Lent. 
Easter. 
Midsommer. 
Mihelmas. 
Hallomas. 
Christmas. 
A caueat. 
Fasting. 
Fish daies. 
A thing 
needful. 
The last 
remedie. 
The fermers dailie diet. 
Let Lent well kept offend not thee, 
for March and Aprill breeders bee: 
Spend herring first, saue saltfish last, 
for saltfish is good, when Lent is past. 
When Easter comes, who knowes not than, 
that Veale and Bakon is the man: 
And Martilmas beefe! doth beare good tack, 
when countrie folke doe dainties lack. 
When Mackrell ceaseth from the seas, 
John Baptist brings grassebeefe and pease. 
Fresh herring plentie, Mihell brings, 
with fatted Crones,? and such old things. 
All Saints doe laie for porke and souse, 
for sprats and spurlings for their house. 
At Christmas play and make good cheere, 
for Christmas comes but once a yeere. 
Though some then doe, as doe they would, 
let thriftie doe, as doe they should. 
For causes good, so many waies, 
keepe Embrings wel, and fasting daies: 
What lawe commands, we ought to obay, 
for Friday, Saturne, and Wednesday. 
The land doth will, the sea doth wish, 
spare sometime flesh, and feede of fish. 
Where fish is scant, and fruit of trees, 
Supplie that want with butter and cheese. 
qs Tusser. 
1 «Dry’d in the Chimney as Bacon, and is so called because it was 
usual to kill the Beef for this Provision about the Feast of St. Martin, 
Novy. r1th.”—T.R. 
2 «© A Crone is a Ewe, whose teeth are so worne down that she can no 
longer keep her sheep-walk.”—T.R. 
