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

II. IANYVEER.

De ablaqueandis ritibus. Primum capitulum. [fol. 35.]

At Ianyueer ablaqueacioun [1 Large illuminated A extending the width of 5 verses.] The vynys axe in placis temporate. Italiens excodicacioun Hit calle, and hit is hem to desolate Of erthe, and al from euery roote abate. [ 5] Thus delues maad, on hem shal wete & hete (They [interposicio.] too doth al) engender grapis grete.

De pratis abstinendis in locis macris. ij capitulum.

In placis glade [prata.] [and lene], in placis drie [8 Ms. omits and l., B and l.] The medis [apricis.] clensid tyme is now to make, And beestis from now forth from hem to crie: [ 10] The feeldis fatte and drie on hem to wake And breke [proscindere.] hem vp—but at the weendyng [versuram.] slake

T[h]e yook, thyn oxon nekkis forto cole; [13 Ms. Te, B The.] But drawyng by the horn is no good scole.

The balkis that they calle vnered lond [inaratam terram.] [ 15] And ouerheed, bihold that ther be noon. The cloddis malled be with mannes hond. To wite yf al be wel, thy self aloon Transuersal thorgh the forghis euerichoon Let russhe [ponas.] a rodde, [particam (sic).] and make hem oft this went, [ 20] And thi ploughmen wol not be necligent. [21 Ms. feeld is not, B feeld it is not.]

The fenny feeld [hit] is not forto plowe, Lest al the yeer hit aftir be to tough To plowe. Ek, as me seith, no thing wol growe Thre yeer on londis drier then ynough [ 25] And rayn bywet, so torn vp with the plough. Demene [hit] in the mene of moyst and drie; [27 Ms. Demene in, B Demeene it in.] Ek sowe hit so and hit wol multiplie.

De ordeo galatico serendo. iiij capitulum. [fol. 35a.]

At Ianys monys Idus, temporate Ground is to sowe in barly galatyke [ordeum galaticum.] . [ 30] Viij busshell seed an aker lond is ate, But first se that the wynter ha be like [placida vel clemens.] . Now chiches [cicercule.] , sowe in faat & moyst lond, like [letantur.] Thre strike an aker seed: yet ofte hit faileth So wete or hete in flouryng hit assayleth. [ 35]

De vicia serenda non ad pabulum sed ad semen habendum. vj cap.

And whan this Ianus xxv dayes Is old, is best thi ficchis [vicias.] forto sowe ffor seed, but not for fodder [pabulo.] , for no nay is

That [quin.] snaylis [linaces (sic).] rather, latte hem for to growe. [39. latte] B lette.] Vij busshell on an aker lond bistowe [ 40] When al the dewe [ros.] is offe, in houris warme; And hele [operi.] hem, lest the nyghtis [wete] hem harme. [42 Ms. nyghtis hem, B nyghtes weete hem.]

De feno greco serendo legend[i] seminis causa. vij capitulum.

Feyngrek [fenum grecum.] to haue of seed, is to be sowe In Italie ene in this Ianys ende; Vij strike vpon an aker is to throwe. [ 45] But plowed thynne & smale is to comende. ffor fyngris foure yf lower thou descende Vp may hit not, ffor thy with plowes light Summe [aliqui.] ere [erant (sic).] & sowe & rake hit with forth right.

De heruo serendo & de sariendis frumentis. viij capitulum.

Also the taaris [heruum.] in this Ianys ende [ 50] Is good to sowe in placis drie & lene; V strike vpon an aker is to spende. This moone, in sonny dayes & serene, Withouten frost, thi cornys wede hem clene. Yet wol this werk the roote, as summen [aliqui.] telle, [ 55] Vnhele [detegere.] or kerue, and cold hit after quelle.

Whan whete is quaterfoyle & barly fyue, [fol. 36.] And puls & benys fyngris foure ascende Abouen erthe, hit is to wede hem blyue. The lupyne is no wedyng on to spende; Withouten help hymself hit wol defende [ 60] ffrom wedis alle; hit rootis hath but oon, And yf me wede hit, slayn hit is anoon.

Thy bene ywedid twyes wol avayle, So wol hit fructifie in grettest wise. [ 65] Of oon to haue a stryke [modium.] is good trauayle— Myn auctour seith therto they wol arise. To wede ek cornys drie, is no good gise, ffor blychenyng after that werk is drede; Yet barly drie, hit harmeth not to wede. [ 70]

De pastinandi generibus & scrobibus vitium. x capitulum.

This mone is good to make in pastynynge That may be maad dyuers in wises thre: In deluyng [al], or plowyng, or dichynge. [73 Ms. omits al, B alle.] The lond vnclene al doluen up mot be, [74 In right margin: Primus modus pastinandi.] Of rootis, fern [filice.] , & weed [herbis noxeis.] , to make hit fre; [ 75] But yf thy lond be leye [nouale.] clene of wedis, With diche [scrobo.] or forgh [sulco.] to pastyne hit, no drede is.

The forgh is best, ille humour out to wise. Elonge ek, as thee likith best, thy lond; [79 Right margin: secundus modus pasti∣nandi.] Too foote & half the brede is to dyuyse. [ 80] Thenne, yf the vyne is dight with mannes hond. Too fote & half ther must vnered [non aratum.] stond: But other wise yf vynys shal be plowed, ffeet v or sixe of leye is hem alowed. [84 Ms. of sixe, B or s.]

Too fote & half in brede & thre in length, [fol. 36a] [ 85] Yf diches plese, hem make, and thre feet depe; [86 Left margin: iij modus pastinandi.] With mannys hond to tyle, or oxen strength, Thyn entre space in oon maner thou kepe. But lest the sciouns [sarmenta.] crokidly vp crepe,

And harmed be whan irons depe synke, [ 90] Pare al the dichis euen, playn the brinke.

The first is good ij fote & half or thre [92 Left margin iterum de primo modo pastinandi.] ffeet deoe to turne vp alle, but diligent Thou be lest balkis vndirclosed be. The wardeyn with his rodde experient [ 95] May be therof, thorgh puttyng euery went. Ek hepe vp euery roote of ferne & breris And euery wede, as vsed euery where is.

De tabulis vinearum. xi capitulum

The tablis for thi vynys maystow make Here aftir as thee list, or as thi londe [ 100] [100 Ms. Ere, B Here.] Wol axe. An aker al hool may thou take, Or half an aker wel therynne may stonde, Ek of the thridde part hit may be fonde; The firthe part an aker wole be square. In londis mesuryng yet craftis are. [ 105]

De mensura pastini Italica. xii capitulum.

Of pastynyng thus mesure euery side: [106 Ms. Off (ff majuscule).] A tabul square an aker [iugerum.] lond to holde, ffeet scoris [centum octoginta.] nyne in lengthe, as fele in wide; Let square hit so; therout of may be tolde Of squaris x feet [decempedarum.] wide, whoso biholde, [ 110] [CCC] square of X [decem∣pede.] , and twyes twelue [xxiiij.] — [111 Ms. space left for ccc but not filled in, B CCC.] (This noumbre wole thyn aker [iugerum.] ouerwhelue.)

This noumbre what thee likith to pastyne [fol. 37.] Discusseth al. Decempedes [squares of x fote.] xviij^ne,

Renombre hem but [tymes] twyes nyne [xviij.] [ 115] [115 Ms. but twyes nyne, B but tymes nyde (sic)] Decempedes therof ther shal be sene [ccc, iiij and iij, and xvij^ne] [117 Space left for line, but not filled in; it is here supplied from B.] As was bifore. Vche aker out thow trace In this maner, of large or litel space.

De solo, & celo, & locis pangendis vineis congruente. xiij capitulum.

Thy vynys soil [solum.] be not to molsh [solutum.] or hard, [ 120] But sumdel molsh; neithir to faat ne lene [exile.] , But so wel fat; ne picche hit not dounward, Ne splate hit not to f[l]at, but sumwhat lene. [123 Ms. fat, B flatte.] Of drie & weet also kepe hit the mene, [124 Ms. Or, B of.] In bitter soil or salt sette I no vynys— [ 125] In soylis so corrupt ful sory wyn is.

The mene is best thyn ayer to qualifie, Yet sumdel warme is better than to cold. Than ayer al weet is better sumdel drie; But vynes fere [formidant.] of wynd & stormys cold. [ 130] Rude erthe and namly wodlond best is hold ffor pastynyng, and werst is holden there As sumtyme olde vyneyerdis were.

Yet yf thou tile hit of necessite, Let exercise and ere hit ofte biforn, [ 135] That rootis old & drosse [caries.] out clensed be, And euery filth [squalor.] out of this feeld be torn; So vynes yonge in hit ther shal be born. Ragston & thinges hard, in cold and hete Relaxed, bereth vyneyerdes grete. [ 140]

Molsh cley [resoluta glarea.] , & stanry [calculosa.] lond, & stiryng stonys [fol. 37a.] [141 B stany.] Commyxt with mold, and flynt that erthe is vnder (Of cold & moyst conseruatour, flynt stoon is— The rootis and the sonne hit halt a sonder [ab inuicem] ) Ek places into whom from hillis sonder [seperantur.] [ 145] The londis swete▪ and valeis that the flood Vpfillith—al this is for vynys good.

Lond argillose, & not cley bi hit selue, Is commodose; and ther as wrecchid greues, Sour [amara.] lond, to weet, or salt is, neuer delue; [ 150] And alwey thristy [siticulosus.] drilond in repreue is. Vndonged sleck wole make hem lene, as preue is; In reed erthe ek a vyne is hard to take. Though aftirward sumdel therynne hit wake.

But this lond is ful wikked to be wrought, [ 155] To hard in hete and ouer softe in wete. Now speke of good lond, leuyng that is nought. As welny rare, attemporauntly mete [mediocris.] ; The mydday sonne ek stonde hit with to mete In placis colde, and to Septemtrioun [ 160] In placis hote enclyne hit sumwhat doun.

In placis cole [tepidus.] enclyne hit on the eest, If est or southern wyndis nought enuye; And yf they do, turne hem southwest or west. Impedymentis, rootis out thou trie, [ 165] [165 Ms. ought, B oute.] And tradde [calca.] hit so that wikkid herbis die. Too fote & half the feld, & thre the cleves [cliui.] , And iiij an hil pastyned deep to cheue is;

Ronk [vliginosa.] lond a fote & half, a valey twey [fol. 38.]

ffeet deep is at the best. Expert ynough [ 170] Am y that vynes preueth best yf they Be sette anoon aftir the spade or plough, Er then the lond be woxen sadde or tough. That this is good whether me plowe or delue Myn auctor seith, he sawe the preef himselue. [ 175]

De lactuca, narstucio, alijs serendis. xiiij capitulum.

Letuce [lactuca.] is to be sette in Ianyueer Or December, the plantes to remeue In ffeueryeer: other in ffeueryeer Let sowe, and in Aprile her plauntis meue. Ek sowe hem al the yeer, wel wole they preue [ 180] In ronk and donged, fertil lond. But sette Hem not but euen kitte & donge ywette.

Sette yf they be, let bare hem, yeue hem donge: Moyst donged lond & lough hem likith best. The wedis with an hond most vp be wronge. [ 185] And they that thynnest stondith beth gladdest. Or slitte her leues, growen so wel prest, And with a shelle [testa.] or hutte [gleba.] adoun hem presse [preme.] . And they wol glade & fatte vndir this presse. [prelo.]

They wole be white, as men suppose, yf ye [ 190] Amonge hem grauel springe, and in the foyles Grauel be bounde. Ek suche her seed may be, They wexith hard; and sumtyme on the soil is Hit longe, or on the tyme; ek euery foile is Maad tender, twyes yf hit be transplaunted. [ 195] Now cometh a crafte is worthy to ben haunted.

In herbis letuce vmbigoon wol growe; [fol. 38a.] But ye most take a bay [bacham.] of gotis donge [caprini stercoris.]

And with an al [sudula (subula).] , as craftly as ye mowe, [199 Ms. anal, B a nal.] So make hit holgh & putte in seedis yonge, [ 200] [200 Ms. holugh, B holowe.] Basilicon [ocimum.] , radish [radicis.] , & rucul [esure (eruce?).] stronge, Letuce [lactucae.] & cresce [narstucij (sic).] ; & [h^o d^o.] , donged wel this bay, Do sette hit in as fyn lond as ye may.

The raphe is roote [radix.] , al other in [vel with.] letuce [204 Ms. r. of al, B r. alle.] Vpgooth, & al on high, they wole deuyde, [ 205] Vche herbe in his colour, odour, & Iuce. Heere is an helful thyng, a wondir wride. Yet other men in other craft abide; As for the same a letuce vp they plucke, And from his roote vche foil awey thei crucke, [ 210]

And pricke her place, & sette in hem this seedis, [211 Over pricke is written in hand A vel poy—The corresponding gloss in B is pointe.] The raphe outake, and lappe hit faire in donge, And sette hit; vp they goth vche as her seed is, And letuce in their leues vmbiyonge [ambiunt.] — O blisful God, that nature is so stronge! [ 215] Letuce of lac derived is▪ perchaunce, ffor mylk hit hath or yeueth aboundaunce.

Now cresses [narstucium (sic).] sowe, & sette hem when thee list [placet.] , Of placis, ayer, or hour ha they no doute. Dongyng they noon desire [appetant.] , and though hem list [ 220] Humor, they axe hit not: ek grete & stoute With letuce vp they goth. And al the route Of rucul serue hit like this, cool also. Garlec, vlpike ek sowe hem now bo too.

De pomis s. sorbo, amygdalo, et nuce iuglandi. xv capitulum. [fol. 39.]

In Iane, in ffeueryeer and Marche in coold, [ 225] Erthe, October and Nouember in hoot [calida.] Erthe, is settyng of seruys nobul hold, So that their applis riped with foot hoot [e uestigio.] The semynair be sett in. Ek y woot. My silf expert, of apples treen han growe [ 230] Right faire, and brought vp fruytis right ynowe. [Ms. ynough, B ynowe.]

At Nouember to plaunte hem in hoot lond, At thende of Marche in coolde, at Ianyueer is And ffeueryeer in tempre lond, yfond Ryght good. And hilly, moyst lond, cold welner, is [ 235] Their loue, and fattist lond her grettest cheer is; Ek ther as serues fairest and thickest Vpsprynge is certeyn preef of land fattest.

The plauntis bigge [robustum.] a depper delf desireth And larger space, as wynd may hem to shake: [ 240] That gretith [grandescit.] hem. Ek as the caas requireth, If hery wormys rede her feestis make Inwith the pith [medulla.] , vnhurt [h^o d^o.] thy tre, thou take Out summe of hem, & brenne hem nygh biside, And outher wol they die or nought abide. [ 245] [245 outher] u written above.]

If they nyl [nolunt.] bere, a wegge [cuneum.] out of a bronde Ywrought dryue yn the roote; or sumdel fro Let diche, and feld with asshen, let hit stonde. Ek graffe hem in Aprile is good to do In whit thorn, in hem silf, in quynce [cidoneo.] also, [ 250] In tronke [trunco.] or rynde [cortice.] . Her fruyt ek yf thou wolle Ha kept, a party hard thou must hem pulle.

And when they softe, hem putte in pottis lite [fol. 39a] Of erthe, and cley her mouthis; sette hem depe [254 Ms. chey, B cley.] Too fote, and vnder sunne ay they delite, [ 255] And tradde [calca.] hem fast aboue, and let hem slepe. Ek slitte & sondried [solis siccata.] , thou mayst hem kepe, And when the list, in water hoote revire [reuirere.] They wil, and taste ene as the list desire.

Summe haue hem grene ypuld, and stoon & all [ 260] They honge hem vp in place opake [vel derke.] and drie: And wyn mellite, as seid is, saue hem shall. Aysel & wyn ek out of hem men trie, As out of peris, but yf bokis lie. Thyn almaund tre thou sette in Ianyueer. [ 265] [265 Left margin: De amigdalo.] And yet as good for that is ffeueryeer.

In October and Nouember they sette Hem ther as lond is drie, as wel the seedis [268 Ms. londis, B lande is.] As scions from the grettist rote yfette. But for this tre the semynair in dede is [ 270] To delue a fote and half deep, wheryn nede is An hondful depe, too feet to sette a sonder. Ek south & sonne is good to sette hem vnder.

The feeldis calculose, ek hard and drie They loue, and hattest ayer, forthy [quia.] they ripe [ 275] And floureth with. Ek of the yonge out trie Oon heer, oon theer, and elliswhere hem dripe; Let stonde as fele as may thi lond begripe. Sette ek noon almaundes but grete and newe; And hem is best in ffeueryeer remewe. [ 280]

A day afore her settyng hem to stepe [macerare.] [fol. 40.] In meth is good, but wattre hit wel for this; Miche hony myght hem harme. And summe hem kepe Thre nyght in molten [liquide (sic).] donge, and do not mys: The firthe nyght in meth hit steped [maceratum.] is. [ 285] Then is hit in the semynair [seminario.] ysowe Or sette, and in good tyme vp shal hit growe.

And wattre hem euery mone in droughtis [in siccitate.] thrie: Ek delue hem [al] aboute, and wede hem clene. [289 Ms. hem aboute, B hem alle aboute.] Donge ek thi semynair to multiplie [ 290] Hem in. But plaunte hem twenty fote atwene, Or at the lest asondre hem xv. In Nouember kitte of the bowes drie, Superfluent & thicke ek vtter trie.

If beestis bite hem, bitter wole thei be. [ 295] But mylge [circumfode.] hem not in tymes whan they floure, ffor therof wole anoon the blossum fle. Her fertile age is feir & for thonoure; The bareyn with a firbrond [tede.] pyn socour, Dryue in the bored roote; or a flynt stoon [ 300] So do, that hym the barke may ouergoon.

In placis cold yf frostis be to doute, As Marcial seith, this is remedie: Er flouryng tyme, her rootes bare aboute [adiuua.] To make, and stoonys white a companye [ 305] With grauel to his rootis forto plie; And whan they burgyne out wel lijk to preue, This stonys & grauel me may remeue.

He seith also their tender fruyt to make. [fol. 40a.] Er than they floure al bare [denuda.] hem at the roote; [ 310]

Warme water certeyn dayes on hem slake. And bitter yf they be, this be their boote▪ Thre fyngris from the stook the [h^o d^o.] lond remote, Let make a kaue ille humour out to swete [exudere.] , And this wol out of bitter make hem swete [dulcia.] . [ 315]

Or, bored thorgh the stook, an honyed pyn Dryue yn, or daube her roote in swynys donge. But whan their fruyt is ripe as take hit yn, And that is whan their huske is drie & clonge. Withouten care a man may kepe hem longe; [ 320] And yf theyr huske of esily nyl [nolit.] goon, Ley hem in chaf and it wole of anoon.

Wesshe hem in see licour, when they be clene, Or watir salt, and whit they longe endure. In December or Ianyueer demene, [ 325] Or ffeueryeer in cold lond, a mesure, To graffe an almaunt tre whos graffys pure Out of the toppe. Ek graffe in stocke or rynde, In pechis and ek in their propur kynde

This Grekis seyn almaundes me may make [ 330] With lettris growe, her shellis to disclose And write vpon [vel into.] the cornel, hool outake, Or this or that; and faire aboute hit close In cley & swynys donge, and so repose, And in their fruyt thy lettris wol be clere. [ 335] The nutte [nux.] is to be sette in Ianyueere. [336 In left margin: De nuce.]

Mo[i]st, hilly, cold, & stony lond they loue; [337 Ms. Most, B Moist.] [fol. 41.] With humour ek they lyue in tempur stedis [locis.] . Ek sette hem so and thenne as seid aboue Of thalmaund is. In Nouember ek nede is [ 340] [340 Ms. Nouembre, B Nouember.] To sunne & drie hem sumdeel. Also spede is

In Ianyueer and ffeueryere to stepe [macerare.] [342 Ms. feueryere.] Hem oon day, into lond er then they crepe.

Sette hem transuerse, oon side intort the grounde. But sette their tre to loke on thaquylone. [ 345] A stoon or tile vndir the roote enrounde, That hit go not doun right a stalk alone But sprede aboute. Ek gladder beth ther none Then they transpl[a]unted ofte. At iij yeer olde [349 Ms. transplunted.] In hoot lond hem transplaunte, at tweyne in colde. [ 350]

Their roote vncutte, yf [pro quamuis.] other tren [arbores.] me cutte. Oon plaunte in oon ox donge is doun to sette. And askis with, the hete apart to putte Of donge in doon, lest hit adure [brenne.] and lette. This aske in tender rynde [cortice.] a tre wol frette, [ 355] As men bileeue, or fruytis densite fforth bringe: of smal [creature.] conceyue immensite [supple dei.] .

In delues [scrobibus.] depe is sette their appetite, Their magnitude a larger lond requyreth. Ek to no tre their droppyng is delite, [ 360] Her brethron & her owne kynde hit ireth [irritat.] . [361 Ms. bre thorn, B brere thorne.] And in their age a mylging [circumfos∣suram.] they desireth, Lest they therynne al hoor yberded goo; [363 Ms. Let, B Lest.] And chanel ek their tronke vnto the too.

The benefice of sunne & wynde wol harde [durescere.] [ 365] [fol. 41a.] Hem sure ynough that were yn way to dede. And yf thy note is knotty or to harde [dura.] , Toslitte his rynde ille humours out to lede; [368 Ms. humouris, B humours.]

The rootis forto croppe, ek summen rede [consulunt.] , A stake of box do thorough this bored roote [radicem.] : [ 370] An iron nayl [clauis.] or copron here is boote.

And yf thou wolt ha nuttis Tarentyne [illius ciuitatis.] . ffor antis [for∣mices (sic).] lappe a kirnel saaf in wolle [lana.] , And in thy semynary hit reclyne. Ek chaunge a beryng nuttre yf thou wolle [velis.] [ 375] Into that kynde, as wete hit at the fulle [376 Ms. wite, B wete.] Thrie euery mone a yer in lie [lixiua (sic).] allone, [377 Ms. ayer, B a yere.] And Tarentyne his notis wexe vchone

And whan their huske agooth hem, they beth ripe: Ek so they must be sette. And hem to kepe [ 380] Let close hem in a barel or a pipe Maad of their owne tre; or let hem slepe In greet [harena.] , or chaff, or oynouns yf [proquamuis.] they wepe, ffor thei their bitter sour wole mortifie; Or kepe hem in her owne leues drie. [ 385]

And Marcial seith notes sheled grene, As grene in hony putte a yere endure. And drynke of this licour wol cure vp clene The pipes and the gomes, as is sure This Marcial expert vppon this cure. [ 390] In plumtre [pruno.] , in theym silf, in crabbe tre, At Ianyueer ygraffed may they be.

De pomis tuberum. xvj [See Notes.] capitulum. [fol. 42.]

Now tuberis in quyncis [cidoneo.] me may graffe [inserere.] : Now sette is pechis boon; now almaunttre And plomtre wol conceyue a peches graffe [surculum.] , [ 395]

In damacene ek graffed may hit be; In precoqua, the vyne, ek men hit se. Now cheritre to graffe [vel men graffe.] and pechis wilde And plomtre, er in gumme hit go with childe.

De signandis animalibus & lardi & pernarum & echini & rapic onfeccione. xvij ca.

And nowe is tyme, as tellith Columelle, [ 400] The lambis and the beestis more & lesse To marke: and rapis make wel to smelle [402 rapis make wel] in hand A over erasure.] In condyment, is now the tyme expresse. Echinus erchon fisshe is, as y gesse— This fish & lard & flicchis salt to kepe [seruare.] [ 405] In iuste confeccioun, now takith kepe [attendite.] .

De oleo mirtino. xviij capitulum.

In Ianus oyl confecte of mirtis bay is In this maner: an vnce of foylis take, A pound of oyle, and x vnce of this bayis: In half [emina (sic).] a sester aged wyn do shake, [ 410] [410 Ms. agyn, B aged.] And al this thing to boyle at oonys make. This wyn is in this werk, lest foylis drie This boylyng wolde eschewe & brenne or frie.

De vino mirtite. xix capitulum.

Now mirtite wyn is maad of mirtis bayis, Thre [h^o d^o.] sester bayis broke in x of wyn [ 415] That aged is; so steped xix dayes, Wrynge out the mirte & clense hit, putte theryn [impone.] A scriple of foyl, and half a scriple of fyn Saffron; to this, x pound of hony swete And best; this wol be plesaunt drynke & sete. [ 420] [420 In right margin: grana quater quinque scripuli pro pondere sume.]

De oleo laurino. xx capitulum. [fol. 42a.]

Of lauris bay an oyle is now confecte: Take of this lauris bayis fele & grete And ripe; in sethyng water hem deiecte, So lete hem sethyng longe tyme swete; And after that the swymmyng oyl do gete [ 425] Into sumthyng, with fethers feire & clene, And in sum goodly vessel hit demene.

De oleo lentiscino. xxj capitulum.

Oyl lentescyne is maad in this manere: Lentiskis greynes fele and ripe a slepe Thou brynge a day and nyght to hete yfere; [ 430] Thenne hongyng in a basket, let hem wepe, But in sum honest thyng their teris kepe: As oyl lauryne is lentiscyne of take, Whos rigour hoot water most vnderslake [summitigare.] .

De gallinarum partu & cedenda materie ad fabricam. xxij & xxiij ca.

Now hennys [galline.] legge vppon [aftir.] their wynter rest; [ 435] Now forto hacche are hennys sette abrood [incubare.] . Now matere is to falle in sesoun best ffor pale, or hegge, or hous, or shippe in flood. In old ek of this mone is this moost good. This mone and December were oon in space [ 440] Of houris in myn auctours tyme & place. [441 Ms. auctoris, B auctours.]

De horis. xxiiij capitulum.

The first hour xxix fote [pedes.] is fixe, xix^ne another hour, and thries v [xv.] The thridde hour is: the firthe is twies sixe [xij.] , The fifthe is x, the sixthe is ix asblive; [ 445] The seueth [s. x.] as v, and eight as iiij [s. 12.] vpthrive;

As iij [xv.] is nyne, as ij is ten [s. xix.] , the forme [s. prima hora.] Thelleuth [s. xi.] is with [xxix.] . Let Pallady sey for me

Deo gracias.

And here an ende as to the gouernaunce [fol. 43.] In Ianyueer vppon this husbondrie. [ 450] Now hope y se this peised in balaunce Of hym that kan best knowe yf hit mys wrie In my defaut. And hym wul y supplie— My blissed lord, mene y, the duc Homfrey— [454 lord added above in same hand and ink.] Right as hym thynketh best, do iustifie [ 455] My wronge & this. And thus to Crist y sey:

Louynge honour and iubile, Iesu, To the doth yer & hour, persone & place, Erthe, aier, fir. see, gresse, herbe, odour, vertu: ffoil, flour, fruyt, greyn, & tre thonkyng thi grace, [ 460] That now fauour and liberte purchace, As He doth hem socour. Thy Prince hym selue ffertilite wul now labour outtrace, And our vtilite wul plowe & delue.

Now garth and mede odouris sprede. How white [ 465] And rede her flouris brede and redyuyue, Beth graynis dede and helpe in dede ascite At nede: and vynis spede, and tren vp blyue As molbery, garnat, chery, tholyue Hery peche, hard pery, and euery kynde Of tren chery; and men mery shal thryue, [ 470] Heer y their Lord hery[e], His werkis fynde, [471 Ms. hery.]

And vnto Hym vpward their hondis holde [fol. 43a.] With infynyte ympnysyng armonye; His Prince also they thonke a thousant folde. Therto the bee, foul, fish, & beestis crie, [ 475]

And sayn attonys they wul fructifie; ffor now shal art attende vppon nature, [477 art written alove in same hand and ink.] Now lif, essence, and wit shal magnifie The creatour of euery creature.

A[nd] now my lord biholdith on his book. [ 480] [480 Ms. A now.] ffor sothe al nought, he gynnyth crossis make With a plummet and y noot whow his look, His cheer is straunge, eschaunge. Almeest y quake, ffor ferd y shrynke away, no leue y take. ffarwel, my Lord! do forth for y am heer, [ 485] And metur muse out of this prosis blake. And heer y wul sette on At ffeueryeer.