Tusser's 100 points, March and April

[bunnyjadwiga]

from A hundreth good pointes of husbandrie, Thomas Tusser. 1557. reprinted in facsimile, collated and edited by Dorothy Hartley (London: Country Life Limited, 1931)

March
In Marche sow thy barley, thy londe not to colde:
the drier the better, an hundredth times tolde.
That tilth harrowde finely, set sede time an ende:
and praise and pray God, a good harvest to sende.

Sow wheate in a meane, sow thy Rie not to thin:
let peason and beanes, here and there, take therein.
Sow Barley and otes, good and thick doe not spare:
give lande leave her sede, or her wede for to bare.

For barley and pease, harrow after thou sowe:
for rye harrow first, seldom after I trowe.
Let wheat have a clodde, for to cover the hedde:
that after a frost, it may out and goe spredde.

Digression from husbandrie: to a point or two of huswifrie.

Now here I think nedeful a pawse for to make:
to treate of some paines, a good huswife must take.
For huswives must husbande, as well as the man:
or farewel thy husbandrie, do what thou can.

In Marche and in Aprill, from morning to night:
in sowing and setting, good huswives delight.
To have in their gardein or some other plot:
to trim up their house, and to furnish their pot.

Have millions at Mihelmas, parsneps in lent:
In June buttered beanes, saveth fish to be spent.
With those and good pottage, inough having than:
thou winnest the heart, of thy laboring man.

Aprill

From Aprill begin, till Saint Andrew be past,
So long with good huswives, their dairies doe last;
Good milche bease and pasture, good husbands provide,
good huswives know best, all the rest how to guide.

But huswives, that learne not to make their owne cheese
with trusting of others, have this for their feese.
Their milk slapt in corners, their creame al to soil:
their milkpannes so sloste, that there cheeses be lost.

Where some of a kowe, matheth yerely a pounde:
these huswives crye creake, for their voice will not sounde.
The servauntes suspecting, their dame lye in waighte:
with one thing or other, they trudge away straight.

Then neighbor (for God's sake) if any such bee:
If you know a good servant, waine her to mee.
Such master such man, and such mistress such maid,
such husband and huswife, such houses arraied.

For flax and for hemp, for to have of her owne:
the wife must in May, take good hede it be sowen.
And trimme it and kepe it, to serve at a nede:
the femble to spin, and the karle for her sede.

Good husbandes abrode, seketh al well to have:
good huswives at home, seketh al well to save.
Thus having and saving, in place where they meete:
make profit with pleasure, such couples to greete.