160 
3 For husbandrie wéepeth, 
where huswiferie sléepeth, 
And hardly he créepeth, 
vp ladder to thrift : 
That wanteth to bold him, 
thrifts ladder to hold him, 
Before it be told him, 
he falles without shift. 
Least many should feare me, 
and others forsweare me, 
Of troth I doo beare me 
vpright as ye sée: 
Full minded to looue all, 
and not to reprooue all, 
But onely to mooue all, 
good huswiues to bée. 
For if I should mind some, 
or descant behind some, 
And missing to find some, 
displease so 1 mought: 
Or if I should blend them, 
and so to offend them, 
What stur I should send them 
I stand in a dought. 
Though harmles ye' make it 
and some doo well take it, 
If others forsake it, 
what pleasure were that? 
9 
The Epistle. 
Naught else but to paine me, 
and nothing to gaine me, 
But make them disdaine me 
I wot ner for what. 
Least some make a triall, 
as clocke by the diall, 
Some stand to deniall, 
some murmur and grudge: 
Giue iudgement I pray you, 
for iustlie so may you, 
So fansie, so say you, 
I make you my iudge. 
In time, ye shall try me, 
by troth, ye shall spy me, 
So finde, so set by me, 
according to skill: 
How euer trée groweth, 
the fruit the trée showeth, 
Your Ladiship knoweth, 
my hart and good will. 
Thogh fortune doth measure, 
and I doo lacke treasure, 
Yet if I may pleasure 
your Honour with this: 
Then will me to mend it, 
or mend er ye send it, 
Or any where lend it, 
if ought be amis. 
Your Ladiships Seruant, 
Thomas Tusser. 
le 
1577: 
—s 
