By the same author:
1) How We'd Talk if the English had WON in 1066 2020 Edition 264 pages, goes from easy to harder in five steps. Link is:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Wed-Talk-English-1066/dp/1800316291/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=how+we%27d+talk+if+the+english&qid=1604160700&s=books&sr=1-2
If you want the update, it has '2020 Edition' on the cover
First published 2009, updated 2011 and 2020 (covers much more than Eldsay English of 1999).
2) Hastings 1066 - Words We'd Wield if We'd Won - now out of print (but some key parts in the above 2020 edition of How We'd Talk)
Some Highlights from: Eldsay English []
New Life for Old English Words[]
This book is out of print (1999), but these slightly adapted highlights are given here with leave from the publisher, Joseph Biddulph and author, David Cowley.
Eldsay English; Background.[]
This book covered (amongst other things) the results of research - "throughseeking" - into words which were formerly found in English, but were lost as a result of the Norman Conquest; Looking through Old English words, we find that there are some that make more sense than the words we use today for the same concepts. This is because English now uses much material from Latin or French, instead of words with roots in Old English. To understand why this should be so, we must look back in history. Before the Conquest, Anglo-Saxon England had a standard written English (Old English) which was an official medium.
This very expressive written tongue thrived at a time when most Western European learning and writing was in Latin. After the conquest, Latin quickly came to be used instead of English for official purposes. French became important officially after about 1150. English thus lost her position in writing and "high" society, and when she started to reassert herself around 1400, we find many French or Latin-derived words being used instead of native ones.
The pressure we may feel even today to use French and Latin words instead of good OE-derived ones is a leftover from these times; f.e. Commence instead of start or begin, received instead of had or got; there is nothing culturally higher or more sophisticated in using the "posh" words. Many of our native English words were lost, but it is still possible to work out how they could have developed in Modern English, by analogy with words that have lived on. The "Englishing English Project" has worked on hundreds of such words. Many of these can be found below.
Some make good sense without explanation, such as afterfollower, fullwork, likeworthy, forelook (=preview) and oathbreach (= Perjury), whilst others just sound good; f.e. Frimdy (curious, inquisitive), steerless (profligate). With these "new" words from OE, the book breaks new ground, and they are given with the hope that some may find their way back into everyday Modern English. Meanings of words change, and this has been reflected in the lists; if some of the words suggest meanings more natural and obvious than those given here, then all well and good, if they get to be used! Other than making English even more expressive, re-adoption of good English words would also lead to other benefits:- in an ever more standardised world, it could help foster better appreciation of some things which are culturally unique to England, in positive ways. A better knowledge of our own tongue's history and worth could lead to greater understanding of the plight of other languages, some of which are under pressure/ threat. Hopefully this will help raise interest in the idea of broadening English and above all help those who would like to begin using some of the words. They belong to English and deserve to live, but can only do so if we use them!
Note on abbreviations. Some abbreviations based on spoken English, rather than the Latin-based terms which are strangely used so often in writing:
a.s.f. (and so forth) for etc. (etcetera). f.e. (for example) for e.g. (exemplia gratia). t.i. (that is) for i.e. (id est).
Native/ Loanword Choices in Today's English.[]
If we care about English, we can already choose to use more native - ourlandish - words every day! Here are a few (with the most English form first):
- Choose right settings needed for work in hand = Select correct settings required for current working.
- Let brake off before backing = Disengage brake prior to reversing.
- Inside leaks are likely to stay unseen = Internal leaks probably remain invisible.
- Outwardly much like kinds made before 1970s = Externally very similar to types manufactured pre-1970s.
- It is hard to see talks starting straight away = It is difficult to envisage negotiations commencing immediately.
- One in four buyers came back yearly = One quarter of purchasers returned annually.
- If address is wrong, fill in slip over and send to, or call us on = If address is incorrect complete slip on reverse and return to, alternatively phone us on....
- Overseeing handout of... = Supervising distribution of...
2. New Wordlist, from Old English words:[]
In this wordlist an updated word is given first, followed by its meaning, and thirdly the O.E. source-word.
- Note; Wordlist gives suggested meanings for new words - not always the exact meaning of the O.E. word from which they come. Having been worked out for potential usefulness, it would not be practical for modernised words always to have the precise meaning of their O.E. forebears (many of today's English words changed in meaning over the years).
O.E. Pronunciation: æ=a (short), þ and ð=th, sc=sh, cg=j, f=v (sometimes), g=y (very rough guide!)
"New" - Modern English - Old English .
A[]
abgo - encircle, go around/ about - ymbgan
ablie - lie around - ymblicgan
abwind - envelop (by winding round) - ymbwinden
acraft - devise - acræftan
afear - terrify, make afraid - afæran
afterfollow - succeed - æfterfolgian
afterfollowedness - sequel - æfterfylgednes
afterfollower - successor - æfterfylgere
aftergoer - descendant - æftergenga
aftergoingness - posterity - æftergengnes
afterwardness - posterity - æfterwardnes
aftnewing - restoration - eftniwung
alease - redeem, save - aliesan
aleaseness - redemption - alesnis
aliken - compare - anlician
anleth - face - andwlita
anew - to renew - edniwian
anewed - renewed - edneowe
angbreast - asthma - angbreost
angsomely - painfully - angsumlice
angsomeness - distress, pain - angsumnes
applewine - cider - æppelwin
atgo - approach
atsake - deny - ætsacen
awayen - repudiate - awægan
ayewhither - in all directions - æghwider
B[]
backboard - port-side, larboard - bæcbord
bebid - order, command - bebod
bedrink - absorb - bedrincan
befare - travel round - befaran
befasten - apply, entrust, use - befæstan
befold - enfold - befolden
begang - circuit - begong
bego - go around - began
behideness - conealment - behydnes
beholdness - observation - behealdnes
behovely - necessary
belaugh - deride - behlyhhan
belean - restrain, dissuade - belean
bepeach - deceive, delude - bepæcan
beride - ride round - beridan
berow - row round - berowan
beshow - exhibit - besceawian
beshower - exhibitor - besceawere
beshowing - exhibition - besceawung
besink - submerge - besincan
besit - occupy - besittan
besorrow - regret - besargian
besorrowing - compassion - besargung
bettering - improvement - beterung
bethink - to consider - beþencan
betrap - entrap - betræppan
bewarp - to pervert - beweorpan
bewend - to convert, turn - bewend
bewixset - interposed
bework - to construct - bewyrccan
bewrite - copy out - bewritan
birther - fetus
blitheness - mirth, joy - bliðnes
bookcraft - book production, design a.s.f. - boccræft
bookhouse - library - bookhus
borough - city
borrowbreach - failure to repay loan - borgbryce
breastwhelm - powerful emotion, grief - breostwylm
bridegift - dowry - brydgifu
busen - example
C[]
candletree - candelabrum - candeltreow
D[]
dearworth - precious - deorwurþ
dearworthness - preciousness, treasure - deorwyrþness
deemer/ deemster - a judge (Manx law has deemsters) - dema
E[]
earthkin - human race - eorðcyn
eatgiver - host at a meal - ætgiefa
elddom - age - ealddom
elderborough - metropolis
eldfather - grandfather - ealdfæder
eldmother - grandmother - ealdmodor
eldright - ancient right, tradition - ealdriht
eldsay - tradition (spoken) - ealdgesegen
endbirthly - in order, in succession, orderly manner - endebyrdlic
endbirthness - order, series, succession, arrangement, degree - endebyrdnes
endlessness - infinity, eternity - endeleasnes
endspeak - epilogue - endespæc
enoughsome - sufficient, abundant - genyhtsum
enoughsomeness - sufficiency, abundance - genyhtsumnis
ettin - giant - eotan
evenlatcher - immitator - efenlæcan
evenlatching - immitation - efenlæcung
evenliness - equality - efenlicnes
evenlotter - equal sharer, partaker - efenhlytta
evennight - equinox - efniht
evenold - contemporary - efneald
evensorrowing - compassion - efensargung
evensorry - compassionate - efensarig
evilwill(ed) - malevolent - yfelwille
evenworth - equivalent - efenweorð
F[]
fakedeed - facendæd
fakeful - deceitful - facenful
fakeless - without deceit - facenleas
fakely - facenlic
farness - distance - feornes
feedness - nourishment - fednes
fewness - paucity - feanes
fieldly - rural - feldlic
folkfree - uninhabited - folcfrig
folkland - common land - folcland
folkly - public, popular, populous - folclic
folkright - human/common right, generally accepted - folcriht
folkish - of the people, secular - folcisc
forbow - decline (turn down) - forbugan
forbuilding - encouragement - forbylding
forcouth - notorious, despicable - forcuð
fordim - to obscure - fordimman
fordeem - prejudice, prematurely deem - fordeman
fordeemer - accuser - fordemend
fordo - destroy, spoil, ruin - fordon
forebody - thorax, chest - foranbodig
forebusy - to preoccupy - forebisegian
forechoose - prefere - foreceosan
forecome - to block, prevent move/ action, prevent - forecuman
foregang - precede - foregangan
foregearing - preparation - foregearwung
foregoer - predecessor - foregenga
forehouse - porch - forehus
forelook - preview - foreloc
foresay - proclaim - foresecgan
foreset - propose - forsettan
foresetness - proposition - foresetnes
foreshieldness - protection - forescieldnes
foreshowing - a preview - foresceawung
forestand - block, prevent - forestandan
forestep - precede - foresteppan
forethoughtful - prudent - foreðancful
forewriteness - prescription - forewritennes
forfare - obstruct, block - forfaran
forgively - excusable - forgifenly
forgoedness - abstention - forgægednes
forharry - ravage - forhergian
forharrying - devastation, raid - forheriung
forhave - abstain, relinquish - forhabban
forhaveness - abstinence - forhæfnes
forlead - to seduce - forlæden
forlet - relinquish, abandon - forlætan
forletness - remission, abandonment - forletnis
forlie - perjure - forleogan
forride - intercept with vehicle/ horse a.s.f. - forridan
forrot - corrode - forrotian
forsakeness - rejection, abandonment - forsæcennes
forshape - transform - forscieppan
forspeak - favour, advocate - forspæc
forspeaker - sponsor, advocate - forspeca
forspeech - advocacy - forspæc
forspend - squander - forspendan
forspoken - advocated - foresprecan
forstand - block, prevent, obstruct - forstandan
forswey - ignore, pass in silence - forswigian
forthbear - produce - forþberan
forthbuild - encouragement
forthbring - accomplish, achieve - forðbrengan
forthen - promote
forthing - advancement
forthfatheren - paternal
forthfroming - departure - forðfromung
forthly - advanced - forþlic
forthspell - declaration
forthway - departure - forþweg
forthshaft - future - forðgesceaft
forthstepping - advance - forðstæpping
forthyearnful - impetuous - forðgeorn
fortrueing - presumption - fortruwung
forwardness - progress - forðweardnes
forwork - forfeit, ruin, undo/ destroy effort, labour/ work - forwyrcan
forworth - be ruined - forweorðan
forworthness - devaluation - forweorðenes
foryield - recompense, requite - forgieldan
frameful - constructive, positive - fremful
framefully - constructively, positively - fremfulic
frimdy - curious, inquisitive - frymdig
frith - peace - friþ
fromfare - departure - framfær
frithstow - reseve (f.e.wildlife) - friþstowe
fullframe - to complete - fullfremman
fullframed - completed - fulfremed
fullframedly - completely - fullfremedlice
fullframedness - completion - fulfremednes
fullgo - complete (such as duration of time) - fullgan
fullsomeness - abundance - fulsumnes
fullwork - complete (such as a task, construction, action) - fulwyrcan
G[]
gatheredness - abscess - gegaderednes
gatheringly - collectively - gadrigendlic
gearingness - preparation - gearwungnes
guestlithe - hospitable - giestliðe
guestlitheness - hospitality - giestliðnes
H[]
harmshare - punishment - hearmscearu
Harvestmonth - September - Hærfesmonað
haveless - destitute - hafenleas
headand - captain
headly - principal, capital - heafodlic
hean - abject, despised - hean
heanly - base, despicable, low - heanlic
healness - salvation - hælnes
hearsome - attentive - hiersum
hearsomeness - attentiveness - hiersumnes
heavytime - oppressive - hefigtyme
hinderness - hindrance - hindernes
highberg - mountain - héahbeorg
hipboneache - sciatica - hypebanece
hoardvat - coffer - hordfæt
holdness - observance - healdnes
holdsome - economical - healdsum
holdsomeness - preservation, restraint, custody - healdsumnes
hotheartedness - ardour - hatheortnes
huebright - brightly coloured - hiwbeorht
hueless - colourless - hiwleas
hungerbitten - starvation
I[]
idleyearnful - indolent - idelgeorn
inbequeath - to inculcate - inbecqeðan
indrink - imbibe - indrincan
infare - incursion - infare
infleshness - incarnation - inflescnes
ingoer - visitor - ingenga
ingoing - entrance - ingang
inheaten - to inflame - inhætan
inlead - introduce - inlædan
inlighten - enlighten - inlihtan
inlightness - enlightenment - inlihtnes
inly - internally - inlic
inning - content - innung
inset - institute - insettan
insetness - institution, regulation - insetnes
inshowing - inspection - insceawung
inthink - intention - ingeþanc
inwitness - conscience, consciousness - ingewitness
inwriting - inscription - inwritting
K[]
kinly - pertaining to family/ kin - cynlic
L[]
landfee - ground-rent - londfeoh
landfolk - native- londfolc
lessness - minority - leasnes
likeworthy - acceptable, nice, likeable - licwerþe
likeworthily - licwyrþlice
likeworthiness - licwyrþnes
longsome - tedious - langsum
longsomely - tediously - langsumlic
longsomeness - tediousness - langsumnes
M[]
manifoldly - (from manifold=multiply/ multiple)- manigfealdlic
manifoldness - multiplicity, abundance, complexity - manigfealdnes
midfastness - moderation - midfæstnes
midmost - most central - midmest
middlest - most central (superlative of middle) - midlest
Midsummermonth - June - Midsumermonað
mightly - possible - mihtelic
mildheart(ed)ness - (meaning obvious) - mildheortnes
mindlyness - rememberance - myndiglicnes
mindworth - worth remembering/ minding - gemyndwyrðe
misbirth - miscarriage - misbyrd
misborn - degenerate - misboren
misdo - do incorrectly/wrongly, transgress - misdon
mislikeness - dissimilarity, difference - mislicneyss
moonly - lunar - monlic
moonsick - lunatic - monseoc
moory - abounding in moors - morig
mouthroof - palate - muðhrof
mousehawk - buzzard - mushafoc
muchness - size - micelnes
N[]
needly - necessary - nydlic
needness - necessity - nydnes
O[]
oathbreach - perjury - aðbryce
offdo - remove - ofdon
offgive - relinquish, release to, abandon - ofgiefan
offlet - relinquish - oflætan
offthink - digress - ofþyncan
oldness - old age - ealdnyss
onbeload - inflict on - onbelædan
onbeshowing - examination - onbesceawung
onbide - expect, await - onbidan
onehood - unity
onfind - discover, notice - onfindan
onfoundness - experience - onfundennys
onget - notice, perceive - ongietan
ongetful - perceptive - andgietful
ongetfully - perceptively - andgitfullice
ongetless - lacking perception - andgietless
ongetness - perception - ongietennes
onlease - release - onlysan
onlighten - illuminate - onlihtan
onshot - attack (f.e. by shooting, also spoken) - onscyte
onsong - incantation - onsang
onthereto - in addition, additionally - on þærto
ourlandish - of this country - urelandisc
outgoing - exit, exodus - utgong
outkind - extraneous - utacund
overfare - travel over - overfaran
overfindness - experiment - oferfundenness
overflowness - superfluity - oferflownes
overlive - survive - oferlibban
overlove - (meaning obvious) - oferlufu
overmoodyness - (meaning obvious) - ofermodignes
overwork - superstructure - ofergeweorc
ownwilled - agnes willan
P[]
plight - danger
plightful - dangerous
R[]
readly - expedient - rædlic
reeve - official - rieff
righting - correction - rihting
rightwise- just, in a correct way - rihtwis
righwiseness - justice, righteousness - rihtwisnyss
roomheart(ed) - generous - rumheort
rootfast - firmly established - rotfæst
roughmood - (meaning obvious) - hreohmod
S[]
sealy - maritime, marine - sælic
scathe - injure - sceaððan
scatheful - injurious - sceaðful
scatheness - injury - sceaððignes
searim - coast - særima
seenly - visible - gesiendlic
seldly - rare - seldlic
selfdom - independence - selfdom
selfly - egotistic - selflic
selfmurder(ing) - suicide - selfmyrðrung
selfmurderer - one who takes own life - selfmyrðra
setness - foundation, composition, settlement, arrangement - setness
shadewise - rational - sceadwis
shadewiseness - discretion, discrimination - sceadwisnes
shandful - disgraceful - scandful
shandliness - disgrace - scandlicnes
shandly - scandlic
shielder - protector scildend
shieldness - protection - scildnes
shoting - missile - scotung
sidely - descrete - sidelic
slithe - cruel, savage - sliðen
smalling - atrophy - smalung
smathinkly - in detail - smeaðanclic
sorrowly - miserable - sorglic
sorrowleath (n) - lament - sorgleoð
sparstone - gypsum - spærstan
stead - place, location - stede
steerer - director - steorend
steerless - profligate, out of control - steorleas
steerlessly - profligately, unmanageably - steorleaslic
steerspeech - guidance (spoken) - steorsprec
stevven - voice - stemn
stirness - commotion - styrenes
stovebath - sauna - stofbæð
suchness - nature, reality, quality - swelcnes
sunderfreedom - privilege - sundorfreodom
sundering - division - ásyndrung
sunderly - special - sundorlic
sunly - solar - sunlic
T[]
thankworthy - acceptable, pleasing - þoncwyrðe
thoughting - consideration, deliberation - þeahtung
thrithely - excellent - þryþlic
throughdrench - to saturate - þurhdrencan
throughholed - pierced, holed - þurhholod
throughlooking - perusal - þurhlocung
throughseek - to research - þurhsecan
throughwone - persist, continue - þurhwunian
tokening - significant
trueless - false - treowleas
truelessness - falsehood - treowleasnes
twofoldly - doubly - twifealdlic
twofoldness - duplication - twifealdnes
twowordy - ambiguous - twiwyrdig
U[]
unbearinglike - intolerable - unaberendlic
unbefought - uncontested - unbefohten
underbear - support - underberan
underdriveness - subjection - underdrifenness
underget - perceive - undergietan
underseek - investigate - undersecan
underthink - meditate - underðencan
unforcouth - not notorious, without dishonour - unforcuþ
unframeful - negative - unfremful
unfrith - hostility - unfriþ
unfulframing - incompletion - unfulfremming
unhold - disloyal - unhold
unlored - ignorant - ungelæred
unmightly - impossibile - unmihtlic
unmightlyness - impossibility - unmihtilicnys
unrightwise - unjust - unrihtwis
unrightwiseness - injustice, iniquity - unrehtwisnis
unstillness - movement, disturbance - unstilness
undtidely - unreasonable
untholing - intolerable
untodealed -undivided
untrimness - (infirmity) state of not being trim - untrymnes
unwinsome - unpleasant - unwinsum
unwinsomeness - unpleasantness - unwinsumnes
upariseness - resurrection - uparisnes
upgoing - ascent - upgang
W[]
wedbreach - divorce, adultery - wedbryce
welwilling - (meaning obvious)- welwillende
welwillingly - (meaning obvious)- welwillendlic
welwillingness - (meaning obvious)- welwillendnes
whelm - surge, fervour - wylm
whilewendly - temporary, transitory - hwilwendlic
widegoing - itinerant, widely travelled - widgenge
wilsomeness - state of being voluntary - wilsumnes
winsomeness - pleasure, delight - wynsumnes
witherchoose - reject, change choice, deselect - wiðerceosan
witherling - opponent, adversary - wiðerling
withersake - adversary - wiþersaca
witherspeaker - contradictor - wiðersprecend
witherward - contrary, opposite - wiðerweard
witherwardly - contrarily, inimically - wiðerweardlic
witherwardness - opposition - wiðerweardnes
withgo - vanish, disappear - wiðgan
withleadness - abduction by leading off - wiþlædniss
withsake - renounce - wiðsacan
withsay - to renounce - wiðsecgan
withsetness - opposition - wiðsetnes
woetoken - portent, sign of misfortune - weatacn
wordful - fluent - wordful
wordhoard - vocabulary
wordlock - words fitting together to make sense, logic - wordloc
wordlore - etymology - wordlar
wordmark - definition - wordgemearc
wordwinsome - affable, happy to talk - wordwynsum
wordwrestle - debate, argue, discuss - wordum wrixlan
workcraft - mechanics - weorccræft
workness - operation - weorcnes
worldshame - great or public disgrace - woroldscamu
worthful - valuable - weorðful
Y[]
yearnful - full of yearning - geornful
yearnfulness - state of being yearnful - geornfulnes
yearnfully - geornfulic -
yelpword - boast - gielpword
yetsing - avarice, covetousness, desire - gitsung
yondfare - travel to a place away - geondfaran
yondlighten - illuminate - geondlyhtan
yondsend - distribute - geondsendan
yondshow - reveal, open to scrutinization - geondsceawian
yondthink - contemplate - geondþencan
youthhood - adolescence - geoguþhad
A Forshaping.[]
The following shows some of the words from the book. It also has barely any un-English words, as native English - that is ourlandish words, bywords and sayings have been chosen where possible, throughout. I hope that the topic will also get some minds thinking!!
Whereas most folk in England lived on (and lived-off, foodwise) the land at one time, from about two hundred years ago onward there was a shift to living and working in towns. This has gone hand in hand with the forshapings of the way of life over this time. Few folk live and work on the land today - we now rather tend to toil with thoughts and writing - wordwrestling inside rooms, in buildings, in towns - instead of toiling with our hands in fields and woods as our forebears did until such a short time ago. And, rather than walking to our work, most of us spend much time wayfaring along busy roads before we can even start (this can be angsome to many, as well as being dear onthereto).
But, to be fair, there are many things about our way of life today that are good:- more of us overlive to a good oldness, we nearly all have enough food, clothing and at least the wealth to buy those things that we really need to live. Also, our children can learn many thrithely things and are mainly well looked after. And yet, there are some folk who find that they underget feelings of angsomeness from the stirness and unstillness of today's living/ way of life. It may well be that there is a rise in these feelings, and more and more are thinking this way.
It seems to go hand in hand with this that many of us find ourselves besorrowing the loss of our links with the land. Though some would be quick to say we had our heads in the clouds, it is nevertheless the dream of many thousands to in some way get back to the land, earn our living on it (or at least something) and to forlet some of the angsomeness of town life...indeed, living on a smallholding and growimg enough to eat is called 'the good life' such is the ongetness of this way of life in everyday speech.
Though there are those who are yearnful for the good life, most would like to have the best of both worlds, that is by keeping most of those things that we do like about today's town way of life!! Whilst we like the good things about today's way of life, most folk will not put up with less than they already have - if anything they want more and more - this being folks' suchness, some would say. If so, then there is a somewhat dim forthshaft awaiting us. So-called 'Green' thinking is that the more we take from the earth, the more we fordo her suchness. There are many bad things happening today which are through man's greed and carelessness - woetokens for the forthshaft - unless things are done to stop the worsening of the ozone hole, melting icecaps, rising seas a.s.f. Lest it seems we are loosing our way by going off the 'yearning for getting back to the land' we had started to talk about, it may rather be that the two things are linked. That is, the yearing for the 'good life' can itself be seen as being 'green', going with the mindset that seeks a more thrithely, caring forthshift for us all. There is a kind of folkstiring towards green thinking, though maybe it is as yet rather more in the mind than in deeds and doing!
As has been already said about the 'good life', there are a great deal of folk who would say that it is only a head-in-the-clouds dream. Others may answer that if you have no dreams then you may never get anywhere anyway, or if you do others down for having dreams then you are wrong.
Rather than get too much into feelings and the mindsets of the sundry shades of thinking on this matter, it would be a good thing to think carefully about it, and try to weigh it up thoroughly in our own mind before we choose which side (if any!) we want to be on. Firstly, it should be said that there are many folk who have upped and awayed to the green fields, woods, hills and dales, forletting their former lives in towns and looking for a more likeworthy life. How have they fared? Some are glad that they have made the shift to that other way of life - or rather other ways - for these folk come from all walks of life and fit into life away from the towns in all sorts of ways. (And let it not be forgotten that those that have wealth and big houses in or near to towns can buy more to get started in a new way of life.)
What line of work one is into is also a big thing. But some folk have not been so happy, and found the life to be harder than they had thought it would be; they have been glad to get back to the towns (it is always wise to bear in mind the likely hardships one may find in a 'grass is greener over there' world!). It would be hard to choose one way or the other until one had lived both lives, or at least talked to folk who had, and maybe read as much as one could about these things. But for those who are frimdy to learn more and want to at least have go at life on the land, it is sad to say that many find they are forstood by ties of work, loved ones/ kin, lack of wealth and suchlike things.
A lack of openings and the kind of know-how needed to get to grips with running a smallholding or following a craft to earn one's living seem to stand in the way too - even if one is not bound by those ties above. So one of the best things that could be done to help would be to work towards making those openings and giving folk the choice of once more having an eldright to live on and off the land, so to speak. Some of the giant farms could be bought by Whitehall, and instead of forspending to grow too much food or on 'setaside' land where no food is grown, the land could be dealt out into smallholdings, big enough for two, three, four a.s.f. folk to live happily off. These folk should first be taught the ins and outs of running smallholdings in a thorough way, so that they know what they are letting themselves in for! Those who like it could find their lives foreshaped. The land would hold more folk, and new work would be made (this could be a great thing for some folk who cannot get work in towns, but dearly want to do something worthwhile with their lives, are bright, and more than willing to work hard).
If the above looks too much like a dream, then it may help to bear this in mind: something like this has been started in the last few years in Ireland, and how well that has gone does bode well for the forthshaft. Maybe, if enough folk were likeminded in England, then something likeworthy and thrithely could be set off here too. I would forspeak forthway from some of the
set ways of thinking we have about how we should live our working lives. We need to take the best of the old ways of life and the best of the new, whilst looking after our home, the earth. If we can do so, then we shall see a needful forshaping for which our children and their afterfollowers shall thank us.
Endspeak.[]
May frimdy folk find forshaped forthshaft, From blithe, lively, thrithely forebears' speech;
In former times, beleaned by and by, Winsome words - which worthy were.
Forlet her not - fair folkright: English tongue - ourlandish eldright!