I cannot find that there is any reason for assigning the composition of the Book of Husbandry to John Fitzherbert, Sir Anthony’s brother. It is a mere guess, founded only upon the knowledge that Sir Anthony had such a brother. It looks as though the critics who wish to deprive Sir Anthony of the honour of the authorship think they must concede somewhat, and therefore suggest his brother’s name by way of compensation. We have no proof that John Fitzherbert ever wrote anything, whilst Sir Anthony was a well-known author. All experience shows that a man who writes one book is likely to write another. When we leave these vague surmises and come to consider the direct evidence, nearly all difficulties cease. And first, as to external evidence. The author of the Book of Husbandry was also author of the Book of Surveying, as has always been seen and acknowledged.[2] The first piece of distinct evidence on the subject is the statement of Thomas Berthelet. He prefixed some verses to Pynson’s edition of the Book of Surveying (1523), addressing the reader as follows: “This worthy man / nobly hath done his payne I meane hym / that these sayde bokes[3] dyd deuyse. He sheweth to husbandes / in right fruteful wyse The manyfolde good thynges / in brefe sentence Whiche he hath well proued / by long experyence. ¶ And this[4] I leaue hym / in his good wyll and mynde That he beareth / vnto the publyke weale. Wolde god _noblemen_ / coude in their hertes fynde _After such forme_ / _for the cōmons helth_ to deale; It is a true token / _of hyghe loue and zeale_ Whan _he_ so delyteth / and taketh pleasure By his busy labour / _mens welth to procure_.” This cannot well be mistaken. It is obvious that Berthelet believed the author to be a _nobleman_, one who “shewed things to husbands” which he had gained by his own “long experience;” one who wrote out of the “good will and mind that he bare unto the public weal,” thereby proving his “high love and zeal,” in that he delighted “to procure men’s wealth,” _i.e._ the welfare of others, not his own riches, by means of his “busy labour.” We hence conclude that Berthelet knew perfectly well who the author was; and indeed it would have been strange if he did not, since he was writing in 1523 (while the author was still alive), and subsequently printed both the books of which he is here speaking. He plainly tells us that the author was a nobleman, and merely wrote to benefit others out of pure love and zeal.