[¶ August.]
9.
When haruest is done, all thing placed and set,
for saultfishe and herring, then laie for to get:
The byeng of them, comming first vnto rode,
shal pay for thy charges, thou spendest abrode.
10.
Thy saultfishe well chosen, not burnt at the stone,
or drye them thyselfe, (hauing skill is a [lone]:)
Brought salfe to thy house, would be packed vp drie,
with pease strawe betweene, least it rot as it lie.
11.
Or euer thou ride, with thy seruauntes [compound],
to carry thy muckhilles, on thy barley ground:
One aker wel [compast], is worth akers three,
at haruest, thy barne shall declare it to thee.
12.
This good shalt thou learne, with thy riding about,
the prises of thinges, all the yere thoroughout:
And what time is best, for to sell that thou haue,
And how for to bye, to be likely to saue.
13.
For bying and selling, doth wonderfull well,
to him that hath wit, how to by and to sell:
But chopping and chaungeing, may make such a breck,
that gone is thy winninges, for sauing thy neck.
14.
The riche man, his bargaines are neuer vnsought,
the seller will fynde him, he nede not take thought:
But herein consisteth, a part of our text,
who byeth at first hand, and who at the next.
15.
He byeth at first hand, that ventreth his golde,
he byeth at second, that dare not be bolde:
He byeth at third hand, that nedes borrow must,
who byeth of him, than shall pay for his lust.
16.
When euer thou bargain, for better or wurse,
let alway one bargain, remain in thy purse:
Good credit doth well, but good credit to kepe,
is pay and dispatche him, or euer thou slepe.