¶ The table. (continued 2)

8

And that sycknes is moste commonly on hylly grounde, ley grounde, and ferny grounde, And some men vse to let them bloudde vnder the eye in a vaine for the same cause.

51. ¶ To washe shepe.

Wash and shear sheep in June.

In June is tyme to shere shepe, and er they be shorne, they muste be very well wasshen, the whiche shall be to the owner great profyte in the sale of his woll, and also to

[Fol. 32b.]

the clothe-maker; but yet beware, that thou put not to many

4

shepe in a penne at one tyme, neyther at the washyng, nor at the sheryng, for feare of murtheryng or ouer-pressyng of their felowes, and that none go awaye, tyll he be cleane washen, and se that they that hold the shepe by

8

the heed in the water, holde his heed hye ynoughe for drownynge.

52. ¶ To shere shepe.

How to shear sheep.

Take hede of the sherers, for touchynge the shepe with the sheres, and specially for pryckyng with the poynte of the sheres, and that the shepeherde be alway redy with his tarboxe to salue them. And se that they be well

4

Mark them well.

marked, bothe eare-marke, pitche-marke, and radel-marke, and let the wol be well folden or wounden with a woll-wynder, that can good skyll therof, the whiche shal do moche good in the sale of the same.

8

53. ¶ To drawe and seuer the badde shepe from the good.

Separate the sheep into flocks.

Whan thou haste all shorne thy shepe, it is than best tyme to drawe them, and soo seuer theym in dyuers sortes;

[Fol. 33.]

the shepe that thou wylte fede by them-selfe, the ewes by theym-selfe, the share-hogges and theyues by them-selfe,

4

the lambes by theym-selfe, wedders and the rammes by them-self, if thou haue soo many pastures for them: for the byggest wyll beate the weikeste with his heed. And of

Put those of one kind together.

euery sort of shepe, it may fortune there be some, that

8

like not and be weike; those wolde be put in freshe grasse by theym-selfe: and whan they be a lyttel mended, than sel them, and ofte chaunge of grasse shal mend all 12 maner of cattell.

54. What thynges rotteth shepe.

It is necessary that a shepeherde shoulde knowe what thynge rotteth shepe, that he myght kepe them the

Spear-wort.

better. Ther is a grasse called sperewort, and hath a long narowe leafe, lyke a spere-heed, and it wyll growe

4

a fote hyghe, and beareth a yelowe floure, as brode as a peny, and it growethe alwaye in lowe places where the water is vsed to stande in wynter. An other grasse is

Penny-grass.

called peny-grasse, and groweth lowe by the erthe in a

8

marsshe grounde, and hath a leafe as brode as a peny of two pens, and neuer beareth floure. All maner of grasse,

[Fol. 33b.]

that the lande-floudde renneth ouer, is verye ylle for shepe, bycause of the sande and fylthe that stycketh

12

Marshy ground is bad.

vppon it. All marreys grounde, and marsche grounde is yll for shepe; the grasse that groweth vppon falowes is not good for shepe; for there is moche of it wede, and ofte tymes it commeth vppe by the rote, and that bryngeth

16

Mildew.

erthe with it, and they eate both, &c. Myldewe-grasse is not good for shepe, and that ye shall knowe two wayes. One is by the leaues on the trees in the mornynge, and specyally of okes; take the leaues, and putte

20

thy tonge to them, and thou shalt fele lyke hony vppon them. And also there wyll be many kelles vppon the grasse, and that causeth the myldewe. Wherfore they may not well be let out of the folde tyll the sonne haue

24

Hunger-rot.

domynation to drye them awaye. Also hunger-rotte is the worst rotte that can be, for there is neither good flesshe nor good skynne, and that cometh for lacke of meate, and so for hunger they eate suche as they can

28

fynde: and so will not pasture-shepe, for they selden rot but with myldewes, and than wyll they haue moch

White snails.

talowe and fleshe, and a good skyn. Also white snailes be yll for shepe in pastures, and in falowes. There

32

Pelt-rot.

is an other rotte, whiche is called pelte-rotte, and that

[Fol. 34.]

commeth of greatte wete, specyally in woode countreyes, where they can not drye.

55. ¶ To knowe a rotten shepe dyuers maner wayes, wherof some of them wyll not fayle.

How to know rotten sheep.

Take bothe your handes, and twyrle vpon his eye, and if he be ruddy, and haue reed stryndes in the white of the eye, than he is sounde; and if the eye be white, lyke talowe, and the stryndes darke-coloured, thanne he is

4

rotten. And also take the shepe, and open the wolle on the syde, and yf the skynne be of ruddy colour and drye, than is he sounde; and if it be pale-coloured, and watrye, thanne is he rotten. Also whanne ye haue

8

Rotten sheep have loose wool.

opened the woll on the syde, take a lyttell of the woll bytwene thy fynger and thy thombe, and pull it a lyttell, and if it sticke faste, he is sounde, and if it comme lyghtely of, he is rotten. Also whan thou haste kylde a

12

shepe, his belly wyll be full of water, if he be sore rotten, and also the fatte of the fleshe wyll be yelowe, if he be rotten. And also if thou cut the lyuer, therin

Rotten sheep have flukes in the liver.

wyll be lyttell quikens lyke flokes, and also the lyuer

16

wyll be full of knottes and whyte blysters, yf he be

[Fol. 34b.]

rotten; and also sethe the lyuer, if he be rotten it wyll breke in peces, and if he be sounde, it wyll holde together.

20

56. ¶ To bye leane cattell.

These housbandes, if they shall well thryue, they muste haue bothe kye, oxen, horses, mares, and yonge cattell, and to rere and brede euery yere some calues,

How to buy oxen.

and fools, or els shall he be a byer. And yf thou shalte

4

by oxen for the ploughe, se that they be yonge, and not gowty, nor broken of heare, neyther of tayle, nor of pysell. And yf thou bye kye to the payle, se that

How to buy cows.

they be yonge and good to mylke, and fede her calues

8

wel. And if thou bye kye or oxen to feede, the yonger they be, the rather they wyll fede; but loke well, that the heare stare not, and that he lycke hym-selfe, and be hoole-mouthed, and want no tethe. And thoughe he

12

haue the goute and be broken, bothe of tayle and pysell, yet wyll he fede. But the gouty oxe wyll not

How to choose an ox.

be dryuen ferre; and se that he haue a brode ryb, and a thycke hyde, and to be lose-skinned, that it stycke not

16

harde nor streyte to his rybbes, for than he wyll not fede.

[Fol. 35.]

57. ¶ To bye fatte cattell.

How to buy fat cattle.

If thou shalte bye fatte oxen or kye, handel them, and se that they be soft on the fore-croppe, behynde the shulder, and vpon the hindermost rybbe, and upon the hucbone, and the nache by the tayle. And se

4

the oxe haue a greate codde, and the cowe great nauyll, for than it shulde seme that they shuld be wel

See where, and of whom, you buy.

talowed. And take hede, where thou byeste any leane cattel or fat, and of whom, and where it was bred. For

8

if thou by out of a better grou

n

d than thou haste thy-selfe, that cattell wyll not lyke with the. And also loke, that there be no maner of sycknes amonge the cattell in that towneshyp or pasture that thou byest thy

12

catel oute of. For if there be any murren or longe sought, it is great ieoperdy: for a beast maye take sycknes ten or .xii. dayes or more, ere it appere on hym.

58. ¶ Dyuers sycnesses of cattell, and remedies therfore, and fyrst of murren.

Murrain.

And yf it fortune to fall murren amonge thy beastes, as god forbede, there be men ynough can helpe them.

[Fol. 35b.]

And it commeth of a ranknes of bloudde, and appereth moste commonly fyrste in the heed; for his heed wyll

4

swell, and his eyen waxe greate and ronne of water and frothe at the mouthe, and than he is paste remedy, and wyl dye shortely, and wyll neuer eate after he be

Flay the dead beast, and bury it.

sycke. Than flee him, and make a depe pytte faste by,

8

there as he dyeth, and caste hym in, and couer hym with erthe, that noo dogges may come to the caryen. For as many beastes as feleth the smelle of that caryen, are lykely to be enfecte; and take the skynne, and haue it

12

to the tanners to sell, and bryng it not home, for peryll that may fal. And it is commonly vsed, and cometh of

Set the beast’s head, on a pole, in the hedge.

a greate charytie, to take the bare heed of the same beaste and put vpon a longe pole, and set it in a hedge, faste

16

bounden to a stake, by the hyghe-waye syde, that euerye man, that rydethe or goeth that waye, maye se and knowe by that signe, that there is sycknes of cattell in the towneshyp. And the husbandes holde an opynyon, that it shall

20

the rather cease. And whanne the beaste is flaine, there as the murren dothe appere bytwene the flesshe and the skynne, it wyll ryse vppe lyke a ielly and frothe an inche

Remedy for murrain.

depe or more. And this is the remedy for the murren.

24

Take a smalle curteyne-corde, and bynde it harde aboute

[Fol. 36.]

the beastes necke, and that wyll cause the bloudde to come in-to the necke, and on eyther syde of the necke there is a vayne that a man may fele with his fynger; and

28

Bleed the sick cattle.

than take a bloud-yren, and set it streight vppon the vayne, and smyte him bloudde on bothe sydes, and let hym blede the mountenaunce of a pynte or nyghe it, and than take awaye the corde, and it wyll staunche bleding.

32

And thus serue all thy cattell, that be in that close or pasture, and there shall no mo be sicke, by goddes leue.

59. ¶ Longe sought, and remedy therefore.

There is an nother maner of sycknesse among bestes,

‘Long sought.’

and it is called longe soughte; and that sickenes wyl endure lo

n

g, and ye shal perceyue it by his hoystynge; he wyl stande moche, and eate but a littel, and waxe very

4

The beast coughs 20 times an hour.

holowe & thin. And he wil hoyst .xx. times in an houre, and but fewe of them do mende. The best remedy is to kepe thy cattell in sondrye places, and as many as were in companye with that beast that fyrst fell sycke, to let

8

[Fol. 36b.]

them a lyttel bloude. And there be many men, that can

Cut the dewlap.

seuer them, and that is to cutte the dewlappe before, and there is a grasse that is called feitergrasse, take that grasse, and broyse it a lyttell in a morter, and thanne put

12

therof as moche as an hennes egge in-to the sayd dewlappe, and se it fall not oute. Thus I have seen vsed, and men haue thought it hath done good.

60. ¶ Dewbolne,[28] and the harde remedy therfore.

‘Dewbolne.’

An other dysease amonge beastes is called dewbolne,

[28]

and that commeth whan a hungry beaste is put in a good pasture full of ranke grasse, he wyll eate soo moche that his sydes wyll stande as hygh as his backe-bone,

4

and other-whyle the one syde more thanne the other, and but fewe of them wyll dye; but he maye

The beast is swollen.

not be dryuen hastely, nor laboured, being so swollen, and the substaunce of it is but wynde; and therfore

8

he wolde be softly dryuen, and not sytte downe. Howe

Some men pierce a hole in the beast.

be it I haue seen a manne take a knyfe, and thruste hym thorowe the skynne and the flesshe two inches depe, or more, vi. inches or more from the ridge-bone, that the

12

[Fol. 37.]

wynde maye come out. For the wynde lyeth bytwene the fleshe and the grete paunche.

61. ¶ Rysen vpon, and the remedy therfore.

‘Risen upon.’

An other dysease is called rysen vppon, and no man can tell howe, nor wherof it cometh: but ye shall perceyue that by swellynge in the heed, and specyallye by

The beast’s eyes run.

the eyen, for they wyll ronne on water, and close his

4

syght; and wyll dye shortly within an houre or two, if he be not holpen. This is the cause of his dysease. There is a blyster rysen vnder the tounge, the whiche blyster must be slytte with a knyfe a-crosse. Whan ye

8

Find the blister under the tongue, and cut it.

haue pulled out the tongue, rubbe the blyster well with salte, and take an hennes egge, and breake it in the beastes mouthe shell and all, and cast salte to it, and holde vp the bestes heed, that all maye be swalowed

12

downe into the body. But the breakynge of the blyster is the greate helpe, and dryue the beaste a lyttell aboute, and this shall saue hym, by the helpe of Jesu.

62. The turne, and remedy therfor.

[Fol. 37b.] ‘The turn.’

There be beastes that wyll turne about, whan they eate theyr meate, and wyll not fede, and is great ieoperdy for fallynge in pyttes, dyches, or waters: and

There is a bladder between the brain and brain-pan.

it is bycause that there is a bladder in the foreheed

4

bytwene the brayne-panne and the braynes, the whiche must be taken out, or els he shal neuer mende, but dye at lengthe, and this is the remedy and the greatest cure that can be on a beaste. Take that beast, and cast him

8

downe, and bynde his foure fete together, and with thy thombe, thrust the beast in the foreheed, and where thou fyndest the softest place, there take a knyfe, and cut the skyn, three or foure inches on bothe sides

12

bytwene the hornes, and as moche benethe towarde the nose, and fley it, and turne it vp, and pyn it faste with a pyn, and with a knyfe cut the brayne-pan .ii.

Cut the bone, but not the brain, and take out the bladder.

inches brode, and thre inches longe, but se the knyfe

16

go no deper than the thycknes of the bone for perysshynge of the brayne, and take away the bone, and than shalt thou se a bladder full of water two inches longe and more, take that out, and hurte not the brayne, and

20

thanne let downe the skynne, and sowe it faste there as it was before, and bynde a clothe two or thre folde vpon his foreheed, to kepe it from colde and wete .x. or

[Fol. 38.]

.xii. dayes. And thus haue I seen many mended. But

24

if the beaste be fatte, and any reasonable meate vpon hym, it is best to kyll hym, for than there is but lyttell losse. And if the bladder be vnder the horne, it is past cure. A shepe wyll haue the turne as well as a

28

beast, but I haue seen none mended.

63. The warrybrede, and the remedy therfore.

‘Warrybrede.’

There be beastes that wyll haue warrybredes in dyuers partes of theyr body and legges, and this is the remedy. Cast hym downe, and bynde his foure fete together, and

Take a hot iron, and sear it.

take a culture, or a payre of tonges, or such an other

4

yren, and take it glowing hote: and if it be a longe warrybrede, sere it of harde by the body, and if it be in the beginninge, and be but flatte, than lay the hot yren vpon it, and sere it to the bare skyn, and it will be

8

hole for euer, be it horse or beast.

64. ¶ The foule, and the remedy therfore.

‘The foul.’

There be bestes, that wyll haue the foule, and that is betwene the cleese, sometyme before, and sometyme

[Fol. 38b.]

behynde, and it wyll swell, and cause hym to halt, and this is the remedy. Cast hym downe and bind his foure

4

Rub a rope between his claws till he bleeds.

fete together, & take a rope of heare, or a hey-rope, harde wrythen together, and put it betwene his cleese, and drawe the rope to and fro a good season, tyll he blede well, and than laye to it softe made terre, and

8

binde a cloute aboute it, that noo myre nor grauell come betwene the clese: and put hym in a pasture, or let hym stande styll in the house, and he wyll be shortly hole.

12

65. ¶ The goute, without remedy.

The gout.

There be beastes, that wyll haue the goute, and moste commonly in the hynder fete, and it wyll cause them to halt, and go starkely. And I knewe neuer manne that

No remedy.

coulde helpe it, or fynde remedye therfore, but all-onely

4

to put hym in good grasse, and fede hym.

66. ¶ To rere calues.

To rear calves.

It is conueniente for a housbande to rere calues, and specyally those that come bytwene Candelmasse and Maye, for that season he may spare mylke beste; and by

[Fol. 39.]

that tyme the calfe shall be wayned, there wyll be grasse

4

ynoughe to put hym vnto. And at winter he wyll be bygge ynoughe to saue hym-selfe amonge other beastes, with a lyttell fauoure. And the damme of the calfe shall bull agayne, and brynge an other by the same time of

8

the yere: and if thou shalt tary tyll after May, the calfe wolde be weyke in wynter, and the damme wolde not bull agayne: but ofte tyme go bareyn. And if thou shalte rere a calfe that commeth after Myghelmasse, it

12

wyll be costly to kepe the calfe all the wynter-season at hey, and the damme at harde meate in the house, as they vse in the playne champyon countrey. And a cowe shall

A cow gives more milk on grass than on hay.

gyue more mylke with a lyttell grasse and strawe, lyenge

16

without in a close, thanne she shall doo with hey and strawe, lyenge in an house; for the harde meate dryeth vp the mylke. But he that hath no pasture, muste do as he may; but yet is it better to the housbande to sell those

20

calues than to rere them, bycause of the cost, and also for the profytte of the mylke to his house, and the rather the cowe wyll take the bull. If the husbande go with an oxe-plough, it is conuenient that he rere two oxe-calues

24

and two cowe-calues at the least, to vpholde his flocke, and if he maye do moo, it wyll be more profyte.

[Fol. 39b.]

And it is better, to wayne thy calues at grasse before. And that man, that maye haue a pasture for his kye, and

28

an other for his calues, and water in them both, maye rere and brede good beastes with lyghte coste. And if

Do not wean calves on hay.

thou waine thy calues with hey, it wyl make them haue great belyes, and the rather they wyll rotte whan they

32

come to grasse, and in wynter they wolde be put in a house by them-selfe, and gyuen hey on the nyghtes, and put in a good pasture on the day, and they shal be moche better to handell, whan they shal be kye or oxen.

36

67. To gelde calues.

To geld ox-calves.

It is tyme to gelde his oxen calues in the olde of the mone, whan they be .x. or .xx. dayes olde, for than it is leaste ieoperdye, and the oxe shall be the more hyer, and the lenger of body, and the le

n

ger horned: and that maye

4

be well prouyd, to take two oxe-calues, both of one kynde, of one makynge, and both of one age; gelde one of them, and let the other goo forthe and be a bull, and

A gelt calf grows bigger than a bull.

put theym bothe in one pasture, tyll they be foure or

8

fyue yere olde: and than shall ye se the oxe-calfe ferre greatter euery waye than the bull; there is noo cause but

[Fol. 40.]

the geldynge; and yf thou gelde them not tyll they be a yere olde, there is more ieopardye, he shall be lesse of

12

bodye, and shorte-horned.

68. ¶ Horses and mares to drawe.

Horses and mares.

A husbande maye not be withoute horses and mares, or bothe; and specially, if he go with a horse-ploughe, he muste haue both his horses to drawe, and his mares to brynge coltes, to vpholde his flocke, and yet at manye

4

tymes they maye drawe well, if they be well handled. But they maye not beare sackes, nor be rydden vppon noo iourneys whan they be with foole, and specyally whanne they haue gone with foole .xx. or .xxiiii. wekes,

8

Take care of the mares.

for than is the greateste ieopardy. For yf she be rydden vppon, and sette vp hotte, or tourned out and take cold, she wil caste her foole, the whiche woll be a greatte losse to the housbande. For she wyll labour and beare whan

12

she hath fooled, and drawe whan she is with foole, as well as the horse. It is conuenient for the husbande to knowe, whanne his mare wolde be horsed. It is the

[Fol. 40b.]

common sayenge, that she wyll take the hors within .ix. or

16

.x. dayes, nexte after that she hath fooled: but that saying I holde not with, for and she do so, she wyll not holde therto, for the hors dothe dryue her to it. But .xx. days after, is tymely ynoughe to brynge her to a hors.

20

For she wyl not holde to it, excepte she be kene of horsyng, and that shal ye knowe by her shap, for that wyll twyrle open, and close agayne, many tymes in an houre: and than brynge her to a hors, and let her be with hym a day or a

24

nyght, and that is suffycyent. For it is better, to kepe

Keep the horse from the mares.

the horse frome the mares, than to go with them, for dyuers causes, and specyally he shall be more lusty, and the moo horse-coltes shall he gete. But he that hath

28

very many mares, may not alway attende them, but let them go to-gether, and take as god sendes it. Some men holde an opinion, that if the horse be put to the

Men have various opinions about foals.

mare in the begynnynge of the moone, after it be prime,

32

he shall gete a horse-foole. And some men saye the contrary: that if he be putte to the mare in the olde of the mone, he shoulde gete horse-fooles. And I saye, it maketh noo matter, whether: for this cause I haue

36

I have 60 horses myself.

proued. I haue my selfe .lx. mares and more, able to

[Fol. 41.]

beare the horse, and from Maye daye vnto saynte Barthylmewes daye, I have .v. or .vi. horses goynge with theym bothe daye and nyghte, and at the foolynge-tyme

40

I haue vpon one daye a horse-fole, and on the nexte daye, or seconde, a mare-fole, and on the thirde or fourth day next after, a horse-fole agayne, and soo euery weke of bothe sortes, and by theyr opynyon or reason,

44

I shulde haue .xiiii. dayes together horse-fooles, and

With men who speak sophistically,

other .xiiii. dayes together mare-foles. And me semethe, that those men that holde that opinyon, speke sophystycallye; that if soo be they layde any wagers thervppon,

48

that they shoulde bothe wynne in theyr owne conceyte by this reason. Whether it were gette in the newe of

a filly may be called a horse-foal; and a colt may be called a mare-foal.

the mone or in the olde of the mone, it is a horse-foole, bycause a horse gate it, though it be a felly-fole; and it

52

is a mare-fole, bycause a mare fooled it, thoughe it be a horse-colte. And so (

Diuersis respectibus

) theyr opynions maye be trewe. But of one thynge I am certayne, that some one horse wyll gette more horse-fooles than

56

other horse wyll doo, and lyke wyse a mare wyll beare moo mare-fooles than some other mare wyll do, thoughe they be horsed bothe with one horse. Me semeth there is no reason why, but the lustynes of the nature of bothe

60

[Fol. 41b.]

partes, whether of them shall haue the domination. But and ye haue mares of dyuers colours, than do as I do, seuer them in diuers parcels, and put to your

With white mares put a gray horse.

white mares a grey horse, or a whyte horse that hath

64

noo whyte rathe in the foreheed; and to your grey mares a white horse, so that he be not al white-skynned aboute the mouthe. And to your mares of colour, that haue no white vpon them, a coloured horse that hath

68

moch white on hym, and to your coloured mares of mayne whyte, a horse of colour of mayn whyte. And thus shal ye haue well coloured coltes. It maketh noo mater of what colour the horse be, soo he be neyther

72

Put not a white horse with a coloured mare.

whyte nor grey. For if ye put a whyte horse to a coloured mare, she shall haue moste comonly a sandy colte, lyke an yren-gray, neyther lyke syre nor damme. Howe be it I haue seen and knowen many mares, that

76

wyll haue theyr colte lyke the horse that gate it, the whiche is agaynste kynde of mares, for a manne maye rather gette one good horse than many good mares.

69. The losse of a lambe, a calfe, or a foole.

It is lesse hurte to a man, to haue his cowe caste her calfe, thanne an ewe to caste her lambe. For the calfe

[Fol. 42.]

wyll soucke as moche mylke, er it be able to kyll, as it is worthe, and of the ewe commeth noo profytte of the

4

Some men milk ewes, but it is a loss.

mylke, but the lambe. Howe be it they vse in some places to mylke theyr ewes, whan they haue wayned theyr lambes: but that is great hurte to the ewes, and wyll cause them, that they wyll not take the ramme at

8

the tyme of the yere for pouertye, but goo barreyne.

A lost foal is a great loss.

And if a mare caste her foole, that is thryse soo great a losse, for if that foole be commen of good brede, as it is necessary euery man to prouyde, for as moche

12

costes and charges hath a badde mare as a good, in shorte space the foole, with good kepynge, maye be solde for as moche money as wolde bye many calues and lambes.

15

70. ¶ What cattell shulde go to-gether in one pasture.

Beastes alone, nor horses alone, nor shepe alone, excepte it be shepe vppon a verye hyghe grounde, wyll not eate a pasture euen, but leaue many tuftes and hygh grasse in dyuers places, excepte it be ouer-layde with

4

Put beasts and horses in a pasture together.

cattell. Wherfore knowe that horses and beastes wyll agree well in oone pasture, for there is some maner of

[Fol. 42b.]

grasse that a horse

[29]

wyll eate, and the beast wyl not eate, as the fytches, flasshes, and lowe places, and

8

all the holowe bunnes and pypes that growe therin. But horses and shepe wyll not so well agree, excepte it be shepe to fede, for a shepe wyll go on a bare pasture, and wyll eate the sweteste grasse: and soo wyll a horse, but he

12

wolde haue it lenger. Howe be it he wyll eate as nyghe the erthe as a shepe, but he can not so sone fyll his

With 100 beasts put 20 horses.

belly. To an hundred beastes ye maye put .xx. horses, if it be lowe ground, and if there be grasse ynoughe,

16

put in an hundred shepe, and so after the rate, be the pasture more or lesse. And after this maner they may fede and eate the close euen and leue but fewe tuftes. And if it be an hyghe grounde, put in moo shepe,

20

and lesse bestes and horses. Melch kye, and draught oxen, wyll eate a close moche barer than as many fatte

Milch kine should not be too fat,

kye and oxen. And a melche cowe may haue to moch meate: for if she waxe fatte, she wyll the rather take

24

the bull, and gyue lesse mylke. For the fatnes stoppeth the poores and the vaines, that shuld brynge the mylke to the pappes. And therfore meane grasse is beste

but have a moderate diet.

to kepe her in a meane estate. And if a cowe be

28

fatte, whan she shall calue, than is there great ieoperdy in her, and the calfe shall be the lesse: but ye can not

[Fol. 43.]

gyue your draught-oxe to moche meate, excepte it be the aftermath of a late mowen medowe. For that wyll

32

cause hym to haue the gyrre, and than he maye not well

Too much grass is bad.

laboure. And there be to moche grasse in a close, the cattel shall fede the worse, for a good bytte to the erthe is suffycyente. For if it be longe, the beaste wyll byte

36

of the toppe and noo more, for that is swetest, and the other lyeth styll vppon the grounde and rotteth, and no beaste wyll eate it but horse in wynter; but these beastes, horses and shepe, maye not be fodered to-gether

40

In winter, beasts will gore horses and sheep.

in wynter, for thanne they wolde be seuered: for els the beastes with theyr homes wyll put bothe horses and the shepe, and gore them in theyr bellyes. And it is necessarye to make standynge cratches, to caste theyr

44

fodder in, and the staues set nyghe ynough togyther, for pullynge theyr fodder to hastely out, for shedynge. And if it be layde vppon the erthe, the fourthe parte therof wyll be loste: and if ye laye it vpon the erthe,

48

laye it euerye tyme in a newe place, for the olde wyll marre the newe.

71. ¶ The properties of horses.

[Fol. 43b.] Grazier, be not beguiled!

Thou grasyer, that mayst fortune to be of myne opynyon or condityon, to loue horses and yonge coltes

I have been so 100 times.

or foles to go amonge thy cattel, take hede that thou be not begyled, as I haue ben an hundred tymes and

4

more. And first thou shalt knowe, that a good horse

A good horse has 54 properties;

hath .liiii. propertyes, that is to say .ii. of a man, .ii. of a bauson or a badger, .iiii. of a lyon, .ix. of an oxe, .ix. of an hare, .ix. of a foxe, .ix. of an asse, and .x. of a

8

woman.

72. ¶ The two properties, that a horse hath of a man.

two, of a man:

The fyrste is, to haue a proude harte; and the seconde is, to be bolde and hardy.

73. The .ii. propertyes of a bauson.

two, of a badger:

¶ The fyrste is, to haue a whyte rase or a ball in the foreheed; the seconde, to haue a whyte fote.

74. The .iiii. properties of a lyon.

four, of a lion:

¶ The fyrste is, to haue a brode breste; the seconde, to be styffe-docked; the thyrde, to be wylde in countenaunce; the fourthe, to haue foure good legges.

75. The .ix. propertyes of an oxe.

[Fol. 44.] nine, of an ox:

¶ The fyrste is, to be brode-rybbed; the .ii. to be lowe-brawned; the thyrde, to be shorte-pasturned; the .iiii. to haue greatte senewes; the fyfte, to be wyde betwene the challes; the syxte is, to haue great nosethrylles;

4

the .vii. to be bygge on the chyn; the .viii. to be fatte and well fedde; the .ix. to be vpryghte standynge.

76. The .ix. propertyes of an hare.

nine, of a hare:

¶ The fyrste is styffe-eared; the seconde, to haue greate eyen; the thyrde, round eyen; the fourthe, to haue a leane heed; the .v. to haue leane knees; the syxte, to be wyght on foote; the .vii. to turne vpon a lyttell grounde;

4

the .viii. to haue shorte buttockes; the .ix. to haue two good fyllettes.

77. The .ix. propertyes of a foxe.

nine, of a fox:

¶ The fyrste is, to be prycke-eared, the seconde, to be lyttell-eared; the thyrde, to be rounde-syded; the fourthe, to be syde-tayled; the fyfte, to be shorte-legged; the syxte, to be blacke-legged; the .vii. to be

4

shorte-trottynge; the .viii. to be well coloured; the .ix. to have a lyttell heed.

78. The .ix. propertyes of an asse.

[Fol. 44b.] nine, of an ass:

¶ The fyrste is to be small-mouthed; the seconde, to be longe-rayned: the .iii. to be thyn-cressed; the fourthe, to be streyght-backed; the fyfth, to haue small stones; the syxte, to be lathe-legged; the .vii. to be rounde-foted;

4

the eyght, to be holowe-foted; the .ix. to haue a toughe houe.

79. The .x. properties of a woman.

ten, of a woman:

¶ The fyrst is, to be mery of chere; the seconde, to be well paced; the thyrde, to haue a brode foreheed; the fourth, to haue brode buttockes; the fyfthe, to be harde of warde; the syxte, to be easye to lepe vppon; the .vii.

4

to be good at a longe iourneye; the .viii. to be well sturrynge vnder a man; the .ix. to be alwaye besye with the mouthe; the tenth, euer to be chowynge on the brydell. ¶ It myght fortune I coude shewe as many

8

I could tell you faults of horses, but then I should break my promise.

defautes of horses, as here be good propertyes, but than I shulde breake my promyse, that I made at Grombalde brydge, the first tyme I wente to Ryppon for to bye coltes. But it is to suppose, that if a horse want any of these

12

good propertyes, that he shulde haue a defaute in the same place. And this is suffycient for this time.

[Fol. 45.]

80. ¶ The diseases and sorance of horses.

Diseases of horses.

Nowe it is to be knowen, the soraunce and dyseases of horses, & in what partes of theyr bodyes they be; that a man maye the rather perceyue them. And howe be it that it may be against my profyt, yet I wil shewe you

4

suche as cometh to my mynde.

81. The lampas.

The lampas.

¶ In the mouthe is the lampas, & is a thycke skyn full of bloude, hangynge ouer his tethe aboue, that he may not eate.

82. The barbes.

The barbs.

¶ The barbes be lyttell pappes in a horse mouth, and lette hym to byte: these two be sone holpen.

83. Mournynge of the tonge.

Mourning of the tongue.

¶ Mournynge of the tonge is an yll dysease, and harde to be cured.

84. Pursy.

Pursiness.

¶ Pursy is a dysease in an horses bodye, and maketh hym to blowe shorte, and appereth at his nosethrilles, and commeth of colde, and may be well mended.

85. Broken-wynded.

Broken wind.

¶ Broken-wynded is an yll dysease, and cometh of

[Fol. 45b.]

rennynge or rydynge ouer moche, and specially shortely after he is watred, and appereth at his nosethryll, at his flanke, and also at his tuell, and wyll not be mended;

4

and wyll moche blowe and coughe, if he be sore chafed; and it wyl leaste appere, whan he is at grasse.

86. Glaunders.

Glanders.

¶ Glaunders is a disease, that may be mended, and commeth of a heate, and a sodeyne colde, and appereth at his nosethrylles, and betwene his chall-bones.

87. Mournynge on the chyne.

Mourning on the chine.

¶ Mournynge on the chyne is a dysease incurable, and it appereth at his nosethryll lyke oke-water. A glaunder whan it breaketh, is lyke matter. Broken-wynded, and pursynes, is but shorte blowynge.

4

88. Stranguellyon.

Stranguelion.

¶ Stranguelyon is a lyght dysease to cure, and a horse wyl be very sore sycke therof, and cometh of a chafynge hote, that he swete, and after he wyll ryse and swell in dyuers places of his body, as moche as a mannes fyste;

4

and wyll breake by it selfe, if it be kepte warme, or els is there ieoperdy.

89. The hawe.

The haw.

¶ The hawe is a sorance in a horse eye, and is lyke

[Fol. 46, misprinted 49.]

gristell, and maye well be cutte oute, or els it wyll haue out his eye; and that horse that one, hath commonly two.

4

90. Blyndnes.

Blindness.

¶ A horse wyll waxe blynde with laboure, and that maye be cured betyme.

91. Viues.

The vives.

¶ The viues is a sorance vnder a horse ere, bytwene the ouer ende of the chall-bones and the necke, and are rounde knottes bytwene the skyn and the fleshe lyke tennes-balles; and if they be not kilde, they wyl waxe

4

quicke, and eate the rotes of the horse eares, and kil hym.

92. The cordes.

The cords.

¶ The cordes is a thynge that wyll make a horse to stumble, and ofte to fall, and appereth before the forther legges of the body of the horse, and may well be cured in .ii. places, and there be but fewe horses but they

4

haue parte therof.

93. The farcyon.

The farcion.

¶ The farcyon is an yll soraunce, and maye well be cured in the begynnynge, and wyll appere in dyuers places of his bodye, and there wyll ryse pymples as moche as halfe a walnutshell, and they wyll folowe a veyne, and wyll

4

Other horses will catch it.

breake by it selfe. And as manye horses as do playe with him that is sore, and gnappe of the matter that renneth

[Fol. 46b.]

out of the sore, shall haue the same sorance within a moneth after; and therfore kepe the sycke frome the

8

hole. And if that sorance be not cured betyme, he wyll dye of it.

94. A malander.

The malander.

¶ A malander is an yl sorance, and may wel be cured for a tyme, but with yl keping it wyl comme agayne, and appereth on the forther legges, in the bendynge of the knee behynde, and is lyke a scabbe or a skal: and

4

some horses wyll haue two vpon a legge, within an inche together, and they wyl make a horse to stumble, and other whyle to fall.

95. A selander.

The selander.

¶ A selander is in the bendynge of the legge behynde, lyke as the malander is in the bendynge of the legge before, and is lyke a malander, and may be well cured.

96. A serewe.

The serewe.

¶ A serewe is an yll soraunce, and is lyke a splent, but it is a lyttell longer and more, and lyeth vppe to the knee on the inner syde. And some horses haue a throughe serewe on bothe sydes of the legge, and that horse must

4

nedes stumble and fall, and harde it is to be cured.

97. A splent.

A splent.

¶ A splent is the leaste soraunce that is, that alwaye

[Fol. 47.]

contynueth, excepte lampas. And many men take vpon them to mende it, and do payre it.

98. A ryngbone.

Ring-bone.

¶ A ryngbone is an yll soraunce, and appereth before on the foote, aboue the houe, as well before as behynde, and wyll be swollen three inches brode, and a quarter of an inche or more of heyghte, and the heare wyll stare

4

and waxe thyn, and wyll make hym to halte, and is yll to cure, if it growe longe.

99. Wynd-galles.

Wind-galls.

¶ Wyndgalles is a lyghte sorance, and commeth of great labour, and appereth on eyther syde of the ioynte aboue the fetelockes, as wel before as behynde, and is a lyttell swollen with wynde.

4

100. Morfounde.

Morfound.

¶ Morfounde is an yll sorance, and cometh of rydynge faste tyll he swete, and than sette vp sodeynely in a colde place, without lytter, and take cold on his fete, and specially before, and appereth vnder the houe in the hert

4

of the fote, for it wylle growe downe, and waxe whyte,

It affects the feet.

and cromely lyke a pomis. And also wyl appere by processe by the wryncles on the houe, and the houe before wyll be thycker, and more bryckle than and he

8

had not benne morfounde; nor he shall neuer trede so

[Fol. 47b.]

boldely vpon the harde stones as he dydde before; nor wyll not be able to beare a man a quarter of a yere or more; and with good paryng and shoynge, as he oughte

12

to be, he wyll do good seruyce.

101. The coltes euyll.

The colt’s evil.

¶ Coltes euyll is an yll disease, and commeth of ranknes of nature and bloudde, and appereth in his scote, for there wyl he swel great, and wyll not be harde, and soone cured in the begynnynge.

4

102. The bottes.

Bots in the maw.

¶ The bottes is an yll dysease, and they lye in a horse mawe, and they be an inche long, white-coloured, and a reed heed, and as moche as a fyngers ende, & they be quycke, and stycke faste in the mawe-syde; it apperethe

4

by stampynge of the horse, or tomblynge, and in the beginninge there is remedy ynoughe, and if they be not cured betyme, they wyll eate thorowe his mawe, and kyll hym.

8

103. The wormes.

Worms in the belly.

¶ The wormes is a lyght dysease, and they lye in the greatte paunche, in the belye of the horse, and they are shynynge, of colour lyke a snake, syxe inches in lengthe, greate in the myddes, and sharpe at bothe

4

endes, and as moche as a spyndel, and wyll sone be kylde.

[Fol. 48.]

104. Affreyd.

‘Affreyd.’

¶ Affreyd is an yll disease, and commethe of great labour and rydynge faste with a contynuall sweate, and thanne sodeynly to take a great colde, his legges wyll be styffe, and his skyn wyll stycke fast to his sydes, and

4

may be well cured.

105. Nauylgall.

Navel-gall.

¶ Nauylgall is a soraunce, hurte with a saddle, or with a buckle of a croper, or suche other, in the myddes of the backe, and maye be lyghtely cured.

106. A spauen.

Spavin.

¶ A spauen is an yll sorance, whervppon he wyll halte, and specyally in the begynnynge, and appereth on the hynder legges within, and agaynste the ioynte, and it wyll be a lyttell swolen and harde. And some horses haue

4

throughe spauen, and appereth bothe within and without, and those be yll to be cured.

107. A courbe.

A curb.

¶ A courbe is an yll sorance, and maketh a horse to halte sore, and appereth vppon the hynder legges streyght behynde, vnder the camborell place, and a lyttell benethe the spauen, and wyll be swollen, and yll to cure, if it growe

4

longe vpon hym.

[Fol. 48b.]

108. The stringe-halte.

String-halt.

¶ The stryng-halte is an yl disease, and maketh hym to twyche vp his legge sodeynly, and maketh hym to halte, and cometh ofte with a colde, and doth not appere outwarde.

4

109. Enterfyre.

Enterfire.

¶ Enterfyre is a sorance, and cometh of yll shoynge, and appereth ofte both behynde and before, betwene the fete agaynst the fetelockes; there is no remedy but good showynge.

4

110. Myllettes.

Millets.

¶ Myllettes is an yll sorance, and appereth in the fetelockes behynde, & causeth the heare to sheede thre or foure inches of length, and a quarter of an inche in brede, lyke as it were bare; and yll to cure but it maye be perceiued,

4

and specially in wynter tyme.

111. The peynes.

‘The peynes.’

¶ The peynes is an yll soraunce and appereth in the fetelockes, and wyl swel in wynter tyme, and oyse of water, and the heare wyll stare and be thyn, and yl to cure, but it wyl be seen in winter.

4

112. Cratches.

Cratches.

¶ Cratches is a soraunce that wyll cause a horse to halt, and commeth of yll kepynge, and appereth in the pasturnes, lyke as the skyn were cut ouerthwarte, that a

[Fol. 49.]

man maye laye a white strawe, and it is sone cured.

4

113. Atteynt.

Attaint.

¶ Atteynt is a sorance, that commeth of an ouer-rechynge, yf it be before; and if it be behynde, it is of the tredynge of an other horse, the whiche maye be soone cured.

4

114. Grauelynge.

Gravelling.

¶ Grauelynge is a hurte, that wyll make a horse to halte, and commethe of grauell and lyttel stones, that goth in betwene the shough and the herte of the fote, and is sone mended.

4

115. A-cloyed.

A-cloyed.

¶ A-cloyde is an hurte, that commeth of yll shoynge, whan a smyth dryueth a nayle in-to the quycke; the which wyll make hym to halt, and is sone cured.

116. The scabbe.

The scab.

¶ There is a disease amonge horses that is called the scabbe, and it is a skorfe in dyuers places of his body. And it commeth of a pouertie and yll kepynge; and is most commonly amonge olde horses, and wyll dye

4

thervpon, and maye be well cured.

117. Lowsy.

Lousy horses.

¶ There be horses that wyll be lowsy, and it cometh of pouertie, colde, and yll kepynge; and it is moste commonly amonge yonge horses, and menne take lyttell

[Fol. 49b.]

hede vnto it; and yet they wyll dye thervppon, and it

4

maye be soone cured.

118. Wartes.

Want of warts behind.

¶ There is a defaute in a horse, that is neyther sorance, hurte, nor disease, and that is, if a horse wante wartes behynde, benethe the spauen-place, for then he is noo chapmannes ware, if he be wylde; but if he be tame,

4

Caveat emptor.

and haue ben rydden vpon, than

Caueat emptor

, beware the byer, for the byer hath bothe his eyen to se, and his handes to handell. It is a sayenge, that suche a horse shoulde dye sodeynely, whan he hath lyued as

8

many yeres as the mone was dayes olde, at suche tyme as he was foled.

119. The sayinge of the frenche-man.

¶ These be soraunce, hurtes, dyseases, that be nowe

A French proverb.

comme to my mynde; and the frenche-man saythe,

Mort de langue et de eschine Sount maladyes saunce medicine

. The mournynge of the tongue, and of the chyne, are

4

diseases without remedy or medicyne. And ferther he

Another French proverb.

saythe,

Gardes bien, que il soyt cler de vieu, Que tout trauayle ne soit perdue

: Be wel ware that he be clere of syghte, lest all thy trauayle or iourneye be lost or

8

nyght. And bycause I am a horse-master my-selfe, I

[Fol. 50.]

haue shewed you the soraunce and dyseases of horses, to the entent that men shulde beware, & take good hede what horses they bye of me or of any other. Howe

12

If ever you trust a horse-master, trust me.

be it I saye to my customers, and those that bye any horses of me, and euer they wil trust any hors-master or corser whyle they lyue, truste me.

120. ¶ The diuersitie bytwene a horse-mayster, a corser, and a horse-leche.

A horse-master buys wild colts and breeds them and breaks them in.

A Horse-mayster is he, that bieth wylde horses, or coltes, and bredeth theym, and selleth theym agayne wylde, or breaketh parte of them, and maketh theym tame, and than selleth them. A corser is he, that byeth

4

A courser merely deals in them.

all rydden horses, and selleth them agayne. The horse-leche is he, that takethe vppon hym to cure and mende

A horse-leech cures their diseases.

all maner of diseases and soraunce that horses haue. And whan these three be mette, if ye hadde a potycarye

8

to make the fourthe, ye myghte haue suche foure, that

Add to these an apothecary, and you have 4 rogues.

it were harde to truste the best of them. It were also conuenyent to shew medicynes and remedyes for al these diseases and sorances; but it wolde be to longe a processe

12

at this tyme, for it wolde be as moche as halfe this boke. And I haue not the perfyte connynge, nor the experyence, to shewe medycynes and remedyes for

[Fol. 50b.]

theym all. And also the horse-leches wolde not be

16

content therwith, for it myghte fortune to hurte or hynder theyr occupation.

121. ¶ Of swyne.

Nowe thou husbande, that haste bothe horses and mares, beastes and shepe: It were necessary also, that thou haue bothe swyne and bees; for it is an olde

Whoso hath sheep, swine and bees, shall surely thrive.

sayinge: he that hath bothe shepe, swyne, and bees,

4

slepe he, wake he, he maye thryue. And that sayenge is, bycause that they be those thinges that moste profyt riseth of in the shortest space, with least coste. Than se howe manye swyne thou art able to kepe; let them

8

Have only boars and sows; no hogs.

be bores and sowes all, and no hogges. And if thou be able to rere vi pigges a yere, than let two of them be bores, and foure of them sowes, and so to contynue after the rate. For a bore will haue as lyttell kepynge

12

A boar is better than a hog.

as a hogge, and is moche better than a hogge, and more meate on hym and is ready at all tymes to eate in the wynter season, and to be layde in souse. And a sowe, er she be able to kyl, shall bryng forth as many pyggs or

16

moo, as she is worth; and her bodye is neuer the worse, and wyll be as good baken as a hogge, and as lyttell

[Fol. 51.]

kepynge, but at suche tyme as she hath pygges. And if thy sowe haue moo pygges than thou wilt rere, sel them,

20

Rear pigs in spring and early summer.

or eate them, & rere those pigges that come about lenten-time, specyally the begynnynge of somer, for they can-not be rered in winter, for cold, without great coste.

122. Of bees.

Of bees is lyttell charge but good attendaunce; at the tyme that they shall cast the swarme, it is conuenient, that

Put the beehive in a garden or orchard.

the hyue be set in a garden, or an orchyarde, where as they maye be kepte from the northe wynde, and the

4

mouthe of the hyue towarde the sonne. And in June

They commonly swarm in June or July.

and July they do most commonlye caste, and they wolde haue some lowe trees nyghe vnto them before the hyue that the swarme maye lyght vpon; and whan

8

the swarme is knytte, take a hyue, and splente it within with thre or foure splentes, that the bees maye knytte theyr combes therto; and annoynte the splentes, and

How to take a swarm.

the sydes of the hyue, with a lyttell honye. And if thou

12

haue no honye, take swete creame, and than set a stole or a forme nyghe vnto the swarme, and laye a clene washen shete vppon the stole, and thanne holde the

[Fol. 51b.]

smalle ende of the hyue downewarde and shake the

16

bees in-to the hyue, and shortely sette it vppon the stole, and turne vppe the comers of the shete ouer the hyue, and to leue one place open, that the bees may come in

Never strive with bees.

and out: but thou mayst not fight nor stryue with theym

20

for noo cause; and to laye nettyls vppon the bowes, where as they were knytte, to dryue them from that place; and soo watche them all that daye, that they go not away; and at nyght, whan al be goone vp into the

24

hyue, take it away and set it where it shall stande, and take awaye thy shete, and haue claye tempered to laye aboute it vppon the borde or stone, where it shall stande, that noo wynde comme in, but the borde is better and

28

Leave a hole for the bees to go in and out.

warmer. And to leaue an hole open on the south syde, of three inches brode, and an inche of heyghte, for the bees to come in and out. And than to make a couerynge of wheate-strawe or rye-strawe, to couer and house the

32

Set the hive on stakes, at least two feet from ground.

hyue about, and set the hyue two fote or more from the erthe vpon stakes, soo that a mouse cannot come to it, and also neyther beastes nor swyne. And if a swarme be caste late in the yere, they wolde be fedde with honnye in

36

wynter, and layde vppon a thynne narowe borde, or a thynne sclatte or leade; put it into the hyue, and an other

[Fol. 52.]

thynne borde wolde be set before euery hyues mouthe, that no winde come in; and to haue foure or fyue

40

lyttell nyckes made on the nether syde, that a bee maye comme out or go in, and so fastened, that the wynde blowe it not downe, and to take it vp whan he wyll.

If a hive is fed on honey, stop the mouth of it.

And that hyue that is fedde, to stoppe the mouthe cleane,

44

that other bees come not in; for if they doo, they wyll fyghte, and kyll eche other. And beware, that noo waspes come in-to the hyue, for they wyll kyl the bees, and eate the honny. And also there is a bee called a

48

Drones.

drone, and she is greatter than an other bee, and they wyll eate the honny, and gather nothynge: and therfore they

It is said, the drone hath lost her sting.

wolde be kylde, and it is a sayenge, that she hath loste her stynge, and than

she wyl not labour

as the other

52

do.

123. ¶ Howe to kepe beastes and other cattell.

How to keep beasts.

If a housbande shall kepe cattell well to his profytte, he must haue seuerall closes and pastures to put his cattel in, the which wolde be wel quickesetted, diched, & hedged, that he maye seuer the byggeste cattell frome

4

[Fol. 52b.]

the weykeste at his pleasure, and specyallye in wynter-tyme, whan they shall be fodered. And thoughe a man be but a farmer, and shall haue his farme xx yeres, it

It is best to quickset, ditch, and hedge cattle in.

is lesse coste for hym, and more profyte, to quyckeset,

8

dyche, and hedge, than to haue his cattell goo before the herdeman. For let the housbande spende in thre yeres as moche money as the kepynge of his beastes, swyne, and shepe doth cost him in iii yeres, than alwaye after,

12

he shal haue all maner of cattell with the tenthe parte of the coste, and the beastes shal lyke moche better. And

A herdman expects 2d. per beast; and a swineherd 1d.

by this reason. The herdeman wyll haue for euery beast .ii.d. a quarter, or there aboute: And the swyneherde

16

wyll haue for euery swyne .i.d. at the leaste. Than he must haue a shepeherde of his owne, or elles he shal neuer thryue. Than reken meate, drinke, and wages for his shepeherde, the herdmans hyre, and the swyneherdes

20

hyre, these charges wyll double his rent or nyghe it, excepte his farme be aboue .xl. s. by yere. Nowe see

It is better to spend the money on hedges.

what his charges be in .iii. yeres, lette hym ware as moche money in quickesettynge, dychynge, and hedgynge, and

24

in thre yeres he shall be discharged for euermore, and moche of this labour he and his seruauntes maye do with theyr owne handes, and saue moche money. And than

[Fol. 53.]

hath he euery fyelde in seueraltye. And by the assente

28

of the lordes and tenauntes, euery neyghbour may exchaunge landes with other. And than shall his farme be twyse so good in profytte to the tenaunte as it was before, and as moche lande kepte in tyllage; and than shall not

32

the ryche man ouer-eate the poore man with his cattell,

You will save in hay and straw.

and the fourth parte of heye and strawe shall serue his cattell better in a pasture, than iiii. tymes soo moche wyll do in a house, and lesse attendaunce, and better the

36

cattel shall lyke, and the chiefe sauegarde for corne bothe daye and nyghte that can be.

124. ¶ To get settes and set them.

And if thou haue pastures, thou muste nedes haue quyckesettynge, dychynge and plasshynge. Whan it is

Quickset hedges.

grene, and commeth to age, than gette thy quyckesettes in the woode-countreye, and let theym be of whyte-thorne

4

and crabtree, for they be beste; holye and hasell be good. And if thou dwelle in the playne-countrey, than mayste

Set young oaks and ashes.

thou gete bothe asshe, oke, and elme, for those wyll encrease moche woode in shorte space. And set thy oke-settes

8

and the asshe .x. or .xii fote a-sonder, and cut them

[Fol. 53b.]

as thou dost thy other settes, and couer theym ouer with thornes a lyttell, that shepe and cattell eate them not.

Clear away the weeds.

And also wede them clene in mydsomer mone or soone

12

after: for the wedes, if they ouer growe, wyl kyl the settes.

Never have blackthorn.

But get no blacke-thorne for nothynge, for that wyl grow outwarde into the pasture, and doth moch hurte in the grasse, and tearyng the woll of the shepe. It is good

16

tyme to set quickesettes, fro that tyme the leaues be fallen,

When to set quicksets.

vnto oure lady daye in lente; and thy sandye grounde or grauell set fyrste, than clay grounde, and than meane grounde, and the medowe or marreys grounde laste, for

20

the sande and grauell wyll drye anone, and than the quyckeset wyll take no rote, excepte it haue greate weate; for the muldes wyll lye lose, if it be dyched in February or

How to set quicksets.

marche, and lyke wise clay ground. And make thy settes

24

longe ynough, that they maye be set depe ynough in the erth: for than they wyll growe the better. And to stande halfe a foote and more aboue the erthe, that they maye sprynge oute in many braunches. And than to take a lyne,

28

Make a straight trench.

and sette it there as thou wylte haue thy hedge, and to make a trenche after thy lyne, and to pare awaye the grasse there the quyckesettes shal be set, and caste it by,

[Fol. 54.]

where the erthe of the dyche shall lye, and dygge vp the

32

muldes a spade-graffe depe, and to put in thy settes, and dygge up more molde, and laye vppon that set, and so peruse, tyll thou haue set all thy settes, and let them lene

Have the ditch a foot from the hedge.

towarde the dyche. And a foote from that make thy

36

dyche. For if thou make it to nyghe thy settes, the water maye fortune to weare the grounde on that syde, and cause thy settes to fall downe.

125. ¶ To make a dyche.

Of what size to make ditches.

If thou make thy dyche foure foote brode, than wolde it be two foote and a halfe depe. And if it be .v. fote brode, than .iii. fote depe, and so accordynge; and if it be fyue fote brod, than it wolde be double sette, and the

4

rather it wolde fence it-selfe, and the lower hedge wyll serue.

126. ¶ To make a hedge.

Stakes for a hedge.

Thou muste gette the stakes of the harte of oke, for those be best; crabtre, blacke-thorne, and ellore be good. Reed wethy is beste in marsshe grounde; asshe, maple, hasel, and whyte-thorne wyl serue for a time. And set

4

[Fol. 54b.]

thy stakes within .ii. foote and a halfe together, excepte thou haue very good edderynge, and longe, to bynde with.

Ethers for a hedge.

And if it be double eddered, it is moch the better, and gret strength to the hedge, and moche lenger it wil last.

8

And lay thy small trouse or thornes, that thou hedgeste withall, ouer thy quickesettes, that shepe do not eate the

Drive the stakes firmly.

sprynge nor buddes of thy settes. Let thy stakes be well dryuen, that the poynt take the hard erthe. And whan

12

thou haste made thy hedge, and eddered it well, than take

Wind in the ethers.

thy mall agayne, and dryue downe thy edderinges, and also thy stakes by and by. For with the wyndynge of the edderynges thou doost leuse thy stakes; and therfore

16

Then drive the stakes again.

they muste nedes be dryuen newe, and hardened agayne, and the better the stake wil be dryuen, whan he is wel bounden.

127. ¶ To plasshe or pleche a hedge.

How to pleach a hedge.

If the hedge be of .x. or .xii. yeres growing sythe it was first set, thanne take a sharpe hachet, or a handbyll, and cutte the settes in a playne place, nyghe vnto the

Cut the sets more than half through,

erthe, the more halue a-sonder; and bende it downe

4

towarde the erthe, and wrappe and wynde theym to-gether,

[Fol. 55.]

but alwaye se that the toppe lye hyer than the

and bend them down, but not too low.

rote a good quantytie, for elles the sappe wyll not renne in-to the toppe kyndely, but in processe the toppe wyll

8

dye; and than set a lyttel hedge on the backe-syde, and it shall nede noo more mendynge manye yeres after. And if the hedge be of .xx. .xxiiii. or .xxx. yere of age,

How to pleach an older hedge.

sythe it was fyrst sette, than wynde in first al the

12

nether-moste bowes, and wynde them together, and than cutte the settes in a playne place a lyttel from the erth, the more halfe a-sonder, and to lette it slaue downewarde, and not vpwarde, for dyuerse causes: than wynde the

16

bowes and braunches therof in-to the hedge, and at euery two fote, or .iii. fote, to leaue one set growyng not plasshed; and the toppe to be cut of foure fote hygh, or there-aboute, to stande as a stake, if there be any

20

suche, or els to set an-other, and to wynd the other that be pleched about them. And if the bowes wyll not lye playne in the hedge, than cut it the more halfe

How to pleach a very old hedge.

a-sonder, and bynd it to the hedge, and than shal he not

24

nede for to mende the hedge, but in fewe places, .xx. yeres after or more. And if the hedge be olde, and be great stubbes or trees, and thyn in the bottome, that beastes may go vnder or betwene the trees: thanne

28

take a sharpe axe, and cutte the trees or stubbes, that

[Fol. 55b.]

growe a fote from the erthe, or there-about, in a plaine place, within an inche or two inches of the side, and let them slaue downward, as I sayd before, and let the

32

toppe of the tree lye ouer the rote of an other tree, and to pleche downe the bowes of the same tree, to stoppe the holowe places. And if all the holowe and voyde places wyl not be fylled and stopped, than scoure the

36

olde dyche, and cast it vp newe, and to fyll with erthe all the voyde places. And if soo be these trees wyll not reche in euerye place to make a sufficyent defence, than double quicke-set it, & diche it new in euery place that

40

is nedeful, and set a hedge thervpon, and to ouerlay the settes, for eatynge of shepe or other cattel.

128. ¶ To mende a hye-waye.

How to mend a road.

Me semeth, it is necessarye to shewe mine opinion, howe an hye-way shulde be amended. And fyrste and pryncypally, se that there be noo water standynge in the

Let no water stand on it.

hye-waye, but that it be alwaye currante and rennynge,

4

nor haue none abydynge more in one place thanne in another. And in somer, whan the water is dryed vp, than

[Fol. 56.]

to get grauell, and to fyll vp euery lowe place, and to make theym euen, somewhat dyscendynge or currante,

8

one waye or other; and if there be noo grauell nor

Fill up the holes with gravel.

stones to gette, yet fyll vp with erthe in the begynnyge of somer, that it maye be well hardened with caryage and treadynge vppon, and it shall be well

12

amended, if the water maye passe away from it; the whiche wolde be well consydered, and specially aboute

About London they mend roads badly, putting in earth before the gravel.

London, where as they make moche more coste than nedeth; for there they dyche theyr hye-wayes on bothe

16

sydes, and fyll vp the holowe and lowe places with erthe, and than they caste and laye grauell alofte. And whan a greatte rayne or water commeth, and synketh thorowe the grauell, and commeth to the erthe, than the erthe

20

swelleth and bolneth and waxeth softe, and with

Then the gravel sinks, and the road is like a quicksand.

treadynge, and specyally with caryage, the grauell synketh, and gothe downewarde as his nature and kynde requyreth, and than it is in maner of a quycke-sande,

24

that harde it is for any thynge to goo ouer. But yf they wolde make no dyche in sommertyme, whan the water is dryed vp, that a man may se all the holowe and lowe places,

They should use gravel only.

than to cary grauel, and fyl it vp as hygh as the other

28

knolles be; than wold it not bolne ne swell, nor be no quycke-sande, and euery ma

n

may go beside the hie-way

[Fol. 56b.]

with theyr cariage at theyr pleasure. And this me semeth is lesse coste, and lenger wyll last with a lyttell mendynge

32

This should be looked to.

whan nede requyreth. Therfore me thynketh, yf this were well loked vpon, it shuld be bothe good and necessarye for that purpose: for soo haue I seen done in other places, where as I haue ben, &c.

36

129. ¶ To remoue and set trees.

How to remove and set trees.

If thou wylte remoue and sette trees, get as manye rotes with them as thou canste, and breake them not, nor bryse theym, by thy wyll. And if there be any rote broken and sore brused, cut it of harde by, there as it is

4

brused, with a sharpe hatchet, elles that roote wyll dye. And if it be asshe, elme, or oke, cut of all the bowes

Cut off some of the boughs.

cleane, and saue the toppe hole. For if thou make hym ryche of bowes, thou makeste hym poore of thryfte, for

8

two causes. The bowes causeth theym to shake with wynde, and to leuse the rotes. Also he can-not be soo cleane gete, but some of the rotes muste nedes be cut, and than there wyll not come soo moche sappe and

12

moystenes to the bowes, as there dyd before. And if the tree be very longe, cut of the top, two or thre

[Fol. 51; So misnumbered all the way to the end. We may call it 51*.]

yardes. And if it be an apple-tree, or peare-tree, or suche other as beareth fruyte, than cut away all the

16

water-bowes, and the small bowes, that the pryncipall bowes may haue the more sap. And if ye make a marke, which syde of the tree standeth towarde the sonne, that he may be set so agayne, it is soo moche

20

the better.

130. ¶ Trees to be set without rotes and growe.

Some trees can be set without roots.

There be trees wil be set without rotes, and growe well, and sprynge rotes of them-selfe. And those be dyuerse apple-trees, that haue knottes in the bowes, as casses, or wydes, and suche other, that wyll growe on

4

Poplar and withy.

slauynges, and lykewyse popeler and wethy: and they must be cut cleane besyde the tree, that they growe on, and the toppe cut cleane of .viii. or .x. fote of lengthe, and all the bowes betwene, and to be set a fote depe or.

8

in the erthe, in good grounde. And ye shall vnderstande,

Four withies, viz. white, black, red, and osier.

that there be foure maner of wethyes, that is to say, white wethye, blacke wethy, reed wethy, and osyerde wethy. Whyte wethye wyll growe vppon drye

12

grounde, yf it be sette in the begynnyge of wynter, and

[Fol. 51*b.]

wyll not growe in marsshe grounde; blacke wethy wyll growe better on marshe grounde, and redde wethy in

Osiers will grow in water.

lyke maner: and osyerde wethy wyll growe beste in water

16

and moyste grounde. And they be trees that wyll soone be nourysshed, and they wyll beare moche woodde, and

Crop them every seven years.

they wolde be cropped euery .vii. or .viii. yere or els they wyll dye; but they maye not be cropped in sappe-tyme,

20

nor no tree els. And in many places, bothe the lordes, freeholders, and tenauntes at wyll, sette suche wethyes, and popelers, in marsshe grounde, to nourysshe wodde, &c.

131. ¶ To fell wodde for housholde, or to sell.

Fell underwood in winter; let the cattle browze on it.

If thou haue any woddes to felle, for thy householde to brenne, or to sell, than fell the vnder-wodde fyrste in wynter, that thy cattell or beastes maye eate and brouse the toppes, and to fell noo more on a daye but as moche

4

as the beastes wyll eate the same daye, or on the morowe

Make it up into faggots.

after. And as soone as it is well eaten or broused, thanne kydde it, and set them on the endes, and that wyll saue the bandes from rottynge, and they shall be

8

[Fol. 52*.]

the lyghter to carye, and the better wyll they brenne, and lie in lesse rowme. And whan thou shalt bryng them

How to stack faggots.

home to make a stacke of them, set the nethermoste course vpon the endes, and the seconde course flat vppon

12

the syde, and the endes vpwarde, and the thyrde cou[r]se flatte on the syde ouerthwart the other. And so to peruse them, tyll thou haue layd all vp. And whan thou shalte brenne them, take the ouermoste fyrste.

16

132. ¶ To shrede, lop, or croppe trees.

How to shred, lop, and crop trees.

If thou haue any trees to shrede, loppe, or croppe for the fyre-wodde, croppe them in wynter, that thy beastes maye eate the brouse, and the mosse of the bowes, and also the yues. And whanne they be broused

4

and eaten, dresse the wodde, and bowe it clene, and cutte it at every byghte, and rere the greatte wodde to the tree, and kydde the smal bowes, and set them on ende. And if thou shalte not haue sufficyent wodde,

8

Do not head trees too low.

excepte thou heed thy trees, and cut of the toppes, than heed theym thre or foure fote aboue any tymber: and if it be noo tymbre tree, but a shaken tree, or a hedge-rote full of knottes, than heed hym thyrty foote hyghe,

12

[Fol. 52*b.]

or twenty at the leaste, for soo ferre he wyll beare plentye of woode and bowes, and moche more, thanne

Trees grow only to a certain height; then they spread.

if he were not heeded. For a tree hath a propertye to growe to a certayne heyght, and whan he commeth to

16

that heyghte, he standeth styll, and groweth noo hyer, but in brede; and in conclusion the toppe wyll dye and decrease, and the body thryue. And if a tree be heeded, and vsed to be lopped and cropped at euerye

20

.xii. or .xvi. yeres ende, or there-about, it wyll beare moche more woode, by processe of time, than if it were not cropped, and moche more profyte to the owner.

133. ¶ Howe a man shoulde shrede, loppe, or croppe trees.

In shredding trees, some men begin at the top.

It is the comon gyse, to begynne at the top of the tree, whan he shall be shred or cropped, bycause eche bough shulde lye vppon other whan they shall fal, so that the weight of the bowes shall cause theym to be

4

It is not the best way.

the rather cut downe. But that is not beste, for that causeth the bowes to slaue downe the nether parte, and pulleth awaye the barke from the bodye of the tree, the whiche wyll cause the tree to be holowe in that place

8

in tyme commynge, and many tymes it shall hynder

[Fol. 53*.]

hym. And therfore lette hym begynne at the nether-moste boughe fyrste, and with a lyghte axe for an hande, to cut the boughe on bothe sydes, a fote or two foote

12

from the bodye of the tree. And specially cut it more on the nether syde, than on the ouer syde, soo that the boughe fall not streyght downe, but turne on the syde, and than shall it not slaue nor breke no barke.

16

And euery boughe wil haue a newe heed, and beare

Never crop or head a tree with a north or east wind,

moche more woode; and by thy wyll, without thou must nedes do it, crop not thy tree, nor specyallye heed hym, whan the wynde standeth in the northe, or in the eest.

20

And beware, that thou croppe hym not, nor heed hym

nor in sap-time.

(specially) in sappe-tyme, for than wyll he dye within fewe yeres after, if it be an oke.

134. ¶ To sell woode or tymber.

Retail the wood yourself.

If thou haue any woode to selle, I aduyse the, retayle it thy-selfe, if thou mayste attende vppon it: and if not, thanne to cause thy baylye, or somme other wyse or

If small, sell in faggots.

dyscrete man, to do it for the. And if it be small wode,

4

to kydde it, and sel it by the hundredes, or by the thousandes. And if there be asshes in it, to sell the smalle

[Fol. 53*b.]

asshes to cowpers for garches, and the gret asshes to whele-wryghtes, and the meane asshes to plowe-wrightes,

8

and the crabbe-trees to myllers, to make cogges and ronges. And if there be any okes, bothe gret and smal,

Fell oaks and sell them.

fel them, and pyl them, and sel the barke by it-selfe; and than sorte the trees, the polles by them-selfe, the myddel

12

sorte

[30]

by them-selfe, and the greattest by them-selfe, & than sel them by scores, or halfe scores, or .C. as thou maist, and to fel it hard by the erth, for i. fote next vnto the erth is worthe .ii fote in the top; and to cut

16

thy tymber longe ynoughe, that thou leue no timber in the toppe. And to sell the toppes as they lye a greatte, or elles dresse them & sel the great wodde by it-selfe, & the kyd-wodde by it-selfe, and to fal the vnder-wode

20

fyrst at any tyme between Martilmas and holyrode-day.

Ash-trees.

And al the asshes, bytwene Martylmasse and Candelmas, and all okes, as soon as they wyl pyl, vntyl May be done, and not after. Perauenture the greattest man hath not

24

Selling wood requires care.

the beste prouisyon. And that is bycause the seruauntes wyll not enfourme hym these wayes, and also may fortune they wold bye suche woodes theym-selfe, or be partener of the same and to auyse his lorde to sel them. It is not

28

co

n

uenient that the salesman, that selleth the wod, shuld be partener with the bier.

[Fol. 54*.]

135. ¶ To kepe sprynge-wodde.

In the wynter before that thou wilt fel thy wodde, make a good and a sure hedge, that no maner of cattel can get in. And as shortly as it is fallen, let it be caryed away, or

Of plantations or ‘spring-wood.’

the sprynge come vp, for els the cattell, that doth cary

4

the wodde, wyll eate the sprynge: and whan the top is eaten, or broken, it is a great lette, hurte, and hynderaunce of the goodnes of the sprynge; for than where it is eaten, it burges oute of many braunches, and not soo fayre as

8

the fyrst wolde haue ben. A parke is best kept, where there is neyther man, dogge, nor foure-foted beast therin, except dere. And so is a spryng beste kepte, where

If there is much grass there, put in only calves and colts.

there is neyther manne nor foure-foted beastes within

12

the hedge. But if there be moche grasse, and thou were lothe to lose it, than put in calues, newly wained and taken from theyr dammes, and also waynynge coltes, or horses not paste a yere of age: and let thy calues be

16

taken away at Maye; the coltes may go lenger for eating of any wodde; but there is ieoperdy bothe for calues, foles, and coltes, for tyckes or for beinge lowsy, the whiche wyl kyl them, if they be not taken hede vnto.

20

And .vii. yeres is the lest that it wil saue it-selfe, but

[Fol. 54*b.]

.x. yeres is best. And than the vnder bowes wolde be cutte awaye, and made kyddes therof, and the other wyll growe moche the better and faster. And if the

24

Cut away the underwood.

vnder bowes be not cutte awaye, they wyll dye, and than they be loste, and greatte hurte to the sprynge, for they take awaye the sappe, that shoulde cause the sprynge to growe better.

28

136. ¶ Necessary thynges belongynge to graffynge.

Pears, apples, cherries, filberts, bullace, damsons, &c.

It is necessarye, profytable, and also a pleasure, to a housbande, to haue peares, wardens, and apples of dyuerse sortes. And also cheryes, filberdes, bulleys, dampsons, plummes, walnuttes, and suche other. And

4

therfore it is conuenyent to lerne howe thou shalte graffe. Than it is to be knowen what thynges thou

A grafting-saw.

must haue to graffe withall. Thou muste haue a graffynge-sawe, the whiche wolde be very thynne, and

8

thycke-tothed; and bycause it is thynne, it wyll cut the narower kyrfe, and the cleaner, for brusynge of the barke. And therfore it is sette in a compasse pece of yren,

Grafting-knife.

syxe inches of, to make it styffe and bygge. Thou

12

muste haue also a graffynge-knyfe, an inche brode, with

[Fol. 55*.]

a thycke backe, to cleue the stocke with-all. And also a mallet, to dryue the knyfe and thy wedge in-to the

Mallet, and sharp small knives.

tree: and a sharpe knife, to pare the stockes heed, and

16

an other sharpe knyfe, to cutte the graffe cleane. And also thou muste haue two wedges of harde wood, or elles

Two wedges.

of yren, a longe small one for a small stocke, and broder for a bygger stocke, to open the stocke, whan it is clouen

20

Clay, moss, and bast.

and pared: and also good tough claye and mosse, and also bastes or pyllynge of wethy or elme, to bynde them with, &c.

137. ¶ What fruite shuld be fyrste graffed.

Graft pears before apples.

Peares and wardens wolde be graffed before any maner of apples, bycause the sappe commeth sooner and rather in-to the peare-tree and warden-tree, thanne in-to the

Graft from Feb. 14 to March 25.

apple-tree. And after saynt Valentynes daye, it is tyme

4

to grade both peares and wardens, tyll Marche be comen, and thanne to graffe appels to our lady daye. And than graffe that that is gette of an olde apple-tree fyrste, for that wyll budde before the graffe get of a yonge apple-tree

8

late graffed. And a peare or a warden wolde be graded in a pyrre-stocke; and if thou canst get none,

[Fol. 55*b.]

than graffe it in a crabbe-tree stocke, and it wyll do well: and some men grade theym in a whyte-thorne, and than

12

A crab-stock is best for apples.

it wyll be the more harder and stonye. And for all maner of appels, the crabtree stocke is beste.

138. ¶ Howe to graffe.

Select the graft.

Thou muste get thy graffes of the fayrest lanses, that thou canste fynde on the tree, and see that it haue a good

Saw the crab-tree,

knotte or ioynte, and an euen. Than take thy sawe, and sawe in-to thy c[r]abbetree, in a fayre playne place, pare it

4

cleave and open the stock;

euen with thy knyfe, and thanne cleaue the stocke with thy greatte knyfe and thy mallet, and set in a wedge, and open the stocke, accordynge to the thyckenesse of thy graffe; thanne take thy smalle sharpe knyfe, and cutte

8

the graffe on bothe sydes in the ioynte, but passe not the myddes therof for nothynge, and let the inner syde, that shall be set in-to the stocke, be a lyttel thynner than the vtter syde, and the nether poynte of the graffe the

12

then put the graft into the stock.

thynner: than proferre thy graffe in-to the stocke; and if it go not close, than cut the graffe or the stocke, tyll they close cleane, that thou canste not put the edge of

[Fol. 56*.]

thy knyfe on neyther syde betwene the stocke and the

16

graffe, and sette them so that the toppes of the graffe bende a lyttell outewarde, and see that the wodde of the graffe be set mete with the wodde of the stocke, and the sappe of the stocke maye renne streyght and euen with

20

The bark of the graft is thinner than that of the stock.

the sappe of the graffe. For the barke of the graffe is neuer soo thicke as the barke of the stocke. And therfore thou mayste not sette the barkes mete on the vtter syde, but on the inner syde: than pulle awaye thy wedge,

24

and it wyl stande moche faster. Than take toughe cleye, lyke marley, and ley it vppon the stocke-heed, and with thy fynger laye it close vnto the graffe, and a lyttel vnder the heed, to kepe it moyst, and that no wynde come into

28

Cover with moss, and bind with bast.

the stocke at the cleauynge. Than take mosse, and laye thervpon, for chynynge of the claye: than take a baste of whyte wethy or elme, or halfe a bryer, and bynd the mosse, the clay, and the graffe together, but be well ware,

32

that thou breake not thy graffe, neyther in the clayenge, nor in the byndynge; and thou muste set some-thinge by the graffe, that crowes, nor byrdes do not lyght vpon thy graffe, for if they do, they wil breake hym, &c.

36

[Fol. 56*b.]

139. ¶ To graffe bytwene the barke and the tree.

There is an other maner of graffinge than this, and soner done, & soner to growe: but it is more ieoperdy for

Another way of grafting.

winde whan it begynneth to growe. Thou muste sawe thy stocke, and pare the heed therof, as thou diddest

4

before, but cleue it not: than take thy graffe, and cut it in the ioynt to the myddes, and make the tenaunte therof halfe an inche longe or a lyttell more, all on the one syde, and pare the barke awaye a lyttel at the poynt on the

8

Use a punch of hard wood.

other syde: than thou muste haue made redy a ponch of harde wood, with a stop and a tenaunte on the one syde, lyke to the tenaunte of the graffe. Than put the tenaunt of the ponche betwen the barke and the woode of the

12

stocke, and pull it out agayne, and put in the graffe, and se that it ioyne close, or els mende it. And this can-not fayle, for now the sappe cometh on euery syde, but it wyl spring soo faste, that if it stande on playne

16

The graft requires protection from the wind.

grounde, the wynde is lykelye to blowe it besyde the heed, for it hath no fastnes in the wodde. And this is beste remedy for blowynge of, to cutte or clyppe awaye

[Fol. 57.]

somme of the nethermooste leaues as they growe. And

20

this is the beste waye to graffe, and specyally a greate tree: than claye it, and bynde it as dyddest the other, &c.

140. ¶ To nourishe all maner of stone fruite, and nuttes.

Stone-fruits.

As for cheryes, dampsons, bulleys, plummes, and suche other, maye be sette of stones, and also of the scyences, growynge aboute the tree, of the same, for they wyll

Filberts and walnuts.

sooneste beare. Fylberdes and walnuttes maye be set of

4

the nuttes in a gardeyne, and after remoued and sette where he wyll. But whan they be remoued, they wolde be set vpon as good a grounde, or a better, or els they wyll not lyke.

8

141. ¶ A shorte information for a yonge gentyl-man, that entendeth to thryue.

Get a copy of this book, and read it from beginning to end.

I auyse hym to gette a copy of this presente boke, and to rede it frome the begynnynge to the endynge, wherby he maye perceyue the chapyters and contentes of the same, and by reason of ofte redyng, he maye

4

waxe perfyte, what shulde be doone at all seasons. For

[Fol. 57b.]

I lerned two verses at grammar-scole, and they be these:

Cf. Ovid, ex Ponto Epist. IV. x. 5.

Gutta cauat lapidem non vi, sed sæpe cadendo: Sic homo fit sapiens non vi, sed sæpe legendo

: A droppe of water perseth

8

a stoone, not al-onely by his owne strengthe, but by his often fallynge. Ryghte so a man shall be made wyse, not all-onely by hym-selfe, but by his ofte redynge. And soo maye this yonge gentyllman, accordynge to the

12

Read a chapter to your servants now and then.

season of the yere, rede to his seruauntes what chapyter he wyll. And also for any other maner of profyte conteyned in the same, the whiche is necessary for a yonge husbande, that hath not the experyence of housbandrye,

16

nor other thynges conteyned in this presente boke, to take a good remembraunce and credence thervnto, for there is an olde sayinge, but of what auctorytie I cannot

Practice is better than theory.

tell:

Quod melior est practica rusticoru

m,

q

uam

scie

n

tia

20

philosophorum.

It is better the practiue or knowlege of an husband-man well proued, than the science or connynge of a philosopher not proued, for there is nothynge touchyng husbandry, and other profytes conteyned in

24

this presente booke, but I haue hadde the experyence therof, and proued the same. And ouer and beside al this boke, I wil aduise him to ryse betime in the morning,

[Fol. 58.]

according to the verse before spoke of,

Sanat, sanctificat,

28

et ditat surgere mane

: And go about his closes, pastures, fieldes, and specially by the hedges, & to haue in his

Keep a pair of tables, and make notes of all that seems amiss.

purse a payre of tables, and whan he seeth any-thing, that wolde be amended, to wryte it in his tables: as if he

32

fynde any horses, mares, beastes, shepe, swyne, or geese in his pastures, that be not his owne: And perauenture thoughe they be his owne, he wolde not haue them to goo there, or to fynde a gap, or a sherde in his hedge,

36

or any water standynge in his pastures vppon his grasse, wherby he maye take double hurte, bothe losse of his grasse, and rotting of his shepe and calues. And also of standynge-water in his corne-fieldes at the landes

40

endes, or sydes, and howe he wolde haue his landes

Look to the corn, cattle, ditches, etc.

plowed, donged, sturred, or sowen. And his corne weded or shorne or his cattell shifted out of one pasture into an other, and to loke what dychyng, quicsettyng, or plashing,

44

is necessary to be had, and to ouer-se his shepeherd, how he handleth and ordreth his shepe, and his seruantes

Look to the gates.

howe they plowe and do theyr warkes, or if any gate be broken down, or want any staues, and go not lyghtly

48

to open and tyne, and that it do not traile, and that the windes blowe it not open, with many mo necessary

[Fol. 58b.]

thynges that are to be loked vpon. For a man alwaye wanderynge or goinge aboute somewhat, fyndeth or seeth

52

that is a-mysse, and wolde be amended. And as soone as he seeth any suche defautes, than let hym take oute his tables, and wryte the defautes. And whan he commeth home to diner, supper, or at nyght, than let hym call his

56

Tell your bailiff of all that needs to be done.

bayly, or his heed-seruaunte, and soo shewe hym the defautes, that they may be shortly amended. And whan it is amended, than let him put it out of his tables. For this vsed I to doo .x. or .xii. yeres and more. And thus

60

let hym vse dayely, and in shorte space he shall sette moche thynges in good order, but dayely it wyll haue

If you cannot write, make nicks on a stick.

mendynge. And yf he canne not wryte, let hym nycke the defautes vppon a stycke, and to shewe his bayely, as

64

I sayde before. Also take hede bothe erly and late, at all tymes, what maner of people resorte and comme to thy house, and the cause of theyr commynge, and specially if they brynge with them pytchers, cannes, tancardes,

68

Keep an eye on the servants, and on all who come to your house.

bottelles, bagges, wallettes, or busshell-pokes. For if thy seruauntes be not true, they maye doo the great hurte, and them-selfe lyttel auauntage. Wherfore they wolde be well loked vppon. And he that hath .ii. true seruauntes,

72

a man-seruaunte, and an-other a woman-seruaunt, he hath

[Fol. 59.]

a great treasure, for a trewe seruaunte wyl do iustly hym-selfe, and if he se his felowes do amysse, he wyl byd them do no more so, for if they do, he wyll shewe his master

76

therof: and if he do not this, he is not a trewe seruaunt.

142. ¶ A lesson made in Englisshe verses, to teache a gentylmans seruaunt, to saye at euery tyme whan he taketh his horse, for his remembraunce, that he shall not forget his gere in his inne behynde hym.

Pvrse, dagger, cloke, nyght-cap, kerchef, shoyng-horne, boget, and shoes.

Hexameter verses, to help the memory.

Spere, male, hode, halter, sadelclothe, spores, hatte, with thy horse-combe.

Bowe, arrowes, sworde, bukler, horne, leisshe, gloues, stringe, and thy bracer.

Penne, paper, inke, parchmente, reedwaxe, pommes, bokes, thou remember. 4

Penknyfe, combe, thimble, nedle, threde, poynte, leste that thy gurthe breake.

Bodkyn, knyfe, lyngel, gyue thy horse meate, se he be showed well.

Make mery, synge and thou can; take hede to thy gere, that thou lose none.

[Fol. 59b.]

143. ¶ A prologue for the wyues occupation.

Nowe thou husbande, that haste doone thy dylygence and labour, that longeth to an husbande, to get thy lyuynge, thy wyues, thy chyldrens, and thy seruauntes:

Seldom thrives the husband without his wife’s leave.

yet are there other thynges, that muste nedes be done,

4

or elles thou shalte not thryue. For there is an olde common sayenge, that seldom doth the housbande thryue, withoute the leue of his wyfe. By this sayenge it shoulde seme, that there be other occupations and labours, that

8

be moste conuenient for the wyues to do. And howe be

I will tell the wives part of their duties.

it that I haue not experyence of al theyr occupations and warkes, as I haue of husbandry, yet a lyttell wyl I speke what they ought to do, though I tel them nat howe they

12

shulde doo and exercyse theyr labours and occupations.

144. ¶ A lesson for the wyfe.

But yet er I begynne to shewe the wyfe, what warkes

A lesson of Solomon.

she shall do, I wyll firste teche her a lesson of Salomon, as I did to her husbande a lesson of the philosopher, and that is, that she shulde not be ydle at noo tyme:

4

for Salomon saythe,

Ociosus non gaudebit cum electis in cælo: sed lugebit in æternum cum reprobis in inferno

: That

[Fol. 60.]

is to say, The ydle folke shall not ioye with the chosen folkes in heuen, but they shall sorowe with the reproued

8

A lesson of Jerome.

and forsaken folkes in hell. And saynt Iherom saythe:

Semper boni operis aliquid facito, vt te diabolus inueniat occupatum: Quia sicut in aqua stante generantur vermes: sic in homine ocioso generantur malæ cogitationes