The boke of Saint Albans

by Juliana Berners

Merke well theẏs sesonẏs folowẏng.

¶ Tyme of grece begynnyth at mydsomer day

And tyƚƚ holi Roode day lastyth as I you say

¶ The seson of the fox fro the Natiuyte

Tyƚƚ the annunciacion of owre lady fre

¶ Seson of the Robucke at Ester shaƚƚ begynne

And tiƚƚ mychelmas lastith nygh or she blynne

¶ The seson of the Roo begynnyth at Michelmas

And hit shaƚƚ endure and last vntiƚƚ Candilmas

¶ At Michelmas begynnyth huntyng of the hare

And lastith tiƚƚ mydsomer ther nyƚƚ no man hit spare

¶ The seson of the wolfe is in iche cuntre

At the seson of the fox and euermore shaƚƚ be

¶ The seson of the boore is from the Natiuyte

Tiƚƚ the purification of owre lady so fre

For at the Natiuyte of owre lady swete

He may fynde where he goth vnder his feete

Booth in wodys and feldis corne and oder frute

When he after foode makyth any sute

Crabbys and acornys and nottis ther thay grow

Hawys and heeppes and other thyngꝭ ynow

That tiƚƚ the purification lastys as ye se

And makyth the Boore in seson to be

For while that frute may: last his time is neuer past