34 RURAL ECONOMY IN YORKSHIRE IN 1641. 



growndes ; if wee sell it by the cocke, wee sell it usually when 

 it is in grasse cocke, viz. : grasse cockes for 8d. a peece ; or else 

 double cockes, beinge throwne two into one, for lid. or IGd. a 

 cocke ; and sometimes, when hay is plentifull, wee sell double 

 cockes for \2d. a peece. The shortest and most leary hey is 

 allwayes accounted the best for any goodes, and especiaUy for 

 sheepe and younge foales and calves. It is a gi-eate folly in 

 men to make theire grasse cockes too little, for the bigger the 

 cocke is the better it will endure both winde and wette. It is 

 hkewise a greate overeight in men to necleckt throwinge out of 

 theire hay when it is cocked either wette or greene, for then 

 sure it is to be rated, and beinge rated looseth both the goode 

 smeU and goode taste ; and likewise the colom*, as yow may 

 perceive by the blackenesse of the cocke on the outside ; for if 

 the hay bee right, and have stoode any time in the cocke, the 

 outside will looke allmost as white as strawe, and yette as 

 greene within as though it weare nothinge welked ; and this is 

 the best, sweetest, and most nourishinge hay of all ; for lette 

 your hay stande neaver soe longe and have sweate both in 

 small cocke and greate cocke, yette when it cometh to bee layd 

 togeather in a mowe, it will sweate againe within three dayes, 

 and be soe hotte that one may allmost roste an egge in it. 

 When hey is beginninge to be rated, the best help is to thro we 

 it out a httle, and then to remoove it, and sette it on a newe, 

 fresh, and sweete staddle. Hay-rakes may be bought at Mal- 

 ton for 22d. a dozen ; they have usually fifteene teeth a peece, 

 and are all of saugh, bothe shafte, heade, and teeth ; sometimes 

 the heades and teeth are of ashe. One may buy allsoe att 

 Malton shorte forke-shaftes, made of seasoned ashe, and quarter 

 cliffe for 28. or 22d. a dozen. 



Other shorte Remembrances. 

 It is an usuall phraise hereaboutes, (when one is castiiige a 

 close into winderowe and cockinge it) to say that such an one 

 is makinge of such a close or peece of gromide, or makinge u]^ 

 of such a close in dry hay, or into dry hay ; for it is ej\llod 

 "gi-asse" when it is spre;ule, and "hey" when it is welked and 

 dryed : others againe will say that such a close or garth may 

 bee raked and c(jcked on such a day ; againe it is an usuall 

 phraise, when a ])eece of grownde is made into greate cocke and 

 the cockes caiTyed togeather, to say that such a close is throwne 

 togeather, viz. : the cockes in such a close. Fowit thinges doe 

 especially hinder mowers, viz. : white-weedes, comnumly called 

 cuses ; reade-weedes, and grasse that is stuni])ie ; thirdly, mole- 

 hills, when they must of necessity whette before they eaiuie goe 



