24 AGRICULTURAL W RULERS. 



Eton, and from there to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, as he relates in his 

 verses : 



To London hence, to Cambridg-e thence, 



With thanks to thee, O Trinity, 



That to thy hall, so passing all, 

 I got at last. 



He left the University through ill health, and making his way to 

 London, he was recommended to the Lord William Paget, who seems to 

 have been a great friend to him. He is next heard of as a farmer at 

 Braham Hall in Suffolk, where he was evidently a close observer of the 

 times and practices then deemed best for successful farming. Still he 

 must have begun almost as soon with his pen as with his plough. He 

 could have only remained here for a few years, as he is found ten years 

 afterwards living in Ipswich, and farming in Norfolk, probably as steward 

 to Sir Richard Southwell, who he mentions as having died suddenly. 

 This gentleman I find was also a relation of Tusser's great supporter 

 Lord Paget, then he adds : " To Norwich fine for me and mine," where 

 the Dean enabled him to earn a livelihood as a schoolmaster. In 1566 

 he left Norwich. He next appears as residing at the parsonage 

 house at Fairstead, in Essex, where a son and daughter were born in 

 1568 and 1570, as testified by the register of the parish. His 

 restlessness, however, stuck to him, and he tells us : 



Then by and bye away went I, 

 To London straight and hope and wait. 

 For better chance. 



His residence in London was at Cripplegate, and the baptism of his 

 son Edmund is found in the register, dated March, 1572, and we next 

 find him fleeing from the Plague. It was at Trinity College that he 

 appears to have become a servitor on May 5th, 1573, and resided at 

 Chesterton, owning certain land there, for in his will he bequeaths 

 various properties to his four children. 



He returned, however, to London about the end of 1579, and died in 

 the summer of the next year, being buried at St. Mildred's Church, in the 

 Poultry, and the following epitaph, according to Stow,^ recorded his 

 memory. It is perfectly in character with the man and his writings, and 

 if conjecture may be allowed, was penned bv himself : 



Here Thomas Tusser, clad in earth doth lie, 



Who sometimes made the points of husbandry. 



By him there learn thou mays't. Here learn we must, 



When all is done we sleep and turn to dust. 



And yet through Christ to Heaven we hope to go, 



Who reads his book shall find his faith was so. 



The church of St. Mildred was destroyed by the great fire, and with 

 it perished Tusser's monument. His will was proved in the Prerogative 



* "Survey of London." 



