Fiue hundred pointes of good Husbandrie as well for the Champion, or open countrie, as also for the woodland, or Seuerall, mixed in euerie Month with Huswiferie, ouer and besides the booke of Huswiferie, corrected, better ordered, and newly augmented to a fourth part more, with diuers other lessons, as a diet for the fermer, of the properties of winds, planets, hops, herbes, bees, and approoued remedies for sheepe and cattle, with many other matters both profitable and not vnpleasant for the Reader. Also a table of husbandrie at the beginning of this booke: and another of huswiferie at the end: for the better and easier finding of any matter conteined in the same. Newly set foorth by Thomas Tusser |
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 | Fiue hundred pointes of good Husbandrie |  |
The points of Huswiferie, vnited to the comfort of Husbandrie, newly corrected and amplified with diuers good lessons for housholders to recreate the Reader, as by the Table at the end hereof, more plainlie may appeere. Set forth by Thomas Tusser Gentleman.
To the right Honorable and my especiall good Ladie and Maistres, the Ladie Paget.
1
Though danger be mickle,and fauour so fickle,
Yet dutie doth tickle,
my fansie to wright:
Concerning how prettie,
how fine and how nettie,
Good huswife should iettie,
from morning to night.
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2
Not minding by writing,to kindle a spiting,
But shew by enditing,
as afterward told:
How husbandrie easeth,
to huswiferie pleaseth,
And manie purse greaseth,
with siluer and gold.
3
For husbandrie weepeth,where huswiferie sleepeth,
And hardly he creepeth,
vp ladder to thrift:
That wanteth to bold him,
thrifts ladder to hold him,
Before it be told him,
he falles without shift.
4
Least many should feare me,and others forsweare me,
Of troth I doo beare me,
vpright as ye see:
Full minded to looue all,
and not to reprooue all,
But onely to mooue all,
good huswiues to bee.
5
For if I should mind some,or descant behind some,
And missing to find some,
displease so I mought:
Or if I should blend them,
and so to offend them,
What stur I should send them,
I stand in a dought,
6
Though harmles ye make it,and some doo well take it,
If others forsake it,
what pleasure were that?
Naught else but to paine me,
and nothing to gaine me,
But make them disdaine me,
I wot ner for what.
7
Least some make a triall,as clocke by the diall,
Some stand to deniall,
some murmur and grudge:
Giue iudgement I pray you,
for iustlie so may you,
So fansie, so say you,
I make you my iudge.
8
In time, ye shall try me,by troth, ye shall spy me,
So finde, so set by me,
according to skill:
How euer tree groweth,
the fruit, the tree showeth,
Your Ladiship knoweth,
my hart and good will.
9
Thogh fortune doth measure,and I doo lacke treasure,
Yet if I may pleasure,
your Honour with this:
Then will me to mend it,
or mend er ye send it,
Or any where lend it,
if ought be amis.
Your Ladiships seruant, Thomas Tusser.
66
To the Reader.
1
Now listen good huswiues, what dooings are here,set foorth for a daie, as it should for a yere.
Both easie to follow, and soone to atchiue
for such as by huswiferie, looketh to thriue.
2
The forenoone affaires, till dinner (with some,)then after noone dooings, till supper time come.
With breakfast and dinner time, sup, and to bed:
standes orderlie placed, to quiet thine hed.
3
The meaning is this, for a daie what ye see,that monthlie and yeerlie, continued must bee.
And hereby to gather, (as prooue I intend:)
that huswiuelie matters, haue neuer an end.
4
I haue not, by heare say, nor reading in booke,set out (peraduenture) that some cannot brooke.
Nor yet of a spite, to be dooing with enie:
but such as haue skared me, many a penie.
5
If widow, both huswife and husband may be,what cause hath a widower, lesser than she?
Tis needfull, that both of them, looke well about:
too careles within, and too lasie without.
6
Now therefore, if well ye consider of this,what losses, and crosses, comes dailie amis.
Then beare with a widowers pen, as ye may:
though husband of huswiferie, somewhat doth say.
The Preface to the booke of Huswiferie.
1
Take weapon away, of what force is a man?Take huswife from husband, and what is he than?
2
As louers desireth, together to dwell,So husbandrie loueth, good huswiferie well.
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3
Though husbandrie seemeth, to bring in the gaines,Yet huswiferie labours, seeme equall in paines.
4
Some respit to husbands, the weather may send,But huswiues affaires, haue neuer an end.
As true as thy faith,
Thus Huswiferie saith.
Thus Huswiferie saith.
I serue
for a daie, for a vveeke, for a yere,
For life time, for euer, vvhile man dvvelleth here.
For richer, for poorer, from North to the South,
For honest, for hardhead, or daintie of mouth.
For vved, and vnvvedded, in sicknes and health,
For all that vvell liueth, in good Commonvvealth.
For citie, for countrie, for Court, and for cart,
To quiet the head, and to comfort the hart.
For life time, for euer, vvhile man dvvelleth here.
For richer, for poorer, from North to the South,
For honest, for hardhead, or daintie of mouth.
For vved, and vnvvedded, in sicknes and health,
For all that vvell liueth, in good Commonvvealth.
For citie, for countrie, for Court, and for cart,
To quiet the head, and to comfort the hart.
A description of Huswife and Huswiferie.
[1]
Of huswife, doth huswiferie challenge that name,of huswiferie huswife doth likewise the same.
Where husband and husbandrie, ioineth with thease:
there wealthines gotten, is holden with ease.
2
The name of a huswife, what is it to say?the wife of the house, to the husband a stay.
If huswife doth that, as belongeth to hur:
if husband be godlie, there needeth no stur.
3
The huswife is she, that to labour doth fall,the labour of hir, I doo huswiferie call.
If thrift by that labour, be honestlie got:
then is it good huswiferie, else is it not.
67
4
The woman, the name of a huswife doth win,by keeping hir house, and of dooings therein.
And she that with husband, will quietly dwell:
must thinke on this lesson, and follow it well.
Instructions to Huswiferie.
Serue God is the furst,
True loue is not wurst.
True loue is not wurst.
1
A dailie good lesson, of huswife in deede,is God to remember, the better to speede.
2
An other good lesson, of huswiferie thought,Is huswife with husband, to liue as she ought.
Wife comely no griefe,
Man out, huswife chiefe.
Man out, huswife chiefe.
3
Though trickly to see to, be gallant to wiue,yet comely and wise, is the huswife to thriue.
4
When husband is absent, let huswife be chiefe,and looke to their labour, that eateth hir biefe.
Both out, not allow,
Keepe house huswife thow.
Keepe house huswife thow.
5
Where husband and huswife, be both out of place,there seruants doo loiter, and reason their cace.
6
The huswife so named (of keeping the house,)must tend on hir profit, as cat on the mouse.
Seeke home for rest,
For home is best.
For home is best.
7
As huswiues keepe home, and be stirrers about,so speedeth their winnings, the yeere thorow out.
8
Though home be but homely, yet huswife is taught,that home hath no fellow, to such as haue aught.
Vse all with skill,
Aske what ye will.
Aske what ye will.
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9
Good vsage with knowledge, and quiet withall,makes huswife to shine, as the sunne on the wall.
10
What husband refuseth, all comely to haue,that hath a good huswife, all willing to saue.
Be readie at neede,
All thine to feede.
All thine to feede.
11
The case of good huswiues, thus daily doth stand,what euer shall chance, to be readie at hand.
12
This care hath a huswife, all daie in hir hed,that all thing in season, be huswifelie fed.
By practise go muse,
How houshold to vse.
How houshold to vse.
13
Dame practise is she, that to huswife doth tell,which way for to gouerne, hir familie well.
14
Use labourers gently, keepe this as a lawe,make childe to be ciuill, keepe seruant in awe.
Who careles doe liue,
Occasion doe giue.
Occasion doe giue.
15
Haue euerie where, a respect to thy waies,that none of thy life, any slander may raies.
16
What many doo knowe, though a time it be hid,at length will abrode, when a mischiefe shall bid.
No neighbour reprooue,
Doe so to haue looue.
Doe so to haue looue.
17
The loue of thy neighbour, shall stand thee in steede,the poorer, the gladder, to helpe at a neede.
18
Use friendly thy neighbour, else trust him in this,as he hath thy friendship, so trust vnto his.
Strike nothing vnknowne,
Take heede to thine owne.
Take heede to thine owne.
19
Reuenge not thy wrath, vpon any mans beast,least thine by like malice, be bid to like feast.
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20
What husband prouideth, with monie his drudge,the huswife must looke to, which waie it doth trudge.
A digression.
Now
out of the matter, this lesson I ad,
concerning cock crowing, what profit is had.
Experience teacheth, as true as a clock:
how winter night passeth, by marking the cock.
concerning cock crowing, what profit is had.
Experience teacheth, as true as a clock:
how winter night passeth, by marking the cock.
Cock croweth at midnight, times few aboue six,
with pause to his neighbour, to answere betwix.
At three a clock thicker, and then as ye knowe:
like all in to Mattens, neere daie they doo crowe.
with pause to his neighbour, to answere betwix.
At three a clock thicker, and then as ye knowe:
like all in to Mattens, neere daie they doo crowe.
At midnight, at three, and an hower ere day,
they vtter their language, as well as they may.
Which who so regardeth, what counsell they giue:
will better loue crowing, as long as they liue.
they vtter their language, as well as they may.
Which who so regardeth, what counsell they giue:
will better loue crowing, as long as they liue.
For being afraid,
Take heede good maid:
Marke crowing of cock,
For feare of a knock.
The first cock croweth.
Take heede good maid:
Marke crowing of cock,
For feare of a knock.
Ho, Dame it is midnight: what rumbling is that?
The next cock croweth.
Take heede to false harlots, and more, ye wot what.
Take heede to false harlots, and more, ye wot what.
If noise ye heare,
Looke all be cleare.
Least drabs doe noie thee,
And theeues destroie thee.
The first cock croweth.
Looke all be cleare.
Least drabs doe noie thee,
And theeues destroie thee.
Maides, three a clock, knede, lay your bucks, or go brew,
The next cock croweth.
And cobble and botch, ye that cannot buie new.
And cobble and botch, ye that cannot buie new.
Till cock crow agen,
Both maidens and men:
Amend now with speede,
That mending doth neede.
The first cock croweth.
Both maidens and men:
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That mending doth neede.
Past fiue a clock, Holla: maid, sleeping beware,
The next cock croweth.
Least quickly your Mistres, vncouer your bare.
Least quickly your Mistres, vncouer your bare.
Maides, vp I beseech yee,
Least Mistres doe breech yee.
To worke and away,
As fast as ye may.
Least Mistres doe breech yee.
To worke and away,
As fast as ye may.
Huswiferie.
Morning vvorkes.
No sooner some vp,
But nose is in cup.
But nose is in cup.
1
Get vp in the morning as soone as thou wilt,with ouerlong slugging good seruant is spilt.
2
Some slouens from sleeping no sooner get vp,but hand is in aumbrie, and nose in the cup.
That early is donne,
Count huswifely wonne.
Count huswifely wonne.
3
Some worke in the morning may trimly be donne,that all the day after can hardly be wonne.
4
Good husband without it is needfull there be,good huswife within as needfull as he.
Cast dust into yard,
And spin and go card.
And spin and go card.
5
Sluts corners auoided shall further thy health,much time about trifles shall hinder thy wealth.
6
Set some to peele hempe, or else rishes to twine,to spin and to card, or to seething of brine.
69
Grind mault for drinke.
See meate do not stinke.
See meate do not stinke.
7
Set some about cattle, some pasture to vewe,some mault to be grinding against ye do brewe.
8
Some corneth, some brineth, some will not be taught,Where meate is attainted, there cookrie is naught.
Breakefast doings.
To breakefast that come,
Giue erie one some.
Giue erie one some.
1
Call seruants to breakefast by day starre appere,a snatch and to worke fellowes tarrie not here.
2
Let huswife be caruer, let pottage be heate,a messe to eche one with a morsell of meate.
No more tittle tattle,
Go serue your cattle.
Go serue your cattle.
3
What tacke in a pudding, faith greedie gut wringer,Giue such ye wote what, ere a pudding he finger.
4
Let seruants once serued thy cattle go serue,least often ill seruing make cattle to sterue.
Huswifely admonitions.
1
No breakefast of custome prouide for to saue,But onely for such as deserueth to haue.
2
No shewing of seruant what vittles in store,shew seruant his labour, and shew him no more.
Of hauocke beware,
Cat nothing will spare.
Cat nothing will spare.
3
Where all thing is common, what needeth a hutch?Where wanteth a sauer, there hauocke is mutch.
4
Where window is open, cat maketh a fray,yet wilde cat with two legs is worse by my fay.
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Looke well vnto thine,
Slut slouthfull must whine.
Slut slouthfull must whine.
5
An eie in a corner, who vseth to haue,reuealeth a drab, and preuenteth a knaue.
6
Make maide to be clenly, or make hir crie creake,and teach hir to stirre, when hir mistresse doth speake.
Let hollie wand threate,
Let fisgig be beate.
Let fisgig be beate.
7
A wand in thy hand, though ye fight not at all,makes youth to their businesse, better to fall.
8
For feare of foole had I wist, cause thee to waile,let fisgig be taught, to shut doore after taile.
Too easie the wicket,
Will still appease clicket.
Will still appease clicket.
9
With hir that will clicket, make daunger to cope,least quickly hir wicket, seeme easie to ope.
10
As rod little mendeth, where maners be spilt,so naught will be naught, say and do what thou wilt.
Fight seldome ye shall,
But vse not to brall.
But vse not to brall.
11
Much bralling with seruant, what man can abide?pay home when thou fightest, but loue not to chide.
12
As order is heauenly, where quiet is had,so error is hell, or a mischiefe as bad.
What better a lawe,
Than subiects in awe?
Than subiects in awe?
13
Such awe as a warning, will cause to beware,doth make the whole houshold, the better to fare.
14
The lesse of thy counsell, thy seruants doe knowe,Their dutie the better, such seruants shall showe.
Good musicke regard,
Good seruants reward.
Good seruants reward.
70
15
Such seruants are oftenest painfull and good,that sing in their labour, as birdes in thee wood.
16
Good seruants hope iustly, some friendship to feele,and looke to haue fauour, what time they do weele.
By once or twise,
Tis time to be wise.
Tis time to be wise.
17
Take runagate Robin, to pitie his neede,and looke to be filched, as sure as thy creede.
18
Take warning by once, that a worse do not hap,foresight is the stopper of many a gap.
Some change for a shift,
Oft change small thrift.
Oft change small thrift.
19
Make fewe of thy counsell, to change for the best,least one that is trudging infecteth the rest.
20
The stone that is rolling, can gather no mosse,for maister and seruant, oft changing is losse.
Both liberall sticketh,
Some prouender pricketh.
Some prouender pricketh.
21
One dog for a hog, and one cat for a mouse,one readie to giue, is ynough in a house.
22
One gift ill accepted, keepe next in thy purse,whom prouender pricketh are often the wurse.
Brewing.
Brew somewhat for thine,
Else bring vp no swine.
Else bring vp no swine.
1
Where brewing is needfull, be brewes thy selfe,what filleth the roofe, will helpe furnish the shelfe.
2
In buieng of drinke, by the firkin or pot,the tallie ariseth, but hog amendes not.
Well brewed, worth cost,
Ill vsed, halfe lost.
Ill vsed, halfe lost.
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3
One bushell well brewed outlasteth some twaine,and saueth both mault and expences in vaine.
4
Too new is no profite, too stale is as bad,drinke dead or else sower, makes laborer sad.
Remember good Gill,
Take paine with thy swill.
Take paine with thy swill.
5
Seeth grains in more water, while grains be yet hot,and stirre them in copper as poredge in pot.
6
Such heating with straw, to haue offall good store,both pleaseth and easeth, what would ye haue more?
Baking.
Newe bread is a driuell,
Much crust is as euill.
Much crust is as euill.
1
New bread is a waster, but mouldie is wurse,what that way dog catcheth, that loseth the purse.
2
Much dowebake I praise not, much crust is as ill,the meane is the Huswife, say nay if ye will.
Cookerie.
Good cookerie craueth,
Good turnebroch saueth.
Good turnebroch saueth.
1
Good cooke to dresse dinner, to bake and to brewe,deserues a rewarde being honest and trewe.
2
Good diligent turnebroch and trustie withall,is sometime as needfull as some in the hall.
Dairie.
Good dairie doth pleasure,
Ill dairie spendes treasure.
Ill dairie spendes treasure.
1
Good huswife in dairie that needes not be tolde,deserueth hir fee to be paid hir in golde.
2
Ill seruant neglecting what huswiferie saies,deserueth hir fee to be paid hir with baies.
71
Good droie woorth much,
Marke sluts and such.
Marke sluts and such.
3
Good droie to serue hog, to helpe wash, and to milke,more needfull is truelie, than some in their silke.
4
Though homelie be milker, let cleanlie be cooke,for slut and a slouen, be knowne by their looke.
In dairie no cat,
Laie bane for a rat.
Laie bane for a rat.
5
Though cat (a good mouser) doth dwell in a house,yet euer in dairie, haue trap for a mouse.
6
Take heede how thou laiest, the bane for the rats,for poisoning seruant, thy selfe and thy brats.
Scouring.
No scouring for pride,
Spare kettle whose side.
Spare kettle whose side.
1
Though scouring be needful, yet scouring too mutch,is pride without profit, and robbeth thine hutch.
2
Keepe kettles from knocks, set tubs out of Sun,for mending is costlie, and crackt is soone dun.
VVashing.
Take heede when ye wash,
Else run in the lash.
Else run in the lash.
1
Maids, wash well, & wring well, but beat ye wot how,if any lack beating, I feare it be yow.
2
In washing by hand, haue an eie to thy boll,for launders and millers, be quick of their toll.
Drie sunne, drie winde,
Safe binde, safe finde.
Safe binde, safe finde.
3
Go wash well saith Sommer, with sunne I shal drie,go wring well saith Winter, with winde so shall I.
4
To trust without heede, is to venter a ioint,giue tale and take count, is a huswifelie point.
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Where many be packing,
Are manie things lacking.
Are manie things lacking.
5
Where hens fall a cackling, take heede to their nest,when drabs fall a whispring, take heede to the rest.
6
Through negligēt huswifes, are many things lacking,and Gillet suspected, will quickly be packing.
Malting.
Ill malting is theft,
Wood dride hath a weft.
Wood dride hath a weft.
1
House may be so handsome, and skilfulnes such,to make thy owne malt, it shall profit thee much.
2
Som drieth with strawe, and some drieth with wood,wood asketh more charge, and nothing so good.
Take heede to the kell,
Sing out as a bell.
Sing out as a bell.
3
Be suer no chances, to fier can drawe,the wood or the furzen, the brake or the strawe.
4
Let Gillet be singing, it doth verie well,to keepe hir from sleeping, and burning the kell.
Best dride best speedes,
Ill kept bowd breedes.
Ill kept bowd breedes.
5
Malt being well speered, the more it will cast,malt being well dried, the longer will last.
6
Long kept in ill soller, (vndoubted thou shalt,)through bowds without nūber, loose quickly thy malt.
Dinner matters.
For hunger or thirst,
Serue cattle well first.
Serue cattle well first.
1
By noone see your dinner, be readie and neate,let meate tarrie seruant, not seruant his meate.
2
Plough cattle a baiting, call seruant to dinner,the thicker togither, the charges the thinner.
72
Togither is best,
For hostis and gest.
For hostis and gest.
3
Due season is best, altogither is gay,dispatch hath no fellow, make short and away.
4
Beware of Gill laggoose, disordring thy house,mo dainties, who catcheth, than craftie fed mouse?
Let such haue ynough,
That follow the plough.
That follow the plough.
5
Giue seruant no dainties, but giue him ynough,too many chaps walking, doo begger the plough.
6
Poore seggons halfe sterued, worke faintly and dull,and lubbers doo loiter, their bellies too full.
Giue neuer too much,
To lazie and such.
To lazie and such.
7
Feede lazie, that thresheth a flap and a tap,like slothfull, that all day be stopping a gap.
8
Some litherly lubber, more eateth than twoo,yet leaueth vndone, that another will doo.
Where nothing will last,
Spare such as thou hast.
Spare such as thou hast.
9
Some cutteth thy linnen, some spoileth their broth,bare table to some, doth as well as a cloth.
10
Treene dishes be homely, and yet not to lack,Where stone is no laster, take tankard and iack.
Knap boy on the thums,
And saue him his crums.
And saue him his crums.
11
That pewter is neuer for manerly feastes,that daily doth serue, so vnmanerly beastes.
12
Some gnaweth & leaueth, some crusts & some crums,eat such their own leuings, or gnaw their own thums
Serue God euer furst,
Take nothing at wurst.
Take nothing at wurst.
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13
At Dinner, at Supper, at morning, at night,giue thankes vnto God for his gifts so in sight.
14
Good husband and huswife will sometime alone,make shift with a morsell, and picke of a bone.
Inough thou art tolde,
Too much will not holde.
Too much will not holde.
15
Three dishes well dressed, and welcome withall,both pleaseth thy friend, and becommeth thine hall.
16
Enough is a plentie, too much is a pride,the plough with ill holding goes quicklie aside.
After noone workes.
Make companie breake,
Go cherish the weake.
Go cherish the weake.
1
When Dinner is ended, set seruants to wurke,and follow such fellowes as loueth to lurke.
2
To seruant in sicknesse see nothing ye grutch,a thing of a trifle shall comfort him mutch.
Who manie do feede,
Saue much they had neede.
Saue much they had neede.
3
Put chippings in dippings, vse parings to saue,fat capons or chickens that lookest to haue.
4
Saue droppings and skimmings, how euer ye doo,for medcine for cattell, for cart, and for shoo.
Leane capon vnmeete,
Deere fed is vnsweete.
Deere fed is vnsweete.
5
Such of corne as commeth, giue wife to hir fee,feede willingly such as do helpe to feede thee.
6
Though fat fed is daintie, yet this I thee warne,be cunning in fatting for robbing thy barne.
Peece hole to defende,
Things timely amende.
Things timely amende.
7
Good semsters be sowing of fine pretie knackes,good huswifes be mending and peecing their sackes.
73
8
Though making and mending be huswifely waies,yet mending in time is the huswife to praies.
Buie newe as is meete,
Marke blanket and sheete.
Marke blanket and sheete.
9
Though Ladies may rend and buie new ery day,good huswifes must mend, and buie new as they may.
10
Call quarterly seruants, to court and to leete,write euerie Couerlet, Blanket, and Sheete.
Shift slouenly elfe,
Be gayler thy selfe.
Be gayler thy selfe.
11
Though shifting too oft be a theefe in a house,yet shift slut and slouen for feare of a louse.
12
Graunt doubtfull no key of his chamber in purse,least chamber doore lockt, be to theeuerie a nurse.
Saue feathers for gest.
These other rob chest.
These other rob chest.
13
Saue wing for a thresher, when Gander doth die,saue feather of all thing the softer to lie.
14
Much spice is a theefe, so is candle and fier,sweete sauce is as craftie as euer was frier.
Wife make thine owne candle,
Spare pennie to handle.
Spare pennie to handle.
15
Prouide for thy tallow, ere frost commeth in,and make thine owne candle ere winter begin.
16
If pennie for all thing be suffred to trudge,trust long, not to pennie, to haue him thy drudge.
Euening workes.
Time drawing to night,
See all things go right.
See all things go right.
1
When hennes go to roost, go in hand to dresse meate,serue hogs, and to milking, and some to serue neate.
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2
Where twaine be ynow, be not serued with three,more knaues in a companie worser they bee.
Make lackey to trudge,
Make seruant thy drudge.
Make seruant thy drudge.
3
For euerie trifle leaue ianting thy nag,but rather make lackey of Iack boie thy wag.
4
Make seruant at night lug in wood or a log,let none come in emptie, but slut and thy dog.
False knaue readie prest,
All safe is the best.
All safe is the best.
5
Where pullen vse nightly, to pearch in the yard,there two legged foxes, keepe watches and ward.
6
See cattle well serued, without and within,and all thing at quiet, ere supper begin.
Take heede it is needefull,
True pittie is meedefull.
True pittie is meedefull.
7
No clothes in garden, no trinkets without,no doore leaue vnbolted, for feare of a dout.
8
Thou woman whom pitie becommeth the best,graunt all that hath laboured, time to take rest.
Supper matters.
Vse mirth and good woorde,
bed and at boorde.
bed and at boorde.
1
Prouide for thy husband, to make him good cheere,make merrie togither, while time ye be heere.
2
At bed and at boord, howsoeuer befall,what euer God sendeth, be merrie withall.
No brawling make,
No ielousie take.
No ielousie take.
3
No taunts before seruants, for hindring of fame,no iarring too loude, for auoyding of shame.
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4
As fransie and heresie roueth togither,so iealousie leadeth a foole ye wot whither.
Tend such as ye haue,
Stop talkatiue knaue.
Stop talkatiue knaue.
5
Yong children and chickens, would euer be eating,good seruants looke dulie for gentle intreating.
6
No seruant at table vse saufly to talke,least tongue set at large out of measure do walke.
No snatching at all,
Sirs hearken now all.
Sirs hearken now all.
7
No lurching, no snatching, no striuing at all,least one go without, and another haue all.
8
Declare after Supper, take heede thereunto,what worke in the morning ech seruant shall do.
After supper matters.
Thy soule hath a clog,
Forget not thy dog.
Forget not thy dog.
1
Remember those children, whose parents be poore,which hunger, yet dare not craue at thy doore.
2
Thy Bandog that serueth for diuerse mishaps,forget not to giue him thy bones and thy scraps.
Make keies to be keepers,
To bed ye sleepers.
To bed ye sleepers.
3
Where mouthes be many, to spend that thou hast,set keies to be keepers for spending too fast.
4
To bed after supper, let drousie go sleepe,least knaue in the darke to his marrow do creepe.
Keepe keies as thy life,
Feare candle good wife.
Feare candle good wife.
5
Such keies lay vp safe, ere ye take ye to rest,of dairie, of buttrie, of cubboord and chest.
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6
Feare candle in hailoft, in barne, and in shed,feare flea smocke, & mendbreech, for burning their bed.
See doore lockt fast,
Two keies make wast.
Two keies make wast.
7
A doore without locke is a baite for a knaue,a locke without key, is a foole that will haue.
8
One key to two locks, if it breake is a greefe,two keies to one locke, in the ende is a theefe.
Night workes troubles hed,
Locke doores and to bed.
Locke doores and to bed.
9
The day willeth done, whatsoeuer ye bid,the night is a theefe, if ye take not good hid.
10
Wash dishes, lay leauens, saue fire and away,locke doores and to bed, a good huswife will say.
To bed know thy guise.
To rise do likewise.
To rise do likewise.
Loue so as ye may,
Loue many a day.
Loue many a day.
Be lowly not sollen, if ought go amisse,
what wresting may loose thee, that winne with a kisse.
Both beare and forebeare, now and then as ye may:
then wench God a mercie, thy husband will say.
what wresting may loose thee, that winne with a kisse.
Both beare and forebeare, now and then as ye may:
then wench God a mercie, thy husband will say.
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The ploughmans feasting daies.
This would not be slept,
Old guise must be kept.
Old guise must be kept.
1
Good huswiues, whom God hath enriched ynough,forget not the feastes, that belong to the plough.
The meaning is onelie, to ioie and be glad:
for comfort with labour, is fit to be had.
Plough Monday.
Plough Monday, next after that Twelftide is past,bids out with the plough, the woorst husband is last.
If ploughman get hatchet, or whip to the skreene:
maides loseth their cock, if no water be seene.
Shroftide.
At Shroftide to shrouing, go thresh the fat hen,if blindfild can kill hir, then giue it thy men.
Maides, fritters and pancakes, ynow see ye make:
let slut haue one pancake, for companie sake.
Sheepe shearing.
Wife make vs a dinner, spare flesh neither corne,make wafers and cakes, for our sheepe must be shorne.
At sheepe shearing neighbours, none other thing craue:
but good cheere and welcome, like neighbours to haue.
The wake day.
Fill ouen full of flawnes, Ginnie passe not for sleepe,to morow thy father, his wake day will keepe.
Then euerie wanton, may daunce at hir will:
both Tomkin with Tomlin, and Iankin with Gill.
Haruest home.
For all this good feasting, yet art thou not loose,till ploughman thou giuest, his haruest home goose.
Though goose go in stubble, I passe not for that:
let goose haue a goose, be she leane, be she fat.
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Seede cake.
Wife, some time this weeke, if the wether hold cleere,an end of wheat sowing, we make for this yeere.
Remember you therefore, though I doo it not:
the seede Cake, the Pasties, and Furmentie pot.
Twise a weeke roast.
Good ploughmen looke weekly, of custome and right,for roast meat on Sundaies, & Thursdaies at night.
Thus dooing and keeping, such custome and guise:
they call thee good huswife, they loue thee likewise.
The good huswifelie Physicke.
Good huswiues prouides, ere an sicknes doo come,of sundrie good things, in hir house to haue some.
Good Aqua composita, Uineger tart,
Rose water and treakle, to comfort the hart.
Cold herbes in hir garden, for agues that burne,
that ouer strong heat, to good temper may turne.
White Endiue and Suckerie, with Spinnage ynough,
all such with good pot herbes, should follow the plough.
Get water of Fumentorie, Liuer to coole,
and others the like, or else lie like a foole.
Conserue of the Barberie, Quinces and such,
with Sirops that easeth, the sickly so much.
Aske Medicus counsell, ere medcine ye make,
and honour that man, for necessities sake.
Though thousands hate physick, because of the cost,
yet thousands it helpeth, that else should be lost.
Good broth and good keeping, doo much now and than,
good diet with wisedome, best comforteth man.
In health to be stirring, shall profit thee best,
In sicknes hate trouble, seeke quiet and rest.
Remember thy soule, let no fansie preuaile,
make readie to Godward, let faith neuer quaile.
The sooner thy selfe, thou submittest to God,
the sooner he ceaseth, to scourge with his rod.
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The good motherlie nurserie.
Good huswiues take paine, and doo count it good luck,to make their owne brest, their owne childe to giue suck.
Though wrauling and rocking, be noisome so neare,
yet lost by ill nursing, is woorser to heare.
But one thing I warne thee, let huswife be nurse,
least husband doo find thee, too franke with his purse.
What hilback and filbellie, maketh away,
that helpe to make good, or else looke for a fraie.
Giue childe that is fitly, giue babie the big,
giue hardnes to youth, and to roperipe a twig.
We find it not spoken, so often for naught,
that children were better, vnborne than vntaught.
Some cockneies with cocking, are made verie fooles,
fit neither for prentise, for plough, nor for schooles.
Teach childe to aske blessing, serue God, and to church,
then blesse as a mother, else blesse him with burch.
Thou huswife thus dooing, what further shall neede?
but all men to call thee, good mother in deede.
Thinke on the poore.
Remember the poore, that for Gods sake doo call,for God both rewardeth, and blesseth withall.
Take this in good part, whatsoeuer thou bee:
and wish me no woorse, than I wish vnto thee.
A comparison betweene good huswiferie and euill.
Comparing togither, good huswife with bad,
The knowledge of either, the better is had.
The knowledge of either, the better is had.
1
Il huswiferie lieth,till nine of the clock.
Good huswiferie trieth:
to rise with the cock.
2
Ill huswiferie tooteth,to make hir selfe braue.
Good huswiferie looketh:
what houshold must haue.
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3
Ill huswiferie trusteth,to him and to hir.
Good huswiferie lusteth:
hir selfe for to stir.
4
Ill huswiferie careth,for this nor for that.
Good huswiferie spareth:
for feare ye wot what.
5
Ill huswiferie pricketh,hir selfe vp in pride.
Good huswiferie tricketh:
hir house as a bride.
6
Ill huswiferie othing,or other must craue.
Good huswiferie nothing:
but needfull will haue.
7
Ill huswiferie mooueth,with gossep to spend.
Good huswiferie looueth:
hir houshold to tend.
8
Il huswiferie wanteth,with spending too fast.
Good huswiferie canteth:
the lenger to last.
9
Ill huswiferie easeth,hir selfe with vnknowne.
Good huswiferie pleaseth:
hir selfe with hir owne.
10
Il huswiferie brooketh,mad toies in hir hed.
Good huswiferie looketh:
that all things be fed.
11
Il huswifrie bringeth,a shilling to naught.
Good huswiferie singeth:
hir cofers full fraught.
12
Il huswiferie rendeth,and casteth aside.
Good huswiferie mendeth:
else would it go wide.
13
Il huswifrie sweepeth,hir linnen to gage.
Good huswiferie keepeth:
to serue hir in age.
14
Il huswiferie craueth,in secret to borow.
Good huswiferie saueth:
to day for to morow.
15
Ill huswiferie pineth,not hauing to eate.
Good huswiferie dineth:
with plentie of meate.
16
Ill huswiferie letteth,the Diuell take all.
Good huswiferie setteth:
good brag of a small.
Good huswife, good fame hath, of best in the towne:
Ill huswife, ill name hath, of euerie clowne.
Ill huswife, ill name hath, of euerie clowne.
Thus endeth the booke of Huswiferie.
| Fiue hundred pointes of good Husbandrie | |