7.

1Let house haue to fill her,Let land haue to till her.No dwellers, what profiteth house for to stand?What goodnes, vnoccupied, bringeth the land?2No labor no bread,No host we be dead.No husbandry vsed, how soone shall we sterue?House keeping neglected, what comfort to serue?3Ill father no gift,No knowledge no thrift.The father anvnthrift, what hope to the sonne?The ruler vnskilfull, how quickly vndonne?

1Let house haue to fill her,Let land haue to till her.No dwellers, what profiteth house for to stand?What goodnes, vnoccupied, bringeth the land?

2No labor no bread,No host we be dead.No husbandry vsed, how soone shall we sterue?House keeping neglected, what comfort to serue?

3Ill father no gift,No knowledge no thrift.The father anvnthrift, what hope to the sonne?The ruler vnskilfull, how quickly vndonne?

As true as thy faith,This riddle thus saith.The praise of husbandrie.I seeme but adrudge, yet I passe any KingTo such as can vse me, great wealth I do bring.Since Adam first liued, I neuer did die,WhenNoewas shipman, there also was I.The earth to susteine me, the sea for my fish:[E21]Be readie topleasureme, as I would wish.[1]What hath any life, but I helpe to preserue,What wight without me, but is ready to sterue.In woodland, in Champion, Citie, or towneIf long I be absent, what falleth not downe?If long I be present, what goodnes can want?Though things at my comming were neuer so scant.So many as looue me, and vse me aright,With treasure and pleasure, I richly acquite.Great kings I doe succour, else wrong it would go,The King of al kings hath appointed it so.

As true as thy faith,This riddle thus saith.

The praise of husbandrie.

I seeme but adrudge, yet I passe any KingTo such as can vse me, great wealth I do bring.Since Adam first liued, I neuer did die,WhenNoewas shipman, there also was I.The earth to susteine me, the sea for my fish:[E21]Be readie topleasureme, as I would wish.[1]What hath any life, but I helpe to preserue,What wight without me, but is ready to sterue.In woodland, in Champion, Citie, or towneIf long I be absent, what falleth not downe?If long I be present, what goodnes can want?Though things at my comming were neuer so scant.So many as looue me, and vse me aright,With treasure and pleasure, I richly acquite.Great kings I doe succour, else wrong it would go,The King of al kings hath appointed it so.

[1]The earth is my storehouse, the sea my fishpond,What good is in either, by me it is found. 1577.

1Of husband, doth husbandrie challenge that name,of husbandrie, husband doth likewise the sameWhere huswife and huswiferie, ioineth with thease,there wealth in abundance is gotten with ease.2The name of a husband, what is it to saie?of wife and the houshold the band and the staie:Some husbandlie thriueth that neuer had wife,yet scarce a good husband in goodnes of life.3The husband is he that to labour doth fall,the labour of him I doe husbandrie call:If thrift by that labour be any way caught,then is it good husbandrie, else it is naught.4So houshold and housholdrie I doe define,for folke and the goodes that in house be of thineHouse keeping to them, as a refuge is set,which like as it is, so report it doth get.5Be house or the furniture neuer so rude,of husband and husbandrie, (thus I conclude:)That huswife and huswiferie, if it be good,must pleasure togither as cosins in blood.

1Of husband, doth husbandrie challenge that name,of husbandrie, husband doth likewise the sameWhere huswife and huswiferie, ioineth with thease,there wealth in abundance is gotten with ease.

2The name of a husband, what is it to saie?of wife and the houshold the band and the staie:Some husbandlie thriueth that neuer had wife,yet scarce a good husband in goodnes of life.

3The husband is he that to labour doth fall,the labour of him I doe husbandrie call:If thrift by that labour be any way caught,then is it good husbandrie, else it is naught.

4So houshold and housholdrie I doe define,for folke and the goodes that in house be of thineHouse keeping to them, as a refuge is set,which like as it is, so report it doth get.

5Be house or the furniture neuer so rude,of husband and husbandrie, (thus I conclude:)That huswife and huswiferie, if it be good,must pleasure togither as cosins in blood.

1To take thycallingthankfully,[E22]and shun[1]the path to beggery.2To grudge in youth no drudgery,to come by knowledge perfectly.3To count no trauell slauerie,that brings in peniesauerlie.4To folow profit earnestliebut meddle not withpilferie.5Togetby honestpractisie,and kÃ©epe thygettingscouertlie.6Tolashnot out toolashinglie,for feare ofpinchingpenurie.7To get goodplotto occupie,and store and vse it husbandlie.8To shew to landlordcurtesie,and kÃ©epe thy couenantsorderlie.9To hold that thine is lawfullie,forstoutnesor for flatterie.10To wed good wife for companie,and liue in wedlock honestlie.11To furnish house withhousholdry,and make prouision skilfully.12To ioine to wife good familie,[E23]and none to kÃ©epe forbrauerie.13To suffer none liue idlelie,for feare of idleknauerie.14To courage wife in huswiferie,and vse well dooersgentilie.15To keepe no more butnÃ©edfullie,and count excessevnsauerie.16Toraisebetimes thelubberlie,bothsnortingHob and Margerie.[2]17To walke thy pastures vsuallie,to spie ill neighbourssubtiltie.18To hatereuengementhastilie,forloosing loue andamitie.19To loue thy neighbor neighborly,and shew him nodiscurtesy.20To answere stranger ciuilie,but shew him not thysecresie.21To vse no friend deceitfully,to offer no manvilleny.22To learne how foe to pacifie,but trust him not tootrustilie.23To kÃ©epe thy touchsubstanciallie,and in thy word vseconstancie.24To make thybandesaduisedly,& com not bound throughsuerty.25To meddle not with vsurie,nor lend thy monie foolishlie.26To hate to liue in infamie,through craft, and liuingshiftingly.[3]27To shun all kinde oftreachery,for treason endeth horribly.28To learne to eschew ill cÅpany,and such as liue dishonestly.29Tobanishhouse of blasphemie,leastcrossescrossevnluckelie.[E24]30To stop mischance, through policy,forchancingtoo vnhappily.31To beare thy crosses patiently,for worldly things are slippery.32To laie to kÃ©epe from miserie,age comming on socrÃ©epinglie.33To praie to God continuallie,for aide against thine enimie.34To spend thy Sabboth holilie,and helpe the needie pouertie.[4]35To liue in conscience quietly,and kÃ©epe thy selfe from malady.36To ease thy sicknes spÃ©edilie,er helpe be past recouerie.37To sÃ©eke to God for remedie,for witches prooue vnluckilie.[38]These be the stepsvnfainedlie:to climbe to thrift by husbandrie.[39]These steps both reach, and teach thee shall:To come by thrift, toshiftwithall.

1To take thycallingthankfully,[E22]and shun[1]the path to beggery.

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

3To count no trauell slauerie,that brings in peniesauerlie.

4To folow profit earnestliebut meddle not withpilferie.

5Togetby honestpractisie,and kÃ©epe thygettingscouertlie.

6Tolashnot out toolashinglie,for feare ofpinchingpenurie.

7To get goodplotto occupie,and store and vse it husbandlie.

8To shew to landlordcurtesie,and kÃ©epe thy couenantsorderlie.

9To hold that thine is lawfullie,forstoutnesor for flatterie.

10To wed good wife for companie,and liue in wedlock honestlie.

11To furnish house withhousholdry,and make prouision skilfully.

12To ioine to wife good familie,[E23]and none to kÃ©epe forbrauerie.

13To suffer none liue idlelie,for feare of idleknauerie.

14To courage wife in huswiferie,and vse well dooersgentilie.

15To keepe no more butnÃ©edfullie,and count excessevnsauerie.

16Toraisebetimes thelubberlie,bothsnortingHob and Margerie.[2]

17To walke thy pastures vsuallie,to spie ill neighbourssubtiltie.

18To hatereuengementhastilie,forloosing loue andamitie.

19To loue thy neighbor neighborly,and shew him nodiscurtesy.

20To answere stranger ciuilie,but shew him not thysecresie.

21To vse no friend deceitfully,to offer no manvilleny.

22To learne how foe to pacifie,but trust him not tootrustilie.

23To kÃ©epe thy touchsubstanciallie,and in thy word vseconstancie.

24To make thybandesaduisedly,& com not bound throughsuerty.

25To meddle not with vsurie,nor lend thy monie foolishlie.

26To hate to liue in infamie,through craft, and liuingshiftingly.[3]

27To shun all kinde oftreachery,for treason endeth horribly.

28To learne to eschew ill cÅpany,and such as liue dishonestly.

29Tobanishhouse of blasphemie,leastcrossescrossevnluckelie.[E24]

30To stop mischance, through policy,forchancingtoo vnhappily.

31To beare thy crosses patiently,for worldly things are slippery.

32To laie to kÃ©epe from miserie,age comming on socrÃ©epinglie.

33To praie to God continuallie,for aide against thine enimie.

34To spend thy Sabboth holilie,and helpe the needie pouertie.[4]

35To liue in conscience quietly,and kÃ©epe thy selfe from malady.

36To ease thy sicknes spÃ©edilie,er helpe be past recouerie.

37To sÃ©eke to God for remedie,for witches prooue vnluckilie.

[38]These be the stepsvnfainedlie:to climbe to thrift by husbandrie.

[39]These steps both reach, and teach thee shall:To come by thrift, toshiftwithall.

* * * Stanzas 25, 27, 28, 32, 37 are not in the edition of 1577. After 31 the edition of 1577 has:â€”

29To train thy child vp vertuouslythat vertue vice may qualifie.30To bridlewild otes fantasie,[E25]to spend thee naughtvnthriftely.

29To train thy child vp vertuouslythat vertue vice may qualifie.

30To bridlewild otes fantasie,[E25]to spend thee naughtvnthriftely.

[1]shonne. 1577.

[2]To rise betimes up readely. 1577.

[3]naughtily. 1573, 1557.

[4]poore in misery. 1577.

1God sendeth and giueth both mouth and the meat,and blesseth vs al with his benefits great:Then serue we that God that so richly doth giue,shew loue to our neighbors, and lay for to liue.2[1]As bud by appearing betokneth the spring,and leafe by her falling the contrarie thing:So youth bids vs labour, to get as we can,for age is a burden to laboring man.3A competent liuing, and honestly had,makes such as are godlie both thankfull and glad:Life neuer contented, with honestestate,lamented is oft, and repented too late.4Count neuer welgottenthatnaughtlyis got,nor well to account of which honest is not:[E26]Lookelong not to prosper, thatwayestnot this,least prospering faileth, and all go amisse.Laie wisely to marrie.5True wedlock is best, for auoiding of sinne,the bed vndefiled much honour doth winne:Though loue be in choosing farre better than gold,let loue come with somewhat, the better to hold.[E27]Concord bringeth foyson.6Wherecooplesagree not isrankerand strife,where such be together is seldome good life:Where cooples in wedlock doe louelie agree,therefoysonremaineth, if wisedome there bee.Wife and children craue a dwelling.7Who looketh to marrie must laie to keepe house,for loue may not alway be plaieing withdouse:If children encrease, and nostaieof thine owne,what afterwards followes is soone to be knowne.Thee for thriue.Hostisses grudge: nurses craue.8Oncechargedwith children, or likelie to bee,giue ouer tosudgerne, that thinkest tothee:[E28]Leastgrutchingofhostis, and crauing of nurse,be costlie andnoisometo thee and thy purse.Live within thyTedder.9Good husbands that loueth good houses to keepeare oftentimes careful when other doe sleepe:To spend as they may, or to stop at the furst,for running in danger, or feare of the wurst.By haruest is ment al thy stock.10Go count with thy cofers,[2]when haruest is in,which waie for thy profite, to saue or to win:Oftoneof them both, if asauerwee smel,[E29]house keeping is godlie where euer we dwel.Be thine own purs bearer.11Sonne, think not thy monie purse bottom to burn,but keepe it for profite, to serue thine owne turn:A foole and his monie be soone at debate,which after with sorrow repents him too late.[E30]12Good bargaine a dooing, makepriuiebut few,in selling, refraine not abrode it to shew:In making make haste, and awaie to thy pouch,in selling no haste, if ye dare itauouch.[E31]Euill landlord.13Good Landlord who findeth, is blessed of God,AcumbersomeLandlord is husbandmans rod:He noieth, destroieth, and al to thisdrift,to strip his poore tenant offermeand of thrift.Rent corne.14[3]Rent corn[E32]who so paieth, (as worldlings wold haue,so much for anaker) must liue as a slaue:Rent corne to be paid, for areasnablerent,at reasnable prises is not to lament.Foure beggers.15Once placed for profit, looke neuer for ease,except ye beware of suchmichers[E33]as thease:Unthriftines, Slouthfulnes, Careles and Rash,that thrusteth thee headlong to run in thelash.Thrifts officers.16Make monie thy drudge, for to follow thy warke,Make wisedome controler, good order thy clarke:ProuisionCater, and skil to be cooke,make steward of all, pen, inke, and thy booke.Thrifts phisicke.17Make hunger thy sauce,[E34]as a medcine for helth,make thirst to be butler, as physick for welth:Make eie to bevsher, good vsage to haue,make bolt to be porter, to keepe out a knaue.Thrifts bailie.18Make husbandriebailie, abrode to prouide,make huswiferie dailie at home for to guide:Make cofer fast locked, thy treasure to keepe,make house to be sure, the safer to sleepe.Husbandly armors.19Makebandog[E35]thyscoutwatch, to barke at a theefe,make courage for life to becapitaine cheefe:Make trapdore thy bulwarke, make bell to begin,[4]makegunstoneand arrow shew who is within.ThÃ©eves to thrift.20The credite of maister, tobrothellhis man,and also of mistresse, tominnekinNan,Be causers of opening a number of gaps,That letteth in mischiefe and many mishaps.[E36]Friends to thrift.21Good husband hetrudgeth, to bring in the gaines,good huswife she drudgeth, refusing no paines:Though husband at home be tocount[5]yewotewhat,[E37]yet huswife within is as needfull as that.Enimie to thrift.22What helpeth in store to haue neuer so much,halfe lost by ill vsage, ill huswiues, and such:So, twentie lode bushes, cut downe at aclap,such heede may be taken, shall stop but a gap.[E38]Sixe noiances to thrift.23Aretcheles[6]seruant, a mistres thatscowles,a rauening mastife, and hogs that eate fowles:Agiddie brainemaister, andstroyalhis knaue,brings ruling to ruine, and thrift to hir graue.Inough is a praise.24With some vpon Sundaies, their tables doereeke,and halfe the weeke after, their dinners toseeke:[E39]Not often exceeding, but alwaie inough,is husbandlie fare, and the guise of the plough.25Ech daie to be feasted, what husbandrie wurse,ech daie for to feast, is as ill for the purse:Yet measurely feasting with neighbors among,shal make thee beloued, and liue the more long.Thrifts aduises.26Things husbandly handsom let workman contriue,but build not for glorie, that thinkest to thriue:Whofondliein dooing consumeth his stock,in the end for his follie doth get but a mock.Spoilers to thrift.27Spend none but your owne, howsoeuer ye spend,forbribing[7]andshifting, haue seldom good end:In substance although ye haue neuer so much,delight not inparasites, harlots, and such.[8]28Besuretieseldome, (but neuer for much)for feare ofpurse pennileshanging by such:Or Skarborow warning,[E40]as ill I beleeue,when (sir I arest yee[E41]) gets hold of thy sleeue.29Use (legem pone[E42]) to paie at thy daie,but vse not (Oremus[E43]) for often delaie:Yet (PrÃ¦sta quÃ¦sumus[E44]) out of agrate,Of al other collects,[E45]the lender doth hate.30[9]Bepinchedby lending, forkiffenor for kin,nor also by spending, by such as come in;Norput tothy hand betwixt bark and the tree,least through thy owne follie so pinched thou bee.[E46]31As lending to neighbour, in time of his neede,winnes love of thy neighbour, and credit dothbreede,So neuer to craue, but to liue of thine owne,brings comforts a thousand, to many vnknowne.32Who liuing but lends? and be lent to they must;else buieng and selling mightlie in the dust;But shameles and craftie, that desperate are,make many ful honest thewoorsertofare.[E47]33At some time to borow, account it no shame,if iustlie thou keepest thy touch for the same:Who quick be to borow, and slow be to paie,their credit is naught, go they neuer so gaie.34[10]Byshiftingand borrowing, who so as liues,not well to be thought on, occasion giues:Then lay to liuewarily, and wisely to spend,for prodigall liuers haue seldom good end.35[11]Somesparethtoo late, and a number with him,the foole at the bottom, the wise at the brim:[E48]Who careth nor spareth, till spent he hath all,Of bobbing, not robbing, be fearefull he shall.36Wherewelthinesfloweth, no friendship can lack,whom pouertie pincheth, hath friendship as slack:Then happie is he by example that cantake heede by the fall of amischieuedman.[E49]37Whobreaketh his credit, orcrackethit twise,trust such with a suretie, if ye be wise:Or if he be angrie, for asking thy due,once euen, to him afterward, lend notanue.38Account it wel sold that is iustlie well paid,and count it wel bought that is neuer denaid:But yet here is tone, here is tother doth best,for buier and seller, for quiet and rest.39Leaue Princes affairesundeskantedon,andtendto such dooings asstands thee vpon:[E50]Feare God, and offend not the Prince nor his lawes,and keepe thyselfe out of the Magistrates clawes.[12]40As interest or vsurie plaieth the dreuil,sohilbackandfilbelliebiteth as euil:Putdicingamong them, anddocking the dell:and by and by after, ofbeggeriesmell.[13]Thrifts Auditor.41Once weekelie remember thy charges tocast,once monthlie see how thy expences may last:If quarter declareth too much to be spent,for feare of ill yeere takeaduiseof thy rent.42Who orderlie entreth his paiment in booke,may orderlie find them againe (if he looke.)And he that intendeth but once for to paie:shall find this in dooing the quietest waie.43In dealing vprightlie this counsel I teach,firstrecken, then write, er[14]to purse yee doe reach,Then paie and dispatch him, as soone as ye can:for lingring is hinderance to many a man.44Hauewaights, I aduise thee, for siluer & gold,for some be in knauerie now a daies bold:And for to be sure good monie to pay:receiue that iscurrant, as neere as ye may.45Delight not for pleasure two houses to keepe,least charge without measure vpon thee doe creepe.And Jankin and Jenikin[E51]coosen thee soto make thee repent it, er yeere about go.46The stone that is rouling can gather[15]no mosse,[E52]who often remooueth is sure of losse.The rich it compelleth to paie for his pride;the poore itvndooethon euerie side.47The eie of the maister enricheth thehutch,the eie of the mistresse auaileth as mutch.Which eie, if it gouerne, with reason and skil,hath seruant and seruice, at pleasure and wil.48Who seeketh reuengement of euerie wrong,in quiet nor safetie continueth long.So he that of wilfulnes trieth the law,shall striue for acoxcome, and thriue as a daw.[E53]49To hunters and haukers, take heede what ye saie,milde answere with curtesie driues them awaie:So, where a mans better wil open a gap,resist not with rudenes, for feare of mishap.[E54]50A man in this world for achurlethat is knowne,shallhardliein quiet keepe that is his owne:Where lowlie and such as of curtesie smels,finds fauor and friendship where euer he dwels.51Keepe truelie thy Saboth, the better to speed,Keepe seruant fromgadding, but when it is need.Keepefishdaieandfasting daie, as they doe fal:[E55]what custome thou keepest, let others keepe al.52[16]Though some in theirtithingbe slack or too bold,be thou vnto Godward not that waie too cold:Euill conscience grudgeth, and yet we doe seeilltithersill thriuers most commonlie bee.53Paie weekelie thy workman, his houshold to feed,paie quarterlie seruants, to buie as they need:Giue garment to such as deserue and no mo,least thou and thy wife without garment doe go.54Bewareraskabilia, slothfull to wurke,purloinersandfilchers, that loueth to lurke.Away with such lubbers, so loth to take paine,thatroulesin expences, but neuer no gaine.55Good wife, and good children, are worthie to eate,good seruant, good laborer, earneth their meate:Good friend, and good neighbor, thatfellowliegest,withhartiliewelcome, should haue of the best.56Departnot with al that thou hast to thy childe,much lesse vnto other, for beingbeguilde:Least, if thou wouldst gladlie possesse it agen,looke for to come by it thou wottest not when.57The greatestprefermentthat childe we can giue,is learning andnurture, to traine him to liue:Which who so it wanteth, though left as asquier,consumeth to nothing, asblock in the fier.58When God hath so blest thee, as able to liue,and thou hast to rest thee, and able to giue,Lament thy offences, serue God foramends,make soule to be readie when God for it sends.59Send fruites of thy faith to heauen aforehand,for mercie here dooing, God blesseth thy land:He maketh thy store with his blessing toswim,and after, thy soule to be blessed with him.60Somelayto get riches by sea and by land,and ventreth his life in his enimies hand:Andsettethhis soule vpon sixe or on seauen,[E56]not fearing nor caring for hell nor for heauen.61Some pincheth, and spareth, and pineth his life,tocofer vpbags for to leaue to his wife:And she (when he dieth) sets open the chest,for such as cansoothhir and all awaywrest.62Good husband,preuentingthefrailnesof some,takes part of Gods benefits, as they doo come,And leaueth to wife and his children the rest,each one his owne part, as he thinketh it best.63These lessons approoued, if wiselie ye note,may saue and auantage ye many a grote.Which if ye can follow, occasion found,then euerie lesson may saue ye a pound.

1God sendeth and giueth both mouth and the meat,and blesseth vs al with his benefits great:Then serue we that God that so richly doth giue,shew loue to our neighbors, and lay for to liue.

2[1]As bud by appearing betokneth the spring,and leafe by her falling the contrarie thing:So youth bids vs labour, to get as we can,for age is a burden to laboring man.

3A competent liuing, and honestly had,makes such as are godlie both thankfull and glad:Life neuer contented, with honestestate,lamented is oft, and repented too late.

4Count neuer welgottenthatnaughtlyis got,nor well to account of which honest is not:[E26]Lookelong not to prosper, thatwayestnot this,least prospering faileth, and all go amisse.

Laie wisely to marrie.

5True wedlock is best, for auoiding of sinne,the bed vndefiled much honour doth winne:Though loue be in choosing farre better than gold,let loue come with somewhat, the better to hold.[E27]

Concord bringeth foyson.

6Wherecooplesagree not isrankerand strife,where such be together is seldome good life:Where cooples in wedlock doe louelie agree,therefoysonremaineth, if wisedome there bee.

Wife and children craue a dwelling.

7Who looketh to marrie must laie to keepe house,for loue may not alway be plaieing withdouse:If children encrease, and nostaieof thine owne,what afterwards followes is soone to be knowne.

Thee for thriue.Hostisses grudge: nurses craue.

Thee for thriue.

Hostisses grudge: nurses craue.

8Oncechargedwith children, or likelie to bee,giue ouer tosudgerne, that thinkest tothee:[E28]Leastgrutchingofhostis, and crauing of nurse,be costlie andnoisometo thee and thy purse.

Live within thyTedder.

9Good husbands that loueth good houses to keepeare oftentimes careful when other doe sleepe:To spend as they may, or to stop at the furst,for running in danger, or feare of the wurst.

By haruest is ment al thy stock.

10Go count with thy cofers,[2]when haruest is in,which waie for thy profite, to saue or to win:Oftoneof them both, if asauerwee smel,[E29]house keeping is godlie where euer we dwel.

Be thine own purs bearer.

11Sonne, think not thy monie purse bottom to burn,but keepe it for profite, to serue thine owne turn:A foole and his monie be soone at debate,which after with sorrow repents him too late.[E30]

12Good bargaine a dooing, makepriuiebut few,in selling, refraine not abrode it to shew:In making make haste, and awaie to thy pouch,in selling no haste, if ye dare itauouch.[E31]

Euill landlord.

13Good Landlord who findeth, is blessed of God,AcumbersomeLandlord is husbandmans rod:He noieth, destroieth, and al to thisdrift,to strip his poore tenant offermeand of thrift.

Rent corne.

14[3]Rent corn[E32]who so paieth, (as worldlings wold haue,so much for anaker) must liue as a slaue:Rent corne to be paid, for areasnablerent,at reasnable prises is not to lament.

Foure beggers.

15Once placed for profit, looke neuer for ease,except ye beware of suchmichers[E33]as thease:Unthriftines, Slouthfulnes, Careles and Rash,that thrusteth thee headlong to run in thelash.

Thrifts officers.

16Make monie thy drudge, for to follow thy warke,Make wisedome controler, good order thy clarke:ProuisionCater, and skil to be cooke,make steward of all, pen, inke, and thy booke.

Thrifts phisicke.

17Make hunger thy sauce,[E34]as a medcine for helth,make thirst to be butler, as physick for welth:Make eie to bevsher, good vsage to haue,make bolt to be porter, to keepe out a knaue.

Thrifts bailie.

18Make husbandriebailie, abrode to prouide,make huswiferie dailie at home for to guide:Make cofer fast locked, thy treasure to keepe,make house to be sure, the safer to sleepe.

Husbandly armors.

19Makebandog[E35]thyscoutwatch, to barke at a theefe,make courage for life to becapitaine cheefe:Make trapdore thy bulwarke, make bell to begin,[4]makegunstoneand arrow shew who is within.

ThÃ©eves to thrift.

20The credite of maister, tobrothellhis man,and also of mistresse, tominnekinNan,Be causers of opening a number of gaps,That letteth in mischiefe and many mishaps.[E36]

Friends to thrift.

21Good husband hetrudgeth, to bring in the gaines,good huswife she drudgeth, refusing no paines:Though husband at home be tocount[5]yewotewhat,[E37]yet huswife within is as needfull as that.

Enimie to thrift.

22What helpeth in store to haue neuer so much,halfe lost by ill vsage, ill huswiues, and such:So, twentie lode bushes, cut downe at aclap,such heede may be taken, shall stop but a gap.[E38]

Sixe noiances to thrift.

23Aretcheles[6]seruant, a mistres thatscowles,a rauening mastife, and hogs that eate fowles:Agiddie brainemaister, andstroyalhis knaue,brings ruling to ruine, and thrift to hir graue.

Inough is a praise.

24With some vpon Sundaies, their tables doereeke,and halfe the weeke after, their dinners toseeke:[E39]Not often exceeding, but alwaie inough,is husbandlie fare, and the guise of the plough.

25Ech daie to be feasted, what husbandrie wurse,ech daie for to feast, is as ill for the purse:Yet measurely feasting with neighbors among,shal make thee beloued, and liue the more long.

Thrifts aduises.

26Things husbandly handsom let workman contriue,but build not for glorie, that thinkest to thriue:Whofondliein dooing consumeth his stock,in the end for his follie doth get but a mock.

Spoilers to thrift.

27Spend none but your owne, howsoeuer ye spend,forbribing[7]andshifting, haue seldom good end:In substance although ye haue neuer so much,delight not inparasites, harlots, and such.[8]

28Besuretieseldome, (but neuer for much)for feare ofpurse pennileshanging by such:Or Skarborow warning,[E40]as ill I beleeue,when (sir I arest yee[E41]) gets hold of thy sleeue.

29Use (legem pone[E42]) to paie at thy daie,but vse not (Oremus[E43]) for often delaie:Yet (PrÃ¦sta quÃ¦sumus[E44]) out of agrate,Of al other collects,[E45]the lender doth hate.

30[9]Bepinchedby lending, forkiffenor for kin,nor also by spending, by such as come in;Norput tothy hand betwixt bark and the tree,least through thy owne follie so pinched thou bee.[E46]

31As lending to neighbour, in time of his neede,winnes love of thy neighbour, and credit dothbreede,So neuer to craue, but to liue of thine owne,brings comforts a thousand, to many vnknowne.

32Who liuing but lends? and be lent to they must;else buieng and selling mightlie in the dust;But shameles and craftie, that desperate are,make many ful honest thewoorsertofare.[E47]

33At some time to borow, account it no shame,if iustlie thou keepest thy touch for the same:Who quick be to borow, and slow be to paie,their credit is naught, go they neuer so gaie.

34[10]Byshiftingand borrowing, who so as liues,not well to be thought on, occasion giues:Then lay to liuewarily, and wisely to spend,for prodigall liuers haue seldom good end.

35[11]Somesparethtoo late, and a number with him,the foole at the bottom, the wise at the brim:[E48]Who careth nor spareth, till spent he hath all,Of bobbing, not robbing, be fearefull he shall.

36Wherewelthinesfloweth, no friendship can lack,whom pouertie pincheth, hath friendship as slack:Then happie is he by example that cantake heede by the fall of amischieuedman.[E49]

37Whobreaketh his credit, orcrackethit twise,trust such with a suretie, if ye be wise:Or if he be angrie, for asking thy due,once euen, to him afterward, lend notanue.

38Account it wel sold that is iustlie well paid,and count it wel bought that is neuer denaid:But yet here is tone, here is tother doth best,for buier and seller, for quiet and rest.

39Leaue Princes affairesundeskantedon,andtendto such dooings asstands thee vpon:[E50]Feare God, and offend not the Prince nor his lawes,and keepe thyselfe out of the Magistrates clawes.[12]

40As interest or vsurie plaieth the dreuil,sohilbackandfilbelliebiteth as euil:Putdicingamong them, anddocking the dell:and by and by after, ofbeggeriesmell.[13]

Thrifts Auditor.

41Once weekelie remember thy charges tocast,once monthlie see how thy expences may last:If quarter declareth too much to be spent,for feare of ill yeere takeaduiseof thy rent.

42Who orderlie entreth his paiment in booke,may orderlie find them againe (if he looke.)And he that intendeth but once for to paie:shall find this in dooing the quietest waie.

43In dealing vprightlie this counsel I teach,firstrecken, then write, er[14]to purse yee doe reach,Then paie and dispatch him, as soone as ye can:for lingring is hinderance to many a man.

44Hauewaights, I aduise thee, for siluer & gold,for some be in knauerie now a daies bold:And for to be sure good monie to pay:receiue that iscurrant, as neere as ye may.

45Delight not for pleasure two houses to keepe,least charge without measure vpon thee doe creepe.And Jankin and Jenikin[E51]coosen thee soto make thee repent it, er yeere about go.

46The stone that is rouling can gather[15]no mosse,[E52]who often remooueth is sure of losse.The rich it compelleth to paie for his pride;the poore itvndooethon euerie side.

47The eie of the maister enricheth thehutch,the eie of the mistresse auaileth as mutch.Which eie, if it gouerne, with reason and skil,hath seruant and seruice, at pleasure and wil.

48Who seeketh reuengement of euerie wrong,in quiet nor safetie continueth long.So he that of wilfulnes trieth the law,shall striue for acoxcome, and thriue as a daw.[E53]

49To hunters and haukers, take heede what ye saie,milde answere with curtesie driues them awaie:So, where a mans better wil open a gap,resist not with rudenes, for feare of mishap.[E54]

50A man in this world for achurlethat is knowne,shallhardliein quiet keepe that is his owne:Where lowlie and such as of curtesie smels,finds fauor and friendship where euer he dwels.

51Keepe truelie thy Saboth, the better to speed,Keepe seruant fromgadding, but when it is need.Keepefishdaieandfasting daie, as they doe fal:[E55]what custome thou keepest, let others keepe al.

52[16]Though some in theirtithingbe slack or too bold,be thou vnto Godward not that waie too cold:Euill conscience grudgeth, and yet we doe seeilltithersill thriuers most commonlie bee.

53Paie weekelie thy workman, his houshold to feed,paie quarterlie seruants, to buie as they need:Giue garment to such as deserue and no mo,least thou and thy wife without garment doe go.

54Bewareraskabilia, slothfull to wurke,purloinersandfilchers, that loueth to lurke.Away with such lubbers, so loth to take paine,thatroulesin expences, but neuer no gaine.

55Good wife, and good children, are worthie to eate,good seruant, good laborer, earneth their meate:Good friend, and good neighbor, thatfellowliegest,withhartiliewelcome, should haue of the best.

56Departnot with al that thou hast to thy childe,much lesse vnto other, for beingbeguilde:Least, if thou wouldst gladlie possesse it agen,looke for to come by it thou wottest not when.

57The greatestprefermentthat childe we can giue,is learning andnurture, to traine him to liue:Which who so it wanteth, though left as asquier,consumeth to nothing, asblock in the fier.

58When God hath so blest thee, as able to liue,and thou hast to rest thee, and able to giue,Lament thy offences, serue God foramends,make soule to be readie when God for it sends.

59Send fruites of thy faith to heauen aforehand,for mercie here dooing, God blesseth thy land:He maketh thy store with his blessing toswim,and after, thy soule to be blessed with him.

60Somelayto get riches by sea and by land,and ventreth his life in his enimies hand:Andsettethhis soule vpon sixe or on seauen,[E56]not fearing nor caring for hell nor for heauen.

61Some pincheth, and spareth, and pineth his life,tocofer vpbags for to leaue to his wife:And she (when he dieth) sets open the chest,for such as cansoothhir and all awaywrest.

62Good husband,preuentingthefrailnesof some,takes part of Gods benefits, as they doo come,And leaueth to wife and his children the rest,each one his owne part, as he thinketh it best.

63These lessons approoued, if wiselie ye note,may saue and auantage ye many a grote.Which if ye can follow, occasion found,then euerie lesson may saue ye a pound.

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