The Book of Husbandry

This early‑modern handbook offers a vivid glimpse into the everyday concerns of Tudor‑era farmers. Drawing on decades of hands‑on experience, the author walks readers through the basics of crop rotation, animal husbandry, and land management, all while peppering the advice with practical anecdotes that reveal the rhythm of rural life in the 1500s. The text’s original spelling and phrasing are preserved, letting listeners hear the language of the period, while modern notes clarify obscure terms and contextual details.

Accompanying the main treatise are scholarly introductions and footnotes that explore the mysterious identity of the writer—whether a seasoned judge or a dedicated country gentleman—and the history of the work’s multiple printings. These expert insights help frame the agricultural guidance within its legal and social backdrop, making the book not just a manual for growing food, but also a window into the intertwined worlds of law, scholarship, and the land during England’s early modern age.