11
At first for want of teaching,
at first for trifles [breaching],
at first for [ouer reaching],[5]
and lacke of taking [hid],[6]
was cause that [toile] so [tost] me,
that practise so much cost me,
that rashnes so much lost me,
or hindred as it did.
12
Yet will I not despaier
thorough Gods good gift so faier
through friendship, gold, and praier,
in countrie againe to dwell:
Where rent so shall not paine me,
but paines shall helpe to gaine me,
and gaines shall helpe maintaine me,
New lessons mo to tell.
13
For citie seemes a [wringer],
the [penie] for to finger,
from such as there doe linger,
or for their pleasure lie:
Though countrie be more [painfull],
and not so [greedie gainfull],
yet is it not so [vainfull],
in following [fansies] eie.
14
I haue no labour wanted
to prune this tree thus planted,
whose fruite to none is [scanted],
in house or yet in feeld:
Which fruite, the more ye taste of,
the more to eate, ye haste of,
the lesse this fruite ye waste of,[7]
such fruite this tree doth yeeld.
15
My[8] tree or booke thus [framed],
with title alreadie named,
I trust goes forth vnblamed,
in your good Lordships name:
As my good Lord I take you,
and neuer will forsake you,
so now I craue to make you
defender of the same.
Your seruant Thomas Tusser.
[1] In the edition of 1575 the word Thomas, and the words following Beaudesert, do not occur, and the whole Epistle precedes that to Lord William Paget.
[2] mort. 1620.
[3] lease. 1585 and 1620.
[4] quoted. 1585 and 1620.