1557. A Hundreth Good Pointes of Husbandrie. Reprinted here from the unique copy in the British Museum.
1561. Thomas Hacher had licence for a "dyalogue of wyuynge and thryuynge of Tusshers, with ij lessons for olde and yonge." Ritson, though improperly, considers this as a different work from the piece which appears under the same title in later editions.[27]
1562. It appears probable that this edition, though its existence is disputed by some, contained the original germ of the Book of Huswifery, as we find, on the authority of Warton, that in the preceding year Richard Totell had licence to print "a booke entituled one hundreth good poyntes of housbondry lately maryed unto a hundreth poyntes of huswiffry, newly corrected and amplyfyed."[28]
1564. The existence of an edition of this date rests on the authority of Otridge's Catalogue, 1794. It is probably a misprint for 1562.
1570. A hundreth good pointes of husbandry, lately maried unto a hundreth good poynts of huswifery: newly corrected and amplified, with dyuers proper lessons for householders, as by the table at the latter ende more plainly may appeare. Set foorth by Thomas Tusser, gentleman, servant to the right honorable lorde Paget of Beudesert. In ædibus Richardii Tottyli, cum privilegio, Anno 1570.
1573. Five hundreth pointes of good husbandry united to as many of good huswifery, first devised and more lately augmented, with divers approved lessons, concerning hopps and gardening and other needful matters, together with an abstract before every moneth, containing the whole effect of the sayd moneth, with a table and a preface in the beginning, both necessary to be reade, for the better understanding of the booke. Set forth by Thomas Tusser, gentleman, servant to the honorable lorde Paget of Beudesert. Imprinted at London in Flete Strete within Temple Barre, at the signe of the hand and starre, by Richard Tottell. Anno 1573. Cum privilegio.[29]
1577. A reprint of the above, by the same person [but with some alterations, W.P.].
1580. The edition here reprinted, 4to.
1585. Five hundred pointes, etc. Newly set foorth by Thomas Tusser, gentleman. At London, printed in the now dwelling house of Henrie Denham, in Aldersgate Street, at the signe of the Starre.[30]
1586. By Denham, as before. 4to., pp. 164.
1590. By the assignees of Serres.[31]
1593. By Yardley. 4to. (in the Bodleian Library, M.)
1597. By Peter Short. 4to.
1599. Again by Peter Short.[32] Also by Waldegrave in Scotland. 4to.
1604. Printed for the Companie of Stationers. Five hundreth points of good husbandrie: as well for the Champion or open countrie, as also for the Woodland or Severall, mixed in every Month with Huswiferie, over and besides the booke of Huswiferie. Corrected, better ordered and newly augmented to a fourth part more, with divers other lessons, as a diet for the farmer, of the properties of winds, plants, hops, herbs, bees, and approved remedies for sheepe and cattell, with manie other matters both profitable and not unpleasant for the Reader. Also two tables, one of husbandrie, and the other of Huswiferie, at the end of the booke; for the better and easier finding of any matter contained in the same. Newlie set foorth by Thomas Tusser, gentleman, etc. (Public Library, Cambridge, M.).
1610. Printed for the Company of Stationers. 4to.[33]
1614. id. id. 4to.
1620. id. id. The orthography in the title in some respects more obsolete than in earlier impressions: thus we have moneth for month, and hearbs for herbs. 4to. In British Museum.
1638. For the Company of Stationers. 4to.[34]
1672. Printed for T. R. and M. D. for the Company of Stationers. 146 pp., exclusive of the tables, closely printed.[35]
1692. Bibliotheca Farmeriana, No. 7349. Haslewood.
All the foregoing editions are in small 4to. black-letter [with roman and italic headlines and occasional verses, W.P.].
1710. Tusser Redivivus. The Calendar of the twelve months with notes, published in as many numbers, by Daniel Hilman, a Surveyor of Epsom in Surry. 8vo. Lond. pp. 150.
1744. The same with a new title-page only. Printed for M. Cooper, in Paternoster Row; and sold by J. Duncan, in Berkley Square, near Grosvenor Gate. The title runs thus: Five Hundred points of Husbandry: directing what grass, corn, etc., is proper to be sown; what trees to be planted; how land is to be improved; with whatever is fit to be done for the benefit of the Farmer, in every month of the Year. By Thomas Tusser, Esq. To which are added notes and observations, explaining many obsolete Terms used therein, and what is agreeable to the present practice in several counties of this kingdom. A work very necessary and useful for gentlemen, as well as occupiers of land, whether wood-ground or tillage and pasture.
1810. A very correct reprint of the First Edition of 1557 was issued by R. Triphook and William Sancho.
1812. Five Hundred Points of good Husbandry, as well for the champion or open country, as for the woodland or several; together with a Book of Huswifery. Being a Calendar of rural and domestic Economy, for every month in the year; and exhibiting a Picture of the Agriculture, Customs, and Manners of England, in the Sixteenth Century. By Thomas Tusser, Gentleman. A New Edition, with notes, Georgical, Illustrative and Explanatory, a Glossary, and other Improvements. By William Mavor, LL.D.,[36] Honorary Member of the Board of Agriculture, etc.
"Multa renascentur, quæ jam cecidêre, cadentque,
Quæ nunc sunt in honore."—Hor.London, printed for Lackington, Allen & Co., Temple of the Muses, Finsbury-Square, 8vo. 1812. Dedicated to the President and Members of the Board of Agriculture, pp. 36, xl., and 338.
1834. Mr. Charles Clark of Great Totham, Essex, printed at his private press a few copies of the original edition of 1557.
1848. A Selection was published at Oxford with the following title: Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry, by Thomas Tusser. Now newly corrected and edited and heartily commended to all true lovers of country life and honest thrift. By H. M. W. Oxford, 1848, 16mo.
The work is also included in Southey's Select Works of the British Poets, 143-199.
Extracts from the Registers of the Stationers' Company.
1557. John Daye had licence to print "the Hundreth poyntes of good 'Husserie.'" Regist. Station. A. fo. 23a.
1559-60. June 20. T. Marshe had licence "to print the boke of Husbandry." Ibid. fo. 486. This last title occurs in these registers much lower.
1561. Richard Tottell was to print "A boke intituled one hundreth good poyntes of husboundry lately maryed unto a hundreth good poyntes of Huswiffry newly corrected and amplyfyed." Ibid. fo. 74a.
1565. A licence to Alde to print "An hundreth poyntes of evell huswyfraye," probably a satire or parody on Tusser. Ibid. fo. 131.
[1] The name of Tusser does not appear in the parochial registers at Rivenhall, which only extend back to 1634. According to Dr. Mavor, the name and race have long been extinct.
[2] History of English Poetry, 1840, vol. iii. p. 248.
[3] Letter from J. Townsend, Esq., Windsor Herald, to Dr. Mavor, quoted in his edition of Tusser, p. 7.
[4] History of English Poetry, 1840, vol. iii. p. 248.