Fiue hundreth points of good husbandry vnited to as many of good huswiferie first deuised, & nowe lately augmented with diuerse approued lessons concerning hopps & gardening, and other needefull matters : together with an abstract before euery moneth, conteining the whole effect of the saide moneth : with a table & a preface in the beginning both necessary to be reade, for the better understandinge of the booke / set forth by Thomas Tusser ...

Of thauthors departing from court to the Countrey.

MVse not my freende, to finde me bore Contented with, this poore estate, And seme to do, with willing chere, That courtier doth, so deadly hate: For fortunes looke, Hath changed hewe, And I my booke, must learne a newe.

2

And yet of force, to learne a new Would much abash, the dulled brayne, I craue to iudge, if this be true, the truant child, that knowth the paine, But where a spight, Of force must be, What is that wight, may disagree.

No, no, god wot, to disagree, Is ventring all to make or marre, If fortune frowne, we daily see, It is not best, to striue to farre. For lordly bent, Must learne to spare, And be content With country fare.

4

From daintie court, to countrey fare. To daintly fed, is diet strange, From cities ioy, so countrey care, to skilles folke, is homely change.

Where nede yet can, none other skill, somtime poore man must breake his will.

5

If courtly change, so breaketh will, that countrey life, must serue the turne, what profite then, in striuing still, against the prick to seme to spurne. If court with cart, must be content: what ease to hart, though mynd repent.

6

What gayne I, though I do repent. my crotches al, are broke and gone, My woonted friendes, are careles bent, they feare no chance, I chance vpon. As nede doth make olde age to trot, So must I take, in worth my lot.

7

Now, if I take in worth my lot, that fatall chance doth force me to, If ye be friendes, embraid me not, but vse a friend, as friendes should do. Behold the horse must trudge for pelse: And yet of force content it selfe.