senâ—ibly feele and obseru◠〈◊〉 bounds and approaches of Seasons howsoeuer out of course and extraordinariâ—â—hat they be If in Winter in the beginning of Frosts hee perceiue that the Birds haunting â—â—â—nding Waters doe betake themselues to Flouds and Riuers which are not so apt 〈◊〉 freese or that the Snow falling from the Skies is but in small and thin flakes if at 〈◊〉 beginning of Frost there fall some small round and white Haile if the littlâ—â—irds doe hide themselues in the Bushes and seeke for their lâ—uing neere to Townes â—nd Villages if the Fire giue a more shining flame and make a â—oter coale if that â—oollen or Linnen dipt in Water doe by and by freese if the vtmost parts of thâ—â—â—die become suddenly cold if in Winter the things which were wont to be moist â—nd wet are espied to become drie if the drops of Water comming from the rooâ—â—◠〈◊〉 Houses doe fall one a good while after another he shall hold it for firme that cold 〈◊〉 neere at hand or else that that which is alreadie will be verie violent and of long â—â—â—ntinuance He shall prognosticate the length of Winter when he shall see that the Oakes will 〈◊〉 full of Acornes or when the Ducke at the end of Winter shall haue a red breastâ—one or that the Hornets doe appeare before the end of October or that Caâ—â—â—ll â—hich goe together in Heards doe trample the Earth to myre Hee shall iudge great Summer heat to ensue if hee see that the Rammes and old â—eepe doe couple together oftentimes in the Spring for so indeed of the 〈◊〉 and temper of one part of the yeare a man may easily iudge what will be the 〈◊〉 of another for ordinarily if one part or quarter of the yeare be cleare fairâ—â—â—ather and drie it must needs fall out that the other should be rainie As for examâ—â—â— a rainie Winter doth commonly follow a drie Autumne in like manner a drie â—pring commeth after a rainie Winter and so consequently the other parts of the 〈◊〉 doe carrie themselues in Heat Cold Moisture and Drynesse Generally he â—â—all be able to prognosticate of the state of the whole yeare following the Progâ—ostications of auncient Fathers as concerning the day whereupon the first day of â—he Feast of the Natiuitie or New yeares day doth fall For if it fall vpon the Lords â—ay the Winter will be mild and cleare the Spring delightsome windie and moist â—ere shall be peace Cattell shall be at a good price all manner of good things shall â—bound old things shall die If it fall vpon a Munday the Winter shall be indiffeâ—â—nt the Spring in like manner the Summer windie and thundering in diuers plaâ—â—s the time of Haruest temperate Wine shall abound but not Honey diuers disâ—â—ses shall raigne some great Princes and Nobles shall die If it fall vpon a Tuesâ—ay Winter will be windie darke and snowie the Spring cold drie and moist the â—ummer windie and moist Autumne verie inconstant Women shall die there â—ill be great danger to such as are vpon the Sea vprores will happen betweene â—he people and their Superiors some Fruits will be deare If it fall vpon a Wedâ—esday Winter will be verie sharpe the Spring verie bad a good Summer and a â—old and moist Haruest Wine Corne and Fruits will abound if they be not spoyled 〈◊〉 men of Warre young folke and children shall die and Cattell likewise If it fall 〈◊〉 a Thursday the Winter will be good windie and rainie the Spring windie â—ummer good and Rainie Autumne moist Wine Corne and Fruits will abound â—reat Princes will die there shall be peace betwixt Cities and their Princes If it â—all on Friday Winter will be constant the Spring good Summer inconstant and Haruest time indifferent the good things of the Earth will abound Sheepe will diâ—â—n some Countries there will raigne paines in the eyes and there will some tumultâ—â—nd vprores be made If it fall vpon a Saturday the Winter will be darke cloudie â—nd sharpe the Spring somewhat windie the Summer moderate and Haruest time â—rie the fruits of the Earth will not be plentifull Fishes will be in great plenâ—ie â—here will fall out perils vpon the Waters great spoyles by wilfull 〈◊〉 will be comâ—itted and Warres will raigne In like manner according â—o the disposition of the Sunne and the twelue dayâ—◠〈◊〉 the Feast of the Natiuitie he shall be able to fore-tell the inclinations of yeares 〈◊〉 if the Sunne be altogether beautifull and cleare vpon Christs day the yeare will 〈◊〉 good and peaceable if vpon the second day Gold and Wheat will fall of their former value and price if vpon the third day Churchmen will fall at variancâ—â— if vpon the fourth day young folke will haue troubles if vpon the fifth day all goods will encrease if vpon the sixt day Gardens will proue fruitfull if vpon the seuenth day there will be great Dearth and Famine if vpon the eight abundance of Fish if vpon the ninth a good season for Cattell if vpon the tenth great heauinesse of 〈◊〉 if vpon the eleuenth great foggie Mists and Mortalitie if vpon the twelfth Vprorâ—â— and Warfare Wherefore if the Sunne shine in those twelue dayes and that conâ—inually all these things will come to pasâ—e He shall likewise prognosticate and fore-know the disposition of the whole 〈◊〉 by the disposition of S. Paules day which is the twentie fifth of Ianuarie for if thiâ— day be faire cleare and smiling it promiseth great aboundance of the fruits of thâ— Earth if vpon this day there be any Mists there will ensue great death of Cattell iâ— it Raine or Snow we are to feare a great dearth if it be windie there will be Warres and Seditions among the people He shall know how euerie moneth in the yeare will be enclined by obseruing the inclination of the day of the Natiuitie and of the Festiuall dayes following in such sort as looke what Weather it is vpon the day of the Natiuitie such Weather will follow in the moneth of Ianuarie and so consequently the other monethâ— will carrie themselues and answere sutably to the other of the twelue Festiuaâ—â— dayes He shall be carefull to foresee whether the yeare will fall out forward or backward if after Vintage there fall Raine especially before the end of the moneth of October the yeare will proue forward if it raine about the end of October it will proue indifferent but if it begin to raine shortly aâ—ter in Nouember the yeare will proue backward and then it will behoue the good Farmer to sow in greater quantitie for that before the mid time much of the Corne doth rot and spoyle in the Earth He shall not be ignorant of the tokens fore-shewing whether it will be a good or a bad yeare and proportionably to this he shall learne to vnderstand how Haruest hath beene gathered round about him and in neere adioyning Countries whither their Countrie Corne hath beene accustomed
of it be consumed the vessell in the meane time being close couered and the fire burning cleare and softly after draw the vessell somewhat further from the fire and let it coole vnto the next morning then straine it out a little warme the grosser parts that it may so be forced through some hairie strainer and adde thereto of white Pitch melted by it selfe and also strained through a hairie strainer a pound halfe a pound of white Waxe in graines Masticke and Turpentine of each one ounce make thereof an oyntment of good consistence Likewise there is nothing more singular than to take of Greeke Pitch Brimstone and Olibanum equall parts to bray them together with the whites of egges and after you haue stanched and wiped away the bloud in handsome sort to ioyne and bring together the edges of the wound and to apply it thereto with a linnen cloth and a Cataplasme afterward to bind and roll it vp with double linnen clothes and so to leaue it for certaine dayes or else boyle the leaues of Carduus Benedictus and flower of Wheat in Wine vnto the forme of an Oyntment wash the Vlcers twice a day with Wine afterward lay thereunto this Oyntment Or else wash the wound with the decoction of Dent de lion more easily thus Take the dyrt which you find vnder Buckets Troughes or such like and apply it vnto the cut it closeth it vp incontinently For all wounds as well old as new vlcers and whatsoeuer cuts in the flesh take the leaues of Plantaine Spearewort or small Plantaine Mallowes All-good of each a handfull French Sage about foure and twentie leaues let all the foresaid hearbes be well picked washed and after stamped verie well all together this done take five quarts of old Swines greaâ—e put thereinto a hot pestill and cause it to melt then boyle it with the said hearbes and when you see that the liquor of the hearbes iâ— consumed you shall straine it and put thereunto as much Frankincense as a Nut greene Waxe and Perrosine of each as much as two Nuts melt them that so they may all be brought vnto the forme of an oyntment of which you shall make vse for all sorts of wounds Otherwise take Brimstone most â—inely powdred and searced put it in a Glasse-vessell and powre thereupon so much oyle Oliue as will doe more then couer it by foure or fiue singers set it out vnto all the heat of the Sunne you can for the space of tenne daies and stirring it about manie times with a Spatull of cleane and faire wood and keeping the said vessell close shut continually to the end there may not any dyrt fall thereinto At the end of the tenne dayes emptie out all the oyle by leaning the glasse softly to the one side seeing it hath extracted all the substance or essence of the Brimstone into another Glasse-bottell by the helpe of a funnell and let not any of the drosse or residence goe in withall after which you shall stop the bottell verie carefully and at such times as you would vse it you shall dip Lint white linnen Cloth Cotton or blacke Wooll in it and apply it vnto the parts that are hurt whether by Vlcers or Cuts as also vnto Impostumes and that so long as vntill they be cured You may powre in oyle againe the second time vpon the residence left after the oyle powred out as beforesaid and doe as was done before Make account of these two later Remedies as of those which will not faile you For the Boyle called Anthrax Carbunculus and other such pestilent tumours see that you apply vnto them Rue bruiâ—ed and mixt with verie strong Leauen Figges Cantharides Onions of the Land and Sea vnquencht Lime Sope gumme Ammoniacke and a little Treacle for this emplaster draweth forth such kind of tumours Or else take a Toad drie her either in the Sunne or in the Ouen make her into powder and put of this powder vpon the Carbuncle it will draw forth all the venome Or else apply vnto the Carbuncle a Frog aliue and if she die then another and doâ— this so oft as vntill that one doe liue and so you shall draw out all the venome For vlcers comming of the Pocks and such other maligne ones take tenne pints of water quench therein hot yrons so long as till the tenne pints become but fiue and in these fiue pints infuse for the space of foure and twentie houres a pound of vnquencht Lime after that straine the water when it is strained dissolue therein fifteene graines of Verdegrease and as much of Vitrioll and twentie graines of Camphire this water is singular to mundifie cleanse and drie vp Vlcers Otherwise set to boyle in a new earthen vessell verie cleare water when it beginneth to boyle put into it by and by vnsleckt Lime and presently thereupon powre it out into another vessell all new let it rest there so long as vntill after it be scummed it become cleare the Lime falling to the bottome of the vessell in manner of pap in the end you shall gather the water swimming aloft by leaning the vessell and letting the Lime abide vnstirred in the bottome and this water thus gathered shall be reserued in a cleane violl or other vessell well stopped that so it may serue for your vse in which being warme dip a linnen cloth and apply it in stead of an emplaister vnto the Vlcer and renew it oft To draw out miraculously a Pellet make a tent of a Quince and for want of it of Marmalate of Quinces onely without any addition of Spices or other things annoint it with the oyle of egges and put it into the wound or hole made by the shot of the Pistoll For inward wounds in which there can no tents be put there must be drunke oftentimes the decoction of Auens and the outward wounds washt or else take Mugwort great and small Comfrey whole Betonie Agrimonie the roots of Rubia otherwise called the Diers hearbe the roots of small Plantaine otherwise called Carpenters hearbe Sage the leaues of Brambles Parsley pricking Nettle Marigolds Sanicle Bugula Mouse-eare Burnet Dendelion Plantaine the crops of Hempe female Ferne Buglosse Gentian Veruaine Birds â—oong ground Iuie water Germander Catmint hearbe Robert Cinquefoile Tansie all the Capillar hearbes of each one halfe handfull Damaske Raiâ—ins their stones taken out Licorice the seed and flowers of S. Iohns wort the seed of blessed Thistle of each an ounce the three cordiall flowers of each foure ounces all these being thus carefully pickt and made cleane let be brayed verie throughly after strained through a hairen strainer with one pint of white wine you must cause him which iâ— thrust through to drinke of this drinke a little draught fasting or one houre before he eat and as much before his supper If these iuices displease thee in stead of braying bruising or stamping of the things aforesaid you may make a decoction in common water adding in
or else perfume them in the night with Brimstone for this will keepe them sound also if you giue vnto them young Nettles chopped and boyled with Branne they will lay great store of egges They leaue laying about the third of Nouember which is at such time as the cold beginneth but if vpon curiositie you would keepe by themselues some of the fairest to lay egges all Winter long you must feed them with tosted bread steept from euening to morning and giue them to their breakfast and for their meat in the day time and at night to cast them some little quantitie of Oates Barley or Wheas which doth warme them or some Mustard seed which aboue all other things causeth Hennes to lay egges good store that is to say in the sharpe cold times of Winter which thing you shall proue verie true by experience if you make triall of it or else to seed them with Earth-wormes which will also cause them to lay egges in great number You must not let them sit presently after their first yeare of laying and when they are past three yeares old you must eat them You must also dispatch and make away with those that are barren and lay not at all and as for those that doe lay very much you must change their Neasts often and marke their egges to set them in time if it be possible When they are casting off their feathers otherwise called of the common people moulting you must not suffer them to goe out of the place whereinto you haue shut them except it be to refresh them when it is verie faire and then to keepe them that the Eagle and Kite doe not fall vpon them It is vsuall to set Hennes the second yeare of their laying and so the third and fourth and so let any set many Hennes at one time and vnder their straw some pieces of yron for feare it shou'd thunder or else some Bay leaues or the heads of Garlicke or else some greene grasse for some say that this is good against the Pip and the monstrous fruit They are put there in the growth of the Moone after the twelfth day of the new Moone vntill the foureteenth saith Florentine and Columella saith from the tenth vnto the fifteenth to the end that the Hennes may hatch in the next new Moone for to that end they stand not in need of any moe daies than one and twentie And the Neasts of these Hennes must be made in the bottome of a Tunne or Pipe to the end that when they come off they cause not any thing to fall or roule Some perfume the straw that they are to sit vpon before they lay the egges therein with Brimstone to keepe the Henne for hatching before her time And you shall set vnder her the egges that you haue marked and of those the fairest and newest and if it be possible those of her owne And looke that they haue beene layd since the seuenth of Februarie and before the two and twentieth of September for such as are layd at any other time are nothing worth no more than those which were first layd or yet those which were layd by the Henne without the help of the Cock and there must alwaieâ—s care be had that they be odde that is to say in Ianuary fifteene in March nineteene and after Aprill one and twentie The greatest part of the inhabitants of Lyons doe admit of no other number than three and twentie After the second of October they set not any more neyther indeed ought they if it be not in Ouens according to the vse of the inhabitants of Maliha and some of those of Beauceron But Hennes are too much punished and put to paine to breed and bring vp Chickens in Winter As also there is a common opinion receiued That after mid-Iune Hennes are small worth and cannot encreaâ—e so rightly and well to the purpose If curiositie draw you to set egges vnder Hennes which be not their owne as those of the Goose Peacocke or Indian Henne or else of Ducks then let them be put vnder the Henne some seuen or nine dayes before and after adde thereto of her owne some such odde number as hath beene spoken of before But and if they be Fesants egges you need not to set the Henne any sooner vpon them then and if they were her owne for they require no more time to be hatcht in And if you would haue them all Henne-birds then set such egges as are more round and blunt for the long and sharpe-pointed ones are commonly Cock-birds Some are carefull not to put one after another into the Neast but set them in rowes in a Woodden Platter and thence let themslide downe into the Neast verie softly And care must be had that neither Cockes nor any other Hennes may goe in to sit vpon them and to that end twice euery day to set meat and drinke so neere vnto the Henne as that shee need not rise for to feed her selfe for if but for her meat shee once cast off her care of them it will be much adoe to get her to returne vnto them againe if she be not a free and verie kind Henne If the Henne haue small care to returne vnto her egges to sit vpon them equally it will be good sometimes to turne them ouer softly when she shall be from her Neast There are some women that cannot stay to the end of the Hatching but about the fourth day after the setting of the Henne they will be heauing euerie one of them vp one after one to looke vpon in the cleere Sunne-shine and if they see not bloudie streames or threads within them they cast them out and put vnder others in their places And in like manner at the one and twentith day if they find that she stayeth from hatching they take off the Henne But good sitting Hennes will not returne any more to their Neasts after that the egges haue been touched Likewise the good Huswife sayth That as for the egges which are vnder the Henne they ought not to be touched till they be hatched Likewise they must be well chosen and viewed in the Sunne betwixt both her hands before that they be put vnder the Henne Such as doe any thing doubt that the egges are not all good and that the Chickens cannot come forth by reason of the hardnesse of the shell must not faile to bath them about the eighteenth day in a hollow dish and warme water and to take away such as swim aboue the water putting the rest vnder the Henne againe But you must not force the Henne to rise off the Neast in your thus doing You shall greatly pleasure the Henne if when the Chickens begin to chirpe and there be found some which will not let the Chicken come forth by reason of the hardnesse of the shell that then you helpe her to breake the same howsoeuer indeed this is the part of a good conditioned Henne
where the sitteth you shall place steeped Barly in such quantitie as that she may take it out of much water for shee loueth not to leaue her young ones for sometimes she will rather die for hunger and to the end also that she may not stand in need to stirre or rayse her selfe except a verie little for to feed seeing that thus her egges might take cold And furthermore call againe to mind that which hath beene said of the Henne you may also set Hennes vpon Geese egges and that with better suâ—cesse than if they had beene set vnder the Goose her selfe but then not aboue seuen or eight The young Goslings must abide tenne daies shut vp with the Goose and be fed within with Barly meale tempered with Honey Bran and Water and now and then with Letâ—â—ces and tender and new Sow-thistles after that with Millet and Wheat steeped and softened and at the terme of these daies to acquaint and accustome thâ—â— to the Medowes with their dame but let them be fed before they goe thither for this bird is so rauenously giuen as that through sharpenesse in their hunger they pull the grasâ—e and young sprouts of Trees with such force and violence as that sometimes therewith they breake their owne necks They must be kept from Nettles Pricks from the Bay tree and Mugguet for they be bane vnto them in the house from Wolues and Foxes Cats and Weasels Goslings intended to be fatted must be chosen when they be foure moneths old and then the fairest and greatest must be chosen They must be put in a Cowpe in some Cellar vnder ground or in some darke and warme place where the younger sort is to be kept thirtie daies and the elder sort two moneths They must haue giuen them thrice a day Barly and Wheat meale tempered with Water and Honey for the Barly maketh the flesh white and the Wheat maketh them fat and maketh a great liuer Some doe make them meat with new or drie figges and leauen and giue them drinke aboundantly vsing to rowle their meat all ouer in Brâ—n Others pull the feathers of their head and belly and also the fat feathers of their wings and doe also put out their eyes for to fat them Aboue all things you must not pinch them in their meat and drinke because they are great eaters and giuen much to drinke Thus you shall haue them fat at the most within two moneths The common meat of Geese is all manner of Pulse tempered with Bran and warme water Manie doe giue them nothing but Bran somewhat grossely boulted and Lettuces Succorie and Garden Cresâ—es for to get them an appetite and they set them this meat morning euening and at noone and for the rest of the day they send them to the Medowes and to the Water-Pooles vnder the custodie of some little small Iacke who may keepe them from going or flying into anie forbidden places as also out of the Nettles and Briers as also from feeding of Henbane which some call the Goose-bane and from Hemlockes which set them on such a deepe sleepe as that they die therewithall Ancient Writers haue not permitted moe than three Geese to one Gander but we doe freely allow sixe and cause to be taken from them the Downe or soft feathers on the inside of their thighes and the great feathers of their wings to write withall in March and September for the quils of the dead Goose are not so sit for all vses no more than is the wooll of slaughtered sheepe or those which die of themselues And seldome doe we see much fewer than thirtie Goslings in one roome howsoeuer our predecessors would not put anie moe than twentie together for the greater doe beat the lesâ—er and hurt them and for this cause they must be put into the Goose-house and kept asunder with hurdles in such sort as sheepe are kept asunder and they must haue new straw oftentimes and that such as is cleane and verie small for their house must be alwaies drie and oftentimes made cleane for feare of vermine And moreouer they are subiect vnto the same diseases and casualties that Hennes be and therefore they must be tendred after the same manner Which that I may not repeat I would haue you to search it out in the places concerning the same The Gosling though she be of hard digestion in as much as she is a water-fowle and also abounding with superfluities yet indeed the Goslings which exceed not two moneths old are verie much commended in the Spring time by reason of their daintinesse as the old are in Winter stuffed with great Câ—â—â—nuts her liuer also is of verie pleasant tast and eating The grease of Geese is profitable in this point if it be mixt with the iuice of an Onion and dropt into the eare it assuageth paine and draweth out water The Goose tongue dried and made into powder is good against the retention of ones vrine The stones of Geese eaten by an incontinent woman after her naturall courses doe not onely prouoke carnall copulation but also make apt to conceiue The dung of Geese dried powdred and taken in a morning the weight of one dramme with white Wine doth throughly cure the Iaundise if it be continually vsed for the space of nine dayes CHAP. XVII Of Ducks Drakes Teales brant Ducks water-Hennes small Ducks of the Lakes Swans Cranes Storks and other water-fowles THe Ditch or Fish-poole which we haue appointed to be in the midst of our Court and Straw roome may serue for the Duckes and other birds liuing in the water And neere vnto the said Pond there must be prouided for them a low roofe lightly couered for them to sit vnder in the night as also in the day as they please for as for any great diligence industrie to be vsed about these fowle indeed there in no such need except it be for the keeping of them from Cats and Weasels Kites Eagles Vultures and Serpents which are veâ—e noysome vnto them In the place of their haunt they must haue some Corne cast Pulse and the drosse of the Riddle or Sâ—arce must be cast about the edges of the Pond and also within the same to cause them to be pudling in the myre you 〈◊〉 also let them haue the libertie of such Ponds as you put your fish into which you meane to salt as also of the next Riuer as you doe your Geese notwithstanding it were good that some should see that they haunt or frequent not your Ponds with fish because indeed they will eat vp the small therein But in other points they need not so much attendance seeing for the most part they are nothing in loue with Gardens And as for their Neasts to lay in and to sit they make themselues and there is no care greater than this namely to know their haunt especially that of the wild ones in or about what place of the Ponds they vse
Sunne If you desire that it should haue great leaues when as 〈◊〉 beginneth to put forth a stalke cut off the same in the halfe then put vpon it a clod 〈◊〉 earth or some small tyle If you couet to haue it faire and vvhite bind together the 〈◊〉 of it two daies before you take it from the first bed and set it in another place 〈◊〉 sprinkle it ouer with sand The cabbaged Lettuce being leaued and curled and not growing higher than a 〈◊〉 for the most part is made by being troden downe After that it is planted 〈◊〉 second time put vnto the root some cowes dung that is verie new afterward tread 〈◊〉 downe againe and vvater it and vvhen it beginneth to gather strength and grow 〈◊〉 the branch vvhich it putteth forth and couer it with a new earthen pot in such 〈◊〉 as that the top thereof by it may be beaten and kept downe and by this meanes 〈◊〉 vvill become tufted cabbaged and vvhite or else if you vvould haue beautifull 〈◊〉 faire lettuces two daies before you take them vp by the roots you must tie togeâ—â—er the tops of them and then couer them with eaâ—th vp to the very â—aid tops so tied 〈◊〉 so they will become white and faire In like manner sand cast vpon them maâ—â—th them to become white If you feare that it will not grow hard ynough by reaâ—â—â— of some fault in the place or in the time or seed take it vp and set it in some 〈◊〉 place To cause Lettuces to haue a sweet smell more than ordinarie sow them with the 〈◊〉 of Citrons or else steepe the seeds in Damaske or other sweet water three 〈◊〉 daies together To mingle Lettuce with other Salad hearbes as Rocket Sorrell and such like and 〈◊〉 in such sort as that they may all grow vp together from one and the same root 〈◊〉 all your sorts of Seeds into a Sheepes trottle made good and hollow for the 〈◊〉 afterward set it verie deepe as namely about the depth of eighteene ynches in 〈◊〉 ground and water it oft and by little and little and haue great care and regard 〈◊〉 it when it putteth forth of the earth Others do crumble breake three or foure â—â—ottles of a Goat or Sheepe and put their seeds in the middest thereof and then 〈◊〉 them with a linnen cloth fast bound in manner of a knot and doe plant them 〈…〉 were in the vppermost part of the earth verie diligently regarding and looking 〈◊〉 them when they come vp Some plucke away the leaues of the Lettuse which 〈◊〉 next vnto the roots and in stead of the leaues so pluckt away they put one 〈◊〉 seed of rocket cresses or sorrell and other such like by which meanes there grow 〈◊〉 and diuers sorts of branches The Lettuce is not without good physicke helpes for it cooleth the 〈…〉 the bellie causeth aboundance of good bloud The juice thereof mixt 〈…〉 Roses asâ—wageth the paine of the head and causeth the sickâ— of agues 〈…〉 rubbed vpon the brows and temples it serueth for a Gargarisme with 〈…〉 of Pomegranats for the Inflammation of the throat being rubbed vpon 〈…〉 it staieth the night pollutions or Gonorrhaea especially if thereunto be added 〈…〉 Camphire the seed thereof beaten with the seed of white Poppie in forme of 〈…〉 or extract doth effect the same and also cureth the scalding and burning of the 〈◊〉 the seed thereof steept in water wherein hath beene quenched steele with 〈…〉 quantitie of Iourie powdred is verie soueraigne against the white flowres of 〈◊〉 The leaues of Lettuce boyled and moystned in broth or salades of them in like 〈◊〉 after supper doth prouoke sleepe the seed thereof powdred and mixt 〈…〉 milke of a woman that hath brought forth a daughter and the white of an 〈…〉 to make frontale for the verie same purpose The decoction of the 〈…〉 boyled in Barley water and drunke causeth great quantitie of milke in 〈◊〉 if afterwards the dugges be well rubbed with the hand such as haue a short 〈◊〉 spit bloud or haue weake lungs as also such as desire to haue children must 〈…〉 Lettuces CHAP. XIII Of Endiue Sowthistle and Succorie ENdiue hauing narrow leaues otherwise called Scariole or 〈…〉 wild Lettuce and of the Latines Intybus or Seris is more 〈…〉 Physicke than any other wayes and is not planted in Garden◠〈◊〉 it is alwaies bitter notwithstanding that it be of the sorts of 〈…〉 rather of Succorie It is true that in often planting and transplanting of it and 〈…〉 mouing it from one place to another and by binding and couering it with 〈…〉 ring the Winter time the nature thereof may be changed and become tender 〈◊〉 white and without any great paines to the Gardiner may be kept all 〈…〉 thing our Gardiners haue practised seeing by experience that wild 〈…〉 commeth faire and flourishing after it hath beene ouerflowen with water and 〈◊〉 with sand or earth Sowthistle called in Latine Sonchus or Ciâ—erbita was of old time in 〈…〉 salades but now there is no such account made thereof saue onely that it is vsed 〈…〉 to teed Conies and Hares in like sort it is not planted in gardens because it 〈◊〉 plentifully amongst the vines notwithstanding the Italians doe vse the 〈…〉 it in Salades in Winter finding them sweet and of a pleasant tast his stalke is 〈◊〉 milke sometimes drawing neere vnto a yellow this milke taken in drinke is 〈◊〉 for them which haue a short breath and are stopt in their lungs 〈…〉 paines of the eares if you drop certaine drops thereof into them especially if 〈◊〉 cause it to boyle with some Oyle in the riâ—d of a Pomegranat it healeth 〈◊〉 the strangurie and paines in making water if it be drunke to the quantitie of 〈…〉 The leaues of Sowthistle chewed doe take away the stinking of the mouth Succorie is of the nature of Endiue hauing large leaues and without 〈◊〉 and good handling doth alwaies continue bitter It loueth a moist place and 〈◊〉 laboured ground When it hath put forth foure leaues you must translate it to â—ell dunged soyle And to the end it may haue faire large and well-spread leaues 〈◊〉 it beginneth once to come to any growth in the middest of his leaues you must 〈◊〉 some prettie little tyle for by this meanes it will spread forth his leaues and 〈◊〉 haue them a great deale thicker standing and tufted By this good husbanding 〈◊〉 his bitternesse and then there is vse to be had of it in sallades in Winter 〈◊〉 it is called white Succorie and to this end it is wont to be planted againe in the 〈◊〉 of August after that in the beginning of September to the end that the leaues 〈◊〉 may be the greater it must be taken vp without the breaking of any thing 〈◊〉 with a smal blade of a straw haue the leaues tied together very easily and gently 〈◊〉 wringing or brusing of them afterward it must be
flowers of Marigolds drunke fasting haue great force to 〈◊〉 the termes of vvomen the fume or smoake of them taken through a 〈◊〉 into the secret parts doth the like and causeth the after-birth to come forth and 〈◊〉 young maides out of the Greene-sicknesse The conserue of the same 〈◊〉 haue the same vertue The women of Italie as well to prouoke the 〈◊〉 as to 〈◊〉 them doe frie the juice and tender crops of this hearbe with the yolkes of 〈◊〉 and doe eat them The verie same juice mingled with a little Wine or warme 〈◊〉 is a soueraigne remedie to asswage the extreame paines of the head and teeth 〈◊〉 one vse â—t in manner of a lotion This juice drunke to the quantitie of an ounce 〈◊〉 the weight of a French-crowne of the powder of Earth-wormes rightly prepared 〈◊〉 helpe greatly against the jaundise Some say that to eat oft of Marigold leaues 〈◊〉 make a good countenance the distilled vvater of Marigold leaues being dropt 〈◊〉 his eyes or linnen clothes wet therein and applied vnto them doth heale the 〈◊〉 of the eyes The powder of the leaues thereof dried and put in the hollow 〈◊〉 the tooth doth cure the aking of the same The juice of the flowers of Marigolds 〈◊〉 to the quantitie of two ounces in the beginning of a pestilentiall ague doth 〈◊〉 the plague so that the sicke after he hath drunke this juice doe presently lye 〈◊〉 and be made sweat being throughly couered in his bed it doth cure also the â—ndise and beating of the heart The conserue of the flowers of Marigolds doth 〈◊〉 like To drinke halfe an houre before the comming of the fit of a quartaine aguâ—â—â—out three ounces of vvhite vvine vvherein haue beene sleept seuen seeds of Mariâ—â—ds and to go ouer this drinke for diuers mornings together is a soueraigne mediâ—â—â— against a quartaine ague CHAP. XVIII Of Beets and Blites white and red BEets as well the vvhite as the blacke and red vvhich is called Bâ—tte and lotte of the inhabitants of Tourraine or Romane of the Picardes are 〈◊〉 not onely in Leâ—t but at all times especially after December vntill March and in August to the end that there may alwaies be in a reaâ—nesse both old and young and for to gather feed which may endure good thrâ—â—â—â—ares And for this cause you must take them vp and plant them againe when they 〈◊〉 put forth fiue leaues and put vnto the roots a little new dung and afterward 〈◊〉 and raise their earth and free them quite from vveeds they are apt and easie â—â—ough to grow and though they be cut yet they will spring againe if they be planâ—â—d in a fat and well manured ground They haue this speciall and as it were admiâ—â—ble qualitie in them namely that they neuer come to their full perfection vntil the 〈◊〉 yeare after they be sowen in respect whereof I could aduise the gardiner not 〈◊〉 gather any seeds of the beets to sow but such as the beet shall bring forth the third 〈◊〉 for of such seed there grow verie faire and goodly beets If you would make choyce of faire beets chuse rather the white than either the â—lacke or red as being the fairest and tenderest but to haue such as shall be verie â—reat and vvhite you must couer the root with the new dung of Oxen and cleaue in â—nder their sprout as is done with Leekes and to lay vpon them a large and broad â—one or a bricke If you would haue your beets red water them with the Lees of 〈◊〉 Wine or else plant them in such a place as wherein they may haue great heat 〈◊〉 the Sunne Beets â—aten in pottage doe loose the bellie the juice of beets drawne vp into the â—â—ose doth purge the braine the same juice â—ubbed vpon the head causeth Lice and 〈◊〉 to die The roots of beets roasted in the ashes and eaten do take away the ill 〈◊〉 that commeth of eating Garleeke The root of beets stamped and cast in wine â—oth turne the same within three houres after into vinegar Blites are sowne in March and are not long in comming out of the earth If they 〈◊〉 sowen in a well tilled ground they will also grow the next yeare following withâ—ut any new sowing in such manner as that the ground will hardly be rid of them 〈…〉 craue no weeding or sweeping Blites doe loose the bellie their decoction wherein hath boyled the roots and â—â—aues killeth licâ— and nits their leaues roasted amongst ashes or boyled doe healâ—â—â—rnings the first boyling of Blites with the gall of an Oxe and the Oyle of 〈◊〉 â—oth take away all spots out of garments without doing any harme 〈◊〉 presently 〈◊〉 you must wash the place with warme water CHAP. XIX Of Arrach and Spinage THe hearbe Arrach in Latine called Atriplex aswell the white and 〈◊〉 as the greene doe naturally grow in grounds manured with 〈◊〉 and in such place as where there hath beets growne at other time 〈◊〉 become red in the same sort that beets doe in a fat and well 〈◊〉 ground But they are sowne in Februarie March and Aprill and they would 〈◊〉 sowne thin and not thicke and oftentimes watered Some sow them in 〈◊〉 to gather them in Winter They will not be remoued but rather wed 〈◊〉 dunged with good dung often cut and pruned and that with an yron toole 〈◊〉 they may not spend themselues in turning all their substance into leaues But 〈◊〉 after the time that the seed is scattered vpon the earth it must presently be 〈◊〉 with earth and they must be sowne as cleare as may be that so they may 〈◊〉 and come faire and goodly ones In lesse than fiâ—teene daies they be readie to 〈◊〉 The Italians vse to make a kind of Tart of Arraches They chop small the 〈◊〉 and stampe them with cheese fresh butter and the yolkes of Egges afterward 〈◊〉 put them in paste and bake them in the ouen Spinage so called because his seed is prickly is of two sorts the male and 〈…〉 the female beareth no seed Both of them are â—owen in August Septemâ—â— and October for to be vsed in Lent time and in December Ianuarie and 〈◊〉 for Sommer they beare out the roughnesse of all seasons verie well and 〈◊〉 whether it be frost cold or snow they grow also in any ground so that 〈…〉 well dressed and somewhat moist they require to the end they may prosper 〈◊〉 and spring quickly to be watered euery euening and to be couered either 〈…〉 or stubble they stand not in need to be wed but if they be cut oft they grow the 〈◊〉 And he that would haue them to continue long and flourish must at 〈…〉 cut off the one halfe of the stalke and at another time the other halfe Likewise 〈◊〉 that would haue them to continue sometime without being sowne euerie year 〈◊〉 at the first when he soweth them see that the seed be a good full and
Toâ—d-stooles and to preserue from drunkennesse or else to driâ—e 〈◊〉 away being alreadie possessed If you boyle Leekes with Earth-wormes in Oyle vnto the consumption of the third part and afterward straine out this Oyle it will be singular good for the vlcers and noise in the eares Small Leekes must be sowne in the Spring at such time as other hearbs are sowneâ— they make a faire shew because of their thinne and little leaues and because also they keepe greene all the yeare long they may seeme to be the same with Chibols and Cyues which are wont to be vsed in Salads to helpe to temper the coolenesse of other hearbes vsed in Salads because the Chibols and Cyues haue no head but onely a long stalke like vnto Leekes CHAP. XXII Of Purcelane PVrcelane loueth to be sowne in Februarie March Aprill May and Iune but not at anie other time for it cannot abide the cold It commeth in great aboundance vpon Beds mixt well with old dung or in a ground that is verie fat of it selfe especially if it be sowne amongst Colewoâ—â— Onions and Leekes and after it hath once taken with the ground it will not faile anie yeare afterward though you take no paines with the sowing of it notwithstanding it craueth to be oft watered that it rise not vpright like the stocke of a tree It must be placed in the shadowes of trees and amongst clods full of hearbes but not thicke for then it could not well spread it selfe abroad Purcelane eaten doth cure the roughnesse and astonishment of the teeth stayeth spitting of bloud and quencheth the heat of the reines notwithstanding that this hearbe is hard to digest and nourisheth but a little being applyed vnto the browes is appeaseth the head-ach and being layd vpon the nauell it killeth the wormes 〈◊〉 children The decoction of the leaues thereof or the seed or the water distilled is â— soueraigne remedie against the Bloudie flux and the Wormes in children A leaâ—e of Purcelane put vpon the tongue assuageth thirst A Cataplasme made of Purcelane and Barly mâ—ale applyed vnto the liuer and â—lanke worketh a maruellous effect against burning Agues A Liniment made with Honey and the powder of the root of Purcelane dried healeth the chaps of the lips and hands This Purcelane is an excellent Salad and by a cooling operation which it hath keepeth the bloud in a most excellent temper You preserue it all the yeare by boyling it first in faire water then drayning the water from it spread it vpon a faire table and cast good store of salt amongst it then when it is throughly cold pot it vp in cleane sweet pots of Earth and poure vpon it either a good strong Brine or Vineger and Salt mixt together till the Purcelane be cleane couered or if you feare the ouer-saltnesse of it then you need but onely make a well-tasted pickle such as you put to Oliues and with it couer the Purcelane then close the pot vp close till you haue cause to vse it And if at anie time you find the pickle or brine to 〈◊〉 away from the hearbes and leaue them drie you must immediately renew it and couer it all ouer againe for it is apt to putrifie and nothing bringeth it more sooner thereunto than the want of moisture Therefore you must haue care euer once in three of foure dayes to open your pots and to mend what you shall find amisse in them and if you find anie hoâ—rinesse cleauing vnto the pots sides you must cleanse that away also CHAP. XXIII Of Onions Chibols and Chyâ—es FOr the most part Onions so called of the French because they haue but onely one white root like to a pearle which the Latines call Vnio whether they be white red or round would be sowne in Ianuarie Februarie and March in a fat ground well dunged blacke well turned as also well cleansed from stones and enriched or else in a red earth which is short and murlie for in it they grow excellently They would be remoued in Aprill all along well weeded and often laboured to cause them to grow great and thicke and they must be kept from cold and freezing winds In them we must obserue a nature contrarie vnto that of other Hearbes and Plants being of greatâ—â— force and vertue in the encrease of the Moone than in the decrease quite conrarie to that of Onions which in the wane of the Moone is more effectuall and in the growth of the Moone more drie and weake Such as are intended to be kept for seed when they begin to put forth their stalke and to rise aloft must haue small sâ—ickes or poles to set by them and keepe them vpright that the wind doe not bow or breake them downe They must be gathered in the old of the Moone in faire and drie weather when the leaues begin to drie and the seed to grow blacke 〈◊〉 then you must pull vp the whole stalkes and drie them in the Sunne And it is said that if they be sowne and planted when the Moone is vnder the earth they tast the stronger but are smaller and lesse Furthermore they must be ordered as Leekes But iâ— must be obserued that they loue and delight in a red earth and to be sowne in faire weather in the decrease of the Moone to be taken vp againe and by and by watered and for to make them grow great they must haue their top taken away when they are planted and their heads vncouered and their earth must be digged twentie daies before they be remoued againe that so it may drie and not haue anie moisture in it And to keepe Onions from rotting you must cast them into warme water and drie them in the Sunne and after that they are drie to lay them vpon Barly straw so as they may not touch one another Who so would make choice of Onions must know that the round and white ones are a great deale better than those of a rusâ—etish or reddish colour and not to be so hot and sharpe as the other The best in France are those which grow at Fertlonion a small village neere vnâ—â— Estamps for it hath his name vpon that occasion The Onion though it be the Countrey mans meat is better to vse than to 〈◊〉 for he that eateth euerie day tender Onions with Honey to his breakfast shall liue the more healthfull so that they be not too new for the drie are more healthfull 〈◊〉 the greene the boyled than the raws the preserued than the drie wherefore the drie must be chosen to vse in Salads fried Meats Gallymawfries baked Meats Sawces Beane pottage and other vses The iuice of Onions causeth haire to grow againe cleanseth filthie â—ares and such as runne with mattar taketh away white spots as well out of the face as from the rest of the bodie It cureth the Dropsie with the iuice of Fennell if it be but beginning it purgeth the braine through
the best of our moderne Physitians doe report but Iaques Siluius saith That the Sene which commeth out of India is not at all inferiour to it neither that which groweth in Tuscanie True it is that there is not anie of them but is passing good As for the vertnes of Sene according to the opinion of Aetuarius one of the best reputed Physitians amongst all the Grecians hee writeth That Sene is verie excellent for the purging and auoiding of choler and flegme without anie danger of disturbance vnto the bodie and spirits it also purgeth most sweetly all melancholie and adust humours being taken in the broth of a Capon it also taketh away all inueterate and old paines in the head and easeth all inward obstructions According to the opinion of Master Iohn of Damascus and excellent Arabian Physitian Sene being abstersiue and binding purgeth excellently the braine the sensitiue parts and organs of the heart from all adust and melancholie humours it also helpeth all long and tedious Feauers it also reioyceth the spirits and taketh away all sadnesse from the heart A decoction made of the leaues thereof together with Camomill strengtheneth the braine wonderfully and comforteth the sinewes being bathed therein also being taken anie way it confirmeth both the sight and hearing And if you find that the purgation be weake you may then strengthen it with mingling therewith Simples of stronger nature as Sal Gemma Sal India and such like but if you vse it for anie griefe in the stomacke then you shall mix strong cordials therewith and administer it either in the broth of Veale Chickens or Capons or anie other flesh And Serapion another Arabian Physitian writeth That Sene is excellent for those which are dull of vnderstanding for those which are subiect to frenzie or madnesse or anie decrepitnesse of bodie proceeding from inward weakenesse And to all these former opinions Iohn Fernell Iaques Siluius Manard Ferrarois and Andrew Mathiol the most excellent reputed Physitians of their times are fully and truely consenting as may be found in each of their Writings The Garden of Pleasure or Flower Garden CHAP. XLVII Of the profit pleasure situation working or tilling and disposing of your Garden of Pleasure THe most pleasant and delectable thing for recreation belonging 〈◊〉 our French Farmes is our Flower Gardens as well in respect 〈…〉 serueth for the chiefe Lord whose the inheritance is to solace 〈◊〉 therein as also in respect of their seruice for to set Bee-hiues in It is 〈◊〉 commendable and seemely thing to behold out at a window manie acres of 〈◊〉 well tilled and husbanded whether it be Medow a Plot for planting of 〈◊〉 or arable Ground as we haue stood vpon heretofore but yet it is much more to behold faire and comely Proportions handsome and pleasant Arbors and as it 〈◊〉 Closets delightfull borders of Lauender Rosemarie Boxe and other such 〈…〉 heare the rauishing musicke of an infinite number of pretie small Birds which continually day and night doe chatter and chant their proper and naturall branch 〈◊〉 vpon the Hedges and Trees of the Garden and to smell so sweet a Nose 〈…〉 neere at hand seeing that this so fragrant a smell cannot but refresh the Lord of the Farme exceedingly when going out of his bed-chamber in the morning after 〈◊〉 Sunne-rise and whiles as yet the cleare and pearle-like dew doth pearch vnto the grasse he giueth himselfe to heare the melodious musicke of the Beeâ— which busying themselues in gathering of the same doe also fill the ayre with a most acceptabâ—â— sweet and pleasant harmonie besides the Borders and continued Rows of souâ—raigne Thyme Balme Rosemarie Marierome Cypers Soothernwood and 〈◊〉 fragrant hearbeâ— the sight and view whereof cannot but giue great contentment 〈◊〉 to the beholder And in this Garden of Pleasure you are verie much to respect the forme and pâ—â—portion of the same wherein according to the opinion of Serres and Vnieâ—◠〈◊〉 must be much ruled by the nature of the Soyle which albeit you may in part by your industrie and cost helpe as touching the leuelling raysing abating or 〈◊〉 of the same yet for the most part and especially touching the ayre 〈◊〉 and clyme you must be gouerned by the Soyle in which you liue Now 〈◊〉 the generall proportions of Gardens they may at your pleasure carrie anie of 〈◊〉 foure shapes that is to say either Square Round Ouall or Diamond As for that which is more long than broad or more broad than long neither of which are vncomely they are contained vnder the titles of Squares This is but the outward pâ—â—portion or the Verge and Girdle of your Garden As for the inward 〈◊〉 and shapes of the Quarters Beds Bankes Mounts and such like they are to be diâ—ided by Alleyes Hedges Borders Rayles Pillars and such like and by these yoâ— may draw your Garden into what forme soeuer you please not respecting 〈◊〉 shape soeuer the outward Verge carrieth for you may make that Garden which 〈◊〉 square without to be round within and that which is round either square or oâ—â—ll that which is ouall either of the former and that which is diamond anie shape 〈◊〉 all and yet all exceeding comely You may also if your ground be naturally so 〈◊〉 or if your industrie please so to bring it to passe make your Garden rise 〈◊〉 by seuerall degrees one leuell ascending aboue another in such sort as if you had diuers gardens one aboue another which is exceeding beautifull to the eie and very beneficiall to your flowers fruit-trees especially is such ascents haue the benefit of the Sun-rising vpon them and thus if you please you may haue in one leuell a square 〈◊〉 in another a round in a third a diamond and in the fourth an ouall then alongst the ascending bankes which are on either side the staires you mount into your seuerall gardens you shall make your physicke garden or places to plant your physicke hearbes vpon according as the modell is most brauely set forth by Oliuer de Serres and as the late king of France caused his physicke garden to be made in the Vniuersitie of Montpellier being all raised vpon bankes or heights one aboue another 〈◊〉 round some square in the manner of a goodly large and well trimmed Theatre as may be seene at this day to the great admiration thereof The Garden of Pleasure as hath beene said must be cast and contriued close to the one side of the Kitchin Garden but yet so as that they be sundred by the intercourse of a great large alley as also a hedge of quickset hauing three doores whose ground must be of a like goodnesse and vouchsafed the like labour tilling and husbanding that the Kitchin Garden hath bestowed vpon it and as the Kitchin Garden is to be compassed and set about with Lattise worke and young common bordering stuffe to be made vp afterward and continued into arbours or as it were into small chappells or oratories
〈…〉 also that it may grow the fairer and fuller leafe it will be good to water the 〈◊〉 â—oft with water wherein hath been steeped for the space of one whole day drie thyme somewhat bruised If you be disposed to gather the seed you must gather also the flowers wherein it is contained seeing they cannot be sundred A Cataplasme made of thyme boyled in Wine appeaâ—eth the paine of the Sciatiâ—â—ca and the windinesse of the bodie and matrin The smelling of thyme is soueraigne to raise them that haue the Falling-sicknesse out of their fit and also to keepe them from their fit by decking their bed about with the leaues thereof The oft vsing of thyme with wine or whay is good for melancholicke persons Winter Sauourie craueth no fat manured or well tilled ground but rather an â—pen stonie and light ground lying so as the Sunne may shine full vpon it Both Thyme and Winter Sauourie are good for the nourishing of bees and for the preserâ—ing and seasoning of meats they are also called fine sebtill or small and slender hearbes Organie otherwise called bastard Margerome loueth a rough stonie peble weake and yet well fuâ—nisht ground and vvithall craueth a manured ground as also to be watered vntill it be growne vp to his full bignesse notwithstanding it be seene â—o grow in many places without watering or dunging It may be remoued of little â—prouts or sciences and the lower end set vpward to the end that it may put forth new â—prings and shoots and be sown of his seed the which the elder it is so much the sooâ—er it will put forth of the earth although that organie do not ordinarily shew it selfe before the 30 or 40 day after the sowing of it in many places it is sowne neere vnto â— because they willingly load themselues from thence and make singular honie Organie boyled in Wine and layed vpon the region of the raines doth take away and vndoe the difficultie of making vvater being boyled in wine and drunke it is good against venimous beasts or the stingings of Scorpions and Spiders A Cataplasme made of Organie and Barly meale boyled together resolueth the tumours vnder the eares The decoction thereof is good to comfort the sinews and the relaxed and weake parts the seed thereof drunke vvith Wine doth prepare and dispose a vvoman to conceiue the flowers and leaues of the sayd Organie dried at the fire in an earthen test or melting pot and being wrapped vp verie hot in a cloth and applied vnto the head and kept fast tied thereunto doth cure the rheume comming of cold Hyssope affecteth a place free from shadow and lying open vpon the Sunne it â—ay be set or sowne about the twelfth of March It must be cut in the moneth of August and dried to put in pottage in Winter Amongst other principall vertues that it hath it is of great vse for the affects of â—he lungs and to prouoke vvomens termes of there be a broth made thereof to sup â—asting in the morning Some say that the syrope of Hyssope taken oftentimes with â—owerfold so much of the vvater of Pellitorie of the wall causeth the stone and much grauell to auoyd from the reines Hyssope with figs rue and honie boyled together â—n water and drunke is good for those that are short breathed and for old and hard â—oughs stampt with salt cummine and honie and applied healeth the stingings of Scorpions stampt with oyle and rubbed it killeth lice pills made of hyssope â—orehound and pionie roots doe heale the falling-sicknesse Sommer sauourie doth delight in an open Sunne shining place and therefore must be set or sowne in such a one not in a fat or manured ground for it is often seen grow of it selfe in leane grounds and neere vnto the Sea It groweth more delightâ—ully and of a better tast if it be sowne amongst onions It is verie good for sauce to â—eat The leaues and flowres applied vnto the head in forme of a cap or garland doth away the drowsily inclined A Cataplasme made of sauorie and wheat meale â—oth cure distillations The Sciatiâ—â—â— Coriander â—orteth well with any kind of ground notwithstanding in a fat and â—ew ground it groweth a great deale more aboundantly and it seeketh for an hot â—ire againe that which groweth in a sunnie place doth ouerthriue that vvhich groweth in a shadowed place when you goe about to sow it chuse the eldest seed you can get for by how much it is the elder by so much it is the better so that it 〈◊〉 not mouldie and foughtie Sow it also in a fat and moist ground and yet 〈…〉 a leane ground and to cause it to spring vp the sooner you must steepe the 〈…〉 water two daies before you sow it If you must dung the ground where it is to be sowne it must be with Sheepe or Goats dung rather than anie other The excessiue heat thereof bringeth Head-ach and the trembling of the 〈◊〉 being eaten after meat it comforteth digestion and dispelleth windinesse so that 〈◊〉 be prepared The way to prepare it is as followeth You must hauing dried it 〈◊〉 cast vpon it verie good wine and vineger mixt together and leaue it thus sprinklâ—â— and wet the space of foure and twentie houres then drie it vp and keepe it for Physicke vse being stamped in vineger and cast vpon flesh it keepeth it from 〈◊〉 it prouoketh womens termes and some say that looke how manie seeds a woman drinketh with white wine so manie daies shall her termes continue 〈…〉 drunke with the iuice of Pomegranats killeth the Wormes in children The 〈◊〉 thereof with Ceruse Litharge of Siluer Vineger and Oyle of Roses 〈…〉 Wild fire and all Rednesse The seed stamped in Vineger doth keepe the 〈◊〉 from corrupting in Summer Also to drinke the iuice thereof with Honey 〈◊〉 Wine killeth Wormes and adding the seedes bruised thereto it helpeth a 〈◊〉 Feuer Sage as well the little as the great it planted of branches wrythen at the foot 〈◊〉 also of roots in the Spring and Autumne It is sowne also at the same time The 〈◊〉 delighteth to be laid about with Lee ashes It must be set neere vnto Rue to 〈◊〉 from Adders and Lizards which vse to take vp their lodging neere vnto Sage 〈◊〉 may be knowne by the leaues which haue their tops oftentimes withered and dried the same comming of hauing beene touched by Serpents Sage refuseth neither 〈◊〉 nor cold ayre how beit naturally it groweth in a barren stoâ—â—e and ill 〈◊〉 ground and that in such sort as that in some places of Spaine the mountaine◠〈…〉 ouer-growne therewith and the Countrey inhabitants burne no other wood Noâ—withstanding to grow faire it would be well digged about and kept clean◠〈◊〉 leaues and stalkes that are dead It hath a singular vertue to comfort the â—inewes that are hurt by being 〈…〉 or otherwise become weake
a great Barly yeare it will be also a great Cypresse yeare If you remoue it doe the like but be carefull in the meane time not to water it nor to prâ—ne it or to snip off the topâ— of it for it cannot endure anie wound be it neuer so little This tree hath a male and a female The male groweth more high hath his braunches and boughes more close and straight together and bringeth forth Fruit or Nuts but so doth not the female The Cypresse-tree beareth fruit and flourisheth three seuerall times a yeare 〈…〉 Iâ—nuarie May and September and therefore at these times you must gather the Nuts which you shall drie in the Sunne to make them easie to breake and take 〈◊〉 the seed which you must likewise drie in the Sunne And if you be desirous to sow it the fit time for which is Aprill in verie hot Countries and May in temperate ones and in this Countrie from the twentieth of October vntill Winter you must chuse a drie faire and calme day and being sowne you shall riddle ouer it with a small riddle open aboue some earth in an euen and equall sort about the thicknesse of two or three fingers and after that so soone as the Cypres is put forth of the ground you must be watchful oâ—es the Ants and besprinkle it with water euerie third day before the Sunne rise or else after the Sunne set which iâ— much the better but after that it is growne aboue the earth you must not water it but verie seldome for often watering of it would make it die but in steed of this it must be carefully weeded pruned and digged but without touching of the root neither must you goe vpon it 〈…〉 vpon it with your feet killeth it and whereas â—or the first and second yeare it is verie tender you must couer the head of it for that time to keepe it from the burning heaâ— of the Sunne by day and the pinching cold of the frosty nights euen so as wee haue said of Melons the laying of the earth light about it spoken of before is to be vnderstood of the time of his young yeares and whiles it is growing for after it hath once perfected his sciences and bowes it hath no more need either of that or any other labour and helpe It is wont to be remoued being betwixt fiue and sixe yeares old and that in March or in Aprill and because it scattereth and spreadeth abroad his roots and pearceth not farre downeward with them the pit whereinto it is to be remoued must be made wide and that somewhat more than it selfe is broad in the roots and in a moist countrie it must be but a little depth vvhereas in a drie countrie it may be two foot deepe The Gardener must be carefull to keepe it from ants because this little vvorme loueth Cypres aboue all other things and causeth it oftentimes to die The vvood of Cypres is better than any other to make coffers chests cabinets and presses of because besides the good smell which it yeeldeth it endureth an infinit long time without corrupting moulding or rotting any thing at all and it is such an enemie to all vvormes and vermine as that the leaues and nuts thereof being laied amongst clothes doe free them of vvormes The leaues and seed are verie much commended for the killing of vvormes in children The decoction of the nuts in vinegar doe assuage the tooth-ach if the mouth be often washed therewith the decoction of the leaues vvorketh the like effect the ashes of Cypres nuts and the horn of an Aâ—â—es hoofe mixt vvith oyle of Myrtles keepe the haire from falling The decoction of new and fresh gathered Cypres nuts made in old vvine doth exceeding good to them vvhich haue the falling downe of the fundament if they drinke thereof euerie day the quantitie of three ounces but in the meane time they must rub their testiicles vvith the leaues of Cypres brayed and beaten and this is a certaine remedie such as hath oft beene experimented and tried the like vertue hath the young sciences of the Cypres-tree if they be so chawed as that thereupon their juice may descend into the bodie The Rose-tree sitteth it selfe for all manner of ayre vvhether hot or cold but in countries that are hot and somewhat moist it groweth more faire greater and â—lourishing a longer time as may be seene in manie coast townes and places neere the Sea in Spaine vvhere Roses continue and flourish vnto mid-Winter It requireth a fat substantiall and reasonable moist ground for as for grauelly and sandie grounds they are altogether enemies vnto the Rose-tree It must be planted in October Nouember and December in hot and drie coâ—ntries and in Ianuarie and Februarie in cold and moist couâ—tries yea and also in March and such as are planted in the later season vvill put forth Roses the same yeare vvhich vvill not fall out in those vvhich vvere made hast of and planted a great deale sooner if the earth be good of it selfe the Rose vvill craue no manure but yeeld a more perfect smell but and if it be spent and vvorne out it must be succoured with dung well rotted As for Roses there be manie sorts of them that is to say the vvild ones vvhich we call Eglantine and the red also growing in hedges Damaske of the colour of Scarlet vvhich vve call Prouence Roses and amongst the braunches besides the vvild ones there are Muske-Roses Common-Roses and Roses hauing fiue leaues onely The Rose-tree groweth either of plants or seed It is planted of shoots or little 〈◊〉 diuided into pieces of the length of foure fingers and set into a well manured earth â—oot deepe It is good to remoue it for it will grow the fairer as also euerie yeare or at the least when it is past fiue yeares old which is the terme of his approching age to cut it or else to burne the branches of it that are superfluous for this restoreth 〈◊〉 vnto his young yeares againe If you remoue it remoue it by branches setting the one foure foot distant from the other in a ground that is not â—at or clayie nor moist but drie and stonie The Rose-tree sowne groweth slowly but yet and if yoâ— sow it let it be foure foot within the ground and deceiue not your selfe with thâ— seed for the seed is not that little yellow flower which is in the middest of the Rose but that which is contained and nourished in the little fruit which the Rose bringeth forth after Vintage which is knowne to be ripe when it groweth blacke and soft For to haue Muske Roses you must graft the Rose-tree vpon it selfe or vpon the Eglantine and before the grafting of it to put into the cleft where the graft 〈…〉 stand a graine of Muske or else one or two drie leaues of sweet smelling Roses Such Roses are pleasant to behold as being but a little tree and yet laden with leaues the flower verie
sweet of smell and such as will neuer faile but alwaies hold and bring forth in their season besides that a man may fit the root and branchâ—â— thereof to make a shadow Such Roses are not good to make conserues or distilled water nor for anie vse in Physicke onely they are good to drie and put amongst Linnen and other Apparrell because of their good smell It is true that some say that they loosen the bellie Looke further in the third Booke in the Chapter of the speciall properties of Grafting and Planting To haue Roses that shall smell verie sweet you must plant your Rose-tree in a place that is verie drie or else to set it round about with Garlicke The Roses will come early if you make a little trench of some two hands wide round about the Rose-tree and therein powre warme water morning and euening and yet this must not be attempted before it begin to put forth his buds You shall doe the like if you place your Rose-tree in baskets or pots of earth and order them after the manner of timely Gourds and Cucumbers as hath beene taught before You may keepe new Roses in their liuelinesse if you put them in the lees of Oyle so as that the lees may swimme aboue them Others pull vp greene Barly roots and all wherein they wrap Roses as yet not blowne and so put them together in a 〈◊〉 that is not pitched The way to haue greene Roses is if you graft the Rose-tree vpon an old Colewort stalke or vpon the bodie of an Oake but then the Roses will 〈◊〉 no smell You may make the Carnation Rose white if you perfume it with Brimstone 〈◊〉 such time as it beginneth to spread You may haue Roses of a yellow colour if after you haue planted the Rose-tree vvith his naturall earth neere vnto the broome you bore through the broome stalke vvith a vvimble and plant in the same hole diuers roots or shoots of the Rose-tree scraped round about so farre as they are to lye in the hole and after tie and make theâ— fast vnto the broome plant with mortar and whenas you see the hole bored in the stalke to be growne vp againe you shall cut off the broome stalke aboue the plaâ—â— vvhere you bored the hole and shall let the Rose-tree to put forth his shoots and 〈◊〉 by this meanes you shall haue yellow Roses The vertues of the Roses are sufficiently knowne vnto euerie one Some distill the vvhite and Prouence rose vvhich if you vvill haue it to retaine the full qualitie and vertue of the Rose together with the smell and fauour of the same you must distill in a glasse vessell and not in lead as is ordinarily accustomed Some make 〈◊〉 and syropes of carnation Roses which haue force to loosen the bellie and to purge the humours offending in serious and cholericke matter as also good for 〈…〉 the jaundise the obstructions of the liuer and beating of the heart The yellow growing within the Rose which is a flower accompanied as it vvere vvith smal haires doth stay the vvhite flowers of vvomen the white end of the leaues of Roses are good in a decoction to stay all manner of fluxes the cup hath the same force and vertues the seed and vvooll contained within the button of the Rose as also the whole button dried and made into powder is singular good to stay womenâ— whites and termes for the scalding of the vvater for the disease called Gonorrhaea taken the weight of a dram with sowre red wine Box-tree is planted of shoots or boughs after the twelfth day of Nouember It delighteth in hillie places and mountaines and groweth verie well in cold drie and vvindie places It must not be planted neere the place where bees are kept for the flower killeth them sodainly Some affirme that it corrupteth the ayre by the stinking smell it hath and for this cause it would be as sparingly planted in the garden as possibly may be Box-tree is better to make combes and other durable instruments of than for to vse in medicine if it were not that Physitians doe hold that the scrapings or râ—â—ped powder of Box and the leaues thereof boyled in Lee doe cause the haire to looke â—ed Some likewise doe thinke that it hath the like properties that Guaiacum hath in decoctions for the French disease but herein I referre my selfe rather to experiâ—nce than to reason Broome as well the small as the great is planted of shoots and boughs in the inâ—rease of the Moone about the Calends of March It may likewise be sowne and it requireth a drie and sandie ground The flowers as also the seed doe prouoke vrine and breake the stone as well of the reines as of the bladder the flowers prouoke vomit taken in a drinke the leaues and crops boyled in wine or water are good for the dropsie and obstructions of the liuer spleene and kidneyes some vse the stalkes of broome to tie their vines as also to make ropes and sackes of and that by ripening it in water as they doe hempe Spanish broome groweth also in drie places it must be remoued after the first yeare that it is sowne it is sowne in Februarie and remoued in March the next yere after the flowers in decoctions procure vomite after the manner of white hellebor the seed alone doth loosen the bellie and forceth downeward great store of water Furze grow in vntilled and sandie grounds the leaues boyled in water or wine do stay all manner of â—luxes The Cedar-tree is verie rare in these countries so that if you will haue it in your garden you must assigne it a well husbanded ground and lying open vpon the Sun notwithstanding the places where it is found most growing be cold and moist mountaines and full of snow if you doe well you must sow in pots of earth and cases or impaled places the small and exceeding little seed that commeth thereof The liquor thereof put into the hollow parts of the teeth doth stay their ach being anuointed it killeth the wormes and preserueth bodies from rotting The wood is verie pleasant to looke vpon and to smell vnto whereupon some vse it in steed of perfumes Saâ—in is planted as box and groweth much better if it be watered with Wine Lees or sprinkled with the dust of tile stones The leaues as well in decoction as in perâ—umes prouoke the termes and expell the after-birth and dead child they also cause to fall off the warts growing vpon a mans yard As concerning Iunipâ—r it affecteth the tops of mountaines and stonie ground for to grow well in and by how much it is the more â—ost of the winds and pinched with cold so much the fairer it groweth The fruit thereof is good for the stomach for weake and broken people and against all sorts of venime whether it be drunke or taken in a perfume as also against an
except perhaps you will say that a certaine groâ—â—â— and thicke haire which they haue vpon their bellies is their sting wherewith notwithstanding they neuer sting to doâ— anie harme Some Kings are found to be blacâ— and hairie and ghalliy to behold and these are of the worst sort of Kings and must therefore be killed notwithstanding that they moue no warre nor stirre vp 〈◊〉 coales amongst the young swarmed brood Thus you see there is no case-to be 〈◊〉 with maruelling when you behold these small birds to be so beâ—â—â—ced and enraged with loue towards their King that for to deâ—end him they willingly cast and expose their own liues into open hazard against all his enemies which come to 〈◊〉 him besides other incredible obeyâ—ance which they let not continually to 〈◊〉 vnto him The Hiues that shall be made readie to receiue the new swarmes must be rubbed with the hearbes before named and sprinkled with drops of Honey the more 〈◊〉 to cause them to keepe therein At this time of the Spring it likewise somâ—â—â— commeth to passe that by reason of the hardnesse of the Winter past or of 〈…〉 â—ase and sicknesse there is great wanâ— and scarsitie of Bees in old stocks and this 〈◊〉 be remedied by putting a new swarme into that Hiue and killing the young 〈◊〉 that so his subiects may content themâ—â—â—ies to liue peaceably vnder the old But 〈◊〉 if you haue not a swarme then the next way is to put the troupes of two or three 〈◊〉 diminished stocks into one bedewing or sprinkling the same before with some 〈◊〉 liquor and after to shut them vp in the same Hiue and fet something within it for them to eat vntill they be well wonted vnto it and so to keepe them three daies 〈◊〉 vp giuing them onely a little fresh ayre at someâ—â—all and little holes And if it come to passe that the King of the old Hiue which we shall haue leâ—t aliue doe die 〈◊〉 you must chuse them another King from out of the other Hiues where there be 〈◊〉 nie and giue them him to gouerne And in case that meanes to doe this doe faile 〈◊〉 that there be not anie purpose or inclination to take new swarmes from other 〈◊〉 you must then breake downe all the little chambers and lodgings of their 〈◊〉 Kings to the end that the young swarmes which shall be together in the old 〈◊〉 may not betake themselues to their first haunt and still abide and continue vnd◠〈◊〉 old but their new King and Captaine and this they must of necessitie dot beâ—â—â— compelled through want of their naturall and chiefe Gouernours and by 〈◊〉 themselues with their Ancients In rainie weather continuing long Bees not being able to goe out of their 〈◊〉 to seeke pastures and to bring home food vnto their young brood you must not 〈◊〉 to helpe them with some prouision of Honey vntill such time as they shall be 〈◊〉 to she abroad to get their owne liuing and to worke their Honey-combe of for otherwise you shall quickly make an end of them as it hath beene oftentimes seene to come to passe All the Summer they must gather Honey whereof we will speake hereafter and at the same time euerie tenne daies their Hiues must be opened and smoaked with Oxe dung and afterward be cooled by warring the emptie parts of the Hiue and â—asting thereinto coole water and likewise be made cleane and all grubs taken out of them if anie be therein and after this let them rowle and tumble themselues vpon the flowers and then you must not take anie thing from them that so you may 〈◊〉 annoy and become redious vnto them too oâ—t and so cause them to flye away in despaire In some faire day about the end of Autumne you must make cleane their Hiues looking that it be hoâ— also and calme and if at this time there be found euer a Combe vngathered and not pluckâ— away which sometime was leane and thinne you must not therefore kill the Bees as manie doe but rather to saue them you must sprinkle it with a brush dipt in honied water or in milke hauing driuen them together on a heape with the smoake keeping them close and shut vp after this in their Hiue for all the Winter you may not open nor touch them but keepe them close within till the Sunne-beames breake forth againe for their comfort and that well couered stopping without whatsoeuer clifts and holes with Mortar and Neats â—ung mingled together in such sort that there be nothing left open but onely a way for them to passe in and out thereat And also this must be carefully looked vnto thaâ— although their Hiues doe alreadie stand vnder couert yet that further they be couered againe with stubble and boughes and so much as possibly may be kept â—â—om Cold and Winds which they feare and abhorre more than anie other thing You must foreâ—ee likewise that neither Raine nor Snow may doe them hurt and 〈◊〉 make prouision of store of the iuice of sweet Balme honied water â—ugred waâ—â—r milke or other liquor which may be â—it and conuenient for them in which liquor you must steepe pure and cleane Wooll whereupon the Bee sitting may suckâ—â—ut the iuice or liquor that is therein And to the end that they may not endure hunâ—er in the Winter and that they may not need to eat the Honey vp that they haue â—ade and which is left vntaken from them it wil be good to giue them at the doores 〈◊〉 their Hiues in little pipes or troughes made of Reedes Elder Iron or Lead so â—â—repared as that the Bees may not drowne themselues when they goe about to â—â—rinke some drie figges stamped or teâ—â— pered in water or boyled Wine It will be â—ood likewise to giue them some Raiâ—â—ns out of the Frayle stamped and sprinkled â—ith water or else some Corans stamped with verie good Wine and boy led togeâ—â—her or else some drie Apricoâ—s stamped with Honey and mixed with boyled water 〈◊〉 of Pancakes made of verie ripe Corans of the best Figges and boyâ—â—d Wine mixed together or else to cast amongst them in at the doore of the Hiue some sweet liquors with Siringes as Milke and especially Goats Milke 〈◊〉 the best of all the rest to beare out the scarcitie and poorenesse of the time vnâ—â—ill the Spring approach In the Combes there are found Drones like vnto Bees but greater which alâ—hough they be vnprofitable because they gather no food or sustenance but eat â—p that which others bring in yet doe serue for some thing for they hatch the â—oung brood whereupon come the small Bees and therefore you must not kill â—hem all but keepe a certaine number of them to the end that the Bees may not â—row â—â—onthfull and idle CHAP. LXVI Of the remedies of the diseases that Bees are subiect vnto THe Bee is subject vnto the Plague in which case there is no more â—â—â—â—raigne a medicine for them than to carrie them
spoken of in the second Booke As much may be said of Pomegranat kernels and Bay-berries as you may vnderstand by the second Booke Pistaces doe require greater diligence and delight to be sowne as well the male as the female in a verie fat ground and vvell â—ared the backe turned to the East and this abouâ— the first day of Aprill and at the same time of the yeare you may graâ—â— them vpon themselues notwithstanding that some doe graft them vpon the almond-tree The peach stone would be set presently after that the fruit is eaten there remayning still some small quantitie of the â—lesh of the peach about the stone and for the longer lasting and keeping of it it loueth to be grafted vpon the Almond-tree CHAP. IIII. Of the nurcerie for stockes IF you vvould haue a beautifull and pleasant fruit of your trees it is not ynough that you should onely sow or set your seeds or stones in a good soyle but it standeth you as much vpon to remoue them after one yeare into another place for this translating of them doth so delight them and reuiue their vigour and spirits as that they yeeld more pleasant leaues and a 〈◊〉 â—ed and liking fruit For and if you will bestow this fauour vpon vvild 〈◊〉 you shall find them to become of a gentler nature and farre more excâ—â—ling 〈◊〉 Wherefore when the Trees which shall haue sprung vp of seeds or stones 〈◊〉 or sowne shall haue come by some little nourishment and grow in the seed 〈◊〉 take them vp vpon a new Moone at night with as many roots as possibly may be and if it happen that any of them be spoyled or broken cut it looke vnto it alâ—â— that you doe not pull it vp when the Northerne wind bloweth for this wind is an enemie vnto new set plants and set them againe presently least the roots should spend themselues it must not be in a hot or cold vveather nor in an excessiue vvind nor in raine but at such time when it is calme and verie faire chusing rather a cloudie day than when the Sunne breaketh out hot and the Moone being in her 〈◊〉 but and if you should not haue the leisure to remoue them so soone or and if you would send or carrie them somewhat farre bind them vp in their owne earth mingled vvith dung and make it fast thereto with vvoollen cloth or leaues When as you take them vp marke what part standeth vpon this or that quarter to the end that you may set them downe againe vpon the same quarter and coast of the heauens for and if in remouing them you set them in a contrarie â—oyle and situation in respect of the heauens they will not thriue so vvell and that is the cause why those that buy new plants most diligently inquire in what manner of ground they stood and what aspect of the Sunne they were most open vnto that so they may set them downe againe in such like ground and in the same aspect True it is that this obserâ—â—tion seemeth too ceremoniall vnto me and exceeding hard continually to be kâ—pt seeing vve buy trees at Paris sometimes to plant whose first situation we doe not know neither can vve learne and yet notwithstanding being planted they cease not to thriue and prosper And againe what cause is there of any such ceremonie seeing the Sunne vvhich is the nursing father of all plants doth visit euerie day all the sides of the Tree and that the ground wherein it is planted is no lesse nouâ—â—shing vpon the one side than vpon the other These things weighed about the third of December you must lay flat another plot and make a furrowed quarter where you shall lodge according to the order of a hundred the small wildings which you shall haue taken vp out of the â—eed nurcerie cutting off the end and beards of all their roots and which may be in any place about their slender little stockes and that in a good ground yea much better if it be possible than that is of the seed nurcerie It is true that the furrowes must be made according to the goodnesse of the ground the nature of the tree for in a clayie or hard ground you must make your furrows the depth of three cubites in a watrie and marshie place of three feet 〈◊〉 Some plants as the Ash and Oliue tree grow better in the vpper face and top of the earth than in the depth and lower parts of the same Set in order your young â—â—â—dings in the said furrows halfe a foot one from another and there couer them and leaue the space of a foot betwixt one furrow and another that there you may make paths to goâ— about vveeding with â—ase and passe betwixt euerie two furrows When thus your wildings are set you must cut off their stockes close by the earth and fil vp the paths with dung without euer going about to hide or couer the plaâ—â—â— in the earth and so soone as they grow they must be well wed round about and 〈◊〉 from vveeds and vnderdigged or lightly digged sometimes in Sâ—mmer round about not comming ouer neere the rooâ—s in any â—ase and they must be vvaâ—â—â—d also on euenings when it hath beene a verie hot day and when they haue put forth â—â—â—ces for one or two yeares then going ouer them all leaue not moe than one 〈◊〉 to euerie plant and let it be the â—â—eekest best liking tallest and comâ—liest of all the rest cutting the other off close by the stocke As these â—â—â—nces shall grow on so 〈◊〉 picke off cleane from them the small superfluous wood growing vpon them vpward and euen close also vnto the stocke and this must be done in March or Aprill and then must some small prop or stay be prickt downe at the foot of euerie wilding for to â—â—rect and guide it by tying them both together with wreaths of graâ—â—e but 〈◊〉 moâ—â—e or some soft thing betwixt them that so the hardnesse of the prop may not gal it when it shall be growne thicke And thus you shall order and husband then til the time come when you must remoue them if rather you make not choice to grâ—â—â— them vpon the place as they stand When through forgetfulnesse you shall haue 〈◊〉 your wildings or planes growne vp of feeds for two or three yeares vntaken vp 〈◊〉 must furrow them as hath already bin said but with deeper digged furrows and thâ—â— you shall not breake the roots so much and it will be â—it and conuenient to cut off their branches vpward as occasion shall require There are found kernels of peares or garden apples that haue beene gathered 〈◊〉 trees that vvere sometimes wild ones or growne vpon trees which haue alreadie 〈◊〉 oftentimes grafted vvhich bring forth verie streight trees and also of comely wood as if they had beene grafts from the beginning not hauing any prickes or 〈◊〉 to argue them â—uer to haue beene wild Such young trees if
and transparent which is a signe of their sufficient watering afterward boyle them in a vessel of brasse that is cleane or in a leaden vesâ—el so long as til they be tender vvhen they haue cast out all their waterishnesse put them to steepe in a Iuâ—lep made of one part of sugar and three of water for the space of foure and twentie houres afterward make them to boyle at a little fire so much as is sufficient take them out of the Iulep and put them in a glasse vessell and putting vpon them the Iulep of Rose-vvater thicke ynough of consistence that so it may affoord them as it vvere a crust you may if you vvill aromatize them with a little Amber and Muske To preserue whole Peaches you must pill them and cleanse them as carefully as may be and after boyle them whole or cut in quarters in a sufficient thin Iulep not to boile them to the full but onely to boile out their waterishnesse wherewith they abound and then after this in a better boiled Iulep to boile them vp to the full till they be become through tender and soft and finally to put them vp into some eaâ—then vessell and to couer them with the sirrup wherein they haue boyled For their longer keeping you may aromatize them with Cinnamon or Muske This manner of preseruing of whole Peaches is generall for the preseruing of all other grosse fruits as Peares Quinces Apples Abricots small Peaches and timely Peaches To preserue Cherries you must chuse the fairest sowre Cherries that you can full ripe for if they be not full ripe in boiling them toward the end you shall find nothing but skinne and bone cutting off their starts at the halfe and afterward boile them in their owne iuice with sugar in such proportion as that for euerie pound of Cherries you haue halfe a pound of sugar taking away the sâ—umme still as it shall rise in boiling of them when they shall be sufficiently boiled you must put them in glasse vessels and powre vpon them the sirrup wherein they haue boiled notwithstanding if the sirrup should still seeme waterish boile it more perfectly Otherwise and better put apart some quantitie of your said sowre Cherries which you shall presse to haue a sufficient quantitie of iuice in this iuice so soone as you haue pressed it out melt your sugar and not in anie other liquor boile them together presently and in boiling scumme them when the iuice is well scummed clarified and become red without taking it from the fire or making it loose his boiling put the Cherries thereinto to boile as long as needeth without anie stirring of them but looking well to the scumming of them with a spatule stirre them not from off the fire vntill they be perfectly boiled and that you shall discerne if you see the sirrup dropt vpon a trencher to fall into drops that doe not spread abroad for then it is exactly boiled and you must put vp your Cherries into their glasse vessels good and hot for to be kept In this manner you shall preserue Plums Ceruises Gooseberries and such other small fruits For the preseruing of Barberries you shall take the fairest and goodliest bunches of Barberries that you can find being gotten verie drie from the tops of the trees and as neere as you can from the Sunne side thereof being fully ripe and of one entire colour then with a pinne or needle you shall open the side and pick out all the stones or kernels from the same then to euerie bare pound of these Barberries thus stoned you shall take a pound downe weight of fine sugar well beaten and searced and so boile them on a gentle charcoale fire till the sirrup be thicke then let them coole and afterward pot them vp being sure to couer them all ouer with the sirrup But if you intend to make Conserue of them then you shall not need to stone them but onely picke them cleane from their branches taking all the sound berries and casting away all that are vnsound or spotted and so boile them in their sugar ouer a hot fire vntill they burst stirring them continually with a spatule of wood or steele made for the purpose and then straine them through a strainer not exceeding fine and squeese them so soone as is possible then being cooled pot it vp and vse it as you shall haue necessarie occasion This Conserue is most excellent against burning feauers or other pestilent diseases growing from inflammation or corruption of the bloud it comforteth the stomack and begets an appetite it cheareth all the spirits and being drunke in Iuleps bringeth the bloud to his true qualitie and taketh away all thirst inflammation or roughnesse in the throat or mouth it is also good for anie heat in the liuer For to haue paste of Plums first boile the Plums with a little water stirring them oftentimes that they may not burne too afterward straine and force them through a sâ—arce and weigh them that so you may put thereto for euerie pound foure ounces of sugar set all vpon the fire to boile againe and stirre them well not giuing ouer vntill all the scumme be consumed and spent which done make them readie as they are where you will afterward lay them in the Sunne to drie three daies and then shut them vp and in case that they grow moist or that there spring forth anie water out of them you must lay them in the Sunne againe This patterne of making this paste may serue generally for the making of paste of anie other fruits as Peares Apples Cherries and Peaches saue that you must haue respect vnto the quantitie of Sugar which shall be more or lesse according to the more or lesse moistnesse of the fruits which you are determined to make vp in paste To keepe Peaches or other fruits take Peaches or other fruits which you would keepe when it is faire weather and drie and opening them in the middest take out the stone then lay them all one day to drie in the Sunne or in an Ouen after that the bread is drawne out afterward take sugar well boiled and purified and annoint them ouer and lay them againe the day following in the Sunne and so annoint them ouer againe and so oft as they shall drie and vntill they haue gotten a sufficient crust and after keepe them at your pleasure To make Oliues readie against a day Take greene Oliues and cut off a little from the one side after lay them in water with lime and good sifted ashes but take withall that you must haue twice so manie ashes as lime and let them steepe in that sort the space of 24. houres after you shall take them out and wash them foure or fiue times in warme water afterward you shal put them in a stone or glasse vessell with salt water and this you shall change euerie three moneths and mingle amongst them common
that so the ashes and small coales of fire may fall through to the bottome below the more easily and not stay behind to choake vp the fire that should heat the Still The vnderfloore may haue one or manie mouthes for the more conuenient taking away of the ashes which shall be gathered there on a heape but as for that aboue it must haue but one onely of a reasonable bignesse to put the coales or wood in at but in the roofe of it it must haue two or three small holes to giue aire and breath vnto the fire at such time as you mind to amend it Euerie one of the mouthes shall haue his stopple For want of a furnace or matter for to make one you may fit and set your Vesâ—ell Cauldron or Bowle vpon a brandâ—ith and kindle your fire vnderneath CHAP. LXIII How the matter must be prepared before the waters be distilled IT is not ynough that the furnace and instruments for distillation be made readie in such sort as wee haue said for the matter to be distilled must in like manner be prepared before that it be put into the Still This preparation is of three sorts that is to say Infusion Putriâ—action and Fermentation Infusion is nothing else but a macâ—rating or sâ—eeping of the thing intended to be distilled iâ— some liquor not onely that it may be the more apt and easie to be distilled but also to cause and procure greater store of iuice to be in it 〈◊〉 else to helpe them to keepe their smell or else to bestow vpon them some new qualitie or to encrease their force and vertues or else for some other ends as we will handle them in particular and onely one It is true that this preparation is not necessarie for euerie matter for some there are that need not anie infusion or steeping but rather to be dried before they be distilled by reason of their too great and excessiue moisture othersome content themselues with being watered or sprinkled ouer lightly with some liquor as is done in the distilling of drie Roses and Caâ—â—â—â—â—ll which are wont to be sprinkled onely with common water Some spread them all a Summers night in faire weather vpon a Linnen cloth to take the dew and after they be moist to distill them Such as are steeped and infused lye in the Sunne or are held ouer the fire the space of some halfe houre or manie houres a whole night a whole day two daies three daies one or moe â—oneths according to the nature of the medicine the diuers intention and purpose of the Physician and the present necessitie Sometimes we presse and wring out things which we infused before the distillation and making our distillation afterward of the iuice onely that we pressed forâ—h sometimes againe we distill the whole infusion that is to say both the infused maâ—ter and the liquor wherein it was infused Wherefore in this preparation which is made by infusion you must diligently obserue two things the time of the infusion and the liquor in which the infusion is made The time of the infusion must be measured according to the diuersitie of the matter for those things which are hard or solide 〈…〉 or entire and whole deserue a longer time of infusion than those which arâ— tender new or bruised whereupon it commeth to passe that rootes and seedes râ—quire double time to infuse the leaues and flowers a single and lesser time and so consequently of such other matter or things The liquors wherein infusions are to be prepared must not onely answere the qualities of such matter as is to be distilled in such sort as that hot matter and things be infused in hot liquors and the cold in cold but likewise the scope and driâ—t intended in the thing distilled which is the onely cause of the vsing of varietie of liquors in the making of infusions and these are for the most part Raine water Fountaine or Rose-water and they either raw or distilled crude or distilled iuices distilled waters Aqua vitae raw or distilled Vineger Wine raw or distilled Vrine Whey raw or distilled mans bloud Swines bloud and Goats bloud distilled or vndistilled For this respect things that haue small store of iuice as Sage Betonie Balme and Wormewood or which are verie fragrant as all sorts of Spices all sorts of odoriferous Hearbes all aromaticall Rindes or Woods as Cinnamome would be infused in Wine to the begetting of some reasonable store of iuice in them which haue but a little and to keepe the aromaticall fragrantnesse in those which smell sweet which might otherwise euaporate and spend through the heat of the fire their best and most precious parts they being of so thinne and subtle a substance It is true that the best and surest course is not to infuse Spices or aromaticall things neither in Wine nor in Aqua vitae but rather in common water because in distilling of them as proofe will make triall the vapours will rise too soone and leaue behind them the vertues of the aromaticall things whereas water will not goe vp before it haue them with it Such matter and things as are hard and mettallous as Pearles Corall shells of egges Crystall Emeralds 〈◊〉 and other such are infused commonly in raw or distilled vineger or else in vrine distilled or vndistilled but such waters are not to be taken inwardly but onely to be applyed outwardly In like manner when it is intended that a water shall haue an opening qualitie and pierce deepe or swiftly the matter thereof may be infused in raw and crude or in distilled vineger as for example the waters distilled against the stone or grauell or to take away the great obstructions of the liuer spleene and matrix When you desire that the water should retaine and keepe in good sort the vertues of the matter whereof it is distilled it may for the better infusing of it be distilled in his owne iuice or in some iuice obtaining the like vertue Things are likewise sometimes infused in bloud either of Men Swine or Goats for the encrease and strengthening of their vertues as the water vsed to be distilled for to breake the sâ—one whether it be in the reines or in the bladder may first haue receiued an infusion made in the bloud of Goats As much in like sort is to be thought of the Whey of Goats milke wherein things are wont to be infused to draw waters off which are to serue in the cleansing of vlcers of the reines or bladder Generally regard must be had that all infusions be made in such liquor as will strengthen and encrease the vertue and force of the things intended to be distilled as also that such matter before it be set to infuse be shred stamped small or bruiâ—ed putting into it sometime the twelfth part of salt as vnto those that are too moist as flesh bloud of men or other beasts as well to keepe them from corrupting as also to
be it neuer so good doth become worse and degenerate easily when it is sowne in a bad plot And for as much as I speake onely of Wheat in this place being the graine of most vse in Fraunce you shall vnderstand that there be diuers kinds thereof as shall be shewed hereafter which sith their names are not familiar in other Countries I will here repeat those which are most in vse amongst our neighbours especially in England of which the first is called whole-straw Wheat because the straw is whole and entire not hauing anie hollownesse within it and this is of all Wheat the largest and goodliest and yeeldeth the greatest store of flowre yet not of the most pure and most white colour it prospereth onely on the rich stiffe clay-grounds and must necessarily haue three earings before it be sowne Next vnto it is the great Pollard Wheat which hath no aues vpon the eares it is a large Wheat also and prospereth likewise vpon stiffe clay-grounds yet will aske but one earing because it loues to be sowne vpon Pease-ground from whence Pease was reaped the same yeare The next is small Pollard which loues an indifferent earth as that which is grauelly or of barren mixture and it must haue euer full three earings Then Ograue Wheat which loueth anie well-mixt soyle and will grow either after three earings or but one so it besowne where Pease is reaped Then â—laxen Wheat which will ioy in anie soyle except the stiffe clay or burning sand prouided that it haue fully three earings and be well manured And lastly Chylter Wheat which is like vnto flaxen Wheat It will be good before you sowe your seed to lay it in steepe in water some certaine houres and afterward to spread and lay it abroad somewhere in the shadow to drie that so it may be readie to rowle or runne at such time as it is to be cast into the earth by this meanes you shall chuse the fairest cornes that shall stay behind in the boâ—tome of the water to sowe them which will grow within three or foure daies but as for those which swimme aloft aboue the water they shall be taken away because they are not worth any thing to sow for the best vse for such is either to seed Hennes or else to grind that so you may get out euen that sâ—all quantitie of meale and flowre that is within them Some before the sowing of their corne doe sprinkle it ouer a little with water wherein haue beene infused Houseleeke or the stamped seedes and roots of wild Cucumbers to the end that the corne may not be eaten of Moules field-Mice or other such like vermine Yet howsoeuer this may be a practise in France it is not receiued generally amongst Husbandmen to steepe the corne in water before they sowe it because so much moisture cooleth and drowneth the kernell of it too much Nay they are so farre from the practise thereof that a well-reputed Husbandman will not suffer his corne to be so much as washed before it be sowne The quantitie of corne which must be sowne shall be measured and rated according to the peece of ground for an arpent of fat ground will for the most part take foure bushels of Wheat a reasonable fat ground will take fiue and a leane will take more It is true that there must respect be had vnto the Countrey and place where it is sowne for in cold Countries and places that are waterie being also alwaies subiect to Snowes it is needfull to sowe a great deale more than in hot Countries or in temperate and drie places in as much as the cold and Snow doe corrupt the greatâ—st part of the seed Besides the time is well to be obserued and the disposition of the ayre for in Autumne you must sowe lesse thicke and in Winter or the times approaching and comming neere to Winter a great deale more againe in rainie weather you must sowe thicker than in drie weather Yet in England and other Countries which are much colder than France two bushels of Wheat or Pease will fully sowe an acre and foure bushels of Barly or Oates and three bushels of Beanes which proportion no man need to alter vpon anie occasion whatsoeuer CHAP. XIII Of harrowing and weeding of Corne. PResently after that the seed is bestowed in the ground you must for your last worke harrow it along and crosse ouerthwart and after that â—ake it from furrow to furrow but ouerthwart onely This would be done with Harrowes hauing yron teeth rather than woodden ones because they make the corne settle deeper into the earth which they doe breake and make fmall a great deale better and so by that meanes doe couer the corne with earth as it requireth at the least the thicknesse of foure fingers that so it may be the faster rooted and the safer from birds and thus it must be let alone the whole Winter vpon the Spring True it is that during Winter you must not neglect to make draynes and draughts thereby to carrie away the water that falleth in too great aboundance by raine Now this manner of harrowing is but for such entire grounds as lye together leuell plaine and vndistinguished by lands for were they cast vp with ridges as the lands of many Countries are then could they by no means be harrowed ouerthwart Therefore wheresoeuer your ground lyes in lands or in common mixt amongst your neighbours there you shall euer harrow your lands directly vp and downe the full length of the lands beginning at the furrowes first and so ascending vp to the ridges As for the Harrowes as before I said the woodden Harrow is best for the loose moulds and the yron Harrowes for the tough and binding moulds As for the Oxe-harrow which is as bigge as two Horse-harrowes and hath euer yron teeth it is best for the roughest earths especially new broken vp swarths the Horse-harrowes going before and the Oxe-harrow following after When the Spring time is come and the Wheat hath taken good root you must weed your ground of such store of weedes as Winter raine and the ranknesse of the earth it selfe haue caused to abound and ouer-grow the corne newly put vp as Feâ—ches tame and wild Poppie Cockle and such like and after once hauing weeded it it will be good to doe it the second time as when the eare beginneth to shoot for iâ— so doing the corne will proue faire and cleane But in the meane time you must so weed it at the first as that the rootes be not hurt but that they may remaine couered and laden with the earth that so they may stand faster in the earth and grow the more vpward At the second time of weeding you must not bare it much for and if the Wheat should not shoot vp still more and more it would rot vpon the earth and bring forth nothing Againe at the second weeding you shall stirre and make euen the ground a
more worth than the other so that the hindes let not to say That they had rather eat the huskes or stalkes of beanes sowne in due time than the beanes themselues of three moneths old because they yeeld more fruit and haue a greater and better stored graine But at what time soeuer you sowe them you must haue speciall regard to sowe them all about the fifteenth day after the change of the Moone because that in so doing thâ—y will be the beâ—ter loaden and because they will not be so much assailed of little vermine as and if the Moone were new The day before they be sowne you must steepe them in the lees of Oliues or in water of Nitre to the end that they may beare the more fruit be more easie to boyle and not to be subiect to be eaten of Weeuils or Larkes They must likewise reape and pull them vp in the new of the Moone before day and after leaue them in the ayre to drie and thresh them out before the full Moone and afterward carrie them into the Garner for being thus ordered vermine will not breed in them Againe they proue more profitable being planted than sowne in a good ground that is well dressed tilled fatted and manured vvhich said ground if it be sowne the yeare following with Wheat will yeeld a more copious and plentifull haruest in as much as Beanes doe fatten a ground more than anie other kind of Pulse If you would keep them long you must sprinkle them with salt water but if you meane to boile them you must bee sure to keep the salt from them because salt-water doth harden them they must not be left in the cold aire for the cold also doth make them the harder to boile To keepe them from being euen of wormes they must bee annointed or rubd ouer with oile-oliue one after another vntill such time as they be well liquored with this oile The flowers of Beanes notwithstanding that they be of a pleasant and delightsome smell doe hurt a weake braine and such a one as is easily carried away and ouercome And hereupon it commeth to passe that there are a great number of fooles when Beanes are in flower Thus much for the French experience of Beanes which doth indeed more concerne the Garden-Beane than those which are continually in vse amongst Husbandmen Therefore to come to the profit and true knowledge of the husbanding of Beanes you shall vnderstand that they are onely to be sowne in a rich stiffe ground that is verie fertile as namely the black or blew clay for in other earths they â—oy but a little and they will grow with one eaâ—ing onely which would be done at the beginning of Ianuarie vpon such earth as hath borne Barly before or else vpon greene-swarth which hath not been plowed long before it must be plowed deep and haue a great furrow turned vp then you shall let it lye till it haue taken frost and raine then vpon the next faire season being about or soone after S. Valentines day you shall sowe it and harrow it As for the weeding of Beanes it is to no purpose for they are of themselues so swift of growth that they will out-grow all weedes And if they haue anie Pease mixt amongst them which should euer be for it is the surest seed they will smother vp and destroy all sorts of weedes They are because of their vpright growing better to be mowne with sythes than cut to reapt with hookes they aske little withering for so soone as the cod turnes blacke the stalke dryes The vse of them is principally for prouander for Horses or to mixe with Barley Wheat or Rie to make bread for hind-seruants or for hunting or running Horses but then commonly they are vsed simply of themselues or else mixt with Wheat onely for the mixture of Barley or Rie is not good for Horses of that nature except for some cause physicall as to keepe them soluble in their bodies and so forth The Garden-Beane is good for men to eat being boyled and mixt with butter vineger and pepper or for want of butter with oyle-Oliue The cods also are a verie good food being boyled whilest they are greene and tender Lastly the water which is distilled from the flowers of Beanes is good to take away the morphew or spots in men or womens faces Small Peason SMall Pease are no lesse profitable for the fatting of ground that is leane than Lupines It is true that if you looke to haue good store of them and well-codded you must sowe them in fat and warme grounds and in a temperate and moist time as in Februarie or March and sometime in September in the increase of the Moone and yet it is hard for them to endure and hold out the Winters cold for they alwaies desire the full fruition of the Sunne and doe grow a great deale the fairer when they doe enioy it accordingly and when also they are borne vp to that end on stickes rather than let fall flat to the ground to creepe vpon it they must be sowne thinne because their stalkes doe spread themselues further than anie one other kind of pulse They are verie subiect to be eaten within of Wormes and yet those which are so eaten of Wormes are better to sowe than the other which are whole and sound For this cause if you will preuent the Wormes that they may not hurt and hinder your corne sowe Peason first in the place It is true that for the better growth and prospering of them the thicke and grosse seed is most conuenient to be sowne especially if it be laid in water to steepe therein a night because thereby they grow the more easily and lose some part of their saltnesse in being steept by which meanes they recouer their naturall verdure againe They must be gathered in the decrease of the Moone presently vpon their being ripe for else they drie vp and fall out of their swads The earth wherein they are sowne standeth in need but of one earing Cich Peason CIch Peason doe likewise grow in fat and moist places they must be sowne in a rainie time they doe greatly load and burthen the earth and for that cause are neglected of the wiser sort of husbandmen Notwithstanding if you will sowe them you must steepe them in warme water a day before that so they may grow and put forth of the earth the sooner and greater Some to haue them grow the fairer doe steepe them and their cods in nitrous water To keepe them that passengers and other folke may not gather them to eate when they are ripe you must water them fiue mornings together before the Sunne rise with water wherein haue beene steeped the seedes of wild Cucumber and Wormewood and the dew within fiue daies after will haue taken away all the bitternesse thereof Such practises are likewise good for to be vsed about small Peason and Beanes The vse of them is good for such as are