Sowing of rie.9Thresh seed and to fanning, September doth crie,get plough to the field, and be sowing of rie:To harrow therydgis, er euer yestrike,[E90]is one peece[20]of husbandrie Suffolk doth like.10Sowe timely thy whitewheat, sowe rie in the dust,let seede haue hislonging, let soile haue hir lust:Let rie be partaker of Mihelmas spring,tobeare outthe hardnes that winter doth bring.Myslen.11[21]Some mixeth to miller the rie with the wheat,Temmes lofeon his table to haue for to eate:But sowe it not mixed, to growe so on land,least rietariewheat, till it shed as it stand.12If soile doe desire to haue rie with the wheat,by growing togither, for safetie more great,Let white wheat be ton, be it deere, be it cheape,the sooner to ripe, for the sickle to reape.Sowing.13Though beanes be in sowing but scattered in,yet wheat, rie, and peason, I loue not too thin:Sowe barlie anddredge,[E91]with a plentifull hand,least weede, steed of seede, ouer groweth thy land.Kéeping of crowes.14[22]No sooner a sowing, but out by and by,withmother[23]or boy that Alarum can cry:And let them be armed with sling or with bowe,to skare awaypiggen, the rooke and the crowe.[E92]Water furrough.15Seed sowen, draw aforrough, the water to draine,and dike vp such ends as inharmes[24]doe remaine:For driuing of cattell or rouing that waie,which being preuented, ye hinder their praie.Amend marsh walles.16Saint Mihel[25]doth bid thee amend the marsh wal,[E93]thebreckeand the crab hole, the foreland and al:Onenoblein season bestowed theron,may saue thee a hundred er winter be gon.Gelding of rams.17Now geld with the gelder the ram and the bul,sew ponds, amend dammes, and sel webster thy wul:Outfruit go and gather, but not in the deaw,with crab and the wal nut, for feare of ashreaw.Gathering of fruit.18The Moone in the wane, gather fruit for to last,but winter fruit gather when Mihel is past:Though michers that loue not to buy nor to craue,makes some gather sooner, else few for to haue.Too early gathering is not best.19Fruit gathred tootimelywil taste of the wood,wil shrink[26]and be bitter, and seldome prooue good:So fruit that is shaken, or beat off a tree,with brusing in falling, soone faultie wil bee.Driuing of hiues.20Now burne vp the bees that ye mind for todriue,at Midsomer driue them and saue them aliue:Place hiue in goodayer, setsouthlyand warme,and take in due season wax, honie, and swarme.Preseruing of bées.21Set hiue on a plank, (not too low by the ground)where herbe with the flowers may compas it round:And boordes to defend it from north and north east,from showers and rubbish, from vermin and beast.Stie up the bore.22At Mihelmas safely go stie vp thy Bore,least straying abrode, ye doo see him no more:The sooner the better for Halontide nie,and better hebrawnethif hard he doo lie.[E94]23Shift bore (for il aire) as best ye do thinke,and twise a day giue him fresh vittle and drinke:And diligent Cislye, my dayrie good wench,make cleanly hiscabben, formeasling[E95]and stench.Gathering of winter hempe.24Now pluck vp thy hempe, and go beat out the seed,and afterward water it as ye see need:But not in the riuer where cattle should drinke,for poisoning them and the people with stinke.[E96]Whitest hempe best sold.25Hempe huswifely vsed lookescleerelyand bright,and selleth it selfe by the colour so whight:Some vseth to water it, some do it not,[27]be skilful in dooing, for feare it do rot.Setting of strawberies & roses, &c.26Wife, into thy garden, and set me a plot,with strawbery rootes, of the best to be got:Such growing abroade, among thornes in the wood,wel chosen and picked prooue excellent good.Gooseberies & Respis.27The Barbery, Respis, and Goosebery too,looke now to be planted as other things doo:The Goosebery, Respis, and Roses, al three,with Strawberies vnder them trimly agree.Gathering of mast.28To gather some mast, it shal stand thee vpon,with seruant and children, er mast be al gon:Some left among bushes shal pleasure thy swine,for feare of a mischiefe keepe acorns fro kine.[E97]Rooting of hogs.29For rooting of pasture ring hog ye had neede,which being wel ringled the better do feede:Though yong with their elders wil lightly keepe best,yet spare not to ringle both great and the rest.Yoking of swine.30Yoke seldom thy swine while theshacktime[28]doth last,for diuers misfortunes that happen too fast:Or if ye do fancie whole eare of the hog,giue eie to il neighbour and eare to his dog.Hunting of hogs.31Keepe hog I aduise thee from medow and corne,for out aloude crying that ere he was borne:Such lawles, sohaunting, both often and long,if dog set himchauntinghe doth thee no wrong.[E98]Ringlingof hogs.32Where loue among neighbors do beare any stroke,whiles shacktime indureth men vse not to yoke:Yet surely ringling is needeful and good,til frost doenuitethem to brakes in the wood.Carriage of brakes.33[29]Get home with thy brakes, er an sommer be gon,fortedderedcattle to sit there vpon:To couer thy houel, to brewe and to bake,to lie in the bottome, where houel ye make.Sawe out thy timber.34Now sawe out thy timber, for boord and for pale,to haue itvnshaken,[E99]and ready to sale:Bestoweit andstickit,[30]and lay it aright,to find it in March, to be ready inplight.Slabs of timber.35Saue slab[31]of thy timber for stable and stie,for horse and for hog the more clenly to lie:Saue sawe dust, and brick dust, and ashes so fine,for alley to walke in, with neighbour of thine.Hedge breakers.36Keepe safely and warely thine vttermost fence,withope gapand breake hedge do seldome dispence:Such runabout prowlers, by night and by day,see punished iustly for prowling away.Learne to knowe Hew prowler.37At noone if it bloweth, at night if it shine,out trudgeth Hew make shift, with hooke & with line:[E100]Whiles Gillet, hisblouse, is a milking thy cow,Sir Hew is ariggingthy gate or the plow.Black or red dogs.38Such walke with a black or a red little cur,thatopenwil quickly, if anything stur;Thensquatteththe master, or trudgeth away,and after dog runneth as fast as he may.39Some prowleth for fewel, and some away rigfat goose, and the capon, duck, hen, and the pig:Some prowleth for acornes, to fat vp their swine,for corne and for apples, and al that is thine.
Sowing of rie.
Sowing of rie.
9Thresh seed and to fanning, September doth crie,get plough to the field, and be sowing of rie:To harrow therydgis, er euer yestrike,[E90]is one peece[20]of husbandrie Suffolk doth like.
10Sowe timely thy whitewheat, sowe rie in the dust,let seede haue hislonging, let soile haue hir lust:Let rie be partaker of Mihelmas spring,tobeare outthe hardnes that winter doth bring.
Myslen.
Myslen.
11[21]Some mixeth to miller the rie with the wheat,Temmes lofeon his table to haue for to eate:But sowe it not mixed, to growe so on land,least rietariewheat, till it shed as it stand.
12If soile doe desire to haue rie with the wheat,by growing togither, for safetie more great,Let white wheat be ton, be it deere, be it cheape,the sooner to ripe, for the sickle to reape.
Sowing.
Sowing.
13Though beanes be in sowing but scattered in,yet wheat, rie, and peason, I loue not too thin:Sowe barlie anddredge,[E91]with a plentifull hand,least weede, steed of seede, ouer groweth thy land.
Kéeping of crowes.
Kéeping of crowes.
14[22]No sooner a sowing, but out by and by,withmother[23]or boy that Alarum can cry:And let them be armed with sling or with bowe,to skare awaypiggen, the rooke and the crowe.[E92]
Water furrough.
Water furrough.
15Seed sowen, draw aforrough, the water to draine,and dike vp such ends as inharmes[24]doe remaine:For driuing of cattell or rouing that waie,which being preuented, ye hinder their praie.
Amend marsh walles.
Amend marsh walles.
16Saint Mihel[25]doth bid thee amend the marsh wal,[E93]thebreckeand the crab hole, the foreland and al:Onenoblein season bestowed theron,may saue thee a hundred er winter be gon.
Gelding of rams.
Gelding of rams.
17Now geld with the gelder the ram and the bul,sew ponds, amend dammes, and sel webster thy wul:Outfruit go and gather, but not in the deaw,with crab and the wal nut, for feare of ashreaw.
Gathering of fruit.
Gathering of fruit.
18The Moone in the wane, gather fruit for to last,but winter fruit gather when Mihel is past:Though michers that loue not to buy nor to craue,makes some gather sooner, else few for to haue.
Too early gathering is not best.
Too early gathering is not best.
19Fruit gathred tootimelywil taste of the wood,wil shrink[26]and be bitter, and seldome prooue good:So fruit that is shaken, or beat off a tree,with brusing in falling, soone faultie wil bee.
Driuing of hiues.
Driuing of hiues.
20Now burne vp the bees that ye mind for todriue,at Midsomer driue them and saue them aliue:Place hiue in goodayer, setsouthlyand warme,and take in due season wax, honie, and swarme.
Preseruing of bées.
Preseruing of bées.
21Set hiue on a plank, (not too low by the ground)where herbe with the flowers may compas it round:And boordes to defend it from north and north east,from showers and rubbish, from vermin and beast.
Stie up the bore.
Stie up the bore.
22At Mihelmas safely go stie vp thy Bore,least straying abrode, ye doo see him no more:The sooner the better for Halontide nie,and better hebrawnethif hard he doo lie.[E94]
23Shift bore (for il aire) as best ye do thinke,and twise a day giue him fresh vittle and drinke:And diligent Cislye, my dayrie good wench,make cleanly hiscabben, formeasling[E95]and stench.
Gathering of winter hempe.
Gathering of winter hempe.
24Now pluck vp thy hempe, and go beat out the seed,and afterward water it as ye see need:But not in the riuer where cattle should drinke,for poisoning them and the people with stinke.[E96]
Whitest hempe best sold.
Whitest hempe best sold.
25Hempe huswifely vsed lookescleerelyand bright,and selleth it selfe by the colour so whight:Some vseth to water it, some do it not,[27]be skilful in dooing, for feare it do rot.
Setting of strawberies & roses, &c.
Setting of strawberies & roses, &c.
26Wife, into thy garden, and set me a plot,with strawbery rootes, of the best to be got:Such growing abroade, among thornes in the wood,wel chosen and picked prooue excellent good.
Gooseberies & Respis.
Gooseberies & Respis.
27The Barbery, Respis, and Goosebery too,looke now to be planted as other things doo:The Goosebery, Respis, and Roses, al three,with Strawberies vnder them trimly agree.
Gathering of mast.
Gathering of mast.
28To gather some mast, it shal stand thee vpon,with seruant and children, er mast be al gon:Some left among bushes shal pleasure thy swine,for feare of a mischiefe keepe acorns fro kine.[E97]
Rooting of hogs.
Rooting of hogs.
29For rooting of pasture ring hog ye had neede,which being wel ringled the better do feede:Though yong with their elders wil lightly keepe best,yet spare not to ringle both great and the rest.
Yoking of swine.
Yoking of swine.
30Yoke seldom thy swine while theshacktime[28]doth last,for diuers misfortunes that happen too fast:Or if ye do fancie whole eare of the hog,giue eie to il neighbour and eare to his dog.
Hunting of hogs.
Hunting of hogs.
31Keepe hog I aduise thee from medow and corne,for out aloude crying that ere he was borne:Such lawles, sohaunting, both often and long,if dog set himchauntinghe doth thee no wrong.[E98]
Ringlingof hogs.
Ringlingof hogs.
32Where loue among neighbors do beare any stroke,whiles shacktime indureth men vse not to yoke:Yet surely ringling is needeful and good,til frost doenuitethem to brakes in the wood.
Carriage of brakes.
Carriage of brakes.
33[29]Get home with thy brakes, er an sommer be gon,fortedderedcattle to sit there vpon:To couer thy houel, to brewe and to bake,to lie in the bottome, where houel ye make.
Sawe out thy timber.
Sawe out thy timber.
34Now sawe out thy timber, for boord and for pale,to haue itvnshaken,[E99]and ready to sale:Bestoweit andstickit,[30]and lay it aright,to find it in March, to be ready inplight.
Slabs of timber.
Slabs of timber.
35Saue slab[31]of thy timber for stable and stie,for horse and for hog the more clenly to lie:Saue sawe dust, and brick dust, and ashes so fine,for alley to walke in, with neighbour of thine.
Hedge breakers.
Hedge breakers.
36Keepe safely and warely thine vttermost fence,withope gapand breake hedge do seldome dispence:Such runabout prowlers, by night and by day,see punished iustly for prowling away.
Learne to knowe Hew prowler.
Learne to knowe Hew prowler.
37At noone if it bloweth, at night if it shine,out trudgeth Hew make shift, with hooke & with line:[E100]Whiles Gillet, hisblouse, is a milking thy cow,Sir Hew is ariggingthy gate or the plow.
Black or red dogs.
Black or red dogs.
38Such walke with a black or a red little cur,thatopenwil quickly, if anything stur;Thensquatteththe master, or trudgeth away,and after dog runneth as fast as he may.
39Some prowleth for fewel, and some away rigfat goose, and the capon, duck, hen, and the pig:Some prowleth for acornes, to fat vp their swine,for corne and for apples, and al that is thine.
* * * Many stanzas do not occur or are not in the same order in 1577.
[1]In 1577 these and similar couplets at the beginning of each month'sHusbandrie, precede the month'sAbstractinstead.
[1]In 1577 these and similar couplets at the beginning of each month'sHusbandrie, precede the month'sAbstractinstead.
[2]Sts. 1 and 2 not in 1577.
[2]Sts. 1 and 2 not in 1577.
[3]Mighelmas. 1577.
[3]Mighelmas. 1577.
[4]coefers. 1577.
[4]coefers. 1577.
[5]rakged. 1577.
[5]rakged. 1577.
[6]at hyt. 1577.
[6]at hyt. 1577.
[7]Or borow with sorow as long as thou wilt. 1577.
[7]Or borow with sorow as long as thou wilt. 1577.
[8]liened. 1577.
[8]liened. 1577.
[9]To pare horse's hoofs with.-T.R.
[9]To pare horse's hoofs with.-T.R.
[10]"Clouting is arming the Axle-Tree with Iron plates."—T.R.
[10]"Clouting is arming the Axle-Tree with Iron plates."—T.R.
[11]"Arming the Fellowes with Iron Strakes, or a Tire as some call it."—T.R. Strakes are segments of a tire.
[11]"Arming the Fellowes with Iron Strakes, or a Tire as some call it."—T.R. Strakes are segments of a tire.
[12]"Of a tough piece of Whitleather."—T.R.
[12]"Of a tough piece of Whitleather."—T.R.
[13]"Lightest and coolest, but indeed not so comly as those ofWadmus."—T.R.
[13]"Lightest and coolest, but indeed not so comly as those ofWadmus."—T.R.
[14]St. 15 not in 1577, but as follows:—Rakes also for barley, long toothed in bed,and greater like toothed for barley so shed.and first couplet of st. 16.
[14]St. 15 not in 1577, but as follows:—
Rakes also for barley, long toothed in bed,and greater like toothed for barley so shed.
and first couplet of st. 16.
[15]St. 16 not thus in 1577; see note above, and next note.
[15]St. 16 not thus in 1577; see note above, and next note.
[16]In 1577 the second couplet of st. 16 makes a stanza with the following:Strong fetters and shakles, with horslock and pad;Strong soles, and such other thinges, meete to be had.
[16]In 1577 the second couplet of st. 16 makes a stanza with the following:
Strong fetters and shakles, with horslock and pad;Strong soles, and such other thinges, meete to be had.
[17]Hog yokes, and a twicher, and ringes for a hog,with tar in a pot, for the byeting of dog. 1577.
[17]Hog yokes, and a twicher, and ringes for a hog,with tar in a pot, for the byeting of dog. 1577.
[18]St. 19 not in 1577.
[18]St. 19 not in 1577.
[19]St. 20 not in 1577.
[19]St. 20 not in 1577.
[20]This point of good husbandry, etc. 1577.
[20]This point of good husbandry, etc. 1577.
[21]St. 11 not in 1577.
[21]St. 11 not in 1577.
[22]Sts. 14 and 15 not in 1577, but nine stanzas which do not occur here.
[22]Sts. 14 and 15 not in 1577, but nine stanzas which do not occur here.
[23]Cf.ante,ch. 17, st. 13and noteE85.
[23]Cf.ante,ch. 17, st. 13and noteE85.
[24]Cf.post,ch. 19, st. 6.
[24]Cf.post,ch. 19, st. 6.
[25]Mighel, here and in st. 18. 1577.
[25]Mighel, here and in st. 18. 1577.
[26]"If Fruit stand too long it will be mealy, which is worse than shrively, for now most Gentlemen chuse the shriveled Apple."—T.R.
[26]"If Fruit stand too long it will be mealy, which is worse than shrively, for now most Gentlemen chuse the shriveled Apple."—T.R.
[27]"Ther is aWater-rettingand aDew-retting, which last is done on a goodRawing, or aftermath of a Meadow Water."—T.R.
[27]"Ther is aWater-rettingand aDew-retting, which last is done on a goodRawing, or aftermath of a Meadow Water."—T.R.
[28]"After Harvest."—T.R.
[28]"After Harvest."—T.R.
[29]This is placed before st. 9 in 1577.
[29]This is placed before st. 9 in 1577.
[30]"Laying the Boards handsomely one upon another with sticks between."—T.R.
[30]"Laying the Boards handsomely one upon another with sticks between."—T.R.
[31]The outermost piece.
[31]The outermost piece.
[32]Cf.note 12, p. 33.
[32]Cf.note 12, p. 33.
1Lay drie vp and round,for barlie thy ground.2Too late doth kill,too soone is as ill.3Maides little and great,pick cleane séede wheat.Good ground doth crauechoice séede to haue.Flaies[E101]lustilythwack,least plough séede lack.4[1]Séede first go fetch,foredishor etch,Soile perfectly knowe,er edish ye sowe.5White wheat, if ye please,sowe now vpon pease.Sowe first the best,and then the rest.6[2]Who soweth in raine,hath wéedtohis paine.But worse shall he spéed,that soweth ill séed.7Now, better than later,draw furrow for water.Kéepe crowes, good sonne,sée fencing[3]be donne.8[4]Each soile novainefor euerie graine.Though soile be but bad,some corne may be had.9Naught proue, naught craue,naught venter, naught haue.10One crop and away,some countrie may say.11All grauell and sand,is not the best land.Arottenlymouldis land woorth gould.12Why wheat is smittengood lesson is written.13The iudgement of somehow thistles doe come.14A iudgement right,of land in plight.Land, all forlorne,not good for corne.15Land barren doth bearesmall strawe, short eare.16Here maist thou réedefor soile what séede.17Tis trideeryhower,best graine most flower.18Grossecorne much branthe baker doth ban.19[5]Whatcroppersbéehere learne to sée.20Fewafter cropmuch,butnoddiesand such.21Som woodland maycrake,thrée crops he may take.22First barlie, then pease,then wheat, if ye please.23Two crops and away,must champion say.24[6]Where barlie did growe,Laie[7]wheat to sowe.Yet better I thinke,sowe pease afterdrinke.And then, if ye please,sowe wheat after pease.25What champion knowesthat custome showes.26First barlie er rie,then pease by and by.Then fallow for wheat,is husbandrie great.27A remedie sent,where pease lack vent.Fatpeasefedswinefor drouer is fine.28Each diuers soilehath diuers toile.29Some countries vsethat some refuse.30For wheat ill land,where water doth stand.Sowe pease or dredgebelowe in that redge.31Sowe acornes to proouethat timber doe looue.32Sowehastings[E102]now,if land[8]it alow.33Learne soone to geta goodquickset.34For feare of the wurstmakefataway furst.35Fat that no moreye kéepe for store.36Hidecarrenin graue,lesse noiance to haue.37Hog measeled kill,forflemmingthat will.38[9]Withpeaseboltand brakesome brew and bake.39Old corne[10]worth gold,so kept as it shold.40Much profit is rept,by sloes well kept.41Kéepe sloes vpon bow,forflixeof thy cow.42Ofvergisbe sure,poore cattel to cure.
1Lay drie vp and round,for barlie thy ground.
2Too late doth kill,too soone is as ill.
3Maides little and great,pick cleane séede wheat.Good ground doth crauechoice séede to haue.Flaies[E101]lustilythwack,least plough séede lack.
4[1]Séede first go fetch,foredishor etch,Soile perfectly knowe,er edish ye sowe.
5White wheat, if ye please,sowe now vpon pease.Sowe first the best,and then the rest.
6[2]Who soweth in raine,hath wéedtohis paine.But worse shall he spéed,that soweth ill séed.
7Now, better than later,draw furrow for water.Kéepe crowes, good sonne,sée fencing[3]be donne.
8[4]Each soile novainefor euerie graine.Though soile be but bad,some corne may be had.
9Naught proue, naught craue,naught venter, naught haue.
10One crop and away,some countrie may say.
11All grauell and sand,is not the best land.Arottenlymouldis land woorth gould.
12Why wheat is smittengood lesson is written.
13The iudgement of somehow thistles doe come.
14A iudgement right,of land in plight.Land, all forlorne,not good for corne.
15Land barren doth bearesmall strawe, short eare.
16Here maist thou réedefor soile what séede.
17Tis trideeryhower,best graine most flower.
18Grossecorne much branthe baker doth ban.
19[5]Whatcroppersbéehere learne to sée.
20Fewafter cropmuch,butnoddiesand such.
21Som woodland maycrake,thrée crops he may take.
22First barlie, then pease,then wheat, if ye please.
23Two crops and away,must champion say.
24[6]Where barlie did growe,Laie[7]wheat to sowe.Yet better I thinke,sowe pease afterdrinke.And then, if ye please,sowe wheat after pease.
25What champion knowesthat custome showes.
26First barlie er rie,then pease by and by.Then fallow for wheat,is husbandrie great.
27A remedie sent,where pease lack vent.Fatpeasefedswinefor drouer is fine.
28Each diuers soilehath diuers toile.
29Some countries vsethat some refuse.
30For wheat ill land,where water doth stand.Sowe pease or dredgebelowe in that redge.
31Sowe acornes to proouethat timber doe looue.
32Sowehastings[E102]now,if land[8]it alow.
33Learne soone to geta goodquickset.
34For feare of the wurstmakefataway furst.
35Fat that no moreye kéepe for store.
36Hidecarrenin graue,lesse noiance to haue.
37Hog measeled kill,forflemmingthat will.
38[9]Withpeaseboltand brakesome brew and bake.
39Old corne[10]worth gold,so kept as it shold.
40Much profit is rept,by sloes well kept.
41Kéepe sloes vpon bow,forflixeof thy cow.
42Ofvergisbe sure,poore cattel to cure.
[43]Cisse, haue an eieto bore in the stie.By malt ill kept,small profit isrept.[44]Friend, ringle thy hog,for feare of a dog.Rie straw up stack,least Thacker doe lack.[45]Wheat straw drie saue,for cattell to haue.Wheat chaffe lay vp drie,in safetie to lie.[46]Make handsome a bin,for chaffe to lie in.[47](Séede thresht) thou shaltthresh barlie to malt.Cut bushes to hedge,fence medow and redge.[48]Stampcrabs that may,for rotting away.Make vergis andperie,[E103]sowe kirnell and berie.[49]Now gather vp fruite,of eueriesuite.Marsh wall too slight,strength now, orgod night.[50][12]Mend wals of mud,for now it is good.Where soile is of sand,quick set out of hand.[51]To plots not fullad bremble and hull.For set no barwhilst month hath an R.[E104]Like note thou shaltfor making of malt.Brew now to lasttill winter be past.
[43]Cisse, haue an eieto bore in the stie.By malt ill kept,small profit isrept.
[44]Friend, ringle thy hog,for feare of a dog.Rie straw up stack,least Thacker doe lack.
[45]Wheat straw drie saue,for cattell to haue.Wheat chaffe lay vp drie,in safetie to lie.
[46]Make handsome a bin,for chaffe to lie in.
[47](Séede thresht) thou shaltthresh barlie to malt.Cut bushes to hedge,fence medow and redge.
[48]Stampcrabs that may,for rotting away.Make vergis andperie,[E103]sowe kirnell and berie.
[49]Now gather vp fruite,of eueriesuite.Marsh wall too slight,strength now, orgod night.
[50][12]Mend wals of mud,for now it is good.Where soile is of sand,quick set out of hand.
[51]To plots not fullad bremble and hull.For set no barwhilst month hath an R.[E104]Like note thou shaltfor making of malt.Brew now to lasttill winter be past.
[1]1577 inserts—Plie sowing a pace,in euery place.
[1]1577 inserts—
Plie sowing a pace,in euery place.