122 RUKAL ECONOMY IN YORKSHIRE IN 1641. 



possibly yow can ; and this is called headinge of wilfes ; and if, 

 in headinge them, yow chance to nicke them or cutte them 

 over neare the olde heade, soe that the barke growe up above 

 the stumpe rownde aboute, soe that the raine and wette stande 

 and sattle into the hollownesse thereof, it will bee the decay of 

 the whole tree, or att least of the part that is soe cutte. The 

 fii-st decay of wilfes is allwayes att the hearte, for they will 

 rotte, mosker, and bee hollowe within, ?oe that a man may 

 stande within them, when the sides are sounde and the tree alive. 



For Beakinge of Wilfes and Saughs. 



After that we have cutte our wilfes and saughs, and sorted 

 them, puttinge every thinge to that use that it is fittest for, 

 then, soe soone as snowe or any lette weather commeth, or 

 otherwise att nights afore supper, wee sette our foreman and 

 another to beakinge of them ; and for this puipose they fetch a 

 bottle of pease-strawe, or a bottle of barley-strawe, and then 

 doe they take the stickes and sette them up an ende, slanttinge 

 against the hudde, and keepe a good fire under them ; and soe 

 soone as the lower endes are enough, they turne them, and sette 

 the upper endes downewards ; then when both endes are enough, 

 they take a wispe of strawe in theire right hands, and soe 

 streighten them ; or otherwise they have a foiTne, or some other 

 thinge with nickes or holes, to putte them in, and streighten them 

 with ; then after they are made streight, they lette them stande 

 a while to coole, and then peele them ; after that they have 

 peeled theire flayle-handstatfes, they will usually putte them 

 into an oven (after that the thinges are drawne out) and lette 

 them lye there a whole night, and this will dry up the moisture, 

 and make them lighter, and allsoe make them stande att the 

 marke, and keepe them from castinge : this is the course that 

 they take with theire pikes, to prevent them from beinge casten, 

 to dry them in a large oven. Wee cutte the most saughs for 

 heckestowers, because they will keepe the streightest after they 

 are sette ; then soe soone as they are all beaked, wee sorte them, 

 and sette them up eveiy sorte by themselfes, tiU such time as 

 wee have occasion to use them. 



See more of this subjeckt in the latter ende of the second 

 booke before our observations for cattle. 



Of Swannes and theire Breed. 



The hee swanne is called the cobbe, and the shee-swanne the 



penne ; and looke howe many youiige ones they have, and the 



owner of the cobbe is to have the one halfe, and the owner of 



the penne the other halfe ; and if there bee an odde om\ it is 



