37
Choose skilfullie Saltfish, not burnt at the stone,[18]
buie such as be good, or else let it alone.
Get home that is bought, and goe stack it vp drie,
with peasestrawe betweene it, the safer to lie.
Compassing of barlie land.
38
Er euer ye [iornie], cause seruant with speede
to compas thy barlie land where it is neede.
One aker well compassed, passeth some three,
thy barne shall at haruest declare it to thee.
39
This lesson is learned by riding about,
the prices of [vittels], the yeere thorough out.
Both what to be selling and what to refraine,
and what to be buieng, to bring in againe.[E370]
40
Though buieng and selling doth woonderfull well,
to such as haue skill how to buie and to sell:
Yet [chopping] and changing I cannot commend,
with theefe[19] and his [marrow], for feare of ill end.
41
The rich in his bargaining needes not be tought,
of buier and seller full far is he sought.
Yet herein consisteth a part of my text,
who buieth at first hand, and who at the next.
Buieng at first hand.
42
At first hand he buieth that paieth all downe,
at second, that hath not so much in the towne,
At third hand he buieth that buieth of trust,
at his hand who buieth shall paie for his lust.[E371]
Readie monie bieth best cheape.
43
As oft as ye bargaine, for better or wurse,
to buie it the cheaper, haue chinkes in thy purse
[Touch] kept is commended, yet credit to keepe,
is paie and dispatch him, er euer ye sleepe.