paintes of husbandrie. A hundreth good pointes, of good husbandry, [Set forth by Thomas Tusser, Gentleman; Servant to the Honorable Lord Paget of Beaudesert. COPIED FROM THE FIRST EDITION, 1557.] LONDON: REPRINTED FOR ROBERT TRIPHOOK, 37, ST. JAMES'S STREET, AND WILLIAM SANCHO, AT THE MEWS GATE. 1810. DR. MAVOR has announced his intention of giving to the public a new edition of the present once popular work of Tusser, collated with the various editions which passed the press in the Sixteenth Century, and afterwards. For these editions were not confined to the time of the author's life, who died very aged, as early as 1580. Mr. Walter Scott has given, in the Third Volume of the Somers Tracts, a copy of the edition of 1599 by Peter Short. The present reprint of the first edition of 1557, which exhibits the prima stamina of this work, is offered to the curious reader for the purpose of affording a comparative view of the progress of the author's mind, and of a production which was once probably in the hands, or committed to the memories of almost all the country-gentlemen, and others connected wsth husbandry, in the kingdom. The original consists of seventeen leaves, which are now given in ten. So very greatly was it enlarged in subsequent impressions, that it fills 144 quarto pages (closely printed) in Mr. Scott's late republication. One other recommendation the present copy may have, that it is less tedious than the poem in its last state, and preserves all the vigour of the original conception, which future expansion never fails to weaken. March 28, 1810. To the right honorable and my speciall good lord and maister, the Lord Paget, Lord priuie seale. THOMAS TUSSER MADE ME The trouth doth teache that tyme must serue. Take you, my lord, and mayster than, My seruyng you thus vnderstande, My seruing you I know it was, So synce I was at Cambridge tought, My musike synce hath been the plough, Your Seruant, Thomas Tusser. |