AGRICULTURE IN BRITAIN. 433 



go or ride to the market to sel butter, chese, mylke, chikyns, 

 capons, hennes, pygges, gese, and all manner of grains." The 

 rest of the book contains much useful advice about diligence 

 and economy, and concludes after the manner of the age with 

 much pious exhortation. 



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 nowhere speaks of the practices 

 which he describes or recommends, as of recent introduction. 

 The " Book of Surveying " adds considerably to our knowledge 

 of the rural economy of tnat age. " Four maner of commens " 

 are described, several kinds of mills for grain and other pur- 

 poses and also, " Guernes 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 land 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 drainage and irrigation are noticed, 

 though the latter but slightly. The work concludes with an 

 inquiry, " How to make a township that is worth XX merke a 

 yere worth XXli a yere ? " 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 grain, and 

 "let lye" for a time. 



Agriculture had attained a considerable degree of respecta- 

 bility during the reign of Elizabeth. According to Tusser, who 

 wrote in that age, and whose work will be presently 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 think his gaine 

 very small towards the end of his terme, if he has not six or 

 seven years' rent lying by him, therewith to purchase a new 

 lease, beside a fair garnish of pewter on his cupboard, with as 

 much more in odd vessels going about the house ; three or four 

 feather-beds ; so many coverlets and carpets of tapestrie ; a sil- 

 ver salt ; a bowle for wine, if not a whole neast ; and a dozen of 

 spoones to finish oute the sute." 



