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TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE
There were many quite different printings of this Book of
Husbandry. As the editor of this printing, Rev. Walter Skeat, notes
in his Introduction: “The present volume contains a careful reprint
of Berthelet’s edition of 1534” collated throughout “with the
curious edition of 1598” that was authored by “I. R.”--his actual
name is unknown.
This “careful reprint” retains all the spelling variations and
inconsistencies of those original editions, and so does this etext.
The Notes and Sidenotes produced by Skeat are of course in modern
(1882) English. He has inserted some corrections to the reprinted
text; these are shown in [brackets]. Obvious typographical errors
and punctuation errors in his Notes and Sidenotes have been
corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within
the text and consultation of external sources.
Some minor changes are listed at the end of the book.
Footnote anchors are denoted by [number], and the footnotes have
been placed at the end of each major section of the book.
The line numbering on each section of the reprinted 1534 text has
been retained and is shown as a number (4, 8, 12 etc) on the right
side of the etext. Original line-breaks in the 1534 text have been
retained.
Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.
Bold text is denoted by =equal signs=.
The 3-star inverted asterism symbol is denoted by ***.
The right-pointing finger symbol is denoted by ==>.
A superscript is denoted by ^n or ^{nn}, for example xxix^{th}.
FITZHERBERT’S
BOOK OF HUSBANDRY.
1534.
THE
BOOK OF HUSBANDRY,
BY
MASTER FITZHERBERT.
REPRINTED FROM THE EDITION OF 1534,
AND EDITED
WITH AN INTRODUCTION, NOTES, AND GLOSSARIAL INDEX,
BY
THE REV. WALTER W. SKEAT, M.A.,
ELRINGTON AND BOSWORTH PROFESSOR OF ANGLO-SAXON IN THE UNIVERSITY
OF CAMBRIDGE.
[Illustration: (A plough)]
LONDON:
PUBLISHED FOR THE ENGLISH DIALECT SOCIETY
BY TRÜBNER & CO., LUDGATE HILL.
1882.
HERTFORD:
PRINTED BY STEPHEN AUSTIN AND SONS.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
INTRODUCTION vii
THE AUTHOR’S PROLOGUE 1
THE TABLE (which see) 3
THE BOOK OF HUSBANDRY 9
NOTES 127
GLOSSARIAL INDEX 149
INTRODUCTION.
One question of chief interest respecting the volume here printed
is--who was the author? We know that his name was “Mayster
Fitzherbarde” (see p. 125), and the question that has to be settled
is simply this--may we identify him with Sir Anthony Fitzherbert,
judge of the Common Pleas, the author of the Grand Abridgment of
the Common Law, the New Natura Brevium, and other legal works?
The question has been frequently discussed, and, as far as I have
been able to discover, the more usual verdict of the critics is in
favour of the supposed identity; and certainly all the evidence
tends very strongly in that direction, as will, I think, presently
appear.
Indeed, when we come to investigate the grounds on which the
objections to the usually received theory rest, they appear to be
exceedingly trivial; nor have I been very successful in discovering
the opposed arguments. Bohn’s edition of Lowndes’ Bibliographer’s
Manual merely tells us that “the treatises on Husbandry and
Surveying are by some attributed to the famous lawyer Sir Anthony
Fitzherbert, by others to his brother John Fitzherbert.”
In the Catalogue of the Huth Library, we find this note: “The Rev.
Joseph Hunter was the first person to point out that the author of
this work [Fitzherbert’s Husbandry] and the book on Surveying was
a different person from the judge of the same name.” It will be at
once observed that this note is practically worthless, from the
absence of the reference. After considerable search, I have been
unable to discover where Hunter’s statement is to be found, so that
the nature of his objections can only be guessed at.
In Walter Harte’s Essays on Husbandry (ii. 77) we read--“How
Fitzherbert could be a practitioner of the art of agriculture for
40 years, as he himself says in 1534, is pretty extraordinary. I
suppose it was his country amusement in the periodical recesses
between the terms.” We are here presented with a definite
objection, grounded, as is alleged, upon the author’s own words;
and it is most probable that Harte is here stating the objection
which has weighed most strongly with those who (like Hunter) have
objected to the current opinion. The answer to the objection is, I
think, not a little remarkable, viz. that the alleged statement is
_not_ the author’s at all. By turning to p. 125, it will be seen
that it was Thomas Berthelet the printer who said that the author
“had exercysed husbandry, with greate experyence, xl. years.” But
the author’s _own_ statement, on p. 124, is _differently worded_;
and the difference is material. He says: “and, as touchynge the
poyntes of husbandry, and of other artycles conteyned in this
present boke, I wyll not saye that it is the beste waye and wyll
serue beste in all places, but I saye it is the best way that euer
I coude proue by experyence, the whiche haue _ben an housholder_
this xl. yeres and more, and haue assaied many and dyuers wayes,
and done my dyligence to proue by experyence which shuld be the
beste waye.” The more we weigh these words, the more we see a
divergence between them and the construction which might readily
be put upon the words of Berthelet; a construction which, in all
probability, Berthelet did not specially intend. Any reader who
hastily glances at Berthelet’s statement would probably deduce from
it that the author was a farmer merely, who had had forty years’
experience in farming. But this is not what we should deduce from
the more careful statement of the author. We should rather notice
these points.
1. The author does not speak of husbandry _only_, but of _other
points_. The other points are the breeding of horses (not a
necessary part of a farmer’s business), the selling of wood and
timber, grafting of trees, a long discourse upon prodigality,
remarks upon gaming, a discussion of “what is riches,” and a
treatise upon practical religion, illustrated by Latin quotations
from the fathers, and occupying no small portion of the work. This
is not the work of a practical farmer, in the narrow acceptation
of the term, meaning thereby one who farms to live; but it is
clearly the work of a country gentleman, rich in horses and in
timber, acquainted with the extravagant mode of life often adopted
by the wealthy, and at the same time given to scholarly pursuits
and to learned and devout reading. Indeed, the prominence given to
religious teaching can hardly fail to surprise a reader who expects
to find in the volume nothing more than hints upon practical
agriculture. One chapter has a very suggestive heading, viz. “A
lesson made in Englysshe verses, that _a gentylmans seruaunte_
shall forget none of his gere _in his inne behynde hym_” (p. 7).
This is obviously the composition of a gentleman himself, and of
one accustomed to take long journeys upon horseback, and to stay at
various inns on the way.[1]
2. Again he says, “it is the best way that euer I coude proue by
experyence, the whiche ... haue assaied _many and dyuers_ wayes,
and done my dyligence to proue by experyence which shuld be the
beste waye.” Certainly this is not the language of one who farmed
for profit, but of the _experimental_ farmer, the man who could
afford to lose if things went wrong, one to whom farming was an
amusement and a recreation, and who delighted in trying various
modes that he might benefit those who, unlike himself, could not
afford to try any way but that which had long been known.
3. We must note the language in which he describes himself. He
does not say that he had “exercised husbandry” for forty years,
but that he had “been a householder” during that period. The two
things are widely different. His knowledge of agriculture was, so
to speak, accidental; his real employment had been to manage a
household, or, as we should rather now say, to “keep house.” This,
again, naturally assigns to him the status of a country gentleman,
who chose to superintend everything for himself, and to gain a
practical acquaintance with everything upon his estate, viz. his
lands, his cattle, his horses, his bees, his trees, his felled
timber, and the rest; not forgetting his duties as a man of rank
in setting a good example, discouraging waste, giving attention
to prayer and almsgiving, and to his necessary studies. “He that
can rede and vnderstande _latyne_, let hym take his booke in his
hande, and looke stedfastely vppon the same thynge that he readeth
and seeth, _that is no trouble to hym_,” etc. (p. 115). Are we to
suppose that it could be said generally, of farmers in the time of
Henry VIII., that Latin was “no trouble to them”? If so, things
must have greatly changed.
I have spoken of the above matter at some length, because I much
suspect that the words used by Berthelet are the very words which
have biassed, entirely in the wrong direction, the minds of such
critics as have found a difficulty where little exists. It ought to
be particularly borne in mind that Berthelet’s expression, though
likely to mislead _now_, was not calculated to do so at the time,
when the authorship of the book was doubtless well known. And we
shall see presently that Berthelet himself entirely believed Sir
Anthony to have been the author of this Book on Husbandry.
Another objection that has been raised is founded upon the apparent
strangeness of the title “Mayster Fitz-herbarde” as applied to
a judge. The answer is most direct and explicit, viz. that the
printer who uses this title did so wittingly, for he is _the very
man_ who helps us to identify our author with the great lawyer.
It is therefore simply impossible that he could have seen any
incongruity in it, and any objection founded upon it must be
wholly futile. The title of _master_ was used in those days very
differently to what it is now. Foxe, in his Actes and Monuments,
ed. 1583, p. 1770, tells us how “maister Latymer” encouraged
“maister Ridley,” when both were at the stake; and, chancing to
open Holinshed’s History (ed. 1808, iii. 754), I find a discourse
between Wolsey and Sir William Kingston, Constable of the Tower, in
which the latter is called “master Kingston” throughout.
I cannot find that there is any reason for assigning the
composition of the Book of Husbandry to John Fitzherbert, Sir
Anthony’s brother. It is a mere guess, founded only upon the
knowledge that Sir Anthony had such a brother. It looks as though
the critics who wish to deprive Sir Anthony of the honour of the
authorship think they must concede somewhat, and therefore suggest
his brother’s name by way of compensation.
We have no proof that John Fitzherbert ever wrote anything, whilst
Sir Anthony was a well-known author. All experience shows that a
man who writes one book is likely to write another.
When we leave these vague surmises and come to consider the direct
evidence, nearly all difficulties cease. And first, as to external
evidence.
The author of the Book of Husbandry was also author of the Book of
Surveying, as has always been seen and acknowledged.[2] The first
piece of distinct evidence on the subject is the statement of
Thomas Berthelet. He prefixed some verses to Pynson’s edition of
the Book of Surveying (1523), addressing the reader as follows:
“This worthy man / nobly hath done his payne
I meane hym / that these sayde bokes[3] dyd deuyse.
He sheweth to husbandes / in right fruteful wyse
The manyfolde good thynges / in brefe sentence
Whiche he hath well proued / by long experyence.
¶ And this[4] I leaue hym / in his good wyll and mynde
That he beareth / vnto the publyke weale.
Wolde god _noblemen_ / coude in their hertes fynde
_After such forme_ / _for the cōmons helth_ to deale;
It is a true token / _of hyghe loue and zeale_
Whan _he_ so delyteth / and taketh pleasure
By his busy labour / _mens welth to procure_.”
This cannot well be mistaken. It is obvious that Berthelet believed
the author to be a _nobleman_, one who “shewed things to husbands”
which he had gained by his own “long experience;” one who wrote
out of the “good will and mind that he bare unto the public weal,”
thereby proving his “high love and zeal,” in that he delighted
“to procure men’s wealth,” _i.e._ the welfare of others, not his
own riches, by means of his “busy labour.” We hence conclude that
Berthelet knew perfectly well who the author was; and indeed it
would have been strange if he did not, since he was writing in 1523
(while the author was still alive), and subsequently printed both
the books of which he is here speaking. He plainly tells us that
the author was a nobleman, and merely wrote to benefit others out
of pure love and zeal.
But this is not Berthelet’s only allusion to these books. In
an edition of the Book of Surveying, printed by Berthelet,[5]
there are some remarks by him at the back of the title-page to
the following effect. “To the reder. Whan I had printed the
boke longyng to a Justice of the peace, togither with other
small bokes very necessary, I bethought me vpon this boke of
Surueyenge, compyled sometyme by master Fitzherbarde, how good
and howe profitable it is for all states, that be lordes and
possessioners of landes, ... or tenauntes of the same, ... also
how well it agreeth with the argume_n_t of the other small bokes,
as court-baron, court-hundred, and chartuary, I went in hande and
printed it in the same volume that the other be, to binde them
al-togither. And haue amended it in many places.”
The mention of “the boke longyng to a Justice of the peace” is
interesting, as bringing us back again to Sir Anthony Fitzherbert.
“In 1538,” says Mr. Wallis,[6] Robert Redman printed “The newe Boke
of Justices of the Peas, by A. F. K. [Anthony Fitzherbert, Knight],
lately translated out of French into English, In the yere of our
Lord God, M.D.xxxviii. The 29 day of December, Cum priuilegio.”[7]
Mr. Hobson’s list (Hist. Ashborne, p. 234) mentions this as “the
first work on the subject ever printed,” but this is not the case.
Wynkyn de Worde and Copland both printed, as early as 1515, “The
Boke of Justices of the Peas, the charge, with al the proces of
the Cessyons, Warrants, Superseders, wyth al that longyth to ony
justice, &c.” It is not pretended that this was our author’s work;
but he improved upon it, as he did also upon the Natura Brevium.
In his preface to La Novel Natura Brevium (Berthelet, 1534), he
says that the original book was written by a learned man, whom he
does not name: and that it was esteemed as a fundamental book for
understanding the law. In the course of its translations, and of
the alteration of the laws, many things had been retained which
were unnecessary, and much desirable matter was omitted. This was
what induced him to compose the new one.
Upon this I have to remark, that it is incredible that Berthelet
should mention a work which he knew to be by Sir Anthony
Fitzherbert in one line, and in the next should proceed to speak
of “Master Fitzherbarde” without a word of warning that he was
speaking of a different person. The obvious inference is that
the author of the Book on Surveying was, in his belief, the same
person as the “A. F. K.” who wrote “the boke longyng to a Justice
of the peace.” As it is, he takes no trouble about the matter; for
he could hardly foresee that any difficulty would thence arise.
It is remarkable how frequently writers just stop short of being
explicit, because they think that, at the moment of writing, a fact
is too notorious to be worth mentioning.
Here the direct external evidence ceases. We now come to consider
the internal evidence, which is interesting enough.
In the first place, the author of the Book of Husbandry was also
the author of the Book of Surveying, as he tells us explicitly in
his prologue to the latter book. But whoever wrote the Book of
Surveying must have been a considerable lawyer. It is of a far
more learned and technical character than the Book on Husbandry,
and abounds with quotations from Latin statutes, which the author
translates and explains. In Chap. 1 he says of a certain statute,
that, _in his opinion_, it was made soon after the Battle of
Evesham, in the time of Henry III.; and he frequently interprets
statutes with the air of one whose opinion was worth having. In
Chap, xi., he enlarges upon the mistakes made by lords, knights,
squires, and gentlemen who know but little of the law. “They come
to the court or sende their clerkes, that can [know] as litle law
as their maister or lasse, but that he vnderstandeth a lytell
latyn.” At the end of the same chapter, he is deep in law-terms,
court-roll, fee simple, fee tayle, franke tenement, and all the
rest of it. He then gives numerous forms, all in Latin, to be used
by owners who wish to lease, grant, or surrender lands; but only
a good lawyer would venture to recommend forms suitable for such
important purposes.
Some other points of internal evidence have already been
incidentally noticed, such as the author’s familiarity with the
mode of life of the rich; his lesson made for “a gentylmans
seruaunte”; his readiness to try many ways of farming as an
experimentalist who could afford to lose money; and his statement
that Latin was no trouble to him. I proceed to notice a few more.
Something further can be inferred from the author’s mention of
places. He speaks of so many counties, as Cornwall, Devon, Essex,
Kent, Somerset, Buckinghamshire, Yorkshire, and Lancashire, that
we can at first obtain no definite result. But there is an express
allusion to “the peeke countreye” at p. 44; whilst at p. 81 he
alludes to the parts about London by using the adverb “there,” as
if it were _not_ his home. Yet that he was perfectly familiar with
London is obvious from his allusions to it in chap. xix. of the
Book on Surveying. But there are two more explicit references which
are worth notice. At p. 27, he speaks of “the _farther syde_ of
Darbyshyre, called Scaresdale, Halomshyre, and so _northewarde_
towarde Yorke and Ryppon.” Now Scarsdale is one of the six
“hundreds” of Derbyshire, and includes the country about Dronfield
and Chesterfield; whilst Hallamshire is a name given to a part of
Yorkshire lying round and including Sheffield. We hence fairly
deduce the inference that the author lived on the _western side of
Derbyshire_, in the neighbourhood of Ashborne, so that he looked
upon Chesterfield as lying on the _farther_ side of the country,
and at the same time _northward_, which is precisely the fact. We
are thus led to locate the author in the very neighbourhood of Sir
Anthony Fitzherbert’s home.
Again, at p. 65, he says that if he were to say too much about
the faults of horses, he would break the promise that he made “at
Grombalde brydge,” the first time that he went to Ripon to buy
colts. After some search as to the place here intended, I found, in
Allen’s History of Yorkshire, that one of the bridges over the Nidd
near Knaresborough is called “Grimbald bridge;”[8] and, seeing that
Knaresborough is exactly due south of Ripon, it follows that the
author came from the south of Knaresborough. We seem, in fact, to
trace the general direction of his first ride to Ripon, viz. from
his home to the farther side of Derbyshire, through the northwest
corner of Scarsdale to Sheffield, and “so northward” through Leeds
and Knaresborough. Nothing can be more satisfactory.
A very interesting point is the author’s love of farming and of
horses. As to horses, he tells us how he first went to Ripon to
buy colts (p. 65); how many secrets of horse-dealing he could
tell; how, in buying horses, he had been beguiled a hundred times
and more (p. 63); how he used to say to his customers that, if
ever they ventured to trust any horse-dealer, they had better
trust himself (p. 73); and how he had in his possession at one
time as many as sixty mares, and five or six horses (p. 60). In
this connection, it becomes interesting to inquire if Sir Anthony
Fitzherbert was fond of horses likewise.
It so happens that this question can certainly be answered in the
affirmative; and I have here to acknowledge, with pleasure and
gratitude, the assistance which I have received from one of the
family,[9] the Rev. Reginald Fitzherbert, of Somersal Herbert,
Derbyshire. He has been at the trouble of transcribing Sir
Anthony’s will, a complete copy of which he contributed to “The
Reliquary,” No. 84, vol. xxi. April, 1881, p. 234. I here insert,
by his kind permission, his remarks upon the subject, together with
such extracts from the will as seem most material for our present
purpose.
“The following will of Sir Anthony Fitzherbert, of Norbury, is
transcribed from the Office Copy at Somerset House (Dingley, fol.
20), and is now printed, as I believe, for the first time. The
contractions have been written out _in extenso_.
“Sir Anthony married, secondly, the co-heir of Richard Cotton, and
with her he acquired the estate of Hampstall Ridware, which he
probably kept in his own hands, and farmed himself. He succeeded
his brother John at Norbury in 1531, and died there in 1538, aged
68.
“Fuller, in his _Worthies_, says that Sir Anthony Fitzherbert’s
books are ‘monuments which will longer continue his Memory than
the flat blew marble stone in Norbury Church under which he lieth
interred.’ Camden (Gibson’s ed. 1753, vol. i. p. 271) calls him
_Chief Justice_ of the Common Pleas; but Thoroton (Notts., ed.
1677, p. 344) says, ‘I do not find that Anthony Fitzherbert was
ever Chief Justice;’ and it does not appear that he was more than,
as he describes himself, ‘oon of the kings Justices.’”
EXTRACTS FROM TESTAMENTUM ANTHONII FITZHERBERT.
“In nomine patris et filii et spiritus sancti Amen.”
“I Anthony ffitzherbert oon of the kings Justices being hole in
body and of parfite remembraunce thankes to almighty god make my
last will and testament the xii day of October in the xxix^{th}
yere of the Reign of king Henry the eight[10] in fourme folowing
ffirst I bequeth my soule to almighty god my saviour criste my
Redemer and to our blissed Lady his mother and to Mighel my
patron and to all the holy company of hevyn....
And I bequethe XLs to amende the high wayes[11] bitwixt Abbottes
Bromley [and] Vttaxather. And to sir Thomas ffitzwilliam Lord
Admyrall fyve markes _and the best horsse or gelding that I
haue_. And to Humfrey Cotton V markes to ffraunces Cotton fyve
markes and _a gelding or a horsse of XLs price_. And to euery of
my housholde seruentes a quarter wagis besides their wagis due.
And to euery of my seruentes _that be used to Ryde with me[12]
oon heyffer_ of two yere olde and vpward or ellse _oon felde
Colt_ of that age.
And to sir Henry Sacheuerell and to sir William Basset to euery
of them _oon horsse Colt_ of twoo yeres olde and aboue....
And _tenne kyne_ and _a bull_ and _VIII oxen_ and _a wayn_ and
the _ploez and other thinges longing to a wayne_, to remayn at
Rydwar for heire Lomes. And _XII mares_, and a _stallande_, and
VI. fetherbeddes and VI mattresses and Couerynges blankettes
shetes and Counterpoyntes thereunto to logge honest gentilmen,
and to remain at Rydwar for heire lomes to the heires males of
ffitzherbert....
And I will that Kateryn my doughter haue _foure bullockes_ and
_four heiffers_ and twoo ffetherbeddes and twoo bolsters and
twoo mattresse and bolsters for them and shetes blankettes and
other stuffe to make hir twoo good beddis yf I geve hir non by my
life....
And where I caused Thomas ffitzherbert to surrendre the
Indenture of _the fferme of the parsonage of Castelton in the
Peeke_ to the Abbot of Vayll Royal to the intent, to thentent
(_sic_) that I and he shulde haue fourty yeres terme therin more
then was in the olde Indenture, And to take a newe leesse for
terme of threscore and tenne yeres which olde leesse the same
Thomas had by the mariage of the doughter and heire of sir Arthur
Eyre whiche sir Arthur Eyre willed that his bastard sonne shulde
haue fyve markes yerely of the profites of the same fferme as
apperith by his wille wherfor I will that the same bastard sonne
haue the same fyve markes according to the same will And the
Residue of the profites of the same fferme I will and require the
same Thomas my sonne that John ffitzherbert his brother may haue
the profites therof during his lyfe And after his decesse Richard
ffitzherbert his brother And I will that _my fferme at Caldon_
And the _fferme that I haue of the King_ And the _howe Grange_
Remain to my heires males of Norbury And I will that the _lande
that I purchased at Whittington besides Lichefelde_ goo foreuer
to kepe the obite at North wynfelde for my brother doctour soule
according to his will and to be made sure--therfor as moche as
may reasonably be devised therfor to stande with the lawe yf I do
not assigne other landes therfor hereafter....
And I will that my Cosyn Richard Coton haue _one good amblyng
Colt_ or _oon good horsse_ of myn to Ryde on by the discrecion
of my wife and my son Thomas to be deliuered And to my Cosyn
Alice his wyfe oon of my best habites with the Cloke and Hood and
the Lynyng and the furr of the same. Written the day and yere
abouesaid.”
The will was proved at Lichfield, August 26, 1538.
I may add that the will mentions his wife dame Maude, his son
Thomas, his three younger sons John, Richard, and William, and his
daughter Kateryn; also his cousin Richard Coton and his wife Alice.
Thomas Fitzherbert married the daughter of Sir Arthur Eyre.
It hence appears that Sir Anthony had no less than _three farms_,
one at Castleton in the Peak, one at Caldon in Staffordshire,
near Dove Dale, and a farm which he held of the King; besides the
How Grange and some land at Whittington near Lichfield, as also
some purchased lands and tenements in the counties of Stafford,
Northampton, and Warwick, mentioned in a part of the will which I
have not quoted. There was also the estate of Hampstall Ridware
in Staffordshire, to which he attached considerable importance,
directing his heir-looms to be kept there. He also makes mention,
in all, of _six horses_ (including a stallion and two geldings),
_twelve mares_, _three colts_, _one bull_, _four bullocks_, _five
heifers_, _eight oxen_, and _ten cows_, though it is obvious that
these by no means include all his stock, but merely a selection
from it. All this precisely agrees with the statements in the Book
of Husbandry.
I do not think it necessary to pursue the subject further, but
a word must be added as to the chronology. Not having seen the
first edition of the Book of Husbandry printed by Pynson in 1523,
I cannot certainly say whether the statement that the author had
“been a householder for 40 years” occurs there. It occurs, however,
in an undated edition by Peter Treuerys,[13] which is certainly
the _second_ edition, and printed between 1521 and 1531, as
Treuerys is only known to have printed books during that period.
Now this edition professes to have corrections and additions,
the title being--“Here bygynneth a newe tracte or treatis moost
p_ro_fytable for all husba_n_de men / and very [frutefu]ll for
all other persones to rede / newly cor[rected] & amended by the
auctour with to dyuerse other thynges added thervnto;” and it
agrees very closely with the copy here printed. The date assigned
for Sir Anthony Fitzherbert’s birth is 1470. If we suppose him to
have begun housekeeping at 21, a period of 40 years will bring
us to 1531, which is not inconsistent with his statement, if such
be the date of the copy above mentioned. If, however, it should
appear that the statement exists even in the first edition printed
in 1523, then the “forty years” would lead us to suppose that, if
the assigned date of his birth be correct, Sir Anthony began to be
a householder, in his own estimation, at the early age of twelve or
thirteen. This is of course a difficulty, but not an insuperable
one, for the phrase “have been a householder” is somewhat vague,
and the phrase “forty years or more” has rather the air of a
rhetorical flourish.
It may here be noticed that Berthelet’s first edition (here
reprinted) has nothing on the title-page but the words “THE BOKE OF
HVSBANDRY,” with the date 1534 below. Later reprints which follow
Berthelet have accordingly no statement as to the book being “newly
corrected and amended by the auctour,” etc.; whilst those which
follow Treuerys naturally copy it. This accounts for the fact that
the later editions are, to the best of my belief, all very much the
same, and that the claim to possess “corrections and amendments”
means practically nothing, except with reference to the _first_
edition only.
Of Sir Anthony Fitzherbert, one of the best accounts seems to
be that given in the Biographia Britannica, 1750, vol. iii. p.
1935, where Camden’s statement as to his being “Chief Justice” is
refuted. Briefly recapitulated, this account tells us that he was
born in 1470, and was the younger son of Ralph Fitzherbert, Esq.,
of Norbury in Derbyshire; that he went to Oxford, and thence to
the Inns of Court; was made a serjeant-at-law, Nov. 18, 1511; was
knighted in 1516; was made one of his majesty’s serjeants-at-law,
and finally one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas in
1523. He died May 27, 1538, and was buried at Norbury. “Two things
are mentioned in reference to his conduct; first, that, without
fear of his power, he openly opposed Cardinal Wolsey in the
heighth of his favour; the other, that, when he came to lie upon
his death-bed, foreseeing the changes that were like to happen
in the Church as well as State, he pressed his children in very
strong terms to promise him solemnly, neither to accept grants,
nor to make purchases of abbey-lands; which it is said they did,
and adhered constantly to that promise, though much to their
own loss.” The authorities referred to are Pits, De Illustribus
Angliæ Scriptoribus, p. 707; Wood, Athenæ Oxonienses, i. col.
50; Fuller, Worthies, Derbyshire, p. 233; Tanner, Bibliotheca
Britannico-Hibernica, p. 283; Chronica Juridicialia, pp. 153, 155.,
etc.
The number of editions of the Book of Husbandry is so large, and
many of these are nevertheless so scarce, that I do not suppose
the list here subjoined is exhaustive; nor have I much information
about some of them. I merely mention what I have found, with some
authorities.
1. A newe tracte or treatyse moost profytable for all Husbandemen,
and very frutefull for all other persons to rede. London: by
Rycharde Pynson. 4to. (1523). See Typographical Antiquities, by
Ames and Herbert, ed. Dibdin, ii. 503. This is the _first_ edition,
and very rare. It was described by Dibdin from Heber’s copy,
supposed to be unique. See Heber’s Catalogue, part ix. p. 61. The
note in Hazlitt that a copy of this edition is in the Bodleian
Library is a mistake, as I have ascertained. It is not dated, but
the Book on Surveying, printed just afterwards, is dated 1523; and
there is no doubt as to the date. It is remarkable for an engraving
upon the title-page, representing two oxen drawing a plough, with
drivers.
2. “Here begynneth a newe tracte,” etc. (See p. xx.) London,
Southwark; by P. Treuerys, 4to. (No date; but between 1521 and
1531). In the Camb. Univ. Library. This is the only other edition
which (as far as I know) has the picture of ploughing upon the
title-page.[14]
3. By Thomas Berthelet, in 1532 (Lowndes). It is “12mo in size,
but in eights by signatures,” and therefore 8vo. (A. Wallis; Derby
Mercury, Nov. 1869).
4. By Thomas Berthelet; 8vo.; the edition here reprinted from
the copy in the Cambridge University Library. There are also two
copies of it in the Bodleian Library at Oxford. The title-page has
merely the words: “THE | BOKE OF | HVS- | BANDRY;” printed within
a border bearing the date 1534. The reverse of the title-page
is blank. On the second leaf, marked A ij, begins “The aucthors
prologue.” The rest of sheet A (which contains in all only _six_
leaves) is occupied with the Prologue and “the Table;” and is
not foliated. Then follow sheets B to M, all of _eight_ leaves,
and sheet N, of _two_ leaves only. Sheets B to H have the folios
numbered from 1 to 56; sheets I, K, L have the folios numbered from
51 to 75; and sheets M and N, from 81 to 90. Thus the six numbers
51-56 occur twice over, and the five numbers 76-80 do not occur
at all. It is not quite certain that the apparent date is also
the real one; for at the end of Berthelet’s print of Xenophon’s
treatise of Housholde, which has 1534 within the same border upon
the title-page, there is a colophon giving the date as 1537. This
border was evidently in use for at least three years. See Dibdin,
iii. 287.
5. By Berthelet; 1546. This edition also contains the Treatise on
Surveying. (Lowndes; compare Dibdin, iii. 348.)
6. By Berthelet; 1548. (Lowndes; Dibdin, iii. 334, where it is
described as 12mo.) A copy of this is noticed in the Catalogue of
the Huth Library.
7. By Thomas Marshe; (1560). This edition is said to be “newly
corrected and amended by the author, Fitzherbarde;” but is, of
course, a mere reprint. See remarks upon this above. (Lowndes;
Dibdin, iv. 534.) In Arber’s Transcript of the Stationers’
Registers, i. 128, we find--“Recevyd of _Thomas Marshe_ for his
lycense for pryntinge of a boke Called the boke of husbondry,
graunted the xx of June [1560] ... iiij. _d._” Hence the date,
which is not given, may be inferred.
8. By John Awdeley; 16mo. 1562; “wyth diuers addicions put
ther-vnto.” (Dibdin, iv. 566.)
9. By John Awdeley; 8vo. 1576; “with diuers additions put
therunto.” (Dibdin, iv. 568.)
10. Fitzharbert’s | BOOKE OF | Husbandrie. | DEVIDED Into foure
seuerall Bookes, very ne | cessary and profitable for all sorts |
of people. _And now newlie corrected, amended, and reduced into a
more pleasing forme of English then before. Ecclesiast. 10. ver.
28._ Better is he that laboureth, and hath plentiousnesse of all
thinges, then hee that is gorgious | and wanteth bread. AT LONDON,
| Printed by J. R. for Edward White, and are | to be sold at his
shoppe, at the little North doore of Paules Church, at the signe
of the Gunne. | _Anno Dom._ 1598. Dedicated “To the Worshipfull
Maister _Henrie Iackman Esquire_” ... by “Your Worships in
affection I. R.” Of this book I shall say more below. I have used
the copy in the Douce Collection in the Bodleian Library.[15]
11. etc. There are numerous other editions. Hazlitt mentions
one by R. Kele (no date), “newlye corrected and amended by the
auctor Fitzherbarde, with dyuers additions put therunto.” Lowndes
says: “London, by Richard Kele, 16mo. There are two editions, one
containing H, the other I, in eights.” Dibdin (iii. 533) mentions
one by John Wayland, 8vo. (no date), Lowndes mentions an edition
printed at London “in the Hovs of Tho. Berthelet,” 16mo.; eighty
leaves; also--another edition, slightly differing in orthography,
and having at the end “Cum privilegio;” also another “in the House
of Thomas Berthelet,” 16mo. A, 6 leaves, B--M, in eights, N, 2
leaves, with the date of 1534 on the title-page; but this can be
nothing else than the very book here reprinted, and it is not clear
why he mentions it again. Lowndes also notices undated editions by
John Walley, Robert Toye, Jugge, and Myddylton.
It hence appears that the book was frequently reprinted between
1523 and 1598, but the last of these editions was such as to
destroy its popularity, and I am not aware that it was ever again
reprinted except in 1767, when the Books on Husbandry and Surveying
were reprinted together[16] in a form strongly resembling the
edition of 1534.[17] The title of this book is--“Certain Ancient
Tracts concerning the management of Landed Property reprinted.
London, printed for C. Bathurst and J. Newbery; 1767.” This is a
fairly good reprint, with the old spelling carefully preserved; but
has neither note nor comment of any kind. A copy of it kindly lent
me by Mr. Furnivall has proved very useful.
The editions of the Book on Surveying are almost as numerous as
those of the Book on Husbandry, though this was hardly to be
expected, considering its more learned and technical character.
It is not necessary to speak here particularly of Sir Anthony
Fitzherbert’s acknowledged works. The most important are the
Grand Abridgment of the Common Law (1514, folio), Office of
Justices of the Peace (1538), Diversity of Courts (1539), and the
New Natura Brevium, of which the ninth edition, with a commentary
by Lord Hale, appeared in 1794. The first edition of the Grand
Abridgment was printed by Pynson, who was also the printer of the
first edition of the Book of Husbandry. The New Natura Brevium was
printed in 1534 by Berthelet, who reprinted the Book of Husbandry
in the same year. In a bookseller’s catalogue, March, 1880, I
chanced to see the following. “Early English Printing; Black
Letter; Law Books in Latin and Norman-French (1543-51). Natura
Brevium; newely and most trewely corrected with diverse additio_n_s
of statutes bokes cases plees in abatements, etc.; London,
Wyllyam Powel, 1551.--Articuli ad Narrationes novas; London, W.
Powel, 1547.--Diuersite de courtz et lour jurisdiccions, et alia
necessaria et utilia, London, W. Myddylton, 1543. The three works
in 1 vol., sm. 8vo., old calf neat, quite perfect and very rare,
21_s._”
The present volume contains a careful reprint of Berthelet’s
edition of 1534, which is a fairly good one. I have collated it
throughout with the curious edition of 1598, which abounds with
“corrections,” some of them no improvements, and with additional
articles. It is a very curious book, and I have given all the
more interesting variations in the notes, with a description of
the additions. The author, who only gives his initials “I. R.”
(by which initials I have been often obliged to quote him[18])
has the effrontery to tell us that he has reduced Fitzherbert’s
work “into a more pleasing forme of English then before;” and says
that he has “labored to purge the same fro_m_ the barbarisme of
the former times.” Again he addresses the reader, saying--“Gentle
Reader, being vrged by the consideration of the necessitie of this
worke, and finding it almost cast into perpetuall obliuion, I haue
purged it from the first forme of missounding termes to our daintie
eares.” This means, of course, that he has altered terms which he
did not understand, and occasionally turns sense into nonsense; yet
he seems to have taken considerable pains with his author, and his
additions are frequently to the point. Whether his discourses upon
the keeping of poultry (p. 145, note to sect. 144) were really due
to his “owne experience in byrds and foules,” or whether he copied
much of it from some of his predecessors, I have not been curious
to discover. His references to Virgil, to the fable of Cynthia
and Endymion, the Cinyphian goats, and the rest, are in the worst
possible taste, and he was evidently far too staunch a Protestant
to be able to accept all Fitzherbert’s religious views, though
modestly and unobtrusively introduced. After carefully reading his
production, I infinitely prefer Fitzherbert’s “barbarisme” to I.
R.’s pedantic mannerism, and I find the patronising tone of his
occasionally stupid amendments to be almost insufferable; but he
may be forgiven for his zeal. The art of sinking in poetry has
rarely been so well exemplified as in the verses which are printed
at pp. 145 and 148.
The reader can best understand what I. R. conceives to be elegance
of style by comparing the following extract with section 1 at p. 9.
“_Chapter 2._ ¶ _By what a Husbandman cheefely liueth._
The most generall and _commonest experienst liuing_ that the
_toyle-imbracing_ Husbandman liueth by, is either by plowing and
sowing of his Corne, or by rearing and breeding of Cattell, and
not the one without the other, _because they be adjuncts, and may
not be disceuered_. Then sithens that the Plough is the first good
instrument, by which the Husband-men _rips from the Earths wombe
a well-pleasing liuing, I thinke_ it is most conuenient first to
speake of the _forme, fashion, and_ making therof.”
The words italicised (except in the title) are all his own.
The Glossarial Index, a very full one, was almost entirely
prepared, in the first instance, by my eldest daughter, though I
have since added a few explanations in some cases, and have revised
the whole, at the same time verifying the references. As to the
meaning of a few terms, I am still uncertain.
Fitzherbert’s general style is plain, simple, and direct, and he
evidently has the welfare of his reader at heart, to whom he offers
kindly advice in a manner least calculated to give offence. He is
in general grave and practical, but there are a few touches of
quiet humour in his remarks upon horse-dealing. “Howe be it I saye
to my customers, and those that bye any horses of me, and [_if_]
euer they wil trust any hors-master or corser whyle they lyue,
truste me.” I would have trusted him implicitly.
The difficulties of his language arise almost entirely from the
presence of numerous technical terms; and it is, indeed, this fact
that renders his book one of considerable philological interest,
and adapts it for publication by the English Dialect Society. By
way of a small contribution to English etymology, I beg leave to
take a single instance, and to consider what he has to tell us
about the word _peruse_.
The whole difficulty as to the etymology of this word arises
from the change of sense; it is now used in such a way that
the derivation from _per-_ and _use_ is not obvious; nor does
it commend itself to such as are unacquainted with historical
method. For this reason, some etymologists, including Webster,
have imagined that it arose from _peruise_ = _pervise_ to see
thoroughly, the _i_ being dropped, and the _u_ (really _v_) being
mistaken for the vowel. This is one of those wholly unscrupulous
fictions to which but too many incline, as if the cause of truth
could ever be helped forward by means of deliberate invention. But
there is no such word as _peruise_, nor any French _perviser_.
Fitzherbert is one of the earliest authorities for _peruse_, though
it also occurs in Skelton, Philip Sparrow, l. 814. Investigation
will show that, at the commencement of the sixteenth century, there
was a fashion of using words compounded with _per-_, a number of
which I have given in my Dictionary, s. v. _peruse_. The old sense
was ‘to use up, to go through thoroughly, to attend to one by one;’
and the word was sometimes spelt with a _v_, because _vse_ (_use_)
was generally so spelt. Examples are:--
“Let hym [i.e. the husbandman who wants to reckon the tithe of his
corn] goo to the ende of his lande, and begynne and tell [i.e.
count] .ix. sheues, and let hym caste out the .x. shefe in the
name of god, and so to _pervse_ from lande to lande, tyll he have
trewely tythed all his corne;” sect. 30, l. 4.
“And thus [let the shepherd] _peruse_ them all tyll he haue doone;”
sect. 40, l. 23.
“Than [let the surveyor who is surveying property go] to the second
howse on the same east side in lyke maner, and so to _peruse_
from house to house tyll he come to St. Magnus churche;” Book of
Surveying (1767), chap. xix.
“Begyn to plowe a forowe in the middes of the side of the land, and
cast it downe as yf thou shulde falowe it, and so _peruse_ both
sydes tyl the rygge be cast down,” etc.; Book of Surveying (1767);
chap. xxiv.
The special application to a book may be seen in Baret’s Alvearie:
“To ouerlooke and _peruse_ a booke againe, _Retractare librum_.”
And accordingly it need not surprise us that Levins, in 1570,
translated _to peruse_ by _peruti_.
There is just one more suggestion which I venture to make, though
I fear, like most conjectures which are made with respect to
Shakespeare, it is probably valueless. When King Lear appears, in
Act iv. sc. 4--
“Crowned with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds,
With _hor-docks_, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,
Darnel, and _all the idle weeds that grow
In our sustaining corn_”--
I cannot help being reminded of Fitzherbert’s list of weeds in
sect. 20 (p. 29), in which he includes _haudoddes_, _i.e._ corn
blue-bottles, as is obvious from his description; see also Britten
and Holland’s English Plant-names. It is certainly remarkable that
the _haudod_ is precisely one of “the idle weeds that grow in
corn,” and that its bright colour would be particularly attractive
to the gatherer of a wild garland. We must not, however, overlook
the form _hardhake_, which Mr. Wright has found in a MS. herbal as
a name for the knapweed; see his note upon the passage. The two
results do not, however, greatly differ, and it is conceivable
that the same name could be applied at different times to _both_
these flowers, the latter being _Centaurea nigra_, and the former
_Centaurea Cyanus_. We also find the term _hardewes_, occurring as
a name for the wild succory; see _Hawdod_ in the Glossarial Index,
p. 156. In any case, the proposal of Dr. Prior to explain _hordock_
by the burdock (_Arctium lappa_), merely because he thinks the
burs were sometimes entangled with flax, and so formed lumps in it
called _hards_, is a wild guess that should be rejected. _Hards_
are simply the coarse parts of flax, without any reference to
burdocks whatever.
The wood-cut on the title-page is copied from the edition of 1598.
The longer handle of the plough is on the left. See the description
on p. 128.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] “And [I give] to euery of my seruentes that be used to Ryde
with me,” etc.; Sir A. Fitzherbert’s Will, quoted below at p. xviii.
[2] “Of late by experience I contriued, compyled, and made a
Treatyse, ... and callyd it the booke of husbandrye;” Prol. to Book
of Surveying.
[3] _I.e._ the Books on Husbandry and Surveying.
[4] Read _thus_.
[5] The date is 1539; the words here quoted appear also in
Berthelet’s edition of 1546.
[6] I am quoting from an article by Mr. A. Wallis entitled “Relics
of Literature,” which appeared in the _Derby Mercury_, Nov.
1869. It contains some useful information about the editions of
Fitzherbert’s works. It should be observed that 1538 was the very
year of Sir Anthony Fitzherbert’s death, which took place on May 27.
[7] In an edition printed by T. Petit in 1541, a copy of which is
in the Cambridge University Library, the title is--“The Newe Booke
of Justyces of Peas, made by Anthony Fitzherbard Judge, lately
tra_n_slated out of Frenche into Englyshe, The yere of our Lord God
MDXLI.”
[8] Canon Simmons kindly tells me--“I find from the Ordnance Map
that Grimbald Bridge is the one over the Nidd below the town,
_i.e._ a mile or a mile and a quarter from the town. There are two
crossing to the town. The upper one is on the Harrogate Road, a
second ‘Low Bridge,’ and then the third, ‘Grimbald bridge’.”
[9] It is the family tradition (which should go for something),
that the author of the Book of Husbandry was Sir Anthony
Fitzherbert, and no other.
[10] The date is, therefore, October 12, 1537.--W.W.S.
[11] See p. 81.--W.W.S.
[12] See p. 93.--W.W.S.
[13] This early edition, clearly the _second_, and using Pynson’s
woodcut, was kindly pointed out to me by Mr. Bradshaw. It is not
noticed in the usual books upon early printing, but a copy of
it exists in the Cambridge University Library. The woodcut on
the title-page is (as I have just said) the same as that on the
title-page of the first edition.
[14] Probably printed in 1531, as it professes to be “amended, with
dyuerse other thynges added thervnto;” for observe, that after this
date, editions follow in quick succession.
[15] Mr. Wallis (see p. xiii, note 2) mentions also an undated
edition, printed by _James Roberts_ for E. White.
[16] The volume also contains a translation of Xenophon’s Treatise
of Household (Λόγος οἰκονομικός), written by “Gentian Heruet.”
[17] The colophon is the same. The Book on Surveying is dated 1539.
The copy in the Cambridge Univ. Library contains the Husbandry
(1534); Surveying (1539); and Xenophon (1537); all bound together.
[18] Possibly James Roberts; see p. xxiv, note 1.
ERRATA.
In the first side-note on p. 18, _for_ Beating _read_ Beeting.
See _Beate_ in the Glossary, p. 150.
P. 120, sect. 169, l. 36. For _a ut_ read _aut_.
P. 136. Headline. For _Notes_ (=34.= 1-=43=) read _Notes_ (=34.=
1-43).
P. 140, last line. For _Hellebor_ read _Hellybor_.
THE BOKE OF HVSBANDRY.
==> The aucthors prologue.
[Sidenote: Man is born to labour.]
_Sit ista questio._ This is the questyon, whervnto is
euerye manne ordeyned? And as Job saythe, _Homo
nascitur ad laborem, sicut auis ad volandum_: That is
to saye, a man is ordeyned and borne to do labour, as 4
a bird is ordeyned to flye. And the Apostle saythe,
_Qui non laborat, non manducet: Debet enim in obsequio dei
laborare, qui de bonis eius vult manducare_: That is to saye,
[Sidenote: He that laboureth not should not eat.]
he that laboureth not, shulde not eate, and he ought to 8
labour and doo goddes warke, that wyll eate of his goodes
or gyftes. The whiche is an harde texte after the lyterall
sence. For by the letter, the kynge, the quene, nor all
other lordes spirituall and temporal shuld not eate, without 12
they shuld labour, the whiche were vncomely, and
not conuenyente for suche estates to labour. But who
[Sidenote: The Book of the Chess]
that redeth in the boke of the moralytes of the chesse,
shal therby perceyue, that euerye man, from the hyest 16
[Sidenote: is divided into six degrees,]
degree to the lowest, is set and ordeyned to haue labour
and occupation; and that boke is deuyded in vi. degrees,
that is to saye, the kynge, the quene, the byshops, the
[Sidenote: viz. king, queen, bishops, knights, judges,
and yeomen,]
knightes, the iudges, and the yomenne. In the which 20
boke is shewed theyr degrees, theyr auctorytyes, theyr
warkes, and theyr occupations, and what they ought to
do. And they so doynge, and executynge theyr auctorytyes,
warkes, and occupatyons, haue a wonders great 24
[Sidenote: concerning which it is too long to write.]
study and labour, of the whiche auctorytyes, occupations,
and warkes, were at this tyme to longe to wryte.
Wherfore I remytte that boke as myn auctour therof:
The whiche boke were necessary to be knowen of euery 28
degree, that they myghte doo and ordre them selfe accordynge
[Sidenote: As the yeomen defend the rest, I shall speak
of husbandry.]
to the same. And in so moche the yomen in
the sayde moralytyes and game of the chesse be set
before to labour, defende, and maynteyne all the other 32
hyer estates, the whiche yomen represent the common
people, as husbandes and labourers, therfore I purpose
to speake fyrste of husbandrye.
Finis.
¶ The table.
PAGE
=1.= First wherby husbande-men do lyue. fo. i.[19] 9
=2.= Of dyuers maner of plowes. fol. eod. 9
=3.= To knowe the names of all the partes of the ploughe. fol. ii. 10
=4.= The temprynge of plowes. fo. iii. 12
=5.= ¶ The necessary thynges that belonge to a plowe, carte, or
wayne. fol. iiii. 14
=6.= ¶ Whether is better, a plowe of oxen or a plowe of horses.
fol. v. 15
=7.= ¶ The dylygence and the attendaunce that a husbande shulde
gyue to his warke, in maner of an other prologue, and a
specyall grounde of all this treatyse. fol. vi. 16
=8.= ¶ Howe a manne shulde plowe all maner of landes all tymes of
the yere. fo. vii. 17
=9.= To plowe for pees and beanes. fol. viii. 18
=10.= Howe to sowe bothe pees and beanes. fol. viii. 18
=11.= Sede of Discrecyon. fol. ix. 20
=12.= Howe all maner of corne shulde be sowen. folio eodem 21
=13.= To sowe barley. fol. x. 22
=14.= To sowe otes. fol. xi. 23
=15.= To harowe all maner of cornes. fol. xii. 24
=16.= To falowe. fol. xiii. 25
=17.= To carry out donge or mucke, and to sprede it. fol. xiiii. 27
=18.= To set out the shepe-folde. fol. xv. 28
=19.= To cary wode and other necessaries. fol. xvi. 29
=20.= To knowe dyuers maner of wedes. fol. eod. 29
=21.= To wede corne. fol. xvii. 31
=22.= The fyrste sturrynge: and (=23=) to mowe grasse. foli.
xviii. 32
=24.= How forkes and rakes shuld be made. fo. xix. 33
=25.= To tedde and make hey. fol. eod. 33
=26.= Howe rye shulde be shorne. fol. xx. 35
=27.= Howe to shere whete. fol. xxi. 35
=28.= To mowe or shere barley and otes. fol. eod. 36
=29.= To repe or mowe pees and beanes. fol. xxii. 36
=30.= Howe all maner of corne shoulde be tythed. folio eodem 37
=31.= Howe all maner of corne shoulde be couered. fol. xxiii. 38
=32.= To lode corne and mowe it. fol. eod. 38
=33.= The seconde sturrynge. fo. xxiiii. 39
=34.= To sowe whete and rye. fol. eodem 39
=35.= To thresshe and wynowe corne. fol. xxv. 41
=36.= To seuer beanes, pees, and fetches. fol. eod. 41
=37.= Of shepe, and what tyme of the yere the rammes shulde be
put to the ewes. fol. xxvi. 42
=38.= To make a ewe to loue her lambe. fol. xxvii. 43
=39.= What tyme lambes shulde be wayned. fo. eod. 44
=40.= To drawe shepe and seuer them in dyuerse partes. fol.
xxviii. 44
=41.= To belte shepe. fol. xxix. 45
=42.= To grece shepe. fol. eod. 46
=43.= To medle terre. fol. eodem 46
=44.= To make brome salue. fol. eod. 46
=45.= If a shepe haue mathes. fol. xxx. 47
=46.= Blyndenes of shepe and other dyseases, and remedyes
therfore. fo. eod. 47
=47.= The worme in a shepes fote, and helpe therfore. fol. xxxi. 48
=48.= The bloudde, and remedye if he comme betyme. fol. eodem 48
=49.= The pockes, and remedy therfore. fol. eod. 49
=50.= The wode euyl, and remedy therfore. fol. xxxii. 49
=51.= To washe shepe. fol. eod. 49
=52.= To shere shepe. fol. eod. 50
=53.= To drawe and seuer the bad shepe frome the good. fol. eod. 50
=54.= What thynge rotteth shepe. fol. xxxiii. 50
=55.= To knowe a rotten shepe dyuerse maner ways, wherof some of
them wyll not fayle. fol. xxxiiii. 51
=56.= To by leane cattell. fol. eod. 52
=57.= To bye fatte cattell. fol. xxxv. 53
=58.= Dyuerse sickenesses of cattell, and remedies therfore, and
fyrste of murren. fol. eod. 53
=59.= Long sought, and remedy therfore. fo. xxxvi. 54
=60.= Dewbolue,[20] and the harde remedye therfore. fol. eod. 55
=61.= Ryson vppon, and the remedye therfore. fol. xxxvii. 55
=62.= The turne, and remedy therfore. fol. eod. 56
=63.= The warribred, & remedy therfore. fol. xxxviii. 56
=64.= The foule, and remedy therfore. fol. eod. 57
=65.= The goute without remedy. fol. eod. 57
=66.= To rere calues. fol. eod. 57
=67.= To gelde calues. fol. xxxix. 58
=68.= Horses and mares to drawe. fol. xl. 59
=69.= ¶ The losse of a lambe, a calfe, or a foole. fol. xli. 61
=70.= What cattell shulde go together in oone pasture. fol. xlii. 62
=71.= The properties of horses. fol. xliii. 63
=72.= The two propertyes that a horse hath of a man. fol. eod. 63
=73.= The ii. propertyes of a bauson. fol. eod. 64
=74.= The iiii. properties of a lyon. fol. eod. 64
=75.= The ix. properties of an oxe. fol. xliiii. 64
=76.= The ix. properties of an hare. fol. eod. 64
=77.= The ix. properties of a foxe. fol. eod. 64
=78.= The ix. properties of an asse. fol. eod. 65
=79.= The x. properties of a woman. fol. eod. 65
=80.= The diseases and soraunce of horses. fol. xlv. 65
=81.= The lampas. fol. eod. 65
=82.= The barbes. fo. eod. 66
=83.= Mournynge on the tonge. fol. eod. 66
=84.= Pursye. fo. eod. 66
=85.= Broken wynded. fol. eod. 66
=86.= Glaunders. fo. eod. 66
=87.= Mournynge on the chynne. fol. eod. 66
=88.= Stranguelyon. fol. eod. 67
=89.= The hawe. fol. eod. 67
=90.= Blyndnesse. fol. xlvi. 67
=91.= Uyues. fol. eod. 67
=92.= The cordes. fol. eod. 67
=93.= ¶ The farcyon. fol. eod. 67
=94.= ¶ A malander. fol. eod. 68
=95.= ¶ A salander. fol. eod. 68
=96.= ¶ A serewe. fol. eod. 68
=97.= ¶ A splent. fo. eod. 68
=98.= ¶ A ryngebone. fol. xlvii. 69
=99.= ¶ Wyndgall. fol. eod. 69
=100.= ¶ Morfounde. fol. eod. 69
=101.= ¶ The coltes euyll. fol. eod. 69
=102.= ¶ The bottes. fo. eod. 70
=103.= ¶ The wormes. fol. eod. 70
=104.= ¶ Affrayd. fo. eod. 70
=105.= ¶ Nauylgall. fo. eod. 70
=106.= ¶ A spauen. fol. eod. 70
=107.= ¶ A curbe. fol. eod. 71
=108.= ¶ The strynge-halte. fol. eod. 71
=109.= ¶ Enterfyre. fo. eod. 71
=110.= ¶ Myllettes. fol. eod. 71
=111.= ¶ The paynes. fol. eod. 71
=112.= ¶ Cratches. fol. eod. 72
=113.= ¶ Attaynt. fol. xlix. 72
=114.= ¶ Grauelynge. fol. eod. 72
=115.= ¶ Acloyd. fol. eod. 72
=116.= ¶ The scabbe. fol. eod. 72
=117.= ¶ Lowsy. fol. eod. 72
=118.= ¶ Wartes. fol. eod. 73
=119.= ¶ The sayenge of the frenche man. fo. eod. 73
=120.= ¶ The dyuersitie bytwene a horse mayster, a corser, and a
horse leche. fol. l. 74
=121.= ¶ Of swyne. fo. eod. 74
=122.= ¶ Of bees. fol. li. 75
=123.= ¶ How to kepe beastes & other catel. fol. lii. 76
=124.= ¶ To get settes and set them. fol. liii. 78
=125.= ¶ To make a dyche. fol. liiii. 79
=126.= ¶ To make a hedge. fol. eod. 79
=127.= ¶ To plasshe and pleche a hedge. fol. eod. 80
=128.= ¶ To mende a hye waye. fo. lv. 81
=129.= ¶ To remoue and sette trees. fo. lvi. 82
=130.= ¶ Trees to be sette without rootes and growe. fol. lvii. 83
=131.= ¶ To fell woode for houssholde or to sell. fol. eodem. 83
=132.= ¶ To shrede, lop, or crop trees. fol. lviii. 84
=133.= Howe a man shoulde shrede loppe or croppe trees. fol. eod. 85
=134.= To sell woode or tymbre. fol. lix. 85
=135.= To kepe sprynge woode. fo. lx. 86
=136.= Necessary thynges belongynge to graffynge. fol. eod. 87
=137.= What fruyte shulde be first graffed. fol. lxi. 88
=138.= Howe to graffe. fol. eod. 88
=139.= To graffe bytwene the barke and the tree. fol. lxii. 89
=140.= To nourysshe all maner of stone fruyte and nuttes. fol.
lxiii. 90
=141.= A shorte information for a yonge gentyllman that entendeth
to thryue. fol. eod. 90
=142.= A lesson made in Englysshe verses, that a gentylmans
seruaunte shall forget none of his gere in his inne
behynde hym. fo. lxv. 93
=143.= A prologe for the wyues occupation. fo. eod. 93
=144.= A lesson for the wyfe. fol. eod. 94
=145.= What thynges the wyfe of ryghte is bounde to do. fol. lxvi. 94
=146.= What warkes the wyfe oughte to doo generally. fo. eod. 95
=147.= To kepe measure in spendynge. fo. lxvii. 98
=148.= To eate within thy tedure. fo. lxviii. 99
=149.= A shorte lesson vnto the husbande. fol. lxix. 101
=150.= Howe menne of hye degree do kepe measure. fol. eodem 101
=151.= Prodygalytie in outragyous and costelye araye. fol. lxx. 102
=152.= Of delycyous meates and drynkes. fol. eod. 103
=153.= Of outragious playe and game. fo. lxxi. 104
=154.= A prologue of the thyrde sayinge of the philosopher. fo.
lxxii. 105
=155.= A dyuersytie bytwene predycation and doctryne. fol. eodem 105
=156.= What is rychesse. fo. lxxiii. 106
=157.= What is the propertie of a rych man. fo. lxxiiii. 108
=158.= What ioyes & pleasures are in heuen. fo. lxxv. 109
=159.= What thynge pleaseth god most. fol. lxxvi. 109
=160.= What be goddes commaundementes. fo. eod. 110
=161.= Howe a man shulde loue god and please hym. fol. eodem 110
=162.= Howe a man shoulde loue his neyghbour. fol. lxxvii. 111
=163.= Of prayer that pleaseth god verye moche. folio lxxviii. 112
=164.= What thynge letteth prayer. fol. eod. 112
=165.= Howe a man shulde praye. fo. lxxix. 113
=166.= A mean to put away ydle thoughtes in prayenge. fol. lxxx. 115
=167.= A meane to auoyde temptation. fol. lxxxi. 116
=168.= Almes-dedes pleaseth god moche. fo. lxxxii. 118
=169.= The fyrst maner of almes dede. fo. lxxxiii. 119
=170.= The ii. maner of almes dede. fo. lxxxiiii. 120
=171.= The iii. maner of almes dede. fol. lxxxv. 121
=172.= What is the greattest offence that a man maye doo and
offende god in. fo. lxxxvi. 122
Thus endeth the table.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 1.]]
1. ¶ Here begynneth the boke of husbandry, and fyrste
where-by husbande-men do lyue.
[Sidenote: Husbandmen live by the plough and by cattle.]
The mooste generall lyuynge that husbandes can haue,
is by plowynge and sowyng of theyr cornes, and rerynge
or bredynge of theyr cattel, and not the one withoute
the other. Than is the ploughe the moste necessaryest 4
instrumente that an husbande can occupy. Wherfore
it is conuenyent to be knowen, howe a plough shulde
be made.
2. ¶ Dyuers maners of plowes.
[Sidenote: Different kinds of ploughs.]
There be plowes of dyuers makynges in dyuers
countreys, and in lyke wyse there be plowes of yren
of dyuers facyons. And that is bycause there be many
maner of groundes and soyles. Some whyte cley, some 4
redde cley, some grauell or chylturne, some sande, some
meane erthe, some medled with marle, and in many
places heeth-grounde, and one ploughe wyll not serue
in all places. Wherfore it is necessarye, to haue dyuers 8
[Sidenote: [Fol. 1_b_.]]
[Sidenote: Somersetshire.]
maners of plowes. In Sommersetshyre, about Zelcester,
the sharbeame, that in many places is called the ploughe-hedde,
is foure or fyue foote longe, and it is brode and
thynne. And that is bycause the lande is verye toughe, 12
and wolde soke the ploughe into the erthe, yf the sharbeame
[Sidenote: Kent.]
were not long, brode, and thynne. In Kente
they haue other maner of plowes, somme goo with
wheles, as they doo in many other places, and some wyll 16
tourne the sheldbredth at euery landes ende, and plowe
[Sidenote: Buckinghamshire.]
all one waye. In Buckynghamshyre, are plowes made
of an nother maner, and also other maner of ploughe-yrons,
the whyche me semeth generally good, and lykely 20
to serue in many places, and specially if the ploughbeame
and sharbeame be foure ynches longer, betwene the
shethe and the ploughe-tayle, that the sheldbrede myght
come more a-slope: for those plowes gyue out to sodeinly, 24
and therfore they be the worse to drawe, and for noo
[Sidenote: Leicestershire, &c.]
cause elles. In Leycestershyre, Lankesshyre, Yorkeshyre,
Lyncoln, Norfolke, Cambrydge-shyre, and manye other
countreyes, the plowes be of dyuers makinges, the whyche 28
were to longe processe to declare howe, &c. But how
so euer they be made, yf they be well tempered, and
goo well, they maye be the better suffred.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 2.]]
3. ¶ To knowe the names of all the partes of the plowe.
[Sidenote: Parts of the plough.]
Men that be no husbandes maye fortune to rede this
boke, that knowe not whiche is the ploughe-beame, the
sharebeame, the ploughe-shethe, the ploughe-tayle, the
stilte, the rest, the sheldbrede, the fenbrede, the roughe 4
staues, the ploughe-fote, the ploughe-eare or coke, the
share, the culture, and ploughe-mal. Perauenture I gyue
them these names here, as is vsed in my countre, and yet
in other countreyes they haue other names: wherfore ye 8
[Sidenote: Plough-beam.]
shall knowe, that the ploughe-beame is the longe tree
[Sidenote: Share-beam.]
aboue, the whiche is a lytel bente. The sharbeame is the
[Sidenote: Plough-sheath.]
tre vnderneth, where-vpon the share is set; the ploughe-sheth
1is a thyn pece of drye woode, made of oke, that is 12
set fast in a morteys in the plough-beame, and also in to
the share-beame, the whiche is the keye and the chiefe
[Sidenote: Plough-tail.]
bande of all the plough. The plough-tayle is that the
husbande holdeth in his hande, and the hynder ende of 16
the ploughebeame is put in a longe slyt, made in the same
tayle, and not set faste, but it maye ryse vp and go
dow[n]e, and is pynned behynde, and the same ploughe-tayle
is set faste in a morteys, in the hynder ende of the 20
[Sidenote: [Fol. 2_b_.]]
[Sidenote: Plough-stilt.]
sharebeame. The plough-stylte is on the ryghte syde of
[Sidenote: Rest.]
the ploughe, whervpon the rest is set; the rest is a lyttell
pece of woode, pynned fast vpon the nether ende of the
stylt, and to the sharebeame in the ferther ende. The 24
[Sidenote: Shield-board.]
sheldbrede is a brode pece of wodde, fast pinned to the
ryghte side of the shethe in the ferther ende, and to the
[Sidenote: Fen-board.]
vtter syde of the stylte in the hynder ende. The fenbrede
is a thyn borde, pynned or nayled moste commonly 28
to the lyft syde of the shethe in the ferther ende, and to
the ploughe-tayle in the hynder ende. And the sayde
sheldbrede wolde come ouer the sayde shethe and fenbrede
an inche, and to come past the myddes of the 32
share, made with a sharpe edge, to receyue and turne the
[Sidenote: Rough staves.]
erthe whan the culture hath cut it. There be two roughe
staues in euery ploughe in the hynder ende, set a-slope
betwene the ploughe-tayle and the stilt, to holde out 36
and kepe the plough abrode in the hynder ende, and the
[Sidenote: Plough-foot.]
one lenger than the other. The plough-fote is a lyttell
pece of wodde, with a croked ende set before in a morteys
in the ploughe-beame, sette fast with wedges, to 40
dryue vppe and downe, and it is a staye to order of
[Sidenote: Plough-ear.]
what depenes the ploughe shall go. The ploughe-eare
is made of thre peces of yren, nayled faste vnto the ryght
[Sidenote: [Fol. 3.]]
syde of the plough-beame. And poore men haue a 44
croked pece of wode pynned faste to the ploughbeame.
[Sidenote: Share.]
The share is a pece of yren, sharpe before and brode
behynde, a fote longe, made with a socket to be set on
[Sidenote: Coulter.]
the ferther ende of the share-beame. The culture is a 48
bende pece of yren sette in a morteys in the myddes of
the plough-beame, fastened with wedges on euery syde,
and the backe therof is halfe an inche thycke and more,
and three inches brode, and made kene before to cutte 52
the erthe clene, and it must be wel steeled, and that
shall cause the easyer draughte, and the yrens to laste
[Sidenote: Plough-mall.]
moche lenger. The plough-mal[21] is a pece of harde
woode, with a pynne put throughe, set in the plough-beame, 56
in an augurs bore.
4. ¶ The temprynge of plowes.
[Sidenote: Tempering of ploughs.]
Nowe the plowes be made of dyuers maners; it is necessarye
for an housbande, to knowe howe these plowes
shulde be tempered, to plowe and turne clene, and to
[Sidenote: Rest-baulk.]
make no reste-balkes. A reste-balke is where the plough 4
byteth at the poynte of the culture and share, and cutteth
not the ground cleane to the forowe, that was plowed laste
[Sidenote: [Fol. 3_b_.]]
before, but leaueth a lyttell rydge standynge betwene,
the whiche dothe brede thistyls, and other wedes. All 8
these maner of plowes shulde haue all lyke one maner
of temperyng in the yrens. Howe-be-it a man maye
temper for one thynge in two or thre places, as for
depnes. The fote is one: the setting of the culture of 12
a depnes, is a-nother: and the thyrde is at the ploughe-tayle,
[Sidenote: Slot wedges.]
where be two wedges, that be called slote-wedges:
the one is in the slote above the beame, the other in
the saide slote, vnder the plough-beame; and other whyle 16
he wyll set bothe aboue, or bothe vndernethe, but alway
let hym take good hede, and kepe one generall rule, that
the hynder ende of the sharebeme alway touche the erthe,
that it may kyll a worde,[22] or elles it goth not truly. The 20
[Sidenote: Narrow and broad tempering.]
temperynge to go brode and narowe is in the settyng of
the culture: and with the dryuinge of his syde-wedges,
forewedge, and helewedge, whiche wolde be made of
[Sidenote: Setting on of the share.]
drye woode, and also the settynge on of his share helpeth 24
well, and is a connynge poynte of husbandry, and
mendeth and payreth moch plowyng: but it is so narowe
a point to know, that it is harde to make a man to vnderstande
it by wrytynge, without he were at the operation 28
[Sidenote: [Fol. 4.]]
therof, to teache the practyue: for it muste leane moche
in-to the forowe, and the poynt may not stande to moch
vp nor downe, nor to moche in-to the lande, nor in-to
[Sidenote: Setting of the coulter.]
the forowe. Howe-be-it, the settynge of the culture 32
helpeth moche. Somme plowes haue a bende of yron
tryanglewise, sette there as the plough-eare shulde be,
that hath thre nyckes on the farther syde. And yf he
[Sidenote: Seed-furrow.]
wyll haue his plough to go a narowe forowe, as a sede-forowe 36
shulde be, than he setteth his fote-teame in the
[Sidenote: Mean furrow.]
nycke nexte to the ploughe-beame; and yf he wyll go
a meane bredth, he setteth it in the myddell nycke,
[Sidenote: Broad furrow.]
that is beste for sturrynge; and if he wolde go a brode 40
forowe, he setteth it in the vttermoste nycke, that is beste
for falowynge: The whyche is a good waye to kepe the
bredthe, and soone tempered, but it serueth not the
depenesse. And some men haue in stede of the plough-fote, 44
a piece of yron set vpryghte in the farther ende
[Sidenote: ‘A coke.’]
of the ploughe-beame, and they calle it a coke, made
with ii. or thre nyckes, and that serueth for depenes.
[Sidenote: Wheel-ploughs.]
The plowes that goo with wheles, haue a streyghte 48
beame, and maye be tempred in the yron, as the other be,
for the bredth; but their most speciall temper is at the
bolster, where-as the plough-beame lyeth, and that
serueth both for depnes and for bredth. And they be 52
[Sidenote: [Fol. 4_b_.]]
good on euen grounde that lyeth lyghte, but me semeth
they be farre more costly than the other plowes. And
thoughe these plowes be well tempred for one maner
grounde, that tempre wyll not serue in an other maner 56
of grounde; but it muste reste in the dyscretion of the
housbande, to knowe whanne it gothe well.
5. ¶ The necessary thynges that belonge to a ploughe,
carte, and wayne.
[Sidenote: Bows, yokes, &c.]
Bvt or he begyn to plowe, he muste haue his ploughe
and his ploughe-yren, his oxen or horses, and the geare
that belongeth to them; that is to say, bowes, yokes,
landes, stylkynges, wrethynge-temes. And or he shall 4
lode his corne, he muste haue a wayne, a copyoke, a
payre of sleues, a wayne-rope, and a pykforke. This
[Sidenote: The wain.]
wayne is made of dyuers peces, that wyll haue a greate
reparation, that is to saye, the wheles, and those be made 8
of nathes, spokes, fellyes, and dowles, and they muste
be well fettred with wood or yren. And if they be yren
bounden, they are moche the better, and thoughe they
[Sidenote: [Fol. 5.]]
be the derer at the fyrst, yet at lengthe they be better 12
[Sidenote: Iron-bound wheels.]
cheape; for a payre of wheles yren bounde wyl weare vii.
or viii. payre of other wheles, and they go rounde and
lyght after oxen or horses to draw. Howbeit on marreis
ground and soft ground the other wheles be better, 16
bycause they be broder on the soule, and will not go so
[Sidenote: Axle-tree, linch-pins, and axle-pins.]
depe. They must haue an axiltre, clout with .viii.
waincloutes of yren, ii. lyn-pinnes of yren in the axiltre-endes,
ii. axil-pynnes of yren or els of tough harde 20
wodde. The bodye of the wayne of oke, the staues, the
nether rathes, the ouer rathes, the crosse somer, the keys
and pikstaues. And if he go with a hors-ploughe, than
muste he haue his horses or mares, or both his hombers or 24
collers, holmes whyted, tresses, swyngletrees, and togwith.
[Sidenote: The cart.]
Alsoo a carte made of asshe, bycause it is lyghte, and
lyke stuffe to it as is to a wayne, and also a cart-sadel,
bakbandes, and belybandes, and a carte-ladder behinde, 28
whan he shall carye eyther corne or kyddes, or suche
[Sidenote: Cart-ladders.]
other. And in many countreys theyr waynes haue carte-ladders
bothe behynde and before. Also an husbande
[Sidenote: Axe, hatchet, &c.]
muste haue an axe, a hachet, a hedgyngebyll, a pyn-awgur, 32
a rest-awgur, a flayle, a spade, and a shouell. And howe-be-it
that I gyue theym these names, as is most comonly
[Sidenote: [Fol. 5_b_.]]
vsed in my contrey, I knowe they haue other names in
other contreyes. But hereby a manne maye perceyue 36
[Sidenote: Expense of husbandry.]
many thynges that belonge to husbandry, to theyr greate
costes and charges, for the mayntenance and vpholdyng
of the same. And many moo thynges are belongynge to
husbandes than these, as ye shall well perceyue, er I 40
haue made an ende of this treatyse. And if a yonge
husbande shulde bye all these thynges, it wolde be
[Sidenote: It is better to make than buy.]
costely for hym: wherfore it is necessarye for hym to
lerne to make his yokes, oxe-bowes, stooles, and all 44
maner of plough-geare.
6. ¶ Whether is better, a plough of horses or a plough of
oxen.
[Sidenote: Ox-plough and horse-plough.]
It is to be knowen, whether is better, a plough of
horses, or a plough of oxen, and therin me semeth
oughte to be made a distinction. For in some places an
oxe-ploughe is better than a horse-plough, and in somme 4
places a horse-ploughe is better: that is to say, in euery
place where-as the husband hath seueral pastures to put
his oxen in whan they come fro theyr warke, there the oxe-ploughe
[Sidenote: The ox.]
is better. For an oxe maye nat endure his 8
[Sidenote: [Fol. 6.]]
warke, to labour all daye, and than to be put to the
commons, or before the herdman, and to be set in a folde
all nyghte without meate, and go to his labour in
the mornynge. But and he be put in a good pasture all 12
nyghte, he wyll labour moche of all the daye dayely.
And oxen wyl plowe in tough cley, and vpon hylly
grounde, where-as horses wyll stande st[i]ll. And where-as
[Sidenote: The horse.]
is noo seuerall pastures, there the horse-plowe is better, 16
for the horses may be teddered or tyed vpon leys, balkes,
or hades, where as oxen maye not be kept: and it is not
vsed to tedder them, but in fewe places.
And horses wyl goo faster than oxen on euen grounde 20
or lyght grounde, & be quicker for cariage: but they be
ferre more costly to kepe in winter, for they must haue both
hey and corne to eate, and strawe for lytter; they must
be well shodde on all foure fete, and the gere that they 24
shal drawe with is more costely than for the oxen, and
[Sidenote: Oxen are cheap,]
shorter whyle it wyll last. And oxen wyll eate but straw,
and a lyttell hey, the whiche is not halfe the coste that
horsis must haue, and they haue no shoes, as horses haue. 28
And if any sorance come to the horse, or [he] waxe olde,
broysed, or blynde, than he is lyttell worthe. And if any
sorance come to an oxe, [and he] waxe olde, broysed, or
[Sidenote: [Fol. 6_b_.]]
blinde, for ii._s._ he maye be fedde, and thanne he is mannes 32
[Sidenote: and they can be eaten.]
meate, and as good or better than euer he was. And the
horse, whan he dyethe, is but caryen. And therfore me
semeth, all thynges consydered, the ploughe of oxen is
moche more profytable than the ploughe of horses. 36
7. ¶ The dylygence and attendaunce that a husbande shulde
gyue to his warke, in maner of an other prologue, and
the speciall grounde of all this treatyse.
[Sidenote: Take pains, keep measure, and be rich.]
Thou husbande, that intendeste to gette thy lyuynge
by husbandry, take hede to the sayenge of the wyse
phylosopher, the which sayth, _Adhibe curam, tene mensuram,
et eris diues_. That is to saye, Take hede to thy charge, 4
kepe measure, and thou shalt be ryche. And nowe to
speke of the fyrste artycle of these .iii. s[cilicet] _Adhibe
curam_. He that wyll take vpon hym to do any thinge,
and be slouthefull, recheles, and not diligent to execute 8
and to performe that thynge that he taketh vpon hym,
he shall neuer thryue by his occupation. And to the
same entente saythe our lorde in his gospell, by a parable.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 7.]]
_Nemo mittens manum suam ad aratrum respiciens retro, aptus 12
[Sidenote: Luke ix. 62.]
est regno dei._ The spirytuall constructyon of this texte, I
remytte to the doctours of dyuynitie, and to the greate
clarkes; but to reduce and brynge the same texte to my
[Sidenote: No man, putting his hand to the plough, &c.]
purpose, I take it thus. There is noo man, puttynge his 16
hande to the plough, lokyng backewarde, is worthy to
haue that thynge that he oughte to haue. For if he
goo to the ploughe, and loke backewarde, he seeth not
whether the plough go in rydge or rayne, make a balke, 20
or go ouerthwarte. And if it do so, there wyll be lyttell
[Sidenote: Be not idle.]
corne. And so if a man attende not his husbandrye, but
goo to sporte or playe, tauerne or ale-house, or slepynge
at home, and suche other ydle warkes, he is not than 24
[Sidenote: Do what you came to do.]
worthy to haue any corne. And therfore, _Fac quod venisti_,
Do that thou comest fore, and thou shalte fynde that thou
sekest fore, &c.
8. ¶ Howe a man shulde plowe all maner of landes all tymes
of the yere.
[Sidenote: Times of the year.]
Nowe these plowes be made and tempered, it is to
be knowen howe a man shoulde plowe all tymes of
the yere. In the begynnynge of the yere, after the
[Sidenote: [Fol. 7_b_.]]
feast of the Epiphany, it is tyme for a husbande to 4
[Sidenote: Plough leas early.]
go to the ploughe. And if thou haue any leys, to
falowe or to sowe otes vpon, fyrste plowe them, that
the grasse and the mosse may rotte, and plowe them
a depe square forowe. And in all maner of plowynge, 8
se that thy eye, thy hande, and thy fote do agree,
and be alwaye redy one to serue a-nother, and to turne
[Sidenote: Lay the mould flat.]
vp moche molde, and to lay it flat, that it rere not
on edge. For if it rere on edge, the grasse and mosse 12
wyll not rotte. And if thou sowe it with winter-corne,
as whete or ry, as moche corne as toucheth the mosse
wyll be drowned, the mosse dothe kepe such wete in
it self. And in some countreys, if a man plowe depe, 16
he shall passe the good grounde, and haue but lyttel
corne: but that countrey is not for men to kepe husbandry
vppon, but for to rere and brede catell or shepe, for
[Sidenote: Beeting land with mattocks.]
elles they muste go beate theyr landes with mattockes, 20
as they do in many places of Cornewayle, and in som
places of Deuonshyre.
9. ¶ To plowe for pease and beanes.
[Sidenote: Peas and beans.]
Howe to plowe for pees and beanes, were necessarye
to knowe. Fyrst thou muste remember, whiche is
[Sidenote: [Fol. 8.]]
mooste cley-grounde, and that plowe fyrste, and lette
it lye a good space, er thou sowe it: bycause the 4
froste, the rayne, the wynde, and the sonne may cause
it to breake smalle, to make moche molde, and to
[Sidenote: Plough a square furrow.]
rygge it. And to plow a square forowe, the bredthe
and the depenes all one, and to laye it close to his 8
felow. For the more forowes, the more corne, for a
generall rule of all maner of cornes. And that may
be proued at the comynge vp of all maner of corne,
to stande at the landes ende and loke toward the other 12
ende; And than may ye se, howe the corne groweth.
10. ==> Howe to sowe bothe pease and beanes.
[Sidenote: Sowing of peas and beans.]
Thou shalt sowe thy peas vpon the cley-grounde,
and thy beanes vpon the barley-grounde: for they
wolde haue ranker grounde than pease. How-be-it
some husbandes holde opynion, that bigge and styffe 4
grounde, as cley, wolde be sowen with bigge stuffe,
as beanes; but me thynke the contrary. For if a dry
sommer come, his beanes wil be shorte. And if the
grounde be good, putte the more beanes to the pease, 8
and the better shall they yelde, whan they be thresshed.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 8_b_.]]
And if it be very ranke grounde, as is moche at euery
towne-syde, where catel doth resort, plowe not that
lande, tyll ye wyll sowe it; for if ye do, there wyll 12
[Sidenote: In rank ground sow beans.]
come vppe kedlokes and other wedes. And than sowe
it with beanes; for if ye sowe pees, the kedlokes wyll
hurte them; and wha_n_ ye se seasonable time, sow
both pees and beanes, so that they be sowen in the 16
begynnynge of Marche. Howe shall ye knowe seasonable
[Sidenote: If the land sing, it is too wet to sow.]
tyme? go vppon the lande, that is plowed, and if it
synge or crye, or make any noyse vnder thy fete, than
it is to wete to sowe: and if it make no noyse, and 20
wyll beare thy horses, thanne sowe in the name of god.
[Sidenote: How to sow peas.]
But howe to sowe? Put thy pees in-to thy hopper, and
take a brode thonge, of ledder, or of garthe-webbe of
an elle longe, and fasten it to bothe endes of the 24
hopper, and put it ouer thy heed, lyke a leysshe; and
stande in the myddes of the lande, where the sacke
lyethe, the whiche is mooste conueniente for the fyllynge
of thy hopper, and set thy lefte foote before, and take 28
an handefull of pees: and whan thou takeste vp thy
ryghte foote, than caste thy pees fro the all abrode; and
whan thy lefte fote ryseth, take an other handeful, and
whan the ryght fote ryseth, tha_n_ cast them fro the. 32
[Sidenote: [Fol. 9.]]
And so at euery ii. paces, thou shalte sowe an handful
of pees: and so se that the fote and the hande
[Sidenote: Cast them wide.]
agree, and than ye shal sowe euen. And in your
castynge, ye muste open as well your fyngers as your hande, 36
and the hyer and farther that ye caste your corne, the
better shall it sprede, excepte it be a greatte wynde.
And if the lande be verye good, and wyll breke small
in the plowynge, it is better to sowe after the ploughe 40
thanne tarye any lenger.
11. ¶ Sede of discretion.
[Sidenote: Seed of Discretion.]
There is a sede, that is called Discretio_n_, and if
a husband haue of that sede, and myngle it amonge
his other cornes, they wyll growe moche the better;
for that sede wyll tell hym, how many castes of corne 4
euery lande ought to haue. And a yonge husbande, and
may fortune some olde husbande, hath not sufficyente
[Sidenote: Borrow discretion, if you have it not.]
of that sede: and he that lackethe, let hym borowe
of his neyghbours that haue. And his neyghbours 8
be vnkynde, if they wyll not lende this yonge housbande
parte of this sede. For this sede of Discretion
hath a wonders property: for the more that it is taken
of or lente, the more it is. And therfore me semeth, 12
[Sidenote: [Fol. 9_b_.]]
it shoulde be more spyrituall than temporall, wherin
[Sidenote: Temporal things, when divided, wane.]
is a greate dyuersitie. For a temporall thynge, the
more it is deuyded, the lesse it is: and a spirytuall
thynge, the more it is deuided, the more it is. _Verbi 16
gratia._ For ensaumple, I put case a wyfe brynge a
lofe of breade to the churche, to make holy breade
of; whan it is cut in many smal peces, and holy
breade made therof, there may be so many men, women, 20
and children in the churche, that by that tyme the priest
hath delte to euery one of them a lyttell pece, there
shall neuer a crume be lefte in the hamper. And a
[Sidenote: Spiritual things, when divided, wax.]
spiritualle thynge as a _Pater-noster_, or a prayer, that any 24
man can say, let hym teache it to .xx., a .C., or to a .M.,
yet is the prayer neuer the lesse, but moche more. And
so this sede of Discrecio_n_ is but wisdome and reason: and
he that hath wysedome, reason, and discretion may teche 28
it, and enforme other men as he is bounde to do. Wherein
he shall haue thanke of god: and he doth but as god hath
[Sidenote: Matt. x. 8.]
commaunded hym in his gospell, _Quod gratis accepistis,
gratis date_: That thynge that ye toke frely, gyue it frely 32
again, and yet shall ye haue neuer the lesse.
12. ¶ Howe all maner corne shoulde be sowen.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 10.]]
Bvt yet me thynkethe it is necessarye to declare, howe
all maner of corne shuld be sowen, and howe moch
vpon an acre most comonly, and fyrste of pease and
[Sidenote: An acre of ground.]
beanes. An acre of grounde, by the statute, that is to say 4
xvi. fote and a half to the perche or pole, foure perches
to an acre in bredth, and fortye perches to an acre in
[Sidenote: London bushels.]
lengthe, may be metelye well sowen with two London
busshelles of pease, the whyche is but two strykes in 8
other places. And if there be the .iiii. parte beanes, than
wylle it haue halfe a London bushelle more: and yf it be
halfe beanes, it wyll haue thre London bushels: and if it
be all beanes, it wyll haue foure London busshelles fullye, 12
and that is half a quarter; bycause the beanes be gret, and
grow vp streight, & do not sprede and go abrode as
[Sidenote: Beans worth more than peas.]
pease do. An acre of good beanes is worth an acre & a
half of good pees, bycause there wylle be more busshelles. 16
And the beste propertie that belongeth to a good
husband is, to sowe all maner of corne thycke ynough,
and specially beanes and barley. For commonly they be
sowen vpon ranke ground, and good grounde wylle haue 20
the burthen of corne or of wede. And as moche
plowynge and harowynge hath an acre of grounde, and
[Sidenote: [Fol. 10_b_.]]
sowe thervppon but oone busshelle, as yf he sowed .iiii.
busshelles. And vndoutedly .i. busshell may not gyue so 24
moche corne agayne, as the .iiii. busshels, though the .iii.
bushels, that he sowed more, be alowed and set aparte.
[Sidenote: White, green, and grey peas.]
And i. busshel and an halfe of white or grene pees, wyll
sowe as moche grounde, as two busshels of gray pees: 28
and that is bycause they be so smal, and the husband
nedeth not to take so great an handful. In some
countreys they begyn to sowe pees soone after Christmasse:
and in some places they sowe bothe pees and 32
beanes vnder forowe: and those of reson must be sowen
[Sidenote: Feb. 2.]
betyme. But moste generally, to begyn sone after Candelmasse
is good season, so that they be sowen ere the
begynnynge of Marche, or sone vpon. And specially let 36
them be sowen in the olde of the mone. For thopinion of
olde husbandes is, that they shoulde the better codde,
and the sooner be rype. But I speke not of hasty pees,
for they be sowen before Christmasse, &c. 40
13. ¶ To sowe barley.
[Sidenote: Barley.]
Every good housbande hath his barleye-falowe well
dounged, and lyenge rygged all the depe and colde of
wynter; the whiche ryggynge maketh the lande to be
[Sidenote: [Fol. 11.]]
drye, and the dongynge maketh it to be melowe and 4
ranke. And if a drye season come before Candelmasse,
or sone after, it wolde be caste downe and waterforowed
bytwene the landes, that the wete rest not in the raine:
and in the begynnynge of Marche, rydge it vppe agayne, 8
[Sidenote: Sow five bushels to the acre.]
and to sowe in euery acre fyue London bushelles, or
foure at the leaste. And some yeres it maye so fortune,
that there cometh no seasonable wether before Marche,
to plowe his barley-erthe. And as soone as he hath 12
sowen his pees and beanes, than let hym caste his barley-erthe,
and shortly after rygge it agayne: soo that it be
sowen before Apryll. And if the yere-tyme be paste,
than sowe it vpon the castynge. 16
¶ It is to be knowen that there be thre maner of barleys,
that is to say, sprot-barleye, longe-eare, and beare-barley,
[Sidenote: Sprot-barley.]
that some menne call bigge. Sprot-barley hath a flat
eare most comonly, thre quarters of an inche brode, 20
and thre inches long, and the cornes be very great
[Sidenote: Long-ear.]
and white, and it is the best barley. Long-eare hath
a flatte eare, halfe an inche brode, and foure inches
and more of length: but the corne is not so greate 24
nor soo whyte, and sooner it wyll turne and growe
[Sidenote: Bear-barley.]
to otes. Bere-barleye or bygge wolde be sowen vppon
[Sidenote: [Fol. 11_b_.]]
lyghte and drye grounde, and hathe an eare thre ynches of
lengthe or more, sette foure-square, lyke pecke-whete, 28
small cornes, and lyttel floure, and that is the worste
barley, and foure London bushels are suffycient for an
acre. And in some countreyes, they do not sowe theyr
barley tyll Maye, and that is mooste commonly vpon 32
grauel or sandy grounde. But that barley generally is
[Sidenote: Sow in March.]
neuer soo good as that that is sowen in Marche. For if it
be verye drie wether after it be sowen, that corne that
lyeth aboue, lyeth drie, and hath noo moysture, and that 36
that lyeth vndernethe, commeth vp: and whan rayne
cometh, than sprutteth that that lyeth aboue, and often-tymes
it is grene whan the other is rype: and whan it is
thresshen, there is moche lyghte corne, &c. 40
14. ==> To sowe otes.
[Sidenote: Oats.]
And in Marche is tyme to sowe otes, and specially vpon
lyght grounde & drie, howe-be-it they wylle grow on
weter grounde than any corne els: for wete grounde
is good for no maner of corne; and thre London bushels 4
wyl sowe an acre.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 12.]]
And it is to be knowen, that there be .iii. maner of otes,
[Sidenote: Red oats.]
that is to saye, redde otes, blacke otes, and roughe otes.
Red otes are the beste otes, and whan they be thresshed, 8
they be yelowe in the busshell, and verye good to make
[Sidenote: Black oats.]
otemele of. Blacke otes are as great as they be, but they
haue not so moche floure in them, for they haue a thycker
huske, and also they be not so good to make otemele. 12
[Sidenote: Rough oats.]
The roughe otes be the worste, and it quiteth not the
coste to sowe them: they be very lyghte, and haue longe
tayles, wherby they wyll hange eche one to other. All
these maner of otes weare the grounde very sore, and 16
[Sidenote: Observe how thick to sow.]
maketh it to beare quyche. A yonge housbande ought to
take hede, howe thycke he sowethe all maner of corne,
two or three yeres: and to se, howe it cometh vp, and
whether it be thycke ynoughe or not: and if it be thynne, 20
sowe thycker the nexte yere: and if it be well, holde his
hande there other yeres: and if it be to thynne, let hym
remember hym selfe, whether it be for the vnseasonablenes
of the wether, or for thyn sowynge. And so 24
his wysedome and discretion muste discerne it.
15. ¶ To harowe all maner of cornes.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 12_b_.]]
Nowe these landes be plowed, and the corne sowen, it
[Sidenote: Harrowing.]
is conuenient, that they be well harowed; or els crowes,
doues, and other byrdes wyll eate and beare awaye the
cornes. It is vsed in many countreys, the husbandes to 4
[Sidenote: The ox-harrow.]
haue an oxe-harowe, the whiche is made of sixe smal
[Sidenote: Harrow-bulls.]
peces of timbre, called harowe-bulles, made eyther of
asshe or oke; they be two yardes longe, and as moche as
the small of a mannes legge, and haue shotes[23] of wode 8
put through theym lyke lathes, and in euery bull are syxe
sharpe peces of yren called harowe-tyndes, set some-what
a-slope forwarde, and the formes[t] slote[24] must be bygger
than the other, bycause the fote-teame shall be fastened 12
to the same with a shakyll, or a withe to drawe by. This
[Sidenote: The horse-harrow.]
harrowe is good to breake the greatte clottes, and to make
moche molde, and than the horse-harowes to come after,
to make the clottes smaller, and to laye the grounde euen. 16
It is a greate labour and payne to the oxen, to goo to
[Sidenote: ‘The ox is never woe, Till he to the harrow go.’]
harowe: for they were better to goo to the plowe two
dayes, thanne to harowe one daye. It is an olde saying,
‘The oxe is neuer wo, tyll he to the harowe goo.’ And 20
it is bycause it goeth by twytches, and not alwaye
[Sidenote: [Fol. 13.]]
after one draughte. The horse-harrowe is made of fyue
bulles, and passe not an elne of lengthe, and not soo
moche as the other, but they be lyke sloted and tinded. 24
And wha_n_ the corne is well couered, than it is harowed
ynough. There be horse-harowes, that have tyndes of
wodde: and those be vsed moche about Ryppon, and
[Sidenote: Boulder-stones.]
suche other places, where be many bulder-stones. For 28
these stones wold weare the yren to soone, and those
[Sidenote: Tines of the harrow made of ash.]
tyndes be mooste commonly made of the grounde ende of
a yonge asshe, and they be more thanne a fote longe in
the begynnynge, and stande as moche aboue the harowe 32
as benethe.
And as they weare, or breake, they dryue them downe
lower; and they wolde be made longe before, ere they be
occupied, that they maye be drye; for than they shall 36
endure and last moche better, and stycke the faster.
[Sidenote: Horses for harrows.]
The horses that shall drawe these harowes, muste be well
kepte and shodde, or elles they wyll soone be tyred, and
sore beate, that they may not drawe. They must haue 40
hombers or collers, holmes withed about theyr neckes,
[Sidenote: Swingle-tree.]
tresses to drawe by, and a swyngletre to holde the tresses
abrode, and a togewith to be bytwene the swyngletre and
the harowe. And if the barleye-grounde wyll not breake 44
with harrowes, but be clotty, it wolde be beaten with
[Sidenote: [Fol. 13_b_.]]
malles, and not streyght downe; for than they beate the
corne in-to the erthe. And if they beate the clot on
the syde, it wyll the better breake. And the clot wyll lye 48
lyghte, that the corne maye lyghtely come vp. And they
[Sidenote: Rolling the ground.]
vse to role theyr barley-grounde after a shoure of rayne,
to make the grounde euen to mowe, &c.
16. ¶ To falowe.
Nowe these housbandes haue sowen theyr pees, beanes,
barley, and otes, and harowed them, it is the beste tyme,
[Sidenote: Fallow in April.]
to falowe, in the later ende of Marche and Apryll, for
whete, rye, and barley. And lette the husbande do the 4
[Sidenote: Plough broad and deep.]
beste he can, to plowe a brode forowe and a depe,
soo that he turne it cleane, and lay it flat, that it rere
not on the edge: the whiche shall destroy all the thistils
and wedes. For the deper and the broder that he gothe, 8
the more newe molde, and the greatter clottes shall he
haue, and the greatter clottes, the better wheate. For
the clottes kepe the wheate warme all wynter, and at
Marche they wyll melte and breake, and fal in manye 12
small peces, the whiche is a newe dongynge, and refresshynge
[Sidenote: [Fol. 14, _misprinted_ 16.]]
of the corne. And also there shall but lyttell
wedes growe vpon the falowes, that are so falowed. For
the plough goth vndernethe the rootes of all maner of 16
[Sidenote: Never fallow in winter; else]
wedes, and tourneth the roote vpwarde, that it maye not
growe. And yf the lande be falowed in wynter tyme, it is
farre the worse, for three principall causes. One is, all the
[Sidenote: (1) rain will wash the land;]
rayne that commeth, shal washe the lande, and dryue 20
awaye the dounge and the good moulde, that the lande
[Sidenote: (2) rain will beat it flat;]
shall be moche the worse. An other cause is, the rayne
shall beate the lande so flat, and bake it so hard to-gyther,
that if a drye Maye come, it wyll be to harde to stere in 24
[Sidenote: (3) the weeds will take deep root.]
the moneth of June. And the thyrde cause is, the wiedes
shall take suche roote, er sterynge-tyme comme, that they
wylle not be cleane tourned vndernethe, the whiche shal
be great hurte to the corne, whan it shall be sowen, and 28
specially in the weding-tyme of the same; and for any
other thynge, make a depe holowe forowe in the rydge of
[Sidenote: Do not rest-baulk.]
the lande, and loke wel, thou rest-balke it nat; for if
thou do, there wyll be many thystels: and than thou 32
shalte not make a cleane rydge at the fyrste sterynge,
and therfore it muste nedes be depe plowed, or elles
thou shalt nat tourne the wiedes cleane.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 14_b_.]]
17. ¶ To cary out donge or mucke and to sprede it.
And in the later ende of Apryll, and the begynnynge of
[Sidenote: Carry out dung.]
Maye, is tyme to cary out his dounge or mucke, and
to lay it vppon his barley-grounde. And where he hath
barley this yere, sowe it with whete or rye the next 4
tyme it is falowed, and so shal he mucke all his landes
ouer at euerye seconde falowe. But that husbande that
can fynd the meanes to cary oute his donge, and to laye
[Sidenote: Lay dung on the land after the first stirring,]
it vpon his lande after it be ones sturred: it is moche 8
better than to laye it vppon his falowe, for dyuer causes.
One is, if it be layde vpon his fallowe, all that fallethe
in the holowe rygge shall do lyttell good; for whan
it is rygged agayne, it lyeth soo depe in the erthe, that 12
it wyll not be plowed vp agayne, excepte that whan he
hath sprede it, he wyll with a shouell, or a spade, caste
out all that is fallen in the rygge. And if it be layde
[Sidenote: and soon after stirring.]
vpon the sturrynge, at euery plowynge it shall medle 16
the donge and the erthe togyder, the whiche shall
cause the corne moche better to growe and encreace.
And in somme places, they lode not theyr donge,
tyll harvest be done, & that is vsed in the farther 20
[Sidenote: [Fol. 15.]]
syde of Darbyshyre, called Scaresdale, Halomshyre,
and so northewarde towarde Yorke and Ryppon: and
that I calle better thanne vppon the falowe, and specyally
for barley: but vppon the fyrste sturrynge, is beste 24
for wheate and rye, and that his dunge be layde vpon
[Sidenote: Spread it evenly.]
smal hepes nygh together, and to sprede it euenly, and
to leue no dounge there-as the mucke-hepe stode, for
the moystnes of the dounge shall cause the grounde to 28
[Sidenote: Mix it with earth.]
be ranke ynoughe. And if it be medled with erthe,
as sholynges and suche other, it wyll laste the longer,
and better for barley than for whete or rye, bycause of
wedes. Horse-donge is the worste donge that is. The 32
donge of all maner catell, that chewe theyr cudde,
[Sidenote: Doves’ dung.]
is verye good. And the dounge of douues is best,
but it must be layde vppon the grounde verye thynne.
18. ¶ To set out the shepe-folde.
[Sidenote: The sheep-fold.]
Also it is tyme to set out the shepefolde in May,
and to sette it vppon the rye-grounde, if he haue any,
and to flyte it euery mornynge or nyght: and in the
mornynge, whan he cometh to his folde, let not his 4
[Sidenote: [Fol. 15_b_.]]
shepe out anone, but reyse theym vp, and let them
stande stylle good season, that they may donge and
[Sidenote: See if the sheep have maggots.]
pysse. And go amonge them to se whether any of
them haue any mathes, or be scabbed: and se them 8
thre or foure tymes on the oone syde, and as ofte on
the other syde. And whan the kelles begonne besyde
the grounde, than lette theym out of the folde, and
dryue theym to the soundest place of the felde. But 12
[Sidenote: Folding sheep is not a good plan.]
he that hath a falowe felde, seueral to hym-selfe, let
hym occupie no folde. For foldynge of shepe maketh
them scabbed, and bredeth mathes; and whanne a
storme of yll wether commeth in the night, they can 16
nat flee nor go awaye, and that appeyreth them sore
of their flesshe. But lette that man that hath such a
[Sidenote: Drive stakes in the field.]
seueral falowe-felde, driue twentie, thyrty, or forty stakes,
accordynge to the nombre of his shepe, vpon his falowe, 20
where he wolde sette his folde, and specially in the
farthest parte of the fyelde frome thense as they comme
in, for the goynge vppon dothe moche good. And
lette the sheparde brynge his shepe to the stakes, and 24
[Sidenote: The sheep will rub against them.]
the sheepe wylle rubbe them on the stakes. And lette
the sheparde goo aboute them, tyll they be sette, and
thus serue theym two or three nyghtes, and they wyll
folowe those stakes, as he flytteth them, and syt by 28
[Sidenote: [Fol. 16, _misprinted_ 14.]]
them. And if any yll wether come, they will ryse vp,
and go to the hedge. And this maner of foldynge
shall brede noo mathes nor scabbe, nor appeyre theym
of theyr flesshe, and shall be a greate sauegarde to the 32
shepe for rottynge: and in the mornynge put them out
of theyr pasture, and thou shalte not nede to bye any
[Sidenote: Use no hurdles.]
hurdels nor shepe-flekes; but howe ye shall salue them
or dresse them, ye shall vnderstande in the chaypter of 36
shepe after.
19. ¶ To cary wodde and other necessaryes.
[Sidenote: In May carry wood.]
And in May, whan thou hast falowed thy grounde, and
set oute thy shepefolde, and caryed oute thy dounge or
mucke, if thou haue any wodde, cole, or tymbre to
cary, or suche other busynes, that muste nedes be doone, 4
with thy charte or wayne, than is it tyme to do it. For
[Sidenote: The days are then long.]
than the waye is lyke to be fayre and drye, and the days
longe, and that tyme the husbande hath leeste to doo in
husbandry. Perauenture I set one thynge to be done at 8
one tyme of the yere, and if the husbande shulde do it,
it shulde be a greatter losse to hym in an other thynge.
Wherefore it is moste conuenient to do that thynge fyrst,
[Sidenote: [Fol. 16_b_.]]
that is moste profytable to hym, and as soone as he 12
can, do the other labour.
20. ¶ To knowe dyuers maner of wedes.
[Sidenote: In June weed the corn.]
In the later ende of Maye, and the begynnynge of
June, is tyme to wede thy corne. There be diuers maner
of wedes, as thistyls, kedlokes, dockes, cocledrake,
darnolde, gouldes, haudoddes, dogfenell, mathes, ter, 4
and dyuers other small wedes. But these be they that
[Sidenote: Thistles.]
greue mooste: The thistyll is an yll wede, roughe and
sharpe to handell, and freteth away the cornes nygh it,
and causeth the sherers or reapers not to shere cleane. 8
[Sidenote: Charlock.]
Kedlokes hath a leafe lyke rapes, and beareth a yelowe
floure, and is an yll wede, and groweth in al maner corne,
and hath small coddes, and groweth lyke mustard sede.
[Sidenote: Docks.]
Dockes have a brode lefe, and diuers high spyres, and 12
[Sidenote: Cockle.]
very small sede in the toppe. Cockole hath a longe small
lefe, and wyl beare fyue or vi. floures of purple colour, as
brode as a grote, and the sede is rounde and blacke, and
maye well be suffred in a breade-corne, but not in sede, 16
[Sidenote: ‘Drake.’]
for therin is moche floure. Drake is lyke vnto rye, till it
[Sidenote: [Fol. 17.]]
begynne to sede, and it hath many sedes lyke fenell-sedes,
and hangeth downewarde, and it maye wel be suffred in
breade, for there is moche floure in the sede: and it is an 20
[Sidenote: Darnel.]
opinion that it commeth of rye, &c. Dernolde groweth
vp streyght lyke an hye grasse, and hath longe sedes on
eyther syde the sterte, and there is moche floure in that
sede, and growethe moche amonge barley: and it is 24
[Sidenote: Golds.]
sayde, that it cometh of small barley. Golds hath a shorte
iagged lefe, and groweth halfe a yarde hygh, and hath a
yelowe floure, as brode as a grote, and is an yll wede, and
[Sidenote: Hawdod.]
groweth commonlye in barleye and pees. Hawdod hath 28
a blewe floure, and a fewe lyttell leues, and hath .v. or syxe
braunches, floured in the toppe: and groweth comonly in
[Sidenote: Dog-fennel.]
rye vpon leane grounde, and dothe lyttel hurte. Dogge-fenell
and mathes is bothe one, and in the commynge vp 32
is lyke fenell and beareth many white floures, with a
yelowe sede: and is the worste wede that is, excepte terre,
and it commeth moste commonly, whan great wete commeth
[Sidenote: Tares.]
shortly after the corne is sowen. Terre is the 36
worste wede, and it neuer dothe appere tyll the moneth
of June, and specyallye whanne there is great wete in
that mone, or a lyttell before, and groweth mooste in rye,
and it groweth lyke fytches, but it is moche smaller, and 40
[Sidenote: [Fol. 17_b_.]]
it wyll growe as hyghe as the corne, and with the weyght
therof it pulleth the corne flatte to the erth, and freteth
the eares away; wherfore I haue seene housbandes mowe
downe the corne and it together: And also with sharp 44
hokes to repe it, as they doo pees, and made drye, and
than it wyll be good fodder.
[Sidenote: Dee-nettles.]
There be other wedes not spoken of, as dee-nettylles,
[Sidenote: Dodder.]
dodder, and suche other, that doo moche harme. 48
21. ¶ Howe to wede corne.
[Sidenote: How to weed.]
Nowe it wolde be knowen, howe these cornes shulde be
weded. The chyefe instrument to wede with is a paire
of tonges made of wode, and in the farther ende it is
nycked, to holde the wed faster; and after a shoure of 4
raine it is beste wedynge, for than they maye be pulled
vp by the rotes, and than it cometh neuer agayne. And
[Sidenote: Weeding-hook.]
if it be drye wether, than muste ye haue a wedynge-hoke
with a socket set vpon a lyttel staffe of a yarde longe, and 8
this hoke wolde be well steeled, and grounde sharpe bothe
[Sidenote: Forked stick.]
behynde and before. And in his other hande he hath a
forked stycke a yarde longe, and with his forked stycke
[Sidenote: [Fol. 18.]]
he putteth the wede from hym, and he putteth the hoke 12
beyond the rote of the wede, and pulleth it to hym, and
cutteth the wede fast by the erthe, and with his hoke he
taketh up the wede, and casteth it in the reane, and if
the reane be full of corne, it is better it stande styll, 16
whan it is cut, and wyddre: but let hym beware, that he
trede not to moche vppon the corne, and specyallye after
[Sidenote: Cut not the corn.]
it is shotte, and whan he cutteth the wede, that he cut
not the corne: and therefore the hoke wolde not passe 20
an inche wyde. And whanne the wede is soo shorte,
that he can not with his forked stycke put it from hym,
and with the hoke pull it to hym, thanne muste he set
his hoke vppon the wede, fast by the erthe, and put it 24
from hym, and so shall he cutte it cleane. And with
[Sidenote: Stoop not.]
these two instruments, he shall neuer stoupe to his warke.
Dogfenell, goldes, mathes, and kedlokes are yll to wede
after this maner, they growe vppon so many braunches, 28
[Sidenote: Pull up darnel.]
harde by the erthe: and therfore they vse most to pul
them vppe with theyr handes; but loke well, that they
pull not vppe the corne with all; but as for terre, there
wyll noo wedynge serue. 32
22. ¶ The fyrst sturrynge.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 18_b_.]]
Also in June is tyme to rygge vppe the falowe, the
whiche is called the fyrst sturrynge, and to plowe it as
depe as thou canste, for to tourne the rotes of the wedes
vpwarde, that the sonne and the drye wether maye kyll 4
them. And an housbande can not conuenyentelye plowe
[Sidenote: How to plough and load out dung.]
his lande, and lode out his dounge bothe vppon a daye,
with one draughte of beastes: but he maye well lode oute
his dounge before none, and lode heye or corne at-after 8
none: or he maye plowe before none, and lode hey or
corne at-after none, with the same draughte, and noo
hurte to the cattell: bycause in lodynge of hey or corne,
the cattel is alwaye eatynge or beytynge, and soo they 12
can not doo in lodynge of dounge and plowynge.
23. ¶ To mowe grasse.
[Sidenote: End of June.]
Also in the later ende of June is tyme to begyn to
mowe, if thy medowe be well growen: but howe-so-euer
[Sidenote: July.]
they be growen, in July they muste nedes mowe, for
diuers causes. One is, it is not conuenient to haue hey 4
[Sidenote: Mow hay early.]
and corne bothe in occupation at one tyme. An other is,
the yonger and the grener that the grasse is, the softer
[Sidenote: [Fol. 19.]]
and the sweter it wyll be, whan it is hey, but it wyll haue
the more wyddrynge; and the elder the grasse is, the 8
harder and dryer it is, and the worse for al maner of
cattell: for the sedes be fallen, the whiche is in maner
of prouander, and it is the harder to eate and chowe.
And an other cause is, if drye wether come, it wyll drye 12
and burne vpon the grounde, and waste away. Take
[Sidenote: How to mow.]
hede that thy mower mow clene and holde downe the
hynder hand of his sith, that he do not endent the grasse,
and to mowe his swathe cleane thorowe to that that 16
was laste mowen before, that he leaue not a mane bytwene,
and specyallye in the common medowe: for in
the seuerall medowe it maketh the lesse charge, and that
[Sidenote: Mole-hills.]
the moldywarpe-hilles be spredde, and the styckes cleane 20
pycked out of the medowe in Apryll, or in the beginnynge
of Maye.
24. ¶ Howe forkes and rakes shulde be made.
[Sidenote: Forks and rakes.]
A Good husbande hath his forkes and rakes made
redye in the wynter before, and they wolde be gotte
bytwene Mighelmasse and Martylmasse, and beyked, and
[Sidenote: [Fol. 19_b_.]]
sette euen, to lye vpryght in thy hande: and than they 4
wyll be harde styffe and drye. And whan the housbande
sytteth by the fyre, and hath nothynge to do, than maye
he make theym redye, and tothe the rakes with drye wethy-wode,
[Sidenote: Bore holes for the teeth of the rakes.]
and bore the holes with his wymble, bothe aboue 8
and vnder, and driue the tethe vpwarde faste and harde,
and than wedge them aboue with drye woode of oke, for
that is hard, and wil driue and neuer come out. And if
he get them in sappe-tyme, all the beykyng and drienge 12
that can be had shal not make them harde and styffe,
[Sidenote: Use hazel and withy.]
but they woll alwaye be plyenge: for they be moste
comonly made of hasell and withee, and these be the
trees that blome, and specially hasell: for it begynneth 16
[Sidenote: Use no green wood.]
to blome as sone as the lefe is fallen. And if the rake
be made of grene woode, the heed wyll not abyde
vppon the stele, and the tethe wyll fall out, whan he
hath mooste nede to them, and let his warke, and lose 20
[Sidenote: Make all evenly.]
moche heye. And se that thy rake and forke lye vpryghte
in thy hand, for and the one ende of thy rake, or the syde
of thy forke, hang downe-warde, than they be not handsome
nor easy to worke with. 24
25. ¶ To tedde and make hay.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 20.]]
Whan thy medowes be mowed, they wolde be well
[Sidenote: Tedding hay.]
tedded and layde euen vppon the grounde: and if the
grasse be very thycke, it wolde be shaken with handes,
[Sidenote: Ted hay carefully.]
or with a shorte pykforke. For good teddynge is the 4
chiefe poynte to make good hey, and than shall it be
wyddred all in lyke, or elles not: and whan it is wel
wyddred on the ouer syde, and dry, than turne it cleane
before noone, as soone as the dewe is gone: And yf thou 8
dare truste the wether, lette it lye so all nyghte: and
on the nexte daye, tourne it agayne before none, and
towarde nyght make it in wyndrowes, and than in smal
[Sidenote: Hay-cocks.]
hey-cockes, and so to stande one nyghte at the leaste, and 12
sweate: and on the nexte fayre day caste it abrode
agayne, and tourne it ones or twyse, and than make it
[Sidenote: Larger hay-cocks.]
in greatter hey-cockes, and to stande so one nyght or
more, that it maye vngiue and sweate. For and it sweate 16
not in the hey-cockes, it wyll sweate in the mowe; and
than it wyll be dustye, and not holsome for hors, beastes,
nor shepe. And whan it standeth in the cockes, it is
better to lode, and the more hey maye be loded at a lode, 20
[Sidenote: Quich-hay.]
and the faster it wyll lye. Quyche-hey commeth of a
grasse called crofote, and groweth flatte, after the erthe,
[Sidenote: [Fol. 20_b_.]]
and bearethe a yelowe floure halfe a yarde hygh and
more, and hath many knottes towarde the roote, and it 24
is the beste hey for horses and beastes, and the sweteste,
if it be well got; but it wyll haue moch more wyddrynge
than other hey, for els he wyll be-pysse hym-selfe and
[Sidenote: How to know when hay is dry.]
waxe hote, and after dustye. And for to knowe whanne 28
it is wyddred ynoughe, make a lyttell rope of the same,
that ye thinke shulde be moste greneste, and twyne it as
harde to-gether bytwen your handes as ye canne, and soo
[Sidenote: Twist a wisp, and then cut it.]
beynge harde twon, let one take a knyfe, and cut it faste 32
by your hande; and the knottes wyll be moyste, yf it be
not drye ynough. Shorte hey, and leye-hey, is good for
shepe, and all maner of catell, if it be well got. A man
maye speke of makynge of hey, and gettynge of corne, 36
but god disposeth and ordreth all thynge.
26. ¶ Howe rye shulde be shorne.
[Sidenote: In July, shear rye.]
In the later ende of July, or in the begynnynge of
Auguste, is tyme to shere Rye, the whiche wolde be
shorne cleane, and faste bounden. And in somme
places they mowe it, the whiche is not soo good to the 4
housbandes profytte, but it is the sooner done. For
[Sidenote: [Fol. 21.]]
whan it is mowen, it wyll not be so fast bounden: and
he can not gather it soo cleane, but there wyll be moche
losse, and taketh more rowme in the barne than shorne 8
corne dothe. And also it wyll not kepe nor saue it selfe
from rayne or yll wether, whan it standeth in the couer,
as the shorne corne wyll do.
27. ¶ Howe to shere wheate.
[Sidenote: Shear wheat clean.]
Wheate wolde be shorne cleane, and harde bounden
in lyke maner; but for a generall rule, take good hede,
that the sherers of all maner of whyte corne cast not
vppe theyr handes hastely, for thanne all the lose corne, 4
and the strawes, that he holdeth not fast in his hande,
flieth ouer his heed, and are loste: and also it wyll pull
of the eares, and specyallye of the cornes that be verye
[Sidenote: Shear wheat clean.]
rype. In somme places they wyll shere theyr cornes 8
hyghe, to the entente to mowe theyr stubble, eyther to
thacke or to bren: if they so do, they haue greate cause
to take good hede of the sherers. For if the eares of
corne croke downe to the erthe, and the sherer take 12
not good hede, and put up the eare er he cut the
strawe: as many eares as be vnder his hoke or sicle
[Sidenote: Fol. 21_b_.]
fall to the erthe, and be loste; and whan they mowe
the stubble, it is great hyndraunce to the profytte of 16
[Sidenote: Near Ilchester and Martock they shear low.]
the grounde. And in Sommersetshire, about Zelcestre
and Martok, they doo shere theyr wheate very lowe,
and all the wheate-strawe that they pourpose to make
thacke of, they do not thresshe it, but cutte of the 20
eares, and bynde it in sheues, and call it rede: and
therwith they thacke theyr houses. And if it be a
[Sidenote: Best kind of thatching.]
newe house, they thacke it vnder theyr fote: the
whiche is the beste and the surest thacking that can 24
be of strawe, for crowes and douues shall neuer hurte it.
28. ==> To mowe or shere barley and otes.
[Sidenote: Mow barley and oats.]
Barley and otes be moste commonly mowen, and a
man or woman folowythe the mower with a hande-rake
halfe a yarde longe, with .vii. or .viii. tethe, in the
lyfte hande, and a syckle in the ryghte hande, and 4
with the rake he gethereth as moche as wyll make a
shefe. And thanne he taketh the barley or otes by the
toppes, and pulleth out as moche as wil make a band,
and casteth the band from him on the land, and with his 8
rake and his syckle taketh vp the barley or otes, &
[Sidenote: [Fol. 22.]]
layeth them vppon the bande, and so the barley lyeth
vnbounden .iii. or .iiii. dayes, if it be fayre wether,
and than to bynde it. And whan the barley is ledde 12
[Sidenote: Rake afterwards.]
away, the landes muste be raked, or els there wyll be
moche corne loste, and if the barley or otes lye, they
muste nedes be shorne.
29. ¶ To repe or mowe pees and beanes.
[Sidenote: Reap or mow peas and beans.]
Pees and benes be moste commonly laste reped or
mowen, of diuers maners, some with sickles, some
with hokes, and some with staffe-hokes. And in some
places they lay them on repes, and whan they be dry, 4
they laye them to-gether on heapes, lyke hey-cockes,
and neuer bynde them. But the beste way is, whan
[Sidenote: Bind them together.]
the repes be dry, to bynde them, and to set theym on
the rydge of the landes three sheues to-gether; and 8
loke that your sherers, repers, or mowers geld not
[Sidenote: Cut beans low.]
your beanes, that is to saye, to cutte the beanes so hye,
that the nethermoste codde growe styll on the stalke;
and whan they be bounden, they are the more redyer 12
to lode and vnlode, to make a reke, and to take fro
the mowe to thresshe. And soo be not the repes.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 22_b_.]]
30. ¶ Howe all maner of cornes shulde be tythed.
[Sidenote: How to tithe.]
Nowe that all these cornes before specyfyed be
shorne, mowed, reped, bounden vp, and layde vppon
the rydge of the lande, lette the housbande take
hede of goddes commaundemente, and let hym goo 4
[Sidenote: Count 9 sheaves, and cast out the tenth.]
to the ende of his lande, and begynne and tell .ix.
sheues, and let hym caste out the .x. shefe in the
name of god, and so to pervse fro_m_ lande to lande,
tyll he haue trewely tythed all his corne. And beware, 8
and take hede of the sayinge of our lorde by his
[Sidenote: Malachi iii. 8, 9.]
prophete Malachias, the whiche saythe, _Quia michi non
dedisti decimas et primitias, id circo in fame et penuria
maledicti estis_. That is to saye, Bycause ye haue not 12
gyuen to me your tythes, and your fyrste-fruytes, therefore
ye be cursed, and punysshed with honger and
[Sidenote: Augustine.]
penury. And accordynge to that saynte Austyn saythe:
_Da decimas, alioqui incides in decimam partem angelorum_ 16
[Sidenote: Give tithes truly.]
_qui de celo corruerunt in infernum_. That is to say, Gyue
thy tythes truely, or els thou shalt fall amonge the tenthe
parte of aungelles that felle from heuen in-to hell, the
whiche is an harde worde to euery man, that oughte to 20
[Sidenote: [Fol. 23.]]
gyue tythes, and doth not gyue them truely. But saynte
[Sidenote: Augustine.]
Austyne saythe a comfortable worde again, to them that
gyue theyr tythes truely, that is to saye: _Decimæ sunt_
[Sidenote: Tithes are tributes to the needy.]
_tributa egentium animarum_: Tythes are tributes or 24
rewardes to nedye soules. And ferther he saythe: _Si
decimam dederis, non solum abundantiam fructum recipies,
sed etiam sanitatem corporis et animæ consequeris_, That
is to saye, If thou haue gyuen thy tythes truely, thou 28
shalte not onely receyue the profite, and the abundaunce
of goodes, but also helthe of bodye and soule shall
folowe. Wolde to god, that euerye man knewe the
harde worde of our lorde by his prophete Malachias, 32
and also the comfortable wordes of the holy saynte
Austyn. For than wolde I truste verely, that tythes
shulde be truely gyuen.
31. ¶ Howe all maner of corne shulde he couered.
[Sidenote: How to cover corn.]
Nowe these cornes be shorne and bounden, and the
tithes cast out, it is tyme to couer theym, shoke theym,
or halfe-throne them, but couerynge is the beste waye
[Sidenote: [Fol. 23_b_.]]
of all maner of whyte corne. And that is, to set foure 4
sheues on one syde, and .iiii. sheues on the other syde,
[Sidenote: Set ten sheaves together.]
and two sheues aboue, of the greatteste, bounden harde
nyghe to the nether ende, the whiche must be set vpwarde,
and the top downewarde spredde abrode to couer all the 8
other sheues. And they wyll sta_n_d beste in wynde, and
saue theym-selfe beste in rayne, and they wolde be set
on the rydge of the lande, and the sayde sheues to leane
to-gether in the toppes, and wyde at the grounde, that 12
[Sidenote: For peas and beans set three together.]
the winde may go through, to drye them. Pees and
beanes wolde be set on the rydge of the lande, thre
sheues together, the toppes vpwarde, and wrythen to-gether,
and wyde benethe, that they maye the better 16
wyddre.
32. ¶ To lode corne, and mowe it.
[Sidenote: To load corn.]
Whanne all these cornes be drye and wyddred ynoughe,
than lode theym in-to the barne, and laye euerye corne
[Sidenote: Make many mows, if it be wet.]
by it-selfe. And if be a wete haruest, make many mowes:
and if thou haue not housynge ynoughe, thanne it is 4
better to laye thy pees and benes without vppon a reke,
than other corne, and it is better vppon a scaffolde than
vppon the grounde: for than it muste be well hedged
[Sidenote: [Fol. 24.]]
for swyne and catel, and the grounde wyll rotte the 8
bottom, and the scaffolde saueth both hedgynge and
rottynge: but they must be well couered bothe. And the
[Sidenote: The scaffold.]
husband may set shepe or catel vnder the same scaffold
and wyll serue hym in stede of an house, if it be well 12
and surely made, &c.
33. ¶ The second[25] sturrynge.
[Sidenote: August.]
In August, and in the begynnyng of September, is
[Sidenote: Second stirring.]
tyme to make his seconde sturrynge, and most commonly
it is cast downe and plowed a meane forowe, not to depe
nor to ebbe, so he turne it clene. And if it be caste, it 4
[Sidenote: Water-furrow the land.]
wolde be water-forowed bytwene the landes, there-as
the reane shulde be, and it wyll be the dryer, whan the
lande shall be sowen. And if the landes lie high in
the ridge, & highe at the reane, & lowe in the 8
myddes of the side, that the water may not ronne easely
in-to the reane, as I se dayly in many places: than let
the husband set his plough .iii. or .iiii. fote fro_m_ the
[Sidenote: How to ridge it up.]
rydge, and cast all the rydge on bothe sydes, and whan 12
the rydge is cast, set his plough there-as he began, and
rydge vp the remenant of the lande, and so is the land
bothe cast and rydged, and all at one plowynge. And this
[Sidenote: [Fol. 24_b_.]]
shall cause the lande to lye rounde, whan it is sowen 16
at the nexte tyme, and than shall it not drowne the corne.
34. ==> To sowe wheat and rye.
[Sidenote: Michaelmas.]
Aboute Myghelmasse it is tyme to sowe bothe wheate
[Sidenote: Sow wheat and rye.]
and rye. Wheate is mooste commonlye sowen vnder the
forowe, that is to saye, caste it vppon the falowe, and
than plowe it vnder. And in some places they sowe theyr 4
[Sidenote: Pease stubble.]
wheate vppon theyr pees-stubble, the whiche is neuer
soo good, as that that is sowen vppon the falowe: and
that is vsed, where they make falowe in a fyelde euery
[Sidenote: In Essex a child sows.]
fourthe yere. And in Essex they vse to haue a chylde, 8
to go in the forowe before the horses or oxen, with a
bagge or a hopper full of corne: and he taketh his hande
full of corne, and by lyttel and lytel casteth it in the
[Sidenote: He ought to have much discretion.]
sayde forowe. Me semeth, that chylde oughte to haue 12
moche dyscretion.
Howe-be-it there is moche good corne, and rye is
[Sidenote: Sow 2 London bushels to an acre.]
mooste commonlye sowen aboue and harrowed, and two
London busshelles of wheate and rye wyll sowe an acre. 16
Some grounde is good for wheate, some for rye, and
some is good for bothe: and vppon that ground sowe
[Sidenote: [Fol. 25.]]
blend-corne, that is both wheate and rye, the whyche is
the surest corne of growyng, and good for the husbandes 20
[Sidenote: Wheat and rye mixed.]
houshold. And the wheate, that shall be medled with
rye, muste be suche as wyll soone be rype, and that is
flaxen wheate, polerd wheate, or whyte wheate. And ye
shall vnderstande, that there be dyuers maners of wheates. 24
[Sidenote: Flaxen wheat.]
Flaxen wheate hath a yelowe eare, and bare without anis,
and is the bryghtest wheate in the busshell, and wyll
make the whytest breed, and it wyll weare the grounde
sore, and is small strawe, and wyll growe very thycke, 28
[Sidenote: Pollard wheat.]
and is but small corne. Polerde wheate hath noo anis,
thycke sette in the eare, and wyll soone fall out, and is
[Sidenote: White wheat.]
greatter corne, and wyll make whyte breed. Whyte
wheate is lyke polerde wheate in the busshell, but it 32
hath anis, and the eare is foure-square, and wyll make
white breed: and in Essex they call flaxen wheate
[Sidenote: Red wheat.]
whyte wheate. Red wheate hath a flat eare, an inche
brode, full of anis, and is the greatteste corne, and 36
the brodeste blades, and the greatteste strawe, and
wyl make whyte breed, and is the rudeste of colour
in the busshell.
[Sidenote: English wheat.]
Englysshe wheate hath a dunne eare, fewe anis or none, 40
and is the worste wheate, saue peeke-wheate. Peeke-wheete
[Sidenote: Peek-wheat.]
hath a red eare, ful of anis, thyn set, and ofte
[Sidenote: [Fol. 25_b_.]]
tymes it is flyntered, that is to saye, small corne wrynkeled
and dryed, and wyll not make whyte breade, but it wyl 44
growe vpon colde grounde.
35. ¶ To thresshe and wynowe corne.
[Sidenote: Carefully clean seed-corn.]
This wheate and rye, that thou shalte sowe, ought to
be very cleane of wede, and therfore, er thou thresshe
thy corne, open thy sheues, and pyke oute all maner of
wedes, and than thresshe it, and wynowe it cleane, 4
and so shalt thou haue good clene corne an other
[Sidenote: In Essex and Kent they fan the corn.]
yere. And in some countreys, aboute London specyallye,
and in Essex and Kente, they do fan theyr corne, the
whiche is a verye good gise, and a great saueguarde for 8
shedynge of the corne. And whan thou shalte sell it,
if it be well wynowed or fande, it wyll be solde the
derer, and the lyghte corne wyll seme the husbande in
his house. 12
36. ¶ To seuer pees, beanes, and fytches.
[Sidenote: Sift your peas and beans.]
Whan thou haste thresshed thy pees, and beanes,
after they be wynowed, and er thou shalte sowe or selle
them, let theym be well reed with syues, and seuered in
[Sidenote: [Fol. 26.]]
thre partes, the great from the small, and thou shalte gette 4
in euerye quarter a London busshell, or there about. For
[Sidenote: Separate small from large.]
the small corne lyeth in the holowe and voyde places of
the greate beanes, and yet shall the greate beanes be solde
as dere, as if they were all together, or derer, as a man 8
may proue by a famylier ensample. Let a man bye
[Sidenote: 120 herrings, at 2 a penny, cost 5 shillings;]
.C. hearynges,[26] two hearynges for a penye, and an other
.C. hearynges, thre for a peny, and let hym sell these
.CC. hearinges agayne .v. heringes for .ii. d.; nowe hath 12
he loste .iiii. d. For C. hearinges, .ii. for i. d., cost v. s.,
[Sidenote: 120 herrings, at 3 a penny, cost 3_s._ 4_d._;
or 8_s._ 4_d._ in all.]
and C. hearynges, .iii. for a peny, coste .iii s. and .iiii d.,
the whiche is .viii. s and .iiii. d.; and whan he selleth
.v. herynges for .ii. d., xx. heringes cometh but 16
[Sidenote: 20 herrings, at 5 for 2_d._, cost 8_d._; 12 times
as much are 24 groats, or 8_s._]
to .viii. d. and there is but .xii. score heringes, and that
is but .xii. grotes, and xii. grotes, and that cometh but to
.viii. s. and so he hath lost .iiii. d. and it is bicause there be
not so many bargeins, for in the bienge of these .CC. 20
heringes there be .v. score bargeins, and in the sellinge
of the same there be but .xlviii. bargeyns, and so is
there lost .x. hearinges, the whiche wolde haue ben .ii.
[Sidenote: Always buy by gross sale, and sell by retail.]
bargeyns moo, and than it had ben euen and mete. And 24
therfore he that byeth grosse sale, and retayleth, muste
nedes be a wynner. And so shalt thou be a loser, if
thou sell thy pees, beanes, and fytches together: for than
[Sidenote: [Fol. 26_b_.]]
thou sellest grosse sale. And if thou seuer them in thre 28
partes, than thou doest retayle, wherby thou shalte wynne.
37. ¶ Of shepe, and what tyme of the yere the rammes
shulde be put to the ewes.
An housbande can not well thryue by his corne,
without he haue other cattell, nor by his cattell, without
corne. For els he shall be a byer, a borower, or
[Sidenote: Sheep are the most profitable cattle.]
a begger. And bycause that shepe in myne opynyon is 4
the mooste profytablest cattell that any man can haue,
therfore I pourpose to speake fyrst of shepe. Than
fyrst is to be knowen, what tyme thou shalt put thy
[Sidenote: Rams and ewes.]
rammes to thy ewes; and therin I make a distinction, for 8
euery man maye not put to theyr rammes all at one
tyme; for if they doo, there wyll be greate hurte and
losse; for that man, that hath the best shepe-pasture for
wynter, and soone spryngynge in the begynnynge of the 12
yere, he maye suffre his rammes to goo with his ewes
all tymes of the yere, to blyssomme or ryde whan they
wyll: but for the comon pasture, it is tyme to put to his
[Sidenote: Sept. 14.]
rammes at the Exaltation of the holye crosse: for than 16
[Sidenote: [Fol. 27.]]
the bucke goth to the rut, and so wolde the ra_m_me.
But for the common husbande, that hath noo pasture but
the common fieldes, it is tyme ynoughe at the feste of
[Sidenote: Sept. 29.]
saynt Mychaell the archangel. And for the poore 20
housbande of the Peeke, or suche other, that dwell in
hylly and hyghe groundes, that haue no pastures, nor
common fieldes, but all-onely the comon hethe, Symon
[Sidenote: Oct. 28.]
and Jude daye is good tyme for theym, and this is the 24
reason why. An ewe goth with lambe .xx. wekes, and
shall yeane her lambe in the .xxi. weke; & if she haue
not conueniente newe grasse to eate, she maye not gyue
her lambe mylke: and for wante of mylke, there be 28
manye lambes perysshed and loste: and also for pouertye,
the dammes wyll lacke mylke, and forsake theyr lambes,
and soo often tymes they dye bothe in suche harde
countreys. 32
38. ¶ To make an ewe to loue her lambe.
If thy ewe haue mylke, and wyll not loue her lambe,
put her in a narowe place made of bordes, or of smothe
trouse, a yarde wyde, and put the lambe to her, and
[Sidenote: If a ewe]
socle it, and yf the ewe smyte the lambe with her 4
[Sidenote: [Fol. 27_b_.]]
heed, bynd her heed with a heye-rope, or a corde, to
[Sidenote: smite her lamb, tie up her head.]
the syde of the penne: and if she wyl not stande
syde longe all the lambe,[27] than gyue her a lyttell hey,
and tye a dogge by her, that she maye se hym: and 8
this wyll make her to loue her lambe shortely. And
if thou haue a lambe deed, wherof the damme hath
[Sidenote: Put a dead lamb’s skin on a live lamb, and so
change its dam.]
moche mylke, fley that lambe, and tye that skynne vpon
an other lambes backe, that hath a sory damme, with 12
lyttell mylke, and put the good ewe and that lambe to-gether
in the penne, and in one houre she wyll loue
that lambe; & than mayst thou take thy sory weyke
ewe awaye, and put her in an other place: and by this 16
meanes thou mayste fortune to saue her lyfe, and the
lambes bothe.
39. ¶ What tyme lambes shulde be wayned.
In some places they neuer seuer their lambes from
theyr dammes, and that is for two causes: One is, in
the beste pasture where the rammes goo alwaye with
[Sidenote: In the best pastures, lambs wean themselves.]
theyr ewes, there it nedeth not, for the dammes wil 4
waxe drye, and wayne theyr lambes theym-selfe. An
other cause is, he that hath noo seuerall and sounde
[Sidenote: [Fol. 28.]]
pasture, to put his lambes vnto whan they shoulde be
wayned, he muste eyther sell them, or let them sucke 8
as longe as the dammes wyll suffre theym; and it is
a common sayinge, that the lambe shall not rotte, as
longe as it souketh, excepte the damme wante meate.
[Sidenote: Lambs to be weaned at 16 weeks, or 18.]
But he that hath seueral and sounde pasture, it is tyme 12
to wayne theyr lambes, whanne they be .xvi. wekes
old, or .xviii. at the farthest, and the better shall the
ewe take the ramme agayne. And the poore man of
the peeke countreye, and suche other places, where as 16
they vse to mylke theyr ewes, they vse to wayne theyr
[Sidenote: In the Peak, lambs are weaned at 12 weeks.]
lambes at xii. wekes olde, and to mylke theyr ewes
fiue or syxe wekes, &c. But those lambes be neuer
soo good as the other that sucke longe, and haue 20
meate ynoughe.
40. ¶ To drawe shepe, and seuer them in dyuers places.
Than thou grasier, that hast many shepe in thy
[Sidenote: Have a large sheep-fold;]
pastures, it is conuenient for the to haue a shepefolde
made with a good hedge or a pale, the whiche wyll
receyue all thy shepe easyly that goo in one pasture, 4
sette betwene two of thy pastures, in a drye place;
[Sidenote: [Fol. 28_b_.]]
and adioynynge to the ende of the same, make an
[Sidenote: another to hold 90 sheep;]
other lyttell folde, that wyll receyue lxxxx. shepe or
moo, and bothe those foldes muste haue eyther of 8
theym a gate in-to eyther pasture, and at the ende
of that folde make an other lyttell folde, that wyll
[Sidenote: and another for 40 sheep.]
receyue .xl. shepe or mo, and betwene euery folde a
gate. And whan the shepe are in the greate folde, 12
let .xl. of them, or there about, come into the myddle
[Sidenote: Let the shepherd examine them in the middle fold.]
folde, and steke the gate. And than let the shepeherde
turne them, and loke them on euery syde, and if he se
or fynde any shepe, that nedeth any helpynge or mending 16
for any cause, lette the shepeherde take that shepe
with his hoke, and put hym in the lyttell folde. And
whan he hath taken all that nedeth any mendyng, than
put the other in-to whether pasture he wyll, and let in as 20
[Sidenote: Put the sick ones in the little fold.]
many out of the greate folde, and take those that nede
any handling, and put them into the lyttell folde. And
thus peruse them all tyll he haue doone, and than let the
shepeherde go belte, grese, and handel all those that he 24
hath drawen, and than shall not the great flocke be taryed
nor kepte from theyr meate: and as he hath mended
them, to put them into theyr pasture.
41. ¶ To belte shepe.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 29.]]
If any shepe raye or be fyled with dounge about the
[Sidenote: How to belt sheep.]
the tayle, take a payre of sheres and clyppe it awaye, and
cast dry muldes thervpon: and if it be in the heate of the
sommer, it wolde be rubbed euer with a lyttell terre, to 4
[Sidenote: Have a board to lay a sheep upon.]
kepe awaye the flyes. It is necessarye that a shepeherde
haue a borde, set fast to the syde of his lyttell folde, to
laye his shepe vpon when he handeleth theym, and an
hole bored in the borde with an augur, and therin a 8
grayned staffe of two fote longe, to be set fast, to hang
[Sidenote: A shepherd wants a dog, a hook, shears, and a
tar-box.]
his terre-boxe vpon, and than it shall not fall. And a
shepeherde shoulde not go without his dogge, his shepe-hoke,
a payre of sheres, and his terre-boxe, eyther with 12
hym, or redye at his shepe-folde, and he muste teche his
dogge to barke whan he wolde haue hym, to ronne whan
he wold haue hym, and to leue ronning whan he wolde
haue hym; or els he is not a cunninge shepeherd. The 16
dogge must lerne it, whan he is a whelpe, or els it wyl
not be: for it is harde to make an olde dogge to stoupe.
42. ¶ To grease shepe.
[Sidenote: How to grease sheep.]
If any sheepe be scabbed, the shepeherde maye perceyue
it by the bytynge, rubbyng, or scratchynge with
[Sidenote: [Fol. 29_b_.]]
his horne, and mooste commonly the woll wyll ryse, and
be thyn or bare in that place: than take hym, and shede 4
the woll with thy fyngers, there as the scab is, and with
thy fynger laye a lyttell terre thervpon, and stroke it a
lengthe in the bottom of the woll, that it be not seen
[Sidenote: Part the wool and put tar on.]
aboue. And so shede the woll by and by, and laye a 8
lyttell terre thervppon, tyll thou passe the sore, and than
it wyll go no farther.
43. ¶ To medle terre.
[Sidenote: How to mix tar.]
Let thy terre be medled with oyle, gose-grease, or
capons grease, these three be the beste, for these wyll
make the terre to ronne abrode: butter and swynes grease,
whan they be molten, are good, soo they be not salte; for 4
terre of hym-selfe is to kene, and is a fretter, and no
healer, without it be medled with some of these.
44. ¶ To make brome salue.
¶ A medicyne to salue poore mennes shepe, that thynke
terre to costely: but I doubte not, but and ryche men
[Sidenote: [Fol. 30.]]
knowe it, they wolde vse the same. Take a shete ful of
[Sidenote: Chop broom small, and boil it;]
brome, croppes, leaues, blossomes, and all, and chop 4
them very smal, and than sethe them in a pan of .xx.
gallons with rennynge water, tyll it begyn to waxe thycke
like a gelly, than take two pounde of shepe suet molten,
[Sidenote: add suet and brine;]
and a pottell of olde pysse, and as moche bryne made 8
with salte, and put all in-to the sayde panne, and styrre it
aboute, and than streyne it thorowe an olde clothe, and
putte it in-to what vessell ye wyll, and yf your shepe be
[Sidenote: use it warm with a sponge.]
newe clypped, make it luke-warme, and than washe your 12
shepe there-with, with a sponge or a pece of an olde
mantell, or of faldynge, or suche a softe cloth or woll,
[Sidenote: It can be used at any time.]
for spendynge to moche of your salue. And at all tymes
of the yere after, ye may relent it, and nede require: and 16
make wyde sheydes in the woll of the shepe, and anoynt
them with it, & it shal heale the scabbe, and kyll the
shepe-lyce, and it shall not hurte the woll in the sale
therof. And those that be washen wyll not take scabbe 20
after (if they haue sufficient meate); for that is the beste
grease that is to a shepe, to grease hym in the mouthe
with good meate; the whiche is also a greate saueguarde
[Sidenote: Good meat in the mouth]
to the shepe for rottynge, excepte there come myldewes, 24
[Sidenote: [Fol. 30_b_.]]
[Sidenote: is the best grease for sheep.]
for he wyl chose the beste, if he haue plentye. And
he that hath but a fewe shepe moderate this medicyne
accordynge.
45. ¶ If a shepe haue mathes.
[Sidenote: Maggots in sheep.]
If a shepe haue mathes, ye shall perceyue it by her
bytynge, or fyskynge, or shakyng of her tayle, and mooste
commonlye it is moyst and wete: and if it be nyghe vnto
the tayle, it is ofte tymes grene, and fyled with his 4
[Sidenote: How cured.]
dounge: and than the shepeherde muste take a payre
of sheres, and clyppe awaye the woll bare to the skynne,
and take a handfull of drye moldes, and cast the moldes
thervpon to drye vp the wete, and then wype the muldes 8
away, and lay terre there as the mathes were, and a lyttell
farther. And thus loke theym euery daye, and mende
theym, if they haue nede.
46. ¶ Blyndenes of shepe, and other dyseases, and
remedies therfore.
[Sidenote: Blindness in sheep.]
There be some shepe that wyll be blynd a season, and
yet mende agayn. And if thou put a lytel terre in his eye,
he will mende the rather. There be dyuers waters, &
[Sidenote: [Fol. 31.]]
other medicyns, that wolde mende hym, but this is 4
[the] mooste common medicyne that shepeherdes vse.
47. ¶ The worme in the shepes fote, and helpe therfore.
There be some shepe, that hath a worme in his foote,
[Sidenote: Worms in a sheep’s foot.]
that maketh hym halte. Take that shepe, and loke betwene
his clese, and there is a lyttell hole, as moche as a
greatte pynnes heed, and therin groweth fyue or syxe 4
blacke heares, lyke an inche long and more; take a sharpe
poynted knyfe, and slytte the skynne a quarter of an inche
long aboue the hole and as moche benethe, and put thy
[Sidenote: How cured.]
one hande in the holowe of the fote, vnder the hinder 8
clese, and set thy thombe aboue almooste at the slytte,
and thruste thy fyngers vnderneth forward, and with thy
other hand take the blacke heares by the ende, or with
thy knyues poynte, and pull the heares a lyttell and a 12
lyttell, and thruste after thy other hande, with thy fynger
and thy thombe, and there wyll come oute a worme lyke
a pece of fleshe, nygh as moche as a lyttel fynger. And
whan it is out, put a lyttel tarre into the hole, and it wyll 16
be shortely hole.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 31_b_.]]
48. ¶ The blode, and remedy if one come betyme.
There is a sicknes amo_n_g shepe, and is called the
[Sidenote: ‘The blood’ in sheep.]
bloude; that shepe, that hath that, wil dye sodeinly, and
er he dye, he wil stande stil, and hange downe the heed,
& other-while quake. If the shepeherde can espye 4
hym, let him take and rubbe hym about the heed, &
specyally about his eares, and vnder his eyen, & with
[Sidenote: Cut off the sheep’s ears.]
a knyfe cut of his eares in the middes, & also let hym
blode in a veyne vnder his eien: and if he blede wel, 8
he is lyke to lyue; and if he blede not, than kil him, and
saue his fleshe. For if he dye by hym-selfe, the flesshe is
loste, and the skyn wyll be ferre ruddyer, lyke blode,
more than an other skynne shall be. And it taketh 12
mooste commonly the fattest and best lykynge.
49. ¶ The pockes, and remedy therfore.
[Sidenote: Pocks in sheep.]
The pockes appere vppon the skyn, and are lyke reed
pymples, as brode as a farthynge, and therof wyll dye
many. And the remedy therfore is, to handle all thy
shepe, and to loke on euery parte of theyr bodyes: and 4
[Sidenote: [Fol. 32.]]
as many as ye fynde taken therwith, put them in fresshe
newe grasse, and kepe them fro theyr felowes, and to
loke thy flocke ofte, and drawe theym as they nede. And
if it be in sommer tyme, that there be no froste, than 8
[Sidenote: Wash them.]
washe them. Howe be it some shepeherdes haue other
medycines.
50. ¶ The wode euyll, and remedy therfore.
There is a sickenes among shepe, and is called the
[Sidenote: ‘Wood-evil’ in sheep.]
wode euyll, and that cometh in the sprynge of the yere,
and takethe them moste commonly in the legges, or in
the necke, and maketh them to halt, and to holde theyr 4
necke awry. And the mooste parte that haue that sicknes,
wyl dye shortely in a day or two. The best remedy is,
[Sidenote: Wash them and change their pasture.]
to wasshe theym a lyttell, and to chaunge theyr grounde,
and to bryng them to lowe grounde and freshe grasse. 8
And that sycknes is moste commonly on hylly grounde,
ley grounde, and ferny grounde, And some men vse to let
them bloudde vnder the eye in a vaine for the same cause.
51. ¶ To washe shepe.
[Sidenote: Wash and shear sheep in June.]
In June is tyme to shere shepe, and er they be shorne,
they muste be very well wasshen, the whiche shall be to
the owner great profyte in the sale of his woll, and also to
[Sidenote: [Fol. 32_b_.]]
the clothe-maker; but yet beware, that thou put not to many 4
shepe in a penne at one tyme, neyther at the washyng,
nor at the sheryng, for feare of murtheryng or ouer-pressyng
of their felowes, and that none go awaye, tyll he be
cleane washen, and se that they that hold the shepe by 8
the heed in the water, holde his heed hye ynoughe for
drownynge.
52. ¶ To shere shepe.
[Sidenote: How to shear sheep.]
Take hede of the sherers, for touchynge the shepe with
the sheres, and specially for pryckyng with the poynte of
the sheres, and that the shepeherde be alway redy with
his tarboxe to salue them. And se that they be well 4
[Sidenote: Mark them well.]
marked, bothe eare-marke, pitche-marke, and radel-marke,
and let the wol be well folden or wounden with
a woll-wynder, that can good skyll therof, the whiche shal
do moche good in the sale of the same. 8
53. ¶ To drawe and seuer the badde shepe from the good.
[Sidenote: Separate the sheep into flocks.]
Whan thou haste all shorne thy shepe, it is than best
tyme to drawe them, and soo seuer theym in dyuers sortes;
[Sidenote: [Fol. 33.]]
the shepe that thou wylte fede by them-selfe, the ewes by
theym-selfe, the share-hogges and theyues by them-selfe, 4
the lambes by theym-selfe, wedders and the rammes by
them-self, if thou haue soo many pastures for them: for
the byggest wyll beate the weikeste with his heed. And of
[Sidenote: Put those of one kind together.]
euery sort of shepe, it may fortune there be some, that 8
like not and be weike; those wolde be put in freshe
grasse by theym-selfe: and whan they be a lyttel mended,
than sel them, and ofte chaunge of grasse shal mend all
12 maner of cattell.
54. ==> What thynges rotteth shepe.
It is necessary that a shepeherde shoulde knowe what
thynge rotteth shepe, that he myght kepe them the
[Sidenote: Spear-wort.]
better. Ther is a grasse called sperewort, and hath a
long narowe leafe, lyke a spere-heed, and it wyll growe 4
a fote hyghe, and beareth a yelowe floure, as brode as a
peny, and it growethe alwaye in lowe places where the
water is vsed to stande in wynter. An other grasse is
[Sidenote: Penny-grass.]
called peny-grasse, and groweth lowe by the erthe in a 8
marsshe grounde, and hath a leafe as brode as a peny of
two pens, and neuer beareth floure. All maner of grasse,
[Sidenote: [Fol. 33_b_.]]
that the lande-floudde renneth ouer, is verye ylle for
shepe, bycause of the sande and fylthe that stycketh 12
[Sidenote: Marshy ground is bad.]
vppon it. All marreys grounde, and marsche grounde is
yll for shepe; the grasse that groweth vppon falowes is
not good for shepe; for there is moche of it wede, and
ofte tymes it commeth vppe by the rote, and that bryngeth 16
[Sidenote: Mildew.]
erthe with it, and they eate both, &c. Myldewe-grasse
is not good for shepe, and that ye shall knowe two
wayes. One is by the leaues on the trees in the mornynge,
and specyally of okes; take the leaues, and putte 20
thy tonge to them, and thou shalt fele lyke hony vppon
them. And also there wyll be many kelles vppon the
grasse, and that causeth the myldewe. Wherfore they
may not well be let out of the folde tyll the sonne haue 24
[Sidenote: Hunger-rot.]
domynation to drye them awaye. Also hunger-rotte is
the worst rotte that can be, for there is neither good
flesshe nor good skynne, and that cometh for lacke of
meate, and so for hunger they eate suche as they can 28
fynde: and so will not pasture-shepe, for they selden
rot but with myldewes, and than wyll they haue moch
[Sidenote: White snails.]
talowe and fleshe, and a good skyn. Also white snailes
be yll for shepe in pastures, and in falowes. There 32
[Sidenote: Pelt-rot.]
is an other rotte, whiche is called pelte-rotte, and that
[Sidenote: [Fol. 34.]]
commeth of greatte wete, specyally in woode countreyes,
where they can not drye.
55. ¶ To knowe a rotten shepe dyuers maner wayes,
wherof some of them wyll not fayle.
[Sidenote: How to know rotten sheep.]
Take bothe your handes, and twyrle vpon his eye, and
if he be ruddy, and haue reed stryndes in the white of
the eye, than he is sounde; and if the eye be white, lyke
talowe, and the stryndes darke-coloured, thanne he is 4
rotten. And also take the shepe, and open the wolle
on the syde, and yf the skynne be of ruddy colour and
drye, than is he sounde; and if it be pale-coloured, and
watrye, thanne is he rotten. Also whanne ye haue 8
[Sidenote: Rotten sheep have loose wool.]
opened the woll on the syde, take a lyttell of the woll
bytwene thy fynger and thy thombe, and pull it a lyttell,
and if it sticke faste, he is sounde, and if it comme
lyghtely of, he is rotten. Also whan thou haste kylde a 12
shepe, his belly wyll be full of water, if he be sore
rotten, and also the fatte of the fleshe wyll be yelowe,
if he be rotten. And also if thou cut the lyuer, therin
[Sidenote: Rotten sheep have flukes in the liver.]
wyll be lyttell quikens lyke flokes, and also the lyuer 16
wyll be full of knottes and whyte blysters, yf he be
[Sidenote: [Fol. 34_b_.]]
rotten; and also sethe the lyuer, if he be rotten it wyll
breke in peces, and if he be sounde, it wyll holde
together. 20
56. ¶ To bye leane cattell.
These housbandes, if they shall well thryue, they
muste haue bothe kye, oxen, horses, mares, and yonge
cattell, and to rere and brede euery yere some calues,
[Sidenote: How to buy oxen.]
and fools, or els shall he be a byer. And yf thou shalte 4
by oxen for the ploughe, se that they be yonge, and
not gowty, nor broken of heare, neyther of tayle, nor
of pysell. And yf thou bye kye to the payle, se that
[Sidenote: How to buy cows.]
they be yonge and good to mylke, and fede her calues 8
wel. And if thou bye kye or oxen to feede, the yonger
they be, the rather they wyll fede; but loke well, that
the heare stare not, and that he lycke hym-selfe, and
be hoole-mouthed, and want no tethe. And thoughe he 12
haue the goute and be broken, bothe of tayle and
pysell, yet wyll he fede. But the gouty oxe wyll not
[Sidenote: How to choose an ox.]
be dryuen ferre; and se that he haue a brode ryb, and
a thycke hyde, and to be lose-skinned, that it stycke not 16
harde nor streyte to his rybbes, for than he wyll not fede.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 35.]]
57. ¶ To bye fatte cattell.
[Sidenote: How to buy fat cattle.]
If thou shalte bye fatte oxen or kye, handel them,
and se that they be soft on the fore-croppe, behynde
the shulder, and vpon the hindermost rybbe, and upon
the hucbone, and the nache by the tayle. And se 4
the oxe haue a greate codde, and the cowe great
nauyll, for than it shulde seme that they shuld be wel
[Sidenote: See where, and of whom, you buy.]
talowed. And take hede, where thou byeste any leane
cattel or fat, and of whom, and where it was bred. For 8
if thou by out of a better grou_n_d than thou haste thy-selfe,
that cattell wyll not lyke with the. And also
loke, that there be no maner of sycknes amonge the
cattell in that towneshyp or pasture that thou byest thy 12
catel oute of. For if there be any murren or longe
sought, it is great ieoperdy: for a beast maye take sycknes
ten or .xii. dayes or more, ere it appere on hym.
58. ¶ Dyuers sycnesses of cattell, and remedies
therfore, and fyrst of murren.
[Sidenote: Murrain.]
And yf it fortune to fall murren amonge thy beastes,
as god forbede, there be men ynough can helpe them.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 35_b_.]]
And it commeth of a ranknes of bloudde, and appereth
moste commonly fyrste in the heed; for his heed wyll 4
swell, and his eyen waxe greate and ronne of water
and frothe at the mouthe, and than he is paste remedy,
and wyl dye shortely, and wyll neuer eate after he be
[Sidenote: Flay the dead beast, and bury it.]
sycke. Than flee him, and make a depe pytte faste by, 8
there as he dyeth, and caste hym in, and couer hym with
erthe, that noo dogges may come to the caryen. For as
many beastes as feleth the smelle of that caryen, are
lykely to be enfecte; and take the skynne, and haue it 12
to the tanners to sell, and bryng it not home, for peryll
that may fal. And it is commonly vsed, and cometh of
[Sidenote: Set the beast’s head, on a pole, in the hedge.]
a greate charytie, to take the bare heed of the same beaste
and put vpon a longe pole, and set it in a hedge, faste 16
bounden to a stake, by the hyghe-waye syde, that euerye
man, that rydethe or goeth that waye, maye se and knowe
by that signe, that there is sycknes of cattell in the towneshyp.
And the husbandes holde an opynyon, that it shall 20
the rather cease. And whanne the beaste is flaine, there
as the murren dothe appere bytwene the flesshe and the
skynne, it wyll ryse vppe lyke a ielly and frothe an inche
[Sidenote: Remedy for murrain.]
depe or more. And this is the remedy for the murren. 24
Take a smalle curteyne-corde, and bynde it harde aboute
[Sidenote: [Fol. 36.]]
the beastes necke, and that wyll cause the bloudde to
come in-to the necke, and on eyther syde of the necke
there is a vayne that a man may fele with his fynger; and 28
[Sidenote: Bleed the sick cattle.]
than take a bloud-yren, and set it streight vppon the
vayne, and smyte him bloudde on bothe sydes, and let
hym blede the mountenaunce of a pynte or nyghe it, and
than take awaye the corde, and it wyll staunche bleding. 32
And thus serue all thy cattell, that be in that close or
pasture, and there shall no mo be sicke, by goddes leue.
59. ¶ Longe sought, and remedy therefore.
There is an nother maner of sycknesse among bestes,
[Sidenote: ‘Long sought.’]
and it is called longe soughte; and that sickenes wyl
endure lo_n_g, and ye shal perceyue it by his hoystynge;
he wyl stande moche, and eate but a littel, and waxe very 4
[Sidenote: The beast coughs 20 times an hour.]
holowe & thin. And he wil hoyst .xx. times in an houre,
and but fewe of them do mende. The best remedy is to
kepe thy cattell in sondrye places, and as many as were
in companye with that beast that fyrst fell sycke, to let 8
[Sidenote: [Fol. 36_b_.]]
them a lyttel bloude. And there be many men, that can
[Sidenote: Cut the dewlap.]
seuer them, and that is to cutte the dewlappe before, and
there is a grasse that is called feitergrasse, take that
grasse, and broyse it a lyttell in a morter, and thanne put 12
therof as moche as an hennes egge in-to the sayd dewlappe,
and se it fall not oute. Thus I have seen vsed,
and men haue thought it hath done good.
60. ¶ Dewbolne,[28] and the harde remedy therfore.
[Sidenote: ‘Dewbolne.’]
An other dysease amonge beastes is called dewbolne,[28]
and that commeth whan a hungry beaste is put in a
good pasture full of ranke grasse, he wyll eate soo
moche that his sydes wyll stande as hygh as his backe-bone, 4
and other-whyle the one syde more thanne the
other, and but fewe of them wyll dye; but he maye
[Sidenote: The beast is swollen.]
not be dryuen hastely, nor laboured, being so swollen,
and the substaunce of it is but wynde; and therfore 8
he wolde be softly dryuen, and not sytte downe. Howe
[Sidenote: Some men pierce a hole in the beast.]
be it I haue seen a manne take a knyfe, and thruste hym
thorowe the skynne and the flesshe two inches depe, or
more, vi. inches or more from the ridge-bone, that the 12
[Sidenote: [Fol. 37.]]
wynde maye come out. For the wynde lyeth bytwene
the fleshe and the grete paunche.
61. ¶ Rysen vpon, and the remedy therfore.
[Sidenote: ‘Risen upon.’]
An other dysease is called rysen vppon, and no man
can tell howe, nor wherof it cometh: but ye shall perceyue
that by swellynge in the heed, and specyallye by
[Sidenote: The beast’s eyes run.]
the eyen, for they wyll ronne on water, and close his 4
syght; and wyll dye shortly within an houre or two, if
he be not holpen. This is the cause of his dysease.
There is a blyster rysen vnder the tounge, the whiche
blyster must be slytte with a knyfe a-crosse. Whan ye 8
[Sidenote: Find the blister under the tongue, and cut it.]
haue pulled out the tongue, rubbe the blyster well with
salte, and take an hennes egge, and breake it in the
beastes mouthe shell and all, and cast salte to it, and
holde vp the bestes heed, that all maye be swalowed 12
downe into the body. But the breakynge of the blyster
is the greate helpe, and dryue the beaste a lyttell aboute,
and this shall saue hym, by the helpe of Jesu.
62. ==> The turne, and remedy therfor.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 37_b_.]]
[Sidenote: ‘The turn.’]
There be beastes that wyll turne about, whan they
eate theyr meate, and wyll not fede, and is great
ieoperdy for fallynge in pyttes, dyches, or waters: and
[Sidenote: There is a bladder between the brain and
brain-pan.]
it is bycause that there is a bladder in the foreheed 4
bytwene the brayne-panne and the braynes, the whiche
must be taken out, or els he shal neuer mende, but dye
at lengthe, and this is the remedy and the greatest cure
that can be on a beaste. Take that beast, and cast him 8
downe, and bynde his foure fete together, and with thy
thombe, thrust the beast in the foreheed, and where
thou fyndest the softest place, there take a knyfe, and
cut the skyn, three or foure inches on bothe sides 12
bytwene the hornes, and as moche benethe towarde
the nose, and fley it, and turne it vp, and pyn it faste
with a pyn, and with a knyfe cut the brayne-pan .ii.
[Sidenote: Cut the bone, but not the brain, and take out
the bladder.]
inches brode, and thre inches longe, but se the knyfe 16
go no deper than the thycknes of the bone for perysshynge
of the brayne, and take away the bone, and than
shalt thou se a bladder full of water two inches longe
and more, take that out, and hurte not the brayne, and 20
thanne let downe the skynne, and sowe it faste there
as it was before, and bynde a clothe two or thre folde
vpon his foreheed, to kepe it from colde and wete .x. or
[Sidenote: [Fol. 38.]]
.xii. dayes. And thus haue I seen many mended. But 24
if the beaste be fatte, and any reasonable meate vpon
hym, it is best to kyll hym, for than there is but lyttell
losse. And if the bladder be vnder the horne, it is
past cure. A shepe wyll haue the turne as well as a 28
beast, but I haue seen none mended.
63. ==> The warrybrede, and the remedy therfore.
[Sidenote: ‘Warrybrede.’]
There be beastes that wyll haue warrybredes in dyuers
partes of theyr body and legges, and this is the remedy.
Cast hym downe, and bynde his foure fete together, and
[Sidenote: Take a hot iron, and sear it.]
take a culture, or a payre of tonges, or such an other 4
yren, and take it glowing hote: and if it be a longe
warrybrede, sere it of harde by the body, and if it be
in the beginninge, and be but flatte, than lay the hot
yren vpon it, and sere it to the bare skyn, and it will be 8
hole for euer, be it horse or beast.
64. ¶ The foule, and the remedy therfore.
[Sidenote: ‘The foul.’]
There be bestes, that wyll haue the foule, and that
is betwene the cleese, sometyme before, and sometyme
[Sidenote: [Fol. 38_b_.]]
behynde, and it wyll swell, and cause hym to halt, and
this is the remedy. Cast hym downe and bind his foure 4
[Sidenote: Rub a rope between his claws till he bleeds.]
fete together, & take a rope of heare, or a hey-rope,
harde wrythen together, and put it betwene his cleese,
and drawe the rope to and fro a good season, tyll he
blede well, and than laye to it softe made terre, and 8
binde a cloute aboute it, that noo myre nor grauell
come betwene the clese: and put hym in a pasture, or
let hym stande styll in the house, and he wyll be
shortly hole. 12
65. ¶ The goute, without remedy.
[Sidenote: The gout.]
There be beastes, that wyll haue the goute, and moste
commonly in the hynder fete, and it wyll cause them to
halt, and go starkely. And I knewe neuer manne that
[Sidenote: No remedy.]
coulde helpe it, or fynde remedye therfore, but all-onely 4
to put hym in good grasse, and fede hym.
66. ¶ To rere calues.
[Sidenote: To rear calves.]
It is conueniente for a housbande to rere calues, and
specyally those that come bytwene Candelmasse and
Maye, for that season he may spare mylke beste; and by
[Sidenote: [Fol. 39.]]
that tyme the calfe shall be wayned, there wyll be grasse 4
ynoughe to put hym vnto. And at winter he wyll be
bygge ynoughe to saue hym-selfe amonge other beastes,
with a lyttell fauoure. And the damme of the calfe shall
bull agayne, and brynge an other by the same time of 8
the yere: and if thou shalt tary tyll after May, the calfe
wolde be weyke in wynter, and the damme wolde not
bull agayne: but ofte tyme go bareyn. And if thou
shalte rere a calfe that commeth after Myghelmasse, it 12
wyll be costly to kepe the calfe all the wynter-season at
hey, and the damme at harde meate in the house, as they
vse in the playne champyon countrey. And a cowe shall
[Sidenote: A cow gives more milk on grass than on hay.]
gyue more mylke with a lyttell grasse and strawe, lyenge 16
without in a close, thanne she shall doo with hey and
strawe, lyenge in an house; for the harde meate dryeth
vp the mylke. But he that hath no pasture, muste do as
he may; but yet is it better to the housbande to sell those 20
calues than to rere them, bycause of the cost, and also
for the profytte of the mylke to his house, and the rather
the cowe wyll take the bull. If the husbande go with
an oxe-plough, it is conuenient that he rere two oxe-calues 24
and two cowe-calues at the least, to vpholde his
flocke, and if he maye do moo, it wyll be more profyte.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 39_b_.]]
And it is better, to wayne thy calues at grasse before.
And that man, that maye haue a pasture for his kye, and 28
an other for his calues, and water in them both, maye
rere and brede good beastes with lyghte coste. And if
[Sidenote: Do not wean calves on hay.]
thou waine thy calues with hey, it wyl make them haue
great belyes, and the rather they wyll rotte whan they 32
come to grasse, and in wynter they wolde be put in a
house by them-selfe, and gyuen hey on the nyghtes, and
put in a good pasture on the day, and they shal be moche
better to handell, whan they shal be kye or oxen. 36
67. ==> To gelde calues.
[Sidenote: To geld ox-calves.]
It is tyme to gelde his oxen calues in the olde of the
mone, whan they be .x. or .xx. dayes olde, for than it is
leaste ieoperdye, and the oxe shall be the more hyer, and
the lenger of body, and the le_n_ger horned: and that maye 4
be well prouyd, to take two oxe-calues, both of one kynde,
of one makynge, and both of one age; gelde one of
them, and let the other goo forthe and be a bull, and
[Sidenote: A gelt calf grows bigger than a bull.]
put theym bothe in one pasture, tyll they be foure or 8
fyue yere olde: and than shall ye se the oxe-calfe ferre
[Sidenote: [Fol. 40.]]
greatter euery waye than the bull; there is noo cause but
the geldynge; and yf thou gelde them not tyll they be
a yere olde, there is more ieopardye, he shall be lesse of 12
bodye, and shorte-horned.
68. ¶ Horses and mares to drawe.
[Sidenote: Horses and mares.]
A husbande maye not be withoute horses and mares,
or bothe; and specially, if he go with a horse-ploughe, he
muste haue both his horses to drawe, and his mares to
brynge coltes, to vpholde his flocke, and yet at manye 4
tymes they maye drawe well, if they be well handled.
But they maye not beare sackes, nor be rydden vppon
noo iourneys whan they be with foole, and specyally
whanne they haue gone with foole .xx. or .xxiiii. wekes, 8
[Sidenote: Take care of the mares.]
for than is the greateste ieopardy. For yf she be rydden
vppon, and sette vp hotte, or tourned out and take cold,
she wil caste her foole, the whiche woll be a greatte losse
to the housbande. For she wyll labour and beare whan 12
she hath fooled, and drawe whan she is with foole, as
well as the horse. It is conuenient for the husbande to
knowe, whanne his mare wolde be horsed. It is the
[Sidenote: [Fol. 40_b_.]]
common sayenge, that she wyll take the hors within .ix. or 16
.x. dayes, nexte after that she hath fooled: but that saying
I holde not with, for and she do so, she wyll not holde
therto, for the hors dothe dryue her to it. But .xx.
days after, is tymely ynoughe to brynge her to a hors. 20
For she wyl not holde to it, excepte she be kene of horsyng,
and that shal ye knowe by her shap, for that wyll twyrle
open, and close agayne, many tymes in an houre: and than
brynge her to a hors, and let her be with hym a day or a 24
nyght, and that is suffycyent. For it is better, to kepe
[Sidenote: Keep the horse from the mares.]
the horse frome the mares, than to go with them, for
dyuers causes, and specyally he shall be more lusty, and
the moo horse-coltes shall he gete. But he that hath 28
very many mares, may not alway attende them, but let
them go to-gether, and take as god sendes it. Some
men holde an opinion, that if the horse be put to the
[Sidenote: Men have various opinions about foals.]
mare in the begynnynge of the moone, after it be prime, 32
he shall gete a horse-foole. And some men saye the contrary:
that if he be putte to the mare in the olde of
the mone, he shoulde gete horse-fooles. And I saye,
it maketh noo matter, whether: for this cause I haue 36
[Sidenote: I have 60 horses myself.]
proued. I haue my selfe .lx. mares and more, able to
[Sidenote: [Fol. 41.]]
beare the horse, and from Maye daye vnto saynte Barthylmewes
daye, I have .v. or .vi. horses goynge with
theym bothe daye and nyghte, and at the foolynge-tyme 40
I haue vpon one daye a horse-fole, and on the nexte
daye, or seconde, a mare-fole, and on the thirde or
fourth day next after, a horse-fole agayne, and soo euery
weke of bothe sortes, and by theyr opynyon or reason, 44
I shulde haue .xiiii. dayes together horse-fooles, and
[Sidenote: With men who speak sophistically,]
other .xiiii. dayes together mare-foles. And me semethe,
that those men that holde that opinyon, speke sophystycallye;
that if soo be they layde any wagers thervppon, 48
that they shoulde bothe wynne in theyr owne conceyte
by this reason. Whether it were gette in the newe of
[Sidenote: a filly may be called a horse-foal; and a colt
may be called a mare-foal.]
the mone or in the olde of the mone, it is a horse-foole,
bycause a horse gate it, though it be a felly-fole; and it 52
is a mare-fole, bycause a mare fooled it, thoughe it be
a horse-colte. And so (_Diuersis respectibus_) theyr opynions
maye be trewe. But of one thynge I am certayne,
that some one horse wyll gette more horse-fooles than 56
other horse wyll doo, and lyke wyse a mare wyll beare moo
mare-fooles than some other mare wyll do, thoughe they
be horsed bothe with one horse. Me semeth there is
no reason why, but the lustynes of the nature of bothe 60
[Sidenote: [Fol. 41_b_.]]
partes, whether of them shall haue the domination.
But and ye haue mares of dyuers colours, than do as
I do, seuer them in diuers parcels, and put to your
[Sidenote: With white mares put a gray horse.]
white mares a grey horse, or a whyte horse that hath 64
noo whyte rathe in the foreheed; and to your grey
mares a white horse, so that he be not al white-skynned
aboute the mouthe. And to your mares of colour, that
haue no white vpon them, a coloured horse that hath 68
moch white on hym, and to your coloured mares of
mayne whyte, a horse of colour of mayn whyte. And
thus shal ye haue well coloured coltes. It maketh noo
mater of what colour the horse be, soo he be neyther 72
[Sidenote: Put not a white horse with a coloured mare.]
whyte nor grey. For if ye put a whyte horse to a
coloured mare, she shall haue moste comonly a sandy
colte, lyke an yren-gray, neyther lyke syre nor damme.
Howe be it I haue seen and knowen many mares, that 76
wyll haue theyr colte lyke the horse that gate it, the
whiche is agaynste kynde of mares, for a manne maye
rather gette one good horse than many good mares.
69. ==> The losse of a lambe, a calfe, or a foole.
It is lesse hurte to a man, to haue his cowe caste her
calfe, thanne an ewe to caste her lambe. For the calfe
[Sidenote: [Fol. 42.]]
wyll soucke as moche mylke, er it be able to kyll, as it
is worthe, and of the ewe commeth noo profytte of the 4
[Sidenote: Some men milk ewes, but it is a loss.]
mylke, but the lambe. Howe be it they vse in some
places to mylke theyr ewes, whan they haue wayned
theyr lambes: but that is great hurte to the ewes, and
wyll cause them, that they wyll not take the ramme at 8
the tyme of the yere for pouertye, but goo barreyne.
[Sidenote: A lost foal is a great loss.]
And if a mare caste her foole, that is thryse soo great
a losse, for if that foole be commen of good brede, as
it is necessary euery man to prouyde, for as moche 12
costes and charges hath a badde mare as a good, in
shorte space the foole, with good kepynge, maye be solde
for as moche money as wolde bye many calues and lambes. 15
70. ¶ What cattell shulde go to-gether in one pasture.
Beastes alone, nor horses alone, nor shepe alone,
excepte it be shepe vppon a verye hyghe grounde, wyll
not eate a pasture euen, but leaue many tuftes and hygh
grasse in dyuers places, excepte it be ouer-layde with 4
[Sidenote: Put beasts and horses in a pasture together.]
cattell. Wherfore knowe that horses and beastes wyll
agree well in oone pasture, for there is some maner of
[Sidenote: [Fol. 42_b_.]]
grasse that a horse[29] wyll eate, and the beast wyl
not eate, as the fytches, flasshes, and lowe places, and 8
all the holowe bunnes and pypes that growe therin. But
horses and shepe wyll not so well agree, excepte it be
shepe to fede, for a shepe wyll go on a bare pasture, and
wyll eate the sweteste grasse: and soo wyll a horse, but he 12
wolde haue it lenger. Howe be it he wyll eate as nyghe
the erthe as a shepe, but he can not so sone fyll his
[Sidenote: With 100 beasts put 20 horses.]
belly. To an hundred beastes ye maye put .xx. horses,
if it be lowe ground, and if there be grasse ynoughe, 16
put in an hundred shepe, and so after the rate, be the
pasture more or lesse. And after this maner they may
fede and eate the close euen and leue but fewe tuftes.
And if it be an hyghe grounde, put in moo shepe, 20
and lesse bestes and horses. Melch kye, and draught
oxen, wyll eate a close moche barer than as many fatte
[Sidenote: Milch kine should not be too fat,]
kye and oxen. And a melche cowe may haue to moch
meate: for if she waxe fatte, she wyll the rather take 24
the bull, and gyue lesse mylke. For the fatnes stoppeth
the poores and the vaines, that shuld brynge the mylke
to the pappes. And therfore meane grasse is beste
[Sidenote: but have a moderate diet.]
to kepe her in a meane estate. And if a cowe be 28
fatte, whan she shall calue, than is there great ieoperdy
in her, and the calfe shall be the lesse: but ye can not
[Sidenote: [Fol. 43.]]
gyue your draught-oxe to moche meate, excepte it be
the aftermath of a late mowen medowe. For that wyll 32
cause hym to haue the gyrre, and than he maye not well
[Sidenote: Too much grass is bad.]
laboure. And there be to moche grasse in a close, the
cattel shall fede the worse, for a good bytte to the erthe
is suffycyente. For if it be longe, the beaste wyll byte 36
of the toppe and noo more, for that is swetest, and the
other lyeth styll vppon the grounde and rotteth, and
no beaste wyll eate it but horse in wynter; but these
beastes, horses and shepe, maye not be fodered to-gether 40
[Sidenote: In winter, beasts will gore horses and sheep.]
in wynter, for thanne they wolde be seuered: for els
the beastes with theyr homes wyll put bothe horses
and the shepe, and gore them in theyr bellyes. And it
is necessarye to make standynge cratches, to caste theyr 44
fodder in, and the staues set nyghe ynough togyther,
for pullynge theyr fodder to hastely out, for shedynge.
And if it be layde vppon the erthe, the fourthe parte
therof wyll be loste: and if ye laye it vpon the erthe, 48
laye it euerye tyme in a newe place, for the olde wyll
marre the newe.
71. ¶ The properties of horses.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 43_b_.]]
[Sidenote: Grazier, be not beguiled!]
Thou grasyer, that mayst fortune to be of myne
opynyon or condityon, to loue horses and yonge coltes
or foles to go amonge thy cattel, take hede that thou
[Sidenote: I have been so 100 times.]
be not begyled, as I haue ben an hundred tymes and 4
[Sidenote: A good horse has 54 properties;]
more. And first thou shalt knowe, that a good horse
hath .liiii. propertyes, that is to say .ii. of a man, .ii. of
a bauson or a badger, .iiii. of a lyon, .ix. of an oxe, .ix.
of an hare, .ix. of a foxe, .ix. of an asse, and .x. of a 8
woman.
72. ¶ The two properties, that a horse hath of a man.
[Sidenote: two, of a man:]
The fyrste is, to haue a proude harte; and the seconde
is, to be bolde and hardy.
73. The .ii. propertyes of a bauson.
[Sidenote: two, of a badger:]
¶ The fyrste is, to haue a whyte rase or a ball in the
foreheed; the seconde, to haue a whyte fote.
74. The .iiii. properties of a lyon.
[Sidenote: four, of a lion:]
¶ The fyrste is, to haue a brode breste; the seconde, to
be styffe-docked; the thyrde, to be wylde in countenaunce;
the fourthe, to haue foure good legges.
75. The .ix. propertyes of an oxe.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 44.]]
[Sidenote: nine, of an ox:]
¶ The fyrste is, to be brode-rybbed; the .ii. to be lowe-brawned;
the thyrde, to be shorte-pasturned; the .iiii.
to haue greatte senewes; the fyfte, to be wyde betwene
the challes; the syxte is, to haue great nosethrylles; 4
the .vii. to be bygge on the chyn; the .viii. to be fatte
and well fedde; the .ix. to be vpryghte standynge.
76. The .ix. propertyes of an hare.
[Sidenote: nine, of a hare:]
¶ The fyrste is styffe-eared; the seconde, to haue greate
eyen; the thyrde, round eyen; the fourthe, to haue a
leane heed; the .v. to haue leane knees; the syxte, to be
wyght on foote; the .vii. to turne vpon a lyttell grounde; 4
the .viii. to haue shorte buttockes; the .ix. to haue two
good fyllettes.
77. The .ix. propertyes of a foxe.
[Sidenote: nine, of a fox:]
¶ The fyrste is, to be prycke-eared, the seconde, to
be lyttell-eared; the thyrde, to be rounde-syded; the
fourthe, to be syde-tayled; the fyfte, to be shorte-legged;
the syxte, to be blacke-legged; the .vii. to be 4
shorte-trottynge; the .viii. to be well coloured; the .ix.
to have a lyttell heed.
78. The .ix. propertyes of an asse.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 44_b_.]]
[Sidenote: nine, of an ass:]
¶ The fyrste is to be small-mouthed; the seconde, to be
longe-rayned: the .iii. to be thyn-cressed; the fourthe,
to be streyght-backed; the fyfth, to haue small stones;
the syxte, to be lathe-legged; the .vii. to be rounde-foted; 4
the eyght, to be holowe-foted; the .ix. to haue a toughe
houe.
79. The .x. properties of a woman.
[Sidenote: ten, of a woman:]
¶ The fyrst is, to be mery of chere; the seconde, to be
well paced; the thyrde, to haue a brode foreheed; the
fourth, to haue brode buttockes; the fyfthe, to be harde
of warde; the syxte, to be easye to lepe vppon; the .vii. 4
to be good at a longe iourneye; the .viii. to be well
sturrynge vnder a man; the .ix. to be alwaye besye with
the mouthe; the tenth, euer to be chowynge on the
brydell. ¶ It myght fortune I coude shewe as many 8
[Sidenote: I could tell you faults of horses, but then I
should break my promise.]
defautes of horses, as here be good propertyes, but than
I shulde breake my promyse, that I made at Grombalde
brydge, the first tyme I wente to Ryppon for to bye coltes.
But it is to suppose, that if a horse want any of these 12
good propertyes, that he shulde haue a defaute in the
same place. And this is suffycient for this time.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 45.]]
80. ¶ The diseases and sorance of horses.
[Sidenote: Diseases of horses.]
Nowe it is to be knowen, the soraunce and dyseases of
horses, & in what partes of theyr bodyes they be; that
a man maye the rather perceyue them. And howe be it
that it may be against my profyt, yet I wil shewe you 4
suche as cometh to my mynde.
81. The lampas.
[Sidenote: The lampas.]
¶ In the mouthe is the lampas, & is a thycke skyn full
of bloude, hangynge ouer his tethe aboue, that he may
not eate.
82. The barbes.
[Sidenote: The barbs.]
¶ The barbes be lyttell pappes in a horse mouth, and
lette hym to byte: these two be sone holpen.
83. Mournynge of the tonge.
[Sidenote: Mourning of the tongue.]
¶ Mournynge of the tonge is an yll dysease, and harde
to be cured.
84. Pursy.
[Sidenote: Pursiness.]
¶ Pursy is a dysease in an horses bodye, and maketh
hym to blowe shorte, and appereth at his nosethrilles,
and commeth of colde, and may be well mended.
85. Broken-wynded.
[Sidenote: Broken wind.]
¶ Broken-wynded is an yll dysease, and cometh of
[Sidenote: [Fol. 45_b_.]]
rennynge or rydynge ouer moche, and specially shortely
after he is watred, and appereth at his nosethryll, at his
flanke, and also at his tuell, and wyll not be mended; 4
and wyll moche blowe and coughe, if he be sore chafed;
and it wyl leaste appere, whan he is at grasse.
86. Glaunders.
[Sidenote: Glanders.]
¶ Glaunders is a disease, that may be mended, and
commeth of a heate, and a sodeyne colde, and appereth
at his nosethrylles, and betwene his chall-bones.
87. Mournynge on the chyne.
[Sidenote: Mourning on the chine.]
¶ Mournynge on the chyne is a dysease incurable, and
it appereth at his nosethryll lyke oke-water. A glaunder
whan it breaketh, is lyke matter. Broken-wynded, and
pursynes, is but shorte blowynge. 4
88. Stranguellyon.
[Sidenote: Stranguelion.]
¶ Stranguelyon is a lyght dysease to cure, and a horse
wyl be very sore sycke therof, and cometh of a chafynge
hote, that he swete, and after he wyll ryse and swell in
dyuers places of his body, as moche as a mannes fyste; 4
and wyll breake by it selfe, if it be kepte warme, or els
is there ieoperdy.
89. The hawe.
[Sidenote: The haw.]
¶ The hawe is a sorance in a horse eye, and is lyke
[Sidenote: [Fol. 46, _misprinted_ 49.]]
gristell, and maye well be cutte oute, or els it wyll haue
out his eye; and that horse that one, hath commonly
two. 4
90. Blyndnes.
[Sidenote: Blindness.]
¶ A horse wyll waxe blynde with laboure, and that
maye be cured betyme.
91. Viues.
[Sidenote: The vives.]
¶ The viues is a sorance vnder a horse ere, bytwene the
ouer ende of the chall-bones and the necke, and are
rounde knottes bytwene the skyn and the fleshe lyke
tennes-balles; and if they be not kilde, they wyl waxe 4
quicke, and eate the rotes of the horse eares, and kil hym.
92. The cordes.
[Sidenote: The cords.]
¶ The cordes is a thynge that wyll make a horse to
stumble, and ofte to fall, and appereth before the forther
legges of the body of the horse, and may well be cured
in .ii. places, and there be but fewe horses but they 4
haue parte therof.
93. The farcyon.
[Sidenote: The farcion.]
¶ The farcyon is an yll soraunce, and maye well be cured
in the begynnynge, and wyll appere in dyuers places of his
bodye, and there wyll ryse pymples as moche as halfe a
walnutshell, and they wyll folowe a veyne, and wyll 4
[Sidenote: Other horses will catch it.]
breake by it selfe. And as manye horses as do playe with
him that is sore, and gnappe of the matter that renneth
[Sidenote: [Fol. 46_b_.]]
out of the sore, shall haue the same sorance within a
moneth after; and therfore kepe the sycke frome the 8
hole. And if that sorance be not cured betyme, he wyll
dye of it.
94. A malander.
[Sidenote: The malander.]
¶ A malander is an yl sorance, and may wel be cured
for a tyme, but with yl keping it wyl comme agayne,
and appereth on the forther legges, in the bendynge of
the knee behynde, and is lyke a scabbe or a skal: and 4
some horses wyll haue two vpon a legge, within an
inche together, and they wyl make a horse to stumble,
and other whyle to fall.
95. A selander.
[Sidenote: The selander.]
¶ A selander is in the bendynge of the legge behynde,
lyke as the malander is in the bendynge of the legge
before, and is lyke a malander, and may be well cured.
96. A serewe.
[Sidenote: The serewe.]
¶ A serewe is an yll soraunce, and is lyke a splent, but
it is a lyttell longer and more, and lyeth vppe to the knee
on the inner syde. And some horses haue a throughe
serewe on bothe sydes of the legge, and that horse must 4
nedes stumble and fall, and harde it is to be cured.
97. A splent.
[Sidenote: A splent.]
¶ A splent is the leaste soraunce that is, that alwaye
[Sidenote: [Fol. 47.]]
contynueth, excepte lampas. And many men take vpon
them to mende it, and do payre it.
98. A ryngbone.
[Sidenote: Ring-bone.]
¶ A ryngbone is an yll soraunce, and appereth before on
the foote, aboue the houe, as well before as behynde,
and wyll be swollen three inches brode, and a quarter
of an inche or more of heyghte, and the heare wyll stare 4
and waxe thyn, and wyll make hym to halte, and is yll
to cure, if it growe longe.
99. Wynd-galles.
[Sidenote: Wind-galls.]
¶ Wyndgalles is a lyghte sorance, and commeth of great
labour, and appereth on eyther syde of the ioynte aboue
the fetelockes, as wel before as behynde, and is a lyttell
swollen with wynde. 4
100. Morfounde.
[Sidenote: Morfound.]
¶ Morfounde is an yll sorance, and cometh of rydynge
faste tyll he swete, and than sette vp sodeynely in a colde
place, without lytter, and take cold on his fete, and
specially before, and appereth vnder the houe in the hert 4
of the fote, for it wylle growe downe, and waxe whyte,
[Sidenote: It affects the feet.]
and cromely lyke a pomis. And also wyl appere by
processe by the wryncles on the houe, and the houe
before wyll be thycker, and more bryckle than and he 8
had not benne morfounde; nor he shall neuer trede so
[Sidenote: [Fol. 47_b_.]]
boldely vpon the harde stones as he dydde before; nor
wyll not be able to beare a man a quarter of a yere or
more; and with good paryng and shoynge, as he oughte 12
to be, he wyll do good seruyce.
101. The coltes euyll.
[Sidenote: The colt’s evil.]
¶ Coltes euyll is an yll disease, and commeth of ranknes
of nature and bloudde, and appereth in his scote, for
there wyl he swel great, and wyll not be harde, and
soone cured in the begynnynge. 4
102. The bottes.
[Sidenote: Bots in the maw.]
¶ The bottes is an yll dysease, and they lye in a horse
mawe, and they be an inche long, white-coloured, and
a reed heed, and as moche as a fyngers ende, & they
be quycke, and stycke faste in the mawe-syde; it apperethe 4
by stampynge of the horse, or tomblynge, and in the
beginninge there is remedy ynoughe, and if they be
not cured betyme, they wyll eate thorowe his mawe, and
kyll hym. 8
103. The wormes.
[Sidenote: Worms in the belly.]
¶ The wormes is a lyght dysease, and they lye in the
greatte paunche, in the belye of the horse, and they
are shynynge, of colour lyke a snake, syxe inches in
lengthe, greate in the myddes, and sharpe at bothe 4
endes, and as moche as a spyndel, and wyll sone be
kylde.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 48.]]
104. Affreyd.
[Sidenote: ‘Affreyd.’]
¶ Affreyd is an yll disease, and commethe of great
labour and rydynge faste with a contynuall sweate, and
thanne sodeynly to take a great colde, his legges wyll
be styffe, and his skyn wyll stycke fast to his sydes, and 4
may be well cured.
105. Nauylgall.
[Sidenote: Navel-gall.]
¶ Nauylgall is a soraunce, hurte with a saddle, or with a
buckle of a croper, or suche other, in the myddes of the
backe, and maye be lyghtely cured.
106. A spauen.
[Sidenote: Spavin.]
¶ A spauen is an yll sorance, whervppon he wyll halte,
and specyally in the begynnynge, and appereth on the
hynder legges within, and agaynste the ioynte, and it wyll
be a lyttell swolen and harde. And some horses haue 4
throughe spauen, and appereth bothe within and without,
and those be yll to be cured.
107. A courbe.
[Sidenote: A curb.]
¶ A courbe is an yll sorance, and maketh a horse to halte
sore, and appereth vppon the hynder legges streyght
behynde, vnder the camborell place, and a lyttell benethe
the spauen, and wyll be swollen, and yll to cure, if it growe 4
longe vpon hym.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 48_b_.]]
108. The stringe-halte.
[Sidenote: String-halt.]
¶ The stryng-halte is an yl disease, and maketh hym
to twyche vp his legge sodeynly, and maketh hym to
halte, and cometh ofte with a colde, and doth not appere
outwarde. 4
109. Enterfyre.
[Sidenote: Enterfire.]
¶ Enterfyre is a sorance, and cometh of yll shoynge, and
appereth ofte both behynde and before, betwene the
fete agaynst the fetelockes; there is no remedy but good
showynge. 4
110. Myllettes.
[Sidenote: Millets.]
¶ Myllettes is an yll sorance, and appereth in the fetelockes
behynde, & causeth the heare to sheede thre or
foure inches of length, and a quarter of an inche in brede,
lyke as it were bare; and yll to cure but it maye be perceiued, 4
and specially in wynter tyme.
111. The peynes.
[Sidenote: ‘The peynes.’]
¶ The peynes is an yll soraunce and appereth in the fetelockes,
and wyl swel in wynter tyme, and oyse of water,
and the heare wyll stare and be thyn, and yl to cure,
but it wyl be seen in winter. 4
112. Cratches.
[Sidenote: Cratches.]
¶ Cratches is a soraunce that wyll cause a horse to halt,
and commeth of yll kepynge, and appereth in the
pasturnes, lyke as the skyn were cut ouerthwarte, that a
[Sidenote: [Fol. 49.]]
man maye laye a white strawe, and it is sone cured. 4
113. Atteynt.
[Sidenote: Attaint.]
¶ Atteynt is a sorance, that commeth of an ouer-rechynge,
yf it be before; and if it be behynde, it is of
the tredynge of an other horse, the whiche maye be soone
cured. 4
114. Grauelynge.
[Sidenote: Gravelling.]
¶ Grauelynge is a hurte, that wyll make a horse to halte,
and commethe of grauell and lyttel stones, that goth in
betwene the shough and the herte of the fote, and is sone
mended. 4
115. A-cloyed.
[Sidenote: A-cloyed.]
¶ A-cloyde is an hurte, that commeth of yll shoynge,
whan a smyth dryueth a nayle in-to the quycke; the
which wyll make hym to halt, and is sone cured.
116. The scabbe.
[Sidenote: The scab.]
¶ There is a disease amonge horses that is called the
scabbe, and it is a skorfe in dyuers places of his body.
And it commeth of a pouertie and yll kepynge; and is
most commonly amonge olde horses, and wyll dye 4
thervpon, and maye be well cured.
117. Lowsy.
[Sidenote: Lousy horses.]
¶ There be horses that wyll be lowsy, and it cometh of
pouertie, colde, and yll kepynge; and it is moste commonly
amonge yonge horses, and menne take lyttell
[Sidenote: [Fol. 49_b_.]]
hede vnto it; and yet they wyll dye thervppon, and it 4
maye be soone cured.
118. Wartes.
[Sidenote: Want of warts behind.]
¶ There is a defaute in a horse, that is neyther sorance,
hurte, nor disease, and that is, if a horse wante wartes
behynde, benethe the spauen-place, for then he is noo
chapmannes ware, if he be wylde; but if he be tame, 4
[Sidenote: _Caveat emptor._]
and haue ben rydden vpon, than _Caueat emptor_, beware
the byer, for the byer hath bothe his eyen to se, and
his handes to handell. It is a sayenge, that suche a
horse shoulde dye sodeynely, whan he hath lyued as 8
many yeres as the mone was dayes olde, at suche tyme
as he was foled.
119. The sayinge of the frenche-man.
¶ These be soraunce, hurtes, dyseases, that be nowe
[Sidenote: A French proverb.]
comme to my mynde; and the frenche-man saythe, _Mort
de langue et de eschine Sount maladyes saunce medicine_.
The mournynge of the tongue, and of the chyne, are 4
diseases without remedy or medicyne. And ferther he
[Sidenote: Another French proverb.]
saythe, _Gardes bien, que il soyt cler de vieu, Que tout
trauayle ne soit perdue_: Be wel ware that he be clere
of syghte, lest all thy trauayle or iourneye be lost or 8
nyght. And bycause I am a horse-master my-selfe, I
[Sidenote: [Fol. 50.]]
haue shewed you the soraunce and dyseases of horses, to
the entent that men shulde beware, & take good hede
what horses they bye of me or of any other. Howe 12
[Sidenote: If ever you trust a horse-master, trust me.]
be it I saye to my customers, and those that bye any
horses of me, and euer they wil trust any hors-master
or corser whyle they lyue, truste me.
120. ¶ The diuersitie bytwene a horse-mayster,
a corser, and a horse-leche.
[Sidenote: A horse-master buys wild colts and breeds them
and breaks them in.]
A Horse-mayster is he, that bieth wylde horses, or
coltes, and bredeth theym, and selleth theym agayne
wylde, or breaketh parte of them, and maketh theym
tame, and than selleth them. A corser is he, that byeth 4
[Sidenote: A courser merely deals in them.]
all rydden horses, and selleth them agayne. The horse-leche
is he, that takethe vppon hym to cure and mende
[Sidenote: A horse-leech cures their diseases.]
all maner of diseases and soraunce that horses haue.
And whan these three be mette, if ye hadde a potycarye 8
[Sidenote: Add to these an apothecary, and you have
4 rogues.]
to make the fourthe, ye myghte haue suche foure, that
it were harde to truste the best of them. It were also
conuenyent to shew medicynes and remedyes for al these
diseases and sorances; but it wolde be to longe a processe 12
at this tyme, for it wolde be as moche as halfe
this boke. And I haue not the perfyte connynge, nor
the experyence, to shewe medycynes and remedyes for
[Sidenote: [Fol. 50_b_.]]
theym all. And also the horse-leches wolde not be 16
content therwith, for it myghte fortune to hurte or
hynder theyr occupation.
121. ¶ Of swyne.
Nowe thou husbande, that haste bothe horses and
mares, beastes and shepe: It were necessary also, that
thou haue bothe swyne and bees; for it is an olde
[Sidenote: Whoso hath sheep, swine and bees, shall surely
thrive.]
sayinge: he that hath bothe shepe, swyne, and bees, 4
slepe he, wake he, he maye thryue. And that sayenge
is, bycause that they be those thinges that moste profyt
riseth of in the shortest space, with least coste. Than
se howe manye swyne thou art able to kepe; let them 8
[Sidenote: Have only boars and sows; no hogs.]
be bores and sowes all, and no hogges. And if thou
be able to rere vi pigges a yere, than let two of them
be bores, and foure of them sowes, and so to contynue
after the rate. For a bore will haue as lyttell kepynge 12
[Sidenote: A boar is better than a hog.]
as a hogge, and is moche better than a hogge, and more
meate on hym and is ready at all tymes to eate in the
wynter season, and to be layde in souse. And a sowe, er
she be able to kyl, shall bryng forth as many pyggs or 16
moo, as she is worth; and her bodye is neuer the worse,
and wyll be as good baken as a hogge, and as lyttell
[Sidenote: [Fol. 51.]]
kepynge, but at suche tyme as she hath pygges. And if
thy sowe haue moo pygges than thou wilt rere, sel them, 20
[Sidenote: Rear pigs in spring and early summer.]
or eate them, & rere those pigges that come about lenten-time,
specyally the begynnynge of somer, for they can-not
be rered in winter, for cold, without great coste.
122. ==> Of bees.
Of bees is lyttell charge but good attendaunce; at the
tyme that they shall cast the swarme, it is conuenient, that
[Sidenote: Put the beehive in a garden or orchard.]
the hyue be set in a garden, or an orchyarde, where as
they maye be kepte from the northe wynde, and the 4
mouthe of the hyue towarde the sonne. And in June
[Sidenote: They commonly swarm in June or July.]
and July they do most commonlye caste, and they
wolde haue some lowe trees nyghe vnto them before
the hyue that the swarme maye lyght vpon; and whan 8
the swarme is knytte, take a hyue, and splente it within
with thre or foure splentes, that the bees maye knytte
theyr combes therto; and annoynte the splentes, and
[Sidenote: How to take a swarm.]
the sydes of the hyue, with a lyttell honye. And if thou 12
haue no honye, take swete creame, and than set a stole
or a forme nyghe vnto the swarme, and laye a clene
washen shete vppon the stole, and thanne holde the
[Sidenote: [Fol. 51_b_.]]
smalle ende of the hyue downewarde and shake the 16
bees in-to the hyue, and shortely sette it vppon the stole,
and turne vppe the comers of the shete ouer the hyue,
and to leue one place open, that the bees may come in
[Sidenote: Never strive with bees.]
and out: but thou mayst not fight nor stryue with theym 20
for noo cause; and to laye nettyls vppon the bowes,
where as they were knytte, to dryue them from that
place; and soo watche them all that daye, that they go
not away; and at nyght, whan al be goone vp into the 24
hyue, take it away and set it where it shall stande, and
take awaye thy shete, and haue claye tempered to laye
aboute it vppon the borde or stone, where it shall stande,
that noo wynde comme in, but the borde is better and 28
[Sidenote: Leave a hole for the bees to go in and out.]
warmer. And to leaue an hole open on the south syde,
of three inches brode, and an inche of heyghte, for the
bees to come in and out. And than to make a couerynge
of wheate-strawe or rye-strawe, to couer and house the 32
[Sidenote: Set the hive on stakes, at least two feet from
ground.]
hyue about, and set the hyue two fote or more from the
erthe vpon stakes, soo that a mouse cannot come to it,
and also neyther beastes nor swyne. And if a swarme be
caste late in the yere, they wolde be fedde with honnye in 36
wynter, and layde vppon a thynne narowe borde, or a
thynne sclatte or leade; put it into the hyue, and an other
[Sidenote: [Fol. 52.]]
thynne borde wolde be set before euery hyues mouthe,
that no winde come in; and to haue foure or fyue 40
lyttell nyckes made on the nether syde, that a bee maye
comme out or go in, and so fastened, that the wynde
blowe it not downe, and to take it vp whan he wyll.
[Sidenote: If a hive is fed on honey, stop the mouth of it.]
And that hyue that is fedde, to stoppe the mouthe cleane, 44
that other bees come not in; for if they doo, they wyll
fyghte, and kyll eche other. And beware, that noo
waspes come in-to the hyue, for they wyll kyl the bees,
and eate the honny. And also there is a bee called a 48
[Sidenote: Drones.]
drone, and she is greatter than an other bee, and they wyll
eate the honny, and gather nothynge: and therfore they
[Sidenote: It is said, the drone hath lost her sting.]
wolde be kylde, and it is a sayenge, that she hath loste
her stynge, and than she wyl not labour as the other 52
do.
123. ¶ Howe to kepe beastes and other cattell.
[Sidenote: How to keep beasts.]
If a housbande shall kepe cattell well to his profytte,
he must haue seuerall closes and pastures to put his cattel
in, the which wolde be wel quickesetted, diched, &
hedged, that he maye seuer the byggeste cattell frome 4
[Sidenote: [Fol. 52_b_.]]
the weykeste at his pleasure, and specyallye in wynter-tyme,
whan they shall be fodered. And thoughe a man
be but a farmer, and shall haue his farme xx yeres, it
[Sidenote: It is best to quickset, ditch, and hedge
cattle in.]
is lesse coste for hym, and more profyte, to quyckeset, 8
dyche, and hedge, than to haue his cattell goo before the
herdeman. For let the housbande spende in thre yeres
as moche money as the kepynge of his beastes, swyne,
and shepe doth cost him in iii yeres, than alwaye after, 12
he shal haue all maner of cattell with the tenthe parte of
the coste, and the beastes shal lyke moche better. And
[Sidenote: A herdman expects 2_d._ per beast; and a
swineherd 1_d._]
by this reason. The herdeman wyll haue for euery beast
.ii.d. a quarter, or there aboute: And the swyneherde 16
wyll haue for euery swyne .i.d. at the leaste. Than he
must haue a shepeherde of his owne, or elles he shal
neuer thryue. Than reken meate, drinke, and wages
for his shepeherde, the herdmans hyre, and the swyneherdes 20
hyre, these charges wyll double his rent or nyghe
it, excepte his farme be aboue .xl. s. by yere. Nowe see
[Sidenote: It is better to spend the money on hedges.]
what his charges be in .iii. yeres, lette hym ware as moche
money in quickesettynge, dychynge, and hedgynge, and 24
in thre yeres he shall be discharged for euermore, and
moche of this labour he and his seruauntes maye do with
theyr owne handes, and saue moche money. And than
[Sidenote: [Fol. 53.]]
hath he euery fyelde in seueraltye. And by the assente 28
of the lordes and tenauntes, euery neyghbour may exchaunge
landes with other. And than shall his farme be
twyse so good in profytte to the tenaunte as it was before,
and as moche lande kepte in tyllage; and than shall not 32
the ryche man ouer-eate the poore man with his cattell,
[Sidenote: You will save in hay and straw.]
and the fourth parte of heye and strawe shall serue his
cattell better in a pasture, than iiii. tymes soo moche wyll
do in a house, and lesse attendaunce, and better the 36
cattel shall lyke, and the chiefe sauegarde for corne bothe
daye and nyghte that can be.
124. ¶ To get settes and set them.
And if thou haue pastures, thou muste nedes haue
quyckesettynge, dychynge and plasshynge. Whan it is
[Sidenote: Quickset hedges.]
grene, and commeth to age, than gette thy quyckesettes
in the woode-countreye, and let theym be of whyte-thorne 4
and crabtree, for they be beste; holye and hasell be good.
And if thou dwelle in the playne-countrey, than mayste
thou gete bothe asshe, oke, and elme, for those wyll
[Sidenote: Set young oaks and ashes.]
encrease moche woode in shorte space. And set thy oke-settes 8
and the asshe .x. or .xii fote a-sonder, and cut them
[Sidenote: [Fol. 53_b_.]]
as thou dost thy other settes, and couer theym ouer with
thornes a lyttell, that shepe and cattell eate them not.
[Sidenote: Clear away the weeds.]
And also wede them clene in mydsomer mone or soone 12
after: for the wedes, if they ouer growe, wyl kyl the settes.
[Sidenote: Never have blackthorn.]
But get no blacke-thorne for nothynge, for that wyl grow
outwarde into the pasture, and doth moch hurte in the
grasse, and tearyng the woll of the shepe. It is good 16
tyme to set quickesettes, fro that tyme the leaues be fallen,
[Sidenote: When to set quicksets.]
vnto oure lady daye in lente; and thy sandye grounde or
grauell set fyrste, than clay grounde, and than meane
grounde, and the medowe or marreys grounde laste, for 20
the sande and grauell wyll drye anone, and than the
quyckeset wyll take no rote, excepte it haue greate weate;
for the muldes wyll lye lose, if it be dyched in February or
[Sidenote: How to set quicksets.]
marche, and lyke wise clay ground. And make thy settes 24
longe ynough, that they maye be set depe ynough in the
erth: for than they wyll growe the better. And to stande
halfe a foote and more aboue the erthe, that they maye
sprynge oute in many braunches. And than to take a lyne, 28
and sette it there as thou wylte haue thy hedge, and to
[Sidenote: Make a straight trench.]
make a trenche after thy lyne, and to pare awaye the
grasse there the quyckesettes shal be set, and caste it by,
[Sidenote: [Fol. 54.]]
where the erthe of the dyche shall lye, and dygge vp the 32
muldes a spade-graffe depe, and to put in thy settes, and
dygge up more molde, and laye vppon that set, and so
peruse, tyll thou haue set all thy settes, and let them lene
[Sidenote: Have the ditch a foot from the hedge.]
towarde the dyche. And a foote from that make thy 36
dyche. For if thou make it to nyghe thy settes, the
water maye fortune to weare the grounde on that syde,
and cause thy settes to fall downe.
125. ¶ To make a dyche.
[Sidenote: Of what size to make ditches.]
If thou make thy dyche foure foote brode, than wolde
it be two foote and a halfe depe. And if it be .v. fote
brode, than .iii. fote depe, and so accordynge; and if it
be fyue fote brod, than it wolde be double sette, and the 4
rather it wolde fence it-selfe, and the lower hedge wyll
serue.
126. ¶ To make a hedge.
[Sidenote: Stakes for a hedge.]
Thou muste gette the stakes of the harte of oke, for
those be best; crabtre, blacke-thorne, and ellore be good.
Reed wethy is beste in marsshe grounde; asshe, maple,
hasel, and whyte-thorne wyl serue for a time. And set 4
[Sidenote: [Fol. 54_b_.]]
thy stakes within .ii. foote and a halfe together, excepte
thou haue very good edderynge, and longe, to bynde with.
[Sidenote: Ethers for a hedge.]
And if it be double eddered, it is moch the better, and
gret strength to the hedge, and moche lenger it wil last. 8
And lay thy small trouse or thornes, that thou hedgeste
withall, ouer thy quickesettes, that shepe do not eate the
[Sidenote: Drive the stakes firmly.]
sprynge nor buddes of thy settes. Let thy stakes be well
dryuen, that the poynt take the hard erthe. And whan 12
thou haste made thy hedge, and eddered it well, than take
[Sidenote: Wind in the ethers.]
thy mall agayne, and dryue downe thy edderinges, and
also thy stakes by and by. For with the wyndynge of the
edderynges thou doost leuse thy stakes; and therfore 16
[Sidenote: Then drive the stakes again.]
they muste nedes be dryuen newe, and hardened agayne,
and the better the stake wil be dryuen, whan he is wel
bounden.
127. ¶ To plasshe or pleche a hedge.
[Sidenote: How to pleach a hedge.]
If the hedge be of .x. or .xii. yeres growing sythe it
was first set, thanne take a sharpe hachet, or a handbyll,
and cutte the settes in a playne place, nyghe vnto the
[Sidenote: Cut the sets more than half through,]
erthe, the more halue a-sonder; and bende it downe 4
towarde the erthe, and wrappe and wynde theym to-gether,
[Sidenote: [Fol. 55.]]
but alwaye se that the toppe lye hyer than the
[Sidenote: and bend them down, but not too low.]
rote a good quantytie, for elles the sappe wyll not renne
in-to the toppe kyndely, but in processe the toppe wyll 8
dye; and than set a lyttel hedge on the backe-syde, and
it shall nede noo more mendynge manye yeres after.
And if the hedge be of .xx. .xxiiii. or .xxx. yere of age,
[Sidenote: How to pleach an older hedge.]
sythe it was fyrst sette, than wynde in first al the 12
nether-moste bowes, and wynde them together, and than cutte
the settes in a playne place a lyttel from the erth, the
more halfe a-sonder, and to lette it slaue downewarde,
and not vpwarde, for dyuerse causes: than wynde the 16
bowes and braunches therof in-to the hedge, and at euery
two fote, or .iii. fote, to leaue one set growyng not
plasshed; and the toppe to be cut of foure fote hygh,
or there-aboute, to stande as a stake, if there be any 20
suche, or els to set an-other, and to wynd the other that
be pleched about them. And if the bowes wyll not
lye playne in the hedge, than cut it the more halfe
[Sidenote: How to pleach a very old hedge.]
a-sonder, and bynd it to the hedge, and than shal he not 24
nede for to mende the hedge, but in fewe places, .xx.
yeres after or more. And if the hedge be olde, and be
great stubbes or trees, and thyn in the bottome, that
beastes may go vnder or betwene the trees: thanne 28
take a sharpe axe, and cutte the trees or stubbes, that
[Sidenote: [Fol. 55_b_.]]
growe a fote from the erthe, or there-about, in a plaine
place, within an inche or two inches of the side, and let
them slaue downward, as I sayd before, and let the 32
toppe of the tree lye ouer the rote of an other tree, and
to pleche downe the bowes of the same tree, to stoppe
the holowe places. And if all the holowe and voyde
places wyl not be fylled and stopped, than scoure the 36
olde dyche, and cast it vp newe, and to fyll with erthe all
the voyde places. And if soo be these trees wyll not
reche in euerye place to make a sufficyent defence, than
double quicke-set it, & diche it new in euery place that 40
is nedeful, and set a hedge thervpon, and to ouerlay the
settes, for eatynge of shepe or other cattel.
128. ¶ To mende a hye-waye.
[Sidenote: How to mend a road.]
Me semeth, it is necessarye to shewe mine opinion,
howe an hye-way shulde be amended. And fyrste and
pryncypally, se that there be noo water standynge in the
[Sidenote: Let no water stand on it.]
hye-waye, but that it be alwaye currante and rennynge, 4
nor haue none abydynge more in one place thanne in another.
And in somer, whan the water is dryed vp, than
to get grauell, and to fyll vp euery lowe place, and to
[Sidenote: [Fol. 56.]]
make theym euen, somewhat dyscendynge or currante, 8
[Sidenote: Fill up the holes with gravel.]
one waye or other; and if there be noo grauell nor
stones to gette, yet fyll vp with erthe in the begynnyge
of somer, that it maye be well hardened with
caryage and treadynge vppon, and it shall be well 12
amended, if the water maye passe away from it; the
whiche wolde be well consydered, and specially aboute
[Sidenote: About London they mend roads badly, putting in
earth before the gravel.]
London, where as they make moche more coste than
nedeth; for there they dyche theyr hye-wayes on bothe 16
sydes, and fyll vp the holowe and lowe places with erthe,
and than they caste and laye grauell alofte. And whan
a greatte rayne or water commeth, and synketh thorowe
the grauell, and commeth to the erthe, than the erthe 20
swelleth and bolneth and waxeth softe, and with
[Sidenote: Then the gravel sinks, and the road is like a
quicksand.]
treadynge, and specyally with caryage, the grauell
synketh, and gothe downewarde as his nature and kynde
requyreth, and than it is in maner of a quycke-sande, 24
that harde it is for any thynge to goo ouer. But yf they
wolde make no dyche in sommertyme, whan the water is
dryed vp, that a man may se all the holowe and lowe places,
[Sidenote: They should use gravel only.]
than to cary grauel, and fyl it vp as hygh as the other 28
knolles be; than wold it not bolne ne swell, nor be no
quycke-sande, and euery ma_n_ may go beside the hie-way
[Sidenote: [Fol. 56_b_.]]
with theyr cariage at theyr pleasure. And this me semeth
is lesse coste, and lenger wyll last with a lyttell mendynge 32
[Sidenote: This should be looked to.]
whan nede requyreth. Therfore me thynketh, yf this
were well loked vpon, it shuld be bothe good and
necessarye for that purpose: for soo haue I seen done in
other places, where as I haue ben, &c. 36
129. ¶ To remoue and set trees.
[Sidenote: How to remove and set trees.]
If thou wylte remoue and sette trees, get as manye
rotes with them as thou canste, and breake them not, nor
bryse theym, by thy wyll. And if there be any rote
broken and sore brused, cut it of harde by, there as it is 4
brused, with a sharpe hatchet, elles that roote wyll dye.
And if it be asshe, elme, or oke, cut of all the bowes
[Sidenote: Cut off some of the boughs.]
cleane, and saue the toppe hole. For if thou make hym
ryche of bowes, thou makeste hym poore of thryfte, for 8
two causes. The bowes causeth theym to shake with
wynde, and to leuse the rotes. Also he can-not be
soo cleane gete, but some of the rotes muste nedes be cut,
and than there wyll not come soo moche sappe and 12
moystenes to the bowes, as there dyd before. And if
the tree be very longe, cut of the top, two or thre
[Sidenote: [Fol. 51; _So misnumbered all the way to the
end. We may call it 51*._]]
yardes. And if it be an apple-tree, or peare-tree, or
suche other as beareth fruyte, than cut away all the 16
water-bowes, and the small bowes, that the pryncipall
bowes may haue the more sap. And if ye make a
marke, which syde of the tree standeth towarde the
sonne, that he may be set so agayne, it is soo moche 20
the better.
130. ¶ Trees to be set without rotes and growe.
[Sidenote: Some trees can be set without roots.]
There be trees wil be set without rotes, and growe
well, and sprynge rotes of them-selfe. And those be
dyuerse apple-trees, that haue knottes in the bowes, as
casses, or wydes, and suche other, that wyll growe on 4
[Sidenote: Poplar and withy.]
slauynges, and lykewyse popeler and wethy: and they
must be cut cleane besyde the tree, that they growe on,
and the toppe cut cleane of .viii. or .x. fote of lengthe,
and all the bowes betwene, and to be set a fote depe or. 8
in the erthe, in good grounde. And ye shall vnderstande,
[Sidenote: Four withies, viz. white, black, red, and osier.]
that there be foure maner of wethyes, that is
to say, white wethye, blacke wethy, reed wethy, and
osyerde wethy. Whyte wethye wyll growe vppon drye 12
grounde, yf it be sette in the begynnyge of wynter, and
[Sidenote: [Fol. 51*_b_.]]
wyll not growe in marsshe grounde; blacke wethy wyll
growe better on marshe grounde, and redde wethy in
[Sidenote: Osiers will grow in water.]
lyke maner: and osyerde wethy wyll growe beste in water 16
and moyste grounde. And they be trees that wyll soone
be nourysshed, and they wyll beare moche woodde, and
[Sidenote: Crop them every seven years.]
they wolde be cropped euery .vii. or .viii. yere or els they
wyll dye; but they maye not be cropped in sappe-tyme, 20
nor no tree els. And in many places, bothe the lordes,
freeholders, and tenauntes at wyll, sette suche wethyes, and
popelers, in marsshe grounde, to nourysshe wodde, &c.
131. ¶ To fell wodde for housholde, or to sell.
[Sidenote: Fell underwood in winter; let the cattle
browze on it.]
If thou haue any woddes to felle, for thy householde
to brenne, or to sell, than fell the vnder-wodde fyrste in
wynter, that thy cattell or beastes maye eate and brouse
the toppes, and to fell noo more on a daye but as moche 4
as the beastes wyll eate the same daye, or on the morowe
after. And as soone as it is well eaten or broused,
thanne kydde it, and set them on the endes, and that
[Sidenote: Make it up into faggots.]
wyll saue the bandes from rottynge, and they shall be 8
[Sidenote: [Fol. 52*.]]
the lyghter to carye, and the better wyll they brenne,
and lie in lesse rowme. And whan thou shalt bryng them
[Sidenote: How to stack faggots.]
home to make a stacke of them, set the nethermoste
course vpon the endes, and the seconde course flat vppon 12
the syde, and the endes vpwarde, and the thyrde cou[r]se
flatte on the syde ouerthwart the other. And so to
peruse them, tyll thou haue layd all vp. And whan thou
shalte brenne them, take the ouermoste fyrste. 16
132. ¶ To shrede, lop, or croppe trees.
[Sidenote: How to shred, lop, and crop trees.]
If thou haue any trees to shrede, loppe, or croppe
for the fyre-wodde, croppe them in wynter, that thy
beastes maye eate the brouse, and the mosse of the
bowes, and also the yues. And whanne they be broused 4
and eaten, dresse the wodde, and bowe it clene, and
cutte it at every byghte, and rere the greatte wodde to
the tree, and kydde the smal bowes, and set them on
ende. And if thou shalte not haue sufficyent wodde, 8
[Sidenote: Do not head trees too low.]
excepte thou heed thy trees, and cut of the toppes, than
heed theym thre or foure fote aboue any tymber: and
if it be noo tymbre tree, but a shaken tree, or a hedge-rote
full of knottes, than heed hym thyrty foote hyghe, 12
[Sidenote: [Fol. 52*_b_.]]
or twenty at the leaste, for soo ferre he wyll beare
plentye of woode and bowes, and moche more, thanne
[Sidenote: Trees grow only to a certain height; then
they spread.]
if he were not heeded. For a tree hath a propertye to
growe to a certayne heyght, and whan he commeth to 16
that heyghte, he standeth styll, and groweth noo hyer,
but in brede; and in conclusion the toppe wyll dye
and decrease, and the body thryue. And if a tree be
heeded, and vsed to be lopped and cropped at euerye 20
.xii. or .xvi. yeres ende, or there-about, it wyll beare
moche more woode, by processe of time, than if it were
not cropped, and moche more profyte to the owner.
133. ¶ Howe a man shoulde shrede, loppe, or croppe
trees.
[Sidenote: In shredding trees, some men begin at the top.]
It is the comon gyse, to begynne at the top of the
tree, whan he shall be shred or cropped, bycause eche
bough shulde lye vppon other whan they shall fal, so
that the weight of the bowes shall cause theym to be 4
[Sidenote: It is not the best way.]
the rather cut downe. But that is not beste, for that
causeth the bowes to slaue downe the nether parte,
and pulleth awaye the barke from the bodye of the tree,
the whiche wyll cause the tree to be holowe in that place 8
in tyme commynge, and many tymes it shall hynder
[Sidenote: [Fol. 53*.]]
hym. And therfore lette hym begynne at the nether-moste
boughe fyrste, and with a lyghte axe for an hande,
to cut the boughe on bothe sydes, a fote or two foote 12
from the bodye of the tree. And specially cut it more
on the nether syde, than on the ouer syde, soo that
the boughe fall not streyght downe, but turne on the
syde, and than shall it not slaue nor breke no barke. 16
And euery boughe wil haue a newe heed, and beare
[Sidenote: Never crop or head a tree with a north or
east wind,]
moche more woode; and by thy wyll, without thou must
nedes do it, crop not thy tree, nor specyallye heed hym,
whan the wynde standeth in the northe, or in the eest. 20
And beware, that thou croppe hym not, nor heed hym
[Sidenote: nor in sap-time.]
(specially) in sappe-tyme, for than wyll he dye within
fewe yeres after, if it be an oke.
134. ¶ To sell woode or tymber.
[Sidenote: Retail the wood yourself.]
If thou haue any woode to selle, I aduyse the, retayle
it thy-selfe, if thou mayste attende vppon it: and if not,
thanne to cause thy baylye, or somme other wyse or
[Sidenote: If small, sell in faggots.]
dyscrete man, to do it for the. And if it be small wode, 4
to kydde it, and sel it by the hundredes, or by the thousandes.
And if there be asshes in it, to sell the smalle
[Sidenote: [Fol. 53*_b_.]]
asshes to cowpers for garches, and the gret asshes to
whele-wryghtes, and the meane asshes to plowe-wrightes, 8
and the crabbe-trees to myllers, to make cogges and
ronges. And if there be any okes, bothe gret and smal,
[Sidenote: Fell oaks and sell them.]
fel them, and pyl them, and sel the barke by it-selfe; and
than sorte the trees, the polles by them-selfe, the myddel 12
sorte[30] by them-selfe, and the greattest by them-selfe, &
than sel them by scores, or halfe scores, or .C. as thou
maist, and to fel it hard by the erth, for i. fote next
vnto the erth is worthe .ii fote in the top; and to cut 16
thy tymber longe ynoughe, that thou leue no timber in
the toppe. And to sell the toppes as they lye a greatte,
or elles dresse them & sel the great wodde by it-selfe,
& the kyd-wodde by it-selfe, and to fal the vnder-wode 20
fyrst at any tyme between Martilmas and holyrode-day.
[Sidenote: Ash-trees.]
And al the asshes, bytwene Martylmasse and Candelmas,
and all okes, as soon as they wyl pyl, vntyl May be done,
and not after. Perauenture the greattest man hath not 24
[Sidenote: Selling wood requires care.]
the beste prouisyon. And that is bycause the seruauntes
wyll not enfourme hym these wayes, and also may fortune
they wold bye suche woodes theym-selfe, or be partener
of the same and to auyse his lorde to sel them. It is not 28
co_n_uenient that the salesman, that selleth the wod, shuld
be partener with the bier.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 54*.]]
135. ¶ To kepe sprynge-wodde.
In the wynter before that thou wilt fel thy wodde, make
a good and a sure hedge, that no maner of cattel can get
in. And as shortly as it is fallen, let it be caryed away, or
[Sidenote: Of plantations or ‘spring-wood.’]
the sprynge come vp, for els the cattell, that doth cary 4
the wodde, wyll eate the sprynge: and whan the top is
eaten, or broken, it is a great lette, hurte, and hynderaunce
of the goodnes of the sprynge; for than where it is eaten,
it burges oute of many braunches, and not soo fayre as 8
the fyrst wolde haue ben. A parke is best kept, where
there is neyther man, dogge, nor foure-foted beast therin,
except dere. And so is a spryng beste kepte, where
[Sidenote: If there is much grass there, put in only
calves and colts.]
there is neyther manne nor foure-foted beastes within 12
the hedge. But if there be moche grasse, and thou were
lothe to lose it, than put in calues, newly wained and
taken from theyr dammes, and also waynynge coltes, or
horses not paste a yere of age: and let thy calues be 16
taken away at Maye; the coltes may go lenger for eating
of any wodde; but there is ieoperdy bothe for calues,
foles, and coltes, for tyckes or for beinge lowsy, the
whiche wyl kyl them, if they be not taken hede vnto. 20
And .vii. yeres is the lest that it wil saue it-selfe, but
[Sidenote: [Fol. 54*_b_.]]
.x. yeres is best. And than the vnder bowes wolde be
cutte awaye, and made kyddes therof, and the other
wyll growe moche the better and faster. And if the 24
[Sidenote: Cut away the underwood.]
vnder bowes be not cutte awaye, they wyll dye, and than
they be loste, and greatte hurte to the sprynge, for they
take awaye the sappe, that shoulde cause the sprynge to
growe better. 28
136. ¶ Necessary thynges belongynge to graffynge.
[Sidenote: Pears, apples, cherries, filberts, bullace,
damsons, &c.]
It is necessarye, profytable, and also a pleasure,
to a housbande, to haue peares, wardens, and apples of
dyuerse sortes. And also cheryes, filberdes, bulleys,
dampsons, plummes, walnuttes, and suche other. And 4
therfore it is conuenyent to lerne howe thou shalte
graffe. Than it is to be knowen what thynges thou
[Sidenote: A grafting-saw.]
must haue to graffe withall. Thou muste haue a graffynge-sawe,
the whiche wolde be very thynne, and 8
thycke-tothed; and bycause it is thynne, it wyll cut the
narower kyrfe, and the cleaner, for brusynge of the barke.
And therfore it is sette in a compasse pece of yren,
syxe inches of, to make it styffe and bygge. Thou 12
[Sidenote: Grafting-knife.]
muste haue also a graffynge-knyfe, an inche brode, with
[Sidenote: [Fol. 55*.]]
a thycke backe, to cleue the stocke with-all. And also
[Sidenote: Mallet, and sharp small knives.]
a mallet, to dryue the knyfe and thy wedge in-to the
tree: and a sharpe knife, to pare the stockes heed, and 16
an other sharpe knyfe, to cutte the graffe cleane. And
[Sidenote: Two wedges.]
also thou muste haue two wedges of harde wood, or elles
of yren, a longe small one for a small stocke, and broder
for a bygger stocke, to open the stocke, whan it is clouen 20
[Sidenote: Clay, moss, and bast.]
and pared: and also good tough claye and mosse, and
also bastes or pyllynge of wethy or elme, to bynde them
with, &c.
137. ¶ What fruite shuld be fyrste graffed.
[Sidenote: Graft pears before apples.]
Peares and wardens wolde be graffed before any maner
of apples, bycause the sappe commeth sooner and rather
in-to the peare-tree and warden-tree, thanne in-to the
[Sidenote: Graft from Feb. 14 to March 25.]
apple-tree. And after saynt Valentynes daye, it is tyme 4
to grade both peares and wardens, tyll Marche be comen,
and thanne to graffe appels to our lady daye. And than
graffe that that is gette of an olde apple-tree fyrste, for
that wyll budde before the graffe get of a yonge apple-tree 8
late graffed. And a peare or a warden wolde be
graded in a pyrre-stocke; and if thou canst get none,
[Sidenote: [Fol. 55*_b_.]]
than graffe it in a crabbe-tree stocke, and it wyll do well:
and some men grade theym in a whyte-thorne, and than 12
[Sidenote: A crab-stock is best for apples.]
it wyll be the more harder and stonye. And for all
maner of appels, the crabtree stocke is beste.
138. ¶ Howe to graffe.
[Sidenote: Select the graft.]
Thou muste get thy graffes of the fayrest lanses, that
thou canste fynde on the tree, and see that it haue a good
[Sidenote: Saw the crab-tree,]
knotte or ioynte, and an euen. Than take thy sawe, and
sawe in-to thy c[r]abbetree, in a fayre playne place, pare it 4
[Sidenote: cleave and open the stock;]
euen with thy knyfe, and thanne cleaue the stocke with
thy greatte knyfe and thy mallet, and set in a wedge, and
open the stocke, accordynge to the thyckenesse of thy
graffe; thanne take thy smalle sharpe knyfe, and cutte 8
the graffe on bothe sydes in the ioynte, but passe not the
myddes therof for nothynge, and let the inner syde, that
shall be set in-to the stocke, be a lyttel thynner than the
vtter syde, and the nether poynte of the graffe the 12
[Sidenote: then put the graft into the stock.]
thynner: than proferre thy graffe in-to the stocke; and
if it go not close, than cut the graffe or the stocke, tyll
they close cleane, that thou canste not put the edge of
[Sidenote: [Fol. 56*.]]
thy knyfe on neyther syde betwene the stocke and the 16
graffe, and sette them so that the toppes of the graffe
bende a lyttell outewarde, and see that the wodde of the
graffe be set mete with the wodde of the stocke, and the
sappe of the stocke maye renne streyght and euen with 20
[Sidenote: The bark of the graft is thinner than that
of the stock.]
the sappe of the graffe. For the barke of the graffe is
neuer soo thicke as the barke of the stocke. And therfore
thou mayste not sette the barkes mete on the vtter
syde, but on the inner syde: than pulle awaye thy wedge, 24
and it wyl stande moche faster. Than take toughe cleye,
lyke marley, and ley it vppon the stocke-heed, and with
thy fynger laye it close vnto the graffe, and a lyttel vnder
the heed, to kepe it moyst, and that no wynde come into 28
[Sidenote: Cover with moss, and bind with bast.]
the stocke at the cleauynge. Than take mosse, and laye
thervpon, for chynynge of the claye: than take a baste
of whyte wethy or elme, or halfe a bryer, and bynd the
mosse, the clay, and the graffe together, but be well ware, 32
that thou breake not thy graffe, neyther in the clayenge,
nor in the byndynge; and thou muste set some-thinge
by the graffe, that crowes, nor byrdes do not lyght vpon
thy graffe, for if they do, they wil breake hym, &c. 36
[Sidenote: [Fol. 56*_b_.]]
139. ¶ To graffe bytwene the barke and the tree.
There is an other maner of graffinge than this, and
soner done, & soner to growe: but it is more ieoperdy for
[Sidenote: Another way of grafting.]
winde whan it begynneth to growe. Thou muste sawe
thy stocke, and pare the heed therof, as thou diddest 4
before, but cleue it not: than take thy graffe, and cut it in
the ioynt to the myddes, and make the tenaunte therof
halfe an inche longe or a lyttell more, all on the one syde,
and pare the barke awaye a lyttel at the poynt on the 8
[Sidenote: Use a punch of hard wood.]
other syde: than thou muste haue made redy a ponch of
harde wood, with a stop and a tenaunte on the one syde,
lyke to the tenaunte of the graffe. Than put the tenaunt
of the ponche betwen the barke and the woode of the 12
stocke, and pull it out agayne, and put in the graffe,
and se that it ioyne close, or els mende it. And this
can-not fayle, for now the sappe cometh on euery syde,
but it wyl spring soo faste, that if it stande on playne 16
[Sidenote: The graft requires protection from the wind.]
grounde, the wynde is lykelye to blowe it besyde the
heed, for it hath no fastnes in the wodde. And this is
beste remedy for blowynge of, to cutte or clyppe awaye
[Sidenote: [Fol. 57.]]
somme of the nethermooste leaues as they growe. And 20
this is the beste waye to graffe, and specyally a greate
tree: than claye it, and bynde it as dyddest the other, &c.
140. ¶ To nourishe all maner of stone fruite, and nuttes.
[Sidenote: Stone-fruits.]
As for cheryes, dampsons, bulleys, plummes, and suche
other, maye be sette of stones, and also of the scyences,
growynge aboute the tree, of the same, for they wyll
[Sidenote: Filberts and walnuts.]
sooneste beare. Fylberdes and walnuttes maye be set of 4
the nuttes in a gardeyne, and after remoued and sette
where he wyll. But whan they be remoued, they wolde
be set vpon as good a grounde, or a better, or els they
wyll not lyke. 8
141. ¶ A shorte information for a yonge gentyl-man, that
entendeth to thryue.
[Sidenote: Get a copy of this book, and read it from
beginning to end.]
I auyse hym to gette a copy of this presente boke,
and to rede it frome the begynnynge to the endynge,
wherby he maye perceyue the chapyters and contentes
of the same, and by reason of ofte redyng, he maye 4
waxe perfyte, what shulde be doone at all seasons. For
[Sidenote: [Fol. 57_b_.]]
I lerned two verses at grammar-scole, and they be these:
[Sidenote: Cf. Ovid, ex Ponto Epist. IV. x. 5.]
_Gutta cauat lapidem non vi, sed sæpe cadendo: Sic homo fit
sapiens non vi, sed sæpe legendo_: A droppe of water perseth 8
a stoone, not al-onely by his owne strengthe, but by his
often fallynge. Ryghte so a man shall be made wyse,
not all-onely by hym-selfe, but by his ofte redynge. And
soo maye this yonge gentyllman, accordynge to the 12
[Sidenote: Read a chapter to your servants now and then.]
season of the yere, rede to his seruauntes what chapyter
he wyll. And also for any other maner of profyte conteyned
in the same, the whiche is necessary for a yonge
husbande, that hath not the experyence of housbandrye, 16
nor other thynges conteyned in this presente boke, to
take a good remembraunce and credence thervnto, for
there is an olde sayinge, but of what auctorytie I cannot
tell: _Quod melior est practica rusticoru_m, _q_uam _scie_n_tia 20
[Sidenote: Practice is better than theory.]
philosophorum._ It is better the practiue or knowlege of
an husband-man well proued, than the science or connynge
of a philosopher not proued, for there is nothynge
touchyng husbandry, and other profytes conteyned in 24
this presente booke, but I haue hadde the experyence
therof, and proued the same. And ouer and beside al
this boke, I wil aduise him to ryse betime in the morning,
[Sidenote: [Fol. 58.]]
according to the verse before spoke of, _Sanat, sanctificat, 28
et ditat surgere mane_: And go about his closes, pastures,
fieldes, and specially by the hedges, & to haue in his
[Sidenote: Keep a pair of tables, and make notes of all
that seems amiss.]
purse a payre of tables, and whan he seeth any-thing,
that wolde be amended, to wryte it in his tables: as if he 32
fynde any horses, mares, beastes, shepe, swyne, or geese
in his pastures, that be not his owne: And perauenture
thoughe they be his owne, he wolde not haue them to
goo there, or to fynde a gap, or a sherde in his hedge, 36
or any water standynge in his pastures vppon his grasse,
wherby he maye take double hurte, bothe losse of his
grasse, and rotting of his shepe and calues. And also
of standynge-water in his corne-fieldes at the landes 40
endes, or sydes, and howe he wolde haue his landes
[Sidenote: Look to the corn, cattle, ditches, etc.]
plowed, donged, sturred, or sowen. And his corne weded
or shorne or his cattell shifted out of one pasture into
an other, and to loke what dychyng, quicsettyng, or plashing, 44
is necessary to be had, and to ouer-se his shepeherd,
how he handleth and ordreth his shepe, and his seruantes
[Sidenote: Look to the gates.]
howe they plowe and do theyr warkes, or if any gate
be broken down, or want any staues, and go not lyghtly 48
to open and tyne, and that it do not traile, and that the
windes blowe it not open, with many mo necessary
[Sidenote: [Fol. 58_b_.]]
thynges that are to be loked vpon. For a man alwaye
wanderynge or goinge aboute somewhat, fyndeth or seeth 52
that is a-mysse, and wolde be amended. And as soone
as he seeth any suche defautes, than let hym take oute his
tables, and wryte the defautes. And whan he commeth
home to diner, supper, or at nyght, than let hym call his 56
[Sidenote: Tell your bailiff of all that needs to be done.]
bayly, or his heed-seruaunte, and soo shewe hym the
defautes, that they may be shortly amended. And whan
it is amended, than let him put it out of his tables. For
this vsed I to doo .x. or .xii. yeres and more. And thus 60
let hym vse dayely, and in shorte space he shall sette
moche thynges in good order, but dayely it wyll haue
[Sidenote: If you cannot write, make nicks on a stick.]
mendynge. And yf he canne not wryte, let hym nycke
the defautes vppon a stycke, and to shewe his bayely, as 64
I sayde before. Also take hede bothe erly and late, at
all tymes, what maner of people resorte and comme to thy
house, and the cause of theyr commynge, and specially
if they brynge with them pytchers, cannes, tancardes, 68
[Sidenote: Keep an eye on the servants, and on all who
come to your house.]
bottelles, bagges, wallettes, or busshell-pokes. For if thy
seruauntes be not true, they maye doo the great hurte,
and them-selfe lyttel auauntage. Wherfore they wolde be
well loked vppon. And he that hath .ii. true seruauntes, 72
a man-seruaunte, and an-other a woman-seruaunt, he hath
[Sidenote: [Fol. 59.]]
a great treasure, for a trewe seruaunte wyl do iustly hym-selfe,
and if he se his felowes do amysse, he wyl byd them
do no more so, for if they do, he wyll shewe his master 76
therof: and if he do not this, he is not a trewe seruaunt.
142. ¶ A lesson made in Englisshe verses, to teache a gentylmans
seruaunt, to saye at euery tyme whan he
taketh his horse, for his remembraunce, that he shall
not forget his gere in his inne behynde hym.
[Sidenote: Hexameter verses, to help the memory.]
Pvrse, dagger, cloke, nyght-cap, kerchef, shoyng-horne,
boget, and shoes.
Spere, male, hode, halter, sadelclothe, spores, hatte, with
thy horse-combe.
Bowe, arrowes, sworde, bukler, horne, leisshe, gloues,
stringe, and thy bracer.
Penne, paper, inke, parchmente, reedwaxe, pommes, bokes,
thou remember. 4
Penknyfe, combe, thimble, nedle, threde, poynte, leste
that thy gurthe breake.
Bodkyn, knyfe, lyngel, gyue thy horse meate, se he be
showed well.
Make mery, synge and thou can; take hede to thy gere, that
thou lose none.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 59_b_.]]
143. ¶ A prologue for the wyues occupation.
Nowe thou husbande, that haste doone thy dylygence
and labour, that longeth to an husbande, to get thy
lyuynge, thy wyues, thy chyldrens, and thy seruauntes:
[Sidenote: Seldom thrives the husband without his wife’s
leave.]
yet are there other thynges, that muste nedes be done, 4
or elles thou shalte not thryue. For there is an olde
common sayenge, that seldom doth the housbande thryue,
withoute the leue of his wyfe. By this sayenge it shoulde
seme, that there be other occupations and labours, that 8
be moste conuenient for the wyues to do. And howe be
[Sidenote: I will tell the wives part of their duties.]
it that I haue not experyence of al theyr occupations and
warkes, as I haue of husbandry, yet a lyttell wyl I speke
what they ought to do, though I tel them nat howe they 12
shulde doo and exercyse theyr labours and occupations.
144. ¶ A lesson for the wyfe.
But yet er I begynne to shewe the wyfe, what warkes
[Sidenote: A lesson of Solomon.]
she shall do, I wyll firste teche her a lesson of Salomon,
as I did to her husbande a lesson of the philosopher,
and that is, that she shulde not be ydle at noo tyme: 4
for Salomon saythe, _Ociosus non gaudebit cum electis in
cælo: sed lugebit in æternum cum reprobis in inferno_: That
[Sidenote: [Fol. 60.]]
is to say, The ydle folke shall not ioye with the chosen
folkes in heuen, but they shall sorowe with the reproued 8
[Sidenote: A lesson of Jerome.]
and forsaken folkes in hell. And saynt Iherom saythe:
_Semper boni operis aliquid facito, vt te diabolus inueniat
occupatum: Quia sicut in aqua stante generantur vermes: sic
in homine ocioso generantur malæ cogitationes_: That is to say, 12
Alwaye be doinge of some good werkes, that the dyuell
may fynde the euer occupied: for as in standynge water
are engendred wormes, ryghte soo in an ydle body are
engendred ydle thoughtes. Here mayste thou se, that 16
of ydelnes commeth damnation, and of good warkes and
labour cometh saluation. Nowe arte thou at thy lyberty,
[Sidenote: Choose either idleness or labour.]
to chose whether waye thou wylt, wherin is a great
diuersitie. And he is an vnhappy man or woman, that 20
god hath giuen bothe wyt and reason, and putteth hym
in chose, and woll chose the worst parte. Nowe thou
wyfe, I trust to shewe to the dyuers occupations, warkes,
and laboures, that thou shalt not nede to be ydle no tyme 24
of the yere.
145. ¶ What thynges the wyfe is bounden of ryght to do.
[Sidenote: Let the wife love her husband.]
First and prynycypally the wyfe is bounde of ryghte to
loue her housbande, aboue father and mother, and aboue
[Sidenote: [Fol. 60_b_.]]
all other men. For our lorde saythe in his gospell;
[Sidenote: Matt. xix. 5.]
[Sidenote: Mark x. 7.]
_Relinquet patrem et matrem, et adherebit[31] vxori suæ_: A man 4
shulde leue father and mother, and drawe to his wyfe:
and the same wyse a wyfe shulde do to her husbande.
And are made by the vertue of the sacrament of holy
[Sidenote: One body, and two souls.]
scripture one fleshe, one bloude, one body, and two 8
soules. Wherfore theyr hartes, theyr myndes, theyr
warkes, and occupations, shulde be all one, neuer to
seuer nor chaunge durynge theyr natural lyues, by any
mannes acte or dede, as it is sayde in the same gospel: 12
[Sidenote: Matt. xix. 9.]
[Sidenote: Mark x. 9.]
_Quod deus coniunxit, homo non separet_: That thynge that
god hath ioyned to-gether, noo man maye seuer nor
departe. Wherfore it is conuenyente that they loue
eche other as effectually as they wolde doo theyr owne 16
selfe, &c.
146. ¶ What warkes a wyfe shulde do in generall.
[Sidenote: First, at rising, bless thyself.]
First in a mornyng whan thou arte waked, and purposeste
to ryse, lyfte vp thy hande, and blesse the, and
make a sygne of the holy crosse, _In nomine patris, et filii,
et spiritus sancti. Amen._ In the name of the father, the 4
[Sidenote: [Fol. 61.]]
sonne, and the holy gooste. And if thou saye a _Pater
noster_, an _Aue_, and a _Crede_, and remember thy maker,
thou shalte spede moche the better. And whan thou arte
[Sidenote: Sweep the house,]
vp and redy, than first swepe thy house, dresse vp thy 8
dyssheborde, and sette all thynges in good order within
[Sidenote: milk the cows, dress the children.]
thy house: milke thy kye, socle[32] thy calues, sye vp thy
mylke, take vppe thy chyldren and araye theym, and
prouyde for thy husbandes brekefaste, dynner, souper, 12
and for thy chyldren and seruauntes, and take thy parte
[Sidenote: Send corn to the mill, and measure it before
it goes.]
with theym. And to ordeyne corne and malte to the
myll, to bake and brue withall whanne nede is. And
meete it to the myll, and fro the myll, and se that thou 16
haue thy measure agayne besyde the tolle, or elles the
myller dealeth not truely with the, or els thy corne is not
[Sidenote: Make butter and cheese.]
drye as it shoulde be. Thou must make butter, and chese
whan thou maist, serue thy swyne bothe mornyng and 20
euenynge, and gyue thy poleyn meate in the mornynge;
and whan tyme of the yere cometh, thou must take hede
[Sidenote: Gather the eggs.]
howe thy hennes, duckes, and geese do ley, and to gather
vp theyr egges, and whan they waxe brodye, to sette 24
them there as noo beastes, swyne, nor other vermyn
hurte them. And thou muste knowe, that all hole-footed
fowles wyll sytte a moneth, and all clouen-footed fowles
[Sidenote: [Fol. 61_b_.]]
wyll sytte but three wekes, excepte a peyhenne, and greatte 28
fowles, as cranes, bustardes, and suche other. And whan
they haue broughte forthe theyr byrdes, to see that they
be well kepte from the gleyd, crowes, fullymartes, and
[Sidenote: Put in order the garden.]
other vermynne. And in the begynnynge of Marche, or 32
a lyttell afore, is tyme for a wyfe to make her garden, and
to gette as many good sedes and herbes as she canne,
and specially suche as be good for the potte, and to eate:
and as ofte as nede shall requyre, it muste be weded, for 36
els the wedes wyl ouergrowe the herbes. And also in
Marche is tyme to sowe flaxe and hempe, for I haue
[Sidenote: Better are March hards than April flax.]
harde olde houswyues saye, that better is Marche hurdes
than Apryll flaxe, the reason appereth: but howe it 40
shulde be sowen, weded, pulled, repeyled, watred,
wasshen, dryed, beaten, braked, tawed, hecheled, spon,
wounden, wrapped, and wouen, it nedeth not for me to
shewe, for they be wise ynough; and therof may they 44
[Sidenote: Make sheets, towels, and shirts.]
make shetes, bordclothes, towels, shertes, smockes, and
suche other necessaryes, and therfore let thy dystaffe
be alwaye redye for a pastyme, that thou be not
ydle. And vndouted a woman can-not gette her lyuynge 48
honestely with spynnynge on the distaffe, but it stoppeth
[Sidenote: [Fol. 62.]]
a gap, and muste nedes be had. The bolles of flaxe,
whan they be ripeled of, must be rideled from the wedes,
[Sidenote: Dry the flax.]
and made drye with the son, to get out the sedes. Howe 52
be it one maner of linsede, called loken sede, wyll not
open by the son: and therfore, whan they be drye, they
muste be sore brused and broken, the wiues knowe howe,
and than winowed and kepte drye, tyll yere-tyme come 56
agayn. Thy female hempe must be pulled from the
churle hempe, for that beareth no sede, and thou must
do by it, as thou dydest by the flax. The churle hempe
beareth sede, and beware that byrdes eate it not, as it 60
groweth: the he_m_p therof is not soo good as the female
[Sidenote: Sometimes there is a great deal to do.]
hempe, but yet it wyll do good seruyce. May fortune
somtime, that thou shalt haue so many thinges to do, that
thou shalt not well knowe where is best to begyn. Than 64
take hede, which thing shulde be the greattest losse, if
it were not done, and in what space it wold be done:
than thinke what is the greatest losse, & there begyn.
[Sidenote: Leave that till last which will best wait.]
But in case that thynge, that is of greateste losse, wyll 68
be longe in doynge, and thou myghteste do thre or foure
other thynges in the meane whyle, thanne loke well, if
all these thynges were sette together, whiche of them
were the greattest losse; and if all these thynges be of 72
[Sidenote: [Fol. 62_b_.]]
greater losse, and may be all done in as shorte space, as
the other, than doo thy many thynges fyrste.
¶ It is conuenyente for a housbande to haue shepe of
his owne, for many causes, and than maye his wife haue 76
[Sidenote: With some of the wool make clothes.]
part of the woll, to make her husbande and her-selfe
some clothes. And at the leaste waye, she may haue the
lockes of the shepe, eyther to make clothes or blankettes
& couerlettes, or bothe. And if she haue no woll of her 80
owne, she maye take wol to spynne of clothe-makers, and
by that meanes she maye haue a conuenyent lyuynge, and
many tymes to do other warkes. It is a wyues occupation,
[Sidenote: Winnow corn, brew, wash, make hay, etc.]
to wynowe all maner of cornes, to make malte, to wasshe 84
and wrynge, to make heye, shere corne, and in tyme of
nede to helpe her husbande to fyll the mucke-wayne or
dounge-carte, dryue the ploughe, to loode hey, corne, and
[Sidenote: Sell the butter, cheese, hens, geese, and corn.]
suche other. And to go or ride to the market, to sel butter, 88
chese, mylke, egges, chekyns, capons, hennes, pygges,
gese, and all maner of cornes. And also to bye all maner
[Sidenote: Keep accounts.]
of necessarye thynges belongynge to houssholde, and to
make a trewe rekenynge and a-compte to her housbande, 92
what she hath payed. And yf the housbande go to the
market, to bye or sell, as they ofte do, he than to shewe
[Sidenote: [Fol. 63.]]
his wife in lyke maner. For if one of them shoulde vse
to deceyue the other, he deceyueth hym-selfe, and he is 96
not lyke to thryue. And therfore they muste be trewe
[Sidenote: I will not explain all points of deceit.]
eyther to other. I coulde peraduenture shewe the housbandes
dyuerse poyntes that the wyues deceyue them
in: and in lyke maner, howe husbandes deceyue theyr 100
wyues: but if I shulde do so, I shulde shewe mo subtyll
poyntes of deceypt, than eyther of them knewe of before.
And therfore me semeth beste to holde my peace, least
[Sidenote: Else I should act like the Knight de la Tour,]
I shoulde do as the knyght of the toure dyd, the whiche 104
had many fayre doughters, and of fatherly loue that he
oughte to them, he made a boke, to a good entente, that
they myghte eschewe and flee from vyces, and folowe
vertues. In the whiche boke he shewed, that if they 108
were wowed, moued, or styred by any man, after suche
a maner as he there shewed, that they shulde withstande
[Sidenote: who wrote a book against vice,]
it. In the whiche boke he shewed so many wayes, howe
a man shoulde atteyne to his purpose, to brynge a woman 112
to vice, the whiche wayes were so naturall, and the wayes
to come to theyr purpose were soo subtylly contryued,
and craftely shewed, that harde it wold be for any woman
[Sidenote: but really taught vice.]
to resyste or deny theyr desyre. And by the sayd boke 116
hath made bothe the men and the women to knowe more
[Sidenote: [Fol. 63_b_.]]
vyces, subtyltye, and crafte, than euer they shulde haue
knowen, if the boke had not ben made: in the whiche
boke he named hym-selfe the knight of the towre. And 120
thus I leue the wyues, to vse theyr occupations at theyr
owne discreation.
147. ¶ To kepe measure in spendynge.
[Sidenote: Take care.]
Nowe thou husbande and huswyfe, that haue done
your diligence and cure, accordynge to the fyrste artycle
of the philosopher, that is to saye: _Adhibe curam_. And
also haue well remembred the sayeng of wyse Salomon: 4
_Quod ociosus non gaudebit cum electis in cælo: sed lugebit in
æternum cum reprobis in inferno_: Thanne ye must remembre,
obserue, and kepe in mind, the seconde article of
the sayinge of the philosopher, that is to saye, _Tene 8
[Sidenote: Keep measure.]
mensuram_: That is to saye in englysshe, holde and kepe
measure. And accordynge to that sayenge, I lerned two
[Sidenote: Spendthrifts come to poverty.]
verses at grammer-schole, and they be these, _Qui plus expendit,
quam rerum copia rendit: Non admiretur, si paupertate 12
grauetur_: he that dothe more expende, thanne his
goodes wyll extende, meruayle it shall not be, thoughe
[Sidenote: [Fol. 64.]]
he be greued with pouertee. And also accordynge to
that sayenge speketh sayncte Paul and saythe, _Iuxta 16
facultates faciendi sunt sumptus, ne longi temporis victum,
[Sidenote: Spend according to your income;]
breuis hora consumat_: That is to saye, A[f]ter thy faculty
or thy honoure, make thyne expences, leste thou spende
in shorte space that thynge, that thou shouldest lyue 20
by longe. This texte toucheth euery manne, from the
hyest degree to the loweste; wherfore it is necessary to
euerye manne and womanne to remembre and take good
hede there-vnto, for to obserue, kepe, and folowe the 24
same; but bycause this texte of sayncte Paule is in latyn,
and husbandes commonely can but lyttell laten, I fere
[Sidenote: or, in plain English,]
leaste they can-not vnderstande it. And thoughe it
were declared ones or twyse to theym, that they wolde 28
forgette it: Wherfore I shall shewe to theym a texte
in englysshe, and that they maye well vnderstande, and
[Sidenote: eat within your tether.]
that is this, Eate within thy tedure.
148. ¶ To eate within the tedure.
Thou husbande and huswife, that intend to folowe
the sayinge of the philosopher, that is to saye, kepe
[Sidenote: Spare at the brink, not at the bottom.]
measure, you muste spare at the brynke, and not at the
[Sidenote: [Fol. 64_b_.]]
bottom, that is to vnderstande, in the begynnynge of 4
the yere, sellynge of thy cornes, or spendynge in thy
house, vnto the tyme that thou haue sowen agayne thy
wynter-corne, and thy lente-corne, and than se what
remayneth to serue thy house, and of the ouerplus thou 8
mayste sell and bye suche other necessaryes, as thou must
[Sidenote: Do not spend much at the beginning of the year.]
nedes occupie. And if thou spende it in the begynnynge
of the yere, and shall want in the hynder ende, than
thou doste not eate within thy tedure, and at the laste 12
thou shalte be punyshed, as I shal proue the by ensample.
Take thy horse, and go tedure him vpon thyne owne
lees, flytte hym as ofte as thou wylte, no manne wyll
saye ‘wronge thou doste’; but make thy horse to longe 16
[Sidenote: Give not your horse too long a tether.]
a tedure, than whan thou haste tyed hym vppon thyne
owne lees, his tedure is so longe, that it recheth to the
middes of an-other mans lees or corne: Nowe haste
thou gyuen hym to moche lybertye, and that man, whose 20
corne or grasse thy horse hath eaten, wyll be greued at
the, and wyll cause the to be amerced in the court, or
elles to make hym amendes, or bothe. And if thy
[Sidenote: If the horse break his tether,]
horse breake his tedure, and go at large in euery mans 24
corne and grasse, than commeth the pynder, and taketh
hym, and putteth hym in the pynfolde, and there shall
[Sidenote: [Fol. 65.]]
he stande in prison, without any meate, vnto the tyme
thou hast payde his raunsome to the pynder, and also 28
[Sidenote: he will be impounded.]
make amendes to thy neyghbours, for distroyenge of
theyr corne. Ryght so, as long as thou eatest within
[Sidenote: Wherefore, ‘eat within thy tether.’]
thy tedure, that thou nedest not to begge nor borowe of
noo man, soo longe shalte thou encrease and growe in 32
rychesse, and euery man wyll be content with the. And
if thou make thy tedure to longe, that thyne owne
porcyon wyll not serue the, but that thou shalte begge,
borowe, or bye of other: that wyll not longe endure, 36
but thou shalte fall in-to pouertye. And if thou breake
[Sidenote: Do not break your tether.]
thy tedure, and ren ryot at large, and knowe not other
mennes goodes frome thyne owne, than shall the pynder,
that is to saye, the sheryffe and the bayly, areste the, 40
and putte the in the pynfolde, that is to say, in prison,
there to abyde tyll the truth be knowen: and it is
meruayle, if thou scape with thy lyfe, and therfore eate
within thy tedure. 44
149. ¶ A shorte lesson for the husbande.
[Sidenote: Do not waste candle-light.]
One thinge I wyl aduise the to remembre, and specially
in wynter-tyme, wha_n_ thou sytteste by the fyre, and hast
supped, to consyder in thy mynde, whether the warkes,
[Sidenote: [Fol. 65_b_.]]
that thou, thy wyfe, & thy seruauntes shall do, be more 4
auauntage to the than the fyre, and candell-lyghte, meate
and drynke that they shall spende, and if it be more
[Sidenote: Rather go to bed, and rise early.]
auantage, than syt styll: and if it be not, than go to thy
bedde and slepe, and be vppe betyme, and breake thy 8
faste before day, that thou mayste be all the shorte
wynters day about thy busynes. At grammer-scole I
[Sidenote: Early rising makes a man healthy, holy,
and rich.]
lerned a verse, that is this, _Sanat, sanctificat, et ditat
surgere mane_. That is to say, Erly rysyng maketh a man 12
hole in body, holer in soule, and rycher in goodes. And
this me semeth shuld be sufficient instruction for the
husbande to kepe measure.
150. ¶ How men of hye degree do kepe measure.
[Sidenote: Men of high degree are too prodigal and wasteful.]
To me it is doubtefull, but yet me semeth, they be
rather to lyberall in expences, than to scarce, and
specyally in three thynges. The fyrste is prodigalytie in
outragious and costely aray, fer aboue measure; the 4
seconde thynge is costely charge of delycyous meates and
drynkes; the thyrde is outragious playe and game, ferre
aboue measure. And nowe to the fyrste poynte.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 66.]]
151. ¶ Prodigalite in outragious and costely aray.
[Sidenote: I have seen noblemen’s inventories of apparel
very moderate as compared with what is worn now.]
I haue seen bokes of accompte of the yomen of the
wardropes of noble men, and also inue_n_torys made after
theyr decease of their apparell, and I doubte not but at
this daye, it is .xx. tymes more in value, than it was to 4
suche a man of degree as he was an .C. yere a-go: and
many tymes it is gyuen away, er it be halfe worne, to a
symple man, the whiche causeth hym to weare the same;
and an other symple man, or a lyttell better, seynge him 8
[Sidenote: Other men try to dress like them.]
to weare suche rayment, thynketh in his mynde, that he
maye were as good rayment as he, and so causeth hym to
bye suche other, to his great coste and charge, aboue
measure, and an yll ensample to all other: and also to see 12
[Sidenote: Even servants dress too much.]
mens seruantes so abused in theyr aray, theyr cotes be so
syde, that they be fayne to tucke them vp whan they ryde,
as women do theyr kyrtels whan they go to the market or
other places, the whiche is an vnconuenient syght. And 16
ferthermore, they haue suche pleytes vpon theyr brestes,
and ruffes vppon theyr sleues, aboue theyr elbowes,
that yf theyr mayster, or theym-selfe hadde neuer so
greatte nede, they coude not shoote one shote, to hurte 20
[Sidenote: [Fol. 66_b_.]]
theyr ennemyes, tyll they hadde caste of theyr cotes, or cut
of theyr sleues. This is fer aboue measure, or common
weale of the realme. This began fyrste with honour,
worship, and honesty, and it endeth in pryde, presumption, 24
and pouertye. Wherof speketh saint Austin, _Que_m_cunque
superbum esse videris, diaboli filiu_m _esse ne dubites_: That is
[Sidenote: The proud man is a child of the devil.]
to say, who-so-euer thou seest that is proude, dout the not,
but he is the diuels chylde. Wherfore agaynst pryde he 28
byddeth the remembre: _Quid fuisti, quid es, et qualis post
mortem eris_: That is to say, what thou were, what thou
art, and what thou shalte be after thy death. And S.
Bernarde saythe, _Homo nihil aliud est, q_uam _sperma 32
fetidum, saccus stercorum, et esca vermium_: That is to saye,
[Sidenote: Man is but worm’s meat.]
A man is nothynge but stynkynge fylthe, a sacke of
dounge, and wormes meate. The whiche sayinges wolde
be reme_m_bred, and than me semeth this is sufficient at this 36
time for the first point of the thre.
152. ¶ Of delycyouse meates and drynkes.
Howe costely are the charges of delycious meates &
drynkes, that be nowe most commonly vsed, ouer that it
hath ben in tymes paste, and howe fer aboue measure?
[Sidenote: [Fol. 68; _no fol. 67_.]]
For I haue seen bokes of accompte of householde, 4
and brumentes vpon the same, & I doubte not, but
[Sidenote: Men now spend four times as much upon feasts
as they used to.]
in delycyous meates, drinkes, and spyces, there is at
this daye foure tymes so moche spent, as was at these
dayes, to a lyke man in degree; and yet at that tyme 8
there was as moche befe and mutton spent as is nowe,
and as many good housholdes kept, and as many
yomenne wayters therin as be nowe. This began with
loue and charytye whan a lorde, gentylman, or yoman 12
desyred or prayed an other to come to dyner or soupper,
and bycause of his commynge he wolde haue a dysshe
or two mo than he wolde haue had, if he had ben
[Sidenote: This has come about gradually.]
away. Than of very loue he, remembrynge howe louyngely 16
he was bydden to dynner, and howe well he fared, he
thynketh of very kyndnes he muste nedes byd hym to
dyner agayne, and soo ordeyneth for hym as manye maner
of suche dysshes and meates, as the other man dyd, and 20
two or .iii. mo, & thus by lyttel and litell it is commen fer
[Sidenote: Begun in kindness, it ends in pride.]
aboue measure. And begon of loue and charyte, and
endeth in pryde and glotony, wherof saynte Ierome
[Sidenote: Jerome.]
saythe: _Qui post carnem ambulant, in ventrem et libidine_m, 24
_proni sunt, quasi irrationabilia iumenta reputa_n_tur_. That is
[Sidenote: [Fol. 68_b_.]]
to say, They that walke, and be redy to fulfill the lust of
the fleshe and the bely, are taken as vnreasonable beastes;
[Sidenote: Gregory.]
and sayncte Gregory sayth, _Domina_n_te vicio gulæ, omnes_ 28
_virtutes per luxuriam et vanam gloriam obruuntur_: That is
to saye, where the vice of glotony hath domination, all
vertues by luxury and vayne glory are cast vnder: the
whiche sayinges wold in lykewise be remembred; and 32
this me semeth sufficient for the .ii. poynte of the thre.
153. ¶ Of outragious playe and game.
[Sidenote: Have some recreation.]
It is conueniente for euery man, of what degree that he
be of, to haue playe & game accordynge to his degree.
[Sidenote: Dionysius Cato, Distich. iii. 7.]
For Cato sayth, _Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis_: Amonge
thy charges and busynes thou muste haue sometyme ioye 4
and myrthe; but nowe a-dayes it is doone ferre aboue
[Sidenote: Poor men now play too high.]
measure. For nowe a poore man in regarde wyll playe
as great game, at all maner games, as gentylman were
wont to do, or greater, and gentilmen as lordes, and 8
lordes as prynces, & ofte tymes the great estates wyll
call gentylmen or yomen to play with them at as great
game as they do, and they call it a disport, the whiche
[Sidenote: [Fol. 69.]]
me semeth a very trewe name to it, for it displeaseth 12
some of them er they departe, and specyall god, for
myspendynge of his goodes and tyme. But if they
[Sidenote: If men played for less, it might then be
called play.]
played smalle games, that the poore man that playeth
myght beare it thoughe he loste, and bate not his 16
countenaunce, than myght it be called a good game, a
good playe, a good sporte, and a pastyme. But whan
one shall lose vpon a day, or vpon a nyght, as moche
money as wold fynde hym and all his house meate and 20
drynke a moneth or a quarter of a yere or more, that
maye be well called a disporte, or a displeasure, and ofte
[Sidenote: But now men lose their lands and become
thieves.]
tymes, by the meanes therof, it causeth theym to sell theyr
landes, dysheryte the heyres, and may fortune to fall to 24
thefte, robbery, or suche other, to the great hurte of them-selfe,
& of theyr chyldren, and to the displeasure of god:
and they so doinge, lyttel do they pondre or regarde the
saying of saynt Paule; _Iuxta facultates faciendi sunt 28
sumptus, ne longi temporis victum breuis hora consumat_:
[Sidenote: Play, begun in love, ends in wrath.]
This play begun with loue and charity, and oft times
it endeth with couetous wrath and enuy. And this me
thynketh shoulde be a sufficient instruction for kepynge 32
of measure.
154. ¶ A prologue of the thyrde sayinge of the
philosopher.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 69_b_.]]
Nowe thou housbande and housewife, that haue done
your diligence and cure about your husbandrye and huswyfry,
accordynge to the fyrste sayenge of the philosopher,
[Sidenote: Pay attention;]
_Adhibe curam_: And also haue well remembred and 4
fulfylled the seconde sayinge of the sayde philosopher,
[Sidenote: Be frugal; and thou shalt be rich.]
_Tene mensuram_: I doubte not but ye be ryche accordyng
to the thyrde sayinge of the sayde philosopher, _Et eris
diues_. Nowe I haue shewed you the sayinge of the 8
philosopher, wherby you haue goten moche worldely
possession, me semeth it were necessary, to shewe you
howe ye maye gette heuenly possessions, accordynge to
[Sidenote: Matt. xvi. 26.]
the sayenge of our lorde in his gospel, _Quid prodest 12
homini, si vniuersum mundum lucretur, animæ vero suæ detrimentum
paciatur_: What profyteth it to a man, thoughe
he wyn all the worlde, to the hyndraunce and losyng
of his soule? Howe be it, it shoulde seme vnconuenient 16
for a temporall man to take vpon hym to shewe
or teache any suche spirytuall matters; and yet there is
a great diuersytie betwene predication and doctrine.
155. ¶ A diuersitie betwene predication and doctrine.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 70.]]
As sayncte Iherome saythe, there is greate difference or
[Sidenote: Difference between preaching and doctrine.]
diuersitie betwene preachinge and doctrine. A preachyng
or a sermon is, where [is] a conuocation or a gatherynge
of people on holye dayes, or other dayes in churches or 4
other places, and times sette and ordeyned for the
same. And it belongeth to theym that be ordeyned
[Sidenote: Every man may teach.]
there-vnto, and haue iurisdiction and auctorytie, and to
none other. But euery man may lawefully enforme and 8
teache his brother, or any other, at euery tyme and place
behouable, if it seme expedient to hym, for that is an
almes-dede, to the whiche euery man is holden &
bounde to do, accordyng to the sayenge of saynt 12
[Sidenote: 1 Pet. iv. 10.]
Peter, _Vnusquisq_ue, _sicut accepit gratiam, in alterutrum
illam administrare debet_. That is to saye, as euery man
hath taken or receyued grace, he oughte to mynyster
[Sidenote: Chrysostom.]
and shewe it forthe to other. For as Chrisostome saythe, 16
great merite is to hym, and a great reward he shall haue
in tyme to come, the which writeth or causeth to be
writen, holy doctrine, for that entent, that he may se in
it, howe he may lyue holylye, and that other may haue 20
it, that they maye be edyfyed or sanctyfyed by the same;
for he saythe surely, knowe thou, that howe many soules
[Sidenote: [Fol. 70_b_.]]
be saued by the, soo many rewardes thou shalte haue for
[Sidenote: Gregory.]
eyther. For saynt Gregory saythe, _Nullum sacrificium ita 24
placet deo, sicut zelus animaru_m: There is no sacrifyce
that pleaseth god so moche, as the loue of soules. And
[Sidenote: Gregory.]
also he saythe, _Ille apud deum maior est in amore, qui ad
eius amorem plurimos trahit_: He is greateste in fauour 28
with god, that draweth moste men to the loue of god.
Wherfore me semeth, it is co_n_uenient to enforme and
shewe them, how they maye gette heuenly possessions,
as well as I haue shewed them to get worldly possessions. 32
Than to my purpose, and to the poynt where I lefte,
‘nowe thou art ryche.’
156. ¶ What is rychesse.
[Sidenote: What is riches.]
It is to be vnderstande what is rychesse; and as me
semeth, rychesse is that thynge, that is of goodnes, and
can-not be taken awaye from the owner, neyther in his
temporall lyfe, nor in the lyfe euerlastynge. Than these 4
worldly possessions, that I haue spoken of, is no richesse,
for why they be but floures of the worlde. And that may
be wel consydered by Iob, the whiche was the rychest
man of worldely possessions, that was lyuynge in those 8
[Sidenote: [Fol. 71.]]
daies, and sodeynely he was the poorest man agayne that
coulde be lyuynge, and all the whyle he toke pacyence, and
[Sidenote: Job i. 21.]
was content, as appereth by his sayenge, _Dominus dedit,
dominus abstulit: sicut domino placuit, ita factum est, sit 12
nomen domini benedictum_: Our lorde hath gyuen it, our
lorde hath taken it awaye, and as it pleaseth our lorde,
so be it, blessed be the name of our lorde. The whiche
Iob may be an ensample to euery true chrysten man, of 16
his pacyence and good liuing in tribulation, as appereth
in his storye, who that lyste to rede therin. And saynte
[Sidenote: Augustine.]
Austyne saythe: _Qui terrenis inhiat, et æterna non cogitat,
utrisq_ue _in futuro carebit_: he that gathereth in worldly 20
thynges, and thynketh not vppon euerlastynge thynges,
shall wante bothe in tyme to come. For sayncte
[Sidenote: Ambrose.]
Ambrose saythe, _Non sunt bona hominis, quæ secum ferre
non potest_: They are not the goodes of man, the whiche 24
[Sidenote: Bernard.]
he can-not beare with him. And saynte Bernarde saythe:
_Si vestra sint, tollite vobiscum_: Yf they be yours, take them
with you. Than it is to be vnderstande, what goodes a
man shall take with hym. And these be the good dedes 28
and warkes that thou doste here in this temporall lyfe,
[Sidenote: Chrysostom.]
wherof speketh Crysostome: _Fac bene, et operare iustitiam,
[Sidenote: [Fol. 71_b_.]]
vt spem habeas apud deum, et non desperabis in terra_: Doo
well, and worke ryghtwysly, that thou mayste haue truste 32
in god, and that thou be not in despayre in this worlde.
[Sidenote: Ps. xxxvii. 25.]
Accordynge to that saythe the prophete Dauyd, _Iunior
[Sidenote: (Ps. xxxvi. 25, Vulgate.)]
fui, etenim senui, et non vidi iustum derelictum, nec semen
eius querens panem_: I haue ben yonge, and I haue waxen 36
olde, and I haue not seen a ryghtwyse man forsaken, nor
his chyldren sekynge theyr breade.
157. ¶ What is the propertie of a riche man.
In myne opynyon the propertye of a ryche manne is, to
be a purchaser; and if he wyll purchase, I councell hym
[Sidenote: Augustine.]
to purchase heuen. For sayncte Austyne saythe, _Regnum
cælorum nulli clauditur, nisi illi, qui se excluserit_: The 4
kyngedome of heuen is to noo man closed, but to hym
that wyll putte oute hym-selfe. Wherfore this texte
maye gyue the a courage to prefixe thy mynde, to make
there thy purchase. And Salomon saythe: _Quod mali 8
carius emunt infernum, quam boni cælum_: Ill men bye
hell derer, thanne the good men bie heuen. And that me
[Sidenote: [Fol. 72.]]
semeth maye well be proued by a common ensample: As
if I had a .M. shepe to sell, and dyuers men come to me, 12
[Sidenote: Suppose I sell 1000 sheep, 100 to each of
10 men.]
and bye euery manne a .C. of the shepe, all of one price,
to paye me at dyuers dayes. I am agreed, and graunt
them these dayes; some of the menne be good, and kepe
theyr promesse, and paye me at theyr dayes, and some of 16
theym doo not paye me. Wherfore I sue theym at the
[Sidenote: Those who do not pay I imprison for debt.]
lawe, and by course of the common lawe, I doo recouer
my duetie of them, and haue theyr bodyes in prisone for
execution, tylle they haue made me payment. Nowe these 20
men, that haue broken me promesse, and payed not theyr
[Sidenote: These men buy their sheep dearer than the others.]
dewetye, bye theyr shepe derer thanne the good menne
bought theyrs. For they haue imprysonment of theyr
bodyes, and yet must they pay theyr duetyes neuer the 24
lesse, or elles lye and dye there in pryson: the whiche
sheepe be derer to them, then to the good men that
[Sidenote: So it is with men who buy heaven.]
kepte theyr promes. Righte so euery man chepeth
heuen, and god hath sette on it a pryce, and graunted 28
it to euery man, and giuen to them dayes of payment:
the pryce is all one, and that is to kepe his commaundementes,
duryng theyr lyues: the good men kepe his
commaundementes, and fulfyll theyr promesse, and haue 32
heuen at theyr decease. The yll men breake promesse,
[Sidenote: [Fol. 72_b_.]]
& kepe not his commaundementes, wherfore at theyr
decease they be put in pryson, that is to say in hell,
there to abyde his ryghtuousenes. And soo the yll men 36
[Sidenote: Ill men buy hell dearer than good men buy
heaven.]
bye hell derer, than the good menne bye heuen. And
therfore it is better, to forgoo a lyttel pleasure, or suffer[33]
a lyttell payne in this worlde, than to suffer a moche
greatter and a lenger payne in an other worlde. Nowe 40
sythe helle is derer than heuen, I aduyse the specyally
[Sidenote: Wherefore buy heaven.]
to bye heuen, wherin is euerlastynge ioye without ende.
158. ¶ What ioyes or pleasures are in heuen.
[Sidenote: Augustine.]
Saynt Austyn saythe, _Ibi erunt quæcunq_ue _ab hominibus
desiderantur, vita et salus, copia glorie, honor, pax, et
omnia bona_: That is to saye, There shall be euery thynge
that any man desyreth, there is lyfe, helth, plenty of ioye, 4
honour, peace, and all maner of goodnes. What wolde a
[Sidenote: 1 Cor. ii. 9. Isa. lxiv. 4.]
man haue more? And saynt Paule sayth, _Occulus non vidit,
nec auris audiuit, nec in cor hominis ascendit, quæ preparuit deus
diligentibus se_: That is to say, The eye hath not seen, nor 8
the eares hath herde, nor the herte of a man hath thought
[Sidenote: [Fol. 73.]]
of so goodly thynges, that god hath ordeyned for theym
that loue hym. O what a noble acte that were for an
husbande or houswyfe, to purchase suche a royall place in 12
heuen, to whiche is no comparyson. Than it is to
be knowen, what thynge pleaseth god most, that we myght
do it.
159. ¶ What thynges pleaseth god most.
[Sidenote: 1 Cor. ii. 9.]
By the texte of sayncte Paule, before sayd, loue pleaseth
god aboue al thinge, and that maye be well proued by the
[Sidenote: Prov. xxxiii. 26.]
sayinge of our lorde hym-selfe, where he saythe: _Da mihi
cor tuum, et sufficit mihi_; Gyue me thy harte, and that is 4
sufficiente for me; for he that hath a mannes harte, hath
all his other goodes. What is this mans harte? it is
nothyng elles, but very trewe loue. For there can be no
true loue, but it commeth meryly and immediately from 8
the harte: and if thou loue god entyerlye with thy harte,
than wylte thou do his commaundementes. Than it wolde
be vnderstande and knowen whiche be his commandementes,
that a man may obserue and kepe them. 12
160. ¶ What be goddes commaundementes.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 73_b_.]]
There be in all .x. commaundementes, the which were
to long to declare, but they be all concluded and comprehended
[Sidenote: Deut. vi. 5. Lev. xix. 18.]
in two, that is to say: _Diliges dominum deum tuum
super omnia: Et proximum tuu_m _sicut te ipsum_: Loue thy 4
lorde god aboue al thing, and thy neyghboure as thy-selfe.
These be lyghte commaundementes, and nature byndeth
a man to fulfyll, obserue, and kepe them, or els he is not
a naturall man, remembryng what god hath doone for the. 8
Fyrste he hath made the to the symylytude and lykenes
of his owne ymage, and hathe gyuen to the in this worlde
dyuerse possessions, but specyally he hath redemed thy
soule vpon the crosse, and suffered great payne and 12
passion and bodelye deathe for thy sake. What loue,
what kyndenes was in hym, to doo this for the? What
couldest thou desyre hym to do more for the? And he
[Sidenote: God asks love for love.]
desyreth nothynge of the agayne, but loue for loue. What 16
can he desyre lesse?
161. ¶ Howe a man shulde loue god and please hym.
Surelye a man maye loue god and please hym very many
wayes: but fyrste and principally, he that wyll loue god,
[Sidenote: [Fol. 74.]]
and please hym, he muste doo as it is sayde in Symbalo
[Sidenote: Athanasian Creed.]
Athanasii: _Quicunq_ue _vult saluus esse, ante omnia opus est 4
vt teneat catholica_m _fidem_, Who so euer wyll be saued,
aboue all thynge he must nedes be stedfast in the faythe
of holy churche. And accordynge to that, saythe sayncte
[Sidenote: Heb. xi. 6.]
Paule: _Sine fide impossibile est placere deo_; Without faythe 8
[Sidenote: Seneca.]
it is impossible to please god. And Seneca sayth: _Nichil
retinet, qui fidem perdidit_: There abydeth no goodnes in
hym, that hath loste his faythe. And soo thou mayste
well perceyue, that thou canst not loue nor please god, 12
without perfyte fayth. And ferther-more thou mayste not
presume to study, nor to argue thy faithe by reason. For
[Sidenote: Gregory; xl. Homil. in Evang. ii. 26.]
saynte Gregory saythe: _Fides non habet meritum, vbi humana
ratio prebet experimentum_: Faythe hath no meryte, where 16
as mannes reasone proueth the same. This faythe is a
pryncypall sygne, that thou loueste god. Also thy good
dedes, and thy warkes, is a good sygne, that thou loueste
[Sidenote: Jerome.]
god. For saynt Iherome saythe: _Vnusquisque, cuius opera 20
facit, eius filius appellatur_: whose warkes euery man dothe,
[Sidenote: Bernard.]
his son or seruaunt he is called. And sayncte Bernarde
saythe, _Efficatior est vox operis, q_uam _vox sermonis_: The
[Sidenote: [Fol. 74_b_.]]
dedes and the warkes of a man is more euydent profe, 24
[Sidenote: Seven works of mercy.]
than his wordes. The fulfyllynge of the .vii. workes of
mercye is an other specyall sygne, that thou louest god:
and many mo there be, whiche were to longe to reherse
them all. 28
162. ¶ Howe a man shulde loue his neyghbour.
[Sidenote: Love of our neighbour.]
Thou must loue thy neyghboure as thy-selfe, wherin
thou shalt please god specially: for if thou loue thy
neyghbour as thy-selfe, it foloweth by reason, that
thou shalte do nothyng to hym, but suche as thou 4
woldest shulde be done to the. And that is to
presume, that thou woldest not haue any hurte of thy
body, nor of thy goodes, done vnto the, and lykewyse
thou shuldest none do vnto hym. And also if thou 8
woldest haue any goodnes done vnto the, eyther in thy
bodye, or in thy mouable goodes, lykewyse shuldest thou
do vnto thy neyghbour, if it lye in thye power, accordynge
[Sidenote: Gregory.]
to the sayinge of saynte Gregorye, _Nec deus sine proximo, 12
nec proximus vere diligitur sine deo_: Thou canste not loue
god, with-out thou loue thy neyghbour, nor thou canst not
loue thy neighbour, without thou loue god. Wherfore
[Sidenote: [Fol. 75.]]
thou muste fyrste loue god pryncypallye, and thy neyghbour 16
secondaryly.
163. ¶ Of prayer that pleaseth god very moche.
[Sidenote: Prayer pleaseth God much.]
Prayer is honour and laude to god, and a specyall
thynge that pleaseth hym moche, and is a greate sygne,
that thou louest god, and that thou arte perfyte and
stedfaste in the faythe of holy churche: and that it is so, 4
it maye be well consydered by our forefathers, that haue
for the loue and honour of god made churches. And a
man muste dayly at some conuenyente tymes exercyse and
vse prayer hym-selfe, as he oughte to doo. For saynt 8
[Sidenote: Ambrose.]
Ambrose sayth, _Relicto hoc, ad quod teneris, ingratum est
spiritui sancto quicquid aliud operaris_: If thou leaue that
thynge vndone, that thou arte bounde to doo, it is not
acceptable to god, what-so-euer thou dooste elles. Than 12
it is necessarye, that thou do praye, and a poore manne
doynge his labour trewely in the daye, and thinketh well,
prayeth well: but on the holye daye, he is bounde to come
to the church, and here his diuyne seruyce. 16
[Sidenote: [Fol. 75_b_.]]
164. ¶ What thynge letteth prayer.
There be two impedimentes, that lette and hynder
prayer, that it maye not be herde. And of the fyrste impedimente
[Sidenote: Isa. i. 15.]
speketh Ysaye the prophete: _Quia manus vestræ
plenæ sunt sanguine .i. peccato, ideo non exaudiet vos dominus_: 4
Bycause your handes be full of bloude, that is to saye,
full of synne, therfore our lorde dothe not graciousely
[Sidenote: Prov. xv. 29.]
here you. And also prouerbiorum tertio, _Longe est dominus
ab impiis, et orationes iustorum exaudiet_. Our lorde is ferre 8
fro wycked men, and the prayers of ryghtewyse men he
[Sidenote: Bernard.]
gracyously hereth. And sayncte Bernarde saythe, _Qui a
præceceptis dei auertitur, quod in oratione postulat non meretur_:
He that dothe not goddes commaundementes, he 12
deserueth not to haue his prayer harde. The seconde
[Sidenote: Anastasius.]
impediment, saythe Anastasius, is, _Si non dimittis iniuriam,
que tibi facta est, non orationem pro te facis, sed maledictionem
super te inducis_: If thou forgyue not the wronge done 16
vnto the, thou doste not praye for thy-selfe, but thou
[Sidenote: Isidore.]
enducest goddes curse to fall vppon the. And Isodorus
saythe, _Sicut nullum in vulnere proficit medicamentum, si
adhuc ferrum in eo sit: ita nihil proficiat oratio illius, cuius 20
[Sidenote: [Fol. 81; _sic._]]
adhuc dolor in mente vel odium manet in pectore_. Lyke as
the playster or medycyne can-not heale a wounde, if there
be any yren styckinge in the same, ryghte soo the prayer
of a man profyteth hym not, as longe as there is sorowe 24
in his mynde, or hate abydynge in his breste. For
[Sidenote: Augustine.]
sayncte Austyne saythe, _Si desit charitas, frustra habentur
cetera_. If charitie wante, all other thynges be voyde.
Wherfore thou muste se that thou stande in the state of 28
grace, and not infecte with deedly synne, and than praye
if thou wylt be harde.
165. ¶ Howe a man shulde praye.
It is to be vnderstande that there be dyuers maner
[Sidenote: Public prayer.]
of prayinges, _Quedam publica, et quedam priuata_; That
is to saye, some openlye, and some priuately. Prayer
openly muste nedes be done in the churche by the 4
mynystratours of the same people. For it is done for
all the comynaltye, and therfore the people in that oughte
to conferme theym-selfe to the sayde mynystratours, and
there to be presente to praye vnto god after a dewe 8
[Sidenote: Private prayer.]
maner. _Oratio priuata._ The prayer pryuately done,
[Sidenote: [Fol. 81_b_.]]
oughte to be doone in secrete places, for two causes.
For prayer eleuateth and lyfteth vp a mannes mynde
to god. And the mynde of man is sooner and better 12
lyfte vppe whan he is in a pryuye place, and separate
frome multytude of people. An other cause is to auoyde
vaynglory that myghte lyghtely ensue or ryse thervppon,
whan it is doone openly; and therof speketh our 16
[Sidenote: Matt. vi. 5.]
sauyour, where he sayth, _Cum oratis, non eritis sicut
hypocritæ, qui amant in sinagogis et in angulis platearum
stantes orare_. That is to saye, whan ye praye, be not
you as the hypocrytes, the whiche loue to stande in 20
theyr synagoges and corners of hyghe-wayes to praye.
Also some folkes pray with the lyppes or mouthe, and
not with the herte, of whome spekethe our lorde by his
[Sidenote: Isa. xxix. 13.]
prophete, _Hij labiis me honorant, cor autem eorum longe 24
est a me_; They honour me with theyr mouthe, and
[Sidenote: Gregory.]
theyr hertes be ferre from me. And sayncte Gregory
saythe, _Quid prodest strepitus labiorum vbi mutum est cor?_
What profyteth the labour of the mouthe, where the 28
[Sidenote: Isidore.]
herte is dombe? And Isodore saythe, _Longe quippe a
deo est animus, qui in oratione cogitationibus sæculi fuerit
occupatus_. His soule is far from god, that in his prayer
his mynde is occupied in warkes of the worlde. There 32
[Sidenote: [Fol. 82.]]
be other that pray both with the mouth and hart, of
[Sidenote: John iv. 24.]
whom speketh sayncte Iohan .x. _Veri adoratores, adorabunt
patrem in spiritu et veritate_. The true prayers wylle
worshyp the father of heauen in spirite and with trouthe. 36
[Sidenote: Isidore.]
Isodorus saythe, _Tunc veraciter oramus, quando aliunde
non cogitamus_. Than we praye truely, whan we thynke
[Sidenote: Richard of Hampole.]
on nothynge elles. _Richardus de Hampole. Ille deuote
orat, qui non habet cor vacabundum in terrenis occupationibus, 40
sed sublatum ad deum in cælestibus._ He prayeth deuoutly,
that hath not his harte wauerynge in worldelye occupations,
but alwaye subleuate and lyfte vppe to god in
heuen. There be other that praye with the harte. vnde 44
[Sidenote: Matt. vi. 6.]
Mat. vi. _Tu autem cum oraueris, intra [in] cubiculum tuum
.i. in loco secreto, et clauso hostio, ora patrem tuum._ Whan
thou shalte praye, entre into thy chambre or oratory,
and steke the doore, and praye to the father of heuen. 48
[Sidenote: Isidore.]
Isodorus, _Ardens oratio est non labiorum sed cordium, potius
enim orandum est corde q_uam _ore_. The hoter prayer is
with the harte than with the lyppes, rather pray with
[Sidenote: 1 Sam. i. 13.]
thy herte than with thy mouth. _Regum primo. Anna 52
loquebatur in corda._ Anna spake with the harte.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 82_b_.]]
166. A meane to put away ydle thoughtes in prayinge.
[Sidenote: Against idle thoughts.]
And to auoyde wauerynge myndes, in worldlye occupations
whanne thou shalte praye, I shall shewe vnto you
the beste experience that euer I coulde fynde for the same,
the whiche haue benne moche troubled therwith, and that 4
[Sidenote: If you understand Latin, keep your eye on the
book, and remember the English of it.]
is this. He that can rede and vnderstande latyne, let
hym take his booke in his hande, and looke stedfastely
vppon the same thynge that he readeth and seeth, that
8 is no trouble to hym, and remembre the englysshe of 8
the same, wherin he shall fynde greatte swetenes, and shall
cause his mynde to folowe the same, and to leaue other
worldly thoughtes. And he that canne-not reade nor
[Sidenote: If not, think of Christ’s passion,]
vnderstande his pater noster, Aue, nor Crede, he must 12
remembre the passyon of Christe, what peyne he suffered
for hym, and all mankynde, for redemynge of theyr soules.
And also the miracles and wonders that god hath doone,
and fyrste what wonders were doone the nyghte of his 16
[Sidenote: and of His miracles;]
natiuitie and byrthe. And howe he turned water in-to
wyne, and made the blynde to se, the dombe to speake,
the deafe to here, the lame to go, the sycke to be hole.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 83.]]
And howe he fed fyue thousande with two fysshes, and 20
fyue barley loues, wherof was lefte .xii. coffyns or skyppes
of fragmentes. And howe he reised Lazare from deathe
to lyfe, with manye moo myracles that be innumerable to
be rehersed. And also to remembre the specyall poyntes 24
[Sidenote: how He was betrayed,]
of his passion, howe he was solde & betrayed of Judas,
and taken by the iewes, and broughte before Pylate, than
to kynge Herode, and to bysshope Cayphas, and than to
Pylate agayne, that iudged hym to death, and howe he 28
[Sidenote: scourged,]
was bounde to a piller, and how they scurged, bobbed,
mocked hym, spytte in his face, crowned hym with thornes,
and caused hym to beare the crosse to the mounte of
[Sidenote: and crucified;]
Caluary, whervppon he was nayled both handes and 32
fete, and wounded to the harte with a sharpe spere, and
[Sidenote: went down to hell; and rose again.]
soo suffered deathe. And howe he fette out the soules of
our forefathers forthe of hell. Howe he rose frome deathe
to lyfe, and howe ofte he appered to his discyples and 36
other moo. And what myracles he wroughte afterwarde,
and specyally what power he gaue to his dyscyples, that
were noo clerkes, to teache and preche his faythe, and
worke many myracles, and specyally whan they preached 40
before menne of dyuers nations and languages, and euerye
[Sidenote: [Fol. 83_b_.]]
man vnderstode in theyr own language, the whiche is
a sygne that god wolde haue euery manne saued, and
to knowe his lawes, the whiche was a myracle able to 44
conuerte all the infydeles, heretykes, and lollers in the
worlde.
167. ¶ A meane to auoyde temptation.
It is ofte-tymes seen, that the holyer that a man is, the
[Sidenote: The holier a man is, the more he is tempted.]
more he is tempted, and he that soo is, maye thanke god
therof. For god of his goodnes and grace hath not gyuen
to the dyuell auctoritie nor power to attempte any man 4
ferther and aboue that, that he that is so tempted, maye
withstande. For sayncte Gregory sayth, _Non est timendum_
[Sidenote: Gregory.]
(sic) _hostis, qui non potest vincere nisi volente_m. An enemye is
not to be dradde, the whiche maye not ouercome, but if a 8
manne be wyllynge. And it is to presume, that he that is
soo tempted, standeth in the state of grace. For sayncte
Ambrose saythe, _Illos diabolus[34] vexare negligit, quos iure
[Sidenote: Ambrose.]
hæreditario se possidere sentit_. The dyuell despyseth to 12
vexe or trouble those, the whiche he felethe him-selfe to
haue in possessyon by ryght inheritaunce. And if thou
be so tempted, vexed, or troubled, I shall shewe vnto the
[Sidenote: [Fol. 84.]]
two verses, that if thou do therafter, thou shalte be eased 16
of thy temptacyon, and haue greatte thanke and laude of
god and rewarde therfore; these be the verses.
[Sidenote: Two useful verses.]
_Hostis no_n _ledit, nisi cum te_m_ptatus obedit._
_Est leo si sedit, si stat quasi musca recedit._ 20
¶ That is to say, The gostly enemy hurteth not, but whan
[Sidenote: The tempter is a lion, if we sit still;]
he that is tempted obeyeth to his temptation. Than his
ghostly enemy plaieth the lyon, if that he that is so
tempted syt styll and obey to hym. And if he that is 24
[Sidenote: but if we resist, he is but a fly.]
tempted, stande styfly agaynste hym, the ghostlye ennemye
flyeth awaye lyke a flye. This me semeth maye be wel
proued by a famylier ensaumple. As if a lorde had a
[Sidenote: A fainthearted captain loses his castle,]
castell, and deliuered it to a capitayne to kepe, if there 28
come ennemies to the castell, and call to the capytayn,
and byd hym delyuer them this castell. The capytayne
cometh and openeth them the gates, and delyuereth the
keyes. Nowe is this castell soone wonne, and this 32
[Sidenote: and is a traitor. But if he resist, the enemy
will not tarry.]
capytayne is a false traytour to the lorde. But lette
the capitaine arme hym-selfe, and steke the gates, and
stande styfly vpon the walle, and commaunde them to
auoyde at theyr peryll, and they wyll not tary to make 36
[Sidenote: Every man is captain of his own soul.]
[Sidenote: [Fol. 84_b_.]]
any assaut. Ryght so euery man is capitayne of his owne
soule, and if thy gostely ennemy come and tempte the,
and thou, that art capytayne of thyne owne soule, wyll
open the gates, and delyuer hym the keyes and let hym 40
in, thy sowle is soone taken prysoner, and thou a false
traytour to thy soule, and worthye to be punysshed in
pryson for euer. And if thou arme thy-selfe and stande
styfly agaynste hym, and wyll not consente to hym, he 44
wyll auoyde and fle away, and thou shalt haue a greate
reward for withstandynge of the sayde temptation.
168. ¶ Almes-dedes pleaseth god moche.
[Sidenote: Almsdeeds.]
Almes-dedes pleseth god very moche, and it is great
sygne that thou loueste bothe god and thy neyghboure.
And he of whome almes is asked, oughte to consyder
thre thynges, that is to saye, who asketh almes, what he 4
[Sidenote: God asketh.]
asketh, and wherevnto he asketh. Nowe to the fyrste,
who asketh almes, _Deus petit_. God asketh. For saynte
[Sidenote: Jerome.]
Jerome sayth, _Quia deus adeo diligit pauperes, quod quicquid
fit eis propter amorem suum, reputat sibi factum_. That is 8
to saye, bycause that god loueth poore men so moche,
[Sidenote: [Fol. 85.]]
what-someuer thynge is gyuen vnto them for the loue of
hym, he taketh it as it were done to hym-selfe; as it is
[Sidenote: Matt. xxv. 15.]
sayde in his gospell, _Quod vni ex minimis meis fecistis, 12
michi fecistis_. That thynge that ye gyue or do to the
least of those that be myne, ye do it to me. Thanne to
[Sidenote: He asks not ours, but his.]
the seconde, what asketh god? _Non nostrum, sed suum._ He
asketh not that thynge that is ours, but that thynge that is 16
his owne. As saythe the prophete Dauid, _Tua sunt domine
omnia: Et quæ de manu tua accepimus, tibi dedimus_. Good
lorde, all thynges be thyne, and those thynges that we
haue taken of the, of those haue we gyuen the. Thanne 20
[Sidenote: He asks only to borrow, and to repay a
hundredfold.]
to the thyrde, Where-vnto dothe god aske? He asketh
not to gyue hym, but all-onely to borowe, _Non tamen ad
triplas, s[c]ilicet, immo ad centuplas_. Not all-onely to haue
thryse soo moche, but forsothe to haue an hundred tymes 24
[Sidenote: Augustine.]
soo moche. As saynt Austyn saythe, _Miser homo, quid
veneraris homini; venerare deo, et centuplum accipies, et vitam
æternam possidebis?_ Thou wretched manne, why doste thou
worshyp or dreade manne: worshyp thou god and dreade 28
hym, and thou shalte receyue an hundred tymes so moche,
and haue in possessyon euerlastynge lyfe, the whiche many-folde
[Sidenote: [Fol. 85_b_.]]
passeth all other rewardes? Prouerbiorum xiiii.
_Veneratur domino,[35] qui miseretur pauperibus_: He worshyppeth 32
[Sidenote: Prov. xix. 7.]
our lorde, that hath mercye and pytye on poore
folkes. And the glose therof sayth, _Centuplum accepturus_.
And thou shalte receyue an .C. tymes so moche. And it
[Sidenote: Three kinds of alms-deeds.]
is to be vnderstande, that there be thre maner of almes-dedes, 36
that is to saye: _Egenti largire quicquid poteris:
dimittere eis a quibus lesus fueris: Errantem corrigere, et in
viam veritatis reducere._ That is to saye, to gyue to the
nedy what thou well mayste, to forgyue theym that haue 40
trespaced to the, and to correcte them that do amysse,
and to brynge them into the way of ryghte.
169. ¶ The fyrste maner of almes.
_Egenti largire quicquid poteris._ Gyue to the nedye what
[Sidenote: Luke xi. 41 vi. 38.]
thou well maye. For our lorde saythe in his gospell: _Date
elemosinam, et omnia munda sunt vobis. Et alibi. Date, et
dabitur vobis_: Gyue almes, and all worldly rychesse is 4
yours; gyue, and it shall be gyuen to you. Almes-dede
is a holy thynge, it encreaseth a mans welthe, it maketh
lesse a mannes synnes, it lengtheth a mans lyfe, it maketh
[Sidenote: [Fol. 86.]]
a man of good mynde, it delayeth yll tymes, and closeth 8
all thynges, hit delyuereth a manne from deathe, it ioyneth
a manne with aungelles, and seuereth hym from the dyuell,
and is lyke a wall vnable to be foughten agaynst. And
saynt James saythe: _Sicut aqua extinguit ignem, ita elemosina 12
peccatum._ As water slecketh fyer, soo dothe almes-dede
[Sidenote: Prov. xxviii. 27.]
slake synne. Salomon saythe, _Qui dat pauperi, non
indigebit._ He that giueth vnto a poore man, shal neuer
[Sidenote: Prov. xxi. 13.]
haue nede. And also he sayth, _Qui obturat aurem suam 16
ad clamorem pauperis, et ipse clamabit, et non exaudietur._
He that stoppeth his eare at the clamoure or crie of a
pore man, he shall crye, and he shall not be gracyousely
herde. There maye no manne excuse hym from gyuynge 20
of almes, thoughe he be poore. And let hym doo as
[Sidenote: Mark, xii. 42;]
[Sidenote: Luke, xxi. 2.]
the poore wydowe dyd, that offered a farthynge, wherfore
she hadde more thanke and rewarde of god, thanne the
ryche men that offered golde. And if thou mayste not 24
gyue a farthynge, gyue lesse, or gyue fayre wordes, or
good information, ensaumple, and token: and god shall
rewarde the bothe for thy dede and for thy good wyll. And
that thou dooste, do it with a good wyll. For saynte 28
[Sidenote: 2 Cor. ix. 7.]
Paule saythe, _Hilarem datorem diligit deus_. God loueth
[Sidenote: [Fol. 86_b_.]]
a glad gyuer, and that if it be of true begotten goodes.
For Salomon saythe, _De tuis iustis laboribus ministra
pauperibus_. Of thy trewe labours mynystre and gyue to 32
[Sidenote: Isidore.]
the poore folkes. For Isodorus saythe, _Qui iniuste tollit,
iuste nunquam tribuit_. He that taketh wrongfully, cannot
gyue trewelye. For it is wrytten Ecclesiastici xxxv.
[Sidenote: Eccles. xxxiv. 24.]
_Qui de rapinis, aut vsuris, aut de furto immolat: e[s]t quasi 36
qui coram patre victimat filium._ He that offereth of the
goodes, that he getteth by extortyon, vsurye, or thefte,
he is lyke as a man slewe the sonne in the presence of
the father. Thou mayste ryghte well knowe, the father 40
wolde not be well contente. Noo more wolde god be
pleased with the gyfte of suche begotten goodes.
170. ¶ The seconde maner of almes.
_Dimittere eis, a quibus lesus fueris._ To forgyue theym
that haue trespaced to the, wherin thou shalte please
god moche. For it is in the gospell of sayncte Marke
[Sidenote: Mark, xi. 6.]
.xii. _Si non dimiseritis aliis, nec pater vester celestis dimittet 4
vobis peccata vestra._ If you forgyue not, your father of
[Sidenote: [Fol. 87.]]
heuen wyll not forgyue you your synnes. Also if thou
doo not forgyue other, thou shalte be founde a lyer, as
ofte as thou sayeste thy _Pater noster_, where thou sayste: 8
[Sidenote: Matt. vi. 12.]
_Et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus
nostris._ And forgyue to vs our dettes, as we forgyue
to our detters. By these dettes maye be vnderstande the
thynges that we oughte to do to god, and doo not them. 12
And also the trespaces and the synne that we haue
offended to god, in that we aske mercye of. And if
thou wylte not forgyue, thou mayst not aske mercy of
[Sidenote: Matt. vii. 2.]
ryght. _Eadem mensura, qua mensi fueritis, remetietur vobis._ 16
The same measure that ye meate other men by, shall be
moten vnto you. _Dimittere autem rancorem et maliciam
omnino necessitatis est, dimittere vero actionem et emendam
opus est consilii._ To forgyue all rancour and malyce, that 20
a manne oweth to the in his harte, thou arte bounden
of necessitie to forgyue all the hole trespace, or to leaue
thyne actyon, or a reasonable mendes. Therfore it is
but a dede of mercye if thou so do, and no synne though 24
thou sue the lawe with charytie. But and a manne haue
done to the a trespace, and that thou arte gladde that
[Sidenote: [Fol. 87_b_.]]
he hathe soo done, that thou mayste haue a quarell, or
a matter, or an accyon agaynste hym, and nowe of malyce 28
or yll wyll thou wylte sue hym, rather than for the
trespace; nowe thou synnest dedely, bycause thou doest
rather of malyce than for the trespace, and than haste
[Sidenote: Prov. xxii. 9.]
thou loste thy charitie, Prouerbiorum .xxxii. _Qui pronus 32
est ad misericordiam, benedicetur._ He that is redy to forgiue,
shall be blessed.
171. ¶ The thyrde maner of almes.
[Sidenote: Three ways of correction.]
_Errantem corrigere, et in viam veritatis reducere._ To
correcke a misdoer, and to brynge hym into the waye of
ryghte. It is to be vnderstand, that there be thre maner
of corrections. 4
[Sidenote: First, as an enemy.]
¶ The fyrste correction is of an ennemye, the seconde
is of a frynde, and the thyrde correction is of a Iustyce.
[Sidenote: Chrysostom.]
The fyrste saythe Chrisostome, _Corripe non vt hostis
expetens vindictam, sed vt medicus instituens medicinam_. 8
Correcke not as an enemye doinge vengeaunce, but as
[Sidenote: Secondly, as a friend.]
a phisicyon or surgyon, mynistringe or gyuynge a medicyne.
To the seconde saythe Salomon. _Plus proficit
amica correctio, quam correctio turbulenta._ A frendelye 12
[Sidenote: [Fol. 88.]]
correction profyteth more than a troublous correction.
For yf thou speke courteysly to a man that hath offended,
and with sweete wordes of compassion, he shall rather
be conuerted by theym, than with hye wordes of great 16
[Sidenote: Isidore.]
punysshement. And Isodorus saythe, _Qui per verba blanda
castigatus non corrigetur, acrius necesse est, vt arguatur_.
He that wylle not be chastysed by fayre wordes, it is
necessary that he be more hardlyer and straytlyer reproued 20
[Sidenote: Jerome.]
or punysshed. To the thyrde saythe sayncte Ierome,
_Equum iudicium est, vbi non persona sed opera considerantur_.
[Sidenote: Thirdly, as a judge.]
There is an euen Iugemente, where the personne is not
regarded, but the warkes are consydered. And alsoo hit 24
[Sidenote: Matt. xvi. 27.]
is wrytten. _Reddet vnicuique iuxta opera sua._ He shall
yelde vnto euery manne after his workes. And sayncte
[Sidenote: Augustine.]
Augustyne saythe, _Sicut meliores sunt, quos corrigit amor,
ita plures sunt quos corrigit timor_. As those be better, 28
that be chastysed by loue, soo there be many moo that
be chastysed by feare. For and they feared not the
punyshement of the lawe, there wolde be but a fewe
[Sidenote: Gregory.]
chastysed by loue. And saynte Gregory sayth, _Facientis 32
procul dubio culpam habet, qui quod potest corrigere negligit
[Sidenote: [Fol. 88_b_.]]
emendare, et illicita non prohibere consensus erroris est_. He
that maye correcke, and dothe not, he taketh the offence
to hym-selfe of the dede; and he that dothe not forbede 36
vnlawefull thynges, consenteth to the same, &c.
172. ¶ What is the greattest offence that a manne may doo
and offende god in.
In myne opynyon, it is to be in despayre of the mercye
of god. And therefore what soo euer thou haue doone
or offended god, in worde, warke, thought, or dede, be
[Sidenote: Isidore.]
neuer in despayre for it; for Isodorus saythe, _Qui veniam 4
de peccato desperat, plus de desperatione peccat quam de culpa
cadit_. He that despayreth to haue forgyuenes of his
synnes, he synneth more in despayrynge than he dyd in
[Sidenote: Jerome.]
the synne doynge. For saynte Iherome sayth, _Magis 8
offendebat Iudas deum in hoc quod suspendebat, quam in
hoc, quod eum tradidit_: Judas offended god more in
that that he hanged hym-selfe, than he dydde whanne he
[Sidenote: Ezek. xxxiii. 11.]
betrayed god. For god sayth in his gospell, _Nolo mortem 12
peccatoris, sed magis vt conuertatur et viuat_. I wyll not the
[Sidenote: [Fol. 89.]]
deathe of a synner, but rather that he maye be conuerted
[Sidenote: Luke v. 32.]
and lyue. And also he saythe, _Non veni vocare iustos,
sed peccatores ad penitentiam_. I am not comen to call 16
ryghtwyse men, but to call synners to do penaunce.
For thou canste not so soone crye god mercy with thy
harte, but he is as redye to chaunge his sentence, and to
graunte the mercy and forgyuenes of all thy synnes. For 20
[Sidenote: Augustine.]
saynte Austyne saythe, _Sicut scintilia [sic] ignis in medio
maris, sic omnis impietas viri ad misericordiam dei_. As a
sparke of fyer is in comparison able to drye vppe all the
water in the se, noo more is all the wyckednes of man 24
vnto the me[r]cyfulnes of god. And therfore it is conuenyent
that a manne shulde be penytent, contryte, and aske
god mercye and forgyuenesse of his synnes and offences,
[Sidenote: Chrysostom.]
that he hath done; wherof speketh Chrysost[o]me, _Nemo 28
ad deum aliquando flens accessit quod non postulauerit accepit_.
No man hath gone any tyme wepynge to god, but he
hath taken or had that thynge that he hath asked. And
[Sidenote: Bernard.]
sayncte Bernarde saythe, _Plus cruciant lacrime peccatoris 32
diabolum quam omne genus tormentorum_. The teares of a
synner tourmenteth the deuyll more, than all other kyndes
[Sidenote: Augustine.]
of turmentes. And sayncte Austyne saythe, _Acriores
[Sidenote: [Fol. 89_b_.]]
dolores demonibus non inferrimus, q_uam _cum peccata nostra 36
penitendo et confitendo plangimus_. We canne not doo more
sharper sorowes to the dyuell, than whan we wayle or
wepe in confessyon, and doynge of penaunce. And
[Sidenote: Mary Magdalen.]
that maye be well proued by Mary Magdaleyn, 40
whanne she kneled downe and cryed god mercye, and
kyste his fete, and wasshed theym with the teares of
her eyen, and wyped them with the heare of her
heed, to whom our lorde sayde, as in his gospell, 44
[Sidenote: Luke vii. 48.]
_Dimittuntur tibi peccata tua_. Thy synnes are forgyuen
[Sidenote: Luke vii. 50.]
to the; and also he sayde to her: _Fides te saluam fecit,
vade in pace_. Thy faythe hath saued the, goo thou in
peace. To the whiche mercy and peace I besech 48
almyghty Iesu brynge all chrysten soules. Amen.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: The author’s protestation.]
Be it knowen to all men bothe spirytuall and temporall,
that I make protestacion before god and man,
that I entende not to wryte any-thynge that is or 52
maye be contrary to the faythe of Chryste and al holy
churche. But I am redye to reuoke my sayenge, if
any-thynge have passed my mouthe for wante of lernynge,
and to submytte my-selfe to correction, and my boke 56
to reformatyon. And as touchynge the poyntes of
[Sidenote: [Fol. 90.]]
husbandry, and of other artycles conteyned in this
present boke, I wyll not saye that it is the beste waye
and wyll serue beste in all places, but I saye it is the 60
best way that euer I coude proue by experyence, the
[Sidenote: The author’s experience of forty years as a
householder.]
whiche haue ben an householder this .xl. yeres and
more. And haue assaied many and dyuers wayes, and
done my dyligence to proue by experyence which shuld 64
be the beste waye.
¶ The Auctour.
[Sidenote: The author’s address to his book.]
¶ Go, lyttell quere, and recommende me
To all that this treatyse shall se, here, or rede;
Prayenge them therwith content to be
And to amende it in places, where as is nede: 4
Of eloquence, they may perceyue I want the sede,
And rethoryke, in me doth not abounde,
Wherfore I have sowe_n_, such sedes as I fou_n_d.
Finis.
[Sidenote: [Fol. 90_b_.]]
[Sidenote: This book was compiled by Master Fitzherbert.]
¶ Thus endeth this ryghte profytable boke
of husbandry, compyled sometyme by mayster
Fitz-herbarde, of charytie and good zele
that he bare to the weale of this mooste
noble realme, whiche he dydde not
in his youthe, but after he had
exercysed husbandry, with
greate experyence,
xl. yeres.
[Illustration: (decorative icon)]
¶ Imprinted at London in fletestrete,
in the house of Thomas Ber-
-thelet, nere to the condite
at the sygne of Lu-
-crece. Cum pri-
-uilegio.
[Illustration: (decorative icon)]
FOOTNOTES:
[19] The references are to the folios of the original edition. That
the reader may find his place more readily, I have _numbered_ each
section. The numbers in thick type are, accordingly, not in the
original.
[20] _Read_ Dewbolne.
[21] Misprinted ‘blough-mal.’
[22] _Sic_; ed. 1598 has ‘worme’.
[23] ‘slotes’?
[24] Misprinted ‘flote.’
[25] _Misprinted_ fyrst.
[26] Note that the symbol “C.” here does _not_ mean 100, but the
_great hundred_, _i.e._ 120.
[27] _Printed_ ewe, _which gives no sense._
[28] _Misprinted_ Dewbolue, dewbolue.
[29] _Misprinted_ or horse; _but the catchwords are_ a horse.
[30] _Misprinted_ shorte.
[31] Printed _abherebit_.
[32] _Printed_ secle.
[33] _Misprinted_ suker.
[34] Misprinted _diabolis_.
[35] Printed _dominus_; but the right reading is _Fæneratur domino_.
NOTES.
These Notes are principally concerned with the numerous variations
exhibited in the edition printed by I. R. in 1598. See the Preface.
The references are to the _Sections_ and _lines_, as numbered.
* * * * *
=Prologue=; lines 2, 6. See Job, v. 7; 2 Thess. iii. 10.
15. The allusion is to Caxton’s Book of the Chess; see the
description of it in Ames’ Typographical Antiquities, ed. Dibdin,
i. 36, where woodcuts will be found representing the several pieces.
20. _iudges._ Caxton calls them _rooks_, as at present, but he
describes them as being vicars and legates of the king, i.e. as
occupying the position of judges.
_yomenne_, pawns. In Caxton, we find the division of pawns into
eight classes (answering to the eight pawns on each side), in
which the king’s rook’s pawn represents the _husbandman_. The next
in order, the king’s knight’s pawn, is the _smith_; after which,
in due order, we find the _notary_, _merchant_, _physician_,
_taverner_, _guard_ (or watchman), and the _ribald_ or dice-player,
whose character is not well spoken of. This eight-fold division
seems to me to have suggested the well-known formula which
divides men into the eight classes of ‘soldier, sailor, tinker,
tailor, gentleman, apothecary, ploughboy, thief;’ which is
sometimes otherwise varied. The German formula is. ‘Edelmann,
Bettelman, Amtmann, Pastor, Kaufmann, Laufmann, Maler, Major;’
also, be it observed, eight-fold. Our soldier, tinker, tailor,
apothecary, ploughboy, and thief, may be imagined to correspond,
with sufficient exactitude, to Caxton’s guard, smith, merchant,
physician, husbandman, and ribald.
27. _Remytte_, leave. A word is evidently omitted; we must supply
_to_ after _as_, or else substitute _to_ for _as_. In the Book of
Surveying, ch. ix, we find, “I remytte that to menne of lawe;” and
again, in ch. xii, “I remytte all those poyntes to menne of lawe.”
See also sect. 7, l. 14.
=1.= 1. For the manner in which I. R. rewrites this section, see
the Preface.
=2.= 5. _Chylturne._ As to the sense, we find, in the Book of
Surveying, c. 37, the following. “Chylturne grounde and flyntye
grounde be light groundes and drye, and full of small stones, and
chalke grounde is moche of the same nature, and they wyll weare and
washe awaye with water.”
6. _Meane erthe_, earth of ordinary character. _Mean_ is moderate,
ordinary. I. R. alters it to ‘_maine_ earth,’ which was probably
not intended. After _marle_, he inserts--“some neither Sand nor
Clay, but like a mixture of both, yet neither, which is called a
Hassell ground.”
9. I. R. has--“In Sommerset-shiere, Dawset-shiere, and
Gloster-shiere.”
_Zelcester._ The old character Ʒ, which had the force of _y_ at
the beginning of a word,[36] was often printed as Z, by confusion.
Bishop Percy used to print such ludicrous forms as _zow_,
_zour_, instead of _yow_, _your_. I conclude that _Zelcester_ =
_Yelcester_, _i.e._ Ilchester. The form occurs again in sect. 27,
l. 17.
16. _many other places._ J. R. says--“in some parte of
Hartford-shiere, Sussex, and Cornwall.”
24. _aslope_] I. R. has _a flote_, _gyue out_, i.e. spread out, are
too obtuse.
26. I. R. says--“In Cambridge-shiere, Huntington-shiere,
Bedford-shiere, and for the most part of Northamton-shiere, theyr
Ploughes haue but one hale. In Leister-shiere, Lankishiere,
Yorkshiere, Lincolnshiere, and Notingham-shiere, they haue two; for
all other Countries [_counties_] vnnamed, there is none of them but
plow with some of these Ploughes before-mentioned.”
=3.= 1. The parts of a plough are enumerated in Gervase Markham’s
Complete Husbandman (1614), which is quoted at length in Rogers’s
Hist. of Agriculture and Prices, vol. i. p. 534. It is probable
that the plough, as described by Fitzherbert, did not materially
differ from that in use in 1614.
The principal parts, according to Markham, are as follows.
(1). ‘The _ploughbeam_, a large and long piece of timber, which
forms an arch for the other parts of the plough.’ It is, says
Fitzherbert, the long beam above, which is slightly bent. The
plough-sheath, the coulter, and the plough-foot, are all mortised
into it, pointing downwards.
(2). ‘The _skeath_ (i.e. _sheath_), a piece of wood two and a half
feet long, eight inches broad, and two inches thick, which is
mortised into the beam, and sloping forwards below it.’ Fitzherbert
says it is a thin piece of dry oak, fixed both in the plough-beam
and the share-beam, and is the chief ‘band,’ i.e. strengthening
piece or support, of the whole plough. By ‘thin,’ he must mean that
it is thin (2 inches) in proportion to its breadth (8 inches);
it is necessary that it should be very strong, as it holds the
implement together.
(3). ‘The plough’s _principal hale_ on the left hand, a long bent
piece of wood, somewhat strong in the midst, and so slender at the
upper end that a man may easily gripe it.’ This is Fitzherbert’s
_plough-tail_ (l. 16), which he says is mortised into the sharebeam
behind, and pinned to the ploughbeam behind also. The ploughman
holds it in his _left_ hand. It is also called the _ploughstart_;
where _start_ means _tail_, as in _red-start_.
(4). ‘The _plough-head_, which is fixed with the skeath and the
hale, all at one instant, into two several mortise-holes; a
flat piece of timber, about three feet in length, seven inches
in breadth, and two and a half in thickness, and having two
nicks towards the head of the plough.’ This is the same as what
Fitzherbert calls the _sharebeam_; see the explanation in sect. 2,
l. 10.
(5). ‘The _plough-spindles_, two round pieces of wood which couple
the hales [handles] together.’ These are what Fitzherbert calls the
_rough staves_; see l. 35.
(6). ‘The _right-hand hale_, through which the other end of the
spindles run, much more slender than the left-hand hale, because no
force is put on it.’ This is Fitzherbert’s _plough-stilt_; see l.
21.
(7). The _plough-rest_, a small piece of wood, fixed at one end
in the further nick of the plough-head, and on the other end to
the right-hand hale.’ ‘In the Middle Ages,’ says Prof. Rogers,
‘it appears that this part was made of iron, and that it was
occasionally double.’ We must remember that _plough-head_ means the
_sharebeam_.
(8). ‘The _shelboard_ [i.e. shield-board], a board of more than an
inch thick, covering the right side of the plough, and fastened
with two strong wooden pins to the skeath and right-hand hale.’
(9). ‘The _coulter_, a long piece of iron made sharp at one end,
passing on one side by a mortise-hole through the beam, and held in
place by an iron ring which winds round the beam and strengthens
it.’ Fitzherbert’s description is slightly different; see l. 48.
The use of the coulter is to make the first incision into the
earth; it precedes the share, which follows it and completes its
work.
(10). ‘The _share_. If this be needed for a mixed earth, it is made
without a wing, or with a small one only: if, however, it be needed
for a deep or stiff clay, it should be made with a large wing or an
outer point.’
(11). ‘The _plough-foot_. This is an iron implement, passed through
a mortise-hole, and fastened at the farther end of the beam by a
wedge or two, so that the husbandman may at his discretion set it
higher or lower; the use being to give the plough earth or to put
it from the earth, for the more it is driven downward the more it
raises the beam from the ground and makes the irons forsake the
earth, and the more it is driven upward, the more it lets down
the beam and makes the irons bite the ground.’ Fitzherbert well
describes it as ‘a stay to order of what deepness the plough shall
go.’ The word _ploughfote_ occurs in Piers Plowman, B. vi. 105; see
my notes to that poem, vol. iv. p. 161. This part of the plough
was also called a _plough-shoe_ (in Latin, _ferripedalis_); see
Rogers (as above), p. 538. In a modern plough, the plough-foot is
generally replaced by small wheels. I may remark that it was placed
in front, before the coulter.
If we compare the preceding account with that given by
Fitzherbert, we shall see that the two nearly agree. Fitzherbert’s
_plough-beam_, _plough-sheath_, and _plough-tail_ are Nos. 1, 2,
and 3 above; his _stilt_, _rest_, and _shieldboard_ are Nos. 6, 7,
and 8; his _rough staves_, _plough-foot_, _share_, and _coulter_,
are Nos. 5, 11, 10, and 9. But he has three additional terms,
viz. the _sharebeam_, which is the wooden frame for the _share_,
and is called by Markham the _plough-head_ (No. 4). Secondly, the
_fen-board_, i.e. _mud-board_, covering the _left_ side of the
plough, and fastened to the _left_ of the sheath and the _left_
hale, much as the shield-board is fastened to the _right_ of the
sheath and the _right_ hale. Lastly, the _plough-ear_, defined
as ‘three pieces of iron, nailed fast to the right side of the
plough-beam,’ for which poor men substituted ‘a crooked piece of
wood pinned fast to the plough-beam.’ What was the use of this
appendage we are not expressly told; but it seems to have been used
for fastening the trace to, for draught; see =4.= 34.
Fitzherbert also notices the _plough-mal_, i.e. plough-mall or
plough-mallet (l. 55), which seems to have consisted of a head of
hard wood and a ‘pynne,’ or handle, and to have been loosely stuck
into the plough-beam by passing the handle through ‘an augurs
bore,’ i.e. through a hole bored in the beam by an augur for this
especial purpose. This was no real _part_ of the plough, but only a
tool conveniently kept at hand. He does not, however, mention the
plough-staff (or akerstaff), which was ‘a pole shod with a flat
iron, the purpose of which was to clear the mould-board from any
stiff earth which might cling to it while the plough was at work’;
Rogers, as above, p. 539. This was originally held in the right
hand (see my notes to P. Plowman); but I think it likely that, when
a second handle, or _stilt_, came into use, the plough-staff was
given up. Wright’s Prov. Glossary gives “_mell_, _mellet_, a square
piece of wood fitted with a handle, a mallet.”
10. I. R. says of the _sharbeame_, that “in some Countries it is
called the plough-head.” Fitzherbert has already said this, see
=2.= 10.
12. _Oke_] Oake or Ashe; I.R.
15. I. R. says of the _plough-tayle_, that “in many Countries [it
is] called the Plough-hale, of which they haue two, but the other
is fastened to the rough staues and the shelboard.” The other
_hale_ is the _plough-stilt_.
25. _sheldbrede_] Shelboard; I. R.
27. _fenbrede_] Senbred; I. R. This is wrong.
32. _to come past_] compasse; I. R.
34. _roughe_] long; I. R.
49. _bende_, _i.e._ bent] broad; I. R. This is inappropriate, for
it is somewhat narrow, viz. of the breadth of three inches; see
line 52.
55. _plough-mal_] Plough Maule; I. R. As to the parts of a plough,
cf. Tusser’s Husbandry, 17. 10, 11; and see above, note to =3.= 1.
=4.= 14. _slot-wedges_] flote wedges; I. R. I. R. does not seem to
have understood it, as he alters _slote_ to _flatte_ in the two
lines following.
19. After _erthe_, I. R. has--“so that it may, as the best
experienced Plow-men say, kill a worme, or els it goeth not truly.”
_Worme_ is clearly right. He further inserts--“The poynt of your
Culture, and the poynt of your Share, must runne both in one
leuell, so that they may cutte both in one instant, chiefely if the
ground be stiffe and tough; but if it be in a light land, then if
the point of your Culture be a little longer it shall be so much
the better, and in such light groundes, let your Culture be somwhat
sickell-wise bowed, for the finer cutting, but in tough Clay ground
it ought to be as straight as may be.”
26. _payreth_] hurteth; I. R. This is a gloss.
29. _practyue_] practise; I. R.[37]
33. _bende_] band. But _bende_ probably means ‘bent piece.’
35. _he_] you (throughout). This shews that this idiomatic use of
_he_ was obsolescent in 1598.
46. _coke_] Cocke.
58. I. R. adds--“In diuers Countries, as namely in Cambridgshiere,
Huntington, Hartford, Bedford, and Northamton, the share is alwayes
nayled with certaine nayles vnto the shelboard, to which I am not
so well affected, because by that meanes the shelboard can neuer
be turnd, or after he is once worne be [_sic_] for other purpose,
whereas in the Northerne partes of this Land, the share being only
fastned in his socket to the Plough-head, which may at ease be done
with a crooked horne of a Ramme, which being put ouer the poynt
of the share, may be knocked fast at ones pleasure, the shelboard
being worne at the one end may be taken off, and the other end set
forward, which will as sufficiently serue as euer it did before,
yeelding to the Plough-man a double profit.”
=5.= 1. _But or he_] Before we.
2. _geare_] implements. A genteel improvement! So again in l. 45.
4. _stylkynges_, _wrethyng-temes_] stilting wrethen teames.
6. _sleues_] cleuisse. _pykforke_] Pitchforke.
9. _fellyes_] follies (!). 10. _fettred_] fettered or tyed.
17. _soule_] sole.
19. _lyn-pinnes_] limpins.
23. _pikstaues_] pickstaues, all which are best of Ashe.
24. _hombers_] humbers. _holmes whyted_, _tresses_] holmes, withed
traces.
29. _or kyddes, or suche other_] faggots, or Kids.
=6.= 5. I. R. adds--“yet in all _Virgils_ writing the Oxe-plough is
most preferred.” There are other unimportant variations here.
17. _teddered_] teathered.
18. _hades_] hadds.
24. _gere that they shal_] harnes and tyer they.
27. _hey_] hay mingled, which Plough-men call bendfoder.
28. _and they haue, &c._] and for shooes for the most part that
cost in them is saued, except it be for some long iourney, or in
stony wayes for feare of surbayting.
30. _lyttell worthe_] worth nothing, except for a kennell of
noyse-begetting Hounds.
32. _ii._ s.] tenne shillings.
=7.= I. R. omits this section altogether.
=8.= I. R. greatly expands this section, after the following manner.
Chapter 8. ¶ How a man should plough all manner of Lands all times
of the yeare.
Now that I haue prescribed the manner to make and temper the most
or all the sorts of Ploughs, it shall next seeme expedient for me
to show the manner and time of the yeare in which a man ought to
Plough, and for the better vnderstanding of the ignorant, I will
begin at the beginning of the yeare, and so succeede downe-ward:
After the feast of _Epiphanie_ it is time for a Husbandman to goe
to Plough, to wit, if your ground be a stiffe and a tough clay,
then shall you begin and Plough your Pease-earth, which is, where
you had your Wheate, Rye, and Barley, the yeere before: this
ground being ploughed, you shall let it so lye, which is called
bayting some fiue or sixe dayes, that it may receaue a frost or
two, which frost will so lighten and deuide the earth, that when
you shall come to harrow it, it will runne to a very good mold,
that otherwise it would neuer doe. If your ground be naturally
light and sandy, then may you immediatly vpon your ploughing sowe
without giuing your ground any bayte at all. When your Pease earth
is sowne, and the Spring is creeping on: then if you will follow
_Virgils_ famous principles, begin to fallow your ground which must
rest that yeare. In the beginning of Lent sow your Barley upon clay
grounds, but in hote sandy grounds, if you stay a moneth or more
longer it will be much the better. At mid-sommer stirre vp a-new,
that is, Plow againe your fallow ground: & before the rising of
the North-starre, which is eleuen dayes before the _Æquinoctial
Autumnal_, or the thirteenth of September, then sow your Wheate and
Rye, and these be the seasons and the graynes to sow, except Oates,
which is alwayes to be vsed in like manner as Barley is. If you
haue any ley ground to fallow or breake vp for to sowe Oates vpon,
then let that be the first thing you take in hand, that the grasse
and the mosse may be rot in it, and let your Plough runne a deepe
square furrow, and in all manner of ploughing, see that your eye,
your hand, and your foote agree, and be alwaies ready one to serue
another, and to turne vp so much mold and to lay it flatte that it
reare not an edge: for if it stand vp vpon an edge, the grasse and
mosse can neuer kindly rotte, which being vsed as it should, is an
excellent manuring.
If you sowe Winter-corne, as eyther Wheate or Rye vpon swarth
ground, looke how much Corne toucheth the mosse, so much will be
drowned and cannot spring, the mosse in his owne nature dooth keepe
so much wette in it selfe. In some Countries, if a man plow deepe,
hee shal plough past the good ground, and so haue little Corne, but
that Country in my iudgement is not fitte for tyllage, but rather
thereto to reare and breede Cattell, as Oxen, Kine, or Sheepe, or
els they must goe beate their lands with Mattocks, as they doo in
many places of Cornwall, and in some places of Deuonshiere. The
manner of plowing land is in three formes: eyther they be great
Lands, as with high ridges and deepe furrowes, as in all the
North parts of this Land, and in some sotherne parts also, or els
flatte and plaine, without ridge or furrow, as in most parts of
Cambridge-shiere: or els in little Lands, no Land containing aboue
two or three furrowes, as in Midlesex, Essex, and Hartfordshiere.
For the first, it is needfull, where the grounde is stife, tough,
and binding, beeing alwaies capable of much wette, that if the
Lands did not lie hie, not onely would the fatnesse choake the
Corne ere it could come foorth, but also the colde soaking wette,
would confound the vigor and strengthe of the seede. For the
second, that is good where the ground is somewhat light, and giuen
to barrennesse: so that what forcst [_read_ forct] vertue soeuer
you thrust into the ground, either by manure or otherwise, the Land
lying flatte and plaine, shall still retaine it, not suffering it
as els it would to wash away with euery shower. For the last, that
is, where the grounde is both barren, cold, and stiffe: if there
you plough in large Lands, the wether and season will so binde it
together, that the seede shall burst, but not finde any passage to
sproute. Againe, such ground is subiect to much weede, besides, if
your lands should be any greater, you should neuer possibly come to
weede them, eyther as they would or they should be done.
=9.= I. R. alters this section, noting--“Neuer sowe Pease or Beanes
on a light, hote sand ground, for that will neuer beare them, but
for the Beane, the extreamest and the stiffest ground is the best.
If it bee lesse stiffe, then the mingled ware[38] is best, as Pease
and Beanes well sorted. If it bee neither stiffe nor light, then
cleane Pease is the best, for they wil prosper most kindliest.”
13. I. R. adds--“Pease are an excellent seede, and inrich ground
as much as the light manuring: which is the reason, that in many
places of Lincoln-shiere, and els where, sowing their inam Wheate
where theyr Pease grew, they haue the finest Corne.”
=10.= 1-9. Varied by I. R.
13. _kedlokes_] Kellocks (_but elsewhere_ Kedlocks).
41. I. R. adds--“because the freshnes of the molde is to the seede
very comfortable.”
=11.= 11. _wonders_] wonderous (which is the later form). The whole
of this section is re-written, merely to alter the language.
Fitzherbert speaks again of ‘the seed of discretion’ in the Book of
Surveying, c. 39.
=12.= 8. _strykes in other places_] two Northerne strikes. And as
the measure Northward is greater, so are their Akers larger.
13. _quarter_] quarter, or halfe a seame.
31. _Christmasse_] Christmas, as for the most part Northward, or
generally vpon fat clay grounds.
=13.= 7. _landes_] land and the balke.
18. _sprot-barleye_] sport-Barley. So also in l. 19.
28. _lyke pecke-whete_] like to an eare of Wheate.
40. I. R. adds--“but how so euer the season of the yeare is, that
Barley naturally of it selfe is a withered, deepe, yellow Corne,
that yeldeth much bran, & but litle flower. Barley for the most
part chiefly in clay grounds would be sown vnder furrow, that is, a
cast or two about the Land, then ploughed, then sowne agayne, and
so harrowed.”
=14.= 15. I. R. adds--“These are for the most barranest Heath or
forrest ground that may be, as in Darbishiere, where they call them
Skeyggs, and not Oates.”
*** After section =14=, I. R. introduces section =34=, to bring
all the kinds of sowing together.
=15.= This is section =17= in the edition of 1598.
7. _moche_] bigge (which is a gloss). So also in l. 24.
8. _shotes_] flores. But this can hardly be right. See below.
11. _slote_] slope. But this can hardly be right. It is clear that
the right word is _slote_, with the sense of ‘cross-bar,’ the
_bulls_ being the thicker bars of the harrow.
13. _withe_] withy.
24. _sloted and tinded_] floted and tyned.
27. _about Ryppon_] in Notinghamshire and more Northward.
28. _bulder-stones_] bolder-stones. Also spelt _bulder-stones_ in
the Book on Surveying, c. 40.
41. _hombers_] humbers. _withed_] writhed.
42. _tresses_] traces (in both places).
50. _after a shoure_, &c.] with great roles of wood, which
_Virgill_ much commends, and doubtless is very good after a shower
of raine, to make the ground euen to mow. And note that the dryer
your Lands be when you clot them, the sooner wil your clots break,
and the more mold you shall haue.
=16.= 3. _for whete, &c._] on which fallowes the next yeare
following, you shall sow your Rye, Wheat and Barly.
24. _stere_] stirre (which is a later form).
35. I. R. adds--“To fallow withall, sixe Oxen, or sixe Horses are
no more then sufficient.”
=17.= 29. I. R. adds--“Also let not your heapes stand too long ere
they be spread, for if they doo, the goodnesse of your manure,
chiefely if it take a shower of raine, will runne into the ground
where the heape stands, and the rest when it is spread will little
profit.”
29-35. I. R. makes a new section of this, headed “Chapter 20. Of
the diuers kindes of Manure, and which is the best.” It is as
follows.
There be diuers sorts of Manures, and first of those that bee
worst, as Swines dunge, which Manure breedeth and bringeth vp
thistles; the scourings of Hay-barnes or Corne barnes, which
bringeth vp sundry weedes and quirks [quicks?]; and rotten
Chaffe, which diuers vse, but brings little good. The shoueling
of highwayes and streetes is very good, chiefely for Barley.
Horse-dunge is reasonable. The dunge of all maner of Cattel that
chew the cudde is most excellent. Doues dunge for colde ground is
best of all, but it must be spred very thinne. For grounds that are
giuen to riue and chap, ashes is excellent, for they will binde and
knit together. Also for such grounds it is most singular to burne
the stubble on the ground, which is worth tenne manurings: for it
fatneth (saith _Virgill_) the soyle, and yeeldeth a secrete force
of nourishment vnto the seede. Also, euery euill is tryed out by
the fire, and the vnprofitable moisture is forced to sweat out,
it giueth a vent and passage for the iuyce that quickeneth the
Corne, and it closeth the gaping vaines and holes of the earth,
through which, eyther extreame moysture, extreame heate, or wind,
would blast the Corne. Also in Cheshiere, Lankishiere, and other
Countreys, they vse for manure a kinde of blewe Marble-like earth,
which they call Marle. This is for those Countries an excellent
manure, and though it be exceeding chargeable, yet through good
neighbour-hood it quiteth the cost: for if you manure your groundes
once in seauen or twelue yeares, it is sufficient, and look how
many yeares he beareth Corne, so many yeares he will beare grasse,
and that plenty. Straw layd to rot in the Winter, is good dung.
30. _sholynges_; _i.e._ shovellings. Note “the _shoueling_ of
highwayes” in the extract given just above.
=18.= 3. _flyte_] shift (which is a gloss). So also in l. 28.
10. _kelles begonne_] kells be gone. This shews that the reading
_begonne_ in the original is a misprint for _be gone_.
17. _appeyreth them sore_] abateth them much.
23. _goynge vppon_] treading or going upon with their feete.
31. _appeyre_] abate or diminish.
33. _for_] from. This shews that the old idiomatic use of _for_ (=
against) was obsolescent in 1598.
=19.= 5. _charte_] Cart. And perhaps we should read _carte_ in the
text; the meaning of _charte_ is, of course, _cart_.
8. Here I. R. inserts--“And for this purpose of carrying, I take
the Horse-Cart to be best, because they be most nimble, and goe
with best speede; & if the Horses be good, they will not at any
time loose company with his neighbours.”
=20.= 3. _cocledrake_] Cockell, Drake. And such should be the
reading; for see ll. 13, 17.
4. _darnolde_] Darnell. _gouldes_] Golds. _haudoddes_] Hadods.
6. _roughe_] tough.
23. _sterte_] stalke (a gloss).
32. _is_] are. Fitzherbert makes _is_ agree with _one_.
47. _dee-nettles_] Dee, Nettels (wrongly).
=21.= 15. _in the reane_] away. I. R. omits the rest, down to
_wyddre_.
=22.= 10. _at-after none_] in the after-noone. But _at-after_ is an
old form, signifying much the same as _after_. See Glossary.
12. _beytynge_] resting. At the end of the section, I. R.
adds--“For this stirring foure horses are sufficient.”
=23.= 8. _wyddrynge_] withering (the later form).
11. _chowe_] chewe.
16. _swathe_] swaithe.
17. _mane_] man (!). The sense is, I suppose, a ridge of grass,
which is likened to a horse’s mane.
20. _moldywarpe-hilles_] Mole-hills. _styckes_] sticks and stones.
In the Book on Surveying, c. 25, we are told that the best way to
spread _mouldy-warpe hilles_] is by bush-harrowing.
=24.= 3. _beyked_] keyked (which I suspect to be nonsense). In line
12, _beykyng_ is altered to _baking_.
15. _hasell and withee_] Hassell or Withy.
19. _and let his warke_] wherby he shall hinder his worke.
21. _and_] if (a gloss of an obsolescent conjunction). So again in
sect 25, 1. 16.
=25.= 7. _ouer_] vpper. See the Glossary.
22. _crofote_] Crow-foote.
27. After _wyll_, I. R. inserts “as they say.”
32. _twon_] twined (the weak form).
=26.= 5. I. R. alters this so as to give a different sense--“when
it is mowne, it will be so fast bound that no man can gather it so
cleane but there wil be great losse.” This is contradictory, and
probably he missed the word _not_.
=27.= 17. I. R. omits the phrase--“about Zelcestre and Martok.”
=28.= 13. _And whan the barley_, &c.] and when the Barley is lead
away, the Land must be raked with a great Rake with yron teeth,
made fast about a mans necke with a string, and so drawne vp and
downe the Lande, or els much Barley wil be lost. If Barley or
Oates be layd through winde or ill weather, then it must needes
be shorne, els not. The binding of barley in sheaues is very
profitable, yet many that haue great crops will not attend so great
trouble, but as soone as it is mowne make it in cocks like hay, and
so carry it home: yet must they haue good respect vnto it, for if
it bee full of weede and greeues (_sic_, _for_ greenes), then must
it lye till they be withered, or els it will burne in the mow.
=29.= 2. _sickles_] steeles. After _staffe-hokes_, I. R. adds--“and
some mow downe with Sythes.”
4. _on repes_] in reaps.
11. _codde_] codds. This is a better reading.
=30.= 7. _to pervse_] peruse. This early use of _peruse_ in the
sense of go through, lit. use up thoroughly, should be noted. It
occurs again in the Book of Surveying, capp. 19, 24; see note to
33. 7.
18. As to the fall of the tenth part of the angels, see my notes to
P. Plowman.
21. After _truely_, I. R. adds--“but how eyther of the sayings hold
with vnconscionable impropriations, adiudge the learned, let me
imagine.”
=31.= 3. _halfe-throne_] halfe-theame (_sic_).
=32.= 5. _reke_] Reeke, stack, or houell.
6. _scaffolde_] houell; and in 11. 9, 11.
7. _hedged for_] hedged or paled from.
11. _shepe or catel_] Sheep, Cattel, Horse, Carts, Wains, or
Ploughs.
=33.= 3. _meane_] reasonable.
4. _ebbe_] shallow.
6. _reane_] raine of balke.
=33.= 7. So also in the Book of Surveying, c. 24. “And if it so be,
than take thy ploughe, and begyn to plowe a forowe in the myddes of
the syde of the land, and cast it downe as yf thou shulde falowe
it, and so pervse both sydes tyl the rygge be cast down, and than
take thy plough agayn, and begyn to plowe where thou dyddest plowe
fyrste, and rygge all the remeynant upwarde, and so shalt thou
bothe cast thy landes, and rigge them, and all at one plowyng. And
this wyl make the lande to lye rounde, the whyche is good bothe for
corne and grasse.”
=34.= This is Chapter 15 in I. R.’s edition. After _rye_ (l. 2), I.
R. adds--“chiefely, if your ground be rich, clayie, and cold, but
if it be dry and hote, then may you stay the latter season, as till
the latter end of October.”
6. After _falowe_, I. R. adds--“and plow it vnder without
harrowing.”
8. After _yere_, I. R. adds--“as in other places euery third yeere,
for the one haue four fieldes, the other three.”
23. _whyte wheate_] Oygrane Wheate. So in l. 31 below, he has
“Oygrane or white Wheate.”
25. _anis_] anns; so also in l. 29, and again in ll. 33, 36, 40,
42; we should rather have expected the spelling _auns_.
33. _and wyll make white breed_] it yeeldeth the finest flower of
all. These three sorts of Wheat must euer bee sowne eyther on the
Pease stubble, or on a fallow ground that is not very proud or
rich, for too rich ground for these Wheats wil make them mildewe
and not prosper.
35. After _whyte wheate_, I. R. adds--“but they are deceaued.”
38. _rudeste_] ruddiest. This is clearly the right sense.
43. _flyntered_] flintred. At the end of the section I. R. adds a
long piece, as follows.
Lastly, there is another Wheat, which is called hole-straw Wheat;
it hath the largest eare of al Wheats, the boldest Corne, and
yeeldeth the most, the finest, though not the whitest floure; it
is foure-square, and hath short anns; the straw is not hollow, but
hath a strong pith throughout, by reason wherof in his growth no
weather whatsoeuer can beare him downe, but still he will stand and
prosper; his straw yeeldeth as good thatch as Reeds, a singular
profit for a Husbandman: and it is an excellent fewell to bake or
brew with, euen as good as Gorsse or Whins: Onely Cattell will not
eate it, nor is it good for litter; this of all Wheats is the best:
these last named are to be sowne on the fallow ground, and the
better the ground is, the better they will prosper.
When you sowe your Rye choose a dry season, for small wet killeth
Rye. Rie, as the old husbands say, will drowne in the Hopper, that
is, if in the Hopper hee catch a shower, his vigor is slaine.
Wherfore the drier his mold, is the better, which is the cause that
the hote, dry, and light sand is onely for Rye most excellent: his
mold must harrow small like a Garden-bed, for the smallest clot
hindereth his comming vp; his sprout is so small and tender.
Here I. R. inserts a whole chapter, as follows.
Chapter 16.
¶ How to make barraine ground bring foorth good Corne.
If thy ground be barraine and hard, yeelding nothing but ill Hay
of insuing profit, then shal it be necessary for thee to vse these
secrets in Art which is most auaileable. And first for thy Pease,
Beanes, Barley, and Oates, if thou sowest any of them: sowe them
vpon the eight day of April, which is the Equinoctiall vernall,[39]
when _Libra_[40] draweth the houres of the day and night to an
euen and iust proportion, and what Corne is so sowne prospereth
greatly: but if thou wilt be assured that no Corne thou sowest
shall faile, then take Salt-peeter and mingle with thy Corne,
and sow it, and thy labor shall neuer be frustrate. For want of
it, take the black dreggs of Oyle, and wette thy seede ere thou
sow it, and it shall vndoubtedly spring vp. If thou hast none of
these, then take Pigions dunge, and mingle it with thy seede in thy
hopper, and sow it: though it be not so good as the other, yet is
the profitable vertue wonderfull.
=35.= 7. _Kente_] Kent, and Hartfordshiere.
8. _gise_] vse. _Gise_ = guise, way, manner, plan. I. R. has “great
safety for sheding the Corne,” retaining here the old use of _for_.
12. I. R. adds--For your seede, if you will be aduised by me,
you shall change it alway once in two or three yeare. For to sow
continually one seede bred in one soyle it will decay & grow ill:
and in your exchange draw it alwayes from the harder soyle, and
being brought into a better, it must the rather prosper.
=36.= 3. _reed_] reeded. This form is wrong, like our use of
_wonted_ for _wont_ (= won-ed).
At the end of this section, I. R. closes his First Booke.
=37.= 6. Here I. R. inserts--Of Sheepe there be two sorts, that
is, blacke and white, but the white is the best, for the Wooll
they beare there bee of diuers Staples: some long and hairie, as
those bredde in barren cold Countries, and that is the worst;
some hard, short, and curld, as those bred in woody grounds, and
that is better: some long, thicke, soft, and curled, and that is
the best of all: and they be bredde vpon fine heathes, where they
haue short, dry, and sweet foode. The profit of wooll the world
can witnesse, and yeerely your Ewes will bring forth Lambes,
which is an other commoditie; and lastly, in some Countries, as
in Suffolke, Essex, and Kent, with many other, they milke their
Ewes, a gaine equall to the rest. Therfore when you chuse sheepe,
elect them big-boand and well-woolld, their colours beeing white.
For _Virgill_ faines, that _Cynthia_, the Goddess of Chastitie,
in whose thoughts could neuer enter impuritie, was enamored of
_Endimion_ onely through hys flocke of white sheepe. When therfore
you haue got a flock of white sheepe, then you must chuse Rams to
equall them, for preseruing the breede: your Ram would bee white
also, and ouer and beside you must looke in his mouth, and if the
roofe thereof be blacke, then is hee not good: for either hee will
then get blacke Lambes, or at least staine theyr fleeces with a
duskie colour. The greater the homes of your Ram is, the worse; for
the pollard is the chiefest Ram.
14. _blyssomme or ryde_] blossome and arride.
16. _at the Exaltation of the holye crosse_] in September.
32. I. R. adds--Wherfore be carefull to keepe thy sheepe well, both
with hay in Winter as well as with grasse in Sommer. Also in the
Winter such Sheepe as thou intendest to fatte and sell, let them
either haue straw or fleakes to lie vpon, for the cold earth will
both disease them and hinder their feeding.
=38.= 3. _trouse_] brouse. See these words in the glossary.
6, 7. The sense is--and if she (the ewe) will not stand sideways
beside the lamb; _i.e._ in such a position that the lamb can
approach her side. There is an evident misprint in l. 7, where
the original has _ewe_ for _lambe_. I. R. tries to make sense
by turning _all_ into _call_; thus--“and if she wil not stand
side-long, call the Ewe and giue her a little hay.” This is an
evident attempt at making sense by falsifying the grammar of the
text; for Fitzherbert does not say “_and_ give her,” but “_than_
gyue her,” _i.e._ then give her. Consequently all that precedes the
word _than_ belongs to the clause containing the supposition.
=39.= 9. After _theym_, I. R. inserts--Yet _Virgill_ aduiseth you
in such a case to haue a leather full of sharp poynted nayles,
which being put about the musell of the Lambe, if it offer to
sucke, it will so pricke the dugges of the Ewe th_a_t she will not
suffer it, but by that meanes weane it perforce: and by the same
deuise you may weane all maner of Cattell whatsoeuer. See Virg.
Georg. iii. 399.
=40.= 14. _steke_] shutt (which is a gloss).
24. _go belte, grese_, _i.e._ go and belt them, and grease them.
As to _belting_, see the next section. I. R. very stupidly alters
the phrase to _goe melt grease_, though he has to retain the word
_belt_ below.
=41.= 18. It is hard to make an old dog stoop; _i.e._ it is hard to
make him submit to being taught. This occurs in Heywood’s Proverbs,
1562 (Hazlitt). In the most insipid way, I. R. alters _to stoupe_
into _for Sheepe_, spoiling the whole saying.
=43.= To _medle terre_ is to mix tar. I. R. alters _medle_ in the
rubric to _melt_, and then substitutes _mingled_ for _medled_ in l.
1. This is very clumsy.
=44.= In the rubric, I. R. alters _brome_ to _browne_, which is
certainly wrong; see the context.
7. _gelly_] Ielly. Yet the spelling with _g_ is well enough.
8. _pysse_] pisse or lye. See _lye_ in the glossary.
14. _or of faldynge_, &c.] or a folding of some such soft cloth or
wooll. It is clear that I. R. did not know the word _faldynge_, or
he would not thus have altered the text.
17. _sheydes_] sheeds; _i.e._ partings; see sect. 42, l. 4.
24. _for_] from (as in other places). _For_ = against, to prevent.
=45.= 4. _fyled_] filled. This is wrong; _fyled_ means fouled,
defiled.
=46.= 3. _rather_] sooner. I. R. adds--There be diuers waters for
this purpose, as water made of Sandiuer and burnt Allom, or the
iuyce of Housleeke strained and mingled with Rose-water; or the
braines of an hatched, as thus: Take a linnen cloth, and burne it
vpon the head of a hatchet, then blow away the ashes, and there
wilbe on the hatchets head a kind of oyle, that taken and put in a
sheepes eye, is most excellent.
=47.= 3. _clese_] clawes.
9. _clese_] clea. _Clea_ is _claw_; _clese_ = _cleas_, claws.
15. _pece of fleshe_] peece of fleame (i.e. phlegm).
=48.= 12. I. R. adds--to the great hinderance of the sale.
=49.= 1. _pockes_] Pox (the modern spelling).
9. I. R. adds--but if you cannot wash them, then let them blood in
the roofes of the mouth, and after they haue left bleeding, giue
them a supping of milke and Saffron mingled together.
=51.= 6. _murtheryng or ouer-pressyng_] smoothering or oppressing.
And certainly _smothering_ seems the right word.
10. I. R. adds--Wash your sheepe in running Riuers, for standing
Ponds are ill.
=52.= 4. _tarboxe_] Tarbox, or bronne salue. Here _bronne_ is a
misprint for _broune_; and _broune_ is a mistake for _brome_. See
note to sect. 44 above.
=54.= 14. After _shepe_, I. R. inserts--salt marshes onely excepted.
22. _kelles vppon the grasse_] kels vpon the grasse like to
Spinners webs. (A _spinner_ is a spider.)
31. _white snailes_] white finells (not clearly printed).
=55.= 2. _stryndes_] strings (badly). So also in l. 4.
16. _lyttel quikens_] a little quicknes (absurdly). _flokes_]
flocks. But _flukes_ are meant.
Here I. R. inserts a chapter on goats, as follows.
Chapter 20.
¶ Of Goates and their profit or vse.
Thus hauing sufficiently debated touching the choosing, cherishing,
and curing of sheep, I thinke it good a little to speake of Goates
and their vse: a kinde of Cattell which albe heere in England we
estimate not to his worth, yet in other places they be of highest
valuation: and the excellent poet _Virgill_ in his Countrey muse,
draweth them and sheepe to march in one euen equipage. Thus
comparing them, the Goate (saith he) yeeldeth in milke three times
the quantity a sheepe doth, theyr young ones are more plentifull,
for they will haue two or three, and sometimes more, and their
beards yearely being shorne and spunne, haue made an excellent
during stuffe, which for the continuance, hath made Marriners
desirous onely to weare it in their garments, so that though their
beards cannot in quantity and fineness be equall with the fleece of
the sheepe, yet ioyning their milke and their young ones to their
beards, there is no wonderfull difference.
Their manner of keeping, both wintering and sommering, is in the
Poets rules the same that the Sheepe hath, onely theyr foulding
and feed excepted: for the foulding they are not needfull, and
for their feede, Woods are the best, or the toppes of Mountaines:
bushie and thorny grounds vnprofitable for any other vse, for the
feede of Goates is most excellent. They will obserue custome much
better than Sheepe, for beeing but once or twice vsed there-vnto,
they will duely euery morning and euening come home, to pay theyr
due debt or tribute to the milke-paile. Theyr milk is excellent,
and a great restoratiue, principally for a consumption, of what
nature soeuer. The fourth howre after the Sun rise, is the best
time for Goates to drinke in. For the weaning of young Kidds from
their Dams, vse the meanes that you doo with Ewes and Lambes.
Of all Goates that are, _Virgil_ most commends the _Cinyphian_
Goates, bred by the Towne _Cinyps_, as Cattell of wondrous great
co_m_moditie: their disprofit is onely amongst young springs or
plants, for they wil crop any young thing that groweth, and hinder
the springing thereof, also they wil pill away the barke of Trees,
to the spoyle of the trees: yet no more then fallow Deare, or redde
Deare will, wherfore where the one is suffered, the other may be
tollerated. Cf. Virg. Georg. iii. 306-317.
=56.= 4. _and fools_] foales, and pigs.
7. _kye_] Kine. And so in l. 2 above.
9. After _wel_ I. R. inserts--let thy Cowe be beetle-browed, and
sterne of looke, her head and necke big, and from her throate
hanging downe to her shanks a large and long dew-lappe; let her
sides be proportionlesse and great, and euery part of her, euen her
very foote, so bigge as bigge may be. Let her eares be large and
hairie, and her taile long, euen to the grounde, and bushie: if she
be spotted with white, or shrewd or wicked with her horne, it is an
error, but no fault, for it shewes mettle and goodnes; in generall,
the more bull-like a Cow is, the better she is. Let thy Cowe be
foure yeeres old ere she take the Bull, and at tenne yeeres sell
her off, for then is her best caluing-time past. And thus much for
thy Kine whose profit must goe to thy paile.
17. I. R. adds--because he is hyde-bound, which is a foule
infirmitie.
=57.= 1. _kye_] fatte Kine.
2. _fore-croppe_] fore-crops.
4. _hucbone_] huckle-bone. _nache_] natch.
5. I. R. inserts _a_ after _cowe_; this is an improvement.
=58.= 20. _husbandes_] antient Husbandmen. That is, I. R.
repudiates the notion as erroneous.
32. I. R. adds--then giue him in a horne to drinke, olde Ale,
Saffron, Treakle, and _Diascordion_, boyled together.
34. _by goddes leue_] as writeth Chyron, Phillyrides, and Melampus.
A singular variation.
=59.= 11. _feitergrasse_] Fetter-grasse.
=60.= 1. _dewbolne_] dew-boulne. _Bolne_ = bollen, swollen.
14. I. R. adds--and then with a little Tarre and fresh Butter to
cure the wound.
=61.= 4. _ronne on water_] runne and water. The substitution is
needless; to _run on water_ means to run _with_ water.
15. _and this_, &c.] to chafe him [_i.e._ to warm him]: and this
cure is failelesse, so God be pleased.
=62.= Rubric. _The turne_] Of the turne, otherwise called the
sturdy.
3. _for_] of (this use of _for_ being obsolescent).
18. _for perysshynge_, _i.e._ to avoid piercing. _Perish_ for
_pierce_ occurs in the various readings to P. Plowman, B. xvii.
189, and Wycliffe, Job xl. 19.
24. I. R. inserts--and anoynt it eyther with fresh butter or
clarified Hoggs greace.
=65.= 3. _Starkely_] stakely (a misprint). _Starkly_ is stiffly.
5. I. R. adds--yet if a poore man shall haue such a beast & cannot
spare his worke: if he will euery morning or euening bathe his legs
with Lynseede Oyle: it shall make him indure his worke, and keepe
the beast from any great paine or swelling.
Here I. R. inserts two chapters, as follows.
Chapter 31.
¶ A soueraigne vnguent to cure the scabbe, itch, botches, or
any surfeite whatsoeuer that commeth of heat or pouerty: or by
mischance: taken from a most authentique Authour.
Take a good quantitie of the blacke dregges of Oyle, foure
penny-worth of Quicksiluer wel killed,[41] as much Brimstone,
Pitch, Wax, and Hoggs-grease as will make it thicke like an
oyntment: boyle these together, and with it annoynt the beast that
is vnsound, and this will vndoubtedly cure him, and that in very
short season, if he be diligently tended.
Chapter 32.
¶ Another most excellent receite, to cure all manner of wounds,
impostumes, vlcers, or Fistulaes.
Take the iuyce of the Onion called _Scilla_, take _Hellybor_, and
_Bitumen Iudaicum_, mingle these together, and incorporate them
in manner of a plaister. The _Macedonians_ and _Gelonians_ to
this receit adde the opening of a vaine in the sole of the foote
of a beast, and then to giue him to drinke milke and horses blood
mingled together, which cureth all inward impostumes, surfeits or
poysons, and to the outward griefe to apply the plaister, which was
neuer knowne to be frustrate.
=66.= 27. I. R. has--and it is better to weane thy Calues at grasse
then at hard meate, if they went to grasse before.
=68.= Here I. R. introduces a long flourish about the nobleness of
horses, instancing the fabulous brood born to Neptune and Ceres
(who transformed herself into a mare), the transformation of Saturn
into a horse, and the like.
22. I. R. has--and that shall yee knowe by diuers signes, as by
her riding of other Horses, by her flinging about the fieldes, or
lastly by her priuie part, for that will twirle open, and shut
againe, many times in an houre.
37. _lx._] fortie (by misreading lx. as xl.).
63-79. I. R. varies this, and has--put to your white Mares a
daple-gray Horse, so shall he gette all daples; to your bright
bay mares a blacke bay horse, and so shall you gette all broune
bayes; and to your blacke Mares, a blacke Horse, so he haue white
feet, white ratch, and white feather; so shall he gette well-marked
blacke Colts. But for the Carte it much matters not for colours,
but for knowledge sake know that th_e_ broune bay, the daple-gray,
the bright bay, and the white lyard, are the best colours; all
other colours haue defects and are imperfect: of markes one white
foote, a white starre, a white snyp, or a white rache is good: and
an Ostrige feather in any place where the horse cannot see it, is
the best of all the markes that can be for a horse. And thus much
for horses or mares to be chosen or vsed.
=70.= 3. _and hygh grasse_] and much fogge.
8. _flasshes_] and flagges.
9. _bunnes_] bands (wrongly).
32. _aftermath_] after-croppe.
33. _gyrre, &c._] gyre, and to scoure so much that hee wil hardly
endure to labour.
39. _horse_] horses. But _horse_ is the true old _plural_ form,
the sb. being neuter; A.S. _hors_, pl. _hors_. Nevertheless,
Fitzherbert himself has _horses_ in the line following.
42. _put_] strike and hurte.
=73.= 1. _rase or a ball_] starre. A _ball_ is a streak; hence the
mod. E. _bald_, M.E. _ball-ed_. See _bald_ in my Etym. Dict.
=74.= 2. _to be styffe-docked_] a stiffe docke or stearne of his
taile.
=77.= 3. _syde-tailed_; _syde_ means ‘long.’
=78.= 2. _cressed_] crested. And probably _cressed_ is a mere
misprint.
5. _holowe-foted_] hollow-hooued.
=79.= 7. _chowynge_] chewing.
=80.= I. R. expands this chapter and the succeeding chapters
so much that it would take up too much space to print all his
additions. He gives recipes for the cure of the various diseases,
and inserts chapters ‘Of the head-ach or meagrum,’ ‘Of the
staggers,’ and ‘Of the Vines.’[42] I can only undertake to give
here a few notes to illustrate Fitzherbert’s text.
=83.= I. R. has--The mourning of the tongue most commonly called
the Canker.
=86, 87.= I. R. considers these two diseases together, and
discourses of them at length, saying that he has ‘cured many very
sore spent.’
=88.= I. R. explains ‘Strangulion’ as appearing ‘in a swelling
impostume as bigge as a mans fist, iust betweene a horses chaules.’
=89-113.= I. R. omits nearly all these sections, excepting 91
(which agrees with his ‘Chapter 42. Of the Vines’) and sect. 109
(which is his Chapter 54).
=109.= I. R. has the rubric--‘Of enterfayring’; and
says--‘Enterfairing is a griefe that commeth sometimes by ill
shooing, and sometimes naturally, when a Horse trots so narrow that
he hewes [knocks] one legge vpon another.’ It is what we now call
‘over-stepping.’ The derivation is from the French form of Lat.
_inter-ferire_; and it is from this term in farriery that we have
taken the mod. E. _interfere_.
=116.= I. R. omits this section.
=118.= I. R. introduces here ‘Chapter 55. How to make the pouder of
honey and lime.’
=119.= 2, 6. The French lines are in doggerel rime, and the English
translations seem also to be meant for verse, such as it is. The
omission of the words or _iourneye_ (in l. 8) would improve the
scansion.
8. _or nyght_, i.e. ere night. Altered by I. R. to _out-right_.
=120.= 4. _tame_] lame (!); an ominous mistake, for which the
compositor should have the credit.
=121.= 4. We may feel sure that this _sayinge_ was originally in
verse. Perhaps it ran thus:
“He that hath sheep, and swyne, and hyue,
Slepe he, wake he, he maye thryue.”
Or we might write _been_ (Chaucer’s plural of _bee_), riming with
_theen_, the usual M. E. word for ‘thrive.’
9. _Hogges._ As to the exact sense of this word, see the note on
it in the ‘Corrections and Additions’ to the larger edition of my
Etymological Dictionary.
=122.= 38. _sclatte_] slate.
=124.= Here I. R. begins his third book, relating to timber and
distillations.
12. _Midsummer-moon_ is an old phrase; it occurs in the second line
of the prologue to the Plowman’s Tale, which is inserted in some
editions of Chaucer, though really written by the anonymous author
of the Plowman’s Crede.
33. _muldes a spade-graffe depe_] mould with a spade a foot deepe.
35. _peruse_] doo still.
39. I. R. adds--or els beeing drowned, not to prosper.
=125.= 4. _fyue fote brod, &c._] fiue foote broad, then it would
be set with three chesses or rowes one aboue another, but of what
depth or breadth soeuer, it would be double sette, &c.
5. _hedge_] dead hedge.
=126.= 2. _ellore_] Elder (the later form).
6. _edderynge_] wood; see the glossary. So, in l. 7, I. R.
translates _eddered_ by _bounde_; and again in l. 16, he alters
_edderinges_ to _byndings_.
9. _trouse_] brouse (as above); see 38. 3.
=127.= 4. _the more halue_] more the_n_ halfe. But _the more
halfe_, i.e. the greater part, is right enough, and the older
phrase. In l. 23, it is left unaltered.
8. _in processe_] vnwares.
15. _slaue_] stand (clearly not the right word). In l. 32, I. R.
has the spelling _sleaue_. So also in sect. 133, I. 6.
=128.= 21. I. R. omits _and bolneth_; in l. 29, he alters _bolne_
to _rise_.
=129.= 10. _to leuse_] so looseneth.
11. _gete_] got. But _gete_ is the old form of the pp.; A.S.
_geten_.
=130.= 4. _casses_] Kasses. I. R. omits _or wydes_.
5. _slauynges_] sleanings (_sic_). The form _popeler_ reminds me
that I have heard the large poplar-tree at ‘Hyde-park Corner’ in
Cambridge called ‘the _popular_ tree.’ See l. 23.
12, 16. _osyerde wethy_] Asiere Withy.
=131.= 7. _kydde_] kid or faggot.
9, 16. _brenne_] burne.
14. _to peruse them_] persist.
=132.= 4. I. R. omits ‘and also the yues.’
5. _bowe_] hewe. But _bowe_ refers to the bending of it before it
is cut; the bent piece is called the _byghte_ in the next line. I.
R. alters _byghte_ to _bough_.
18. _brede_] breadth (which is the later form).
21. _xvi._] one and twenty (by misreading _xvi._ as _xxi._).
=133.= 1. _gyse_] vse of men.
6. _slaue_] sleaue; and in l. 16.
10. _hym_] the seller.
11. _an_] one (which is the meaning intended).
14. _ouer_] vpper.
=134.= 7. _garches_] garthes. In ed. 1534, it is plainly _garches_;
but confusion between _c_ and _t_ is extremely common, as they were
_written_ nearly alike.
18. _a greatte_] by great. The two phrases have different senses;
_a greate_ means ‘in the lump,’ without cutting or dressing the
trees, as appears from the next line. But _by great_ means ‘by
wholesale’; which contradicts l. 1.
=136.= 6. _graffe_] graft (throughout; which is the later form).
10. I. R. omits _the narower kyrfe, and_; to avoid the word _kyrfe_.
=137.= 10. _pyrre-stocke_] Peare-tree stocke.
14. I. R. says--a Crab-tree stocke is good, but the Apple-tree
stocke it-selfe is much better.
=138.= 1. _lanses_] branches.
10. _nothynge_] any thing.
26. _marley_] marle.
29. _cleauynge_] place clouen.
30. _for chynynge of the claye_] for feare the clay through drines
should cleaue or riue.
33. _clayenge_] cleauing (which is clearly wrong).
36. I. R. adds--And three grafts are enough for any stock
whatsoeuer, and sooner they will couer the head then foure, fiue,
or sixe.
=139.= 6. _tenaunte_] tennant.
9. _ponch_] punch.
10. _stop_] scope. _one syde_] other side.
19. _clyppe_] slip.
20. After _growe_, I. R. adds--and to fence it close about with
some thick-set hedge.
After this section I. R. inserts ‘Chapter 17. Howe to graft by
leafe, causing all manner of fruit to grow vpon one tree.’ His
method is to insert what we should now call a slip, with a stalk
and leaf growing from it.
=140.= 2. _scyences_] syens. In fact, _scyences_ (= scions-es) is a
double plural, and was probably a provincial term, like _nesteses_
or _nesses_ for _nests_. So also _fairies-es_ is a country name
for _fairies_, which some lexicographers, not understanding,
actually write and print as _Pharisees_!
6. _he wyll_] you will. This alteration is made wherever the phrase
occurs.
8. _lyke_] like or prosper in any wise.
*** Here I. R. inserts a large portion of his own (or perhaps
copied from other sources) without any hint that it is not in his
original. The insertion extends from p. 103 to p. 143, and contains
the following chapters.
Chapter 19. Of gardening or planting.