28 RURAL ECONOMY IN YORKSHIRE IN 1641. 



heades, balkes, and divisions that lye betwixt two faughes, for 

 that is usually a battle, sweete, moist, and (as wee say) a na- 

 turall gi-asse, and doth the sheepe much good in ridinge time, 

 and especially if it have beene sweetned and freshened with any 

 showers of raine ; whearas most of the grasse that groweth on 

 the landes, and especially on the leyes of the wolds, is a small, 

 sparrie, and dry grasse, and sheepe doe not hke it till such time 

 as it bee well nipped Avith frostes. 



One tuppe, with any indifferent pastiu-e, or good keepinge, is 

 sayd to bee sufficient for forty ewes, or howsoever for thirty. 

 Dodded tuppes are thought to bee the best, and especially such 

 as are hunge tuppes, large quartered, and of a good stapple ; 

 and they woulde not bee suffered to ride till they bee two 

 sheare ; and by this meanes yow shall make them larger and 

 abler sheepe. Soe soone as our sheepe beginne to ride wee fetch 

 hoame our riggons and young tuppes, and keepe them togeather 

 in some well fenced place, as the Bricke close, the West hall 

 East close, the Newe Intacke in the towne becke ; into which 

 we putte them tliis yeare after wee had gotten it well hedged. 

 Tuppes are, att this time of the yeare, of all goods the most 

 um-uly and rainginge, whearefore those that have theire ewes 

 tupped betimes wiU usually hopple and sidelange theire tuppes ; 

 others againe wi]l couple them two and two togeather, which is 

 the best way, and yett the place must be well fenced into which 

 yow putte them. They will (att this time of the yeare) feight 

 cruelly one with another, for I have kno^^^le one breake another 

 necke ; yet horned tuppes are aUmost allwayes conquerers, and 

 beate the dodded. If in ridinge time yow give them any fresh 

 stubbles, or use any meanes to gette them into stomacke, then 

 the greatest part of them \vill be tuj^ped and the cheife time of 

 ridinge past Avithin a fortnight's si)ace, or howsoever within 

 three weekes ; yett perliapps yow shall have some sti-aggler 

 to tuppe after Martlemasse, or perha])]>s at Christmasse, as I 

 have knowne. Then soe soone a.s the cheife of ridinge 

 time is past, that there is but some certaine ewes to tuppe, then 

 may yow putte forth your riggons and younge t\i])po8, for the 

 other tup])es will then kee])e them from the ewes. It is an 

 especiaU thinge to bee regarded of a sheep-man to keepe goode 

 tuppes, for an ewe brings usually but one lambe, but one tuppe 

 gettes many. Yow may knowe wheather hee bee a close tuppe, 

 or wheather hee have lost one of his stones by his faire dmw- 

 inge. A tup])e will keepe an ewe company sometimes a day 

 and a night, if hee meete not with a fresh ewe ; but if hee finde 

 a fresh ewe and other company that hee likes, hee will perhapps 

 leave her in two or three houres. 



