The Middle-English translation of Palladius De Re Rustica / ed. by Mark Liddell.

XII. NOUEMBER.

De satione tritici, farris, ordei, fabe & lenticule. i capitulum.

Nouember wol with whete & far be sowe [1 Initial enbraces 5 lines. In right margin: Nouember.] In lawful wise & with solemnyte; V stryk vpon an aker is to strowe. With barly wol this mone ek sowen be, And benes, vnto greet felicite; [ 5] Right faat or donged lond they loueth best, Or valey ther hillis fatnesse hath rest.

And clodde [occa.] hem large, as wel they may be wrie. [fol. 118a.] Ek summen seyn the benes satioun In placis coold is best to fructifie, [ 10] On hem yf me do noon occasioun, ffor cloddis wol ther germinacioun Obumbre from the coold, & wel defende. They peireth lond but lite, & naught amende,

For Columelle affermeth that a feeld [ 15] ffor whete is rather proued profitable That bare is, than the feeld ther benes yeeld Hath been. And for an aker faat is able

Six stryk to sowe, and lesse is aboundable In mene lond. But sad lond wol the bene [ 20] Indwelle, and hatith nebulose and lene.

And when the mone is daies oold xv And so not repercusse as of the sonne, Sowe hem; but other seyn bette is xiiij. ffrom weedis they with capoun blood bironne [ 25] Beth saaf, as Grekis seyn that theron konne. Too daies stept, anoon they wol arise. [27 stept] e over erasure.] Now lyne and puls is sowe as is the gise. [28 In left margin: 41, g.]

De pratis et de vitibus. Secundum capitulum.

Now mede is first to make, as seid is erst. Now vynys sette in placis hoot & drie, [ 30] Now also to prouyne is not the werst Yong vyne, & plauntis vmbideluyng hie; And also hem that nakid beth let wrie. Ek er then Ide vch merges curuature [34 Left margin: 37, h.] Of thre yeer old kit from the roote, is sure. [ 35]

De vinea veteri in iugo vel percula reparanda. iij capitulum. [fol. 119.]

From hennes forth the vynys that trauayle On perchis or forkis, and ouerlonge [An] encumbraunce are and of nought auayle, [38 Ms. omits An, B An encombraunce are.] Bihold hem; yf their tronk be hool and stronge, Ablaqueate hem, feede hem faat with donge, [ 40] And kitte hem short ouer the lond no v ffeet long allyng, and thus make hem to thryue.

Ther as the grenest plece is of the rynde Thy sharpist yron take, and with the poynt [ mucrone.] On either side afore & also byhynde, [ 45] So goodly by & by hit is to poynt; ffor Columelle affermyth in that ioynt

To germyne, and in veer therout to stare Mater thy vyne al newly to repare.

De putandis vitibus & arboribus ac oleo faciendo. iiij capitulum.

Putacioun autumnal celebrate [ 50] Is now in vyne & tre ther nys no coold. [51 Ms. vynys, B vyne.] Olyue is puld of colour variate; Make oil of hem alblak on to biholde. Olyue & other treen thus best is holde, The croppe to kitte, and saue on euery side [ 55] [55 Ms. sawe, B saue.] The bowes [profluent] for fruyt tabide. [56 Ms. omits profluent, B profluent.]

But where is lond vnkept and insolent, Take from the tronke al clene, vntil so hie As beestis may by noon experiment Atteyne; and there let bowis multiplie, [ 60] And afterlong on euery side hem plie, Salutyng [ vel loutyng tort.] eest & west, & north & south. Yet alwey war the touche of beestis mouth.

De oliuetis ponendis & curandis. v capitulum. [fol. 119a.]

Tholyue is now ther lond is hoot and drie Ysette as erst is seid. Wel wol this tre [ 65] [65 In left margin: 97; e, f, g.] Encrece in litel moyst and placis hie. Wel froted, wold he fatte ydonged be, And waggid with wynd of feracite. An[d] cure hem as biforn. Now corbes fyne [69 Ms. baskettis corbes fyne, B has the same (cf. III; 216).] [69 Ms. An, B And.] Beth maad; in tempur lond eke oil lauryne. [ 70]

De albo vlpico cepulis & plantis carduarum. vj capitulum.

This mone vlpike & garlec is to sowe; White erthe hit wol, doluen withouten donge. Maak redes [ succulos (sic).] in the bord, and ther bistowe Hem in the coppe, atwene in brede & longe ffyngris but iiij ek deep sette is their wronge. [ 75]

And wede hem wel, so wol they wexe fele. But forto hede hem gret, trede doun the stele; [77 trede] d altered from t.]

So shal the iuce into their hedis go. And whenne the mone is doun, also thei telle, Hem yf me sowe and pulle hem vp also, [ 80] Of cruelte no thing wole in hem smelle. In chaf or smoke ykept wel wol they dwelle. Now oynouns sowe, and tasul [carduum.] in his place Let plaunte, and cunel sowe, ek armarace.

De persico, pinu, prunis, castaneis & alijs pomis. vij C^m.

Now ther is hoot, and ell in Ianyueer, [ 85] The pechis boon in pastyne is to sette; To sundre hem too footis best hit were. The plauntes spronge, into other placis fette And sette hem, depe iij or ij hondis mette. But picche adoun the poynt intort the grounde. [ 90] Another craft yet other folk han founde:

The bones to be sette first wol they drye [fol. 120.] A dayes fewe; and thenne in askis molde They mynge, and hit they into skeppis [quales.] trie; In this their dried bones wol they holde. [ 95] I say that men myght kepe hem as they wolde, And eriwhere also say I they sprynge; Yet sum place hath best and lengest durynge—

Ther warm aier is and grauel londis weete; [99 weete] second e added above in same hand.] ffor ther is cold and wyndy they wel dye, [ 100] If no defence away the coldis bete. And delue hem ofte, eke herbis vtter trye. Transplaunte hem too yeer old to multiplie In delues short, and nygh vchon tyl other, That from the storm of hete vche helpe his brother. [ 105]

Ablaquyatynge hem in heruest hie, Her owne foiles yef hem as for donge. And kitte of euery roten thyng or drie, [108 of] added above in same hand.] ffor grene yf that me kitte of, that is wronge— That sleeth hem vp. Ek seke yf the be longe, [ 110] Wyndreggis old in water let infounde; Yef hem this drynke, anoon they wole be sounde.

And Grekis sayn that pechis me may make Ywriton growe, yf that me first hem sette, And after dayes vij vp hem take; [ 115] By thenne out wol a spronke of hem be lette Vppon the shelle; and out the curnel fette, And write on what thee list with cynabare; [118 cynabare] glossed in right margin: cinabarum fit ex sulphure & argento uiuo.] To close anoon the boon theron do care.

Their kyndis beth: oon is peche Armenye [fol. 120a.] [ 120] Precox is next, the thridde is duracyne— But yf this tree to sore in sonne drie, Hepe erthe aboute and homour vespertyne. Ek thing obiect the feruour of declyne. [124 Ms. abiect, B obiect.] A serpent skyn doon on this tre men lete [ 125] [125 Ms. lette, B lete.] Auaylaunt be to saue hit in greet hete.

For frostis now do donge aboute a peche, Or water myxt wyndregges. Or the best Of benes boyled water may be leche To sle the frost; and yf wormys vnrest [ 130] Hem, aske oildregges myxt on hem be kest, Or ox talgh with the thridde part aysel— Ereither kest on hem wol sle hem wel. [133 Ereither] re added in same hand, r on the line, e above.]

The fruyt caduke is goodly thus to cure: Of therebynte or birche into the roote [ 135]

Or trunk indrive a pyn, and hit is sure. ffor fallyng fruyt or holdyng forth to roote, The myddil into bore also is boote, And put a saly stake in hit. With craft ffro rotyng & ryuyng they be byraft: [ 140]

Lowe on the trunke as wounde hym in the rynde; [141 Ms. Sowe, B Lowe.] A lite homour whanne out of hit is runne, With chaued cley the wounde ayeyn do bynde. And whanne their flouryng is so bigunne, While thr[i]e aboute his cours gireth the sunne, [ 145] [145 Ms. thre, B thrie.] With sestris iij of gootis mylk hem wete, And ther wol be the peches swete and grete.

Vppon their bowes spartea to honge [148 Ms. do, B to.] [fol. 121.] Is good for hem; or sparte [spartum.] v[n]til hem bynde. [149 Ms. vtil, B vntil.] In Ianyueer or ffeueryeer no wronge [ 150] Is graffyng hem, but cordyng to their kynde, If lond be coold. And hoot lond yf they fynde, In Nouember. But taak their graffis lowe And nygh the stok, for gladdist wol thei growe. [154 Ms. ffor.]

The toppis takith not, or nought endure. [ 155] Graffe in hym self or plumme or almauntre; But Armenye and Precoqua beth sure In plumme. In almaunt, durycynys be Lengest to growe in meest fertilite. Aprile & May hem wol enoculayre [inoculare.] [ 160] Ther as the lond is hoot in placis faire.

Ytalyens enoculacioun In thende of May or nygh ther Iuyn bigynne In peches sayn good occupacioun. Emplasturyng of hem eke is no synne, [ 165]

And rede oute of the plane ygraffed wynne. [166 Ms. plane is graffed, B plane ygraffed.] The duracyne is kept in oximelle With dreggis myxt, wel forto taste & smelle.

The bonys oute, as figgis summen drie Hem and suspende. Ek y ha seen the bonys [ 170] [170 Ms. haseen.] Detracte of duracyne in hony trie, So kept that gladder tastyng neuer noon is. Hoot picche a droppe yf into vch avel [vmbilicum.] gon is, That so they be coart to swymme in sape— Enclude hem, and al harm they shal escape. [ 175]

They sayn the pyne [pinus.] vnto al thyng vnder sowe [fol. 121a.] Is commodose. And his sowing is this: His curnels [nuclei.] wol in hoot & drier growe In October or Nouember not mys; In ffeueryeer or Marche, ther coold weet is. [ 180] [180 Ms. ffeueryeer.] In smal lond nygh the see among the hillis And stonys wide & fresh, this tre at wille is.

In wyndy moyst encreceth they right grete. But with this tre what ground euere shal growe, As is for other treen is not to trete; [ 185] But p[l]owe hit, whete on hit as me wold sowe, [186 Ms. powe, B plowe.] And right as whete in hit the sedis sowe, And wrie hit light, an hondbrede hit descende, And let no beest his tender youthe offende.

Thre dayes watteryng vp helpith eke [ 190] [190 watteryng] e added above in same hand.] To grete encrece, and his translacioun The pynys fruyt [wol] esy make and meke [192 Ms. omits wol, B wol.] Ek plauntis han this procuracioun Vnto their gret multiplica[ci]oun: [194 Ms. multiplicaoun, B multiplicacioun.]

That first is doon the seed with molde & donge [ 195] In skeppis vnder lond to ere vp yonge;

Whan they come vp the smallest fro they do, So that the saddist faster may ascende; At thre yeer old, this skeppis broken fro, In delues large adoun shal they descende. [ 200] And donge, as myche as molde, aboute hem spende; A flake of this, a flake of that they make, So hath a kake of molde of donge a kake.

But se wel that the cheef rote oon directe [fol. 122.] Be hool translate vnto his summyte, [ 205] Withouten hurt, and in no wise enfecte. Putacioun so helpith hem to the, That too so high ascende hem shal me se As me wol wene; and their nuttis abide Wol on the tre and ripe vntil this tyde; [ 210]

Yet pulle hem rather than they flete atwynne. Their nuttis must be clensid forto kepe; Newe erthen pottis summen kepe hem ynne, So they in erthe & with their shellis slepe. Now plommes boon to sowe is too hond depe [ 215] [215 Ms. ben, B boon.] In lond subact. The same in ffeueryeer ffirst stept in lie, vp goth with gladder cheer. [217 Ms. with good cheer, B with gladder chere.]

This plaunte is sette, vptake in Ianyveer As from the codde, and nygh the monys eende. Or plaunte hem nygh the Ide of ffeueryeer, [ 220] The rootis wel in dongynge vmbiwende. In faat lond moyst thei ioyfulliche ascende, And ther is warm eke hugely they bolde; Yet not for thy thei may endure in colde.

Ther cleyi londis are and lapidose, [ 225] With donge is good to helpe hem & excuse

Lest their fruyt falle and be vermiculose. The plauntis from the rootis ek refuse Not vp to pulle; ek plauntis fair excuse To stonde vnpuld, that they be not to seke [quaerende.] . [ 230] And hele in this maner thi prunys seke [languidas.] :

Oyldreggis [armucam (sic).] watertemprid euenly [fol. 122a.] Let kest on hem, or ox vryne alone, Or old vryne admyxt vneuenly With water partis too; or of an one [furno.] [ 235] Askis, and rathest of sarment, be done On hem. And yf caduk their fruytis be, Dryue in the roote of olyastre tre.

Rubrike and taar [pix liquida.] wormys & auntis sleth, Doon esy on for harmyng of the tre, [ 240] Lest medycyne eschaunge into the deth. Ydoluen ofte & weet, holpen they be. They graffed are in Marche extremyte, In trunke or rynde. Hem graffeth also summe. [ 245] In Ianyveer er then they wepe gumme. [ 245]

In almaunt, in hymsilf, in malo, in peche Is graffid plomme. And plommes summen drie, And hem on fleykis kepe: and other teche Whan seewater or dreggis boilyng frie, [249 seewater] first e added above.] The plommes fresh collect therinto trie. [ 250] Hem taken up so drieth they in sonne [251 Ms. so up so with stroke of s in 2nd. so doubled, B uppe so.] Or in an oven [furno.] luke, and they beth wonne.

Chasten [eastanea.] wol vp of plauntis that alone Vpgrowe, or of his seedis multiplie. The plaunte in yeeris too wole gynne grone [ 255] [255 Ms. growe, B grone.] ffor seek, and perauenture he wol dye. [4 locium (lotium).]

ffresh, ripe, & grete of hem to sette outrie; In Nouember hem sette and vp they crepe. [258 Ms. Nouembre, B November.] And thus to sowe in ffeueryeer hem kepe:

Drie hem in shade and hem to gidre hepe; [ 260] [260 Ms. kepe, B hepe.] [fol. 123.] With flood grauel let diligence hem wrie, And xxx dayes vnder that hem kepe; Then doon of that, hem into water trie, Ther swymmyth seeke, & hoole adoun wol hie. Ayeyn the goode vndir grauel be do, [ 265] And tried efte; and thries preue hem so.

Hem that remayne al sikur maystow sowe. Summe in grauel hem closith and so kepe [custodiunt.] In lond solute and softe vp wole they growe, But as of grauel lond no thing they kepe [ optant.] [ 270] In sondy lond they stonde yf that hit wepe; Blaak erthe is apte, and lond carbunculyne; And ragstoon [ tofus] alto rapte [ confractus.] , is for hem digne.

They growe vnnethe in sad lond or rubrik, And for no thing the cley [they] may not vse. [ 275] [275 Ms. omits they, B thai.] The cold estate of heuen wel they like, A party warme also they not refuse, Ner clyues ther humour is not excluse. [278 Erasure before excluse.] They loueth derk Septemtrioun biholde, And best in pastynatid lond thei holde. [ 280]

Pastyne hit depe a foote & half, or plowe Hit by & by, & wel with donge hit feede, And theryn do thy chastyns forto growe; A foote depe the crafte is hem to seede. Sette vp a stick vppon hem thee to leede, [ 285] [285 Ms. stryke, B stick.]

And sette in euery stede or iij or v, But footis iiij a sonder, hem to thryue.

Transplauntynge hem is best at yeeris too, [fol. 123a.] So gutt[er]yng the water from hem shelue; [289 Ms. guttyng, B gutteryng.] Yf water stonde on hem, they beth fordo. [ 290] [ 290 on] n added above in hand A.] Also this tre may pleched be hym selue. [291 pleched] c altered from s.] Ek bysily the yonge hit is to delue. In Marche and September putacioun To chasten is incrementacioun.

They graffed beth in rynde, as y ha preued, [ 295] I[n] Marche and in Aprile, and right wel do. [296 Ms. I, B in.] Inoculyng also in hem hath cheued. In saly yf me graffe hem, forth they go, And ripith late, and tasteth not but so. Chasteyn[i]s kest on fleykis me may kepe, [ 300] [300 Ms. Chasteyns, B Chasteynes. ‖ fleykis] k added on the line and is above, in hand A.] Or vnder sond a sonder leid to slepe.

And other hem in erthen pottis do, And delueth hem in placis that beth drie. In bechen baskettis men saue also This fruyt, so they [with cley] be staunche ywrie, [ 305] [305 Ms. omits with cley, B with cley.] Or smellest barly chaf aboute hem plie; Or baskettis of seggis me may vse, So they be thykke, and saue ther recluse. [308 Ms. their, B ther.]

This mone in place[s drie] and regiouns coolde, [309 Ms. in place and r., B in places and R. (Lat. locis calidis ac siccis regionibus.)] The piry wilde [ pirus agrestus.] is sette, graffed to be; [ 310] Citur [ citrus.] & quynce [ cydoneus.] ek pomgarnat [ malum punicum.] to holde, The serue and medler & selyque tre, The mollebery, the chery, and figtre,

Almaundis & Iuglande in semynaire, A[s] crafte is taught biforn, is to repaire. [ 315] [315 Ms. A crafte, B As crafte. ‖ In left margin: 90; f, g.]

De apibus. Capitulum octauum. [fol. 124.]

At gynnyng of this moone, of thamaryke [thamaride (sic).] [316 Rubric in hand A.] And other flouris wylde vseth the bee [apes.] Hony, though hit be smal, sumdel to pyke; Their wynter store is resoun that hit be. [fit.] Now clensed al their housis is to se, [ 320] ffor wynter meuyng lyk is hem to harme; But do this in a faire day & a warme.

Let swepe [scopare.] hem with a wynge, & with a penne Or fether of a foul, ther as an honde May not come to, pike al the filthis thenne. [inde.] [ 325] Stoppe euery chene aboute her housis fonde With cleyed donge, and ouer ther they stonde A tegument of brom or suche extende, Hem fro tempest & cooldis to defende.

Remedium vitibus. Capitulum ix.

In placis glade & warme, yf vyne abounde [ 330] [330 Rubric in hand A.] In leef & haue of fruyt but pouerte, Now kitte hem short, & they wole be fecounde. In cold lond this in ffeueryeer doon be, And yf they mende not, yheped se Askis or flood grauel aboute her roote [ 335] That summen stones dryue into for boote.

[Remedium sterili viti. x capitulum.]

The same place & tyme, a bareyn vyne [337 Rubric omitted.] Is thus to cure: his stok is first to cleue And ther enclude a stoon; ek old vryne Let cotuls [cu∣tulas (sic).] iiij aboute hit helde at eue; [ 340]

And al the molde aboute is to remeue, That this licour the rootes to descende. Ek ley to lond & donge, and they wole mende. [343 Erasure before mende.]

De rosario ex paucis virgulis instituendo. xi capitulum. [fol. 124a.] [Verses 344-525 are torn out of B.]

Rosair [rosarium.] in ffeueryeer al though me make, [344 In left margin▪ 41; d, e, f.] Now make hit ther is warme & nygh the see. [ 345] The gemmy graffys with their crokis [geniculis.] take Of fyngris iiij. ypleshed is to se Wel donged and ywattered to be; [348 ywattered] first e added above tt.] And oon yeer old transplaunte hem forth to stonde. So braunches fewe vpfille a huge londe. [ 350]

Vt vua vsque ad ver servetur in vite. xij capitulum.

The Grekis seyn that grapes in their vyne [351 Rubric] Ms. veer. ‖ The] has small initial.] Til veer is thus to kepe: aboute a tre In shady place, impleet of grapes fyne, Let make a delf iij footis deep to be And brood too foote, and sond inkest thou se; [ 355] Ther cannes styke; on hem sarmentis [s. scions.] plie, With grapes faire & sounde aparty hie;

To wrie hem that no reyn vppon hem drepe. They sayn eke fruyt or grape in tre or vyne With erthen pottis thus a man may kepe: [ 360] This fruyt in hem suspended to reclyne, And wrie hem that noon ayer vppon hem shyne; So beth they saaf. Eke appules brought a slepe In gips [gipso.] , to longe abide and neuere wepe.

De gregibus ouilli generis et caprini ac ordine pascendi. xiij ca ^m.

First in this mone is generacioun [ 365] Of lambes. That is, sone as they be born,

Attende vppon this ocupacioun, [367 Ms. as.] That fro their modir teetis [vberibus.] they be torn The formest myl[k] clept boystyng [colostra.] , out aforn [369 Ms. myl.] Let heerdis mylke—vnese hit myght hem do; [ 370] And close hem with her dammes dayes too.

And aftir close hem warme in place obscure, [fol. 125.] The dammes flokked forth & hoom at eue. And til the lamb be strengthed to pasture, Hym first and last his modir mylk releue. [ 375] With bran [furfure.] , medik [medica.] , or barly flour bouncheue Also they wole. And whan they wexeth stronge, Do with their damme afeeld this babis yonge.

Sheep pasture is in falowis [noualibus pratis.] , medys drie; The mersh [pallustria (sic).] is nought, and wodis wollis tere. [ 380] Ek salt among their fodder is to strie, Or in their drynke—hit hugely wole chere Thi sheep. And lest the wynter hungur dere, With hay or chaf or ficche is hem to feede, Or yef hem elm or asshen leef for neede. [ 385]

Pasture hem first ther gresse is dewy, swete; Then oures foure aftir the sonne ascende, And doun on hem descende, a feruent hete, To welle or flood the flook be brought on ende Their mouthes drie on wateris to spende. [ 390] And when the sonne is ouer hoot and hie, With shade of hille or wodis thou hem wrie.

Westynge [tendente ad occidentem.] the sunne and waynyng of the hete, At ascendence of dewes vespertyne The folk vnto the pasture is to trete. [ 395] But while hete of Canyculers shyne,

Pasture hem that their hedis ay declyne ffrommart the sonne. In veer & wynter tyne [claude.] Hem intil frost be goon, and hoor pruyne. [399 goon] 2nd. o looks like u.]

The Grekish sheep and also Tarentyne [fol. 125a.] [ 400] In housis fedde [ar], rather then pasture; [401 Ms. fedde rather.] And hem on bored plankis they reclyne, ffor fowlyng of their precious tecture, Wherof to make is mannys couerture, That is their flees [vellus.] . Ek wasshen iij a yeer, [ 405] With oil and wyn tennoynte hit is mysteer.

For serpentis that ofte vnder the foolde Wol dare, is cedur brent, or hertis horn, Or wymmen heer; galbane ek good is hoolde To brenne, so this wormys to be lorn. [ 410] Goot bukkis [hirci.] from females now forborn Ne may not be, that they at veer the prime May kidis haue acordyng to the tyme.

That bukke is best that hath vndir his chekis Twey wartis [verruculas.] smale; and grete ycorsid be [ 415] That theyed faat & short yneckid eke is, And hath an heed of litel quantite. Bent ered & white hered thou hym se, So hit be thikke & longe. Ek oon yeer oolde Is good, & so til sixe on wol he holde. [ 420]

The goot be bodied like, with pappes grete,— Ha not so fele of hem as of the sheepe. Ivy, crabtre, & lentiske hedes mete, Is good to make hem mylk outrennyng wepe. They thre yeer oold their birthis best vp kepe, [ 425] And hem that yonger kyde is best to sle. At viij yeer age also their dammes fle.

De glandibus legendis. xiiij capitulum. De materia cedenda. xv capitulum. [fol. 126.]

Now mast [glandes.] to glene [colligere.] out goth womman & childe. And now is tyme, in wanyng of the moone, Tymber to falle, yf that thou thynke bilde. [ 430] But hewe hem half a too is first to done, That humour out may renne; and not to sone Hem smyte doun. Of grest vtilite [433 In right margin: sincopa.] Is fyr [abies.] , and meest of durabilite.

Fyr first is stronge & best, enduryng longe; [ 435] Next is larex; for fyir is hit so sure [436 Ms. ffor.] That gablis yf thyn housis therof fonge, And tablis vndir tilyng, ha no cure ffor brennyng of thyn hous, for hit wole dure [439 Ms. ffor.] And nought enflaume. Ook [quercus.] is also durable, [ 440] And as for erthe werkis profitable.

For bildyng ek escule [esculus.] is good mateer; Chateyne is wondir sad, and in the feelde Or hous or vtter werkis or entier, ffor drie or wete hit neuer wol hit yelde; [dedere.] [ 445] Sauyng his wight, ek no vice hit may yelde. [reddere.] Beche [fagus.] he wole rote in wete, in drie endure, And populer the same is in nature.

Saly [salix.] & lynde [tilia.] is needful in sculpture. An hous [y]maad of aller is but shent; [ 450] [450 Ms. maad.] Yet ther the ground is myre, weet, vnsure, Pile in aller as for the fundament. Ek elm & asshe ydried beth rigent, And while they beth vndried, so curuable, ffor shippis that they beth right profitable. [ 455]

Cupresse a nobul tre! Good is carpyne. [carpinus.] [fol. 126a.] The pyne [pinus.] ek ther as drie is wol endure. That he ne rote y fond a craft in Sardyne: The bemes that to werkis beth future, A twelmonth to be leid in water pure, [ 460] Or in grauel vndir the sees brinke, [461 Ms. brynge.] At euery flood salt water so to drynke.

Cedur vnwet wol dure. Ek on the south In tymbur fald is more vtilite Then that is in the northern wyndis mouth: [ 465] Yet is hit streighter feir vppon to se. Now ther is drie & hoot a gretter tre [467 In left margin in red: xvi cap^m.] Transplaunted be, the bowes hole & roote: [468 roote] o added above.] But wete hym ofte, and donge aboute hym wrote. [469 hym] y altered from e.]

De oleo faciendo. Decimum septimum capitulum.

The Grekis seyn that oylis forto make. [ 470] As mych olyue as me may presse ere eve Ipiked, is the mylle vnto to take, Goyng suspense her hones not to greue. Of flesh oonly the first oyle best wol preue [474 wol] final e erased.] In basketis [canistris.] of wythy twiggis wrought. [ 475] The noblest and best oyle first is sought—

That oil is best that flowith out allone. With walkers [nitro.] cley is salt so doon therto. The spissitude of hit to ha fordone: And whanne her dregges sattled doun beth go, [ 480] At dayes thries x is hit to do In glas vessel. And aftir oil secounde Is maad, that on a sadder mylle is grounde.

Vt oleum simile liburnico fiat. xviij capitulum. [fol. 127.]

Ek seith the Greek ylike lyburnyke oil ys A man may make his oil[e] grene & best: [ 485] [485 Ms. oil grene.] Drie violette, ek laure & cipre [ciperum.] foylis, Igrounde al smal, with saltes al to threst, [487 Ms. saltest.] Idried—kest in al this and vnrest Hit vexing longe; and aftir let hit stonde A while. and vse hit—good hit shal be fonde. [ 490]

[Vt oleum sordidum purges.] Capitulum decimum nonum.

If oil be foule, taak hoot salt alto grounde, [491 Ms. Rubric incom∣plete. ‖ Ms. Iff.] And kest hit in, and diligently wrie, And in a while al pure hit wole be fonde. And yf hit be not sauered worth a flie, Olyues grene ygrounde in hit let stie, [ 495] The bonys piked out. ffor oon metrete, Too chonykes to kest is mesure mete.

Ther bayes lakke, olyues croppis bray An[d] kest in with. And summe it wol suspende [499 Ms. An kest. ‖ wol] final e erased.] In thoil vessel vntyl the thridde day, [ 500] Inwith a shete; and tho iij dayes spende, [501 shete] Ms. swete, (Lat. intra linteum).] They vessel hit. And other inte hit sende [502 inte] e altered from o.] Old tile maad hoot, and summen in a shete Suspendith barly breed hit forto swete,

And whan they hem ha chaunged twye or thrie, [ 505] [505 Initial omitted by rubricator.] Into other lomes wole they hit translate, And salt vpon [hit] suffisauntly strie. [507 Ms. vpon suffisauntly.] Ek yf a beest in hit be deed of late Or longe, ensclaundryng thodoures state,

In oon metrete an handful coriaunder [ 510] Wol voide away the vile odoures sclaunder.

Horrend odour perchaunce abidith stille; [fol. 127a.] Let chaunge, and putte in coriaunder newe, And chaunge hit ofte vntil hit better smylle, And forto taaste vpon be not eschewe. [ 515] At daies sixe ek best is hit remewe To lomes newe, other to vessel clene [munda.] , With vynegre other with aysel maad clene [recensita recensita (sic).]

And other stampith seedis of feyn Greek, And kest hem yn. Ek summen broondes tende [ 520] Of olyue tre, and in this licour seek Hem quencheth they, the sauour forto amende. Yf hit be sour, let into hit descende That al forbrayed grapis excrement, On ballis maad, in seruyng thyn entent. [ 525] [Vv. 519-525 are partly torn out of B; for what remains see Appendix.]

[De oleo rancido curando.] Capitulum vicesimum primum.

For brousty [rancido.] oil, whit wex is to resolue In fynest oil, and theryn throwe hit so; [527 Part of rubric omitted; B omits alto∣gether.] Hoot salt ygrounde is on hit to dissolue, And in a vessel cleyed al be do; So wol hit mende odour and taast also. [ 530] In erthe vche oil to kepe, is his nature Whom salt or fir or water hoot may pure.

De condiendis oliuis. xxij capitulum.

This moone is maad olyue in condiment; That is dyuers: oon olyf Columbare [columbaris.] Ther flakith first, olyue as fundament, [ 535] And after that the pulioles are; A flake on that hony and saltis rare,

Or flake olyue; and fenel graffes be Theron, or birche or dile or olyue tre.

Of aysel oon emyne [eminam.] on hit they slake; [ 540] [fol. 128.] They keste also theron of barmys [murie.] rude. [541 In right margin: Emia (sic) est sexterii medietas. Sextarium continet sex libras.] So shal hit rise alwey flake aftir flake, Vntil the vessel haue his plentitude. This thyng so ful, is goodly forto enclude. Elite olyues xl dayes stepe [macera.] [ 545] In oil barm [muria.] , and thanne out the barm [muriam.] let drepe;

Of aisel oon, of defrut partes too, And mynte yhewe as smal as hit may be, Kest into these olyues; fille hit so That they ouer the brinkis fleting se. [ 550] Olyue vnhurt, in vaporosite [Vv. 540-551 are torn out of B. See Appendix.] Of bathes oon nyght be on fleyke or table; [552 Ms. myght, B nyght.] And so a morow salted, they beth able;

So beth they oonly dayes viij endured. Olyue vnhurt, in barm [muria.] of oil is do, [ 555] That aftir xl dayes vp is pured; And swetter forto haue hit, do therto Too partis sape, and aisel oon; also To haue hit sharp, of aisel tweyne infounde And oon of sape, as may the sharp abounde. [ 560]

A sester passe [passi.] , a yespon [quantum manus utraque capere possit.] al to grounde Of cyner [cineris.] , of old wyn a quantite; ffoil of cupresse a part in hit contounde. [contunde.] Let menge al this; olyues now let se,

Suche as vnhurt beth, taken from the tre, [ 565] Don in and dreynt; a crust vpon hit make, And fille hit to the brinke vntil hit take.

Olyues that me fyndeth lying crispe. [fol. 128a.] With rugis drawe, in salt it is to sprynge [aspergere.] ; [569 Ms. bi added above to in hand A and inverted carel between to and sprynge.] But first with hondis hem to gidre rispe; [ 570] So let hem take in sonne a welowynge. Ley vnder laure, and flakis vp let springe [exurgere.] . Defrute and saturey a yespon be Yboyled as with wattris too or thre.

Whenne hit is colde vppon this bayes keste [ 575] Hit, and a litel salt be doon therto. A bundel origane in hit doth beste. With bayes puld ek other men thus do: They takith rue [rucam.] and persely also: This couchith they bitwene in euery place. [ 580] And aftir hepe vppon salt cymynace.

Aysel theron and hony wol they slake, And last of fynest oil a quantite. Ek of the tre beth puld olyues blake; They with oil barm [muria.] compoost, vp wasshon be. [ 585] Too doole hony to boyle oon of wyn se, [586 doole] e added above.] Defructe half that, ydoon; and boiled so, Let stire hit wel and aysel mynge into;

And strowe on origan, cold yf hit be. Olyues puld with hondis, pedifete [ 590] And al, be water sprongen dayes thre; Thenne intil barm [muriam.] of oil is hem to trete. A senyght past, into sum lome [vas.] hem gete, [593 In left margin: sincopa.]

With must and eysel fille til hit flowe; And wrie hit, holis leuynge vp to blowe. [ 595] [595 blowe] Ms. plowe.]

De horis. Vicesimum tercium capitulum. [fol. 129.]

As ffeueryeer forth goth Nouember mone: On xxvij feet eerly and late, And next to hem xvj vprenneth sone. [598 Schneider's text has "Hora H et X, pedes".] Xiij is thridde, and firthe in x hath state. Mydday & ouernoon til viij abate. [ 600] A mydde is noon vpstondyng right for vij, [601 vpstondyng] Ms. vnstondyng.] As I seide erst, yf that y metred even. [602 In right margin: 93; b.]

Deo gracias.

Thus bokis twelue anende, and oon is rest, Hit selue vnbende vppon, which book is laste. [vltimus.] O kyngis Kyng, O Lord, O Thyng hiest, [ 605] Louyng record and rynge her stryngis chaste To thyn honour; of fyn sauour that haste [607 sauour] Ms. fauour.] A flour to taste, odour to caste. Al yeer Thy due attende, of fuke vnblende, or laste [defectu.] Vnshende, and ende vs sende of Decembeer. [ 610]