Walter of Henley
Husbandry
「13th century」Walter of Henley, Husbandry [Google Books], trans. Robert Grosseteste (London, 1890).
Of Overseeing Your Labourers
It is usual and right that plough beasts should be in the stall between the feast of St. Luke and the feast of the Holy Cross in May, five and twenty weeks, and if the horse is to be in a condition to do his daily owrk, it is necessary that he should have every night at the least the sixth part of a bushel of ats, price one halfpenny, and at the least twelve pennyworth of grass in summer. And each week more or less a penny in shoeing, if he must be shod on all four feet. (13)
How You Must Keep Your Oxen
And if the ox is to be in a condition to do his work, then it is necessary that he should have at least three sheaves and a half of oats in the week…and in summer twelve pennyworth of grass: the sum three shillings, one penny, without fodder and chaff. (13)
How Your Ought to Keep Your Beasts For the Plough
You must keep your plough beasts so that they have enough food to do their work, and that they be not too much overwrough when they come from the plough, for it will be too great an expense to replace them. (23)