[Plough Monday].[E452]
2
Plough Monday, next after that [Twelftide] is past,
bids out with the plough, the woorst husband is last.
If ploughman get hatchet or whip to the [skreene],
[maides] loseth their cock if no water be seene.[E453]
Essex and Suffolke.
[Shroftide].[E454]
3
At Shroftide to [shrouing], go [thresh] the fat hen,
if [blindfild] can kill hir, then giue it thy men.
Maides, [fritters] and pancakes ynow see ye make:
let slut haue one pancake, for companie sake.
Northamptonshire.
Sheepe shearing.
4
Wife make vs a dinner, spare flesh neither corne,
make wafers and cakes, for our sheepe must be shorne.
At sheepe shearing neighbours none other thing craue,
but good cheere and welcome like neighbours to haue.
Leicestershire.
The [wake day].[E455]
5
Fill ouen full of [flawnes],[E456] [Ginnie] passe not for sleepe,
to morow thy father his wake day will keepe.
Then euerie [wanton] may daunce at hir will,
both Tomkin with Tomlin, and Jankin with Gill.
Haruest home.
6
For all this good feasting, yet art thou not loose,
till ploughman thou giuest his haruest home goose.[E457]
Though goose go in stubble, I passe not for that,
let goose haue a goose, be she leane, be she fat.
Essex and Suffolke.
Seede cake.
7
Wife, some time this weeke, if the [wether] hold cleere,
an end of wheat sowing we make for this yeere.
Remember you therefore though I doo it not:
the [seede Cake], the [Pasties], and [Furmentie pot].[E458]