XX Introduction. 



tenements in the counties of Stafford, Northampton, and 

 Warwick, mentioned in a part of the will which I have not 

 quoted. There was also the estate of Hampstall Ridware in 

 Staffordshire, to which he attached considerable importance, 

 directing his heir-looms to be kept there. He also makes 

 mention, in all, of six horses (including 'a stallion and two 

 geldings), twelve mares, three colts, one bull, four bullocks, five 

 heifers, eight oxen, and ten cows, though it is obvious that 

 these by no means include all his stock, but merely a selec- 

 tion from it. All this precisely agrees with the statements 

 in the Book of Husbandry. 



I do not think it necessary to pursue the subject further, 

 but a word must be added as to the chronology. Not having 

 seen the first edition of the Book of Husbandry printed by 

 Pynson in 1523, I cannot certainly say whether the statement 

 that the author had " been a householder for 40 years " occurs 

 there. It occurs, however, in an undated edition by Peter 

 Treuerys,^ which is certainly the second edition, and printed 

 between 1521 and 1 531, as Treuerys is only known to have 

 printed books during that period. Now this edition professes 

 to have corrections and additions, the title being — " Here 

 bygynneth a newe tracte or treatis moost prfjfytable for all 

 husba^^de men / and very [frutefuJU for all other persones 

 to rede / newly cor[rected] & amended by the auctour with to 

 dyuerse other thynges added thervnto;" and it agrees very 

 closely with the copy here printed. The date assigned for 

 Sir Anthony Fitzherbert's birth is 1470. If we suppose him 

 to have begun housekeeping at 21, a period of 40 years will 



1 This early edition, clearly the second, and using Pynson's woodcut, was 

 kindly pointed out to me by Mr. Bradshaw. It is not noticed in the usual books 

 upon early printing, but a copy of it exists in the Cambridge University Library. 

 The woodcut on the title-page is (as I have just said) the same as that on the 

 title-page of the first edition. 



