ship he found in Suffolk - all these are described simply in the 
jogging verse that even though it could never be called grace¬ 
ful or lilting seems effortless somehow and a natural medium for 
Thomas’s story. 
His second wife. Mistress Annie Moone, ”of cheerful hewe,” 
appears to be Tusser’s model for the good housewife. At least, 
it seems to me more plausible to think that her unfailing energy, 
thrift, good humor, firmness, efficiency, and goodness were 
patterned from Mrs. Tusser than to believe that Mr. Tusser should 
be able out of his own head to manufacture his awe-inspiring ^ aist of shining 
real respect for his "Wyef,” however, is plainly shown in his^^j attributes for the 
will: he leaves her "Four score Pcwnds of lawful monye of Eng- farmer’s wife. His 
land," as well as the residue of all his "Bonds, Goods, and very 
Chattells" after his children were provided for, directs that 
Thomas, his eldest son, inherit "all those seven Acres..• 
in the Parish of Chesterton... after the deathe of Anye my 
Wyef," and finally designates her as "full and whole Executor" 
of his will in the event of the death, of his sons. Here at 
least there is no mention of a "second-best bed" for admirers 
to explain away. I was pleased too that Edmond Moon, "Father 
to the said Anye," his "trustie Frend," for whom a son was 
evidently named, was constituted guardian of the children and 
"Supervisor and Overseer" of the last will and testament. 
This seemed to me to show a very happy relationship between 
Thomas and his wife’s family. 
If we may again take his will as authority, he had four 
children: Thomas, John, Edmond, and Marye. In the chapter 
on Education in the Good Housewive’s Lessons, we find an- 
other resentful echo of Udall. 
Not rod in madbraine's hand is that can help, 
but gentle skill doth make the proper whelpe. 
When we remember his outcry against his fifty-three stripes, 
it is a little amusing to hear him in his stanza entitled Chil- 
dren admonishing mothers thus: 
Teach child to ask blessing, serve God and to church: 
then bless as a mother, else blesse him with burch. 
His love for animals, his kindness to servants, his grati¬ 
tude to his patron, his ability to count his blessings are some 
of his good qualities that might be discussed and abundantly 
illustrated; but we shall try to be content here with mention¬ 
ing them only. 
After telling of living in Diram, Norwich, Faiersted, and 
London from which he fled to Cambridge to escape the plague, 
Thomas closes the story of his life in this strain: 
/ 
When all is done, lerne this my sonne. 
Not friend, nor skill, nor wit at will. 
Nor ship nor clod, but onlie God, 
doth all in all: 
Man taketh paine, God giveth gaine, 
Man doth his best, God doth the rest. 
