<P_9>

1 . (FITZH-E1-P1,9.2)

Here begynneth the boke of husbandry , (FITZH-E1-P1,9.3)

and fyrste where-by husbande-men do lyue . (FITZH-E1-P1,9.4)

The mooste generall lyuynge that husbandes can haue , is by plowynge
and sowyng of theyr cornes , and rerynge or bredynge of theyr cattel ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,9.5)

and not the one withoute the other . (FITZH-E1-P1,9.6)

Than is the ploughe the moste necessaryest instrumente that an husbande
can occupy . Wherfore it is conuenyent to be knowen , howe a plough
shulde be made . (FITZH-E1-P1,9.7)

2 . (FITZH-E1-P1,9.8)

<heading>

DYUERS MANERS OF PLOWES . (FITZH-E1-P1,9.10)

</heading>

There be plowes of dyuers makynges in dyuers countreys ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,9.12)

and in lyke wyse there be plowes of yren of dyuers facyons .
(FITZH-E1-P1,9.13)

And that is bycause there be many maner {COM:sic} of groundes and
soyles . Some whyte cley , some redde cley , some grauell or chylturne
, some sande , some meane erthe , some medled with marle , and in many
places heeth-grounde , (FITZH-E1-P1,9.14)

and one ploughe wyll not serue in all places . Wherfore it is
necessarye , to haue dyuers maners of plowes . (FITZH-E1-P1,9.15)

In Sommersetshyre , about Zelcester , the sharbeame , that in many
places is called the ploughehedde , is foure or fyue foote longe ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,9.16)

and it is brode and thynne . (FITZH-E1-P1,9.17)

And that is bycause the lande is verye toughe , (FITZH-E1-P1,9.18)

and wolde soke the ploughe into the erthe , yf the sharbearne were not
long , brode , and thynne . (FITZH-E1-P1,9.19)

In Kente they haue other maner {COM:sic} of plowes , (FITZH-E1-P1,9.20)

somme goo with wheles , as they doo in many other places ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,9.21)

and some wyll tourne the sheldbredth at euery landes ende , and plowe
all one waye . (FITZH-E1-P1,9.22)

In Buckynghamshyre , are plowes made <P_10> of an nother {COM:sic}
maner , and also other maner of plougheyrons , the whyche me semeth
generally good , and lykely to serue in many places , and specially if
the ploughbeame and sharbeame be foure ynches longer , betwene the
shethe and the ploughe-tayle , that the sheldbrede myght come more
a-slope : (FITZH-E1-P1,10.23)

for those plowes gyue out to sodeinly , (FITZH-E1-P1,10.24)

and therfore they be the worse to drawe , (FITZH-E1-P1,10.25)

and for noo cause elles . (FITZH-E1-P1,10.26)

In Leycestershyre , Lankesshyre , Yorkeshyre , Lyncoln , Norfolke ,
Cambrydge-shyre , and manye other countreyes , the plowes be of dyuers
makinges , the whyche were to longe processe to declare howe , &c .
(FITZH-E1-P1,10.27)

But how so euer they be made , yf they be well tempered , and goo well
, they maye be the better suffred . (FITZH-E1-P1,10.28)

3 . (FITZH-E1-P1,10.29)

<heading>

TO KNOWE THE NAMES OF ALL THE PARTES OF THE PLOWE . (FITZH-E1-P1,10.31)

</heading>

Men that be no husbandes maye fortune to rede this boke , that knowe
not whiche is the ploughe-beame , the sharebeame , the ploughe-shethe ,
the ploughe-tayle , the stilte , the rest , the sheldbrede , the
fenbrede , the roughe staues , the ploughe-fote , the ploughe-eare or
coke , the share , the culture , and ploughe-mal . (FITZH-E1-P1,10.33)

Perauenture I gyue them these names here , as is vsed in my countre ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,10.34)

and yet in other countreyes they haue other names : wherfore ye shall
knowe , that the ploughe-beame is the longe tree aboue , the whiche is
a lytel bente . (FITZH-E1-P1,10.35)

The sharbeame is the tre vnderneth , where-vpon the share is set ;
(FITZH-E1-P1,10.36)

the ploughesheth is a thyn pece of drye woode , made of oke , that is
set fast in a morteys in the plough-beame , and also in to the
share-beame , the whiche is the keye and the chiefe bande of all the
plough . (FITZH-E1-P1,10.37)

The plough-tayle is that the husbande holdeth in his hande ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,10.38)

and the hynder ende of the ploughebeame is put in a longe slyt , made
in the same tayle , and not set faste , (FITZH-E1-P1,10.39)

but it maye ryse vp and go <P_11> $downe , (FITZH-E1-P1,11.40)

and is pynned behynde , (FITZH-E1-P1,11.41)

and the same ploughetayle is set faste in a morteys , in the hynder
ende of the sharebeame . (FITZH-E1-P1,11.42)

The plough-stylte is on the ryghte syde of the ploughe , whervpon the
rest is set ; (FITZH-E1-P1,11.43)

the rest is a lyttell pece of woode , pynned fast vpon the nether ende
of the stylt , and to the sharebeame in the ferther ende .
(FITZH-E1-P1,11.44)

The sheldbrede is a brode pece of wodde , fast pinned to the ryghte
side of the shethe in the ferther ende , and to the vtter syde of the
stylte in the hynder ende . (FITZH-E1-P1,11.45)

The fenbrede is a thyn borde , pynned or nayled moste commonly to the
lyft syde of the shethe in the ferther ende , and to the ploughe-tayle
in the hynder ende . (FITZH-E1-P1,11.46)

And the sayde sheldbrede wolde come ouer the sayde shethe and fenbrede
an inche , and to come past the myddes of the share , made with a
sharpe edge , to raceyue and turne the erthe whan the culture hath cut
it . (FITZH-E1-P1,11.47)

There be two roughe staues in euery ploughe in the hynder ende , set
a-slope betwene the ploughe-tayle and the stilt , to holde out and kepe
the plough abrode in the hynder ende , (FITZH-E1-P1,11.48)

and the one lenger than the other . (FITZH-E1-P1,11.49)

The plough-fote is a lyttell pece of wodde , with a croked ende set
before in a morteys in the ploughe-beame , sette fast with wedges , to
dryue vppe and downe , (FITZH-E1-P1,11.50)

and it is a staye to order of what depenes the ploughe shall go .
(FITZH-E1-P1,11.51)

The ploughe-eare is made of thre peces of yren , nayled faste vnto the
ryght syde of the plough-beame . (FITZH-E1-P1,11.52)

And poore men haue a croked pece of wode pynned faste to the
ploughbeame . (FITZH-E1-P1,11.53)

The share is a pece of yren , sharpe before and brode behynde , a fote
longe , made with a socket to be set on the ferther ende of the
share-beame . (FITZH-E1-P1,11.54)

The culture is a bende pece of yren sette in a morteys in the myddes of
the plough-beame , fastened with wedges on euery syde ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,11.55)

and the backe therof is halfe an inche thycke and more , and three
inches brode , and made kene before to cutte the erthe clene ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,11.56)

and it must be wel steeled , (FITZH-E1-P1,11.57)

and that <P_12> shall cause the easyer draughte , and the yrens to
laste moche lenger . (FITZH-E1-P1,12.58)

The plough-mal is a pece of harde woode , with a pynne put throughe ,
set in the ploughbeame , in an augurs bore . (FITZH-E1-P1,12.59)

4 . (FITZH-E1-P1,12.60)

<heading>

The temprynge of plowes . (FITZH-E1-P1,12.62)

</heading>

Nowe the plowes be made of dyuers maners ; (FITZH-E1-P1,12.64)

it is necessarye for an housbande , to knowe howe these plowes shulde
be tempered , to plowe and turne clene , and to make no reste-balkes .
(FITZH-E1-P1,12.65)

A reste-balke is where the plough byteth at the poynte of the culture
and share , and cutteth not the ground cleane to the forowe , that was
plowed laste before , but leaueth a lyttell rydge standynge betwene ,
the whiche dothe brede thistyls , and other wedes . (FITZH-E1-P1,12.66)

All these maner {COM:sic} of plowes shulde haue all lyke one maner of
temperyng in the yrens . (FITZH-E1-P1,12.67)

Howe-be-it a man maye temper for one thynge in two or thre places , as
for depnes . (FITZH-E1-P1,12.68)

The fote is one : (FITZH-E1-P1,12.69)

the setting of the culture of a depnes , is a-nother :
(FITZH-E1-P1,12.70)

and the thyrde is at the ploughetayle , where be two wedges , that be
called slote-wedges : (FITZH-E1-P1,12.71)

the one is in the slote above the beame , the other in the saide slote
, vnder the plough-beame ; (FITZH-E1-P1,12.72)

and other whyle he wyll set bothe aboue , or bothe vndernethe ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,12.73)

but alway let hym take good hede , and kepe one generall rule , that
the hynder ende of the sharebeme alway touche the erthe , that it may
kyll a $worme {COM:following_ed._1598,_ed._1534_has_"worde"} , or elles
it goth not truly . (FITZH-E1-P1,12.74)

The temperynge to go brode and narowe is in the settyng of the culture
: and with the dryuinge of his syde-wedges , forewedge , and helewedge
, whiche wolde be made of drye woode , (FITZH-E1-P1,12.75)

and also the settynge on of his share helpeth well ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,12.76)

and is a connynge poynte of husbandry , (FITZH-E1-P1,12.77)

and mendeth and payreth moch plowyng : (FITZH-E1-P1,12.78)

but it is so narowe <P_13> a point to know , that it is harde to make a
man to vnderstande it by wrytynge , without he were at the operation
therof , to teache the practyue : (FITZH-E1-P1,13.79)

for it muste leane moche in-to the forowe , (FITZH-E1-P1,13.80)

and the poynt may not stande to moch vp nor downe , nor to moche in-to
the lande , nor into the forowe . (FITZH-E1-P1,13.81)

Howe-be-it , the settynge of the culture helpeth moche .
(FITZH-E1-P1,13.82)

Somme plowes haue a bende of yron tryanglewise , sette there as the
plough-eare shulde be , that hath thre nyckes on the farther syde .
(FITZH-E1-P1,13.83)

And yf he wyll haue his plough to go a narowe forowe , as a sedeforowe
shulde be , than he setteth his fote-teame in the nycke nexte to the
ploughe-beame ; (FITZH-E1-P1,13.84)

and yf he wyll go a meane bredth , he setteth it in the myddell nycke ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,13.85)

that is beste for sturrynge ; (FITZH-E1-P1,13.86)

and if he wolde go a brode forowe , he setteth it in the vttermoste
nycke , (FITZH-E1-P1,13.87)

that is beste for falowynge : (FITZH-E1-P1,13.88)

The whyche is a good waye to kepe the bredthe , and soone tempered ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,13.89)

but it serueth not the depenesse . (FITZH-E1-P1,13.90)

And some men haue in stede of the ploughfote , a piece of yron set
vpryghte in the farther ende of the ploughe-beame , (FITZH-E1-P1,13.91)

and they calle it a coke , made with ii. or thre nyckes ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,13.92)

and that serueth for depenes . (FITZH-E1-P1,13.93)

The plowes that goo with wheles , haue a streyghte beame ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,13.94)

and maye be tempred in the yron , as the other be , for the bredth ;
(FITZH-E1-P1,13.95)

but their most speciall temper is at the bolster , $where $as
{TEXT:where-as} the plough-beame lyeth , (FITZH-E1-P1,13.96)

and that serueth both for depnes and for bredth . (FITZH-E1-P1,13.97)

And they be good on euen grounde that lyeth lyghte ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,13.98)

but me semeth they be farre more costly than the other plowes .
(FITZH-E1-P1,13.99)

And thoughe these plowes be well tempred for one maner grounde , that
tempre wyll not serue in an other maner of grounde ;
(FITZH-E1-P1,13.100)

but it muste reste in the dyscretion of the housbande , to knowe whanne
it gothe well . (FITZH-E1-P1,13.101)

<P_14>

5 . (FITZH-E1-P1,14.103)

<heading>

THE NECESSARY THYNGES THAT BELONGE TO A PLOUGHE , CARTE , AND WAYNE .
(FITZH-E1-P1,14.105)

</heading>

Bvt or he begyn to plowe , he muste haue his ploughe and his
ploughe-yren , his oxen or horses , and the geare that belongeth to
them ; (FITZH-E1-P1,14.107)

that is to say , bowes , yokes , landes , stylkynges , wrethynge-temes
. (FITZH-E1-P1,14.108)

And or he shall lode his corne , he muste haue a wayne , a copyoke , a
payre of sleues , a wayne-rope , and a pykforke . (FITZH-E1-P1,14.109)

This wayne is made of dyuers peces , that wyll haue a greate reparation
, (FITZH-E1-P1,14.110)

that is to saye , the wheles , (FITZH-E1-P1,14.111)

and those be made of nathes , spokes , fellyes , and dowles ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,14.112)

and they muste be well fettred with wood or yren . (FITZH-E1-P1,14.113)

And if they be yren bounden , they are moche the better ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,14.114)

and thoughe they be the derer at the fyrst , yet at lengthe they be
better cheape ; (FITZH-E1-P1,14.115)

for a payre of wheles yren bounde wyl weare vii. or viii. payre of
other wheles , (FITZH-E1-P1,14.116)

and they go rounde and lyght after oxen or horses to draw .
(FITZH-E1-P1,14.117)

Howbeit on marreis ground and soft ground the other wheles be better ,
bycause they be broder on the soule , and will not go so depe .
(FITZH-E1-P1,14.118)

They must haue an axiltre , clout with .viii. waincloutes of yren , ii.
lyn-pinnes of yren in the axiltre-endes , ii. axil-pynnes of yren or
els of tough harde wodde . (FITZH-E1-P1,14.119)

The bodye of the wayne of oke , the staues , the nether rathes , the
ouer rathes , the crosse somer , the keys and pikstaues .
(FITZH-E1-P1,14.120)

And if he go with a hors-ploughe , than muste he haue his horses or
mares , or both his bombers or collers , holmes whyted , tresses ,
swyngletrees , and togwith . Alsoo a carte made of asshe , bycause it
is lyghte , and lyke stuffe to it as is to a wayne , and also a
cart-sadel , bakbandes , and belybandes , and a carte-ladder behinde ,
whan he shall carye eyther corne or kyddes , or suche other .
(FITZH-E1-P1,14.121)

And in many countreys theyr waynes haue carteladders bothe behynde and
before . (FITZH-E1-P1,14.122)

Also an husbande muste haue an axe , a hachet , a hedgyngebyll , a
pyn-awgur , <P_15> a rest-awgur , a flayle , a spade , and a shouell .
(FITZH-E1-P1,15.123)

And howe-be-it that I gyue theym these names , as is most comonly vsed
in my contrey , I knowe they haue other names in other contreyes .
(FITZH-E1-P1,15.124)

But hereby a manne maye perceyue many thynges that belonge to husbandry
, to theyr greate costes and charges , for the mayntenance and
vpholdyng of the same . (FITZH-E1-P1,15.125)

And many moo thynges are belongynge to husbandes than these , as ye
shall well perceyue , er I haue made an ende of this treatyse .
(FITZH-E1-P1,15.126)

And if a yonge husbande shulde bye all these thynges , it wolde be
costely for hym : wherfore it is necessarye for hym to lerne to make
his yokes , oxe-bowes , stooles , and all maner of plough-geare .
(FITZH-E1-P1,15.127)

6 . (FITZH-E1-P1,15.128)

<heading>

WHETHER IS BETTER , A PLOUGH OF HORSES OR A PLOUGH OF OXEN .
(FITZH-E1-P1,15.130)

</heading>

It is to be knowen , whether is better , a plough of horses , or a
plough of oxen , (FITZH-E1-P1,15.132)

and therin me semeth oughte to be made a distinction .
(FITZH-E1-P1,15.133)

For in some places an oxe-ploughe is better than a horse-plough ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,15.134)

and in somme places a horse-ploughe is better : (FITZH-E1-P1,15.135)

that is to say , (FITZH-E1-P1,15.136)

in euery place $where $as {TEXT:where-as} the husband hath seueral
pastures to put his oxen in whan they come fro theyr warke , there the
oxeploughe is better . (FITZH-E1-P1,15.137)

For an oxe maye nat endure his warke , to labour all daye , and than to
be put to the commons , or before the herdman , and to be set in a
folde all nyghte without meate , and go to his labour in the mornynge .
(FITZH-E1-P1,15.138)

But and he be put in a good pasture all nyghte , he wyll labour moche
of all the daye dayely . (FITZH-E1-P1,15.139)

And oxen wyl plowe in tough cley , and vpon hylly grounde , $where $as
{TEXT:where-as} horses wyll stande $still . (FITZH-E1-P1,15.140)

And $where $as {TEXT:whereas} is noo seuerall pastures , there the
horse-plowe is better , (FITZH-E1-P1,15.141)

for the horses may be teddered or tyed vpon leys , balkes , or hades ,
where as oxen maye not be kept : and it is not vsed to tedder them ,
but in fewe places . (FITZH-E1-P1,15.142)

<P_16>

And horses wyl goo faster than oxen on euen grounde or lyght grounde ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,16.144)

& be quicker for cariage : (FITZH-E1-P1,16.145)

but they be ferre more costly to kepe in winter , (FITZH-E1-P1,16.146)

for they must haue both hey and corne to eate , and strawe for lytter ;
(FITZH-E1-P1,16.147)

they must be well shodde on all foure fete , (FITZH-E1-P1,16.148)

and the gere that they shal drawe with is more costely than for the
oxen , (FITZH-E1-P1,16.149)

and shorter whyle it wyll last . (FITZH-E1-P1,16.150)

And oxen wyll eate but straw , and a lyttell hey , the whiche is not
halfe the coste that horsis must haue , (FITZH-E1-P1,16.151)

and they haue no shoes , as horses haue . (FITZH-E1-P1,16.152)

And if any sorance come to the horse , or $he
{COM:"he"_added_by_editor} waxe olde , broysed , or blynde , than he is
lyttell worthe . (FITZH-E1-P1,16.153)

And if any sorance come to an oxe , $and $he
{COM:"and_he"_added_by_editor"} waxe olde , broysed , or blinde , for
ii. s. he maye be fedde , (FITZH-E1-P1,16.154)

and thanne he is mannes meate , and as good or better than euer he was
. (FITZH-E1-P1,16.155)

And the horse , whan he dyethe , is but caryen . (FITZH-E1-P1,16.156)

And therfore me semeth , all thynges consydered , the ploughe of oxen
is moche more profytable than the ploughe of horses .
(FITZH-E1-P1,16.157)

7 . (FITZH-E1-P1,16.158)

<heading>

THE DYLYGENCE AND ATTENDAUNCE THAT A HUSBANDE SHULDE GYUE TO HIS WARKE
, IN MANER OF AN OTHER PROLOGUE , AND THE SPECIALL GROUNDE OF ALL THIS
TREATYSE . (FITZH-E1-P1,16.160)

</heading>

Thou husbande , that intendeste to gette thy lyuynge by husbandry ,
take hede to the sayenge of the wyse phylosopher , the which sayth ,
<font> Adhibe curam , tene mensuram , et eris diues </font> .
(FITZH-E1-P1,16.162)

That is to saye , (FITZH-E1-P1,16.163)

Take hede to thy charge , (FITZH-E1-P1,16.164)

kepe measure , (FITZH-E1-P1,16.165)

and thou shalt be ryche . (FITZH-E1-P1,16.166)

And nowe to speke of the fyrste artycle of these .iii. $scilicet <font>
Adhibe curam </font> . (FITZH-E1-P1,16.167)

He that wyll take vpon hym to do any thinge , and be slouthefull ,
recheles , and not diligent to execute and to performe that thynge that
he taketh vpon hym , he shall neuer thryue by his occupation .
(FITZH-E1-P1,16.168)

And to the same entente saythe our lorde in his gospell , by a parable
<font> Nemo mittens manum suam ad aratrum respiciens retro , aptus
<P_17> est regno dei </font> . (FITZH-E1-P1,17.169)

The spirytuall constructyon of this texte , I remytte to the doctours
of dyuynitie , and to the greate clarkes ; (FITZH-E1-P1,17.170)

but to reduce and brynge the same texte to my purpose , I take it thus
. (FITZH-E1-P1,17.171)

There is noo man , puttynge his hande to the plough , lokyng backewarde
, is worthy to haue that thynge that he oughte to haue .
(FITZH-E1-P1,17.172)

For if he goo to the ploughe , and loke backewarde , he seeth not
whether the plough go in rydge or rayne , make a balke , or go
ouerthwarte . (FITZH-E1-P1,17.173)

And if it do so , there wyll be lyttell corne . (FITZH-E1-P1,17.174)

And so if a man attende not his husbandrye , but goo to sporte or playe
, tauerne or ale-house , or slepynge at home , and suche other ydle
warkes , he is not than worthy to haue any corne . (FITZH-E1-P1,17.175)

And therfore , <font> Fac quod venisti </font> , (FITZH-E1-P1,17.176)

Do that thou comest fore , (FITZH-E1-P1,17.177)

and thou shalte fynde that thou sekest fore , &c . (FITZH-E1-P1,17.178)

8 . (FITZH-E1-P1,17.179)

<heading>

HOWE A MAN SHULDE PLOWE ALL MANER OF LANDES ALL TYMES OF THE YERE .
(FITZH-E1-P1,17.181)

</heading>

Nowe these plowes be made and tempered , it is to be knowen howe a man
shoulde plowe all tymes of the yere . (FITZH-E1-P1,17.183)

In the begynnynge of the yere , after the feast of the Epiphany , it is
tyme for a husbande to go to the ploughe . (FITZH-E1-P1,17.184)

And if thou haue any leys , to falowe or to sowe otes upon , fyrste
plowe them , that the grasse and the mosse may rotte ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,17.185)

and plowe them a depe square forowe . (FITZH-E1-P1,17.186)

And in all maner of plowynge , se that thy eye , thy hande , and thy
fote do agree , and be alwaye redy one to serve a-nother , and to turne
vp moche molde , and to lay it flat , that it rere not on edge .
(FITZH-E1-P1,17.187)

For if it rere on edge , the grasse and mosse wyll not rotte .
(FITZH-E1-P1,17.188)

And if thou sowe it with winter-corne , as whete or ry , as moche corne
as toucheth the mosse wyll be drowned , the mosse dothe kepe such wete
in it self . (FITZH-E1-P1,17.189)

And in some countreys , if a man plowe depe , <P_18> he shall passe the
good grounde , and haue but lyttel corne : (FITZH-E1-P1,18.190)

but that countrey is not for men to kepe husbandry vppon , but for to
rere and brede catell or shepe , (FITZH-E1-P1,18.191)

for elles they muste go beate theyr landes with mattockes , as they do
in many places of Cornewayle , and in som places of Deuonshyre .
(FITZH-E1-P1,18.192)

9 . (FITZH-E1-P1,18.193)

<heading>

TO PLOWE FOR PEASE AND BEANES . (FITZH-E1-P1,18.195)

</heading>

Howe to plowe for pees and beanes , were necessarye to knowe .
(FITZH-E1-P1,18.197)

Fyrst thou muste remember , whiche is mooste cley-grounde ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,18.198)

and that plowe fyrste , (FITZH-E1-P1,18.199)

and lette it lye a good space , er thou sowe it : bycause the froste ,
the rayne , the wynde , and the sonne may cause it to breake smalle ,
to make moche molde , and to rygge it . (FITZH-E1-P1,18.200)

And to plow a square forowe , the bredthe and the depenes all one , and
to laye it close to his felow . (FITZH-E1-P1,18.201)

For the more forowes , the more corne , for a generall rule of all
maner of cornes . (FITZH-E1-P1,18.202)

And that may be proued at the comynge vp of all maner of corne , to
stande at the landes ende and loke toward the other ende ;
(FITZH-E1-P1,18.203)

And than may ye se , howe the corne groweth . (FITZH-E1-P1,18.204)

. (FITZH-E1-P1,18.205)

<heading>

HOWE TO SOWE BOTHE PEASE AND BEANES . (FITZH-E1-P1,18.207)

</heading>

Thou shalt sowe thy peas vpon the cley-grounde , and thy beanes vpon
the barley-grounde : (FITZH-E1-P1,18.209)

for they wolde have ranker grounde than pease . (FITZH-E1-P1,18.210)

How-be-it some husbandes holde opynion , that bigge and styffe grounde
, as cley , wolde be sowen with bigge stuffe , as beanes ;
(FITZH-E1-P1,18.211)

but me thynke the contrary . (FITZH-E1-P1,18.212)

For if a dry sommer come , his beanes wil be shorte .
(FITZH-E1-P1,18.213)

And if the grounde be good , putte the more beanes to the pease ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,18.214)

and the better shall they yelde , whan they be thresshed .
(FITZH-E1-P1,18.215)

<P_19>

And if it be very ranke grounde , as is moche at euery towne-syde ,
where catel doth resort , plowe not that lande , tyll ye wyll sowe it ;
(FITZH-E1-P1,19.217)

for if ye do , there wyll come vppe kedlokes and other wedes .
(FITZH-E1-P1,19.218)

And than sowe it with beanes ; (FITZH-E1-P1,19.219)

for if ye sowe pees , the kedlokes wyll hurte them ;
(FITZH-E1-P1,19.220)

and whan ye se seasonable time , sow both pees and beanes , so that
they be sowen in the begynnynge of Marche . (FITZH-E1-P1,19.221)

Howe shall ye knowe seasonable tyme ? (FITZH-E1-P1,19.222)

go vppon the lande , that is plowed , (FITZH-E1-P1,19.223)

and if it synge or crye , or make any noyse vnder thy fete , than it is
to wete to sowe : (FITZH-E1-P1,19.224)

and if it make no noyse , and wyll beare thy horses , thanne sowe in
the name of god . (FITZH-E1-P1,19.225)

But howe to sowe ? (FITZH-E1-P1,19.226)

Put thy pees in-to thy hopper , (FITZH-E1-P1,19.227)

and take a brode thonge , of ledder , or of garthe-webbe of an elle
longe , (FITZH-E1-P1,19.228)

and fasten it to bothe endes of the hopper , (FITZH-E1-P1,19.229)

and put it ouer thy heed , lyke a leysshe ; (FITZH-E1-P1,19.230)

and stande in the myddes of the lande , where the sacke lyethe , the
whiche is mooste conueniente for the fyllynge of thy hopper ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,19.231)

and set thy lefte foote before , (FITZH-E1-P1,19.232)

and take an handefull of pees : (FITZH-E1-P1,19.233)

and whan thou takeste vp thy ryghte foote , than caste thy pees fro the
all abrode ; (FITZH-E1-P1,19.234)

and whan thy lefte fote ryseth , take an other handeful ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,19.235)

and whan the ryght fote ryseth , than cast them fro the .
(FITZH-E1-P1,19.236)

And so at euery ii. paces , thou shalte sowe an handful of pees :
(FITZH-E1-P1,19.237)

and so se that the fote and the hande agree , (FITZH-E1-P1,19.238)

and than ye shal sowe euen . (FITZH-E1-P1,19.239)

And in your castynge , ye muste open as well your fyngers as your hande
, (FITZH-E1-P1,19.240)

and the hyer and farther that ye caste your corne , the better shall it
sprede , excepte it be a greatte wynde . (FITZH-E1-P1,19.241)

And if the lande be verye good , and wyll breke small in the plowynge ,
it is better to sowe after the ploughe thanne tarye any lenger .
(FITZH-E1-P1,19.242)

<P_20>

11 . (FITZH-E1-P1,20.244)

<heading>

SEDE OF DISCRETION . (FITZH-E1-P1,20.246)

</heading>

There is a sede , that is called Discretion , (FITZH-E1-P1,20.248)

and if a husband haue of that sede , and myngle it amonge his other
cornes , they wyll growe moche the better ; (FITZH-E1-P1,20.249)

for that sede wyll tell hym , how many castes of corne euery lande
ought to haue . (FITZH-E1-P1,20.250)

And a yonge husbande , and may fortune some olde husbande , hath not
sufficyente of that sede : (FITZH-E1-P1,20.251)

and he that lackethe , let hym borowe of his neyghbours that haue .
(FITZH-E1-P1,20.252)

And his neyghbours be vnkynde , if they wyll not lende this yonge
housbande parte of this sede . (FITZH-E1-P1,20.253)

For this sede of Discretion hath a wonders property :
(FITZH-E1-P1,20.254)

for the more that it is taken of or lente , the more it is .
(FITZH-E1-P1,20.255)

And therfore me semeth , it shoulde be more spyrituall than temporall ,
wherin is a greate dyuersitie . (FITZH-E1-P1,20.256)

For a temporall thynge , the more it is deuyded , the lesse it is :
(FITZH-E1-P1,20.257)

and a spirytuall thynge , the more it is deuided , the more it is .
(FITZH-E1-P1,20.258)

<font> Verbi gratia </font> . (FITZH-E1-P1,20.259)

For ensaumple , I put case a wyfe brynge a lofe of breade to the
churche , to make holy breade of ; (FITZH-E1-P1,20.260)

whan it is cut in many smal peces , and holy breade made therof , there
may be so many men , women , and children in the churche , that by that
tyme the priest hath delte to euery one of them a lyttell pece , there
shall neuer a crume be lefte in the hamper . (FITZH-E1-P1,20.261)

And a spiritualle thynge as a Pater-noster , or a prayer , that any man
can say , let hym teache it to .xx. , a .c. , or to a .m. , yet is the
prayer neuer the lesse , but moche more . (FITZH-E1-P1,20.262)

And so this sede of Discrecion is but wisdome and reason :
(FITZH-E1-P1,20.263)

and he that hath wysedome , reason , and discretion may teche it , and
enforme other men as he is bounde to do . Wherein he shall have thanke
{COM:sic} of god : (FITZH-E1-P1,20.264)

and he doth but as god hath commaunded hym in his gospell , <font> Quod
gratis accepistis , gratis date </font> : (FITZH-E1-P1,20.265)

That thynge that ye toke frely , gyue it frely again ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,20.266)

and yet shall ye haue neuer the lesse . (FITZH-E1-P1,20.267)

<P_21>

12 . (FITZH-E1-P1,21.269)

<heading>

HOWE ALL MANER CORNE SHOULDE BE SOWEN . (FITZH-E1-P1,21.271)

</heading>

Bvt yet me thynkethe it is necessarye to declare , howe all maner of
corne shuld be sowen , and howe much upon an acre most comonly ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,21.273)

and fyrste of pease and beanes . (FITZH-E1-P1,21.274)

An acre of grounde , by the statute , that is to say xvi. fote and a
half to the perche or pole , foure perches to an acre in bredth , and
fortye perches to an acre in lengthe , may be metelye well sowen with
two London busshelles of pease , the whyche is but two strykes in other
places . (FITZH-E1-P1,21.275)

And if there be the .iiii. parte beanes , than wylle it have halfe a
London bushelle more : (FITZH-E1-P1,21.276)

and yf it be halfe beanes , it wyll have thre London bushels :
(FITZH-E1-P1,21.277)

and if it be all beanes , it wyll have foure London busshelles fullye ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,21.278)

and that is half a quarter ; bycause the beanes be gret , and grow vp
streight , & do not sprede and go abrode as pease do .
(FITZH-E1-P1,21.279)

An acre of good beanes is worth an acre & a half of good pees , bycause
there wylle be more busshelles . (FITZH-E1-P1,21.280)

And the beste propertie that belongeth to a good husband is , to sowe
all maner of corne thycke ynough , and specially beanes and barley .
(FITZH-E1-P1,21.281)

For commonly they be sowen upon ranke ground , (FITZH-E1-P1,21.282)

and good grounde wylle have the burthen of corne or of wede .
(FITZH-E1-P1,21.283)

And as moche plowynge and harowynge hath an acre of grounde ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,21.284)

and sowe thervppon but oone busshelle , as yf he sowed .iiii.
busshelles . (FITZH-E1-P1,21.285)

And vndoutedly .i. busshell may not gyue so moche corne agayne , as the
.iiii. busshels , though the .iii. bushels , that he sowed more , be
alowed and set aparte . (FITZH-E1-P1,21.286)

And i. busshel and an halfe of white or grene pees , wyll sowe as moche
grounde , as two busshels of gray pees : (FITZH-E1-P1,21.287)

and that is bycause they be so smal , (FITZH-E1-P1,21.288)

and the husband nedeth not to take so great an handful .
(FITZH-E1-P1,21.289)

In some countreys they begyn to sowe pees soone after Christmasse :
(FITZH-E1-P1,21.290)

and in some places they sowe bothe pees and beanes under forowe :
(FITZH-E1-P1,21.291)

and those of reson must be sowen <P_22> betyme . (FITZH-E1-P1,22.292)

But moste generally , to begyn sone after Candel masse is good season ,
so that they be sowen ere the begynnynge of Marche , or sone vpon .
(FITZH-E1-P1,22.293)

And specially let them be sowen in the olde of the mone .
(FITZH-E1-P1,22.294)

For thopinion of olde husbandes is , that they shoulde the better codde
and the sooner be rype . (FITZH-E1-P1,22.295)

But I speke not of hasty pees , (FITZH-E1-P1,22.296)

for they be sowen before Christmasse , &c . (FITZH-E1-P1,22.297)

13 . (FITZH-E1-P1,22.298)

<heading>

To sowe barley . (FITZH-E1-P1,22.300)

</heading>

Every good housbande hath his barleye-falowe well dounged , and lyenge
rygged all the depe and colde of wynter ; the whiche ryggynge maketh
the lande to be drye , (FITZH-E1-P1,22.302)

and the dongynge maketh it to be melowe and ranke .
(FITZH-E1-P1,22.303)

And if a drye season come before Candelmasse , or sone after , it wolde
be caste downe and waterforowed bytwene the landes , that the wete rest
not in the raine : (FITZH-E1-P1,22.304)

and in the begynnynge of Marche , rydge it vppe agayne ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,22.305)

and to sowe in euery acre fyue London bushelles , or foure at the
leaste . (FITZH-E1-P1,22.306)

And some yeres it maye so fortune , that there cometh no seasonable
wether before Marche , to plowe his barley-erthe . (FITZH-E1-P1,22.307)

And as soone as he hath sowen his pees and beanes , than let hym caste
his barley-erthe , and shortly after rygge it agayne : soo that it be
sowen before Apryll . (FITZH-E1-P1,22.308)

And if the yere-tyme be paste , than sowe it vpon the castynge .
(FITZH-E1-P1,22.309)

It is to be knowen that there be thre maner of barleys ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,22.310)

that is to say , sprot-barleye , longe-eare , and beare-barley , that
some menne call bigge . (FITZH-E1-P1,22.311)

Sprot-barley hath a flat eare most comonly , thre quarters of an inche
brode , and thre inches long , (FITZH-E1-P1,22.312)

and the cornes be very great and white , (FITZH-E1-P1,22.313)

and it is the best barley . (FITZH-E1-P1,22.314)

Long-eare hath a flatte eare , halfe an inche brode , and foure inches
and more of length : (FITZH-E1-P1,22.315)

but the corne is not so greate nor soo whyte , (FITZH-E1-P1,22.316)

and sooner it wyll turne and growe <P_23> to otes .
(FITZH-E1-P1,23.317)

Bere-barleye or bygge wolde be sowen vppon lyghte and drye grounde ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,23.318)

and hathe an eare thre ynches of lengthe or more , sette foure-square ,
lyke pecke-whete , small cornes , and lyttel floure ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,23.319)

and that is the worste barley , (FITZH-E1-P1,23.320)

and foure London bushels are suffycient for an acre .
(FITZH-E1-P1,23.321)

And in some countreyes , they do not sowe theyr barley tyll Maye ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,23.322)

and that is mooste commonly vpon grauel or sandy grounde .
(FITZH-E1-P1,23.323)

But that barley generally is neuer soo good as that that is sowen in
Marche . (FITZH-E1-P1,23.324)

For if it be verye drie wether after it be sowen , that corne that
lyeth aboue , lyeth drie , (FITZH-E1-P1,23.325)

and hath noo moysture , (FITZH-E1-P1,23.326)

and that that lyeth vndernethe , commeth vp : (FITZH-E1-P1,23.327)

and whan rayne cometh , than sprutteth that that lyeth aboue ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,23.328)

and oftentymes it is grene whan the other is rype :
(FITZH-E1-P1,23.329)

and whan it is thresshen , there is moche lyghte corne , &c .
(FITZH-E1-P1,23.330)

14 . (FITZH-E1-P1,23.331)

<heading>

TO SOWE OTES . (FITZH-E1-P1,23.333)

</heading>

And in Marche is tyme to sowe otes , (FITZH-E1-P1,23.335)

and specially vpon lyght grounde & drie , (FITZH-E1-P1,23.336)

howe-be-it they wylle grow on weter grounde than any corne els :
(FITZH-E1-P1,23.337)

for wete grounde is good for no maner of corne ; (FITZH-E1-P1,23.338)

and thre London bushels wyl sowe an acre . (FITZH-E1-P1,23.339)

And it is to be knowen , that there be .iii. maner of otes ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,23.340)

that is to saye , redde otes , blacke otes , and roughe otes .
(FITZH-E1-P1,23.341)

Red otes are the beste otes , (FITZH-E1-P1,23.342)

and whan they be thresshed , they be yelowe in the busshell , and verye
good to make otemele of . (FITZH-E1-P1,23.343)

Blacke otes are as great as they be , (FITZH-E1-P1,23.344)

but they haue not so moche floure in them , (FITZH-E1-P1,23.345)

for they haue a thycker huske , (FITZH-E1-P1,23.346)

and also they be not so good to make otemele . (FITZH-E1-P1,23.347)

The roughe otes be the worste , (FITZH-E1-P1,23.348)

and it quiteth not the coste to sowe them : (FITZH-E1-P1,23.349)

they be very lyghte , (FITZH-E1-P1,23.350)

and haue longe tayles , wherby they wyll hange eche one to other .
(FITZH-E1-P1,23.351)

All these maner of otes weare the grounde very sore ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,23.352)

and <P_24> maketh it to beare quyche . (FITZH-E1-P1,24.353)

A yonge housbande ought to take hede , howe thycke he sowethe all maner
of corne , two or three yeres : and to se howe it cometh vp , and
whether it be thycke ynoughe or not : (FITZH-E1-P1,24.354)

and if it be thynne , sow thycker the nexte yere : (FITZH-E1-P1,24.355)

and if it be well , holde his hande there other yeres :
(FITZH-E1-P1,24.356)

and if it be to thynne , let hym remember hym selfe , whether it be for
the vnseasonablenes of the wether , or for thyn sowynge .
(FITZH-E1-P1,24.357)

And so his wysedome and discretion muste discerne it .
(FITZH-E1-P1,24.358)

15 . (FITZH-E1-P1,24.359)

<heading>

To harowe all maner of cornes . (FITZH-E1-P1,24.361)

</heading>

Nowe these landes be plowed , and the corne sowen , it is conuenient ,
that they be well harowed ; (FITZH-E1-P1,24.363)

or els crowes , doues , and other byrdes wyll eate and beare awaye the
cornes . (FITZH-E1-P1,24.364)

It is vsed in many countreys , the husbandes to haue an oxe-harowe ,
the whiche is made of sixe smal peces of timbre , called harowe-bulles
, made eyther-3 of asshe or oke ; (FITZH-E1-P1,24.365)

they be two yardes longe , and as moche as the small of a mannes legge
, (FITZH-E1-P1,24.366)

and haue shotes of wode put through theym lyke lathes ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,24.367)

and in euery bull are syxe sharpe peces of yren called harowe-tyndes ,
set some-what a-slope forwarde , (FITZH-E1-P1,24.368)

and the $formest slote must be bygger than the other , bycause the
fote-teame shall be fastened to the same with a shakyll , or a withe to
drawe by . (FITZH-E1-P1,24.369)

This harrowe is good to breake the greatte clottes , and to make moche
molde , (FITZH-E1-P1,24.370)

and than the horse-harowes to come after , to make the clottes smaller
, and to laye the grounde euen . (FITZH-E1-P1,24.371)

It is a greate labour and payne to the oxen , to goo to harowe :
(FITZH-E1-P1,24.372)

for they were better to goo to the plowe two dayes , thanne to harowe
one daye . (FITZH-E1-P1,24.373)

It is an olde saying , ' The oxe is neuer wo , tyll he to the harowe
goo . ' (FITZH-E1-P1,24.374)

And it is bycause it goeth by twytches , and not alwaye after one
draughte . (FITZH-E1-P1,24.375)

The horse-harrowe is made of fyue <P_25> bulles , (FITZH-E1-P1,25.376)

and passe not an elne of lengthe , (FITZH-E1-P1,25.377)

and not soo moche as the other , (FITZH-E1-P1,25.378)

but they be lyke sloted and tinded . (FITZH-E1-P1,25.379)

And whan the corne is well couered , than it is harowed ynough .
(FITZH-E1-P1,25.380)

There be horse-harowes , that have tyndes of wodde :
(FITZH-E1-P1,25.381)

and those be vsed moche about Ryppon , and suche other places , where
be many bulder-stones . (FITZH-E1-P1,25.382)

For these stones wold weare the yren to soone , (FITZH-E1-P1,25.383)

and those tyndes be mooste commonly made of the grounde ende of a yonge
asshe , (FITZH-E1-P1,25.384)

and they be more thanne a fote longe in the begynnynge ,
(FITZH-E1-P1,25.385)

and stande as moche aboue the harowe as benethe . (FITZH-E1-P1,25.386)

And as they weare , or breake , they dryue them downe lower ;
(FITZH-E1-P1,25.387)

and they wolde be made longe before , ere they be occupied , that they
maye be drye ; (FITZH-E1-P1,25.388)

for than they shall endure and last moche better , and stycke the
faster . (FITZH-E1-P1,25.389)

The horses that shall drawe these harowes , muste be well kepte and
shodde , (FITZH-E1-P1,25.390)

or elles they wyll soone be tyred , and sore beate , that they may not
drawe . (FITZH-E1-P1,25.391)

They must haue hombers or collers , holmes withed about theyr neckes ,
tresses to drawe by , and a swyngletre to holde the tresses abrode ,
and a togewith to be bytwene the swyngletre and the harowe .
(FITZH-E1-P1,25.392)

And if the barleye-grounde wyll not breake with harrowes , but be
clotty , it wolde be beaten with malles , and not streyght downe ;
(FITZH-E1-P1,25.393)

for than they beate the corne in-to the erthe . (FITZH-E1-P1,25.394)

And if they beate the clot on the syde , it wyll the better breake .
(FITZH-E1-P1,25.395)

And the clot wyll lye lyghte , that the corne maye lyghtely come vp .
(FITZH-E1-P1,25.396)

And they vse to role theyr barley-grounde after a shoure of rayne , to
make the grounde euen to mowe , &c . (FITZH-E1-P1,25.397)