may spring the sooner it flowreth in Iune and Iuly and then falleth to seede it flowreth a very long while and is geathered the fourth day being rype in a very short tyme when it is in flowre of all other Pulse it receyueth harme by rayne when it is rype it must be geathered out of hande for it scattereth very soone and lyeth hid when it is fallen In the chych there neuer breedeth any worme contrary to all Pulse else and because it dryueth away Caterpillers it is counted good to be set in Gardens Cicercula in Latine in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian Cicerse in Spanish Cizerche it differeth from the Chych only in that it is somewhat blacker which Plinie accounteth to haue vneauen corners as Pease hath and in many places about vs they vse them in steede of Pease esteeming them farre aboue Peason for they both yeeld more flowre then Pease is lighter of digestion and not so subiect to wormes Columella countes it rather in the â—umber of Fodder for cattell then of Passe for man in which number are these that followe And â—irâ—t Viciâ— in Latine in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Dutch VVycken in Frenche Vessae so called as Varro thinkes of wynding because it hath 〈◊〉 or claspes as the Uine hath wherby it clymeth vpon such stâ—lkes as growe next it it groweth halfe a yâ—rde hie leâ—â—â—ed like Tyutare sâ—uâ—ng that they be something narrower the 〈◊〉 like the â—lowre of Pease hauing little blâ—cke seedes in 〈◊〉 nor altogether ounde but broâ—e like the Lâ—ntell it reâ—uired above ground though it wâ—l also grow wel yenough in shadowye places or â—any ground with small labour being not trouâ—le come to the 〈…〉 it requireth but once plowing and sâ—â—keth for 〈…〉 â—or doungâ—ng but â—nricheth the lande of it seâ—â—e specially if â—he grounde be plowed when the crop is of so that the Stalkes may be turned in for otherwise the Rootes and Stalkes remayning doo sucke out the goodnesse of the ground yet Cato would haue it sowen in grassie ground not watrishe and in newe broken vp ground after the dâ—awe be gone the moysture dryed vp with the Sunne and the Winde You must beware that you sowe no more then you mâ—y wel couer the same day for the â—east deawe in the world dooth spoyle it Neither must you sowe them before the Moone be 24. dayes olde otherwise the Snayle will deuoure it his tyme of sowing is as Plinie writeth at the setting of the Starre called the Berward that it may serue to feede in December the secoâ—d sowing is in Ianuarie the last in March. In Germanie they vse to sowe them in March or Aprill chiefly for fodder for theâ—r cattell To sowe Tares and as Plinie sayth Beanes in not broken vp grounde without lâ—sse is a great peece of husbandry they flowre in Iune at which tyme they are very good of skowre horses it is good to â—aye them vp in the codde and to keepe them to serue Cattell withall Tares Oates make a good meslyne sowed together Lupinus in Latin in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian and French almost as in Latin in Spanish Altramuz in Dutch Roomsche Boouen is a Pulse hauing one onely stalke the leafe tagged in fiue diuisions like a starre the flowre white the coddes tagged indented about hauing within them â—iue or sixe seedes hard brode red the leaues thereof doo fal This pulse requireth least trouble and is of smal pâ—ice and yet most helpeth the grounde of any thing that is sowen for there can be no better manuring for barrayne Uineyardes and Corne â—eeldes then this which eyther vpon barrayne ground prospereth or kept in the Garner endureth a wonderfull wâ—yle being sodden and layd in water it feedeth Oxen in Winter very well and in tyme of dearth as Columella sayth serueth men to asswage their hunger it prospereth in sandy and grauelly groâ—ndes in the worst land that may be neyther loueth iâ— to haue any labour bestowed vpon it nor weyeth the goodnesse of the ground So fruitfull it is as if it be cast among Bushes and Brâ—er yet will it roote and prosper it refuseth both Harrowing and Raking is not anoyed with Weedes but killeth the weedes about it If doung be wantyng to mende the ground withall this serues the turne aboue all other for being sowed and turned in with the Plowe it serueth the turne in steede of dounging it is sowed timeliest of all other and reaped last it is sowed before all other Pulse a little after Haruest couer it how sclenderly you wyll it careth not an excellent good seede for an euyll husbande yet desyreth it the warmth of Autâ—me that it may be well rooted before Winter come for otherwyse the colde is hurtfull vnto it It flowreth thryse fyrst in May then agayne in Iune and last in Iuly after euery flowryng it beareth his codde Before it flowreth they vâ—e to put in Cattel for where as they wyll feede vpon all other grasse or weedes onely this for the bitternesse thereof whyle it is greene they leaue vntouched Being dryed it serueth for sustenaunce both of man and beast to cattel it is geuen medled with Chaffe and for bread for mans vse it is mingled with Wheate flowre or Barley flowre it is good to keepe it in a smokie loaft for yf it lye moyst it is eaten of lâ—ttle woormes and spoyled The leafe keepeth course and turneth with the Sunne whereby it sheweth to the husbande euen in cloudie weather what time of the day it is Fenú grecum in Latine in Greeke with Theophrastus and others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with Dioscorides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Frenche Fenegres and Fenigrent in Italian Faenigraeco in Spanishe Alâ—oluas in Dutche sometime by the Latine name and commonly Roherne and Lockshorne commeth vp with a small stalke the leefe lyke a Threeleaued grasse it is sowed well in a sclender barrayne ground you must take heede you plowe it thicke and not very deepe for yf the seede be couered aboue foure fyngers thicke it wyll very hardly growe Therefore the grounde must be tyld with small Plowes and the seede presently couered with Rakes There are two sortes of it the one called of the common people Siliqua or code whiche they sowe for fodder in Sepâ—ember the other in Ianuarie or the beginnyng of Februarie when they sowe it for seede it flowreth in Iune and Iuly when also it beareth his codde but the seede is not ripe tâ—ll August it is dressed to be eaten after the order of Lupines with vineger water and salt some put to a little oyle it is vsed both for fodder and diuers other vses Furthermore of Pulse called of Gelliuâ— Leâ—amentâ— we haue these generall rules that they al beare coddes and haue single rootes euery one except the Beane the Chich growyng deepest The stalke of the Beanâ—
call the common Borage the lesser Buglose and the greater Buglose is thought to be that whiche Dioscorides calleth Circium the true Buglose the flowres of both sortes are vsed in sallettes and in wine because it maketh the hart meery and therefore is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say gladnesse the leaues are also vsed in dressyng of meates it is sowen about March and once sowen it wyl neuer away there is also a wilde kinde of it THRA I pray you goe forward and tell vs some thyng of Straberries which here grow with great plentie and beautie helped as it seemeth with good orderyng MARIVS They are so for we vse to bring rootes out of the wooddes whiche beyng set and planted in the Garden prosper exceedyngly two or three yeeres togeather and after we eyther remooue them agayne because they waxe wylde or set the wylde in theyr places and so haue we them to yeelde theyr fruite twyse in the yeere in the spring and in the ende of sommer And although it groweth of it selfe in shadowy woods in great plentie as yf it delighted in shadowe of Trees yet beyng brought into the Garden it delighteth in sonny places and good orderyng yeelding a great deale more and better fruite it creepeth vpon the ground without a stalke with small stringes comming from the roote with a white flowre and a leafe lyke a Trefoyle indented about The berries whiche is the fruite are redde and taste very pleasauntly the Dutchmen call them Erdbern the Frenchemen Freses There is an other fruite that groweth somethyng hygher whose berrie is also like the Straberie Dioscorides seemeth to call it Rubus Idaeus the Bryer of Ida because it groweth in great abundance vppon the mountayne Ida. It is not ful of prickles as the other brambles are but soft and tender full of branches whytish leaues it beareth redde berries somethyng paler then the Straberie and very pleasaunt in taste The Grecians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Dutchmen Imberen the Frenchmen Framâ—osas THRA What is that groweth yonder a yard in height MARIVS It is commonly called Liquerise in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Dulcis Radix in Italian Regolitia in Spanishe Regaliza in Frenche Reclisse in Dutche Clarits or Sussholts THRA I dyd not thinke to haue founde it here I heare it groweth very plentifully about the Meyne I woulde be glad to heare howe you doo order it for it hath a roote for the sweetenesse thereof whence it taketh his name very commendable MARIVS It is set of young springes of the roote as the Hoppe is in drye light ground and sonny THRA What say you to small Reazyns called in Latine Ribes doo you thinke the olde wryters knewe this bushe MARIVS That whiche we call at this day Ribis and the Dutchmen Saint Iohns pearle because about Midsommer it is garnished with redde riche berries hauyng a tarte taste quenchyng thyrst cheefely the ragyng and extreame thryst of feuers and coolyng the stomacke whiche the Appothecaries in Suger or Honie keepe all the yeere is thought was vnknowen to the olde wryters but nowe a comâ—on bushe vsed for enclosyng of Gardens and makyng of Borders and Herbers it wyll easyly growe but that it is somethyng troublesome by reason of his sharpe prickles to be bent about sommer houses THRA You spake euen nowe of Hoppes doo you set in these your princely paradises that plant that is so common with the Countrey man for about vs they make great gayne of it MARIVS Tell you therefore I pray you howe they doo vse it THRA It is set of the young shootes as you tolde a little before of Liquerise and that in the ende of sommer or yf they feare a hard winter in Mâ—rch The seâ—tes or shootes are cutte from the olde rootes and are set in grounde well couered with doung and good mould and afterward hilled and so suffered to remayne all Winter In the spring the earth is stirred with Rakes and not with Spades and the hilles raysed and the grounde ridde of all hurtfull weedes About May certayne powles are set vp vppon whiche the Hoppe clymeth all the spraye that springeth aboue the flowre is commonly cutte of About September or in the ende of August the flowres or bels are geathered and kept to make Beere with when the Hoppes are geathered the remaynes are cut downe close to the ground and the hilles being agayne raysed are couered with doung The toppes and the young buddes that come fyrst out in April are vsed to be geathered for sallettes and keepeth them from growyng to ranke But nowe I pray you goe on and returne to the description of your Garden O what excellent Mellons Pompens Cowcumbers and Gourdes haue you here I pray you tell in what sort you order them MARIVS Melons whiche some because they are fashioned like Apples call Pomes are of the kinde of Coucumbers and so are the Pepones which the Frenchemen cal Pompeons The Coucombers in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Cucumer in Italian Cucumero or Cedruolo in French Dutch Cocumbre They change to Pompeons and Muskemillions from whiche they onely differ in shape and greatnesse when they exceede in greatnesse they become Pompeons and when they growe rounde they are Mellonpompeons al these kindes are called of some wryters Melons The Grecians call all the sortes as well Coucumbers as Mellonpompeons by the name of Pompeons and Mellons though there are some that make a difference betweene Pompeons and Mellons neither doo the learned yet throughly agree vpon these meanes nor can it be certaynely saide what kinde the olde wryters ment by Pompeons and Melonpompeons Pompeons doo creepe along vppon the ground with ruffe leaues and a yellowe flowre and are pleasaunt to be heaten when they be ripe The sweetest sort of them they call Succrino or Muskmillions The Mellonpompeons are supposed to spring first in Campania being fashioned lyke a Quince This kinde hangeth not but groweth rounde lying vpon the grounde and being ripe doo leaue the stalke Some Coucombers are called Citrini of their yellownesse when they be ripe and also Citruli or Citreoli they growe all in length and are spotted as the Citrons are some be called Maâ—in and be called in Italian Cucussae Marinae the seede whereof is to be eaten before they be ripe they are cut in peeces and porredge made of them not much vnlike in fashion to the Mellon There is also an other kinde of Coucumber of a houge compasse almost as bigge as a busshel the Mowers and Haruest folkes in Italie vse to carrie great peeces of them to the Feelde with them to quenche their thyrst You must set al these kindes in March the seedes must be set thinne two foote one from an other in watrie ground well dounged and digged specially sandy grounde you must lay them in milke or water and honie three dayes and after drye
the thicker and the doubbler they growe otherwyse they wyll ware syngle and wylde it wyll also doo them good sometime to burne them being remooued it springeth very soone and well being sette of settes foure fyngers long or more after the setting of â— seuen starres and after remooued in a westerly winde and sette a foote a sunder and often dygged The olde Rosyars must haue the earth loosed about them in Februarie and the dead twigges cutte of and where they waxe thinne they must be repaâ—red with the young springes To haue Roses of fyue sundry colours vppon one roote make when they begin to burgen a fine hole beneath in the stocke vnder the ioynt and fyll it with redde colour made of Brasell sodde in water and thrust it in with a clâ—ute and in the like sort put into an other part of the stocke greene colour and in an other yellowe and what other colours you wil and couer the holes well with Oxe doung and Lome or very good earth If you wyl haue your Roses beare betimes make a little trenche two hande breadthes of rounde about it and powre in hotte water twyse aday and thus dooing as Democriâ—us promiseth you shall haue Roses in Ianuarie You may preserue Roses before they open yf makyng a slitte in a Reede you enclose the blossome and when you would haue freshe Roses take them out of the Reedes others put them in earthen pottes close couered and set them abrode the Roses continue alwayes freshe that are dipt in the dregges of Oyle If you wyll haue them at all tymes you must set them euery moneth and doung them and so as Didymus sayth you shall haue them continually To cause them or any other flowres to growe double put two or three of the seedes in a Wheate strawe and so lay them in the ground If you sette Garlicke by your Roses they wylbe the sweeter the dryer the grounde is where they growe the sweeter they wyll be as it appeareth by the season of the yeere for some yeeres they are sweeter then others the Rose wylbe white that is smokte in with brimstone when it beginneth to euen amongst all Roses those are most to be commended that they call Carnations and Prouincials The oyle of Roses was greatly had in estimation euen in Homer his time and at this day the vinegre of Roses is greatly vsed Next vnto the Rose in woorthynesse for his sauour and beautifull whitenesse is the Lillye called iu Greâ—ke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian Giglio in Spanishe Tirio in Frenche Fleur de Lis in Dutch Lilien The Greâ—kes holde opinion that it sprang fyrst of Iunos milke sprinckled vpon the ground In Februarie we beginne to sette Lillyes or yf they grewe before to loose the earth about them with a rake taking good heede that the young tender shootes about the roote be not hurt nor the little head which taken from the olde roote we sette for newe Lillyes As the Roses are so are the Lillyes the sweeter the dryer the ground is where they growe Lillyes and Roses being once sette continue both very long There are redde Lillyes made so by arte for they take the stalkes and rootes of the Lillye and hang them in the smoke till they wyther and when the knottes begyn to vncouer they are layde in Marche in the lees of redde wine tyl they be coloured and then sette in the grounde with the lees powred about them so wyll they come to be purple Uiolet in Greeke is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Viola Uiolet blacke and Uiolet purple 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian it is called Viola porporta in Spanishe Violetta in Frenche Violets de Marts Caresme in Dutche Fiolen these although they growe wylde about euery Hedge and Wall yet are they sette in Gardens with other flowres There are sundry sortes of Uiolettes both of kinde and colour but the orderyng of them is in a maner all one THRA I haue nowe heard yenough of Kitchin hearbes and flowres therefore nowe I pray you let me heare you saye something of the third sort that is Phisicke hearbes for mee seemeth I see a great sort of healyng hearbes here in your Garden MARIVS Nature hath appoynted remedyes in a redynesse for al diseases but the craft and subteltie of man for gaine hath deuised Apothecaries shoppes in which a mans lyfe is to be solde and bought where for a little byle they fetche their medicines from Hierusalem and out of Turkie whyle in the meane time euery poore man hath the ryght remedyes growing in his Garden for yf men would make theyr Gardens their Phisitions the Phisitions craft would soone decay You knowe what your olde freende Cato sayth and what a deale of Phisicke he fetcheth out of a poore Colwoort THRA I doo remember it and that he sayth he was wont both to helpe him selfe and his whole familie with the hearbes of his Garden But what hearbe is younder with the long stalke and the long blacke indented leaues on the toppe yf I be not deceiued it is Bearfoote with whose roote we vse to heale our cattel when they be sicke MARIVS It is so in deede and is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Veratrum there are two kindes of it the blacke and the white the white is that whiche the Dutchmen call Nyswurts wranckrauâ— the blacke they call Kristwurts because it flowreth about Christmas the Italians the Spaniards and the Frenchmen keepe the Greeke name The roote of this Bearfoote they thrust through the eare or into the brest of the beast that is eyther diseased in his loonges or hath the murren Columella seemeth to call it Consiligo it groweth not in Gardens except it be sowed it continueth long and loueth cold and woody ground There standes not farre from that an other very noble hearbe in Phisicke called Angelica it is supposed to be called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and whether it be Myrrhis with the Latines or no. I leaue that to the Phisitians to discusse it is called with the Italians Spaniards Frenchmen and Germanes Angelica His roote because it is a soueraigne remedie agaynst the plague and hath diuers other good operations it is cherished in our Gardens and being once sowed it commeth vp euery yeere it groweth also wylde in the mountayne countrey and flowreth in Iuly and August Here is also Helicampane in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Enula in Italian Enela in Spanishe Enula campana in Frenche Aulne in Dutch Alanâ— this also is set in our Gardens for medicines sake we make muche of it for the roote it groweth wylde in hilly Countreys and drye shaddowy places In Sommer the roote is taken out of the ground and cutte in small peeces is dryed at this day it is called Enula campana it hath a yellowe flowre a leafe lyke Mullin but white and hoarie at the one
seuerally shewe you of euery seede by him selfe and so declare vnto you the order of their sowyng And fyrst amongest all the fruites and grayne that the Earth dooth yeeld for our sustenance the cheefest place is rightly geuen vnto Wheate called in Greke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian Grano in Spanishe Trigo in Dutch VVeyss in Frenche Fourment as a grayne most needefull for man and therefore most fruitefull because God hath ordayned it to nourishe man withall It is woonderfull what yeeld it hath been of in some Countreys Augustus his deputie sent hym from Bisaice in Africa of one grayne of Wheate foure hundred branches And Plinie witnesseth that in the same place one bushel hath yeelded a hundred and fyftie bushels RIGO There are that holde opinion that this which the common people call Wheate the Germanes VVeyss and the Hollanders Terue is not the true Wheate but a kinde of Rye and that the true Wheate whiche the Italians call Grano groweth onely in Italy and in Spayne CONO That whiche growes in Italy and Cicil at this day differeth not from ours in fashion colour nor flowre though the grayne there be somewhat great and the flowre more clammey whiche maketh it that it can not be long kept specially about Rome And whereas our Wheate is eyther bearded or pollarde theirs is altogeather pold we call it pold or pollard that hath no Aanes vpon the eares And that we call the Aane which groweth out of the eare like a long pricke or a darte whereby the eare is defended from the daunger of Birdes With Virgil the Aane is vsed for the Corne as the parke for the Wheate Gluma is the husks of the Corne whose top is the Aane Fâ—it is the small grayne lesser then the corne that growes in the top of the ripe eare To returne to the Wheate I graunt there are some that doubt of this Wheate of ours suche hath been the iniurie of the tyme as all thinges almost forgotten we scarsely knowe howe to name the foode that we daylâ— feede of For my part I wyl followe common vse as a maistresse in speache The olde writers haue written of sundry sortes of Wheate whereof they haue thought that most needefull to be sowen whiche they called Robus as the fayrest and wayghtiest The second called Siligo they vsed in their fynest Cheate The thirde they called Trimestre because it woulde be ripe in three monethes after the sowing Though Columella alowe no suche kinde yet was it most auncient with the Grekes and called Trimâ—non growyng onely in the colde countreys In Thâ—â—cia they haue a kinde that is ripe in two monethes and is couered with a number of huskes against the extreme colde of the Countrey In our Countreys also we haue Wheate and Rye that we sowe with our Sommer grayne as we likewyse doo Rape seede but to no great commodititie for the Winter seedes too farre exceede them and being nourished in the earth al Winter they prooue as Theophrastus sayth of more substance and profyte Amongest all these sortes Plinie recounteth the Wheate of Italy to be the best both for beautie and weyght We vse with vs only two sortes differing in this that the one hath smoothe eares without any beardes the other with long beardes or Aanes very ruffe and sharpe not much vnlike to Winter Bailey in al other properties they are both alike It is sowen in September the season being fayre the grounde thryse plowed and well raked or harrowed although you may sowe it very well after once plowing vpon grounde where Pease Tares or Buck hath been newly had of in a good soyle Plinie and Columella woulde haue you sowe of Wheate and Rye fyue busshels vpon an acre but as I haue saide before this meaâ—ure is to be measured by reason We at this day sowe not so much Wheate vpon an acre as Rye nor so much Rye as Barley It is best yf the Winter be like to be colde to sowe the sooner yf warme the later Wheate delighteth in a leuell riche warme and a drye ground a shaddowy weedy and a hilly ground it loueth not though Plinie say the hil yeeldeth harder Wheate but no great store After it is sowen it putteth out a great company of small rootes and appeareth at the fyrst wy or blade it hath sundry stalkes but suche as can not branche all the Winter as other Winter Corne is it is nourished in blade when the Spring draweth on it beginneth to spindle vppon the thirde or fourth ioynt thereof commeth out the eare which fyrst appeareth enclosed in the blade it flowreth the fourth or fyfth day after yf it growe to rancke at the fyrst it is eaten downe with cattel or in some place mowed it is after weeded it flowres about the tenth of Iune sooner or later as the yeere falles out euen at one time almost with the Uine two noble floures with comfortable sauour flourishing at once Varro affyrmeth that the Whâ—ate lyeth fyfteene dayes in the blade flourisheth fyfteene and ripeth fyfteene after it hath flowred it waxeth greater and as Theophrastus sayth is within fourtie dayes after ful ripe where with the latest they reape in the eyght moneth Other say in sixe and thirtie dayes reaped in the nienth moneth It neuer eares tyll al his ioyntes or knottes he growen There are foure iointes in Wheate as Plinie sayth and eyght in Barley but in our countrey and our dayes both Wheate Rye Barley and Oates haue but foure and that not alwayes Before the full number of the ioyntes there is no appearing of the eare whiche when it commeth beginneth to flowre within foure or fyue dayes and so many or little more it fadeth When the flowre is gone the grayne begins to swel and in foure or fyue dayes after to ripe The blade of the Wheate is something like a Sedge but narrower then the Barley the Spindel Stalke or Strawe thereof is smoother and gentler and not so brittle as of Barley It is closed in many coates The stalke that beareth the eare is higher then that of Barley the eare groweth more vpryghe and farther from the blade the chaffe is softer sweeter and more full of iuyce the eare of Wheate is out of order and vneuen as well of the Pollard as of the hearded where as Barley hath his eare of iust number and in perfect order In Bactâ—iâ— it is sayde a grayne of Wheate is equall in quantitie to an eare of our Wheate In Babylon the blades both of Wheate and Barley as Herodotus reporteth are foure inches brode Wheate as Columella wryteth after the third sowing chaungeth to Rye which hath been knowen in Germanie as I sayde before in many places Of Wheate is made Amyl the making whereof Cato and Dioscorides teacheth After Wheate we sowe with vs Rye There are that thinke it to be that whiche the Greekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though Homer take 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a kinde of foode for Horses some others
best prouender for Horses and foode for Cattell Plinie also witnesseth that the Germanes vsed to make pottage of Oates And Dioscorides maketh mention of Oaten poâ—tage 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pottage or gruell is made of Oates it is called of the Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian Vena in Spanishe Auena in Frenche Auoyne in Dutche Hauer whiche though it growe not commonly in Italy yet vpon monte Ficâ—lâ—o and in the kyngdome of Naples about Siponto it is founde We haue amongst vs two kyndes of them one full and weyghty seruing in deere yeeres to make bread and drynke of specially yf it be medled wiâ—h a little Barley and this kind prospereth in riche and newe broken vp ground exceedingly The other kinde is lyghter whiche the common people call Gwen and Brumhauer it is very lyght and yeeldeth but little flowre nor foode it groweth vpon sandy and barrayne groundes and serueth well for Cattell and for Horse both the kyndes haue busshy toppes from whence hangeth the seede in lykewyse resemblyng the Grassehopper the flowre of it is white and from one grayne there springeth diuers stalkes With Dioscorides Bromos is a kynd of Oates that resembleth Wheate in the stalke and the blade and groweth like wylde Wheate Theophrastus calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Oate is not daungerous in the choyse of his grounde but groweth lyke a good fellowe in euery placeâ— where no seede els wyll growe Of the lyke disposition almost is Buck or Beechewheate vnknowen to our olde fathers It is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Beechewheate or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Blackwheate though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth an other grayne I had rather call it Beechwheate because the grayne thereof is threecorned not vnlyke the Beechemast both in colour and fourme differing onely in the smalenesse The stalke is very great and straked like to the greater Fearne It hath many branches with a bushy toppe a great sort of white flowres in a knop lyke the flowres of Elder it flowreth long togeather and after appeareth the grayne fyrst white and greenishe in shape threecornerd after they be ripe the colour chaungeth to blacke or brownishe like a Chestnutte This grayne hath not long since ben brought from Russia the Northerne partes into Germanie nowe is it become common and vsed for fatting of Hogges and serueth the common people in deare seasons to make bread drâ—nke withal it may be sowed in any ground how â—adde so euer it be howebeit it dooth best in good grounde and is sowen in April and May and in Iune after the reaping of Rape seede You must sowe lesse of it vppon an acre by a fourth part then of Wheate or Rye it is much vsed to be sowed vpon the ground where Rapes growe wherby the ground dooth yeeld a double Croppe in one yeere When it is sowen it commeth vn yf it be moyst weather within foure or fiue dayes after hauyng two leaues at â— fyrst appearing not much vnlike to Purcelaine Amongst the Sommer seedes is also receiued Sommer Barley whiche from the Sonnes entring into the Aequinoctiall till the end of Marche and April is sowen and is reaped againe for the most part in three monethes or at the vttermost foure It requireth as Winter Barley dooth a riche and a mellowe grounde and to be sowed after twyse plowing though sometime for necessitie it is sowed after the fyrst plowyng And though it yeelde noâ— so good nor so perfect a grayne as the Winter Corne dooth whose grayne as Theophrastus wryteth is farre more perfect and of stronger substaunce bringing greater strawe and weightier Eares yet because it is harder husked and the Sommer seede more fyne and gentle is therefore of most men desired and counted to yeelde more flowre then the Winter grayne some agayne preferre the other Millet called in Latine Millium in Greke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian Milio or Miglio hauing as it were a thousand graynes in a Eare as Festus seemeth to auowe in Spanishe Mijo in Frenche Millet and in Dutche Hyers where they make pottage of it and bread The Russians and Moscouians are chiefely nourished with this kind of pottage which they make with the flowre mingled with milke and the blood that they let from their Horses The men of Ind as Plinie sayth knowe no other grayne buâ— Barley and Millet which grew in his time plentifullest in Campania it is the best leauen that may be made neither is there any grayne comparable to it for weyght that more increaseth in bakyng for of one busshell hath been drawen threescore pounde of bread and a busshell of sodden meate made of three quarters wet and vnsodde It is sowed at this day in euery place though very litâ—le in the lowe Countrey it groweth with a stalke full of ioyntes a cubite high a leafe like a Reede a round and a small seede hanging downe in long ruinnes with many toppes it groweth sometime seuen foote hie it delighteth in a watrishe moorie grounde and in grauel so it be nowe and then ouerflowen it hateth drye and chalkie groundes Some geue counsell to sowe it fyrst in a colde and a wette ground and then in a hotte ground before the Spring you must not sowe it for it delighteth muche in warmth A little seede of it is sufficient for a great deale of ground yf it be sowed thicke it comes to nought a great handfull wyll serue a whole acre wherefore in raking you must rake out what is more then needefull an acre beareth fourtie busshels yf it be wel sowed euery seede yeeldeth about a pottell It is forbidden to be sowen among Uines or fruite trees and must continually be weeded and raked When the eare is full growen it must be geathered with the hande and dryed in the Sunne least the whâ—t weather shatter the seedes This grayne may very long be preserued for being well layde vp where the winde can not come it wyll well laste an hundred yeere There is an other like grayne that they call Indian Millet with a great grayne and a blacke and bigge reedy stalke whiche was fyrst brought into Italy in the raigne of Nero which as Plinie sayth was called Loba wheâ—e as Lobae are rather the Coddes of all Pulse and Phobae the manes and â—oppes of Millet as it appeareth by Theophrastus Panicum is called of the Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Dutch Psennich or Heidengreâ—ss of the Italiansâ— Pannacho the Spaniardes Panizo the Frenchemen Paniâ— so called of the little Pannicles wherein the seede lyeth It commeth vp like Millet with many leaues and slippes glittering with a reddishe busshy toppe full of seedes lyke Mustard seede some yellowe purple blacke and white it must be ordered in all thinges almost as Millet being sowed in Sommer it is ripe in fourtie dayes after in other places sowed in May in wette grounde it is to be geathered in September The haruest and the vse of
it is almost all one with Millet neyther can it as Millet be fined without parching when it beginnes to spindel it must be well weeded least the weedes ouergrowe it being well drâ—st with Cheesyl and Milke it maketh indifferent good meate in bread it is not so muche vsed as Millet for the bread is very drye and croombleth lyke Sâ—â—d or Asshes being altogeather without moysture or cleauing but the common people remediyng that with Larde or Oyle doo make a shift with it as wel as they can They that dwell about Pontus are sayde to esteeme it aboue all other foode as the people of Nauare doo at this day In many Countreys it is vsed onely to feede Pigeons withall Of the number of outlandishe grayne is Ryse in share as Theophrastus sayth lyke Darnell hauyng a busshy toppe lyke Millet or Pannicle but no Eare his grayne is lyke the kinde of Barley called Zea the leaues are thicke lyke leaues of Leekes but broader the stalke a cubite hie the floure purple This grayne is but geason in Fraunce and Germanie but in Italy and Lumbardy common where it is called Elriso and Menâ—stro Del riso the Frenchmen leauyng the fyrst letter doo call it Rison the Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Spaniardes call it Arross Plinie supposeth it to be engendred of the water Sedge There is made of it Furmentie as Horace calles it Ryse Furmentie It is sowed in March as Millet and Pannicle is The Indians they say do bruse it before they sowe it to make it the lighter of digestion And as Strabo reporteth they make drinke of it RIGO What say you to Sesamum that was greatly in vse in the olde tyme. CONO Sesamum is named with the Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Italians Seâ—amo the Spaniard Aâ—onioliâ— the Frenchemen Iugiolin In tymes paâ—t it hath been more vsed and greatly commended both of Columella and Plinie At tâ—is day it is knowen to a very fewe as a great sort â—f seedes els are in so muche as the very Corne that we dayly seede of we scarsely knowe what it is Some reckon it in the number of Grayne and some of Pulse the stalke thereof is not lyke Millet or Pannicle full of ioyntes but playne and smoothe lyke a reede the leaues thereof ruddy the seede white not so bigge as Lineseede and is conteined in little knoppes like Poppie it is sowen before the rysing of the Seuen Starres after the maner of Italy Columella sayth that he hath seene it in Cilicia and Syâ—ia sowed in Iune and Iuly and reaped in Autume It requires a mellowe blacke moulde though it wyll growe vppon good sandy grounde and forced ground rayne is hurtfull vnto it after it is sowed where as it â—oth good to all other grayne no great Cattell nor Uermine wyll meddle with it it hurteth ground very muche because of the great quantitie and thicknesse of the stalke and the number of the rootes Plinie wryteth that it was brought out of India and vsed both for meate and oyle But to returne to such graine as we are acquainted with Amongst the Sommer seedes is Myscelyn to be reckoned The husbandmen doo sometime make a medley of sundry sortes of seedes and 〈◊〉 them partly for Cattell and partly for hope that though some of them fayle yet some wyll groâ—e But here must you beware lest you mingle not Winter Corne and Sommer Corne togeather for that were a great ouersight and one of them must needes perishe Some Barley may well be mingled with Oates or Buck as well for brewing as for feeding of cattell and Tares or other lyke Pulse may be myngled with Oates as very good foode for beastes They are to be fowed in tyme and place as I haue colde before in my seuerall entreatyng of them RIGO You haue well satisfied me for Grayne and Corne you may nowe yf it please you doo as much in Pulse CONO Pulse or Pedware is called of the Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the other partes of the fruites of the grounde of these there are sundry sortes as you haue seene of Corne some put Millet Pannicle and Sesanum to this kind because Columoâ—llâ— sometimes puts them in the number of Grayne and sometime of Pulse but I folowyng Plinie herein doo put them amongest the kindes of Grayne accountyng those to be Pulse whose seedes are conteyned in coddes as Beanes Pease Lenâ—â—es Tares Chyâ—hes Fytches and such lyke which all are to be sowen in the Spring Of all kinde of Pulse the greatest honour is due to the Beane as Plinie witnesseth as to a Pulse that is most commodious for man and beast In Greeke it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian and Latine Faba in Spanishe Haua in Frenche Feue in Dutche Bonen This amongest all other Pulse groweth in height wâ—thout any stay it hath a thicke leafe a creasted flowre of diuers colours spotted white and blacke whiche Varro calles the lamentable letters it hath a long Codde his fruite within broade lyke the nayle of a man of diuers colours it appeareth at the fyrst with many leaues lyke a Pease and not with one alone lyke Wheate It is sowed fyrst of all other Pulse in the Spring tyme as Virgil wyll haue it and timely because of Fabalia whiche is the offall of the Beanes for both the Coddes and the stalke is a foode that cattel muche delightes in Columella reporteth howe he heard a skilfull husband say that he had rather haue the offall of Beanes timely sowed then the Croppe of that which is ripe in three monethes you must sowe them in the encrease of the Moone and after once plowing It is sayde that yf they be enclosed in Goates doung and sowed they wyll yeelde great encrease and that the partes that are eaten or gnawne in the encrease of the Moone wyll fyll vp agayne If they be sowed neere to the rootes of Trees they wyll kyll them Some holde opinion that yf they be steeped in Capons blood they wyll be safe from all hurtfull weedes and that layde in water a day or two before they be sowen they wyll growe the sooner The Beane delighteth in riche and wel dounged ground as all other Pulse dooth wette and lowe grounde it dooth not refuse though all the rest desyre drye grounde it wayeth not weedyng being able to ouergrowe them Of all other Pulse it onely springeth with an vpryght stalke full of knottes and hollowe And where as all other Pulse are long in flowre this flowreth longest flowring fourtie dayes together one stalke beginning when others end and not all at one time as Wheate they codde in sundry dayes the lowest part of the stalke flowring fyrst and so vpward styll in order So fruitefull are they in some places as you shall finde one stalke to beare a hundred Beanes The Beanes sticke close to their Coddes the blacke in theyr â—oppes the Latines call Hilum the Coddes Valuuli the woormes that breede
in them Midae Lomentum is the Meale which the people in olde tyme dyd vse for the smoothing of their skinnes Fresa Faba was the Beane that was but finally broken and hulledâ—in the Myll Refrina was that whiche they vsed to offer in sacrifyce for good lucke with their Corne. It is good to steepe your Beanes in the water of Saltpeeter a day before you sowe them you shall keepe them from Wyuels as Palladius sayth yf you geather them in the wane of the Moone and cherishe them and lay them vp before the encrease Beanes and all other Pulse doo mend the ground that they are sowen in The next to Beanes in woorthynesse and sowyng is Pease called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian Pise and Piselle in Spanishe Aruera in Frenche Pese in Dutch Errettem a Pulse that groweth with hollowe stalkes and full of branches lying vpon the grounde many leaues and long the Coddes rounde conteyning in them round seedes and white though Plinie wryte that they be cornerd as Chych of which sort we haue some at this day blewishe with flowres in shape like the Butterâ—lye purple coloured toward the middest There are two sortes of Pease the one sort coueteth to climbe aloft and runneth vp vppon stickes to whiche with little wynders he bindeth hym selfe and is for the most part onely sowen in Gardens the other sort groweth lowe and creepeth vpon the grounde both kindes are very good to be eaten specially when they be young and tender they must be sowen in warme groundes for they can in no wyse away with colde they are sowed eyther vppon fallowes or rather in riche and yeerely bearing ground once plowed and as all other Pulse in a gentle and a mellowe moulde the season being warme and moyst Columella sayth that ground is made very riche with them if they be presently plowed and the Culter turne in and couer that whiche the Hooke hath newely left They are sowed among Sommer Corne commonly with the fyrst Fyrst Beanes Pease and Lentiles then Tares and Oates as is sayde before Pease and Tares must be sowen in March and April and in the wane of the Moone leâ—t they growe to ranke and flowre out of order where as the best sowing for all other Pulse and grayne is in the encrease of the Moone There are that count Pease to be the Pulse that the Greekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines Eruum the Italians Eruo the Spaniardes Yeruo the Dutchmen Eruen of which there are two kindes the one white the other red The later is wylde and groweth in Hedges and Corne feeldes it is a small plant hauyng his leaues narrowe and sâ—lender his flowre eyther white or medled with purple growyng neere togeather like Pease there is no great businesse about it it delighteth in a leane barren ground not moyst for it wyll be spilt with too muche rancknesse it must be sowed before Marche with which moneth it agreeth not because it is then hurtfull vnto cattell Eruilia is a Pulse like smal Beanes some white some blacke and others speckled it hath a stalke like Pease and climeth lyke a Hoppe the Coddes are smoothe like Pescoddes The leaues longer then the leaues of Beanes the flowre is a pleasant foode to Bees In Fraunce and Lumbardie it is called Dora or Dorella Phaseolus in Latine in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 garden Smalax some call it Fasiolum and Dolichium among the Italians some call it Fagiuoli some Smilace de gli Horti others Fagiuolo Turcheses others Lasanie the Spaniardes call it Frisoles the Frenchemen Fasioles and Fales Pinceos the Dutchmen Fasâ—len or wyld Bonen It is a kynde of Pulse whereof there are white redde and yellowe and some specked with blacke spottes the leaues are lyke Iuie leaues but something tenderer the stalke is sâ—lender wyndyng with claspes about such-plantes as are next hym runnyng vp so hie as you may make Herbers vnder hym the coddes are longer then Fennigrecke the Graynes within diuers coloured and fashioned lyke Kydneys it prospereth in a fatte and a yeerely bearyng ground in Gardens or where you wyll and because it climeth aloft there must be set by them poales or staues from the whiche runnyng to the toppes it climeth vppon Trees seruyng well for the shadowyng of Herbers and Summer houses It is sowen of diuers from the Ides of October to the Ralendes of Nouember in some places and with vs in Marche It flowreth in Sommer the meate of them is but indifferent the iuyce not very good the Coddes and the Graynes are eaten togeather or lyke Sperage The Iewes sell them at Rome preserued to be eaten rawe Lens and Lenticula in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian Lendi iae bon maenastre in Spanishe Lenteza in Frenche Lentilla in Duch Linsen is a Pulse very thicke and busshy with leaues lyke the Tare with three or foure very small Graynes in euery Codde of all Pulses the least they are soft and flatte The white ones for theyr pleasauntnesse are the best and such as are aptest to seethe and consume most water in their boylyng It is sowen with vs in Germanie in March and in April the Moone encreasyng in mellowe ground being riche and drye yet Plinie would rather haue the ground leane then riche and the season drye it flowreth in Iuly at whiche tyme by ouer muche rancknesse and moysture it soone corrupteth Therefore to cause it quickely to spring and wel to prosper it must be mingled with drye doung before it be sowen and when it hath lyen so mingled foure or fyue dayes it must be cast into the grounde It groweth hyâ— as they say when it is wette in warme water and Saltpeter before it be sowen wyl neuer corrupt being sprinckled with Bengwin and Uineger Varro wylleth that you sowe it from the fiue and twentieth day of the Moone to the thirtieth so shall it be safe from Snayles And Columella affyrmeth that yf it be mingled with Asshes it wâ—ll be safe from all annoyance Cicer in Latine in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian Ceci Cicere Rosso and Cicere bâ—ance in Spanishe Ganrangos in Frenche Chiche and in Dutch Cicererbs is a busshy kynde of Pulse hauyng a rounde Codde and therein a couple of three cornered seedes whereof there are that make three kindes whyte read and blacke differinâ— onely in the colour of theyr flowre the best kinde hath a stiâ—â—e stalke crooked little leaues indented a whyte a purple or a blacke flowre And wheras other Pulse haue their coddes long and brode according to their seede this beareth them rounde it delighteth in a blacke and a riche moulde is a great spoyler of land and therefore not good for newe broken vp ground it may be sowen at any time in March in rayny weather and in very riche ground the seede must be steeped in water a day before it be sowen to the end it
hath noted Flaxe vvhere he grovves dooth burne the feelde The lyke dooth Oates and Poppey yeelde And therefore but that women must haue something to occupie theyr handes withall it were more profite to sowe the grounde with corne and to bye linnen abrode especially yf you way the hart of your grounde and the charges of the makyng Hempe in Latine Canubis in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian Canabe in Spanishe Cannamo in Frenche Chamura and in Dutch Haueph is a plant of the Reedishe kinde hauing a very strong sauour it groweth with a single stalke and many times to suche a heyght that it matcheth with indifferent Trees it is of great necessitie for the vse of man and serueth both for makyng of Canuisse and framing of Ropes the stalke hath many knottes out of whiche proceedeth branches with narrowe leaues indented and sharpe Dioscorides describeth both the wylde Hempe and the Garden Hempe to haue leaues lyke the Ashe hollowe stalkes a stinkyng sauour and rounde seede There are two kindes of it the Male that is without floure and beareth a seede of sundry colours and the Female that to recompence her barrennesse dooth yeelde a white flowre it is sowed in Gardens Orchardes or other gooâ— grounde as Plinie would haue it after a Southwest wind with vs it is sowen in the ende of April for it can not away with cold some sowe it at the rysing of the starre called the Berward which is at the ende of Februarie or the beginning of March it loueth riâ—che grounde well dounged and watred and deepe plowed it is noughty sowing of it in raynie weather the thicker you sowe it the tenderer it wyll be and therefore many times it is sowen thryse though some there be that appoynt to euery foote square sixe seedes The Female or fyrble Hempe is fyrst pulled vp afterward the Male or the Carle when his seede is ripe is plucked vp and made vp in bundels layde in the Sunne for three or foure dayes and after is cast into the water with weyght layd vpon him for eyght or tenne dayes tyll he be sufficiently watred and as Flaxe tyll the Rynde waxe loose then taken out it is dryed with the Sunne and after broken in the Brake and then combed and hacked for Yarne and Ropes Of Hempe are made Cables Cordes Nettes and Sayles for Shippes garmentes for Labourers Shertes and Sheetes the Shales or Stalkes serue for the heating of Ouens or kyndeling of Fyres RIGO In the Countrey of Gulicke and some partes of Fraunce I remember I haue seene an hearbe planted of the common people with great diligence that serueth as they sayd for Dyars CONO You say true that hearbe Cesar in his Comentaries of the warres of Fraunce calleth Glastum in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian Gnado in Spanishe Pastel in Frenche with the common sort Guadum and Guesde in Dutch VVeyt the Dyars doo vse it and with them it is greatly esteemed and great gayne aryseth thereof vnto the people of Gelderland Iulyes and Turyn and diuers Countreys els the leaues as Plinie wryteth are lyke vnto Dock leaues Dioscorides wryteth of two kindes the wyld and the Garden Woade saying that the Garden Woade whiche Dyars vse hath leaues lyke Plantayne but something thicker and the wylde leaues lyke Lentyll with yellowe flowres with this hearbe Cesar sayth the people of Englande were woont to paynt theyr faces and bodyes to seeme more terrible to theyr enimies it requireth lyke sowyng and soyle as Wheate dooth but it is a great soker of the grounde and muche hurteth it it woulde haue a very riche and a fatte grounde and well dygged for the grounde were better to be turned vp with Spades then with Plowes for the sowyng of this Plant and it must be very well weeded It is sowed in Gelderland in April and after the common peoples rule in Easter wecke at the first fâ—llowing they marle the grounde after sowe it you must be very heedefull in the weedyng of it When it is growen a handfull hye and more they suffer it not to flowre but with an instrument for the purpose they cut it close by the roote washe it and carry it to the Myll and suffering it to growe agayne they cut it three or foure times and so leaue it to seede The greene hearbe they grinde in Milles like Apple Milles pressing it til they get out al the iuyce thereof then roule they it vp with their handes in rounde balles and so laye it vpon boorded floores to be dryed RIGO You haue greatly delighted me in describing vnto me the order of sowyng of seedes without whiche not onely the people of the Countrey but also the Courtiar and Citizen are not able to liue my desyre is nowe to vnderstande the order of Haruest the Countrey mans long looked for tyme and the reward of all his toyle CONO I wyl proceede in the accomplishing of your request When the Corne is ripe before it be scorched with the great heate of the Sunne whiche is most extreame at the rysyng of the lesser Dogge it is to be cut downe out of hande for delay herein is daungerous Fyrst because that birdes and other vermine wyll deuoure it and agayne both the Grayne and the Eare the toppe and the strawe being brittell and ouer drye wyl soone fall to the ground yf storme or tempest chaunce to aryse the greatest part thereof wyll to the grounde and therefore it must not be lingred but when it dooth looke yellowe in euery place and before that the Grayne be thorowe hard when they come to looke reddishe you must then haue it in that it may rather waxe in the Barne then in the Feelde Experience teacheth that yf it be cutte downe in due time the seede wyll growe in fulnesse as it lyeth in the Barne for the Moone encreasyng the Corne growes greater at the chaunge you must geather such seede as you woulde should be least fautie Varro sayth that the best tyme for Haruest is betwixt the Sunnestay and the Dogge dayes for the Corne they say dooth lye in the blade .xv. dayes flowreth .xv. dayes and ripeth in .xv. dayes Amongst Grayne Pulse the fyrst that is to be geathered is Rape seede And because the seede when the cod beginneth to waxe yellowe declareth ripenesse it must be geathered out of hand and sythe the seede wyll easyly skatter it must be layde eyther in playne smoothe places in the Feelde or vpon Canuasse and yf it be presently to be carryed the Wayne or Cart must be lyned with sheetes lest with iogging and tottring of the carryage the seede fall thorowe You must take good heede as well here as in all other Pulse that you preuent the rayne for the rayne falling the coddes doo open As soone as your Rape seede is of yf the grounde be plowed you may sowe Bucke or Branke as they call it so that of one peece of ground in one yeere you may make
seasons and yet doo very well All Garden hearbes are commonly sowen before the tenth of Iune suche thinges as you would not haue seede you may sowe after this time Some thinges are sowed onely two times a yeere in the spring and in the ende of Sommer Others agayne at sundry tymes as Lettuse Colwoortes Rocket Radishe Cresses Corriander Cheruil and Dyll These are sowed about March or about September and as Columella sayth doo come eyther of the seede or of the slippe some of the Roote some of the Stalke some of the Leafe some of the Clot some of the Head some of both others of the Barke others of the Pith some both of the seede and the slippe as Rue wylde Marierum and Basyl this they cutte of when it comes to be a handfull hye others growe both of the Seede and the Roote as Onyons Garlyke and suche lyke And although al thing wyll growe of their seedes yet this they say Rue wyll not doo for it very seeldome springes therefore they rather set the slippes These that are set of the Roote doo commonly last longer and branche better putting foorth young slippes from his sides as the Onyon and Gith The stalke being cut they all doo spring agayne for the most part except such as haue speciall stalkes called of Theophrastus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is suche as when the stalke is cutte growe no more Gasa interprets it Secaulia The Rape and the Radysh their leaues being pulled away couered with earth doo growe and continue tyll Sommer The fruites of some is in the earth some without and some both within without some lye grow as the Cucumber and the Gourd sometimes hang though of greater weyght by much then the fruites of Trees some require stayes helpes to clime by as Hoppes Lupines Pease some seede groweth better The newer they be as Leekes Nigella Romana Cucumbers Gourdes therefore some vse to steepe their Cucumber-seede in Mylke or Water to cause them to grow the speedelyer On the other side of olde seede better groweth the Beete Garden Cresses Peniryal great Marierum Corriander In the Beete this is onely obserued that the seede commeth not al vp in one yeere but part the second yeere some the third and therefore of a great deale of seede springeth but a little Touchyng seede this is to be well seene to that they be not to olde and drye that they be not mingled or taken one for an other olde seede in some is of such force as it chaungeth the nature for of olde Colwoort seede springeth the Rape and likewyse of Rape seede Colwoortes Also that ye geather not your seedes to soone nor to late The very time as Theophrastus wryteth is at the spring the fall of the leafe and the rysyng of the Dogge but not in all places and kindes alike Of Seedes the soonest that spring are these Basyl Arach Nauen Rocket that commeth vp the third day after the sowing Lettuse the fourth day the Cucumber and the Gourde the fyfth day Parslin longer eare it come Dyl the fourth day Cresses and Mâ—stardseede the fifth day Beetes in Sommer the â—ixth day in Winter the tenth or the twelfth Leekes the nienetienth day sometime the twentieth Corryander later which if it be new except it be thrust togeather it groweth not at all Peneryall and great Marierom come vp after thyrtie dayes Parsley of all other the longest before it come vp appearing the fourtieth day after or many times the fiftieth You must also consyder that the weather in sowyng is of great force for the season being fayre warme they come vp the sooner Some sortes seede one yeere and neuer after come vp some agayne continue as Persley Smalledge Leekes Nigella that beyng once sowed come vp euery yeere Suche as continue but a yeere presently vpon their seeding dye other spring agayne after the losse of their stalke as Leekes Nigella Onyons and Garlyke and commonly all suche as put out from the side and all these require dounging and watring In sowyng beside some thinke you must haue regard to the Moone and to sowe and set in the encrease and not in the wane Some agayne thinke it best from that she is foure dayes olde tyll she be eyghteene some after the thirde others from the tenth tyl the twentieth and best as they all suppose the Moone being aloft and not sette THRA But nowe I pray you tell vs something of the ordering of the best Garden hearbes you haue MARIVS Some deuide their gardnyng time by the monethes as they doo their other husbandry THRA I care not whether by monethes or other wayes but I would faine knowe the orderyng of your Garden here for I knowe in hotte Countreys they garden all the Winter long but I am altogeather for our Countrey whose order we must here folowe MARIVS In these partes they commonly begyn theyr gardnyng yf the weather be fayre and seasonable in the ende of Februarie At this time therefore the Garden being dounged digged raked and cleansed they vse to plant Sperage and Rue THRA I pray you begin with Asparagus or Sperageâ— and the other potte hearbes euery one in his order and afterward with flowres and Phisicke hearbes MARIVS Asparagus was woont to growe wylde but now is brought into the Garden it is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian Spanishe and Frenche it is almost all one the one calling it Asparago the other Asperge the Dutche men call it Sparages and Spiritus because it comes vp of it selfe for the Garden Sperage they were not acquainted with It is planted in two sortes eyther of the Seede or the Roote They take of the Seede as much as you may take vp with three fyngers and bestowing it in little hoâ—ls euery two or three seedes halfe a foote a sunder they set them in ritche ground in Februarie and couer the ground with doung The weedes that growe must be well plucked away after the fourtieth day they come vp as it were to one roote and tangled togeather the rootes haue sundry long threedes which they call the Sponge In ground that is drye the seedes are to be set deepe and well tempered with doung In wette groundes on the other side they are to be set shallowe in toppe of the borders lest the moysture destroy them The fyrst yeere you must breake of the stalkes that growe for yf you plucke them vp by the rootes the whole settes wyll folowe which are to be preserued for two yeere with dounging and weeding All the yeeres after you must not geather them in the stalke but pull them from the roote that the rootes being opened may the better spring which except you doo you hurt the spring Him that you meane to keepe for feede you must in no wyse meddle withall after burne vp the busshes and in Winter doung well the rootes with doung and ashes they are planted also
it vp with the rinde of Wyllowe or Elme after this keepe them vp in the house a day or two and geue them warme water with a good quantitie of Barly flowre If the Quynsey or Vnula to which desease this beast is wonderous subiect chaunce to take them Dydimus woulde haue you let them blood behinde aboue the shoulders others vnder the tougâ—e some agayne cure them with settering If the kernells swell in the throate you must let them blood vnder the tongue and when they haue bledde rubbe their mouthes within with salte finely beaten Wheate floure Democritus woulde haue you geue to euery Sowe three pound weyght of the beaten roote of Daffadyll If they vomite and lothe their meate it is good to geue them before they goe abroade the shauinges of Iuory with fryed salte and ground Beanes Swyne whyle they feede abroade by reason of their great deuouring for it is an vnsatiable beast do wounderously labour with the abundance of the Splen for remedy wherof you shall geue them water as oft as they thyrst in Troughes made of â—amaryce the iuyce of whiche wood is very holsome for them Democritus teacheth to geue vnto Hogges that haue the Splen the water wherein the Coles of Heath haue been quenched This beast hath somtime a sicknesse wherin he pines away and forsaketh his mâ—ate and yf you bring him to the feelde he suddenly fallâ—th downe and lyeth as it were in a bead sleepâ— which as 〈◊〉 as you pâ—rcâ—iue you shall shuâ—â—e vp the hâ—ly heard in soâ—e house and make them to fast one day both from water and meate the nâ—xt day the roote of the wyld Coucumber 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 with water is geuen them to drinke wâ—â—ch aâ— soone as they haue taken they fall a vomitting and so purge themselues When they haue thus expelled theyâ— câ—â—ller you shall geue them hard Beanes strained with brine An exâ—elleâ—t 〈…〉 against all pestilence of Swyne doth Hieroâ—â—mus â—raâ—us teach which is when you see them infectâ—d â—o geue them the rootes of Polipodi or Oke Ferne boyled in wine whereby they shall purge what so euer is euyll from them and most of all choller wherewith Swyne are most troubled tâ—â— same Hieâ—â—n as I remember teacheth for a Horseâ— though it be without my commission to meddle with them â— If he be sicke and suddenly fall downe of a disease that you know not to put vnder his tongue a peece of a Ferne roote wherevpon you shall see him immediatly voyde vpward and downeward what so euer is in his body and presently amende this he sayth and truely I dare beleeue him that he prooued with a Horse of his owne But to my Swyne whereas thyrst in sommer is hurtfull and daungerous to all kind of cattell to this beast it is most hurtfull and therefore you must not water them as you doo Sheepe Goates but twyse or thryse a day but yf you can you must keepe them by the water side that they may go thereto at pleasure for the Swyne is not content with drinking but he must often coole and plong his filthy panch in the water neither delighteth he in any thing so muche as to wallowe in the durt And yf you haue no suche places neare you must draw some water from the Well and geue it them in Troughes abundantly for except they drinke their fyll they wyll fall sicke of the Loonges which disease is cured as Columella wryteth by thrusting the roote of Setterwort through their eares Plinie affirmeth the Tode to be a present remedie for the sicknesse of Swyne Some say that yf a Sowe lose one of her eyes she dyeth soone after otherwyse she liueth fyfteene yeeres There is a kinde of disease amongst Swyne though otherwyse they be healthy and fatte wherin their fleshe is all infected with little graines as bigge as Peason the Greekes call them Chalazos and we at this day measled Swyne which you shal soone perceiue by the sight of the tongue and the horsenesse of their voyce this disease they say is naturall vnto them from which you shal preserue them yf you nayle certaine places of lead in the bottome of their Trough You shall also keepe them from this disease yf you geue them to drinke the roote of Briony the general and common remedy is Allome Brimstone and Bay berries of eache alike adde therevnto a handful of Soote beate them all togeather and put them in a bagge which bagge you shall cast into their water when they drinke and renue it twyse in the yeere EVPH. I pray you EVMEVS doo not dissemble but tell vs truely how you doo to haue your Hogges so fatte I beleeue you are in the Barne sometime when you should not be EVMEVS What meanes soeuer I vse in ordring my flocke is not to my mauters losse no more then is your diligence wherby you bring your cattell to be so fayre I told you before that he was an vnthrifty husband that had his Bacon from the shambles and not of his owne prouision and besides my maisters the Phisitions geue great commendations to Hogs flesh in that it hath such a nearenesse agreement with our bodyes neither is there as I sayde before a beast that makes more dishes And therfore it is greatly for profite to haue the husbandmans kytchen well stored with Bacon wherwith he may sustaine his houshold al the whole yeere You shal easely though woods be wanâ—ing â—ind Barnes Marshes Corne feeldes to feede them with They wyll be fatte as Plinie supposeth in threescore dayes specially yf they be kept from meate three dayes before you feede them they are fatted with Barley Otes or other Corne or Pulse eyther geuen whole or ground but of all others best wâ—th Mast and that flesh is better and of more substance that is fed with Acorns then that which is fatted with eyther Bâ—â—â—â— mast or Chestnutte This beast wyll in time be so fatte as he wyl be able neyther to goe nor stanâ— Yea Varro telles that there was seene in Arcadia a Sowe so fatte that she was not only vnable to ryse but suffered a Mouse to make her nest in her body and to lay her young there The same Varro reporteth that there was sent to Volumius a Senatour of Rome a peece of Porke of two ribs that wayed three twentie pound the thicknesse of which Sowe from the skinne to the ribbe was one foote and three ynches Your best is to put to fatting your Swyne of two or three yeeres olde for yf they be younger their growing wyll hynder their seedyng To keepe your Bacon any long time you must vse great diligence in the saltyng and drying of it whereby you shall haue it both holsomer and sweeter and besides to continue diuers yeeres to serue the turne yf scarsitte happen Your Hogge being in this sort fatted you must shut vp and not suffer him to drinke the day before you kyll him whereby the fleshe wyl be the dryer
you doo it then the conditions of a man for being well tylled it wyll not deceaue you but deale iustly with you To knowe the nature of euery grounde Iscomachus in Xenophon dooth wyll you to marke wel the plantes and the yeeld of the Countrey except you wyll loose your labour or fyght with god Varro counsels you to looke whether there be in the land eyther Stone Marble Sande Grauell Raddell Chalke Claye Preble or Carbuncle that is ground ouer heated and parched with the Sunne whiche wyll burne the rootes of what so euer commeth in it Also yf it be wette or weepyng ground or subiect vnto other inconueniences and suche grounde also according to the nature of the soyle is good or euyl In some Countreys stonie grounde is altogeather barren specially for Corne and Fruite In other places agayne they vse stones in the manuring and bettring of their lande as in certayne places of Arden is to be seene Theophrascus wryteth that the Corynths dyd cast away all the stones out of the Feeldes of Sarragosa and thereby made the ground the woorse when the stones being away and the Countrey hot there was no succour left to defend the ground from the extreame heate of the Sunne In other places in stonie and hilly groundes Otes doo prosper well In lyke sort in all Countreys we must regarde the layre of the Countrey and the nature of the seede that we sowe for Grauell in some places is cast vppon the ground in steade of doung and some thinges prosper best in grauelie groundes In Barbarie as Columella dooth wâ—tnesse the very rotten sandes exceede any other grounde in fruitefulnesse It is also something to the purpose whether the grauell be white redde or yellowe besides some grounde dooth deceaue both with colour and qualitie In some Countreys the blacke mould is onely esteemed in others the fat redde mould is thought best In Englande the chalkie grounde beareth good corne and pastures very well In some places the thicke and the clammie ground is most fruitefull In al these it is to be learned what is best for the hill ground what for the valley what for the tylled what for the leye grounde what the moyst seggie grounde requires and what the drye and barraine Also in planting what ground is best for Uines what for other trees what delightes in drie ground what in moyst ground Virgil commendeth a mellowe ground that is fatte and wyll soone be resolued for such ground is tylled with smalest charge and labour the next is that whiche is faâ—â—e and stiffe which greatly recompenceth the husbande his trauaile and charges the woorst is that which is dry leane and stiffe for both it is tylled with great labour and beside neither answeareth in his croppe the husbandes trauayle neither serueth it for good meddowe or pasture any time after and therfore such ground is not to be medled withall Also the goodnesse of the ground is easely perceaued by perfect tokens for a clod sprinckled with a litle water if in working with the hand it be clammie and cleauing and sticketh to the fyngers like Pitche when it is handled as the Poete sayth and breaketh not in falling to the grounde this sheweth a naturall fatnesse and richenesse to be in it besides you may knowe the mould that is good for Corne yf it beare Bulrusshes Thistels Threeleaued grasse Danewoort Brambles Blackthorne and such like as neuer growe but in good grounde as on the other syde lothsome and illfauoured weedes declare a leane and a bitter ground Ferne and withered plantes a colde grounde sadde and heauy coloured a moyst and a wette ground a raddell and a stony ground is discerned by the eye a stiffe and tough clay by the labour and toyle of the Oxen A good token is it also of good ground where the Crowes and the Pyes folowe in great number the Plowe scraping in the steppes of the Plowman The goodnesse is likewyse knowen yf at the Sunne setting after a Raynebowe and in a shewre of rayne folowyng a great drouthe it yeeldeth a pleasaunt sauour also in taste it wyl appeare yf tasting a clodde that hath been watred in an earthen vessell you finde it sweete it is a signe of riche grounde yf bitter a great token of barren grounde yf it be saltishe it is to be shunned and not to be vsed vppon the dounghill You must remember also that ground wyll some times change and of fruitefull become barren whiche hath been seene as Plinie reporteth in the olde time in Thessali and in our time in sundry places of our Countrey Beside one kind of ground though it be neuer so fertill wyll not beare all thinges as the Poete wysely noteâ—h Ne serues one ground for euery Croppe Moreouer the disposition of the Heauens is a great matter all Countreys haue not the weather and ayre alike wherfore it is the part of a good husband to knowe the nature and propertie of his ground and to marke the disposition of it for euery part of the yeere he must also consider what Croppe is best for euery layer Some ground serueth for Corne some for Uines some for Oliues some for Meddowe some for Pasture neither may all thinges well be sowen in riche grounde nor nothing in barren ground Suche thinges as neede not muche moysture are best sowed in lyght ground as the great Elauer Sperie Chich and the other pulses that are pulled and not cut Those that require more sustenaunce are sowen in richer ground as Potte hearbes Wheate Rye Barley Linseede Some of them doo good to the grounde the yeere folowyng as Lupines that are vsed to be sowen for the beâ—tering of the grounde There is difference also to be put betwixt fruites for pleasure and such as be for profite as fruite trees and flowres and suche thinges as yeeld both pleasure and sustenancâ— and are also profitable to the grounde You must choose for Wyllowes Osyres and Reedes a wette and a marrish ground and contrary where you wyll haue Come Pulse that delightes in drye ground Sperage such like must be sowen in shaddowy places and other ground for Quicksets Tymber Mast Fewel yea such ground as is very grauely and barren hath his vse where you may plant Birche suche like and waterie groundes where you may set Alders Broome and Bullrusshes RIGO Surely the temperature of the ayre dooth very muche in the fruitefulnesse of the grounde for I haue oftentimes marked that one kinde of ground is more fruiteful in one Countrey then in an other CONO In Venefri the Grauell grounde beares Oliues best where as about Granado they require the richest ground that may be When in other places the Uine dooth not prosper very well in stonie groundes about the Rhine the very ragged rockes doo yeelde as fruitefull Uines as may be seene Plinie dooth witnesse that in some places the Uines do grow euen in the Fennes and Marshes suche a secrete force is there in
Nature About Châ—lâ—ia an Ilande about the Rodes it is saide there is a peece of ground so fruitefull that they mowe their Barley being sowen in his season and their Croppe sowe it agayne and geather it with their other grayne The Albanoyses receaue the friuite of theyr lande 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vntylled and vnsowen and beyng once sowen it yeeldeth his Croppe three yeeres togeather Homer calleth Phrigea 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Argos 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Herodotus wryteth that Babylon is so fruitefull as the grounde yeeldeth encrease two hundred and three hundred folde Plinie affyrmeth the encrease in his time to be fiftie and to good husbandes an hundred folde About Monte Gibello it is reported by credible persons to be an hundred folde Italy is so fruitefull that Varro calleth it the Garden of the worlde because it is so fertill and well planted in euery place Campania being full of Corne Apulia plenteous with Wine and Venafri aboundyng with oyle RIGO I haue heard say that Germanie and Fraunce haue not been in times past very fertyll and that they haue been altogeather without Uines and nowe we see no Countrey more fruitefull that yeeldeth greater aboundance of all thinges Where can you finde better wines then about Bauaer and the Rhine I speake not of their great store of Grayne Mines of Golde Siluer Iron and Leade In the Countrey of Thuryn in Germanie it is sayde that after Wheate once sowen the ground wyll yeelde Rye of it selfe two yeeres togeather CONO Yea and in our Countrey here we haue ground that wyll beare Wheate euery yeere Rape seede being once sowen with vs dooth often yeeld his Crop two yeeres togeather without sowyng or labouring RIGO Under the Northren Pole it is reported the grounde is so fertyll as they sowe in the Mornyng and reape at Noone In Barbarye where the ground is lowe they plant vnder the Date tree the Oliue vnder the Oliue the Figge tree vnder the Figge the Pomegranate vnder it the Uine vnder the Uine they sowe Wheate and vnder Wheate Pulse all prospering one vnder the others shadowe and yeelding their fruite the same yeere CONO That made me to say that the grounde folowes the disposition of the Heauens RIGO But syth in all places the ground is not of lyke goodnesse what yf we chaunce vppon a leane and a barren ground as Heathy Brushy Grauelly ground may these be made fruitefull and mended by arte CONO Uery well there is no Countrey that the most gratious Lorde hath left without sufficient yeelde yf labour and trauayle bee not refused RIGO That skill I would gladly vnderstand CONO It is brought to passe diuers wayes principally by dounging and diligent labour and to this end serue those heapes of doung that I lately shewed you RIGO I pray you let me knowe what doung dooth most enriche the ground CONO Varro and Columella his folower appoynt three sortes of dounges the fyrst of Poultrie the next of Men the thirde of Cattell Of the fyrst sort the best is that whiche is had out of Douehouses the next is of Pulleyne and al other foule except Geese and Duckes which is hurtfull The people in the old age had such store of Poultrie and Foule as the doung of them suffised for the manuring of theyr ground The next to this is man â— ordure if it be mixed with other rubbishe of the house for of it selfe it is to hot and burâ—es the grounde Mans vrine beyng sixe monethes kept and powred vppon the rootes of Apple trees and Uines bringeth great fruâ—tefulnesse to the trees and geueth a pleasant taste to the fruite In the thirde place is the doung of Cattell whereof the best is the doung of Asses because this beast dooth chawe with most leysure whereby his meate being wel digested is made the profitabler doung Next to this is the doung of Sheepe next of Goates then of Oxen and Horses the woorst of all of Swyne very hurtfull to Corne but vsed in some places for Gardens for lacke of other doung but is a great breeder of noysome weedes yet Plinie seemeth to allowe it as the fylth of a filthy creature The doung of Horses likewyse where the Horses are fedde with Barley dooth breede great store of weedes The Lupine before he beare his Codde is most commended being turned vp with the Plowe or Mattocke and layd in bundels about the rootes of Trees or Uines Where they haue no store of Cattel they vse to mend their ground with Straw and Ferne and with the stalkes of Lupines and the branches layde togeather in some Ditch herevnto you may cast Asshes the fylth of Synckes and Priuies and strawe with dust and other thinges raked togeather but in the middest you must lay some sounde matter against the breeding of Adders and Snakes also Humlockes Walwoort and the weedes growyng about Wyllowe trees and Ferne with other such rotten weedes you may geather and lay vnder your Sheepe They that dwell in Grauelie and Heathie groundes doo take the Turues of the Earth and the Heath laying them in heapes powdred with a litle doung suffer them to lye rotte and after lay it vpon barren ground but specially where they keepe great store of Sheepe they cast into their Foldes suche Turues pared from the grounde Columella countes them but euyll huâ—bandes that haue of euery one of the lesser kind of cattell lesse then a cart lode of doung in 300. dayes and of eache of the greater sort tenne loade beside the fylth and durt of the yarde This is also to be noted that the doung that hath lyen a yeere is best for Corne for it hath is of sufficient strength and breedeth lesse weedes but vppon Meddowe and Pasture you must lay the newest because it bringes most grasse and this must be doone in Februarie the Moone encreasing for this is the best time to cause encrease of grasse In the manuring of your ground looke that you lay most doung vpon the toppe of the Hill for the rayne wyll beare it to the lower partes fast yenough He that mindes to haue his grounde beare Corne yf he meane to sowe in the ende of Sommer must turne in his doung in September yf in the spring he may lay it on at any time all the Winter What time so euer it be doone you must looke that the winde be Westerly and the Moone in the wane This obseruation helpeth greatly to the bettering of the grounde Besyde you must not forget to let the doung be drye before it be layd vppon the ground For though Columella doo bidde the contrary our owne experience wylles vs not to folowe him for doung whyle it is moyst dooth more harme to the ground then good as dayly experience teacheth Nowe as your lande wyll waxe colde yf it be not dounged so wil it be dryed or burnt if it be manured yeerely or to much The watrie ground requireth more store of
take it for a kinde of Wheate Herodotus sayth Bread was made of it Of Laurentius it is called Far of Gasa Siligo Diuers learned men call it Secale and take it for Plinies farragoâ— the Frenchemen cal it Segle the Dutchemen Rock the Italians almost as the Latines Saegala the grayne is something blacke and maketh blackishe bread But to passe ouer all controuersies I folowe the Countrey speache and take Siligo for our common Rye whiche is sowed immediatly after Wheate about the ende of September or in the beginning of October in good ground in sandy and grauelly ground it is sowed in Februarie and called Sommer Wheate it requireth the best grounde warme and fast and refuseth not light grounde and grauelly so it be helped with doung it loueth wette grounde as ill as Wheate they both require to be sowen in a deepe moulde and a plaine soyle but Rye is sowed a litle after Wheate in the sowyng whereof you must occupie a thirde part more then of Wheate it prospereth lightly in any grounde and many times with the yeeld of a hundred for one It must be sowed after the third plowing as Wheate harrowed much after the same sort the stalke or steale thereof is smaller then the Wheate stalke taller and stronger his care hanging downewardes and therefore more subiect to blasting because it receiueth and keepeth the water that falles whyle it flowreth and suffereth the violence of mystes and frostes the strawe thereof is gentle and flaxible seruing for Uines and coueringes of houses Nowe foloweth Barâ—ley accounted in the olde generations among the woorthyest sort of grayne and not of small estimation at this day The Italians call it Beade or Beaue or Orze the Spaniards Ceuada the Dutch men Gerst the Frenchemen Orge the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and though it be vsed in Greece and Italie and suche warme and fruitefull Countreys for cattelles foode as Homer also witnesseth yet in the Northerne Countreyes it supplies the place both of Bread and Wine There are of it two sortes Hexâ—stichon and Polystichum whose eares are three foure sometimes sixe square and diuers eares springing from one grayne euery eare conteynyng aboue fourescore graynes so woonderfull are the gyftes and blessinges of god The other sort is called Distichon hauing in the eare but two rankes or orders only Agayne there is one kinde of it to be sowed in Winter an other for Sommer The Winter Barley is of better yeeld but it is soone hurt specially with much wette and frostes folowyng There is nothyng more hurtfull to Winter Corne specially Barley Rape seede and Rye then the wette of Winter nipped with often frostes and after a warme thawe to be presently frozen agayne both the sortes of Barley require grounde that is very riche Winter Barley after two or three plowinges is to be sowed in September Sommer Barley in March or April after twyse plowing and many times necessitie forcing after once plowing in the sowing you must occupie more seede by halfe then in sowyng of Wheate it requires a mellowe and a fatte ground and therfore is best sowed where the grounde is most manured The Winter seede flowreth in May and is ripe in Iune at the furthest This kinde was not woont to be sowed in these partes but great numbers nowe mooued by my example doo vse and receiue great gaynes by it The Sommer Barley in many Countreys is ripe and redy in three monethes afâ—er the sowyng In Aragon as Plinie wryteth it maketh double haruestes euery yeere The seuenth day after it is sowen it commeth vp and one end of the seede runneth downe in roote the other that â—ooner springeth commeth vp in blade the greater ende of the grayne maketh the roote and the slenderer the flowre In other grayne the roote and the blade spring both from one part the blades of both kindes are ruffe It must be geathered with more speede then other graynes for the strawe of it is very brittell Of Barley is made as Dioscorides wryteth both Beere and Ale. RIGO I lyke your Beere you haue excellently wel I pray you tell me in what sorâ— you make it CONO I wyll not hyde my cunnyng in this matter My Barley is fyrst steeped in a Sestorne of water a day or two yf it be Winter seede it is harder hulled and requireth the longer watering The Sommer grayne is thinner and requireth a lesser tyme When it is watred I drye it vpon a floore or a keel tyll it swel and breake putting out as it were litle beardes or threds yf it be layde thinne it wyll in Sommer specially in March drye and breake of it selfe without any fyre You must take good heede that in sprowting it open not to much and loose his flowre This being doone I grinde it and put the meale into a Mash Fatte wherevnto I put my licour sodden and after let it seethe three or foure times adding vnto it both for holsomenesse and taste the flowre of the Hoppe after this I put on Yeest and set it a woorkyng and then cleanse it The more it is cleansed the holsomer and cleerer it is that whiche commeth of the spurging is kept both for brewing and baking the drinke wyll be the better yf you put to it a fourth part or sixth part of Wheate the more Corne you laâ— on the pleasaunter and better coloured wyll your Beere be Your greatest care must be to see it well sodden well cleanseâ— and well hopped otherwyse Malt of it selfe wyll soone corrupt Obseruing this order your drinke shal be both holsome and pleasant that endureth best and longest that is brewed in march There is made of Barley Alica a reasonable good meate and Ptisan How they must be made you may reade in Plinie Next to Wheate and Barley foloweth Zea which the common people both in Italy Spaine and Flaunders call Spelta the Frenche call it Espeltra with Homer is greatly commended 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the feel des that beareth the Zeam being as Galen sayth the meane betwixt Wheate and Barley for he hath the qualities of eache of them is of two sortes the one in stalke ioynt and care like to Wheate and carieth in euery huske two seedes and therefore is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the other hauing both stalke and eare shorter and but one grayne in euery huske growing in two rankes and in the toppe resembling Barley with his sharpe Aaâ—es In Italy specially about Mirandula and Concordia it is vsed in prouender for Horses it is not in these Countreys in vse I woulde sowe it here syth the ground wyll well serue for it and that both bread and drinke might be made of it very well but that it is something troublesome to grinde because of the double huskes It desyreth a moyst ground riche and good it is sowed after the same maner that Wheate is sowed in September or October it flowreth in Iune and is ripe in Iuly very meete for
drye a delightfull foode to Swyne it may be mooued sundry times in the yeere to the great commoditie of the husband a little whereof dooth soone fatte vp cattell neither is there any other grasse that yeeldeth eyther more abundance or better mylke the most soueraine medicine for the sicknesâ—e oâ— cattell that may be bâ—side the Philosophers promise that Bees wyll neuer fayle that haue this grasse growyng neare them therefore it is necessarie to haue your grounde stored with it as the thing that best serueth foâ— Poultrie and Cattell the leaues and seedes are to be geuen to leane and drouping Pullen some call it Telinen some Trefoyle some great Melilot the Romanes call it Trifolu maius great Trasâ—e it is a plant al hearie and whytishe as Rhamnus is hauing branches halfe a yarde long and more wherevpon groweth leaues lyke vnto Fenygreeke or Clauer but something lesse hauyng a ryâ—yng crest in the middest of them This plant was fyrst founde in the Ilande Cythno and from thence spread throughout the Cyclads and so to Greece wherby the store of Cheese came to be great neyther is there any Countrey at this day where they may not haue great plentie as Columella sayth of this shrubbe In Italy it groweth about the enclâ—syars of Uineyardes it shrâ—nketh neyther for heate colde frost nor snowe it requireth good groude yf the weather be very drye it must be watred and when it fyrst springes well harrowed after three yeeres you may cut it downe and geue it your cattell Vaâ—ro woulde haue it sowen in well ordred ground as the seede of Colwoortes should be and after remooued and set a foote and a halfe a sunder or els to be set of the slippes The tyme of sowyng of Cytisus is eyther in Autume or in the spryng in ground well plowed and layde out in beâ—des yf you want the seede you may take the slippe so that you set them foure foote a sunder and a bancke cast about them with earth well dounged you may also set them before September when they wyll very well growe and abyde the colde in Winter it lasteth but three yeere Columella hath two kindes of Cytisus one wylde the other of the Garden The wylde dooth with his claspers feede very well it wyndeth about and killes his neighbours as the Iuie dooth it is founde in Cornefeeldes specially amongst Barley the flowre thereof is lyke the flowre of Pease the leafe yf it be bruysed smelleth like Rockeâ— and being champâ—d in the mouth it tasteth like Chyche or Pease There is an other kinde of fodder among the plantes vnknowen to the old wryters very good to feede both cattel Poultrye I know not whether it be knowen in other Countreys beside Germanie the common people call it Spury or Sperie it hâ—th a stalke a foote in height or more busshed foorth in mans branches it hath a whyte flowre without any leafe the flowre endeth in little knoppes as Flaxe hath conteynyng in them a very little seede like Rape seede They are much deceiued that take it for Cytisus when that as Dioscorides sayth hath leaues like Fenugreeke and this is altogeather without leaues neither is the seede any thing like though the vse be almost one The best Milke and Butter in Germanie commeth of this feeding wherefore it is esteemed almost as good as Barley or other grayne the strawe is better then any Heye the Chaffe feedeth as well as any Graynes the seede feedeth Pigeons and Poultrie in Winter passing well it is sowed in sandie and light groundes all the Sommer long and some sowe it in Spring time with Oates for the seede sake in Autume and Haruest time it is sowed to feede Cattell it is profitable for husbandes that dwell in sandy and grauelly Countreys wherefore they shoulde neuer be without good store of it for Hennes Bees Goates Sheepe Oxen and all kinde of Cattell delight very muche in it nowe remayneth the sowyng of Flaxe and Hempe RIGO I looke for it CONO These although they be not to be receiued in the number of Corne nor Pulse Fodder nor Hearbes yet is there great account to be made of them with the husbandmans thinges without whiche no house can be furnished nor man wel apparelled whiche being beaten to a sofâ—nesse serueth for webbes of Linnen and twysting of Cordes and more of tâ—is so little a seede dooth spring that which as Plinie sayth carrieth the whole worlde hether and thether that bryngeth Egypt to Italy and carryeth vs from Cales of Ostia in seuen dayes Linum in Latine in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian and Sâ—â—nishe Lino in French Dulin in Dutch almost like â—auing that they call the seede Lyn and the plant Flaxe is a very common hearbe wherewith women are set a woorke it hath a sclender stalke not muche vnlike to Sperie but that it groweth higher a litle bigger with narrow leaues long blewe flowres in the top which falling away leaueth behinde them little round knoppes as bigge as a Pease wherin are enclosed yellowe seedes it delighteth in rich ground and somewhat moyst some sowe it in barrayne grounde after once plowyng it is sowed in the Spring and geathered in sommer In Gelderland and Gulicke where there is great store of it they sowe it about the beginnyng of May there are agayne that obserue three seasons for the sowyng of it as the weather shall fall out for it requireth rayne and moysture the ripenesse of it is perceiued by the waxing yellowe and swelling of the knoppes that holde the seede being then plucked vp and made in little bundels it is dryed in the Sunne the rootes standyng vpwarde that the seede may fall out Some vse agayne to carde of the knoppes with an iron Combe and drying them in the Sunne to geather the seede The bundels afterwardes are layde in water heated with the Sunne with some wayght vppon them to keepe them downe the rynde waxing loose sheweth when they haue been steeped yenough Then the bundels vnloosed and dryed in the Sunne are beaten with beetelles when as the vtter rynde is pilled of and combed and hacked vpon an iron combe the more wrong it suffereth the better doth it prooue the Towe is seuered from the Flaxe and appoynted for his vse so are they seuerally spon vpon the Distaffe made vp in bottomes and sent to the Weauers whereof are wouen webbes to the great commoditie of al men Last of all the webbe is layde out in the hotte Sunne and sprinckled with water whereby it is brought to a passing whitenesse It may be remembred that not long since the women of Germanie knewe no costlyer attyre The best Flaxe that is at this day is brought from Moscouia Liuonia and those Countreys farre excelling ours in heyght and goodnesse Except there be great encrease of it price in the Countrey where you dwel Columella would not haue you meddle with the sowing of it for it is most hurtfull to the ground as Virgil
of the rootes which after two yeeres you must remooue into a warme and wel dounged grounde The trenches where you meane to set them must stand a foote a sunder and a shaftman in depthe wherein you must so lay your Sponges as being couered they may best growe bnt in the spring before they come vp you must loose the earth with a little Forke to cause them the better to spring and to make the rootes the greater Cato woulde haue you to take them but so as you hurt not the rootes after to pull the plant from the roote for yf you otherwyse breake it the roote wyl dye and come to nothing But you may so long croppe it tyll you see it begin to growe to seede in which yeere for the Winter tyme you must according to Catoes minde couer it with strawe or such like least the colde doo kil them and in the spring open it againe and doung it well Some thinke that the fyrst yeere it is needelesse to doo any thing to the plant but onely to weede it From the rootes which they call the sponges there springeth fyrst certayne buddes with crompled knoppes very good and pleasaunt for sallettes whiche yf you suffer to growe it straight bussheth foorth with braunches lyke Fennell and at length growe to be prickely after it hath flowred it beareth a Berrie fyrst greene and when it is rype redde If you would haue Sallettes of Asparagus al the yeere through when you haue geathered the Berries open the rootes that runne aloft by the grounde with dyggyng and you shall haue the rootes send foorth newe buddes out of hand It is thought that yf you breake to poulder the horne of a Ramme and sowe it watring it well it wyll come to be good Sperage In the Spring time they make a very good sallet being sodde in water or fatte broth tyll they be tender for yf you seethe them too muche they wyl waste away When they be sod they dresse them with Uineger Oyle Pepper and Salt and so eate them or as my freend Wylliam Prat very skilful in these matters telleth me they cutte them in small peeces lyke Dyse and after they haue parboyled them butter them with sweete butter a little Uineger and Pepper THRA You haue very well shewed me the orderyng of Asparagus I pray you goe forward to Rue MARIVS Rue which the Greekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines Rutam the Italians Rutache the Spaniardes Ruda the Frenchemen Rue de gardin is planted at the ende of Februarie or in March prospering best in drye and sunny groundes it abhorreth both water and doung whiche all other hearbes most delight in it most delighteth in asshes and where all other plantes wyll spring of the seede this they say wyll neuer doo it The branches being slipped of and set in the spring wyll very well growe but yf you remooue the olde roote it dyeth it delighteth in the shadowe of the Figge tree and being stolne as they say it prospereth the better it is sowed with cursyng as Cummin and diuers other and can not abide the presence of an vncleane woman THRA I see goodly Lettuse here I pray you howe doo you order it MARIVS Lettuse is called in Dutche Lattich in Frenche Laictue in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian Lactuca and so in Latine in Spanishe Lechugas whereof besides the wylde there are three kindes one croompled whiche Columella calleth Caecilia and Spanishe Lettuse of the Countreys where it most groweth and is greatest esteemed in Dutch called Krauser Lattich in Frenche Crespue the other Cabbedge Lettuse in Dutch Knopf Lattich in Frenche Laictue testue of Plinie called Laconica and Sessilis because it groweth round like an head or a apple The third sort is called Rotunda because it groweth in compasse vpon the grounde THRA But howe come you to haue so good Lettuse and how doo you order them MARIVS At the ende of Februarie or in the beginning of March we vse to sowe it that it may be remooued about April or May. In hotte Countreys as Palladius telleth they sowe it in Ianuarie or in December with intent to remooue it in Februarie but you may sowe it at any time of the yeere so the ground be good wel dounged and watred When you remooue them the rootes must be pared and rubbed ouer with doung and such as be already planted their rootes must be bared and dounged they loue a good ground moyst wel dounged they spreade the better yf you set by thâ—m the Rape or when they begyn to stalke the stalke being tenderly clouen you lay vppon it a clod or a tyleshard they wyl be white yf you sprinckle them often with sand or tye sande within the leaues and both tender white you shall haue them If two dayes before they be geathered theyr toppes be tyed vp they wyll be rounde and Cabbeged yf the roote being remoued when it is growena hand brode in heyght be pared and smered with freshe Cowe doung and earth cast about it be well watred and when it growâ—th hye the top be cut a poâ—shard laide vppon it the sweeter also they wyll be the more you restrayne the stalke from shooting vp which must as I said be kept downe with some stone or weight that they may spreade the better If the Lettuse chaunce by reason of the badnesse of the soyle the seede or the season to waxe hard the remoouing of it wyll bring it agayne to his tendernesse it wyll haue sundry and diuers tastes yf taking a Treddle of Sheepe or Goates doung and hollowyng it cunnyngly with an Alle or a Bodkyn you thrust into it the seede of Lettuse Cresses Basyl Rocket Smallage Parsley and Radyshe and after wrapping it in doung you put it into very good grounde and water it well The Parsley or Smallage goeth to roote the others growe in heygth keeping styl the taste of euery one Constantine affyrmeth Lettuse to be a moyst and a colde hearbe a quencher of thyrst and causer of sleepe and that being boyld it nourisheth most and abateth lecherie for which the Pithagoreans doo call it Eunuchion Galen himselfe the prince of Phisitions dooth greatly commend it who in his youth dyd alwayes vse to eate it rawe and after in his elder yeeres boyled whereby he kept his body in good temperature Endiue in Latine Intabum or Intubus not vnlike to Lettuse some call it Garden Succory the Dutchmen and common sort Endiuiam the Italians and the French Cicoriam the Spaniardes Endibia it is sowen as other Garden hearbes in March it loueth moysture and good earth but you must make your beddes when you sowe it the flatter least the earth falling away the rootes be bared when it hath put foorth foure leaues you must remooue it vnto well dounged grounde that whiche is sowen before the kalendes of Iuly dooth come to seede but that which is sowen afterâ— seedeth not You must sowe that which you
seede To haue very large and great Leekes you must hollowe a Treatle of Goates doung and fâ—ll it full of Leeke seede for the little sproute at the fyrst restrayned wyll runne altogeather in one and so come foorth of the grounde and this as Hieronimus Cardanus wryteth hath been often tryed to be true They shall not sauour of Leekes or Onyons that haue eaten Cummin after It commeth vp the tenth day after the sowyng and lasteth two yeere the fyrst yeere it contenteth it selfe onely with bearyng of leaues the next yeere it ryseth in a long stalke hollowe within the toppe garnished with rounde knoppes of flowres The Onyon in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Cepa or Cepe in Italian Cipella in Spanishe Cebolla in Frenche Oignon the next neighbour to the Leeke is also of twâ— kindes the one kinde called Capitatum that groweth to head the other Fissile that without any head only flowrisheth in blades and is often geathered as Leekes are therefore only is sowen and not set in Februarie or March in fayre weather in the wane of the Moone it delighteth in ritche ground wel digged dounged and therefore Columella would haue the grounde well fâ—llowed that it may be mellowed with the Winter frostes and after dounged after well digged agayne and the rootes and weedes cast out layde out in beddes and sowed it is called Fissile because it is parted and diuided belowe for in the Winter it is least with his toppe naked in the spring time the blades are pulled of and other come vp in theyr places The heades are set and yf you plucke away the tayles the outgrowinges when you set them they wyll growe to be very great Twentie dayes before you set them digge the grounde well and laye it drye and so shall they prosper the better The heades are set in Autume and growe to seede as other plantes doo yf you meane to geather the seedes when the stalke is growen you must prop it vp with little stickes that the windes shakyng of the stalke shatter not the seedes nor breake the stalke whiche seede you must geather before it be all blacke for the blacknesse is a sure signe of the ful ripenesse yf you wyl not haue it seede but head plucke of the blade still close by the ground so shal all the maintenaunce goe to the roote Among all other hearbes onely the Onyon is not subiect to the force of the Moone but hath a contrary power for it waxeth in the wane of the Moone and decreaseth in the encrease of it yet there are that holde opinion that yf you sowe them in the wane they wyll be the smaller and sourer and in the encrease they wil be the greater the milder The redde Onyon is more sharpe then the white they are best preserued in Barley Chaffe yf fyrst you dippe them in hotte water after drye them in the sunne tyll they be through drye They are of the common people thought to laste longest beyng hanged vp in the smoke for the kynred it hath with the Onyon I proceede to speake next of Garlicke called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Alliumâ— in Italian Aglio in Spanishe Aio in Dutch Knobloich in Frenche Aux it groweth with a blade like the Onyon but not hollowe the stalke rounde and the flowres in the toppe in a rounde tufte where the seede lyeth Garlicke groweth both of the head the seede as the Onyon and other of this kinde dooth It is commonly sowed in Februarie or March accordyng to the disposition of the weather as the Onyon is It woulde be set in the vppermost part of little narrowe Ridges the cloues being distant foure or fiue inches one from the other and not very deepe After when the cloues haue put foorth the little stringes or when their blades are come vp they must be well racked for the oftner ye doo so the greater they wyll be but yf you wyll haue the heades the greater before it growe to stalke you shall wynde and wreathe the greene blades togeather and treade them to the grounde for that continual treading vpon them wil make them the greater In October the cloues must be plucked a sunder set in rowe vpon hie borders that they may skape the daunger of the winter stormes They say the seant of them wyll sease yf you eate after them the roote of Beetes tosted at the fyre thus sayth Plinie out of Menander THRA What hearbe is that yonder that commeth vp so hie as a man may make a staffe of the stalke the leaues large and rounde the flowre in shape seeming to compare with the Rose MARIVS It is Hollioke or garden Mallowe in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Malua hortensis in Dutche Peppel in Italian and Frenche â—lmost as in Latine THRA What the same that Horace taketh to so wholesome for the body and whiche of Hesiodus and Martial is so highly commended MARIVS The very same and also which is more woonderfull in it the leaues turne about with the sunne so that it may serue in steade of a Dyall declaryng by the turnyng of his leaues what time of the day it is though the sunne doo not shine whiche the Philosophers thinke to be done by the drawing of his moysture In Africa as Plinie wryteth it commeth in seuen monethes to be lyke a young tree and serue well for a walkyng staffe It is sowed in October or in the ende of the sommer as also at other tymes that by the comming on of Winter it may be restrayned of his high growth it reioyceth it ritche and moyst grounde and must be remooued when it commeth to haue foure or fiue leaues it groweth best when it is young when it comes to greater it dyes in the remoouing We vse it both for the potte and for sallettes the taste is better when it is not remooued you must sowe it but thinne for growyng to ranke and in the middest of them you must lay litâ—le cloddes or stones it requireth continuall rakyng and maketh better the grounde where it growes THRA I marueyle whether you sowe Purcelayne syth it groweth wylde abrode MARIVS The Greekes call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines Portulacan with the Italians it hath the same name in Spanishe Verdâ—laga in Frenche and Dutch Porchelle it is sowed in Gardens and well ordred dooth growe the better and spreadeth the farther it hath a blacke seede growing in little greene cuppes THRA Buglose that the Greekes cal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines Bugglossum the Dutchmen Ochsenzung or Burretsth the Frenchmen Borague the Italians Borache the Spaniardes Boraje Is not this it that I see here with y fayre blewe flowre and a stalke a foote long and full of branches MARIVS Buglose is at this day with the Potecaries called Borage though they differ somethyng in the flowre and in very deede they are two sundry hearbes for some
them and sowe them so shall you haue them very pleasant They wyll haue a very sweete sauour yf theyr seedes be kept many dayes among Rose leaues Your Coucumbers shal be long and tender yf you see vnder them water in a brode vessel two handfulles vnder them They delight in water so much as yf they be cut of they wil yet bend towarde it and yf they hang or haue any stay they wyll grow crooked as also yf you set oyle by them which they greatly abhorre The flowres being suffered to growe in Pipes doo growe to a woonderfull length They loue not the Winter no more then dooth the Gourde wherevnto they are almost like in nature for the flowres the leaues and the claspers are lyke of them both but the Gourde is more busie in climing so that with hastie growth it spreadeth quickly ouer the Herbers and sommer houses runnyng vp by the walles and mountyng vp to the very Tyles of the houses hauing a great fruite of a monstruous bignesse hangyng by a small stalke in fashion like a Peare and greene in collour although when it hath flowred it wyll growe in what fashion you wyll haue it they say there hath been some of them mene foote in length The rounde ones also growe to be vsed for great vesselles the rynde of the newe ones is soft and tender but of the olde ones hard whereof when the meate is out trauaylers make great bottles to carrie drinke in The Gourdes that are vsed to be eaten in sommer are sundry in shape for some are rounde some long some broade and though the fashion be diuers yet the nature is all one for it is made by arte to growe in what shape you wyll as in the forme of a creeping Dragon or what yelist they are called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian Zuma in Spanishe Calabaz in Dutche Kuirbisch the French Vne courge The seedes that the Gourde â—eareth next to the stalke as Paladius sayth are longest they in the middest rounde and those that lye on the side short broade and flatte yf you set the sharpe ende of the seede downeward as Columella sayth you shall haue them both greater Gourdes and Coucumbers It delighteth in a moyst riche wel dounged and well watred ground That which groweth without water bringes the pleasanter fruite and that whiche hath water yenough needes the lesse looking to The flowres where they be set must be digged a foote and a halfe deepe the thirde part whereof must be filled with strawe and then with good ritche mould it mâ—st be filled to the middest then the seedes being set must be watred tyl they be sprong and after earth layd to them styll as they growe tyll the Furrowe be filled They must be set thinne two foote a sunder it commeth vp in sixe or seuen dayes after the setting Those that are set in drye grounde must be very well watred therefore they vse to set by them earthen pottes full of water with ragges or cloutes in them to water them When they be a little growen they must haue helpes set by them to climbe vpon the longer they be the better the meate is You must beware there come no women neare where you set them for their presence dooth greatly hurt them Those that you keepe for seede you must suffer to remayne vpon the stalke tyll Winter and then geathering them and drye them eyther in the sunne or in the smoke for otherwyse the seede wyll rotte and perishe They wyll long be preserued and continue freshe yf after they be geathered they be put into a close vessell with the leâ—ues of white wine or hanged in a vessell of vineger so that they touche not the vineger THRA What meaneth that great Thistell that springeth there MARIVS Dyd you neuer reade in your Columella of the Hartichoch specially in his verses that he wrote of Gardnyng where he sayth Goe set the brystled Hartichoch That well with wine agrees c. Athenaeus in his second booke Dipnosophus out of Sophoclus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A Thistell is the Hartichoch that euery where dooth growe It is a kinde of Thistel by the diligence of the Gardner brought to be a good Garden hearbe and in great estimation at noble mens tables it is as you see framed with a round prickly head hauing a great sort of flakes set in order steeple wyse The Greekes call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines Strobilum because the fruite of it something resembleth the Pineapple The Frenchemen call it Alticocalum of the Arabick article Al and Cocalos a Pineapple whereof it is corruptly called Artichault in Italian and Spanishe Cardo in Dutche sometime by the Frenche name sometime Strobirn It is called of Columella Cinara because in his growing he cheefely delighteth in asshes The seede is best sowen in March and the settes in Nouember yf you wyll haue it yeelde fruite in the Spring you must bestowe much asshes vpon it it wyll hardly beare the first yeere that it is sowen Beware that you sette not the seede with the rong end vpward for so shall your Artichoch prooue very little and euil fauoured It loueth good grounde and well dounged and prospereth best in fatte ground Palladius woulde haue you moreouer to sette the seedes in well ordered beddes in the encrease of the Moone halfe a foote a sunder and not deepe but taking them in three of your fingers thrust them downe tyl the earth come to the first ioyntes of your fyngers then couer them tenderly and water them often specially toward Sommer so shall you haue the bigger fruite When they growe vp they must be continually weeded and dounged as I saide with asshes They say they wyll loose their prickles yf the toppes of the seede be made blunt vppon a stone before they be set and sweete they wyll be yf the seede be laide in Milke You must keepe them from Mowles Myse with Cattes or tame Weesels as Ruellius teacheth you Athenaeus calleth the stalke of the Artichoch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that lyeth vpon the grounde and that whiche standeth vpryght 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THRA Well what hearbe is yonder same that commeth vp as it were heares with a blewishe flowre and pale hauyng in the middest of the belles as it were fierie yellowe tongues MARIVS It is Saffron in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Crocus in Italian and Frenche so in Spanishe Aczafran THRA What neede we care any more for either Corycum Sicil or Cyren from whence we fetche it with so great charges MARIVS Yea there groweth great plentie of it in Germanie about Spirs and diuers other places whiche may compare in goodnesse with any other place It is set in Marche of the head that it hath rounde and in cloues as the Lyllie the Leeke and the Sea Onyon Constantine affyrmeth that it may be set of the roote as soone as the flowre is
of The rootes or the heads doo so encrease vnder the ground that of one of them some yeere springeth eyght or niene others In many places they are remooued euery seuenth or eyght yeere into better ground wherby they come againe to be as good as at the first In the Countreys lying vpon the Rhine they plucke them vp euery third yeere and lay them a drying in the sunne till August and then pulling of the outer skinne they set them agayne halfe a foote one from the other the best heades are those that are fattest and haue little heares the woorst looke rottenly and â—â—fauouredly and haue an ill sauour It delighteth to growe by hie wayes and neare springes and to be trodde and trampled on prospering as it were by oppression it groweth greene all the Winter it is geathered in Autumne when it is come to his colour by plucking out the little yellowe tongues from the bel whiche are afterwardes dryed three or foure dayes togeather and well picked and purged and so made vp in boxes some thinke it best to drye it in the shadowe It is craftely counterfeited by the Apothecaries braying it in sodde wine whiche they besmeare adding therto the skumme of siluer or lead to encrease the weyght the craft is perceiued by the dustinesse therof and by the sauour of the sodde wine The proofe of the good is yf it crackle betweene the handes as a brittle thing which the counterfeite dooth not or yf in putting it to your mouth it cause your eyes to water Wherefore the best is that which is newe and hath a pleasant smell in colour like to golde and dyeth the fyngers in touching it In Marche you must purge the grounde where it groweth and whether ye plucke it vp or not notwithstanding other hearbes may very well growe there vntill August Pursleyne Parsley or suche like hearbes doo best growe there And when the Saffron beginneth to flowre you must ridde away the other hearbes for in haruest time about September or October it flowreth THRA Here is great store of Rosemarie the cheefest beautie of Gardens and not to be wanted in the Kitchin. MARIVS Of the orderyng of Rosemarie sith you wyl haue me I wyll speake a little There are whiche suppose it to be the same whiche the Greekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it sauoureth like Frankencense in Latine it is called Rosmarinus and in al other tongues it keepeth the name it serueth both for pleasure and profite Theophrastus maketh two kindes of it a barrayne and a fruitefull and is set of small slippes in April it is sette by women for their pleasure to growe in sundry proportions as in the fashion of a Cart a Pecock or such like thing as they fancie It delighteth in stonie or rough ground and in the toppes is the seede inclosed in little huskes white and round It flowreth twyse a yeere in the spring and in the end of sommer it is geathered from May tyll September and it is good to plucke of the flowâ—e often that it may not flowre too muche In the higher partes of Fraunce it groweth wilde in such plentie that they vse almost no other fewell it is in colde Countreys in Winter set in Sellars and hotte houses is brought agayne in the spring into the Garden But here you must beware that when you fyrst bring it out you keepe it from the March sunne setting it in the shadowe acquaintyng it by little and little with the ayre some vse to house it with strawe and horse doung and so leaue it in the Garden Sauge in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Saluia and like in other languages is an hearbe common in euery Garden it is planted both of the seede and the slippe in March in any kind of ground it maketh no matter where the Gardners vse to lay bucking asshes about it whereby it prospereth the better Next to Sauge is Mynt in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Menta in Dutch Myntz in Italian and French after the Latine in Spanishe Yerua buena it is planted and ordered in all thing as Sauge is it prospereth both in drye and wette groundes and groweth well by waters If you lacke seedes you may take the seede of the wylde Mint and set them with the toppes downeward whereby they shall leaue their ranknesse and being once sowen or sette groweth euery yeere Pimpernell in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Pimpinella is vsed both in the Kitchin and in Phisicke and being once sowen groweth euery yeere both in sonny places and in shaddowy it groweth in most plaâ—es wylde Hysope in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Hyssopus and so called in moâ—â— tongues in Europe a common hearbe knowen to euery Gardner it desireth though no sonny ground yet good and ritche grounde it is planted both of the seede and the slippe when it hath once taken roote it careth not for the sharpnesse of Winter Sauery in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Satureia or as Columella sayth Cunila in Italian Coniella Sauoreggia Thymbre in Frenche Sauoreje in Dutche Kuuel Zwibel hisop groweth in barrayne places and is sette and sowed as the plantes before The next is that whiche commonly is called Basyl in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Ocymum in Frenche Italian and Dutche Basilica an hearbe that is vsed to be set in the middest of knottes and in windowes for the excellent sauoure that it hath it is also good for the potte it is sowed in March and April and delighteth in sonny ground you must put two seedes still togeather Basyl is best watred at noone whereas all other hearbes are to be watred in the mornyng and in the euenyng it may be remooued in May. Theophrastus sayth that it prospereth best when it is sowed with curses Marierum in Latine Amaracus and Maiorana is also in like sort vsed the Dutche and the Italians call it after the Latine the Spaniardes Amoredeux the Frenche Mariolaine and Thyn in Greeke of Dioscorides and Paulus Aegineta 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this also for the pleasant sauour it hath is set in pottes and in Gardens it is sowed in Marche three or foure seedes togeather halfe a foote a sunder in May when it groweth to some heyght as Basyl it is remoued Time neare of kinrede to these in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Frenche Italian and Dutche like the Latine in Spanishe Tomillo delighteth in stony light and sonny ground it springeth both of the seede and of the slippe and also of the flowre as Theophrastus sayth These three tender and delicate hearbes are to be sowed with great heede eyther in earthen pottes or in garden beddes Hytherto haue I described vnto you suche hearbes as serue for the Kitchin and because the latter sortes are also esteemed for the sauours I wyll goe forward with the description of the rest that
Horses for the sight of the Ducke as Vegetius and Columella say is a present remedy to this beast For the Flix or the Laske which in some places they call the Ray take Sloes and dry them in powder and geue it them to drinke yf it be the blooddy Flixe the old fellowes were wont to cure it in this sort They suffred not the beast to drinke in three dayes and kept him fasting the first day and gaue him the stoanes of Reazins or Grapes dryed and made in powder two poundes with a quart of sharpe tarte Wine and suffered them to drinke no other drinke and made them eate the browsing of wyld Olyue trees and Mastyxe trees and yf they mended not with this they burnt them in the forehead to the very brayne pan and cut of theyr eares The woundes tyll they were whole they washed with Oxpisse but the cut partes were to be healed with Oyle and Pytch If your Calues haue the Ray or Laske take sweete Milke and put therein the Rennet of a Calfe make it no thicker but as the Calfe may well drinke it and geue it him luke warme If your Bullocke haue the Cough and yf it be but beginning geue him a pint of Barly-meal with the yolke of an Egge the Reazins boyled in sweete Wine and strained a pint mingle them togeather and geue it him fasting Also Graines beaten and mingled with Floure fryed Beanes and meale of Lentylls all stirred togeather and geuen him in a mash Columella would haue you geue them Grasse chopt and mingled with Beanes that are but a little broken in the Myll and Lentylls small ground and mingled with water The old Cough they cured with two pound of Hysope steeped in three pintes of water and mingled with Floure which they made him to swallowe and afterwardes powred into him the water wherein Hysope had been sodden also Peason with Barly water and sodden Hony when they had the Cough and Consumption of the Loonges To keepe them aliue they vsed to burne the roote of a Hasell and to thrust it through their â—ares geuing them to drinke a pint of the iuyce of Leekes with the like measure of Oyle and Wine For the Cough of the Loonges I vse to geue them long Pepper Graines Fenegreke Bays Anysseede Ortment balles Turmericke and Madder beating them all togeather and seething them in good Ale grounes If your Calues haue the Cough take Sentury and beate it to powder and geue it them If they haue the Feauer or Ague you shall perceaue it by the watring of theyr eyes the heauinesse of their head the driueling at the mouth beating of the vaines and heate of the whole body let them fast one day the next day let them blood a little betimes in the morning in the tayle after an houre geue them a thirtie little stalkes of Colwoortes sodde in Oyle Water and Salt which must be powred fasting into them fiue dayes togeather Beside you may geue them the toppes of Olyue trees Lentylls or any tender brutinges or branches of Uines and wype theyr mouthes with a Spunge geuing them cold water thrise a day The blood faling downe into the legges causeth them as Vegetius sayth to halt which as soone as you perceaue you must straightwayes looke vpon his hoofes the heate whereof wyll declare his greefe beside he wyl scarse suffer you to touch it But yf so be the blood be yet aboue the hoofe in the legges you shall dissolue it with good rubbing or yf not with that with Scarifâ—â—ng or Pouncing the skinne If it be in the foote open it a little with a knife betwene the two clawes and laye to the sore cloutes dipped in Uineger and Salt making him a shooe of Broome and be well ware he come not into any water but stand dry This blood yf it be not let out wyll breede to matter which wil be long eare it heale yf it be opened at the first with a knife and made cleane and after cloutes dipped in Water Salt and Oyle layd to it and at the last annoynted with olde Swynes grease and Goates suet boyled togeather it wyll quickly be whole This disease as I take it the countrey people call the Fowle or the Wyspe which they sometime cure with drawing a rope of strawe or heare through the Cleese tyll it bleede or by searing of it with a hotte iron If the blood be in the lower part of the Hoofe the vttermost part of the Clee is pared to the quicke and so the blood let out and after the foote wrapped with clowtes and shooed with Brome you must open the Hoofe in the middest except the matter be ripe If he halte by reason of the Crampe or payne of the sinowes you shal rub his knees thighes and legges with Salt and Oyle till he be whole If his knees or ioyntes be swolen they must be bathed with warme Uineger and Linseede or Mylet beaten and layd to it with water and Hony. Also Spunges wette in hotte water and dryed againe and annoynted with Hony are very good to be layd to the knees yf vnder the swelling there be any humor Leauen or Barly meale sodde in water and Hony or sweete Wine must be layd to it and when it is ripe it must be opened with a knife and healed as before All greefes generally yf they be not broken must be dissolued whylst they are new with bathes and fomentations and yf they be old they must be burned and the burning annoynted with Butter or Goates suet If he haue hurt his heele or his Hoofe stone Pitch Brimstone and greasie Wooll must be burnt vpon the sore with a hot iron The like must be done when he is hurt with a Stub a Thorne or a Nayle being first plucked out or yf it be very deepe it must be opened wyde with a knife and so handled for kiâ—ed heeles take and cast him and bind his legges fast togeather then take your knife and cut it out as nie as you can and let him bleede well then take a peniworth of Uerdegrease and the yolke of an Egge and temper them well togeather and bind them close to the place and he shall heale If the Udder of your Kine do swell you shall bathe them with Iuie sodden in stale Beere or Ale and smoke them with Hony Coames and Camomell If the Bullockes feete be neare worne and surbated washe them in Oxe pysse warmed and kindling a fewe twygges or spraps when the flame is doone cause him to stand vpon the hotte imbers and annoynt his hornes with Tarre and Oyle or Hogges grease They wyll neuer lightly halt yf after they haue ben laboured their feete be washed wel with cold water and afterwards their Pastorns and the places betwene the Clees be rubbed with old Swynes grease The skabs or manginesse is gotten away with rubbing them with stamped Garlicke which also cureth the biting of a madde Dogge besides Peniriall and Brimstone beaten and boyled
and yeeldeth good aduantage hath with their broode and feathers for beside the profite of theyr Egges you may twyse in the yeere at the spring and the fall of the leafe pull them Moreouer they are a very good dishe for the â—able yea being more watchfull then the Dogges they geue warning when they sleepe And therfore they wâ—re with the Romanes had in great honor because they with their gagling bewrayed the enimie that otherwyse in the night time had taken the Towne Plinie wryteth of a Goose that would neuer be from the Philosopher Lacydes Your choyse must be of those that be of the fairest kinde Varro liketh best the white ones which colour was most esteemed in the olde time as appeareth by the presentes that were geuen the same Varro accounteth the gray for a wyld kind They are kept in Marshes Fennes Lakes Moorish commons for to Corne ground Medowes and Pastures it is a very hartful Foule she biteth whatsoeuer young spring she may reache what she once hath bitten doth neuer lightly prosper againe Besides she stencheth the ground with her vnprofitable or rather most hurtfull dounging wherefore as I sayde it is best to keepe them in Fennes Lakes and Marshes If you haue store of such ground you shall doo well to keepe them for you can not well keepe them without good store of water and pasture The Goose delighteth in such meate as is naturally moyst and colde and shunneth naturally such thinges as are hurtfull for her as the leafe of the Bay and as Alianus wryteth the Oleander the best and meetest time for them to breede in is from the Kalends of March to the tenth of Iune They tread most commonly in the water whyle they swymme in the Ryuers or Fishponds Columella would haue you keepe for euery Gander three Geese thinking by reason of theyr vnweldynesse this number to suffise within your courte you must make them for theyr better safety seuerall and secrete pennes in sundry partes thereof where they may sitte breede Some would haue the Goose roome framed in such order as euery Goose may haue her place to her selfe which yf any man thinke too troublesome he may make one sufficient wyde roome to serue them all The places where they shall lay must be dry and well strawed with strawe or such soft matter and well defended from vermine The Goose must not be suffered to lay out of her nest but when you shall perceaue they seeke it you must grâ—pe them and yf they be with Egge which you shâ—ll easely feele shut them vp in theyr nestes which you shall not neede to doo aboue once or twyse for where she hath once layde shee wyll alwayes of her selfe seâ—ke to be They wyl laye as some hold opinion thryse in the yeere yf they be not suffered to sitte as it is best you doo not for theyr Egges are bettâ—r to be hatched vnder a Henne then of them selues and wyll â—etter a great deale prosper The Egges of Geese Swans were vsed as Alianus witnesseth as a most daynty dyshe at â—â—nkettes among the Kinges and Princes of the Indies Aristotle affirmeth that the Goose alwayes vseth to sitte and neuer the Gander contrary to the order of many other Fouleâ— continuing alwayes tyll shee haue hatched After the last laying you shal suffer them to sitte and marke euery ones Egges with a seuerall marke that they may be sette vnder theyr owne Goose for it is thought they wyll neuer hatch a strangers Egges without she haue her owne vnder her Of Goose Egs as of Pehennes Egges you shall as I sayd before neuer sette vnder a Henne aboue fiue nor vnder three but vnder the Goose you shall set at the least seuen and at the most fifteene You must keepe to lay vnder your Egges the rootes of Nettles which they say preserueth them against the stinging of Nettels which otherwyse many times killeth the Gosling yf they sling them The Egges wyll not be hatched yf the weather be cold before the thyrtieth day yf it be warme in lesser time howbeit for the most part the Gosling is hatched the thirtieth day after the sitting Some doo vse to set by the nestes Barly steeped in water or Malte whereby the Goose shall not be forced to be any whyle absent from her Egges When your Goslinges are come foorth you shall for the fyrst tenne dayes feede them with the Goose in the nest Afterwardes when the weather is faire you may suffer them to goe abrode taking good heede that they be not stinged with Nettles nor that you let them goe a hungerd into the pastures but to geue them afore they goe abrode the leaues of Endiue or Lettuse chopt to asswage their hunger for yf you put them a hungerd into the feelde they straine and breake their owne neckes with pulling at the tough and stubburne weedes by reason of the sudden starting backe againe of the weede The Goslings of diuers broodes must not goe togeather nor be shutte vp togeather for hurting one another When they be foure monethes olde or somewhat before is the best time for fatting them the young ones are soonest easeliest fatted If you geue theÌ„ ground Malt wheate floure you neede to geue theÌ„ nothing so you let them haue drinke yenough and keepe them from going abrode The Grekes did vse to put to two partes of ground Malt foure partes of Bran tempring it with water letting them drinke thrise a day at midnight If you would haue theyr Lyuers soft and tender you shall mingle dry Figges well beaten with water and making pellets thereof cram them with it for the space of seuenteene or twentie dayes The Iewes at this day being the skilfullest feeders that be doo vse a strange order in the fatting of them wrapping the Goose in a linen Aporne they hang her vp in a darke place stopping her eares with Peason or some other thing that by neyther hearing nor seeing of any thing shee be not forced to stroggel or crye after they geue her pellets of ground Malt or Barly steeped in water thryse a day setting by them water and grauell by which maner of feeding they make them so fatte as the Lyuer many times commeth to be fiue pound in weyght Whylest I was at the councell of Wormes there was a Lyuer of a Goose brought me by a Iewe that wayed foure pound Plinie is also a witnesse of the greatnesse of the Lyuers of fatte Geese affirming that they wyll growe after they be out of the bodyes being sprinckled with milke The common order of fatting with our countrey people is to shutte them vp in a darke and a narrowe place and to set before them Barly or Beech wheate geuing them water with a little Sand or Grauel in theyr Troughes and with this order they haue them fatte in fourteene dayes After haruest they wylbe fatte with the Grotten or Stubble They are plucked as I sayd before twyse in the yeere in the spring
and restoreth the hearing For the proofe of his greate force against poyson they bring foorth a young mayden of Pauy that hauing vnwares eaten of a poysoned Apple and therewithall so swolen as no Treacle nor medcine could cure her was at the last restored to health by the destilled water of this Thistell and likewyse that a boy into whose mouth as he slept in the feelde happened an Adder to creepe was saued by the drinking of this water the Adder creeping out behind without any hurt to the childe In fine they affirme that the leaues iuyce seede and water healeth all kind of poysons and that the water hath healed a woman whose brest was eaten with a canker to the very ribbes I haue also set in this little peece of ground great store of the hearbe called Numularia or Penigrasse which creepeth close by the ground hauing vpon a long string little round leaues standing directly one against the other and a yellow flowre like the Crowfoote It is a soueraine hearb for healing of woundes not only outward greene woundes but also inward sores and vlcers specially of the Loonges wherof there hath ben good profe Tragus affirmeth that he hath seene dangerous desperat woundes cured with this hearbe being boyled with Hony and Wine and drunke It healeth exulcerations of the brest and Loonges and may be well geuen to those that cough and are short breathed and to little children diseased with the dry cough who by reason of theyr tender age may take no stronger medicine I haue seene good plenty of it growing by the shadowy Ditches about great Peckam in Kent I haue beside there growing Scabious an hearbe that groweth commonly in Corne with a iagged leafe lying round vpon the ground and thrusting out in Sommer a long stalke with sundry branches the flowres growing in blewe knoppes or tuftes like Honycomes This hearbe being sodden with white wine and drinke doth helpe the Plurisie against which diseases the women of the countrey that many times take vpon them to be great Dâ—ctâ—esses in Phisicke doo stil the water thereof in May and geue it to be drunken at eache time two or three sponefuls not only against the Plurisie but against inward imposternes coughes and all diseases of the brest Against imposternes diuers as Traâ—us wryteth doo make this composition they take a handfull of Scabious the hearbe dryed of Liquerisse cut small an ounce twelue Figges Fenell seede an ounce Aniseede as much Or as halfe an ounce these they lay al a night in water the next day they boyle them tyl a third part be consumed and after making it sweete with Suger or Hony of Roses they geue it waâ—me in the morning and the euening wherewith they say the imposterne is ripened made soft and cought out â—VLLARIVS I remember that passing by the house of that honorable Baron the Lorde Cobham whose house you shall seeldome see without great resort by reason of his noble disposition and honourable intertainement that he geueth to all commers I chanced to see in his Parke at Cobbam a certaine hearbe called Veronica whereof I haue heard vertues MELISSEVS That can I also shewe you amongest the hearbes that I haue about my Bees it is called of some Feueriuum and Veronica as it is supposed of a certaine French King who was thought by the iuyce thereof to be cured of a great Leprosie it is called in english Fluellin it creepeth lowe by the ground as Penigrasse doth and beareth a leafe like the Blackthorne with a blewish speâ—kled flowre with a seede inclosed in little powches like a shepeheards purse and groweth commonly vnder Okes. D Hieron wryteth that the force thereof is marueylous against the pestilence and contagious ayres and that he him self hath often times proued The water of the hearbe steeped in white Wine and destilled therewithal he hath cured sundry times hotte burning and pestilent feuers as well in young men as in old Hieron Transchweyg commendeth it to be singuler good for all diseases of the Spleen the shepheardes of Germany geue it with great profite made in powder and mingled with salt to theyr cattell diseased with the cough being steeped in Wine and destilled it is a most present remedy in all pestilent feuers being geuen two ounces thereof with a little Treacle and after layed warme in bedde and well couered it expelleth the poyson by sweate and driueth it from the hart The water of this hearbe taken certaine dayes togeather two ounces at a time helpeth the turnesicke giddinesse of the head voydeth fleame purgeth blood warmeth the stomacke openeth the stopping of the Liuer healeth the diseases of the Loonges and the Spleen purgeth the Uaines the Matrice and the Bladder it driueth out sweat and venome helpeth the Iandise the stone of the Reygnes and other greeuous diseases You shall also haue amongest these plantes of myne the good sweete hearbe Cariphilata or of some Benedicta of others Sanamanda called in English Aueus whose roote whether it be greene or olde resembleth the Cloue in sauour the leafe is iagged rooffe of a darkish greene and not much vnlike to Agrimony the flowre is yellow and after the falling thereof leaueth a prycly knoppe like a Hedgehogge the roote the longer it hath growen the sweeter it is the speciall vse of this roote in some countreys is to be put in Wine in the spring time for it maketh the Wine to tast and sauour very pleasantly which Wine as many hold oppinion doth glad the harte openeth the obstruxion of the Liuer and healeth the stomacke that is ouer burdened with cold and grosse humors this roote boyled in Wine and geuen warme doth ease the greefe of the stomacke or the belly proceading of eyther cold or winde Hard by this hearb haue I planted the great water Betony called of some Ocimastrum of Mathiolus Scrophularia Maior it hath a great square stalke and bigge leafe indented round about the the flowre is in colour Purple and in fashion like the shell of a Snayle it flowreth in Iune and Iuly and groweth most by waters in shadowy places Tragus teacheth to make a speciall oyntment thereof seruing against all scabbes and sores wherewith he saith he hath seene people so mangy as they haue seemed euen Lepers to be cured his oyntment is this Take the hearbe rootes and all gathered in May washed and well clensed from all filth stampe it and strayne out the iuyce and keepe it in a narrowe mouthed glasse well stopped wherein you may keepe it a whole yeere and when so euer you list to make your oyntment take of the same iuyce of Wax and Oyl of eache a like quantitie and boyle them together vpon a Chafingdish of coles stirring them well tyll they be incorporated and so vse it Mathiolus teacheth to make a singuler oyntment thereof against Kernells the Kinges euil and the Hemrodes his order is this You must gather the rootes in the end of sommer
these wylde sort in Sarmatia PVLLARIVS They say that in Liuonia Sarmatia from whence is brought hyther great store of Waxe and Hony the country people doo geather it in great abundance in hollowe trees and desart places MELISSEVS The greatest token of Bees and Hony neare is where they be in great numbers about the waters for yf you see the number but small it is a signe it is no good place for Bees and yf so be you see they come in great numbers you may soone learne where theyr stockes be in this sort as Columella and others haue taught You shall carry with you in a saucer or such like thing some redde colour or paynting and standing neare to the springes or waters there aboutes as fast as they come touche them vpon the backes whyle they are a drinking with some little strawe dipped in the colour and carry you there tyl such time as you see them returne If the Bees that you marked doo quickly returne it is a token theyr houses be not farre of yf it be long eare they come it shewes they dwel farther of wherfore you may iudge by the time If they be neare you may easely finde them yf they be farre of you shall come to finde them in this sort take a peece of a Reede or a Kex with his knottes and ioyntes and making a small hole in the syde powre into it eyther Hony or some sweete thing and lay it by the water and when you see the Bees haue found it and entered the hole for the sauour of the Hony stoppe you the hole with your thome and let but one goe out at once whose course you shall followe as farre as you can see him and this shall bring you part of the way When you can no longer see him let out an other and followe him and so an other one after an other til you come to the place Others vse to set some little vessells with Hony by the water which when some one Bee or other hath happened to tast she geueth straight knowledge to her felowes whereby by theyr flying in number they come to fynde out their dwellinges If you finde the swarme to be in some such hole as you can not come at them you shal driue them out wich smoake and when they be out bring them downe with the ringing of a lattin bason so as they may settle vpon some tree from whence you may shake them into your Hiue If the swarme be in some hole aboue in the branches you may sawe of the branche handsomely and couering it with a white cloth place it amongest your Hiues If they be in the body of the tree then may you softly sawe of the tree aboue the Bees and afterward close vnderneath them and being couered as before carry them home stopping well the chinkes and ryftes yf there be any He that seeketh the Bees must beginne in the morning that he may haue the hole day before him to marke theyr labouring Thus farre of the kindes of Bees and getting to them nowe wyll I shewe you of the placing of them ordring and keeping of them The place for your Bees and your Hiues must be so chosen as they may stand quietly and secrete standing specially in such place as they may haue the Sunne in winter and in the spring time alway at the rising and such as is neyther to hotte nor too cold for the excesse of eyther doth hurt them but rather temperate that both in sommer and winter they may haue moderate warmth and holsome ayre being farre remoued from the company of either man or beast Where neyther wind may come whose blastes forbyds Them bringing home theyr loades nor Sheepe nor wanton Kids To spring among the flowers nor wandring best Shake of the dew and trampling spoyle the rest For they most of all delight in quietnesse beware beside that there be no hurtfull creatures neare them as the Tode that with his breath doth both poyson the Bee and also draweth them to him the Woodpecker the Swallowe the Sparro the Storke Spydars Harnettes Butterflyes Serpents and Mothes Dryue from thy Hyues the hurtfull Lysart greene Keepe Throstells Hennes and other byrdes vntreweâ— And Progne on whose brest as yet is seene The blooddy marke of hands that I t ys slewe All these destroy thy Bees and to their nestes doo beare Such as they take in flight to make their young once cheare Of such thinges as hurt your Bees I wyll hereafter speake more where I shall shewe you of their diseases and harmes in the meane time I wyll goe forward with the placing of them The place where they should stand would rather be in the valley then very hie but so as the rebound of no Ecco doo hurt them whiche sound is very noysome vnto them so shall they flee with more case and speede to the higher places and come laden downe againe with lesse trauayle If the seate of the house wyll so suffer it is good to haue your Bees stand neare your house and to be enclosed with a hedge or a pale but on such side as they be not annoyed with the sent of sinke priuie or dounghill The best standing is within the sight of the maister by whose presence they are safest kept For their better safetie yf you feare them you may set them a yarde or more from the ground enclosing them with little grates left open against euery Hiue or so lettysed with stone as the Bee may easely come out and in and scape both birdes and water or yf you list you may make a little house by for the keeper wherein you may lay your Hiues for your swarmes and other necessaries meete for your Bees setting neare to the Hiues some shadowing trees for them to swarme vpon according to the Poets aduise And plant the Date tree neare or pleasant Olyue tree That with their floury branches sweete thy Hiues may shadowed be That when the captaines young leade out their lusty swarmes The pleasant shade may them allure to shun the greater harmes Not needing for their ease in places farre to roame When as they may more safely syt and better speede at home If it may be let them haue some fayre spring neare them or els some water conueyed in pipe for without water they can neyther make Hony Waxe nor breede vp their young and therefore sayth the Poete Haue sâ—unt aynes sweete at band or mossy waters greene Or pleasant brooke that passing through the Meades is sweetely seene And straightwayes after If eyther standyng poole be neither to them ny Or â—â—rning streame with hasly course their dwellings passeth by Cast â—owâ—â— of Wyllowe crosse and mighty stones withall That may preserue the faynting Bee that in the fludde doth fal Round about the Beeyard and neare to the Hiues set hearbes plantes and flowres both for their health and profite specially such as are of the sweetest and delicatest sauour as Cithysus
Thyme Cassia Rosemary Sauery Smallage Uiolettes Sage Lauender Myrrhe wylde Marierum wylde Thyme Balme sweete Marierum Saffron Beanes Mustardseede Poppey Mellilot and Roses And yf there lye ground neare it for the purpose sowe it with Rapeseede and Beechwheate for they woonderfull delight in the flowres hereof Plinie writeth that Bees delight greatly to haue Broome flowres neare them of trees they most delight in these The Pine the Wyllowe the Fyrre tree the Almond the Peache the Peare tree and the Apple and such as the flowres thereof be not bitter Of the wylde sortes the Terebinth the Lentise the Lyndtree the Cedar and the Mastholme The best Hony as Palladius saith is made of Tyme the next of wylde Tyme the third of Rosemary You must remooue from your trees Yew tree the Box and the Cornel Plinie would also haue the Olyue away Banishe also all the kindes of Sporge for with that as also with the flowres of the Cornel they fall into a Flixe and dye Besides you must suffer no Woormewood nor wylde Cocomber to growe neare them for they both destroy the Bees spoyle the Hony. And because the flowre or fruite of Elmes dooth specially hurt them therefore in such partes of Italy where plenty of Elmes growe the Bees doo not long continue Touching your Hiues they are made of diuers fashions according to the maner of the countrey Some are made rounde some square some three foote in height one in bredth made very narrowe toward the top least the Bees should ouerlabour them selues in filling of them Some make their Hiues of Lanterne horne or Glasse to the end as Plinie sayth that they may viewe the maner of their woorking Varro maketh mention of earthen Hiues well plaistred within and without with good Oxe doung so as the roffenesse and ruggednesse can not displease them but for all that the earthen Hiues be the woorst that may be because in Sommer they be too hotte and in Winter too colde The best Hiues are those that are made of Corke wicker or ryndes of trees because they keepe out both cold and heate the next are suche as are made of Strawe and Bentes matted togeather two foote in bredth and so much or more according to the number of your Bees in heigth In som places they make them of one peece of wood cutte and hollowed for the nonce or of ioyned boordes fiue or sixe foote in heigth and these neyther are to hotte in Sommer nor to cold in Winter Of these woodden Hiues the best are those that are made of Figge tree Pine Ashe and Walnutte of suche length as I tolde you and a cubitte in bredth Besides they would be couered with eyther Lyme or Oxe doung for so saith Florentine you shall keepe them long without rotting You must also boare them through slopewyse whereby the winde gently entring may dry vp all cobwebbes or such like noyances You must alwayes haue good store of Hiues lying by you that may be remoued and easely carryed where you list for the fixed or standing Hyues be discommodious as which you can neyther sell nor remoue though Celsus seeme to commend the standing Hiues because they are neyther subiect to stealing nor burning being made of Brycke or Loame Your Hiues as Columella out of Celsus dooth teache must stand vpon some table of stone a yarde from the ground and so much in bredth so smothed and playstered as neyther Toade Euette or Snake may creepe vp and in such order they must be placed as there may be betwyxt euery one a little wal or particion being open both before and behind If you haue no such particions then place them so as they be a pretty way distant one from the other that in dressing and looking to any one of them you shake not nor hurt the other for a little â—â—â—ling dooth soone marre all theyr houses and many times spoile the Bees It is yenough to haue three rankes of them one aboue the other for the keeper shall haue yenough to doo to ouer looke the vppermost The part where the Bee doth enter must stand a little lower then the hinder part so as the rayne can not run in and the water yf there be any may easely voyde And because colde dooth more annoy the Bee then heate you must arme your Hiues well behind agaynst the hurt and bitternesse of the North wind and let the sunne come bountifully to them in the Front. And therefore it is best for you to make the holes where they come in and out as small as you may that they suffice only for the bignesse of the Bee partly for auoyding of cold partely to keepe out Euets Beetels Butterflyes Battes Mothes and such other hurtfull vermine that would otherwyse destroy the Coames wherefore it is good you haue two or three such small holes togeather in euery Hyue for the commodity of the Bee and restraynt of the enimy PVLLARIVS Well I pray you let vs know when the Bee beginneth to labour and when he ceaseth MELISSEVS Because I haue declared vnto you before theyr toyle theyr diligence and order of theyr trauayle I wyll now likewyse shewe you what time they begin to labour In the winter time from the setting of the seuen starres tyll the beginning of the spring they keepe theyr houses and come not abroade by reason of the cold in the spring they come strayght abroade and from that time forward yf the weather let them not they neuer rest day First of all they frame theyr Coames and Wax that is they make theyr houses and chambers whereof they make so many as they thinke them selues able to fyll then fall they to breeding and last of all to making of Hony. Theyr Wax they make of the flowres of trees and plantes theyr Hony of the gummes and clamminesse of trees that are glewy as Wyllowe Elmes Reede Iuyce Gumme and Rozen Aristotle sayth they make theyr Coames of flowres theyr Wax of Gummes and theyr Hony of the dewe of the ayre that falleth cheefely at the rysing of the starres and that there is no Hony made before the rysing of the seuen starres and theyr Coames of flowres and that the Bees doo not of them selues make the Hony but only geather the honyed dewe that falleth because the keepers finde the celles to be filled in some one or two dayes and that the Hony being taken away in the ende of Sommer the Hyues are not found to be furnished agayne though there be flowres yenough at that time This and much more hereof sayth Aristotle whom Plinie following him affirâ—meth Hony to be made of the ayre most of all at the rysing of the starres cheefely the Dogge shining out early in the morning therefore you shal find in the morning betimes the leaues of the trees bedewed with Hony as you shall likewyse haue the Apparayle Heare and Beardes of such as haue been early abroade In the morning our common people call it