Gloves for the reapers

Printed under 1 August · England

No longer kept

At harvest the farmer gave his reapers gloves, and paid the harvest lord who led them a penny or two more than the rest. The reapers cried a largess in return. Tusser set this in his August, with a warning to keep an eye on loiterers. In the same month he told the farmer to leave the gleanings for the poor and to bring the harvest lord home singing.

Grant haruest lord more by a penie or twoo, / to call on his fellowes the better to doo: / Giue gloues to thy reapers, a larges to crie, / and dailie to loiterers haue a good eie.

From Tusser's Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry, p. 129. Read the original

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