Let Doe go to buck,
with Conie[2] good luck.
Spare labour nor monie,
store borough with conie.
Get warrener bound
to vermin thy ground.
Féed Doues, but kill not,
if loose them ye will not.
Doue house repaire,
make Douehole faire.
For hop ground cold,
Doue doong woorth gold.
8
Good gardiner mine,
make garden fine.
Set garden pease,
and beanes if ye please.
Set Respis and Rose,
yoong rootes of those.
9
The timelie buier
hath cheaper his fier.
10
Some burns without wit,
some fierles sit.
11
Now season is good
to lop or fell wood.
Prune trées some allows
for cattle to brows.
12
Giue shéepe to their fées
the mistle of trées.
13
Let lop be shorne
that hindreth corne.
Saue edder and stake,
strong hedge to make.
14
For sap as ye knowe,
let one bough growe.
Next yéere ye may
that bough cut away.
15
A lesson good
to encrease more wood.
16[3]
Saue crotchis of wud,
saue spars and stud.
Saue hop for his dole,
the strong long pole.
17
How euer ye scotch,
saue pole and crotch.
18
From Christmas to May,
weake cattle decay.
19
With vergis acquaint
poore bullock so faint;
This medcin approoued
is for to be looued.
20
Let plaister lie
thrée daies to trie:
too long if ye stay,
taile rots away.
21
Eawes readie to yeane
craues ground rid cleane.
Kéepe shéepe out of briers,
Kéepe beast out of miers.
22
Kéepe bushes from bill,
till hedge ye will:
Best had for thy turne,
their rootes go and burne.
23
No bushes of mine,
if fence be thine.
24
In stubbed plot,
fill hole with clot.[4]
25
Rid grasse of bones,
of sticks and stones.
26
Warme barth giue lams,
good food to their dams,
Look daily well to them,
least dogs vndoo them.
27
Yoong lamb well sold,
fat lamb woorth goold.
28
Kéepe twinnes for bréed,
as eawes haue néed.[5]
29
One calfe if it please ye,
now reared shall ease ye.
Calues likely reare,
at rising of yeare.
Calfe large and leane
is best to weane.
30
Calfe lickt take away,
and howse it[6] ye may.
This point I allow
for seruant and cow.
31
Calues yonger than other
learne one of another.
32
No danger at all
to geld as they fall.
Yet Michel cries[E144]
please butchers eies.
33
Sow ready to fare,
craues huswiues[7] care.
34
Leaue sow but fiue,
the better to thriue.
35
Weane such for store
as sucks before.
Weane onely but thrée
large bréeders to bée.
36
Lamb, bulchin,[E145] and pig,
geld vnder the big.
37
Learne wit, sir dolt,
in gelding of colt.
38
Geld yoong thy filly,
else perish will ginny.
Let gelding alone,
so large of bone.
By breathely tits
few profit hits.
39
Bréede euer the best,
and doo of the rest,
Of long and large,
take huswife a charge.
40
Good cow & good ground[8]
yéelds yéerely a pound.
Good faring sow
holds profit with cow.
41
Who kéepes but[9] twaine,
the more may gaine.
42[10]
Tith iustly, good garson,
else driue will the parson.
43
Thy garden twifallow,
stroy hemlock and mallow.
44
Like practise they prooue,
that hops doe looue.
45
Now make and wand in
trim bower to stand in.
Leaue wadling about,
till arbor be out.
46
Who now sowes otes,
gets gold and grotes.
Who sowes in May
gets little that way.
47
Go breake vp land,
get mattock in hand,
Stub roote so tough,
for breaking of plough.
48
What greater crime
then losse of time?
49[11]
Lay land or[12] lease
breake vp if ye please.
But fallow not yet,
that hast any wit.
50
Where drink ye sowe,
good tilth bestowe.
51
Small profit is found,
by péeling of ground.
52
Land past the best
cast vp to[13] rest.
Thus endeth Januaries abstract, agréeing with Januaries husbandrie.
¶ Other short remembrances.
53
Get pulling hooke (sirs),
for broome and firs.
Pluck broome, broome still,
cut broome, broome kill.
54
Broome pluckt by and by,
breake vp for rie.
Friend ringle thy hog,
or looke for a dog.
55
In casting prouide,
for séede lay aside.
Get doong, friend mine,
for stock and vine.
56
If earth be not soft,
go dig it aloft.
For quamier get bootes,
stub alders and rootes.
57
Hop poles waxe scant,
for poles mo plant.
Set chestnut and walnut,
set filbeard and smalnut.
58
Peach, plumtrée, & cherie,
yoong bay and his berie.
Or set their stone,
vnset leaue out none.
59
Sowe kirnels to beare,
of apple and peare.
All trées that beare goom
set now as they coom.
60
Now set or remooue
such stocks as ye looue.[14]
Here ends Januaries short remembrances.
[1]
Green set as a stake
in banke they wil take. 1577.
[2] conney. 1577.
[3] St. 16 and the second couplets in sts. 21 and 22 are not here in
1577.
[4] Here follows in 1577,
Take for thy turne,
their roots go burne.
[5] feede. 1577.
[6] if. 1577.
[7] huswifes. 1577.
[8] Good milch kow and sound. 1577.
[9] both. 1577.
[10] St. 42 is not in 1577.
[11] Sts. 49 and 50 are not in 1577.
[12] for. M.
[13] the. 1577.
[14]
And set or remoue
what fruite ye loue. 1577.
34.
_Of trees or fruites to be set or remooued._
1 Apple trées of all sorts.
2 Apricocks.[E146]
3 Barberies.
4 Boollesse,[E147] black & white.
5 Cheries,[E148] red and black.
6 Chestnuts.[E149]
7 Cornet plums.[E150]
8 Damsens,[1][E151] white & black.
9 Filbeards,[E152] red and white.
10 Goose beries.[E153]
11 Grapes,[E154] white and red.
12 Gréene or grasse plums.[E155]
13 Hurtillberies.[E156]
14 Medlars[E157] or marles.
15 Mulberie.[E158]
16 Peaches,[E159] white and red.
17 Peares of all sorts.
18 Perareplums,[2][E160] black & yelow.
19 Quince[E161] trées.
20 Respis.[E162]
21 Reisons.[E163]
22 Small nuts.
23 Strawberies, red and white.
24 Seruice trées.[E164]
25 Walnuts.[E165]
26 Wardens,[E166] white and red.
27 Wheat plums.
[28]
Now set ye may
the box and bay,
Haithorne and prim,
for clothes trim.
[1] Damisens. 1577.
[2] _sic_ also in 1577.
35.
¶ _Januaries husbandrie.
Chap._ 32.
A kindly good Janiuéere,
Fréeseth pot by the féere.
Forgotten month past,
Doe now at the last.
[Sidenote: Husbandly lessons.]
1
When Christmas is ended, bid feasting adue,
goe play the good husband, thy stock to renue.
Be mindfull of rearing, in hope of a gaine,
dame profit shall giue thee reward for thy paine.
2
Who both by his calfe and his lamb will be knowne,
may well kill a neate and a sheepe of his owne.
And he that can reare vp a pig in his house,
hath cheaper his bacon and sweeter his souse.
3
Who eateth his veale, pig and lamb being froth,[E167]
shall twise in a weeke go to bed without broth.[1]
Vnskilfull that passe not, but sell away sell,
shall neuer haue plentie where euer they dwell.
4
Be greedie in spending, and careles to saue,
and shortly be needie and readie to craue.
Be wilfull to kill and vnskilfull to store,
and looke for no foison,[2] I tell thee before.[E168]
5
Lay dirt vpon heapes, faire yard to be seene,
if frost will abide it, to feeld with it cleene.[E169]
In winter a fallow some loue to bestowe,
where pease for the pot[3] they intend for to sowe.
[Sidenote: Quick set now.]
6
In making or mending as needeth thy ditch,
get set to quick set it, learne cunningly whitch.[4]
In hedging (where clay is) get stake as ye knowe,
of popler and willow, for fewell to growe.
[Sidenote: Kéepe cleane thy douehous.]
7
Leaue killing of conie,[5] let Doe go to buck,
and vermine thy burrow, for feare of ill luck.
Feed Doue (no more killing), old Doue house[E170] repaire,
saue doue dong for hopyard, when house ye make faire.
[Sidenote: ¶ Runciual peason.]
8
Dig garden, stroy mallow, now may ye at ease,
and set (as a daintie) thy runciuall pease.[6]
Go cut and set roses, choose aptly thy plot,
the rootes of the yoongest are best to be got.
[Sidenote: Timelie prouision for fewell.]
9
In time go and bargaine, least woorser doo fall,
for fewell, for making, for carriage and all.
To buie at the stub[E171] is the best for the buier,
more timelie prouision, the cheaper is fier.
[Sidenote: Ill husbandrie.]
10
Some burneth a lode at a time in his hall,
some neuer leaue burning til burnt they haue all.
Some making of hauock, without any wit,
make many poore soules without fire to sit.
[Sidenote: Pruning of trées.]
11
If frost doo continue, this lesson doth well,
for comfort of cattel the fewell to fell:
From euerie tree the superfluous bows
now prune for thy neat therevpon to go brows.[7]
[Sidenote: Mistle and iuie.]
12
In pruning and trimming all maner of trees,
reserue to ech cattel their properly fees.
If snowe doo continue, sheepe hardly that fare
craue Mistle and Iuie for them for to spare.
[Sidenote: Lopping of pollengers.]
13
Now lop for thy fewell old pollenger growen,
that hinder the corne or the grasse to be mowen.
In lopping and felling, saue edder and stake,[E172]
thine hedges as needeth to mend or to make.
14
In lopping,[8] old Jocham, for feare of mishap,
one bough stay vnlopped, to cherish the sap:
The second yeere after then boldly ye may,
for driping his fellowes, that bough cut away.
[Sidenote: The propertie of soft wood.]
15
Lop popler and sallow, elme, maple, and prie,
well saued from cattle, till Sommer to lie.
So far as in lopping, their tops ye doo fling,
so far without planting yoong copie will spring.[E173]
16[9]
Such fewell as standing a late ye haue bought,
now fell it, and make it, and doo as ye ought.
Giue charge to the hewers (that many things mars),
to hew out for crotches, for poles, and for spars.
[Sidenote: Hoppoles and crotches.]
17
If hopyard or orchard ye mind for to haue,
for hoppoles and crotches in lopping go saue.
Which husbandlie spared may serue at a push,
and stop by so hauing two gaps with a bush.
18
From Christmas, till May be well entered in,
some cattle waxe faint, and looke poorely and thin.
And cheefly when prime[E174] grasse[10] at first doth appeere,
then most is the danger of all the whole yeere.
[Sidenote: A medicen for faint cattell.]
19
Take vergis and heate it, a pint for a cow,
bay salt a hand full,[11] to rub tong ye wot how.
That done, with the salt, let hir drinke off the rest:
this manie times raiseth the feeble vp best.
[Sidenote: To fasten loose téeth in a bullock.]
20
Poore bullock with browsing and naughtily fed,
scarce feedeth, hir teeth be so loose in hir hed:
Then slise ye the taile where ye feele it so soft,
with soote and with garlike bound to it aloft.[12]
[Sidenote: Ewes vpon eaning.]
21
By brembles and bushes, in pasture too full,
poore sheepe be in danger and loseth their wull.[13]
Now therefore thine ewe, vpon lamming so neere,
desireth in pasture that all may be cleere.
22
Leaue grubbing or pulling of bushes (my sonne)
till timely thy fences require to be donne.
Then take of the best, for to furnish thy turne,
and home with the rest, for the fier to burne.
[Sidenote: Stubbing of gréenes.]
23
In euerie greene,[14] if the fence be not thine,
now stub vp the bushes, the grasse to be fine.
Least neighbour doo dailie so hack[15] them beliue,[E175]
that neither thy bushes nor pasture can thriue.
24
In ridding[16] of pasture with turfes that lie by,[17]
fill euerie hole vp, as close as a dy.
The labour is little, the profit is gay,
what euer the loitering labourers say.
25
The sticks and the stones go and gather vp cleene,
for hurting of sieth or for harming of greene.[18]
For feare of Hew prowler,[E176] get home with the rest,
when frost is at hardest, then carriage is best.
[Sidenote: Yoong lambes.]
26
Yoong broome or good pasture thy ewes doo require,
warme barth and in safetie their lambes doo desire.
Looke often well to them, for foxes and dogs,
for pits and for brembles, for vermin and hogs.
27
More daintie[19] the lambe, the more woorth to be sold,
the sooner the better for eaw that is old.
But if ye doo minde to haue milke of the dame,
till Maie doo not seuer the lambe fro the same.
[Sidenote: Rearing of lambes.]
28
Ewes yeerly by twinning rich maisters doo make,
the lamb of such twinners for breeders go take.
For twinlings[E177] be twiggers, encrease for to bring,
though som for their twigging _Peccantem_[E178] may sing.
[Sidenote: Rearing of calues.]
29
Calues likely that come between Christmas and Lent,
take huswife to reare, or else after repent:
Of such as doo fall betweene change and the prime,[20]
no rearing, but sell or go kill them in time.
[Sidenote: Howsing of cattel.]
30
Howse calfe, and go sockle it twise in a day,
and after a while, set it water and hay.
Stake ragged to rub on, no such as will bend,
then weane it well tended, at fiftie daies end.[21]
31
The senior weaned his yoonger shall teach,
how both to drinke water and hay for to reach.[22]
More stroken and made of when ought it doo aile,
more gentle ye make it, for yoke or the paile.[E179]
[Sidenote: Of gelding.]
32
Geld bulcalfe and ram lamb, as soone as they fall,
for therein is lightly no danger at all.
Some spareth the ton for to pleasure the eie,
to haue him shew greater when butcher shall bie.
[Sidenote: ¶]
33
Sowes readie to farrow this time of the yeere
are for to be made of and counted full deere.
For now is the losse of a fare of the sow
more great then the losse of two calues of thy cow.
[Sidenote: ¶ Rearing of pigs.]
34
Of one sow togither reare few aboue fiue,
and those of the fairest and likest to thriue.
Ungelt of the best keepe a couple for store,
one bore pig and sow pig, that sucketh before.[E180]
[Sidenote: ¶ A way to haue large bréed of hogs.]
35
Who hath a desire to haue store verie large,
at Whitsontide let him giue huswife a charge,
To reare of a sow at once onely but three,
and one of them also a bore let it bee.
[Sidenote: ¶ Gelding time.]
36
Geld vnder the dam, within fortnight at least,
and saue both thy monie and life of the beast.
Geld later with gelders as many one do,
and looke of a doozen to geld away two.
[Sidenote: Gelding of horse coltes.]
37
Thy colts for thy saddle geld yoong to be light,
for cart doo not so, if thou iudgest aright.
Nor geld not but when they be lustie and fat:
for there is a point, to be learned in that.
[Sidenote: Gelding of fillies.]
38
Geld fillies (but tits) er an nine daies of age,
they die else of gelding (or gelders doo rage).
Yoong fils[E181] so likelie of bulke and of bone:
keepe such to be breeders, let gelding alone.
[Sidenote: Reare the fairest of al things.]
39
For gaining a trifle, sell neuer thy store,
what ioy to acquaintance, what pleasureth more?
The larger of bodie, the better for breede:
more forward of growing, the better they speede.
[Sidenote: ¶ Of cow and sow.]
40
Good milchcow, well fed, that is faire and sound,
is yeerely for profit as good as a pound:
And yet by the yeere, I haue prooued er[23] now,
as good to the purse is a sow as a cow.
[Sidenote: ¶]
41
Keepe one and keepe both, with as little a cost,
then all shall be saued and nothing be lost.
Both hauing togither what profit is caught,
good huswifes (I warrant ye) need not be taught.
[Sidenote: ¶]
42[24]
For lamb, pig and calfe, and for other the like,
tithe so as thy cattle the Lord doo not strike.
Or if yee deale guilefully, parson will dreue,
and so to your selfe a worse turne ye may geue.
43
Thy garden plot latelie well trenched and muckt,
would now be twifallowd, the mallowes out pluckt,[25]
Well clensed and purged of roote and of stone,
that falt therein afterward found may be none.
[Sidenote: Wéeding of hopyard.]
44
Remember thy hopyard, if season be drie,
now dig it and weed it, and so let it lie.
More fennie the laier the better his lust,
more apt to beare hops when it crumbles like dust.
[Sidenote: Trimming up arbors.]
45
To arbor begun, and quick setted[26] about,
no poling nor wadling[27] till set be far out.
For rotten and aged may stand for a shew,
but hold to their tackling there doe but a few.[28][E182]
[Sidenote: Sowing of otes. Late sowing not good.]
46
In Janiuere[29] husband that poucheth the grotes
will break vp his laie, or be sowing of otes,
Otes sowen in Janiuere, laie[30] by the wheat,
in May by the hay for the cattle to eat.[31][E183]
47
Let seruant be readie, with mattock in hand,
to stub out the bushes that noieth the land:
And cumbersome rootes, so annoieng the plough,
turne vpward their arses with sorrow inough.
[Sidenote: Breaking up lay in som countrie.]
48
Who breaketh vp timelie his fallow or lay,
sets forward his husbandrie many a way.
This trimlie well ended doth forwardly bring,[32]
not onelie thy tillage, but all other thing.
49[33]
Though lay land ye breke vp when Christmas is gon,
for sowing of barlie[34] or otes therevpon,
Yet hast[e] not to fallow til March be begun,
least afterward wishing it had ben vndun.
50
Such land as ye breake vp for barlie to sowe,
two earthes at the least er ye sowe it bestowe.[35]
If land be thereafter, set oting apart,
and follow this lesson, to comfort thine hart.
51
Some breaking vp laie soweth otes to begin,[36]
to suck out the moisture so sower therein.
Yet otes with hir sucking a peeler is found,
both ill to the maister and worse to som ground.
52
Land arable driuen or worne to the proofe,
and[37] craueth some rest for thy profits behoofe.
With otes ye may sowe it, the sooner to grasse,
more soone to be pasture to bring it to passe.
Thus endeth Januaries husbandrie.
[1] "Broath is still us'd in some Farm Houses for Supper Meat, and
Roast Meat look'd upon as very ill Husbandry."--T.R.
[2] looke not for foyzen. 1577. "_Foyzon_ is Winter Food."--T.R.
[3] "Pease boyling or not boyling is one of the Farmers occult
Qualities; but fresh, and next to it, well dunged Grounds are observed
to produce the best Boylers, perhaps because they retain most
moisture."--T.R.
[4] "By Experience Garden Quicksets are found to be the best, ...
because they are all of an age."--T.R.
[5] "The common time of ending their Slaught (or Slaughter as the
Warreners term it) is _Candlemas_."--T.R.
[6] "The most forward Pea is the Rogue, they are pick'd from the
Hasting and Hotspur."--T.R.
[7] "Since the use of Turneps Cattel need not be hard put to it in
snowy weather as formerly."--T.R.
[8] "This is more proper in Underwood than Pollards, at least more
in use at present; few Pollards perish for want of it, but Runt-wood
will."--T.R.
[9] St. 16 is not in 1577.
[10] "Prime Grass appears commonly in woody moist Grounds, on Hedge
Banks, and is so called from its earliness; when Cattle have tasted
this they begin to loath their dry food. It is often sprung before
_Candlemas_."--T.R.
[11] full a hand. 1577.
[12] "This remedy still is in Practice.... The first indication of
corrupt blood is from the staring Hairs on the Tail near the Rump. Some
instead of Soot and Garlick put a Dock Root, or the Root of a Bears
Foot, which they call a Gargat Root, others flay the Dewlaps to the
very Shoulders."--T.R.
[13] "Large Ant-Hills is much the best shelter for Ewes and
Lambs."--T.R.
[14] "This is understood of Hedge Greens ... a space next the Hedge of
a Rod or more in breadth."--T.R.
[15] make. 1577.
[16] "When you rid it of Bushes or Ant Hills."--T.R.
[17] with turnes so bye. 1577.
[18] "Hedge Greens."--T.R.
[19] "Likely, or thriving, such as will soon require more Milk than his
old Dam can afford him."--T.R.
[20] "The first three days after the new moon or change."--T.R.
[21] "At present we rarely wean under twelve weeks."--- T.R. 1710.
[22] "The hay is given them stuck in cleft sticks."--T.R.
[23] or. 1577.
[24] St. 42 is not in 1577.
[25] "In trenching, bury no Mallow, Nettle-dock, or Briony Roots."--T.R.
[26] "Quick setted Arbors are now out of use, as agreeing very ill with
the Ladies Muslins."--T.R. 1710.
[27] "Wattles are wood slit."--T.R.
[28] they cannot but feaw. 1577.
[29] January. 1577.
[30] "lay them by thy wheate" in _100 Good Points_.
[31] "Such early sown Oats it is likely may be clearer of weeds; and
if I buy my Hay in May, that is, before my Chapman knows what Quantity
he shall have, he is rul'd by his Necessity for some ready money in
Hand."--T.R.
[32] This tilth is a tilture, well forward doth bring. 1577.
[33] Sts. 49 and 50 are not in 1577.
[34] "Barley is now very rarely, if at all, sown on lay land.
The fallow he speaks of I take to be the second ploughing for
Barley."--T.R. 1710. Gervase Markham, in his _English Husbandman_,
directs a digging in May, another, with manuring, in October, and "the
last time of your digging and setting shall be at the beginning of
April."
[35] "Barley-Ground ought to be as fine as an Ash-heap."--T.R.
[36] "Where the Ground is over rich, it fines and sweetens it."--T.R.
[37] "It" in _Tusser Redivivus_. "and." 1577.
36.
¶ _Februaries abstract._
* * * Februaries Abstract and Februaries Husbandry in the edition of
1577 differ much from that of 1580.
_Chap._ 33.
1
Lay compas ynow,
er euer ye plow.
2
Place doongheapes alowe,
more barlie to growe.
3
Eat etch er ye plow,
with hog, shéepe and cow.
Sowe lintels ye may,
and peason gray.
Kéepe white vnsowne,
till more be knowne.
4
Sow pease (good trull)
the Moone past full.
Fine séedes then sowe,
whilst Moone doth growe.
5
Boy, follow the plough,
and harrow inough.
So harrow ye shall,
till couerd be all.
6
Sowe pease not too thin,
er plough ye set in.
7
Late sowen sore noieth,
late ripe, hog stroieth.
8
Some prouender saue,
for plowhorse to haue.
To oxen that drawe,
giue hay and not strawe.
To stéeres ye may
mixe strawe with hay.
9
Much carting, ill tillage,
makes som to flie village.
10
Use cattle aright,
to kéepe them in plight.
11
Good quickset bie,
old gatherd will die.
12[1]
Stick bows a rowe,
where runciuals growe.
13
Sowe kirnels and hawe,
where ridge ye did drawe.
14
Sowe mustard séed,
and helpe to kill wéed.
Where sets doo growe,
sée nothing ye sowe.
15
Cut vines and osier,
plash hedge of enclosier.
Féed highly thy swan,
to loue hir good man.
Nest high I aduise,
least floud doe arise.
16
Land meadow spare,
there doong is good ware.
17
Go strike off the nowles
of deluing mowles.
Such hillocks in vaine
lay leauelled plaine.
18
To wet the land,
let mowle hill stand.
19
Poore cattle craue
some shift to haue.
20
Cow little giueth
that hardly liueth.
21
Rid barlie al now,
cleane out of thy mow.
Choice séed out drawe,
saue cattle the strawe.
22
To coast man ride
Lent stuffe to prouide.
Thus endeth Februaries abstract, agréeing with Februaries husbandrie.
¶ Other short remembrances.
[23]
Trench medow and redge,
dike, quickset, and hedge.
To plots not full,
ad bremble and hull.
[24]
Let wheat and the rie
for thresher still lie.
Such strawe some saue,
for thacker to haue.
[25]
Poore cunnie, so bagged,
is soone ouer lagged.
Plash burrow, set clapper,
for dog is a snapper.[E184]
[26]
Good flight who loues,
must féed their doues.
Bid hauking adew,
cast hauke into mew.[E185]
[27]
Kéepe shéepe out of briers,
kéepe beast out of miers.
Kéepe lambes from fox,
else shepherd go box.
[28]
Good neighbour mine,
now yoke thy swine.
Now euerie day,
set hops ye may.
[29]
Now set for thy pot,
best herbes to be got.
For flowers go set,
all sorts ye can get.
[30]
As winter doth prooue,
so may ye remooue.
Now all things reare,
for all the yeare.
[31]
Watch ponds, go looke
to wéeles and hooke.
Knaues seld repent
to steale in Lent.
[32]
Alls fish they get
that commeth to net.[E186]
Who muck regards
makes hillocks in yards.
Here ends Februaries short remembrances.
[1] Stanza 12 is 4, and st. 22 is 1 in 1577.
37.
¶ _Februaries husbandrie.
Chap._ 34.
Feb, fill the dike[E187]
With what thou dost like.[1]
Forgotten month past
Doe now at the last.
1
Who laieth on doong er he laieth on plow,
such husbandrie vseth as thrift doth alow.
One month er ye spred it, so still let it stand,
er euer to plow it, ye take it in hand.
2
Place doong heape a low by the furrough along,
where water all winter time did it such wrong.
So make ye the land to be lustie and fat,
and corne thereon sowen to be better for that.
3
Go plow in the stubble, for now is the season,
for sowing of fitchis, of beanes, and of peason.
Sowe runciuals timelie, and all that be gray,
but sowe not the white till S. Gregories day.[2]
4
Sowe peason and beanes in the wane of the Moone,[3]
who soweth them sooner, he soweth too soone.
That they with the planet may rest and arise,
and flourish with bearing most plentifull wise.
5
Friend, harrow in time, by some maner of meanes,
not onely thy peason, but also thy beanes.
Unharrowed die, being buried in clay,
where harrowed florish, as flowers in May.
6
Both peason and beanes sowe afore ye doo plow,[4]
the sooner ye harrow, the better for yow.[5]
White peason so good for the purse and the pot:
let them be well vsed else well doo ye not.
7
Haue eie vnto haruest what euer ye sowe,
for feare of mischances, by riping too slowe.
Least corne be destroied, contrarie to right,
by hogs or by cattel, by day or by night.[6]