
Do you yourself think that to be?  
The belt way for to thrive:  
If troth were truly hulted out,  
As touching thrift, I stand in doubt,  
If men were best to wive.  Affirmation. 
There is no doubt, for prove I can,  
I have but seldom seen that man,  
which could the way to thryvet  
Until it was his happy lot,  
To stay himself in some good plot:  
& wisely then to wive.  Objection. 
And I am of an other mind,  
For by no reason can I find,  
How that way I should thrive:  
For where as now I spend a penny,  
I should not then be quit with many,  
In bondage for to wive.  Affirmation. 
Not so, for now where thou dost spend  
Of this & that, to no good end,  
which hindereth thee to thrive:  
Such vain expensis thou shouldst save,  
and daily then lay more to have,  
as others do that wive.  Objection. 
why then do folk, this proverb put,  
the black ox near trod on thy foot,  
If that way were to thrive:  
Here out a man may soon pike forth,  
Few feeleth what, a pomp is worth  
Till such time as they wi●e.  Affirmation. 
It may so chance as thou dost say,  
This lesson therefore beat a way,  
If thereby thou wilt thrive  
Look ere thou leap, see ere thou go,  
It may be for thy profit so,  
For the to say to wive.  Objection. 
It is to much we daily here,  
To wive and thrive both in a year.  
As touching now to thrive:  
I know not here in what to spy,  
But that there doth small profit lie,  
to fancy for to wive.  Affirmation. 
In deed the first year often is such  
That fond some bestoweth much,  
A let to them to thrive:  
Yet other more, may soon be found▪  
which getteth many a fair pound▪  
The same day that they wive.  Objection. 
I grant, some getteth more that day  
Than they can easily bear a way:  
Now needs the● must they thrive:  
what gaineth such think you by that▪  
A little burden you wot what,  
through fondness for to wive.  Affirmation. 
Thou seemest blind, us more have been  
It is not beauty bringeth in,  
The thing to make the thrive:  
In womankind, see that ye do  
Require of her, no gift but two,  
when ere ye mind to wive.  Objection. 
But two say you? I pray you than,  
Sheaw those as briefly as you can,  
If that may help●●o thrive:  
I ween we must 〈…〉 anon,  
Of those same swain, to want the ton,  
When ere we chance to wive.  Affirmation, 

Honesty & housewifery  An honest housewife, trust to me,  
be those same ●wayne I say to thee,  
That help so much to thrive:  
As honesty 〈◊〉 passeth 〈◊〉,  
so housewifery 〈…〉,  
do pleasure such as 〈◊〉.  Objection. 
The honesty for both I grant,  
Is one good point a wife should haunt.  
To make her husband thrive:  
But now falsie would I have you show,  
How should a man good housewife know  
If once he hap to wive.  Affirmation. 
A housewife good betime 〈◊〉,  
And order things in comely wise.  
Her mind is set to thrive:  
Upon her distaff, she will spin,  
And with her needle she will win,  
If such ye hap to wive.  Objection. 
It is not idle going about,  
nor all day pricking on a clout  
Can make a man to thrive:  
If else there be none other winning,  
but that the wife gets, by her spinning.  
Small thrift it is to wive.  Affirmation. 
Some more than this, yet do they shall,  
Although thy stock be very small.  
yet will she help thee thrive:  
Lay you to save as well as she,  
and then you shall enriched be.  
when such you hap to wive.  Objection. 
If she were mine, I tell thee troth,  
To much to troubleher I were loath,  
For greediness to thrive:  
Lest some should talk, as is the speech  
the good wives husband wears no breech,  
If such I hap to wive.  Affirmation. 
What hurts it thee, what some do say,  
If honestly she take the way  
To help thee for to thrive:  
For honesty will make her priest,  
To do the thing that shall be best.  
If such ye hap to wive.  Objection. 
Why did Diogenes say than,  
To one that asked of him time when,  
were best to wive to thrive:  
Not yet (quoth he) if thou be young,  
If thou wax old, then hold thy tongue,  
It is to late to wive.  Affirmation. 
Belike he knew some shreawishe wife,  
which with her husband, made such strife,  
That hindered him to thrive:  
who then may blame him for that clause,  
though them he spoke, as some had cause.  
as touching for to wive.  Objection. 
Why then I see, to take a shreawe,  
(as seldom other there be few),  
Is not the way to thrive:  
So hard a thing I spy it is,  
The good to choose the shreawe to miss,  
that feareth me to wive.  Affirmation. 
She may in some thing, seem a shreaw,  
Yet such a housewife as but few,  
To help thee for to thrive:  
This proverb, look in mind ye keep.  
As good a shreawe is, as a sheep,  
for you to take to wive.  Objection. 
Now be she lamb or be she ewe,  
give me the sheep, take thou the shreaw  
See which of us shall thrive:  
If she be shreawishe think for troth,  
For all her thrift, I would be loath,  
to match with such to wive.  Affirmation, 
Tusshe, farewell then I leave you of,  
Such fools as you, that love to scof,  
Shall seldom wive to thrive:  
Contrary her as you do me,  
And then ye shall I warrant ye,  
Repent ye, if ye wive.  Objection. 
Friend, let us both give justly place,  
To wedded man to judge this case,  
which best way is to thrive:  
For both our talk, as seemeth plain,  
Is but as happeneth in our brain,  
To will or not to wive.  


Wedded man's judgement,  
upon the former argument.   

AS Cock, that wants his mate, 
Moderator.   
goes roving all about,  
with croewing early & late:  
to find his lover out:  
And as poor silly hen  
Long wanting Cock to guide,  
soon droops, & shortly then  
begins to peak a side:  
even so it is with man & wife,  
(where government is sound)  
the want of thou, the tother life  
doth shortly soon confownde.   

IN jest & in earnest, here argued ye find,  
that husband with housewife, in wedlock must devil,  
and thereto the judgement of wedded man's mind  
that husbandry otherwise speedith not well.  
so, somewhat more now, I intend for to tell,  
of huswifrie like as of husbandry told:  
how huswysly housewife, helps bring in the gold.    
FINIS.   
The points of huswifrie, united to the comfort of husbandry, newly corrected & amplified with divers good lessons for householders to recreate the reader, as by the table at the end here of more plainly may apere.  
Set forth by Thomas Tusser gentleman. 1573.  

To the right honourable and my especial good Lady and Mistress the Lady Paget.  

THough danger he much  
& favour so fickle:  
yet duty doth tickle,  
my fancy to wright:  
concerning how pretty,  
how fine & how nettie  
good housewife should yettie  
from morening to night.   

2  
Not mynedid by wrighting,  
to kindle a spitting,  
but show by endighting,  
as afterward told:  
how husbandry easith  
so huswifrie pleasith,  
& many purse greasith  
with silver & gold.   

3  
For husbandry weepith  
where huswifrie sleepith,  
and hardly he creepeth  
up ladder to thrift:  
that wantith to bold him  
thrifts ladder to hold him  
before it be told him,  
be falls with out shift.   

4  
Lest meany should fear me,  
and others forsweareme,  
of troth I do bear me  
upright as ye see:  
full mine did to love all,  
& not to reprove all,  
but only to move all,  
good housewives to be.   

5  
For if I should mind some,  
or descant behind some,  
& missing to find some,  
displease so I might:  
or if I should blend them,  
& so to offend them,  
what stir I should sand them  
I stand in a doubt.   

6  
Though harmless I make it,  
and some do well take it,  
if others forsake it  
what pleasure were that:  
nought else but to pain me.  
& nothing to gain me,  
but make them disdain me,  
I wots ner for what.   

7  
Lest some make a trial,  
as clock by the dial,  
some stand to denial,  
some murmur & grudge:  
give judgement I pray you,  
for justly so may you  
so fancy so say you,  
I make you my judge.   

8  
In time, ye shall try me,  
by troth, ye 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.   

9  
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 oer ye sand it,  
or any where lend it,  
if aught be amiss.   
your ladyships servant Thomas Tusser.   

The preface of the book of Huswifrie.  

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 huswifrie well.   

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

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

¶ As true as thy faith, Thus huswifrie saith.  
I Serve for a day, for a week for a year,  
for life time, for ever, while man dwelleth here. 
The praise of huswifry   
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.   

A description of housewife and Huswiferye.  

OF housewife, doth housewifery challenge the name,  
of housewifery, housewife doth likewise the same.  
where husband & Husbandry, joineth with these,  
there wealthiness gotten, is holden 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, as belongeth to her:  
if husband be witty, 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 of doings therein.  
And she that with husband, will quietly devil:  
must think on this lesson, and follow it well.   
FINIS.   

Instructions to housewifery.  

¶ Serve God is the furst,  
True love is not worst.   

A Daily good lesson, of housewife in deed,  
is God to remember, the better to speed.   

2  
Another good lesson, of housewifery thought,  
is housewife with husband, to lief as she aught.   

¶ Wife comely no grief,  
Man out, housewife chief.   

3  
Though tricksy to see to, be gallant to wive,  
yet comely & wise, is the housewife to thrive.   

4  
When husband is absent, let housewife be chief,  
and look to their labour, that eateth her beef.   

¶ Both out, not allow,  
Keep house, housewife thou.   

5  
Where husband & housewife, be both out of place,  
there servants do loiter, and reason their case.   

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

¶ Seek home for rest,  
For home is best.   

7  
As housewives keep home, & be stirrers about,  
so speedeth their winnings, the year through out.   

8  
though home be but homely, yet huswif is taught  
that home hath no fellow, to such as have aught.   

¶ Use all with skill,  
ask what ye william.   

9  
Good usage with knowledge, & quiet with all,  
Makes housewife to shine, as the sun on the wall.   

10  
what husband refuseth, all comely to have,  
that hath a good housewife, all willing to save.   

¶ Be ready at need,  
all thine to feed.   

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

12  
This care hath a housewife all day in her head,  
that all thing in season be huswifely fed.   

¶ By practice go muse,  
how household to use.   

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

14  
Use labourers gently, keep this as a law,  
make child to be civil, keep servant in awe.   

¶ who careless do live,  
occasion do geive.   

15  
Have every where, a respect to thy ways,  
that none of thy life, any siaunder may raise.   

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

¶ Not neighbour reprove,  
do so, to have love.   

17  
the love of thy neighbour, shall stand thee in stead,  
the poorer, the gladder, to help at a need.   

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

¶ Strike nothing unknown.  
take hid to thine own.   

19  
Revenge not thy wrath, upon any man's beast,  
lest thine be like malice, be bid to like feast.   

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 add,  
concerning cock-crowing, what profit is had  
experience teathith, as true as a clock:  
how winter nights passith, by marking the cock.   

Cock croweth at midnight, times few above six,  
with pause to his neighbour, to answer betwixt,  
at three a clock thicker, & then as ye know:  
like all in to matins, near day they do crow.   

At midnight, at three, & an hour ere day,  
they utter their language, as well as they may.  
which who so regardith, what counsel they give.  
will better love croweing, as long as they leave.   

For being frayed,  
take hid good maid:  
Mark crowing of cock  
for fear of your dock,   


At midnight.  ¶ The first cock croweth,  
How, dame it is midnight what rumbling is that  
The next cock showeith.  
Take hide to false harlots, & more ye wots what.  
If noise ye do hear.  
look all thing be clear.  
Lest drabs do noy the.  
and thieves destroy the.   


At three a clock  ¶ The first cock croweth,  
Maids three a clock, kned, lay your bucks, or go brew,  
The next cock showeth.  
And cobble & botch, ye that cannot buy new.  
Both maiden and man,  
Mend now what ye can.  
Leave gibber gabber,  
mend slibber slabber.   


At the break of day.  ¶ The first cock croweth,  
Passed five a clock, holla: maid sleeping beware,  
The next cock showeith,  
Lest quickly your mistress, uncover your bore.  
Maid up I beseech you,  
Lest mistress do breach you.  
To work and away,  
As fast as ye may.    


Now listen good housewives, what huswifrie here,  
set out for a day, as it should for a year.   

¶ Not sooner some up,  
But nose is in cup.   

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

2  
Some slovens from sleeping, no sooner be up,  
But hand is in aumbrie, & nose in the cup.   

¶ That early is done,  
Count huswifely won.   

3  
Some works in the morning, may trimly be done  
that all the day after, can hardly be won.   

4  
Good husband without, is it needful there be?  
good housewife within, is as needful as he.   

Cast dust into yard,  
& spin and go card.   

5  
Sluts corners avoided, shall further thy health,  
much time about triefles, shall hinder thy wealth.   

6  
Set some to peel hemp, or else resshis to twine,  
to spin & to card, or to seething of brine.   

¶ Grind malt for drink,  
see meat do not stink.   

7  
Set some about cattles, some pasture to view,  
Some, malt to be grineding, against ye do brew.   

Some, corneth, some brineth, some will not betaught  
where meat is atainetid, their cookery is nought.   

¶ To breakfast that come,  
give erye one some.   

9  

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

10  
Let housewife be carver, see pottage be heat,  
a mess to each one, with a morsel of meat.   

¶ Not more tittle tattle,  
Go serve your cattles.   

11  
what tack in a pudding, says greedy gut wringer  
give such ye wots what, ere a pudding he finger.   

12  
Let servant once served, thy cattles go serve,  
lest often it serving, make cattles to starve.   

¶ Learn you that will thee,  
How dainty some Bee.   

13  
No breakfast of custom, provide for to save,  
but only for such, as deserveth to have.   

14  
No showing to servant, what victuals in store,  
sheaw servant his labour, & sheaw him no more.   

¶ Of havoc beware,  
Cat nothing will spare.   

15  
Where all thing is common, what needeth a hutch  
where wanteth a saver, there havoc is much.   

16  
Where window is open, cat maketh a fray,  
yet wild cat with two legs, is worse by my faith.   

¶ Look well unto thine,  
Slut slothful, must whine.   

17  
An eye in a corner who useth to have,  
revealeth a drab, & preventeth a knave.   

18  
Make maid to be cleanly, or make her cry creak  
and teach her to stir, when her mistress doth speak   

¶ Let holly wand threat,  
Let fysgyg be beat.   

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

20  
For fear of fool had I witted, 'cause the to wail  
let fysgig be taught, to shut door after tail.   

¶ To easy the wicket,  
Will still a peace clicket.   

21  
with her that will clicket, make danger to cope,  
least quickly her wicket, seem easy to ope.   

22  
As rod little mendeth, where manners be spilled,  
so nought will be nought, say & do what thou wilt.   

¶ Fight seldom ye shall,  
But use not to brawl.   

23  
Much brawling with servant, what man can abide  
pay home when thou fightest, but love not to chide.   

24  
As order is heavenly, where quiet is had,  
so error is hell, or a mischief as bad.   

¶ What better a law,  
Then subject in awe.   

25  
Such awe as a warning, will 'cause to beware  
doth make the whole household, the better to far.   

26  
The less of thy counsel, thy servants do know  
their duty the better, such servants shall show.   

¶ Good music regard,  
Good servant reward.   

27  
Such servants are oftenest, painful & good,  
that sing in their labour, as birds in the wood.   

28  
Good servants hope justly, some friendship to feel  
and look to have favour, what time they do we'll.   

¶ By once or twice,  
'tis good to be wise.   

29  
Take runagate Robin, to pity his need,  
and look to be filched, as true as thy Creed.   

30  
Take warning by once, that a worse do not hap  
foresight is the stopper, of many a gap.   

¶ Some change for a shift,  
Often change, small thrift.   

31  
Make few of thy council, to change for the best,  
lest one that is trudging, infecteth the rest.   

32  
The stone that is roweling, can gather no Moss,  
for master & servant, often changing is loss.   

¶ Both liberal sticketh,  
Some, provender pricketh.   

33  
One Dog for a Hog, & one Cat for a Mouse,  
one ready to give, is enough in a house.   

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

¶ Brew somewhat for thine,  
else keep no swine.   

35  
Where brewing is needful, 
Brewing.  be brewer thyself  
what filleth the roof, will help furnish the shelf.   

36  
In buying of drink, by the firkin or pot,  
score quickly ariseth, hog profiteth not.   

¶ Well brewed, worth cost.  
Ill used, half lost.   

37  
One bushel well brewed, outlasteth some twain  
two troubles for nothing, is cost to no gain.   

38  
To new is no profit, to stolen is as bad,  
drink dead or else sour, makes labourer sad.   

¶ Remember good gill,  
Take pain with thy swill.   

39  
saith grains in more water, while grains be yet hot  
and stir them in copper, as porridge in pot.   

40  
Such heating with straw, 
Seithing of grains.  to have offal good store  
both pleaseth & easeth, what would ye have more.   

¶ New bread is a drevill,  
Much crust is as evil.   

41  

Baking.  New bread is a waester, but mouldy is worse,  
what dog catcheth that way, that loseth the purse.   

42  
Much dowbake I praise not, much crust is as ill  
the mean is the housewife, say nay if ye william.   

¶ Good cookery craveth,  

Cookery.  Good turn broche saveth.   

43  
Good cook to dress dinner, to bake & to brew,  
deserves a reward, being honest & true.   

44  
Good diligent turn brotche, & trusty with all,  
is sometime as needful, as some in the hall.   

Good dairy, doth pleasure,  

Dayrye.  Ill dairy, spends treasure.   

45  
Good housewife in dairy, that needs not be told,  
deserveth her fee, to be paid her in gold.   

46  
Ill servant neglecting, what housewifery says,  
deserveth her fee, to be paid her in bays.   

Though droy be worth much,  
Mark sluts & such.   

47  
Good droy to serve hog, to help wash & to milk,  
more needful is truly, than some in their silk.   

48  
Though homely be milker, let cleanly be cook,  
for slut & a sloven, be known by their look.   

¶ In dairy no cat,  
Lay bane for a rat.   

49  
though cat (a good mouser) doth well in a house  
yet ever in dairy, have trap for a mouse.   

50  
Take heed how thou layest, the bane for the rats  
for poisoning servant, thyself & thy brats.   

¶ Not scouring for pride,  
Spare kottle whole side.   

51  
though scouring be needful, yet scouring to much  
is pride without profit, & robbeth thine huch. 
Scouring.    

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

¶ Take heed when ye wash,  
Else run in the lash.   

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

54  
In washing by hand, have an eye to thy bowl,  
for Launders & Millers, be quick of their toll.   

¶ Dry Sun & dry wind,  
Safe bind & safe find.   

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

56  
To trust without heed, is to venture a joint,  
give tale & take count, is a Huswifely point.   

¶ where meany be packing,  
are meany things lacking.   

57  
when hens fall a cackling, take hide to their nest,  
when drabs fall a whistring, take hid to the rest.   

58  
what husband refuseth, things comely to have  
that hath a good housewife, so willing to save.   

¶ Ill malting is theft.  
would dried hath a waif.   

59  
House may be so handsome, & skilfulness such,  
to make thy own malt, it shall profit the much.   

60  
some drieth with straw, & some drieth with wood  
wood asketh more charge, & yet nothing so good.   

¶ Take hide to the kell,  
sing out as a bell.   

61  
Be sure no chances, to fire can draw,  
the wood or the furzen, the brake or the straw.   

62  
Let gillet be singing, it doth very well,  
to keep her fro sleeping & burning the kell.   

¶ Best dried, best spedes,  
ill kept, bowed bredes.   

63  
Malt being well speerid, the more it will cast,  
malt being well dried, the longer will last.   

64  
Long kept in ill cellar (undoubted thou shalt,)  
through bowds without number, loose quickly thy malt   

¶ For hunger or thirst,  
dress cattle well first.   

65  
By Noon see your dinner be ready & neat, 
dinnertime   
let meat tarry servant, not servant his meat.   

66  
Plough cattles a baiting, call servant to dinner:  
the thicker, so much be the charges the thinner.   

¶ Together is best,  
for hostis and gest.   

67  
Dew season is best, altogether is gay,  
dispatch hath no fellow, make short and away.   

68  
Beware of Gill laggose, disordering thy house,  
more dainties who catcheth, than crafty fed Mouse?   

¶ Let such have enough,  
that follow the plough.   

69  
give servant no dainties, but give him enough  
to many chaps walking, do beggar the plough.   

70  
Poor seggons half sterned, work faintly & dull:  
and lubbers do loiter their bellies to full.   

¶ give never to much.  
to lubbers and such.   

71  
Feed lazy, that thresheth a flap & a tap,  
like slothful, that all day be stopping a gap.   

72  
Some litherly lubber, more eateth then two,  
yet leaveth undone, that a stranger will do.   

¶ Where nothing will last,  
Spare such as thou hast.   

33  
some cutteth thy linen, some spilleth their broth,  
bore table to some, doth as well as a cloth.   

74  
Treene dishes be homely, & yet not to lack,  
where stone is no lastre, take tankard & jack.   

¶ Knap boy on the thumbs,  
And save him his crumbs.   

75  
That pewter is never, for mannerly feast,  
that daily doth serve, an unmannerly beast.   

76  
Some gnaweth & leaveth, sun crusts & some crumbs  
eat such there own leving, or gnaw their own thumbs   

¶ Serve God ever furst,  
Take nothing at worst.   

77  
At Dinner, at Supper, at Morning, at night,  
give thanks unto God, for his gifts in thy sight.   

78  
Good husband & housewife, will sometime alone,  
make shift with a morsel, & sup with a bone.   

¶ Enough thou art told,  
To much will not hold.   

79  
Three dishes well dressed, & welcome with all,  
both pleaseth thy friend, & becometh thine hall.   

80  
Enough is a plenty, to much is a pride,  
the plough with ill holding, goes often aside.   

¶ Make company break,  
Go cherish the weak.   

81  
When Dinner is ended, set servants to work, 
Afternoon works.   
and follow such merchants, as loveth to lurk.   

82  
To servant in sickness, see nothing ye grudge,  
a thing of a trifle, shall comfort him much.   

¶ Who many do feed,  
Save much they had need.   

83  
Put chippings in dippings, use parings to save  
fat Capons or chickens, that lookest to have.   

84  
save dripping & skimmings, how ever ye do  
for medicine, for cattles, for cart, & for shoe.   

¶ Lean Capon, unmeet,  
Dear fed is unsweet.   

85  
Such of corn as cometh, give wife to her fee,  
feed willingly such, as do help to feed thee.   

86  
Though fat fed is dainty, of this I thee warn  
be cunning in fatting, for robbing thy barn.   

¶ Piece hole to defend,  
Things timely amend.   

87  
good semesters be soewing of fine pretty knacks  
goed housewives be mending, & piecing their sacks.   

88  
Though making & mending, be housewifely ways  
yet mending in time, is the housewife to praise.   

¶ Buy new as is meet,  
Mark blanket & sheet.   

89  
Though Ladies may rend, & buy new ery day,  
good housewives must mend, & buy new as they may.   

90  
Call quarterly servants, to court & to leete,  
writ every Coverlet, Blanket & sheet.   

¶ Shifted slovenly elf,  
Be jailor thyself.   

91  
Though shifting to often, be a thief in a house,  
yet shifted slut & sloven, for fear of a louse.   

92  
Grant doubtful no key, of his chamber in purse,  
lest chamber door locked, be to thiefery a nurse.   

¶ save feathers for gest,  
These other rob chest.   

93  
Save wing for a thressher, when Gander doth die,  
save feather of all thing, the softer to lie.   

94  
Much spice is a thief, so is candle and fire,  
sweet sauce is as crafty, as ever was friar.   

¶ Wife make thy own candle,  
Spare, penny to handle.   

95  
Provide for thy tallow, ere frost cometh in,  
and make thine own Candle, ere winter begin.   

96  
If penny for all thing, be suffered to trudge,  
trust long not to penny, to have him thy drudge.   

¶ Time drawing to night,  
See all thing go right.   

97  
when hens go to roost, 
Evening works.  go in hand to dress meat  
serve hogs & to milking, & some to serve neat.   

98  
Where twain be enough, be not served with three  
more knaves in a company, worse they be.   

¶ Make lackey to trudge,  
Make servant thy drudge.   

99  
For every trifle, leave iauncing thy Nag,  
but rather make lackey, of jack boy thy wag.   

100  
Make servant at night, lug in wood or a log,  
let none come in empty, but slut & thy dog.   

¶ False knave ready priest,  
All safe is the best.   

101  
Where pullein use nightly, to perch in the yard  
there two legged Foxes, keep watches & ward.   

102  
See cattles well served, without & within,  
and all thing at quiet, ere supper begin.   

¶ Take heed is needful,  
True pity is meedful.   

103  
Not clotheses in garden, no trinkets without,  
no door leave unboulted, for fear of a doubt.   

104  
Thou woman whom pity, becometh the best,  
grant all that hath laboured, time to take rest.   

¶ Use mirth & good word,  
At bed & at board.   

105  

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

106  
At bed and at board, how soever be fall,  
what ever God sendeth, be merry withal.   

¶ Not brawlings make,  
No jealousy take.   

107  
Not taunts before servants, for hindering thy fame  
no jarring too loud, for avoiding of shame,   

108  
As frenzy & heresy roveth together,  
so jealousy leadeth, a fool ye wots whither.   

¶ Tend such as ye have,  
Stop talkative knave.   

109  
Young children & chickens, would ever be eating  
good servants look duly, for gentle entreating.   

110  
Not servant at table, use saussy to talk.  
lest tongue set at large, out of measure do walk.   

¶ Not snatching at all,  
Sirs hearken now all.   

111  
Not lurching, no snatching, no striving at all,  
lest one go without, and another have all.   

112  

After supper works  Declare after Supper, take heed thereunto,  
what work in the morning, each servant shall do.   

¶ Thy soul hath a clog,  
forget not thy dog.   

113  
Remember those children, whose parents be poor  
which hunger, yet dare not to crave at thy door.   

114  
Thy bandog that serveth, for divers mishaps,  
forget not to give him, thy bones and thy scraps.   

¶ Make keys to be keepers,  
To bed ye sleepers.   

115  
Where mouths be many, to spend that thou hast  
set keys to be keepers, for spending to fast.   

116  
To bed after supper, let drowsy go sleep,  
lest knave in the dark, to his marrow do creep.   

¶ Keep keys as thy life.  
fear candle good wife.   

117  
Such keys lay up safe, ere ye take ye to rest,  
of dairy, of buttrye, of cupboard an chest.   

118  
Fear candle in hay fit, in Barn & in Shed,  
fear flea smock, & mend breech, for burning their bed   

¶ See door locked fast,  
two keys make waste.   

119  
A door without lock is a bait for a knave,  
a lock without key, is a fool that will have.   

120  
One key to two locks, if it break is a grief,  
two keys to one lock in the end is a thief.   

¶ Night works trouble head,  
Lock doors & to bed.   

120  
The day willeth done, what so ever ye bid,  
the night is a thief, if ye take not good hid.   

121  
wash dishes, lay leavens, save fire & away,  
lock doors & to bed, a good housewife will say.   


Bed time.  ¶ To bed know thy guise,  
To rise so do likewise.   

122  
In winter at nine, & in Summer at ten,  
to bed after Supper, both maidens & men.   

123  

time to rise  In winter at five a clock, servant arise,  
in Summer at four, is ever the guise.   

¶ Love so, as ye may,  
Lieve many a day.   

Be lowly not soollen, if aught go amiss,  
what wresting may loose thee, that win with a kiss.  
Both bear & forbear, now & then as ye may,  
than wench God a mercy, thy husband will say.    

The ploughman's feasting days.  


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

Feasting days.  GOod housewives whom God, hath enriched enough  
forget not the feasts, that belong to the plough.  
The meaning is only, to joy & be glad,  
for comfort with labour, is fit to be had.   

¶ Plough Monday.  
2  
Plough Monday, 
at Twelftide.  next after the Twelftide is passed  
bids out with the plough, the worst husband is last.  
If ploughman get hatchet, or whip to the screen,  
maids loseth their Cock, if no water be seen.   

¶ shrovetide.  
3  
At shrovetide to shroving, go thrash the fat Hen, 
At shrovetide.   
if blindefilde can kill her, then give it thy men.  
maids fritters & pancakes, enough see ye make.  
let slut have one pancake, for company sake.   

¶ Sheep shearing.  
4  
wife make us a dinner, 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.  
5  
Fill oven full of Flawns, Guinea pass not for sleep, 
The wake day.   
to morrow thy father, his wake day will keep.  
Then every wanton, may dance at her will,  
both Tomkin with Tomlin, & jankin with Gill.   

¶ Harvest home.  
6  
For all this good feasting, yet art thou not lose  
till ploughman thou givest, his harvest home goose. 
In August.   
Though goose go in stubble, I pass not for that,  
let goose have a goose be she leave be she fat.   

¶ Seed cake.  
7  

At Hallontyde.  Wife sometime this week, if the weather hold clear  
an end of wheat soweing, we make for this year  
Remember you therefore, though I do it not:  
the seed Cake, the Pasties, & Furmenty pot.   

¶ Twice a week roest.  
8  

Twice a week roest.  good Ploughmen look weakly, of custom & right  
for roestmeat on Sundays, & Thursdays at night  
Thus doing & keeping, such custom and guise?  
they call thee good housewife, they love the likewise.    

The good Huswifelye Physic.  
GGod housewives provide, ere an sickness do come,  
of sundry good things, in her house to have some.  
Good Aqua composita, Vinegar tart,  
Rose water & Treacle, to comfort the heart.  
Cold herbs in her garden, for Agues that burn  
that over strong heat, to good temper may turn.  
white Endive & Suckrye, 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 the Barbery, Quinces & such,  
with Sirops that easeth, the sickly so much.  

Physician.  Ask Medicus council, ere medeen ye make,  
and honour that man, for necessity's sake.  
Though thousands hate physic, because of the cost,  
yet thousands it helpeth, that else should be lost.  
Good broth & good keeping, 
Good diet.  doth much now & than  
good diet with wisdom, best comforteth man.  
In health to be stirring, shall profit thee best,  
in sickness hate trouble, seek quiet & rest. 
Think on thy soul. Have a good hope.   
Remember thy soul, let no fancy prevail,  
make ready to Godward, let faith never quail.  
The sooner thyself, thou submittest to God,  
the sooner he ceaseth, to scourge with his rod.   

The good motherly Nurserye.  
Good housewives take pain, & do count it good luck  
to make there own breast, their own child to give suk  
Though wrauling & rocking, be noisome so near,  
yet lost by ill nursing, is worse to here.  
But one thing I warn thee, let housewife be nurse,  
lest husband doth found thee, to frank with his purse.  
What hilbacke & fill belly, maketh away,  
that help to make good, or else look for a fray.  
give child that is fitly, give baby the big,  
give hardness to youth, & give roperipe a twig.  
we find it not spoken, so often for nought,  
that children were better, unborn than untaught  
Some cockneis with coekig, are made very fools,  
fit neither for apprentice, for plough nor for schools.  
Teach child to ask blessing, 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 mother in deed.   

¶ Think on the poor.  

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

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

ALL you that feign would learn, the perfect way,  
to have your child, in music some thing seen  
ask Nature first, what thereto she doth say.  
ere further suit, ye make to such a Queen.  
For doubtless (Grossum caput) 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 the linger rest.  
Mistaught at first, how seldom proveth well?  
trim taught (O God) how shortly doth excel?   

Although as ships, must tarry wind & tide,  
and perfect hours, abide their stinted time,  
So likewise, though of learning (daily tried)  
space must be had, ere wilt may there to 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 han●, or other where:  
And time as apt, as may be thought with mind,  
nor cause, in such thing, much to doubt or fear:  
Yet coeking Mamms, & 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 thing 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 Musks 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 leave,  
and cannot tell,  
How else to shifted.   

Some knock & 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 must owe.  
Even so must I, for pleasures passed  
still wish you good, while life doth last    

A Comparison between good housewifery & evil.  
Comparing together, good Housewifery & bad,  
The knowledge of either, the better is bad.  

1  
ILl 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 & to her,  
good housewifery lusteth,  
herself for to stir.   

4  
Ill housewifery careth,  
for this not for that,  
good housewifery spareth,  
for fear ye wots what.   

5  
Ill housewifery 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 gossep to spend,  
good housewifery loveth,  
her household to tend.   

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

6  
Ill housewifery easeth,  
herself with unknown,  
good housewifery pleaseth,  
herself with her own.   

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

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

12  
Ill housewifery rendeth,  
and casteth aside,  
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 housewifery dineth,  
with plenty of meat.   

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

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

The description of woman's age by vi times xiiii. years prenticeship, with a lesson to the same.  

14 Two first seven. years, for a rod they do whine,  
28 Two next, as a Pearl, in the world they do shine  
42 Two next, trim beauty beginneth to swerver,  
56 Two next, for matrons, or drudge is they serve,  
70 Two next doth crave, a staff for a stay:  
84 Two next, a beer, to fetch them away.   

A Lesson.  
Then purchas some pelf,  
by fifty & ●h●e●:  
Or buckle thyself,  
a drudge for to be.    

Husbandly Poesies for the hall.  

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 you had to find, take welcome for the best:  
that having then, disdain thou not, for wanting of the rest.   

3  
Bacbyting 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 to 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 there plenty waxeth scant  
who careless live, go borrow must, or else full often want.   

6  
The world doth think, that wealth man, is he that lest shall need  
but true it is the godly man, is he that best shall speed.    

Poesies for the Parlour.  

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 & 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 easy 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 gests Chamber.  

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

2  
With curtain some make scabbard clean, with coverlet their shoe  
all dirt & mire, some wallow bed, as spaniels use to do.   

3  
though boots & spurs be near so foul, what passeth some thereon  
what place they foil, what thing they tear, by tumbling therupon.   

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 will   

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

Posies for thine own bed Chamber.  

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 far, then well content, what mirth to godly wealth  
what better gest then trusty friend, in sickness & in health.   

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

4  
What better thought, then 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    

Certain table lessons.  

Friend, eateles or drinkles, & buy the a knife,  
else look for a carver, not alway to rife,  
Some kniveles, their daggers for bravery wear,  
that often for surfeiting, need not to fear.   

2  
At dinner & supper, the table doth crave,  
good felowly neighbour, good manner to have,  
advise the well therefore, ere tongue be to free,  
or slapsauce be noted, to saucy to be.   

3  
If eany thing wantith or seemith amiss,  
to call for or show it, good manner it is.  
But busy fault finder, & saucy withal:  
is roister like ruffian, no manner attall.   

4  
Some cutteth the napkin, some trencher will neck  
some showeth like folly, in meany a trick.  
Let apishly body, so toying at meat:  
go toy with his noddy, with ape in the street.   

5  
Some cometh unsent for, not for thy good there  
but bend as a espial, to listen & here.  
which being once known, for a knave let him go,  
for knave willbe knavish, his nature is so.    

¶ Table lessons for waiting servants.  

ONe diligent servitor, skilful to weight.  
more comelyth thy table, than other some eight,  
That stand for to listen, or gazing about:  
not minding their duty, within nor without.   

2  
Such waiter is faulty, that standeth so buy,  
unmindful of service, forgetting his eye.  
If master to such, give a bone for to gnaw:  
he doth but his office, to teach such a daw.   

3  
Such servitor also, deserveth a check,  
that runneth out fisking, with meat in his beck.  
Such ravening puttocks, for victuals so trim:  
would have a good master, to puttock with him   

4  
Who daily can suffer, or else can afford,  
his meat so up snatched, that comes from his board  
So toesed with carmarants, here & there some:  
and others to want it, that orderly come?   

5  
Good servitor weigheth, (once dinner begun,)  
what asketh attendance & what to be done.  
So purchasing master, a praise with the best:  
gets praise to himself, both of master & gest.    

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, three persons one in Deity,    
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 thankfully,  
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, & charity,  
20 To count this life but vanity: be points of Christianity.    

The authors belief.  


God the father.  THis is my steadfast Creed, my faith & all my trust,  
That in the heavens, there is a God, most mighty, mild & just.  
A God above all Gods, a king above all kings,  
The lord of lords, chief governor, of heaven & earthly things.   

2  

Maker of heaven  That power hath of life, of death, of heaven & hell,  
That all thing made (as pleaseth him) so wonderful to tell.  
That made the hanging Skies, so decked with divers lights,  
of darkness made the cheerful days, & all our restful nights.   

3  

The earth.  That clad this earth with herb, with trees of sundry fruits,  
with beast, with bird, both wild & fame, of strange & sundry fruits,  
That intermixed the same, with mines (like veins of Ore),  
of silver, gold, or precious stones, & treasures many more.   

4  
That joined brooks to Dales, to hills fresh water springs,  
with Rivers sweet, along the Meads, to profit many things.  
That made the hoary Frosts, the flaky Snows so trim,  
the honey Deaws, the blustering winds, to serve as pleaseth him.   

5  

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

6  
That gave to man a soul, with reason how to lief,  
That doth to him, & allthing else, his blessing daily give.  
That is not seen yet seeth, how man doth run his race,  
whose daily works, both good & bad stand known before his face   

7  
That sendeth thundering clapps, like terrors out of hell,  
That man may know, a God there is, that in the heavens doth dwell.  
That sendeth threatening plagues, to keep our lives in awe,  
His benefits if we forget, or do contemn his law.   

8  
That daily hateth sin, that loveth virtue well,  
And is the God of Abraham, Isacke & Israel.  
That doth displeasure take, when we his laws offend,  
And yet amids his heavy wrath, his mercy doth extend.   

9  
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,  
Begotten of him before the worlds were any whit begun.   

10  
This, entered Mary's womb, as faith affirmeth sure, 
Christ's birth. Christ God & man.   
conceived by the Holy Ghost, borne of that virgin pure.  
This, was both God & man, of jews the hoped king,  
and lived here, save only sin, like man in every thing.   

11  
This, is that virgin's child, that same most holy Priest, 
Christ our Messiah   
the lamb of God, the Prophet great, whom scripture calleth christ.  
This, that Messiah was, of whom the Prophet spoke,  
that should tread down the Serpents head, & our atonement make.   

12  
This, judas did betray, to false dissembling jews, 
Christ's passion.   
Which unto Pilate being judge, did falsely him accuse.  
Who (through that wicked judge) and of those jews despite  
condemned & tormented was, with all the force they might.   

13  
To living wight more evil, 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 sought to save the soul of man, above all worldly things.   

14  
This, was the Paschal lamb, whose love for us so stood, 
Christ's death.   
that on the mount of Caluerine, did shed for us his blood.  
Where ●anging on the Cress, no shame he did forsake,  
till death given him, by piercing spear, an end of life did make.   

15  
This, joseph seeing dead, the body thence did crave,  
and took it forthwith from the Cross, & laid it in his grave. 
Christ's burial.   

His descension.  Down thence he went to hell, in using there his will,  
his soul I mean, his slayned corpse, in Tomb remaining still.   

16  

His resurrection. His Ascension  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.   

17  
Where for us wretches all, his father he doth pray,  
to have respect unto his death, and put our sins away,  

Christ shall be our judge  From thence with sounded trump, which noise all flesh shall dread,  
he shall return with glory again, to judge the quick & dead.   

18  
Then shall that voice be heard, come come ye good to me,  
hence hence 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, & in none else at all.   

19  

God the Holy ghost  In God the holy Ghost, I firmly do believe,  
which from the father & the Son proceeding, life doth give.  
Which by the Prophets spoke, which doth all comfort sand,  
which I do trust, shall be my guide, when this my life shall end.   

20  

The Catholic church  A holy catholic Church on earth I grant there is,  
& 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.   

21  

The communion of Saints  I do not doubt there is, a multitude of Saintes,  
more good is done, resembling than, 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 lief.   

22  

forgiveness of sins  At God of heaven there is, forgiveness of our sins,  
through Christ's death, through faith in it, & through none other gins.  
If we repentant here, his mercy daily crave:  
through steadfast hope & faith in Christ, forgiveness we shall have   

23  
I hope & trust upon, the rising of the flesh,  
this corpse of mine (that furst must die) shall rise again afresh. 
Man's resurrection   
The body & soul even then, in one shall joined be:  
as Christ did rise, from death to life, even so through Christ shall we   

24  
As Christ is glorified, & never more shall die,  
as Christ ascended is to heaven, through Christ even so shall I. 
Life everlasting.   
As Christ I count my head, & I a member of his,  
so God I trust, for Christ's 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, & 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, the soul of man doth win,  
by moving her to wail for grace, ashamed of her sin.   

This is that God of Gods, whom every soul should love,  
whom all mens 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 omnipotentie of God, and debility of man.  

O God thou glorious God, what God is like to the.  
what life, what strength, is like to thine, as all the world may see▪  
Thy heavens, thine earth, thy Seas, & 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 evil,  
man doth commit Idolatry, bewitched of the Devil.  
What evil is left undone, where man may have his will:  
man ever was an hypocrite, & ever will be still.   

3  
What daily watch is made, the soul of man to slay,  

What these 4. principal devils do signify.  by Lucifer, by Beelzebub, Mammon, & Asmode.  
In devilish pride, in wratch, in coveting too 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 & mire:  
His strength even as a Reed, his age much like the flower,  
his breath or life is but a puff, uncertain every hour.   

5  
But for the holy Ghost, & for his gifts of grace,  
the death of Christ, thy mercy great, man were in woeful case.  
O grant us therefore lord, to amend that is amiss,  
& when from hence, we do departed, to rest with thee in bliss.    

Eleemosina prodest homini in vita, in morte & post mortem.  

FOr only love to God, more Christian like to leave,  

Of alms deeds.  and for a zeal, to help the poor, thine allmes daily give.  
Let gift no glory look, nor evil possess thy mind:  
and for a troth, these profets three, through alms shalt thou find.   

1  
First, here the holy Ghost, shall daily through his grace,  
Provoke thee to repentant life, God's mercy to embrace.   

2  
Of goods & friends (by death) when thou thy leave must take  
thine alms deeds, shall clasp thy soul, & never it for sake.   

3  
When God shall (after death) call soon for thine account,  
Thy alms then, (through faith in Christ) shall all thing else surmount  
But yet for any deed, put thou no trust therein,  
But put thy trust in God (through Christ) to pardon thee thy sin.  
For else as cackling Hen, with noise bewrays her nest,  
Even so go thou & blaze thy deeds, & loose thou all the rest.    

Malus homo.  
Of naughty man I read, two sundry things are meant,  
The tone is man, the other nought, which aught him to repent  
The man we aught to love, because of much therein,  
the evil in him, we aught to hate, because it is a sin.  
So doth thy daily sins, thy heavenly lord offend:  
but when thou dost, repent the same, his wrath is at an end.   

Of two sorts of men, tone good, and other bad.  

¶ Since first the world began, there was & shallbe still,  
Of humane kind; two sundry sorts, th'one good, & tother ill.  
which till the judgement day, shall here together devil,  
But then the good shall up to heaven, the bad shall down to hell    

Diabolo cum resistitur, est ut formica, Cum vero eius suggestio recipitur, fortis est ut Leo  

¶ When Satan we resist, a Pysmer shall he be,  
But when we seem, to give him place, a Lion then is he.    

The description of an envious & naughty neighbour.  
AN envious neighbour is easy to find,  
His cumbersome tetches, are seldom behind.  
His hatred procureth, from naughty to worse  
His friendship, like Judas, that carried the purse  
His head as a storehouse, with quarrels full fraught.  
His brain, is unquiet, till all come to nought.  
His memory preignant, old evils to recite,  
His mind ever fired, each evil to requite.  
His mouth full of venom, his lypps out of frame.  
His tongue a false witness, his friend to defame.  
His eyes be promoters, some trespass to spy,  
His ears be as spyalls, a alarm to cry.  
His hands be as tyrants, revenging each thing,  
His feet at thine elbow, as Serpent to sting.  
His breast full of rancour, like Coprus to fret,  
His heart, like a Lion, his neighbour to eat.  
His gate like a sheepebyter, flearing aside,  
His look like a coxcomb, up puffed with pride.  
His face made of brass, like a vice in a game,  
His gesture like Davus, whom Terence doth name  
His brag as Thersytes, with elbows abroad,  
His cheeks in his fury, shall swell like a Toad.  
His colour like ashes, his cap in his eyes,  
His noese in the air, his snout in the skies.  
His promise to trust to, as slipper as Ice.  
His credit much like, to the chance of the dice.  
His knowledge or skill, is in praeting so much,  
His company shunned, & so be all such.  
His friendship is counterfeit, seldom to trust,  
His doings unlucky, & ever unjust.  
His fetch is to flatter, to get what he can,  
His purpose once gotten, a pin for the than.   


Fortuna non est semper amica,  
Superbiam igitur semper devita.   

Though Fortune smiles, & fawns upon thy side  
Thyself ertoll for that, no whit the more,  
Though fortune frowns, & wresteth all thing wide:  
Let fancy stay, keep courage still in store.  
For chance may change, as chance hath done before.  
Thus shall thou hold, more safe thine honour got,  
Or loose the less, though Fortune will or not.   

Thy friend at this, shall daily pleasure have,  
when warily thus, thou bearest thyself upright,  
Thy foes at this, shall gladly friendship crave.  
When hope so small is left, to wreck their spite,  
For lowly life withstandeth envy quite.  
As floeting Ship, by bearing sail allow:  
Withstandeth storms, when boisterous winds do blow.   

Thine usage thus, in time shall win the goal,  
though doubtful haps, dame Fortune sends between  
And thou shalt see, thine enemies blow the coal:  
To ease thine heart, much more than thou dost ween,  
Yea though a change, most strangely should be seen.  
Yet friend at need, shall secret friendship make,  
When foe in deed, shall want, his part to take.    

Of thauthors'authors departing from court to the Country.  

Muse not my friend, to find me bore  
Contented with, this poor estate,  
And seem to do, with willing cheer,  
That courtier doth, so deadly hate:  
For fortunes look,  
Hath changed hew,  
And I my book,  
must learn a new.   

2  
And yet of force, to learn a new  
Would much abash, the dulled brain,  
I crave to judge, if this be true,  
the truant child, that knoweth the pain,  
But where a spite,  
Of force must be,  
What is that wight,  
may disagree.   

Not, not, god wots, to disagree,  
Is venturing all to make or mar,  
If fortune frown, we daily see,  
It is not best, to strive to far.  
For lordly bent,  
Must learn to spare,  
And be content  
With country fare.   

4  
From dainty court, to country fare.  
To daintly fed, is diet strange,  
From city's joy, so country care,  
to skills folk, is homely change.  
Where need yet can,  
none other skill,  
sometime poor man  
must break his william.   

5  
If courtly change, so breaketh will,  
that country life, must serve the turn,  
what profit then, in striving still,  
against the prick to seem to spurn.  
If court with cart,  
must be content:  
what ease to heart,  
though mind repent.   

6  
What gain I, though I do repent.  
my crotches all, are broke and gone,  
My wonted friends, are careless bent,  
they fear no chance, I chance upon.  
As need doth make  
old age to troth,  
So must I take,  
in worth my lot.   

7  
Now, if I take in worth my lot,  
that fatal chance doth force me to,  
If ye be friends, embraid me not,  
but use a friend, as friends should do.  
Behold the horse  
must trudge for pelf:  
And yet of force  
content itself.    

The auctors life.  

Now gentle friend, if thou be keende,  
Disdain thou not, although the lot,  
will now with me, no better be,  
Then doth apers:  
Nor let it grieve, that thus I live,  
But rather guess, for quietness,  
As others do, so do I to,  
Content me here.   

2  
By leave & love, of God above,  
I mind to sheawe, in versis few,  
How through the briars, my yeuthful years,  
have run their race:  
And further say, why thus I stay,  
& mind to leive, as be in heive,  
Full bend to spend, my life to anend,  
in this same place.   

3  

Born at Ryvenhall in Essex  If came to pass, that borne I was,  
Of lineage good, of gentle blood,  
In Essex layer, in village fair,  
that Rivenhall height:  
Which village lied, by bancktre side,  
There spend did I, mine infancy,  
There than my name, in honest same,  
remained in sight.   

4  
I, yet but young, no speech of tongue,  
Nor tears withal, that often fall,  
From mother's eyes, when child out cries,  
to part her fro:  
Can pity make, good father take,  

Set to song school.  But out I must, to song be thrust,  
Say what I would, do what I could,  
his mind was so.   

5  
O painful time, for every crime, 
choristers Misery.   
What toesed ears, like baited bears,  
What bobbed lips, what jerks, what nips,  
what hellish toys:  
What robes how bore, what college far,  
What bread how stolen, what peany ale,  
Then Wallingford, how wart thou aboard, 
Wallingford college   
of silly boys.   

6  
Then for my voice, I must (no choice)  
Away of force, like poesting horse,  
For sundry men, had plagards then, 
Singing men's commissions.   
such child to take:  
The better breast, the lesser rest,  
To serve the Queer, now there now here,  
For time so spent, I may repent.  
and sorrow make.   

7  
But mark the chance, myself to vance,  
By friendship's lot, to Powels I got,  
So found I grace, a certain space,  
still to remain:  
With Redford there, the like no where, 
John Redford an excellent musician.   
For cunning such, & virtue much,  
By whom some part, of Music art,  
so did I gain.   

8  
From Powels I went, to Aeton sent,  
To learn strait ways, the Latin phrayes,  
Where fyfty three, strips given to me,  
at once I had:  
For fawt but small, or none at all,  
it came to pass, thus beaten I was,  
See Wdall se, the mercy of thee, 
Nicholas Vdal school master at Eton.   
to me poor lad.   

9  

trinity hall in Cambridge.  To London hence, to Camebridge thence,  
With thanks to thee, oh trinity,  
That to thy hall, so passing all  
I got at last:  
There joy I felt, there trim I dwelled,  
There heaven from hell, I shifted well,  
With learned men, a number then,  
The time I passed.   

10  
Long sickness had, than was I glad,  
To leave my book, to prove & look,  
In Court what gain, by taking pain,  
Might well be found:  

Lord Paget good to his servants.  Lord Paget than, that Noeble man,  
Whose soul I trust, is with the just,  
That same was he, enrycked me,  
With many a pound.   

11  
While this betyed, good parents died,  
One after one, till both were gone,  
Whose petygree, who list may see,  

The Hope we have of the dead  The Harrolds book:  
Whose souls in bliss, be long ere this,  
For hope we must, as God is just,  
So here that crave, shall mercy have,  
That mercy look.   

12  

The bites of the Court.  By Court I spied, & ten years tried,  
That cards & dice, with Venus' vice,  
And peevish pride, from virtue wide,  
With some so wrought:  
That Tyburn play, made them away,  
Or beggars state, as evil to hate,  
By such like evils, I saw such drevils,  
To come to nought.   

13  
Yet is it not, to be forgot,  
In Court that some, to worship come, 
The Court commended   
And some in time, to honour clime,  
And speed full well:  
Some have such gift, that trim they shifted,  
Some profit make, by pains they take,  
In peril much, though often are such,  
In Court that devil.   

14  
when Court 'gan frown, 
The nobility at variance.  & strife in town  
And lords & knights, saw heavy sights,  
Then took I wife, & led my life,  
In Suffolk soil:  
There was I fain, myself to train,  
To learn to long, the farmers song,  
For hope of pelf, like worldly else,  
To moil & toil.   

15  
As in this book, who list to look,  
Of husbandry, and huswiferye,  
There may he find, more of my mind,  
Concerning this:  
To carp & care, & ever bore,  
with loss & pain, to little gain,  
All this to have, to cram sir knave,  
What life it is.   

16  
when wife could not, through sickness got,  
more toil abide, so nigh Sea side,  
Then thought I best, from toil to rest,  
And Ipswich try:  
A Town of price, like paradise,  
For quiet then, & honest men,  
There was I glad, much friendship had,  
A time to lie.   

17  
There left good wife, this present life,  
And there left I, house charges lie,  
For glad was he, might sand for me,  
Good luck so stood:  
In Suffolk there, were every where,  
Even of the best, besides the rest,  
That never did, their friendship hid,  
To do me good.   

18  

Suffolk commended  O Suffolk thou, content the now,  
That hadst the praise, in those same days,  
For squires & knights, that well delights.  
Good house to keep:  
For Norfolk wiles, so full of guiles,  
Have caught my toe, by wiving so.  
That out to thee, I see for me,  
No way to creep.   

19  

Mistress Amy Moon.  For lo, through guile, what haps the while,  
Through Venus' toys, in hope of joys,  
I chanced soon, to find a moon,  
of cheerful hue:  
Which well a fine, me thought did shine,  
Did never change (a thing most strange)  
yet kept in sight, her course aright,  
And compass true.   

20  

The charges following a young wife.  Behold of truth, with wife in youth,  
For joy at large, what daily charge,  
Through children's hap, what opened gap,  
To more begun:  
The child at nurse, to rob the purse,  
The same to wed, to trouble head,  
For pleasure rare, such endless care,  
Hath husband won.   

21  
Then did I devil, In Dyrram cell, 
West Dyrram Abbey.   
A place for wood, that trimly stood,  
With flesh & sishe, as heart would wish,  
But when I spied:  
That lord with lord, could not accord,  
But now pound be, & now pound we,  
Then left I all, because such brawl,  
I list not bide.   

22  
O Soothwell what, meanest thou by that. 
sir Richard Soothwell a good houskeper.   
Thou worthy wight, thou famous Knight,  
So me to crave, & to thy grave,  
Go by & by:  
O death thou for, why didst thou so,  
Ungently treat, that Jewel great,  
Which dept his door, to rich & poor,  
So bounteously.   

23  
There thus bestead, when leave I had,  
By death of him, to sink or swim,  
And Ravens I saw, together draw,  
In such a sort:  
Then ways I sought, by wisdom taught,  
To bear low sail, lest stock should quail,  
Till ship might find, with prosperous wind  
Some safer porre.   

24  
At length by velve, to shore I drew, 
Norwich City.   
Discharging strait, both ship & freight,  
At Norwich fine, for me & mine,  
A City trim:  
Where strangers well, may seem to devil,  
That pitch & pay, or keep their day,  
But who that want, shall find it scant,  
So good for him.   

25  

Master Salibury deane of Norwich  But Saliberye how, were kept my bow,  
If praise from thee, were kept by me,  
Thou gentle deane, my only mean,  
there then to leive:  
Though churls such some, to crave can come  
And pray once got, regard the not,  
yet live or die, so will not I,  
example geive.   

26  
When learned men, could there nor then,  
devise to assuage, the stoeny rage,  
Nor yet the fury of my dissurie,  
that long I had:  
From Norwich air, in great despair,  
Away to fly, or else to die,  
To seek more health, to seek more weith,  
Then was I glad.   

27  

Fayersted parsonage in Essex.  From thence so sent, away I went,  
With sickness worn, as one forlorn,  
To house my bed, at Faiersted,  
Where whiles I dwelled:  
The tyething life, the tyething strife,  
Through tyething ill, of jack & gill,  
The daily pays, the myery ways,  
To long I felt.   

25  
When charges grew, still new & new,  
And that I spied, if person died,  
(All hope in vain) to hope for gain,  
I might go dance:  
Once ●yo my hand, of parsonage land,  
Thence by & by, away went I,  
To London strait, to hope & weight,  
For better chance.   

29  
Well London well, that bear'st the bell, 
London commended   
Of praise about, England through out,  
And dost in deed, to such as need,  
Much kindness show:  
Who that with thee, can hardly agreed,  
Nor can well praise, thy friendly ways,  
Shall friendship find, to please his mind,  
In places show.   

30  
As for such mates, as learning hates,  
Or he or they, as go so gey,  
That needs he must, take all of trust,  
For him & his:  
Though such for woe, by Lothberye go,  
For being spied, about Cheapside,  
Lest Mercer's books, for money looks,  
Small matter it is.   

33  
¶ Thus friends by me, perceive may ye, 
A lesson for younger brothers   
That Gentry stands, not all by lands,  
Nor all so fist, or plenty left,  
By parent's gift:  
But now & then, of gentle men,  
The younger son, is driven to run,  
And glad to seek, from creak to creak,  
To come by thrift.   

32  
And more by this, to construe is,  
In world is set, enough to get,  
But where & when, that scarcely can,  
The wisest toll:  
By learning some, to riches come,  
By ship & plough, some get enough,  
And some so wive, that trim they thrive,  
And speed full well.   

33  

Hardness in youth not the worst.  To this before, add one thing more,  
Youth hardness taught, with knowledge wrought  
Most apt do prove, to shifted & shove,  
Among the best:  

Coeking of youth not the best.  Where coeking Dads, make sawey lads,  
In youth so rage, to beg in age,  
Or else to fetch, a Tyburn stretch,  
Among the rest.   

34  

Not pride in youth, but wealth in age needful  Not rampishe toys, of girl or boy,  
Nor garment trim, of her or him,  
In childhood spent, to fond intent,  
Good end doth frame:  
If mark we shall, the some of all,  
The end it is, that noted is,  
Which if it hide, with virtue tried,  
deserveth fame.   

35  

Man doth labour & god doth bless  When all is done, learn this my son,  
Not friend nor skill, nor wit at will,  
Nor ship nor clod, but only God,  
Doth all in all,  
Man taketh pain, God giveth gain,  
Man doth his best, God doth the rest,  
Man well intends, God foyzen sends,  
Else want he shall.   

36  
Some seek for wealth, I seek my health,  
Some seek to please, I seek mine ease,  
Some seek to save, I seek to have,  
To live upright:  
Moore than to ride, with pomp or pride,  
Or for to set, in others debt,  
Such is my skill, & shallbe still,  
For any wight.   

37  
To fond wear I, here thus to lie,  
unless that wealth, might further health.  
and profit some, should thereby come,  
to help withal:  
This causeth me, well pleased be,  
such drift to make, such life to take,  
on for sing mind, remorse to find,  
as need, need shall.   

38  
Friend (all thing weighed, that here is said,  
and being got, that pays the shot)  
me think of right, have leave I might,  
death drawing near:  
To seek some ways, my god to prays,  
and mercy crave, in time to have,  
and for the rest, what he thinks best,  
to suffer here.   
FINIS.   

Faults escaped in the printing.  
Folio 17. figure 45, for (go harrowe) read to harrow. fol. 19 fig. 47. for (lope) read ope. fo. 22. fig. 14. for (whip) read wisp. fo. 24. fi. 12. for (garne) read garnar, fo. 25. fig. 4. for (nurtrith) read nurtith. fo. eod. fig. 10. for (full) read full. fo. 26. fig. 12. for (to harbenden) read to dry habberden. fo. cod. fig. 14. for (for) read fro. fo. 27. lin. ult for (tume) read tune. fo. 30. fig. 6. for (bremlile read bremble fo. 31. fig. 34. for (for) read large. foe 38. fig. 34. for (not all) read not atall fo. 39 fig. 11. for (dittany) read Bittanye, and Dittany or garden ginger, should stand among philinck herbs. fol. eodem. fig. 16. leave out heart's tongue fo. 46 pag. 1. lin. 5. for (tus) read thus fo. 7 pag. 1. li. 16. for (Crystmas) read crowtchinas, fo. 49. fig. 32. for (pure) read poor fo. 55. fig. 9 for stocks) read shocks. fo. eo fig. ●1. for (there) read there. fo. 57 pa. 1. lui. 7. for (xl) read lx.   

The table to the book of Housewifery▪  

A Dialog between two Bachelors of wiving & thriving. fol. 61.  
The Epistle to the Lady Page: fol. 69  
The preface fol. 66  
The praise of Housewifery. eodem  
A description of housewife & housewifery eodem  
Instructions of housewifery fol. 67  
A Digression of cockcroweing fol. 68  
The points of housewifery fol. 69  
The Ploughman's feasting days fol. 76  
The good huswifely physic fol. 77  
The good motherly nursery fol. 78  
A warning to be good to the poor eodem  
By what way children may attain to music eodem  
A Sonnet to the Lady Paget fol. 79  
A Comparison between good housewifery & evil fol. 80  
The description of woman's age by vi times xiv. years prenticeships with a lesson to the same fol. 81  
Husbandly posies for the hall eodem  
Posies for the parler fol. 82  
Posies for the gests chamber eodem  
Posies for thine own bed chamber eodem  
Certain table lessons fol. 83  
Table lessons for waiting servants eodem  
Principal points of Religion fol. 84  
The authors belief eodem  
Of the omnipotency of God fol. 86  
A Sonnet of alms deeds eodem  
A Sonnet of Malus homo fol. 87  
Of two sorts of men, th'one good & tother bad eodem  
Of the power & weakness of the Devil eodem  
The description of an envious & naughty neighbour. eodem  
A Sonnet of the unconstancy of Fortune fol. 88  
Of the Authors departing from court to the country. eod  
The Author's life fol. 89   
FINIS.