TUSSER, THOMAS (1524?-1580)

—Versifier on agriculture, was an E ex man. Having a good voice he was trained in music, and was a chorister in St. Paul's, and afterwards in Norwich Cathedral, and held the post of musician to Lord Paget. He tried farming at different places, but unsucce fully, which did not, however, prevent his undertaking to instruct others. This he does with much shrewdne and point in his Hundreth Goode Pointes of Husbandrie (1557), expre ed in rude but lively verse; thereafter he added Hundreth Goode Pointes of Hu erie (Housewifery). The two joined, and with many additions, were repeatedly reprinted as Five Hundredth Pointes of Goode Husbandrie united to as many of Goode Huswifery . Many proverbs may be traced back to the writings of T., who, in spite of all his shrewdne and talent, d. in prison as a debtor .