50 



lis and died there about 1580,* certainly before 1585, as is 

 demuiistrated by the Title Page of the edition of his work pub- 

 lished that year. • 



He was buried in the Church of St. Mildred, in the Poultry, 

 according to Stowe, with this Epitaph. 



Here Thomas Tusser clad in earth, doth lie, 



That sometime made the pointes of Husbandrie : 



By him then learn ihou maist ; here learn we must. 

 When all is done, we sleepe, and turn to dust: 



And yet (hrougli Christ, to heaven, we hope to goe ; 

 Who reades his bookes, shall iiud his faith was so. 



This is an outline of nearly all that is known of this extraor- 

 dinary man. In M'hatever capacity he at various times lived 

 he acted with ability, yet never so as to benefit his fortune. 

 Tiiat he excelled as a Singer is certain, for none but those of 

 more than ordinary powers were admitted into the Ro\al Choir. 

 As a courtier he was unfrowned upon until tlie disgrace of his 

 patron. As a farmer it is evident he had correct knowledge 

 from his work upon the subject. As an author and poet the 

 same testifies he was far above mediocrity. Morant, cpioting 

 from Fuller, Stowe, and Stripe, says, that Tusser at one time 

 was a Schoolmaster. The true reason of his ill-success in life 

 is to be found perhaps in the verses of a Poet, almost his con- 

 temporary. Peacham in his *' Minerva. '' a book of Emblems, 

 published in 1G12, has a device of a Whetstone and Scythe, 

 with this beneath. 



They tell me, Tusser, when thou wert alive. 



And hadst for profit turned every stone. 

 Where'er thou camest, thou couldst never thrive, 

 Though hereto, best could'st council every one. 

 As it may in thy Husbandry appear. 

 Wherein afresh thou liv'st among us here. 

 So, like thyself, a number more are wont. 

 To sharpen others with advice of wit. 

 When they themselves are like the Whetstone blunt. 



His work appeared first in 1557, entitled,' 



1. " A hundrelh good pointes of Husbandry 



Maintaineth good household, with huswifery. 

 Housekeeping and husbandry, if it be good : 

 Must love one another like cousinnes in blood. 



♦ Phillips'* Thaatrum Poetarunil 



