Book I. AGRICULTURE OF THE MIDDLE AGES. 41 



England till a subsequent period. (Holinshead, p. 220. ; Polydore Virgil, p. 13. ; Henry, 

 xii. 268 ) 



219. The first English treatise on husbandry now appeared, written by Sir A. Fitzherbert, 

 judge of the common pleas. It is entitled The Book of Husbandry, and contains directions 

 for draining, clearing, and enclosing a farm ; and for enriching and reducing the soil 

 to tillage. Lime, marl, and fallowing are strongly recommended. The landlords are 

 advised to grant leases to farmers who will surround their farms, and divide them by 

 hedges into proper enclosures ; by which operation, he says, " if an acre of land be 

 worth sixpence before it is enclosed, it will be worth eightpence when it is enclosed, by 

 reason of the compost and dunging of the cattle." Another reason is, that it will pre- 

 serve the corn without the expense of a herdsman. From the time of the appearance of 

 this work, in 1534, Harte dates the revival of husbandry in England. 



220. The Book of Surveying and Improvements, by the author of The Book of Hus- 

 bandry, appeared in 1539. In the former treatise we have a clear and minute description 

 of the rural practices of that period ; and from the latter may be learned a good deal of 

 the economy of the feudal system in its decline. The author of The Book of Husbandry 

 writes from his own experience of more than forty years ; and, if we except his biblical 

 allusions, and some vestiges of the superstition of the Roman writers about the influence 

 of the moon, there is very little of his work that should be omitted, and not a great deal 

 of subsequent science that need be added, with regard to the culture of corn, in a manual 

 of husbandry adapted to the present time. It may surprise some of the agriculturists of 

 the present day, an eminent agricultural writer remarks, to be told that, after the lapse of 

 almost three centuries, Fitzherbert's practice, in some material branches, has not been im- 

 proved upon ; and that in several districts abuses still exist, which were as clearly pointed 

 out by him at that early period, as by any writer of the present age. His remarks oil 

 sheep are so accurate, that one might imagine they came from a storemaster of the pre- 

 sent day : those on horses, cattle, &c, are not less interesting ; and there is a very good 

 account of the diseases of each species, and some just observations on the advantage of 

 mixing different kinds in the same pasture. Swine and bees conclude this branch of the 

 work. He then points out the great advantages of enclosures ; recommends " quyck- 

 settynge, dychynge, and hedgyng ;" and gives particular directions about the settes, and the 

 method of training a hedge, as well as concerning the planting and management of trees. 

 We have then a short information " for a yonge gentylman that intendeth to thryve," and 

 a " prolouge for the wive's occupation," in some instances, rather too homely for the pre- 

 sent time. Among other things, she is to " make her husband and herself some clothes ;" 

 and " she may have the lockes of the shepe, either to make blankettes and coverlettes, or 

 both." This is not so much amiss ; but what follows will bring our learned judge into 

 disrepute, even with our most industrious housewives. " It is a wive's occupation to 

 wynowe all manner of cornes, to make malte, to washe and wrynge, to make heye, shere 

 come, and, in time of nede, to helpe her husbande to fyll the muckewayne or dounge 

 carte, drive the ploughe, to loade heye, corne, and suche other. And to go or ride to the 

 market, to sel butter, chese, mylke, egges, chekyns, capons, hennes, pygges, gese, and all 

 manner of cornes." The rest of the book contains some useful advices about diligence 

 and economy ; and concludes, after the manner of the age, with many pious exhortations. 

 (Encyc. Brit., art. Agr ) 



221. The state of agriculture in England in the early part of the sixteenth century, and 

 probably for a long time before, is thus ascertained ; for Fitzherbert no where speaks of 

 the practices which he describes or recommends as of recent introduction. The Book of 

 Surveyinge adds considerably to our knowledge of the rural economy of that age. 

 " Four maner of commens" are described ; several kinds of mills for corn, and other 

 purposes, and also " quernes that goo with hand ;" different orders of tenants, down to 



the " boundmen," who "in some places contynue as yet; and many tymes, by 



color thereof, there be many freemen taken as boundmen, and their lands and goods is 

 taken from them." Lime and marl are mentioned as common manures ; and the former 

 was sometimes spread on the surface to destroy heath. Both draining and irrigation 

 are noticed ; though the latter but slightly. The work concludes with an enquiry 

 " How to make a township that is worth XX merke a yere worth XX li. a year:" 

 this is to be done by enclosing, by which, he says, live stock may be better kept and 

 without herds ; and the closes or fields alternately cropped with corn, and " let lye " for a 

 lime. 



222. Agriculture had attained a considerable degree of respectability during the reign of 

 Elizabeth. According to Tusser, who wrote in that age, and whose work will be pre- 

 sently noticed, agriculture was best understood in Essex and Suffolk ; at least enclosures 

 were more common in these counties than in any other, which is always a proof of 

 advancement. A farmer, according to Harrison the geographer, " will thinke his gaines 

 very small towardes the end of his tcrme if he have not six or seven years rent lieing by 

 him, therewith to purchase a new lease ; beside a fair garnibh of pewter on his cupboard, 



