l-i4 RURAL ECONOMY IN YORKSHIRE IN 1641. 



for beastes to chewe ; whearefore these three are seldome given 

 to swine for fodder but in a case of necessity. 



How WEE USE TO DISPOSE OF OUR BeASTS IN SODIER TIME. 



Aboute the 10th of May, or afore wee putte our kyiie out of 

 the Longe close and Bramble hill into the Greate Sikes and 

 Come Sikes, if wee have a mare and foale, any yeeringe foales, 

 or beasts that wee iutend to feede, wee putte them into the 

 Sikes with the kyne ; our mares, and yeeringe foales, and fatte 

 beasts, will stay here all summer longe, and neaver offer to 

 breake out, allthough they wante water ; and take from hence, 

 and putte them into any other grownde, and they will not bee 

 guided, especially if they goe not altogeather : aboute the 1st 

 of September the Sikes ponde is usually dry, or the water soe 

 lowe that the beasts care not for it ; which place is neaver 

 knowne to bee dry soe longe as there is any droppe of water to 

 bee scene above the Causy-bridge ; when it is dry wee sende 

 our niaydes every day, soe soone as they have dined, to bringe 

 them to the towne becke and water them. On Sunday, the -ith 

 of SeptemV)er, wee sette open Mr. Hodgson's Sikes gate, and 

 gave our kyne the grone of that close, which was well come 

 on ; there was att that time a bull, eleaven milch kj^ne, two 

 fatte kyne, two fatte stottes, two leane stottes, eight calves, two 

 leane whies, and fower horses ; it lasted them but a just fort- 

 night, wherefore, on Munday the 1 9th of September, wee putte 

 our milch kyne and fatte beasts into the fresh fogge of the Long 

 close, Bramble hill, kc, and mares, foales, and calves went into 

 the becke closes. 



Of Thatchinge. 

 The difference betwixt strawe that is layd on dry, and strawe 

 that is layd on wette, is that the wette strawe coucheth better, 

 and beddes closer. Haver strawe is sayd to bee as tough and 

 lastinge, and to weare as well on houses Jis eyther wheate or rye 

 strawe, but onely that vermine will not lette it alone ; wheare- 

 fore the onely way to j)revent this is to lye it wheare it may bee 

 well wroten amongst with swine and beasts, but especially with 

 swyne, for beasts dounge amongst it ; and after this gette it well 

 watered, and there is no dainger ; and thus shoulde yow doe 

 with any strawe whatsoever, otherwise the birdes will not lett 

 it alone. In summer-time wee allwayes desse and water our 

 strawe, but in winter wee onely throwe it out, and the raines 

 and wette that fulls arc suHicient without an}'- wateringe ; for 

 (this yeare) wee threwe out all our barley strawe that wjls 



