RYE. 153 



where as I haue ben, wythin the Dukedom 

 of the Duke of Cleue, called Sourlant, that 

 wheat if it be sown in that sourlande, as it is 

 truly called, the fyrste yeare it will bring furth 

 wheat ; and in the second yeare, if the wheat 

 that grew there be sowen in the same place 

 agayne, that it turneth into rye; and that the 

 same rye sowen in the same ground, within 

 two yeares goeth out of kinde into darnell, 

 and suche other naughty wedes; as rye, sowen 

 in som place of Saxony, as I heard say, when 

 I was in Germany, within few yeare sowen in 

 some feldes, is turned into good wheat." 



Tusser, whose verse was written in Queen 

 Mary's reign, makes frequent mention of this 

 corn, as 



" In Brantham, where rie, but no barley did grow, 

 goodbarly I had, as many did know. 



Gray wheat is the grosest, yet good for the claie, 

 though worst for the market, as farmers may say : 



Much like vnto rie, be his properties found, 



coorse flower, much bran, and a peeler of ground. 



Otes, rie, or else barlie, and wheat that is gray, 

 brings land out of comfort, and soon to decay 



One after another, no comfort between, 

 is crop upon crop, as will quickly be seen. 



First rie and then barlie, the champion saies, 

 or wheat before barlie, be champion waies: 



But drink before breadcorn, with Meddlesex men, 

 then laie on more compas, and fallow a gen. 



