"de Quixly confirmatur Epifcopus Puerorum, et Capitulum "ordinavit, quod electio episcopi Puerorum in ecclefia Ebora" cenfi de cetero fieret de Eo, qui diutius et magis in dicta " ecclefia laboraverit, et magis idoneus repertus fuerit, dum "tamen competenter fit corpore formofus, et quod aliter facta "electio non valebit "." It is certainly a matter of no confequence, whether we understand these Minstrels of Henry the fixth to have been fingers, pipers, players, or pofture-masters. From the known character of that king, I should rather suppose them performers for his chapel. In any fenfe, this is an instance of the fame oppreffive and arbitrary privilege that was practised on our poet.

Our author Tuffer wrote, during his refidence at Ratwood in Suffex, a work in rhyme entitled FIVE HUNDRED POINTES OF GOOD HUSBANDRIE, which was printed at London in 1557. But it was foon afterwards reprinted, with additions and improvements, under the following title, "Five hundreth pointes of good Husbandrie as well for the Champion or open countrie, "as alfo for the Woodland or Severall, mixed in euerie moneth "with Hufwiferie, ouer and befides the booke of HusWIFERIE. Corrected, better ordered, and newlie augmented a fourth part more, with diuers other leffons, as a diet for "the farmer, of the properties of windes, planets, hops, herbs, "bees, and approved remedies for the sheepe and cattell, with

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P Registr. Archiv. Ecclef. Ebor. MSS. In the Salisbury-miffal, in the office of EPISCOPUS PUERORUM, among the fuffrages we read, "Corpore enim formofus

es O fili, et diffufa eft gratia in labiis "tuis, &c." In further proof of the folemnity with which this farce was conducted, I will cite another extract from the chapter-regifters at York. "xj febr. 66 1370. In Scriptoria capituli Ebor. "dominus Johannes Giffon, magifter cho"riftarum ecclefiæ Eboracenfis, liberavit "Roberto de Holme choriftæ, qui tunc "ultimo fuerat epifcopus puerorum, iij "libras, xvs. id. ob. de perquifitis ipfius VOL. III.

"manie other matters both profitabell and not vnpleasant for the "Reader. Alfo a table of HUSBANDRIE at the beginning of "this booke, and another of HUSWIFERIE at the end, &c. "Newlie fet foorth by THOMAS TUSSER gentleman'."

It must be acknowledged, that this old English georgic has much more of the fimplicity of Hefiod, than of the elegance of Virgil: and a modern reader would suspect, that many of its falutary maxims originally decorated the margins, and illuftrated the calendars, of an antient almanac. It is without invocations, digreffions, and descriptions: no pleafing pictures of rural imagery are drawn from meadows covered with flocks and fields waving with corn, nor are Pan and Ceres once named. Yet it is valuable, as a genuine picture of the agriculture, the rural arts, and the domeftic economy and customs, of our induftrious ancestors.

I must begin my examination of this work with the apology of Virgil on a fimilar subject,

Poffum multa tibi veterum præcepta referre,

Ni refugis, tenuefque piget cognofcere curas *.

I first produce a fpecimen of his directions for cultivating a hop-garden, which may, perhaps not unprofitably, be compared with the modern practice.

Whom fanfie perfwadeth, among other crops,
To haue for his fpending, fufficient of hops,

The oldeft edition with this title which I have feen is in quarto, dated 1586, and printed at London, " in the now dwelling

houfe of Henrie Denham in Alderfgate "ftreete at the figne of the ftarre." In black letter, containing 164 pages. The next edition is for H. Yardley, London 1593. Bl. Lett. 4to. Again at London, printed by Peter Short, 1597. Bl. Lett. 4to. The laft I have feen is dated 1610. 4to.

In the Register of the Stationers, a receipt of T. Hackett is entered for licence for printing "A dialoge of wyvynge and

"thryvynge of Tusfhers with ij leffons for
"olde and yonge," in 1562 or 1563.
REGISTR. STAT. COMP. LOND. notat. A.
fol. 74. b. I find licenced to Alde in
1565, "An hundreth poyntes of evell
"hufwyfraye," I suppose a fatire on Tuffer.
Ibid. fol. 131. b. In 1561, Richard Tot-
tell was to print "A booke intituled one
"hundreth good poyntes of hufboundry
"lately maryed unto a hundreth good
poyntes of Hufwiffry newly corrected
"and amplyfyed." Ibid. fol. 74. a,
S GEORGIC. i. 176.

Muft

Muft willingly follow, of choifes to choose,
Such leffons approued, as skilful do vfe.

Ground grauellie, fandie, and mixed with claie,
Is naughtie for hops, anie maner of waie;
Or if it be mingled with rubbish and stone,
For drineffe and barrenneffe let it alone.

Choose foile for the hop of the rottenest mould,
Well doonged and wrought, as a garden-plot should;
Not far from the water, but not ouerflowne,

This leffon well noted is meete to be knowne.

The fun in the fouthe, or else fouthlie and west,

Is ioie to the hop, as a welcomed gueft;
But wind in the north, or elfe northerlie east,
To the hop, is as ill as a fraie in a feast.

Meet plot for a hop-yard, once found as is told,
Make thereof account, as of iewell of gold:
Now dig it and leaue it, the funne for to burne,
And afterward fence it, to ferue for that turne.

The hop for his profit I thus doo exalt :
It strengtheneth drinke, and it fauoreth malt;
And being well brewed, long kept it will last,
And drawing abide-if ye drawe not too fast'.

To this work belongs the well known old fong, which begins,

The Ape, the Lion, the Fox, and the Affe,

Thus fetts foorth man in a glaffe, &c".

For the farmer's general diet he affigns, in Lent, red herrings, and falt fish, which may remain in ftore when Lent is past: at Eafter, veal and bacon: at Martinmas, falted beef, when dainties are not to be had in the country: at Midsummer, when mackrel are no longer in season, graffe, or fallads, fresh beef, and pease: at Michaelmas, fresh herrings, with fatted crones, or sheep: at All Saints, pork and pease, sprats and Spurlings: at Christmas, good cheere and plaie. The farmer's weekly fish-days, are Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday; and he is charged to be careful in keeping embrings and fast-days ".

Among the Hufbandlie Furniture are recited moft of the instruments now in use, yet with several obsolete and unintelligible names of farming utenfils. Horfes, I know not from what superstition, are to be annually blooded on faint Stephen's day'. Among the Christmas bufbandlie fare, our author recommends good drinke, a good fire in the Hall, brawne, pudding and foufe, and mustard withall, beef, mutton, and pork, fored, or minced, pies of the beft, pig, veal, goofe, capon, and turkey, cheese, apples, and nuts, with jolie carols. A Christmas carol is then introduced to the tune of King Salomon 2.

ing a ballad called "Kynge Saloman." REGISTR. STATION. COMP. LOND. notat. A. fol. 48. a. Again, in 1561; a licence to print "iij balletts, the one entituled "Newes oute of Kent; the other, a newe "ballat after the tune of kynge SOLOMON; " and the other, Nerves out of Heaven and "Hell." Ibid. fol. 75. a. See Lycence of "Certayne John Tyfdale for printing

goodly Carowles to be fonge to the glory "of God," in 1562. lbid. fol. 86. a. Again, ibid." Creftenmas Carowles aucto"rished by my lord of London." A bal

lad

In a comparison between Champion and Severall, that is, open and inclosed land, the disputes about inclosures appear to have been as violent as at prefent. Among his Hufwifelie Admonitions, which are not particularly addreffed to the farmer, he advises three difshes at dinner, which being well dreffed, will be sufficient to please your friend, and will become your Hall". The prudent houfewife is directed to make her own tallowcandles, Servants of both sexes are ordered to go to bed at ten in the fummer, and nine in the winter: to rife at five in the winter, and four in the fummer. The ploughman's feafting days, or holidays, are PLOUGH-MONDAY, or the first Monday after Twelfth-day, when ploughing begins, in Leicefterfhire. SHROF-TIDE, or SHROVE TUESDAY, in Effex and Suffolk, when after fhroving, or confeffion, he is permitted to go thresh the fat hen, and "if blindfold [you] can kill her "then giue it thy men," and to dine on fritters and pancakes . SHEEP-SHEARING, which is celebrated in Northamptonshire with wafers and cakes. The WAKE-DAY, or the vigil of the church faint, when everie wanton maie danfe at her will, as in Leicestershire, and the oven is to be filled with flawnes. HAR

e I have before mentioned Shrove-Tuefday as a day dedicated to feftivities. See fupr. vol. ii. p. 387. In fome parts of Germany it was ufual to celebrate Shrove tide with bonfires. Lavaterus of GHOSTES, &c. tranflated into English by R. H. Lond. 1572 4to. fol. 51. Bl. Lett. Polydore Virgil fays, that fo early as the year 1170, it was the custom of the English nation to celebrate their Chriftmas with plays, mafques, and the most magnificent specta

cles; together with games at dice, and dancing. This practice he adds, was not conformable to the usage of moft other nations, who permitted thefe diverfions, not at Christmas, but a few days before Lent, about the time of Shrovetide. HIST. ANGL. Lib. xiii. f. 211. Bafil. 1534. By the way, Polydore Virgil obferves, that the Christmasprince or Lord of Mifrule, is almost peculiar to the English. De RER. INVENTOR. lib.v. cap. ii. Shrove-Tuesday feems to have been fometimes confidered as the last day of Christmas, and on that account might be celebrated as a feftival. In the year 1440, on Shrove-Tuesday, which that year was in March, at Norwich there was a Difport in the streets, when one rode through the streets havyng his hors trap"pyd with tyn-foyle, and other nyfe difgyfyngs, coronned as Kyng of CRESTEMASSE, in tokyn that fefon fhould

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"end