[E331] "Grote." "In this yere [1349] the kynge caused to be coyned grotes and half grotes, the whiche lacked of the weight of his former coyne, iis. vid. in a li [libra, pound] Troy."—Fabyan, p. 461. The groat was only equal to about three and a half silver pennies instead of four.
[E332] "The Pie will discharge thee," etc., that is, the magpie will save you the trouble, etc., alluding to birds eating vermin on sheep's backs.
[E333] "Ouercome" = overtake, or keep up with; don't mow more than you can easily make, not too much at once, lest part of it be spoiled for want of hands.
[E334] "Cock apace." Cf. Piers Plowman, C. Text, Passus vi. 12, 13 (ed. Skeat).
"Canstow seruen, he seide, oþer syngen in a churche,
Oþer coke for my cokers, oþer to þe cart picche?"
i.e. put hay into cocks for my harvest men. Mr. Skeat quotes in his note to this passage: "Bee it also prouided, that this act, nor anything therein contained, doe in any wise extende to any cockers or haruest folkes that trauaile into anie countrie of this realme for haruest worke, either corne haruest, or hay haruest, if they doe worke and labour accordingly."—Rastall, Statutes; Vagabonds, etc., p. 474.
[E335] To employ your labourers in ploughing, or in performing other parts of husbandry, till the dew is off the grass, is unquestionably a saving of time, and essentially forwards the business of the farm.—M.
[E336] He who is constantly borrowing tools and other things which he ought to have of his own, lays himself under obligation to the lender, who expects twice as much in return.
[E337] "Woodsere" here means the proper season for felling wood.
[E338] "Fieing." "Feigh, Fey, vb. to clean out a drain, gutter or cesspool. 'Paid to John Lavghton in haruest for feighinge the milne becke.'—Kirton in Lindsey Ch. Acc. 1582. George Todd's feyin' out the sink hole."—Peacock's Glossary, E. Dial. Soc. 1877. To fey a ditch or pond is to empty and clean it; and the mud taken from such places, if mixed with lime or chalk, forms an excellent compost for pasture grounds.—M. Cf. Icel. fægja, to cleanse, whence our word is derived.