be examined and knowne Therefore euery Gardener and owner ought to be careful and diligently to foresee that the seedes committed to the earth as M. Cato willeth be neither too olde drie thin withered nor counterfeyted but rather full new and hauing iuice These notes of the seedes remebred and the Gardener minded to coÌ„mit them to the earth ought afore to regard that the wind at that instant bloweth not froÌ„ the north but rather froÌ„ the south or southwest nor the day verie cold for in such seasons and dayes as all the skilfull report the earth as then timorous and fast shut hardly receyueth and nourisheth the seedes committed to it where the ground in a contrary maner doth willingly apply and retaine the seedes bestowed or sowne in fayre dayes and temperate hote The artely disposing of sundrie beddes for the sowing and increase of diuerse fruites and kitchin herbes with the wittie defences to be vsed after the seedes are bestowed Chap. 24. THe Gardener minding to commit chosen seedes into sundrie beds ought to lerne that the beddes lying open to the south be high raised through the well mixing of horse dung with the earth and after the euen raking and leuelling to remain a certaine time vnsowed then one or two of the beddes in the moneth of March and in the increase of the Moone may he sow with Lettuce and Purselane seedes for these sooner spring vppe in the moneth of March than Februarie to bee remooued in the beddes after the plantes be shotte vp halfe a finger heigth In those beddes may he also sowe the Parsely Rocket Sorrell Endiue and diuerse other Sallat hearbes which after they be somwhat come vp may bee thinner sette in other beddes Haue beside a speciall regarde to your Seedes that they bee neyther to olde wythered thinne and emptye and the borders of those Beddes maye you bestowe with the Seedes of the Artichoke well two hande breadth asunder In an other bed may you sow fine seedes to haue pleasant hearbes that may be kept drie for the pot or kitchin in the Winter time and those which yeeld delectable flowers to beautifie and refresh the house as the Maiorani French balme Time Hysope Baâ—il Sauerie Sage Marigolde Buglas Borage and sundrie others The Gardener may trie these seedes in beddes lying all open to the warme Sunne as the Orenge Lemmon Pomecitrone Pomegranate the Myrtle and Date but these ought so to be fensed by a succour on the North side that the colde Ayre hinder or let not the comming vp of them When the Cytrone or any of these be well sprung vp the Gardiner ought to remoue and set them into proper chestes filled with light earth which at will and pleasure may be rolled hither and thither for the better auoyding of the Sunnes great heat and bitter colde ayre by standing vnder a couer or Penthouse made for the onely purpose In an other bed being of good length and placed toward the quickset hedge and to runne ouer the Arche Herber may the Gardener bestow seedes of the Cucumber Cytrone round Gourd and long In an other bed also bring long and narrow and deepe furrowes at eche side made to set vessels lower than the beddes may the Gardiner sow seedes of the sundrie kindes of Melons That the Byrdes and other foules may be defended from comming to the seedes committed to the earth the skilfull will that the white thorne be layde on the beddes but to bestow your seedes in beds rather in the Moneth of March than Februarie and the moone increasing do spedier appeare aboue the earth But if the Gardener feareth least the seedes committed to the earth should be in daunger through the â—itter cold ayre and Sunnes heate following as yearly the like so happeneth the beddes may then be couered with thick Mattresses of straw in such maner that they hinder not through their weight the crescent things comming vp which may thus bee ordred in setting fyrst vp sundrie forked stickes at eche corner and in the sides of the beddes on which long roddes layde reaching to eche corner and at the endes as Columella willeth these done let him wittily lay on the Mattresses in couering and defending the yong plants from the cold or heate at that time But at such times as the ayre being cleare in the colde season the Mattresses when the Sunne shineth warme may be taken of for the speedier increasing of the plantes spinging vp All herbes and rootes for the Kitchin prosper farre better by their remouing and thinner setting through which by report of the skilfull they yeelde a pleasanter sauour â–ª There are of the Greeke writers of husbandrie which will the sowing of seedes to be done in the increase of the moone as from the first quarter vnto the full light of the Moone and â—he knowing at that time to be vnder the earth in the day time â–ª Others hauing deuised a perfiter way do not allow a timely or early sowing of seedes for whiche cause they disposed and deuided the same sowing of seedes into two yea into three or foure seuerall times of the day contenting by this meanes to auoyde the vncertaintie of the time to come herein calling to mind the husbandly prouerb of the worthie Columella which sayth Haue no mistrust in the committing of seedes to the earth It therefore behoueth the gardiner which hath an earnest care for the purchasing of Kitchin or pot hearbes to regard see that the seedes comitted to the earth be ful new the earth artely prepared y e dung in the same laudable water at hand for the vse of the seedes For the seedes founde and good do yeeld after the sowing plantes of the like goodnesse and vertue the earth laboured and made apte will verie well keepe and prosper the seedes committed to it the dung being good and well myxed with the earth will cause the earth batteller and to these the louser whereby water diligently sprinckled on the same may the freelier and easier enter in to feede and cherish the rootes and the water seruing to the same ende that it may as by a feeding pappe nourishe and bring vp all crescent things The workemanly casting forth deuiding and preparing of beddes for the most hearbes and rootes of the Kitchin Chap. â—5 THe owner or Gardener ought to remember that before he committeth seedes to the earth the beddes be disposed and troden out into such a bredth and length as best answereth to euerie plant roote in that the beddes to be sowne for Nauew rootes ought to be troden out large and long next to which may the beddes for Colworts and Cabbages be ioyned of a sufficient bredth to these next may you place beddes of a reasonable breadth for the Rapes and Tureu rootes then for a seemely diuision in the Garden may hee treade out by these an Alley of three foote broade next to whiche if the Gardener will may he dispose sundrye beddes togither for diuers kindes of Herbes
Seedes that at will of the Gardener may be committed to the Earth either in Haruest or Spring time chiefly for the Kitchin or pot vnder a gentle ayre and in a Battle ground are these the Coleworts Nâ—uew Aâ—tiâ—hocke Endiue Lettuce Dyll Rocket Coliander Parselie Fennoll Radishe Parsnip Carret and sundry others Yet these by report of the skilfull come better forward being soweÌ„ in the moneth of July the country there hotte but in the countrie temperate the seedes ought rather in y e month of August and in the Countrie beeing colde in the month of September Those seede committed to the earthe in warme and caulme dayes prosper far better than those being sowen in hotte and nipping colde dayes for that the warme comfortablie drawe vppe the plantes where as the hotte dayes in a contrarie manner do drie and the bitter colde shut the earth The seedes which the Gardener mindeth to bestowe in the earthe ought not to be aboue a yeare olde and that brused haue a white meale wythin ful for otherwise being ouer old or withered they wil neither grow nor profit at all The fresher and newer that the seedes be at time of the bestowing in the Earthe as the Leeke the Coucumber and the Gourde so muche the sooner these breake and appeare aboue the Earthe contrariwise howe muche the older the seedes shall be as the Parsely Betes Organy Cresses Peneroyall and Coliander so much the speedier do these shoote vp and appeare aboue the Earth so that the seedes before the sowing be not corrupt Certayne preceptes of the skilful in our time for the sowing of many delectable floures and tender Herbes with the obseruations of the Moone in these and in other matters necessary Chap. 19. THe latter writers of husbandrie reporte that these tender Hearbes and pleasaunte floures as the Maioram Sauerie Herbe Fluellâ—ne Buglosse the blessed Thistil the Herbe Angelica Ualeriane Bauline Arâ—â—s Dil Fennel Organy Myntes Rue or herbe Grace Spâ—ragâ— â—â—ache Spynache Beetes Endyue Borage Rocket Taragone Parselie Sorrell Endiue Strawberrye Lettuce Artichocke and sundrye others the Marrigolde of all kyndes Rosecampion the redde and white the flower Amoure y e Floure Petilius the Columbine white and blew sweete Johns the Pincke Heartes ease the Pionie red Lillie herbe Sticas or Lauander gentle Batchlers button the Gillifloure of al kindes the Carnation and many others ought rather to be coÌ„mitted to the earth in the spring time and sowne in the Monethes of March and April for so they speedier come forwarde than bestowed in the Moneth of Februarie herein considering the state and diuersitie of the time The seedes also of the tender hearbes committed to the earth in an apt time and the Moone in hir first quarter doe the speedier shoote vp being especially sowne after showers of raine on sunny and warme places as lying open all the day to the Sunne which on such wise do the soonest and spediest break yea and appeare aboue the earth For which cause a diligent care must be had in the bestowing of tender Seedes that the winde then bloweth not from the North nor done in colde and close dayes for these both include the seedes in the earth and hinder their growing and shooting vp Seedes bestowed in hote places do sooner yeeld their stemmes and leaues yea these speediest giue their seedes Such time vse in the sowing of your seedes as may be both milde and warme in that warme dayes following speed more forwarde the seedes bestowed As touching the most seedes committed to the earth they ought rather as afore vttered to be newe not riueled but full bigge weightie fayre of color fattie or hauing a iuice which broken giue a white meale and no drie powder for the seedes that after the breaking yeeld a drie powder do well declare them to be corrupt and seruing to no purpose The seedes thus tried afore and bestowed at that time in the earth when flowers fell a day or two before and a temperate day at the sowing of the seedes doe verie well prosper the growing and procure these to shoote vp farre speedier In that a colde ayre at the sowing and a day or two after is knowne to bee harmefull to seedes through the including of them in the earth and hindring in theyr growth and shooting vp If necessitie forceth the Gardener to bestowe any seedes or plantes in a salt earth â–ª let these be eyther set or sowne about the ende of Haruest whereby the malice and euill qualitie of the ground may be so purged through the shoures falling al the Winter If the owner or Gardener mindeth to bestowe yong Trees in thâ—s grounde lette sweete Earth or Riuer sande bee turned in with the same The Greeke writers of husbandrie after whom Columella and Rutilius will that al the kindes of pulses as Peasone the Hastings Uetches Tares and such like to be sowen in a drie Earth sauing the Beanes which rather ioy to be bestowed in a moyst ground What seeds the Gardener mindeth to commit in a wel dressed earth let these be bestowed from the first day vntill the ful light of the Moone wel nigh for that seedes sowen in the Moone come vp thinne and the plantes insew weake of groweth Such trees as the husbandman mindeth to builde wyth all let those rather be cut downe after the consent of the skilfull in the laste quarter of the moone shee being at that tyme of small light yea neare to hyr chaunge and vnder the Earth In the cutting downe and gathering of corne as Macrobius wylleth for the longer preseruing of it and the straw drie so that the same be done in a drie season doth better agree being in the wayne of the Moone Such crescent things as the Gardener or Husbandman mindeth otherwise to sel ought to be cut and gathered in the full Moone wherby the greatnesse thereof suche things may yeelde a better sale and bee delectabler to the eye Such things as the Husbandman myndeth to preserue a long time moyst as Aples Peares Wardens such like let these after the minde of the skilfull bee rather gathered neare the full light of the Moone For the coÌ„mitting of seedes to the Earth although the antient Husbandmen prescribe proper monthes and dayes yet may euerye person herein kepe the precepte according to the nature of the place and ayre so that these diligently bee considered howe certayne seedes there are whiche speedier spring vp and certaine which slower appeare aboue the Earth The commended times to be obserued with the anoyannce and incommoditie to be eschewed in the bestowing of seedâ—s and plants in the Earth Chap. 20. The singular D. Niger learnedly vttereth that the more of estimation the seedes and plantes are with the trauailes there aboute bestowed so much the circumspecter ought euery Gardener and husbaÌ„dman to be and the more instructions and helpes the Gardener may attayne or the greater daunger he may therein auoyde the more carefull ought he and all others to be The dayly
the Ascendent nor the Moone by any aspect but shall be weakly standing in a weake place of the figure at that time Here myghte manye other rules as touchyng the particular fauoure and hyndraunce of the Starres bee vttered but that it is not my intente in thys Chapiter to be tedious in words or darke in sense For whyche cause let these few rules contente the Gardener who by exercysing of them and through an instructer may inuent other rules more particular Yet I feare mee that the common sorte of menne wyll suppose these rules to extende somewhat aboue theyr capacitie whiche for zeale I beare vnto my countrie moued mee notwythstandyng to vtter and putte suche matter into theyr heades procuryng them thereby that where the dayntinesse and valew of the seedes and plantes so requyre to request the counsayle of some skilfull that both maye make playne these preceptes and instruct them in other rules alike if neede so requireth To conclude the Gardener muste here suppose all matters on hys parte to bee fully and dulie firste prepared and well appointed and then to attende or diligently take heede to those tymes afore vttered for the workyng of the Planets and Starres in the bestowing of seedes tender plants in the earth In what space of tyme seedes committed to the Earth in the increase of the Moone commonly shoote vppe and appeare aboue grounde Chap. 22. FLorentinus a Greeke wryter of husbandrye cunninglye vttereth that the naturalnesse of the grounde the clemencie of heauen the fauoure of the weather and age of the seedes procureth that the seeds being bestowed in the grounde doe eyther speedyer or later shoote vp into plantes For whyche cause the dayntie seedes committed to the Earth in a fayre and warme daye the place hotte or lying open to the Sunne and the seedes newe doe farre speedier shoote vppe than those that beyng sowen in a contrarie season place and grounde All Seedes sowen doe euermore appeare aboue the Earthe at one certayne tyme in a manner for whyche cause the Gardener ought to haue regarde vnto the proper tymes aunswering to the bestowyng of Seedes and gathering the fruites or yeelde of eache Seedes The Spinage Rocket Basiâ— and the nauew seedes breake and appeare aboue the earth after the thirde day sowing if a warme ayre succeede The Lettuce seedes bestowed in a wel dressed Earth do breake and appeare aboue grounde by the fourth day folowing if the clemencie of ayre ayd therto the CoucuÌ„ber Cytrone seedes bestowed in y e increase of the Moone and showers of rayn falling the same or y e next day folowing procure them to appeare the fifte day after The seedes of that slghtly Herbe named the flower Amoure being sowen in the increase of the Moone and the ayre sauouring doe breake and appeare aboue the Earth by the seuenth or eyghte day folowing The seedes of the Herbe Dyll bestowed in the Earth in the increase of the Moone doe for the more part apeare by the fourth daye following The seedes of the Garden Cresses and Mustarde committed to the Earth in the increase of the Moone doe commonly appeare aboue the grounde by the fyfte day after The Leeke seedes bestowed in the ground in the Sommer time are seene aboue the Earth by the sixt day folowing but in the winter time in wel dunged Beds by the tenth day after The seedes of the herbe Rocket commytted to the grounde in the increase of the Moone appeare by the eight day folowing The seedes of all the kindes of Colewortes bestowed in well dressed Beds are euermore seene by the tenth day folowing if the colde ayre hyndereth not The seedes of the great Leekes bestowed in well dunged Beddes appeare many tymes by the ninteenth but oftner by the twentyth day folowing The Colyander seedes bestowed in well trimmed Beds and in the increase of the Moone are commonly seene aboue the earth by the xxv daye but the yong plantes later appeare if the seedes bestowed are newe The seedes of the Organie and Sauerie bestowed in lyght Earth and the Moone increasing do appeare aboue the grounde by the thirtie day folowing The Parsely seedes committed to the Earth and in the increase of the Moone do commonly breake and appeare aboue grounde by the xl day folowing although they are not many times seene before the fiftie day Thus haue I briefly vttered a true and pleasant instruction both for the age of seedes and skill of the Gardener in the sowing of them For as I haue aboue sayed the Lecke the Coucumber and Cytrone seedes doe speedye came vp being newe seedes in a contrarie maner the seeds of the Parsely Beetes Spynage Cresses Sauerie Organy Penneroyal and Colyander the elder that these are before the bestowing in the Earth the speedier the seedes breake and appeare aboue grounde The seedes in like maner of the Coucumber steeped in milke or luke warme water for a night and committed to the Earth vnder a warme ayre do farre speedier breake and appeare aboue ground The like may the Gardener conceiue to be done with the seedes of the Artichock and many other hearbes of which shal particularly be vttered in the proper places hereafter The third monthes sowing or rather in May to such dwelling far North and where snow lyeth long there this bestowing of seedes better agreeth especially where the qualitie of Sommer is knowen to be moyst But in other Countries this like by a seldome happe answereth seedes three monthes old committed to the earth in the Haruest time wyll better agree being done in hotte Countryes the Moone herein considered The Gardener in hys well trymmed Earth the tyme ayding may commit to the grounde all worthy and excellent kinde of seedes plantes flippes kernels and suche like but these for a tryal bestow in the Beds of your Garden So that in any newe kindes of seedes not assayed or proued before the Gardener maye not throughly hope that these will prosper in hys ground The seedes committed to the Earth in moyst places doe speedier shoote vp the Moone helping thaÌ„ bestowed in drie ground For whiche cause election vsed in the sowing of good ful seedes â—n either â—round much auayleth The Seedes or settes bestowed in shadowie places although the Earth be well laboured before doe rarely or very seldome prosper and yeeld their floure The plantes growen to their floure maye at that tyme after the minde of the Neapolitane Palladius Rutilius be little or nothing handled for doubt of corrupting their floure or the sooner sheading of them What care and diligence is required of euery Gardener in the plucking vp and cleere weeding away of all vnprofitable Herbes growing among the garden plantes Chap. 23. AFter the Seedes beeyng workemanly bestowed in the Beddes the Gardeners next care must bee that he diligently pull vppe and weede away all hurtfull and vnprofitable Herbes annoying the Garden plantes comming vp But about this exercise in weeding of the beddes there is a disagreement among the Writers
of the skilfull whych very often is wont to happen in the dewie Countrey valleys and in places where bigge winde of a suddayne doth many times blowe Thus muche for the rust being enimie to fruites Against the burning heate whych peculiarly is wont to happe to Uines the learned Plinie willeth the Husbandman to burne three liue Creuisses or to hang them aliue on the Tree or Uine The Greekes as certayne Latine Writers haue noted didde sowe Beanes as well within as without the Garden ground or fielde to auoyde by that meanes the Frost falling or at least to auayle agaynste the Frost These instructions for the workemanly handling and ordering of a Garden plotte shall at this presente suffise and like the remedies againste the harmes and iniuries that commonly annoy whereby all Seedes and plantes bestowed in the same may with gladsome cheere to the Gardener prosper and encrease whiche the gentle Reader shall conceyue to be borrowed out of the workes both of the olde and newe Writers of Husbandrie as well Greekes as Latines that by greate studie and painefull laboure searched and obserued the most of these or else not attempted of my part to be published and made common to all men Besides these you shall well conceyue that the better parte were confirmed in oure time by the experiences of sundry skilfull men in the matters of Husbandrie and by earnest sute purchased whiche to be briefe being thankefully accepted the Authoure hathe hys due rewarde and so an ende of this fyrst parte of the Gardeners Labâ—â—inth Vale. A proper knotte to be cast in the quarter of a Garden or otherwise as there is sufficient roomth The second part of the Gardeners Labyrinth vttering suche skilfull experiences and vvorthy secretes about the particular sowing and remouyng of the most Kitchin Hearbes with the wittie ordering of other dayntie Hearbes delectable floures pleasant fruites and fyne rootes as the like hath not heeretofore bin vttered of any Besides the Phisicke benefites of each Herbe annexed with the commoditie of waters distilled out of them ryghte necessarye to be knowen WHere in my firste parte I haue fully satisfyed as I trust the exspectation of the Husbandly Gardener and owner in all such matters which may appeare needefull or requisite to be learned and knowen for the better ayde in possâ—ssâ—ng of a commodious and delectable Garden in like manner I purpose to ayd the carefull Husbandman or Gardener after the possibilitie of my skill in this seconde parte with suche skilfull healpes and secretes as are required about the artely sowing and particular bestowing as well of the Kitchin as other dayntie Hearbes â–ª pleasaunte fruites delectable floures and fyne rootes whiche at large I purpose to vtter in the same and likewise the Phisicke benefites to eache Hearbe I adde wyth other matters profitable to the ende the owner or Gardener may with better good will be moued to bestowe an earnest care and diligence aboute the often remouing as well of daintie floures as Hearbes with the clipping pressing downe breaking away and cutting off the endes of rootes that these may growe the thicker and bigger both in Hearbe and roote All whyche instructions and rare secretes are parte borrowed out of the worthy workes and treasures of the Greeke and Latine professors of Husbandrie and parte purchased by friendshippe and eaâ—nest suite of the skilfull obseruers and wittie searchers in oure tyme of laudable secretes in Garden matters seruing as well for the vse and singular comforte of mannes life as to a proper gayne and delight of the minde The lyke of whyche alreadye vttered maye the owner both see and knowe by that plante whyche in Gardens euerye where as well those in the Countrey as in the Citie is placed none so common none more plentifull nor oftener vsed among Kitchin Hearbes than thys familiar Pot Hearbe named the Colewort whyche by a diligence of the Husbandly Gardener may well serue in the coldest of Winter in the steade of other Pot Hearbes so that this Hearbe by good reason knowen to be not only profitable for the Pot but to the vses of Phisicke ryghte necessarie hathe moued mee the rather to begynne first wyth the Coleworte in vttering what care and diligence is required aboute the sowyng often remouyng clippyng and dressing of the same beeyng afore bestowed in Beddes workemanly prepared What healpes and secretes to be learned in the sowing and often remouing of the Coleworte Chapter 1. THe worthy Marcus Cato in his husbandrie preferred the Colewort before all other Pot Hearbes and the learned Plinie in like manner ascribed a principalitie to the same of all Garden Hearbes for whiche cause I purpose heere to intreate first of this Hearbe that manye of the Latines also for the mightie stemme and armes like branches named the Colewort Suche is the nature of this plant that the same refuseth no condition of ayre for whiche cause it may bee committed to the Earth in any time of the yeare This plant desireth a fat Earthe and wel turned in with dung but the Cleyie grauellie or Sandie thys refuseth except a floud of raine water shall now and then healpe The Coleworte prospereth the better beeing placed towarde the South but this standing open to the North not so well encreaseth although both in tast and strength it ouercommeth in the same place for through the colde aire and frostes the Herbe is caused the tenderer and pleasanter The Colewort ioyeth on a hill syde or the ground stieping downe it delighteth in dung and encreaseth by the often weeding as the worthy Rutilius hath noted when sixe leaues shal be sprung vp or â—ut fiue the same then must bee remoued but in such manner handle that the roote afore the setting againe bee annoynted with softe Cowe dung whiche ought so to be ordered in a warme day if it bee Winter but if in the Summer time then at suche time as the Sunne shall be goyng downe in the West The most auntient of the Greekes deuided the Colewort into three kindes only as the crisped which they named Selinoidea for the similitude of y e leaues of Parselie the same of them Lean for the brode leaues issuing or growing forthe of the stemme for whyche cause some named it Cauloden And the same whych properly is named Crabe growyng vppe with thinner leaues both single and very thicke The Colewort becommeth the bigger through the Earthe dayly turned light vp about the bodie And particularly to write the common Colewortes which they name the long or greene ought to be sowen from the middle of August or from the beginning of September that these maye bee growen vppe into bigge leaues to serue in Wynter and in the lent time The husbandly Gardener or owner may plant yong Colewortes in October and set them againe in December to possesse the leaues in the sharpe winter and y e seeds in June and July and to make them also grow as bigge touft as in the other seasons of the yere
or rather rosted vnder hotte imbers which after the Artly mixing with old Barrowes grease be in plaister forme applyed to the dayly griefes of the flanckes or sides doth in shorte time preuayle The iuyce of the Coleworte myxed wyth the oyle of Roses and applyed to the foreheade doth remoue the headache procured by heate of the Sun To this Coleworte boyled if you mixe the oyle of Almonds and Juyce of the sweete Pome Granate the same vsed doth in shorte time deliuer a drie coughe The Colewort after the opinion of certaine skilful Phisitions is founde to be harde in digestion swelleth the Bellie harmeth the flewmaticke in that the same increaseth humors and harmeth women hauing the redde course on them for so muche as the same increaseth such a fluxe If you would drie a moyst bellie then after the Colewortes be halfe sodden by pouring forth al the first in a manner poure in other warme water speedily which like boyle againe vntill the Coleworte in thys seething shal be tender and softe and in eating season it with a little pepper and salt but this may not be handled on such wise if you wold vse it for loosing of the bellie for then after the shifting of it out of the first hot licour into a panne standing fast by with oyle and a little salte prepared you must boyle againe vnto the tyme the same be readie The commended benefites of the distilled water of Colewortes THe leaues of the greene and common Coleworte are to bee distilled in a fayre and apte tyme aboute the beginnyng of June This water ministred or receiued vnto the quantitie of three ounces at a time morning and euening stayeth womeÌ„s reddes The distilled water of the Coleworte profiteth the byrth of chyld when the time of deliuerie is at hande if a Napkin wete in it be applyed often to the nose to smel vnto for by that meanes may shee happily be delyuered The like quantitie druncke healpeth the dropping of the vryne And druncke vnto the quantitie of three ounces at a time morning and euening stayeth a loose Bellie The Phisicke helpes of the water of the redde Coleworte THe leaues of the redde Coleworte gathered are to bee distilled in the ende of May. This water drunke in the morning fasting vnto the quantitie of sixe or seuen ounces at a time softneth a harde belly and three ounces at a time vsed for a moneth togither putteth awaye the gyddynesse of the heade thys water profiteth againste the Apoplexie and convulsion or Cramp in the members either drunck or annoynted on the greeued places This water helpeth the trembling and quiueryng of members if those bee often rubbed and suppled with it and the water suffered to drye these into partes by it selfe The linnen clothes wet in it applyed on inflame 〈◊〉 putteth away the heate and ceasseth or â—â—ageth the swâ—llingâ— and orderly drunke healeth vlcers both within and without the body so that the vlcers without be applyed with linnen cloâ—â—â—s both morning and euening What worthy instructions to be conceyâ—ed in the sowing and ordering of the Beete for the Poâ—te Chapter 2. THe Beete more often eaten at poore mens tables ought to be bestowed in a most fatte Earthe and sowen at any season but rather the Seedes to be committed to the Earth abouâ— the middle of December and vnto Marche and like in August to possesse Seedes which may indure for three yeares The Seedes ought rather to be thicke than thinne sowen in beâ—dde and shot vp to some growth as that four or fyue leaues be sprung aboue the Earth then in the Summer time the plantes are to be remoued if the beddes afore were moystned or wet with floures as the singular Columella writeth but if the grounde bee drie in the Haruest time then to remoue them where shoures lately fell and softned the Earth The Beete loueth or ioyeth to be often digged about and to be fedde with much dung for which cause the yong plantes to be sette againe ought after the endes of the rootes cut off and the toppes of the leaues clipped to be striked or annoynted about with newe Cow Dung and then bestowed in beddes a good distance asunder which after the plants be more growen vp to be diligeÌ„tly weeded about and the vnprofitable weedes throwen away for by that meanes they growe the fayrer and bigger being as I said bestowed in fatte Earthe and well dunged The Beete may be caused to growe bigge and brode as â—ostion in his Greeke instructions of Husbandrâ—e affirmeth if before the Beete shall be growen vp into a stemme and shot forth in stalkes the owner lay vpon y e head a brode Tile Posthard or some other thing of waight to presse the toppe gently downe for by that practise or meanes in the waightie bearing downe the Beete is caused to spreade into a breadth with the leaues The Beete becommeth the whiter and farre greater if the Husbandly Gardener annoynte or couer the roote with newe Oxe or Cowe dung and that hee cutte the roote and toppe of the yong Bete â–ª as the Leeke handled before the setting and after a bigger growth to pâ—asse it downe as afore vttered To haue the Beete growe redde water the plant with redde Wyne Lyes or set the same in a hote place where the Sunne dayly shineth long The Beete rosted in Imbers taketh away the stincking smell and sauoure of Garlike eaten if the same be eaten vpon or after the Garlike as the Greeke Menander hath noted Thys is maruellous to heare by the Seede of the Beete that it yeeldeth not the whole perfection or perfite Seedes in the first yeare but an increase in Seedes somewhat more the seconde yeare and in the third yeare a full perfection from the first sowing And Plinie reporteth that the Beete speedieâ— commâ—th forwarde with the olde Seede than with newe for whiche cause the matter demanded of a skilfull Gardener reported of experience that the Seedes of the Beete to sowe ought not to be gathered before the Beete had borne a thirde yeare after the first sowing of which Seedes sowen in due time of the Mone the best Beetes come and this not to be forgotten that when the tast of Wine through the Colewort as afore vttered is corrupted in the vessell the same againe by the sauoure of the Beete as through the leaues put into it is recouered These hitherto of the Beete The Phisicke benefytes of the Beete FIrst all the kindes of the Beete haue a cold moyst qualitie and the white Beete as Diphilus the Husbandly Phisition reporteth looseth the bellie and the redde Beete moueth or prouoketh vryne Galen affirmeth this Beete to be endued with a nytrous qualitie through which it both purgeth and clenseth filth whiche vertue is more effectuous in the white in so muche that it causeth the bellie laxatiue and purgeth the body of euill humors yet the fame passed to the stomacke byteth and plucketh it The iuice of the common Beete drunke
in it What skil diligence and secrets is to be lerned in the sowing and ordering of the Cucumber Chap. 29. THe auntient in time paste confounded or rather contrarye matched the Gourds with Cucumbers as the lyke also Plinie did and Euthydemus the Atheniā in his booke which he wrote of pothearbs named the Gourd the Indian Cucumber and Menedorus a folower of Erasistratus defineth twoo kinds of the same the one to be the Indian which as he vttereth is the Cucumber and the other to bee that which is named the common Gourd The Cucumber besides after the sentence of Varro is so named for the crooking of it and the Greke phisitions named it both Sicyon and Sicys for that it staieth and represseth as Demetrius writeth the veneriall acte throughe the coldnesse consisting in it But leauyng further to vtter of the kindes let vs come to the matter in teaching what diligence is required about the well handling of the Cucumber The Seedes after the minde of the Neapolitane Rutilius desire to be bestowed in furrows not thicke togyther and these raised well a foote and a half high but in breadth three foote and between the furrowes muste the owner leaue spaces of eyghte foote broade whereby the Cucumbers in the growyng maye freelye wander and spreade abroade These after the cōming vp need neither to be raked nor weded about for that in theyr fyrst comming vp they ioye and prosper the better by growing among other herbes of whiche these are greatly strengthned and ayded The plants creepe a long on the Earth and spredde into braunches muche like to the Uine whiche for the weakenesse of the stalke are caused on suche wise to spreade abroade on the grounde except these be otherwise shored vp in their growing with proppes workmanly sette in the Earth for the better staying vp of the weake armes and braunches that the fruites corrupte not by lying on the Earth The Seedes for the more parte appeare by the sixte or seauenth day after the sowing being sufficientlye moistned with store of water for that space and time by a pot or pottes of water dropping continually downe with a liste or wollen clothe hanging foorth of the mouth of the potte which manner of watering is named filtring Thys kinde of wateryng is one of the chiefest matters required in that the plantes prosper and come speediest forward through the muche moisture in which they mightilye ioye Yet these are muche hindered and greatly feare the frostes and colde ayre For which cause the plants oughte at suche colde times to be workmanly fenced wyth mattresses of strawe diligently spred ouer them The skilfull Rutilius writyng of the workmanly orderyng of the Cucumber willeth the Seedes to bee committed to the Earthe in the moneth of Marche and for daunger of the colde or frosts to couer the beddes with mattresses of straw vnto the middle of Maye at whiche time the plantes oughte to be remoued and sette againe into beds wel dunged and thicke layde for to run foorth and creepe abroade on the grounde but the plantes yeelde the more if they be bestowed in beds wel filled with earth dung and these raised aboue afoote highe In the bestowing of the Seedes in the earthe the owner oughte to haue a care that hee sette the Seedes in beddes a lengthe and these well twoo foote asunder one from the other herein considering whether the Seedes be broken by the eighte or tenthe daye followyng whyche founde ryther harde or broken doeth denote a perfectnesse or goodnesse of the Seedes But these in a contrary manner descerned softe are vnprofitable and to bee caste awaye in whose places others requyre to be set prouing by the sixte or eighte day if the Seedes bee broken or otherwise soft which in a contrary manner seene bestowe others in the places as aboue taught The plantes after the comming vp neede not to bee weeded in any manner for as muche as the plantes better prosper and growe the fairer by comming vp among other Herbes of whiche these take a norishment If the seeds before the sowyng be stieped for two days in sheeps milk as Rutilius willeth or in water and Hony as Plinie instructeth or in Sugered water which cause the Plantes after their perfite growth to yeelde Cucumbers both swete tender white and most pleasant aswel in tast as in sight as the singular Columella hath uoted and before him the Greke Florentinus also after both Plinie and Palladius to al which experience confirmeth The Gardener which woulde possesse Cucumbers timely and verye soone yea and all the yere through ought after the mynde of the Neapolitane in the beginning of the Spring to fill vp old worne Baskets and Earthen pannes without bothomes with fine sifted Earth tempered afore with fat dung and to moysten somewhat the Earth wyth water after the seedes bestowed in these which done when warme and Sunny dayes succeede or a gentle rayne falling the Baskets or Pans with the plantes are then to bee set abroade to be strengthned and cherished by the sunne and smal shoures but the euening approching these in all the colde season oughte to bee sette vnder some warme couer or house in the grounde to bee defended from the frostes and colde ayre which thus standing vnder a couer or in the warme house moysten gently with water sundry tymes and these on such wise handle vntyl al the Frostes Tempestes and colde ayre bee past as commonly the same ceasseth not wyth vs let aboute myddes of Maye After these when oportunitie or an apte daye serueth the Gardener shall bestow the Baskets or Pannes vnto the brymme or deeper in the Earth well laboured and trymmed before with the rest of the diligence to be exercised as afore vttered which done the Gardener shall enioye verye forwarde and tymelyer Cucumbers than anye others Thys matter may bee compassed both easier in shorter tyme and with lesser trauel if the owner after the cutting of the waste branches doth set them in wel laboured Beds for these in far shorter time and speedier do yelde fayre Cucumbers This one thing I thinke necessarie to be learned for the auoyding of the dayly labour and paynes in the setting abroade and carrying into the house either halfe Tubbes Baskettes or Earthen Pannes whiche on this wise by greater facilytie ◠may be done if so be the Gardener bestowe the vessels with the plantes in Wheelebarrowes or suche lyke with wheeles for these to mens reason causes maruellous easines both in the bestowing abroade and carrying again ◠into the warme house as often as neede shall require The yong plants may be defended from cold and boistrous windes yea frostes the colde ayre and hotte Sunne if Glasses made for the only purpose be sette ouer them whiche on suche wise bestowed on the Beddes yeelded in a manner to Tiberius Caesar Cucumbers all the yeare in which he toke a greate delight as after the worthy Columella the learned Plinie hath committed the same to memorie which
the coÌ„modities therof Ch. 3. The order in sovving or setting of Arage vvith the phisike helps therof Chap. 4. The sovvyng and remouing of Sperage vvith the phisike helps therof Chap. 5. The ordring sovving of Spinage vvith the phisicke helpes thereof Chap. 6. The ordering and sovving of the Garden Sorrell vvith the phisike helpes of the Sorrell and Pympernell and the vâ—ater distilled therof Chap 7. The ordering and sovving of Louage Buglosse vvith the phisik helps of them both and the vvater therof Chap. 8. The figure of the Fornace named â—alneum Mariae fo 26. The order of sovving remouing setting the Marigold vvith the phisike helps of Marigolds and vvater therof Chap. 9. The ordering and sovving Parsely vvith the phisicke healpes of Parseley and the vvater distilled thereof Chap. 10. The ordering and sovving of Garden and vvilde running Time vvith the phisicke healpes of Time and vvater therof Chap. 11. The ordering and sovving of Mintes and Holihoke vvith the phisicke healpes of the Mintes and Mallovves and vvater thereof Chap. 12. The ordering and sovving of the Artochoke vvith the phisicke healpes thereof Chap 13. The ordering and sovving of Endiue and Succory vvith the phisicke helpes both of them and the vvater thereof Chap. 14. The ordering sovving of Lettuce vvith the phisicke healpes of Lettuce and the vvater therof distilled Chap. 15. The ordering and sovving of Purselane and Rocket vvith the phisicke healpes of them both and of the vvater of Purslaine Chap. 16 The ordering and sovving of Cheruill Smallage Taragon and Cresses vvyth the phisicke helpes of Cheruill and Garden Cresses and the distilled vvaters thereof Chap. 17. The ordring and sovving of Bucks horn Stravvbery and Mustard seede vvith the phisicke helpes of them all and vvater distilled from them Chap. 18. The ordering and sovving of Leekes and Câ—ues vvith the phisicke healpes of the Garden Leeke and vvater thereof Chap. 19. The ordering and sovving of the Onion vvith the phisicke commodities of the Onion and vvater therof Chap. 20. The ordering and sovving of Garlike vvith the phisicke healpes of Garlike and the vvater thereof Chap 21 The inconueniences of Garlike oute of Plinie fo 103 The ordering and sovving of the Scalion and Squill Onion vvith the phisicke healpes thereof Chap. 22. The ordering of Garden Saffron vvith the phisicke healpes thereof Chap. 23. The ordering and sovving of Nauevves vvith the phisicke benefites thereof Chap. 24. The ordering and sovving of the Rape and Turnupe vvith the phisicke helps of the Rape and vvater thereof Ch. 25. The ordering and sovvyng of Radyshe vvith the phisicke benefits of Radishe and the vvater thereof Chap. 26. The ordering and sovving of Parsneps and Carots vvith the phisicke heâ—lpes of them the vvater of Parsnep Ch. 27 The ordering and sovving of the Garden Poppy vvith the phisicke helps of Poppye and the vvater thereof Chap. 28. The ordering and sovving of Cucumber vvith the phisicke commodities thereof Chap. 29. The ordering and sovving of the Gourde vvith the phisicke helpes of the same the vvater thereof Chap. 30. The healpes and secretes of the Pompons Mellons and muske Mellons vvith the phisicke commodities of the Pompones and Mellons and the distilled vvater of Mellons Chap. 31. VVorthy instructions aboute the setting and sovving of sundry phisicke hearbes fragrant hearbes and floures and of the Blessed Thistle vvith the phisicke helps of the Thistle and the vvater thereof Chap. 32. The setting and sovving of the herbe Angelica vvith the phisicke healpes therof Chap. 33. The sovving of the herbe Valerian vvith the phisicke helps of the same and the vvater of the herbe and roote thereof Chap. 34. The bestovving of Bittoâ—â—â— vvith thâ— phisicke commodities of the same anâ— the vertues of the VVater thereof Chaptrer 35. The bestovving of Loâ—age vvith the phisicke helpes and vertues of the vvater thereof Chap. 36. The bestovving of Elecampane vvith the Physicke healpes of the same and the vvater distilled of the hearbe and root thereof Chap. 37. Finis Tabulae ¶ Authours from whome this vvorke is selected PLinie Cicero Columella M. Cato Varronianus Tremelius Varro Florentinus Palladius Rutilius Vergile Didymus Auicen Democritus Dyophanes Hesiodus Affricanus Apuleius D. Niger Theophrastus Anatolius Pamphilus Ruellius Paxanius Beritius Marcus Gatinaria Albertus Philostratus Archibius Galene The Gardeners Labyrinth Contayning the manifolde trauayles great cares and diligence to be yearly bestowed in euery earth for the vse of a Garden with the later inuentions and rare secretes therevnto added as the like not heretofore published The inuention of Gâ—rden plottes by whom first deuised and what commoditie founde by them in time past Chap. 1. THe worthie Plinie in his xix booke reporteth that a Garden plotte in the Auncient time at Rome was none other than a smal simple inclosure of ground whiche through the labour and diligence of the husbandmaÌ„ yeelded a commoditie and yearely reuenew vnto him But after yeares that man more esteemed of himselfe sought an easier life deuised and framed this ground plotte for the minde as for pleasure and delight as may well appeare by that Epicure of whome Cicero maketh mention in his booke intituled De natura Deorum who liuing at ease and conceyuing a felicitie in the Garden indeuoured first to place and frame the same within the walles of Athens whiche before as it should seeme lay open and vndefended in the wyde fielde and the culture of it not had in so much estimation as to place them nighe to theyr townes or houses For whiche cause doth Plinie by good reason rightly attribute the inuention of the delectable Garden to him The Garden plottes whiche the Auncient Romaynes possessed as Plinie reporteth were onely set aboute with trees hauing a dead inclosure made onely of busshesâ— that needed repayring euery yeare in whiche especially were sowen the red Onyons Colewortes great Leekes Cresses great Mallowes or holy Okes Endiue Rocket and sundry sallate Herbes In these they found such a commoditie as maruelously pleased them â–ª seyng they by enioying the hearbes needed no fire about the dressing preparing of them and spared a charge of fleshe besides a dayly profite that they gotte by the herbes and woodde brought to the Citie to be solde The meaner sorte of that tyme so litle cared and esteemed the eating of fleshe who in generall accompted it a kinde of reproche to be knowen to haue eaten fleshe that they refusing this taunt did as to a shambles or fleshe market haunt dayly to the Garden Columella reporteth lib. 10. that the Auncient husbandmeÌ„ so slenderly looked vnto or rather forced of Gardens that they in furthering the groweth and yeelde of theyr fruytes and hearbes bestowed a small trauayle and diligence And as they appeared negligent in their labours of the Garden so were they well pleased with a meane liuing in somuch that the common sorte fedde and liued willingly on grosse and simple herbes But after the age and people were refourmed and brought by the
instruction of the Epicure to a more delight of themselues in coueting to feede on daintie herbes and Sallates with meates delectable and taking an earnester care for the pleasing of their mouthes they laboured then to become skilfull and to vse a greater care about the ordering and apt dressing of Garden plottes by well fensing and comely furnishyng of their grounde with sundry needefull and delectable trees plantes and herbes in which trauayles and diligence of the husbandmen so good successe and commoditie ensuing procured not onely the willing carriage of herbes fruytes and other commodities farre off to be exercised vnto Cities and market Townes by which these through the sale obtayned a dayly gayne and yearely reuenew for the ayde of theyr housholde charges but allured them also to place and frame gardens aswell within Citties and Townes as faste by that a coste bestowed might after possesse the recreation and delight of mindes besides the proper gayne made by the fruytes floures and herbes gathered in them The Garden plottes at length grew so common among the meaner sorte that the charge and the chiefest care of the same was committed vnto the wyfe in somuch that these accompted not the wife of the house to be a husewife in deede if shee bestowed not a payne and diligence as Cato reporteth in the weeding trimming and dressing of the Garden But to be briefe and leauing further to reporte of antiquitie I thinke it high tyme to declare the effects and commoditie of this worke taken in hande and first to intreate of the care helpes and secretes to be learned and folowed in the Garden grounde All whiche in a pleasant maner shall after be vttered in destinct Chapiters to the furtherance and commoditie of many Gardeners and all suche hauing pleasure therein What care and diligence is requyred of euery Gardener to these what increase commoditie a well laboured earth yeeldeth Chap. 2. THe husbandman or Gardener shal enioy a most coÌ„modiouse and delectable garden whiche bothe knoweth can and will orderly dresse the same yet not sufficient is it to a Gardener that he knoweth or would the furtherance of the garden without a cost bestowed which the workes and labours of the same require nor the will againâ— of the workeman in doing and bestowing of charges shall smally auayle without he haue both arte and skill in the same For that cause it is the chiefest poynt in euery facultie and busines to vnderstand and know what to begin and follow as the learned Columella out of Varronianus Tremellius aptly vttereth The person whiche shall enioy or haue in a readinesse these three and will purposedly or with diligence frame to him a well dressed Garden shall after obtayne these two commodities as vtilitie and delight the vtilitie yeeldeth the plentie of Herbes floures and fruytes right delectable but the pleasure of the same procureth a delight and as Varro writeth a iucunditie of minde For that cause a Garden shal workemanly be handled and dressed vnto the necessarie vse and commoditie of mans life next for health and the recouerie of strength by sicknesse feebled as the singular Palladiusâ— Rutilius hath learnedly vttered and the skilful Florentinus that wrote cunningly of husbandry in the Greeke tunge certayne yeeres before him Lastly by sight vnto delectation and iucunditie through the fragrancie of smell but most of all that the same may furnishe the owners and husbande mans table with sundry seemely and dayntie dishes to him of small coste The Garden grounde if the same may be ought rather to be placed neere hande whereby the owner or Gardener may with more ease be partaker of such commodities growing in the garden and both oftner resorte and vse his diligence in the same So that this is the whole care and duetie requyred of euery owner and Gardener in their plot of ground Yet may I not be vnmindefull that the garden doth also require a dunging at the apt times of whiche in the proper place we shall after intreate What consideration and chosing to be vsed in any Garden plot with the goodnesse and worthinesse of euery earth Chap. 3. AS to the nature and goodnesse of a garden grounde the especialler that ought to be eschewed are a bitter and salte earth of taste if so be we meane to make a fertill commodiouse well yeeldyng ground for these two natures of earth were very much mislyked in Auncient tyme as may appeare by the skilfull Poete Virgill who sayth that euery earth is not allowed or commended for the yeelde of garden herbes For which cause the mynde of the auncient husebande men is that the Gardener by taking vp a clodde of Earth should artly trie the goodnesse of it after this maner in considering whether the earth be nether whote and bare nor leane by sande lacking a mixture of perfite earth nor the same founde to be wholly Chalke nor naughtie sande nor barrayne grauell nor of the glittering pouder or duste of a leane stonie grounde nor the earth continuall moyst for all these be the speciall defaults of a good and perfite earth The best grounde for a Garden is the same iudged to be whiche in the Sommer time is neyther very drie nor cleyie nor sandie and roughe nor endamaged with gapings procured by heate of the Sommer as the woorthie Didymus in his Greeke instructions of husbandry writeth Wherefore the earth whiche in the Sommer tyme is wonte to be dry eyther perisheth or loseth al the seedes sowen and plantes set in it or yeeldeth those thinne and weake prouing on the ground For the Clâ—yie ground of it selfe ouerfast holdeth but the sandie and rough in a contrarie maner so that neyther is wonte to nourish plantes nor retayne water Therefore an apt earth for a Garden shall you readily trie and finde out if the same through wet and dissolued with water you shall see to haue a muche clamminesse and fastnesse In whiche grounde if a waterinesse shall exceede then shall you iudge the same disagreable and vnfruitefull if dissoluing the earth with water you shall finde the same very clammie or much cleauing to the hande and fingers as it were waxe this earth shall you accompte as wholly vnprofitable Plinie willeth that a garden plotte before all other matters done to it be very well clensed of stones and to these that the earth proue not full of chappes or but few to be seene least the Sunne beames entering betweene may so scortch and burne the rootes of the plantes For whiche cause the best and gentle or worthiest earth shalbe chosen in whiche you minde to committe your seedes or for the same that the Nource as a mother may often agree to the fruyte or yeelde to be an ayder and furtherer to it Certayne playner instructions much furthering the Gardener in the knowledge and choyse of a good and battell ground with other matter necessarie Chap. 4. THe Gardener minding to trie and know a fatte earth for the vse of a garden
this for the more parte be wonte to vaporate or breath foorth any noysome ayre that may both to men and the Plantes be harmefull For peculiar or proper is the same or rather such is the propertie of very many still waters and Motes So that it is the counsell of the skilfull if any lyke be knowen to refrayne from placing any Garden plotte or Orcharde if the owner may choose neare to the same The forme of the inclosures whiche the Husbandmen and Romaynes in time past inucâ—ted Chap. 7. FOr asmuche as the same may be thought a meere madnesse to haue chosen out a fitte plotte of grounde and to cast digge and dresse it seemely in all poyntes yet lying open day and night aswell to the incursious and coÌ„mon haunte as to the iniuries to be wrought done by robbers or theeues foules and beastes for that cause I here minde to intreate of the sundry maners of fensing coÌ„passing in of the Garden groundes in auncient time First the skilfull and warie husbande men in tyme paste being those of good abilitie buylte them walles about of Fâ—râ—stone artly layed and mortered togither some did with baked bricke like handled Others of lesser abilitie and of the meaner sorte framed them inclosures with stones handsomely layed one vpon an other without morter or Cley and some of them couched the broade Slate stones with other bigge and large stones in like order aboute where such dwelt by quarries of stone But very many of the baser and poorer sorte made them fenâ—es and walles aboute with mudde of the ditche dung chaffe and strawes cut short and wel mixed togither Others there were whiche with bigge Canes set vpright by small poles bound togither so fensed theyr Garden plot in handsome maner round about Some also with yong Willow trees set by certayne distances and the drie blacke thorne purchased from the woodde beyng bound in betweene the spaces so framed theyr inclosure but this maner of inclosing wrought or buylte by Arte the skilfuller named a dead and rough inclosure made especially for the keepyng and defending of Cattell out of the Garden ground Yet the hedge or inclosure erected after this maner required euery yeare to be newe repayred and bounde vp in the places needefull to the tediousnesse and great paynes of the husbande man The learned Columella in his husbandry reporteth that the Romaynes in time paste fenced and inclosed their Garden groundes with bigge quarters set vpright and Poles with lathes very thicke fastned to them by small roddes of the Osier tree walling them in Some boared large holes through bigge bodies or stockes of trees that quarters or great poles made for the purpose might passe thorough them eyther by twoo or three togither in reasonable distaunce with payle borde raysed and fastned along to them Some also through the tymber of trees set into the earth fastned bigge poles or long quarters round about much like to the vsuall Cattell poundes in our age But some attayning a more skill erected as Varro reporteth a natural inclosure set about with the blacke or White thorne trees and yong willowes whiche had besides the rootes of a quicke set hedge that in tyme growing vp withstoode tempestes windes landfloudes yea fire the consumer of all things put to it The Auncient husband men did besides these inuent the caâ—ting vp of banckes countermâ—res of earth round aboute the Garden plotte much lyke to the trenches in tyme of warre aboute Bulwarkes and Tentes and these they especially made neere to high wayes or by Riuers and in Marrishes or Fennes lying open or other Fieldes that the Garden plot might on such wise be defended from the damages and harmes both of Theeues Cattell and Landfloudes For a playner conceyuing of the abouesayde learne these folowing that the Auncient husbandmen did caste vp and made a deepe ditche about theyr Garden ground standing in the open fielde whiche might receyue al the rayne water falling and this they so digged with a slope passage whereby the water might runne the easier and freelier from the bottome The earth and Clay cast vp on the inside faste by the brincke they so wrought vp togither that hardly any person after the drying of the couÌ„termure could clyme ouer the same Some also made high banckes or countermures without a ditche digged about and the same so serued in the open fieldes in steade of a wall To be brief the inclosure whiche longest indured surest and of the least cost was the same that the Romaynes in auncient time made with Brambles and the white Thorne layed orderly in bankes for the better growing vp For this inclosure or hedge after yeeres sprung vp endured by reporte of the learned Cato an infinite time yea experience in our age doth likewise confirme the same For whiche cause this inclosure was very much commended of the Auncient Romaynes who well conceyued and knew that the Bramble decayed or died not at any season except it were digged and plucked quite vp by the rootes Yea they learned by practise that the Bramble swinged or scorched with straw flaming recouered grew euery yeare after both stiffer rougher and thicker togither The later inuentions of erecting a naturall and strong Hedge â–ª whiche in time growing may proue a most sure defence and sauegarde of the Garden Chap. 8. THe most commendable inclosure for euery Garden plot is a quick set Hedge made with the Brambles and white Thorne but the stronger and more defensiue Hedge is the same whiche the singular Democritus in his Greeke instructions of husbandry that wrote long before Columella and Palladius Rutilius cunningly vttereth and the same with ease and small coste after this maner Gather sayth he in a due season of the yeare the â—eedes founde in the redde berries of the biggest and highest Bryars whiche by a more common name with vs are called the wilde Eglantine Bryars the through rype seedes of the Brambles runnyng low by the grounde the rype seedes of the white Thorne and to these bothe the rype Berries of the Gooseberrie and Barberrie trees this done mixe and stiâ—pe for a tyme all the Berries and Seedes in the blended meale of Tarts vnto the the thickenesse of Honie the same mixture lay diligently into olde and vntwisted Shippe or Well roapes or other long worne roapes and fittered or broken into shorte peeces beyng in a manner starke rotten in such order that the Seedes bestowed or couched within the softe heares of them may be preserued and defended from the colde vnto the beginnyng of Spring At whiche tyme where you be minded that the inclosure or Hedge shall runne and spring vp there digge in handsome maner twoo small furrowes and these eyther two or three foote asunder and a mans foote and a halfe deepe into whiche lay your roapes with the Seedes couering them workemanly with light carth and if neede shall requyre water by sprinckling or moysten the Seedes in the same wise agayne The worthie
breaketh impostumes If with Opium Barley meale milke and the white of an egge an ointement be made after arte and annointed on any painefull and sore place it doth assuage the griefs in shorte time The Saffron as Vitalis writeth doth greatly amend the feebling of the hart and weaknesse of stomacke The saffron comforteth palsey members and softneth the hardnesse of partes for the which cause the same named Oxicrocie is right profitable The Saffron remoueth the griefe of the eyes eyther of bloude or other blemishe if with rose leaues broughte to powder and mixed with the yolke of an egge the same be applyed in playster forme on a linnen clothe to the eye The Saffron remoueth all swellings and griefes of the eyes if the same be especially mixed wyth wine and applied in plaister forme The Saffron is profitable mixed with womans milke and annointed for the distilling of the eyes The Saffron remoueth drunkennesse drunke with Cuite The person also which shall drinke the pouder of Saffron in wine shall not bee ouercome by drinkyng This besides is very profitable for remedies of the eares What skill care and diligence to requyred in the workmanly sowing and ordering of the Nauewes Chap. 24. THe nauewes and Turnups are sowen after one maner in earth well tourned vp and orderly dressed or if the owner will in earable grounde and will indure in a manner any ayre yet these desire a drye grounde rather leane and grauellye and diligently turned uppe The seeds wel prosper bestowed in a fine poudered earth wel laboured afore and to possesse faire Nauewes lette not the Seedes be aboue three yeares olde for being elder the Seedes runne into Colewortes If the plantes in the comming vp appeare too thicke togither the owner may plucke them vp and sette them thinner in other well dressed places These also in the growing vp oughte diligently to be weeded and the Earthe to be digged aboute and lette the greater and fairer still growe to possesse theyr Seedes whyche in the moneth of Auguste diligently bestowe in a well laboured Earthe To committe Seedes to the Earthe the owner oughte to stay vntill the grounde be well moistned with showers for bestowed soone after they prosper and come the spedier vp But the owner or Gardner ought in any case to take heede that he bestowe not the seedes in a shadowye place for the shadowie places are disagreable and hurtful to the plants althoughe the grounde be good fertill and well laboured The property many tymes of the grounde doth alter the Nauewe into a Turnupe and the Turnupe into a Nauewe The owner ought to gather the Nauews in the moneth of Nouember and to possesse them all the winter time he muste burye the rootes in Sande lying in a seller that hee maye not onlye eate of them in the Winter tyme but all the Lente throughe The worthier Nauewes be those which are rather long and as they were crisped and not big and possessyng fewe rootes at the moste but one seemely roote and the same straight and sharpe downeward There be which make a singular composition of the Nauews with Radishe rootes a little Salte Hony Mustarde delectabler spices and Uinegar yea the same may bee made wythout spices bothe wholsome and profitable The Phisicke benefits of the Nauewes THe worthy Galen reporteth the Nauewe to be hotte in the seconde degree and moiste in the first The Nauews tenderly boyled do nourishe much yet euilly or hardly digested and they make softe fleshe and the same puffed vp yet this lesse than the Turnup who afore oughte to bee boyled in water and that firste water after the boyling poured forthe then into a second water bestowed diligently boyle them for the hardenesse of their substance will well be tempered and meanely ingender a nourishment betweene good and euill The Nauewes whiche are not throughly boiled doe euilly digeste and procure a windinesse in the body besides a stoppyng of the veynes and naturall powers for which cause these yeeld a more commoditye to the stomacke and digeste better beyng twice boyled in faire water and shifted a thirde time into a moste fatte brothe where boyled vnto a sufficiente tendernes and then eaten there be which boile them a thirde time in newe Cow milke for the better digesting The Seedes confected wyth Sugar and eaten encrease Sperme in man But the Seedes brused and druncke doe especiallye auaile against poysons for the which cause there are profytable ministred with Triacle What care and skill is requyred in the sowing and rightly ordering of the Rape and Turnup Chap. 25. THe Rapes be not muche differing from the Nauewes and Turnups sauing that these bee bigger and sweete in the eating For the Rapes or Turneps be muche greater and in the eating pleasanter than the Nauewes The Rapes require a like ordring and dressyng of the earthe as afore vttered of the Nauewe whiche for fronth ought to bee rather sowen in the Moueth of September than in any other tyme in a moyste Earth well dunged diligently turned in and dressed for by that meanes they prosper and come the better forwarde and are caused to bee fayrer tenderer bigger and sweeter of taste thorough the colde season folowing like as the hoarie frostes snowe and colde mistes than in the drye and warme season of the yere After these be come vp and ready to bee remoued the owner muste carefully see vnto that the leaues bee not gnawen neyther of spiders nor of any other vermin or worms for the auoiding of like anoyance it shall be profitable for the Gardner well a daye before the committing of the Seedes to the Earth to mixe the Seedes with the pouder or dust of planke boordes or rather with the foote of a chimney whyche after wette wyth water to the ende the Seedes may receyue some moisture and being thus ordered bestowe the whole togyther in the Earthe the nexte day folowing The skilfull Neapolitane Rutilius reporteth that the Rape or Turnup as the Nauew prospereth vnder euery aire and desireth to be bestowed in a fat and loose earthe and the same so loose that it in a manner falleth to pouder whereby the Seedes may prosper and come the speedier forward The seedes also are to be bestowed with fine poudred Earthe to the ende the plantes may not come vp too thicke togyther about the ende of July vnto the middes of September and if raine happen not the daye before then the day folowing moisten the grounde with water gently sprinkled vpon If the seedes committed to the Earth be bestowed thinne the plants in the comming vp by diligence of the Gardner will encrease the bigger for whiche cause where the plants grow thicke togither and these come so some strength the owner may plucke vp sundry and bestowe those a good distance asunder wherby they growe the bigger in roote And for the better furtheraunce of their growth the owner shall sundry times water and weede about the plants The seedes may be sowen in the
euerye day obtayned the like as he writeth But wyth a lesser care and laboure may the same be perfoumed as Columella writeth if in a Sunny and well dunged place sayth he besundry roddes set a rowe aswel of the Osior as Bremble and these so planted in the Earth after the Equinoctiall of Haruest to cut a little wythin the Earth whose heads after the wider enlargyng with a stiffe wooden pricke to bestowe softe dung eyther within the pithes of the Osiers and Brembles consisting in the middes these done to fixe or putte Seeds of the Cucumber into the places which after the growing to some bignesse ioyne with Oslers and brembles For the plants on such wyse growyng are after not fed with their owne but as it were by an other mother roote feeding whyche by the same meanes yeelde Cucumbers that wyl indure the colde season and frostes The learned Plinie vttereth the same matter admonyshyng here the reader of the wrong instructions of Columella although he seemeth to alledge an Authoure for whych cause it shal bee to great purpose to heare the sentence of Plinie in this who remouing the erroure of Columella vttered that Cucumbers may be enioyed all the yeare greene instructeth and willeth that the greatest roddes of the Bremble ▪ bee set agayne into a Sunny place where these be cutte well two fyngers long aboute the Equinoctiall Spring or myddle March and into the heades of these after large holes made the Seedes to bee bestowed lying especiallye within the Pythes of the Brembles and fylled wyth softe dung whiche done that fatte dung and fyne Earth after the well myxyng togyther ought to bee thycke layed and dylygentlye heaped aboute the rootes which maye the better resyste the colde But howe so euer these ought to bee handeled it well appeareth that Plinie doth dysagree wyth Columella in thys instruction For Plinie wylleth these to be set about the Equinoctiall Spring but Columella aboute the Equinoctiall Haruest as the Neapolitane Rutilius interpreted and noted the same to whom as it shoulde seeme he bare a fauoure The plantes muche feare the Thunder and Lyghtning for whych cause the Gardener may not set nor remoue them at those tymes besides if the tender fruites bee not couered ouer wyth sheetes or thynne Couerlets when such Tempests or stormes happen they commonlye after perish and wyther The Gardener myndyng to possesse long and tender Cucumbers oughte to sette vnder the young fruites growyng an Earthen Panne Bole or halfe Tubbe fylled wyth fayre water wel fiue or sixe fyngers yea halfe a foote distaunce from them for these by the nexte daye wyll bee stretched vnto the water so that settyng the Pannes lower into the Earth or raysyng the fruites higher ye shall daylye see them stretched forth towardes the water vnto the admiration of the owner for the length of them which depriued of their vessels of water shall in a contrarie manner see them wynded and crooking so muche these ioye in the moysture and hate the drouth The fruites likewise wil grow of a maruellous length if the floures be put to grow wythin hollowe Canes or Pypes of the Elder But the same is otherwise to be learned of the Oyle for as the Cucūbers so deadly hate as Plinie writeth y t setting vessels of the oyle in steed of the water vnder them they after ▪ bend and wynde away as disdayning the Licour whych the owner shal wel try and see that these to haue bended so croked or winding as an Hooke in one nights space But there muste be a special care as Columella after the Greke Florentinus admonisheth that no woman at that instant hauing the reds or monthly course approcheth nighe to the fruites especially handeleth them for through the handling at the same tyme they feeble and wyther If she in the place be like affected shal she after kyl the yong fruites with hir onlye looke fixed on them or cause them to grow after vnsauerie or else corrupted The Cucumber will yelde fruites without seedes if three dayes before the sowing the seedes be stieped in oyle Sesaminium or Sauine oyle as the Neapolitane Rutilius hath noted or that the seedes afore be steped in the iuyce of the Herbe named of Plinie Culix or as the same in Greeke may be coniectured Coniza in English Fleabane The like shal be wrought if the first armes or branches after the conditiō of the vines be on such wise digged about that only the heads of them appeare naked which a thirde time to be like bared if neede shal so require yet such a diligence to be exercised in the same y t what branches growe out and spreade on the earth to be workmanly cut awaye preseruing only the stem and branches that last shote foorth ▪ which on such wise handeled yelde fruites with the only Pulpes hauing no sedes in them If the Gardener desireth to enioye Cucumbers hauing Romayne letters strange figures and skutchings or Armes imbossed on the grene rynde without he may after the liuely coūterfayting of formes on the Mouldes of woode bestowe of the potters Clay or playster of Parys vnto the thicknesse of a finger which like handeled and cut into two partes let drie in a fayre and hot place that these may the sooner serue to vse after bestow into the hollow mouldes framed to a like bignesse and length as the fruites of the yong Cucumbers which fast bound about and so closse togither that no ayre breath in let these on such wise hāg vntil the fruites haue filled the mouldes within which they ioy to do and be readie to be gathered For the yong fruites of propertie by the reporte of the skilful doe so much desire or be so wonderful desirous of a new forme that into what workmāly vessel or moulde y e yong fruites be bestowed they by an earnest wyll and desire represent the figures counterfayted wythin as the same founde noted in singular worke of Husbandrie which why Rutilius may ascribe to Gargilius Martialis I see no reason To be briefe as the cōming of the moulde shal be such wil the beautie of the fruites bee for many fruites haue bin seene as Plinie reporteth whiche represented the image of a winding Dragon on them The owner minding to enioye Cucumbers a long time freshe and fayre ought to bestow them in white wine lies vncorrupted or not turned the vessell after the wel pitching without couered with a heape of sande in some lowe Seller or vaulte in the ground The Cucumbers doe lyke continue a long tyme if they bee beestowed in a proper Pickle made of water and Salt But the freshnes and delight of them will a longer time be preserued if after the husbandlye instructions the owner hang them so hygh in Barrels or Ferkyns beeing a quarter filled or somewhat lesse that these in the hangyng doe in no manner touche the vyneger And the vessels shalbe dilygentlye pitched about whiche the owner prepareth to serue to thys purpose that the force of
that alonely the heade of the same be lefte bare Whiche as it shall encrease muste the owner repeate yea a thyrd time if neede shall require the same And in this doing muste the owner haue a care that as the braunches spread foorth whether vpright or on the ground to be cutte away herein preseruing only that stemme which shot foorth last The Gourdes on such wise handled as the Cucumbers afore noted will yeelde fruits without seedes possessing only Cartilages and a softe pulpe within If the owner would possesse fruits timely and very soone then after the instruction of the Greeke writers of husbandry bestow in earthen pannes or olde baskets without bottomes fine sifted earthe intermedled with dung aboute the beginning of the Spring in which the Seedes sette sprinkle and moisten sundry times with water after this in faire and Sunny dayes or when a gentle shower falleth set them abroade but when the Sunne goeth downe bestowe the baskets with the plants within the house againe and these like order so often and water when neede requyreth vntill all the frostes tempests and colde season be gone and paste After this assoone as oportunity and time wil serue and that a faire day be presente bestowe all the baskets and pans of earthe vnto the brimme in well laboured and dressed beddes and applie that other diligence requyred throughe whiche the Gardner shall possesse timely fruite aswell of the Gourde as Cucumber The same matter shall the owner bâ—ing to passe and cause with lesser coste trauayle and time if he cut away the waste braunches of the Gourdes or tender shootes of the Cucumbers for on suche wise handled they speedelier yeelde and send foorth their fruites If the Gardner couereth to enioy diners formes on Gourds or sundry caracters on Cucumbers let him bestowe the floure or tender yong fruite of either as the same shall yet be hanging on the braunche into a moulde of like bignesse as the fruite Which to handled will after cause whether the same be Gourd or Cucumber to possesse on the vpper face the like figure or caracters as were afore imprinted within the mould For the fruite of either after the minde of Gargilio so muche desireth a newe forme that it like representeth the Image or figure imprinted within the mould In somuch y t of what form the mould of the Gourd shal be fashioned on such maner shal the fruite grow within y e mould And Plinie for confirmation of the same reporteth that he sawe many Gourds fashioned in their ful growth after the forme of a winding dragon If the owner endeuoureth to possesse long and slender Gourdes he muste bestowe the yong fruites newe growen and hanging still on the Uine branches either into a Truncke of wood or a long Cane boored throughe all the Joyntes whyche in tyme growing will stretch and shoote foorth into a maruellous lengthe For the same substance which shoulde encrease into a breadth is caused throughe the hollowe pipe to stretch and growe slender wherby the narrownesse of the hole so hindering the bignesse of growth procureth the fruite to runne into a length as the like Gourde by the same occasion Plinie sawe to extend wel nine foote of lengthe The like fruites altogither shall the Gardner purchase if vnder the vines he set of some deepenesse in the grounde earthen pans filled with water and they distante well fine or sixe fingers from the Gourdes hangyng downe For by the morrowe or nexte daye shall hee see the fruits stretched euen downe to the water by which leading and handling of the pans with water they may be caused to grow of a wonderfull length But the pannes for a time remoued or taken away will cause the fruites to crooke and winde vpwarde so muche of propertie they ioye in moisture and refuse or hate the drouth yet of the oyle is otherwise to be learned for somuch as they deadly hate the same as Plinie writeth whiche if in the steede of water it be set vnder the fruites causeth them by the nexte daye to winde an other waye If this likewise they can not do yet doe they wrythe and as it were disdainyng the same crooke vpwarde after the manner of a hooke as a like forme of the fruite may be tried in one night space This one matter oughte especially to be cared for as Columella after the Greeke Florentinus warneth that no woman come or verye seldome approche nighe to the fruites of the Gourdes or Cucumbers for by hir only handling of them they feeble and wither whiche matter if it shall happen in the time of the Termes doeth then eyther flea the yong tender fruites wyth hir looke or causeth theÌ„ to be vnsauery spotted or corrupted within The Gourds determined to bee kepte for seede ought after the minde of Rutilius the Neapolitane to hang stil on their Uine vnto the Winter time and cutte or broken from the same to bee dried eyther in the Sunne or in the smoke for the Seedes otherwise are prone to putrifye and not after profitable to any vse The Gourdes and Cucumbers will endure and be kepte a long tyme freshe and faire to the eye if they be hyd couered wyth white wine lyes not ouer egre or sowre in the hangyng down in pipes or hogs sheads They bein like maner defended and preserued by bestowing them in a pickle or brine But they will a long time continue freshe and faire as the worthy instructers of husbandry reporte if so bee they hang so highe wythin the vessels that they be nothyng neare to the Uineger And the vessells appointed for the only purpose shall diligently be pitched ouer round about least the spirites of the Uineger in the meane time breath foorth whiche by nature otherwise is penetrable thorough the thinnesse of partes The Cucumbers maye in like maner bee kepte for a long tyme if they shall bee bestowed in a vessell of distilled Uineger for on suche wise they putrifye not as hathe bin tried of the skilfull searchers of secreates Thus by these practises may the owner enioy faire Cucumbers and Gourdes all the Winter to vse whyche if the Gardner will shall hee also preserue a long time if whyle the fruites be tender hee cutte them off and scalde them in hot water and after laye them abroade all the night to coole and bestowe them on the morrowe into a sharpe pickle or brine made for the only purpose whyche on suche wise handled wil maruelous well endure vntill the newe be come In this place commeth to minde and that very aptly the same whiche Athenaeus bosted as touching his strange feast that he prepared for his friends and especiallye in that he serued them with greene Gourdes for a dainty dishe in the moneth of January which so pleasauntly sauoured and eate as if they had bin new gathered in a manner Which like by study and diligence of the gardners that exercised this arte they supposed them to be preserued As the
like Nicander long before Athenaeus and many others report who will the Gourds to be firste dried in the ayre and stitched through the heads with a strong packthreed to be after hanged vp in the smoke that the pots filled with them maye leysurely soke all the Winter and drinke in of the Brine At this day in Fraunce throughe all the Winter moneths are the Gourdes hanged vppe in the roofes of their houses to bee preserued for daintye dishes greene when occasion offereth to vse them especiallye those whiche are named the Citrones that farre longer endure and bee not so lightly subiecte to putrifying The fruites of the Gourdes Melons Pompons and Cucumbers may be caused to loose and purge like to many others if the seedes bee stieped for a nighte and a day in the licoure made wyth Ruberbe Agaricke Turbith Senae Colocynthis Scamonie or other simple purgyng medicines and those after the bestowing in the Earth watered for fiue dayes togither and fiue times euery day When the Gourde is felte vnpleasaunte the fruites by the stieping may after receyue what sauoure and taste the owner will if the seedes before they bee committed to the earth be infused for a time in any pleasaunte licoure whether the same be damaske or muske water for the plantes shootyng vp of these will yeelde fruite of like sauour aswell being sodden as rawe after the condition of the Cucumber The like altogither may be wroughte or caused without any arte if whiles the fruite is a seething you bestowe in the licoure what taste coloure or sauoure you desire to haue For the Gourde and Cucumber are of suche a kinde that they be voide of any qualitie The rinde of the fruite of the Gourde growen to full ripenesse becommeth so harde as woode The Gourd planted in the ashes of mans bones and watered wyth oyle yeeldeth fruite by the ninth day as the auntient Hermes affirmeth Whiche man for that he teacheth vaine matters for the same cause he giueth me occasion to credite him weakely Yet experience doeth many times cause the vncertaine to proue certayne The phisicke benefits and helps of the Gourde THe fruite of the Gourde is of a colde and moiste temperament and the seedes especially vsed in medicine That worthy phisition Crisippus with the Grekes condemned or rather vtterly forbad the Gourds in meate as vnprofitable for their coldnesse to the stomacke That skilfull man Diphilus contrarie affirmeth that the Gourdes boyled in water and vineger do strengthen the stomacke The learned Galen writeth that the Gourde in no manner maye bee eaten rawe in that the same is vnpleasaunte to eate but either sodden rosted or fryed in a panne is well commended The Greeke writers of husbandry doe report that the Gourd doth loose the belly and that the Juice of the same dropped into the grieued eares caused of heate they affirme to profit vnto whyche vse of it self and with the oyle of Roses dropped warme into the eares The outwarde rinde pared away and the meate with the kernels not fully ripe heated or parboyled in water and after shred small like to the Cabbedge and boyled with butter Onions and a quantitie of Salte This on suche wise prepared and eaten profiteth leane men Others after the cutting of the vnripened fruite into round slices boyle them with butter in a dishe like Apples The wine standyng for a night abroade in the hollowe of the freshe Gourde and drunke with a fasting stomacke purgeth gently the bellye costiue The meate of the Gourd after the seedes taken foorth applied helpeth the cornes of the toes and feete the Juice of it boyled and rubbing the mouth therewyth fastneth loose teeth and assuageth the paine of them proceeding of a hot cause The seedes of the Gourde cleane picked from their skinne being sodden in Barly water strayned and druncke healpe the inflamations of the liuer kidneys and bladder the impostumes of the breaste and prouoketh vrine If a sicke persone of the Feuer refuse to drincke of this water a Sirroppe then with Sugar may be compounded of the same whyche mightily profiteth all kindes of Agues The iuyce of the pieces of the Gourde tempered with milke and vineger in whyche a linnen cloth wette and applyed on the Lyuer verye much aswageth the heate of the Liuer When the winter approcheth the seeds ought to bee taken foorth of the fruite and these rubbed wel with Salte that the clammy humours may on such wise be remoued The seedes ought after to be layed in a drye place wherby the proper moysture may not corrupt them and those seedes like prepared wil indure for three yeares The pieces of the rynde of the Gourde bruised and annoynted or applyed in playster forme one the heades of Infants doth aswage the inflamation or burning caused of the braine the peeces or iuyce of the same applyed doth like mytigate the burning Goute and qualifye the inflammation of the eyes The Gourde after the fine shreddyng applyed in playster forme aswageth tumours and swellings the drye Ashes applyed on burnings doth maruellouslye auayle the Ashes also of the ryndes applyed on vlcers of the priuy place beginning to putrify both purgeth and bringeth them to a scarre The iuyce of the Gourde after the boylyng wyth a little Honye and Nytre drunke gentlie looseth the bellye the same iuyce myxed wyth the Oyle of Roses and annoynted on the Rydge bone and Loynes cooleth the burning of the Feuers this besides annoynted helpeth the shyngles Here learne that the Gourde rosted or boyled in a dish or frying pan is more holesome than rawe for that through the rosting it leaueth a great force of waterie moysture and therefore yeeldeth a stronger and worthyer nourishment The Gourde sodden requireth a tartnesse to bee matched wyth it for the same otherwyse is felte vnsauerye and wythout delyghte so that it better relisheth being matched with eyther salte soure or tarte thyngs that nerer agree to the benefit of our bodie and the same ought to be on such wise prepared that it procure not the creature to vomyt as the singular Galen hath clearely vttered The benefites and helpes of the distilled water of the Gourde THe chosen time for the distilling of Gourds is when they be ful ripe for those then are to be finely shred and the kernels with the whole substance artely distilled The distilled water of the fruites mixed wyth a quantity of Suger drunk not only looseth the belly but ceaseth thirst and helpeth the cough proceeding of a hot cause The sayde water drunke morning and euening vnto the quantity of three ounces at a tyme for fourtie dayes togither doth maruellously help the stone in the kidneys This water drunke in the lyke manner for tenne dayes togyther purgeth the kydneys and Bladder and causeth vrine this also drunke in the like manner qualifieth the burning of Feuers when no other Medicine can aswage the same thys besides applyed without on the regyon of the hearte wyth linnen clothes wet in the same like represseth
in the saide manner helpeth the stone prouoketh the Termes in women assuageth the griefe of the stone and prouoketh vrine yea this drunke in the abouesaide manner sendeth the deade yongling out of the mothers wombe The distilled water eyther drunk or applied with linnen clothes wet in it remoueth the swelling of womens places the sayde water also drunke or applied with linnen clothes assuageth the swelling of the testicles and only this druncke often doth amende them The distilled water druncke sundry days vnto the quantitie abouesaide both morning and euening ceasseth the coughe and consumeth the grosse and clammy humours about the stomacke The care in the bestowing of the hearbe Pepperworte Chap. 39. THe Pepperworte is a seemly hearbe yeelding leaues greater and broader than the peache or Baye tree and those thicker greener softer the herbe also growing a foot and a half and somtimes two foot high wyth a stiffe and rounde stemme bearyng on the top white and very small floures after these a small seede and long roote The leaues are sowre and bite in taste like pepper on the tongue for which cause this is rightly named Pepperworte Thys groweth euery where in Gardens and well ordered in the ground endureth for two yeres in certaine places also as witnesseth Ruellius it continueth grene tenne yeares It florisheth or beareth floures in the moneth of June and July and nexte yeeldeth the Seede The hearbe Pepperworte oughte to bee sette before the beginning of Marche after the growing vp to be clipped and cutte like the Siues but this not often for after the firste day of Nouember the hearbe ought not to be cut leaste it perisheth or drieth throughe the colde season ensuing The hearbe prospereth and continueth twoo yeares if the same be well dunged aboute and diligently weeded The phisicke benefits of the hearbe Pepperworte THe hearbe of qualitie heateth and drieth in third degree as Brunsfelsius reporteth but Galen affirmeth the Pepperworte to be hotte as the Cresses is in the fourthe degree yet lesser dryeth than it and the leaues of this hearbe doth by property exulcerate the nature also of the Hearbe is to cutte and extenuate the meate receyued and clammy humoures The Pepperworte is not to be vsed or taken inward without milke and it hathe the like properties as the Cresses whiche after the manner of condite things muste be condited with milke and salte And the same may bee made after this manner by infusing the freshe leaues in newe milke and after the thirde daye the whey pressed foorthe to whiche then greene Sauery the drye seedes of Coriander Dill time and parseley mixed and diligentlye beaten togyther thys well sodden and strained to adde so muche salte as shall suffise Seing the leaues possesse suche a sharpnesse as Dioscorides reporteth that they doe exulcerate partes wythin for that cause maye they aptely serue vnto exulcerating in the paine of the hippes if after the brusing wyth an Elecampane root it be layd to the place a quarter of an houre And this in the like manner lying to assuageth the swelling of the Milte The roote beatē with barrows grease or with the Elecampane roote and applied in plaister forme on the hippe grieued doth deliuer the ache in shorte time This amendeth the skinne of the face by exulcerating so that the same bee after healed with oyle of Roses and waxe And on such wise it easily taketh away foule scabbes and Leprie and the marks of Ulcers The roote of the Hearbe Pepperworte tyed on the Arme or hanged about the necke is supposed to cease or aswage the toothache The care in the bestowing of the Celondyne Chap. 39. THe Hearbe Celondyne shooteth vp a foote and a halfe high and somtymes is more slender of them bearing many leaues and those like to the Crowfoote but softer and to a yelowish coloure tending yeeldyng also a yelow floure like to the Violet The iuyce in the Hearbe of yelowe coloure to Saffrone biting the tongue sowre somwhat bitter and strong sauouring The roote aboue all one but within the earth shedde into many yellow hearye rootes it commonly groweth in shadowie places by walles and in stony heapes this florisheth at the comming of the Swallowes and all the Sommer but it wythereth at the departure of them The Celondine commeth vp in any earth yet dothe the same more ioy bestowed in a shadowie place and the seedes ought to be committed to the Earth in the moneth of February which after the comming vppe wil endure for twoo yeares if after the shedding of the Seedes the stemmes be cutte away well foure fingers aboue the rootes The phisicke benefits of the Celondine THe Celondine is of qualitie hotte and drye in the third degree absolute but Platearius affirmeth the hearbe to be hotte and drye in the fourthe degree Foure things are preserued of this hearbe as the leaues with the stemme the rootes seedes and Juice The Juice of the herbe boyled in a Copper vessell with hony on the coles and dropped into the eies procureth a clearnesse of them and putteth away the dimnesse of sighte The Juice mixed with salt Armoniacke and dropped into the eies remoueth the pinne and webbe growen on them and causeth a clearnesse of sight The hearbe with the floures diligently beate boiling them after in water and that water boyled poure into a potte settyng the same againe ouer the fire and well skimming it in the boyling when the licoure beginneth to seeth ouer straine it soone after through a linnen clothe whyche keepe close stopped in a glasse or a potte to vse for this dropped in the eyes remoueth the dimnesse of sighte The Juice of the root cleareth the leaprie if any annointeth the places therewith and the patient after taketh the Sirrope of Fumitorie for nine dayes togyther both morning and euening whyche wythout doubt recouereth and healpeth the same The Juice is to be purchased in Maye aswell out of the rootes as leaues and floures beaten togyther and pressed foorth whiche after the drying in the shadowe to be formed into little pasties The root of the Celondine boyled in white wine with Annise sedes and drunke fasting deliuereth the Jaundise through stopping in the body and applied after the boyling in wine or chawed in the mouthe assuageth the toothache A handefull of the Celondine purged boyled in an equall quantitie of Rosewater and strained to which an ounce and halfe of Triacle added is a moste effectuouse remedy against the plague The roote boyled in wine and applied in plaister forme on the shingles or Tetters speedely healeth them the herbe brused as Platearius reporteth boyled in wine and applied vpon or a spunge wette in the saide decoction remoueth the Cholicke passion The pouder of the root sprinckled on woundes and vlcers both clenseth and healeth them For the Canker of the mouthe bone or synewes the pouder of the saide roote with the pouder of roses wrought togyther with vineger and boyled vnto a meane thicknesse like to mustard and the cankerous