[E23] "Familie," here used in the sense of the Latin original familia = household, servants. Compare [chap. 73, st. 13].
[E24] Compare Shakspere, Richard II. Act ii. sc. 4, 24: "And crossly to the good all fortune goes."
[E25] "To bridle wild otes fantasie," i.e. to restrain the excesses of youth.
[E26] "Well to account of which honest is not;" never think highly of that which is not honourable, or honestly come by.
[E27] Cf. Hebrews xiii. 4: "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled." Tusser evidently does not appreciate "love in a cottage."
[E28] "Giue ouer to sudgerne, that thinkest to thee;" i.e. make up your mind to settle down in one place and to give up roaming about, if you hope to prosper, lest the grumbling of your hosts and the wants of the nurses prove too expensive for you. Compare "The Dialogue of Wiving and Thriving," [ch. 67 stanza 3], p. 152.
[E29] Dr. Mavor suggests that the third line of this stanza should read: "Of tone or them both," "meaning, if we smell the savour of saving or winning or them both."
[E30] A fool and his money are soon parted.
[E31] "Good bargaine a dooing," etc. When you have a chance of making a good bargain, don't let every one know; but when you want to sell anything, then let it be published abroad as widely as possible. In the first case don't hesitate or haggle about it, but "take the ball on the hop;" in the second, don't be in a hurry to take the first offer, if you are not ashamed of what you wish to sell.
[E32] "Of the complaint of such poore tenants as paie rent corne vnto their landlords, I speake not, who are often dealt withall very hardlie. For beside that in the measuring of ten quarters, for the most part they lose one through the iniquitie of the bushell (such is the greedinesse of the appointed receiuers thereof), fault is found also with the goodnesse and cleannesse of the graine. Wherby some peece of monie must needs passe vnto their purses to stop their mouths withall, or else my lord will not like of the corne: 'Thou are worthie to loose thy lease, etc.' Or if it be cheaper in the market, than the rate allowed for it is in their rents, then must they paie monie, and no corne, which is no small extremitie."—Harrison, part i. p. 301.