Chapter 27

[E327]Stilling, or distilling, may be a "pretty feat," but we doubt if it is very profitable, and if it does not furnish a temptation to dram-drinking, under the mask of simple and medicinalwaters.—M.

[E328]See noteE69.

[E329]"Swinge brembles and brakes," this is, cut down with a sweeping instrument somewhat resembling a scythe.

[E330]"Sheep-shearing takes place only once, viz. in the month of June; the heaviest wethers weigh sixty pounds, others from forty to fifty pounds: they bear at the most not more than six, others four or five pounds of wool; one of the best wethers (notwithstanding that they are very abundant) sells for about twenty shillings, that is, ten French francs or five thalers; the inferior sort about ten shillings, or five francs; and the worst about six or eight English shillings. The skin of the best wether and sheep is worth about twelve pence, that is, four and a half German batzen; the worst about eight pence or three batzen; a pound of wool about twelve pence, or four and a half batzen."—Rathgeb, 1602, Rye, p. 51 (quoted in Harrison's Description of England, ed. Furnivall, Part I. p. lxxxiii). "Running Water is best, ... but then it is oft-times very sheer and cold."—T.R. (June).

[E331]"Grote." "In this yere [1349] the kynge caused to be coyned grotes and half grotes, the whiche lacked of the weight of his former coyne, iis.vid.in a li [libra, pound] Troy."—Fabyan, p. 461. Thegroatwas only equal to about three and a half silver pennies instead of four.

[E332]"The Pie will discharge thee," etc., that is, the magpie will save you the trouble, etc., alluding to birds eating vermin on sheep's backs.

[E333]"Ouercome" = overtake, or keep up with; don't mow more than you can easily make, not too much at once, lest part of it be spoiled for want of hands.

[E334]"Cock apace." Cf. Piers Plowman, C. Text, Passus vi. 12, 13 (ed. Skeat)."Canstow seruen, he seide, oþer syngen in a churche,Oþercoke for my cokers, oþer to þe cart picche?"i.e.put hay into cocks for my harvest men. Mr. Skeat quotes in his note to this passage: "Bee it also prouided, that this act, nor anything therein contained, doe in any wise extende to anycockersor haruest folkes that trauaile into anie countrie of this realme for haruest worke, either corne haruest, or hay haruest, if they doe worke and labour accordingly."—Rastall, Statutes; Vagabonds, etc., p. 474.

[E334]"Cock apace." Cf. Piers Plowman, C. Text, Passus vi. 12, 13 (ed. Skeat).

"Canstow seruen, he seide, oþer syngen in a churche,Oþercoke for my cokers, oþer to þe cart picche?"

i.e.put hay into cocks for my harvest men. Mr. Skeat quotes in his note to this passage: "Bee it also prouided, that this act, nor anything therein contained, doe in any wise extende to anycockersor haruest folkes that trauaile into anie countrie of this realme for haruest worke, either corne haruest, or hay haruest, if they doe worke and labour accordingly."—Rastall, Statutes; Vagabonds, etc., p. 474.

[E335]To employ your labourers in ploughing, or in performing other parts of husbandry, till the dew is off the grass, is unquestionably a saving of time, and essentially forwards the business of the farm.—M.

[E336]He who is constantly borrowing tools and other things which he ought to have of his own, lays himself under obligation to the lender, who expects twice as much in return.

[E337]"Woodsere" here means the proper season for felling wood.

[E338]"Fieing." "Feigh, Fey, vb. to clean out a drain, gutter orcesspool. 'Paid to John Lavghton in haruest forfeighingethe milne becke.'—Kirton in Lindsey Ch. Acc. 1582. George Todd'sfeyin'out the sink hole."—Peacock's Glossary, E. Dial. Soc. 1877. Tofeya ditch or pond is to empty and clean it; and the mud taken from such places, if mixed with lime or chalk, forms an excellent compost for pasture grounds.—M. Cf. Icel.fægja, to cleanse, whence our word is derived.

[E339]"Of late yeares also we haue found and taken vp a great trade in planting ofhops, whereof our moorie hitherto and vnprofitable grounds doo yeeld such plentie and increase that there are few farmers or occupiers in the countrie, which haue not gardens and hops growing of their owne, and those farre better than doo come from Flanders vnto vs. Certes the corruptions vsed by the Flemings, and forgerie dailie practised in this kind of ware, gaue vs occasion to plant them here at home; so that now we may spare and send manie ouer vnto them. And this I know by experience that some one man by conuersion of his moorie grounds into hopyards, wherof before he had no commoditie, dooth raise yearelie by so little as twelue acres in compasse two hundred markes; all charges borne toward the maintenance of his familie. Which Industrie God continue! Though some secret freends of Flemings let not to exclaime against this commoditie, as a spoile of wood, by reason of the poles, which neuerthelesse after three yeares doo also come to the fire, and spare their other fewell."—Harrison, Descript. of Eng., 1587, p. 206. "Lowe and spungie grounds trenched is good for hopps, as Suffolke, Essex, and Surrie, and other places doe find to their profit."—Norden, p. 206. Evelyn, Sylva, pp. 201, 469, ed. Hunter, asserts that there was a petition against them temp. Henry VI., but no record of it appears on the rolls of Parliament. Brewing with hops was not introduced here till the reign of King Henry VIII. (Stow, Hist. p. 1038.)Bere, however, is mentioned in 1504. (Leland, Coll. vi. p. 30, and see Dr. Percy on Northumberland Book, p. 414.)—Pegge's Forme of Cury, ed. 1780, p. xxiii. See a long note in Prompt. Parv.,s.v.Hoppe; and also "Pharmacographia," p. 496.

[E340]For wanting at will = for fear of having none when you really want it.

[E341]Hay for neat cattle may be made with less labour, and more expeditiously than for horses; because, if it is a little mow burnt, it will not be the less acceptable to them; and besides, the fermentation it undergoes, if not carried too far, has a natural tendency to mellow coarse grass.—M.

[E342]Avise auouseis French jargon fortake precautions. Ill-made hay is apt to take fire; if much wetted with rain, to become mouldy. Hard and fine hay is best for horses; soft and coarse hay will be more acceptable to cattle; while short hay is coveted by sheep.—M.

[E343]Thry fallowing, or the third plowing, should be performedpretty early in the summer, in order that the ground may acquire sufficient hardness to resist the seeds of thistles and other weeds, even at the risk of requiring another stirring.—M.

[E344]This can only refer to garden beans, but the practice is now obsolete.

[E345]See noteE318.

[E346]"Wormwood, a word corrupted from A.S.wermod, Ger.wermuth, O.S.weremede, words which seem to be compounded with Ger.wehren, A.S.werian= to keep off, andmodormade= maggot, but which, by an accidental coincidence of sound, have been understood as though the first syllable wereworm. L. Diefenbach would prefer to derive it from a Celtic root that means "bitter," Welshchwerw, Cornishwherow. Be its origin what it may, it was understood in the Middle Ages as meaning a herb obnoxious to maggots, and used to preserve things from them, and was also given as an anthelmintic or worm medicine.Artemisia Absinthium, L."—Dr. R. A. Prior, Pop. Names of Brit. Plants. "Two sorts ofWormewoodare well knowen of many, that is, our common Wormewood, and that which is calledPonticum, now sowen in many gardens, and commonly called French-wormewood. And while it is yong, it is eaten in Salats with other herbes, to the great commoditie of the stomacke and Liuer. For it strengthneth a weake stomacke, and openeth the Liuer and Splene. For which purpose there is to be had in the Stilliard at London a kind of wine named Worme-wood wine, which I would wish to be much used of all such Students as be weake of stomacke. They may easily haue a rundlet of three or foure gallons or lesse, which they may draw within their owne chambers as need requireth. I was woont when appetite failed to steepe a branch or two of common Wormewood in halfe a pint of good white wine, close couered in some pot all night, and in the morning to straine it through a clean linnen cloth, and put in a little sugar and warme it, and so drinke it. Or sometime to burne a little quantitie of wine with sugar, and a branch or two of Wormewood put into it. Wherein I have found many times marvellous commoditie, and who so shall vse it now and then, shal be sure of a good stomacke to meat, and be free from wormes."—Cogan's Haven of Health, p. 55. "Wormwood, centaury, pennyroyal, are likewise magnified and much prescribed, especially in hypochondrian melancholy, daily to be used, sod in whey."—Burton, Anat. of Melancholy, p. 432.

[E347]"As many doo more,"i.e.as many others do. Cf.63. 18.

[E348]There is a proverb: "One scabb'd sheep's enough to spoil a flock."

[E349]In Lincolnshire corn affected by the smut is calledParson corn, the reason assigned being that when tithes were paid in kind, the sheaves that had the most smuts in them were always given to theparson, if he could be seduced into taking them.—See Peacock's Gloss. of Manley, etc., E. Dial. Soc. 1877.

[E350]Mow-burnis occasioned by the Hay being stack'd too soon, before its own juice is thoroughly dried, and by Norfolk people is called theRed Raw; not such as is occasioned by stacking it when wet with Rain, which is a nasty musty and stinks.—T.R.

[E351]Hentzner, p. 79 (quoted in Harrison's Description of England, ed. F. J. Furnivall, p. lxxxiv), says: "As we were returning to our inn (at Windsor, Sept. 14), we happened to meet some country people celebrating their Harvest-home; their last load of corn they crown with flowers, having besides an image richly dressed, by which, perhaps, they would signify Ceres; this they keep moving about, while men and women, men and maid servants, riding through the streets in the cart, shout as loud as they can till they arrive at the barn."

[E352]"Tis merie in hall,When beards wag all."This proverb is of great antiquity. It occurs in the Life of Alexander (formerly, but erroneously, attributed to Adam Davie), written in 1312, where the words are:"Swithe mury hit is in halle,When burdes wawen alle."—Weber's Met. Rom.It occurs also in Shakspere, 2 Henry IV. Act v. sc. 3, and is quoted in theMerie Tales of Skelton, 1567. See also Ray's Proverbs.

[E352]

"Tis merie in hall,When beards wag all."

This proverb is of great antiquity. It occurs in the Life of Alexander (formerly, but erroneously, attributed to Adam Davie), written in 1312, where the words are:

"Swithe mury hit is in halle,When burdes wawen alle."—Weber's Met. Rom.

It occurs also in Shakspere, 2 Henry IV. Act v. sc. 3, and is quoted in theMerie Tales of Skelton, 1567. See also Ray's Proverbs.

[E353]"For Mihelmas spring," that is, "for fear of injuring the young plants, etc., at Michaelmas."

[E354]In Harrison's Descript. of England, Part II. p. 50et seq., there is a long chapter on the cultivation and uses of Saffron in England, from which I extract the following: "As the Saffron of England, which Platina reckneth among spices, is the most excellent of all other; for it giueth place neither to that of Cilicia, whereof Solinus speaketh, neither to anie that commeth from Cilicia, where it groweth upon the mountTaurus, Tmolus, Italie, Ætolia, SiciliaorLicia, in sweetnesse, tincture and continuance; so of that which is to be had amongst us, the same that grows about Saffron Walden, somtime called Waldenburg, in the edge of Essex, first of all planted there in the time of Edward the Third, and that of Glocestershire and those westerlie parts, which some thinke to be better than those of Walden, surmounteth all the rest, and therefore beareth worthilie the higher price, by sixpence or twelue pence most commonlie in the pound.... The heads of saffron are raised in Julie, either with plough, raising or tined hooke; and being scowred from their rosse or filth, and seuered from such heads as are ingendred of them since the last setting, they are interred againe in Julie and August by ranks or rowes, and being couered with moulds, they rest in the earth, where they cast forth little fillets and small roots like vnto a scallion, until September, in the beginning of which moneth the ground is pared and all weeds and grasse that groweth vpon the same remooved, to the intent that nothing may annoie the floure when as his time dooth come to rise. These things being thus ordered in the latter end of theaforesaid moneth [of September], the floure beginneth to appeere of a whitish blew, fesse, or skie colour, and in the end shewing itselfe in the owne kind, it resembleth almost theLeucotionofTheophrast, sauing that it is longer, and hath in the middest thereof three chines verie red and pleasant to behold. These floures are gathered in the morning before the rising of the sunne, which otherwise would cause them to welke or flitter. And the chines being picked from the floures, these are throwne into the doong-hill; the other dried vpon little kelles couered with streined canuasses vpon a soft fire; wherby and by the weight that is laied vpon them, they are dried and pressed into cakes, and then bagged vp for the benefit of their owners. In good yeeres we gather foure score or an hundred pounds of wet saffron of an acre, which being dried dooth yeeld twentie pounds of drie and more. Whereby, and sith the price of saffron is commonlie about twentie shillings in monie, or not so little, it is easie to see what benefit is reaped by an acre of this commoditie.... For admit that the triple tillage of an acre dooth cost 13 shillings foure pence before the saffron be set, the clodding sixteene pence, the taking of euerie load of stones from the same foure pence, the raising of euerie quarter of heads six pence, and so much for cleansing of them, besides the doong which is woorth six pence the load to be laid on the first yeere, for the setting three and twentie shillings and foure pence, for the paring fiue shillings, six pence for the picking of a pound wet, etc.; yea though he hire it readie set, and paie ten pounds for the same, yet shall he susteine no damage, if warme weather and open season doo happen at the gathering." Harrison then describes fully the culture of saffron, and the adulterations and tricks practised by the dealers, and afterwards describes the virtues of it: "Our saffron (beside the manifold vse that it hath in the kitchin and pastrie, also in our cakes at bridals, and thanksgivings of women) is verie profitably mingled with those medicines which we take for the diseases of the breast, of the lungs, of the liuer, and of the bladder; it is good also for the stomach if you take it in meat, for it comforteth the same, and maketh good digestion: being sodden also in wine, it not onelie keepeth a man from dronkennesse, but incorageth also unto procreation of issue. If you drinke it in sweet wine, it inlargeth the breath, and is good for those that are troubled with the tisike and shortnesse of the wind: mingled with the milke of a woman, and laied vpon the eies, it staieth such humors as descend into the same, and taketh away the red wheales and pearles that oft grow about them: it killeth moths if it be sowed in paper bags verie thin, and laid vp in presses among tapistrie or apparrell: also it is verie profitable laid vnto all inflammations, painefull aposthumes, and the shingles, and doth no small ease vnto deafnes.... Three drams thereof taken at once, which is about the weight of one shilling nine pence halfe penie, is deadlie poison."

[E355]"The two S. Maries daies,"i.e.July 22nd, St. Mary Magdalene's Day, and August 15th, the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.—M. Mr. Skeat suggests that the days meant are August 15th and September 8th, the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.There is no doubt Mr. Skeat is right; compare "Centory must be gotten betweene our Lady dayes."—Langham's Garden of Health. The date is not uncommon in Herbals.—Note by Mr. J. Britten, F.L.S.

There is no doubt Mr. Skeat is right; compare "Centory must be gotten betweene our Lady dayes."—Langham's Garden of Health. The date is not uncommon in Herbals.—Note by Mr. J. Britten, F.L.S.

[E356]Mustard-seed is very apt to shed, and therefore should be gathered before it becomes too ripe. After dressing it is to be laid in a soller or garret. "Soller, a lofte,garnier."—Palsgrave. "Garytte, hay solere."—Prompt. Parv.

[E357]Though all the editions which I have seen read as printed in the text, it is evident that Tusser meant exactly the opposite, viz.:"By day will deceiue thee, etc.By great will dispatch, etc."Men who take work by the great, that is, by the job or contract, are, as experience tells us, naturally anxious to get the work done as soon as possible, while those who are engaged by the day as naturally try to spin out the work as long as they can. According to Carr'sCraven Glossary, a Day-work is three roods of land. "Four perches make a day-worke; ten daysworks make a roode or quarter." (Twysden MS. quoted by Halliwell.) The latter agrees with Norden's statement: "You must know (says he), that there goe 160 perches to one acre; 80 perches to halfe an acre; 40 perches to one roode, which is ¼ of an acre; tendaies worketo a roode, foure perches to a daies worke; 16 foote and a halfe to a perche." (Surveior's Dialogue, 1610.) In Cowel'sInterpreterwe read "Day-werc of Land, as much arable ground as could be ploughed up in one day's work, or one journey, as the farmers still call it."

[E357]Though all the editions which I have seen read as printed in the text, it is evident that Tusser meant exactly the opposite, viz.:

"By day will deceiue thee, etc.By great will dispatch, etc."

Men who take work by the great, that is, by the job or contract, are, as experience tells us, naturally anxious to get the work done as soon as possible, while those who are engaged by the day as naturally try to spin out the work as long as they can. According to Carr'sCraven Glossary, a Day-work is three roods of land. "Four perches make a day-worke; ten daysworks make a roode or quarter." (Twysden MS. quoted by Halliwell.) The latter agrees with Norden's statement: "You must know (says he), that there goe 160 perches to one acre; 80 perches to halfe an acre; 40 perches to one roode, which is ¼ of an acre; tendaies worketo a roode, foure perches to a daies worke; 16 foote and a halfe to a perche." (Surveior's Dialogue, 1610.) In Cowel'sInterpreterwe read "Day-werc of Land, as much arable ground as could be ploughed up in one day's work, or one journey, as the farmers still call it."

[E358]"Harvest lord," the principal reaper who goes first and regulates the movements of the rest;Harvest-Lady, the second reaper in the row, called in Cambridgeshire theHarvest-Queen. The rate at which theHarvest-lordreaped of course regulated that of the others, and therefore Tusser recommends that he should have a penny or two extra in order to encourage him to have an eye to the loiterers, and to keep all up to the mark. Cf.:"At heighe pryme Peres lete the plowe stonde,To ouersen hem hymself, and who-so best wrouȝteHe shulde be huyred therafter whan heruest tyme come."—Piers Plowman, ed. Skeat, E. E. Text Soc. B Text, Passus vi. 114.The following particulars as to the farmer's expenses at harvest time are quoted by Mr. Skeat in his notes to Piers Plowman, C. Text, Passus ix. 104, from Sir J. Cullum's Hist. of Hawsted, Suffolk, 2nd ed.: "The outgoings [in harvest] were called the costs of autumn, and are thus stated. In 1388, [we find] the expences of a ploughman, head reaper, baker, cook, brewer,deye, 244½ reapers (sic) hired for 1 day; 30 bedrepes (days of work performed in harvest-time by the customary tenants, at thebiddingof their lord), the men [being] fed, according to custom, with bread and herring;3 qrs. 3 bu. of wheat from the stock; 5 qrs. 3 bu. of malt from the stock; meat bought, 10s.10d.; 5 sheep from the stock; fish and herrings bought, 5s.; herrings bought for the customary tenants, 7d.; cheese, milk, and butter bought (the dairy being let), 9s.6d.; salt, 3d.; candles, 5d.; pepper, 3d.; spoons, dishes, and faucets, 5d.30 bedrepes, as before; 19 reapers, hired for 1 day, at their own board, 4d.each; 80 men, for 1 day, and kept at the lady's board, 4d.each: 40½ men (sic) hired for 1 day, at 3d.each; the wages of the head reaper, 6s.8d.; of the brewer, 3s.4d.; of the cook, 3s.4d.30 acres of oats tied up by the job (per taskam), 1s.8d.; 6 acres of bolymong cut and tied up by the job, 3s.4d.; 16 acres of pease, cut by the job, 8s.; 5 acres of pease and bolymong, cut and tied up by the job, 2s.6d.; 3 acres of wheat, cut and tied up by the job, 1s.11d." [Here follow similar details for 1389, including a mention of 5 pairs of harvest-gloves, 10d.] "What a scene of bustling industry was this! for, exclusive of the baker, cook, and brewer, who, we may presume, were fully engaged in their own offices, here were 553 persons employed in the first year; in the second, 520; and in a third, 538; yet the annual number of acres, of all sorts of corn, did not much exceed 200. From this prodigious number of hands, the whole business must have been soon finished. There were probably 2 principal days; for two large parties were hired, every year, for 1 day each.... These ancient harvest-days must have exhibited one of the most cheerful spectacles in the world. One can hardly imagine a more animated scene than that of between 200 and 300 harvest-people all busily employed at once, and enlivened with the expectation of a festivity, which perhaps they experienced but this one season in the year. All the inhabitants of the village, of both sexes, and all ages, that could work, must have been assembled on the occasion; a muster that, in the present state of things, would be impossible. The success of thus compressing so much business into so short a time must have depended on the weather. But dispatch seems to have been the plan of agriculture at this time, at least in this village. We have seen before, that 60 persons were hired for 1 day, to weed the corn. These throngs of harvest-people were superintended by a person who was called the head-reaper (supermessororpræpositus), who was annually elected, and presented to the lord, by the inhabitants; and it should seem that, in this village at least, he was always one of the customary tenants. The year he was in office, he was exempt from all or half of his usual rents and services, according to his tenure; he was to have his victuals and drink at the lord's table, if the lord kept house (si dominus hospitium tenuerit); if he did not, he was to have a livery of corn, as other domestics had; and his horse was to be kept in the manor-stable. He was next in dignity to the steward and bailiff. The hay-harvest was an affair of no great importance. There were but 30 acres of grass annuallymown at this period. This was done or paid for by the customary tenants. The price of mowing an acre was 6d."By an "Assessment of the Corporation of Canterbury," made in 1594, the following were the rates of wages declared payable:—"Every labourer from Easter to Michaelmas, with meat and drink, 4d.per day; finding himself, 10d.; and from Michaelmas to Easter, with meat and drink, 4d.; without, 8d.Mowers per day, with meat and drink, 8d.; finding themselves, 14d.By the acre, with meat and drink, 4d.; without, 8d.Reapers per day, with meat and drink, 6d.; finding themselves, 12d.; by the acre, with meat and drink, 14d.; without, 28d. Plashing and teeming of a quick hedge, 2d.per rod. Laying upon the band and binding and copping of oats, 8d., barley, 10d.Threshers by the quarter with meat and drink, for the quarter and making clean of wheat and rye, 5d., oats and barley, 3d.; without meat and drink, for the quarter and making clean of wheat and rye, 12d., oats and barley, 6d.Making talewood, the load, 4d.; billets, per 1000, 12d.A bailiff, with livery, £3 per annum; without livery, £3 6s.8d."—Hasted's Antiquities of Canterbury, 1801, vol. ii. Appendix.

"At heighe pryme Peres lete the plowe stonde,To ouersen hem hymself, and who-so best wrouȝteHe shulde be huyred therafter whan heruest tyme come."—Piers Plowman, ed. Skeat, E. E. Text Soc. B Text, Passus vi. 114.

The following particulars as to the farmer's expenses at harvest time are quoted by Mr. Skeat in his notes to Piers Plowman, C. Text, Passus ix. 104, from Sir J. Cullum's Hist. of Hawsted, Suffolk, 2nd ed.: "The outgoings [in harvest] were called the costs of autumn, and are thus stated. In 1388, [we find] the expences of a ploughman, head reaper, baker, cook, brewer,deye, 244½ reapers (sic) hired for 1 day; 30 bedrepes (days of work performed in harvest-time by the customary tenants, at thebiddingof their lord), the men [being] fed, according to custom, with bread and herring;3 qrs. 3 bu. of wheat from the stock; 5 qrs. 3 bu. of malt from the stock; meat bought, 10s.10d.; 5 sheep from the stock; fish and herrings bought, 5s.; herrings bought for the customary tenants, 7d.; cheese, milk, and butter bought (the dairy being let), 9s.6d.; salt, 3d.; candles, 5d.; pepper, 3d.; spoons, dishes, and faucets, 5d.30 bedrepes, as before; 19 reapers, hired for 1 day, at their own board, 4d.each; 80 men, for 1 day, and kept at the lady's board, 4d.each: 40½ men (sic) hired for 1 day, at 3d.each; the wages of the head reaper, 6s.8d.; of the brewer, 3s.4d.; of the cook, 3s.4d.30 acres of oats tied up by the job (per taskam), 1s.8d.; 6 acres of bolymong cut and tied up by the job, 3s.4d.; 16 acres of pease, cut by the job, 8s.; 5 acres of pease and bolymong, cut and tied up by the job, 2s.6d.; 3 acres of wheat, cut and tied up by the job, 1s.11d." [Here follow similar details for 1389, including a mention of 5 pairs of harvest-gloves, 10d.] "What a scene of bustling industry was this! for, exclusive of the baker, cook, and brewer, who, we may presume, were fully engaged in their own offices, here were 553 persons employed in the first year; in the second, 520; and in a third, 538; yet the annual number of acres, of all sorts of corn, did not much exceed 200. From this prodigious number of hands, the whole business must have been soon finished. There were probably 2 principal days; for two large parties were hired, every year, for 1 day each.... These ancient harvest-days must have exhibited one of the most cheerful spectacles in the world. One can hardly imagine a more animated scene than that of between 200 and 300 harvest-people all busily employed at once, and enlivened with the expectation of a festivity, which perhaps they experienced but this one season in the year. All the inhabitants of the village, of both sexes, and all ages, that could work, must have been assembled on the occasion; a muster that, in the present state of things, would be impossible. The success of thus compressing so much business into so short a time must have depended on the weather. But dispatch seems to have been the plan of agriculture at this time, at least in this village. We have seen before, that 60 persons were hired for 1 day, to weed the corn. These throngs of harvest-people were superintended by a person who was called the head-reaper (supermessororpræpositus), who was annually elected, and presented to the lord, by the inhabitants; and it should seem that, in this village at least, he was always one of the customary tenants. The year he was in office, he was exempt from all or half of his usual rents and services, according to his tenure; he was to have his victuals and drink at the lord's table, if the lord kept house (si dominus hospitium tenuerit); if he did not, he was to have a livery of corn, as other domestics had; and his horse was to be kept in the manor-stable. He was next in dignity to the steward and bailiff. The hay-harvest was an affair of no great importance. There were but 30 acres of grass annuallymown at this period. This was done or paid for by the customary tenants. The price of mowing an acre was 6d."

By an "Assessment of the Corporation of Canterbury," made in 1594, the following were the rates of wages declared payable:—"Every labourer from Easter to Michaelmas, with meat and drink, 4d.per day; finding himself, 10d.; and from Michaelmas to Easter, with meat and drink, 4d.; without, 8d.Mowers per day, with meat and drink, 8d.; finding themselves, 14d.By the acre, with meat and drink, 4d.; without, 8d.Reapers per day, with meat and drink, 6d.; finding themselves, 12d.; by the acre, with meat and drink, 14d.; without, 28d. Plashing and teeming of a quick hedge, 2d.per rod. Laying upon the band and binding and copping of oats, 8d., barley, 10d.Threshers by the quarter with meat and drink, for the quarter and making clean of wheat and rye, 5d., oats and barley, 3d.; without meat and drink, for the quarter and making clean of wheat and rye, 12d., oats and barley, 6d.Making talewood, the load, 4d.; billets, per 1000, 12d.A bailiff, with livery, £3 per annum; without livery, £3 6s.8d."—Hasted's Antiquities of Canterbury, 1801, vol. ii. Appendix.

[E359]"Larges," "usually a shilling" (says Major Moor in his Suffolk Glossary). "For this the reapers will ask you if you 'chuse to have it hallered.' If answered, yes, they assemble in a ring, holding each other's hands, and inclining their heads to the centre. One of them, detached a few yards apart, calls loudly, thrice, 'Holla Lar!—Holla Lar!—Holla Lar!—j e e s.' Those in the ring lengthen out o-o-o-o with a low sonorous note and inclined heads, and then throwing the head up, vociferate 'a-a-a-ah.' This thrice repeated for a shilling is the established exchange in Suffolk." "Largesse bounty, handfuls of money cast among the people."—Cotgrave. "Crye a larges when a rewarde is geven to workemen,stipem vociferare."—Huloet's Dict. 1552. The phrase "crie a largesse" occurs in Piers Plowman, B Text, xiii. 449. As to the gloves given to harvest-men see above and noteE309.

[E360]Though barley is generally mown, it is a slovenly practice, unless when performed with a cradle scythe.—M. See noteE87.

[E361]"Dallops," patches of barley which have run to straw.—M.

[E362]Tidie meansneat, proper,andin season.—M.

[E363]"There finding a smack,"i.e.finding a pleasant repast.

[E364]"Doo perish,"i.e.cause to perish, ruin: the use of "do" in this sense is very common in Early English.

[E365]"Lengthen" here is equivalent to increase the extent or produce of.

[E366]"Fill out the black boule," etc. I am quite unable to explain this line; the "boule of bleith" is evidently the "merry bowl," but the epithetblackI do not understand.

[E367]"Thrifts ladder may clime,"i.e.may prosper. Cf.ch. 9.

[E368]"Thatmany doo hate," in edd. of 1573, 1580, 1585, etc., the reading is "asmany do hate."

[E369]"Ling perhaps looks for great extolling, being counted the beefe of the sea, and standing every fish-day (as a cold supporter) at my Lord Maior's table: yet it is nothing but a long cod: whereof the greater sised is called Organe Ling, and the other Codling, because it is no longer then a Cod, and yet hath the taste of Ling: whilst it is new it is called green-fish: when it is salted it is called Ling, perhaps of lying, because the longer it lyeth ... the better it is, waxing in the end as yellow as a gold noble, at which time they are worth a noble a piece."—Muffett, pp. 154-5, quoted in the Babees Book, ed. Furnivall.

[E370]The following prices of various articles in Suffolk will be interesting:—1566. A lode of straw IIIIs.—1582. A capon VId.; a calfe Vs.; a firkin of butter VIIs.VIId.; a capon and a pullet VId.; a cocke (to fight) IIIId.(5 cockes bought to fight); a pullett IIId.5 pullets, 5 capons, 5 cockes, 1 calfe, were provided on the reckninge day and "these are allowed in the Churchwardens' accompte to be paide by them."—1590. To Coke for IIII combes of w otes whh he served to the Quene VIs.VIIId.; 14 rod of ditching cost Vs.IIIId.—1596. Makinge a surplis for the church was IId.; a payer of hoose was XIId.another XIIId.; makyng this boke of accts (a single sheet written on two sides) VId.—1599. Three days work ditchynge 2s.; a hard day's work was therefore 8d.per day, and a usual day's 4d.or 6d.; three days thatchinge (Thos. Garrarde) IIs.IIIId.; wode was IIs.the lode.—1587 or 8. A capon vid.; a calfe vs.; a firkin of butter viis.viiid.; two capons and one pullett vid.; a cocke iiiid.; one cocke and one pullett vid.; one pullett iiid.—1583 No. 5. One short spurred cocke iid.; one chycken iid.; one hene iid.—1583 No. 4. Fower combes and too bushell of ottes at ivs.ivd.the combe; thre henes att thre pence a pece; bowes and arrowes IIIId.; ten milch kine 30s.each; seven bullocks 7s.each; six calves 5s.each; six horses together £7; one acre of wheat, xxs.; one acre of Bullimong land 33s.4d.; a new carte £11; a porkling 28d.Increased facilities of communication, and the numerous means that farmers now possess, through the press, of obtaining information as to prices of produce, etc., renderriding aboutalmost unnecessary.

Increased facilities of communication, and the numerous means that farmers now possess, through the press, of obtaining information as to prices of produce, etc., renderriding aboutalmost unnecessary.

[E371]Tusser again sets out the advantages of ready money transactions, and ofkeeping touch, that is, punctuality and faithful regard to engagements. He buys at first hand who pays ready money from his own pocket; at second hand who pays ready money, but who, in order to enable him to do so, has to borrow a portion of the amount, because he has not so much money as he requires with him; at third hand who buys on credit.

[E372]"Stourbridge or Sturbich, the name of a common field extending between Chesterton and Cambridge, near the littlebrook Sture, for about half a mile square, is noted for its fair which is kept annually on September 19th, and continues a fortnight. It is surpassed by few fairs in Great Britain, or even in Europe, for traffic, though of late it is much lessened. The booths are placed in rows like streets, by the name[s] of which they are called, as Cheapside, etc., and are filled with all sorts of trades. The Duddery, an area of 80 or 100 yards square, resembles Blackwell Hall. Large commissions are negotiated here for all parts of England in cheese, woolen goods, wool, leather, hops, upholsterers' and ironmongers' ware, etc., etc. Sometimes 50 hackney coaches from London, ply morning and night, to and from Cambridge, as well as all the towns around, and the very barns and stables are turned into inns for the accommodation of the poorer people. After the wholesale business is over, the country gentry generally flock in, laying out their money in stage-plays, taverns, music-houses, toys, puppet-shows, etc., and the whole concludes with a day for the sale of horses. This fair is under the jurisdiction of the University of Cambridge."—Walker's Gazetteer, ed. 1801. See also index to Brand's Antiquities.Camden says it was anciently called Steresbrigg, from the little river Stere or Sture that runs by it (in his Britannia, under Cambridgeshire). There have been many guesses at the name and origin of this fair,e.g.that of Fuller in his History of the University, p. 66, concerning the clothier of Kendal. The truth of the matter is this: King John granted Sturbridge fair for the benefit of the hospital of lepers which stood there (v. decretum Hubert. Arch. Cantuar. in Concil. Londinen. An.1200.Regn. Johann.; Spelman, ii. 127): in the certificatorium we are told that the keeper of the hospital holds twenty-four and a half acres of land in the county of Cambridgeshire to maintain these lepers. The Vice Chancellor has the same power in this fair that he has in the town of Cambridge. The University is always to have ground assigned for a booth by the mayor. Midsummer Fair was granted to the Prior and Convent of Barnwell, for much the same reason that Sturbridge was to the Lepers,—ad eorum sustentationem. In the reign of Henry the Sixth the Nuns of St. Radegund had the grant of Garlick Fair for the same reason."Sturbridge Fair was formerly proclaimed by both the Corporation and the University authorities. Originally lasting six weeks, in 1785 it lasted only three weeks, and now it lasts but one week. A very amusing account of its proclamation by the Vice Chancellor will be found in Gunning's 'Reminiscences of Cambridge.'"—S. N. in Notes and Queries, Aug. 25, 1877."When th' fair is done, I to the Colledg come,Or else I drinke with them at Trompington,Craving their more acquaintance with my heart,Till our nextSturbridg Fair; and so wee part."—Brathwaite's Honest Ghost, 1658, p. 189.

Camden says it was anciently called Steresbrigg, from the little river Stere or Sture that runs by it (in his Britannia, under Cambridgeshire). There have been many guesses at the name and origin of this fair,e.g.that of Fuller in his History of the University, p. 66, concerning the clothier of Kendal. The truth of the matter is this: King John granted Sturbridge fair for the benefit of the hospital of lepers which stood there (v. decretum Hubert. Arch. Cantuar. in Concil. Londinen. An.1200.Regn. Johann.; Spelman, ii. 127): in the certificatorium we are told that the keeper of the hospital holds twenty-four and a half acres of land in the county of Cambridgeshire to maintain these lepers. The Vice Chancellor has the same power in this fair that he has in the town of Cambridge. The University is always to have ground assigned for a booth by the mayor. Midsummer Fair was granted to the Prior and Convent of Barnwell, for much the same reason that Sturbridge was to the Lepers,—ad eorum sustentationem. In the reign of Henry the Sixth the Nuns of St. Radegund had the grant of Garlick Fair for the same reason.

"Sturbridge Fair was formerly proclaimed by both the Corporation and the University authorities. Originally lasting six weeks, in 1785 it lasted only three weeks, and now it lasts but one week. A very amusing account of its proclamation by the Vice Chancellor will be found in Gunning's 'Reminiscences of Cambridge.'"—S. N. in Notes and Queries, Aug. 25, 1877.

"When th' fair is done, I to the Colledg come,Or else I drinke with them at Trompington,Craving their more acquaintance with my heart,Till our nextSturbridg Fair; and so wee part."—Brathwaite's Honest Ghost, 1658, p. 189.

[E373]"When it [the malt] hath gone, or beene turned, so long [21 days] vpon the floore, they carrie it to a kill, couered withhaire cloth, where they giue it gentle heats (after they haue spread it there verie thin abroad) till it be drie, and in the meane while they turne it often, that it may be vniformelie dried."—Harrison, Description of England, ed. F. J. Furnivall, Part I. p. 156.

[E374]Cf. September's Husbandry,ch. 16 st. 1.

[E375]One part in ten is far below the present average value of land. If the whole produce will clearfourrents, the industrious farmer would have no reason to complain, though he is now subject to heavy taxes, which, it is to be remarked are not included in the list of outgoings.—M.

[E376]"Well fare the plough." On a flyleaf of a MS. of Piers Plowman (MS. R. 3, 14, in Trinity Coll. Camb.) is written,"God spede the plouȝ& sende vs korne I-now."See print in beginning of Wright's ed. of Piers Plowman.

[E376]"Well fare the plough." On a flyleaf of a MS. of Piers Plowman (MS. R. 3, 14, in Trinity Coll. Camb.) is written,

"God spede the plouȝ& sende vs korne I-now."

See print in beginning of Wright's ed. of Piers Plowman.

[E377]The advice given in this short piece, the most difficult, perhaps, that Tusser had written, is very good, but he has strained alliteration to an extravagant pitch.

[E378]In the reign of Elizabeth an Act was passed, requiring a seven years' apprenticeship to enable a person to set up in business or trade; and hence the idea arose of dividing human life into periods of seven years.—M. The idea is much older; for, in Arnold's Chronicle (edition 1811), page 157, we find:—"The vij Ages of Mā liuing ī the World. The furst age is infance and lastith from yebyrth vnto vij yere of age. The ij is childhod and endurith vnto xv yere age. The iij age is adholocencye and endurith vnto xxv yere age. The iiij age is youth and endurith vnto xxxv yere age. The v age is manhod and endurith vnto l yere age. The vj age is [elde] and lasteth vnto lxx yere age. The vij age of mā is crepill and endurith vnto dethe."See Prompt. Parv. p. 7, for another version of the above, the limits assigned to the several stages being different, and the seventh stage beginning at the resurrection.

See Prompt. Parv. p. 7, for another version of the above, the limits assigned to the several stages being different, and the seventh stage beginning at the resurrection.

[E379]"Foxe, Ape with his toieng," etc. Dr. Mavor's edition reads, "For Ape with his toieng," etc.

[E380]"The tone from the tother;" the tone = that one, the tother = that other; where thetis the sign of the neuter gender, as in tha-t, i-t; compare the Latindin i-d, quo-d, illu-d.—In ch. 110, p. 201, we have the curious forms "thon" and "thother."

[E381]"To him and to hur," that is, to every one, or to any one. Cf.94. 3, and"The white lambe þat hurte was with the spereFlemere of feendes out of hym and here."—Chaucer, Man of Law's Tale, l. 460, Six-Text ed.

[E381]"To him and to hur," that is, to every one, or to any one. Cf.94. 3, and

"The white lambe þat hurte was with the spereFlemere of feendes out of hym and here."—Chaucer, Man of Law's Tale, l. 460, Six-Text ed.

[E382]"Daieth" = dayeth, that is, appoints adayon which he promises to pay.Gervase Markham, in the First Part of the English Husbandman, ch. 6, remarks:—"You may by these usuall observations, and the helpe of a better judgement, imploy the fruits of your labours to the best profit, and sell everything at the highest price, except you take upon you togive dayand sell upon trust, which if you doe, you may then sell at what unconscionable reckoning you will." Cf."When drapers draw no gaines bygiving day."—Gascoigne, The Steel Glass, 1094.

[E382]"Daieth" = dayeth, that is, appoints adayon which he promises to pay.

Gervase Markham, in the First Part of the English Husbandman, ch. 6, remarks:—"You may by these usuall observations, and the helpe of a better judgement, imploy the fruits of your labours to the best profit, and sell everything at the highest price, except you take upon you togive dayand sell upon trust, which if you doe, you may then sell at what unconscionable reckoning you will." Cf.

"When drapers draw no gaines bygiving day."—Gascoigne, The Steel Glass, 1094.

[E383]"By that and by this;" that is, by anything, or by chance. Comparestanza 6, andchap. 67, stanza 5, p. 153.

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