46 A GRIC UL rURA L WR ITER S. 



For the proof of Fuller's statement we have Mascall's own word and 

 witness in his work issued in 1590, and entitled " A Book of Fishing 

 with Hooks and Line, and all other Instruments thereunto belonging, 

 Sundrie Engines and Trappes to Take Polecats, Buzards, Rattes, Mice, 

 and all other Kindes of Vermine and Beasts whatsover, made by L. M.'' 

 He refers to the carp as follows: "The carpe is a strange and daintie 

 fish to take. The first bringer of them into England was Maister 

 Mascoll, of Plumstead, in Sussex, who also brought the planting of the 

 pippin into England." This probably refers to one of his ancestors, and 

 the word Plumstead may be a printer's error. 



The book with which we are most concerned is that first appearing 

 in 1596, under the title of ''The Government of Cattell." I give a 

 reproduction of the title and some other pages from a later edition. Its 

 contents are fully detailed, and it is dedicated to the " Right Worshipfull 

 Sir Edward Montegue, Knight," by the author, with an increase of 

 worship to the honour of God, and the benefit of the Commonwealth. 

 It comprises 307 pages, and finishes with a monthly calendar for the 

 farm, garden, labourer, fish, and health. Like many other of these early 

 writers, his matter is not all original, as he has drawn upon Fitzherbert 

 in more places than one without apparently the slightest acknowledg- 

 ment. On page 272 is the illustration of a hog's head, showing the 

 method of ''ringing his nose like a Rammes home." (See page opposite.) 

 Manv succeeding editions followed, some of them, notably those issued 

 by Gervase Markham during the next half century, contained a frontis- 

 piece covered with figures of animals and other illustrations of the horse 

 and ox, showing their diseases by a cleverly delinated method. This 

 book, which also comprises a large amount of the best practical 

 knowledge of the author's period, evidently attracted the attention of 

 the government, for in one of the late editions he describes himself as 

 chief farrier to King James, which office at that time was filled by a man 

 of superior education similar to a leading veterinary surgeon of to-day. 



BARNABE GOOGE. 



1540 — 1594 {about). 



That agricultural literature occupied a far higher position among the 

 ancients than it has hitherto attained in our day is certain. A mere 

 enumeration of the names of the authors whose works remain leaves no 

 doubt in our mind on the question of precedence, and to anyone 

 conversant with the methods adopted to-day by some landholders it is a 

 question if farming could not be carried on equally as successfully by 



