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

I. Aier, Watir, Lond, and Gouernaunce.

De preceptis rei rustice. capitulum primum. [fol. 13.] [In hand B.]

Consideraunce is taken at prudence [The illuminated initial which extends the width of the stanza encircles the arms of Humphrey Duke of Gloucester.] What man me must enfourme: and husbondrie No rethorik do teche, or eloquence, As summe han doon, hemself to magnifie. [Ms. summen, B sum.] What cam therof? That wise men folie [ 5] Her wordis held. Yet other thus to blame We stinte, in caas men do by vs the same.

Tilynge is vs [interest nostra.] to write of euery londe, With Goddis grace, eek pasture and housynge ffor husbondrie: how watir may be fonde: 89. c. [ 10] What is to rere or doon in euery thinge Plesaunce and fruyt the tilman forto bringe As seeson wol: his appultreen, what hour Best is to sette, is part of oure labour. [Ms. graffe, B sette (Lat. ponenda).]

De iiij rebus in quibus agricultura consistit. Capitulum secundum.

In thingis iiij. al husbondrie mot stonde: [ 15] In watir, aier, in londe, and gouernaunce. [industria.] And iij the first, as watir, aier, and londe, Beth natural; the firthe [s. gouernaunce.] is of plesaunce And crafte of man. But this consideraunce Is first to haue, how thing is of nature [s. aer. aqua, terra.] [ 20] In placis ther thou wolt ha the culture. [21 Ms. a man wol ha c., B thowe wilt haue the c.]

And first biholde aboute, and se thyn aier: If hit be cleer and hool, stond out of fere. Thy watir eek bihold if hit be feier. Holsum & light, and outher springynge there, [ 25] Or ellis thidir brought from ellis where [ab aliunde.] Or that hit come of rayn. Ek se thy londe Be fertile, and commodiously stonde.

De aieris probacione, Capitulum tercium. [fol. 13a.]

Good aier is there as dalis depe ar noone, And mystis derk no dayis makith nyght: [ 30] The contrey men colourid wel vehoone. Their wittis cleer and vnoffensid sight, Her voicis feire, her herynge pure and light— Al this is preef of holsum aier and clene, And ther as is contrair is aier vnclene. [ 35]

De aqua probanda, Capitulum quartum.

The watir out of gaseyn [lacuna.] or of myre [palude.] Be not ybrought, ner out of metal synke. That hit be fresh coloured first desire. Not moddy, but plesaunt and good to drynke: And smylle also therto in caas hit stynke. [ 40] If hit be cole in hete an luke [tepida.] in colde. The bettir may me with that watir holde.

Yet al though these in watris feire appere, An hid defaut is sumtyme in nature Vndir couert, and therof thus enquere. [ 45] If contrey men in likyng hele endure— Her hedis goode, her chekis also pure. And lite or no complaynt inwith the brest. The longis [pulmone.] hool and wynded with the best. The longis woo comth ofte of yvel eire: [ 50] [50 Space left for large initial and afterward filled in with smaller one.] The stomak als, of aier is ouertake. Take heede ek if the dwellers in that leir Her wombis, sidis, reynys, swelle or ake. If langour in their bladdris [vesicis.] ought awake. And yf thou se the puple sounde and fair, [ 55] No doute is in thi watir ner thyn aier.

De terre eleccione. Capitalum quintum. [fol. 14.]

Fecundite se thus inwith thi londe: Se not the swerd [glebam.] al nakid, white, vnclene: Al chalk [creta.] , or grauel [arena.] grosshyng in thyn honde. Withouten moold admyxt, ner sondy [sabulo (repeated in margin.)] lene, [ 60] Nor hungry cley [ieiuna glarea.] ner stonys ful vche rene: To ronke & weet, yolgh, bittir, salt, ragston [tephua.] : [62 Ms. better. B bitter.] Valeyis hard and deep eek be ther noon.

A roten swerd [putris gleba.] and welnygh blak, hit selue Suffisyng wel with gras [gramine.] to ouerwrie, [ 65] And tough to glewe ayeyn though hit me delue: The fruyt therof not scabby [scaber.] , roostid [torridus.] , drie: With walwort [ebulo.] that good lond wol signitie, With risshis [iunccis.] , reed [calamis.] , gras [gramine.] , trefoil [trifolia.] , plummys [prunis.] wylde [69 Ms. trofoil, B trefoil.] And breris [rubis.] fatte also go hit with childe. [ 70]

Coloured, stond not on to bisily To se thy lond, but rather fatte and swete. To preue hit faat, a clod avisily Let take, and with good watir wel hit wete, And loke yf hit be glewy, tough to trete: [ 75] Or make a diche, and yf the molde abounde And wol not in ayeyn, hit is fecounde.

Yf hit be lene, hit gooth in al and more: Yf hit be mene [mediocris.] , hit wol be with the brinke. But forto take hit swete, atast alore [ 80] The bittrist erthe and werst that thou canst thynke, [82 Ms. yf, B yeue.] An erthen potte as take and y[i]f hit drynke [83 Ms. swete, corrected by scribe A.] In watir sweete, and therupon let deme [an terra sit dulcis.] . ffor vynys, lond to chese, eek most me yeme [attendendum est.] :

In coors [corpore.] and in colour, solute and rare: [fol. 14a.] [ 85] The treen [arbores.] theron light. fertil, faire, & longe As peris wilde and plummys, busshis are: Not crokid, lene. or seek, but hool & stronge. Ne poole [stagnet verbum est.] hit not, but goodly playn elonge: Ne picche hit not to soore into the vale. [ 90] Ne breke hit not al doun aboute a dale.

Tempest, yf hit be hilly, most assayle: An euen feeld do chese, and in the mene. That watir be the cleef awey trauayle. Or hil or dale in mesure let demene. [ 95] But se thyn ayer be feir, and lond vnlene [pinguis.] . An hier hil, that wynd that wold offende Let holde of, if no wodis thee defende.

The londis fatte, or lene, or thicke, or rare, Or drie or moyst, and not withouten vice [ 100] ffor dyuers seed, yet, they right needful are.

But take the fatte and moyst is myn auise, Ther werk is leest and fruyt is meest of price; And aftir hit the thikke and ronke is best: But thikke and drie, espie & graunte hit rest. [ 105]

De industria agriculture. Capitulum sectum.

Ayer, watir, lond considred in nature, Now comth the craft. The craft is gouernaunce— Now euery word and sentence is of cure. The lord present, his feeld may best auaunce. The lond is good, the colour nought, perchaunce; [ 110] Therfore in hew [colore.] be no greet diligence, ffor God by His plesaunce al wol dispense.

Vche graffe [surculus.] and grayne [semen.] is good: but aftir preef, [fol. 15.] Do sowe or graffe: and seedis newe eschewe To sowe or graffe and triste in their boncheef. [ 115] Out of their lond eek seedis wol renewe And chaunge hem silf, as writith clerkis trewe, In placis weete al rather then in drie. ffor vynys now, a poynt of husbondrie:

Northward, in placis hoot: in placis colde, [ 120] Southward: and temperaunt, in est and west. Yet of tilynge is dyuers resoun holde, But thuse [vsum.] of thy prouynce, hit holde I best. To fructifie also this is honest, That yonge folk obey vnto their eldron [ 125] In gouernaunce as good and boxum childron.

To kitte [putare.] a vyne is thingis iij tattende [considerare.] : The vyne, and fruyt, & place in whom they growe. Of eerly kittyng, braunchis fele ascende; Of lat kittyng comth grapis right ynough. [ 130] [130 lat] erasure of e after t.]

ffro febul lond, ek chaunge hem yf thou mowe, ffor man and tre fro febil lond to good, Who can, and wol not chaunge, I holde hym wood.

And kitte [puta.] hem streit aftir thi good vyndage, And, grapis fewe yhad, let kitte hem large. [ 135] [135 And] glossed h^o d^o.] Thyn yrons keep in hard & sharp vsage ffor graffyng & for kittynge, y the charge, And do thy dede er flour or gemme [gemma.] enlarge; Eek yf the plough mys do, the spade amende. In londis drie and hoot, no vyne extende. [ 140]

In placis hoot, in placis ouerdrie [fol. 15a.] Hit is no boote his vyne a man to sette, There as for hete he must hem ouerwrie [operire] . Yet yf that wynd Vulturnus ouersette A vyne in heete, or other blastis lette [ 145] Or brenne a vyne, in stre or other thyng To couert here is holden husbondyng.

The bareyn braunche, yf [quamuis.] ronke & grene hit be, Ryght by let kitte hym of as mortal foo Of al thy tre. But bareyn lond thou fle [ 150] As pestilence. In donged lond also To sette [vel sowe in.] vynys yonge, as do not so. Eek Grekis sayn that aftir yeeris thre, Saue wortis [caulis.] sowe in hem what euere hit be.

Uche herbe also, they seyn, hit is to sowe [ 155] In londis drie, outake of hem the beene. The beene in londis weete is best to throwe. And sette [non locabis.] not out thi londis faat or lene To hym whos lond [s. vicino.] adioyneth on thy rene; ffor harm & stryf of that vpon thy selue [ 160] May rise, yhe & perchaunce ouer thee whelue.

Tyle al thy feeld or al thy feeld is lorn. Thy whete, a wondir [interpositio.] chaungyng, thryis sowe In lond to faat wol turne into other corn, And rie of whete ysowen wul vp growe, [ 165] As they that are expert in tilynge knowe. Iliche fre fro thingis iij thou twynne: [167 In left margin: Nota.] Sterilite, infirmyte, and synne.

In bareyn londe to sette or forster vynys, [fol. 16.] Destroyeth al the labour and expense. [ 170] In feeldis more [s. vini.] , in hillis nobler wyn is. Aboundaunt wyn the north wynd wol dispense To vynys sette vppon his influence, The southern wynd enspirith bettir wyn: Now myche [s. vinum.] or noble [s. vinum.] , chees, the choys is thyn. [ 175] [175 Ms. cloys, B choys.]

Necessite nath neuere halyday— [176 In right margin: Nota.] Tak hede of that, and feeldis temporate, Although hit be good sowynge: yet alway Or longe yf hit be drie in oon estate, Let sowe hit on, and God hit fortunate. [ 180] And yf thy wey [via.] be foul, hit is dampnable And neithir plesaunt, neither profitable.

To tile a feeld, me most ha diligence; And balk hit not, but ere [ara.] hit vp bydene, A litel tiled wel wul quyte expence: [ 185] So take on honde as thou may wel sustene. The vynys blake away let take; eek grene And tendir vynys kitte, ar therby shent, And stakis longe ar vynys increment.

Turne euery kirf [incisuram.] aweyward from the grape [ 190] Lest droppyng do hit harm; ennoynteth eke

The braunchis kitte, and vp they faste eschape Al faat & sad: deep lond also thou seke, Olyuys [olive.] grete out of that lond wol reke [crescere.] With drasty wattry fruyt, and latte and lite, [ 195] Unsuffisaunt the costis forto acquyte.

Luke [tepidum.] ayer and tempur wynd, olyuys loue; [fol. 16a.] And vynys that vppon the hillis stonde. By processe vp beeth brought to their aboue— Yet not but footis iiij in febil londe, [ 200] And seuen foote in fatt, vp may they stonde: Eke as the grape is grene and wol not shake, Vphynde hit softe, and hit is vndirtake.

Thy vyne in oon stede [loco.] alway, thou ne bynde, [204 Ms. noman b., B thou ne b.] And delue hir cloos; for harmynge thy vyndage. [vindimie.] [ 205] Eek deep and fertil lond hit is to fynde; And too feet deep [alta.] is good for corn tilage. And doubil that for treen [arboribus.] , in depnes gage. A novel vyne vp gooth by diligence [209 Ms. nobul, B novel (Lat. novella).] As fast as hit gooth doun by negligence. [ 210]

And take on hond, in husbondynge of londe, As thou may bere in maner and mesure. War arrogaunce in taking thyng on honde, [213 In left margin: Nota.] ffor aftir pride in scorn thou mayst assure. [214 Ms. me may, B thou maist.] And elder than oon yeer, no grayn in vre [experiencia.] [ 215] Thou putte, in drede hit die. Eek hillis yeld is Wel gretter grayn and fewer, then in feeld is.

In spryngynge of the mone is best to sowe, In dayis warm; and treen vnprofitable, If that thy lond with hem be ouergrowe, [ 220] Diuide hit thus: that fatte & bering, able, Let plowe hit vp, and leef the lene, vnable,

Couert in woode; yet wul this, with trauaile And brennynge hit, thi fat lond counturuayle.

But when hit is so brent, by yeris fyue [ 225] [fol. 17.] As nygh hit not, and aftir shaltow se [226 Ms. And, B As glossed dimitte iacere.] That hit as fatter lond wol crece and thryue. Tholyue, as Grekis seyn, shal plaunted be Of children clennesse in virgynyte, Perchaunce in remembraunce how olyue tre [ 230] Is premynent to virgyne chastite.

The greynys namys is no ned to telle, Ner, aftir tyme and placis, how they chaunge; Suffise hit thee, ther as thou kestist dwelle, [234 After hit erasure of 2 letters—to?] To se the contrey seed, and seed estraunge. [ 235] Preue eek thonpreued greyne afore eschaunge. Lupyne and ficchis [eruum.] slayn, and on their roote Vpdried, are as dongyng, londis boote.

And let hem drie vnslayn, and vp they drinke The londis iuce [succum] . In place eek hoot and drie, [ 240] In champayn eek, and nygh the seis brinke By tyme vpon thy werk in vynys hie; And placis cold & moyst, or shade and hie Hathou noon hast. And this to kepe in houris, As wel as month, or dayes, thyn honour is. [ 245]

And tilyng, whenne hit tyme is hit to do, Is not to rathe yf dayis thryis fyue. Hit be preuent: and not to late also, As for as longe. Eek cornys best wole thryue In opon lond, solute, acclyued blyue [ 250] Vpon the sunne: and lond is best for whete If hit be marly, [crotosa (sic).] thicke, and sumdel weete.

And barly lond is good solute and drie— [fol. 17a.] That maner molde, hath barly in delite; In cley lond if me sowe hit, hit wole die. [ 255] Trymenstre seedis [trimentris (sic) satio.] eek is to respite To placis colde, of wyntir snowis white, Ther as the lond is weet in somer seson; And other way to worche, is countur [contra.] reson.

Trymenstre [trimentris.] seed in heruest forto sowe [ 260] In londis cold is best; and yf thee nede In londis salt that treen or graynys growe, Thou must anoon on heruest plaunte or seede, The malice of that lond, or cause of drede, That wyntir with his shouris may of dryue. [ 265] Yet most hit haue an other thing to thryue.

Sum grauel or sum watir lond kest vndir, If thou hit plante; and yf thou wolt hit sede, [268 Ms. me shal, B thou wolt.] A comyn moolde amonge hit part asundir, And al the better wol thi werkis spede. [ 270] The stonys on thy lond is forto drede, ffor they beth somer hoot and wyntir colde; That vyne, & grayne, & tre distempur wolde.

The lond aboute a roote [radi∣cem.] is to be moued Al vpsodoun, and flekis [cratis.] shal we make [ 275] Of donge and molde; and first be molde admoued And after, donge. A premynent to make Vppon thi feeld, hym nyl y undirtake [278 nyl added abore the line by scribe A.] That is thy dere entere; and why? for he Wol wene his werk be wel, how so euer hit be. [ 280]

De agri eleccione vel situ. Capitulum vij.

To chese [eligere.] or bie [comperare.] a feel[d], consider this— [281 Ms. feel, B felde.] [fol. 18.] [Folios 18 to 25 are written in hand C.] That is nature and his fecundite Be not fordoon by husbondyng hit mis; Vnhusbondynge vndoth fertilite. Yet pose [pono.] y that hit might amendid be, [ 285] The seurer is to treste in thingis sure: The hole is saaf, the hurte is forto cure.

Yet as for seed, hit may wel ben amendid, But vines may ha vices worthy blame: To longe or brode, vptrailed or extendid, [ 290] As diuers men han doon to fresshe her fame And fewe or febil grapis in the same Han growe,—a gret labour is to correcte A moold in this maner that is enfecte.

The lond is thus to chese: in costis colde, [ 295] On south & est, se that hit feire encline, [296 Ms. so, B se.] And that noon hil the sonne owt from hit holde: But from the cold Septemtrion decline, And from northwest ther chilling sonnys shine; In costis hoot, Septemtrioun thow take [ 300] Ther fruit & high plesaunce & helthis wake. [301 Ms. helth is, B helthes.]

And se the flood be good ther thow wilt dwelle, For oft of hit exalith myst ympure; And fle therfro[m] in caas hit myght the quelle. [304 Ms. therfro, B ther from.] Be mire [paludem.] also to dwelle, hit is not sewre, [ 305] And namly sowth & west that drie & dure [arent et indurant verba sunt.] [306 Ms. manly, B namely.] In seson hoot; for causis pestilent Engendereth ther & wormes violent.

De edificio. Capitulum viij. [fol. 18a.]

Thyn hous, as wol thi fortune & thi feeld, Let make hit vp, in craft and in mesure [ 310] Hit to repare as may thi londe foryelde; Demened so that, if mysauenture ffordo thyn hous, a yeer or too recure [recuret.] Hit atte mest. And sette hit sumdel hie ffor gladsom & for saddir ground & drie. [ 315]

The fundament enlarge hit half a foote [pede.] Outwith the [extra parietem.] ; but first thy grount assay. If hit be ragge or roche, on hit thow foote [fundes.] [318 Ms. &, B on.] In depth a foote or too, but uppon clay If thow wilt bilde, another is tharay: [ 320] Let delue & caste hit vp. vntil thow fynde Hit hard & hool, and tough hit self to bynde.

Wyth orchard. or with gardyn, or with mede [prato.] Se that thyn hous with hem be vmbironne [circumdara (sic).] . The side in longe vppon the south, let sprede. [ 325] The cornel rise vppon the wynter sonne; And gire hit from the colde west, if thow conne. Thus shal thyn hous be wynter warme & light, And somer cold. And lo this craft is lyght [facilis.] .

De hibernis & estiuis mancionibus pauimentis. ix capitulum.

Eek fourme hit so that faire hit stonde yfere, [ 330] The wintir wonyng on the sonny side Ther Phebus with his bemys may hit chere. And timbur strong enlace, hit forte abide. Eke paue or floore hit wel in somer tyde; But tymbre not thyn hous with diuerse kynde [ 335] Of treen, as asshe, & birche, & ook, & lynde.

This mapil, ook [quercus.] , & asshe [fraxinus.] endureth longe [fol. 19.] In floryng, yf me ferne hit wel or chaue [palia sternas.] That in the tre the morter do no wronge [putrificando.] . On part of lyme and tweyne of rubel [rudere.] haue: [ 340] Six finger thicke a floor therof thow paue With lyme & askys mixt with cole & sonde, A flake aboue in thiknesse of an hond.

This flooryng wul be blak & wynter warm, And, licor shede, anon hit wol updrie. [ 345] But, lest the sonne in somer do hit harm, Thi somer hous northest & west let wrie. With marbil or with tile thy floryng wrie,— Or thus thow maist thy wynter floryng take, Or lyme & grauel mynge & therof make. [ 350]

De arena & calce. Capitulum x.

The bilder eke to knowe is necessary, What grauel and what lyme is profitable. Grauellis dolue [fosse.] in iij naturis [vel colouris.] vary: In red, & hoor, & blak vnvariable. Of hem the reed is best, the hore is able, [ 355] The blake is werst; yet gripe hem in thyn honde, ffor grossing grauel finest wol be fonde.

Ek preue hit thus: in clothus white hit kest, And, shaken out, if that the cloth be clene Withouton spot, that grauel is the best. [ 360] And if me may noon delue, in flood, or lene Cley lond, or nigh the see, grauel let glene [coligere (sic).] . The see grauel is lattest for to drye, And lattest may thow therwith edifie, [364. For to drye over erasure.]

The salt in hit thi werkis wol resolue; [fol. 19a.] [ 365] And lond grauel anoon sette in worchinge Er sonne or wynde or shouris [ymbres.] hit dissolue. And flood grauel is good for couerynge. Out of the see grauel the salt to bringe, [369 see added above the line in hand A.] Let drenche hit for a tyme in water swete. [ 370] Thy lym [calcem.] of stonys hard is thus to gete:

Stoon tiburtine, or floody columbine, Or spongi red, let brenne, or marbul ston: ffor bildyng, better is the harder myne; The fistulose & softer let hit goon [ 375] To couer with. & tweyn [partes.] of lyme in oon Of grauel mynge, and chalk in flood grauel A thredendell, wol sadde hit wonder wel.

De lateric[i]is parietibus Capitulum xj.

Thi wallis bricke [mures (sic) latericios.] , with bricke thou most corone [379 Ms. me most, B thou must.] A foote aboue & sumdel promynent [ 380] [380 Mss. aboute.] That they be storm or rayn be not fordone, And let hem drie erthen the bemys bent Or roof be layd uppon, lest al be schent ffor lacke of craft. Eke this is husbondrie— To couert hem with sumwhat whil they drie. [ 385]

De lumine statione & altitudine. Capitulum xij.

Make lyght ynough aboute on euery side, And loke, as the is taught, that est & west, And north & south thyn houses thou deuyde; [388 Ms. deuyse, B deuyde.] In wynter, south, in veer & heruest, est. Septemtrioun in somer houseth best; [ 390]

And half as high thyn chamber & tricline [391 Marginal gloss triclinium est locustrina cessione discum bencium.] Thou make, as hit is mesure long by lyne.

De cameris canniciis. Capitulum xiij. [fol. 20.]

Of suche a stufe as esy is to fynde [Rubric over 393 Ms. cannicijeys.] [393 Ms. off (ff is the majuscule which the scribe often writes immediately after the initial).] Is best to bilde. And bordis of cipresse Playn & direct, vpsette hem in their kynde [ 395] [395. Ms. him.] A foote atwyn, and hem to gedir dresse Wit iunipur, box, oliue, or cupresse, So worchyng up thy wowis by & by. But se that hit be tymbred myghtyly.

Faat reed of mire, ygrounde & tempred tough, [ 400] Let daube hit on the wough on vche aside, [401 daube] u added above the line and dawbe written opposite in left margin—both corrections in hand A.] And with a trewel make it playn ynough, That hit uppon thy tymber fast abyde: Lyme & grauel commixt ther on do glide, With marbul greet ygrounde & mixt with lyme: [ 405] Polish al vp thy werk in goodly tyme.

De opere albario. Capitulum xiiij.

Eek whyting werk is thyng of gret delyte. Lyme is for that in tymes long maad lene; That hit be profitable, preue astite. As tymber, hewe hit with an axe and sene [ 410] If hit be not in thegge, and sum sustene In thaxe, al gluy, tough & soft, relent; ffor whytyng that lyme is conuenyent.

De tectorijs. Capitulum xv.

The parget of thy wough be strong & bryght: [Rubric over 414. Ms. capitilum.] The trewel first ful ofte hit most distreyne, [ 415]

And, as hit drieth, eft & eft hit dight. Thre kyrtils do theron, of marbul greyne: But first let on be drie, & then engre[y]ne [418 Ms. engrene, B engreyne.] A smaller cote aboue on that, & thenne The thridde on al, as smal as hit may renne. [ 420]

De vitanda valle frigida. Capitulum xvj. [fol. 20a.]

And war a thyng that mony men haue vsed, To drenche her dwellyng place in dalis depe, Lest water shuld hem wonte, & foule excused; ffor helth is rather then the lust to kepe. The langour of thy lond is to biwepe, [ 425] In stede of welle or wenche haue a sisterne And rayn of al thy place in hit gouerne.

De cisternis. Capitulum xvij.

Let craft hit vp plesaunt as may suffice [Rubric over 428. Ms. xviij.] Vnto thi self; as best is brood & longe. The gootys left in, sad thy ground assise, [ 430] And yote on hit tyl pauyng playn & stronge. This pauyng most me cure & labour longe, And clere hit vp: but frote hit wel with larde ffaat & decoct—thy werk wol the rewarde.

When that is drie, vp walle hit euery side [ 435] In lyke maner, eek larde hit, harde hit wel Tyl water wol endwelle hit and abyde; And feede in hit thy waterfissh & eel To moue & clere & fressh hit euery deel, As though hit were a riuer or a welle. [ 440] Now chenys how tamende, y am to telle.

The chenys, holys, pittis, poolis mende, And thorgh the ston, yf that the water synke,

Take picche & talgh, as need is the to spende, And boyle hem tyl they ryse vnto the brynke [ 445] And let hit cole; eek yef hit lime to drynke A lyte, and lyte & smal, but mynge hit yurne Tyl euery part vntyl on body turne.

When this siment is maad, hit most insinke Vche hole & chene and euery lekyng ston; [ 450] [450 Ms. clene, B chene.] [fol. 21.] And presse hit thyke aboute on euery brinke. And holsum is that pipis from hit goon To bringe aboute in water, oon by oon: To drynke is this of waters first & best, Lycour of grace aboue, a thyng celest. [ 455]

De cella rinaria. Capitulum xxiij.

Thy wyn seler in cold Septemtrion, Wel derk & fer from ostis, bath, & stable, Middyng. cisterne, & thyngis euerychon That euel smelle. Ek se that hit be able As for thi fruit; another thyng notable— [ 460] Aboue hit al thi calcatori make, On either half a pitte, in wyn to take.

Thre grees or iiij is up therto to go. Canels or pipis, wynes forth to lede Into the vat & tonnys, make also. [ 465] And paue hit, yf the list, in leng[t]h & brede. [466 Ms. lengh, B lenght.] A pitte in hit for wynes white or rede That ouerrenne of ignoraunt kepynge To make, is oon good poynt of husbondyng.

De orreo & granario. xix capitulum.

Thy bernys fer fro stynke & sumdel hie, [ 470] Thy stabil fer away therefro, thou sette. Ek se that they be wyndy, cold, & drie.

Thy berne also be playn & hard the flette: And footis too to thicke hit, thou ne lette. ffor euery greyne a place is to deuise, [ 475] As large as for thy tyling wul suffice.

Thy garner and thi vessel for thy grayn. [fol. 21a.] Make sumdel high, & walle hit thus to thriue: Oildreggis mixt with cley me may ymplayn The wowis with: & leuis of oliue [ 480] In stede of chaf, vppon thy wowis driue; And drie hit wel. & then oyldregge hit efte, And safly may thy whete in hit be lefte.

This maner craft wol hold out of thi whete Gurgolions and other noyis bestis. [ 485] The coriaunder leuis, lest hit swete, Is put theryn. Another craft vnlest is: ffro floor to floor to chaunge hit ofte, his fest is. Conisa is an herbe as Grekis sayn That drie is goode to kest vnder the grayn. [ 490]

De olefactorio. Capitulum xx.

Thyn oilcelar sette on the somer side, Hold out the cold & let cum in the sonne At holys, so that in the wyntertide Thyn oil, with esi pressinge, out be wonne. Oilmilles, whelis, wrongis, not bigonne [ 495] Of new, y nil not speke of now: but clene. Thyn oiles receptaclis thow demene.

Me may also doon other diligence Aboute an oilcelar, hit for to warme: The pament vnderthirled & suspense, [ 500] Beete vnder fir, so smoke hit may not harme A deel; & hete ek wul thyn hous enarme As from the swyrd of wynter kene & colde. Now husbondry for stablis write y wolde.

De stabulis equorum & boum. Capitulum xxj. [fol. 22.]

Toward the sowth thi stabul & thi stal [ 505] [Rubric over 505 Ms. bouun.] ffor hors & neet thou sette, & gete in light Out of the north, & winter close hit al [507 Mss. winterclose.] To holde out colde; in somer yef hit sight Thyn hous to cole. And nygh thi bestis dight A fir in colde: hit wol thin exon mende, [ 510] And make hem feire, if they the fir attende.

For harmynge of theire houf, eek sette hem drie: And for vche yok of exon in thi plough, Eighte foote in brede & goodly lenght outtrie— The length, as from the horn into the sough [ 515] The brede is crosse. And planke hit stronge ynough Vnder thin hors, that hit be lyggyng softe Ynough & harde ynough to stonde olofte.

De corte. Capitulum xxij.

Eek on the south let make an hous for bestis, But ouerhoot attemporat to holde [ 520] (Of husbondri a poynt not this the lest is) [521 Ms. apoynt, B apointe.] Of forkis, & of boord, & bouwes colde, A stondyng most be maad and ouerfolde And couered wel with shingil, tile, or broom— Or segges ar as gode to my dome. [ 525]

De auiarijs. Capitulum xxiij.

Aboute, also, this hous make up thi mewis, ffor donge of fowlis is ful necessary To londtiling; but dong of gees eschewe is— Hit is right noght, hit is an aduersary To euery seed. Now euery brid hem wary, [ 530] And, whil the donge of hem is so to blame, Let hem not sitte among thi foulis tame.

De columbario. Capitulum xxiiij. [fol. 22a.]

And in a tour with playn and whited walles [533 Rubric over 533 Ms. columbaro.] And fenstellis iiij, a columbaire, [534 Ms. fenstellis, B fenstelles andr. added later between t and l).] As is the gise, away fro ther thyn halle is, [ 535] Let sette, as dowuys may therto repaire: And inwith make hem nestis mony a paire. Old spartea, that beestis with beeth shood, To spryng among the dowuys, is ful good.

The wesil shal for this doon hem noon harm, [ 540] [540 Opposite this stanza in the left margin, in a handwriting comparatively recent: frivolous and filthy.] So hit be doon seere that no man se. Yet for the wesil vse another charm: Sum of the bond wherwith hath strangled be Sum mon (y pray god lete hit neuer the)— Hang part of that in euery fenestel, [ 545] And from the wesil this wol wite hem wel.

Yef hem comyn ynough & baume her pennys, And dowuys mo ynowe in wol they brynge. And if me wul ha mony briddis thennys, [554 Rubric omitted.] Let bene or barly bake or flcches fling [ 550] Aforn hem ofte. Also for her helping Let hong aboute, in diuerse stedis, rewe, And bestis aduersaunt hem wol eschewe.

[De turturibus. Capitulum xxv.]

Vnder thi coluerhous, in al the brede Make mewis tweyn, on lytel & obscure. [ 555] With whete & milk in this thi turturs fede [556 Ms. milk, B mylde.] In somer faat ynough with lytel cure. But boile hit in swetnesse and oon mesure, A strik, is for six score on dayes mete; But water oft yfresshed thou hem gete. [ 560]

De auiarijs turdorum. Capitulum xxvj. [fol. 23.]

And thrusshis feede vppon that other side (To fatte hem is auailaunt and plesaunt) But maak this hous wherin they shal abide Light, clene, and playn, with perchis transuersaunt To sitte vppon. & bouwis in to chaunte [ 565] Ychaunged oft. Eek yef hem figis grounde Commixt with flour, to make hem faat & rownd.

The seed of mirte, if that thow maist hit gete, Of crabbe, yuy, lentiske, and wilde oliue Let yeue hem now & now for chaunge of mete [ 570] With chaungid water oft. Eek fressh, asbliue As they beth take vnhurt, with iiij or v Of thrusshis tamed, putte hem in this mewe To do disport among this gestis newe.

De gallinis incubaturis. Capitulum xxvij.

What wommon connot sette an hen obrood [ 575] And bringe her briddis forth? The craft is lite: [576 Ms. the the.] But askis, smoke, & dust is for hem gode. Ek best are hennis blake, & werst ar white And good ar yolgh. But if their appetite With draf of win be fed, anoon bareyne [ 580] They beth: forthi therfrom thow hem refreyne.

Wiltow they oftyn hacche & eyron grete They legge, half boiled barly thow hem brynge; Twey crusis is oon day an [h]ennis mete [584 Ms. ennis, B hennes.] That goth at large. & odde eyron in sprynge [ 585] Of Echates vnder thyn hen sittynge Do putte; as when the mone is daies dene Of age is good, and til he be XV.^ne

And other while an hen wul ha the pippe, [fol. 23a.] A whit pilet that wul the tonge enrounde; [ 590] That softly of wol with thy naylis slippe Anoon, & askis after on the wounde

Do keste, & clense hit, ley on garlee grounde. Grounde alum ek with oil put in her mouthis, Is good, & other thyng that not vnkouth is. [ 595]

As staphisagre, minget in theire mete Wol hele her tong. Another maladie Wol rise of sour lupine, yf they hit ete. As cornis that wol vnder growe her eye That, but me lete hem out, the sight wol die. [ 600] Al esely me may vndo the skyn With prickyng of a nelde or of a pyn.

Taak wommans milk and Iuce of portulake, And therwith me may hele her eyen soore: Or hony, mixt with salt armoniake [ 605] And comyn euenlich, is good therfore. And if thyn hen be louse. ther is more: Sle luys with staphisagre & comyn I grounde in wyn & Iuce of sour lupyn.

[De pavonibus. Capitulum xxxviij.]

The pocok me may rere vp esely [ 610] [610 No designation of chapters occurs until scribe B begins again.] If beestes wilde or theuys hem ne greue. Her briddis wul they feede vp bysily In feeldis forth, & up they goth at eue Intil a tre, lest they by nyght myscheue. But war the fox as whil they sitte abrood. [ 615] To sette hem in an iland is ful good.

And for a cok beth hennys fiue ynowe. [fol. 24.] The cok his eyron and his briddis hateth Vntil the crest uppon theire hedis growe. And first in ffeueryeer of loue he prateth, [ 620] [620 Ms. feueryeer. Ms. preteth, B. prateth.] And benis bake alite his loue abateth—

Ryght nere a del yf that he ete hem warme, ffor they wol rather his corrage enarme.

The cok confesseth emynet Cupide When he is gemmy tayl bygynnyth splay [ 625] [625 emynet] B emynent—see note.] About hymself, so fair on euery side That neuer foul was in so fressh aray. A shoughturyng, a flusshyng, & a fray He maketh then, & turneth hym aboute, Al gold bygoon his tail & wyngis stoute. [ 630]

The pohen ek excusid, if me sette Another hen her eyron forth to brynge, [632 Ms. or, B her.] Wol legge in on yeer thries dew as dette: V at the first, and iiij at eft leggynge, And after, iij or ii. But for bredynge. [ 635] To sette an hen on eyron ix is good. ffoure of hir owne & v of pocok blood.

The first day of the mone is this to do— The X^the day the iiij away be take, And other iiij enstore her place into. [ 640] To turne hem ofte, also, good heed to take. ffor sche may not the turnyng vndertake. Yet take for that a strong hen & a gret; [643 Ms. hem, B hen.] A litel hen on fewer most be sette.

The XXX^ith day gooth all out of the shelle, [fol. 24a.] [ 645] And oon norice may XXV lede— So say not y, but [so] sayth Columelle— [647 Ms. but sayth, B but so saith.] ffyftene, y sey, suffice oon hen to fede. And first for hem spryng wynes white or reed On barly seed; or puls decoct & cold [ 650] To yef hem first, is good & holsum holde.

And after, hacked leek or tendir chesis Let fede hem with: but whey let hold hem fro:

Eek plucke away the feet & yef hem bresis. And monthis vj hit is to fede hem so. [ 655] And after yef hem barly to & to Right as the lyst; but xxx daies olde, They with their norce into the feld be tolde.

She now behynde, & now sche goth byfore And clocketh hem: but when she fynt a corn, [ 660] [660 Ms. acorn, B acorne.] She chicketh hem & layth hit hem byfore. Hem ledyng hom at nyght lest they be lorn. Eke hele hem of the pippe, as is byforn Of hennys taught. But when their crestis sprynge, As seek ar they as childron in tothynge. [ 665]

[De fasianis. Capitulum xxix.]

Fesauntis vp to bryng, is thus to do: Tak noon but of oon yeer, for infecounde Are old: and first in Marche vppon they go Theyr wyuys, but the malis nought abounde In coitu, though they be fatte & rownde. [ 670] On cok for hennys tweyne, and euery hen Wol onys sitte on eyron twyes ten.

A commune hen may wel apon xv [fol. 25.] Of hem be sette, and of hyr owne a fewe: And chaunge hem as byforn at dayes dene [X.] . [ 675] At XXX dayes ende owt wol they schewe; ffyrst feede hem dayes thries fiue arewe With barly coct & cold & wyn bispronge [asperso.] : And after bresed whete & bresis [locustis.] longe.

Aunt eiron [formicarum oua.] yef hem eke. And kepe hem fro [ 680] [680 Ms. kept, B kepe.] The water for the pippe; and yf hit haue hem. With garlec stampid wel & tar [pix liquida.] therto

Her bekis [rostris.] frotyd hard & saad, wol saue hem. Her tongis eke, ryght as an hen, to shaue hem, And ryght as hennys [gallinarum.] hele her maladye, [ 685] Is good. To fatte hem eke is husbondrie.

With whete a strike, or other half a stryke Of barly mele, enoyled [oliato.] offed lyte, In dayes thries x. let make hem slyke And faat ynough, so that theyr appetite [ 690] Be seruyd wel. and that non offis white [691 Ms. office, B offes.] Englame vppon the rootes of theyr tonge. ffor that and honger sleth this briddis yonge.

[De anseribus. Capitulum xxx.]

The goos with grasse [herba.] & water vp is brought; To plaunt and tre an open foo is she: [ 695] [695 Ms. The, B To.] Her bytyng harmeth corn, her dong is noght. Take for oon male of hem females thre, And twie a yeer deplumed may they be, In spryngyng tyme and heruest tyme. Eke make ffor hem, if other water wont, a lake. [ 700]

For wont [defectu.] of gresse, on trefoil [trifilio (sic).] let hem byte, [fol. 25a.] On gooldis wilde [intubis agrestibus.] , on letuce [lactuce.] , greekish hey [feno greco.] . The hoddid [varii colorum.] goos, the broun [fusca.] goos, as the white Is not fecounde. And why? ffor, as they sey, Out of the kynde of wilde gees com they. [ 705] ffro Marche kalendis gees to sette obrood Vntil the day be lengest, is ful good. [707 omitted by the scribe and added by him at bottom of page. No space between this and following stanza.]

An hen vppon the[y]r eyron maist thou sette, [708 Ms. ther, B thaire. Ms. me may, B maist thou.] As of the pocok seid is now bifore; But lest thyn hennys eyron shuld ought lette, [ 710] Ley nettelys [vrticas.] vndir with, and euermore The laughter last. Vnto the moders lore Is to be left, that they may with their childron Laugh & be glad, as with hem were her eldron.

Ten dayes first let hem be fed withinne, [ 715] And thenne in wether feire do forth hem lede. [716 Ms. fere, B faire.] But nettelis [vrticas.] war from hem, this briddis twynne. And fatte hem xxx daies old for nede; At monthes foure al faat, me may hem fede fflour thrye a day; and let hem not go large. [ 720] In warme & derke to close hem y the charge.

Eek myld [milium.] is good; also in euery mete, Al maner puls is good, the ficche outake. Swyn heris bristlis [setas.] keep hem lest they ete. Twey partis bran [furfurio.] with flour [polenta] this Grekis take [ 725] Wit water hoot commixt. Also they make Her water thryes fresshed euery day And onys in the night, this is no nay.

Yf thou desirest that thi gees [ance.] be tendir, [fol. 26.] [In hand B.] When they in age ar passid xxx daies, [ 730] Of figis grounde and watir temprid, sclendir Gobbettis [offulas.] yef thy gees. But these [interpositio translatoris.] arayis [732 Ms. goblettis, B gobbettes.] To speke of heere, for nought but myrth & play is; Yet as myn auctor spak so wold I speke, Sith I translate, and looth am from hym breke. [ 735]

De pissinis. Capitulum xxxj.

This doon [h^o d^o.] , is other thyngis forto do: Twey poondis [pissinas.] must thou make in erthe or stoon, Not fer from home, and bryng watir therto Of sprynge or rayn [scatebra vel pluuia.] ; for watir foul [auibus aqua∣ticis.] that oon To swymme, also thy beestis to to goon; [ 740] [740 Mss. togoon.] That other weete in hidis [madefacias coria.] , yerdis drie, Lupyne and other [thyng] for husbondrie. [742 Ms. omits thyng, B thing.]

De fenili paleario lignarioque. Capitulum xxxij.

For hey, [feno.] for chaf [palea.] , for tymber [ligno.] , and for reedis [cannis.] Mak housyng as thee list, hit is no charge [non refert.] , In drie and wyndy placis ther no drede is [ 745] Of firyng hem; and for that, al at large, Away from home ordeyne hem y thee charge [precipio tibi.] ; A fyr is foul affray in thingis drie. And now for donge [fimo.] , another husbondrie.

De sterculinio. Capitulum xxxiij.

Thy myddyng sette hit weete, as hit may rote [ 750] And sauour nought; eek sette hit out of sight. The seed of thorn in hit wol dede and dote. Thyn assis [assinorum [!]] donge is rathest forto dight A gardyn with; sheep [ouium] donge is next of myght, And aftir geet [caprarum.] and neet, [boum.] eek hors and maris [equorum et equarum.] ; [ 755] But donge of swyn [porcorum.] the werst of al this ware is.

Askis [cineres.] beth good and so hoot is no donge [fol. 26a.] Of foul as of the dowue [columbe.] , a [h^o d^o [evidently referring to the clause which follows.]] quyshte [palumbe.] out take. And oon yeer oold is nought for herbis yonge

And good for corn, but elder thou forsake. [ 760] ffresh donge is best thy meedis [prata.] with to make. See slyme [limus.] al fresh ywesshe and slyme of flood, With other donge ymynged, is right good.

De locis orti & pomarij sepesque serendo. Capitulum xxxiiij.

Thy gardyn and thyn orchard, [pomarum (sic).] sette hem nygh. The gardyn fro the myddyng [sterculinio.] softe enclyne [ 765] That Iuce [succus.] of that amonge thyn herbis sigh; And watir in sum stede away declyne. Eek yf thee lakke a welle [fons.] , a wynche [puteum.] enmyne; And yf thou may not so, let make a stewe [piscinam.] With rayn watir. thyn herbis to renewe; [ 770]

And yf that helpe hit not, let delue hit deepe Thre foote or iiij in wise of pastynyng, That hit may in hit silf his moystour kepe. And euery lond al though a man may bryng, With help of dongyng hit, into tilyng, [ 775] Yet is the chalk [creta.] or cley lond forto eschewe, And from the rede also thy garth [ortum.] remewe.

Eek yf thy garth be drie in his nature, Departe hit, and in wyntir southward delue Hit vp, and in the somer do thy cure [ 780] Vppon Septemtrioun to ouerwhelue Hit vpsodoun; thus wol hit saue hit selue. The garth eek closed is in dyuerse wise— Diuersed wittis dyuersly diuise.

Hym liketh [alicui placet.] best a daubed wough [paries.] , and he [alius.] [ 785] [fol. 27.] Wol haue a wal of cley and stoon, and stonys Withouten cley another wol hit be; Another with a diche aboute ygoon is—

War that, for that the werst of euerychoon is, That diche wol drie vp humours of thy londe; [ 790] Yit if thy garth [ortus.] be mire, a diche may stonde.

Oon plaunteth thorn, another soweth seedis; But brembil [rubi.] seed [mor[i id est b]ati The gloss is blotted.] and seed of houndis thorn [rubi canini.] Dooth wel; and gedir that as ripe as nede is. With ficchis [erui.] flour ywattrid wel biforn, [ 795] Let modle al this seed. Lest hit be lorn, In ropis kept this confect meddillynge Be, til the tyme of veer or of spryngynge.

Thenne ere [ara.] a doubil forgh [sulcum.] iij foote, asondir As fer as thou wilt close, and deepe a foote, [ 800] This roopis with this seedis close hem vndir; Light molde aboute and on, anoon let wroote. This doon, [h^o d^o.] at xx dayis ende a roote In erthe, a braunche in ayer, wol reche aboute. [804 In right margin opposite: tropus.] Now rayle hem, and of closure is no doute. [ 805]

Let veer go delue, if heruest shal go sowe. If veer shal sowe hit, heruest most go delue; [807 In right margin opposite: Metonomia.] So shal ereither werk ben ouerblowe With coold or hoot vndir the signys twelue. Mark out thi tablis [vel beddis.] vchon bi hym selue; [ 810] Six foote in brede, and xij in length is best To clense and make on euery side honest.

In placis weete [humidis.] or moyst [irriguis.] , mak euery brinke [fol. 27a.] Too foote in heigth, oon foote in placis drie. And yf thyn humour from thyn herbis synke, [ 815]

Dispose hit so that hit fro placis hie Descende, and do [faciat.] thy lond to fructfie, And thennys to another part procede; And so to euery part as hit is nede.

To sowe and graffe although y sette a tyme, [ 820] Yet graffe and sowe as men do thee biside. In placis cold, thyn heruest seed bytyme [822 Ms. And ther is cold, B In places cold.] Is best to haste, in springinge seed tabide; In placis hoot eek chaunge ereithir tide. To graffe and sowe in growynge of the mone, [ 825] [825 Opposite in left margin: Nota.] And kitte or mowe in wanyng, is to done.

De remedis ortorum vel agri. Capitulum xxxv.

For blychenyng [rubigine.] and myst [nebula.] take chaf [paleas.] & raf [purgamenta.] And ley hit on thy lond in dyuers stedis; And when thou sist the myst, let brenne vp chaf And raf. Eek as for hail [grandine.] a russet weede [pannus russeus.] is [ 830] [830 Ms. as r. w. B a r. w.] To kest vpon the querne. [molam.] Also hit nede is Al blody axis [cruentas secures.] bere, and heuen threte In hardy wise, as hym to sleen or bete.

Girde eek thy garth [ortum.] aboute in vynys white. Or, sprad [h^o d^o.] the wyngis out, sette vp an oule [bubonem.] — [ 835] Why laugh [interpositio.] ye so? this craft is not so lite; Or take thy spadis [vangas.] , rakis [rastra.] , knyf, and shoule [tribulam.] , And euery toole in beris grees [vrcino cepo.] defoule. Eek summe han stamped oil with grees of beris [839 Opposite in left margin: ypalage.] To grece her vynys knyf, for dyuers deris;

But that a man most do ful pryuely, [fol. 28.] That nere a werkman wite. And this is good ffor frost and myst and wormys sikirly, But as y triste in Crist that shedde his blood ffor vs, whos tristith this, I hold hym wood. [ 845] [845 In right margin: Auctor loquitur.] Myn auctour eek, whos list in hym trauayle, Seith this prophaned thyng may nought auaile.

Oildreggis [amurea.] fresh for gnattis and for snaylis, Or chamber soot is good to kest aboute ffor auntis [formicas.] eek an oulis herte [noctue cor.] auayle is [ 850] To putte vppon her bed, and al the route A trayne of chalk or askis [crete vel cineris.] holdith oute. Thy seed with Iuce [succo.] of rukel or syngrene [eruce vel semperuiue.] To wete, vp sleeth the rukel, as men wene.

Eek figtre askis oon on rukul throwith, [ 855] Another hangith vp or sowith squylle, The thridde amonge his wortis chicchis [cicer.] sowith, ffor wondris [portentis.] fele; and he seith as to kille The rukul and fele other thyngis ille, A menstruate vngird womman, vnshood, [ 860] Vntressed, al aboute to goon is good.

Flood crabbis heer and ther to crucifie, He seith is good. But beestis forto sle That dooth thy vynys harme—let sle the flye, The cantaride [cantaridem.] in rosis that we se; [ 865] Putte hem in oil, and roten when they be, Thy vyne yf thou shalt kitte, enoynte aforn Thy knyf with this, for this craft is no scorn.

Oil dreggis [amurca.] and oxe galle [fel bubulum.] is good for gnattis [contra cunices vel culices.] , [fol. 28a.]

So that the beddis therwith thou enoynt; [ 870] Eek oil and yuy [hedera.] grounde as good as that is, Or watir lechis [sanguisuge.] brent. Another poynt: Thy wortis that the wormys not disioynt [destruant.] , The sedis in a tortous skyn [testudinis coreo (sic).] thou drie, Or mynte [mentam.] amonge thy cool thou multiplie. [ 875]

Eek ficchis [eruum.] brese, of hem that radish [radix.] spryngith, Or rape; or thus: tak Iuce of hennebane [iosquiami (hyosciamus).] With sour aysel, and hem to gidir myngith, And kest hem on youre cool [caulem.] in euery pane. Ereithir wol be wort[e]wormys bane [pulicum olerum destruccio vel mors.] . [ 880] [880 Ms. wortwormys, B worte wormes.] Brenne [combure.] heer and ther [divisim.] the heedles garlek stelis [fusticulos.] , The stynke of hit for hockis [contra campas.] help & hele is.

The vyne knyf with garlec forto frote [falcem putatoriam cum allio fricare.] Is good. Eek cley and brymston [bitumine. sulphur.] yf me brenne Aboute a vyne, anoon this hockis rote [vel dote.] . [ 885] Or hocke in watir yf me sethe, and thenne Aboute in al the gardyn do hit renne, The hocke hit sleeth; but bringe hit fro withoute, Myn auctour seith, fro sum garth nygh aboute.

Vppon thy whetstoon [cotem.] sle the cantaride, [ 890] The canteride a vyne if he enfeste [noceat.] . And Demotrie [s. talis auctor.] he seith that mysbitide Shal neither seed or tre by worme or beeste Of flood or see, x crabbis [cancros.] yf thou keste With watir in an erthen potte ywrie, [cooperta.] [ 895] Ten dayis throut [sub diuo.] , vntil the vapur die.

And herbe or tre to moyste [madidare.] in this licour [fol. 30.] [See Introduction.]

Vche eightith day is suffisaunt, seith he, [s. Demotritus.] To hele and helpe hem forth in fruyt and flour; But hold ay on, hit holpen tyl thou se. [ 900] Pismyris [formicas.] yet, yf thou wolt make hem fle, Kest origane ystamped with brymstoon [902 Ms. stamped, B ystamped.] Vppon their hole, and oute they fleeth anoon.

The same is doon with cokul shellis [coclearum testis.] brent. Eek brymstoon and galbane out chasith gnattis. [culices.] [ 905] Also the fleen [pulices.] wol sleen, on thy pament Oildreggis [amurca.] ofte yspronge [aspersa.] . Eek mys & rattis [mures et rattones.] This dreggis mo wol sle than dooth thy cattis, So hit be thicke and pourid [infusa.] in a ponne; [patena.] The mous [mus.] by nyghtertale [noctu. aduerbialiter.] on hit wol fonne. [ 910]

Elebur blak [eleborum nigrum.] with fatte, [adipe vel pane vel casio (sic).] or breed, or chese, Or flour, commyxt and offrid hem wol sleen. Cucumber [cucumer.] wyld and colloquynt [coloquintidam.] do brese— The Iuce wole sle the mys, as dyuers men Han seid. A yet another craft sleeth fleen [macctat (sic) pulices.] : [ 915] Wattrid cucumber seed, or comyn grounde, [cominum tritum.] Lupyne, or psilotre [psilotrum.] , kest on the grounde. [terram.]

As for the feeld mous, [argesti mure.] Apuleyus [ille auctor.] Seith, good is all his greyne in oxis galle [semen in bubulo felle.] A man to stepe [macerare.] and sowe hem thenne; or thus: [ 920] With affadille [rododaphnes.] vp close her holis alle; They gnawe [rodunt.] hit out, but deed doun shal they falle Right forth with al, they shal hit not eschewe. The moldywarp [talpam.] the Grekis thus pursue [persecuntur.] :

They thurle a nutte [perforant nucem.] , and stuffe hit so withynne [ 925] [fol. 30a.] With brymstoon, chaf, and cedria, this thre; Thenne alle her hoolis ther the mold [talpa.] is ynne Saue oon, the moost, vnstoppid must they be. The fired nuttis smolder [nucis fumis.] throgh shal fle This grettist hole, as wol the wynde hem serue, [ 930] And outher shal this talpis [tulpe (sic)] voide or sterue.

Yet for the mous [mure.] kest oken askis [quernos cineres.] so Aboute her hole, in hit that thei [s. mures.] may trede. The scabbe [scabies.] anoon wole rise and hem fordo. ffor eddris, spritis, monstris, [serpentibus, spiritibus, portentis.] thyng of drede, [ 935] To make a smoke and stynk is good in dede. Brent hertis horn, or gootis cleen, or rootis Of lily brent, or galbane—al this boote is.

The Greek [Grecus.] seith eek that if a cloude arise Of bresis [locustarum.] smert, men must in house hem hide, [ 940] And they wol voide. A craft eek they dyuyse: That [h^o d^o.] bresis seyn, [lo∣custis visis.] men fle to house and bide In house, and as they [s. locuste.] come, away they glide. Cucumber wylde, or sour lupyne, in drestis Of oil commyxt, wol dryue away this beestis. [locustas.] [ 945]

And other seyn that scorpions and these, [locuste.] If summe of hem be brent, wul voide vchon. And other als seyn hockis [campas.] forto lese [perdere. confundere.] Keste figtre aske [ficulneum cinerem.] on hem, and, but they goon, Oil dregge [amurcam.] and oxe vryne yliche anoon [ 950] Let mynge and boile, and when hit coled is, Birayne [complue.] aboute vppon thy wortis this.

The Grek seith that a beest, [animal.] prosacoride, [fol. 29.] The garth ennoyeth [orto nocet.] myche, and remedie Is this for that: a rammys paunche [veruetis ventriculum.] at hide [ 955] Al lightly so, ther as they multiplie; When Phebus chare hath goon aboute hit twye [post duos dies.] [957 Left margin: circumlocutio.] Ther shaltou fynde hem heped; sle hem there A twye or thrie, and they ne shal thee dere.

Yet eft [iterum.] for hayl, [grandine.] a cocodrillis hide, [ 960] A seecalf skyn, or of a leonesse Bere vp aboute thy londe [circa ortum.] on euery side; [962 Ms. a yerd, B thi lande (Lat. per spatia possessionis).] And whan thou dredist hail or heuynesse, Let honge hit in thy yatis and ingresse [ingressu.] Of hous or toun. Or thus: in thy right honde [ 965] A myris tortous [pa∣lustrem testudinem.] bere aboute thy londe;

But bere hir bolt vpright, [resupinam.] and turne ayayn [967 Ms. hit, B hir.] Right as thou went, and ley hir doun vpright, And vndirsette hir crokid bakke, that mayn [vigore.] Hir lakke agayn to turne hir silf dounright. [supinam.] [ 970] This [in∣terpositio.] is a craft of witte, a thing of myght, ffor al the lond that thou hast goon aboute ffro cloudis wicke is saaf, this is no doute. [973 Right margin: yronia.]

Whenne other seen derke cloudis ouerhowue, The shappe [ymaginen.] of hit they take in a myrrour [speculo.] , [ 975] And outher thus from hem his harm they showue, Or to sum other doublith his terrour. Amydde a vyne another thyng socour ffor euery myscheef is a seecalf hide, Aboute a quykke calf girde on euery side. [ 980]

Thy seedis with cucumber rotis grounde [fol. 29a.] Let stepe, [macerare.] and saaf of euery mys they are. Another thyng that lightly may be founde, The caluair of an horsid asse [s. non virginis.] or mare, [equae non virginis.] Sette vp that—that wole make al wel to fare [ 985] On euery side as fer as hit may se; Thus [interpositio.] seith the book, and thus I trowe [quia talia non vident.] hit be.

De area triture. Capitulum xxxvj.

Thy thresshyng [area.] floor be not to fer away ffor beryng and for stelyng as the gise is Of seruauntis. Of flynt ek, yf thou may, [ 990] This floor be maad, or hewen stoon bi sisis. [991 Ms. bisisis, B besides.] Or watir myxt the grount, the iij^de wise is, Vpshette aboute, and trampled with catel, Maad playn and [dried] aftir, wol do wel. [994 Ms. omits dried, B dried.]

And nygh hit make a place high, playn, & pure, [ 995] When neede is, ther to cole [refrigerare.] vpon thy corn. This wol auayle and make hit longe endure; Thenne aftir to thy berne hit may be born. Eek lest thy grayn in shouris [im∣bribus.] shul be lorn. Right holsum is to haue an hous biside, [ 1000] That for a shour [imbre.] in that hit myght abide.

But make hit high, on euery half perflable, ffer fro thy garth, [orto.] thyn orchard, & thy vynys; ffor right as chaff and donge is profitable On rootis, and vpbryngith breed & wynys. [ 1005] [1005 Right margin: metonomia.] Right so the same, vppon the top a pyne is. [1006 Ms. peny is, B pynne is.] The flouris and the buddis wol they drie, And thorle hem thorgh, and make hem so to die.

De apium castris, Capitulum xxxvij. [fol. 31.]

The be yerd [apium ortus.] be not fer, but fair aside, Gladsom [apricus.] , secrete, and hoote, al fro the wynde, [ 1010] Square, and so bigge, into hit that no theef stride, Ther flouris in colouris of their kynde, In busshis, treen, & herbis they [apes.] may fynde— Herbe origane, and tyme, and violette; Eek affadille [rododaphnes.] and sauery there be sette, [ 1015]

And curiage [curiago.] , and gladiol the longe; [1016 No space between this and preceding stanza.] Eek amarak, and other fresshest flouris— Rosmary, [ros marinus.] yuy, rose, and lily spronge In busshis. Eek the blossom greet socour is Of euery tre ther swetnesse in the flour is— [ 1020] Ook, fold, and birche, eek terebynt and lynde. But vtre [taxus.] that is nought, leue hit byhynde.

Of tyme is wex [cera.] and hony maad swettest; Of tymbra, peletur and origon, Is next to that; and aftir hem is best [ 1025] Of rosemary and sauery; thenne is noon So good as they but rustyk swete vchoon. Septemtrion sette treen vppon his side; And busshe [frutices.] aboute vndir the wal diuide,

And aftir busshis, herbis to the playn, [ 1030] A sobur brook amydde or ellis a welle With pullis [lacunus (sic).] faire; and bowis ore hit trayn So lough and rare, on hem that bees [bees (sic).] may dwelle

And drynke ynough; but fer awey propelle Horrende odour of kichen, bath, gutteris [fusoriis.] . [ 1035] Eddris [serpentes.] to sleen and foulis [aues.] out to fere is.

The keper pure and chast and with hem ofte, [fol. 31a.] His hyuys [apiaria.] hauynge redy forto take His swarmys [examina.] yonge, and sette hem feire olofte. The smelle of donge and crabbis brent, aslake [ 1040] Awey from hem; and placis that wole make A voys [s. ecco.] ayeyn, as ofte as me wole calle, Is nought for hem; eek nought is titymalle.

This tapsia, this wermot, and eleure, [eleborus.] Cucumber wilde, and euery bitter kynde [ 1045] Of herbe is nought for hem. As hem is leuere, Let make her hyuys alle of thynner rynde [interiori cortice.] , Hit is not angry hoot ner coold vnkynde. Take ferule eek, or saly twiggis take Ye may, but potters hyuys thou forsake. [ 1050]

Or make an hyue of boordis lyk a stonde, [cupe.] ffor that is good, or hewe an holowe tree [cauum lig∣num.] And therof make hem hyuys [in] to stonde [stare.] . [1053 Ms. omits in, B into.] But thre foot hie on stulpis must ther be A floor for hem; wel whited thou hit see. [ 1055] So maad that lisardis [lacerte.] may not ascende, Ner wickid worm, their castels forto offende.

Thyn hyuys [apiaria.] heer thou sette alite a sundir. [1058 Ms. a litil, B alite.] Her entre turne hit faire vp[on] the south, [1059 Ms. vp the south, B upon the s.] No larger than a be may trede in vndir. [ 1060] Wikettis [portulas.] too or thre let make hem couth, That yf a wickid worme oon holis mouth

Bisege or stoppe, another opun be, [sit.] [1063 In left margin traduccio.] And from the wickid worm thus saf thy bee [apem.] .

De apibus emendis. Capitulum xxxviij. [fol. 32.]

To bey [comparare.] thy been biholde hem riche and fulle, [ 1065] Or preue hem by their murmurs [murmuris.] magnitude, Or se the swarme; and cair [vehere.] hem yf thou wulle, [1067 cair] B carie see note.] By nyght vpon thy bak; hem, softe enclude, And toward nyght her yatis thou reclude. But bey hem not to fer out from thyn ayer, [ 1070] ffor chaunge of ayer may putte hem in dispeir.

Thre dayis thenne hit is to taken heede If al the swarm out at the yatis go; And yf they do, thenne hit is forto drede Lest they purpose in hast to ben ago. [ 1075] Yet wene [cre∣dunt.] men that they wul not do so, Aboute her hole a heyfer caluy[s] thost [vituli primogeniti stercus.] [1077 Ms. caluy, B calues.] So that me cleme [allinatur.] , and this is litel cost.

De balneis. Capitulum xxxix.

Hit is not straunge, if watir wole suffise, An husbonde on his bath to be bithought, [ 1080] ffor therof may plesaunce and helthe arise. Toward the sonne on drie hit must be wrought. Southwest and south the sonnys [vel lightis.] in be brought, That al the day hit may be warm and light. The cellis suspensuris thus thou dight: [ 1085]

First floore hit ij feet thicke enclynynge softe The fourneis ward, so that the flaume vpbende The cellis forto chere and chaufe olofte: And pilis [pile.] maad of tilis must ascende

Too feet and half, and twey feet wyde attende [ 1090] Hem forto sette; and vpon hem thou spreede A marbul floor, or tile hit yet for nede.

A milyair of leed [miliarium plumbeum.] , the bottum [fundum.] brasse [ereum.] , [fol. 32a.] Anend the setis sette hit so withoute The fourneys, and the fier therundir passe. [ 1095] A condit coold into hit bringe aboute. Make pipis, watir warm inward to spoute. The cellis square oblonge, as x in breede As for xv in lengthe, is out to sprede,

For heet in streit is grettir than in large. [ 1100] But setis [solia.] make yfourmed as thee list. Thy somer cellis lightis let enlarge [1102 Ms. lightis lightis.] Vppon the north; but [h^o d^o.] wyntir cellis wist [seruatis.] ffrom north; the southern wynd is best, as wist [scitum.] Is wel. And al the wesshe [eluuies.] out of thi bathis [ 1105] The gardyn thorgh to go, therto no scathe is.

The chaumburs in the bathis may be wrought As is cisterne, hit wul be wel the strenger, And other weyis fele, if they be sought, As clene as hit, al though they be vnstrenger. [ 1110] Thy wynter hous to sette eek study lenger Vppon thy bath, for lo the grounde is maade. And hete of hit thy wyntir hous wol glade.

De malthis calidarijs vel frigidarijs. xl capitulum.

Conuenyent hit is to knowe, of bathis Whil speche is mad, what malthis hote & colde [ 1115] Are able, ther as chynyng, clift, or skathe is, To make hit hool and watir wel to holde. ffor bathis hoot, ammoniak is tolde [1118 Left margin: 1. remedium.]

Right good, with brymstoon resolute ypitte Aboute in euery chynyng, clift, or slitte. [ 1120] [1120 Ms. yputte, B ypitte.]

Or thus: hard picche and wex tak euen wight [1121 In left margin 2. reme∣dium and in left margin opposite following:] [fol. 33.] And herdis [stupam.] with; pix liquyde herto eche [appone.] An haluendel; and grounden shellis dight With flour of lym—al this commyxt wul deche [claude (sic).] Euery defaute and al the woundis leche. [ 1125] White wax, hard picche, remysse ammonyake— [1126 3. remedium,] This iij commyxt therefore is good to take.

Or thus: ammoniak remysse and figis [ficus.] [1128 4. remedium,] With pix liquide [pice liquide.] and herdis [stupa.] sore ygrounde [tusa.] , To cleme [allinere.] vppon, right suffisauntly bigge is. [ 1130] Or flour of lyme in oil if thou confounde, [1131 5. remedium,] And helde hit in, vphelith hit bigrounde; But kepe hit drie a while. Eek bolis blood [taurinus sanguis.] [1133 6. remedium,] With oil and flour of lyme admyxt, is good.

Eek oister shellis drie and al togrounde [contuse.] [ 1135] [1135 7. remedium,] With hard picche and with figis dooth the same. But malthis colde in other craft let founde: [1137 8. remedium,] Ox blood with picche and syndir [scorio (sic).] al toframe [comminue.] , [1138 Ms. fyndir.] And make hit lyk a salue, and ouerflame Vche hole and chene; or siftid askis [cribellatum cinerem.] clene [ 1140] [1140 9. remedium.] And seuum molton, held in euery chene.

De pistrino. Capitulum xlj.

And yf thy watir come in aboundaunce, As myche as may thy bathis ouerflowe

Thy bakhous [pistrinum.] therwithal good is tauaunce; A watir mylle herwith thou may auowe [ 1145] To make, in sparyng beestis that shal plowe, As hors and oxe; and so with litil care Shal watir cornys grynde and beestis spare.

De instrumentis agrestium. Capitulum xlij. [fol. 33a.]

Mak redy now vche needful instrument. Let se the litel plough, the large also [ 1150] The londis forto enhaunce and vp to hent Ther as the soil is moyst; yet tolis mo. The mattok, [bidens.] twibil, [dolobra.] picoys [ligo.] forth to go— The sawis [serre.] longe and short, eek knyuys crokid ffor vyne and bough, with sithis, ciclis hokid, [falsi∣bus (sic) et falcibus messoris.] [ 1155]

And crokid sithis egged [acute.] on the bakke; Shewe forth also the cambur [curuos.] knyuys lite, In plauntis yonge a braunche away to takke, The hokis that the fern [felicem.] away shal bite, And billis [runcones.] al this breris [vepres.] vp to smyte. [ 1160] Get rakis, crokis, adsis, [rastra, sarculos, ascias.] and bicornys. [bicornes.] And doubil bityng axis [secures.] for this thornys.

Heer most be markyng [cauteres.] yrons for oure beestis. And toolis forto gelde, [ferramenta castratorum.] and clippe. and shere. Eek lether cootis vs to were honest is, [ 1165] So their cuculle aboute our sculle were; [s. caput esset.] And botis. cokirs, myttens most we were [uti.] — ffor [pro.] husbondis and hunters al this good is. [1168 Ms. hunteris, B hunters.] ffor [quia.] they must walke in breris & in woodis.

And heer an ende as of this first[e] book [ 1170] [fol. 34.] [1170 This epilogue is not found in B.] Of husbondrie, and ther beth other twelue Vntouchid yit that y not vndirtook To do. But thus y seide vnto my selue; 'Y wul assay hem vp to plowe & delue'. A lord to plese, how swete is to laboure: [ 1175] ffor that men heue and shoue and ouerwhelue. Lo thus hit is, and thus y Crist honoure:

Laude, ymne, honour, empire & songe vnto The flour of Iesse spronge in Bethleem, Whom Symeon seid of, and Anne, and moo [ 1180] In oon bisought Osanne at Iersalem; [1181 In right margin in same hand and in red ink: sincopa.] ffor now is goon, hope y, the werre of hem My foon, and y doon nerre His prince Humfrey. This incorrect, aferd lest fuke or wem Enfect, y to this duc directe, and sey: [ 1185]

Serenous prince! or thus: O princis flour! Or thus: O prince in pees and duc in werre! Or nay: O Goddis knyght and Cristis tour! Or ellis thus: O londis lif and sterre Of light! Or ellis: Thynge of thyngis derre!— [ 1190] [1189,1190 Ms. Orellis.] Or y noot what, excedyng so nature, That who thow art to sayn my wittis erre, Not oonly god ner oonly creature.

But God, me semeth, best thou mayst resemble [fol. 34a.] ffor verite, Iustice, and mansuetude, [ 1195] And other mo that in thy brest assemble Whiche euery lif suffisith to conclude. To the these incorrectid versis rude,

Noot y not why ner how mys metrified, Thus ofre y, pra[i]yng thy celcitude [ 1200] [1200 Ms. prayng.] Do that my wrong and they be iustified.

My bone is graunt and to correctioun [1202 There is an interval of 6 lines between this and the preceding stanza.] That half is doon; that other half mot stonde In hope as yit vndir protectioun. As while y speke apart with this husbonde, [ 1205] And telle hym forth the tilynge of his londe In euery place and seson of the yeer, Now God leue al be sadly vndirstonde. And first wul y bygynne At Ianyueer.

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.

III. FEVERYEER.

De pratis seruandis & letamen saturandis. I capitulum. [fol. 44.] [In hand C.]

At ffeueryeer in places temporate The medes for to kepe is to bygynne. And fede hem that be lene at pooure estate With donge, as Luna gynneth wexe & wynne Vppon the nyght: ek newer, gretter wynne [commodum.] [ 5] Is to [the] gresse. And ley hit on the side [6 Ms. Is to gresse, B Is to the gresse.] Aboue, al thorgh that Iuce of hit may glyde.

De proscindendis collibus. ij capitulum.

At places warme, in dayes lyth & drye, Is now the hilly londys vp to ere, Trimenstre seed in erthe is now to strie. [semynare.] [ca. iij] [ 10] Now wold also thy puls be sowen there [ca. iiij] As thynne, & resolute, & faate hit were, And namly dry. And whi? Lest luxurie And humor excessif go make hit dye.

They may be sowe vntyl the mone be [ 15] At dayes twelue. And forto make hem grete

And uppe anoon, commixt thou most hem see With drie donge, & theryn lette hem swete Tyl daies foure. As for oon aker mete A strik of hem, hit schal be so suffisid. [ 20] And chicc[h]es sowe afore as I deuysed. [21 Ms. chicces sawe, B chicches sowe.]

De serendo can[n]abo. v capitulum.

Last in this mone eke hemp is to be sowe [22 Rubric] Ms. canabo.] In donget fatty playn, weet & depe londe; A fote of sqware in, six sedis may growe. Now lond, that medicine is fore yfonde, [ 25] (Wherof at sowing hem to vnderstonde Y wol yow do) ye moste hit plowe eftsones: Ek dilygently clodde [occa.] hit, pyke owt stones. [28 Ms. cloddy, B clodde.]

At Marche Kalendes in the soile ydight [fol. 44a.] In gardyn wise, is flores forth to sprede [ 30] X foote, & strecche hem I feet forthright, ffrom eyther side al esely to wede: And watter hit as oft as hit is nede. This lond thus sette, old donge is hit to serue And, greythed thus, til Auerel reserue. [ 35]

De heruo. vij ca. De curandis vitibus & arboribus. vij ca.

Yet in this mone is forto sowe tares And not in Marche, lest they enoye thi bestis; Thi oxon myght be wood therof as haris. Now old vryne at tre & wyne a feest is Vppon theire rote as ofte as ere hit kest is. [ 40] Summen suppose vryne hem schuld appeyre, But hit wol make her fruitis feele & feyre. [42 Ms. frutus, B fruytes.]

Oildregges fresshe is profitabul holde To kest amonge, & rathest in olyue;

But this a mon most do in dayes colde, [ 45] Er then the feruour hoot on hem aryue. Now barli galatik is for to thriue; Abowten Marche Kalendes yf me sowe Hit in cold lond, white & saad wol hit growe.

De ponendis vitibus, pastino, vel scrobibus, vel sulcis, et omni que illuc pertinent disciplina, ix capitulum.

This mone ek al thy soyles pastynate [ 50] With wynes wold be filde, whose gode nature [51 filde] first written felde then e deleted and i written above.] No lond ner air forsacth, so that their state Be shaped in conuenient mesure. The vyne in pleyn is sette that may endure Ek myst & frost, bot sette in hilles hie [ 55] That wyndes mey endure & dayes drie.

Set in the fertil feeld smale and fecounde, [57 feeld] Ms. fel. B feeld.] [fol. 45.] The sadde & beryng wynes in the lene; The bowy bigge in densid erthe abounde: And sonnest ripe in cloudy cold demene, [ 60] Or hard[e] grapid stormes to sustene. [61 Ms. hard, B hardde ‖ Ms. susteine, B sustene.] The moyst in hoot, the tough in wyndy lond; And wyne drie in rayn hit may not stond. [63 Ms. wyne (with peculiar curl over e) hit, B vyne it.]

And, short to sey, se the profession Of euery wyne & wherein they myscheue; [ 65] As counter hit be good discresion. In lond plesaunt & serenous they cheue In euery kynde, as esy is to preue. The vynes kyndes is not for to telle, To number hem therfore y nyl not dwelle. [ 70]

But knowe is this that grapis feire & greete, Pypened hard & drie, hit is to take Vnto the bord; and tender grapes, wete [1 frondose.]

That sauour best & sunnest wold asslake And dwyne awey, of hem thi wynes make. [ 75] The places chaungeth kynde of summe vynes. Vyne Amynee hath euer feirest vines; [77 Ms. Amynes, B Amynee.]

They changeth not, but better hoot then cold They may abide; and after faat in lene, But dongyng help hem, wel they wil not holde. [ 80] Too kyndes are of hem, a more & mene [minor.] . This mene effloureth sone & knotteth clene And smale, ek greyneth lite. In mene londe Allone. & with a tre faat most hit stonde.

This smaler vine ek ha[te]th wynd & rayn. [ 85] [fol. 45a.] [85 Ms. hath, B hateth.] The gretter of this vines Amynee In blossomyng or flouryng ofte is slayn. Vine Apianes prophitabul be. Suffice hit for to name vp these thre. A witty man tacth preued thyng, & change [ 90] He macth, that lond from lond be not to strange.

Suche erthe as they come out of sette hem to And in theire merites they wol abyde. And vine or tre to change yf thow wolt do, ffrom lene lond to faat thow most hem gyde; [ 95] ffrom faat to lene is nought, lat that craft slide. Scions to sette owte of the middel trie, [97 Ms. tre, B trie.] And neither of to lough ner [of] to hie. [98 Ms. ner to hie, B nor of to hie.]

Take hem that gemmes [vel knottes.] v or sixe ascende ffro thelder branche, & if thow take hem so, [ 100] Withouten change hemself they wol extende; A vine abundaunt ek thow take hem fro, And not hem take that ber a grape or too,

But hem that kneleth doun for vberte— On bough may better then another be. [ 105]

And this a signe is of fertilite: In places hard yf frutis multiplie, Vch bough ek from the rote vp trailid be With fruit; & thoo let marke & signifie, The same at settyng time owt for to trie. [ 110] But see ther be noon old vpon the ende, ffor hit wol rote & al corrupte & shende.

The squorges [flagilla (sic).] hie & graffes from the folde, [fol. 46.] Though they wol growe, & scions pampinari Wit fruit for fruitful let hem not be tolde; [ 115] [115 Ms. or, B for.] ffor they from fruit to bareynesse wol vary When they be sette, & then hem wolt thow wary. But writhe not the hed of thy sarment [118 sarment] first written serment.] When hit is sette, ner do hit no torment. [119 Ms. ner to do hit. B ner do hit.]

And vines wold be sette in plesaunt dayes [ 120] And warm, vnbrende in sonnes or in wynde. As cutte & sette, or yf they han delayes, So saf hem moist that thay may kepe her kynde. Whil spryngyng tyme endureth, haue in mynde In placis cold, & moist, & faat, bywette [ 125] With schoures often, vines for to sette.

The syons schal be sette a cubit long; And ther as lond is faat do sette hem wide, And thikke in lene lond, so that among Hem in thi pastinated lond diuyde [ 130] Thre foot of opon lond on euery side: So shal thow in an acre tabul mette MMM & DC scions sette.

Too fote & half yf they be sette atwynne, V^MD saue twyes twelue [ 135] [135 Ms. thelue, B twelue.] Sarmentes wol fille up the lond withynne An aker tabul tiled by hit selue. And whether thow thi londis ere or delue, Orthward & afterlong extende a lyne, And put a stike in place of euery vine. [ 140]

Then kest adoun thi scions here & there, [fol. 46a.] And ympe in oon in euery stikis place. Oon maner vyn yf all thi londys bere. A wickid yer myght cum & all difface. Do diuers vynes sette in diuerce space [ 145] And wynes goode of iiij or v ha mynde, And seuered by hem self sette euery kynd.

Thy vines old ek graffe hem tabul mele; Hit wol be feyre, hit wol be profitabul; Thus esily their fruites may me dele, [ 150] The rathest rypyng grapes in theyr tabul, That other may cum after as they abul. Thus better wyn & smeller bisinesse Shal be, as knoweth tiliers expresse.

But this in pasty[ny]ng & ered lond [ 155] [155 Ms. pastyng, B pastynyng.] Is rewle, & not ther as be deluis made; Sarmentes there in angles iiij stonde And, as seyth Columelle, hit is to glade Hem, yf the lond be lene in euery slade, With faat erth, yf [pro quamuis.] me fecche hit elliswhere [ 160] ffro places fer or nygh & bryng hit there.

Wyndraf [vinacia.] is good also commyxt with donge; But yf thow sette a plaunte or a sleuyng [plantam vel malliolum.] , Putte in a lytel moysty molde amonge, But do no cley therto for eny thynge. [ 165] Too gemmes vppon erthe eke for to sprynge

To leue is good, the sonner wol they take. Now comth a craft arbustes [arbusta.] for to make.

De arbustis id est vitibus & plantis arborum vitiferarum. x ca.

That yf the lyst to haue a groue [arbustum.] of vynis, [169 Rubric] Ms. v, B x.] Let plauntes in thy seminari sette. [ 170] But trie hem owt of hit that gentyl vine is; And when they roote & wexe a litel grette, To stonde about her tre let hem be fette. [173 fette] Ms. fate, B fette.] The seminary is euen doluen londe Too foote & half deep plauntes [in] to stonde. [ 175] [175 Ms. omits in, B in to stande.]

In that thi scions or thy plauntes may Be sette alyte asonder; gemmes [vel ioyntes.] three Of scions vnder molde is sette alway, And yeres too when [that] they rooted be, [179 Ms. omits that, B whenne that.] Translate hem, be they scions, be they tre. [ 180] The scabby branches & the vexid rootes To cutte avay for dyuerse harmys bote is.

Too scions in oon diche [vel delue.] hit is to sette That neyther other touche asonder so, Theyr growyng forto encumber or to lette. [ 185] But feyre vp by the sides let hem go. The first yer fil hit not, as seyth Mago [s. ille auctor.] : But fille hit ful vp at the yeres ende, The depper wol the roote of hem descende.

But this is in hoot land conuenient [ 190] And not in cold ther moyst wol putrifie The rootes; hele hem ther is myn entent. And plauntes for to sette also thow trie; Asshe, popler, elm—tho thre wol multiplie, As semeth me, in euery maner lond; [ 195] Yet Columelle is so not understonde.

Her plauntes in this mone hit is to sette, [fol. 47a.] [197 this] t added above the line.] Not fer thy vyne: and in thy feld for corn If they be sette, a xl foote of mette Vche elm away from other most be born. [ 200] So may thow sowe, & not thi seed be lorn. In londis faate. & yf thy lond be lene, Then sette hem not but xx foote atwene.

A scion sette hit vj feet from his tre, Lest that the tre increce & hit oppresse. [ 205] ffrom bestis kept with dichyng most hit be. The vyne ek to the tre with bondes dresse. A better craft is for this besinesse: Let make a skeppe [corbiculam.] of twygge a foote in brede. And sumdel lesse al though hit be, no drede; [ 210]

This bryng vnto a tre with w[ynes spradde]. [211 wynes spradde] In Ms. the verse ends with the w of wynes and a blank space is left for the rest of the line, B vynes spredde.] And thorgh the bothom therof make a gappe. That thorgh that gappe a scion may be ladde: This sk[e]p vnto the tre thow bynde & happe, [214 skep] blotted.] And fille hit with quik molde, & therin wrappe [ 215] This scion in the skeppe a lite ywounde [216 Ms. a liter intortum ywounde, B a lite ywounde with gloss intortum above.] Or writhed in this lytel skeppe grounde.

Withynne a yer wel rooted wol hit be [218 Ms. ayer.] Inwith this skeppe, vnder whos bothum sholde Hit so be kytte & born vnto the tre [ 220] [220 Ms. kyete.] Ther hit schal growe; & sette hit feire in molde The skeppe & al, so wol hit take & holde Withouten doute; as fele as er the lyste Do serue hem thus & in theire growyng triste.

[De vineis prouincialibus. xj capitulum.] [fol. 48.]

Prouyntial is diuerse kynde of vynys: [ 225] The best is lyke a bosh ythied breef. Til hit be strong, sustened first this vine is: And strong, allone hit stont in his boncheef. Next hit beth born vp vynes best of preef Vpbounde, orbiculer & turned rounde; [ 230] And last is hit that straught lith on the ground.

[De putandis vineis communibus et humilibus. xij ca.]

In londis temperate & sumdel colde [225, 232 Ms. omits rubries here supplied from B.] Goode tyme is now the vynes kitt to be, And ther they multiplie many folde. Tho vines that Septemtrion doth se, [ 235] To cutte in spryngyng tyme auyse the. [236 Ms. &, B in.] That other part that loketh on the sonne. To cutte in heruest newe is not bygonne.

And strength alway the thegh in thi kittyng. Too hardnes in on wyne is not to make. [ 210] The croked, febul, faat, & mys growing And ek the greyne branche away thow take: The lower branche in goodly place awake. Let suffer that a gemme or too extende. Thy vines to repare or forto amende. [ 245]

In esy places hier may they trayle; In lene or hoot, declyue or stormy stedys Let hem be lowe. al so this wol avayl. In places fatte of vche an arm no nede is Of branches mo then too; also hit spede is [ 250] To deme vppon the bygnesse of the vyne As what wol make hit stonde & what declyne.

The vynes hie & of fecundite, [fol. 48a.] In branches viij ynough is to dilate.

About his thegh [crus.] let no thyng growyng be, [ 255] But if hit axe to be reuocate; [256 Ms. reuocate vel renouate (cf. above III 216), B reuocate.] And yf the stok be holgh or concauate, Purge of the dede; oyl dregges on the wounde Wit erth ydon, wol hele hit vp bygrounde. [259 Ms. by grounde, B bygrounde.]

And take away the torn & hongyng rynde, [ 260] The dregges wol the fewer be be grounde. [261 Ms. begrounde, B by grounde.] The mosse [muscus.] away do that wherere ye fynde. And in the harde if that thow make a wounde, Adownward sumdel lenyng most hit rounde. The clawes [ungues.] drie & scabbid, old, vnsely. [ 265] Kitte al away, & kepe up that is wely.

And if thy vynes footes iiij ascende, Then armes iiij is goode forth forto streyne. If hit be lene, in vche an arm extende; A branche if hit be fatte, extende vp tweyne. [ 270] But all out of oon side yf thow hem treyne. As thyng with leyt [fulgere.] forsmyton, wol they die; For thy do way that febul husbondrye.

Vppon the harde or on the top ne leue [dimittas.] Thi scions. Whi? for that is to fecounde, [ 275] The top with lytel fruit wol al for leue [pam∣pinare.] . Amyddes wol the best scions be founde. A lyte aboue his gemme ek make the wounde, And turne hit from the gemme in case hit wepe; The turnyng may the terys vtter drepe. [ 280]

De putacione arbusti. xiij capitulum. [fol. 49.]

The vine ysette into the tre to growe, [281 Rubric Ms. vij, B xiiij.] His first matier at the thridde or secounde

Gemme is to cutte; and euery yer alowe Hit vp tencrece & wynes fortabounde, Yf thow wold haue on bowis hem fecounde. [ 285] But fewer for to haue & gretter wynes, Into thy trees top lede vp thy vynes. [287 top] short stroke over p.]

In bigger bowis fele, in feynter fewe Branches do traile; & cutte hem by this reson: Tho that the grapis were vppon by rewe [ 290] [290 Ms. that grapis, B that the grapis.] The forme yer, now cutte hem of this seson. The ramail from the fressher bough to leson Is good, and euery yer hem forte vnbynde Is confort & refresshyng to theire kynde.

And maak thi tre that euery bough extende [ 295] By other forth, as lyne yleyd by lyne. An elme in faat lond viij feet may ascende, In lene lond at vij hym reclyne. In dewy, clowdy lond thi tre for vyne [299 dewy] y added above the line in same hand.] Kit hit that est & west his bowis ronne. [ 300] [300 Ms. rowne, B ronne.] The vynes sides bete vppon the sonne.

To thicke vppon the tre do not the vyne, [302 Ms. The thicke, B To thicke.] And yf on faile vprere another tre. And make hem lough in cleuis that decline; In playn er ronk lond, heyer may they be. [ 305] [305 Ms. playner, B plaine or.] But bondis harde in vyne is not to se; Do bondes softe & esy for to were Theron, lest bondis harde hit kerue or tere.

De putacione prouintialium vitium. xiiij capitulum. [fol. 49a.]

A dight vine in prouyntial manere Thatlyke a busshe vpstont, iiij armes make [ 310]

And branches leue on hem as they may bere. The vyne orbiculer with canne or stake Vp born, in comyn fourme her cuttyng take. The stra[u]ght vine on the grounde gemmes too [314 Ms. straght, B streght.] The first yer leef, and after mo & mo. [ 315]

De nouelle putacione. xv capitulum.

A nouel vine, as telleth Columelle, After the formest yer to oon matere To fourme is goode, & not, as other telle, The secunde yer to kitte of al yfere, That they or dede or pampinary were; [ 320] But better is to leue a gemme or too. In bigger vynes rather this is do:

First help hem vp with canne & litel stakis, And yef hem strenger, yeres after thre. At yeres iiij, vp iij materes takes [ 325] On hem, al ronk yf that the londis be. The branches ek kitte of fro vyne or tre, And brere & roote, & al impediment In hast is from the deluer to [ben] hent. [329 Ms. to hent with space for 3 letters between the two words, B to been hent.]

De propaginibus. xvi capitulum.

Now husbondrie his olde vines plecheth. [ 330] The long endurid, old, forfreton vine Is not to helpe, as Columelle techeth, To delue hit vnder al, but to reclyne Hit lyke a bowe and vnder lond hit myne; ffor, as he seith, the cors ydolue in grounde, [ 335] The rootes wol abounde, & al confounde.

He seyth also that after yeres tweyne [fol. 50.] This bowes in to branches wol abounde;

But tiliers uppon thys thyng compleyne That, yf me cutte hem after the secunde [ 340] Wynter, they wol be seke, and in the grounde Her rootis faile, & sodenly they die. ffor graffyng now comth crafty husbondrye.

De insitionibus xvij capitulum.

And in this mone in places warme & glade Thy graffyng good hit is to solennize. [ 345] In thre maner graffinges may be made, And twe[y]ne of hem is now to do the gyse: [347 Ms. twene, B tweyne.] In somer doon the thridde hath his deuyse: On in the stook, oon graffeth vnder rynde [cortice.] , [349 Ms. graffe, B graffeth.] Emplasteryng another doth in kynde. [ 350]

Thus graffe vnder the rynde a bough or tre: There cicatrice is noon but playn & clene, So sawe hit that the bark vnbresed be, And smothe hit after with thy knyues kene; A wegge of boon or yron putte bytwene [ 355] The bark & tre, welnygh iij finger depe, Auysily the rynde vnhurt to kepe.

Out with this wegge [cuneo.] , in with a graffe anon That oon half cutte, the pith hool, & the rinde Vppon that other half; and vp to goon [ 360] Ouer the hed too hondbrede is his kynde. With rysshes or with stren me most hem bynde. And thre or iiij, as wol thy stok suffice. Asondred fingers iiij, is to deuise.

Do cley vppon and mose hit al aboute [fol. 50a.] [ 365] And bynde hit to so that the graf[fe] stonde [366 Ms. graf. B graffe.] An hondbrede vp, the messe & cley withowte. And other bynd[e] hit straytly with sum bonde, [368 Ms. bynd, B bynde.] And in the clouen hedes for to stonde

They graffes doon on either side yschaue [ 370] [370 Ms. Thy, B thai.] Sharp as a wegge, her pith so that they saue.

A uegge in hit ther most be pitte aforn, [372 No space between this and the preceding stanza.] That, hit puld out, the tre theron may clinge. This eyther craft for spryngyng tyme is born, And worcheth while the mone is in spryngyng, [ 375] When graffes gynneth swelle in burgynyng. ffertile, & fressh, ek knotty, sprongen newe Thy graffes be, so that estward they grewe,

The graffes be thy litel finger grette. And forkid as with forkis oon or too [ 380] With gemmes fele aboute on hem ysette. The yonger tre, the better wol hit do, But nigh the grounde hit most be cutte, & so Sette in, the graffe atwixe his tre & rynde; And, as is taught afore, is to bynde. [ 385]

And other take a graf of that gretnesse As is the stocke that they wol first deuyde. This graf unto that wol they shape & dresse, That bark with bark acord: on either side They cleye & bynde hit wel. But for to abyde [ 390] And growe, hit helpeth wel to do good lond [391 to] very like do.] The stokke abowte, vntil the graffe vpstonde.

A diligent husbond enfourmed me [393 Ms. be, B me.] [fol. 51.] That doutles euery graffing wol comprende, Vntempred lime [viscum.] yf with the graffes be [ 395] Putte in the plages ther they shal descende. He seyd ereithe[r] sappe wol condescende [397 Ms. ereithe, B her either.] Vnto that mene, & glew hem self in fere, [398 vnto] written vn; to added above.] In mariage ymyxte as though they were.

Of emplastryng is after in his mone. [ 400] Ek Columelle hath told another crafte To graffe: vnto the pith [medulla.] hit is to done A tre to bore, and se no thyng be lafte Inwith this bore, and thenne a graffes shaft Of vyne or tre with gemmes oon or too [ 405] Be euen mete into that bore ydo.

With cley & mosse hit close auysily. Thus in an elm a mon may graff a vyne. A Spaynald taught me wonder gisily To graffe, and baad me theron not deuyne— [ 410] In peches hit was preued tymes ix^ne: As for to take an arm gret withi bough [412 Ms. bought, B bough.] Too cubit long or more, & saad ynough:

He seyd amyddes thorgh y most hit bore [penetrare.] And ther hit growed, croppe a plaunte of peche [ 415] And ther vppon let slippe adoun this bore [foramen.] , That eyther hed into the lond forth reche; Bende as a bowe or vynes that men pleche, And cleme hit, mose hit, bynd hit soft abowte; Quod he, thus wol hit growe hit is no doute.' [ 420]

A yer ygoon, they too wol ioyne as on; [fol. 51a.] Then cutte away the rote vnder the bowe And ley good erth on euery side & on; Withouten bones fruit ther on wol growe. In places moyst & ronk is most to trowe [ 425] Vppon this crafte, for wythy loueth wete [426 Ms. ffor.] And childron on another tre to gete.

De instituendis oliuetis. xviij capitulum.

This mone in places temporate, oliue In pastine or in tables brynkes sette, Or in theire groundes, beth to growe & thriue. [ 430]

And owt of thy pastine yf they be fette, The hed & euery bough or smal or grette Kitte of a cubit; & an hondful longe They most be sette, yf they schal ha no wronge.

Showue in a staake afore, & in do keste [ 435] Sum barly seed, & kitte of euery drie, Her hedis cley & mose & bynde hem feste. [437 Ms. mosy, B mose.] The same side vppon the sowth to wrye As dede byforn, is holden husbondrie. Let sette hem fest asonder thries v [xv.] , [ 440] Or twyes x [xx.] as best is hem to thryue.

Plucke vp vche weed aboute; at euery rayn Do delue vp smal the mold of euery rote, Let mynge hit wel, & putte hit on ayein, [444. mynge] dot of blue ink over m. ‖ Ms. ayen, B ayeine.] A[nd] more a litel herre vppon hit wrote. [ 445] [445 Ms. A, B And.] But in his place yf thow wolt haue hym soote, Lond myxt with cley, or sondy cley, faat sonde, Lond thicke & quycke, is goode in hem to stonde.

The potters cley, the wlonk [uliginosa.] , or sondy lene, [fol. 52.] And nakyd cley, nys nought; for though hit take, [ 450] Hit wil not cheue. Ek ther as ooke hath bene Or crab[be] tre, tholiues hit forsake; [452 Ms. crabtre, B crabbtre (cf. II 391).] The rootes wol their oyl or slen or slake. Northward of feruent ground, southward of colde, And enter bothe, of hilly lond they wolde. [ 455]

Her bayes namys: on is pausia, Another orchas, thenne is radius, Licinia, sergi, comynia, And mony mo calde otherwey then thus Whos namys schal vnwreton be for vs. [ 460]

Oyl paucia whil hit is grene is best, But sone in age hit is corrupt & lest.

Licinia her oil is best of al. But sergia hath most in quantite. Suffice of hem to sey in general, [ 465] The grettest for the bord preseruid be. The smallest for thyn oyl ykept thow se. Ther corn is, sette hem xl foote atwene And xxv there as lond is lene:

And west southwest [in fauonium.] hem for to order best is, [ 470] In deluys drie and footes iiij depe Idolue; & if the place is saaf for beestis, Vnnethe owt of the lond thow lete hem crepe: [473 lete] written let and e added above.] And elles here, hem seluen for to kepe ffrom bestis bite. And ther as wanteth stonis [ 475] Cley myxt with dong in settyng with hem doon is. [476 Ms. dam, B doon.]

Ther raynes faile & lond is ouerdrie, [477 Ms. iaynes.] A[nd] nedeth to be wet & bere oliue, [478 Ms. A nedeth, B And n.] And plaunte is noon hem with to multiplie, Let set in to thy semynari bliue [ 480] Oliues bowis vj feet long or fiue. And v yer old, transplaunte hem in this mone To places colde, as best it is to done.

I knowe hem that han take olyues yonge, (This wey is light and more vtilite) [ 485] In wodis or desertis vp yspronge, Ikytte & set a cubit long to be, And plauntis fele han spronge of suche a tre. But in thi seminari most they roote, With donge & molde admixt vnto their roote. [ 490] [490 Ms. thi roote, B thaire r.]

De pomiferis arboribus in generali. xix capitulum.

Now appultreen toward Septemtrion In pastine is the seson to dispose, That by & by shal of be seid vchon. Loond that is good for vines may be chose As good for hem: but xxx footis pose [ 495] Vche order of from other. Crop & tayl To saue in settyng hem, is thyn auail.

Yef euery kynde an order by hymselve, [498 Ms. hymself, B hymselue.] Lest myghty treen the smale adoun oppresse. [499 Ms. Left, B. Lest] And as thi plauntes growed, so thow delue [ 500] Hem up, & so to stond ayeyn hem dresse. [501 Ms. deresse, B dresse.] ffrom clyf to playn, from lene vnto fatnesse, ffrom dried lond to moyste, is hem to bring; Transplaunte hem so, & sone up wol they spring.

The stock yf thow wolt sette, hit do to stonde [ 505] [505 do] added above the line in same hand.] [fol. 52.] Thre foote in hegth; & plauntes for to sette Tweyne in oon delue is not to take on honde ffor wormys, & lest either other lette. [508 Ms. best eicher, B lest either.] In placis drie also they most be wette. Yet Columelle, he seith of seedes sowe [ 510] Or nottes, woll best beryng treen vpgrowe.

De vitibus & plantis circumfodiendis. xx capitulum.

Now by the see cost & in hoot contre Thy wynys delue or er, as is to done. Now stakid & vpbounden wol they be. Olyues now & other treen ychone [ 515] Do donge hem in decresyng of the mone; The gretter tre, the gretter quantite Therof, and half so moche a lytel tre.

Fyrst fro the roote abate of al the molde, A[nd] mynge it wel with donge and kest it on [ 520] [520 Ms. A mynge, B And m.]

Ayeyn, Ek in the semynary sholde The plauntes now be mylged euerychon, And braunches now superfluent of goon: And rootys smale of noon vtilite Cutte of for lettyng of fertilite. [ 525]

De liliis, rosis, croco & violis serendis. xxj capitulum.

This mone is eke rosaries to make With setes, or me may her sedes sowe. The floure inwith the rose is not to take, But bayes that as lytel peres growe. By broun colour & softnesse is to knowe [ 530] Yf they be rype. Ek now is to repare Rosayres olde & drynesse of to pare.

Now vmbedelue hem, and yf · they be rare, Me may hem thyke, endusyng plauntes mo. Wyth craft ek roses erly ryped are: [ 535] [535 Ms. of roses, B eke roses.] Twe[y]ne hondrede of, abowte her rootes do [536 Ms. Twene, B Tweyne.] A deluyng make, and euery day therto Do water warm. Now lilly bulbes sowe [538 Ms. sowe or sette the next verse beginning with And wede; between warm and now appears ‖ in Ms.; in B the verses are arranged as in text.] Or sette, and wede hem that of rather growe. [539 that] Ms. þat.]

In wedyng hem thow most be diligent [ 540] ffor hurtyng of her bulbe or of her eye. But bulbes smale vp from her moder hent Let put in other lond to multiplie. The violet to plaunte is now to trie. Now saffron bulbes beth to sette or sowe, [ 545] Or subtilli to delue, yf that they growe.

De lino. xxij ca. De cannetis & asparagis [et] plantis salicum vel geneste & seminariis mirti & lauri. xxiij ca ^m.

Now summe in soil ydonged linseed sowe— X busshel serueth for an aker lond;

fful subtil flaxe & smal therof wol growe, And also thicke & long as hit may stonde. [ 550] Cannetis now with craftes may be fonde: In delues breef this cannes eyon do, And vche of half a fote his felow fro. [553 And] dot over and under d; B And.]

In places drie & hoot me most assigne Hem moldes moyst; and ther as it is cold. [ 555] To wete is nought, to drie is nought; benigne Is good, so that the toun water doun folde Streght hem among. Sperages seed ek hold Is good to sowe hem with, with hem to springe, ffor cannes & sperage haue oon tylynge. [ 560]

Cannetes old ek tyme is now to wede, [fol. 54.] And of to kytte hit that their roote vneseth, And hem that rote, or crookidly procede; The bareyn eyles canne also displeseth. Now vilous, busshes, bromes, thyng that eseth. [ 565] Let plante. And now of mirte & laures bayis To make or tyle a semynary, day is.

De ortis et diuersis herbis. xxiiij capitulum.

And at this mones Idus is good hour To make a gardyn hegge, as is byforn Itaught, when the was seid [in] ficchis flour [ 570] [570 Ms. seid f., B saide in f.] The seed to kepe of brere & houndes thorn, ffor heggis made of hit schal not be torn. The Greke seyth of scions of fatty brere, As vynes sette, an hegge a man may rere.

But euery day me most hit delue & wete [ 575] [575 Ms. wede, B weete.] Vntil hit take. Ek letuce is now sowe, In Aprile hit to plaunte in other lete. Now tesul, cresse, & coriaunder growe:

Now popy seed in grounde is good to throwe: Now saury seed in faat vndunged londe [ 580] [578, 579, 580 over erasure, traces of 579 and 580 appearing in 578 and 579.] Doth wel, & nygh the see best wol hit stonde.

Smale oynouns be with hit, or by hem selue Isowe. Ek hem in ver & in heruest They sowe; whos seed in molde, if that me delue The body smal, the hed wol be grettest. [ 585] Bot oynons as for seed to sette is best; The hed wol dwyne away as hit wold dye, The croppe encrese, & sedes mu[l]typlie.

Faat lond, ydonged, moyst, & well ywroght [fol. 54a.] O[y]nons desire; in hit let beddis make. [ 590] [590 Ms. Onons, B Oynons.] Vche herbe & roote owt of hit feetly sought. A plesaunt day & cleer to sowe in take, And grettest wol the growyng mone hem make, And swete ynough; the wanyng of the mone Wol make hem smale & bitter euerychone. [ 595]

Let hem be thyn ynough, & wede hem ofte, And yf the lyst her hedis for to swelle, Plucke of the foyles al aboute on loft, So wol the iuce inwith her hedis dwelle. And they that schal of sedes bere a bell, [ 600] Let rayle hem vp, and when thayre sedys blake, That thay rype beth of that a signe is take.

Half drie vp plucke hem, in the sonne hem drie. Now dile in places colde is gode to sowe; Hit may with euery ayre vnder the skye. [ 605] Gladder hit is ther warmer wyndes blowe. And watter hem, if showres be to slowe, But wede hem selde: ek summe han this bileue, [608 Ms. biliue, B bileve.] That bare yleft ther schal no foul hit greue. [609 Ms. other schal, B there shal ‖ w erased after no.]

Senvy let sowe hit now, & cool seed bothe, [ 610] [610 Ms. Initial omitted.]

And when the list; welwrought faat lond they loue, [611 Ms. faa, B fatte.] And sondy, cleyi, grauelous they lothe. But if hit reyned day & nyght aboue, Ther may no wether harm hem ner remoue. But set hem southward sonner, wol they preue; [ 615] Septemtrion wol make hem latter cheue,

But the[re] they wol be grete & sauour well. [617 Ms. the they, B there thai.] [fol. 55.] The clyf they loue and faat ydongid londe, And weded wel hit mot ben euery dell. [619 wel hit] blotted.] Ek sumdel fer asonder most they stonde. [ 620] To make hem hoor as frost ek craft is fonde: Let grounden glas go syfte on hem aboute, When theyr trefoyl or quaterfoyl is owte;

This wol hem make in vigour longe dwelle, And for to sethe ek tender wol they be. [ 625] To hold hem grene, ek chargeth Columelle, Ther rootes in see froth wrapped to se, And therwithall of donge a quantite. And sette hem grete aparti, for though longe [629 Ms. thoght, B though.] Er then they take hit be, they wol be stronge. [ 630]

In wynter sette hem in a warme day, In somer, when the sonne goth to reste; And hele her lond the widder wol they splay. Old brasik seed to rape eschaungeth feste. And nygh this mones Idus ek is best [ 635] Sponge of sperage or new of sedis fourme, Or olde as now me may sette & refourme.

Me semeth this is gode & profitabul: Wilde asperages rotes mony trie Inte erthe ytilde, or stony lond is abull [ 640] Ynough for hem; for they wol multiplie [641 Ms. the wol, B thai wol.]

Ther as al other tre[en] & herbis deye. [642 Ms. tre with space for 3 letters between tre and &, B treen.] And euery yer in scopis hem to brenne [643 scopis] written schopis and then h expunged.] And thicker, gretter, swetter, wol vp renne.

Now malue is sowe, and myntes [myntes.] plaunte or roote [radicem.] [ 645] [fol. 55a.] In places moyst or water nygh, is sowe. No donged faat lond axeth they to roote [radicare.] [647 axeth they] blot covering h th.] So hit be gladde. Ek fenel wol vp growe, So hit be gladde, in stony lond ythrowe. Pasneppes [pastinate (pastinace? or the gloss may belong to word beneath, as 650 is written over erasure of 651).] seed or plauntes faat & rare, [ 650] Pastined depe, ysette in this mone are.

Now cunula is sowe & hath culture As oynons [cepule.] or garlec [allium.] ; & now cerfoyl After this monys ydus do thy cure To sowe in faat & moyst, ydonged soyl. [ 655] Now betes sowe, & synke or quaterfoyl Transplaunte: and somer thorgh hem may me sowe, In faat lond, moyst & donged wol they growe. [658 Between the two stanzas a verse (? 658) has been erased.]

The rootes wold in donge ydippid be, And delue hem ofte and make hem feeste of donge. [ 660] And now thi leek ysowen is to se; To make hem frough, kitte of the bladys longe Ryght as they growyng beth ij monthes yong, And ryght ther in her beddis let hem dwelle. Yet othourwise enfourmeth Columelle. [ 665]

And when ye plaunte hit. donge & water do Therto; but heded yf thow listt it haue, In ver let sowe, in October go to And transplaunte hit; faat londis wol it craue,

Playn, doluen depe & donged best hit saue; [ 670] [670 Ms. sowe, B saue.] And wede hit oft. Ek thike ysowe is frough And rare ysowe is heded grete & tough.

A fynger gret is round ynough to sette, [fol. 56.] And in the myddes cutte of euery blade. The rootes ek ycutte & vmbiwette [ 675] With dong is good her spryngyng forto glade. An hond asonder sette hem with thy spade, And when they rooteth, reise hem with thi hond, That they suspence aparti so may stonde.

So wol they fynd a space vnder theyr roote, [ 680] And hede hit full. Ek forto make hem grete [681 Ms. fall, B ful.] Do seedes feel yfere, & they wol roote Ifere, and in on body wol they grete. And rape seed in to their hedes gete Al yronles, wol make hem growe faste: [ 685] And ofte ydoon the faster wyl they haste.

The chibol now ther as cannetes growe His eyon sowe, of cutte as is the reed; Al softly in the doluen lond hem throwe. And sowe hem by a lyne other a threed. [ 690] Thre feet to stond asonder is her speed. [691 Thre feet] over erasure.] The bulbes of colcases settyng sone In londis moyst & faat, is goode this mone.

They setteth nought by thaires qualite, And glaad beth they to stonde abowte a welle [ 695] [695 Mss. awelle.] That humor euer may ther butler be. From hem yf thow defende eke coldes felle. In theyr groyng almest they euer dwelle. Now comyn & anyse is faatte ysowe In donged lond & weded wel to growe. [ 700]

De diuersis arboribus in pomario. xxv capitulum.

The pertre plaunte is sette in places colde At ffeueryer, and ther as is warme ayre [702 Ms. feueryeer.] In Nouember: and then ek good is holde To graf hem ther moyste erthe is her goode leyr; So shal the fruit be grette and floures feir. [ 705] They in suche erthe as vynes loue abounde; ffaat lond macth myghty treen & ryght fecounde.

A stanry pere is seyd to chaunge his mete In esy lond ygraffed yf he be. Hit is bot happe of plaunte a tre to gete. [ 710] And if thow wilt, taak of a gentil tre, Not wilde at all, withoute asperite; When hit is too yer old or iii to thryue, Good is to set hit as men sette olyue.

But set hem rotyd wel in delues wyde. [ 715] Thre foot or iiij in hegth & cropped feyre: With cley & mosse here hedys hode & hyde. Ek seedes sowen peris wol repeire; [718 Ms. seed sowen, B seedes sowen.] Nature is suche hit is not to dispeyre Latte if she be, for targyng may not be [ 720] [720 Ms. Lacte.] ffastidiose in here eternyte.

But long hit is a mon ther on to dwelle. Theyr noblesse ek they wol departe fro: Therfore is better do as y wol telle: In Nouember the wild[e] tre to do [ 725] [725 Ms. wild, B wilde.] [Be graffed, first sette and rooted to] [726 Omitted in Ms. and omission noted by cross; here supplied from B.] In deluys large ynough & doluen depe, That rootes esyly may vnder crepe.

Do graf him in hem self and they wol be [729 Ms. and wol, B and thai wol.] [fol. 57.] Tender & swete. Ek they may not endure: [ 730]

And if me graf hem in a nother tre The langer wol they last in lesse cure. And xxx foot asonder for lesure Is hem to sette. Ek humor is avayle [734 Ms. hom, B hem.] To hem, & delue hem ofte is good trauaile [ 735]

Hit is so gode that in the blossomyng [736 Ms. Hit is gode, B It is so goode.] She wil not lese a flour that forth is brought. The deluer is to help her with deluyng: And euery other yer she wold be wroght With spade, & dong is therto to be sought. [ 740] Ox dong aboute her roote if that me trete. The pomes sadde & braune wil hit gete.

And summe also doth askes with this donge— They seyn ther of ther wol good toste arise. The kynd of hem to telle hit is to long, [ 745] Whil theyre tylyng is not in dyuerse gyse. The pertre seek is helid in this wyse: Let make hit bare, & bore hit throgh the rote. And driue a pin therin wol don hit bote.

Or ellis thus: let bore hit thorgh the stook, [ 750] And do therin a pyn made of a bronde; And yf the wonteth that, tak of an ook. And wormes wol ther none in hit be fonde, Yf ofte vppon the rootes as they stonde, The boles galle enfusid be. & more [ 755] ffor blossomyng to long is herof lore.

Of wynes olde hit is to take dregges [fol. 57a.] (The dregges most be newe) & daies thre Infounde hem on thi trees feet and legges, [759 Ms. on threes, B on thi trees.] So wol the blossum parte from the tre. [ 760] And lapidose yf that thi peris be, Let voyde al erth & stones from the roote, And sift in other erth & this is boote;

But wete hit ofte & longe, or this is nought. To graffe is goode in Marche & ffeueryeer— [ 765] How for to graffe, afore hit most be sought In rynde & stook for graffyng the maneer. [767 In right margin: 38 b &c. in hand A.] Ther is also graffyng in trees seer, As melo, almaunde, & thorn, as seith Virgile, ffoold, asshes, quynce; & punyk, cleef his stile. [ 770] [770 punyk] written in hand A.]

The pertre graffe ygraffed for to be, Er then the day be lengest oon yer olde Most been; & er me sette hym in the tre, The tendron & the leuys of thow folde. But when the dayes gynneth short & colde, [ 775] Then graffe hem that the tender croppis bere; And graffyng is for euery maner pere.

To make a saury per & wel smyllyng, In dayes feyre & wanyng of the mone, (ffrom xxij daies old wanynge [ 780] Til dayes viij,) with honde hit is to done That fruit be pulde, & of oon kynde alone. ffrom vij vnto x, from ij til v— These houres vj owtake thi peris bliue,

So they be drie, & not caduke & harde, [ 785] [fol. 58.] And hool & sumdel grene; and then hem do In sum vessel ypicchid wel; vpwarde The bottom, do this vessel closid so, And where a place is with a brook thorgh go, Contynuelly ther hide hem in the grounde. [ 790] ffor peris yet another craft is founde:

As for to pulle hem hard of flessh & skyn, And hepe hem vp. But when they gynneth softe, [793 Ms. kepe, B heep.] Let take an erthon potte & putte hem in, And picche hit fast, & cley hit wel oloft, [ 795]

And delue hit vnder molde inwith thy crofte Ther as the sonne al day vppon hit schine. And summe in whete or chaf wol hem reclyne,

And other take hem tough, and faste enclose Hem in a potte ypicchid or with cley [ 800] Ystopped fast, & in the sond dispose [801 dispose] in hand A over erasure of word beginning with y.] Hit in the sonne; and other men wil ley Her peris tough in hony so that they Ne towche not. Ek peris men deuyde, And pike awey the greyne of euery side, [ 805]

And pyked so, in sonnes hem they drie. On boileth water salt, & scometh clene; Ther into cold his peris wol he trie, Then inte a picced potte he wol hem glene; Or salt water on day & nyght hem lene, [ 810] Then fresh water too daies on hem stepe, In bragot thenne, or wyne, or meth, hem kepe.

Of peris wyne is maade, if they be grounde [fol. 58a.] And thorgh a rare saak with fors ywronge. Yet somer wol hit soure, & so confounde, [ 815] And wynter wol endure & kepe hit longe. Of peres sowre & wild hit is no wronge Aycel to brynge, al ripe yf that they be Ytake & kepte vphepid daies thre;

Then in a vessel se that they be do, [ 820] And water with of rayn or of the well; Then hele hit feire, or se that hit be so, And xxx dayes therin let hem dwelle; Now aisel taake vnto thyn vse, or selle. But se what quantite therof thow take, [ 825] With water up the summe ayeyn thow make.

And make liquamen castimoniall Of peres thus: take peres right mature,

And with hool salt hem trede, & flesshe & all; When they beth resolute, in stondis pure [ 830] Or erthen pottes picched saaf & seure; And after monethes iij do hem suspende, And righ[t] goode licour of hem wol descende. [833 Ms. righ, B right.]

His tast is goode & whitysshe his colour; ffor that, when salt & hit is doon yfeer, [ 835] A blackysh wyn commyxt hit doth socour. And in the mone of Marche & ffeueryeer The meles graffed beth, but there as clere Is aier, & hoot, & drie, hit may be do In October & Nouember also. [ 840]

Her kyndes forto write y wol not waste. [fol. 59.] ffaat lond they loue & moiste [in] his nature. [842 Ms. omits in, B moiste in.] In cley or in grauell men moston haste To wattre hem ofte. In hillis is to cure To sette hem on the south, yf they schal vre. [ 845] They growe also in places colde yf theyer Be somdel warme & helpyng to their layer.

Also they growe in places harde & wete, And wormy wol they be in drie & lene. And hem to graffe as peris me may trete. [ 850] The plough or spade aboute hem be not sene, ffor thi the bette in medes may they bene. And donge although they noon or litel craue, Yet gladly wol they take & gladly haue;

And namly askis medlid ther with all. [ 855] They loueth ek to dwell in region Ther as the hete is neither gret ny small. Ek they beth apte vnto putacion Of bowes drye, or foule elacion. This tre is olde anoon, & in his age [ 860] He goth out of his kynde into datage.

Caduce if that the fruit be, cleef the root And putte in hit a ston & hit wol dwelle. ffor rotyng of the crop the galle is boote To towche hem with of neutes grene. Ek quelle [ 865] Her wormes thus: taak swynes donge, & melle Hit with vryne of man or oxes galle, And meles wormes this wol sleen hem alle.

Yf wormes fele vppon hem be withowte [fol. 59a.] A scrape of braas let scrape hem of therwith, [ 870] And cleme uppon the wounde [vulnus.] oxdong aboute. And ouer thicke yf that the fruytes beth, Plucke of the febul fruit, as reson seth, Hem to discharge, and Iuce ek then wol dresse Hit into theym that ar of gentilesse. [ 875]

In pertre [piro.] , thorn [spino.] , in plomme [pruno.] & apultre, In serue [sorbe (sic).] & peche [persico.] , in plane [platano.] & populer [populo.] , In wilous may this melis graffid be. But trie hem wel that schal be kept ore yeer; Let ley hem derk as wynd may not com neer, [ 880] And do feir stre vppon their fleyke [create (sic).] hem vnder, On heepes feire a litel space asonder.

This heppes most me now & now deuide, Yet beth there diuerse folk seyn diuerse wise. And oon in picchid pottes wol hem hide, [ 885] Another hath of cley another gise, Yet hath the thridde of hem a fressh deuise— Only the lytel [pediculos.] feet to cleme in cley, And on a floor with chaf bistrowed ley,

And ther vppon they couer hem with stre. [ 890] The meles round, ycald orbiculer, [891 ycald] a made out of o by adding loop to top and tag to bottom. The same in B.] Withowton care a yer may keped be. [892 Ms. ayer, B a yere.]

And other drenche hem in the water cleer Of cisterne or of wynche, yclosid neer In erthen pottes picched at the fulle. [ 895] And other meles wol with hondes pulle,

And dippe her litel feet in picche al warme, [897 Folio numbered 38.] [fol. 60.] And so in ordre ley hem on a tabull; And nuttre leuis vnder wol not harme. Ek populer or fir is profitabull [ 900] To make & lye among hem scobes abull; And let her petifeet dounward be wende, And touche hem not vntil they schal be spende.

Aysel & wyne of meles me may make As is aboue enfourmed of the pere. [ 905] To graffe a quynce is diuers tyme ytake. Their plauntes y ha seyn in ytail here, The cite nygh, ysette in ffeueryeer, Or in the frount of Marche, in donged molde So that they rooted were & ryght wel holde; [ 910]

Holde han they so that in the yeer secounde ffruit han they hadde. Yf that me sette hem grete, In thende of October th[e]y wol abounde, [913 Ms. thy, B thai.] Or sone in Nouember yf that me trete Hem into place of drinesse & of hete. [ 915] But ther as dry hit is they most be wette; They loue in cold & moyst eke to be sette.

They bere anoon in places temperate, [918 Ms. in p. a noon, B anoon in p.] And forth they come in cleues & in playnes; They loueth lond deuexe & inclinate. [ 920] Men graffeth of theyr toppes & their treynes; That werk or seelde auaile or sone yslayn ys. And wide hem so that, though the winde him shake, No drope of oon vntil another take.

Yf they be sette smale, helpe hem with donge; [fol. 60a.] Yf they be grete, askes & chalk do to. And ones serue hem thus in al yer long. Eterne humor wol grete hem, & also Hit wol them rype sone; & yf ther no Reyn be, me most hem wete & vmbidelue. [ 930] This doon, let God therwith alone Hymselue.

At Marche or ffeueryeer in londis colde, At October & Nouember in hete, But they be dolue abowten as they wolde, Other me shal of hem no fruytes gete, [ 935] Or owt of kynd. Also this y yow hete— I preuyd haue ykytte yf that they be, They wol been owt of vice in liberte.

Thy tre is seek, oyldregges water mynge, Ylyche of eyther, held hit to the roote; [ 940] Or let quyk lyme with chalk resoluyng synge, Or reseyn mixt with taar that is to soote, [942 soote] ot altered from et.] Ennoynte abowte of this, for this dooth boote; Or maak the rootes baare, and ley arowte Of quynces to, to go the roote abowte. [ 945]

Do this from yeer to yeer, & they beth saaffe ffrom vice. Ek ther ayeyn they nyl not dure. [947 Ms. the rayeyn, B ther ayeine.] In ffeueryeer this quynces is to graffe; [948 Ms. feueryeer.] The rynde as in the stook is not so seure, [949 Ms. to, B so.] Hem in to graffe. And graffyng is tassure [ 950] In hem of euery fruit—punyk & serue, And apultren ek best for hem they serue.

Theyre yong[e] treen, ther iuce [succus.] is, [in] the rynde [cortice.] [fol. 61.] Is good to graffe; and olde yf that they be,

To graffe hem at the roote hit is her kynde, [ 955] Ther as the soyl as well the bark as tre Hath beneficed with humydite. Hem rype ypold, men kepe in diuers wise; And first of tiles [tegulis.] tweyne is oon deuyse:

Do hem bytwene & cleye hit euery side. [ 960] Or in defrute [Glossed in left margin: defructu id est sapa mustum decoctum ad consumpcionem duarum partium et dicitur tri∣plicatum.] or passe [Glossed in right margin: passum secundum ysoderum quicquam ex uva passa expressum est et decoctum.] sethe hem feire. The grettest wol another owt deuide, And in figtrees leues mony a peire [paria.] He wol do folde of hem, so nyl they peire [perire.] . [In Ms. 964 follows 965 and the displacement is corrected by a written before 964 and b, before 965, in red ink, in hand A.] Another wol in places drie enclude [ 965] Hem, & the wynde & ayres both exclude.

He wol with yuer or with reed deuyde [canna.] Hem vppon iiij, & take away the core, And inte a potful hony let hem slide; He doth hem hool in hony, lesse & more, [ 970] But rype ynough beth best this kepyng fore. And summe in mylde, and summe ychaued depe [paleata.] , And summe in swete [wynes] wol hem kepe. [973 Ms. omits wynes, B wynes. Ms. omits in, B in.]

On with his muste hem closeth in the tonne; Another seith that in a panne al newe [ 975] Do hem with dried cley, & they beth wonne. Now & in Nouember is to renewe The siliqua [a maner tre.] in plaunte & seedes trewe. Hit loueth places nygh the sees side, And places harde & drie, eke feldes wide. [ 980]

Expere am y that they [in] places warme [fol. 61a.] Wol best abounde, ywattred yf they be.

Their palmes for to sette, hit doth noon harme, But delues large ynough for hem thow see. Now graffe hem in the ploumme & almauntre. [ 985] [985 ploumme] there is an erasure between u and m of what seems to have been a t.] This fruit is longe ykept withowten drede, In fleykes feire yf that men liste hem sprede.

Molbery tre wol growe vp of his seed, But bough & fruit wol turne owt of his kynde. The croppe or talions to graffe is speed, [ 990] But talions the better me shal fynde On either half maad smoth, vnhurt the rynde, As is a graff, and vmbygon with donge; And se that they been vchon oon foot longe.

To sette hem first maak redy place, & whenne [ 995] Me setteth hem, mynge askes with the molde; An hondbreed in the lond be hid & thenne Say 'God saue all'. In Marche & now they wolde Be graffed here; and ferther fro the colde, In thende of October, or in [the] toppe [ 1000] [1000 Ms. omits the, B in the toppe with gloss inicio.] Of Nouember, in lond is hem to stoppe.

Hit loueth places hote & ful of sonde, And nygh the see, not stony lond ny cley; Vnnethe in hit they take a foot to stonde. Miche humor doth hem wo, but glad be they [ 1005] With deluyng ofte & dongyng, soth to sey. And after yeres iij, the drosse & drie Do kitte hit of, and they wil multiplie.

In October or Nouember let sette [fol. 62.] The plauntes bigge; and tender if they be, [ 1010] This ffeueryeer and Marche is for hem bette. [1011 Ms. feueryeer.] Their deluis depe & rowme asonder se,

That schades strecche not fro tre to tre. Ek, as me seith, they wol be feire & bringe Vp fruit ynough by connyng of boringe. [ 1015] [1015 i in boringe dotted in later ink.]

Let bore hem thorgh the body ther & here, And putte in euery hole a wegge or pyn, A birchen [lentisci.] here, a terebynten there; And when Kalende of October comth yn, Maak bare his rootys right vnto the skyn. [cortice.] [ 1020] Olf wines dregges fresshe on hem infounde, And they wol be the fressher & fecounde.

In figtre, in hem self, vnder the rynde Me may hem graffe; and in an elm they take; But in this elme they greteth owt of kynde. [ 1025] A walnuttre [auelanam.] , theyr nuttes now wol make; [1026 Left margin: vel chasteyntre.] Too finger depe in erthe is hem to slake. Experte am y their plauntes best to growe, But set hem now, ek now theyre nuttes [nuces.] sowe.

Weet cold & lenesse, sondy lond is best [ 1030] ffor hem, and they beth ripe at Iules nonys [nonas.] . Now curneles [nucleos.] of mixe hit is to keste In molde in sum vessell, so fele attonys As wel may spire; and when their spir up goon is, Warm aier, molsh lond, & humor moderate— [ 1035] Let plaunte hem ther, and vp goth theyr estate.

Hem may me graffe at Marche in thorn & serve. [fol. 62a.] [1037 Ms. serbe, B serve.] Ek tuberes now sawe & graffe; and now The bones hard of mastik tre wol serue Ysowe. Eke hem to plaunte & graffe is prow. [ 1040] The meddeler to graffe ek tol[d] is how. [1041 Ms. medlar, B meddeler. ‖ Ms. tol, B tolde. (Opposite this line in B is the marginal reference 38 b. c. d.)]

Now plummes bones sowe & figges are In tempur lond ysette aparty rare.

Now serbe is sette, almaunde in lond is sowe, Ek rathe in tempor lond, late in chyllinge; [ 1045] [1045 rathe] first written rather then r erased.] Men graffe him now, theire graffus budde vngrowe. And now pistace hath plauntyng or graffing, Chastene also; Iuglande in lond now sprynge; Ek graffe hym now. Now for pynapultre The cold or wettish lond most sowen be. [ 1050]

De educacione porcorum. xxvj capitulum.

Now bores gladly brymmeth. Chese a boor Gret bodied, side & wide, ek rather rounde Then longe, ek hiped grete & wombed hoor And huge, ysnowted shorte, his necke abounde With tattes fele, his stones grete & sounde. [ 1055] And from oon yeer vntil he cum at five, He wol do well ynough and often wive. [1057 Ms. yngugh.]

The sowes is to chese of lengest side; In other thynges take her lyke a boor, So they be wombed wel, dependaunt side, [ 1060] That lycly is for greet & myghty stoor. The herid blake, in colde contre the hoor, And euery hugh to haue in places warme Is indistincly good, & may not harme.

The femal shal til seuen yer suffiice [ 1065] [fol. 63.] To bere, and oon yer old sche wil conceyue, And, monthes iiij ydoon, hit is their gyse To pigge, & in this poynt they nil deseyue, These if me spende, or mynt for hem reseyue; The sonner wol they brymme ayen & brynge [ 1070] [1070 Ms. sonder, B sonner.] fforth pigges moo. Now herbis for hem spring. [1071 Ms. herkis, B erbes.]

A mon may haue hem wel in euery lond, But bette in myri feeldes then in drye, [1073 myri feeldes] written myrrfeeldes and 2nd. r changed to i.] And most ther fructif[y]ing wodes stonde, [1074 Ms. fructifing, B fructifying.] Wherof sum fruit wol targe & sum wol hie. [ 1075] Ek lond is good ther herbes multiplie, The rootes ek of reed and rish thei ete. When wynter sleth their fedyng, yef hem meete;

Mast, chasteyn, yef hem pugges of thi corn; Hem that beth melche in ver novelles grene [ 1080] Beth nought to fede. Her cotes make byforn Vnder sum porche & parte hem so bitwene, That euery sty a moder wol sustene, That with her wombe her pigges doth from colde; But make hit that me may on hem beholde. [ 1085]

Thi swon may se their noumber & up saue Thoppressed pigge. & viij wol Columelle A sowe vpbryng; y sey vj is to haue Ynough, and that is ouer, spende or selle. ffele y ha seyn their dammes feynt or quelle. [ 1090] Thi vines swyn wol delue after vyndage As diligent as deluers for their wage. [1092 diligent] second i written above.]

De vino mirtite xxvij capitulum. [fol. 63a.]

Sone in this mone ek mirtite is to make. [1093 Ms. SSone.] Six sester old wyn do to mirtes bayis V pound, & hem to geder al to shake, [ 1095] And shake hem dayly xxij dayes; A skep of palm thenne after to surtray is This wyn. V pound of fyn hony therto Ystamped wel let mynge, and hit is do.

De vite tiriake. xxviij capitulum.

Vyn tiriake is also now to make— [ 1100] What good doth hit? His wyn, aisel, or grape,

Or rinde of his scions, yf that me take, The bite of euery best me shal escape— And suche a craft to make hit is no iape; Thre finger deep the scions most be slitte [ 1105] In thende, & pike owt al the pith of hitte;

In stede of that fille hit with fyn tiriake; To bynde hit feire agayn be diligent, And sette hit. God saue all! Yet other take Her scions fild with this medicament, [ 1110] And hem to sette, as for this same entent, Vche of hem do they in a bulbe of squille, And, sette in this maner, they doth not ille.

Tiriake is halde of summe on vines rootes, And doth ful well. A scion of hem take [ 1115] And sette, hath not that myght—therin no boote is, As in the moder was, vntil me make Hit right as sche was maad. Also tiriake Ys good to take and, whanne this vines old, [1119 Whanne added above in hand A.] Heeld on theyr rootes ofte, & they wol holde. [ 1120]

[De uva sine granis. xxix capitulum.] [fol. 64.]

Vngreyned grape in high iocundite [1121 Rubric omitted.] Me may suppe of, as saunz impediment And al on wyn. This Greek auctorite So macth to craft nature a succedent: That schal be sette is takon the sarment; [ 1125] As moche as shal stond in the lond they cleue, And clene away the pith of hit they screue; [1127 Ms. the, B they.]

And diligent they shaue hem euery side, And ioyne ayeyn the legges so departed, And bynd hem so that they may not deuyde; [ 1130] Wit papir best & leest ar they coarted. Now soft in lond wel moyst they most be darted;

Summe ek hem sette inweth a bulbe of squille, That macth vch sette, they seyn, to take at wille.

And other, in the vines kitting seson, [ 1135] Wol trie out high sarmentes fertilest, And cleue hem not, but vse another reson: Vntil a reed for turnyng bounden fast, They boreth out the pith, and in is kest [1139 h erased before is.] This opium Quirinaik (the Greek [ 1140] So nameth hit, so doth myn auctor eek)—

In water first this opium relent, Of sape vntil hit ha similitude; Vntil the bodde owt spryng of this sarment, Vche eyghteth day this thyng they eft include. [ 1145] The pomgernad wol not this craft exclude, As Grekes seyn. The same in cherytre Yf hit wol serue, assayed may hit be.

De vite nimis lacrimosa. xxx capitulum. [fol. 64a.]

Of vines that forwepe & turne away [1149 Ms. Off (ff majuscule).] ffrom fruit, the Greekes wol the stok to tere [lacerant.] , [ 1150] And make a wounde; & yet if they withnay [1151 yet] e added above the line.] Her fruit, the fattest roote away they tere [trahunt.] . Oyldregges salt, til half decocte, on there, Thorgh cold, is don, & al abowte his wounde; And aisel kene is vnderkest in ground. [ 1155] [1155 Rubric] Ms. confectia.]

De mirtite confectio. xxxj capitulum.

Mirtite a Greek comaundeth thus to make: The mirtes baies rype & shadow drie [umbra siccatas.] , And stamped, vnces viij hit is to take, And honge hem in thy wyn wessel ywrie Al cloos, & long in hit let hem defie; [ 1160] Then taak hem owt & spende of hit. Also With baies rype ypuld thus other do:

They plucke of driest place in dayes drie And trede or presse hem feir; of that they do Viij cotuls in a stene [amphora.] of wynes trie. [ 1165] [1165 Marginal gloss partly cut off in binding; missing portions here supplied from B: [cort]ula continet [cia]tos tres.] This wyne al medicine is take vnto; Ther stip[t]ik stont, eiecting blood, & wo [1167 Ms. stipik, B stiptik.] Of wombe, or of stomak, this wol decline. Dissenterik hath eke this medicine.

De condito vel absinthio vel rosato vel violato. xxxij ca ^m.

Absinthiate, rosate, or violate [violatum.] , [ 1170] To make a wyne, is craft don to nature. Sarmentes of sum gentil vine ytake, And pocion forsayd in sum mesure Half ful be don, quik erthe among vndure [resolue.] As ly is made; & when they ginneth sprynge, [ 1175] Set hem as other vynes & up brynge.

Vt vitis varios fit producens botriones. ca^m. xxxiij. [fol. 65.] [This folio is wanting in B.]

That vines bere ek clostres [botros.] white & blake, [1177 Rubric in hand A.] Take scions white & blake, & slitte hem so Their eion [oculos.] thorgh that partyng thow may make; And whit half eye his blak half eye vnto [ 1180] [1180 Whit added above in hand A; the caret calling attention to the correction is written over erased w.] Iust close, in papir streyn, in moyst lond do Hem softe, and watter euery ferth[e] day. [1182 Ms. ferth.] Til they breke owt—what harm is forte assay? [1183 Right margin: vnde Ouydius: sed quid temptare nocebit? (Met. I, 397).]

De horis. xxxiiij ca ^m.

Nouember mone & this haue on mesure [1184 Rubric] After ca., iiij in hand A.] Of houres; first is footes thries ix [xxvij.] [ 1185] Next xvij, and xiij after vre;

X foot at iiij, and ix at v assigne, And vj at vij feet; now length owr lyne Ayeyn from hour to hour & sette xj, As was the first, at twies x and vij [xxvij.] . [ 1190]

Lo heer this ffeueryeer, a bisy mone, Is brought, & not with nought vnnethe, anende; Go reste—or make is beste, or what to done. Nay first is not the wirst to recomende This part, vntil hit art, that list to spende [ 1195] Labour of fyn fauour hit to correcte, Now shal my wrong & al, y hope, amende, And stonde hym vnderhonde al saf protecte.

Iesu, in whom is al vertu and grace, [fol. 65a.] Al right & lawe, al myght and gouernaunce, [ 1200] Our mynde, & word, & werk, vpbynde & brace In The, that we ne be Thy displesaunce. And so Crist Iesu do me fro myschaunce, As heer in this matier noo wordis spille; Thynk y yit mys, hit is of my greuaunce, [ 1205] Turbaunce, and ignoraunce, & not my wille.

Good hope is reste, and al yit shal amende— Theron y treste. And al this longe yeer Of husbondrie in hast y thynke anende. The forme book is doon, and Ianyueer, [ 1210] And lo my lord in honde hath ffeueryeer; Wul he correcte? Ey what haue y to done? He wul doon as a lord. Thenne aftir heer, Asfaste y thynke on sette, At Marchis mone.

IV. MARCHE.

De putandis vineis, inserandis & pangendis. Primum capitulum. [fol. 66.] [In hand D.]

At Marches mone, in contrey that is colde, [1 Initial embraces 5 lines.] Putacioun hath his solempnite— At large of hit in ffeueryeer is tolde. Suspect vntil ther gemmes [boddes.] gynne be, [4 Right margin: 36; per totum & 37; a, b, c, d.] Now is hit tyme hem graffed forto se, [ 5] ffor now this vines, whoso takith kepe, Not wattery but thicke humoures wepe.

The trunkes sadde, in humor that abounde, [8 No space between this and the preceding stanza.] Vnolde, vnrende, ygraffed let hem be With graffes sadde, ygemmed thicke & rounde; [ 10] Thre eyen is ynowgh for oon to se. Too fynger long let sloute away the tre, [12 sloute] s over erasure in hand A.] But saue vppon that other half the rynde. Men sayn the pith to bare [nudare.] is not ther kynde;

But flesh to flesh & skyn to skyn is do. [ 15] Right to the trunke is sette his honest eye [oculus.] ,

But sette hym that he loke away therfro, And softe a saly twigge aboute hym plie; Thanne vppon that with chaued cley hit wrie [operias.] . ffor sunne & wynde hem make a tegument, [ 20] Lest they in this [s. vento.] be shake, in that [sole.] to brent.

Whan tyme is hoot, putte on hem softe at eue Good water oft, that they may ete & drinke, And bolde hem vppon hoot, that myght hem greue. Whan that their eyen gynneth forto vnwynke [aperire.] , [ 25] And they to braunche, into the lond let synke A reed [cannam.] right by, and bynde in mariage Hem to, lest wynde offende her tender age.

Yit most hit be dissolued ere amonge [fol. 66a.] Out of thise bandis, lest it adolent [ 30] Be letted to encrece and wexe stronge. And he [aliquis.] to delue aboute is diligent, And nygh the roote ingraffeth his sarment, And mold anoon on euery side hit hepith. This roote & molde as nors [nutrix.] & moder kepeth. [ 35] [35 Right margin: singula singulis.]

Another seith ther graffing nigh the grounde Is best, ther esili they comprehende And preue. Ek al the craft hit wole confounde To graffe in hem that ouer high ascende. Til equinox [equinoxium.] ther settyng is not spende [ 40] In forgh [sulco.] , in delf [scrobe.] , in pastyne [pastina.] , as bifore Is in this book, of vines taught the lore. [42 Right margin: 33; f, g, h, 34; c, d.]

De pratis purgandis. Secundum capitulum.

Now hit is tyme in placis that beth colde, The medes forto clense, & hem to kepe.

In places warme ek now is holsum holde, [ 45] The londes fatte & hilles vndercrepe As with the plough; but ere hem not to depe. Bernetes [berneta.] that beth maad in Ianyueer, Good tyme hit is for to repete hem heer.

De panico & milio serendo. iij capitulum.

Panyk [panicum.] & mylde [milium.] in hoot & drie is sowe [ 50] As now. Light resolute lond they desire; Sond they forsake, in grauel wole thei growe But moist bothe erthe & ayer they ther require; Lond argillose [cleyi.] or drie hem sleth for ire. And wede hem wel, let no weed in hem stond. [ 55] V sester shal suffice an aker lond. [56 Left margin: sextarium continet sex libras.]

De cicere serendo. Quartum capitulum. [fol. 67.]

Ereither chiche [cicer.] is sowen in this mone Ther ayer is moist & lond is ronke: & stepe Hit dayes tweyne, & vp hit creepit[h] soone; [59 Ms. creepit, B crepeth.] Thre busshel for an aker lond let kepe. [ 60] The Greek seith, yf luk [tepida,] water hem biwepe, They wole be grete. And nygh the see to growe They loue; and first is ripe in heruest sowe.

De canabo, de cicera. v cap ^m & vj cap ^m.

Til equynoxe is hemp ysowe as now What lond is best for hit, & sedes geson [rara.] [ 65] To sowe, in ffeueryeer is reson how. [66 Right margin: 32. d.] Now cicera the blake is sowe in seson; On erthes [aracionibus.] tweyne or oon sowe hem as peson— With iiij or iij busshel other with tweyne Of hem, an aker lond me may byspreyne. [s. seminare.] [ 70]

De nouellis puluerandis, vitibus fodiendis etc. vij c ^m.

Now puluerised beth this vines yonge, And so forth til Kalendis euermore Of October, to sle the wedes spronge, And lest the lond thi vynes ouersore Constreyne. Ek wedes rotes vp be tore. [ 75] Now vynes is to delue in places colde, And stakes make & bynde hem vp to holde.

And swethe [liga.] a tender vyne in bondes softe, ffor bond to hard wol holde it in distresse. A sadder vyne a bigger stake olofte [sursum.] [ 80] Mot holde; a lighter vyne is with a lesse Stakyng vpholde. And why? ffor heuynesse Of shade; ek sette hem of tort [versus.] Aquylone, [83 Right margin: sincopa.] An hond or half a foote is good to done.

Ek summe [aliqui.] her aged vynes wole repare, [fol. 67a.] [ 85] And trunke hem of al hie abouen grounde; Vnconnyngly they do right as they are— The sonne & dew gooth doun into ther wounde [88 Ms. goith, B goothe.] That is so wide, and rotyng hit confounde. A better way for hem y wole declare: [ 90] Ablaquyate hem depe & make hem bare. [91 Right margin: Eflexigesis.]

Alite ouer the knotte inwith the lond Hem kitte & wrie, and saue hem so fro drede Of colde or hoot; but depe yf that hit stonde, And gentil be, do this. Or thus y rede [ 95] Yow do: with gentil graffes hem to fede. Al this in places hoot first in this mone, In places coold is after Idus done.

And vmbidelue [circumfodias.] a drie or seckel [egram.] vyne, Putte aske of ook or vyne aysel amonge, [ 100] And poure vpon the roote, & olde vryne.

Or graffe hem lowe, & donging make hem stronge. On vynes hurt do goot or shepis donge, And plaster hit with molde: ek in the roote [104 Ms. plastre, B plaister.] Relented dong yputte on, doth hit boote. [ 105]

De oleis amurca sanandis, seminarijs et rosarijs. viij ca ^m.

Olyues now that owt of helthes dwelle [106 Rubric] Ms. rasariis.] Oyldregges salt effunde vppon the roote; ffor grettest treen, as telleth Columelle, Vj congeus or iiij of hit ymmote [immoueas.] . [109 Left margin: Congius continet vj sextaria; sextarium, sex libras.] Too basket ful of bene chaf dooth boote, [ 110] As other seyn, to grettest treen; and olde Vryne on hem to keste is wel with holde.

A morter faste is maad aboute the tre, [fol. 68.] The rootes hidde, and mest in places drie. And bareyn yf thin oliaster be, [ 115] Take bowes tweyne of treen that fructifie, (But southward of the tre this bowes trie) And streyne hem thorgh the tre by bores too, And kitte hem by: do chaued cley therto.

Or dreve in elm, or ook, or ellis stones, [ 120] And plaster hem. To fatte yf that they be, A stake anoon into his rootis doon is. Now cornes weded efte is good to se, Yf hit be thuse [usus.] . And in frigidite, Of seed and bayes make the semynary. [ 125] Soone in this mone ek make vp thi rosary.

De carduo. ix capitulum.

The gardeyn now to tile is best bygynne. [127 Rubric] Ms. cardirco.] The tasul [carduus.] now in donged lond is sowe And resolute. In faat best vp they wynne.

The molde [talpa.] & other suche as diggeth lowe [ 130] Anoy hem not, in hard lond yf they growe. To sowe hem in the wexing of the mone, And half a foote asonder, is to done.

The tasul seed ynuerse is not to sette, Lest croked, feynt, & hard of hit ascende; [ 135] Sette hem not depe—oonly iij fyngris mette On hem, vnto the ioynt in lond descende, And hele [operias.] hem light. Ek weede hem ofte anende Vntil the plaunte vp gete, & bigly sprynge; And yeue hem in the hete a watteringe. [ 140]

Breke of the seedes toppe, and they wol be [fol. 68a.] Withoute thorn. Her seed yf me reclyne In baume, or narde, or opi [opio.] daies thre, Or Iuce of rose, other in masticyne, Or madifie hit so in oil lauryne, [ 145] Let drie hem, sowe hem, vp by oon assent They wol, and haue odour like her vnguent.

And yeerly from the codde awey let take The plauntes, lest their moder feynted be. In other place a boord [vel a bedde.] of hem let make; [ 150] But sumdel of the roote on hem thou se. And hem that shal of seedes puruey thee, Pulle euery blacke away that thou may fynde, And wrie hem with a shelle other a rynde,

For sonne or rayn the seed is wont to sle. [ 155] ffor moldywarpes [talpis.] cattes [catos.] is to kepe To ligge in wayte to touche hem with her cle [ungula.] . A wesel [mustelam.] tame han summen ther they crepe Hem forto take. Another sumdel depe Hath caues maad, and they, for ferd of sonne [ 160] On hem let in, anoon away beth ronne.

Her holes oon wel filleth vp with wilde Cucumber [cucumeris.] Iuce, and doth withal rubrike. A green [laqueum.] another hath for hem ytilde; To take hem therwithal is not vnlike. [ 165] Garlec [allium.] , cunel [cunula.] , ek oynouns [cepule.] & vlpike [ul∣picus.] , Now sette in places colde. Senuey [sinapi.] and dile [anetum.] , Ek wortes now to sowe is grettest skile.

Now holyhocke is sowe & armorace, [fol. 69.] Or arborace that wilde raues [rafani.] are, [ 170] And origon now plaunte hym in his place; Now lekes [porrum.] , betes [betas.] , letuce [lac∣tucam.] , & capare [caparum.] Sauri [saturagia.] , colcase [colcasia.] , & cresses [narstucium.;] noman spare This goldes outher raues forto sowe; And blesse hit, treste in God that al shal growe. [ 175]

Now melon [melonum.] seed too foote atwene is sette In places wel ywrought or pastynate; But daies thre this seed is good bewette In mylk or meth [mulso.] ; and after desiccate Sette hem, they wol be swete. Ek odorate [ 180] To make hem, kepe hem long in leues drie Of roses; hem they wol odorifie.

Cvcumber [cucumer.] in this mone is sowen rare, [183 Initial C such as is used for the first word of a new chapter, but embracing only one verse.] Her forgh [sulcus.] a foote of depth, iij foote of brede; And enter [inter.] forgh & forgh, viij footes spare [ 185] Of leyes [crudum.] , that theryn they forth may sprede. The weed wol help hem, therof is no drede. Their seed in owes mylke [ouillo lacte.] & meth to swelle [s. maceracione.] , Wol make hem whyte & therof taste & smelle.

They wol be long & tender yf me sette [ 190] A flatt [vel brood.] vessel with water too hond depe Vnder their seed; therof vp wol be fette By rootes, and in length awey they crepe. Withouten seed [vel core.] who liketh hem to kepe, With oil Sabyne enoynte her seed and bray [ 195] Culex, an herbe, and hem therin confray. [vel confricant.]

Cucumber flour of summen into a reed, [fol. 69a.] Ythrollid euery knotte, is softe ydo; The floures stalkes heed withal is heed Theryn, and passing long his fruyt wol go. [ 200] It is so ferd of oiles, that therfro Hit hoketh, yf me sette hit nygh thervnder: And turne hit wole for fere, yf that hit thonder.

Cucumber flour ek growing in his vyne Into sum erthen potte yf that me lede, [ 205] Maad like a man, or best fers or benygne, The fruyt wol haue benygnite or drede As man or best, as hath the potte in dede. Gorgilianus Marcial doth telle [209 Ms. Macial, B Marcial.] Al this, and this of hem seith Columelle. [ 210]

In glaad lond donged yf we ha the brere [rubos.] [211 Ms. weha.] Or ferule [ferula.] , after heruest, whan oon with [212 Left margin: fferula similis est aneto, sed minor et levissima nodosa, quam senes pro baculo ferunt.] The nyght is day, let cutte hem of right nere The grounde; and with a prick of tre the pith Pike out, and make hem holgh, ek do in sith [ 215] Donge & cucumber seed: therof wol the ffruyt that withseid [denegare.] may not in coldes be.

Sperage is sowe aboute April Kalende In redes [fossulis.] smale, ymaad by lyne, in wete

And fat lond, so that seedes too descende [ 220] In half a foote, or thre theryn thou lete; And sprede on hit aboue of donge a shete. And weede hem wel, or keste vppon hem stre Til prime ver; ther may hit take [of] be. [224 Ms. take be, B take of be.]

Therof sperage after iij yeer wole sprynge. [ 225] [fol. 70.] This tyme is longe—a shorter wey ther is These herbes of her sponges vp to bringe, ffor thei wol fructifie anoon. And this Is crafte of making sponges & not mys: Do seed as moche as iij fyngres wol holde [ 230] In euery hole of fatte & donged molde [terre.] .

This seedis wol connect intil oon roote [vel radicem.] , [232 Ms. wel, B wol.] This calle [vel clepe.] a sponge. Ek this hath tariynge; The semynair in, too yeer most hit roote [radicare.] Ynorished with donge & oft wedynge. [ 235] ffrom heruest equynoxe is his plauntynge And ek in ver. But it is lesse vice To beye hem, than so longe in lond cherice.

In solghes [sulcis.] sette hem, myddel depe in drie [239 Ms. solughes, B solghes.] Lond and in weet lond in the summyte [summitate.] [ 240] [240 lond] begins with minuscule after space left for majuscule.] Aboue. Humour wol make hem multiplie, So that hit passe & not abydyng be. The first sperage of brokon is to se; Their sponge, yf that me pulde hem, myght remewe; But after, hem to pulle, is not teschewe. [ 245]

The eyen [oculos.] of their germynacioun With pullyng wol disclose after the ferme [primum.] Yer, and to breke hem occupacioun That tyme is nought; for thy sette hit to ferme [ad firmam.] ,

Places fecounde hem seluen closeth ferme [firme.] [ 250] By brekyng so. In ver is their seruynge. Reserue in heruest hem that seed shal brynge.

Now rue is sowe in lond that is plesaunt [aprico.] [fol. 70a.] Sprynge aske on hem & content they abide; And places hie is their desir to haunt, [ 255] Ther humour may aweyward from hem slide. Seed yf me sette ek that their leues hide Enclosed, frote hem by & by with hond; And smale yf seedis be, sprynge hem in lond,

And ouerwrie hem after with a rake. [ 260] The caules that of seed encluse vp wynde Wol bigger be, but latter they awake. Their bowes puld with parcell of the rynde In ver, better than plauntes shaltow fynde. Transplaunte al hool the plaunte, & it is slaye [occiditur.] . [ 265] And other [s. quidam.] benes bowes al to braye [contundunt.] ,

And theryn or in scalons [vel bulles (B bulbes).] forth they sette Her seed. And best for hem is solute londe. They seyn ek stolon seed is but the bette. In figtre shadow gladdest wol hit stonde. [ 270] Ne delue [neffodias.] awey the weed, but pull with honde. [271 Ms. Nedelue, B Ne delue.] fful ferd is hit for touching of vnclene Wymmen—and slottes y suppose hit mene.

Til October from thyngresse [ingressu.] of this mone, Is coriaunder sowe in fatty lond; [ 275] And thelder seed the better wol hit done. In lene soil also they wol vp stonde. They were ek glaad good humour whan thei fonde. With euyri kynde of wortes wol they growe. This gourdes [cucurbita.] in this mone also beth sowe; [ 280]

Faat soil they loue, ydonged, molsh, [solutam.] humyde. [fol. 71.] In gourdes [cucurbitas.] this is goodly: that the longe Gourdes growe of the necke seed, and wide Gourdes vp of the botteme [fundi.] seed beth spronge, And grete out of the wombe seedes, honge [ 285] Inverse her seed. To this entent let sowe, And helpe hem vp with rayles, as they growe.

Gourdes for seed til wynter honge stille; Hem thanne in sonne or smoke hit is to drie, And ellis wol they rote, and that were ille. [ 290] Ech erthe ywrought, now blite wol multiplie, And weede hit not, hit self wol weedes strie; That though thee liste, yf hit be ones spronge, Thou shalt hit not destroye in worldes longe.

Now peletur [sappillum (sic).] to plaunte is and to sowe; [ 295] But in his age hit wol be bowed fayer, By ponde [pissinam.] or lake or wynche yf that hit growe So by the brynke. Anyes [aniscum (sic).] in gladsum ayer, And comyn [cummin (? ciminun for ciminum).] sowe hem now, ther is their leyer, And helpe hem wel with humour & dongynge. [ 300] Now comth the craft pomgarnat vp to brynge.

De malo punico. x capitulum.

In Aprile and in Marche in tempur londe, Pomgarnatre is sette; in hoot and drie, In Nouember. This tre loueth to stonde In chalky, [cretoso.] lenysh lond to multiplie; [ 305] To stonde in faat lond wol hit not denye. Good ek for hit beth regiones hoote. ffor settyng, plaunte is best puld from the roote.

In dyuers wise although hit may be sette, [fol. 71a.] To sette is best a bough a cubit longe, [ 310]

Clenliche ycutte vche eende, an hafte grette [manubrie crassitudine.] ; And sette hit in the delf so lenyng wronge. [oblique.] But first ereither ende in hogges donge Ywounden [oblinatur.] be. Or with a mal, in londe That softe is, smyte hem in, & let hem stonde. [ 315]

The bough to sette is best in germynynge. To putte eke in the roote of hem iij stonys, Is craft to kepe her fruytes from cleuynge. But hem to sette enuersed nought to done is. To watter hem ek now & now eftsoonys [assidue.] [ 320] Wole make hem soure. In londes that beth drie They wol be swete ynough & multiplie.

Yit watter hem yf ouer drie hit be, In heruest & in ver hem vmbidelue. If they be soure, ek stampe a quantite [ 325] Of laseris with wyne, hem too hemselue, [326 Marginal gloss to laseris: opium quiraniik (?) dicitur.] And helde hit in the croppe. Or vnderdelue The rootes, & dryue in a firbronnd [tede.] pyn; Other, so doluen, kesteth seefroth [algam.] yn.

Summen therwith doth asse & swynes donge. [ 330] And yf the flour holde not vppon the tre, With water mynge vryne observed longe; Their roote on this oon yeer do tymes thre— Oon stene at oon tyme is good quantite. Oildregges [amurcam.] ek is good, outher seefroth, [alga.] [ 335] And twye a monyth keste on hem this broth.

Or thus: the flouryng tre, the trunke in leed [fol. 72.] Enclude; or in an edder skyn hit wynde. [inuolue.] And yf they chappe [crepentur.] [a] stoon vnder the heed [339 Ms. omits a, B a stoon.] Roote is to do. To sowe ek squylle is kynde [ 340]

On euery side. Ek hem do writhe or wynde [torquere.] , In togh [in tenacibus.] vppon their tre right as they honge, And incorrupt they wol been al yeer longe. [343 incorrupt] t written above in hand A.]

For wormes bathe her roote in oxes galle, And doute hit not, anoon they wol be deede. [ 345] Or with a brasen pyn of scrape hem alle, And hard hit is if they therafter brede; Or asse vryne & swynes thost let fede Hem therwithal, and they wole deye or fle. Now se ther craft for hem meruel to se. [ 350]

Kest lie & aske ofte on the trunke aboute, [351 aske] first written askes then final s erased.] And they wol be right glad & fructifie. Ek Marcial affermeth out of doute That greynes white in hem this craft wol die [colorare.] : To cley & chalk the firthe part intrie [ 355] [355 part] some letter erased after t.] Of gipse, and do the rootes to iij yer, And this wol make her greynes whyte & cleer.

To make hem of a myrous magnitude [358 a added above between of and myrous in hand A.] Ley doun an erthen pott biside her tre; Oon bough theryn with oon flour let enclude, [ 360] But to a stake ybounden most hit be; ffor lepyng out, this potte ycouerd se. By heruest wol thy pot this appul fille. Yf this be soth, the craft is not ful ille.

With Iuce of portulake & titymalle [fol. 72a.] [ 365] Euenly myxt, er than the budde out sprynge, Enoynte the trunkes of thys trees alle, And many foold of fruyt vp wol they brynge. In bowes of hitself is his graffynge.

Deuyde hem that pith [medulla.] be fro pith seioynt [seiuncta.] ; [ 370] In thende of Marche their graffyng is in poynt.

The fresshest graffe is in the stok to do In hast, lest tariyng his humour drie, That nys but smal. To kepe hem long also, Let picche her pedifeet [pediculos.] , & honge hem hie; [ 375] Or plucked hool into see water trie Hem feire; or into oildregges hoot hem depe; In this or that iij daies let hem stepe,

And after drie hem in the sonne, anyghtys [noctu.] Leue hem not throute [sub diuo.] , and thenne in places colde [ 380] Let honge hem vp. To vse hem thus to dight is: In water fresh ij daies be they wolde; They wol be fresh & fyne, heron be bolde. Or ley hem feire in chaf that neron other Touche, and ther they beth saaf ynough, my brother. [ 385]

Or make a diche in long, and take a rynde As longe as hit; in that the storte [surculos.] do Of pomgarnat bifore & not bihynde; Thenne turne hit on this diche, euersed so That they may honge & no lond come hem to. [ 390] This rynde hem wol from al humour defende. Other hem drie in cley, & so suspende.

Ek whelue a seriol [seriolam.] therout [sub dius (sic).] that haue [fol. 73.] Grauel vp to the myddes; pomes take, The tenes [tenacibus.] with, to stonde in cannes saue, [ 395] [395 stonde] d altered from t.] Or holgh ellerstickes is good to make, And fyngres iiij vp from the grauel stake Hem so. Ek good it is to kepe hem longe [diu.] , That stalkis be not left on hem to longe [longe.] .

Or in a seriol [seriola.] half water fild, [ 400] So licour touche hem not, let hem suspende, And close hit fast, in wynde lest they be spild. Or let a tonne of barly hem comprende Vchon from other; close hit til thou spende. Thus kepeth men this fruyt in dyuers wise. [ 405] And wyn to make of hem this is the gise:

The graynes ripe, ypurged fresh & clene, Putte in a poche [fiscella.] of palme, and with the wrynge [408 Small a added between in and poche in same hand.] Let presse hem; boyle hem half awey by dene. When they beth cold, in picched vessellynge [ 410] And cleyed, close hem vp. But that boylinge Of summe is leest; six sester with a pounde [412 Right margin: ypallage.] Of hony meddel they, & saue hit sounde.

In Marche is citurtre [citri arbor.] sette sondry wise— In seed, in bough, in braunches, & in claue. [claua id est ramo manubrij magnitudine.] [ 415] They loue lond that rare is and diuise, Ek after hete & rayn they euer craue. But greynes sowe, & thus thou shalt hem haue: Lond doluen too foot deep, with askes mynge, And bedde hit smal for wedyng & wattrynge. [ 420]

To make a delf with hond an hanful longe [fol. 73a.] And, doun the poynt, iij greynes theryn do; Weete hem dayly, soone vp they wol be spronge, Sonnest yf luke water be kest therto. And herbes next the braunches wede hem fro. [ 425] Her tyme of transplauntyng is iij yeer age. A bough yf that thou sette a foote hym gage—

No lenger, lest hit rote. [putrescat.] And of the claue Is best an handful greet in crassitude;

Ereyther ende ysmothed [levigatum.] is to haue, [ 430] And cubital let make her longitude. The prickes [aculeis.] kitte awey & thynges rude, But saue the gemmes in the summyte, That hope of futur germynyng may be.

And diligenter folk in oxen donge [ 435] Encludeth ereyther extremyte; With seefroth [alga.] other haue hem vmbiyonge, [circumdederunt.] Another list ycleyed hem to se. The braunches smaller, shorter most they be. In lyk maner [ek] drenche hit as a claue, [ 440] [440 Ms. omits ek (cross in left margin), B eke drenche.] But hondes tweyne is long ynough to haue.

The claue ysette axeth no spaces large; Hoot, ronke, & weet he loueth, nygh the see. Though treen vphold hym not, he gith no charge. In contre colde ytild yf they shal be, [ 445] Men, most hem hie enclose as forto the, Or sette hem south. Ek in the wynter seson, Couert of stre their coldes most appeson.

When somer comth, vnclothe hem, they beth sure. [fol. 74.] [In hand B.] Ek braunche and claue, in londis feruentest [ 450] At heruest forto sette as do thy cure; At Iuyl and Aust in londis chillyngest. [frigi∣dissimis.] And dayly make hem dronken; hardiest, I am [Interpositio.] expert, so be they forto grete [grandescere.] In magnytude, & brynge in pomys grete. [magna.] [ 455]

The gourde [cucurbita.] is good this citur [citro.] nygh to sowe, Whos vynes brent maath askes for hem sete. And deluyng ofte ennoyeth hem to growe

And to prouyde of pomys goode and grete. But heer & ther the drie awey surtrete. [ 460] Hoot lond Aprile, and cold in May is kynde To graffe hem lowe, in trunke & not in rynde.

In pere [piro.] graffe hem and molbery [moro.] tre: Oon in an erthen pott the graffis deeth. Ek Marcyal affermeth that ther be [ 465] Of hem in Assiry that neuer beeth Withouten fruyt. (Best witnesse is that seeth [interpositio.] ) Y saugh, he seith, inwith my territori In Sardyne, (o thing wel worthi memori)

Ther humour is, ek erth & ayer wel warme, [ 470] That fruyt to fruyt fro gre to gre succedith, That children yonge her eldren aftir harme [emulantur.] , The grene aftir the riper fruyt procedith, The flouris sewe as fruytis grene hem ledith. Thus maketh they, of their fertilitie [ 475] Helpyng nature, a feir eternytie. [476 Erasure of a letter after a.]

Thay seyn their bitter margh [medulla.] wol chaunge swete, [fol. 74a.] Her seed in meth [mulso.] iij dayes yf me stepe; Other in ewis mylk [ovillo lacte.] as longe hem wete. In ffeueryeer summen ek bore hem depe [ 480] Into the trunke vpward; humour to wepe Out suffre they, vntil the fruyt be fourmed; The myddil to swetnesse is thus confourmed.

Nygh al the yeer men kepe hit on the tre. They kepe hit bette in cloos vessel ydone. [ 485] With leuy bowis puld ek let hem be By nyght, and vndir cloude yhid the mone, And pryueily disposed vp vchone.

Summe ek cleie vche of hem in his vessel, And in a place of derknesse kepe hem wel. [ 490]

Hem summe in cedur scobe, [scobe.] & summe in stre Mynute, and summe in smal chaf, wel witholde. Now meddellers [mespilus.] in hoot lond gladdest be, So hit be moyst; they come also in colde Lond, sondy fatnes rathest yf hit holde: [ 495] With stonys mixt hit stont in argillous Lond, and with grauel mixt in glareous.

In Nouember & Marche her braunchis [taleas.] sette [sere.] In donged lond, subact, ereither ende In donge ydoon. Their increment to fette [ 500] Is fer, and vmbideluyng wol hem mende. Kittyng they loue and lite humour to spende Ofte in the drought, The seed also is sowe, But hope is long on hit er fruytis growe.

A pyn of bras the wormes of to dryue. [ 505] [fol. 75.] Or oildregges [amurca.] , or mannys olde vryne, Or quyk lyme—lite of that, lest hit vnthryue— Or kest on watir of decoct lupyne; ffor bareynnes yet men from that declyne. Mynge aske [cineres.] of vyne & donge, & hem infounde [ 510] Vnto the roote and they wol be fecounde.

Aysel and askis [cineres.] tempred with rubrike [rubrica.] Ykest on hem sleeth doun this auntis [formicas.] alle. Out of the roote a pece [frustrum.] it is to pike, Yf that [the] fruyt myslike & from hem falle; [ 515] [515 Ms. omits the, B the fruyte.] This pece amydde his trunke hit is to malle [percutere.] . And in hymsylf graffe hym in ffeueryere, In mele also; ek graffe hym in the pere.

The graffe is to be taak amydde his tre, The toppis vicious are often sene. [ 520] In trunkis clouen graffed must they be, Not in the ryndis—they beth fastyng lene. To kepe, ypuld not melowy [micia.] but grene Wold be. Longe on the tre they wol endure; Ek they in picchid pottis kept ar sure. [ 525]

Suspence in rewle, hem kepe with pusk condite, [526 Right margin: Pusca est vineacea facta ex aqua, pro∣iecto musto extracto; vel acetum aqua mixtum.] Ypuld in myddis of a day serene, Or in smal chaf asonder hem alite. Semymature also me may hem glene, [colligere.] And dayes v in salt watir hem lene; [macereare (sic).] [ 530] Infounde hem thenne vntil they swymme, & depe In hony this fruyt ripe ynough thou kepe.

The fig [ficus.] to plaunte in hoot lond best is holde [fol. 75a.] [533 A cross over best.] In Nouember; and ther is tempur londe, [534 Ms. Nouembre, B November.] In ffeueryeer; and ther as lond is colde, [ 535] [535 Ms. feueryeer.] In Marche or in Aprile hit do to stonde. A toppe [cacumen.] of hit to sette other a wonde [taleam.] Is holden best right in Aprilis ende, When grene & Iuce vppon hem doth ascende.

The plauntys sette is stonys to sustene, [ 540] And donged lond vpon the rootys spende. And cannys knottys pike out hem by dene; The tender croppe for cold herwith defende In placis cold. A top [cacumen.] , iij braunched thende, Of ij yeer age or iij, toward the sonne [ 545] Icutte & sette, as here is taught, is wonne.

The greyne inwith the grounde is so to stonde That graffes iij on erthe abouen goon;

But cleue hit softe, yf that thou sette a wonde [taleam.] , And in this clift do feire a litel stoon. [ 550] In ffeueryeer & Marche my silf aloon In ytalie ha set fig plauntis grete, And right that yeer, ek of her fruytis ete.

But hem I sette in wel pastyned londe, And they tributed with felicite. [ 555] The knotty plaunte is best, for they that stonde [556 Ms. ffor.] Iknotted scars lackith fertilite. And they that in the semynary be Matured wel, & plaunted so, wol sprynge Vp feire, & pomys gentylyst forth brynge. [ 560]

A bolbe of squylle ek summen wol deuyde, [fol. 76.] And therynto this plaunte of figtre trie, And bynde hit so therto that hit abide. They loueth spacis large and deluys hye, And londis that beth harde, smal, and drie, [ 565] [565 harde] over erasure and written as one word with smal, B hardde and.] To sauour wel. In sharp and stony lond, [And] almest eriwhere ek may they stonde. [567 Ms. Almest eriwhere, B And almoost euery where.]

Tho that in hillis growe or placis colde Han litel mylk; for thy they may not dure Til hit be hoot. And best her vse is holde [ 570] As they beth grene and grete, of sauour pure, Argute ynough. But fatter figge and sure To kepe, in hoot lond and in feeld is spronge. Their kyndis to reherce hit is to longe;

Sufficith this, that alle haue oon culture. [ 575] And as the Carike [careo (sic).] hath, yef hem distaunce. In places passyng cold, hit is most sure Precox to plaunte; her fruyt they sone enhaunce,

Er shoures come. Eke hit wole most auaunce, In londis that beth estiuous for hete, [ 580] The figtre latly ripyng forto gete.

Hit ioieth doluen ofte, and hit to donge In heruest is auail; donge of the mewe [auiario.] Is best for hem. The roted & mys spronge Let kitte hem of, and so that they may sewe [ 585] Abrood by grounde. Her taste is ek eschewe In placis weet; and hem therof to boote, Kest askis on their circumcised roote. [588 kest] line of red through est.]

Summen ek sette amonge hem caprifige [caprifici.] [fol. 76a.] Tre, that hit nede not for remedie [ 590] To honge on euery tre that trees fige. In Iuyn as sonne is hext, to caprifie The fig tre is; that is to signyfie, The figes [grossos.] grene of caprifigtre, rende [pertusos.] With tre maad like a sawe [serie (sic).] , on hem suspende. [ 595]

For laak of that, a yerde of southernwode [abrotani.] Let honge vp that. Or thus: take rammys hornys [arietina cornua.] Kest hem aboute her rootes, they beth goode; Or callum that in elmys leuys born is, Their aboundaunce, as good as rammys horn is. [ 600] Or thus: the turgent trunk let scarifie, That humour effluent out of hit hie.

To maak hem saaf from wormys, sette a bough Of terebynt other a birchen stalke; [taleam.] Do that wit figtre plauntis in the slough [ 605] Enuerse, and wormys in hem wol not walke. Or brasen scrapis out of euery dalke Hem scrape. Oildreggis oon, and olde vryne Another, to their rootis wol reclyne.

Oon vseth cley, [bitumine.] another oil, and he [tercius.] [ 610] With quyk lyme wole her dennes ha fordo. Yf auntys [formice.] vnto hem ennoyous be, Rubrike with picche and butter must be do The trunk aboute, and vtter wol they go. Picche corotyne [picem coratinam.] vphanged in the tre [ 615] ffor auntys, seith another, he wol se.

Yf figtre caste his fruyt, oildregges on, [fol. 77.] Rubrike another water mixt wol do Vppon the tre; the thridde is forth ygoon, The flood crabbe and a braunche of rue also [ 620] Vp hongeth he; sefroth [algam.] the ferthe is go To honge vp, and the fifthe he seith a sithe [falx.] Maad for lupyne is [vp] to honge asswithe. [623 Ms. omits vp, B upp.]

Another seith the rootis shal be bored, A wegge in euery boore ek shal he steke. [ 625] The rynde another hath with axis scored. But when the leuys gynneth out to breke, Of figes fatte and fele hit is to speke: Right as they first bigynne in germynynge. Their hiest top choppe of for ony thynge: [ 630]

Or choppe of that amydward in the tre. And premature yf that the list enlonge Their grossis, whenne as grete as benys be So tacke hem of. Ek yf thee thynke hem longe Vnripe, in oil & Iuce of scalons longe [ 635] With pepur mixt, ennoynte her pomys, whenne Their grossis rody wexing me may kenne.

And in Aprile a figtre graffed is Vnder the rynde. And yf the tre be yonge, [novelle.] The clouen stook to graffe is not amys. [ 640]

And wrie hem fest, lest wynd therynto yonge [intereat.] . Ek next the grounde ykitt wol sonnest fonge. [comprehendere.] Men graffe in luyn: oon yeer olde graffe is take, And more or lesse as nought is to forsake.

And in April figtreen inoculate [fol. 77a.] [ 645] May best be ther as drie londis be, And ek in Iuyl ther lond is mediate. At October in luke [tepia.] lond plecheth [propagat.] he. In caprifige and in molbery tre ffigtre men graffeth for to multiplie; [ 650] And oon wole vse a graffe, another the eye. [oculo.]

Ek figges grene in hony may me kepe So they ne touche. Outher in gourdis grene Make euery fige a douer [caueam.] in to crepe, And that was cutte of, close hit after clene. [ 655] And honge hem ther no fir ne smoke is sene. A fresh pot oon hem seured picchith yne, And doth this pot swymme in a tonne of wyne.

And Marcial seith men in dyuers wise Her figis kepe, and, oon for euerychone, [ 660] As Campanie hem kepeth shal suffise: On fleykis breede & drie hem is to done And, yet alsoft, in basketis [qualis.] repone; And [in] an ouen hoot, vppon iij stonys [664 Ms. And an, B And in an.] ffor brennyng hit, this figgy basket done is. [ 665] Whan they beth bake, al hoot into a stene [666 Ms. blake, B bake (Latin discocta).] Let hem be pressed, picchid, and ywrie, Their leuys done the pot & hem bitwene. ffor rayn, in sonne yf thou ne mayst hem drie, Hote askis may this fleykis vnder strie [ 670] In house in stede of sonne; and, dried so, In chistis [cistellis.] smale or coffynys hem do.

Of figtre toppis, plauntis now they make, [fol. 78.] And dyuers fruyt oon figtre forth to bringe; [674 Ms. fruytis, B fruite. Ms. they bringe, B to brynge.] Too bowes, oon blaak & oon whyt, they take [ 675] And bynde, and wethe [torquent.] hem so that germynynge Commixt vp go; thus sette hem forto springe In moist, ydonged lond annexed so [678 Ms. most, B moist.] That theyen [oculi.] germynaunt togidre go.

They oned [adunati.] thus, fruyt of dyuers colour [ 680] Vpbrynge in this dyuysed vnyte. This peres graffe & pomes swete or sour, As serve & quyns, [cidonium (sic).] plomme & molbery tre. The ix^th Kalende of April doon this be. Pistacia is graffed now to growe [ 685] In cold lond, and pynappul seed [semen pini.] is sow.

De comparandis bobus, comparandis tauris & vaccis. xi ca ^m.

And tyme is now thyn oxon to be bought. And be they bought or of thi propurte, Hem now to greithe is good, for ought or nought. Now be they lene, & shewith as they be, [ 690] And light to tame her contumacite. [691 Ms. tametheir with stroke above and below between e and t, B tame her.] Ther are in hem certeyn signys spectable Which is teschewe, and whiche is profitable.

Take oxon yonge, ylymed grete and square, Ychisted sadde, in brawnes risyng grete, [ 695] Whos frounte is crispe and glaad, large eres are, Their lippes and their eyen blaak as gete [gagate.] ; With hornys strong & straugh is good to gete, Compact a runcul [torora (sic).] nek, dewlapped side [699 Ms. dewallaped, B dewlapped.] Vnto the kne, and nosed vpward wide. [ 700]

Yshildred wide is good, an huge breste, [fol. 78a.] No litel wombe, and wel out raught the side; [lade (for latere?).] The leendis [lumbis.] brood, playn baak & streght is beste; The thies sadde and senowy [neruosi.] , not to side, [longi.] With grete cleen, [vngulis.] and taylis longe and wide, [ 705] The body thorgh yhered thicke and breef; The reed colour is best and broun is leef.

Bette is to take of contre then of straunge, Ther as with soil or ayeris qualite They be not temptid as to fynde hit chaunge. [ 710] Or thus taak hem that of like contre be. And of alle other this is forto se That euen strengthed thou to gidre dresse, The feebeller lest that the stronge oppresse.

Their thewis is to se that they be meke, [ 715] Quyk, and aferd of clamour and of gode, [stimuli.] And euer appetent metes to seke. The fodder grene is best as for their foode; ffor fawte of that, gete other thingis goode; And fodder hem as thay beth setto on werke. [ 720] ffor bolis ek now tyme is forto karke.

Take bolis that beth high, ylymed huge, Of myddil age, and rather yonge then olde; A ferdful face, his necke in many a ruge [toris.] Yfretted grete, and litel hornes wolde [ 725] He haue; ywombed streyt is likly holde. The kiyn also this tyme hit is to trie; Do chese hem that be chested huge & hie,

Forheded hie and wombed longe and wide, [729 Ms. wombe, B wombed.] [fol. 79.] Blak hornys feire and eyen grete and blake, [ 730]

Wel hered eris and dewlappis side, With tailis grete, and litel cleen [ungulis.] thou take. Blak hered theyes short, y undirtake That good ar they. Caluyng from iij yeer olde Til x is best, and other with not holde. [ 735]

Thyn olde away to do be diligent, To werk or what thou wilt, & taak in yonge. The Grekis seyn that the lift [sinistrum.] instrument, The lift stoon, of this bolis beestis [stronge], [739 Ms. omits stronge, B stronge.] Knytte hym fast in his porce & let hym honge [ 740] In coitu, and he shal gendre malis; And his right stoon vp knytt gendrith femalis.

But in this caas they musten ben abstened ffrom generacionis liberte, Til they therto be verry hoot for tened. [ 745] And ha thy droue [armentum.] in wynter nygh the see, In places glade; in hillis may hit be In somer, namly ther as busshis growe And herbes for their fosteryng ynowe. [749 Ms. fostryng enough, B fosteryng ynowe.]

Though they be better fed aboute flood, [ 750] Yet luke water best helpith their feture. [caluyng.] [751 Ms. kepith, B helpeth.] Rayn watir luke in lakis, that is good ffor hem; flood watir cold is in nature. This droues may the wynter colde endure Theroute [sub diuo.] al wyntir thorgh, yf hit be nede; [ 755] [755 Ms. Throute, B Theroute.] But for thy kiyn [vaccis.] in calf hit is to drede. [fol. 79a.]

Lest they ha wrong let make hem closes wide. Their stallis ek beth of vtilite With stonys paued wel from side to side,

Or grauelled; ek flored may they be [ 760] With cley, and lenyng sumdel so that the Humour may passe. Ek southward stonde hit; colde Blastis, sumthing obiect, ek from hem holde.

De bobus domandis. xij capitulum.

Oxon [boues.] may now be tamed thre yeer olde; [764 Ms. eer, B yeer.] That at v yeris age is hard to do. [ 765] Their tamyng is by the hed hem to holde [766 Erasure of a letter after the.] Whil they beth yonge, & stroke hem to and to [767 Ms. yoke partly covered by a blot, B yonge.] With hond; and make afore her stallis so [768 Gloss over make illegible on account of blot.] Enlarged rowme, outward whan they beth wende That no thyng hem afere, or ought offende. [ 770]

And footes vij longe their stakis stonde To teye hem to. But fully hem to tame Chese out the feirest day that may be fonde, Ther no tempest or thyng is worthy blame; Now bringe hem oon and oon to yok by name, [ 775] And yf they be rebel, so let hem stonde ffastyng oon day and nyght in yokis bonde.

Now glose hem feire, & brynge hem, not bihynde But right afore, of metis sum likynge, And stroke hem nose and bak. Ek thenne is kynde [ 780] Cleer wyn [merum.] on hem al esily to sprynge. But war the horn and heelis lest they flinge [782 flynge] in hand A.] A flappe to thee. At this yf they bigynne, And take effect, therfro they wole not twynne.

Thus tamed, her palate and mouthis frote [ 785] [fol. 80.] With saltis, [salibus.] and salt grees pound pecis [offas.] take, And iij of hem putte in thyn oxen throte. A sester wyne in with an horn let shake, [788 Right margin: Sextarius vini continet duas libras.]

In dayes thre their ragyng wol aslake. And other tempte hem first on werkis smale, [ 790] In ered lond the plough as forto hale.

A shorter way: the wilde oxe with the tame Yyoked be to teche hym how to do; And in the forgh doun yf he sitte as lame, No fier, no strok, no prickyng come hym to, [ 795] [795 come] blot covers co, B come.] But bynde his feet that he ner stonde ner go. This doon, he wole for hunger & for drie Go from this vice, and vse [hit] not past twye. [798 Ms. omits hit, B it.]

De equis, equabus & pullis & etate eorum. xiij ca ^m.

Fed stalons [emissarij.] faat goth now to gentyl maris, And they replete, ayeyn goth they to stabul. [ 800] Oon horses wit for ouer fele ek bare is; Let euery stolon haue as he is abul, So may they longe endure and profitabul. A yong & lusty hors yf hit shal thrive, May ha but twies vj or thries v; [ 805]

Yef other like her strengthes qualite. But thingis iiij in hem is to biholde: ffourme and colour, merite and beaute. ffirst fourme hym thus: gret rowme his body holde And sad, for lakke of strengthe vnlike to folde; [ 810] Her sidis longe, her altitude abounde, And buttokes haue they right grete & rounde.

Ybrestid brode, and al the body lift [fol. 80a.] In brawnys grete and knotty densite, With holgh horn high yshood, saad foot & swift. [ 815] Now haue an eye aboute on their beaute— The parties beth these in that to se: A litel dried hed; vppon the bonys Is best if that the skyn wel streyt ydone is.

Their eres short [breuis.] & sharp, [argute.] their eyen stepe [magni.] , [ 820]

Their nasis thorlid [nares.] wide and patent be, Their tail and mane [sesaries (caesaries).] enlargid wide and depe, Their houf [ungula.] al sad fixe in rotundite. Colouris now to knowe attendith ye: The bay is good colour; & broun [mirreus.] purpure; [ 825] [825 Left margin: mirreus est pressns cum purpura. Ms. perny, B permixt.] The liard & the white [albus.] , and broun [pressus.] is sure.

The walnyed [glaucus.] is good, also the blake Is fyn colour, the falow and herthued [ceruinus.] ; The pomly gray [scutulatus.] for hym y vndirtake, The gray [russeus.] , the goldenhered, [aureus.] & the scued. [guttatus.] [ 830] And next hem in merit is dyuers hued: Black bay, & permixt gray, mousdon [murinus.] also, The fomy, spotty hu, and many mo.

But stalons best beth clere in oon coloured, Alle other left, but yf the magnytude [ 835] Of their merite hem that beth discoloured Excuse, and in a maner so exclude. Thi maris take of like similitude; But rathest be their bulk & wombes large; This craft in gentyl haras is to charge. [ 840]

Alle other marys may be with their males [fol. 81.] Al yeer at large; and this is their nature, That monthis twelue in fole euery female is. Another thing in stalons [omissariis (sic).] is to cure, That they be sette a sonder for lesure [ 845] When they beth wode; and do this maner drouys In somer ther is colde and thicke of grouys.

In wynter ther is fattest and plesaunt, And sumdel hard, to sette at firmyte

Their hornys [vngulas,] on their feet—this let hem haunt. [ 850] Impacient yf that femalis be And wol no male, her naturalite With stamped swille embawme other ennoynt, And they wole sone enabul in that ioynt.

Fro colde and honger holde hem that beth grete [ 855] In fole, and yef hem place at their pleasaunce. And gentil femalis that malis gete, Vche other yeer be kept fro fecundaunce, That they may mylke her folis aboundaunce; [859 may added above in same hand.] So shal they be the bigger, huge and pure. [ 860] Alle other take as comth of hem no cure.

A stalon may bigynne at yeris v, And his female at yeris ij conceyueth; But after yeris x their coltis blyue Shal neuer go, the priker they disceyueth. [ 865] ffolis with hond to touche a corser weyueth; Hit hurtith hem to hondel or to holde. Defende hem eke as resoun wol from colde.

In folis as they are adolescentis, [fol. 81a.] Yf they be goode as myche is forto se [ 870] As is biforn wel seid of their parentis; Quyk, swift and stiryng with hillarite. Now folis too yeer old may tamed be: Take brawny bodied, huge, argute & longe, Smale ballockyng, and euere short vphonge; [ 875]

In other thyng taak hem their fadir like, So thewed that from high quyete & reste, [requie.] Anoon they may be stered forto prike; And fastest priked, turnyng at the beste, Now hard be hit not eft to make hym reste. [requiescere.] [ 880] Their myddel teeth aboue at too yeer age They cause, at yeeris iiij another gage;

Er yeeris sixe out goth the gomes stronge; The caused first at yeeris sixe are euen [equantur.] ; At vij yeer are alle ylike longe, [ 885] The markis of their age ar lost at seuen. Their browis hore, her templis holgh vneuen [inequantur.] , The teeth out seeth. Now alle fourfoted beestis, And namly hors, to gelde yholden best is.

De mulino genere & asinis. xiiij capitulum.

This mulis forto make who so delyte, [ 890] A mare yboned sadde, ybulked grete, Yfourmed nobully, most ben elite; And though she be not swift, a stronge oon gete Of yeeris foure vnto this werk to trete. Til yeeris x she for this admissure [ 895] Is good, but this mot haue a bisy cure.

The mare yf thasse eschewe, on his female [fol. 82.] [In hand D.] As tempte hym first, and whanne he gynneth ride, His wyf is out, this mare is into hale; Whil he doth oon, that other hold aside, [ 900] ffor furious in lust he wole abide And do, but yf he bite hir in his rage, [902 Ms. omits hir, B bite hir.] Let labouryng his melancoly swage.

A male ek of an hors and of an asse Is had, and of a wilde asse [onagro.] and a mare. [ 905] But gentiler in kynde neuer nasse Than of the mare and asse yfourmed are. Of asses [onagros.] wilde and mares better nare Ther no stalouns, of whom the geniture ffor to be stronge and swift me may assure. [ 910]

A staloun asse ybolked, brawny [musculosus.] , sadde

And large ylimed, stronge & steyth, al blaak Or moushered or reed is to been hadde— [913 Ms. it, B is.] But choys yf that ther be, moushered taak. And discolour in browes hath a laak, [ 915] And eres ek; but what? That their ospringe [sobolem.] Of variaunt coloures forth they bringe.

Thre yeres age is leest, and x is meest. And from hir damme a she asse [asina.] oon yer olde [919 yer] erasure of e after r.] Do putte in sharp pastures that the beest [ 920] In tender age on labour gynne bolde. The male aselle in feeldes forto holde Hit needful is, for he to diligent [923 Ms. ffor.] Labour wole take and ek be negligent. [fol. 82a.]

De apium infirmitatibus et curacione. xv ca ^m.

The bee [apes.] this Marche is wont to be ful sike, [ 925] That after wynter cold and abstynent On titymalle and elmes gynneth pike That bitter be, wherof anoon relent Ther wombes are; and soone be they shent, But yf me helpe anoon with medicine. [ 930] Now rewe on hem and helpe hem out of pyne.

Wyne Amynee with pomgarnates [mali garnati.] grayn, Or reyson graynes with dew Siriake [rore siriaco.] And myghty wyne—al this ygrounden playn And boyled in sharp wyne is forto take, [ 935] And into litel treen trowes shake. Or rosmaryn [rorem marinum.] in meth [mulsa.] decoct, congele, And yef hit hem in gutters, [imbricibus.] hem to hele.

And clorded [contracte.] yf their backes be, silent And slough, a thing horribul to biholde, [ 940] And corces dede out beryng diligent,

Chaneles [canales.] is to make of cannes [cannis.] olde That vche of hem a quantite may holde; Putte hony into hem and pouder galle, Or pouder rose, and hit wole hele hem alle. [ 945]

Moost spedy is the roten combes kerue Away, and if the swarme is but of fewe, Ther empty combes of the same serue. But taak the kennest knyf of al the rewe To do this softly with, lest al remewe, [ 950] And they seynge her dwellyng so forfare, Go fle away with gret compleyn and care. [952 B compleynt, cf. note.]

Ek ofte ennoyeth hem felicite, [fol. 83.] As floures ouer fele of whom they trie So faste hony, that on fecundite [ 955] They thenketh not ner how to multiplie, But doth hemself trauail vntil they die. ffor thy yf combes ronke of hony wepe, [vel drepe.] Thre dayes stopped vp at home hem kepe.

Thus stopped vp, to generacioun [ 960] And bringing babes forth they wole attende. Their dwelling places expurgacion [962 expurgacion] r added above in same hand.] Of euery filthe, about April Kalende, Wole haue of right ther wynter hath hit shende. Now pike out moughthes, [tineas.] attercoppes, [araneas.] wormes, [vermiculos.] [ 965] And butterflie [papiliones.] whos thost engendring worm is.

Smoke of ensense effuse in drie ox donge Do vnder hem to hele hem and socoure. Til heruest do this ofte yf hit be longe. Al sobour, chaste, vneten metes soure, [ 970] ffrom bathes aliene, vnclene odoure

And sauces alle and metes salt, auyse Thee wel to been [esse.] in doing been [apibus.] seruyse.

[With Octobre Marche houres feet beth euen. The first hath xxv feet; xv [ 975] [975 The "De horis" stanza is omitted; space has been left for it and the letter D in right margin marks its place. The stanza is here supplied from B.] ffeet hath the secounde houre, the thridde xj; The fourthe hath viij, and v vp six sustene, And six hath v. In vj, vij demene, And so goo forth. X hath feet thries v, Xj goth with xxv blyve.] [ 980]

Now Marche is doon, and to correctioun [fol. 83a.] His book is goon, as other dede afore, Of hym that seid "y thy protectioun ffrom al thy foon aduersaunt, lesse & more," And his bihest stedfest is euermore. [ 985] Honour, empire, and iubilatioun To Iesu Crist in special therfore— My Lif! my Light! my right Sauacioun!

Ayeyn to werk am y sette, and y haste. "Com of, let se who be the sharpe penne, [ 990] The tyme is riche and synne is hit to waste" Euery moment seith, "Ris, y go, com thenne [inde.] To iugement". O what may y sey thenne, [tune.] That mony an hour ha spende and not al wel? But mercy, God! Now husht of this, for renne [ 995] [995 Ms. ffor.] I must, and heer bigynne At Auerel.

V. APRILE.

De medica serenda & disciplina eius. Primum ca ^m. [fol. 84.]

At Auerel medike [medica.] is forto sowe [1 Initial embraces] In beddes fourmed as is taught biforn, That ones sowen, yeres x wole growe. And yerly iiij or tymes sixe yshorn, Hit dongeth londes lene, & beestes lorn [ 5] [5 verses.] ffor lene hit fedeth vp, and seeke ariseth. Thre hors a yer an aker wel suffiseth.

A cruse [ciatus.] is for a bed ynough to take Of footes v in brede & doubil longe. And wrie hem quycly with a treen rake, [ 10] [10 a] like a in yealde III 891.] Lest that the sonne vpbrenne or do hem wronge. ffrom thennes do noon yron hem amonge, But oonly tre. And good is wede hem ofte, Lest wedes ille oppresse hem yonge and softe.

First repe hit laat, that seedes sumdell shake, [ 15] And after repe hit as thee thenketh good; And fodder for thi beestes therof make ffirst scant; [parce.] hit swelleth and encreseth blood. And watter wel the lond ther as hit stood.

Six sithe ayer repe hit, as ofte hit wede, [ 20] [20 six] final e erased.] And yeres x ther is of hit no drede.

De serenda olea, de vineis & cetera. Secundum capitulum.

Olyue is graffed now in temper lond, [23 Right margin: 38; b, c, d.] As is biforn ytaught, vnder the rynde, In wilde olyue [oliastro.] olyues forto stonde So that, though they be brende, out of their kynde [ 25] They chaunge not. This craft be not bihynde: Make delues, sette in hem thi wilde olyue, [oliastrum.] And fille hem vp half ful vntil thei thriue.

This wilde olive ytaken, graffre hym lowe, [fol. 84a.] And as the graffe vpspryngyng gynneth renne, [ 30] The molde aboute his stokke & hym vpgrowe Wel vp ouer the graffryng stede; & thenne, Though fier be sette on hit, hit shal not brenne, His commissure in erthe hit stont so depe, And out of hit olive agayn wol crepe. [ 35] [35 wol] final e erased.]

Olyues summe in rootes graffe, and rende Hem after out with parcel of the roote, [radicis.] (But first this graffes wel most comprehende) And sette hem forth as plauntes forto roote. [radicare.] ffrom the viij Kalende of Aprile hit is boote, [ 40] As Grekes seyn, til Iules thridde None To graffe in hoot lond late, in cold lond sone.

Er then this mones Ide in places colde Beth vynes dolue, and hem that Marche hath lefte [dimisit.] Vnset, lete sette hem now. Now weded wolde [ 45] Thy semynaires be and doluen efte. Panyk [panicum.] and milde [milium.] in comyn drie is lefte [acceptum.] To sowe; and ere vp feeldes fatte and wete, And wedes tender yette out of hem gete.

De diuersis herbis in orto. iij capitulum.

Last in this mone, as veer is nygh at eende, [ 50] Brasike, that wortes serueth, is to sowe, ffor tyme is past a croppe [quima s. cima.] on hit tascende. Ek ache in euery maner lond is throwe, So hit be weet. In drie ek wole hit growe If nede be. And nygh in all the mones, [ 55] ffro prime veer til heruest last, this doon is.

As of this aches [apii.] ther be kyndes thre: [57 Initial omitted.] [fol. 85.] The soure and stordy yposelinon, This is the first; the softe yfoiled be Secounde, yclept elioselinon, [ 60] In lakes spronge; and petroselinon, In places hard vpspryngyng. Diligent Men tile and haue al thre to their entent.

The gretter ache [maiorem apium.] is maad thus: fyngres thre fful of that seed do in a lynnen thynne [ 65] Cloth; in a litel delf so sette hit be. The growyng [of hem] into oon heed wole wynne, [67 Ms. omits of hem, B of hem.] And so be greet, asonder not to twynne. They wol be crispe, her seed yf that me crese, Or with a rolle or feet hem sprongon brese. [ 70]

Ek tholder seed, the sonner is hit spronge; The yonger dwelleth longer. Now arage [atriplex.] Is sowe and so forth al the somer longe, Til heruest come in with his gretter wage. But yef hym drinke ynough in youth & age, [ 75] ffor humour dronkon, rathest vp goth he; And sowen, hidde anoon he praieth be.

From hym the wedes plucke. Vnnecessaire [78 Mss. vnnecessari.] Is hym to plaunte yf he be wel ysowe.

Yet better wol he springe & hier caire, [ 80] Wel rare yf he be plaunted forto growe; Ek Iuce [succum.] of donge & humour on hem throwe. With yron hym to croppe is his encrece; So cropped, forto springe he wol not cece.

Basilicon [ozimum (ocimum ?).] is sowen in this mone, [fol. 85a.] [ 85] And theruppon [y]sowen yf me shal [86 Ms. sowen, B ysowen.] Hoot water sprynge, vpgoth hit wonder sone. Ek meruel thing affermeth Marcyal Therof, that purpur now the flour is al, Now is hit whit, now rose—this is straunge. [ 90] [90 rose and r in straunge added above in hand A.] Hit ofte ysowe ek maketh wonder chaunge;

To pelitur [seppillum (serpillum).] and to horsmyntes [sisimbrium.] ek Hit chaungeth ofte. Cucumber [cucumer.] now is sowe; Melones [melones.] , peletur [sepillum (sic).] , cappare [capparus.] , and leek. [porrum.] Colcasyes plauntes now beth sette to growe; [ 95] Now coriander, letus, [lactuca.] betes, throwe In molde; oynouns, myntes, goordes, & goldys [intebe (intybae).] [97 Left margin: de prima sacione intebe habetur 57, a.] Now secoundly to sowe or keste in molde is.

De zizipho & alijs pomis & eius pomis. iiij ca ^m.

Now ziziphus is sette in feruent londe, [99 feruent londe] in hand A over erasure.] At May or Iuyn in londes that ben colde; [ 100] Ther glad and warme is loueth he to stonde. [101 Ms. loketh, B loueth (Lat. amat).] To sette or stook, or plaunte, or boon, is holde Right good. Softe erthe in Marche the plauntes wolde [103 Ms. &, B in.] Stonde in. Thre bones in thin hondes brede Inuerse into the delf, is doun to lede. [ 105]

Do aske and donge on hem aboue and vnder, And breke away the wedes with thin honde.

And thombe [pollicis.] gret in pastyn hem asonder, Or into delf. They axe not to faat londe, So that by faat & not by lene hit stonde. [ 110] In wynter to his codde [codici.] an heep of stonys Is good, that in the somer vtter don is.

Yf this tre lowre, [tristis sit.] an horscomb [strigilus.] wol hym chere: [fol. 86.] Or lite & ofte embaume his roote oxdonge. In places drie her fruytes ripe al yere [ 115] [115 Ms. plates. In right margin:—120 60, e, f.] Is kept in cleyed erthen pottes longe. No ruge [rugam.] on hem, puld newe, old wyne yspronge Wol suffre be. Ek honged with their bough, Or in their leues fold, is good ynough.

This mone also, by rather lerned reson, [ 120] To sette and graffe in places temporate Pomgarnat is. And peches [perficus (sic).] han their seson At May Kalendes hem tenoculate, [inoculare.] Right as we seide of figges emplastrate. [124 65, e.] Ek citurtre [citrus.] this mone in places colde [ 125] Is forto graffe, as is biforn ytolde [126 65, c, d.]

In cold lond now the figtre plaunte is sette, [plantata.] [127 63, e, f, g, h.] And graffed in the stook or in the rynde, [128 65, d.] As discipline of hem byforn is sette; [posita.] And hem tenoculer ek haue in mynde. [ 130] [130 6[5], e.] Now cefalon, the palmes plaunte, is kynde In glaad to sette & hoot. Now graffyng serve [sorbi.] In quince, [cidonio (sic).] in whit thorn, in hym silf wol serue. [seruire.]

De oleo violacio et vino. v capitulum.

Oiluyolet to make attende: of oil As many pound, as many vnces take [ 135]

Of violet, not but oonly the foil, And xl daies stonding throute [sub diuo.] hit make. To x sester old wyn, v pound inslake Of violet vndewy; [sine rore.] and x pounde Hony the xxx^th day is forto enfounde. [ 140]

De vitulis nutriendis, tonsuris, & signaturis. vj ca ^m. [fol. 86a.]

Now calues to be calued is the gise. But yef hem mete ynough that were with childe, That they to mylk and labour may suffice; And yef their children tosted grounden mylde [milio.] Commixt with mylk. Now sheep shere [tonde.] in ayer mylde. [s. calide.] [ 145] Laat [serotinos.] lamber [agnos.] marke hem now. Now first tuppyng [admissura.] Be maad, lambron to ripe er wynter sprynge.

De apibus inuestigandis & aluearijs purgandis. vij ca ^m.

This mone in places apte is been to seche. Place apte is ther swete herbes multiplie And bees the welles haunte, & water cleche; [ 150] Vtilite is there to mellifie. But wher the swarmes dwelle, is craft tespie. And first yf they be dwellyng fer or nygh, Se heer the craft, and truly hit is sligh.

Taak rubryk [vel radul id est rubricam.] poured in sum litel shelle, [ 155] And therwithal the baak of euery bee [apis.] A pensel touche as they drynke at the welle, And note hem after whiderward they fle. Then by their yeynturnyng a mon may se How fer or nygh they be. And to the nygh [ 160] To come is light, but to the fer be slygh.

Kitte out a ioynt of reed, and in the side Therof let make an hole, and theryn do Hony or swete wyn sumdel; biside

The well or water that the been gooth to, [ 165] [165 Ms. they, B the.] Let hem goon in as fele as wol in go, And after hem the hole yclosed be; And first let oon of hem out of hit flee,

And folow fast, for thiderward they dwelle [fol. 87.] Straught wol they fle. And whan thou may not se [ 170] No lenger hir, another forth to telle Let go, for thiderward ek wol she fle; But sewe vppon. Do thus fro bee to bee, Thus wole they lede oon to their dwellyng place. But in the mornyng gynne hem thus to trace, [ 175]

That al the day vnto thy sewt suffise, ffor toward nyght in restyng they assure. [177 Ms. nygh, B nyght.] Or thus: a thing with hony thou deuyse To sette as by the welle of their pasture. When oon hath tasted hit, anoon his cure [ 180] Doth he to brynge his brethren to that feeste, And that they haunte anoon the meest & leeste.

Now se the cours how they go to & fro, And sewe hem hoom. Yf they hen in a kave, Bismoke hem, out of hit anoon they go. [ 185] Then make a sowne [sonitum.] on bras, & thou shalt haue Hem lightyng in sum bush or tre; now shaue Hem into an hyue. If they be in a tre, Ther hous ouer and vnder sawed be.

Vpwrappe hem clene & sette hem with thin hiues. [ 190] To frote [perfricare.] her houses wel with citriage [citriagine.] And herbes swete, is plesaunt to their lyues. If this be doon while veer is yong of age, The welles nygh, of vnfeyned curage

Of been therto wole come a multitude. [ 195] Now war that theues nought thi craft delude. [196 Ms. delute, B delude.]

Now purge her hyues, sle the butterflie [papiliones.] [fol. 87a.] [197 Ms. their, B her.] That in the malwes flouring wol abounde. A brasen vessel streyte with brinkes hie, A light at nyght make stondyng in the grounde: [ 200] The butterflies wole this light enrounde And brenne hemself; thus may me hem destroye [202 Ms. destoye, o added above in same hand, B destroye.] Vchone anoon. that thinges fele ennoye.

De horis. Octauum capitulum.

Avrel with September in houris oon is: [204 Rubric and "De Horis" stanza. as well as epilogue, in hand A.] Oon, twyis twelue, and tweyne hath twyis vij: [ 205] Thre, twyis v, and iiij hath vij onys, And v hath v, and vj hath iij foote euen. Now vij, viij, and ix & x, xi, [208 Ms. xij, B xi.] With v and iiij & iij, and ij & I Beth hour for hour & foot for foot to goon. [ 210]

And heer an ende, er then y wende, y fynde: Eek done is in this mone art taught aforn. O Saluatour! o Iesse fflour so kynde, Of oon for euerychoon that list be born. And for vs hynge, a crowne vsynge of thorn! [ 215] Honour be to The, fflour of flouris! Ay Thy princis werk away fro derk vpborn So make, as heer y take ayeyn At May.

VI. MAY.

De panico & milio & feno recidendo. Primum ca ^m. [fol. 88.]

At May in placis that ben colde & wete, [1 Initial embraces 5 verses.] Panyk & mylde in their maner is sowe. [2 In right margin: 54; h.] Now euery grayne almeest hath floures swete: Vntouched now the tilman let hem growe. Barly & whete & sengul seedes owe [ 5] Viij dayes floure & xl dayes grete [grandescere.] Withouten flour, ripnesse [maturitate.] vntil they gete.

Al doubil seed, as benes [fabe.] , peses [pisa.] be, And other puls [ligumina (sic).] , a xl dayes floure, And greteth with. In places nygh the see, [ 10] In places drie & colde, now tyme and houre Is hey to mowe. And yf the rayn bishoure, Wende hit not til hit be parfit drie. Now to the vyne is efte to haue an eye.

De nouelle sarmentis reliquendis. ij ca ^m.

Consider now sarmentes [scions.] tender, yonge, [ 15] And leue a fewe of hem that saddest be, And holde her armes vp til they be stronge. A yong vyne hath ynowe on ij or iij

Armes; and swethed hem to geder se, Lest wyndes rude hem breke & ouerthrowe, [ 20] And no mater be lefte on hem to growe.

This mone is ek for pampinacioun Conuenient—void leves puld to be; But sette vppon this occupacioun Whil that me may with no difficulte [ 25] With fyngres lightly twyk hem from the tre. This craft wol fede vp grapes fatte & grete And Phebus wol go ripe hem with his hete.

De proscindendis et aperiendis nouis agris. iij ca ^m. [fol. 88a.]

Now feeldes fatte in herbes ouergrowe Is good to plowe, and leyes vp to breke. [ 30] Se whether drie or weet, or playn or rowe Hit be, or ful of bosh or stones steke. Let diche hit deep that humour out may leke, If hit be weet. A comyn diche in kynde To make is lighter then the diches blynde. [ 35]

A forgh [sulcum.] iij footes deep thy londes thorgh, With grauel or with litel pibbul stonys Vnto the mydward fild ayeyn this forgh, And euen therthe aboue ascaunz her noon is, And thus do efte as ofte as good to doon is. [ 40] But hede hit that the hedes of hem alle, Into sum gret diche picchelonges falle;

Thumour [humor.] shal passe and thus thi lond be saued. [43 Ms. T. thus shal, B omits thus. ‖ Ms. and lond, B and thus thi lande.] And stones yf thee lacketh, this is boote: Sarment, or stre, or loppe in hit be graued. [ 45] If ther be treen, vpstocke hem by the roote; Her oon, ther oon, to leue afer remote I holde hit good. If hit be ful of stonys, ffor closure of thy feeld, better stuf noon is.

Haue up this stones; storne vnto the wallis, [ 50] They may thy feeld vnkomber & defende. If risshes, gresse, or fern inwith this wal is, With eryng ofte her lyues wol be spende. Lupyne or benes sowen ofte, anende Of hem wol make, yf euer as they springe [ 55] [55 Ms. euery, B euer.] Her hedes with a sikel of thou flynge.

De ablaqueatis arboribus occandis et cetera. iiij ca ^m.

Now vyne and tre that were ablaqueate, [fol. 89.] To couer hem hit is conuenient. Now as the treen beth cladde in her estate ffor gutteryng [ruderibus.] to hewe is and to hent. [ 60] A comyn busshel gret circumferent, Or litel lesse, oon of thi workers falle That kunyngest is of his felous alle.

The semynair is doluen in this mone Al bisily. In places ouer colde [ 65] And pluuyous, olyues is to done To kitte, and mosse [muscus.] awey be rased wolde. [67 awey] e altered from a.] The feeld ek now, ther as me sowe shulde Lupyn for dongyng lond, to plowe hit nede is. Now turne ayeyn to gardeyn sowyng seedys: [ 70] [70 seedys] d like a in ycalde III 891.]

De spacijs ortorum pastinandis & seminibus serendis. v ca ^m.

The spaces that in heruest sowe or sede Me wol, may best ha now their pastynynge. Now ache is sowe, and how, biforn take heede. [73 In right margin: 72. h.] Melouns & coriaunder sowen, sprynge. Of gourdes [cucurbite.] , tasyl [cardui.] , radish, now sowyng [ 75] Is good. Now rue is sette, and now transplaunte A leek, so drynk vpbolde hym forto avaunte.

De pomis florentibus et cetera. vj capitulum.

In places hoot now pomgarnates [mala punica.] floure [florere.] , That Marcial a meruayl doth of telle. [79 Right margin: The same afore: 60, d.] Into a potte of erthe enduce a floure [florem.] [ 80] Vppon his bough doun bounden ther to dwelle. To fillyng of this pott the fruyt wol swelle By heruest tyme; and than his magnitude By brekyng of this pot me may disclude.

In londes hoot the peches [persicus.] in this mone [fol. 89a.] [ 85] Emplastred are, and now in londes colde The citurtre [citrum.] to tile is good to done In diuers wise, as is tofore ytolde. [88 Left margin: 61, d & cetera, per tota.] Now zizifus & figtre forto holde, Men sette or graffe in colde or chillyng londe. [ 90] The palme ek now men setteth forth to stonde.

De castrandis vitulis & cetera. vij capitulum.

Now Mago seith is good castracioun [92 Mago] glossed pro nomen (for praenomen?) or perhaps pro nota.] Of litel veles [vitulorum.] whil their age is tender. fferul [ferulam.] to cleve an occupacioun Be first, and presse in hit their stones slender; [ 95] So wole they dwyne away that shulde engender. In veer and heruest ek spryngyng the mone, Is best, as seith this Mago, this to done.

Other with tynnen tonges [stagneis forcipibus.] take her strynges, ffirst bounden lest they nold not graunte hem leve [licenciam.] . [ 100] And feire of with a knyf they cutte her thinges [s. testiculos.] . But sumdel on the strynges heed they leue [dimittunt.] ; This stauncheth blood and al wol not bireue Her stordy myght. Her woundes let enlyne With aske of wyne, and with spume argentyne [spuma argenti.] . [ 105]

With abstynence of drynk and litel mete, After this feest, as fede hem daies thre Grene herbes; croppes swettest let hem ete, And bowes softe and toppe of tender tre [109 Ms. toppes, B toppe.] Bidewed or biwet whether hit be. [ 110] Tar mixt with aske and oil after iij dayes Ennoynte his wounde, & saaf thi beest for ay is.

Castracioun in better wise is founde [fol. 90.] In dayes late: as first a beest to bynde, And, bounden so, to holde hym fast to grounde, [ 115] And streyne in tre the witnes of his kynde, And with a brennyng ax away bihynde To hewe hem bothe. Or haue a thing therfore Maad like a swerd this folk away to score.

This yron maad, thi rewle of tre ley to [ 120] This thingis streit, and with this brennyng yre So smyte hem of, quycly that hit be do: So wol the wo be short of litel yre. Ek skyn and strynges seryng so tenfire Vpstauncheth blood, and closith so the wounde [ 125] That, saue a cicatrice, is nought yfounde.

De tonsuris ouium. viij capitulum.

Now sheep beth shorn in placis temporate. [ffor] sheep yshorn make vncture of lupynys. [128 Ms. omits for, B for. ‖ vncture] cture over erasure.] The Iuce of hit decoct le[y] first therate [129 Ms. le, B omits ley.] With dreggis bothe of oyie and aged wynys, [ 130] Of iche yliche; a thing for sheep this fyn is. Herwith ennoynte hem alle, and aftir thre Dayes let ouer wasshe hem in the see.

And yf the see be fer, licour of heuen With litil salt decoct, this beest ennoynte. [ 135] Out wasshe of hit, but do this long er euen,

And ouer yeer they wol been in good poynte Withouten scorf or scalle in cors or ioynte. Also they shal ha softe encrisped wolle And wondirly prolonged at the fulle. [ 140]

De casio faciendo. Nonum capitulum. [fol. 90a.]

Alfresh the mylk is crodded now to chese [caseum.] With crudde of kyde, or lambe, other of calf, Or flour of tasul [cardui.] wilde. Oon of hem chese [elige.] , Or that pellet [pelliculam.] that closith eueryhalf [vndique.] The chike or pyiounerawe, hool either half. [ 145] With figtre mylk [lacte ficulneo.] , fresh mylk also wol turne. Then wringe hit, presse hit, vndir poundes storne;

And, sumdel sadde, vpdo hit in a colde Place other derk; and aftir vnder presse Constreyne hit efte, and salt aboute hit folde: [ 150] So sadder yet, let saddest hit compresse. [151 let] added above in different (?) hand, B omits.] When hit is wel confourmed to sadnesse, On fleykes logge hem, vche oon so from other That nere a sistir touche nere a brother.

But ther the place is cloos, is hem tenclude, [ 155] And holde out wynde, although he rowne or crie: So wol their fatnesse and teneritude With hem be stille. And yf a chese is drie, Hit is a uice, and so is many an iye [159 Ms. auice, B avyce.] If hit see with—that comth yf sonnyng brendde, [ 160] Or mych of salt or lite of presse hit shende.

Another in fresh mylk to make of chese Pynuttis [nucleos pincos, wrongly placed over Another in 162.] grene ystamped wol be do; Another wol ha tyme a man to brese, [164 Ms. aman to presse, B a m. to brese.] And clensed often, Iuce of hit do to [ 165]

To turne hit with. To sauour so or so Hit may be maad with puttyng to pygment, Or pepur, or sum other condyment.

De examinibus apum augmentatis. x capitulum. [fol. 91.]

Of been the swarmys now bigynne encrese, [169 Ms. of b. now the s. bigynne, B of b. the s. nowe b.] Now in the honycombe is bred the bee, [ 170] The grete bridde—and kynges douteless [171 Ms. doutless, B doutelees.] Men sayn they been, but Grekis sayn they be Clept oestros—and good is hem to sle, ffor they the swarm vnrestith, so they crie. Now as is taught [yit] sle the buttirflye. [ 175] [175 Ms. omits yit, B yit slee. ‖ Right margin: 75, e]

De pauimentis in solarijs faciendis. xj ca ^m.

At Mayes eende a solar is to paue, And rather not, lest frostis hit enfeete. A double cours of boording first hit haue, Oon transuersal, another cours directe. With chaf or fern this boordis do be tecte, [ 180] And therupon do stonys hondful grete, And wel foottempred morter theron trete.

Then with a barre [vecte.] inbete hit, batte hit ofte, And playne hit rough; but er hit fully drie, Brik bipedal chaneled [canaculatum (canaliculatum).] bringe on lofte, [ 185] This floor that be suffising forto wrie. The chanels fynger gret thou most espie On eueryhalf this brik too feet of brede, That lyme and oil the ioynt to gidre lede.

This scyment, brik, stoon, cley, togeder drie [ 190] And knytte into oon, til [n]oon humour be thrynne. [191 noon] Ms. oon, B noon.] Now yote on that scyment clept testacye [testacium.] Six fynger thikke, and yerdis is no synne

To alto flappe hit with. Now brode & thynne Tilette [tesellas.] or tabulette [tabulas.] of marbul stoon [ 195] Empresse, and neuer shal this werk agoon. [196 Right margin: yperbole.]

De lateribus faciendis. Duodecimum capitulum. [fol. 91a.]

Now brik is maad of white erthe or rubrike Or cley [creta.] , for that is maad in somer heete [198 Ms. ffor.] To sone is drie, and forto chyne is like. Thus make hem: sifted [cribratum.] erthe and chaf [paleas.] to trete [ 200] And tempre longe, and, fourmed, sonne outswete Thumour; turne hem; too feet long euery brik Be and oon foote brood, iiij vnches thik.

De rosato. xiij ca ^m. De oleo liliacio. xiiij ca ^m.

In sestres sixe of oold wyn, purged rose, Thre dayes first, v pound is forto do; [ 205] The xxx^th day x pound hony dispose In hit, wel scomed [despumati.] first, and vse hit so. Take x pound oyl; x lilies therto Be do, and xl daies sette hit throute [sub diuo.] In glaas [vitro.] , & maad hit is, no lenger doute. [ 210]

De oleo roseo. xv ca ^m. De rodomelle. xvj ca ^m.

In euery pound of oil an vnce of rose Ypurged putte, and hange hit dayes seuen In sonne and mone, and after Oilderose [oleum roseum.] Me may baptize and name hit cording euen. [214 Ms. acording, B cording.] And xl dayes to biholde on heuen, [ 215] In Iuce of rose a sester that wel smelle, A pound hony, and name hit rodomelle.

De rosis viridibus seruandis. xvij ca ^m.

Take roses that bigynneth forto vnclose. [218 Rubric] Ms. seruendis, B servandis.] And cleue a reed that stont & growith grene; Do theym theryn and let hit on hem close; [ 220]

Thus til thee list, hem wol this reed sustene. Other condite hem kepe in pottes clene With pyk munyte & couching throute [sub diuo.] alway. August in houris cordyng is with May.

De horis Maij et Augusti. xviij capitulum. [fol. 92.]

Half pryme hath xxiij feet, and pryme [ 225] Hath xiiij, and half vndron hath but ix; [226 Lat. Hora II et X, pedes XIII.] High vndron vj, and iiij hath mydday tyme, And noon hath iij. Now Phebus wol declyne Tort Occident, and lenger lemys [vel lemys (? for bemys as in B).] shyne. [229 Left margin: sincopa.] Thyn afternoon to thy fornoon confourme [ 230] In feet from hour tyl hour, as is the fourme.

Deo gracias.

Lo May is ronne away in litil space— The tonge is short, and longe is his sentence. fforride y se my gide and hym y trace, As he as swyft to be yit y dispence. [ 235] O Sone o[f] God allone, o Sapience, [236 Ms. o, B of.] O Hope, of synys drope or fraude immuyn, Louynge y to The synge as my science Kan do, and forth y go to werk At Iuyn.

VII. IUYN.

De area ad trituram paranda. Primum capitulum.

At Iuyn a floor for thresshing thus thei make: [1 Initial embraces 5 verses.] They pare hit first, and lightly after gete Hit doluen smal; and chaf therto they take, Oildreggis [amurcam.] fresh thei tempur with & trete Hit euen playn abrood. This helpith whete [ 5] ffrom auntys [formicis.] & fro mys. [muribus.] Now pibbul stoonys They bete in and other that cordyng stoon ys,

And aftir suffre they the sonne hit drie. [fol. 92a.] And this is oon; another wey is fonde, As first the floor to clense and aftir strie [ 10] Hit al with weet; and so wel weet the londe, Do beestis smale in hit to stire and stonde, And make hem rowte abowte & trede & strayne Hit wel; and so to drie hit they complayne. [complanant.]

De messibus. Secundum capitulum.

Now gynneth barly repe [messis.] and is tanende [consummanda.] [ 15] Er theer [spica.] to breke and shede hit; for as whete [16 Ms. ffor.] Hit is not clad ner cloked side and eende. [17 Ms. croked, B cloked.]

Oon daywerk [una opera.] of a good ripman [messoris.] may gete V strik; a feebuller for iij may swete. And that the corn may grete, vppon the grounde, [ 20] They sayn, is good to lete [hit] ly vnbounde. [21 Ms. lete ly, B lete it l.]

This monys eende, in placis nygh the see And hoot and drie, is gonnen repyng whete. But first, yf hit be ripe, is forto se If al the lond attonys rody grete, [ 25] [25 Right Margin: Meta∣phora.] Enclyne, and thonke vnlaced so for hete. The playner part of ffraunce a craft hath fonde [27 Ms. fraunce.] To repe in litel space a world of londe.

Oon oxis werk al heruest vp shal take With litel mannes help, and in this wise: [ 30] A squared carre on whelis too they make, And borde hit bredyng vp of certeyn sise, That tort the brinke hit brede alway & rise. His chaule aforn, that shal ete vp the whete, Is not right high, but so [of] euen mete. [ 35] [35 Ms. omits of, B of.]

That iowe [s. tabula anterior.] is toothed thicke as the mesure [fol. 93.] Of eres [spicarum.] wol not passe hem vpward bende. And bakward, beth twey thilles [temones.] maad ful sure; And forward hath a drey; and in that ende [39 ende] written eende, and first e partly erased.] An meke ox that wol drawe, & stonde, & wende [ 40] Wel yoked be; and forward make hit fare, And euery corn [vel mon,] wole start into this chare; [vehiculum.]

This teeth wole bite hem so, that beth bifornys, And fere hem in. The drouer [bubulco.] ay in kynde [44 Right margin: paragoge.] Do lifte & lethe, as lough & high the corn is, [ 45] That shal trippe in, the chaf fletyng bihynde.

Thus shal an ox in dayes fewe vpwynde An heruest al. This carre is thus to cary In feld lond playn, ther chaf nys necessari.

De agris proscindendis, vineis occandis &c. iij capitulum.

In coldest lond thing left vndon in May [Maio.] [ 50] May now be doon, as feeldes me may plowe. In grasy [herbosa.] cold lond, vynes rootes may [possunt.] Ek now be wrie. Ek now the ficches rowe [rugosam.] [53 Ms. biwrie, B be wrie.] Collect may be; and feyngreek doun to rowe [s. resecare.] [54 Ms. feyngreel, B fayn∣greel. Ms. do, B to.] ffor fodder [s. pabulo.] now is tyme, and euery puls [legumina.] [ 55] Ther lond is cold is heruest now to huls. [cum strepitu metere.]

Now potage [lenticulam.] ware in askes mynge, and kepe In oil barelles [vasis olearijs.] or salt tubbis [salsamentarijs.] done; Saad cleyed wel, they saaf beth leyd to slepe. Now benys in decresyng of the mone, [ 60] Er day and er she rise, vpplucked sone, Maad clene, and sette vp wel refrigerate, ffrom grobbis [gurgulionibus.] saaf wol kepe vp their estate.

Lupyne also collect is in this mone; [fol. 93a.] And yf me wolle, anoon hit may be sowe, [ 65] Right from the floor, as fast as hit is done. But fer away fro humour hit bistowe In that garner that stont not ouerlowe, To kepe hem longe; and rathest yf the smeke [fumus.] Perpetuel vppon their dwellyng reke. [ 70]

De diuersis herbis serendis. iiij capitulum.

Brasike is sowe at stondyng of the sonne; And at the hed of Aust hit is to plaunt In londis wete, or ellis rayn bironne. And ache also is sowen come deuaunt; [74 Right margin: 72; h.]

Bete & radich exerciseth their haunt; [ 75] [75 Right margin: 73; g, h.] Letuce and coriander, yf me wete Her lond, vpgroweth now this herbis sete. [salubres.] [77 sete] followed by vel swete in both Mss.]

De pomis, de flore punici &c. v capitulum.

Yet may the pomgarnates flour enclude [78 Right margin: ypalage.] An erthen potte, as twye is taught biforn, [79 Right margin: 90, d. 77, d.] To make a pome of mighty magnitude. [ 80] Now peris, melis [mela.] ouerthicke, ar torn Away the vicious, lest Iuce ylorn On hem shulde be, that gentyl fruyt myght spende. Now zizifus in cold lond wole ascende.

The figtre, as forseith his disciplyne, [ 85] [85 Right margin: 64; e, f, g, h.] This mone in ceson is to caprifie. Now haue y wist men graffe hem viij or ix^ne. Now peche in places cold is putte in theye. [inoculatur.] The plaunte of palm men vmbideluyng hie. In Iuyl and now solempne insition [ 90] Hath treen, that men calle emplastration.

Emplasturyng accordith with the tre [92 Rubri∣cator has omitted the small initial.] [fol. 94.] That hath a Iuce of fatnesse in the rynde, As figge, olyue, and other suche be; Ek Marcial seith peche is of that kynde. [ 95] Thus hit is doon, as we in bokes fynde: Of feirest treen loke vp the braunches clere, [97 Ms. vpon, B uppe (Lat. circumsignabis).] That fertilest and fresshest yonge appere;

Vndir the fresshest gemme al subtily, That gemme vnhurt, with yron reise a rynde. [ 100] The tre that shal emplastred be therby

Taak of the gemme and barke, and therto bynde This gemme vnhurt, and so in boondis wynde Hit softe; his gemme aboue al that excede; Oon gemme as for another so succede. [ 105]

Do donge vppon and vmbe [circa.] on euery side, And bynde hit to. The bowes of that tre That heier beth, let hewe of or diuyde Away; and daies xx let hit be. Vnbynde hit thenne, and ther expertly se [ 110] How oon tre is intil another ronne. Thus better fruyt of bitter fruyt is wonne. [112 first fruyt written above in same hand.]

De vitulis castrandis, de casio, & ouium tonsura. vi capitulum.

Ek in this mone is maad castracion Of calues, as is taught alite aforn. [114 Right margin: 77; f, g, h.] Therynne is subtil operacion, [ 115] In memory wel worthy to be born. And craft to make cheses be not lorn [117 Right margin: 78; c, &c. per totum.] But used now. And now in placis colde Solempnite of sheryng sheep is holde. [119 Right margin: 78; c, d.]

De apibus, cera, mella, &c. vij capitulum. [fol. 94a.]

And in this mone is ek castracion [ 120] Of hyues ronke of hony fild, the summe [summa.] Wherof is this significacion. Al subtilly and smale yf that they summe, [murmurent.] Al hugely and haske [rauce.] yf that they humme, As houses holgh their voices multiplye, [ 125] A signe is that their combes beth ful drie.

The dranes [fucos.] ek, that beth this bees grete, [127 Verses 127-238 are wanting in B, two leaves of the Ms. having been lost. The missing folios are the last one of gathering "l" (88) and the first of gathering "m" (89).] To drawen out with gret attencioun,

Is preef that they beth riped hony swete. Thenne in this wise is maad castracioun: [ 130] Erly, when they slepe in their stacioun, With smoke of galbane & drie ox[en]donge [132 Ms. oxdonge.] Bismoke hem in their beddis, old & yonge. [133 Ms. bismore.]

This smoke is maad with colis in a thing [s. vase.] Ymouthed [habens os angustum.] streit to puffe [vel blowe.] on hem this smoke, [ 135] ffor noye of whom they fle fro their dwelling, That combes may be coruen out or broke, [frangi.] The fifthe part leuyng for hem vnbroke [integram.] To fede hem on. But tho that roted are, Or vicious to take away ne spare. [ 140]

Thus hony is confecte: combes [faui.] congest In clennest cloth, a diligence expresse, The brood & roten combes out ykest, ffor they therto wole bringe a bittirnesse; ffresh hony daies fewe after the presse [ 145] To colde & to be scommed opon muste [oportet.] Stond, vntil hit coloured be lyk muste. [musto.]

That hony that goth out with no distresse [fol. 95.] Is nobilest. The wex ek now we make: The combes that beth come out of the presse [ 150] A ponne of water feruent hoot intake; Thenne in a vessel waterles a kake Of hit be maad. Now in this monys ende The swarmes [examina.] yonge outgoth—keper attende,

Thou must be war; their hertis beth ful lyght, [vagancia.] [ 155] And er me wite, anoon their are ago. A day or too on trees wol thei light; In hyues thenne anoon is hem to do. Til viij or ix awayte hem, go not fro;

That hour apast, they beth not wont to fle; [ 160] Yet summe outgoth, and fast agoon they be.

Yf they wol fle, this is a verry token, That daies too or iij thei noyse and bere; Herken theron, and do their cast be broken. [164 Ms. caft; the f looks as if it had been altered from s.] Yet wol they noyse, yf they shal fight yfere, [ 165] [165 wol] first written wole, then e erased.] But therfro dust or watermeth wol stere Hem, spronge in the batail or in this fray; The trewge is maad and mater take in day.

Concord amonge this cosyns to repare Among hem is a swete auctorite. [ 170] By Goddis myght appesed when they are, And dwelle vpon a bough or where it be, And alle in oon suspense yf that me se, Oon king ther is, or kinges beth acorded That oon shal regne, and alle on hym be lorded. [ 175]

And yf thei honge on pappes ij or iij, [fol. 95a.] This is a signe amonge hem that discord is, And vche an oost [exercitus.] vndir their kynges be. Ek ther is grettest prees, [vel folk.] the grettest lord is. Be prudent now for pesing this discordis; [ 180] With modirwort [melissa.] or ache [apis.] ennoynt an honde [Left margin: melisophillo, vel melissa, vel berewort.] To seche; and thus the kinges may be fonde:

A litel more and longer of stature, And straughter thied than another bee, [ape.] Not wynged greet; in colour shynyng pure, [ 185] And smothe [leuis sine pilis.] vnrough—yet of that aged be A maner hery wombe a man may se, Wherwith they hurtith not. The ruggy [hirsuti (Ms. hufuti).] lordis Of broun colour be slayn for this discordis.

But touche not this other nobul kingis, [ 190] With alle his folk but he be vagabounde Imprudently; and thenne of plucke her wynges. This doon, his puple wole at home abounde; And whi? ffor to the pees their lord is bounde. But yf hit happe so ther be no swarmys, [ 195] A remedy to seche vppon that harm is.

The multitude of hyues ij or iij Bringe intil oon, and with a licour swete Bisprynge hem. Ek enclosid must thei be Thre dayes & yfed with metes seete, [ 200] And brethingholes [spiraculi.] smale is hem to gete. And yf an hous in pestilence is slayn Almest, me may hem thus repare ayeyn;

Biholde in othir nygh hem that abounde, [fol. 96.] The wex combis in their extremyte, [ 205] And hem amonge that beth with brood fecunde; Se where is the kingis natiuite; He and his puple out ybroken be, And in that other doon. The kyng is knowe Bi like a pappe a litel out ygrowe. [ 210]

Whan he, the kyng, and they their [lydde] vndo [211 Ms. their vndo (Lat. erosis cooperculis).] So nygh their birth, translate hem, lest thei dye [212 Ms. deye.] Traslatid erst. Ek yf a swarm vpgo, Let beten bras or shordis on hem crie; To house or tre goth they. Then mellifie [ 215] And herbe a newe hous. They with trulle or honde Indoon and peesid, may with other stonde.

De pauimentis. viij capitulum. De fructuum venturorum experientia. ix capitulum.

Pament and brik is now maad as biforn Is taught. The Grekis seyn thegipcians haue [218 Right margin; 73; f, g, h.]

Experience of euery seed and corn, [ 220] What wol perish, what wol himseluen saue. Of euery greyne into a bord [aream.] they graue, Wel dolue and weet, in rysyng of the sterre Canyculer—God knowith yf they erre.

By rewle of Rome hit rist at Aust Kalende [ 225] In x & iiij; [xiiij.] aboute her tabul thenne They stonde, and se the spronkes that ascende, What wol abide, and what wol shrymme & brenne. Thus noteth they the better seed, and whenne Ther sowyng tyme is come, vppon they sowe [ 230] The best, and leueth suche as wole not growe.

De oleo camamillino. x capitulum. De oenante. xi capitulum.

Of goldon myddil flour in camomylle [camomilli.] [fol. 96a.] Vppon an vnce, a pounde of oile be ronne; But leues white is noon to do thertille; So xl daies sette hit in the sonne; [ 235] Now kepe hit feire, oilcamamylle is wonne. Now flouring grapes wilde vndewed strie In sunne, vntil the flour wol of for drie.

So sifte [cribelles.] hit that the greynes stille abide Inwith the siue, and flouris doun to shake; [ 240] This flouris smale into hony swettest slyde, And therof xxx daies let hem take Ynough; and thenne vptempuryng, forsake Noman for hem to make into their kynde, As of rosate is taught, yf ye haue mynde. [ 245] [245 Right margin: 79; f.]

De alfica. [Duo]decimum capitulum.

Alfike is maad with barly half mature, [246 Rubric] Ms. Quartum d.] A party [partim.] grene, and vppon repes [fas∣ciculis.] bounde, And in a oone [furno.] ybake & maad tendure, [indurare.]

That lightly on a querne [mola.] hit may be grounde. Now til a strike, a litel salt infounde [ 250] As hit is grounde; and kepe hit, theryn boote is. [251 boote] o added above.] This Iuyn and Iuyl acord in houris footis.

De horis. [Tertium]decimum capitulum.

Half prime on xxij^ti feet, hool prime [253 Rubric] Ms. Quintum d.] On xij; half vndern viij, hool vndern v; Midday on iiij, and noon on ij feet by me [ 255] [255 iiij] The Latin of Schneider's text has iii and no variants are recorded.] Stont fast ynough. Now Phebus chare vp thriue No lenger may; til thoccident asbliue Enclyneth hit as erst from thest hit wried; [vel stied.] fforthi beth feet with houris multiplied. [259 In the Latin following the "Deo gratias" the word sanctii is expanded from an abbreviation very like the one usually employed for sancti, but, as it is written over an erasure and is badly blotted, it is very difficult to tell what it stands for, especially as some words appear to have been omitted after studii. There is nothing in B corresponding.]

Deo gracias. Septimus in fine liber est. Assumptus ab igne. Ingentis studii honore sanctii.

Now Iuyn is do. Saluz, blisse, ymne, honour, [ 260] [fol. 97.] Ioy, iubile, power, and diademe, Iesu, be to The, Iesse rotis fflour, In maieste that art to sitte and deme. So to vs se, that in that hour extreme Thy prison, helle, al cloos from vs be lokon, [ 265] And we with The dwellynge. Yet must y yeme This book, and telle At Iuyl of lond vpbrokon.

VIII. IUYL.

De iterandis agris. De messe triticea. Primum capitulum.

At Iuyl the lond vpbroken in Aprile [1 In right margin opposite Rubric: Iuyl. ‖ The initial A embraces six verses. ‖ Ms. vnbroken, B vpbroken.] Is eft to plowe, and sone is best his seson. Whete heruest now in tempur lond is while [tempus.] fforto conclude, and bi the forseid reson. Now make the feeldis wilde of busshis geson; [ 5] Now stocke vp groue & tre in wanyng mone; Their rootis eek to brenne is now to done.

Now treen that han among the cornys growe, The corn away, adoun hit is to caste [prosternere.] . Oon dayes werk may twenty ouerthrowe. [ 10] Now vynes yonge ydoluen firste and laste Wolde be (but not in hete) and pouder caste. Er the Canyculer, the hounde, ascende Haue vp the fern [filicem.] and seggis [caricem.] to be brende. [fol. 97a.]

De orti seminibus serendis. Secundum capitulum.

Smale oynouns now beth sowe in placis colde [ 15] And wete, ek radish and arage [atriplex.] ; yf ye

May watter hit, basilicon [ocium (ocymum).] wol holde; Letuce and malwis, betis, lekis, be To watter now. The neep [napos.] in weet lond we Now sowe, and rape in roten londis rare; [ 20] In weet lond and in feeldis glaad they are.

But neepis [napi.] loueth heldis [devexa.] sondy, drie, And thynne. Ek of the londis propurtee Ereyther seed of other multiplye. A wonder thing a man may often see: [ 25] Too yeer yf neep in sum lond sowen be, Hit wole be rape, and rape in sum lond sowe Wol therayeyn vp into neepis growe.

Deep donged lond yturned wel they loue— That plesith hem & cornes that there growe. [ 30] An aker lond iiij sester rape aboue And v of neep is suffisaunt to sowe, ffor ouerthicke hit is not hem to strowe; And yf they be to thicke, awey thou trete A part, and so that other wol be grete. [ 35]

And forto ha the rapis seedes grete Let pulle first the rape out of the grounde; The foiles are of hit away to gete— [38 foiles] o has tag at bottom so that it looks a little like a.] Amydde his caule at half a fynger rounde Let smyte hem of, and plaunte hem forto abounde [ 40] Viij fynger fro. Thus wol they growe in longe And, as y wene, her seedis shulde be stronge.

De implastracione. iij capitulum. [fol. 98.] [43 Right margin: ypalage.]

Solempnyte hath emplastracioun, [44 Right margin: 81; h, & 82; a, b, c.] Wherof biforn is taugh[t] the diligence. [ 45] [45 Ms. taugh.] Now haue y maad inoculacioun Of pere and appultre; thexperience

Hath preued well. Of wynter fruyt science Yet leseth [eligit.] out the smale, vnto the grete So that the tree may sende her drynke & mete. Now plaunted y sciouns [taleas.] of citurtre [ 50] [50 Right margin: orenge quaere.] In cold and wete, and wattred hit so longe That forth they come in gret felicite. The figtre now teneye [inoculare.] hit is no wronge In weet lond: citur graffed wol be spronge, And palmes delue aboute amyd this mone; [ 55] Almaundis ripith now—go gete hem sone.

De armentis et gregibus admittendis. iiij capitulum.

Now shal the bole his wyuys to hym take, And fille her wombe, in monthis x tanende [Their] tyme of birthe at veer; for now thei wake [59 Ms. omits Their B Thaire.] Al fresh, for veer their Venus brond hath tende. [ 60] [60 Ms. ffor.] Xv of hem oon male is forto ascende, As tellith Columelle, and wol content. Yet yf thei be to fatte, her werk is shent.

In placis ther is fodder abondaunce, The ky may otherwhiles be withdrawe. [ 65] [65 Stroke between ky and may.] Mete in mesure her caluyng wol auaunce. Ek in the plough perchaunce yf thei shal drawe, Vche other yeer thei may go to by lawe, And so shal thei for either werk endure, That is to seie, to labour and feture. [ 70]

Now putte among [the shepe] their tuppis [arietes.] whyte, [fol. 98a.] [71 Ms. omits the shepe, B the Shepe.] Not oonly wolled, but also their tonge; Yf hit be spotty, that a man may wite Yf he bigete [gignat.] hym spotty lombis yonge. Yet sumtyme of the white are other spronge, [ 75]

But Columelle, he seith of tuppis blake White sheep nature is neuer wont to make. [77 Ms. forto, B wonte to.]

The tuppe is chosun fair of altitude, Ywombe[d] side, & tecte in whitest wolle [lana.] , [79 Ms. ywombe, B ywomb∣ed.] A besom tail holdyng his longitude, [ 80] Yfrounted large, and stoned at the fulle. ffrom youthe vntil viij yeris old thei wolle [volunt.] Wel do this craft; and she from yeris tweyne V yeer is good, and thenne is she bareyne.

Yboned large, ek longe & softist flesis, [vellera.] [ 85] And they that wide wolly wombed be— Suche ewes [oues.] to thy tuppis out to chese is. Of pasturyng they must haue vberte, ffro breris fer, for their iniquite [89 Ms. ffor.] This sely innocentis wole vnclothe, [ 90] And wellesay to tere her skynnys bothe.

Now let hem do, by wynter to be stronge. Malis to make, as seith the philosopher, Septemtrion pasturis let hem fonge; And toward that wynd yf the tuppis [arietes.] ofre [vel profre.] , [ 95] With litel malis fillith they the cofre [ventrem.] , [96 After cofre: vel matricem.] And toward southwynd getith they femalis. Yf hit be sooth, right notabul this tale is.

In heruest putte away thi feebul sheepe, [fol. 99.] As thus they may be sold or ellis spende. [ 100] A coitu twey monthis summen keepe Her raam vntil Cupido be wel tende, And summen let hem al the yeer ascende [103 Ms. althe, B alle the.] And indistinct; so dayes short & longe [104 so] preceeded by ‖ in Ms.] Ther shal not lacke hem tender lombis yonge. [ 105]

De extirpando gramine. v capitulum.

Now with the Crabbe inhabityng the sonne, The mone of vj in Capricorn ysette, Yf gresse ypuld vp be, the lond is wonne. Ek cipur [ciprei.] tongis [bidentes.] with gootis blood wette, And colis from the furneys yf me fette [ 110] Bispreynt with gootis blood—the grassis rowe With these yf me fordo, thei shal not growe.

De vino scillite. vj capitulum.

And wynsquyllite is thus maad in this mone: The mountayn squylle other of nygh the see, As riseth the Canyculer assone, [ 115] [115 Canyculer] mark after r that looks like s.] Wel fer away fro sonne ydried be; A stene of wyn a poundis quantite Of hem resceyue, alle leuys superflu [118 superflu] erasure of some letter after u—e or s?] Ikest away, and they that paled greu. [119 greu] two dots over u.]

And other garlande [faciunt ferta (sic).] hem, & so depende, [ 120] Into the wyn so they go not to depe, And take hem out at xl^ti daies eende. This wyn is good the cough [tussum.] away to kepe, Al ille out of the wombe hit makith crepe, Hit solueth fleume and helpith splenetyk, [ 125] Digestioun hit macth and eyon quyk.

De ydromelle. Septimum capitulum. [fol. 99a.]

For meth, in risyng of Canyculer A sester of vnscomed hony do In sestris vj of welle water cleer. In carenayres nakid [inuestes] childrin go [ 130] [130 Left margin: carenarum est vas murti.] And glocke hit oures v to & fro, Vessel and al; and aftir in the sonne With xxx^ti dayis sto[n]dyng hit is wonne. [133 Ms. stodyng, B standying.]

De aceto squillino. viij capitulum.

And in this mone is maad aysel squyllyne. Of squyllis whyte, alraw, taak of the hardis, [ 135] And al the rynde is for this no thyng fyne, Thenne oonly take the tender myddilwardis; I[n] sestris xij of aysel that sour hard is, [138 Ms. I, B In.] A pound and vncis sixe yshrad be do, And xl^ti dayes sonnyng stond hit so. [ 140]

After this xl dayis cloos in sonne, [141 Space for initial filled in with ordinary capital.] Cast out the squylle & clense feetly wel, And into vessel picched be hit ronne. Another xxx^ti galons of aysel With dragmes viij of squylle in oon vessel, [ 145] Pepur an vnce, of case & mynte asmal [aliquantulum.] , Wol do, and vse in tyme as medcynal.

De Sinapi. ix capitulum.

A sester and a semycicle take Of senuey seed, & grynde hit pouder smal; V pound of hony theruppon thou slake; [ 150] Of Spaynysh oil a pound do therwithal; A sester of fyn eysel tempur shal This thingis grounden well; thus vse hit longe. This Iuyl & Iuyn haue houris euen longe.

De horis. Decimum capitulum. [fol. 100.]

Oon goth on xxij with xj, [ 155] [155 Ms. Non (guide for rubricator is also n), B Oon.] And ij with x on xij feet gooth blyue; Ek iij with ix on viij extendith euen, And iiij as viij abregged is to v. To v and vij leueth iij aliue,

And manly vj, in myddis of the day, [ 160] Stont forth an hour, and vppon feet but tway.

Deo gracias,

Explicit octauus liber & Princeps. [Explicit etc.] After Princeps some words have been erased.]

Thus Iuyl is doon, August y must bygynne. O tryne and oon God, Lord, record y The; That sensis spille, or poynt disioynt be thrynne Is not my wille, and yit in hit is she [ 165] Myn ignoraunce; and why, noot y; but he That she myschaunce—he pricke or nicke hit theer— Thy prince y mene; as mene or nought hit be He rynce, yf Aust be faust Nygh Septembeer.

IX. AUST.

De agris exilibus arandis & vindemia paranda. i capitulum.

Nygh Septembur Kalende, at Austis ende, [1 In right margin opposite rubric: Aust. ‖ There is no initial in Ms.] Ther feeldes playn, humyde, and lene be, To gynne plowe is good to condescende. And also now in coostis of the see Vyndage arayed fore is forto se. [ 5] In placis ek ther hit is passyng colde, The vynes roote ywrien be fayn wolde.

De exili & misera vinea. Secundum capitulum. [fol. 100a.]

In Aust ek, yf the vyneyerd be lene And she, thy vyne, a ruthful thing to se, Thre stryk or iiij of lupynes demene [ 10] On vche aker; so let hit wrion be. Whenne hit is vppe and hath fertilite, Turne hit eft in, hit dongith best the vynys— Al other donge is infectif of wynys.

De pampinandis & obumbrandis vitibus. iij capitulum.

Now ther is cold is pampinacioun [ 15] To ouertake a thicke yleued vyne; And ther is hoot is occupacioun

The feruent ire [vel heete.] of Phebus to declyne With obumbracioun, yf so benygne And loughly be the vyne hit not to werne [vetare.] . Ek now is good to pulle vp segge [caricem.] and ferne [filicem.] [ 20]

De urendis pascuis. iiij capitulum.

Pasturis ek in this mone is to brenne That busshus, ther they growith ouerhie And bisie beth the lond to ouerrenne, This brennyng may their stook & hem destrie. [ 25] Ek yf the lond be wrie in herbis drie, Now brenne hem vp, and eft they wole arise Al glaad, araied newe in fresshest gise.

De herbis in orto. v capitulum.

Now rape and neep in places drie is sowe, As taught is erst, and radish last this mone [ 30] [30 Marginal gloss: 85; e, f, g.] At drie is sowe, in wynter forto growe; In lond solute & faat hit growith soone. With ragston [trophis (sic).] or with clay hit nath to done. But glad is hit to loke on drunkun ayer; In beddis brood and deepe hit wol be feir. [ 35] [36 Ms. nobul, B novel.]

In grauel best after a novul rayn [fol. 101.] They growe, and weet hem yf thyn ayer be drie. Anoon as hit is sowen, wrie hit playn; Too sester in oon aker is to strie, And iiij, as other sayn, wol multiplie. [ 40] And chaf is bettir for hem than is donge, ffor they therof wol be right fungous [fungos (sic).] stronge.

Salt watter hem, therof they wol be swete. Radish female hath litel bitternesse, With leues brode & playn, glad, grene & meete; [ 45]

Their seed to haue as do thi bisynesse. And forto make hem wexon in gretnesse Vnnethe on hit a litel croppe men leue, And sette hit so to growe & gret to preue.

The swete of that is bitter forto make, [ 50] Oon day and nyght the seed in hony stonde, Other in meth as longe tyme hit take. Raue as brasyk for vyne as ille is fonde; [53 Ms. al, B ille. ‖ fonde] de over erasure.] They so discordith that in oon poort londe Wel may they not; for thy oon vtter kepe. [ 55] Also this mone is sowyng of pasnepe.

De pomis. vj capitulum. De apibus. vij capitulum.

Emplasturyng eke in this mone is do; And summen now wole graffe a perytre, And citurtre in placis moyst also. [59 Right margin: orenge.] Now sharnebodde [crabrones.] encumb[e]rith the bee; [ 60] [60 Ms. encumbrith, B encombreth.] Pursue on hym that slayn anoon he be. The werkis that in Iuyl be left vndone Now may they take an ende in this Aust mone.

De puteis faciendis. viij capitulum. [fol. 101a.]

Now seche and fynde up water in this wise: Doun lene and ley thy chyn [mentem.] right to the grounde [ 65] Estward, and rather [then] the sonne arise, [66 Ms. omits then, B thenne.] And where a subtile myst gynneth tabounde And dewe vppon, ther water may be founde; Ther picche a merke, and on the lond taak yeme, Theym good or badde, feir or foul to deme. [ 70]

The marl hath veynys thynne, vnsmellyng best; Slak [soluta.] sonde, lymous and lene, vnswete & depe; Blaak erthe humour not mych hath in his chest Of wynter shoures leyd vp forto kepe,

ffor swetly smellith that lond; clayes wepe [ 75] Vncerteynly, whos teres beth right swete— A man may be right glad that hem may gete.

In saad sond, grauel, and there ek as beth stonys [78 Ms. In saad lond, B Sadde sonde, (Lat. sabulo masculus et arena).] Certeyn humour is, and in vbertee; Good aboundaunce is ther as rody stoon is— [ 80] But war, for they thorgh chynes lightly flee. Among flynt stoon at hillis rootis be Veynes ynowe, and chillyng cold and seete; Ther feeld, hath salt & saad, luke [tepide.] and vnswete.

And yf they sauoure wel, then they bigynne [ 85] Vnder the mount. Ek ere among ther be Wellis wel cold in playn, ther shadis twynne The sonne away. Yet signes mo men se Ther water is, as the fertilitee Of withi [salicis.] , reed [arundo.] , aller [alnus.] , yuy [hedera.] , or vyne [vitis.] [ 90] That ther is water nygh, is verry syne.

Ther as they growe vpdelue, in latitude [fol. 102.] Thre foote, and depe v foote into the grounde; And when the sonne adoun goth, there enclude [94 adoun] a added above in same hand.] Of leed or bras a vessel clene ygrounde [scoured.] , [ 95] Dounward the mouth, vpward the bottom rounde; This pitte, ywrien with a fleyke and moolde Vppon, so dwelle vntil the morow sholde.

The nexte day the fleyke away thou plie, And se yf this vessel withinne swete [ 100] Or the dropis therynne multiplie; Withouten doute ther wole be water gete. A potters potte vneled [non coctum.] wol alete [resolui.]

Yf hit be leid theryn the same wise, Yf eny sprynge of water ther wole rise. [ 105]

Ley ther a fleece [vellus.] of wulle in lik maneer; Yf hit conceyue of humour in oon nyght That me may wrynge out of hit water cleer, Hit is recorde of water. Ek a light [109 Ms. dight, B ydight.] In oil by like maner theryn [y]dight, [ 110] Yf hit be founde yqueynte, th er is a veyne Of water nygh, the nedith not compleyne.

Ek of a fier ther maad yf smoke ascende Al faaty, weet, and cloudy nebulose, To make a wynche al sicour ther descende; [ 115] ffor to thyn hond wol sprynge or sprynges ose [scatere.] , And spryngis fele into oon may be complose [connexe.] . In hillis feet toward Septemtrioun Good humour hath multiplicacioun.

De puteis faciendis. Nonum capitulum. [fol. 102a.]

Good is be war the wynchis [puteia (sic).] when we delue, [ 120] ffor cley, alum [alumem.] , and brymstoon otherwhile, Though brynkis stonde and wol not ouerwhelue, Enfectith thayer, and deluers so bigile That deed they are inwith a litel while, But yf they flee; for thy er they descende, [ 125] A lyght into the wynche may doun be sende;

If hit ne quenche, of peril is ther noon; Hit quenchith, lo, the place is pestilent. Another way to this werk is to goon: On either side a pitte most ha descent [ 130] Vntil thi sought licouris librament; And ere among into the wynche hem thorle [perfores.] That wynde away the wickid ayer may horle.

This doon, the sidis make vp with structure, And footis viij hit holde in latitude. [ 135] With barris bigge is good to make hit sure, Or walle hit well with ragge or flyntis rude; In square or rounde this werk thou may conclude. Yf water ther be lymous or enfecte, Admyxtion of salt wol hit correcte. [ 140]

And yf thi wynche in diggyng wol not stonde But now and now be fallyng in the brynke, Perauenture hit is so slippyng londe; Thenne on another craft thou must bithynke: If bordis holde hit out, hit may not synke; [ 145] But they must out be born with barris rude, ffor doute yf hit thy worchyng men conclude.

De aqua probanda. Decimum capitulum. [fol. 103.]

His water newe is good a man to preue: Let sprynge hit on a brasen vessel clene, And yf no signe of hit on the bras leue [ 150] The droppis here & there apperyng sene, That veyne is good prudently to sustene. Decoct in bras, yf grauel in the ground Noon leue, is preef that that licour is sound;

Yf mete in hit wol boyle in litel while, [ 155] Yf hit be cleer apperyng like the skie, Withouten wem or signe of thingis vile. Tho wynchis ek that stonde on hillis hie To lower stede as wellis me may trie; This must be doon by persyng the mountayn [ 160] The water so to lede into the playn.

De aque ductibus. Vndecimum capitulum.

The water may be led by weyes thre: [162 Rubric] Ms. aqua, B aque.] In chanel[e]s, or conditis of leed, [163 Mss. chanels.] Or ellis in trowis ymaad of tre.

And first in a chanel yf hit be led, [ 165] In euery hundrid foot doun from the heed, Alite & lite a foote hit must aualc, [167 Ms. Alite & alite afoote, B A lite and lite a foote.] That hit ha myght so doun the clef to hale.

And yf hit happe an hil thi water mete, Let make a lane & thorgh thi licour hale, [ 170] Or ellis by the side aboute hym trete. And yf hit shulde a falle into the dale, With pilis ouer that hit must auale; Or make an arche hit ouer on to lede [ ducere.] , Or pipis hit to condit me may lede [ plumbare.] . [ 175]

In conditis descende into the slade [fol. 103a.] Hit may, and on that other side arise. But holsummest & best is to ha made Trumpis [ tubas.] of cley bi potters in their gise; And vche of hem ij fynger thicke assise, [ 180] Oon ende ymaad so streyne, another sprede, That vche into other may an hondis brede.

Oiltemprid lyme this ioyntis shal scyment; Thenne ysels [fauilla.] myxt with litel water renne [184 ysels] glossed in left margin: id est askes.] Thorgh, dechyng al this holsum instrument. [ 185] The water that gooth thorgh the leden penne [ condite.] Is rust corrupt, vnholsum; leue hit thenne. And yf thy veyne of water be but poore, The dwellyng place of hit be maad the moore.

De mensuris & ponderibus fistularum. xij capitulum.

Te leed condit conteyneth this mesure: [ 190] Xij hundrid pounde of metal shal suffise A thousand feet in lengthe of pipis sure; And so, whether the lengthe auale or rise, The lesse or more of weght for hit deuyse—

As poundis fewe and footis fewe applie, [ 195] So poundis moo to moo feet multiplie.

De onfaco melle. xiij capitulum.

For counfyt that is clept honyonfake, Six sester take of grapes Iuce half sour; Too sester hony myghtyly let brake Or stampe, and putte hit into this licour; [ 200] Then xl dayes stonde hit euery hour To boyle vnder the bemys of the sonne, And aftir kepe hit cloos & hit is wonne.

De horis. Quartumdecimum capitulum. [fol. 104.]

This Aust and May in houris lengthe are oon: Lo xxiij feet next either ende, [ 205] And too next hem on feet xiij goon; And other too to footis ix extende, And aftir too the next on vj ascende. Next aftir none & erst stondyng on iiij is, And none on iij stont vp and myddel hour is. [ 210]

Deo Gracias.

Hic finit nonus liber. Hunc lima racionis Princeps corripiat, quod mala nulla sciat.

Thus Aust is spende. O alpha, Lord, & oo, O endles Ende, o gynnyngles Gynnynge, To make aright vntil this book be doo So graunte myght and therwithal connynge, As myn entent is Thyn honour to sprynge [ 215] And iugement; Thy princis flour on cleer, On cloudy, derk or light he must vpbrynge. And y to werk am sette At Septembeer.

X. SEPTEMBER.

De agris pinguibus terciandis. Primum capitulum.

At September the faat lond vsyng longe [1 Initial embraces 5 verses.] Humour to kepe, is plowed; and so thrie Hit plowed is. The same ek is no wronge Rather to do, yf seeson be not drie. The playn, humyde, & lene lond espie, [ 5] In Aust seid of; now plowe hit new ayeyn, [6 Ms. now, B newe. ‖ In right margin: 88, d.] And plowed, hoot let kest on hit his greyn.

The clyues [cliui.] thynne are ered now and sowe. [fol. 104a.] And now nygh equynox thi londes donge, In hillis thicke, in feeldis thynne hit throwe. [ 10] In wanyng of Phebes be they toflonge, So may hit meest auayle and do leest wronge. And for an aker lond seith Columelle Carpentys xxiiij is to telle;

For hillis so; for feeldis take xviij. [ 15] [15 Ms. ffor.] And euery day as many is to sprede As thou that day to plowe vp may sustene, [17 As] erasure of one letter after s.]

ffor drede lest the donge vp drie and dede. [18 Ms. brede, B drede.] Al wynter me may donge also. ffor nede If donge in tyme on lond may not be throwe, [ 20] Ek sowe hit smal as seed whanne thou wilt sowe.

Attones lite and ofte is good to donge; Weet lond wole more of hit then wole the drie. ffor laak of donge in sondy lond be spronge Good marl, and hit wole make hit multiplie; [ 25] And vppon cley, the sonde is good to strie— That helpith corn, and makith vynes feire, ffor donge in vynes wol the wynys peyre.

De serendo tritico et adoreo. ij capitulum.

This moone in lond vliginose or lene, And in the londis also that beth colde, [ 30] In thicked lond also, is to demene, When day and nyght yliche longe is holde, Bothe ador and thy whete in lond to folde When ayer is feir; that they may vp be spronge Er wynter come, & wexe a party stronge. [ 35]

De remedijs humoris & de mensuris. [iij capitulum.] [fol. 105.]

Sum lond is wont salt humour vp to t[h]rowe [36 Rubric] Ms. omits iij capi∣tulum. ‖ Ms. trowe, B throwe.] That sleeth the corn; ther douves donge instrie, [adice.] And leues of cupresse ek on hit sowe, And ere hit in. Or thus hit remedie: This fals humour let good water outrie. [ 40] In mene lond of ador or of whete, An aker lond to strikes iiij is mete.

Thyn hopur clothe hienys skyn; and throwe [43 hienys] glossed in right margin: Hiena est quoddam animal.] Thy seed therynne, and stonde hit ther a stounde, [tempore.] And, as they seyn, the better wole hit growe. [ 45]

If beestis harme hit that beth in the grounde, [terra.] Let mynge Iuce of cedum smal ygrounde [trite.] [47 In right margin: Sedum est senermum id est cardus benedictus.] With water, and oon nyght thi seed ther stepe, And beestis wicke away thus may me kepe.

Another Iuce of wyld cucumber vseth, [ 50] And hath the roote ystamped of the same With water myxt, and so his seed enfuseth. Oil dregges fresh of summen han the name Of helpyng from this beestis worthy blame, Wherwith their londis liketh thei tenoynte, [ 55] [55 thei] added above in hand A.] And bathe her plowis theryn euery ioynt.

De hordeo canterino. iiij capitulum. De lupino. v capitulum.

Now sowe in smal lond barly canteryne; [57 Rubric] Ms. caterino, B Canterino. ‖ Ms. cantereyne, B Canteryne.] V stryk an aker hath. Ek now, or lite [58 Ms. anaker.] Afore, in euery lond is kest lupyne; But sowe hit er the coldes angri bite. [ 60] Hit hatith slymy lond & marlis white, And as wel lene hit loueth and rubrike. [62 Ms. hit loveth lene with two short parallel strokes before hit and two after and above loveth, B lene it loveth.] To sowe oon aker sufficeth x strike.

De piso serendo. vj capitulum. De sisano. vij capitulum.

Late in this mone is pese ysowe in light [fol. 105.] Lond & solute; in wete hit liketh growe; [ 65] With strykis iiij an aker lond is dight. Sysane in faat soil & grauel is sowe; [67 In right margin: Sisanum est semen pluris vnctuositatis.] Six sester on oon aker lond is throwe. Late in this mone is ek to breke vp londe Ther medica shal sowen be to stonde. [ 70] [hordeum canterinum.]

De vicia, feno greco & farragine serendis. Capitulum viij ^m.

Now first the ficche is sowen & feyngreek; [71 Ms. feyn greek.] Oon aker serued is with strikis vij. ffarrage in restyf lond, ydonged eek Is doon; x stryke is for oon aker euen, And out of molde er colde eek must hit heuen. [ 75] Til May hit wol suffice vppon to feede, But lenger not then Marche yf hit shal seede.

De lupino serendo et euertendo. ix capitulum.

Also taak heede in this Septembre mone, Where erthis are out of fecundite And lene, and nygh this monys Idus sone [ 80] Lupyne into tho londis sowen be; And whan they shewe vp their fertilite, [82 Their fertilite] r and fertilite over erasure.] So turne hem with the plough to putrifie, And after that thy lond shal multiplie.

De pratis nouellis formandis. x capitulum.

Now medis [prata.] newe enfourme yf that thee like; [ 85] Lond dewy faat, so lenyng, somdel playne, In places like a valey hem thou pyke, Where humour nys not longe ner to shor[t] slayn. [88 Mss. shor.] Al other lond of medis hath disdeyn; Yet lond solute & lene yf hit be softe, [ 90] Wol bere gresse, yf hit be wattred ofte.

This tyme is to be stocked euery tre. [fol. 106.] Away with herbis brode; ek roote & bough And vche impediment outtaken be, Ek exercise hit after with the plough. [ 95] When hit of erthe is resolute ynowgh, The cloddis broke, and piked out the stoonys, ffresh dongyng tyme in wanyng of thy mone is.

For eny thyng no beest vppon hit trede; Vneven hit they wolde, hit is to drede. [ 100] And yf old moos [muscus.] thy medis ouerlede, Let shaue hit clene away in lengthe & brede; The shauen ground with seed of hay let seede. Ek forto sle this moos [muscus.] is don no wronge, If askes ofte about on hit be spronge. [ 105]

And yf thi mede is drossy, bareyn, olde, Let plough hit eft, & playne hit eft doun lowe; Eryng is good for aged medis holde. The rape is sowe in hem; ek ficches throwe, Beth therwith hey seed better forto growe. [ 110] Tyl hit be hard, vnwattred must hit be, Le[s]t al the werk corrupte humydite. [112 Ms. Let, B Lest.]

De vindemia celebranda. xi capitulum.

This mone in placis warme & nygh the see, Vyndage is hugely to solempnyse; In placis colde arayed fore is he. [ 115] The tonnys forto picche is to deuyse: A tonne of too hundrid congys suffice [117 congys] glossed in right margin: Congium mensura liquidorum sex continens sextaria & sextarium sex libras.] With poundis xij of picche; and more or lesse After the quantite therof thou gesse.

Summen to xx pound of picche, a pound [fol. 106a.] [ 120] Of wax wol do, to ese hit lest hit lepe In colde. Ek wyn to taste & smylle sound, ffro bitter picche also thy wynes kepe. [custodias.] Vppon the grayn in grapis ek take kepe; [attendas.] Yf they be broune and summe ek b[l]ake be [ 125] [125 Ms. bake, B blake.] That is [a] token of maturitee. [126 Ms. omits a, B a.]

De panico & milio metendis ac faselo serendo. xij capitulum.

Now in sum stede is panyk [panicum.] rope and mylde; [milium.] [127 Chapter begins with small initial.] ffasele also is sowen now for mete. [128 In left margin: faselum est genus leguminis multo melius prae (? quam) pisa.] Now gynnes [machinas.] forto take foulis wylde And othere beestis, be they smale or grete, [ 130] By nyght [noctu.] is wrought and al to honde ygete, To exercise at October Kalende That ioyneth right vpon the Idus ende.

De papauere, brasica, timo, origano, &c., xiij capitulum.

Chesbollis [papauer.] now beth sowe in hoot & drie Allone or other seed with; and hit sowe [ 135] Ther as thyng hath be brent, wol multiplie Best, as they sayn. And now brasik to growe ffor Nouember plauntyng, in lond is throwe, Wherof in wynter wortis me may haue, [139 Ms. saue, B haue.] And in veer of the same croppis craue. [ 100]

Thy garth in spryngyng tyme to be sowe, [141 Ms. grath, B garth.] Thre footis depe may now pastyned be; At wanyng mone is donge in hit to throwe. Now tyme, of plaunte or seed, vtilite Wol do, that loueth lene and and nygh the see. [ 145] Sowe origon whan day and nyght is longe Yliche, and watter hit til hit be spronge;

Hit loueth donge and sharped stony londe. [fol. 107.] Now capparis ysowen is also, [149 Ms. carparis, B capparis.] That bi hit self is best to make stonde, [ 150] ffor why his Iuce is other herbis foo; So diche hym in that fer he may not go. In somer tyme hym liketh wel to glade, That whan Virgilis doun goth, gynneth fade.

And gith is last eke in this mone ysowe, [ 155] Cresses [narstuscium (sic).] and dele also in tempur londe Or hoot. Radish in drie also [wol] growe. [157 Ms. omits wol, B wol.] Passnepe & cerfoile also forth may stonde. At October Kalendis kest with honde Letuce and bete, ek coriander seedis. [ 160] Now rape and neep ysowen good in deede is,

De pomis scilicet de tuberibus. xiiij capitulum.

Now tuberis at October Kalendis Or ffeueryere, by cornels or sleuynge, [163 Ms. feueryere.] The bisynesse of settynge ful wel spende is, Whos tender youthe applaudeth cherisshinge. [ 165] With roote a plaunte vppuld & sett, wol springe. Oxdonge enoynte and cleyed in faat londe, With seefroth [marina al—ga (sic).] vppon shellis, vp wol fonde.

Thre greynys summe out of an appul take And, sonne ydried, sette hem iij and iij: [ 170] Oon spryng nature of greynes iij wol make, That wet and doluen bisily must be. And oon yeer olde hem plaunted is to se, So wole their fruyt be swete. In Ianyueer Graffe hym in quynce, [cidoneo.] & eke in ffeueryeer. [ 175]

And graffe hit best in plumme [pruno.] & pirytre, [piro.] [fol. 107a.] In melis Calabrik; and with a rynde, [cortice.] Or skeppe, [qualo.] or potte [fictili.] ydonged molde be Vpholden to the graffe, vntil hit fynde Almest the toppe. The same craft is kynde [ 180] ffor melis ek. This tubre fruyt men ke[pe] [181 Ms. ke, B kepe.] In mylde or picchid pottis leid to slepe.

De pauimentis & lateribus. xv capitulum. De diamoro. xvj capitulum.

Now flores me may paue & brikis [lateres.] make, [183 Rubric] Ms. diamorum.] As is the craft discryued erst in May. [184 discryued] c altered from t. ‖ In left margin: 79; f, g, h.] Sycomor [sycomorum.] wylde a certeyn is to take [ 185] And boyle hit so, not with to grete affray. Too partis of this Iuce ys forto alay With oon part of hony; vpboile hit thenne And stere hit vntil honythicke it renne.

De seruandis vuis. xvij capitulum.

Trie out the grape vnhurt, neither to ripe [ 190] Neither to sowre, as gemmys luculent, Of soft and hard as goodly is to gripe. Tho puld of that corrupcioun hath shent, The closter tenes [botrionum tenaces.] in hoot pick be blent [vel blent] ; Suspende hem so in coold hous drie, obscure, [ 195] Ther no light in may breke, and they beth sure.

De vite cuius fructus humore putrescit. xviij capitulum.

A vyne whos fruyt humour wol putrifie, Pampyned is to be by euery side, Relicte on hit oonly the croppis hie, ffro sonnys hete her gemme oonly to hide; [ 200] And thenne vnroted wol the grape abide. September is with Aprill houris euen, [202 Ms. Septembre, B September.] ffor Phebus lijk in either gireth heuen.

De horis. Decimum nonum capitulum. [fol. 108.]

Ereyther ende is xiij & xj, [xxiiij.] And next ereither ende is vij twye; [xiiij.] [ 205] And thridde is x, and firthe is fully vij;

And fifthe is v, and none on iij stont hie. Surtrete hem first and after multiplie, As in Aprile in sense is seid the same In other speche, yf y be not to blame. [ 210]

September is anende. Honour, empire, Laude, ymne, & blis ascende vnte our eterne Almighty Lord, that wolde vs alle enspire In werk His word to holde, yf galle interne, Yf synne in our entent Hym nolde externe. [vel werne.] [ 215] O Iesse fflour, so hent and bolde vs heer To fle fro synne and derk fir sempiterne. As me to gynne a werk At Octobeer.

XI. OCTOBER.

De adoreo & tritico & ordeo canterino &c. i capitulum.

At October is whete & ador sowe. [1 Initial embraces 5 verses. ‖ In right margin: October. 11 In left margin: 93; e.] Iust sowyng of hem is fro x Kalende Of Nouember vntil vj Idus blowe [3 Ms. Nouembre, B November.] Of December, & thenne is hit at ende. This mone is donge yearyed out onende [diligenter.] . [ 5] This mone is sowe ek barly canteryne; [6 Ms. ek is sowe, B is sowe eke.] Lond lene, or faat, or drie, is for hit digne.

Hit holdith ther as seedis seelden growe, [fol. 108a.] And gretly hatith hit al donged londe. Now ficchis, pese, and lupynes beth sowe; [ 10] Sysane [colcul quaere.] also, right as biforn is fonde, Sowe at this mones Ide. Ek aftir honde ffasele in faat or bareyn londe wole rise; And strikis iiij oon aker shal suffice.

De lini semine serendo. Secundum capitulum.

Now lynseed, yf the liketh, may be sowe; [ 15] [15 Rubric] i in lini altered from e.] But sowe hit not, hit sowkith out the swete

Of euery lond; and yf thow wilt hit growe, Sowe hit in fattist londis sumdel wete; Viij strike of hit is for oon aker mete. Ek summen sowe hit thicke in lene londe, [ 20] And subtil flax ynough theron wol stonde.

De notanda vitium fertilitate. iij capitulum.

Now nede is sette a signe on euery vyne That fertile is, sciouns of hit to take ffor settyng. Columelle oon yeres sygne Reputeth not ynough, preef forto make [ 25] Of fertilesse; but yf hit neuere slake In yeris foure of beryng forth expresse, That is a preef of graffis gentylnesse, [28 preef] e added above in same hand.]

De ponendis vineis vel propagandis. iiij capitulum.

Now late, in londe ther ayer is hoot & drie [29 Ms. a yeer, B ayer.] And erthe exile, or hilly drie, or lene, [ 30] Vynes beth best ysette to multiplie. Settyng, kittyng, & pastynyng demene, Traylyng, reparyng, bosshyng vynes clene As taught is erst, yf lond be drie, exile [34 erst] glossed in left margin: 33 & cetera usque] Hoot, grauelly, and gladsum otherwhyle. [ 35]

So holpen is the vyne of wynter rayn [fol. 109.] Ayeyn the londis lene pouerte, So drynketh hit that is of drynkis fayn, That is not wont of frostis vexid be; ffor ther as lond is of that qualite [ 40] [40 inclusive.] The frostis na no dominacioun. Now cometh efte ablaqueacioun.

De ablaqueanda nouella. v capitulum.

After this monys Ide, of vynes yonge The rootis voide away be kitte, lest they Be cause of deth vnto the rootis stronge. [ 45]

And right so on the typto lete hem gey [librare.] , So shal she not for hoot ner cold obey. But kitte hem not to nygh, lest they abounde Thre toon for oon, or feester into a wounde.

Kitte hem a fynger fro; and yf ther be [ 50] Wynter plesaunt, apert is hem to leue; And vyolent yf thou the wynter se [53 In right margin: Metonomia.] December Idus wrie hem lest hit greue. ffor ouer cold do dowues donge at eue Aboute her roote, algour away to dryue; [ 55] Ek Columelle hath this doon yeris fyue. [56 doon] o added above in same hand.]

De vtilitate propagationis. vj c ^m. De inserendis arboribus. vij ca ^m.

In Septembre the propagacioun. In londis suche as told is of bifore, Is best to sette in occupacioun, ffor now they makith rootis lesse and more. [ 60] And why? for braunche now may they nomore. Summen also now graffeth vyne and tree, But that in hattist lond is wont to be. [63 Ms. fattist, B hattest.]

De oliuetis instituendis & purgandis. [vii c ^m.] [fol. 109a.]

In places now that hattest beth and feire, [64 Rubric] viij capitulum omitted. ‖ now] added above between that and hattest in hand A; immediately below it are two short parallei strokes; B nowe that.] As erst is seid, make vp thyn oliuete. [ 65] And al that longeth to the semynaire [66 Ms. their, B the.] Of oliuetis, time is on to swete. [67 omitted and afterward supplied in right margin in hand A; a double cross in Ms. marks the place where it belongs. It is in its proper place in B.] Oliues white ek now confite hem swete

As shal be taught. Ek there is warm & drie Ablaqueate hem that they may vndrie [humere.] . [ 70]

Pulle of vche plaunte, as chargeth Columelle; Yet thynkith me the saddest ere amonge Were husbondrie a parcell forto dwelle, That whan the damme is feynt, the child be stronge, In stede of semynary werk to fonge [ 75] On fote & go. Ek at iij yeer is holde Hem good to donge, and namly ther is colde.

Six pound of gootis donge is for oon tre, Or euery tre a stryke of askes gage. The mosse away yrased from hem be. [ 80] Ek Columelle hem kitteth viij yeer age; But I say bareyn, feynt, or in dotage If bowes be, hem yerly vtter trie, And helpe hem thus, yf they nyl fructifie:

Vnto the pith a ffrensh [gallica.] wymbul [torebra.] inbore: [ 85] [85 Ms. frensh.] Threste in a braunche of roggy wilde olyue— Threste hit in faste; and to their rootis score, Al nakid maad, oildregges kest as blyue, Or old vryne; in this maner do thryue [swyue auctor dicit.] A bareyn tre to childe. In this corage, [ 90] Hem forto graffe is good, as seyn the sage.

Remedium si vua compluta est. ix capitulum. [fol. 110.]

Now purge vp brook and diche. Ek yf greet rayn [92 Rubric in hand A. The chapter begins with small initial ‖ greet] erasure of letter after t. ‖ rayn] r in hand A.] The grape hath weet, aftir the formest hete Of must [musti.] of hem comyng, as Grekis sayn, Is best al into other vessel gete; [ 95] The water wol bihynd al heuy lete.

This wyn translated thus is saaf and pure And watterles, forwhy hit hath his cure.

De oleo viridi & laurino. Capitulum x.

Fresshest olyue is taken, so dyuers [99 Rubric in hand A. The initial is omitted, a small f standing at the beginning of the stanza.] As his colour is, and to dwelle ore eue [ 100] Let brede hem, lest they hete and be the wers; Ek euery drie or roten cors remeue. And rather hool than grounden salt, let screue On hem, iij stryk on x strike of oliue, And into skeppis newe hem haste asblyue. [ 105]

This sauery salt al nyght so let hem drynke, And erly sette on werkynge hem the wringe; A sauery oil ther wol out of hit synke. But first with water warm is to bisprynge The chanels [chanales (sic).] of this oil & vesselynge. [ 110] Le[s]t rancour oil enfecte, do fier away. [111 Ms. Let, B Lest] Now ek is oil to make of laury bay. [laury bacis (sic).]

De herbis in orto serendis & plantandis. xi capitulum.

The wynter goold [incida (intiba?).] is sowen in this mone That loueth weet, solute, & grauel londe: [114 weet] e added above in same hand.] In salt londe nygh the see they spryngeth soone. [ 115] But make hem bordis playn vppon to stonde, Lest rootis bare, yf molde fle, be fonde. And katirfoyl when they beth vp yspronge, Transplaunte hem into londe ydight with donge.

The tasul [carduus.] plaunte is also now to sette, [fol. 110a.] [ 120] Thre foote vche oon of hem from other stonde, The rootis cropped first, & donge ywette: Thenne increment in hem is to be fonde; In wynter dayes drie, vppon their londe Let donge and askes keste. Ek now is sowe [ 125] Senuey that wold in hardest lond be strowe;

Yet euery where hit makith plaunte & flour, And fedde hit is to duste hit ofte and weede, But litel ioy hath hit of myche humour. And as for seed, in natal soil hit feede; [ 130] Transplauntyng as for mete, is better deede To make hem stronge. If hit withynne is grene, ffor sauce or seed that grayne is to sustene.

This mone is malue [malua.] ysowe, and to be longe The wynter lettith hit, or gret to thryue, [ 135] And glad is hit of faat lond, wete, & donge. Ek hem transplaunte at leues iiij or v; The tendir plaunte is take anoon & blyue Vpgoth; and sekkul beth the grete ysette, And they that stille stondith sauereth bette. [ 140]

But to faste into croppis lest they rise, Ley soft a litel clod on, or a stoon. Oft weded, rare ysette, ek is their gise, But so pull vp the wedis oon & oon That roote of hit be meued therby noon. [ 145] And yf me make a knotte on euery roote, They wole be frogh [sectiles.] ynough & tender swoote.

Now dile is sowe in placis temporate, [fol. 111.] Also the mynte is in this mone ysowe. And oynouns forto sowe ek tyme is ate; [ 150] Pasnepe and origon and tyme is throwe In moolde as now. Ek armarik wol growe [152 amarik] glossed in right margin: id est raphanus agrestis.] Now sowe or sette; and bete in londis drie [Is] in this mone ysette to multiplie. [154 Ms. In this m. y sette, B Is in this m. ysette.]

Now leek, ysowe in veer, transplaunted be [ 155] That hit may hede; and ofte aboute hit weede;

Ek lyfte her plaunte a litel quantite, So holgh to stonde & in the heed to sprede. Basilicon ek now to sowe y reede, That spryngith soone yf aysel on hem reyne— [ 160] I mene on hem al light yf hit me spreyne. [161 Ms. allight, B al light.]

De pomis colendis & pomis condiendis. xij capitulum.

Who wol do puruyaunce in worldis longe, The palmes forto sette he must ha mynde. Now datis bones trie out fatt and yonge, And hem that fresshest newe are in their kynde: [ 165] Hem vndir erthe in molde and askis wynde. Aprile or May the plaunte is in to sette; [167 Ms. into, B in to.] Hoot lond they loue, and often to be wette.

Solute or sondy londis they requyre, So that aboute or vndir hem be do [ 170] A certeyn of faat lond, as they desire. And hem transplaunte oon yeer of age or too; But do this first in Iuyn and Iuyl also. Ek delue hit ofte, and [forto] kepe of hete, [174 Ms. omits forto, B forto kepe.] Ay with and with lycour on hit to trete. [ 175]

Salt water helpith palme, or of nature [fol. 111a.] Or maad; and yf the tre bigynne seeke [egrotare.] , The dreggis old of wynes wole hit cure, So hit vnto the bared rootis seeke [querat.] . The heer do barbe away from eyther cheeke [ 180] Of euery roote; or make a saly pyn, And in the rootis clift let dryue hit in.

The lond is nought for fruyt that palmes growe [183 The scribe began the stanza on the blank line usually left between two stanzas where a small t followed by a perpendicular stroke appears.] Vntiled yn. Pistace is in this mone

Of plauntes sette other of nuttis sowe. [ 185] But man & womman sett to gidre, sone Wol fructifie, and so hit is to done. The man is he that hath vnder his rynde, Lik bonys, longe stonys as mankynde.

And other use another diligence: [ 190] They smyteth out the heed of skeppis smale, And donged molde in hit they wol dispense, And theryn do pistacis iij by tale. And of hem all vp wol ther ryse a stale [planta.] . In ffeueryeer whan hit is woxen stronge, [ 195] [195 Ms. feueryeer.] Yf me transplaunte hit not, me doth it wronge.

He loueth moist & hoot & often drynke. In terebynt at ffeueryeer is he Ygraffed: and in Marche, as other thynke, He may be graffed in an almauntre [amigdalo.] . [ 200] Cold ayer & weet lond hath the chiritre: Their fruits wole be smale in placis warme. And hetis that beth greete ek wol hem harme.

In hillis sette vp gooth with mery cheer: [fol. 112.] And now transplaunted beth their plauntis wilde, [ 205] In Nouember also: but lanyveer. When they beth take & gynneth go with childe, Hem is hit good to graffe in dayes mylde. Or in this monys thre their pomes sprynge [sere.] In molde, and palmes faste of hit wole sprynge [nasci.] . [ 210]

I preued haue encrece of cheritre: The yerdis that my vyne y sette vnto Anoon hath growen vppe an huge tre In Ianyueer. And Nouember also.

And other seyn in October therto. [ 215] Is hem to graffe in trunke, as Marcyal Seith: I in rynde ha fonde hit good at al. [217 Ms. hafonde.]

And, as he seith, in trunke whos wol hem do Most pike away the downe [lanuginem.] of al the tre: ffor many a graffe, he seith, hit hath fordo. [ 220] This obseruance is to be kept, seith he, In chiritreen and alle that gummy be: To graffe hem whan no gumme vppon hem growe. Or ellis whan hit styntith out to flowe.

In plane, and in hymself, in populeer [ 225] He graffed is, & in the plowme tre. In delues depe he is of mery cheer: Gret rowme and deluyng ofte loueth he. Kitte hem that dote or drie or densed be. They hateth donge, hit doth hem out of kynde. [ 230] Now craft to haue hem stonles kepe in mynde:

Withouten stoon wel wol they growe and cheue, [fol. 112a.] [232 Withouten] Initial V orer small indistinct w.] As Marcyal seith, yf a tender tree Me kitte at footis tweyne, and thenne hit cleue Vnto the roote, and with an yron se [ 235] The mary rased out: and closed be Hit soone ayen, and bynde hit, wrappe in donge His heed and either half the slitte in longe.

And in oon yeer vpheleth hit attonys: Thenne in hit do graffis that neuer bere. [ 240] Therof wol be chiries withouten stonys. And that the trunkis rote[th] yf thou here. [242 Ms. rote. B roteth.] Humour itake, out of hem hit to pere. [243 itake] i written above in later hand and omission noted by inverted caret B ytake.]

Bigrounde into the stok hit is to bore. Yf auntis [formice.] harme, a craft is ek therfore: [ 245]

Held on the tre the Iuce of portulake, Half aysel myxt, and forth they goth yfeer. Or wyne dreggis wole make hem thennes slake, As flouris gynne. And yf Canyculer So make hem feynt, hoot, & of drury cheer, [ 250] A sester take at vche of wellis thre, And on their roote at eve hit pourid se;

But let not Ecate [luna.] this craft espie. Outher an herbe is clept Symphoryake Ylike a crowne, aboute her body plie, [ 255] Or nygh the roote a couche of hit thou make. And chiries in the sonne ydried take [257 Ms. ydried thou take, B omits thou.] And kepe, as they bygynne in rivullynge [rugas habere.] . This mone also the male [mali.] is sett to sprynge;

This male is sette in londis hoot & drie. [ 260] [fol. 113.] At Nouember Kalendis quynce [cidoneum.] and serue [sorbus.] [261 Ms. quyncis, B quynce.] In semynayr is sett to multiplie. And of the same an almauntre they serue. [faciunt.] . Now pyne [pinus.] is sowe; and pomys forto obserue In condyment is now to make, afore [ 265] Of vche of hem as erst is taught the lore.

De apibus castrandis. xiij capitulum.

Castracioun the been haue eft this mone, [267 In right margin: 82; e, f, g, h.] As seid is erst, yf they be riche; & ellis To leue hem half their goodis is to done. And yf pouerte appere in their sellis, [ 270] That robbeth hem, wel worthy go to helle is.

Hony and wex as erst, is now to make. What shal be seid of wyn, is tent to take.

De vinis pomorum. xiiij capitulum.

That I ha redde, and Grekis in their feith Afferme, y thenke hit heere to you declare: [ 275] [275 Ms. haredde.] This difference in wyn, their writyng seith, Ther is, that swettist wynes heuy are; The white a party salt is not to spare— The bledder helpith hit; the yolgh coloured Digestioun is gretly by socoured. [ 280]

The stiptyk whyte a stomak that is laxe Wole helpe, enducyng colour that is pale, And lesse of blood in man therof wol waxe. ffrom grapis blake a myghty wyn wole hale, And swete of rede, and swettest from the smale. [ 285] And fro the white is drawe a comyn wyn, But condyment hit thus to make hit fyn:

The muste, decoct to his medietee [fol. 113a.] Or thridde part, they casteth to their wyne. But Grekis haue an other subtiltee: [ 290] [290 Ms. subtilitee, B subtiltee.] Of see quyete vptaketh they maryne Water purest; oon yeer they lete hit fyne, Wherof, they seyn, so maad is the nature Of bitternesse or salt that hit is sure.

This age al ille odour eschaungeth sweete. [ 295] The eightith part therof in must they do; The fiftith part of gipse [plaster.] is therto meete, And aftir dayes iij they goth therto, And myghtyly they route hit to and fro. Thus dight, they seyn that longe hit wol endure [ 300] And in colour be resplendent and pure.

Vche dayes ix a wyn is to be moued, And namly whan ther is a latte vyndage.

By seyng ofte is what to holde yproued And what is good to sende on pilgrymage. [ 305] Of resyn [resino.] drie and stamped summen gage Thre vncis into a tonne, and alto meue Hit, and hit shal endure as they bileue.

The must that is byrayned thus they cure [sanant.] : By taste they wite yf hit birayned be: [ 310] The xx^ti part away to boile, her cure [cura.] Is first, of gipse an hundreth quantite Doon with; and other wole hit boyled se Vntil the fifthe part of hit consume, And after yeeris iiij in vse assume. [ 315]

Of wynys soure is taught to make swete [fol. 114.] Wit barly flour, and not but cruses [ciati.] too— As for a smal vessel so myche is mete; An hour into the wyn let hit be do. And oon doth dregge of swete wyn therto: [ 320] Of gliricide a part he hath infuse Al drie, & longe yshogged, it wol vse.

And best odour hath wyn in dayes lite, The bay of myrte agrest, montane, and drie, Yf that me grynde, or braiyng alto smyte, [ 325] And into a wyn barel doun let hem sie [descende.] , And after dayes ten theroutof trie. Or flouris swete of vyne or other tre. In vmbre dried, may reserued be.

But bray hem smal, & presse hem in a newe [ 330] Vessel; and when thou wilt, on kadis thre Of wyn a certeyn of this flouris snewe, And closid fast vpon the vessel se: At dayes sixe ydronken may hit be. And forto make a wyn to drynke swete. [ 335] Of saturege or fenel putte in meete.

Other the fruyt of pynys nuttis too Wole bake, and in a cloth into the wynys Vessel let honge, and cleme hit wel therto; At dayes v yserued this swete wyn is. [ 340] To other craft an ere ek forto enclyne is— How wynes yonge as olde shal appere; Who liketh ha that craft may lerne hit heere.

The soure almaund & wermode & feyn greek— [fol. 114a.] ffrote hem yfere as myche as wole suffise, [ 345] The gumme of fructifiyng pynes eek, And bray al as wel as thou canst dyuyse; A cruce [ciatum.] into a stene of wyn dyuyse. Confected thus, ther wol be wynys grete. Lest they enfecte is ferther now to trete: [ 350]

Taak aloen & mirre & magma with Saffron, of yche yliche, and thus demene: With braiyng when they maad to poudre beth, Let mynge hem with an hony that is clene; A cruse of this now putte in a wyn stene, [ 355] And saaf they are. And wynes of oon yere At passyng age is thus to make appere:

An vnce of melion, of gliciride [gliciridie.] Thre vnce, and take as myche of nard celtike; Let stampe hem also smal as may bitide [ 360] With aloes tweyne vncis epatike; Let vessel hit, & sette hit vp in smyke [fumo.] . Six sponful putte in fifty sester wyn Wol make hit auntceaunt appere & fyn.

The wynys browne eschaungeth into white [alba.] , [ 365] Yf that me putte in hit lomente [lomentum.] of bene. To putte also in oon galoun the white [al∣borem.] Of eyron thre and shake hit in his stene,

The next[e] day alwhite hit wol be clene. [369 Mss. next.] Of Afre [affra.] pese yf thou do to loment, [ 370] The same day [hit] serueth thyn entent. [371 Ms. omits hit, B it.]

The vyne also they sayn hath the nature, [fol. 115.] That vynes yf me brenne, or whyte or blake, And keste hem into wyne, me may be sure The wyn colour after the vynys take, [ 375] ffor whyt of whyt, & broun of broun shal wake. But therof into a tonne a stryk doon be, That is x stene, and ther be dayes thre.

So close hit, xl dayes let hit reste. An esy wyn a man to make stronge:— [ 380] Take leef or roote or caule of malve agrest [altee (altheae).] And boyle hit; keste so thy wyn amonge. Or gipse or askis twey cotuls no wronge Thy wynes doth; iij piluls of cupresse, Or leef of box an hondful, therto gesse, [ 385]

Or ache [apij.] seed & askis of sarment, Wherof the flaume hath left a cors exile, The bodi so not al the boonys brent. Also a man may in oon dayes while So trete a stordy [austerum.] wyn that hit shal smyle, [ 390] [390 Ms. To trete, B So trete.] And of a rough drynker be cleer and best— Now se, the craft is esy and honest:

Take pepur cornys x & twye as fele Pistacies; hem with a quantite Of wyn to stampe as smal as thou may dele, [ 395] And to six sester wyn commyxt hit be, And route hem so that they to gidre fle. Now let hem reste; and clense hem, and to vse Hem right anoon ther wol noman refuse.

A troubul [feculentum.] wyn anoon a man may pure: [fol. 115a.] [ 400] Seuen curnels [nuclis (sic).] of a pynappul do In oon sester of wyn that is impure, And trauayle hit a tyme to and fro, And aftir suffre hit to reste go. [404 And] small d added above in hand A.] Anoon hit wol resseyue a puryte; [ 405] So clensid thanne & vsid may hit be.

Cretenses were ytaught of Appollo [deo sapientie.] , [407 Cre∣tenses] Initial omitted by rubricator; small c in its place.] As it is seid:—of aloes epatyk ffoure vncis, and of squinuant therto Asmyche, and oon vnce of fynest mastyk; [ 410] ffyn mirre an vnce, and of the pisce indyk But half an vnce; a vnce of mascul thure Wel smellynge, and an vnce of pepur dure—

Bete al this smal, and sarce hit smothe at al. [414 smothe] o very like e.] And whan thi must boyl[eth], scome of the grape [ 415] [415 Ms. boyl, B boileth.] That wol rise & be superficial, So take hem that not oon of hem escape; Taak gipse & hit with stampyng alto frape, Sarce hit; thre sester ytalike be do To stenes x of wyn yscomed so. [ 420]

But first this wyn forseid the fourthe part Into sum other vessel is to brynge. Therto this gipse is aftir to depart, And with a reed al grene of fresh growynge, Too dayes in his tonne hit alto flynge; [ 425] The thridde day of this wyn in x stene, [426 in x] over erasure.] Let sponys foure of this poudir demene.

Thenne vnto hit the fourthe part be do [fol. 116.] That fro was take, and so fille vp the tonne; And moue hit long[e] tyme to and fro, [ 430] [430 Mss. long.] Til al this spice among this must be ronne; [431 Ms. rowne.] So stoppe hit vp al saaf from wynde or sonne. [432 sonne] o begun as u.] Yet leef a litel hole out at to brethe Their hetes estuant forto alethe;

And aftir xl dayes this spiracle [ 435] Is vp to close; and when the list hit drynke— The tast therof wole fare as a miracle. But whan wyn is to moue, vppon this thynke: A nakid child may best vppon hit swynke, Or oon as pure as he. In lynyment [ 440] ffor tonnes best doth askis of sarment.

Good stomak wyn & countur pestilence [442 Ms. pestilencie, B pestilence.] Thus make: Of fynest must in oon metrete, Er hit be at the state of his feruence, Eight vnce of grounden wermode [absinthij.] in a shete [ 445] Dependaunt honge, and xl dayes swete, Thenne out hit take. In lomys [xascis (?) or verascis (?)] smaller hent This must, and vse hit as wyn pestilent.

Now they condite her must egestioun, [449 Ms. twey, B thai.] That wol with gipse her wynys medicyne. [ 450] In light smal wyn withouten questioun Too sester gipse ynowe is to reclyne, An hundrid conge wyn to that assigne; And if the wyn be saad & myghty, rounde, Therto shal oon sester of gipse abounde. [ 455]

De rosato sine rosa faciendo. xv capitulum. [fol. 116a.]

Now is rosate ymaad withouten rose: Taak leues grene ynough of citurtre, And in [a] palmy basket hem dispose, [458 Ms. in palmy, B in a palmy.] And into muste that yet not feruent be Depose, & close or fast hit closed se. [ 460] This taken out at xl daies eende, Kest hony to and as rosate hit spende.

De vinis pomorum. xvj capitulum. De ynomelle. xvij capitulum.

Now euery wyne of pomys is to make, As craft is taught bifore vche in his mone. Of grete & noble vynys now let take [ 465] Of muste as myche as semeth thee to done— At xx^ti daies ende is not to sone; Out of the pitte after that hit is do, The fifthe part of hony rough putto [apponere.] ,

(Not scomed, fyn, wel stampid must hit be) [ 470] [470 Space for initial filled by Not and line of red ink drawn through the original ot.] Vntil hit white, and moue hit myghtily With reed al grene, and xl daies se, Or better l^ti, doon contynuely, Ay with a shete ycouertid clenly. Aftir this tyme in hondis clene vphent [ 475] Al that wol swymme & be superfluent.

So gipse hit vp, and kepe hit for thyn age— Hit bette is kept in picchid loomes smale. And next at ver let gipse hem, and forth gage, And in a celle of cold erthe hem avale [ 480] In flood grauel; or ther they stonde a dale Do make, & drenche hem thryn. Tyl worldis longe This drynkis wole abide and ay be stronge.

De defruto careno & sapa. xviij capitulum. [fol. 117.]

Defrut, carene, & sape in oon maneer Of muste is maad, defrut of deseruynge [ 485] Til thicke hit be. Carene is boylid neer ffrom thre til too, but sape vnto oon let bringe ffrom thre; and al this craft nys but bolynge. But sape is best, yf quyncis therwith be Decoct, and al the fier maad of figtre. [ 490]

De passo. xix capitulum.

Now passe [passun (sic).] is maad that Affryk vseth make Aforn vyndage, and thus this craft they trete: A multitude of reysouns puld they take, And into russhy frayels rare hem gete, And myghtily with yerdes first hem bete, [ 495] Vntil this werk the grapis so dissolue; And thenne hem to the pressis they deuolue.

Ther pressid out is al that out wole passe [effluere.] , And vndir kept into sum vessel clene; And this licour Affrikis callith passe [passun (sic).] . [ 500] As hony me may kepe hit in a stene; In stede of whom, in metis hit demene. This condyment is esy & iocounde Wherof inflacioun shal noon redounde.

De cidonite. xx capitulum.

Take quyncis [cidonea.] ripe & pare hem, hewe hem small [ 505] And alfor smal, but keste away the core, ffor hit is nought to this effect at all. In hony thenne vpboyle hem lesse & more, Til hit be haluendel that was bifore; Do pepir within boyling smallest grounde. [ 510] This is the first maner, and the secounde,

Another wise, is this: taak sestris too [fol. 117a.] Of Iuce of quynce, and oon sester aysel

And half, ek too sester hony therto; [514 Ms. serster, B sester.] This mynge, and boyle hit al to gidre wel, [ 515] Til hit be hony faat and thicke vche del. Of piper and gynger tweyne vncis grounde To pouder smal, is therto forto infounde.

De fermento mustorum seruando. xxj capitulum.

Agaloun muste from vnder feet do to A stryk flour of newe whete, and hit let drie [ 520] In sunne; and wete hit eft and drie hit, do Yet eft the same. In smallest loues plie, And drie hit hard in sonne; in pottis trie; Now gipse hit fast, and vse this ferment ffor musty breed whom this wol condiment. [ 525] [525 wol] added above in hand A.]

De vua passa Greca condienda. xxij capitulum.

The reysoun Greek in this maner they make: They se where hongith grapis goode & swete. The stortis softe in hondis wole they take, And writhe hem, and so writhen wole they lete Hem honge & drie awhile in sonnes hete; [ 530] And aftir hem in shadowe they suspende, Her vessel while in dightyng they contende.

The leef of vyne, al drie & chillyng coold, Vndir they do, and theryn grapes presse, And with their hondis fast adoun hem foold, [ 535] So fille hit vp, and therto leues dresse. In drie & cold ther smoke is noon expresse, Hem kepith they. This October vpborn With feet is as in Marche is seid biforn.

De horis Octobris. xxiij capitulum. [fol. 118.]

The first & last hour xxv euen; [ 540] And next the first & last hour is xv. The thridde hour from the first & last xj

Hath; and the firthe on viij is to sustene. Next noon on eithir side, on six demene, And noon hym silf stont short on footis v. [ 545] And why? ffor Phebus so short made hy[m] thryue. [546 Ms. for. ‖ Ms. hy, B him.]

Deo gracias.

October spende, O Sonne, O Light superne: O Trine and Oon, louyng honour, empire Withouten ende vnto Thy myght eterne! That shyne & goon our princis flour aspire [ 550] Magre thy foon; so list vche hour, and gire His spere aright that, sauyng Oon, so cleer Sterre is ther noon in al our emyspire; Vndir whos sight y gynne on Nouembeer.

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]

XIII, DECEMBRE.

De serendis frumentis, faba & lini semine. i capitulum.

December hath al maner whete ysowe [1 Initial embraces] And barly als, as in the last sesoun. The benes lete at Idus vij throwe In lond, for aftir wynter is no resoun To sowe hem—Why? ffor then her thrift is fesoun. [ 5] Vnto the forseid Ide ek of December, Lynseed [lini semen.] to sowe is needful to remember.

De faciendis pastinis & cedenda materie. ij capitulum. [fol. 129a.]

Aftir this monys Ide in pastynynge Is good to delue, as taught is albiforn. Of tymber now is also good fallynge; [ 10] Now stakis make, and lepes for thy corn; Now oil of laure & mirtis bay is torn, [12 Marginal note to laure: 30; c, &c.] And of lentiske. Ek maad is wyn mirtite, [13 Marginal note to wyn: 51; e, & 52; f, g.] As seid is erst, whoos hath theryn delite.

De herbis in ortis. iij capitulum.

The letuse in this moone is so to sowe. [ 15] In ffeueryeer that hit translacioun May haue. And garlee now in lond is throwe; Vlpike and oynouns in their stacioun To growe. Ek senvey [sinapis.] semynacioun, And cunel bothe ha now, the disciplyne [ 20] [20 cunel] Ms. curnel.] Of whom is taught aforn & craftis fyne.

[De pomis: in eo de hypomelidibus et aliorum mensium pomis. iiij capitulum.]

As Marcial seith ypomelides [22 Rubric omitted.] Beth appultreen whos fruyt is lyk a serue [sorbo.] A commyn tre statured dout[e]lees, With whitly flour coloured, whos obserue. [ 25] To worthy men the fruyt is worthy serue [seruire.] , ffor as he seith, hit is so tart and swete That wel is hym that with that fruyt may mete.

In December his curnel [nucleus.] is to sette In lomes smale. His plaunte in ffeueryeer [ 30] Transplaunted is: but se hit thombe grette And stronge, er me transplaunte hit fer & nere. In lond that is solute and donge yfere, Not depe hem sette, and from the wynd hem wrie With donge, in caas his blastis cause hem drie. [ 35]

This gentyl tre wol growe in euery londe: [fol. 130.] But placis glade and warm & nygh the see— In stony grounde ek loueth he to stonde. Of coold afeerd hit is. But graffed be Hit may not, and not long endurith he. [ 40] His fruyt in picched pottis me may kepe, In drosse [vinaccis.] of grape or applis leid to slepe. [Ms. doutlees.]

De rapis condiendis. Quintum capitulum.

Now rape in peecis smale is to divide, And lightly boyle; and diligently drie That noon humour in nere a part abide. [ 45] Into aysel tempred mustard thenne hem trye; The vessel fild be closid clene or wrie. Bite on, and as they taastith taak hem neer. Nouember doth this same. and Ianyuere.

De echinis paruis & lardo saliendis. vj capitulum.

Now nygh the see ther Phebes [lune.] increment [ 50] Al closid fish & conkis [conchas.] causith swelle. Echynys flesh with saltis condyment Be cured, as men vseth craft to telle. This same as longe as wynter dayes dwelle, Wel may be doon. Ek bacon me may salte, [ 55] And larde, vntil the wynter sesoun halte.

Also this mone, in wode and groues lowe. Ther bayes beth and benes ripe enrounde, Gynnes [laquei.] be sette, of euery bridde vnknowe, Throsshes to take. and other foul on grounde. [ 60] ffoulynge is good til Marche on hit abounde. December is atton with Ianyueer In length, and foot for foot they goth yfeere.

De horis. Septimum capitulum. [fol. 130a.]

They first & last, on xxix stonde; And next the first and last on x & ix^ne; [ 65] As for the thridde is thries v yfonde; [66 yfonde] altered from ystonde by erasing t and crossing s.] To foure and eight ek footes xij assigne; To x, mydday & ouernoon declyne, And noon to ix^ne. Yf y be not to blame, In Ianyueer of sentence is the same. [ 70]

Deo gracias.

Laude,	ymne,	honour	be	to	the	fflour	Iesu.
Ymne	vnto	the,	our	right,	our	soulis	light;
Honour	the	do	good	werk,	life,	light,	vertu; [73 life] Ms. light.]
Be	our	good	Lord	gouernyng	al	our	myght;
To	right	werk	gouernyng,	yef	vs	wit,	right;
The	our	lif	al,	vs	fosturing	right	thus,
fflour,	soulis	light,	our,	wit	right	to the	dight.
Iesu,	light,	vertu,	myght,	right	thus	dight	vs.

My wit, my word, my werk The magnifieth. O kyngis Kynge, O Lord of lordis hie, [ 80] Whos grace a princis flour honorifieth, That in nature hym like is noon to trie. Gramerci, Lord, that list eek mortifie My wronge, y hope, and do me sumdel rise Thy self in hym to se. Yet treste y crie [ 85] Thy laude, and his honour eft preconise.

Explicit.