vlcer grown in her brests which was turned to a Noli me tangere for which neuer â—nie bodie could find anie remedie and likewise that the Countesse of Ruffe had sought for all the famous Physitians of the Realme to cure her of a Ringwoâ—â—â— which she had in her face and that they could not all heale it he resolued with himselfe to send of it into France and thereupon accordingly sent it vnto king 〈◊〉 the second and vnto Queene mother and many other Lords of the Court together with the manner to order it and applie it to the abouenamed diseases as he himselfâ— had â—â—und by experience as also vnto the Lord of Iarnac gouernour of Rocheâ—â— with whom the said Embassadour had intercourse of letters by reason of the king his affaires which Lord Iarnac also told him one day sitting at table with the Queenâ— mother that he had caused of the said Nicotiana to be distilled and had caused 〈◊〉 water thereof to be drunke being mixt with the water of eye-bright by one that 〈◊〉 stuffeâ— in his lungs and that he was cured thereby This hearbe resembleth in figure fashion and qualities the great Comfrey in such sort as that a man would deeme it to be a kind of great Comfrey rather than a yellow Henbane as some haue thought It hath an vpright stalke not bending anie way thicke bearded or hairie and slimie The leaues are broad and long greene drawing somewhat toward a yellow not bearded or hoarie but smooth and slimie hauing as it were tallons but not either notched or cut in the edges a great deale bigger downeward toward the root than aboue as you see the smooth Docke leafe is which beareth small red seedes and not burres and the finer and clearer that such leaues are the better the Tabacco is esteemed Whiles it is young it is leaued and as it were lying vpon the ground but rising to a stalke and growing further it ceaseth to haue such a number of leaues below and putteth forth branches from halfe foot to halfe and storeth it selfe by that meanes with leaues and still riseth higher from the height of foure or fiue foot vnto three or foure or fiue cubits according as it is sowne in a hot and fat ground and carefully tilled The boughes and branches thereof put out at ioints and diuide the stalke by distances of halfe a foot the highest of which branches are bigger than an arme At the tops and ends of his branches and boughs it putteth forth flowers almost like vnto those of Nigella of a whitish and incarnate colour hauing the fashion of a little bell comming out of a swad or huske being of the fashion of a small goblet which hâ—ske becommeth round hauing the fashion of a little apple or swords pummell assoone as the flower is gone and vanished away it is filled with verie small seeds like vnto those of yellow Henbane and they are blacke when they be ripe or greene whiles they are not yet ripe In a hot countrie it beareth leaues flowers and seeds at the same time in the ninth 〈◊〉 tenth moneth of the yere it putteth forth young sciences at the root and reneweth it selfe by this store and number of sciences and great quantitie of sprouts and yet not withstanding the roots are little small fine threddie strings or if otherwise they grow a little thicke yet remaine they still verie short in respect of the height of the plant The roots and leaues do yeeld a glewish and rosinish kind of juice somewhat yellow of a rosinlike smel not vnpleasant and of a sharpe eager and biting tast which sheweth that it is by nature hot more than in the second degree and drie in the first wherupon we must gather that it is no kind of yellow Henbane as some haue thought Nicotiana câ—aueth a fat ground well stirred and well manured also in this cold countrie that is to say an earth wherein the manure is so well mingled and incâ—rporated as that it becommeth earthie that is to say all turned into earth and not making any shew any more of dung which is likewise moist and shadowie wide and roomie for in a narrow and strait place it would not grow high streight great and well branched It desireth the South Sunne before it and a wall behind it which may stand â—â—stead of a broad paire of shoulders to keepe away the Northerne wind and to beat backe againe the heat of the Sunne it would also be defended from the tossing and force of the wind by reason of his weakenesse and height it is true that it will be out of the daunger of the wind if the root be deepâ—ly taken in the ground It groweth the better if it be oft watered and maketh it selfe spoâ—t and jolly good cheere with water when the time becommeth a little drie It hateth the cold and therfore to keepe it from dying in Winter it must either be kept in cellars when it may haue free benefit of aire or else in some caue made of purpose within thesame garden or else to couer it as with a cloake verie well with a double mat making a penthouse of wicker worke from the wall to couer the head thereof with straw layed thereupon and when the Southerne Sunne shineth to open the doore of the couâ—â— made for the said hearbe right vpon the said Soutâ—â—Sunne For to sow it you must make a hole in the earth with your finger and that as deepe as your finger is long then you must cast into the same hole ten or twelue seeds of the sayd Nicotiana together and fill vp the hole againe for it is so small 〈◊〉 that if you should put in but foure or fiue seeds the earth would choake it and 〈◊〉 the time be drie you must water the place easily some fiue daies after it may be sowen also after the manner of Lettuses and such other hearbes mingling the mould verie well with the seed and afterward couering it most carefully Some mixe with the said earth verie cleane ashes being well siâ—ted and made small but in a 〈◊〉 quantitie It is a long time in springing and putting forth and after that it is 〈◊〉 forth you must keepe it both from the cold and frost couering it in the night time euen whiles it is young and small and so it will be preserued and kept continually greene and beautifull And when the hearbe is growen out of the earth in as much as euerie seed will haue put vp his sprout and stalke and that the small threddiâ— roots and intangled the one within the other you must with a great knife make 〈◊〉 great circle or compasse within the earth in the places about this plot where they grow and take vp the earth and all together and cast them into a bucketfull of water to the end that the earth may be seperated and the small and tender impes
Aprill steepe the same plants in the lees of red Wine vntill they 〈◊〉 prettily well coloured as being become red when you take them out afterward 〈◊〉 them in prettie pits contriued in good order and water them sufficiently with 〈◊〉 said lees for by this meanes the flowers that will come of them will be purple â—â—loured You shall likewise haue young and fresh Lillies all the yeare long if 〈◊〉 they be open you gather them and after close them vp in some bottell or well 〈◊〉 vessell that so they may come by no ayre Or else close them vp in some oaken vessel well pitched so that there can no vvater get in and after sinke the vessell in 〈◊〉 Well Cesterne or running vvater for so they will keepe young and fresh 〈…〉 yeare And if at any time during the whole yeare you would vse them set them in the Sunne that so by the heat thereof they may open And to the end that Lillies 〈◊〉 flower at many times when you set their roots you shall set some of twelue 〈◊〉 within the ground others eight and some foure for thus you shall still haue 〈◊〉 Lillies for a long time A Cataplasme made with the Onion of the roots of Lillies Hogs-grease and 〈◊〉 oyle of Cammomile doth maturate and ripen Buboes An oyntment made of 〈◊〉 said roots oyle of bitter Almonds and white Wax hath singular vertue to 〈◊〉 and smoth the face and to take away the vvrincles of vvomens faces The vvater 〈◊〉 Lillies distilled out of an Alembecke doth take away the vvrincles of vvomen 〈◊〉 and make them looke verie faire and white The root boyled or roasted in â—â—embers and stampt vvith oyle Oliue is a singular remedie against all sorts of burning as well of fire as vvater Being boyled vvith Garleeke and stampt in the 〈◊〉 of red Wine cleareth vvomens faces and countenances vvhich haue but ill coloâ—â—â— after their lying in bed if they besmeare their faces therewith at nights and in the morning wash them with Barlie vvater This root roasted and stamped with 〈◊〉 Swines-grease and applied to the cornes of the feet doth wholly spend them 〈◊〉 they be kept thereto but three whole daies together the distilled vvater of the flowers with a little Saffron and sweet Zylocaâ—sia helpeth vvomen in child-birth and deliuereth them also of their after-birth the oyle that is made of the flowers by infusion is good to soften all manner of hardnesse in swellings or otherwise if 〈◊〉 chafe the priuie parts with oyle of Linseed and applie Wooll vvet in these 〈◊〉 vpon the bellie Women which are in trauell of child-birth will find great ease 〈◊〉 the same Small Paâ—â—ces otherwise called Autumne Violets desire a drie and 〈◊〉 place they are to be planted in the Spring time and beare flowers continuing 〈◊〉 Autumne yea to Winter if so be they be oft watered and carefully handled The leaues or juice of small Paunces taken at the mouth or applied outwardly are 〈◊〉 good to conglutinate wounds the leaues of small Paunces boyled and 〈◊〉 doe stay the Falling-sicknesse in children when they froth and some the same flowers boyled with their hearbes and drunke doe cleanse the lungs and breast and 〈◊〉 good for inward inflammations The leaues dried and made in powder and 〈◊〉 with red Wine to the quantitie of halfe a spoonefull haue great force to stay the 〈◊〉 downe of the fundament The Helitropian is a certaine flower which hath such a loue and sympathie with 〈◊〉 Sunne that as his beames rise and spread open in the morning like a Curtaine 〈◊〉 the hearbe also openeth her leaues and glories and as it were attending vpon 〈◊〉 beames her flower riseth as he riseth and when the Sunne is in his Meridian or â—oone point then the flower standeth and looketh straight vpright and as the â—unne declineth so it likewise declineth and in the euening as hee shutteth in his â—eames so it also closeth vp her flowers and remaineth as it were hid and lockt vp 〈◊〉 the next morning This Helitropian neuer beareth on one stalke aboue one flowâ—â—â— but it is exceeding large and great being euer at least halfe a foot in the diameter 〈◊〉 is round and â—lat fashioned and enuironed with yellow leaues of a bright golden 〈◊〉 it groweth also vpon a great thicke stalke straight vpright and high from 〈◊〉 ground it beareth also verie manie seeds which as soone as they are ripe are like Marigold seeds white rough and semiciâ—cled The best time to sow it is in the â—pring time at the wane of the Moone and it is verie quicke and speedie in growâ—â—g The greatest glorie it hath is the beautie thereof yet it hath all those vertues â—hich the Marigold hath and cureth the same inâ—irmities Contrarie to this is the flower of the Night which is verie memorable for the 〈◊〉 faire flowers which it beareth It is therefore called the flower of the Night 〈◊〉 at the Sunnes rising it shuts vp her flowers and at his setting spreads them open 〈◊〉 and so flourisheth with great beautie all the night long his flowers are of 〈◊〉 colours some white some red some carnation and some yellow some interâ—ixt and some entire insomuch that to behold it either in the morning or in the 〈◊〉 it lookes like a most fine piece of Arras or Tapistrie to the great wonder of 〈◊〉 beholders when they shall see so manie seuerall colours proceeding from one 〈◊〉 without anie artificiall labour or other sophistication It is to be planted or 〈◊〉 in the moneth of March when the Moone is encreasing the ground being 〈◊〉 and rich and well tilled and ordered before hand Tulipan is a Plant which growes about two or three foot from the ground and 〈◊〉 a verie faire flower yet commonly not before it be three yeares old it deâ—ighteth to grow neere vnto the Flower-de-luce and would be planted soone after Winter in the new of the Moone The first yeare it putteth forth but one leafe verie â—arge and of a greene colour the second yeare it putteth forth two leaues and the â—hird yeare three leaues together with the knob or button which beareth the flower â—nd all long before the approaching of Winter as soone as the three leaues are â—prung vp which are euer neere vnto the earth the stemme shooteth vpward a good â—eight without leaues as smooth as a cudgell till it be come to his full growth Now of these Tulipans there are diuers kinds and are distinguished onely by the different â—olours of their flowers for some are white some red some blew some yellow some Orange some of a Violet colour and indeed generally of anie colour whatsoeuer â—xcept greene yet it is to be noted that these Tulipans which are thus of one enâ—â—re colour are but common and ordinarie for those which are most rare and preciâ—â—â— are of diuers colours mixt together and in semblance like the flower of the Night before spoken of Againe there
layed in a well 〈◊〉 soyle the leaues downeward into the ground and the root vpward toward the 〈◊〉 of the earth and aboue it there must be made something to couer it in manner of 〈◊〉 vnder vvhich there must straw be cast to keepe it from frost and bad winds 〈◊〉 like is done with Endiue and it is found white when it is pulled vp againe and 〈◊〉 verie delicate in eating Some for the same end vvhen Succorie hath put forth 〈◊〉 leaues tye them all together with a verie small threed and after couer them with 〈◊〉 of earth to the end that it may continually draw by his root nourishment out 〈◊〉 the earth and by this meanes it becommeth white and tender and looseth a great 〈◊〉 of his bitternesse Euerie man knoweth that the decoction of Succorie drunke in manner of an 〈◊〉 is good for them which haue the jaundise or heat of the liuer The juice of 〈◊〉 drunke euerie second day fasting stayeth the spitting of bloud Succorie 〈◊〉 and put vnder the lest dugge doth heale the heart-ache Some say that the 〈◊〉 of vvild Succorie often drunke maketh the visages and countenances of 〈◊〉 more cleare and pleasant CHAP. XIIII Of Artichokes THe Artichoke plant is a diuers thing from Endâ—ue and Succorie for 〈◊〉 for Artichokes to plant them in Autumnâ— which is about the moneth of October they are so fruitfull and forward to thriue as that you need not to take any more but the great leaues with their branches of 〈◊〉 as bring forth the fairest and greatest fruit and in like manner of the thicke 〈◊〉 in the middest seruing for no manner of vse after that the heads of them be 〈◊〉 and to plant them againe Also some haue otherwise vsed to cast downe 〈◊〉 said stalkes and burie them a foot deepe in good manured ground the leaues at 〈◊〉 top bound at the end with a little straw and the stalke layed downe and well 〈◊〉 and they keepe them thus watering them now and then if the time be not 〈◊〉 ynough of it selfe for to make shootes and young sets of in Winter or at other 〈◊〉 and some there be that pricke the heads in a well manured earth and being 〈◊〉 planted doe couer them in Winter with the chaffe or dust of Line or Hempe 〈◊〉 keepe them from the frost and that in the yeare following they may bring forth 〈◊〉 fruit Moreouer the Artichoke is sowen in the increase of the Moone of March 〈◊〉 beds well dunged and fatted but you must not looke to haue any whole and 〈◊〉 fruit of them vntill the next yeare after And if you would haue the seed to 〈◊〉 make little small pits vpon your bed a good foot one from another and halfe 〈◊〉 foot deepe and as much broad and these fill with old dung that is verie small and â—lacke earth that is verie fine mixt together and aboue the same placâ— prick or thrust in the seed of your Artichoke two inches within the earth the small end 〈◊〉 and putting fiue or sixe seeds in one pit together and making many pits neere 〈◊〉 in a round compasse that so they may make a faire knot and plant and 〈◊〉 you may couer it againe easily without much stamping or treading for it And 〈◊〉 soone as the Artichoke hath leaues bigge ynough it must be watered and 〈…〉 continued in such places as are verie drie that so it may bring forth a 〈◊〉 and great fruit Aboue all things care must be had that the small end be not 〈◊〉 contrarie put downeward for then it would bring forth writhen weake small 〈◊〉 hard Artichokes You must also make choice of the fairest and greatest â—eed 〈◊〉 may be found and that the small pits be made a good fathome the one from the 〈◊〉 that so one plant may not hinder another It is true that it is better to 〈…〉 slips and branches than the seed because there commeth fruit the sooner of the 〈◊〉 than of the other and because that in so planting of them you may be occupied 〈◊〉 well imployed euerie moneth and so reape your fruit in diuers seasons of the 〈◊〉 according as the earth is fat or leane hot or cold moist or drie or as the 〈◊〉 hardly agreeing with and vnfit for this plant And in anie case plant of those 〈◊〉 beare the fairest fruit according as there are diuers sorts in respect of their 〈◊〉 length roundnesse diuers colours and tast some also being prickly and 〈◊〉 without pricks For of Artichokes there be diuers kinds as the round and the 〈◊〉 the red and the greene the round which is greene is a good Artichoke so 〈…〉 red although it be long yet the soale is but thinne neither is the leafe verie 〈◊〉 onely it is exceeding pleasant in tast the greene which is long is of 〈◊〉 sorts the worst for it neither beareth good soale nor good leafe but is a loose 〈◊〉 leaued Artichoke euer wallowish and vnpleasant but the round large 〈◊〉 whose tops of leaues are red being hard firme and as it were all of one piece is of 〈◊〉 other the best Artichoke hath the deepest soale the thickest leafe and is the 〈◊〉 to grow in anie soyle whatsoeuer And therefore I would with euerie man as 〈◊〉 as he can to make choice of these before anie other kind If you would that the Artichoke should grow without prickes you must 〈◊〉 against a stone and breake the end of the seed which is sharpe or else put the 〈◊〉 after the manner of a graft in the â—oot of a Lettuce which hath no rinde and 〈…〉 small pieces in such sort as that euerie piece may be grafted with a seed and so 〈◊〉 You shall haue Artichokes of good tast if you let the seed steepe three 〈◊〉 before you plant it in the iuice of Roses or Lillies or oyle of Bay or of 〈◊〉 or some other sweet and fragrant iuice and then afterward drie it â—nd so plant 〈◊〉 it Although that as concerning the former oyles there be some which are of a 〈◊〉 opinion and doe thinke that the oyle doth spoyle the seed You shall 〈◊〉 Artichoke of the smell of the Bay tree if you cleaâ—e or make a hole in a Bay 〈◊〉 and putting therein the seed of an Artichoke doe set it so Artichokes will be 〈◊〉 in tast if before you set the seed you steepe them in milke which must be 〈◊〉 and changed twice or thrice before that it sowre or in honey and then 〈◊〉 drie and set them Two sorts of beasts doe annoy the roots of Artichokes Mice and Moâ—les 〈◊〉 dung of Swine or the ashes of the Fig-tree spread about the roots of the 〈◊〉 doe chase away Mice and the like will fall out if you wrap their roots aboâ—◠〈◊〉 wooll Some to driue away Rats that destroy the roots of Artichokes vnder the 〈◊〉 pricke downe halfe a foot deepe in the earth certaine stickes of Elder tree 〈◊〉 some foure ynches
eyes the leaues 〈…〉 some say likewise that the leaâ—e of this hearbe carried in the shooâ—◠〈◊〉 vnto the bare sole of the feet doth heale the jaundiâ—e being applied vnto th◠〈◊〉 it taketh away the aboundance of Milke stamped together with the root in th◠〈◊〉 of Cammomile and being warmed or fried and applied vnto the nauell or 〈◊〉 it asswageth the frettings of the bellie and paines of the mother the whole 〈◊〉 being dâ—â—ed and made in powder doth heale wounds and vlcers the juice 〈◊〉 dropt into a rotten or hollow tooth mortifieth it and causeth it to fall out 〈…〉 also the 〈◊〉 called Porrum to fall away The small Celandine otherwise called Pilewort or the hearbe for the Kings 〈◊〉 because it healâ—â—h the same doth grow well in warrie moist and shadowie 〈…〉 groweth likewise in drie places but not so well though there it get a more 〈…〉 as wel in his leaues as in his root vertue to heale the Kings 〈…〉 to exulcâ—ration as also other virulent vlcers hemorrhoides cankers hard 〈…〉 whether 〈◊〉 or porracious and other cold tumors by a â—oollifying and 〈…〉 qualiâ—â—e that they haue Asarum bacchar craueth a leane ground and drie and where there is 〈…〉 to be set than sowne The root of Asarum being dried 〈…〉 good to be taken the weight of a French Crowne in white 〈…〉 and by this it câ—reth the quartane and â—ertian ague and this 〈…〉 daies the quantitie of a good goblet full of the decoction of this root made in wine with honey putting thereto some Cinnamon Mace and other such Spices by which they purge verie much as well vpward as downeward Likewise when they feele the fit comming they chafe the backe and soles of the feet with oyle wherein they haue caused to be infused this root in the hot Sunne-shine and after lying downe in bed the shiuerings and shakings of the Ague is taken away and a great sweat procured The decoction of Asarum is good against the Sciatica the infusion thereof in wine doth cure the Dropsie and Iaundise the iuice dropt into the corner of the eyes doth heale the Web in the eye and dazeling of the eyes Manie good women doe apply Asarun vnto the wrists of the hands to driue away the heat of an Ague You must obserue as it were diuers parts in this hearbe For the root is a prouoker of Vomit and the leaues thereof are Aromaticall and agree verie well with the stomacke Valerian groweth verie well in a moist and well manured ground and would be often watered that so it may put forth a tall stalke The good wiues are wont to apply to the wrists in burning Agues the leaues of Valerian but without reason for the Valerian doth rather encrease the Ague by his heat than diminish it It will be better to vse it in the paines of the sides and in the prouoking of vrine and womens termes If you wet lin in the iuice of Valerian and put it into anie wound made either with Arrow or Sword or otherwise and the drosse or grosâ—e part thereof layd vpon it you shall cause the yron to come forth if anie such be stayed behind and so also heale the wound Cats doe delight much to eat this hearbe The decoction is good against Venime and the Plague It is good also against shortnesse of breath if there be mixed therewith Licorice and Damaske Raisins Angelica would be sowne in a well tilled ground oftentimes wed and reasonably watered The root is soueraigne against the Plague and all sorts of Poyson Whosoeuer shall keepe a little piece of it in his mouth or which shall drinke onely in a Winter morning a little draught of Wine and Rosewater wherein it hath beene steept hee â—â—â—not be infected of anie euill ayre of all that day Englishmen vse the lâ—aues and roots of this hearbe in sawce with their meats because it correcteth grosse humours and a stinking breath and surthereth digestion verie much The leaues of Angelica stamped with other leaues of Rue and Honey and applyed in forme of a Caâ—â—plasme doe heale the bitings of mad Dogges and the stinging of Serpents Being layd vpon the head of one that hath an Ague it draweth vnto it all the burning heat of the Ague and it is good against Sorcerie and Inchanâ—ment The distilled water of Angelica it singular good against the fainting of the Heart the biâ—ings of mad Beasts the stingings of venimous creatures especially against the Plauge if with this â—â—stilled water there be drunke halfe a dramme of the root in powder and a drammâ— of Treacle and that afterward the patient giue himselfe to sweating for by this means manie haue beene saued The root put into a hollow tooth assuageth the paine being â—â—â—wed it maketh the breath sweet and conceaâ—eth and small of Garlick or anie other 〈◊〉 meat which causeth an ill breath Blessed thistle would be ordered and dressed with such manner of â—illage as Angelica It is true that it would be sowne in the encrease of the Moone and not abouâ— three fingers depth in the earth It loâ—eth the compaine of Wheat 〈…〉 It will not be prickly it before that you sow it you put the Seed in the roo◠〈…〉 the leaues broken off or it you breake the sharpe pointâ—d end of the Seed against a stone after the manner spoken of before in the Chapter of 〈◊〉 Blessed thistle hath no lesse vertue against the Plague or anie other sort of Poyson â—han hath Angelica whether you vse it inward or outward This vertue is it which driueth away Moules and other kinds of such Cattell being huâ—â—full vnto Gardeâ—â— from the place where it groweth Such 〈…〉 troubled with a Quartanâ— Ague or other Agues which haue their fits comming with a Cold are cured if 〈◊〉 take in the morning three ounces of Blessed thistles water or of the decoction 〈…〉 weight of a French crowne of the seed in powder The same remedie is good 〈◊〉 Pleurisies and for children that haue the Falling sicknesse If it be boyled in 〈◊〉 the decoction is good to assuage the paines of the reines and colicke to kill 〈◊〉 and to prouoke sweat Blessed thistle as well drie as greene taken inwardly 〈…〉 ourwardly doth heale maligne vlcers Physitions likewise commaund it 〈…〉 â—mingled in decoctions and drinkes for the Pocks Mother-wort groweth in vntilled and rough places and standeth not in 〈◊〉 of anie tilling notwithstanding it is singular against the beating and fainting of the heart for which reason it is called of some Cardiaca It prouoketh also Womens termes it taketh away obstructions and prouoketh vrine it raiseth 〈◊〉 deliuering the Lungs thereof by making it easie to be spet foorth It 〈…〉 Wormes dryed and made in powder and the quantitie of a spoonefull 〈◊〉 in Wine doth mightily helpe forward the deliuerie of Women labouring of Child-birth Golden-rod would be sowne in a fat ground which is not open vnto the heâ—â—
to the quantitie of two drams purgeth hot and châ—lericke humours Dame Violets haue great leaues somewhat blacke notcht round about and broad the flowers are white and incarnate and in shape like vnto the Auens they grow sometimes so high as that they degenerate into a tree Goats-bread that it may haue faire double and full flowers doth craue a fat and moist ground The leaues thereof open at the Sunne rise and they close at noone the root boyled in mudde doth appease the paines and pricking of the side taken in forme of a lohoch with syrope of Violets it helpeth obstructed lungs and the pleâ—risie boyled in vvater and preserued with Sugar it is a singular preseruatiue against the Plague Poysons Venime and deadly Stinging the juice or distilled vvater of this hearbe doth heale greene vvounds if you dip linnen clothes therein and applie them to the wounds some vse the root of this hearbe in sallades where daintie and fine fare is the same boyled in a pot vvith Veale and Mutton and afterward prepared and made readie betwixt two dishes with butter and vinegar Marie or Marians Violets for the beautifulnesse of the flowers deserue to bâ— sowne in a fat and well laboured ground the flowers are good to make gargariâ—â—â—â— for the inflammations and vlcers of the mouth Lillie-conually called of the Latines Lillium conuallium notwithstanding thâ—t it groweth in shadowed Woodgrounds yet it deserueth to be tilled in gardens as 〈◊〉 in regard of the faire little flowers white as snow which it beareth being also of a most amiable smell somewhat like vnto the Lillies as also in respect of his vertues because the distilled vvater of the flowers being taken vvith strong and noble vvine doth restore the speech vnto them which haue lost it vpon an apoplexie it is good likewise for the palsey distillations and fainting of the heart yet these nor any other Lillies whatsoeuer can I commend for any vse of nosegaies because the smell of them â—s lussious grosse and vnwholesome apt to make the head ake and as some hold of â—pinion apt to in ingender infection by reason of a certaine putrefaction which it â—tirreth vp in the braine vvhereby all the inward parts are distempered therefore whosoeuer planteth them shall preserâ—â— them more for shew than smell and make â—se of their medicinall qualitie not oâ— their order and touching their medicinall qualtitie there is none better than this that if the root be taken and cleane washt and boyled in milke and so applyed to any hard tumour swelling byle or impoâ—tumation it will either dissolue it or else ripen breake and heale it so that it be applied pultus wise verie hot Water lillie as well the white as the yellow desireth a waterish and marshie place vve see it grow likewise in pooles and fish-ponds The root of vvhite vvater lillie â—oyled with grosse red wine and drunke stayeth womens whites the flowers roots â—nd seeds as well in decoctioâ—s as in conserues are verie singular or procure sâ—eepe â—nd to preserue chastitie Hyacinth groweth verie vvell in a sandie ground The root and seed boyled in vvine and drunke doth stay the flux of the bellie Narcyssus so called of a Greeke word because the smell of it comming vnto the 〈◊〉 doth cause an inclination vnto sleepinesse and heauinesse would be sowne in a â—at ground that is hot and moist it groweth also aboundantly in Languedoe and Iâ—alie and but a little in this countrie The root thereof boyled or roasted and taken with meat of drinke doth greatly procure vomit also the same brayed with a little Honie and applyed doth heale burnings taketh away the freckles and spots of the face being mixt with the seed of nettles Corneflag called in Latine Gladiolus as well the blew as the white would be planted of new plants in March and Aprill or else of slips but such as haue roots for they are neuer sowne neither doe they require any great tilling Their flowres differ from the flowres of marigolds in this in that the flowres of the marigold doe open at the Sunne-shine but the flowres of Corneflag doe shut and close vp themselues then not opening againe but when it is cold and moist weather The roots must be pulled out of the earth in the beginning of the Spring that thereby they may haue a pleasant smell and a delectable kind of sauour and afterward they must be died in the shadow of the Sunne Some people to take away the superfluous moisture thereof which putteth them in danger to be consumed with Wormes doe vvet them with Lee of ashes as well whiles they are in the earth as when they are out and so drie them and keepe them for to procure the linnens and woollen garments to smell well The juice of the roots put in a clyster doth appease the paine of the Sciatica the root dried and made in powder doth cleanse and consolidate hollow and filthie vlcers being held in the mouth it causeth a good breath layed amongst clothes it preserueth them from all vermine and maketh them smell pleasantly The juice of the root taken at the mouth sundrie times purgeth water in such as haue the dropsie especially if it be taken mixt with the yolke of an egge halfe boyled The root mingled with the root of ellebor and twice so much Honie doth wipe away freckles red pimples and all spots of the face if it be annointed thereupon The decoction of the root taketh away the obstructâ—ons caused of a grosse humour prouoketh vrine killeth vvormes and casteth out the stone The Italians make a preserue of this root whiles it is new with Sugar to Honie and vse it in all the cases aforesaid some make an oyle of the flowers infused in oyle which hath power to resolue soften and appease the griefe of cold rheumes or distillations Lillies must be planted in the moneth of March and Aprill in these 〈◊〉 and in hot countries in the moneths of October and Nouember as well the 〈…〉 the orange colour in a fat and well digged ground you shall make their flowe◠〈◊〉 what colour you will if before you set them you steepe their roots in such 〈◊〉 substance as shall best like you and afterward likewise to water the roots when they are set and planted in their trench with the same liquor and that after this 〈◊〉 Some say that the flowers of Lillies become red and purple if their roots before 〈◊〉 be planted be steept in the Lees of red Wine or in dissolued Cinnabrium and 〈◊〉 watered with the same in the little pit or trench wherein it is set Or else when 〈◊〉 are in flower in the moneth of Iune you must take ten or twelue plants and 〈◊〉 them together to hang them in the smoake for so they will put forth small roots 〈◊〉 vnto vvild Garleeke and when the time of setting is come which is in the 〈◊〉 of March and
〈…〉 also that it may grow the fairer and fuller leafe it will be good to water the 〈◊〉 â—oft with water wherein hath been steeped for the space of one whole day drie thyme somewhat bruised If you be disposed to gather the seed you must gather also the flowers wherein it is contained seeing they cannot be sundred A Cataplasme made of thyme boyled in Wine appeaâ—eth the paine of the Sciatiâ—â—ca and the windinesse of the bodie and matrin The smelling of thyme is soueraigne to raise them that haue the Falling-sicknesse out of their fit and also to keepe them from their fit by decking their bed about with the leaues thereof The oft vsing of thyme with wine or whay is good for melancholicke persons Winter Sauourie craueth no fat manured or well tilled ground but rather an â—pen stonie and light ground lying so as the Sunne may shine full vpon it Both Thyme and Winter Sauourie are good for the nourishing of bees and for the preserâ—ing and seasoning of meats they are also called fine sebtill or small and slender hearbes Organie otherwise called bastard Margerome loueth a rough stonie peble weake and yet well fuâ—nisht ground and vvithall craueth a manured ground as also to be watered vntill it be growne vp to his full bignesse notwithstanding it be seene â—o grow in many places without watering or dunging It may be remoued of little â—prouts or sciences and the lower end set vpward to the end that it may put forth new â—prings and shoots and be sown of his seed the which the elder it is so much the sooâ—er it will put forth of the earth although that organie do not ordinarily shew it selfe before the 30 or 40 day after the sowing of it in many places it is sowne neere vnto â— because they willingly load themselues from thence and make singular honie Organie boyled in Wine and layed vpon the region of the raines doth take away and vndoe the difficultie of making vvater being boyled in wine and drunke it is good against venimous beasts or the stingings of Scorpions and Spiders A Cataplasme made of Organie and Barly meale boyled together resolueth the tumours vnder the eares The decoction thereof is good to comfort the sinews and the relaxed and weake parts the seed thereof drunke vvith Wine doth prepare and dispose a vvoman to conceiue the flowers and leaues of the sayd Organie dried at the fire in an earthen test or melting pot and being wrapped vp verie hot in a cloth and applied vnto the head and kept fast tied thereunto doth cure the rheume comming of cold Hyssope affecteth a place free from shadow and lying open vpon the Sunne it â—ay be set or sowne about the twelfth of March It must be cut in the moneth of August and dried to put in pottage in Winter Amongst other principall vertues that it hath it is of great vse for the affects of â—he lungs and to prouoke vvomens termes of there be a broth made thereof to sup â—asting in the morning Some say that the syrope of Hyssope taken oftentimes with â—owerfold so much of the vvater of Pellitorie of the wall causeth the stone and much grauell to auoyd from the reines Hyssope with figs rue and honie boyled together â—n water and drunke is good for those that are short breathed and for old and hard â—oughs stampt with salt cummine and honie and applied healeth the stingings of Scorpions stampt with oyle and rubbed it killeth lice pills made of hyssope â—orehound and pionie roots doe heale the falling-sicknesse Sommer sauourie doth delight in an open Sunne shining place and therefore must be set or sowne in such a one not in a fat or manured ground for it is often seen grow of it selfe in leane grounds and neere vnto the Sea It groweth more delightâ—ully and of a better tast if it be sowne amongst onions It is verie good for sauce to â—eat The leaues and flowres applied vnto the head in forme of a cap or garland doth away the drowsily inclined A Cataplasme made of sauorie and wheat meale â—oth cure distillations The Sciatiâ—â—â— Coriander â—orteth well with any kind of ground notwithstanding in a fat and â—ew ground it groweth a great deale more aboundantly and it seeketh for an hot â—ire againe that which groweth in a sunnie place doth ouerthriue that vvhich groweth in a shadowed place when you goe about to sow it chuse the eldest seed you can get for by how much it is the elder by so much it is the better so that it 〈◊〉 not mouldie and foughtie Sow it also in a fat and moist ground and yet 〈…〉 a leane ground and to cause it to spring vp the sooner you must steepe the 〈…〉 water two daies before you sow it If you must dung the ground where it is to be sowne it must be with Sheepe or Goats dung rather than anie other The excessiue heat thereof bringeth Head-ach and the trembling of the 〈◊〉 being eaten after meat it comforteth digestion and dispelleth windinesse so that 〈◊〉 be prepared The way to prepare it is as followeth You must hauing dried it 〈◊〉 cast vpon it verie good wine and vineger mixt together and leaue it thus sprinklâ—â— and wet the space of foure and twentie houres then drie it vp and keepe it for Physicke vse being stamped in vineger and cast vpon flesh it keepeth it from 〈◊〉 it prouoketh womens termes and some say that looke how manie seeds a woman drinketh with white wine so manie daies shall her termes continue 〈…〉 drunke with the iuice of Pomegranats killeth the Wormes in children The 〈◊〉 thereof with Ceruse Litharge of Siluer Vineger and Oyle of Roses 〈…〉 Wild fire and all Rednesse The seed stamped in Vineger doth keepe the 〈◊〉 from corrupting in Summer Also to drinke the iuice thereof with Honey 〈◊〉 Wine killeth Wormes and adding the seedes bruised thereto it helpeth a 〈◊〉 Feuer Sage as well the little as the great it planted of branches wrythen at the foot 〈◊〉 also of roots in the Spring and Autumne It is sowne also at the same time The 〈◊〉 delighteth to be laid about with Lee ashes It must be set neere vnto Rue to 〈◊〉 from Adders and Lizards which vse to take vp their lodging neere vnto Sage 〈◊〉 may be knowne by the leaues which haue their tops oftentimes withered and dried the same comming of hauing beene touched by Serpents Sage refuseth neither 〈◊〉 nor cold ayre how beit naturally it groweth in a barren stoâ—â—e and ill 〈◊〉 ground and that in such sort as that in some places of Spaine the mountaine◠〈…〉 ouer-growne therewith and the Countrey inhabitants burne no other wood Noâ—withstanding to grow faire it would be well digged about and kept clean◠〈◊〉 leaues and stalkes that are dead It hath a singular vertue to comfort the â—inewes that are hurt by being 〈…〉 or otherwise become weake
reading of old Writers or their owne ouer-reaching curiositie the ruine and ouerthrow of all good wits so many new inuented fashions of Building Tilling Speaking or Writing seeing that by such meanes in seeming to reforme things without the perfect knowledge of them men haue beene brought oftentimes vtterly to spill spoyle and marre the same And therefore I would not haue you to maruell if the Frame and Toile vsed about our French Countrey-Farme be not altogether like to that of former and auncient daies for it is my purpose following the Prouerbe which sayth That we must learne the manners of our auncient predecessours and practise according to the present Age to lay out vnto you the waies so to dwell vpon order and maintaine a Farme Meese or Inheritance in the Fields name it as you please as that it may keepe and maintaine with the profit and encrease thereof a painefull and skilfull Husbandman and all his Familie whereupon it commeth to passe that the countrey inhabitants doe call it at this day the onely or principall and greatest gaine that is because no other thing bringeth more gaine vnto the master thereof than the earth if it be well husbanded and reasonably maintained Now for as much as with good reason my countreymen of England may obiect against this Worke that albeit it may sort well with any soyle that is in any degree how much collaterall soeuer allyed to this temper clyme mixture of the French yet to vs that are so much remote in nature and qualitie and whoâ—e Earth giueth vnto vs for our most generall profit things and fruits either little or very stranger-wise acquainted with them and in as much as there may be found that difference in our labours which may equall the difference of our tasts they being as farre from our Barley as wee from their Vine and wee as farre from their Fruits as they from our Woolls I will after the faithfull translation of their noble experiences adde the difference of our customes and to their labors adde the experience and knowledge of our best Husbandmen hoping thereby to giue a publike content to ouâ— Nation who seeing the true difference of both Kingdomes may out of an easie iudgement both compare and collect that which shall be fittest for his vse and commoditie CHAP. II. A briefe shew of that which shall more largely â—e described in that which followeth THe better to helpe the memorie and as it were by the way of pointing out of our French Husbandrie I will propound and set before you a champion place seated in such a coast or corner as you may find not as you could chuse and there wee will prepare without extraordinarie costs or charges a House with all such appurtenances or verie neere such as are fit and requisite for our time as good Cato hath drawne and described for his in that Treatise of Husbandrie set downe by him for the Commonwealth of the Romans And in the same place we will entreat of the state and dutie of the Farmer his Wife his People Cattell flying Fowles and such other things At the one side of this House euen iust in the place whereupon the Sunne riseth and in one part thereof wee will place the household garden which neere vnto the borders of his quicke-set hedge shall containe a frame of Railes in forme of an Arbor for Vines to runne vpon for the furnishing of our household store with Veriuice and other necessarie hearbes for the house and we shall not altogether neglect or forget to prouide and plant in the same place hearbes sit for medicine And yet furthermore in this garden also you shall plant things to make your profit vpon as Saffron Teazill Woad red Madder Hempe and Flaxe if it seeme not better to reserue this part of Husbandrie for fields that are full of Fennes or waterish Places In the other part wee shall make a garden for flowers and sweet smels with his ornaments and quarters garnished with many strange Trees About the Hedge we shall set for to make pottage withall Pease Beanes and other sorts of Pulse as also Melons Citrons Cucumbers Artichokes and such like in which place wee shall entreat of Bees Next to our gardens were must dresse some well-defenced piece of ground or greene plot for fruits and there place our nurcerie for kernels and feeds and there plant such stocks as whereon we intend to graft After or next hereto our square of old growne trees and such as haue beene transplanted taken vp and remoued and together with these things we will write of Silkewormes and prescribe the waies to distill Waters and Oyles as also to make Cyders Next in order to our foresaid Greene plot lying neere some one or other little Brooke we are to lay our Medow Grounds or Pastures for feeding compassed about with Osier Elme Aller-tree and Withie and by the borders of such Hedge we will prouide some Poole of standing water or running Spring and next in order to these the great and large Medowes for the prouision and reuenues of the Lord. Betwixt the South and the North we will appoint and set downe Corne-grounds and teach how to measure them and describe their fashion and manner of â—illing in which place wee will speake of making and baking of Bread and ouer and aboue the moitie or halfe part of a hanging thing and the moitie of a Butt or little Hill In the place which is neerest vnto the South we will plant the Vine and withall declare the ordering of the same Wee will speake of Vintage and the making of common and medicinable Wines And thereto wee will adde the diuers sorts of Wines which grow in our Countrey of France Betwixt the North and the East we will place our Warren either vpon some Hill or in some other place fit to hunt in and in the higher grounds wee will plant small Wood and great Timber-trees not forgetting in the meane time any thing which may appertaine to the ordering and gouerning of Wood or concerning Carpentrie We will also make mention of Parkes for wild Beasts of the hunting of them but that in a few words for there is no need that a good Householder should trouble his braine with much hunting and of the breeding of Herons Finally we will briefely describe the order and manner of taking of Birds So that after all these things there shall not much remaine further to be added hereunto either concerning the pleasure or profâ—t of a Countrey Farme especially such a one as a man ought to desire which would liue carefully and within the compasse of reason vpon the labouring of his Land CHAP. III. What things are requisite before we goe in hand with building of this Countrey Farme AS concerning the proprietie of Inheritance whereof manie Authors both Greeke and Latine haue entreated so exactly and curiously I doe not at all intend to incomber my selfe therewith
man could desire in a ground of speciall and principall praise and commendation It is true that besides that Necessitie doth beget skill and prouoke and stirre vp men to take all possible paine industrie and care it doth also procure that there should not that discommoditie be found to offer it selfe which shall not be recompenced and counteruailed either by one or other commoditie as for example in hot places there are growne good Wines and Fruits of long continuance in cold places great store of sweet waters and sometimes sea-water which greatly encreaseth their profit in others for the most part when the Earth is barren in the vpper part it containeth some good things vnderneath as it falleth in Stone-pits Mynes and such other things which make the change for the better So then wee are to hold our selues content with such estate and condition as the place shall affoord where we must dwell and settle our habitation and if it be not such as some curious man in his desire or one that is hard to please might require and looke for then wee shall straine our selues to mend it by the meanes see downe hereafter There are verie few Farmes to be found so seated as that there is not something to be supplyed as want of Water in high and ascending places such as are the Countries of Beaux and Campaigne notwithstanding that their grounds there be strong as it happeneth in rising and mountainous places too great store of water in falling grounds and long valleyes such as are to be found in some places of Sauoy Daulphine Auuergne and Gascoigne in which places there is more pasture than tillage other quarters are giuen by nature to be sandie as towards the Towne of Estamps Saint Marturin de l'Archaut in Solongue and in the Countrey of Lands which notwithstanding cease not to be moist and waterish other quarters are chalkie and clayie as towards Rheims Troy and Chalons in Campaigne othersome are stonie as towards Saint Lou de Sâ—rans Tonnerre Vezelay in Daulphine and in the Pyrene Mountaines where is to be found great store of excellent Marble and some are rockie which are most fit for the Countries abounding with Vines Howsoeuer the case stand the building cannot happen in so inconuenient and strange a place but that a man may make choice to take the best quarter for the Sunne-shine as that which is most for the health and wholesomenesse of the inhabitants and apply it euerie way for his vse and ease If therefore a high and flat place as Beaux or high France doe want Water you must for a supply make Pooles right ouer against your Courts and Cesternes in your Gardens and as for your grounds you must draw furrowes therein in such sort as that the earth cast vp by the way may retaine moisture a long time and if the ground proue it selfe strong you shall not need to manure and dung it so oft neither yet to let it lye fallow more than euerie fourth yeare If you cast Pits you must digge them of a conuenient widenesse and length that is to say fouresquare but somewhat more long than wide after the fashion of the Pits Aranques which are in vse in the gardens of Prouence and Languedoc with their trough laid to the brinkes of the Pits to receiue such water as is drawne but if the water be so low in the ground that such kind of Pits cannot be made then there must Pits be made to go with a wheele and those so large as that at euerie draught you may draw vp halfe a pipe of water at the least which you shall emptie into particular troughes and keepe them for the vse of your People and Cattell but aboue all other things you must haue a speciall care to gather and keepe well all Raine water either in Câ—sterne or otherwise The Cesterne shall be set in such a place as that it may receiue all that commeth from such spouts as are belonging to roofes or lower lofts of the house It must be firmely and closely paued with clay and mortar and after drawne ouer and floored with the same mortar to the end that the water be not made muddie or â—ast of the earth and if there happen any clift or chinke you must stop it with Cement made of cleane Haire Tallow vnquencht Lime and yolkes of Egges well beat and made into powder and then all of them well mixed together The throat or passage for the water out of it shall be such as that appointed for the Pits or Wells Some cast into their Cesternes Eâ—les and other fresh water fish for to be fed and kept there to the end that the water may become the lighter by reason of their mouing and stirring of it and that so it may the more resemble the nature of running water but indeed such water is nothing wholesome for men as neither yet for beasts it were farre better to straw with greene hearbes all the bottome of the said Cesterne and cast in little pebbles of the Riuer vpon them for by this meanes rather the water would be made better Moreouer for the discommoditie of Wood you shall make leane the earth in certaine places neere vnto your lodging with grosse Sand Fullers earth and ashes from off the Earth after that you shall either sow or set there such Trees as you shall thinke that may serue you although indeed it were good to proue what kind of Trees would best prosper there before you wholly sow or set it If your place extend and reach vnto some running streame your medowes shall not be so farre off from it as your house which to be too neere a neighbour vnto Riuers would be a cause of procuring Rheumes and the falling down of some Roomes and yet it is not good to haue it too farre off as well in respect of watering of the Cattell as for the washing of Buckes Skinnes Line and Hâ—mpe for the whiting of Webs of Cloth if so be that you intend or purpose any such thing for the grinding of your Corne as also if onely the Riuer neere vnto you be nauigable to send that which you reape from your Fields vnto the Towne but you must chuse the highest peece of ground to build your dwelling house vpon I leaue out the pleasures of Princes and great noble Personages who for their delight sake doe dwell in Summer in wattie places excellently trimmed and beautified with waters and furnished with all delights for our householder may not in any case charge himselfe with further costs than this his state may well beare for Princes haue wherewith they may be at their change and varietie of lodgings according to the changes and alterations of the seasons of the yeare and to turne at their pleasure the square into the round and contrariwise In a drie place as Beaux and Champaigne and the mountainous Countries learnâ— to set your building so well as
that it may take the Easterne Equinoctiall and not lose the rising of the Sunne in March and October or rather in September If there be euer a Hill build vpon the edge thereof making choise to haue your lights towards the East but if you be in a cold Countrey open your lights also on the South side and little or nothing towards the North if it be not in your Barnes where you put your Corne or such other things as are subiect to the Weasell and other vermine Ouer-against the North you shall procure some row or tuft of Trees for to be a marke vnto you of your place and defence also for the same against the Northerne windes in the Winter time But if you be in a hote countrey you must set your said tuft of Trees on the South side against such windes and heat of Sunne as come from thence and boldly open your lights especially in the said Barnes which lie on the North side Make good choice of the best parts of your Grounds to be most fit for Fruits Corne and Medowes and plant your Vineyard to haue the South open vpon it You shall make also certaine crosse Barnes with their counter-windowes in the place towards the South to open them in the time of a Northerne wind Such places are found in Countries full of Mountaines which doe greatly desire the East and yet notwithstanding would therewithall take part of the South which is so needfull for them In this and such like places Wells are in greater request and much more necessarie than in valleyes and plaine grounds and that wee may find out the place where it is best to make them wee must chuse the Easterne side at the beginning of the descent somewhat therewithall bending towards the North but wee may not haue any thing to doe with the Westerne side and yet somewhat better toward the South where hauing ouer night digged the earth in diuers places the quantitie of three feet ouer and fiue in depth and after returning in the morning at the Sunne-rise you must make triall how it soundeth being strucken with the end of a Holly staffe armed at the said end with some round peece of Iron or Latten after the manner of the end of a Shepheards staffe without the Crooke and there by the iudgement of the eare to obserue and marke how it soundeth vnderneath as whether it sound like a Mortar or like fat Earth Potters clay or some other that is very hard or like a Glasse halfe broken or else like a very deepe Pit that toucheth the Quarrie or Veine lying vnderneath and this is the best way to iudge and make triall Or otherwise in the moneth of August or September at such time as the Earth is verie drie a little before the Sunne rise you must lye downe flat vpon the ground hauing your face toward the East and chuse out that place where you shall espie a vapour to rise vp out of the Earth after the manner of little Clouds for this is a token of a proud or plentifull store of water Or else to make a shorter triall to make deepe trenches of foure foot within the ground and therein to put sponges or fleeces of Wooll verie drie and cleane couering them with boughs of Trees or leaues of Hearbes then after some time to take them out of the Earth and they being wet and moist doe argue abundance of water according to the qualitie of moisture which they haue within them whereas if on the contrarie they be drie when they be taken vp it argueth that there is no water to be come by Diuers there be that gather figures of the springing vp of water in place where by their seeing of small clouds and vapours rising from thence into the ayre in drie faire and calme seasons But howsoever it is not conuenient to content ones selfe with the bare viewing of the hearbes which grow thereupon without hauing first made some triall for vnder Crowfoot Folefoot Plantaine Dogtooth Cinquefoile Milfoile and three-leaued Grasse Water is not farre to seeke but it is naught worth if one digge not verie deepe as is to be seene at Bagnolet Belle-Ville vpon the Sand and other places of Liury Vnder Veruaine is oftentimes found good Water and deepe according to the nature of the ground and withall if the head doe spring from grounds apt to boyle as red Sand or gray Rocke and not from those sides which by and by are dried vp Aboue all to the end we may have Wells containing water of a good rellish and such as will neuer drie vp we must make choice of a sâ—â—die blacke grauelly or clayish ground or such a one as is full of pebbles and especially that which is mixed of pebbles and sand together but neuer of that water which floweth from Fullers clay mire mudde or springeth from the grounds where Sallowes Roses Reeds and other such Plants which are engendred of a watrie humour doe grow for although that such places doe yeeld great store of water notwithstanding that water is naught worth and will easily be dried vp Wherefore as much as lyeth in you procure that your Wells be farre off from such ditches as wherein they lay the dung of Stables Cattell or Swine-coats to rot or any other place which may annoy in regard of the pissing of beasts if they be not well digged and made verie deepe True it is that Wells will be a great dealâ— the better if they consist of a high rising water and not such a one as lyeth deepe in the earth For howsoeuer that such Wells be lesse hot in Winter and in Summer lesse cold yet notwithstanding it shall be infinitely better because it hath more helpe of the Sunne and Aire which are the two things which doe greatly amend and make better the water and if necessitie force the water to lye so deepe and low wee must seeke to helpe the inconuenience by drawing but a little and oft for the iumbling and stirring of the water will rectifie it and amongst other things you must haue speciall care not to keepe it couered Fountaines in like manner rising from such places of Mountaines are had in request as well for the profit of the water which is a great deale better and more pleasant than that drawne out of Wells as also for the beautifying of the Country Farme And for to find their Head or Spring wee must vse the like meanes as wee haue layd downe for the finding of Wells excepted that wee must make chiefe choice of such as breake forth vpon the North at the bottome of high and great Mountains hauing hollow places and compassed about with plaines for in such plaine grounds the water gathereth it selfe together and distilleth through the earth Now this kind of prouision of water is when you desire it in great aboundance but if you stand vpon and desire the best and most excellent water you must make choice of
and also by the Stones lying vpon the vpper part thereof which otherwise might haue fallen and beene cast there in manner as sometimes it falleth out that men find vpon vntilled grounds the liuely shapes of Fruits and Corne gathered together and growne vnto the Stone which is to bee seene neere to Mommirall in Brie where Wood is growne vnto the Stone besides that the Hearth will make quicke and speedie triall hereof This will doe you seruice in the enclosing either of your Parke or of your Vineyards and other such like commodities besides the profit you may make of it by the selling of Milstones and Stones to build withall But looke well to your selfe and take good heed of Quarries and casting of Stone-pits and of their deceits which oftentimes rewards vs with our paines for our labour And as for the Earth taken and vnderstood generally it beareth all manner of Corne Fruits Hearbes Timber-trees Mettals Stones and other things and this hath beene giuen vnto it euen since it was first made and hereupon old Writers haue iustly giuen vnto it the due name of Mother But although in respect of the cold and drie substance and nature whereof it consisteth it may be called all of one temperature yet it purchaseth and getteth contrarie qualities according to the seuerall situations it hath in diuers places as also vpon occasion of affinitie intercourse and participation it hath with things of repugnant qualitie and hence doe rise the diuers sorts of the same and so diuers as that euerie ground will not beare euerie thing but one or two at the most For this cause to auoid both cost and labour see aboue all things that you proue either by your owne triall and experience or else by such enquirie as you can make of your neighbors what kind of Fruits what kind of Corne and what sorts of Trees doe prosper best thereon Some places in Trance and the free Countrey of Beaux beareth no other graine than Rye which is contrarie to the nature of the ground new broken vp another loueth nothing but Wheat Solonge loueth March corne and sometime Mesling Touraine worthily called the Garden of France is found most plentifull in Gardens and Fruit-trees as that part called Brie or Braye because it is situate betwixt the Riuers of Marne and Seine doth bring forth Fruits and Corne for sustenance and that quarter which lyeth betwixt Marne and the Riuer of Aube bringeth forth an infinite deale of Hay Notwithstanding the diligence of the Farmer may by his industrie ouercome the weaknesse of a ground euen as well as all sorts of wild Beasts may be tamed by the painefulnesse of man In watrie and marish places it will stand vs vpon to make our profit of the water which you shall oftentimes by sluces turne from his naturall courses into your pasture grounds and ponds of running and standing water for the profiting and helping of the same About the brinkes and edges of the most commodious ones you shall set rankes of such Trees and profitable Plants as you know to like and prosper in the water And you must especially obserue and marke the diuersitie of the bottome and vndermost part of the ground which in watrie places is often found to differ much and to be somewhat strange and according to the nature thereof to set such Trees as may best agree therewith Your House being â—eated in such places will be most strong and pleasant in Summer but of greatest maintenance preseruation and safetie if you enuiron it round about with water after the manner of an Islet as it is practised in manie places of Flanders who make the vse thereof familiar among them to reape thereby the benefit of Fish in his season the flesh of wild Fowle Trees as well for Fruit as for Fire and Building besides the helpes of their excellent pasture grounds but indeed your owne health as also the health of those of your familie is impaired hereby especially in Winter Wherefore it will be better to build vpon high ground as the auncient Romans did and to leaue the waters below for the comforting of your â—ight if so be you haue not the meanes of closing in all the same round about for your breed of young Colts and other Cattell all which will like verie well vpon such grounds except it be your Cattell seruing to furnish you with Wooll If your Farme doe for the most part consist of wild Grounds and Desarts you shall make them arable by labour and paines and recouer them deluing them diligently and raking them often for the Bull-rush Bâ—akes and such other hearbes will soone be killed when the earth is often turned But and if you desire with more hast and certainetie to destroy them you shall burne the ground 〈◊〉 two first yeares and sow therein Lupines or Beanes to the end that together with the curing of the disease of your fields you may reape some profit and comâ—oditie Stonie grounds are mended by taking away the stones and if the quantitie be â—reat it will be best to cast them together in manner of some small hillock in certaine places of the ground and so by that meanes the rest will be cleansed and freed or â—â—ther when the daies of handie-workes shall be got good cheape it will be best to digge the earth verie deepe and there burying the stones before-hand afterward to â—uer them with the earth If the Farme consist most of Forrests and Woods you shall make thereof arable ground by plucking vp the Trees altogether as also their rootes but and if there be but small store it will be ynough to cut them downe and burne them and then to till the ground And such grounds are wont the first yeare to bring forth much because that the moisture and substance which before was spent in the bringing forth and nourishing of Trees Bushes and Heaâ—bes doth prepare it selfe wholly for the good of the Corne that is sowne vpon it or for that it hauing beene fatted and growne better by the leaues and hearbes of manie yeares which of it owne accord it brought forth before it was tilled becommeth afterward sufficient to nourish and bring forth great abundance of fruits and so it commeth to passe also that being robbed of her former nourishment in time it groweth leane loosing the freshnesse and moisture which was maintained by the couert and therefore continueth not so fruitfull as it was at the beginning Sandie places may be made better by Dung and Marle which yet notwithstanding euen without such Husbanding by meanes of some currant of water running vâ—der the Earth in some Countries ceaseth not to yeeld good profit to their owners but these craue rest which is the principall remedie to helpe their weake and feeble estate and also to be sowne with varietie of graine as after Rye some kind of pulse The way to know such grounds is common when the
great Sand is fast and yellowish it is then found to be good for Corne and when it is white and drie it is good for Wood and wild fruits But it behoueth the Farmer to apply himselfe vnto the nature and temper of his field and according vnto it to sow and plant in euery place such things as are best agreeing with them as Pulse Millet Panicke Ryce Lentils Fetches and other things which doe not require great store of fatnesse But in our English Soyles we find that our sandie and hard grounds doe beare best Barley at their first breaking or when they are fattest after Rye Oats Fetches or Tare The strong heartie and fat Soyle is good for Vineyards and is apt to beare great store of Wheat-Corne foreseene that the yeare be drie especially in the moneth of May but small store of any other encrease yea and if the times be much giuen to raine they will beare but a little Corne and great store of chaffe Yet if the Seeds-man haue a carefull hand in the bestowing of his seed and doe not as it were cloy or choake his ground therewith these fat Soyles will beare very well and sufficiently the first yeare either whole Straw-Wheat Pollard-Wheat or Barley and the second yeare Beanes Pease or both mixed together and the third yeare Wheat or Rye or both mixed together which is called Maslyne or blend Corne. A raw rough and tough Soyle is hard to till and will neither bring forth Corne nor any other thing without great labour howsoeuer the seasons be temperate in moisture and drinesse To helpe the same you must labour it most exquisitely harrow it and manure it verie oft with great store of dung so you shall make it better and lesse subiect to the iniuries of the Sunne Winds and Frost but especially desire that they may not be watered with raine for water is as good as a poyson to them The Clay and strong ground as that in Bresse and other plaâ—es of Partois craueth great and deepe furrowes when it is eared and euerie where else as euen in the verie places where stones lye deepe and ouer-couered againe with good earth and this to the end that the water may the better be conueyed away which is naturally mixt therewith and cannot so easily depart by reason of the clammâ—e sliminesse of the earth This plot is not so fit either for Trees or Vines except it be for some fruit Trees and those well husbanded and nourished If you build there then doe it vpon some high ground and neere ynough vnto the Riuer and cause the Easterne and Northerne quarter because such places are subiect verie much to putrifaction and verie vnwholesome The territories of Croye and Ardose are more sound and wholesome though they be more barren but it must be made better and much mended and employed onely to that which it delighteth in for the Baylife of the Husbandrie ought to know the nature of the ground and not to force it to beare that which is contrarie vnto it notwithstanding whatsoeuer you doe vnto it for the bettering of it for of forced grounds there comes as much profit as there doth of beasts by violence vsed towards them For suppose you may compell them yet it shall be to your great cost and charges by reason of their hurts maladies and otherwise for such cattell commonly stand not in good plight and state The old Prouerbe also saith That a Householder should giue greater heed vnto his profit and the holding out or continuing of that which he hath vnder his hand than to his pleasure and rare commoditie Euerie Countrie fit for good Vineyards is stonie and grauellie or full of pebbles and is found to be better on the South quarters or on the descent of the Hill lying on the side toward the Riuer This place is not so good for Corne in the plaine or â—lat places thereof you must make it better and dung it Make your buildings there on the sloping side which looketh into the Southeast where you may not remoue your selfe farre from the Riuer for the reason afore giuen The best Soyle is that which is blacke crumbling and easily turned ouer that is to say which easily falleth into small pieces in ones hand and feeleth light sweet and fat in handling like to that which is found in the countrey of Tourraine Maine and Anjou which are fertile in all manner of fruitfulnesse and aboundance of goods rich in Hills Vallies Pasture-grounds Vale-grounds Vineyards and all sorts of fruits but vpon good cause they giue place to Prouence part of Languedoc and Guienne and the better places of Aquitaine all which by reason of the heat of the South Sunne bring forth not onely in greater aboundance but their fruits of all sorts of better qualities and more forcible This is the land of Promise in our France and hath no discommoditie saue that of the Southerne wind which they call Austrault which except it be tempered by the Northerne winds doth almost euerie yeare engender vnhappie calamities both in men and beasts Wherefore in this Countrie the dwelling places and buildings must be set vpon a Hill and the South wind shut out and denâ—ed all entrance by lights except when it shall be needfull in the depth of Winter But to speake generally the Soyle may be knowne to be good and to beare great store of fruits by these means as if it be somewhat blacke or somewhat yellow if it 〈◊〉 not when it is ill tilled if it become not myrie when great store and abundance of raine shall fall vpon it but drinketh vp all the water that shall fall and therewithall keepe this moisture and refreshment a long time if in Winter time it become not hard in the vpper part thereof if without being husbanded or mended by great labour or fatnesse of dung it bring forth flourishing hearbes timber-trees straight thicke hauing great aâ—â—es and abounding with store of their seuerall fruits and those good and well-rellished in their kinds and if it yeeld great fruitfulnesse of Corne if by being watered or rained vpon it become blowne vp and as it were stretched out and blacke and not hard bound or turned white if the water springing forth of it be sweet or if the greene soddes thereof being broken in pieces and steept two or three houres in water that is sweet and of a good tast doe not marre or make worse the tast of such water which must be tried by tasting of it after that it hath beene strained and clarified For naturally water issuing out from a spring or wrung from something that hath beene steept in it retaineth and carrieth with it the tast of the Earth and on the other side if the Earth steept in Water the same Water doe after such steeping yeeld a sweet and pleasant rellish if cast vp and two or three dayes after throwne into the said ditch againe it
the Hills shall not threaten much lâ—sse doe harme vnto the foundation of his dwelling place as also he shall not be too much subiect to the Winds and Raines of the whole yeare hee shall procâ—re hâ—s principaâ—l Lights to stand vpon the Sunne-rising in the moneths of March and September for the Winds blowing 〈◊〉 those quarters are drie more hot than cold but verie wholeâ—ome as well for the bodie as for the spirit of Man and the Sunne which commeth to enter betimes in the morning into the House doth diminish and wast the darknesse and grosâ—enesâ—e of the Aire adde further that looke by how â—uch his Houâ—e shall be set more vpon the said Easterne point by so much the more easily it will be able to receiue that Wind in Summer and be lesâ—e beaten in Winter with Frosts The Barnes shall be open towards the Sunne-set in respect of their greatest lights and withâ—ll shall haue one light seruing toward the North for the cause aboue named but all Houses for Beasts shall haue their Windowes towards the South and borrowing somewhat of the East for that the Winds blowing from thence will keepe thâ—m sound at all seasons and times It is true that as for Stâ—bâ—es for Horses it is necesâ—arie to make them a light seruing towards the North to open â—n the hot time of Summer during the vehement heat thereof and that at the houre of their ease and rest which is Noone-tide for at this time and houre if you giue them not some breath of aire to coole them withall the heat of the Noone Sunne which would strike in and their owne which is alwaies in the Stable as also their breathing and presse of the whole companie of Horses being there together would set them in such a sweat faintnesse of bodie and loathing of their meaâ— as that the verie Stable would wearie weare and spend them as much as the Plough it selfe And as for the rest of the Buildings or the base Courts it maketh no great matter vpon what Coasts or Quarters you dispose them howbeit if you so contriue them as that they may marke vpon the North they cannot but be to good purpose These instructions for Lights and Windowes are not so strictly enioyned as that the differing qualities and conditions of Countries where such building must be made may not moue you to dispose them otherwise for seeing there are found in some Countries such Winds as are almost ordinarie and may be said to haue gotten as it were â— habit and those blowing from such Quarters as lye vpon the Sea or Marishes or such other and therefore bring with them some noysome qualitie or at least little profitable it must needs be permitted in such places to alter and change the former directions And to speake the truth seeing that by the meanes of Windowes and counter-Windowes you may cut off the entrance both of Sunne and whatsoeuer Winds it shall be left in your free choice to make such Lights as may seeme most necessarie in your owne iudgements being euermore directed against such annoyance as the Ayre might bring from that place whatsoeuer from whence it commeth And although that euerie one build after his owne humor yet the cause should so stand as that reason should rule euermore and surely such a man should be esteeâ—ed but of a slender iudgement which hauing a place and commodities belonging â—hereto did not fit things in such sort as that on the one side of his chamber he haue â— light open vpon the Court and forepart of his Farme by which they must enter that â—ome to it and another open vpon his Gardens and principall Grounds Wherefore that he may know the more easily to prepare his Buildings as it were anew or else repaire it after his owne fansie it will be meet and conuenient for him to doe in manner as followeth Draw a great Court and wide and that verie square euerie way in the middest thereof cause to be cast two Fish-ponds at the least one for Geese Ducks and other Cattell the other to water steepe or soften Lupines Osiers Roddes and such other things as also for the rotting of your dung and somewhat more to the further side a Well with two or three troughs of hewen stone to water your Cattell and Poultrie â—t if you haue not the benefit of a running Water or some neere Riuer either great or small Make also two Dunghils the one to conâ—aine and rot all your new dung â—nd to keepe it till the yeare following the other that from it you may take the old and rotten dung and carrie it out into the fields These two Dunghils must bee farre from them and on a ground falling from the fore-named Fish-ponds and Well if so be that the place will affoord it or else at the least cast deepe within the Earth and paued in the bottome before hand least that the Earth should drinke vp the moisture for Dunghils must of necessitie be kept in continuall moisture to the end that if peraduenture amongst the Straw Litter Stubble or Chaffe which is brought thitheâ— there be the seeds of any Hearbes or Thornes mixt among they may rot and not bad or bring forth any Weeds when the dung shall be spread vpon the ground And therefore expert and skilfull seruants doe couer with Clay the dung which they cast out of the Stables to the end the Wind may not drie it vp or that the Sunne or Wind should cause it to spend all the moisture and turne it into dust This Court containing two acres square shall be compassed in with a Wall of â—ighteene ynches thicke and tenne foot high from the ground for the resting of yâ—ur Buildings vpon that are within and to meet with the danger threatned by Theeues and ruinâ—s procured by Raine it shall be strengthened with chaynes on those sides which lye next vnto Wayes as also with good Rafters according to the greatnesse of the commoditie of your placâ— and other stuffe In the middest of the Wall and in the fore-part which is the part lying vpon thâ— Sunne-set you shall make your Gates and their Porch and in like manner a couer ouer head to keepe the said Gates from the Sunne and Raine which otherwise would beat full vpon them and ouerthrow them as also for the speciall vse of your selfe and your familie as to giue them place and shelter in the time of Raine or when they please And the Gates must be so high and wide as that a Cart laden with Hay or Corne may goe in with ease You shall raise it halfe a foot aboue the ground and defend it on the outside or vpper ground with a threshold well and fitly layd and in such sort as that vpon the running downe of water it may not rot which they would doe if they should come close to the ground and that theeues may not cast them off their hookes with Leaâ—ers or Crowes of yron
necessâ—rie vse of euerie of the two said bodies of the house Whatsoeuer roome shall be ouer head or aboue your Alleyes Hall Chamber Wardrobe Chamber for strangers shall be for Garners that so you may lay apart and by it selfe your Rye Wheat Pulse and Fruits and cast aside your foule Linnen and they shall all of them haue pretie windowes vpon the North side for that quarter is most coole and least moist which two things are of great force long to preserue and keepe Graine At the end of your Roomes for the treading and pressing of your Grapes you shall set vp your Henne-house and roomes for other Fowles fashioned foure-square like a tower but yet more long than wide or broad in such sort as that the lowest roome shall serue for Water-Fowles as for Geese and Duckes by themselues and the vpper for those of the yard together with their Pearches and Baskets to lay in and you must make vnder the Henne-loâ—t some separated roome for Turkie Chickins and Turkie Cockes and vpon high vnder the floore that is ouer them you shall contriue a close roome after the fashion of a Lettuce therein to keepe your Feasants As for your Peacockes you shall giue them libertie to roust euerie where Neere vnto the same place you shall make your ground Doue-house if the Law will permit you such a one in fashion like a round Turret in the middest of your Court. Set your Sheepe-cotes and Swine-sties vpon the South in such manner as they may haue no open plâ—ce but vpon your Court and vnto the principall Sheepe-cote you shall make a parâ—â—â—ion of verie high Hurdles to draw the Lambes from the Ewes aâ— also the Rammeâ— in like manner and close vnto these shall you make your Swinestie raising two inâ—losures of Wals well dawbed on both sides the one for the Soweâ— and the other for the â—ogges In like sort you shall deale with Goats making seuerall Cotes 〈◊〉 them and the vpper parts of all these shall serue for Garners to lay their meat and whâ—tsoeuer food necessarie for such Cattell Right 〈◊〉 against these Sheepe-cotes you shall make your Barne with his great dâ—re of the widenesâ—e of the middle Bay and that to giue light to the Threshers 〈…〉 oâ— thesaid Barne if the Law will not permit you to build a 〈◊〉 on the ground you shall make you a place to keepe Birds in of the same 〈◊〉 with the porch and as high as you will the lowest part of it shall serue for Birds to keepe themselues sâ—fe in when either the Raine or too much heat of the Sumne shall 〈◊〉 them One of the sides of your Barne all along for the space of three â—ayes shall serue to put your Rie and Wheat in and the other side for as much length shall containe your Pulse or March Corne the middle part is that which iâ— of the breadth of the porch with his roofe aboue And betwixt the Sheepe-cotes and Swineâ—sties right ouer against the porch of the Baâ—ne you shall make a place of a competent height in manner of an Appentice to sâ—t your Ploughes great Carts Drayes Tumbrels Waines and other Instruments and Furniture for Husbandrie if you please not rather to make the ground-worke of your place to keepe and nourish Birds in to serue for these purposes when as your aâ—thoritiâ— will not beare you out to build a Doue-houâ—â— on the ground because you hâ—ld not in see Faâ—me or Copyhold Vnder or vpon the side of your turne-stayers according to the breadth of the bodie of your House your Farmer shall haue a way into the Gardens but you your selfe shall haue your way in by another winding stayrâ— which you shall make to descend â—â—om aboue from your alley that is ouer them the one of which Gardens as that on the right hand shall be for Pot-hearbes and the other for Quarters and â—â—lse together with a place for Bee-hyues At the end of a great Alley which you shall make from your winding-stayre to the wall of your Orchard running betwixt the two Gardens without any manner of parâ—â—â—ion except two Hedges of Quick-set shall be your Orchard seperated from your other Gardens by a wall continuing all along the two sides of the inclosure of your plaâ—e And in the middest of the said great Alley there shall be Wells to water by Pipes and Spouts so much as is needfull in the Gardens if it like you not better to conâ—ey some Fountaine that way or else to seeke for the Heads of some Springs or else to make a Cesterne well mortered to receiue and keepe Raine water Thâ— Oâ—chard sâ—all make the fence on the side toward your House and by it you shall make your way into your Feeding or Pasture grounds lying along by the sides of some greeue and â—lourishing Water-bankes along the sides of which Brooke as aâ—so about your Ponds of salt and fresh-water Fish you shall plant Willowes Where you enter into your Orchard out of your Garden you shall on the one side make a Nurcerie for Seeds and Kernels and on the other side for Stocks and Plants aâ—d in the middest the rankes of remoued and grafted Trees and at the end below yâ—u shall plant by ridges your Osiers which may for their better prospering take the benefâ—â— of the coolenesse and moisture of some small Brooke The 〈◊〉 Gate otherwise called the Backe or field-Gate on that side toward your Medow made for your owne going in and out alone shall be set out and garnished with two Châ—â—rons set vpon one maine Timber and no moe and foure or fiue Batâ—â—â—ments aboue and shut with a strong dore for that way you shall goe into your House priuily and in like sort goe forth againe when it seemeth good vnto you without your seruants their priuitie and for your auoiding of the noysomenesse of the Beasts Houses and of your great Court. And to this end you shall haue a speciall passage from your Stable or Garden not farre from your house wherein you tread your Grapes to driue your Cattell by continually Notwithstanding all which yet my meaning is that your cost and course in building should be according to the reuenues of the grounds or value of the profits and that as saith Cato the dwelling House be not set after seeking of Grounds nor Grounds caused to goe seeke Houses and Roomes for great Plots of Building and Inclosures of Pleasure cost much to build and maintaine and Buildings which are lesse than were requisite for the profits of the grounds are a great cause of much losse in the Fruits of the same CHAP. VI. The dutie of a Father of a Familie or Householder AFter I haue thus disposed of Roomes and Building I wish and desire that the Lord of the Farme may be a man of great knowledge well acquainted and giuen to matters of Husbandrie for who so is ignorant of them hauing
had but small practise in them as also he which doth take his chiefest delight in other things and spendeth his time otherwise must of necessitie commit himselfe to the mercie and discretion of a Farmer which will mocke him to his face and will impaire his grounds and house also heaping thereto a world of quarrels and suits which he will raise or else he must trust to some other accomplisher of the businesse either in gouerning or waiting attending and he asking counsell of other the â—armers thereabout they wil make him beleeue things to be not so good by the halfe â—s they are And indeed we read for a certainetie in the Roman Histories That the Earth was neuer so fruitful as then when it was allured woon by the industrie of the famous Roman citizens deliuered out of the tyrannous handling of grosâ—e-headed peasants whom we see before our eyes notwithstanding that they are altogether ignorant to grow rich at our costs charges to the great spoile of the ground which they husband till There is nothing comparable to the ouer-looking eye of a prudent discreet Lord and one that is accustomed to Husbandry and which looketh after contenteth himselfe with such estate as may stand with his profit and keepeth to himselfe the principall charge which is a watchfulnes earnest desire to preserue his goods and hath alwaies care of his companie and farmeth not nor yet renteth ouâ— any thing but that which he will haue nothing at all to do withall except a little ouersight Neither yet would I haue him in so doing that he should passe any bargaine by the way of Notaries or by Writing for by this meanes he robbeth himselfe of his libertie Let him learne well to know vnderstand the natures and choice of Men Cattell Grounds and let not that work possibly fall out which he himselfe knoweth not to doe if he should stand in need or else to giue directions in and to command vnto others at the least let him vnderstand the times seasons when as also the manners how things were accustomed to be done for as a man which seeth not any place whereby he may giue light to another can neuer lighten him so well euen so that Lord of a Farme which vnderstandeth nor neither knoweth the seasons and proper times for to do any thing belonging to his gouernment iurisdiction neither yet the ordering of things to execute euery thing accordingly shall neuer know so well what to command and doth nothing to the workman but tâ—ouble and grieue him and it is the manner of men to mocke at such as command will things to be done which are nothing to the purpose but must afterward be vndone again or els abide without any profit This is it which the great Husbandman Catâ— hath written That the ground is very ill entreated grieuously punished whose Lord owner knoweth not to teach coÌ„mand that which is to be done but must depend relie wholly vpoÌ„ his Farmer Therefore it is most necessarie that the father of the Familie or owner of the Farme be most expert in euerie worke due for euerie Season of the yeare as thus first for such Earths as are applyed onely to Tillage he shall know that if the Soyle wherein he liueth be a stiffe strong heauie and tough Clay he shall then from Plow-day which is euer the Munday after Twelfth-day till S. Valentines day breake vp 〈◊〉 Pease-Earth where he intendeth to sow Pease and Beanes which must lye for â—ait which is till it haue receiued Frost and Raine that thereby the Mould may breake but if his Earth be a mixt Earth and of a more light nature then from Plow-day to S. Valentines he shall breake vp or â—allow that Earth which he intends to keepe 〈◊〉 the yeare following From S. Valentines day till S. Chaddes he shall sow his Beanes Pease Fetches or other Pulse whatsoeuer prouided alwaies that he sow his Beanes first he Pease next and his smaller Pulse last of all He shall from S. Chaddes day till a fortnight before our Ladie day commonly called the Annuntiation sow his Oats either vpon the Iâ—â—ams which is land â—owne the yeare before or on the tilth or fallow ground prepared for the purpose from a fortnight before the Annuntiation till a fortnight after he shall sow his Barley either on Clay ground hassell or mixt Earth and vpon light sands from mid Aprill till Whitsontide from May day till Midsummer he sâ—all fallow his stiffe Clayes or Summer-stirre his lighter mixt Earths from Midsummer till Lammas he shall Summer-stirre his stiffe Clayes and foyle his lighter Earths from Lammas till a â—ortnight after Michaelmas he shall Winter-rigge all such land as he intends to sow Barley on the yeare following He shall also in that season sow his Wheat Rye or Masâ—yne he shall then also furrow or cut sluces whereby to drayne the water from his arable land because the drier that it lyes the better it is and euermore the more fruitfull as the experience of Husbandmen find by a continuall practise And as hee thus knoweth how to dispose and order his arable ground so hee shall also know how to husband his Pasture or Medow ground as namely in the months of Ianuarie and Februarie he shall first plash and cut his Hedges and Quick-sets that thereby they may grow thicke and strong at the bottomes heâ— shall then cast his Mole-hils leuell and kill Moles and prune such Fruit-trees as either haue decayed or dead branches in them or else such superfluous succours as growing from below robbeth the trees of much sap and nourishment In March if your ground be not verie fruitfull but of an indifferent temperature you shall lay all those grounds of which you intend to haue Hay but if they be fertile and beare much burthen then if you lay them at May day it will be fully early ynough At Midsummer you may mow your fruitfull low grounds and at the translation of S. Thomas you may mow those which lye higher and are lesse fertile obseruing this that iâ— the season of the yeare be moist then you may let your high grounds grow the longer and cut your low grounds sooner but if the season be burning and drie then you must cut your high grounds the sooner and let your low grounds stand the longer because the first will burne at the root and the other retaine his moisture All these months of Iune Iuly and May also when either the weather or other hinderances detaine you from these greater works you shall then lead forth your dung compasse or meanure to your tilth or â—allow field and it is also a good season for the bringing home of your Fuell especially when your prouisions lye farre off At Lammas pull your Summer fruit and reape your Corne and your other Graine either before or after as you find them ripen After S. Maâ—hewes day if you haue any
places where Snakes Lizards Adders and other such like Beasts abound you may set vp some small Spire or Turret about your house or plant vpon some piece of high mounted ground some well-spread Tree of a great height for the alluring of Storkes to the same that they may helpe to free your house of those said venimous beasts for they will kill them to feed their young ones therewith But yet perswade not your selfe that you can easily draw and allure them nor yet retaine and keepe them Summer being once passed for vpon Winters returne they will be packing into another Countrey Notwithstanding there are some which not hauing beene disturbed in the time of their ayring and bringing vp of their young ones doe euerie yeare repayre to their wonted ayres and that by a long â—light out of a farre Countrey and doe ayre and neast themselues willingly also in the tops of high Towers not frequented as iudging the place to be such as will not suffer any man to doe them annoyance And in the meane time you need not take any care of their Neast laying sitting or feeding for they be birds carefull ynough of themselues and not needing the helpâ— of any other and which doe come and goe in such sort as one cannot perceiue them in such sort as that we may rather see them when they be commen than foresee their comming for as much as their comming and going is in the night Some doe thinke that they haue no tongue make no account of them for to eat them seeing they are of a verie euill iuice and venimous feeding and yet this good is in them that hee which shall haue eaten of a Storke shall not haue his eyes bleared or running all that yeare It is obserued in this bird that the young doe feed the old that breed them when they cannot flye any more nor get their prey CHAP. XVIII Of Feasants IT is a point of great curiositie to keepe Feasants which Columella calleth Hennes of Numidia but he that can do it hath both pleasure and profit and he must be such a one as almost doth nothing else for this bird is chargeable to maintaine she will haue her house by her selfe raised high and leaning to the inclosure or wall of the Court and long also that her troughes may be in the ayre and where the Sunne giueth And euerie seuerall bird must haue her owne roome and yet there must be but one dore vnto their Henne-house for the cleansing thereof and giuing of them meat The rest of their house shall be all open vpon the fore-part and yet in such sort as that it shall be sure and fast by being thick latted and of clouen boords about the height of a fadome below and verie well couered aboue Feasant Cocks and Hennes are hard to tame if they be not so hatched or else taken within the yeare for the elder sort grow sullen and malecontented and doe accord and buckle themselues either to lay or sit And as for the young they must be gently handled vntill they be well trained and can easily be content with and apply themselues to the enduring of a constrained ayre and that such a one as is not like to that where they were taken There must be one Cocke to euerie two Hennes The Henne hath but one season wherein she vseth to lay and that is March at which time she beginneth and so continueth vntill she haue orderly layd twentie and after she fitteth them all together or else fifteene of her owne and some others of another kind if you put them vnder her and she sitteth thirtie dayes and in the time of her sitting you must vse her with the like diligence that you doe the Henne but this must be all within her owne house The young ones being hatched shall be fed with flower of Barly boyled and cooled and afterward with the flower of Wheat and sometimes you shall mix herewith or else giue them by themselues some Gras-hoppers and egges of Ants and you must oftentimes giue them fresh water and cleane for they are subiect to the same diseases that the Henne is Men of old time were wont to fat their Feasant Cockes and Hennes for Feastiuall dayes or Banquets and Feasts onely and not for brood and gaue vnto them the first day honied water and strong wine to cause them to forget their naturall place after that of the flower of Barly tempered with water of ground Beanes and of cleane Barly of whole Millet of Turnep seed and Linseed boyled and dryed mixt with the flower of Barly and for to heat and cleanse their stomackes they gaue them Mustard seed for fiue dayes and so fatted them vp in their Cowpes for threescore dayes This is the thing that diuers Cookes of Paris with certaine other rich Victuallers doe know verie well to doe and they must as saith Columella giue them their â—eat to eat to the end they may be fat when they are vsed in Banquets for but few of these wild Feasant Hennes doe giue themselues to lay and beare the yoake of serâ—itude both together CHAP. XIX Of Peacockes THe Peacocke is a bird of more beautifull feathers than any other that is he is quickly angrie but he is as farre off from taking good hold with his feet he is goodly to behold verie good to eat and serueth as a watch in the inner court for that hee spying strangers to come into the lodging he fayleth not to crie out and to aduertise them of the house It is true that he is not kept with a little cost and meat being a great eater and quickly digesting his meat noysome to the house for that he spoyleth the Gardens if there be not some little Medow ground for him to frequent hee breaketh the roofe and high place of the house And the Cocke being ouer-ranke by nature doth breake the Hennes egges thereby to keepe her from sitting that so he may the more freely enioy and vse her The Cocke liueth a long time as from twentie to fiue and twentie yeares but the Henne somewhat lesse both the one and the other somewhat troublesome to reare and bring vp whiles they be young but they need not to haue any great care taken of them after they haue once left the dam except it be in keeping them from hurting the Corne. They loue a hot and temperate ayre and that is the cause that they are not brought vp in manie Countries of France but with much adoe The place where they most abound in all the Countrey is toward Lisieux in Normandie for from thence there come great numbers to Paris for great and sumptuous Banquets and Marriages There they make them fat with the drosse of Cyder and Perrie People of old and auncient time did cast Islets on the backside of their Gardens onely for Peacocks and there set vp some little shed for them at their pleasure to repaire vnto and another for the
ouer-past The Shepheard shall order and gouerne them with great gentlenesse as it is most requisite for all Heards of whatsoeuer Cattell that it be who must rather be and shew themselues leaders and guides of their beasts than lords Guiding them to the field he must alwaies goe before them to hinder and keepe them backe from running into fields where they might feed vpon euill and hurtfull grasse and especially such grounds as wherein the water vseth to stand or where the ground hath beene ouer-washt with some Floud and breaking forth of some Riuer because thâ— by pasturing in such places they could not chuse but in lesse thanâ— fortie daies be teinted and die except they were relieued and succoured by some good meanes He shall rather keepe a white dogge than one of anie other colour to follow his Sheepe and he himselfe also must be apparelled in white because that Sheepe re naturally so inclined to feare as that and if they see but a beast of anie other coâ—our they doubt presently that it is the Wolfe which commeth to deuoure them This dogge must haue a collar of yron about his neck beset with good sharpe points â—f nailes to the end that he may the more cheerefully fight with the Wolfe perceiâ—â—ing himselfe thereby to haue the aduantage as also that the Wolfe may not take ocâ—asion to hang him in his owne collar If it happen that his Sheepe be scattered to â—all them in and bring them together againe whether it be for keeping them out of â—arme or to cause them to know his call he must whoope and whistleâ—after them â—hreatning them with his Sheepe-crooke or else setting his dogge after them which â—he shall haue trained to doe them that seruice but he may not cast anie thing at them â—either may he goe farre from them neither yet take himselfe leaue to lye or sit â—owne he must accustome them to two sorts of cries the one pleasant and shrill to â—ake them goe forward but to call them backe to another and diuers crie to the â—nd that the Sheepe hearing these two different cries may learne and apply themâ—â—â—ues to doe that which is thereby commanded them If he walke not yet he must â—tand to the end he may be as a vigilant watch vnto his Cattell and he must not sufâ—er the Slower or those which are with Lambe to straggle from the rest or come farre â—ehind them by hanging backe when the light-footed and such as haue alreadie Lambed doe runne before least by that meanes some thâ—efe or deuouring beast deâ—eiue them and come vpon them busie at their meat He must sometime make them â—errie cheering them vp with songs or else by his whistle and Pipe for the Sheepe â—t the hearing thereof will feed the more hungerly they will not straggle so farre abroad but they will loue him the better He shall not draw them into anie grounds but such as are tilled and turned or to the grassie tops of Hills to the high Woods or else such Medow grounds as are not moist wet but neuer into Marish grounds nor into Forests or other places whereas there are Thornes Burres and Thistles for such doth nothing but make them itchie and scuruie and to lose their Wooll Also it is not so good fodder nor so good feeding which for long time hath been in continuall vse for so the Cattell will grow wearie of it and offended therewith except the prudent Shepheard vse some remedie against it by mingling some salt amongst it or sprinkle it with brine or dregs of oyle vpon some floure and so with their meat he should giue them both sawce and appetite In the high time of Summer the Shepheard shall come with his flocke to their lodging and shall fold them amongst the fallowes and there make his fold with hurdles after the manner of the Sheepe-cote the couering excepted And at the foure corners of his fold he shall tie his dogge for a sentinell and standing watch lodging himselfe in the said fold within his Cabin of Wood which he shall driue vpon wheeles to and fro as he shall haue occasion to change his field and fold He shall cleanse his Sheepe-cote but once a yeare and that shall be presently after August or else in Iuly being the time when his Heard is folded but neuer in Autumne nor in Winter for then their dung will serue to keepe them warme And then forthwith the Farmer shall cause the same dung to be carried vnto the leanest parts of his land and shall leaue it there on hillocks to drie in the heat of the Summer vntill October and then to cause it to be spread vpon the ground or else to mingle it with Marle to dung and manure the earth howbeit Marle must not be reiterated so oft as dung for which cause he must vse such discretion as that he must not lay anie Marle but from fiue yeares to fiue yeares in anie place It will be good after that the Sheepe-cote is made cleane to perfume it with Womens haire or Harts horne or the hornes of Goats clawes thereby to driue away Adders and Snakes and other beasts which oftentimes annoy this kind of Cattell He shall procure his Sheepe to be shorne the first hot season falling out in the Spring if it be in a hot and Southerly Countrey but in the Countrey that is cold and not so warme about the end of Iuly but neuer in Summer or in Winter and but from eight a clock in the morning vntill noone and that in faire weather without wind and the Moone growing old Afterward you shall strake the shorne Sheepe all ouer their skins with your drie hand moistened in oyle and wine mingled together to comfort them withall and if there be anie snips in their skins you shall apply vnto them melted Wax or Tarre with sweet Seame for this doth heale them and keepe them from the scab and causeth also a finer and longer Wooll to grow vp anâ— come in place To keepe your Sheepe in good plight you shall giue them Bay berries drie with salt beginning presently after they haue Lambed and continuing vntill they goe againe to Ramme by this meanes they will be fat sound full of milke After they be once with Lambe you must giue ouer that course least you cause then to cast their Lambes they must not at anie time drinke soone after this meat Sheepe are subiect to the Scab Cough and Bloud which is an extreame pains 〈◊〉 the head and to the Murraine The three last diseases are incurable also infecting for one of them hauing anie one of these diseases killeth the other of the same And at such times you must change their Aire and Cote and withall looke to them theâ—â— and refresh them with straw giuing them that which is long small and perfuming their Cote with Tyme Rosemarie Iuniper Pennyryall Marierome Balme 〈◊〉 Basill and other sweet hearbes manie daies together and
cause him to be couered if therewith he haue the cough and if in trauaile he haue taken cold by raine or tedious vveather to giue him then to eat some Fenugreeke or Anise-seed amongst his prouender to change him vvhen he is past age and also to take acknowledgement of the loue that one Horse beareth towards another and accordingly to set them one by another in the Stable appointed for them which he must euerie morning may cleane in Sommer carrying out the dung and filth and letting none remaine and at night giue them fresh Litter He must also cast an eye about and see whether his horses doe grow leane or no and then to fat them with Fetches boyled in water and mixed amongst their Oats as also with millet pannicke rice sodden and mingled with meale of Beanes and a little Salt or where these are missing to take good sweet Barley chaffe or Pease pulse well mixt with some drie Beanes and to giue him thereof good store after euerie watering or vvhen he newly commeth from his labour as for sodden Barley or other boyled corne they are onely good to loosen the skinne but the fat which they gather is neuer of any indurance He must be content to take vp his lodging in the stable for feare of their falling sicke intangling themselues in their halters and growing of his beasts and let him be carefull and wise in ordering and placing his light in such sort as that it may be out of daunger and to locke vp and keepe his harnesse well and made readie ouer night 〈◊〉 morning that so when he is to returne to his labour into the field he be 〈…〉 of any thing If he haue any Mules or young Colts he must put them by 〈…〉 and reserue them for some other labour and if any of his Horses fall sicke if it be not of wearinesse dulnesse or chafing he must put him out from among the rest If he haue any Horse that hath ill propertie or fault he shall be carefull how to amend it as if he be fearefull or timerous or if he will not abide while one getteth vpon his backe or if he will not goe by or into any place he shall hang within his 〈◊〉 some prettie little stone and if this doe him no good he shall hoodwinke him or 〈◊〉 behind him at his taile some flame of fire or some sharpe pricking thing if he wâ—â—nie much he shall tie to his head a stone with a hole through it if when a man is vpon his backe he rise and come aloft he shall hit him with his rod vpon the forelegges if he lye downe he must be raised vp againe with rough words and strokes if he goe backward you shall tye a cord to his codds vvhich shall be so long as thâ—â— reaching betwixt his forelegges he which rideth him may hold it in his hand and when as the Horse shall goe backward he shall pull it hard with his hand to make him goe forward for so vvithout all doubt he will goe forthright and amend his fault if the Horse be gelded he must beat his thighs vvith a long staffe taken out of the fire verie hot and burnt at the end or he shall giue him feele of his whisking rodd betwixt his eares if the Horse be hard to shooe and troublesome to handle and dresse in the stable he shall put in one or both of his eares a little round pebble and there make it sure with one or both his hands and keepe them in his eares and thus he shall make him as gentle and meeke as a Lambe It is also the Carters part to gouerne his heard of Mares and Colts carefully thâ—â— no inconuenience may befall them he shall put them to feed and shall send theâ— to grasse when it shall be due time and that in large and marish grounds Notwithstanding marish ground doth soften their hoofe verie much and maketh them tender sighted and begetteth water in their feet and for this cause I could like the high and hillie grounds better being such as from time to time haue raine or 〈◊〉 dropping downe vpon them and not drie at any time and such as are rather voiâ— and free than incombred with vvood or other bodies of trees or legges and yet further hauing a soft and sweet grasse rather than a high great and strong grasse And notwithstanding that Mares be not so frolicke nor couragious as Horses be yet they goe beyond them farre in the race and stand it out a great deale longer and againe they are not so chargeable to keepe as Horses are for they are not fed with the best hay they content themselues to run in pastures all the yeare long true it is that in Winter and when the ground is all couered with snow as also in the time of continuall raine they must be put in some one house or other and giue them such Hay as is good to eat and in Sommer to keepe them in some good coole shadowâ—â— place and well growne with good Grasse and serueth vvith cleare vvaters but nâ—uer vpon the rough and ragged mountaines as vvell for that they doe hardly feed there as also because that such as are with foale can hardly clime without great paine not come downe without endangering themselues to cast their Colts You shall not suffer the Mare to take Horse ofter than euerie two yeare according to the opinioâ— of the curious Horsemen but yet the better experienced allow the conueying of Marâ—s euerie yeare for it keepeth the wombe open and giueth the Foale a large bed to lye in to keepe and breed of the best kind and race and not to bring in a base and degenerate kind againe to see that it be dâ—ne about mid March to the end that at the same time that the Mares were couered and horsed they may easily feed their Colts hauing tender and soft grasse after Haruest for about the end of the eleuenth or twelfth moneth they foale and so their milke is the faster better conditioned begetteth also and nourisheth fairer Colts and such as thriue euen as we our selues would wish The Stalions also thus attended are the stronger and doe more abound with a well concocted and slimie nature and not with a thinne and waterie and withall they couer them with more courage and beget greater Colts and such as are more hardie and strong He shall know that the Mares are readie to take Horse when they yeeld a whitish humor at the place of generation and that their priuie parts are more swolne than they were wont to be as also more hot than ordinarie and eat not so much as they were wont He shall let her take Horse twice a day euening and morning before he let her drinke and this shall be continued but tenne daies which past if she refuse him he shall put her aside as with foale and shall take away the Horse least with his furious rage he make her
another and so a 〈◊〉 for the Warre a Curtall or anie other such Horse most neere vnto his naturall disposition Of which paces to giue you a little tast and experience you shall vnderstand that to bring a Horse to a comely cleane and a loftie trot you shall vse to 〈◊〉 him vpon new-plowed Lands or in Wayes that are deepe and heauie for that 〈◊〉 make him twitch vp his legges and strike them cleane and high but if you find 〈◊〉 toylesome to your Colt and that by reason of his young yeares you are afraid to 〈◊〉 him to so extreame labour because manie sorances grow thereby then you 〈◊〉 ride him forth into some plaine piece of ground that is much ouer-growne 〈◊〉 long Thistles short Gorsse Whynnes or such like sharpe Weeds among the which you shall ride your Horse a good space twice or thrice a day and the Thistles 〈◊〉 Gorsse pricking his shinnes will make him take vp his legges roundly and 〈◊〉 and in verie short space bring him to a cleane easie and braue trot although 〈◊〉 Horse had neuer trotted before in all his life But if you find that the 〈◊〉 and vncomelinesse of his trot commeth out of a naturall carelesnesse or in 〈◊〉 of his way and that by reason of a dull and heauie disposition wherewith he is â—â—fected he is not by anie of the former wayes to be reclaimed then you shall 〈◊〉 when the nights are most darke and clouded euen so thicke that you can 〈◊〉 see your hand for euer the darker the better then you shall take out your 〈◊〉 and ride him into some new-plowed field where the lands lye most high and â—â—â—euen or into the like vncertaine and much worne wayes and there trot him 〈◊〉 roundly and swiftly rushing him now ouer-thwart then end-wise sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sometimes another not suffering him to take leisure or regard to his way â—ow dangerous or false of foot-hold soeuer it be And although at first as it is most â—ikely he will stumble or be readie to fall yet doe not you make anie care thereof but bearing a good stiffe hand vpon him strike your spurres hard into his â—â—des and the more he stumbles the more encrease you the swiftnesse of his pace â—â—nely by no meanes whatsoeuer suffer him to gallop And thus exercising him â—undrie nights together you shall not onely bring him to a braue and most galâ—ant trot but also breed in him a great height of spirit and mettall as also it will make him verie hardie and valiant And if hee were subiect to that intollerable â—â—ice of stumbling yet this manner of riding and correction would amend and â—â—ure the same for you shall vnderstand that a Horse is as a man fearefull and vigilant of his way and when the sight thereof is taken from him all his pores and vitall spirits are awakened and stirred vp to preuent the dangers that may happen vnto him so that when all courses else shall faile yet this is most assured But if you would haue your Horse by reason of your manie occasions to iourney â—or because your bodie is vnapt and vnable to endure the hard pace of trotting 〈◊〉 amble which is of all paces whatsoeuer the easiest you shall understand that to bring him thereunto there are but onely two wayes that is to say either the Traâ—ell or the Hand the betterhood of which I leaue to your consideration when your experience hath made triall of them both and done to neither injurie but vsed them carefully artificially and according to the truth of the rules prescribed To giue you then a little light what the Tramell is you shall vnderstand that it is called a Tramell when a Horses neere fore-legge and his neere hinder-legge two handfull aboue the pasterne ioynts are so fastened together with leathers and cords that he cannot put forward his fore-legge but he must perforce hale his hinder-legge after it and so likewise his farre fore-legge to his farre hinder-legge and then another flat and soft leather going ouer the fillets of the Horses backe and fastened to both the lynes on both sides the Horse which piece of leather shall hold vp the lynes that they fall not nor tangle vnder the Horses feet as he goeth This is called the tramelling of a Horse and with these you shall first in your hand make him goe softly or swiftly at your pleasure and when you find that he will take his way perfectly in them without danger of falling then you shall take his backe and ride him thus in the tramels the space of a weeke in some faire plaine and smooth Way or Roade then the next weeke following you shall ride him in vneuen wayes ouer layes vp hill and downe hill and in such like vncertaine places then the next weeke you shall take off the tramels of one side and fasten the backe band to the saddle and to ride him for a day or two then put on that tramell againe and take off the other which was on before and so ride him another day or two then take both cleane away and so ride him and keepe him to his pace which he will hardly or neuer forsake if you haue anie care at all Now for the speciall respects which are to be obserued in the tramelling of Horses you shall first obserue that the leathers which goe about the Horses legges be soft smooth and well lyned neither so strait that they may offend the maine sinewes of the legges nor so slacke that they may fall off the buckles with which you make them longer or shorter must be verie strong also that they may abide the twitches and straines of the Horse when at anie time he striketh a false stroake the lynes which passe betweene these leathers must be a good round rope made of strong Hempâ— well twound with a loope at either end whereto to fixe the leathers and these lynes must be both of a iust and euen length not one exceeding another a strawes breadth they must be so fixed to the Horses legges that they must by no meanes either draw them inward or giue them libertie to stradle outward but so as they may keepe the Horse in his true iust and naturall proportion Now if your Horse strike too short then you shall straiten your lynes halfe an inch at least for that will make him ouerstrike halfe a foot and a whole inch a whole foot and so of the contrary part if he ouerstrike you shall let forth your tramell in the same maner that you â—ooke it in There be some that will put on these tramels and make the Horse runne an 〈◊〉 with them a moneth or two and when they take them vp they will amble as 〈◊〉 and perfectly as if they had beene naturall bred amblers and sure there is 〈◊〉 likelyhood thereof for a pace that is so giuen without compulsion is euer the â—â—â—rest and most vnchangeable Now for the making of a Horse to amble
planted and furnished with the Plants before spoken of in the moneth 〈◊〉 Nouember and in the beginning of October planting there also at the end of euerie eight feet some Elmes wild Plumme trees and Cherrie trees by the suppoâ—â— whereof as of faithfull props and staies it will wind and bind it selfe more firmely This Hedge shall be verie well digged and helped with dung for a foot depth 〈◊〉 neere vnto the root some two yeares after and pruned euerie yeare to keepe it rounâ— and euen as also to make it grow thicke and you must suffer to grow in height and thicknesse such Trees as shall be planted therein to serue for Stakes and as Poles for your Arbors and the moe Elmes you can put in this your Hedge and the rest which shall part your Garden of Huswiferie and Pulse the better it will be either for the making of Faggots euerie yeare and that so they may themselues spread more iâ— thicknesse as also for Timber-wood for your Ploughes and other Implements 〈◊〉 also that they may ouer-grow such Arbors as you shal plant at their feet and wheâ—â—with they doe in that place mutually and naturally beare and suffer If furthermore you would know the ordering of such great and small Trees 〈◊〉 whereof the Hedge is to consist you shall find it in the third and fixt Booke CHAP. II. Of the Arbors of the Kitchin Garden EVen as the Garden of Pleasure is to be set about with Arbors 〈◊〉 with Iesamin Maries seale Muske Roses Mirtle trees Bay trees Woodâ—bind Vines Gourds Cucumbers Muske Melons Prympe sweet â—ryeâ— and other rare things euen so shall the Kitchin Garden be set with Turrets of Lattice fashion couered ouer with Burdeaux Vines or with the best 〈◊〉 of Vines that are to be got in the Countrey for to make Veriuice on for 〈◊〉 and commoditie of the Household The fashion of the Arbor shall be in manner of a shadowie place for Arbors 〈◊〉 costly to maintaine to the end you may draw certaine Beds vnderneath or 〈◊〉 â—oore of hearbes which craue no great cherishing and refreshing leauing notwithâ—â—anding an alley of three foot breadth both on the one side and on the other for the â—spatching of such worke as is to be bestowed vpon the Arbor And you must â—ant the best and greatest sets of Vines vpon the South side not cutting them so â—â—ng as the wood may grow thicker for it is nothing but a good foot and a thicke â—at maketh a faire and a beautifull fruit The Lattice-worke may not be too thicke 〈◊〉 or wrought and it must rise and grow higher for the space of fiue whole yeares 〈◊〉 be renewed and new tied euerie yeare about the end of the moneth of Ianuarie 〈◊〉 the twigges of your Willowes and Osiers or of the Broome of your Warren â—hough if you make your poles of Iuniper wood you shall not need to trouble â—ur hand with them for tenne or twelue yeares especially if you strengthen your 〈◊〉 with piles of Oake halfe burnt Also if your poles be of dead wood and of 〈◊〉 stocks growing or encreasing if then you bind them with strong wyre it shall be 〈◊〉 of all for that shall last the longest and keepe your poles by their fastnesse of â—â—itting longer found than anie other binding whatsoeuer Tie not the poles of your â—atticâ—-worke strait nor the stocks against the trees of your hedge which shall serue â—r stakes for so in time the band would eat it selfe into the rinde as they should â—ow thicker and doe them great harme And I would not haue you to forget to â—ung and vncouer the roots of your stocks in Winter and to marke the young wood â—r to make sets to sell or to store your selfe withall euerie day more and more Gaâ—â—er not their Grapes verie ripe or verie greene nor yet when it rameth Finally â—e ordering of the Arbor is like the ordering of the Vine and would be but a suâ—erfluous thing to stand anie longer vpon in this place Wherefore you must haue â—ecourse to the place setting downe the manner of the ordering of the Vine as it â—hall be hereafter declared CHAP. III. Of the digging and casting of the Kitchin Garden AS concerning the dressing of the Kitchin or Household Garden in as much as there are two seasons in the yeare for to sow hearbes so there are two times for to bring into order and dresse Gardens that is to say Autumne and the Spâ—ing there must such consideration be had as that â—he first workmanship and tilth be bestowed about the beginning of Nouember vpon that ground which we intend to sow in the Spring and to digge in the moneth of May such other grounds as we intend to sow in Autumne to the intent that by the cold of Winter or by the heat of Summer the clods may be apt to turne to dust becomming short and brittle and all vnprofitable weeds may be killed But in the meane time before this first tilth and workmanship it will be good that the ground for one whole or halfe yeare be manured with old manure and made good and fat for the best liking earth that is in time becommeth leane and wasted by long and continuall occupation Wherefore it behoueth that the vnimployed or fallow ground which you shall appoint for your Gardens be first well cleansed from stones and afterward cast vp and digged into new and fresh earth and the bad weedes rooted out euen by the end of the rootes whereof the good huswife shall make good ashes and afterward amended with some small quantitie of Cowâ—â— dung and Horse dung well mixt together and well rotted and hauing laid a long time or else of Asses dung which is the best of all for Gardens because the Asse doth chew his meat with leisure and breaketh his meat throughly and so by that meanes doth make his dung better digested and better ground than other beasts doe and which also for that cause doth beget almost no weeds In stead of dung the chaffe and troden straw of Corne hauing rotted in the high waies for the space of a yeare may serue which being by nature verie hot doth so greatly fat the earth as that 〈◊〉 Hearbes Trees Citrons Limons Oranges Cucumbers Citruls and all other 〈◊〉 planted in that ground or sowne doe come vp verie faire and beare fruit 〈◊〉 quickly and in great aboundance For the second tilth it shall be wrought and laboured as a man would worke Morrar from the one end to the other and in thus labouring it you shall mix the dung or marle verie well with the earth For the 〈◊〉 tilth it shall be clotted layd close and raked into a flat forme and with the 〈◊〉 of the Rake in going ouer it you shall marke out your Beds and Floores and the Pathes running along betwixt them and those so long and so broad as you can 〈◊〉 them according to the contents and largenesse of the place And you must
A Linimenâ— made of Garlicke Salt and Vineger killeth Nits and Lice The decoction of Garlicke not bruised giuen in Clysters or applyed vnto thâ— bellie in manner of a fomentation assuageth the paine of the Colicke and expelleth wind Against an old Cough comming of a cold cause it is verie good to rub the soles of the feet the backe bone and wrists of the hands with an Oyntment oâ— Liniment made of three Garlicke heads well powned and beaten in Swinâ— Seame Against the paine of the Teeth comming of a cold cause there is nothing beâ—ter than to hold in the mouth Vineger or the decoction of Garlicke or to apply vnto the aking tooth three cloues of Garlicke stamped in Vineger For the killing of Wormes in children it is good to giue them to eat Garlicke with fresh Butter or else to make a Cataplasme thereof to lay vpon the Stomacke They which can scarce or hardly make their Water or are subiect vnto the Stone receiue great comfort by eating of Garlicke To keepe Birds from hâ—â—ting of young Fruit you must hang at the boughes of those Trees some quantitie of Garlicke CHAP. XXV Of Scalioâ—s SCalions are like vnto Garlicke in tast and smell but in stalke and fashion the leaues resemble Onions saue onely that out of their head there grow manie hulles or huskes which bring forth manie round little leaues They thriue and grow better when they be set than when they be sowne for when they be sowne there is no great hope of their comming to any fairenesse before the second yeare They may be planted from the first day of Nouember vnto the moneth of Februarie to haue the fruit thereof the next Spring and they are planted as Garlicke But in the meane time you must gather 〈◊〉 before the March Violets doe flower for if one vse them not before that they be flowred they will fall away and become but sillie ones They are knowne to be ripe if their leaues begin to drie away below For to cause them to haue 〈◊〉 and thicke heads you must put brickes round about their rootes as hath beene said of Leekes As concerning the vse of Scalions there is no great helpe or profit to be hoped for or expected except of such as are giuen more to their pleasure than to their health for the Scalion serueth for no other thing but to prouoke and stirre folke 〈◊〉 the act of carnall copulation and to haue a good appetite They haue the same veâ—â—wes that Garlicke saue onely that they be somewhat troublesome to the 〈◊〉 because of their more sharpe and subtle tast CHAP. XXVI Of Parsley PArsley craueth no great labour but loueth a stonie and sandie ground for which cause it is called Parsley againe it craueth not anie store of manure wherefore it will be good to sow it vnder Arbors It desireth aboue all things to be well watred and if it so fall out as that it be sowne or planted neere vnto anie Fountaine or Riuer it groweth verie faire and in great quantitie And if anie be desirous that it should haue large leaues hee must put into a faire Linnen Cloth so much seed as he can hold in his three fingers and so cast it amongst the stones in the ground or else he must put in a Goats trottle a quantitie of Parsley seed and so set or sow it And he that will haue it curled must bruise the seed with a pestle of Willow to the end that the huske may breake and fall off and afterward wrap it in a Linnen Cloth and so put it in the ground Otherwise without thus much to doe it may be made to curle howsoeuer it be sowne if you draw a Rowler vpon it so soone as it beginneth to grow It is a good time to sow it from mid May vntill the Sunne be risen to his highest point in the Heauens for it somewhat craueth the heat The seed thereof that is but a yeare old is nothing worth for looke how much elder the seed is by so much it is the better and endureth a long time vnsowne in such sort as that it will not be needfull to sow or plant it of fiue yeares although when it is sowne it groweth not vnder the space of threescore daies Notwithstanding to cause it to grow and put more speedily out of the earth it behoueth that the seed be steeped in vineger some certaine time and after sowne in a well toyled ground and filled or mixed with one halfe of the ashes of Beane stalkes and after it is sowne it must be oft watered and sleightly with a little Aqua vitae and by and by after the watering to lay aloft it a piece of Cloth that the heat thereof may not be spent and breath away and by this meanes it will grow vp within a few houres and then you must take off the Cloth couering it and water it oft and by this meanes it will haue both a high stalke and great leaues A Cataplasme made of the leaues of Parsley with the crummes of White bread doth heale a Tettar or Ringworme doth resolue the swellings of the Breasts and maketh Women that are brought in bed to loose their Milke The iuice of Parsley drawne â—ut with vineger and mixt with a little salt helpeth Women that are in trauell to be deliuered The often vse of Parsley taketh away the stinking of the breath especially from such as haue drunke much Wine or eaten Garlicke And therefore such as vse to keepe companie much and haue an ill breath must not goe vnprouided of good store of fresh Parsley to chew or hold in their mouthes The decoction of the roots or leaues of Parsley helpeth downe Womens termes 〈◊〉 Vrine casteth out Grauell contained in the Vrinarie vessels taketh away the paine of the Colicke and of the Reines applyed in manner of a fomentation vpon the pained parts It serueth also for the obstructions of the Liuer but better for such as are flegmaticke than for the cholericke or those that are of sanguine complexion The leaues of Parsley cast vpon the water of Fish-ponds doe recreate and reioyce the sicke and diseased Fish CHAP. XXVII Of Rocket and Tarragon ROcket being an hearbe verie vsuall in Salads and good to temper the coldnesse of Lettuces may be sowne as well in Winter as in Summeâ— for it feareth not cold nor other iniurie of the ayre neither doth it â—â—quire anie great labour it loueth notwithstanding to be 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 in a grauellie ground Rocket must not be eaten by it selfe by reason of the great heat that it maketh in them that eat it and for that cause it hath commonly for his companion in Salads the leaues of Lettuce seeing that the one of these doth notably temper the other It is good notwithstanding to prouoke vrine applyed in forme of a Cataplasme vpon the share bone And some say that three leaues
of Rocket gathered with the left hand and bruised in honied water and taken in drinke are soueraigne against the Iaundise and hardnesse of the Spleene Also Rocket being boyled and mixed with Sugar doth take away the Cough in little children Tarragon is made of Linseed prickt in manie places of the head of a red Onion the strongest and sharpest that may be found and put into well manured earth And after it hath shot vp the height of a foot or somewhat more you must take the slippes or branches and set them againe in the same earth and water them often Tarragon hath the same force and vertue that Rocket hath and is not to be eaten alone but with Lettuces and such like hearbes CHAP. XXVIII Of Smallage Cheruile Costmarie and Auens SMallage must be sowne in a well toiled ground and neere some wall for iâ— loueth the shadow and groweth well in all manner of ground And after that it is once sowne if it be not all pulled vp by the roots but that there be but one stalke left from yeare to yeare to seed it will continue for euer and it hath not anie great need of being weeded The good time to sow it is from the end of Februarie vnto the first day of September It hath the like vertue that Parsley hath not to eat but for Physicke It is good also for all blew stroakeâ— and bloud that is setled by reason of anie kind of blow The oyle thereof is likewise good for manie diseases and especially for the rawnesse that commeth in the throat if the place that is sore be oft annointed therewith It is true that Smallage stirreth vp the Falling sicknessee if we may beleeue Plâ—nie although that Galen in the curing of the Falling sickness doe prescribe the roots of Smallage and Parsley I haue tried by experience oftentimes that the leaues of Smallage chewed raw doe prouoke the termes of women Cheruile called in Latine Cerefolium loueth to be sowne in a ground that is well manured and in the time of Februarie March and Aprill and sometimes in August and September for to haue it in Winter and it would be often watered Cheruile doth shirre vp the stomacke and is verie good to prouoke vrine and purge the bloud Costmarie and Auens are verie pleasant hearbes to giue a sauour like Spice in Pottage and Salads They would be sowne in May and Aprill and remoued in Nouember Both of them haue the taste of Pepper and Cloues and therefore cannot but be good to comfort the stomacke Some to prouoke appetite make a greene sawce of Sorrell for to eat with meat Physicions doe greatly esteeme of the decoction of Costmarie against the Swimming disease Astonishments falling Sicknesse obstructions of the Lungs Dropsies and Iaundise as also for the Colicke Stone difficultie to make Water staying of the Termes for quicke deliuerie in Child-birth and to bring downe the after-birth CHAP. XXIX Of Asparagus THe hearbe Asparagus doth grow bigge in a fat and spongie ground that is free from stones well dressed plaine and smooth demanding no helpe of watering except a little in 〈◊〉 Some sow them in the Spring at the new of the Moone but it is better to set the rootes which spread and encrease better and sooner than the seeds whether they be sowne of seedes or set of rootes it must be done in furrowes three ynches deepe and a fathome ouer on euerie side standing one from another a good long foot put into euerie furrow two or three seeds euerie one off from another some nine ynches about fortie daies after the seeds doe gather together and ioyne one with another becomming one after you haue set them thus low you must cast vpon them the third part of the earth that you haue taken out of the furrowes which must be â—ifted before you put it there with an yron Sieue that so the Sunne may pierce the deeper and draw the Asparagus vnto it after this you must weed them oft and helpe them in October with some well rotted manure of Horse Sheepe or Birds or which is better with the filth and ordure of Sinkes and Priuies and the dust which falleth out of Wooll when it is beaten and againe vpon this the â—eeds and drosse of the Vine-presse and Grapes You must renew their ground oftentimes in Februarie and cast new dung vpon it you must doe the like also the second yeare in Februarâ—â— or March and likewise euerie yeare in October It is true that they must be remoued the second or third yeare and neuer to cut them vntill the third yeare and then in the moneth of May. In stead of remouing them it were better to vncouer their roots and to take away those that are supersâ—uons for to set in some other place and then to purge them of withered and rotten or corrupted branches in as much as Asparagus would neuer be remoued out of their place except it be when they grow too thicke together For doing so two or three yeares one after another it will fall out that all the intangled and folded one within another will be taken away and then you may prune and trimme those which you leaue standing which you must couer from foot to foot or from root to root with well seasoned manure being rotted and mixed with as much sifted mould sifting moreouer the same which was aboue before and putting it into his old place from whence it was taken and in such manner as it was found there Howsoeuer it be the yeare after they be planted there may well be taken from them some one of their stalkes and the other let stand to seed The stalke so taken away must be cut away not pluckt away for feare of doing hurt to the root For to haue Asparagus to grow faire and aboundantly you must couer the earth of the trenches with beasts hornes or else sow in the furrowes where you shall set them the powder of the hornes of Weathers or wild Rammes or some others and afterward you shall water them And this is the cause that maketh them grow naturally in the Medowes Others there are which say though it be a wonderfull thing that there must nothing be done to the hornes but onely bored through and to hide them in good ground and that of them will breed and grow Asparagus And to cause Asparagus to sprout and bring foorth often you must rake and weed and digge about them often opening their roots after that you haue gathered the fruit and straw vpon thâ—â— the powder of beasts hornes for the plant being thus handled will beare his 〈◊〉 otherwise Asparagus is a delicate fruit and wholesome for euerie bodie and especially when it is thicke tender sweet and not verie much boyled it giueth a good stomacâ—e vnto the sicke if it be vsed before meat it prouoketh vrine it openeth the obstructions of the reines and the liuer The root thereof applyed to
through a Limbecke in Maries-bath doth maruailously heale the Agues caused of the obstructions of any noble part and which is more it killeth the wormes and wipeth away all the spots of the face it they be often washed therewith It is exceeding good against the inflammation of the eyes It is verie soueraigne against any infection or mortall sicknesse if it be drunke with Water and Honie it abateth the swelling of the bodie and easeth the colicke whether it be in the stomach or in the bowels it also cureth the biting or stinging of venimous beasts and it causeth a woman to be deliuered of her dead birth The root is a present remedie against the Plague not onely in men but also in all â—orts of cattell it is a speciall preseruatiue against all poyson and a meanes to withstand all putrefaction in regard whereof the Switzers mingle it amongst their owne meat and the sodder or prouender of their cattell that so they may continue in good health Arsmart so called because the leaues applied to the fundament for to wipe it doe cause great paine and of the Latines Hydropiper doth require a marshie ground full of water or at the least verie moist or often watered and it groweth rather being planted of a root then sowne of seed It is verie singular in ointments for old vlcers and fistulaes as also in clysters for bloudie fluxes the leaues thereof washed in cold water and applied vnto wounds and vlcers either of man or beast doe take away by and by the paine thereof and doth throughly heale them as the swellings or gaules vnder the saddles of horses that 〈◊〉 hurt if they be renewed euerie day and the horse needs not to be forborne for all that Or else take the hearbe new steepe it in water and wash it then rub therewith the swolne or gauled place then put the hearbe in some place where it may quickly rot or else burie it in some fat ground and coâ—er it with a great stone so soone as the â—hearbe is rotted so soone will the fore be healed If you spread it all greene in the bed it killeth fleas you shall keep powdred proke from wormes if you wrap it in the leaues of this hearbe thâ— juice thereof dropped into wormie eares doth kill the wormes that is in them Eye-bright delighteth in a leane ground and shadowed place and yet where moiâ—ture is not altogether wanting such as are the meadows and little mountaines is groweth of roots not of seed It is singular good against the dimnesse waterishnesse â—ataract rheume and weaknesse of the eyes being either applied and layd thereto or â—aken inwardly by the mouth there is a powder made of â—he dried leaues which beâ—ng oft taken by the mouth with the yolke of an egge or alone or mixt with aloes â—nd swallowed downe with Fennell-water or with water of veruaiâ—e doth comfort â—nd strengthen mightily the weake and diseased eyes some vse much to take Winâ— wherein eye-bright hath beene infused and steept a long time for the same purpose or the powder vsed with wine but the powder alone or the decoction without wine 〈◊〉 a remedie far more certaine than the wine of eye-bright as I my selfe haue proued â—y experience in as much as the Wine by his vapours doth fill the braine and proâ—ureth rheumes and therefore if you would auoid these inconuenienees you must â—elay your Wine vvith the vvater of Fennell or mixe Sugar therewith 〈◊〉 de â—illa-noâ—a aâ—â—irmeth that by the continuall vse of this heâ—healed an old man which â—â—ad alreadie wholly lost his sight by the often vse of the leaues of this hearbe as well 〈◊〉 as drie as well in his drinke as in his meat Veruaine as well the male as the female must be planted of roots in a moist soile â—nd that it may grow the fairer it requireth to be remoued and that into a place of â—he like nature and qualitie Besides the helpes that this hearbe affordeth vnto vveake eyes it is also good aâ—ainst the paine of the head teeth and vlcers of the mouth and principally in the â—â—fections of the skinne as the itch the tetter the flying-fire the ring-worme the â—prosie the Gangrena and Shbaâ—lus if it bâ— vsed in manner of a bath 〈◊〉 in manner of a foâ—entation made with Fâ—mitorie in Water and Vinegar Elicampane must not be sowne of seed because the seed hath no power to 〈◊〉 but it must rather be planted of the young sprouts pulled gently from the 〈…〉 that in a verie well tilled ground and which hath beene manured not verie 〈…〉 yet ouershadowed It is good to plant it in the beginning of Februarie leauing 〈◊〉 foot distance betwixt plant and plant for it hath great leaues and the roots do 〈◊〉 verie much as doe the young sprouts or roots of Reed The Wine wherein the root of Elicampane hath steept for the space of four◠〈◊〉 twentie houres is singular good against the colicke as we haue alreadâ—e said in 〈◊〉 first booke the juice of the root is singular good to continue and keepe the 〈◊〉 and beautifull hew of women The decoction of the root is likewise good 〈◊〉 â—â—joyce the heart and to prouoke vrine and the termes of women as also to 〈…〉 to spit out but then it must be vsed inwardly and whiles it is new and greene 〈◊〉 when it is old and drie it is fit to be vsed outwardly and not to be taken into 〈◊〉 bodie Dittander which hath the tast of pepper and mustard for which cause it is 〈◊〉 of the Latines Piperitis must be planted before the first of March cut as the 〈◊〉 but not so oft for feare it should die with cold It will continue two 〈◊〉 prouided that it be carefully weeded and dunged it continueth in many 〈◊〉 whole ten years and it cannot easily be destroyed The root of Dittander stamped with Hogs-gâ—ease or with the root of 〈◊〉 and applied in forme of a cataplaâ—me vnto the Sciatica doth cure it throughly It taketh away the great spots freckles and scales or pilling of the face by 〈…〉 the thin skin wherein these are fixed and as for the rawnesse left after the away of this skin it is healed easily with ointment of Roses Great Celandine groweth in euerie ground so that there be any shadow 〈…〉 and it would be sowne in Februarie and may so continue ten yeares so that â—waies after it hath cast his seed the stalkes thereof be cut downe within 〈…〉 of the root The juice of the flowers mixt with honie or womans milke or some othe◠〈◊〉 asswage the sharpenesse of it doth take away the spots in the eyes 〈…〉 scartes and vicers healeth the ring-wormes and itch of the head and the 〈…〉 the haire of little children The Alchymistes doe make great account of it 〈◊〉 their extractions of mettalls Some say that the old Swallows doe recouer the 〈◊〉 of their young ones being pore-blind by applying vnto their
of the colour in this case you shall distill your vinegar either in a Limbecke or other ordinarie Still and with the water which commeth from it which will be of a most pure and chrystaline colour and is indeed the spirit and sharpest part of the vinegar you shall preserue your flowers and then without doubt they will not abate any part at all of their owne brightnesse and colour White yellow and red Gillo-flowres do craue the like ordering that the March Violet doth and grow better vpon walls house tops and old ruines of stone than planted or tilled in gardens especially the yellow which come neerer to the resemblance of a shrub than of an hearbe hauing hard and wooddy stalkes and set full of branches commonly called of Apothecaries Keyâ—y The seed of Gillo-flowres stampt and drunke with white wine is soueraigne to prouoke womens termes and to further deliuerance in them that trauell Daisies must not be sowen but planted after the manner of violets this is the least kind of the 〈◊〉 which is likewise found in the fields without being tilled it flourisheth all the yeare long if it be well ordered Daisies stampt with Mugwort resolueth the King-euill A Cataplaâ—me made of Daisies is good for the palsie and all manner distillations For wounds in the brest whereinto tents may be put it is good to dâ—inke by and by a drinke made of stamped Daisies they heale the pastules of the tongue if they be chewed as also of the mouth being braied they asswage the inflammation of the priuie members eaten in sallades or broth of flesh they loosen the bellie Purple Veluet flower called in Latine Aramanthus doth recreate more with his colour than with any smell that it hath for it smelleth nothing at all notwithstanding who so will haue it in their gardens must plant it in a drie and sandie place The flower supt in pottage doth stay the flux of the bellie the termes and white flowers of vvomen the spitting of bloud especially if there be any veine broken or bruised in the lungs of brest The flower hereof infused in vvater or white vvine the space of an houre maketh the colour of the wine red and thus one may helpe himselfe the more easily to beguile any that are sicke of some ague and cannot abstaine from Wine Canterburie-bells as well the simple as the double require a fat ground and well inriched The Latines call it Viola Calathiana Their â—lowers mingled with Wheat flower make a good Cataplasme against scuruinesse and other sorts of scabbes likewise their roots boyled in white Wine to the consumption of the halfe and a linnen cloth dipped therein and applyed to scabbes and scuruinesse doth heale them the roots boyled in Wine and taken in a potion doe heale all the ruptures of the inward parts of the bodies doe cleanse the exulcerated lungs and spitting of bloud brayed and ground in manner of meale and drunke in Wine the weight of a French Crowne with two or three graines of Saffron are singular good against the jaundise if the partie sweat thereupon presently the like vertue is in the distilled water of the flowers the juice drawne out of their root and flowers applyed vnto wounds doth heale them presently a pessarie drencht in this juice prouoketh womens termes and draweth out the child dead in the mothers vvombe being dropt into the eare whereinto there hath some Flea or such other vermine crept it killeth them Gillo-flowres of all sorts are seldome sowne but oftentimes planted of roots or braunches pluckt from the plants the root shall be planted in the beginning of Autumne in a fat mould and so put in pots of earth thâ—t it may be remoued and set vnder some couert in Winter for feare of the frosts Sommer being come before the great plant haue cast forth his sprouts you may breake off so many small branches from about the root as will almost serue to set and plant a whole bed withall and so you may breed new plants of them You may make Gillo-flowers smell like Cloues if you lay bruised Cloues round about their roots In like manner you may make them haue faire flowers large pleasant and sweet smelling if you plucke away their leaues often and take paines to digge and water their earth furthermore such Gillo-flowers are commonly called Gillo-flowers of Prouence of the place where Gillo-flowers so ordered doe grow large tufted and ample those which haue not their flowers so large nor so sweet neither yet are so carefully looked vnto and dressed are properly called Purple Gillo-flowers The flowers of Gillo-flowers of Prouence as also their root are soueraigne against the Plague And for this cause such as are well aduised in the time of the Plague 〈◊〉 make conserues or vinegar of the flowers of Gillo-flowers to keepe themselues 〈◊〉 the euill ayre Indian Gillo-flowers called of the Latines Flos petillius and Ocellus 〈◊〉 although it refuse no ground notwithstanding if you plant it of the whole plant or of the branches thereof or else sow it in a fat and wel manured ground especially in the beginning of Iuly it will grow vnto such a height as that it will seeme to be a thing degenerated into the bignesse of a tree and will put forth of his stalke many boughâ— after the manner of a tree or shrub and by the same meanes there will put 〈◊〉 flowers induring vntill Winter Who will be counted carefull of preseruing his health must not smell vnto the flower of the Gillo-flowers of India for the smell thereof doth procure head-ach and giddinesse and is a meanes to breed the Falling-sicknesse further also which is more dangerous some haue found it by experience that it ingendreth an infectious aire likewise Physitians giue speciall prohibition to smell vnto the Indian Gillo-flower in the Plague time because the flower thereof is venimous and of temperate much like to the Hemlocke which may easily be perceiued by the vnpleasant smell it yeeldeth being both most strong and stinking That it is so namely that 〈◊〉 is venimous I haue giuen thereof sometimes vnto a Cat the flower the Gillo-flowres of India beaten and mixt with cheese to eat and she hath thereupon become verie much swelled and within a short time after dead I saw likewise a little young child who after hauing put these flowers in his mouth his mouth and lips did swell and within a day or two after became verie scabbed Wild Gillo-flowers as well white as red although they grow in the edges of fieldâ— and along the waies may notwithstanding be planted and set in gardens where 〈◊〉 they be oft remoued they will grow to haue a double flowre Their seed flower and whole hearbe is good against the stinging of Scorpions and indeed haue so greâ—â— vertue this way that the hearbe onely cast among Scorpions taketh from them all power to hurt their seed taken
is another note of admiration in this flower which is that it changeth it colour euerie yeare of it owne nature for the which no Gardiner is able to giue anie account Also there be some Tulipans which will not â—â—ourish aboue foure or fiue daies in the yeare and then after it carrieth no flower 〈◊〉 all The Martagon is a plant which putteth forth verie rare and excellent flowers â—uch what is shape like the Flower-de-luce and are infinitely desired for their exâ—ellencies it is most commonly either of an Orange or red colour and may be eiâ—her sowne or planted in a good ground in the Spring time when the Moone encreaseth It groweth in height seldome aboue three foot neither hath it anie branâ—hes it garnisheth the earth with manie greene leaues both long and sharpe â—ending their points downeward At the toppe of the stemme the flowers put â—orth vpon seuen or eight round buttons or cuppes which after a few daies doe open and out of euerie button springs forth a flower which will continue 〈◊〉 upon at least three or foure daies and then they will fall away and the bowle is perceiued in which the seed is retained which is not verie great but of a little and 〈◊〉 compasse Pâ—onie are flowers of diuers kinds some being single and some double and are 〈◊〉 esteemed for the beautie of their flowers they may be sowne or planted on any 〈◊〉 earth immediatly after Winter the stalke of it is greene and being risâ—n 〈◊〉 foot from the earth it putteth forth diuers large branches vpon the tops whereof 〈◊〉 many great buttons out of which breaketh forth the flowers being round 〈◊〉 and large so that some haue beene measured from the circumference to be the 〈◊〉 part of a foot in the diameter these flowers are euer of one colour as being all 〈◊〉 all white or all purple and not mixt or stripped as other flowers are Amongst all the flowers which beauitfie gardens none may compare with this other for odour glorie or generall delicacie whence it commeth that it is 〈◊〉 the Crowne Emperiall it may be sowne from the seed in any well drest 〈…〉 the Spring of the yeare and the new of the Moone yet it is much better if it be 〈◊〉 from the root which root is bigge and round like vnto a great S. 〈◊〉 Onion about which in the planting you shall â—ould a little fine mould 〈◊〉 with cows dung and then set it a good depth into the earth the stemme of this 〈◊〉 will spring out of the ground three or foure foot garnished all along with fine 〈◊〉 yet without any braunches at the top of all it putteth forth eight or nine 〈◊〉 borne vpon seuerall little branches distinguished from the stalke euerie one of 〈◊〉 being of equall height and length the flowers thereof for the most part shew 〈◊〉 because like the Helitropian they continually follow the Sunne and 〈◊〉 stand streight vpright but at hie noone onely the colour of them most 〈◊〉 is a pale red and they haue within the inward part of them a round liquid 〈◊〉 like vnto an Orient pearle which whilest the flower is in strength being for the 〈◊〉 part fifteene or twentie dayes you can by no meanes shake off nor will it be 〈◊〉 way with showers or tempests but if with your hand you wipe it away a new 〈◊〉 will arise againe presently in the same place this pearle if you tast vpon your 〈◊〉 is sweet and pleasant as Honie or Sugar This flower must be carefully 〈◊〉 from the frost and the slips of it would be seldome or neâ—er set because they are 〈◊〉 they bring forth flowers as three or foure yeares at the soonest CHAP. XLIX Of sweet smelling Hearbes BAsill as well the great as the small is sowne in Aprill and May in a 〈◊〉 ground and commeth vp quickly if so be that by and by after it is 〈◊〉 it be watered with water somewhat heated It may be sowne 〈◊〉 in Autumne and the seed would be watered with vinegar for so 〈◊〉 it but a verie little it will grow forth into branches If you sow it in a drie ground 〈◊〉 open vpon the Sun it will by and by turne and become either mountaine 〈◊〉 or cresses When you haue sowne it you must draw vpon the ground some 〈◊〉 fasten and set it close together for if it should lye light and hollow the seed would 〈◊〉 corrupt It must be watered at noone-tide cleane contrarie to other hearbs 〈◊〉 would be watered at morning or euening To cause it to grow great it is 〈◊〉 crop it oft with your fingers and not with any yron thing Some report a 〈◊〉 strange thing of Basill as namely that it groweth fairer and higher if it 〈◊〉 sowne with curses and injuries offered vnto it and further that there is a deadly 〈◊〉 betwixt ambeâ— basill for whereas amber or blacke jet it giuen to draw 〈◊〉 â—nto it vpon the touching of them it driueth and putteth farre from it the leaues and 〈◊〉 of Basill Such as are subject vnto head-ach or feare to be troubled therewith must shun the 〈◊〉 of Basill altogether for the smell thereof begetteth paine and heauinesse of the 〈◊〉 yeâ— sometimes it ingendreth in the head little small wormes like vnto Scorpiâ—â—s as we read to haue happened to a certaine Italian in our time as Monsieur â—â—oulier D. in physicke doth testifie in the beginning of his Practica in whose â—â—aine the oft smelling of Basill did beget a scorpion which caused him to endure â—â—treame paine and brought him to his death in the end The greatest vertue that 〈◊〉 hearbe can haue is that if a woman doe hold the roots of Basill in her hand toâ—ether with a Swallows feather when she is in trauell she shall be deliuered by and 〈◊〉 without any paine Rue as well that of the garden as the other which is wild doth not loue eyther a â—oist or cold ground neither yet a ground made verie fat with dung but rather a 〈◊〉 and drie ground free from vvind and where the Sunne shineth much in respect â—hereof it must be couered with ashes during the Winter time for the naturall heat 〈◊〉 the ashes doth cause it to resist the cold It may be sowne in March August and â—â—ptember although in deed it grow better set of roots or braunches than sowne â—hen it groweth old it degenerateth into a wooddie substance and therefore you â—ust cut the stalkes twice euerie yeare euen to the root to recouer his youth againe 〈◊〉 must not be suffered if possibly it may be let to flowre for if it be suffered to put 〈◊〉 any flowres it groweth so much the more drie Some report that this hearbe 〈◊〉 a maruailous propertie as that if it be toucht or come neere vnto be it neuer so 〈◊〉 by a woman that hath abused her bodie or that hath her termes that it dyeth 〈◊〉 and by To cause that it
Being taken in a Suffumigation or put vp into the secret places it helpeth conception The fume of this seed taken vpon the face doth make it pale and deadly And this doe they verie well know which are giuen ouer to counterfeit holinesse sincere and vpright dealing or the subduing or bringing vnder of the bodie Also the seed thereof bruised and boyled in Oyle is good against anie Impostâ—â—ation and assuageth anie great swelling Fennell findeth not it selfe agrieued with anie ayre or soyle howbeit naturally it is more enclining vnto a hot than vnto a cold ayre and vnto a grauellie ground rather than vnto a better onely it flyeth and refuseth a sandie and altogether barren ground as not thriuing anie whit therein It is sowne in the Spring and 〈◊〉 and it is planted likewise at the same times the stalkes are romoued hauing put forth a 〈◊〉 euerie one from another or else the whole tuft onely notwithstanding the sweet Fennell loueth rather to be sowne than planted and that rather in the Spring than in Autumne for so it groweth more sweet and beareth the greater seed It must be sowne in and remoued vnto a ground open vpon the Sunne and reasonably drie and seldome sowne as not aboue one yeare It must be kept verie cleane so long as it is in growing and vntill it be come vnto his full growth for otherwise bad weeds would choake it To haue verie sweet Fennell put your seed in a Marsellis figge and so sow it or else mix honey with the earth wherein you sow it or else steepe the seed in honey one or two nights before you sow it or else in the water of honey or in milke changing the same and putting new instead in such sort as we haue said in the handling of Melons Fennell as well the leafe as the seed is wholly dedicated to the clearing of the eyes and for this cause some draw the iuice of the leaues and stalkes while they are yet tender and drying it keepe it for the same effect Sometimes the water of Fennell is distilled all alone and by it selfe or else mixt with honey The seed of Fennell is good to restraine wind taken after meat notwithstanding that it is hard of digestion and bringeth but little nourishment vnto the bodie It may be eaten greene after the beginning of August as also the buds and tender stalkes may be preserued and likewise the branches as they beare their seed with salt and vineger in earthen pots to vse at all times and especially whiles there is raigning anie excessiue heat The vse of Fennell also causeth women to haue great store of milke Marierome groweth of seed roots or shoots as Sage doth It desireth shadowed places and that fat well manured and oft watered It will be the fairer if it be remoued in the beginning of Summer The roots must be defended from Rats and Mice for this kind of vermine doth it more iniurie than anie other which you shall find and proue true if it please you but to make triall thereof The iuice pressed out of the leaues and drawne vp into the nosâ—hrils doth purge the head made into a lee it dryeth the rheumes and scoureth away the filthinesse of the head The broth wherein it hath boyled is good against the beginning of Dropsie as also for them that cannot make water well and which are subiect vnto Gripings Mugwort whether it be set or sowne craueth a drie and stonie ground contrarie to another hearbe resembling it and called hearbe S. Iohn and groweth in marshes and it indeed the male Sothernwood Mugwort hath singular force against the bitings of Serpents vsed as well inward as outward as also against the Plague That it is so the Almaines doe sufficiently proue who account not themselues to haue anie more soueraigne remedie against the Plague than Mugwort made into ashes and afterward boyled into a chymicall salt to vse so soone as they perceiue themselues strucken with the Plague with foure or fiue ounces of good Wine or Malmesey and afterward to goe lay themselues downe in bed to cause themselues to sweat two or three houres It hath singular vertues against the diseases of the Matrix for the leaues put into a bagge or made in forme of a Cataplasme and applyed warme from vnder the nauell vnto the flankes doe procure the termes and doe appease in like manner the Matrix relaxed or out of order and place The leaues stamped with oyle of bitter Almonds and applyed vnto the stomacke doe stay the paine thereof There is made a singular Pesâ—arie 〈◊〉 bring downe womens termes with the leaues of Mugwort Myrrhe and Figges all being brayed with oyle of Ireos The root powdred and drunke with white wine doth so purge the Matrix as that it casteth forth the mole and after-birth The iuice is with good successe drunke against Opium the powder of the dried leaues drunke with wine the weight of three drammes is exceedingly good for the Sciatica Some say that the traueller which carrieth Mugwort the whole hearbe tyed vnto his legges or thighes shall not find himselfe wearie at all and that hanged at the entries of houses it with-holdeth all Incantations and Witch-crafts When awoman laboureth of child and cannot auoid her after-birth there is nothing better than to apply vnto her vnder her nauell vpon her thighes and flankes a Cataplasme made of Mogwort leaues boyled with Barly meale but presently after the child or after-birth is come â—orth you must take away this Cataplasme otherwise it would draw downe the Matrix also If you stampe the iuice of Mugwort with the yolkes of egges boyled adding thereto Hogges grease and the seed of Cummin and apply it all in manner of a Cataplasme vpon the Matrix you shall remedie all the paine that ordinarily doth follow after child-birth Tansie as well the great as the small groweth in most places as vpon the brinkes of Riuers and small Brookes and sometimes in drie places as wee â—ee it grow in Wayes and in the edges of high Wayes The seed or flowers drunke with milke or wine doth 〈◊〉 the Wormes and that is the cause why some call it Worme-baâ—e It serueth also to prouoke Vrine and to breake the Stone and Grauell of the reines especially in men as Fetherâ—ew doth the same in women Fetherfew doth require the like ordering and ground that Mugwort doth and they are also as it were of the like vertues both of them appropriate vnto the affects of the Matrix but Fetherâ—ew surpasseth in this that the flowers but principally the leaues stamped and applyed vnto the teeth or eare of the side that aketh it wholly assuageth the paine of the teeth And this is the cause why the Parisiaâ—s doe call it Espargoâ—tte because the leaues thus stamped and applyed doe cause to distill out of the mouth drop after drop the flegmaticke humour which causeth
to plant the Oliue tree in your Garden chuse out a place standing vpon the South or East quarter raysed sufficient high and open to the Westerne wind and which hath also rested a good while consisting of Potters clay vnderneath and aboue mingled with Sand and Fullers clay being also a close moist and not leane ground and in this you shall plant it about mid March not of sprouâ—s putting forth at the foot of the Oliue tree but of sienes shoots and branches that are young faire and fertile pulled from the boughes of the tree as thicke as the wrist and a foot and a halfe long verie round hauing a sleeke and glistering barke without boughes and cut downe in the new of the Moone raysing the thicke barke about the length of a fathome and letting the greene barke alone which is more fine and thinne And you shall set them in the ground in such manner as they did grow vpon the tree as the lower end downward and the vpper end vpward towards Heauen as when they grew vpon the tree for if you set them the vpper end downeward they will hardly grow but and if they grow yet they will abide barren for euer You must lay the root as also the head all ouer with dung mixt with ashes and set them on such a depth in the earth as that there may be aboue them some foure fingers thicknesse of fine small mould and afterward tread all close downe together round about the new-set Plant and so cast still more earth vnto it as it sinketh with treading or else you may beat it downe with a rammer of wood It must not be transplanted till after fiue yeares but in the meane time you must digge it euerie moneth and dung it with Goats dung euerie yeare in Autumne You must water it with raine water rather than with Fountaine Riuer or Well water And sometimes you must prune and câ—t away the superfluous branches especially the drie and withered shoots and the branches putting forth vpon it if so be that the plant be not become old feeble and broken in such sort as that it standeth in need to be renewed and planted againe for then it will be requisite to leaue growing one or two of the fairest and not to cut them downe before they haue growne eight yeares and then at such time as the Moone is decreasing and the season drie and faire And sometimes euerie eight yeare you must moisten the root of the Oliue trees that are lustie and well liking with the lees or grounds of Oliues to keepe them from wormes and other vermine which are oftentimes noysome vnto this Plant. You must also defend them from Cattell especially from the browsing of Goats which would make them altogether barren You must not plant anie other Plants neere vnto the Oliue tree except the Figge-tree or the Vine whose companie and neighbourhood it reioyceth greatly in and hateth especially the Oake yea euen to be planted in the place where the Oake was standing and is pulled vp for there it dieth presently The Oliue tree may be grafted in the bud with that kind of grafting called the Scutcheon and that of the thickest and strongest grafts that may be pickt out of the Oliue tree as we will further shew hereafter but it were but a lost labour to sow it of his stones and kernels The Oliue tree is lesse subiect vnto vermine than anie other because of his strong â—auour insomuch that it is as good as a shield vnto all other hearbes that are about it as also by his bitternesse it killeth Coleworts Lettuces and other moist hearbes which are sowne in the same ground with it Some hold which is a maruelous thing that the Oliue tree groweth more fruitfull and aboundant in encrease if it be planted and looked vnto by such as are virgins and haue not vnlawfully abused their bodies and other mens beds or otherwise and that therefore in some Countries the plaâ—ing of it is committed vnto such youths as are certainely knowne to be chast as also 〈◊〉 ordering and gouerning of them and that there they grow faire and bring 〈◊〉 much fruit You must gather them with your hand when you are got vp into the tree by a ladder you must not hurt the branches for that might make the Oliue tree barren it must be done in Nouember when they begin to change their colour and are verie blacke this time must be faire and not rainie yea and if it haue rained sometime before your gathering you must see that it be dried vp againe verie throughly Somâ— gather their Oliues after another fashion They beat them downe with long slender Poles or Pearches of Reed not of Wood and are carefull not to strike against them for feare of beating downe some of the branches together with the fruit but such manner of gathering Oliues is not good because the Oliues beaten downe or strucken doe wither incontinently and doe not yeeld so much oyle put also vnto this discommoditie that other which is that the tree is bruised and manie of his branches broken which is a great hinderance in the yeares following Furthermore Oliues are gathered for two ends either to make Oyles or to sent as dishes at Banquets to the end that they may prouoke appetite notwithstanding wee must not thinke that all sorts of Oliues indifferently doe serue for these 〈◊〉 vses for the greatest for the most part are better for Banquets and the lesse to 〈◊〉 Oyle out of But those which are intended to be reserued for Banquets must be carefully preserued with salt Brine or salt Vineger or Oyle or the grounds of Oyle or with Cure or the drosse of Grapes or Honey or Veriuice in manner as followeth They must be gathered with the hand hauing got vp into the tree with a ladder in faire weather when they begin to be black and are not as yet throughly ripe than afterward to spread them vpon a hurdle of Oziers and there picke and cull theâ— out at your pleasure putting aside all such as are spotted corrupted or verie small and reseruing onely those which are grosse and great fashioned like an egge full fast hauing a long and slender stone a close pulpe or flesh and in good quantitie This done they must be clouen in foure places or without anie such cleauing be put whole into an earthen pot and salt Brine or Veriuice powred vpon them or else Honey with Vineger and Salt or Oyle with Salt beaten small or else with Wine new from the Presse or such other liquor as hath beene alreadie spoken 〈◊〉 Some put in the bottome of the earthen pot vnder the Oliues or into their 〈◊〉 the leaues or ribbes of Penyryall Minâ—s Annise Masticke tree Oyle tree 〈◊〉 Rue Parsley Fennell and Bay tree leaues and the seeds of Fennell 〈◊〉 and Rue Finally you must keepe the vessell well stopped and put it in some Câ—llar to keepe but he that would keepe
commoditie haue we as the vvaxe which we enjoy by 〈◊〉 Bees yea what say you to honie it selfe that their admirable worke and no 〈◊〉 profitable and pleasant for the vse of man Let it not then seeme strange vnto you if we aduise the housholder to giue care and be carefull to keepe Bees about his 〈◊〉 and therewithall teach him in a few words what should be the ordering and goâ—â—â—ning of them and their hiues and withall at what time and houre it is good â—â—â—â—ther honie and vvaxe The housholder therefore shall first make choyce for the keeping of Beâ—â— of some fit and secret place in his Garden of Pleasure in the bottome of some 〈…〉 it be possible to the end they may the more easily rise on high to flie abroad to 〈◊〉 their food as also for that when they be laden they dâ—â—cend the more easily dowâ—ward with their load But let vs see to it especially that the place be open to 〈◊〉 South Sunne and yet notwithstanding neither exceeding in heat not in cold 〈◊〉 temperate and that the same by hill wall or some other rampart be defended 〈◊〉 winds and tempests and so also at that they may flie their sundrie and 〈…〉 for to get diuerâ—â—â—ie of pastures and so againe may returne to their little cottages laden with their composition of honie and againe in such a place as wherein 〈…〉 great quantitie of Thyme Organie Sauorie Iuie Winter Sauorie vvild 〈◊〉 Rosemarie Sage Corneflag or Gladdon Gilloflowres Violets white 〈◊〉 â—â—ses flowre-gentill Basill Saffron Beanes Poppie Melilot Milfoile and 〈◊〉 sweet hearbes and flowers wherein there is no bitternesse and in like 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—cient good â—â—ore of trees of good smell as Cypresse trees Cedar-trees 〈…〉 Pine-trees Turpentine-trees Iuie-trees Masticke-trees and also fruit-trees as â—â—mond-trees Peach-trees Peare-trees Apple-trees Cherrie-trees and other 〈◊〉 besides all this maruellous great store of hearbes and those of the rarest and 〈◊〉 knowne and withall such as grow in well tilled grounds and pastures for these 〈◊〉 them to grow rich in good vvaxe as the wild Radish the wild Bell flowre 〈◊〉 Succorie and blacke Pionie and besides these wild Parseneps and garden â—â—â—â—neps and Carots Broome and the Strawberrie-tree are not altogether good 〈…〉 make honie the Elme-tree causeth them to haue the flux of the bellie as also the 〈◊〉 males or spurges Box maketh honie of a bad smell and which troubleth their 〈◊〉 that eat it and yet notwithstanding profitable for them which haue the Falling 〈◊〉 But if at any time you shall chaunce to haue any of your stockes to 〈◊〉 or to dye by what chaunce soeuer it shall be you shall then by no meanes 〈…〉 combeâ— more than cleansing them from all manner of filth and take of the 〈…〉 honie you can get damaâ—ke Rose-water and the juice of Fenell and 〈◊〉 veâ—e well together then with a bunch of Fennell dipt in the same first 〈…〉 combes verie well and also rubbe the hiue within therewith lastly rubbe the 〈◊〉 whereon the standeth with the same that you did the hiue and you shall be 〈…〉 â—ured that the first swarme that riseth either in your own or in any other mans 〈◊〉 if it be not aboue a mile or two from you will knit without any other 〈◊〉 king in that stocke The place must be closed in with a verie strong hedge or else with good 〈◊〉 for feare both of beasts and theeues for kine and sheepe doe eat vp their flowres and â—eat the dew off from the flowres whereof the Bees should load them and which is so well beloued of the little prettie birds yea and that also which falleth downe at the breake of the day in faire weather and is purified on the leaues and flowers of the plants hearbes and wild trees but of all tame beasts there is none that doth so damnifie these little pretties vvretches as Swine and Goats for the Goats wast their food and jumpe against their houses yea and oftentimes beat them downe the Swine besides the wasting and eating vp of their food rubbing themselues against the hiues doe ouerturne them and the seats whereon they be set sheepe in like manâ—er loosing some of their lockes of Wooll vpon the hedges are cause that the â—illie poore Bees now and then become intangled therein when they labour to get their â—â—od and so leaue their carcases for a pledge hennes likewise haue a gluttonous apâ—â—â—tite towards them Serpents also doe sometimes take vp their Innes in their hiues 〈◊〉 to take away this casualtie at once and for euer you must plant Rue round about 〈◊〉 in good quantitie in as much as venimous beasts cannot by any meanes abide â—â—his hearbe Callamint also is verie good to be planted for the same purposes neere vnto the â—â—ues so is also the heaâ— be â— Angelica or Gentiana but aboue all things you must be â—â—â—â—full to make your hiues exceeding warme that is to say of what stuffe soeuer â—â—â—ey be made you shall on the out-side daube them better than two fingers thicke with 〈◊〉 and Cows dung mixt together and ouer them a vvarme coat of long Ryeâ—â—aw couering the hiue from the top to the bottome and hanging some what below 〈◊〉 stone Their place also must be farre off from the dunghill common draughts or issues 〈◊〉 marshes fennes dropping dirtie and myrie places which might hurt them 〈◊〉 ill smells and for that thâ—â—e prettie beasts are deadly enemies to all filthinesse â—â—d vncleannesse but rather let their place of abode be neere some â—â—all brooke of â—â—ter naturall and of it selfe continually running or by art in some chanell that will 〈◊〉 along the water drawne out of some vvell or fountaine and this rundle must 〈◊〉 by the edges stones or boughes of trees for the bees to light vpon But whatsoeuer the place is whether in the garden of Pleasure or elsewhere alâ—â—it we haue assigned this to be one of the fruits of pleasure to be gâ—thered in the garâ—â—n of Pleasure it must not be hemmed in with high walls on euerie side and yet if 〈◊〉 feare of theeues you were disposed to raise them the higher then you must pearse 〈◊〉 wall some three feet from the ground and worke it with small holes for the bees 〈◊〉 through at and some twentie or thirtie paces off to build some little house if 〈◊〉 be so disposed for him to dwell in who hath the charge of looking to them and 〈◊〉 also to put his tooles CHAP. LXII Of the fashion of the Hiues and the manner of setting them for Bees A Place and standing for Bees being thus appointed the next thing is according to that fashion which may be most conuenient for the Countrie to make hiues Some thinke the best are those which are made of quarters of sawne boards vvide ynough but not verie long others you must haue 〈◊〉 long and narrow that so you may haue two sorts of hiues that is to say great 〈◊〉 small ones the great ones for such as
must pricke their ends in a Turâ—ep that is new gathered for by this meanes their naturall iuice and huâ—â—e will be preserued or else wrap them about with earth and with a cloth or other thiâ—â— that they may be fit to be handled as that they may be grafted and not dried â—ay by the wind and force of the Sunne or else shut them close betwixt two 〈◊〉 or Reedes putting them thereupon in honey Some the better to keepe them lay them betwixt two Tyles neere vnto some Riuer and couered well with earth If they be sent you from afarre looke that you goe not about to graft them before you haue first sleeped them a certaine time in water somewhat to refresh their iuice and to set in strength againe their â—eebled and appalled force For to gather them you must cut them off betwixt the old wood and the new in such soâ—t as that there be some of the old wood vnder one of the old eyelets of the graft and so also as this eyelet or little eye may be behind the graft when it shall be set out of the cleâ—â— of the plant but and if this eyelet or little eye be verie small then it were better to cut it away You may make of one long graftâ— two or three trunchions of which also you may at anie time make verie good grafts and so let goe that other with partie woods beginning at the greatest eyelet of the same and making incision close vnder it to fit it for to be set in the â—tocke In cutting your graft make incision vpon the one side and vpon the other vpward on high let it be well taken downe and squared that so it may the better close to the stocke of the plant and likewise let it be so flatted as that by measure it may be all one in length with the elest of the plant when it is put downe into it and yet it is not required that it should ioyne close with the same in all places When you cut the grafts of hart-Cherrie-trees and Plum-trees doe not flat them so much as you did the others for they haue a thicker and greater pith which you must beware not to come neere vnto neither vpon the one side nor vpon the other saue onely that at the eâ—ds they must be verie flat And further if the same incision be not made for the taking downe and diminishing of anie moe than one side it will be better than and if it should be so ordered also on the other side and cut byas as wedges are which are made for to cleaue wood withall and so at the end you should take downe both sides after the manner of the head of a Speare In cutting your graft you must looke well that you raise not the vttermost barke from the wood and that withall you leaue it thicker than that which is on the other edge within CHAP. XI Of the preparing of the young Plant whereon you meane to graft NOw when you haue chosen your Graft you must likewise make choice of your Plant which that it may be a faire one must be right and streight round not wreathen of a beautifull colour a sound near and smooth barke without knots verie flourishing and moist and of a tree that hath borne fruit It must also enjoy the like good soyle and situation it did before in the place where you gathered the graft if it be possible it must bud and blossome at one and the same time to the end that the new sience may take the more easier footing and kinder nourishment there And if in case the Plant were wreathen ioyne the graft cunningly vnto it and be sure that in fitting of it you make them both ioyne well together and euer matching the grossest Plants with the grossest Grafts And in as much as the Plants are verie little therefore you must cut them low and neere vnto the earth and that rather with a Knife than with a Hooke or Saw Some say that a Saw doth so shake and loosen the barke as that afterward it doth not take so easily with the graft but that makes no matter because neither the barke nor wood doe euer take with the graft but the skinne or barke which groweth and swelleth vp from the foot of the tree is that which coupleth it selfe vnto the graft worketh all and by it selfe encreaseth making a bodie of the said foot not that the sawed wood doth ioyne it selfe with the said graft but abideth dead If it be of the thicknesse of a â—inger or thereabout you must cut it to the length of a foot or halfe a foot from the earth byas-wise like the fashion of a Goats foot for to cleaue it and for therein onely one graft If it be as thicke as a cudgell cut the stocke round with a Saw vp on high a foot or two from the ground to put two good grafts into the cleft thereof of which afterward you shall cut away the least and weakest when they begin to bud If the plant be as thicke as an arme cut it likewise round some two or three foot high from the ground for to cleave it and set therein three grafts two in a cleft and one betwixt the barke and the wood and that vpon the side that bâ—h the most roome If it be as thicke as a legge or more cut it foure of fiue foot high from the ground and cleaue it crosse and set therein foure grafts or cleaue it with one onely cleft and graft two in the cleft and two betwixt the wood and the barkeâ— or which is better graft them all betwixt the stocke and the barke when the sappe shall be vp for the wood of such great plants doth pinch and wrinch the graft mightily if you put not a wedge of greene wood into the cleft After that the plant is cut either with a Saw or with a Knife cleanse the wound either with a little Saw-knife or with some other thing then make it plaine with a knife that is cleane and not infected with anie euill smell and again make it cleane againe the second time that so it may not be infected anie manner of way with theyron because the sappe of the tree may be corrupted by it then chuse out the best place in all the stocke to fasten your graft vnto without anie care of making the cleft on what side soeuer it be I speake this because it pleaseth some to affirme That the tree ought not to be clouen on that side that the wind standeth at such time as they goe about to graft it It is true that and if the wind should proue great and with all as North-east that then you must turne your backe vpon it and stand betwixt the wind and the cleft at such time as you are sitting and putting in your graft because it is sharpe and scorching verie dangerous vnto all sorts of plants as also fruits of what condition soeuer they be but
the middest together with the residue of the eaile which you haue left behind and for the lifting vp of the said graft in Scutcheon after that you haue cut the barke of the shoot round about without cutting of the wood within you must take it gently with your thumb and in pulling it away you must presse vpon the wood from which you pull it that to you may bring the bud and all away together with the Scutcheon for and if you should leaue it behind with the wood then the rest of the Scutcheon were nothing worth You shall find out if the Scutcheon be nothing worth if looking within it when it shall be pulled away from the wood of the shoot you find it to haue a hole within but more manifestly if the bud be stayed behind with the wood in the shoot when it ought to haue beene in the Scutcheon Thus your Scutcheon being well raised and taken off hold it a little by the taile betwixt your lips without wetting of it euen vntil you haue cut the barke of the tree where you would graft it and looke that it be cut without anie wounding of the wood within after the fashion of a 〈◊〉 but somewhat longer than the Scutcheon that you haue to set in it and in no place cutting the wood within After you haue made incision you must open it and make it gape wide on both sides but in all manner of gentle handling and entreatie and that with little 〈◊〉 of bone and separating the wood and the barke a little within euen so much at the Scutcheon is in length and breadth you must take heed that in doing hereof you doe not hure the brake This done take your Scutcheon by the end and the 〈◊〉 which you haue left remaining and put it into the incision made in the tree listing vp 〈◊〉 the two sides of the incision with the said little Scizars of bone and cause the said Scutcheon to ioyne and lye as close as may be vnto the wood of the tree being 〈◊〉 hath beene said in weighing a little vpon the end of the rind so cut and let the vpper part of the Scutcheon lye close vnto the vpper end of the incision or barke of the said tree afterward bind your Scutcheon about with a band of hempe as thicke as the pen of a quill more or lesse according as the tree is small or great taking the same hempe in the middest to the end that eyther part of it may performe a little seruice in wreathing and binding of the said Scutcheon into the incision of the Tree and it must not be tied too strait for that would keepe it from taking the joyning of the one sappe to the other being hindered thereby and neither the Scutcheon noâ— yet the hempe must be moist or wet And the more justly to bind them together begin at the backside of the tree right ouer against the middest of the incision and from thence come forward to joyne them before aboue the eyelet and taile of the Scutcheon crossing your band of hempe so oft as the two ends meet and from hence recurning backe againe come about and tie it likewise vnderneath the eyelet and thus cast your band about still forward and backward vntill the whole cleft of the incision be couered aboue and below with the said hempe the eyelet onely excepted and his taile which must not be couered at all this taile will fall away one 〈◊〉 after another and that shortly after the ingrafting if so be that the Scutcheon will take Leaue your trees and Scutcheons thus bound for the space of one month and the thicker a great deale longer time afterward looke them ouer and if you 〈◊〉 them growne together vntie them or at the least cut the hempe behind and leâ—â— them vncouered cut also your branch two or three fingers aboue that so the impe may prosper the better and thus let them remaine till after Winter about the moneth of March and Aprill If you perceiue that the bud of your Scutcheon swell and come forward then cut off the tree three fingers or thereabout about the Scutcheon for and if it should be cut off too neere the Scutcheon aâ— such time as it purtech forth his first blossome it would be a meanes greatly to hinder the flowing of it and cause also that it should not thriue and prosper so well after that one yeare 〈◊〉 past and that the shoot beginneth to be strong beginning to put forth the 〈◊〉 bud and blossome you must goe forward to cut off in biace wife the three fingers 〈◊〉 the top of the tree which you left there when you cut it in the yeare going before 〈◊〉 hath beene said When your shoot shall haue put forth a good deale of length you must sticke downe there euen hard joyning thereunto little stakes tying theâ— together verie gently and easily and these shall stay your shoots and prop theâ— vp leâ—ting the wind for doing any harme vnto them In this sort you may easily graft white Rose-trees in red Rose-trees and red Rose-trees in white Rose-trees to haue Roses of diuers sorts vpon one and the same Rose-tree You may graft after the same manner two or three Scutcheons prouided that they be all of one side for they would not be equally set together in height because that so they might all become staruelings neither would they be one directly ouer another for the lower would stay the rising vp of the sap of the Tree and so those which were aboue should consume in penurie and vndergoe the foresaid inconuenience You must note that the Scutcheon which is gathered from the Sience of a Tree whose fruit is sowre must be cut in a square forme and not in the plaine â—ashion of a Scutcheon It is ordinarie to graft the sweet Quince-tree bastard Peach-tree Abricot-tree Iujube-tree sowre Cherrie-tree sweet Cherrie-tree and Chesnut-tree after this fashion how beit they might be grafted in the cleft more easily and more profitably although that diuers be of a contrarie opinion As thus for example Take of the grafted of the sweet Quince-tree and bastard Peach-tree of the fairest wood and best fed that you can find growing vpon the wood of two yeares old because the wood is not so firme and solide as the others and you shall graft them vpon small plum-tree stockes being of the thicknesse of ones thumbe these you shall cut after the fashion of a goats foot you shall not goe about to make the cleft of any moe sides than one being about a root high from the ground you must open it with your small wedge which being thus grafted it will seems to you that it is open but of one side afterward you shall wrap it vp with a little mosse putting thereto some gummed Waxe or Clay as hath beene said before and bind it vp with Oziar to â—eepe it the surer because the stocks is not strong ynongh of it selfe for to hold it and
and sience belonging thereto and so verie speedily graft it altogether vpon the braunches of another Tree cleauing the barke into three or foure and fastening it thereto verie close and strait and vnto the head of the stocke if so be that the morsell goe into the barke of the other without hurting of his owne barke it being thus grafted will take without any other thing or preparatiue notwithstanding it would doe no euill to put tough â—ome or earth tempered thicke vpon the said joynt and to tie it well with some little peece of Woollen cloth about the morsell not touching the eyelet in any case In Iune and Iuly you may graft in this manner on high vpon braunches without vsing of any band thereto and when this morsell hath well taken some doe vse to cut off that part of the branch that is aboue Some graft vpon poles after this manner vvith a French wimble they pearce a pole of Willow or other white wood in many places but with this caueat that the holes be halfe a foot one from another afterward they put in these holes thus pearced great store of shoots of such Trees as they are disposed to graft and thus they set them in the ground in such sort as that nothing but the end of the shoot is seene alter which if so be they take the pole is broken and they remoued into other places Some there are that make impes of Peare-trees and Apple-trees in a greene lath of vvitch-bazell where they put their grafts betwixt the barke and the wood and going afterward to chuse a moist place therein they burie the said greene lath halfe a foot deepe leauing the shoots a foot long of which they gather some impes which they cut away as also the band of the lath where they are grafted and transplant them 〈◊〉 other places where it liketh them best but this is not counted the surestand most infallible way In Normandie likewise they make plants of sprigs and new braunches growing vp from the â—eet of the Peare-trees and Apple-trees these they cleaue in foure quarâ—ers and in the middest of them they put the end of a Barly care or else a Beane and 〈◊〉 reported by that meanes to breed good and naturall trees without any other maâ—ner of grafting of them but I am of opinion that neither the Beanes not yet the Barly doe any good for the helping of them to take root because that commonly â—uch sâ—ockes as are planted doe not put forth root at the end of the foot but higher 〈◊〉 almost euen at the top of the earth there being the most nourishing part of the â—arth Some put young braunches and sprigs into the ground yea and the thin rindes of â—lum-trees which afterward take root and thereupon they plant abricots but this â—ommonly happencth in a moist good and fruitfull soyle Some doe ordinarily plant stockes of the Garden-quince-tree and graft Peare-â—rees thereon as also Apple-trees and great Peaches the fruits whereof tast as if they â—ere Peach-plums but they must be grafted halfe a foot within the ground because â—hey neuer haue any faire trunke and being grafted thus low the graft will put forth â—oots of it selfe which will make it endure and continue the longer time Some haue likewise found out a way to graft the vine which is a verie singular â—nd profitable thing for hauing a vine that is not of a good plant you may by grafâ—ing of it soonet come to haue fruit than by pulling of it vp and planting another 〈◊〉 the place Some graft vpon the foot of a plant which is a great fault because that at the most â—rom thence they cannot gather aboâ—e two or three impes putting things also in adâ—enture as well by reason they are not sure that they will take as also because that the â—ranch is not strong ynough to defend it selfe from the wind Notwithstanding seeâ—ng that the vine taketh root of it selfe you may make a triall what it will doe by grafâ—ing it vpon a branch after this manner Make a great pit like as if you would burie some Tree then make your choyce â—rom the foot or stocke of some vine which pleaseth you not of certaine braunches â—hich you shall find fit and meet to receiue grafts whâ—ther they be new wood or of two or three yeares growth cut them off and cleaue them some three or foure fingeâ— euen vp vnto some ioint then sharpen the other branch which you meane to graft and sticke it in the cleft of the other ioyning together the rind of the clouen one 〈◊〉 euerie side in such sort as that they may seeme to be but one wrapping round aboue some mosse and after binding it vp with some pack-thread or else with Ozieâ—◠〈◊〉 well Hauing thus done prepare a place where you will set it and lay donâ—â— your your graft after the manner and fashion that you vse in propagating then lay alide Horse dung not throughly rotten vpon the place where you haue joyned the 〈◊〉 branches By this meanes of one Vine-stocke you shall make manie turning in the earth vpon your grafts of the stocke of the Vine as is done when one layâ—â—h Vines in the ground Afterward acquaint your grafts with little stakes as is vsed in propagating and these impes doe thriue and grow as well as the propagated and 〈◊〉 fruit as soone You may likewise make the like kind of grafts vpon Pomegranat-trees Nut-trees Rose-trees and other such like low and little trees CHAP. XVIII Speciall obseruations of grafting planting and sowing of Trees for to haue exquisite fruits thereof IF you graft a graft that bringeth forth a late fruit vpon a tree that bringeth forth an early fruit the graft will bring forth an early fruit in his kind as and if you graft a Peach vpon a reclaimed Mulberrie-tree it will come two moneths sooner The same will come to passe if you graft vpon a Vine stocke or a blacke Vine vpon a Cherrie-tree or a Medlar-tree vponâ— Goose-berrie-tree or reclaimed Mulberrie-tree The cause of this hastened 〈◊〉 is the nature of the tree whereupon you haue grafted which being the onely 〈◊〉 to the graft and being of a timely fruit in respect of the nature of the graft doth 〈◊〉 and bring forward the fruit On the contrarie if the tree be of a late fruit and the graft of a timely the graft will afterward bring forth late fruit in his kind and staying after his due and wonted time as if it be an Apple-tree vpon a Quince-tree 〈◊〉 Apples will proue to hang on the tree till Nouember and will take so much after the nature of the Quince-tree as that they will keepe two yeares By how much the 〈◊〉 you graft vpon a tree of the same kind and condition that the graft or bud is Apple-tree vpon an 〈…〉 an Apple-tree a reclaimed one vpon a reclaimed one or a wild 〈◊〉 vpon a wild one by so much the fruit becommeth greater and is of a
is a rule to stand generall in and for all Fruit-trees but as for particular kinds of Trees it is verie well knowne that euerie particular Tree craueth his seuerall 〈◊〉 particular soyle whence it may gather fit and agreeable nourishment for it 〈◊〉 as Theophrastus testifieth In like manner one desireth a diuers kind of placing and situation from the other Wherefore the trees which craue the refreshment of hauing their stockes taken vp doe commonly thriue better in valleyes than in high places as well for that their seat must not be altogether so drained of moisture as the higher places be as also for that the moisture which is in higher grounds conueyeth it selfe and distilleth into the lower and hollow whether it be raine or anie spring rising from thence In watrie places you must not make your pit verie deepe wherein you mean to plant your tree but in drie grounds you must set them somewhat more deepe neiâ—her yet must you heape too much earth in vpon those pits when you fill them vp againe that so the raine may the better stay about them and water them That which is commonly receiued as that in good ground there grow good fruits must be vnderstood with respect had to the naturall goodnesse that the fruit hath in 〈◊〉 selfe if both the industrie and skill of man to husband and keepe it neat and deliâ—â—er it when anie inconuenience presseth vpon it to drie and to season it so as that it may yeeld his fruit in due time be not wanting for these failing the fruit will likewise greatly faile of his goodnesse tast and durablenesse and so will falsifie the generall rule aboue named Set downe with your selfe to remoue your trees into so good a ground or rather better than that from whence you tooke them vp hauing respect to other especiall obseruations besides to be obserued according as will be required of the particular natures of euerie one And if it is be possible remoue them into the like situation for the receiuing of the Sunne-shine vnto they which they were first set and planted in and that you may not faile hereof marke their barke vpon such or such a quarter and set 〈◊〉 vpon the same againe in remouing of it But this obseruation as I must confesse is not alwaies kept for the reasons aboue named Also plant those of a forward Spring in a late soyle and a late soyle in a hot â—round The greatest part of trees doe delight in the South Sunne and to be seated vpon â—ome Sunnie banke from the Westerne wind as being verie contrarie vnto them â—specially to Almond-trees Abricot-trees Mulberrie-trees Figge-trees and Pomeâ—ranate-trees but principally from the North-east wind because it is sharpe swithâ—â—ing verie hurtfull for all sorts of plants euen to all fruits of what qualitie soeuer that â—hey be but chiefely when they are in blossome and that because it bloweth from off â—he Sea as also for that it is halfe North which is verie sharpe but not so dangerous 〈◊〉 the North-east and some say that this wind bloweth once a yeare as in the Spring â—nd that it spoyleth buds especially those of the Vine Vnde versus Vae tibi Galerna â—re quam fit clausa Taberna On the contrarie Chesnut-trees Cherrie-trees that beare 〈◊〉 sowre fruit Quince-trees and Plum-trees doe not much affect or sport and delight â—hemselues either with cold or much heat In watrie places trees commonly grow great and beare much fruit and leaues but â—hey are not of anie commendable rellish colour or durablenesse yea they beare â—ruit commonly the yeare they are set if they be accustomed to beare Trees must be â—et the thicker in a fruitfull soyle If you meane to plant trees in a cold place and that yet the tree should not be hurt of the cold you must plant them on the Sunnie side of the banke from the North â—ut towards the South CHAP. XXI Of the place and time wherein euerie Fruit-tree delighteth to be sowne planted and grafted in particular and first of the Almond-tree THe Almond-tree delighteth in hot places looking towards the South or East or where the ayre at the least is moderate as vpon the tops of hills or places neere vnto hills that are somewhat stonie and grauâ—lie stonie or marlie in which places it doth not onely flourish well being planted and blossome aboundantly but beareth therewithall great quantitie of drie Almonds as also hard and well-rellisht ones But contrariwise if it be planted in a moist and watrie ground and cold place it neither groweth well not beareth fruit well neither yet continueth long The fit time for the setting of it is about the Winter Solsâ—ice which is the eleuenth day of December euen vnto the end of the same moneth or somewhat after for the plant of this tree being forward and early in putting forth buds if it were planted in the Spring time it might let slip and loosen the time of the yeare which might be the fittest for the maintaining and comforting of his blossome If you would haue it to grow of the stone vnbroken and if I may so say of his seed you must let it be in Ianuarie and all Februarie in such places as are temperate or in October and all the moneth of Nouember in places that are hat And thus to cause it to grow of his fruit you must take new Almonds thicke ones hauing white shells verie porous and spongie and lay them in steepe for the space of twelue houres in honied water and after this digge them in the earth foure finger deepe the sharpe end downeward and after to water them three of foure times a moneth It groweth also of shoots and siences but the sience must be taken from the top of the tree full of pith sound of barke and cut vnder the knot And as concerning the grafting of it you must take the time of Autumne for as hath beene said this tree is a quick-spur and fore-rider but and if you stay till the Spring time you shall breake it off when the sience is fully put forth And for the chusing of grafâ—s that will take well you must take them vp on high and on the top of the tree and not from the middest much lesse from below and these grafts you may graft either in the bud or in the cleft and vpon a tree of his owne kind or vpon the peach or Plum-tree indeed the Almond-tree that is grafted is not of such growth or so â—â—â—â—full as that which is planted The good Farmer must plant and make grow great store of Almond-trees seeing they are not chargeable to maintaine neither yet their fruit to keepe but rather of greater profit and lesser losse than anie other seeing that euen vnder them Come will grow iolly and faire the Almond-tree hauing but a few leaues and those little ones The barren Almond-tree will become fruitfull and beare if you lay open the roots in Winter or else if you pierce
and March in cold countries and in temperate countries in which of the two seasons you vvill But such as would haue it to grow of the nut in Nouember and all December must obserue and see that the nut which they would burie in the earth for this purpose be but a yeare old of a fairâ— shell sound and drie and if it be in the moneth of Februarie or any part of March the nut must be steeped as some are of opinion for foure or fiue daies aforehand in some childs vrine or else as I gesse in cows milke for the tree that shall grow therof will beare his nuts as little displeasing either in eating or in the oyle thereof as if it were the fruit or oyle of sweet almonds If you would haue this tree to grow faire and full of nuts of a good tast you must remoue it but let it be possessed of the earth where it grew either of a graft or otherwise and in remouing of it some find it not good that the small rootes should be cut away as it is vsed in other Trees both because the Maister-rootes doe gather footing and strength thereby as also for that being as it vvere relieued by such shootes vvould become more strong and more able to pierce the earth and to sucke and suppe vp greater quantitie of the moisture of the same I could be of mind that when it is remoued which must not be but when it is two or three yeares old there should be taken from it at that time whatsoeuer surplusage and surcharge of roots euen so manie as may be tearmed bastard or by-roots and not of the master or maine ones for as for the cutting off of the ends of the great roots that is done but for the opening of their mouth that so they may the better sucke in the moisture and iuice of the earth if one may so speake of the new nurse which you haue appointed and assigned it In respect of his pits and holes whereinto you remoue it they must be digged of a great depth and widenesse and be well stirred round about and set distant thirtie or fortie foot one from another that so it may the better spread forth his branches which are wont to couer and occupie a great deale of roome round about it and if they should be anie neerer one vnto another their boughes would grow one into another whereas they craue to haue their sides free and open And this is the reason why they should be planted vpon the borders of grounds lying vpon high wayes for by this meanes the great compasse which their branches take doe not hurt seed grounds or not aboue halfe and by this meanes the looking-glasse wherein the husbandman may behold such hinderance and disaduantage as might come by scarcitie that yeare shall not be farre off from him or his hinds vvho hold it for certaine that great store of Walnuts doth prefage great spoyle of corne To set a Tree of some other kind amongst them is no more profitable than to lay the inheritance of some base and meane fellow betwixt the demaines of two great noble men for the Walnut-trees which are naturally great spreaders in the earth vvith their great roots vvill robbe it and eat it out of food and sustenance euen home to his owne doores and couering it aboue vvill take from it both the Sunne and the libertie of the ayre But in as much as the things of this vvorld are so framed as that there is nothing vvhich hath not his enemie you must beware of placing the Walnut-tree either vpon seed or plant neere to the oake as also not to set it in the place where any oake hath stood at any time before because that these two Trees haue a naturall hatred one vnto another and cannot couple or sure together The Walnut-tree is grafted in Februarie vpon it selfe and vpon the Plum-tree in a clouen hole howbeit the Walnut-tree doth not profit much or thriue when it is grafted vpon anie other tree than vpon it selfe because it abhorreth the companie of all other trees It must be digged about that so it may not grow hollow by reason of the grasse It must be remoued in hot and drie places in October when the leaues are fallen and yet better in Nouember but in cold places in February and in March and at either time in temperate places This is a maruellous thing of this tree that the more it is beaten yearely the more fruit it beareth the yeare after following although the boughes be brused and broken for which cause good farmers are carefull to geld and weed out some of the boughes of such a Tree and withall doe make great and diâ—ers incisions with some edge-toole in the stocke of the tree If you cast and spread ashes sundrie times and oft at the root and vpon the stocke of the tree the nut will haue a more tender shell and a more brittle kernell It vvill grow fairer and beare fruit sooner if you strike a copper naile into it euen to the middest or else a wedge of vvood It will not let drop any vnripe fruit if you hang at some of the branches or tie vpon his roots white mullem or some rent and 〈◊〉 fustian taken out of a dunghill Walnuts will grow without shells if you breake the shell vvithout brusing the kernell and afterward wrap the sayd kernell in vvooll or in the fresh leaues of the vine and so put it into the earth If the Walnut-tree displease you in respect of the harme it may doe vnto his neighbour trees you may cause it to die and presently drie away if you strike into the root thereof a verie hot naile or a wedge of Myrtle-tree-wood or if you put beanes to his roots or a cloth dipped in the 〈◊〉 of women Walnuts must be gathered when they begin to cast their rind and when they are gathered they may not by and by be layed vp but first dried in the Sunne The profits that the Walnut-tree yeeldeth vnto his maister are infinite for of it he may gather to make excellent preserues taking his nuts about Midsommer it yeeldeth wood for the kitchin by being lopt of dead boughes wherewith it is oftentimes troubled but in cutting off this dead vvood care must be had not to cut it off round because it would be a meanes for to make way for the raine to enter in and the vvet of the night would settle therein and in tract of time rot it to the heart but it must be cut biace and with a ridge that so neither raine nor the vvet of the night may get in or rest vpon it It giueth a rind which is good for the things spoken of hereafter it affordeth shells which make good ashes it affordeth a kernell to be serued at the table seruiceable in the kitchin and in lampes and furthermore of the drosse of the kernell some
about it and to wax old which it casteth forth or else by reason of the mosâ—e which it gathereth and for that cause it would haue his gumme taken away at the beginning of cold weather and the mosâ—e rubbed off with a rough Linnen cloth or a mosâ—e rubber of Horse-haire and this at all times There happeneth likewise vnto it an vindisposedesse through the fault of the Gardiner not casting the ground about the foot or cutting off the rotten and corrupt wood whereupon it turneth in and rowleth it selfe vp into small balls sometimes in one place sometimes in moe and this is a disease which being neglected doth spread it selfe in the end all ouer the tree from one end to another and bringeth it wholly to distruction and therefore so soone as you shall see the sicke tree in this sort to crumple and runne vpon heapes you must cut off verie cleane all the boughes thus diseased whereof it would be murdered and killed euen to the sound and whole branches and withall to order husband it in all good sort about the foot to the taking away of this euili humor which in this maner crooketh and causeth to turne round his wood There happeneth also sometimes by reason of some secret cause that it so languisheth as that it giueth ouer to beare fruit for the putting of it in heart againe you must lay open his roots and cast vpon them the lees of oyle mingled with water or else the stale of oxen or mans vâ—ine or cast vpon the roots the ashes of Vine branches throughly boyled All Plums in generall are cold and moist more or lesse the sweet ones lesse the sowre and sharpe ones more The sweet Plums haue vertue to loosen the belly and yet they will purge more strongly if at such time as when the Plum-tree is young there be taken from it some part of the pith of the stocke or else one of his boughes and the place filled vp againe with Scammonie They will in like manner procure sleepe if you put into the said emptied places the iuice of Mandrakes or Opium Sharpe and tart Plums are giuen to stay the belly There is great account made in Prouence of the Plums of Brignoles by reason of their pleasant tast In France throughout and euerie where else there is a speciall account made of Damaske Plums which are of three sorts the black red and violet colour all of them prouing verie excellent in the Countrey of Tourraine for from thence are sent throughout all France of them dried which are vsed at all times The Plums of Pardigoine are likewise greatly esteemed by reason of their plumpenesse and pleasant tast Furthermore Dates are verie rare and scarce in this Country namely those which come neere to the Dates of other strange Countries which are more pleasant relished than anie other Some likewise make account of Rhemish Plums dried by reason of the pleasant tartnesse and sharpnesse which they haue CHAP. XXXIX Of the Pomegranate-tree COncerning the Pomegranate-tree it requireth little husbanding 〈◊〉 yeeldeth small delight to the sight by reason of his ill-fauored branches and boughs saue so long as it is bearing his fruit before it come to perfect ripenesse and yet put out quartered and as it were laid open to thâ— shew out of his coat and couering this tree is the most delightsome to behold of all others the frame and fashion of whose flower and fruit being well considered iâ—â— worke of Nature right admirable there is not that raine that scorching heat of thâ— Sunne nor yet almost that fading and decaying old age which can cause it to forgoe his goodly shew of Rubies and yet notwithstanding how famous a thing soeâ—er it be it groweth without anie daintie or delicate handling and looking to and that sometimes at the foot of a wall sometimes in the midst of a heape of stones and sometimes amongst the hedges by high waies sides It is true that it craueth a hot Countrey and where it may not be debarred of the Sunne and if it happen to be set at any time in a fat ground it maketh his best aduantage of it being in this respect like vnto the Oliue-tree whereof we haue spoken before And if it be in such a Countrey as iâ— fit for it you need not to thinke either of the digging or vnder-digging of it for it reckoneth not of seeing it selfe set in a great heape of stones as neither to breake crosse-wise through a ruinous wall neither ceaseth â—t for anie such thing from bringing forth his good and pleasant fruit but in cold Countries where it hardly groweth it would be digged and husbanded about the foot twice a yeare that is to say in Autumne and in the Spring It will grow either vpon roots or of grafting in the cleft and that vpon it selfe about March or Aprill but and if you will plant it vpon somâ— branch that hath roots you must chuse such a one as is a handfull thicke and make it a delightsome and fine moulded pit Some would haue it thrust into the earth with a stake by it as is vsuall in setting Willow plants but I cannot find that this way of thrusting it downe thus into the earth doth proue to anie good The Pomegranate-tree will not loose his flower if when as it is flowred you compasse the flocke about with a ring or hoope of Lead or with the old slough of an Adder The wine of Pomegranats is made of this sort You must take the ripe kernels cleane and free from their skins and put them in the presse where they must be pressed by and by Some straine them through bagges made for the purpose some 〈◊〉 them to be put into vessels vntill it be well fined in the end they powre oyle vpoâ— them that they may not corrupt or grow sowre The Pomegranate Apple put in a pot of new earth well couered and 〈◊〉 with clay set in an Ouen and in the end so well parched as that it may be made into powder then such powder taken the weight of halfe a crowne with red wine doth helpe thâ— partie maruellously that hath the bloudie flux The innermost flowers of thâ— Pomegranate made vp in conserue with Sugar haue an incredible force to stay 〈◊〉 manner of fluxes of the Matrix whether white or red taken in the quantitie of 〈◊〉 an ounce with the iuice of sowre Pomegranates or red wine or water wherein 〈◊〉 hath beene quenched as also to stay the bloudie flux the shedding of nature thâ— flux of the guts or of the stomacke The kernels of sowre Pomegranates dâ—ied made into powder and after mingled the weight of an ounce with a 〈◊〉 of fine powdred Frankincense and two drammes of this powder taken euerie morning doe stay the whites CHAP. XL. Of the Ceruise-tree THe Ceruise-tree as well the male as the female delighteth in a cold moist and mountainous place but in a hot and plaine
also must be separated from the single to the end that they may make the fairer silke and especially there must choice be made of such people as are the best workefolkes both â—or to know the silke as also to draw it out with such discretion as that there may â—come the most profit of it When the Wormes shall be out of their huskes then you must make choice of the best for encrease and breeding those which are the grossest and blackest are the strongest and affoord better egges than anie of the oâ—her You must likewise take more females than males and for the knowing of â—he one from the other the eyes of these creatures doe sufficiently testifie thereof â—or the females haue thinner eyes and not altogether so blacke as the males They must also be put asunder and white Linnen clothes spread or rather leaues of Paper vpon little Tables for to receiue their egges The Paper is more naturall â—nd commodious than the Linnen because it may be the better raked ouer with 〈◊〉 knife to draw together the egges thereupon without making of anie spoyle 〈◊〉 all As concerning the diseases whereunto these little creatures be subiect When they haue not beene so carefully looked vnto as they should to be kept cleane when the â—â—old Northerne wind or the hot Southerne Sunne hath molested them as also when â—hey haue eaten too much then they become sicke wherefore you must keepe â—hem cleanely stop the windowes and holes by which the cold windes doe enter and get in and carrie coales of fire that doe not smoake into their lodging setting thereupon Frankincense or Sawsages cut in slices for they so loue this smell as thaâ— it presently cureth them as also besprinkle them with a little Malmesey or Aqua-vitae If they haue beene troubled with too great heat of the South Sunne there must be sprinkled vpon them Rose-water If they haue ouer-eaten themselues the contrarie diet will cure them as the keeping of them three or foure daies without eating anie thing If there be anie of them that are spotted with anie duskish blewish or yellowish colour and that there appeare withall vpon their bellies a certainâ— humour that doth wet them they must be speedily taken from out of the companie of the rest and carried out and in the morning before the Sunne rise set the whole and sound in the ayre for some small time and afterward put them in their places againe and then it will be good to sprinkle them with good and strong vineger and to annoint them with Wormewood or Sothernewood and also to giue them ayre making them likewise to feele the force of the Sunne prouided that the beames thereof doe not â—ouch them and you must looke also that the windowes bee so placed as thaâ— the morning ayre may season and send his breath throughout the whole house The end of the third Booke THE FOVRTH BOOKE OF THE COVNTRIE HOVSE That there are two sorts of Medowes CHAP. I. Of Medowes and their difference IN our former Treatise wee haue runne through those things which belong vnto the husbanding and ordering of Gardens and Orchards and now it requireth that wee speake of Medow Grounds vvhereupon consisteth the greatest meanes of feeding and bringing vp of Cattell to the end wee may perfect and accomplish our fore-appointed purpose The thing therefore called in our French tongue Prâ— may seeme to be borrowed from the old word Prat and both of them to signifie and point out a thing that is readie and prest to doe the Master of the Farme and Farmer seruice without putting him to anie paines in respect of the labouring or husbanding of them but this must be vnderstood of Medowes hauing their prey and maintenance about them namely such as are those which are fed and watered with the Marne on the one side and the Riuer Aube on the other which is about some hundred and fiftie leagues of square Countrey as also those about the Riuer called Veselle which of all others doth most abound in Medowes It is in like manner in the free and reclaimed grounds from Barle-duâ— to Vitrye in Partois and from Louemont to Vassie in Thierache all along the little Blondelle as also along the great and small Morin in our Country of Beauuoisis Such medow grounds doe not â—eare stormes and tempests as Gardens and other arable grounds doe but with little cost and charges they yeeld their double reuenue and profit euerie yeare the one of Hay the other of Pasture Medowes are of two sorts the one drie the other â—oist The drie craueth not the helpe of anie water to be watered withall except the raine because it is in a fat place and where it hath full store of refreshing â—uice and in such places Hay doth grow of his owne accord and that a great deale better than where it is forced by casting of water vpon it The moist medowes haue also seldome anie need of watering because most commonly they lye alongst the bankes of some great or small Riuers which feedeth and nourisheth them as those which lye here in France by the Riuers of Marne Aube Blondile and Morin and in England by the Riuers of Thames Trent Seauerne Auon Teame Ouze Wye and such like and these medowes are for the most part plaine and leuell grounds because the inundations of these Riuers washing them ouer at least once or twice euerie Winter the Moalâ—s and other silthie vermine which hurt the earth are destroyed and these Medowes are euer more fruitfull and more aboundant in their encrease than the higher Medowes are but the grasse is nothing neere so sweet and so pleasant neither feedeth so soundly nor so suddenly Whence it commeth that the husbandman keepeth his high-land hay for his cattell which are to be sed and his low-low-ground hay for those which worke CHAP. II. What grounds are good for Medowes and how to make new Medowes THe ground that is fat and full of iuice although it be nothing at all helped either by small Riuer or Brooke is good to bring forth hay so that such place be not exceeding farre from some small Brooke standing water or little Riuer or at the least that it be moist at the bottome and such as wherein if that one make a reasonable deepe ditch he may find good store of water for moisture is one of the nurses of hay Where such â—at and iuiceground is not there may Medow ground be made of what manner of earth soeuer it be whether it be a strong slight or leane earth so that you haue close by it but this one commoditie of a little Brooke to water it and that the field lye somewhat sloping or descending not verie low nor verie flat as wherein the raine water or other of anie small Riuer taking sometimes ouer the same doe not vse to dwell and stand anie long time but passeth and runneth away faire and softly without anie â—arrying Wherefore I agree and must needs confesse
that some grounds are not so sit and profitable as othersome for the receiuing of Hay-seed as those which through the neerenesse of some great Flouds and Pooles Lakes and great large Waters are oftentimes ouerflowne and couered with aboundance of water which in Winter drowneth the grounds Whereupon it commeth to passe that the hay is nothing fine or delightsome vnto beasts but great and full of stumpie stalk a broad grasse also and nothing pleasing their taste But howsoeuer it is the hay of standing waters ill husbanded and corrupted as also the hay which naturally growâ—th thereabout and by the large borders of Lakes is not such as the fine mouthed beast can delight in as neither that which is gathered in grounds bordering vpon the Sea as with the salt and nitrous rellish whereof the appetites of Cattell are ouerthrowne not being accustomed thereunto besides that the verie grasse it selfe is more ranke and vnsauourie than the common sort of grasse is and in taste verie vnlike it Yet this holdeth not generally for these low Medowes and those which border on the Sea are oftentimes the best of all other and feed with greater expedition than any other hay whatsoeuer as witnesseth manie of those salt marishes which are the most chiefe nurceries and bringers forth of fat cattell that are knowne and especially Sheepe which neuer are knowne to rot vpon the same And of all cattell which â—eed vpon hay none is so daintie and choice in its taste as the Sheepe is for hee must haue it both sweet short and soft So that by that beast onely it may be seene that those low Medowes are not euer vnprofitable And indeed to conclude there is not any ground which will beare grasse but by industrie manure and much rest may be brought to beare reasonable good hay if not to feede yet to keepe cattell in good pâ—â—ght and make them goe through with their labours soundly which is as great a profit to the husbandman as the office of grazing and more properly belonging to his profession Wherefore if you would make new Medowes make choice of the best ground you can this ground you shall lay fallow and let lye idle a whole Summer then in Autumne after you shall turne vp and plow the same ground often sowing therein for the first yeare Turneps or Nauets Millet Beanes or Oats and the yeare following with Wheat then the third yeare you shall labour it diligently and sow it with Fetches mixt with Hay-seeds and after this you shall mow and order it as other old Medowes as we will declare by and by Yet for the sowing of these manie Graines so manie yeares one after another it is not altogether so necessarie for though it may be vsed in some barren Countries because Turneps Nauers and Fetches are enrichers and as it were manurings of the ground and the Oates a great breeder of grasse yet if you onely when you intend to lay a ground of grasse doe but the last yeare cast downe the furrowes and lay the lands as flat as you can and then onely sow cleane Oates vpon the same it will be as fully sufficient as all the former labour and altogether as fruitfull if the husbandman slacke not his labour herein but giue it such needfull seconds as the soyle shall require CHAP. III. What manner of Husbandrie is required about Medowes SVch as obstinately defend and maintaine that there is not anie paines or labour to be vsed about Medowes seeme vnto me vnder correction void of all sound iudgement for euerie where in processe of time the earth becommeth wearie and standeth in need to be refreshed in some parts of it yea to be sowne againe and fashioned if need be especially in feeding grounds and Medowes appointed for pasture for horned beasts for such cattell as beare Wooll doe not desire waâ—â—ie places as Medowes would be but being contented with Shepheards graze along by the wayes and vpon the plowed grounds And as for your heards of young Horses and Asses they feed naturally and commodiously with your other cattell Yea furthermore I haue seene in Campaine as it should be about Pont vpon Seine a Medow countrey the Geese and Turkies daily and ordinarily driuen to the pasture for the sauing of charges at home which thing would not agree well about the places of Monfort l'Amaurye where is kept some part of the Kings breed of Horses and Mares for the downe and other feathers of those fowles as also their dung would make these sorts of beasts sicke euen Horse Mare Mule or Asse Besides according to the opinion of all good husbandmen these fowles are of all creatures the most preiudiciall that may be not onely to Medow grounds but also to all manner of Pasâ—ure grounds whatsoeuer for besides the annoyance which their feathers and downe make their dung is so poysonous vnto the earth that it makes it barren and forceth it to bring forth nothing but Goose-grasse which is such a sowre and vnwholesome weed that no beast will touch it and which in short space will ouer-runne a great deale of ground and make it vtterly vselesse therefore euerie husband must be carefull to keepe these fowles both from his Medowes and his feeding Pastures But whatsoeuer others say or doe sure I am that a good Farmer must not neglect his Medow ground seeing the husbanding of them is a matter more of care than of paine and labour For the first care must be to keepe it that it grow not with 〈◊〉 and thornes or great high stalkes of other hearbes all which would be pulled vp by the roots in Autumne or before Winter as bushes brambles and rushes some other of them in the Spring as Succories Hemlocke and such other weeds which are vnprofitable for the feeding of the heards of Horses and Mares Likewise there must not be left in them anie stones nor yet anie other thing that may hinder the digging of them when the earth is to be stirred The ground being freed of stones shall be made euen and smooth verie handsomely in the Winter time and after that tilled and turned ouer verie diligently and â—inely with the plough and after harrowed especially that which is leane and lying with some descent but not watred otherwise than the raine vseth to water it It must be dunged also in Ianuaâ—ie and Februarie when the Moone is in the encrease that so it may be fatted and store of iuice brought into it for the growing of grasse The best manuring that can be bestowed vpon it is fine crumbling earth mixt with dung which will doe it more good than the best and purest dung that you can find in your Neat-house For the making hereof you must gather in Summer the dust that is by the high wayes most haunted and mingle the same with the dung of cattell the â—ilth and sweepings of the house the dyrt of the streets the parings of the house and
the same colour as likewise wild Wound-wort which Dioscorides calleth Hercules his wound-wort is very good foreseene that it grow not too great Germander likewise is good being called of the Grecians small Oake by reason of the figure of the lease Little Rampions likewise is very good because of the root which helpeth forth Lent sallads as wel as the Cresses wild Saffron is not good because of his flower seeing both the root and it doe kill beasts euen as Hemlock doth which is called Birds-bane neither yet water Pepper as being venimous through his heat and vsing to grow only in standing stinking waters as laughing Smallage doth called Herba Sardonica because it maketh men and beasts to seeme to laugh when it killeth them in like maner wild Woad Bucks-beard Hartstong wild low growing All-good both sorts of Violets the lesse Centaurie all the three sorts of Daisies and especially those which are called Gold-cups or little Crow-foot and the three-leaued grasse of the Medowes are all of them singular good hearbes for the fruitfulnesse of the Medow ground The Garlicke which is called Serpentina and which a man would iudge to be a little small rush of a reasonable length doth not amisse no more than the true and small water Germander which is often found in the Medowes of Cheles and elsewhere but great store of it maketh the hay to smell ill as on the contrarie Penyryall maketh it smell sweet and so likewise Organiâ— of both sorts the three sorts of Balme and Costmarie but Mints and that Hore-hound which is wild Camomile are nothing worth Great quantitie and store of wild Fetch causeth the hay to be verie full of nourishment for cattell the lesse Plantaine Siluer-grasse of both sorts Peachwort so called because it carrieth a flower like a Peach-tree and Burnet the three sorts of Shepheards needles called of the ancient Writers Storks-bills by reason of the fashion of the peake that followeth in place after the Hower whereof hearbe Robert is one doe verie well for cattell and cure them of the grauell causing them to make their 〈◊〉 in aboundance Millefoile and Prunell called the Carpenters hearbe because it is good for cuts are also good and verie sweet of smell but Quitch-grasse called Dogs-grasse doth destroy the Medow as much as Balme doth mend it and encreaseth milke in Kine as great Hares-foot doth in Goats and in like manner as Veruaine and Groundswell are good hearbes for Conies Looke well that Thistles set not their foot within your Medow except it be the blessed Thistle with the yellow flower or else the little Thistle and that but about the borders or edges of the Medow and that it haue the leaues of Sow-thistle though it be smaller and spotted as it were with drops of milke and therefore it is called Maries Thistle The red and blew Pimpernell because of their flowers as also the white are as good there as either the male or female Mercurie though these hearbes delight rather to grow in the wayes and amongst Vines as doe also the Bindweed and Nightshade Flax-weed which differeth from Esula in as much as it hath no milke and groweth high as Line doth saue that it hath a yellow flower is good but Esula or Spurge is naught as is also Hypericum for these two are both of them verie hot and shrewd fellowes Melilot the small and the great Myrrhis which hath leaues like Fennell and diuers diuided white flowers is of great vertue and sweet after the smell of Myrrhe To be short the Carret and Cheruile doe serue greatly for the nourishing and goodnesse of the hay But aboue all there is no hearbe nor seed more excellent to be nourished or sowne in the Medowes than Saxifrage is for amongst all huswiues it is held an infallible rule That where Saxifrage growes there you shall neuer haue ill Cheese or Butter especially Cheese Whence it commeth that the Netherlands abound much in that commoditie and only as is supposed through the plentie of that hearb only And for the better affirmation or proofe thereof you shall vnderstand that all good huswiues which will carrie any reputation for good Cheese-making doe euer dresse their cheslep-bags and earning with Saxifrage as the only hearbe that giueth a most perfit season to the same Now albeit I haue here deliuered you a particular collection of the seeds of all those hearbs which are most necessarie to be sowne in Medows yet I would not aduise you to be so curious as to bestow your labour in culling these seeds from the rest or to sow them in your Medows with that care and respect that you sow seeds in your Garden for lesse paines will serue only I would with you when you intend to sow your Medowes which would be either in the Spring or in Autumne to goe if you be vnprouided to such a neighbor or Farmer neere vnto you as is owner of some fine and delicate piece of Medow void of grosse filthie weeds stump-grasse knot-grasse peny-grasse speare-grasse or Burnet and from him you shal buy the sweepings or scâ—â—trings of his Hay-barne floore as also those sweepings which shall be vnder those windows or holes in at which the husbandman putteth hay when he vnloads it and these sweepings you shal sow vpon your Medows as thick as you can strew them for the thicker is euer the better and you must foresee that when you thus sow your Medowes you cause your ground to be as bare eaten before as is possible especially with Sheepe because as they bite the neerest of all cattell to the ground so they bestow vpon it their manure or dung which is the fattest and most fruitfullest of all other and maketh the seeds instantly to sprout after the first shower You shall also obserue when you sow your Medowes whether it be at the Spring or at the fall to see and if the dung of the cattell which last grazed vpon the same lye upon it still in heapes as when it fell from their bodies and this dung you shall raise from the ground and with beetles made for the purpose beat them into verie small pieces and so spread them generally ouer the whole Medow and then sow your seeds amongst them for by this meanes your seeds will quickly take root There is also another way of enriching of Medowes especially such as lye high and out of the dangers of flouds which for the most part are euer the barrennest and that is by the foddering or feeding of cattell vpon the same in the Winter season as thus The husbandman shall in the barrennest part of his Medow ground which is safest from waters or flouds make vp his hay in a large and handsome Stacke or Reeke either round or square according to his pleasure or the quantitie of the hay and this Stacke thus made he shall fence about with thorne or other hedge-ware to keepe
cattell from tearing or spoyling the same till such time as the Farmer himselfe shall thinke it meet to cut downe the same Then when the extremitie of Winter shall come as either when the grasse is cleane consumed or that by reason of long Frosts or Snowes your cattell cannot come by anie food then is the time to cut downe your Hay-reekes and to fodder your cattell therewith morning and euening cutting no more downe at a time than shall conueniently serue to fodder your cattell for spoyle herein is the vildest husbandrie that can be This hay thus cut downe you shall not lay in one place but in diuers places of your ground in little tufts or hillockes scattering an armefull thereof in manie places because if you should lay it in one place or in a verie small circuit neere together your cattell would disagree and offer to gore one another at least the stronger cattell would euer beat away the weaker and so rob them of their food whereas being scattered into diuers remote places those which are beaten away from one place will goe to another and so take their food without trouble in which you shall euer obserue to lay more tufts or heapes of hay than you haue cattell Neither yet doe I meane that this manner of foddering shall ouer-spread anie great piece of ground at one time but according to the number of your cattell be close packed together both for the ease of the fodderer and for the well husbanding of the hay which to be carried vp and downe too 〈◊〉 would make much wast by scattering so that to lay one foddering within two or three yards of another is sufficient And this I speake of great cattell as Oxen Kyne Steeres Horses or such like for if you fodder Sheepe then you must lay your hay in long rowes one row three or foure yards from another vpon the driest and cleanest ground you can find because the trampling and treading of the cattell will else 〈◊〉 much spoyle of the hay And herein is also to be noted that you must not by any meanes lay your fodder aboue twice in one place but change and alter your ground finding out still a drie and vntrodden place to fodder in as well for keeping the ground from two much foyling and tearing vp with the feet of cattell as also for the â—aâ—ing of the hay which would be halfe lost if it should be layd in wet and myrie places And thus you may in one Winter runne ouer a great piece of ground and not onely sow it plenteously with the Hay-seedes which will fall from the Hay in the carrying but also manure the ground excellently by this drawing together of your beasts into one place making their lâ—are and dunging most thereupon Now some will say that this manner of enriching of grounds carrieth with it a discommoditie which equalleth the goodnesse which is reaped from it and therefore not so much to be esteemed alledging that the trampling of the cattell teareth vp the greene-swarth and as it were ploweth vp the ground in such sort that it will hardly beare any good croppe of grasse a yeare or two after To which I answere that if it doe as happily it will teare vp or digge the ground so that you loose the next yeares croppe in some part yet after the first yeare is past the second will double and the third will treble anie encrease formerly receiued from the same ground neither will the goodnesse euer after be abated from the same besides if your ground be subiect to anie filthie soft mosse or fuzzie grasse which is both vnsauourie and vnwholesome for beasts and also choaketh and deuoureth vp all better herbage this treading of the cattels feet will vtterly kill it and make the ground fruitfull for euer after Nay if the ground haue beene much subiect to small whynnes or prick-grasse which is a most venimous weed in anie ground according to the opinion of the best husbands this course onely will destroy it To conclude â—he Medow well kept and maintained doth alwaies bring double commoditie to that which is ill gouerned and husbanded CHAP. V. Of the harrowing watering and keeping close and well defensed the Medow ground BEsides the seedes of good hearbes which is verie requisite for the Medowes yet there are other workes needfull for the goodnesse of Hay for the Medowes must be harrowed and raked presently after they be sowne to breake the clods into small earth or dust that so the mowers may not thereby hurt their Sythes If the ground of the Medow be withered and drie it will be a maruellous commoditie vnto it to draw into it all the winter long at the least some small Brooke for the watering and moistening of it seeing that moisture is the naturall nourishment of Hay and this would be done especially during the moneths of Nouember December Ianuarie and Februarie afterward when the earth hath drunke her fill then stop the way whereby the water of the Brooke runneth It is true that if the Medow-plot lye vpon the side of some hill or vpon some high ground there shall be no need to water it for the first raine that falleth will descend and water such Medowes verie sufficiently being ioyned with the iuice and goodnesse of the dung which you shall haue bestowed in the higher places Neither shall it be needfull to water the ground much where there is great quantitie of three-leaued grasse because then it would die by and by Againe you must not cause anie water to ouerflow anie old Medow grounds in the time of great and excessiue cold except it should be that they should continue a long time because that the water fayling the ground thus boyled againe and drenched would be verie much annoyed by the vehemence of the frost and yce Likewise if there be anie marish or dead water in anie part of your Medow you must cause the same to runne and drayne out by some Conduits or Trenches for without all peraduenture the super-aboundance of water doth as much harme as the want scarcitie or lacke of the same You must be sure also to keepe Swine out of your Medowes because they are alwaies turning it ouer with their snouts and â—aying great soddes of earth Neither must you admit anie great Cattell into them saue when they be verie drie because the hornie hoofe doth sinke into the earth and either breake off the grasse or cut in sunder the rootes whereupon they cannot spring or multiplie anie more CHAP. VI. To mowe your Meadowes againe and againe to gather the Hay and refresh your Meadowes and to bring your barren Meadowes into Tillage NOw for the mowing of your Meadowes it must be according to their growth or ripenesse for some ripen soone and some late and sure there cannot fall to the Husbandman greater losse than to cut his Meadow before it be ripe for then the sap or moisture not being come fully out of the roote
sweet and got in a good season that vvhich is not verie long of growth but verie pleasant and cleane grasse without weeds hard stumpes pricks or such like is best for milch-kine or stall-fed-oxen onely that which you preserue for your Kine would be got verie drie and haue all the sweetnesse and pleasantnesse that may be but that you keepe for your feeding-cattell would not be altogether throughly vvithered but got a little greenish so as it may take such a heat in the mowe as may onely discolour it and turne it red but no more for that will bring a thirst vnto the cattell and make them drinke vvell and the Grasier is of this opinion that cattell neuer feed well till they drinke well and that haye which is the finest and shortest growing vpon high and drie grounds full of flowers and sweet 〈◊〉 is best for your sheepe or young calues and this must be got verie drie and as neere as you can vtterly without any raine for when it is so drie that it will hardly lye vpon the Waine then is it the best of all for when the husbandman saith that moist haye is profitable for the increase of milke he doth not meane that you shall get in your haye greene or any part vnwithered for that brings it to a rottennesse or ouer-drinesse which is verie ill for milke but you shall get it into the barne as drie as you can without scorching scalding or such vnnaturall extremities and this hay taking his kindly sweat in the mowe is that which is called the Moist-hay and that which taketh a little too much heat in the mowe and altereth colour is the Drie-hay and keepeth your fat cattell from gripings and other painefull griefes in their bellies to which they are euermore verie much subject It is an vse with some husbandmen as well in our France as in other countries after they haue brought their haye into drie cocke to put it into great stoukes or pettie stackes without doores and so to let â—t remaine a fortnight or more that it may take the full sweat before it be brought to the barne or hay-loft but it is a needlesse and a double labour and may verie well be spared if the orders be obserued before prescribed for this much curiositie did but spring from a fearefulnesse of ouer-heating or mow-burning which to preuent the Ancients spared not any labour Nay they were so curious in the first times that they would not suffer their haye by any meanes to lye neere to the sinke or smell of the beast-house or vvhere any other noysome sauours were supposing that the haye would naturally of it owne inclination draw all such corruptions vnto it but it was a feare might haue verie vvell beene spared Now touching the later crop of haye which is euer to be mâ—â—ne in the moneth of September you shall in all respects vse it like the hay of these barren grounds last written of for the yere time being so much shot on it can haue no other kindly withering neither is it to be vsed for the feeding of fat cattell or for milch Kine but onely for drie beasts or such as onely labor as the oxe horse mule or asse If by the gathering of your hay you perceiue your meadowes to become barren vvhether it happen by your negligence in not hauing beene carefull ynough in husbanding of them or by reason of age seeing the earth will sometime rest it selfe as being vvearie for the recouering of the strength againe as it is onely seene in barren soyles and no other for that which is truely fertile and good ground will neuer be wearie of bearing especially if it lie low and be gentlie washt with waters but that which lies high or violently against the heat of the Sun will many times decay in his aboundance which when you shall at any time perceiue it shall be good to forbeare the cutting of it the next yeare and onely graze it with cattell especially sheepe which vvill be as good as a manuring vnto it and make it beare grasse in as good plentie as euer it did afore for often cutting occasioneth barrennesse and often feeding breedes increase But if it be through the naturall fertilitie and hardnesse of the ground that it waxeth barren then you shall vse the like meanes that you vvould in making of new meadows set downe before in the second chapter of this booke or else if you see that you loose your labour in renewing of your barren meadows set downe with your selfe to reduce them into arable ground especially those which are drie parched bringing forth verie small store of grasse growne ouer with a hard â—â—st and fraught rather with naughtie weeds than good and profitable grasse For the doing whereof you must cut the vpper face and crust of the earth in Aprill with a shallow delfe in turfes some fadome and a halfe long and halfe as broad and to the thicknesse of two fingers drie these turfes in the Sunne and being concocted by the heat of the Sunne fit them one to another and lay one vpon another in manner of a furnace afterward set fire to them with good store of straw when they are burned let them coole sixe or seuen daies after spead the ashes thereof equally all ouer the field then looke for a good raine in May to incorporate this ashie earth and when it is accordingly performed then plow it vp in Iune and presently after sow it vvith millet afterward with rie and in the end with mastling and wheat CHAP. VII Of the Ozier-plot REmember this that three things carefully kept and increased by the diligence of the vvorkeman doe make rich vvithout any great trauell that is to say the meadow-grounds the Ozier-plot and the Willow-plot vvhich by the meanes of vvater lightly slyding through the veines of the earth in the fat and vvell liking places that are vpon the sides of hills and by the vvatering of manifold streames round about doe naturally grow euâ—rie yeare and yeeld great profit vnto their maister for the feeding of hiâ— cattell the making of hoopes for vessell and binding of them as also for fewell the benefit of poles woodden vessells arbours stakes for hedges and supporters for vines We will therefore speake first of the ordering and husbanding of the Ozier-plot and after it of the Willow-plot vvhich vve do not dreame to haue any other assigned place than about the meadows and far remoued from the arable ground in as much as their shadow is so hurtfull to wheat line pulse and other graine as that they neuer grow vvell where they are ouershadowed by these but on the contrarie meadow grounds receiue great profit thereby as well because that grasse doth grow the fairer and more pleasantly in the shadow than vvhere it is not shadowed as also for that the leaues of Ozier Willow Aller and such other Trees falling vpon the meadowes and there rotting maketh them the more fat
abounding in grasse and fertile The Ozier then which old Writers call Sea-willow or Wicker-tree that is to say apt to bend desireth not to come verie neere to the water but loueth rather to stand vpon the descending side of the valley and the Ozier-plot would end at the sides of the Willow-plot the Ozier-plot must be prickt with a line and prettie small ditches drawne out in it betwixt two lines and euerie slip must be set one from another about fiue foore and a halfe to giue them their spreading It vvill not abide the shadow of any tree but loueth much to haue the fruition of the South-Sunne The tame red Ozier requireth great husbanding and is afraid of frosts and the showres of raine that fall in March and verie cold vvater the vvhite and the greene Ozier vvhich neither bend nor yet defend themselues so well are of a harder nature and grow higher It vvill be good to pricke downe moe of the tame ones than of the other and alwaies to set them out of the shadow and there must be but a little water at their foot the most part of the time vvherefore you must make furrowes by the vvay to keepe and reserue water It must be dressed twice in a yeare to make it grow vvell that is to say about mid-May and towards the end of Nouember presently after that it is gathered being also the time of planting of it It is verie delightsome vnto it to haue the earth raised vvith the spade and stirred and to cast in again the clods vnto the foot some fifteen daies after S. Michael which is the time of gathering them and making of them vp into bottles You must keepe your bottles made of the thicknesse of a fadome fresh coole in some cellar or 〈◊〉 and if the season be drie to vvater them throughout now and then some slip off the leaues in gathering of them thereof to make good ashes others let the leaues fall of themselues and after gather them for the houshold and in Winter-nights by the fire side make the slaues spend their time in cleauing them for to make baskets of some doe not cut the oziers all from the head but such slips as are about the edges of it and leaue the maister-twig to stand vvhole for fiue or sixe yeares when it must be renewed and pricked downe againe for this is the terme of the plant for in all the time following the plant doth nothing but drie and the twig harden CHAP. VIII Of the Willow-plot SOme say that the Willow-plot craueth the like husbandrie that the Oier-plot because the Willow differeth onely from the Ozier in vse bignesse and barke for the Willow-tree is for poles the Ozier as hath beene said for bindings about the vine and caske the Willow is thicke and growing taller the Ozier is smaller and lower the Willow-tree hath a barke of a darke purple colour the Ozier of a yellow straw colour But vvhatsoeuer it is the Willow loueth vvaterie places and is planted of the tops cut off or else of poles the poles are taken from aboue of a good thicknesse but notwithstanding not thicker than the arme and they must be planted and pricked downe in the earth so deepe as they should stand before they touch the firme ground the cut of the top may be of the length of a foot and a halfe and be set in the earth being couered a little That which you shall plant must be cut from the tree verie drie because it will not thriue if it be vvet when it is cut therefore you must shun rainie daâ—es in the cutting of your Willowes The best time of planting the Willow is in Februarie in the beginning or in the end of Ianuarie vvhen as the heart of the great cold is broken vvhich oftentimes hurteth this plant when it is newlie planted It is true that it may be planted at any time after the beginning of Nouember yea it may be then both planted and gathered The plants shall euerie one stand from another sixe foot square and they must be carefully husbanded for the first three yeres as if they were yong vines You shall find a larger discourse of the Willow-tree in the sixth Booke The distilled vvater of Willowes is good to be drunke for the staying of all sorts of fluxes of bloud the decoction of the leaues or the lee made of the ashes of the vvood beeing drunke doth kill bloud-suckers vvhich hang in the throat CHAP. IX Of the Elme MEn of old time did much esteeme the Elme for the vine sake because they married the vine vnto the Elme as also it is yet practised of some vnto this day in Italie but now the Elme is applied to another manner of vse by the husbandman and for that cause vve haue giuen in charge to euery housholder to plant a plot of elmes at the end of his orchard as vvell to make fagots of as to make vvheeles and axle-trees of for his carts and ploughes as also for fire-wood and other easements besides the pleasure that the Elme-tree affordeth all the Sommer long For the planting then of your Elme-plot make choyce of a fat peece of ground and vvithall somewhat moist although this Tree be easie to grow in any kind of ground vvhich you shall digge and cast breaking the clods afterward verie small in so much as that you shall make all the earth as it were dust and in the Spring you shall harrow it and lay it euen afterward you shall sow it verie thicke vvith the seed of elmes vvhich shall by this time become little red hauing beene a long time in the Sunne and yet notwithstanding retayning his naturall substance and moisture and you shall sow it so thicke as that all the earth shall be couered vvith it then cast of fine mould vpon it good two fingers thicke and vvater it a little and couer the earth vvith straw or broken boughes and braunches to the end that vvhat shall come out of the earth may not be deuoured of birds And vvhen the siences shall begin to shew take away the straw and boughes and pull vp the bad vveeds verie carefully vvith your hands in such sort as that the small rootes of the elmes vvhich as yet are tender be not pluckt vp therewithall The waies and squares must be so discreetly cast as that he which is to weed them may easily reach to the middest of them euerie vvay Fâ—r if they vvere too broad then he should be constrained in pulling vp the vveeds to tread the earth vvith his feet by which meanes the shoots might be hurt After vvhen the branches are put vp some three foot high to take them vp from their nurserie and to plant them in another ground and after that to transplant them againe The Elme-tree also may be planted of small branches taken from great etmes and that a great deale better in Autumne than in the Spring time after three yeares passed they must be transplanted
and that after Autumne vvhen as the earth beginneth to be moist vntill the beginning of the Spring as being the time when the roote may be drawne without leauing of the barke behind you may plant an elme at euerie fortie foots end and not touch them at all for two yeares after vvhich being passed you must dig the earth all about the bodie of the Tree pruning and picking it with a small handbill euerie two yeares We will not make any longer description of the elme but send you to the sixth booke where you shall find particularly and amply declared how this tree is to be planted and in what soyle it doth principally delight to grow CHAP. X. Of the Aller WE see that the Aller or Alder-tree is no lesse profitable for the Husbandman than the Elme in as much as the wood of Aller doth serue to make many implements working tooles as ladders â—ailes for the cart poles handles for tooles rackes for horse-meat and such other things to lay the foundations of buildings vpon which are laid in the riuers fens or other standing vvaters because it neuer rotteth in the vvater but lasteth as it vvere for euer and beareth vp maruailous strange and huge masses The Aller therefore shall be planted neere some little brooke in some moist and vvaterish meadowes for the Aller-tree naturally delighteth in vvater more than any other tree doth and it looketh that the most part of his roots should be in and lower than the vvater for else it will not come to any growth The aller is not sown because it beareth no seed fruit or flowers yet it may be planted two vvaies either of braunches taken from the great trees or else of liue rootes drawne out of moist places their earth vvith them and so set in another moist place and that in such sort as that at the least the one halfe of the roots may be lower than the vvater and couered aboue with earth a fingers thicknesse and vvithall before it be planted you must cut the small branches away till within a finger of the maine root vvhich afterward will shoot vp many small siences This tree is easie to take and grow againe in moist places because it hath much pith in it and putteth forth much wood in a short time You may 〈◊〉 your aller to grow high in any place without any great labour and to small profit because it would need continuall watering It is better then that your aller stand in waterie ground as we haue said that so it may both please and profit you See further of the aller-tree in the sixth booke The fresh leaues doe stay inflammations being put vnder the naked soles of the feet they greatly take away their wearisomenesse which by far walking haue wearied themselues full and all moist with the morning dew being spred in Sommer all ouer a chamber they kill fleas The barke serueth to make inke and to die leather blacke The Poole Fish-pond and Ditch for Fish CHAP. XI Of the manner of making Stewes and Pooles for keeping of Fishes THe chiefe and principall point of a good Countrey Farme is to want nothing either needfull for the prouision of the chiefe Lord or auaileable for the profit that may come thereof The good householder then shall not esteeme a little of Fish seeing that of them he may make both prouision for his table and great gaine vnto his purse but rather shall prouide some place neere vnto his house for to cast Pooles or Stewes in to the end that when need is he may find victuals therein both for himselfe and his familie and that as readie as if it were alreadie in the Kitchin besides what he may yearely sell of that his store to make money into his purse Therefore for the appointing out of ground for these his Pooles or Stewes to breed or feed his fish in he shall chuse it ioyning vnto his Medowes in some leane place and such as he could otherwise make no profit of and yet it must be in a firme ground that is grauellie or sandie for such places doe feed fishes excellent well notwithstanding that the muddie and dyrtie Poole be best for the Tench Burbet Cod Eâ—le and such other slipperie and slimie fishes but he that loueth his health must not furnish his Pooles or Stewes with such manner of fish The Poole shall be maruellously well seated if the commodiousnesse of the place will affoord it continuall refreshment from some flowing Fountaine or some Brooke or little Riuer falling into it whereby continually the first water may be remoued and new supplyed in place thereof not suffering the other to stand too long impounded and therefore if it be possible the Poole is to haue conuenient issue in one part or other for so by this meanes the water is renewed the more easily and the fish therein made the more chearefull and better thriâ—ing to euerie bodies â—ight whereas on the contrarie the standing and corrupted water affoordeth them nothing but bad nourishment making the slesh thereof of an ill tast and vnpleasant in eating In the meane time you must not â—orget to set grates of Brasse or yron close fastened and pierced but with small holes in the conduits that so by them the water may find one passage in and another out and yet to stay the fish for getting forth It will be good that the Poole be large and great to the end that the â—ish which is kept therein may find room◠〈◊〉 sport themselues without perceiuing of anie impediment or imprisonment that they sustaine It will be good also to make in these Pooles some corners or starting holes like little lodging roomes in the wall thereof to the end that thereby the fish may find place for to hide it selfe and to auoid the great heat of the Summer prouided notwithstanding that they be so made as that the water which is in them may easily get out againe These Fish-ponds also may be made in anie low Valley which the hills enuironing on euerie side send downe their waters into the same making it continually wet so that in truth without it be applyed to this purpose it will serue for no other good purpose In this place aboue all other you shall make your Fish-pond drayning it at the dryest time of the yeare and digging it of such depth as you shall thinke most conuenient for the receit of such water as shall fall into it then noting how the water descendeth you shall iust against that descent make the head of your Pond mounting it of such a height that no land-water whatsoeuer may ouerflow it and this head you shall make in this wise first so soone as you haue drained the ground and made the earth firme where the head must be you shall driue in foure or fiue rowes of piles made of Elme and some of Oake halfe burnâ— or scortcht and then the earth which you digge out of the pond together with fagots
fortie poles nor yet be lesse than thirtie or fiue and twentie and if the inconuenientnesse of the place vvill not suffer you to cast them into squares then make them somewhat more long but yet not exceeding the foresaid fortie poles in length for besides infinite other commodities and pleasures accompanying short fields and such as are not of large reach this is one verie speciall profit namely that oxen and horses doe labour there vvith lesse trauell and vvearisomnesse in as much as they do not onely cheere vp themselues and take their breath being at the end of the furrow but also for that the plow-man cleanseth and freeth his plow of the earth vvherewith it is woont to be laden as then also carrying them about to enter vpon a new furrow cause your ground if possibly it may be to lie leuell and euen for besides the pleasure of seeing from the one end to the other they vvill also be the more easie to be plowed dunged and sowne let them be ditched round about or at the least on the sides as well to draine away raine-vvater or other if any should stand there as for to cut off the trade-waies of passengers Plant not within not about your Corne-grounds any trees for feare of the shadow knowing assuredly that the more that corne is shadowed the further off it is from being comforted and rejoyced by the Sunne as also from hauing the dust which is vvoont to lye much vpon it blowne off by the vvinds and likewise from being deliuered from snow fogges and tempests oâ—tentimes a heauie burthen vpon the backe thereof And yet put case that for your pleasure you vvould plant some trees thereabout then let them be no other but Willowes or such like that may beare no great head to make shadow and therefore let neuer come nie thereto either the poplar or aspe or aller vvhose shadow is not onely daungerous and huâ—tfull vnto the corne ground but vvhich is more vvith their great thicke and great store of roots they draw vnto them the best juice they sucke vp the fat of the earth and so steale away the best from the seed that is sowne And no lesse than these the Ashe is most poysonous vnto Corne-grounds for how farre soeuer his shadow extendeth so farre you shall see the ground euer forbeare to prosper and yet it is not vtterly vnnecessarie to haue trees grow about your Corne-fields for if you plant Fruit trees about them as the Apple Peare Ceruise and such like you shall find the profit many times double the injuries that are reaped from them neither is it forcibly necessarie that your fields should be cast into these small square grounds seeing you may haue them as large as you please according to the quantitie of your Farme or the nature thereof vvhich may as well lye publique and in common amongst your neighbours as priuate and seuerall to your selfe in either of vvhich you may make your lands of what length or bredth you please vvhether acres halfe acres or roods and herein is specially to be noted that you must cast your lands according to the natures of your ground not the prospect of your eye for if your ground be a gentle earth either mixt or vnmixt and lye drie and free all Winter from vvater neither by any meanes is subiect from it owne nature or casualtie to any superfluitie of moisture this ground you may lay leuell smooth and plaine and make it appeare as an entire garden or one land but if it be within any daunger of vvater or subject to a spewing and moist qualitie then you shall lay your lands high raising vp ridges in the middest and â—urrowes of one side and according as the moisture is more or lesse so you shall make the ridges high or low and the descent greater or lesse but if your ground besides the moisture oâ— by meanes of the too much moisture be subject to much binding then you shall make the lands a great deale lesse laying euerie foure or fiue furrowes round like a land and making a hollownesse betweene them so that the earth may be light and drie and this you must doe either vpon leuells or vpon descending and hanging grounds and to conclude the larger your fields are and the drier they are kept the better they will be and the better your corne vvill prosper vpon them CHAP. V. How often your Corne-ground must be â—ared or plowed ouer THat I may therefore briefly declare vnto you the tilling of grounds for graine and pulse vnderstand in generall that the earings of arable grounds are diuers according to the places and situations of the said grounds as vve haue alreadie alledged But howsoeuer the case stand in that poynt and in vvhat plat or peece of ground soeuer you can name them to be it behooueth that at the first earing vvhich is giuen them after they haue rested and laine fallow that you cleanse them vvell from stones all ouer with â—akes and that at the paines or trauell of some young boyes and girles that can doe little or nothing else or otherwise by others for the earth of it owne nature lying vntilled begettâ—h nothing but stones and strong and vnprofitable vveeds as those which are the reliques of the dung now throughly digested and chaunged by a heat exalted vnto the fiâ—th degree And we need not make any doubt of it but that euen good and kind ground when it should not bring forth any thing but mustard-seed couch-grasse pimpernell mercurie thistles of all sorts danewort vvild-fetch red poppie vvild oats veruaine blew bottles ax-fetch or such other like vnprofitable vveeds without forgetting of cockle and darnell and that which is called rest-harrow or at the least some fumitorie and henbane yet it will be doing of some thing more as namely those which grow out of it of themselues as stinking mathweed kexes rupture-wort these be reclaimed grounds and the herbe called Chamepytis as I haue sometimes seene in those countries which properly and truely containe France For the distinguishing of these herbes the thistles shew the heat of the ground as their aromaticall and odoriferous roots may testifie the hemlocke vvild smallage and fumitorie grow of putrefaction the bind-weed both great and small do proceed partly of drinesse partly of the alteration of the humour night-shade the great and small doe spring vp of the cold part of the earth vvhich they draw from the humour thereof mercurie of both sorts eye-bright also of two or three differing flowers the small sorrell red vnderneath and the three sorts of plantaine do hold of cold or temperate ground but the garden and vvater cresses rockets wild mustard-seed as also the two sorts of vvater-parsley haue differing natures and are more hot according to the humoâ—r vvhich chey confesse to participate in respect of their propertie To be short these are certaine dalliances and sports of nature vvhich though she should neuer be
neither so large as that for the black clay nor so narrow as that for the white clay but in a meane between both The plow for the white sand differs nothing from that of the red sand only it oft hath one addition more that is at the further end of the beame there is a paire of round wheeles which bearing the beame vpon a loose mouing axle-tree being just the length of two furrowes and no more doth so certainely guide the plow to his true furrow that it can neuer loose land by swaâ—â—ing nor take too much land by the greedinesse of the yrons the culture and share for this plow are like those for the red sand onely they are a little lesse the culture being not fully so long nor so much bent nor the share so broad but a little sharper pointed and this plow also serueth for the grauell howsoeuer mixt whether with peeble flint or otherwise The plow for blacke clay mixt with red sand and the white clay mixt with white sand would be made of a middle size betwixt that for the blacke clay and that for the red sand being not so huge as the first nor so slender as the later but of a meane and competent greatnesse and so also the culture and share must be made answerable neither so bigge and streight as the greatest nor so sharpe and long as the smallest Lastly the blacke clay mixt with white sand and the white clay mixt with red sand would haue a plow in all points like that for the red sand simple onely the culture would be more sharpe long and bending and the share so narrow sharpe and small that it should be like a round pike onely bigge at the setting on Thus you see the diuersitie of plowes and how they serue for euerie seuerall soyle now it is meet to know the implements belonging to their draught vvhich if it be Oxen then there is but the plow clâ—uise the teames the yoakes and beeles but if it be Horse then they are two-fold as single or double single as vvhen they draw in length one horse after another and then there is needfull but the plow cleuise and swingle-tree treates collers harnesse and cart bridles or double when they draw two and two together in the beare geares and then there is needfull the plow cleuise and teame the toastred the swingle-trees the treates the harnesse the collars the round wit hs or bearing geares bellie-bands backe-bands and bridles Also there be of harrowes two kinds one vvith vvoodden teeth the other vvith yron teeth the vvoodden are for all simple clayes or such as easily breake and the yron for sands mixt grounds or any binding earth and for new broken swarthes or such earths as are subject to weeds or quicke growth for sleighting tooles the barke-harrowes vvill serue loose grounds and the roller those vvhich bind CHAP. VII To cleanse arable ground of stones weedes and stubble the first workes to be done vnto Wheat ground BVt to speake more particularly of the dressing and earing of arable grounds that are to be sowne with corne that is to say with Rie corne Maslin some kind of Barly Turkie corne and such others whereof bread is made and especially that which the Frenchmen call for the excellencie thereof Wheat corne and the Latines Frumentum and Triâ—â—cum they must haue the stones gathered off in Winter vpon ground that hath layne fallow which thing for to spare cost and charges may be done by little Iackboyes and girles which with their hands stouping downe and filling Maunds and little Baskets may carrie them into the middest of the high wayes and into the furrowes and rupts of Carts or else vnto the end of euerie land there casting them in some vnprofitable place And if this worke be done in the height of the Spring or in the Summer season it will not be amisse because it will be much better and easier treading vpon the lands and the ardors of the field being then new the stones will be a great deale the better perceiued or if this labour be done at the fall of the leafe it will not be amisse because it is both the time of the last ardor and when the field should be best cleansed as also the fittest time to mend and repaire the high waies against Winter The vvorke is so needfull as that if the field be not cleansed from stones though otherwise it should be duely and orderly plowed though otherwise it were fat and fruitfull of his owne nature yet vvould it beare lesse than any other peece of ground and on the contrarie how leane soeuer it be if yet it be cleane vvithall and freed from stones it will not let to bring forth in good and plentifull sort Sometimes before the gathering of the stones off some vse to vveed it and to pull vp by the root the briers thornes bushes and great hearbes growing thereupon but such labour may seeme most requisite in an ouergrowne ground before the first breaking vp of the same The stubble is to be taken away and rid from off the ground where wheat or other corne or oats or other graine haue growne so soone as the corne it selfe is shorne and cut downe And these weeds and quickes which grow vpon the arable lands would be torne vp by the roots vvith a sharpe harrow or as some husbandmen vse pluckt vp by the roots with a paire of vvoodden nippers made for the purpose and this would be done in the Sommer time after euerie great shower of raine for so they are vtterly destroyed vvhereas the cutting them vp by the ground doth but abate them for a vvhile and makes them after spring a great deale the faster now for to destroy those smaller roots of vveeds vvhich lye hidden in the ground and are vnperceiuable till they doe mischiefe you shall strike into your plow-rest many sharpe dragges or crooked peeces of yron most directly vnderneath and looking into the earth and then in plowing of your grounds where you spie a vveed before your plow there clap downe your rest vpon it and it will forthwith teare it vp by the roots and in one arder or two you shall make your ground as cleare of weedes as is possible for I must needs discommend that manneâ— of vveeding how generally soeuer it be receiued vvhich is vsed after the corne is spindled for though it taketh away the weed from the eye yet it so bruiseth and breaketh downe the corne that the discommoditie doubleth and trebleth the profit neither can the weed slay more corne than the feet of the vveeder vvherefore I vvould wish vvhen extremitie vrges a man to vveed at these ill seasons that he by no meanes step out of the furrow or striue to cut vp more weeds than he can reach without hurting the corne thereby CHAP. VIII That the second or next dutie to be performed to the ground is to enrich it by manuring it that so of a leane ground
it may become fruitfull BVt all grounds vvhich are appointed for seed or corne ground whether they be such as are new broken vp or such as haue oftentimes alreadie borne corne must be enriched and repaired by manure in the beginning of Winter about the eighteeenth of Nouember or the beginning of December vvith Sheepes dung that is three yeares old or else vvith Cow and Horse-dung mingled together for the helping of it to a temperate heat or vvith other manure such as the soyle affoords or the Farmers yard can breed and yet although I speake thus of Nouember and December being a time much vsed vvith vs in France where the vvaies are faire the journey little and the labour easie yet you shall know that you may leade your manure either in the Spring or in Sommer at all such vacant seasons vvhen you cannot follow more necessarie labour at when by vvet or other vveather you cannot lead your hay or corne then you may lead your manure for albeit husbandmen hold that the later you lead your manure the better yet it is not good to driue so long for feare of preuention but to take anie fit time or leisure that is offered you through the whole yeare The dung is to be laid on in hills little lumpes or heapes and that along as you meane to cast vp your furrowes in plowing and after to spread it in his season whether it be rotten dung or marle And it shall chiefely be done in Winter that so the raine and snow dropping and falling downe vpon it it may be ouâ—rcome and caused to reâ—â—nt The vnskilfull and bad husbandman spreadeth it all hot but he lacketh not a faire forrest of weedes as reward of his hastie paines for dung being thus at the first sowne and spread though it be ouercome afterward notwithstanding see what weedes it hath receiued from the beasts houses as being there scattered it yeeldeth for his first fruits backe againe vpon the land and therewithall impaireth much the first crop of corne that shall follow after howsoeuer others following may proue more naturall and plentifull by it and further hindereth both the ground and hinds in â—heir working And this is the cause why the inhabitants of Solongâ—e and Beaux the bâ—st husbandmen cause their Rosemarie to be rotted in Summer and made manure of in Autumne and yet manie times not hasting but deferring the vse for a longer time Furthermore they continue and hold it from father to sonne as a receiued veritie That nothing is more deare and precious than dung taken in his season for the enriching of ground Some take dung as it were hot and halfe rotten at the end of their field but that doth much harme because such dung not being ouercome of the snow raine and other helpes of the heauens but remaining crude or raw doth likewise ramaine vnprofitable especially the first yeare doing nothing it selfe and keeping the better fruit from profiting and comming on as it would though the second yeare it may helpe well and hinder nothing It is true that if you would enrich a poore field that it is better done by the dung newly gathered out of the beasts houses than with such as is old and it would bee spread in the new of the Moone a little before the seed be sowne prouided yet that it be then plowed and turned vnder the earth They seeme vnto me not to doe worst who hauing gathered their corne in August or September and cut it somewhat high doe burne the stubble and other weedes which are in the fields whereby they make a manner of dunging of it by the helpe of raine falling thereupon This standeth in stead of the first sort of enriching of their ground especially in barren and sandie grounds and such as stand vpon a cold moistish clay or such as haue a strong new broken vp ground True it is that they doe not this yearely because of their need to couer their houses and of hauing litter for their beasts And yet those may seeme vnto me to be lesse deceiued who hauing left their stubble long and high in the shearing and cutting of it downe doe presently thereupon bestow an earing vpon such ground and so vnderturne the said stubble and weedes there to let them rot with the Winter raine There is nothing so good as the first manuring and dunging of the ground which if it be neglected it will not recouer it for two yeares space againe so that for â—uch space he shall gather nothing but Rye in stead of Wheat and Fetches for Oates and wild Fetâ—hes for kind and naturall ones It is true that the first is not sufficient of it selfe for to dung and enrich the earth sufficiently and to make fruitfull those that are barren and leane but there must be other meanes vsed for to effect such a worke and amongst them all that seemeth vnto me the principall which is the letting of the field to lye a yeare or two vnoccupied not ceasing the while to husband it both Winter and Summer as also the first time when you would haue it beare to sow it with Lupines or rather with Pease prouided that the ground be not ouer-cold for then it would profit those Pulse but a little And if all these meanes should fall out to be insufficient it will be good to spread Quicklime vpon the plowed ground in the end of Februarie for besides that it enricheth a ground greatly it cleanseth it also and killeth all bad and dangerous weedes whereupon it commeth to passe that the haruest after it is more plentifull than after anie other dung that a man can inuent to vse Furthermore if the ground be light it will be good to cause some water to ouerflow the corne for the space of ten daies or thereabout which will likewise stand in stead of a manuring or dunging The dung or marle is to be spred in the increase of the Moone about the eighteenth of Nouember after such time as the rested ground hath passed his time of recreation but if it bee in such grounds as wherein the chiefest kindes of corne are to bee sowne then they must be dunged presently after the end of Autumne that so the ground may haue leasure to receiue the raine therewithall which will serue to help the seedes the better to rot thereby prouiding an aid for the weakenes of the earth In like sort if this should be for Rie or for Messing the ground would be dunged in the heart of Winter or a little before notwithstanding that some doe stay for the moneth of March that it may presently after receiue the showers of Aprill which may do much good towards the later end of September at which time they sowe in fine dust and windie drowthes looking for the first raine and the puâ—rifaction to be wrought by the same But howsoeuer the case standeth seeing it is better to manure the ground than not to manure it so
it is better to dung it oft than much at once for as a field starueth if it be not dunged at all so it burneth if it be ouer-dunged in consideration whereof the ground must be well weighed for a good ground hath no such need to be dunged as a leane ground The moist field would be much more dunged for seeing it is frosen continually by reason of his moisture it commeth to passe that the dung by his heat doth resolue and thaw thesame againe The drie ground requireth lesse because it is hot ynough of it selfe by reason of his drinesse and if you should bestow great store of dung vpon it it might be a cause to make it burnt Againe your exceeding rich and stiffe clayes desire little or no manure at all because it is so rich and fat of it selfe that hauing anie more addition it presently mildeweth the corne and makes the kernell thereof as blacke as soot and therefore the good Husbandman sayth That the manure which is best for these rich soyles is good plowing in due time and ripening the mould There must likewise consideration be had of the goodnesse of the dung for good dung would lye fast and close together for a season and rest it selfe a yeare if it be elder it is so much the worse The Pigeons dung is the best of all and next thereto is mans dung especially if it be mixt with the other filth and sweepings of the house for of it owne nature it is verie hot Next vnto this is Asses dung which is the best of all beasts dung because this beast doth chew and eat his meat with great leysure and digesteth it best and thereupon also maketh a dung most prepared and fitted to be put presently into the earth Next vnto this is the dung of Sheepe then that of Goats and alike of all others as Horses Mares Oxen and Kine The worst of all is Swines dung by reason of his great heat for therewith it presently burneth the earth For want of dung the stalkes of Lupines cut downe haue the force and efficacie of very good dung or else to sow Lupines on Corne-ground which is leane and after that they be come vp to put them into the earth againe turning it ouer them There are manie Farmes of which one can keepe neither bird nor beast to make dung of and yet the painefull Farmer in this scarcitie of manure may make some of the leaues of Trees and Thornes and dyrt or parings of the earth gathered out of the streetes hee may also take Ferne and mingle them with the filth and myre of the vtter court or make a deepe pit and gather into it ashes stubble and stumps of hay or straw the dyrt hanging about spouts and all other manner of filth that may be scraped and raked together in paring or sweeping the house or else howsoeuer And in the midst of this ditch you must set a piece of wood of Oake to keepe away Adders and Snakes that they come not to breed or abide there If you haue no other but arable grounds they will not need that you should diuide your dung into diuers sorts but and if you haue Vineyards Medowes and Corne-ground you must lay euerie sort of dung by it selfe as that which is of Goats and birds must be stirred euerie summer as if you would digge it with Pick-axes or Spades to the end it may not the sooner and be better for the ground The cleansing of Ponds Ditches or standing Lakes is a compasse or manure not inferior to anie before spoken of and Marle may haue preheminence before all in as much as the best before named doth not last aboue foure yeares at the most and some but two and some but one yet Marle will keepe the ground rich twentie yeares and better All sorts of ashes either of Wood or Coale is a good manure chiefely for ground that is apt to chap or riue So is also Lyme or Chalke especially for cold soyles yet your Lyme would be scattered verie thinne vpon the same and your Chalke layd in greater aboundance Also Sea-sand is a verie good kind of manure and both fasteneth a loose mould and also maketh it a great deale more fertile CHAP. IX That the ground must be plowed ouer according to his three earings before that it be sowne IN tilling and husbanding the earth as it should be there are three things chiefely required first a Husbandman furnished with a good vnderstanding and ripe iudgement secondly Cattell fitted for the worke and thirdly a Plough well appointed and made But of all other things it is verie requisite that the Husbandman doe know the nature and condition of the earth which he vndertaketh to till thereof to reape fruit and commoditie that so accordingly he may stirre it and giue it as manie earings as the nature thereof doth require For in fields which are of a good ground vnderneath he must set his culter and plough so deepe therein as that the better and fatter earth which is vnderneath may be turned aboue whereas to take the same course in a ground that is barren and leane vnderneath were altogether vnprofitable In like manner there are manie fields which the more that they are eared and plowed they become so much the more leaner and barrenner and such are those which haue a â—light mould which the oftener they are plowed in the time of heat so much the more they are pierced of the Sunne and so become the weaker and lesse able to 〈◊〉 Corne. It is true indeed that there are not manie sorts of grounds but by oft earing â—hey become more fruitfull than and if they were seldomer eared but howsoeuer Wheat or Mesling especially doe desire to haue three earings before they bee â—owne one which is called the first earing and it must be when as the dung is newly spread otherwise the dung would loose his force being wasted and consuâ—ed by the heat of the Sunne and this first earing is for to stirre the earth and 〈◊〉 make it soft for after-plowing not turning vp much earth with the plough nor piercing deepe into the earth this first time but cutting it in such sort as that the â—urrowes may be so neere together one vnto the other as that a man shall hardly â—erceiue the path or passage of the plough for by this meanes all the rootes of â—he hearbes will be broken and die The second earing is in the Spring at such â—ime as the earth beginneth to open of it selfe and then you may cast your 〈◊〉 good and high and great withall that so the seed may be the better receiued into â—he ground But you must vnderstand that according to the situation of the grounds that are good for Corne or Pulse as also according to the Countrey mould and heartinesse â—hereof it is vsed to varie and alter the plowing and tilling of the ground for the â—urther benefit of the inhabitants for at Brie where
more worth than the other so that the hindes let not to say That they had rather eat the huskes or stalkes of beanes sowne in due time than the beanes themselues of three moneths old because they yeeld more fruit and haue a greater and better stored graine But at what time soeuer you sowe them you must haue speciall regard to sowe them all about the fifteenth day after the change of the Moone because that in so doing thâ—y will be the beâ—ter loaden and because they will not be so much assailed of little vermine as and if the Moone were new The day before they be sowne you must steepe them in the lees of Oliues or in water of Nitre to the end that they may beare the more fruit be more easie to boyle and not to be subiect to be eaten of Weeuils or Larkes They must likewise reape and pull them vp in the new of the Moone before day and after leaue them in the ayre to drie and thresh them out before the full Moone and afterward carrie them into the Garner for being thus ordered vermine will not breed in them Againe they proue more profitable being planted than sowne in a good ground that is well dressed tilled fatted and manured vvhich said ground if it be sowne the yeare following with Wheat will yeeld a more copious and plentifull haruest in as much as Beanes doe fatten a ground more than anie other kind of Pulse If you would keep them long you must sprinkle them with salt water but if you meane to boile them you must bee sure to keep the salt from them because salt-water doth harden them they must not be left in the cold aire for the cold also doth make them the harder to boile To keepe them from being euen of wormes they must bee annointed or rubd ouer with oile-oliue one after another vntill such time as they be well liquored with this oile The flowers of Beanes notwithstanding that they be of a pleasant and delightsome smell doe hurt a weake braine and such a one as is easily carried away and ouercome And hereupon it commeth to passe that there are a great number of fooles when Beanes are in flower Thus much for the French experience of Beanes which doth indeed more concerne the Garden-Beane than those which are continually in vse amongst Husbandmen Therefore to come to the profit and true knowledge of the husbanding of Beanes you shall vnderstand that they are onely to be sowne in a rich stiffe ground that is verie fertile as namely the black or blew clay for in other earths they â—oy but a little and they will grow with one eaâ—ing onely which would be done at the beginning of Ianuarie vpon such earth as hath borne Barly before or else vpon greene-swarth which hath not been plowed long before it must be plowed deep and haue a great furrow turned vp then you shall let it lye till it haue taken frost and raine then vpon the next faire season being about or soone after S. Valentines day you shall sowe it and harrow it As for the weeding of Beanes it is to no purpose for they are of themselues so swift of growth that they will out-grow all weedes And if they haue anie Pease mixt amongst them which should euer be for it is the surest seed they will smother vp and destroy all sorts of weedes They are because of their vpright growing better to be mowne with sythes than cut to reapt with hookes they aske little withering for so soone as the cod turnes blacke the stalke dryes The vse of them is principally for prouander for Horses or to mixe with Barley Wheat or Rie to make bread for hind-seruants or for hunting or running Horses but then commonly they are vsed simply of themselues or else mixt with Wheat onely for the mixture of Barley or Rie is not good for Horses of that nature except for some cause physicall as to keepe them soluble in their bodies and so forth The Garden-Beane is good for men to eat being boyled and mixt with butter vineger and pepper or for want of butter with oyle-Oliue The cods also are a verie good food being boyled whilest they are greene and tender Lastly the water which is distilled from the flowers of Beanes is good to take away the morphew or spots in men or womens faces Small Peason SMall Pease are no lesse profitable for the fatting of ground that is leane than Lupines It is true that if you looke to haue good store of them and well-codded you must sowe them in fat and warme grounds and in a temperate and moist time as in Februarie or March and sometime in September in the increase of the Moone and yet it is hard for them to endure and hold out the Winters cold for they alwaies desire the full fruition of the Sunne and doe grow a great deale the fairer when they doe enioy it accordingly and when also they are borne vp to that end on stickes rather than let fall flat to the ground to creepe vpon it they must be sowne thinne because their stalkes doe spread themselues further than anie one other kind of pulse They are verie subiect to be eaten within of Wormes and yet those which are so eaten of Wormes are better to sowe than the other which are whole and sound For this cause if you will preuent the Wormes that they may not hurt and hinder your corne sowe Peason first in the place It is true that for the better growth and prospering of them the thicke and grosse seed is most conuenient to be sowne especially if it be laid in water to steepe therein a night because thereby they grow the more easily and lose some part of their saltnesse in being steept by which meanes they recouer their naturall verdure againe They must be gathered in the decrease of the Moone presently vpon their being ripe for else they drie vp and fall out of their swads The earth wherein they are sowne standeth in need but of one earing Cich Peason CIch Peason doe likewise grow in fat and moist places they must be sowne in a rainie time they doe greatly load and burthen the earth and for that cause are neglected of the wiser sort of husbandmen Notwithstanding if you will sowe them you must steepe them in warme water a day before that so they may grow and put forth of the earth the sooner and greater Some to haue them grow the fairer doe steepe them and their cods in nitrous water To keepe them that passengers and other folke may not gather them to eate when they are ripe you must water them fiue mornings together before the Sunne rise with water wherein haue beene steeped the seedes of wild Cucumber and Wormewood and the dew within fiue daies after will haue taken away all the bitternesse thereof Such practises are likewise good for to be vsed about small Peason and Beanes The vse of them is good for such as are
grapes in places that are hot and giuen to be mild In drie countries he must plant those vines the fruit whereof is woont lightly either through raine or the dew to rot as those be of samoureau Gouet Pinot Blanke and Beaunoies and in a moist place those which are woont to spoile and perish through drinesse In countries which are troubled with haile such as are of a hard and large leafe for such are able the better to defend and couer the fruit CHAP. III. How that there is not planted any vine by the way of making a seed nurcerie except it be onely for pleasure I Am of that mind that a man cannot but hinder and iniurie himselfe in making nurcerices of vines for besides that the tree doth not grow sooner of kernels than it doth of the plant there is also this inconuenience namely that the vine growing of knernels doth not yeeld any thing of profit or good for vse This is indeed a worke for such as loue their pleasure and haue in their purses largely to defray the charges thereof being able thereby to sow seeds out of some strange countrie afterward to raise a nurcerie of stocks of the same when they are growne vp for to bee transplanted and remoued into a better ground and that they may graft thereon and afterward againe remoue the stockes so grafted into a better ground also that so about two yeares after they may reape the fruit thereof which is woont to be both great and daintie enough but yet this same new vineyard thus planted is the least durable of all others Againe in this countrie wee doe not trouble our selues in planting vines to runne vpon trees in such sort as any man may easily see that they doe in Lombardie and other places neither yet with such as are raised vpon single and double shadowing arbours neither yet with such as vse to creepe along and spread themselues vpon elmes or other trees for the wine neuer proueth so good as well because the root of the tree is corrupted after the maner as it falleth out with coleworts as also because this plant loueth not to be hoiâ—ed and mounted too high neither yet shadowed with any building of timber-worke higher than the stature of a perfect man CHAP. IIII. How that before you plant your vine you must learne out what wine the earth will beare where you are purposed to plant it WHosoeuer doth purpose to plant vines must not so much trust vnto the markes and signes of a good ground ceclared and set downe before as first to see that he haue made trial what wine the ground will best beare where he mindeth to plant his vine for it were but labour lost and money cast away to plant a vine for so small increase as can nothing like aunswere and content your expectation Thus then you may trie and proue your ground make a pit in the ground where you meane to plant it of two foot depth and of the earth cast out of the pit take a clod and put it in a glasse full of raine water that is verie deane mingle and beate together this earth and water then let it rest vntill such time as the earth haue made his perfect residence and setling in the bottome of the glasse which is easily perceiued by the cleerenesse of the glasse which will follow thereupon and after that the earth is throughly setled tast the water and looke what relish or tast it hath such would the wine be and therefore a vine yeelding such a relished wine fittest to be planted there therefore if you find therein a bitter tast a saltie or allum like or any other such vnpleasant tast auoid and cease to plant any vine in any such ground Which if it be true then to dung and manure vines is altogether to bee condemned because it is very hard that earth fed and nourished with dung should not taste and retaine the smatch of the dung and so by consequence communicate the same with the wine Wherefore the Parisians are fowly and foolishly ouerseene to load and lay vpon their vines yeare by yeare such great quantitie of dung and that is the cause for the most part why their wines haue an vnpleasant tast and doe easily and very quickely corrupt and yet further the dung doth cause the vines to grow old by and by and become barren because they put forth all their goodnesse the first yeare CHAP. V. Of the choice of young vine plants THe choice of young plants whether they bee crossets marquets or the tenais must not be put to the discretion of the seller who little careth to take the fit season for the gathering of the said young plants neither yet for the goodnesse of them but altogether to his diligent heedfull care which is the workemaster and for that cause it were best for men to take them of their owne vines or else at least to haue those which hee shall buy warranted to beeâ— good he must also haue regard to the quality of the aire and situation of the ground where he will set his plants that so he may fit them for the same For and if the ground lie vpon the South he shall chuse the young branches of vines which he will plant from the same part and quarter if he meane to plant them in a high place hee shall gather the plants vpon some high and tall vine and if low then out of some vineyard that is very low planting in a hot cold drie or moist ground hee shall chuse his plants for the renewing of any failing or decaied of the like situation by this meanes the plant will fasten the sooner in the ground and it will bring forth fruit sooner and a great deale better than if it should bee otherwise Likewise hee must not keepe the young plant any long time before hee plant it for no more than trees which are to bee remooued can the vine well and easily endure after it is cut to bee long vnplanted neither yet would it be carried far or remoued out of its owne soile into another because it feareth the change of earth and aire and thereupon it commeth that the young plants brought out of strange countries as of Beaune Rochel and Burdeaux cannot prosper so well in our soile as those which grew there first To make good choice therefore of crossets to plant new vines of you must see that the vine from which you gather such Crosâ—ets bee but sparingly furnished with pith because that such a one is not onely fruitfull and bearing aboundantly but because also it is not so subiect to the iniuriousnesse of time as Snow Fogges Frostes and the burning of the Sunne in the time of Sommer as those which haue much pith in them afterward when the vines beginne to bud you must diligently view about the beginning of September those that are most laden with grapes and which are most fruitfull and haue most
timber trees if peraduenture you haue not the bâ—nefit of some vnder wood neere vnto your house where the conies may settle themselues and make their abode Notwithstanding in as much as the hunting and taking of conies which haue their couerâ—s and boroughs in such vnder woods is some what more hard and difficult than that of the Warren and because also that conies liuing in smal woods multiplie nothing so much as those in the Warren and that especially by reason of foxes woolues and other field beastes whereunto they are oftentimes made a pray by being deuoured of them it will bee better and for your further both ease and profit to make a Warren apart by it selfe You must then for the making thereof reserue some fiue or sixe acres of fine dustiâ— or sandie ground such as is not fat strong or close in a high place lying open vpon the Sunne and not in a â—arish or waterie ground for together with that the â—onie hateth aboue all things moisture and cold yet for the conueniencie of her making of here earthes it is requisite that she be in a place where she may dig with ease for the making of her bed and couert This peece of ground shall be compassed and be set about after the manner of a parke with reasonable high walls to keepe out foxâ—s woolues and other wild beasts that they may not iniurie or make war vpon this little beast Within this conigrie you must plant great store of brambles mulberriâ— trees and â—loe trees strawberrie plants wild pine trees hurtle berrie bushes goose berrie bushes mâ—rtle trees and great store of iuniper for the conie loueth the iuniper berrie aboue all other things And as concerning hearbes you must sow if so be the earth bring not forth someof itselfe great â—tore of sowthistle groundswell succorie coleworts lettuces clarie taragon thistles turneps cich â—ease and other such like for the feeding of these little beastes As for the drawing of some small brooke or bestowing of any water conduit vpon them you need not trouble your selfe seeing the coniâ— hath moisture more than any thing else Neither yet doe you trouble your selfe to prepare them any other lodging than the holes which they shall dig and worke out for themselues And those burroughs or clappers which shall be meet for them to worke in which borrough would if the nature of the ground doe not allow it bee cast vp somewhat high and sâ—â—ape wise so as the water may by all means dessend and passe from the same without soaking into it or drawing it vpon any fluxe of raine whatsoeuer vpon the tops of these burroughs or clappers for the better strengthning of them and holding the loose mould together you shall plant good store of alders and other rough bushes which are quicke of groweth whose roots once entring into the earth and twinding about the mould will keepe any from falling more than that which the conie of her owne selfe diggeth and although out of the precisenesse of choice we desire a speciall place for the conie Warren yet you shall vnderstand that the most barrenâ—est ground whatsoeuer so it lie drie will serue for the conie Warren as namely the most dryest heath or downes or those earths which are ouer runne with linge gorse whynnes braken broome ferne and such like for a conie feedeth as a sheepe doth close and neere to the ground and will gather vp the smallest chiâ—e of grasse that may be and also delighteth to crop vpon weeds or any other tender bud that groweth within the compasle of her feeding the snow is her greatest enemie â—et not so much for the want of food as for the ouer moistning of â—er food and so bringing rottennesse therefore it is meere to haue euery Winter in your Warren a little cob or stacke of hay wherewith in those extreame times you may fodder your conies pricking vp little 〈◊〉 thereof in clouen stickes close by the ground which they will eate with all greedinesse for it is a meat at those times which they loue exceedingly for proofe whereof doe but fodder sheepe neere vnto a connie Warren and you shall see how euening and morning the conies will swarme vnto the same eating vp whatsoeuer the sheepe shall leaue which is not too hard or rough for their eating CHAP. II. That there must a Clapper be made for the better storing and planting of your Warren ANd yet it is not inough to haue made and finished the things that are to bee done round about the Warren as to haue fenced it with whatsoeuer is necessarie for the preseruing and nourishing of conies but you must also store and plant it for no more than arable ground beareth fruit except there be seed cast into in nor the vine any grapes except it bee diligently planted and dressed so neither thinke you that your Warren be it neuer so neaâ—ly and necessarily appointed and trimmed vp can breed and feed conies except you first put them there Wherefore for your storing of your Warren it is requisite that you cast vp a clapper wherein you may put your males and females to kindle euery moneth for to buy so many as should be needfull would be too costly and chargeable for the farmer or housholder Seeing also that it commeth to passe oftentimes that after hee hath sold many vnto the vitailers or for that the foxes haue eaten vp some great number the Warren remaineth quite spoiled and destitute of conies in so much as that he must be compelled to store it againe It is better therefore in respect of the greater commoditie and lesse charges to make a clapper in some corner of your court kitching or garden which may be foure square narrow and fenced in with bords or plaistered walls indeed it were better to be prouided in the Warren for so the young ones might more commodiously out of the clapper passe into the Warren at some one side of the clapper which should bee crosse wrought with lattise worke and should haue the holes thereof left so wide as that the young ones might passe out and in vnto their dams Whether therefore the clapper be prouided in the Warren or elsewhere you must build certaine small lodgings paued with boords and these must haue holes in them like to those which the conies make themselues in the earth and euery one seuerall from another for the conies to betake themselues into and it will be enough for to allow in such places one male to eight or ten females and yet therewithall to keepe the bucke close shut vp in his lodging for feare he should hurt and wrong the young ones for the male conie contrarie to the nature of all other manner of buckes deuoureth the young ones It is very true that so soone as it is espied that the Doe hath kindled she must incontinently be put into some other hole with the male that so he may Bucke her for this is a most certain thing that
walkes or about houses for shade bearing a large head like the Cicamore and fully as round and as much extended and the leafe naturally of it selfe being broad and growing so thicke that hardly neither the Sunne nor the raine can possibly passe through the same neither is it tender but very apt to grow and may be remoued at any time or age as long as it is portable and meete to be wiâ—lded by the strength of any one man It is very true that the elme groweth easily and plentifully after that it hath taken with the ground And who so would for varietie sake mingle diuers sorts of trees of diuers natures as maple beech aspe and such other kinds of wood may do it but the moe okes and chesnut trees a man groweth the better he doth CHAP. VI. Of the seating and disposing of a wood for growing of high and great timber trees WHo soeuer hath a faire plot of eight or ten acres of ground and would make it shew faire and beautifull the first yeare and that by bringing the wood into some shape and commendable forme with hope of further delight pleasure from the same in time to come must for the first yere wall it about or else ditch it so well and plant it with hedges of quickset as that no cattell may possibly be able to enter thereinto And if the said plot should come to be ditched then I am freely contented to vtter my opinion at some other time concerning the fashion that they are to bee made after as also how when they are made they must be planted or set with quickset But presuppose that the said square plot is inclosed with a wall and that the said square hath foure sides that is to say two of length and two of bredth mine aduise is that all the sides of the said wal should be couered and clothed with greenenesse and with foure sorts of trees and six foot thicke and large seeing that nature reioiceth in varietie that so both the walls may be kept from being seene and there may be a walk betwixt two greenes The said couerts shall bee made according to the good liking of the Lord as for example one of the sides if it should so seeme good vnto him euen the South side with hasell and white hawthorne because these are the first leaues that doe first put forth in the spring time as those also wherin the nightingale doth make her neast another of the sides with barberrie trees which are beautifull and serue for very many vses spreading themselues in comely sort when they meet with a good ground The third side being that whereupon the Sunne beateth at his rising with â—ame osiers which may serue in husbandrie and therewithall also make a faire shew and the fourth side with yong peare-tree plants with some white thorne plants amongst as at the end of euerie foure foote square which are more greene than any other sorts of trees and they will bee of vse for to graft many faire grafts vpon and good store of great medlars The alleyes about the said wood must be twelue foot broad and vpon the edges of all the said alleyes as well on those that are toward the wall as on the other there must be planted elmes euery one foure fadome from another hauing their heads cut off and their bodies remaining a seuen foote high or thereabout to giue some grace and comlinesse vnto the said alleyes because that if a man should walke in the fairest place in the world if there be no sweetnesse to be found in it it proueth tedious and irkesome For this cause if it please the Lord of the farme to plant along the said alleyes certaine fruit trees as also wallnut-trees and those such as may sute euery season of the yeare he may do it Further it may seeme that all the said trees should be set from foure feet to foure feet and that by the leuell of a line euery way aswell to please the sight of the eie as also for that sometimes men are desirous to make alleyes within the wood and then if the draughts be straight it is more easie for to make them CHAP. VII Of the manner of planting trees in woods of high and tall growth IF you purpose to plant these trees well you must presently make dithes in manner of furrowes as you are woont to doe in the planting of vines wherein they must be planted to the end the earth may feed it selfe in aire and that it may battle and grow fat with the raine and snow which shall fall during Winter vpon them vnto the end of December or vnto the beginning of Ianuarie These trenches are not to be made aboue two foot deepe but they must be well handled in the bottome and that by laying the good earth vpon one side of the furrow and that which is lesse worth vpon the other and not to cast it abroad to the end that if the bottome should proue bad ground or otherwise to bee ouer deepe then there might be cast into the said furrow or trench some of that good earth which shal be on the side to the end that the roots of the tree may not busie themselues in searching a bad bottome in steed of stretching forth themselues in largenesse and you must so leaue the trenches and furrowes all Winter long for the receiuing of the rain water when it commeth and they must be so wide as that one may turne a yard euery way round within The said trees must be planted in December if it be possible and that the times be fauorable as when it freezeth not for great frosts are great enemies to the good proceeding of this worke You should rather cast to plant trees that are alreadie growne vp than to deale with the sowing of acornes or chesnuts because it requireth great care and industrie to make the said seed to grow and as concerning the seed it selfe that of the chesnut groweth sooner than that of the acorne And whenas you go about to sow them it must be done with leauing a foot distance betwixt one and another with the largest and in the end of great frosts because that during the said frosts the mowles do eate the chesnuts in the ground As concerning the planting of trees alreadie growne they must be taken vp with as many roots as they can possibly and after they be taken vp if there by any of their roots broken to cut the same and those which are not broken to cut their ends for to refresh them the length of three or foure fingers more or lesse as the roots may beare it You must make choice of a young plant that hath a liuely and cleane barke not rough and ouergrowne with mosse a good and handsome root a straight shanke and long without scares or frets and before you plant it it will bee good to cast into the furrow some good earth taken from the side of
smother the bud and deuour the substance of the earth for all plants come of heate and moisture and if they be suffered to bee intangled with weeds they will be smothered and in danger to be lost CHAP. IX That wood diligently dressed and husbanded doth profit more than that which is not so dressed and husbanded I Know that there are many trees which are dayly seene to grow without such great paines taking and industrie freely receiuing their naturall nourishment without aide or assistance and that by reason of the fruitfulnesse either of the ground or of the countrie and yet if some one do so escape a hundred die for it and this I say for their sakes who hauing once planted would be loath to loose their paines and do conceaue that all or the greatest part doe thriue and prosper which conceat is notwithstanding like to deceiue them if they proceed not to dresse and husband them in conuenient sort after they haue beene well planted as is aboue declared Wherfore I haue applied my selfe to trie the issue of tilling of them according to art and knowledge as also of leauing them vntilled and I find that although the tree which groweth in the desert do grow vp sometimes vpon a perfect growth notwithstanding it groweth not in so short time and the greatest part of it dieth and that which is well tilled and planted doth grow twice so much and that not one of ten of them is lost but that all prosper of what sort of wild trees soeuer they by But some may replie that labour is chargeable and costeth much but in as much as it lasteth not alwaies being to continue not past foure or fiue yeares at the most much like vnto the young plant of a vine it will be found that the cost will not bee great seeing especially that after such cost it is freed from any more for euer For after that wood is once grown vp to such height as that weeds cannot ouer grow nor ouercrow it which will be in foure or fiue yeares if it be husbanded then it smothereth the weeds that grow vnder it and keepeth away from them both the Sunne and the aire with its shawdow in such sort as that they die and are not able to ouershadow or do any hurt vnto the wood CHAP. X. Of remouing lopping pruning and making cleane of wood THat your plant may grow the better it is likewise requisite â—o remoue trees from a high drie and bad soile into another ground that is more moist and fat if it may be by this meanes in finding a better soile the tree will take more easily and there is no doubt but the better the ground is and the better that the plant is ordered the sooner it will grow become bigger beare greater boughs and leaues rather than lesse as may be seene in old forrests which are situated in fertile and fat countries or in those which grow in sandie and bad grounds as in Solonge where woods continue very small and vntimely Woods planted and ordered as is abouesaid the first second and third yeare must not bee touched with any edge toole and yet notwithstanding towards the third and fourth yeares and those that follow if you perceiue your wood so thicke set and spred as that it riseth not neither groweth high as it ought you may cull out and cut away the small sprigs and little boughes as you shall find them seeing they are good for nothing and leaue behind you some three or foure of the principall braunches so stripped of their small twigs as your owne discretion will best direct you This pruning of them would bee towards the moneth of March after that the cold is passed and gone that so the frost may not hurt the boughes that are cut and newly lopped and you may continue thus to prune them vnto the middeh of April at what time they begin to bud and put forth but then it must be done gently holding the shanke of the tree fast and firme without mouing or shaking of the rootes And this pruning may be done euery yeare if you will and by this meanes you may cause a new spring of small woods to grow and to put forth eight or ten branches fit for to bee plants for high and tall trees by cutting away the side ones and leauing three or foure of the fairest branches growing from the foot of the said small wood so cut downe according as you shall think good so that you make choice of such as grow vp high and straight and if they be not altogether strong enough to hold vp themselues you may helpe them with some prettie small props and stickes the better to hold them vp CHAP. XI Of the manner of sowing acornes for the growing of oakes ALl sorts of wild trees grow of remoued plants hauing good rootes or of branches or of the seeds and fruits which they beare and whereby they renew themselues Of the remoued plant there hath alreadie enough beene said as that it is more profitable and of a more speedie and certaine growth and therefore the sooner able to bestow pastime vpon his master The second way to grow trees is to grow them of branches writhen and buried in the earth gathered in such sort as that they may put forth roots and take againe as Columella hath very well set downe at large notwithstanding this way is long in taking root and putting forth and not to be practised but where there are no plants to be come by Wherefore I will not meddle with it in this place because it is not done without difficultie and vncertaintie and for that the pleasure thereof is long be-before it is reaped as also for that in this our countrie of France there are many vnderwoods and strong hedges where are to be gathered very easily and that in great quantity plants of all sorts of wild trees The third way is to sowe them of seed as of acornes beech maste and of the seed that is in the leaues of elmes for they bring forth such trees as those whereupon they themselues did grow and such seeds may bee sowne in little furrowes made with a hacke or grubbing axe and those not aboue foure or fiue fingers deepe and therein to couer them againe very lightly with broken mould or else they may bee sowne with the plough as beanes and all other kinds of graine are or with a debbell by which name they call a little sticke of halfe a foot long and a finger or inch thicke And of the three waies the best is to plant or sow the acorne or other seed with the dibble euerie one halfe a foot from another or one foot euery one from another by a straight line or after the manner vsed in grounds broken vp with the hacke making a small open place in the earth and therein putting the acorne in the like distance of halfe a foot all along the furrowe notwithstanding it is
not needfull to plant them so neere euerie manner of way for the earth would not bee able to beare so much fruit as would growe and so it must either be transplanted or else it would proue out of course like a misborne thing Wherefore you may leaue betwixt euery two furrows and plants foure fiue or sixe foot distance sidewaies and againe if all prosper not the worst and most ill fauouredly growne may be pulled vp And euen as small and great wood is to be dressed and husbanded so also must their seed be ordered but not after the like sort for the mattocke would pull vp the seed and therefore they must be vnderdigd very deftly and the weeds weeded out all along the furrowes where the seedes are set to the end that the weeds do not smother them and that they doe not blinde them taking away their aire Sunne and substance of the earth whereof euerie young seede and plant standeth greatly in neede as to bee holpen thereby to gather root and life which is as yet in them very young and tender By which meanes you see that paines and labour taken about acornes and other seedes of trees causeth them to grow and prosper so as that they get the better of other plants which in continuance might ouergrow them bâ—t if they remaine as forsaken things without husbanding they vvill bee choaked vp vvith vveedes and the greatest part of them die and those vvhich shall escape vvill bee but of low growth and appeare like an vntimely birth lacking helpe and dressing except through long continuance of time they preuaile and then they which planted or sowed shall not reape any pleasure by them but their heires onely And in all such sorts of planting and sowing of vvild seeds it is necessarie to fence a place sowed or planted so vvel and sufficiantly with ditches hedges or vvals as that no beast horse or other may enter or get in as also that thereby the vvood may bee kept from being handled or cut downe by passengers for if the sprig bee brused or broken the tree remaineth all parched and readie to drie According to this manner of planting of acornes or chesnuts they may very vvell and conueniently bee set and planted amongst the plants of trees and rootes that are planted farre enough off one from another for so they may haue roome betwixt two plants being distant the quantitie of nine or ten foot or thereabout seeing it is meet and conuenient to nourish trees and to destroie vveedes By this meanes the acornes and chesnuts or any other thing planted vvith the dibble or sowne in furrowes is dressed amongst the rest and made to enioy sufficient scope betwixt two plants there to take their full growth vntill they become like high or very neere with the trees planted or cut neither do they cost extraordinarily for their dressing because the whole ground is to be dressed because of the other plants that are in it And in as much as it is oftentimes found in countries that there are neither vnderwoods woods bushes nor hedges whereout any may get a plant growing from roots I haue thought good to intreat a little of the meanes of making it grow of seed Like as is woont to bee done with fruit trees and those which are taken from their nurceries to bee transplanted into gardens so may you doe with wilde trees which after that they are growne to a sufficient thickenesse and come to beare seede may be otherwhere either grafted or planted as you shall wish or desire For which cause heere shall be put downe a treatise and chapter thereof seeing the former intreateth of the intermingling of seed with plants for to helpe out the storing of woods which are alwaies to continue CHAP. XII Of the way to make wild trees grow of seede to be remoued afterward into some other place CErtaine it is as hath beene said before that euery tree groweth either of a plant or of some great fruit or of a writhen branch and for that there are many places where one cannot come by plants easily it is to be attempted to make the said plant to grow of seed as is practised in the nurceries of tame aâ—d garden trees by dressing and dunging some halfe acre of good ground and then to sow it with such good seed as that the trees beare whereof you would haue plants That is to say with acornes if you would store your selfe with oakes or with chesnuts if you desue chesnut trees or with the graine and seed which groweth in elme trees if you would haue elme plants The said grains and seeds must be sowne in a fat fertile well dunged and somewhat moist ground and that reasonably thick therein couering the said seeds two fingers thicke and causing them to be well watered afterwards and couered with bright straw to the end that this fruit of young trees sprouting out of the seed bee not eaten and broken by birds but when they begin to grow the straw must be taken away and the weeds growing amongst them weeded out with the hand For which cause the quarters wherein the said seeds are to be sowne must be made long and narrow that so the weeds may easily be puld vp out of euery place without treading vpon the quarters and that the said weeds may be gathered gently to auoid the doing of hurt vnto the roots of the young trees and oftentimes they must be watered at night after Sunne set and in the morning before Sunne rise And after they be growne three foot high you must remoue them into some other ground before they take any stronger root and set them good two foot distant one from another till they haue got a competent thicknesse such as is before described and dresse and clense them from all weeds and water them in the time of drought Thus you shall reare plants of all sorts and of all manner of wild trees to remoue afterward into such places as you will and such trees will grow very well being transplanted as are of like age and sort for so the one of them cannot hurt or iniurie another This is to be practised in places where no plants of trees can be found in sufficient store for otherwise in countries furnished with vnderwoods and woods there arâ— inough to be found without taking this plant and tedious protract of time wherefore this article will be of vse where there is neither vnderwood wood nor plant to become by in hedges or bushes and not in this countrie where there are many to be gotten and those very good CHAP. XIII Of the pleasure that commeth of the planting of wilde woods as also of the profit comming of the same AMongst the things required for the making of a place of perfect beautie Cato in his booke of Husbandrie saith That it is needfull to haue nine principall things The first is a Vine yeelding great quantitie of vvine the second a Garden full of little riuers
the third a Willow groue and Oziar plot the fourth a great Riuer the fifth a Medow the sixth a great champion ground the seuenth Coppies of vnderwood the eight plentie of Bushes and a Warren and the ninth a forrest of great Trees or Oakes to beare Acornes Now amongst all these seuerall points of perfect beautie we may see that the principall is vvater and vvood because that hauing vvater one may easily make Medowes Garden plots Oziar yards and Willow plots all along the vvaters and riuers and hauing vvoods one may make Vnderwoods Warrens Bushes and high great trees also if it be lopt and pruned vnderneath to make it shoot vp and grow on high And he must not leaue aboue three or foure branches at the most and then they will become tall and high by and by because that the root is disburdened of all the rest of his boughes by hauing them cut downe in like sort the ground sendeth all such nourishment vnto these three or foure branches as it had imployed in the nourishment of many branches of small vvood and affoordeth growth vnto the straightest and fairest branches which are left behind to come to perfection thus in a small time they become tall and great trees and beare acornes So in like manner there is not that vvood of high and great growth cut downe in good and seasonable time vvhich putteth not forth small vvood and bushes if cattell and beasts be carefully kept out Whereupon I will conclude that in planting of woods there are three things principally requisite to the making of a beautifull place that is to say little wood great wood bushes and a warren for it is the like reason to plant the one and the other for of the one the other is made wherefore in respect of the pleasure profit and beauty of the place it is meet and conuenient to plant woods But the chiefe pleasure and pastime which commeth by wild woods is that being ioined to your house and champion habitation which is the place where it must be seated or planted it is pleasant to the sight for by its diuersity of greenenesse it maruellously delighteth and with great contentment recreateth the sight The second pleasure or pastime is that the woods being neere vnto your lodging are alwaies full of all sorts of pretie birds which sing Sommer and Winter all the day long and most part of the night as nightingales and such other like whereby their songs become ioyfull and delightsome to the eare and so there is a pleasure and great contentment to the eare euen to them in the house if it be neere vnto Another pleasure is that in the said woods there are alwaies great store of wood coists popingaies stares cranes and other sorts of birds which make you pastime to see them flie and there may also pleasure be reaped in taking of them with little engines as with a call nets the tonnell or other such like The fourth is that in the woods there are to bee had conies hares squirrels and other sorts of small beastes pleasant to behold and of great seruice for prouision of vitaile The fifth is that in hot seasons you may purchase a coole aire within the said woods as those which will couer and defend you from the iniurie and vexation of the Sunne and contrariwise cooling you vvhether the heat will or no and therein you haue also to behold a comfortable greenenesse both vpon the boughes and ground vvhich keepeth his grasse greene through the coolenesse and shadow of the trees The sixth is that in Winter being in the said vvoods you are out of the iniurie and force of the vvinds and great cold because they breake them off and further in these vvoods you are solitarie and may vse your leasure in reading writing or meditating vpon your affaires vvithout being disquieted or distracted or drawne to cast your sight abroad ouer any farre distant place or countrey in as much as the sight cannot pierce through the boughes or bushes Besides the said pleasures there commeth much profit thereof as well for the feeding of cattell and that in the shadow and with store of grasse at commandement at all times as also in respect of the Oake mast Beech mast Chesnuts and other fruits vvhich the trees beare vvhich serue for the fatting of hogges and are very necessarie for other beasts and for that also you may vpon certaine yeares make fall of your vvoods to make faggots fire vvood stakes to hedge in garden plots and other inclosures as also rods for Vines to runne vpon and if there be cut downe any Chesnut-trees or Hasels you may besides the things alreadie named make your profit of hoopes and boords for vvine-vessels in such sort as that these your vvoods shall not onely doe you pleasure but profit also if so be you be so disposed to make your vse of it By this meanes you may coniecture that the ground which is imploied in bearing of vvood is not any thing inferior in profit vnto others which are imployed in bearing of Corne and Vines It is very true that the commaundement or vse and profit of it are longer time in purchasing and more hardly come by than that of Corne and Vines but it recompenceth it with the double in the end for the first charges once defrayed nature bringeth forth both the greater and the smaller vvood vvithout the helpe of man and vvithout any labour vvhich happeneth not in Corne-grounds and Vineyards seeing they beare not except they be continually husbanded and tilled Wherefore the ground imploied in Beech mast and vvood yeeldeth as much profit as any other and will stand the house in as great stead seeing it cannot be any way held or inhabited without vvood I haue heere beene the more vvilling to declare and lay downe in briefe the pleasure and profit that commeth of vvoods to the end that they which take paines in those courses may not thinke that they haue lost their time and cost bestowed thereupon and that they may not be ashamed at the first blow of their trauaile and long attendance seeing that afterward both the pleasure and the profit doth abide and continue vvithout any further cost and that vnto them and their posteritie Wherefore my counsell and aduise vnto the good husband and master of the familie is that he apply himselfe to such planting of vvoods betimes that so he may the sooner enioy the pleasures thereof and that in so doing he cast them so as that they may grow as neere vnto his lodging and house where he meaneth to dwell as possibly may be for his further both profit and pleasure for if no good else should come thereof yet they would serue to breake the raging and blustering vvindes annoying the house if they be well placed and so conueniently as a man may be able to dispose them CHAP. XIIII A treatise of the nature properties and differences of wilde trees and what ground
continually seene that Willowes planted vpon causeyes banks hauing some ditch of water ioyning thereunto that in such sort as that their roots may reach but to the brinks and edges of the water proue fairer taller and more plentifull than those which grow in waterish medows because that for the â—â—st part their roots stand moist in water You may read of the Holme tree in the fourth booke I say not that Willowes Allers Poplars such white wood will not grow in high places notwithstanding that it is their nature to grow neere to water and doe prosper best in such places and if they be planted in high places and farre from vvater they are hardly nourished and put forth very little in growth insomuch as that a hundred such trees as are planted in waterie countries vvill yeeld more vvood than a thousand planted in a drie countrey notwithstanding all the indeuor and husbandrie that can be vsed yea and they will perish and die a great deale sooner This I say because it is easie to make them grow and to husband them in a high or hillie place by watering and dressing of them in conuenient sort vvhich labours as they are not performed without great cost so if they happen to be neglected it proueth to be the losse and spoile of the trees vvhereas if they be planted in some place that is fit for them and neere vnto vvater according as their nature requireth they vvill prosper vvithout the toile or industrie of man vsed therein Notwithstanding for as much as the first yeares after they be planted they haue much to doe to shoot and nourish their roots and such branches as are alreadie put forth it wil be best to free them of all such twigs as they shall put forth the first yeare to the end they may more easily seed their roots as also that thereby the force of winds which would take such hold of offall may not shake and loosen those which are alreadie fast for vpon such causes trees doe many times die be they neuer so well planted I know that it is not alwaies required that such paines should be taken especially about those which are orderly and conueniently planted in planting or pâ—uning of them notwithstanding I say thus much for them vvhich goe about the making of close alleyes for walkes and shades that they may cause them to grow much in a short time for this they shall effect by planting of them in furrowes and not one of them perish and as for their paine and labour they shall haue the pleasure thereof in shorter time and larger manner Herewithall it must be noted that whensoeuer you set or plant any such trees you must so doe it as that it need not a second doing for if any of them should die it would be the harder to set others in their places so as that they would thriue because the shadow of the other which liue would cause the same to die seeing it is vsually seene that the elder and stronger ones doe oppresse the weaker keeping them vnder and causing them to miscarrie Wherefore the greater care is to be vsed in the first planting of them and the more paine to be taken with them seeing the sequele is a thinâ— that is so hard to be redressed The time to plant Willowes Allers Poplars and other such vvoods is alwaies found best in the beginning of Februarie or at the later end of Ianuarie vvhen the great cold is past being otherwise apt to hurt such plants as are new set as hath alreadie beene said As concerning the properties of these trees thus delighting in watrie grounds the leaues and flowers of the white Poplar although they be a little hot doe notwithstanding make a very cooling ointment called Populeum good to take away the heat of inflamations as also the milke out of womens breasts that are newly deliuered Birch-tree yeeldeth twigs which serue to make rods for the punishing of theeues withall as also to make baskets little maunds beesomes and couerings for earthen bottles Of the stocke is made charcoale seruing for the melting of mettall And of the rinde are made links to giue light in the night season for to such end doe country people vse them The iuice of the leaues mixt amongst the runnet of a Calfe doth keepe cheese from wormes and rottennesse If you pierce the stock of the Birch-tree there will come forth a water which being drunke a long time is of power to breake the stone of the reines and bladder being taken in a gargarisme it drieth the vlcers of the mouth and being vsed in lotions it cleanseth and taketh away the filthinesse and infections of the skin CHAP. XVI Of Ashes Elmes and Maple-trees THe Ash doth naturally craue a low and waterish countrey and therefore doth grow more plentifully in such places than in high grounds and therefore for the most part they must be planted in such low and waterie grounds though not altogether so low and waterie as the Willow Poplar and Aller doe craue howbeit notwithstanding they may be planted in indifferent grounds and Elmes will grow well therein Their proper nature is to delight in moist valleyes for therein they prosper well and grow vp to a great height with straitnesse and beautifulnesse of Timber Notwithstanding this is a common vvood vvhich may be planted in all sorts of grounds howsoeuer that it like better in fat and moist grounds than in those which are but indifferent but they much dislike the drie rough stiffe and grauellie grounds if they be not mingled with moisture The auncient Woodwards vsed to plant them most in hedge-rowes and on the tops of great bankes or ditches where they might haue drie standing yet be continually fed at the root with a little moisture vvhich sure was a very good and husbandly manner of planting the Ash neither shall you at any time see it prosper better than when it is planted in such places It is naturally of it selfe â— little more tender than other wild trees and desireth a more gentle and loose mould which maketh them prosper the best in mixt hasell grounds or in moist sandie ground yet if they doe take in clay grounds as doubtlesse with a verie little care they will doe one Ash so growing is better tougher and more seruiceable than any three which are taken from the sandie or mixed earths It is a timber of no lesse precious vse than any other whatsoeuer for of it are made all your best Pykes Byll-shafts Halberd-shafts and diuers other engines for the vvarres of it also is made all manner of Plow and Cart-timber vvhatsoeuer as Beames Heads Skeathes Hales Spyndles Shelboords Cart or Wayne bodies rings for Wheeles Naues Harrow-buls Harrow-teeth Axle-trees and any other instrument or engine vvhich desireth a firme gentle yet a verie tough vvood a timber that must bend before it breake and not by any meanes be too extreame portable or heauie in the carriage but both
well vpon mountaines or rockes The wood thereof is good to make coffers foote-stooles bowes arrowes darts and other such like stately Ioyners works of because it hath diuers veines and is not subiect to be eaten of wormes Some there are which report that it is deadly either to eate or sleepe vnder the shadow of it and that if a man eate of the fruit thereof it casteth him into an ague and bloudie â—luxe And seeing I haue resolued to be briefe and not to passe beyond my bounds it shall be sufficient to haue made this short rehearsall commending such as are desirous to see further into this skill and knowledge to such bookes of husbandrie as throughly intreat of all the parts of the same seeing they are to be had euery where and seeing that in them such things are to be attained to the â—ull as I for breuitie sake haue omitted and left vntâ—ucht As concerning the vertues and properties of the foresaid trees the oake hath many things and those of great commendation The leaues his nuts which are called gals his messeltoe as being called the messeltoe of the oke The tender leaues therof which are but as yet budding and putting forth may be distilled and the water thereof is singular against the fluxes of the liuer to breake the stone and to stay the whites of women The greater sort of gals or apples haue this propertie in them namely to presage and foretell three things that is to say war dearth pestilence for if you open them which are whole you shall find therein either a little â—lie or a little spider or a little worme if the flie flie away it betokeneth that there will be warre if the little worme doe creepe it is a signe of dearth that yeare and if the spider doe run to and fro it prognosticateth an infinite number of pestilent diseases The oake apples dried and made into pouder do speedily stay all manner of flux in the bellie The misseltoe of the oake taken inwardly doth greatly asswage the torments of such as are taken with the falling sicknesse The beech-tree is much vsed to make baskets and maunds of for to gather grapes in And hereof likewise men in old time were woont to make vessels to sacrifice vnto their gods The leaues of the beech-tree chawed do heale the chaps of the lips and the frettings of the gums The fruit of the beech-tree which is called beech-mast dried and made into ashes being mixt with liniments is of great force and power against the stone and grauell Of the Parke for the keeping of wilde beastes CHAP. XIX Of the situation of the Parkes and of the manner of ordering the wild beasts therein TO the end we may not leaue any thing out of this description of a countrie farme whereof the Farmer or Lord of the soile may make any profit or else take any pleasure my aduice and counsell is that according as the places and grounds may conueniently affoord there bee parkes made neere vnto the farme therein to breed and keepe hares wild goates or fallow deere wild swine and such other like wild beastes to the end that the Lord and Master of the place may now and then recreate himselfe therewith and take his sport in seeing the said wild beastes hunted as also that if he bee disposed to make any great feast or banket he may therein be sure to find as in his kitching of larder house for to make readie meate of besides the benefit which the good husband may make yerely thereof by selling of them The parke would be seated if it be possible within a wood of high and tall timber trees in a place compassed about and well fenced with wals made of rough stone and lime or else of brickes and earth-lome or else with pales made of oake plankes You must foresee that there bee some little brooke of spring-water running along by the place or for want of spring-water and naturall streames you must prepare ditches and pooles walled and daubed in such sort as that they may receiue and keepe the raine-water Nor ought the parke to consist of one kind of ground only as all wood all grasse or all coppise but of diuers as part high wood part grasse or champion and part coppise or vnder-wood or thicke spring nor must these seuerall grounds lie open or as it were in common one with another but they must be separated one from the other by a strong rale through which deere or sheepe but no greater cattell may passe for they must haue the full libertie of euery place neither must the parke be situated vpon any one entire hill plaine or else valley but it must consist of diuers hills diuers plaines and diuers valleyes the hills which are commonly called the viewes or discoueries of parkes would bee all goodly high woods of tall timber as well for the beautie and gracefulnesse of the parke as also for the ecchoe and sound which will rebound from the same when in the times of hunting either the cries of the hounds the winding of hornes or the gibbetting of the huntsmen passeth through the same doubling the musicke and making it tenne times more delightfull the plaines which are called in parkes the launds would be very champion and fruitfull as well for the breeding of great store of grasse and hay for the feeding and nourishiâ—g of his deere or other wild beastes as also for the pleasure of coursing with grey-hounds when at any time the owner shall be disposed to hunt in that manner for when the hounds shall haue hunted the game from the thicks vnto the launds then the grey-hounds being placed thereupon may in the view of the beholders course vpon the same and beget a delight past equall The valleyes which are called the couerts or places of leare for wild beasts would be all verie thicke sprung or vnderwood as well for the concealing of them from potchers and purloyners as for giuing them rest and shadow in the day time who cannot indure to lie open to the view of passengers or vndefended by darkenesse and obscuritie also these thicke couerts are defences for the wild beastes to saue them from the cunning sents or noses of hounds when they pursue them making thâ—ir doubles and windings therein so intricate and cunningly that they scape many times their most mortallest mischiefe also in these thicke couerts the hunted deere finding an vnhunted deere where he lodgeth will forthwith beate him vp and lie downe himselfe in his place making the hounds vndertake the fresh deere and so escape his owne danger which in the open places he cannot doe and the parke is a place that must containe all things for the good and safetie of the game it keepeth Thus you see the parke must consist of view laund and couert and the situation of â—ill valley and plaine Now for the water of which formerly we spoake you shall know it is
passe by after when they are gone past she turneth and â—unneth backe in the same steps by which she came thither vnto the place from whence she was dislodged rather than she would run vp into the forestes by reason of the moistnesse which is amongst the wood When such practises are in hand the horse-men must stay some hundred paces from the wood by which the hare is come for he shall not faile to see her returne by her former way right vpon him whereby he shall be able to call in the dogs The horse-men likewise shall obserue and marke whether it be a male or a female and whether she bee one that keepeth continually in the countrie or but a guest for a night for if she be a wanderer and not of constant abode she will haue her forme in couerâ— and suffer the dogs to put her vp three or foure times neere vnto her forme for this is infallible that the hare bred and sed where she is put vp and especially the female if the horse-man obserue and market the first place and compasse that she taketh the first time after she is departed and gone from her lodging being before the dogs all the rest of the coâ—rfes that she shall make that day will be by the same places waies and muses if it bee not a male hare come from far or else the dogs haue hunted her so hard and wearied her so much as that she be driuen to forsake her woonted haunt and this commonly they do voluntarily betake themselues vnto if they be at any time coursed two whole houres without default At the first when the dogs begin to course the hare she doth nothing but wind and turne tracing ouer one place fiue or fixe times and that all in the same trace And this you must learne that if the coursing dogs misse of taking the hare one day then it will bee good for the horse-man to beare in mind the places and coasts that then she passed through for if he returne at any other time and haue her in course with the dogs she will passe by the same places and practise the same shifts shee did the day before when she escaped and thus being before acquainted with her craâ—ts and ways which she will run he may greatly help his dogs Some hares as soone as they heare the sound of the horne do start and take some riuer or lake and then you must vse what good meanes you can to cause her to auoid the water drawing the dogs neere the place most likely for her landing that so they may take her The females are more often in practising their wiles and in shorter space which the dogs loue not for it is a wearisome iâ—kesomnesse to couragious and lustie dogs to be drawne a side so oft it being their chiefe desire to course such a beast as will run out before them that so they may runne according as their strength will serue them And for such hares as are giuen to wind and turne so oft it is requisite that you take great compasse of ground that so you may inclose all her wiles leauing no passage for her to find but only one way to go out and by this meanes you shall abridge her much of her helpes and driue her to forsake her shifts and sleights There are also some hares giuen to run in trodden pathes and high waies to the end the dogs might not come by any scent of them there being neither braunch of tree nor herbes nor moisture which can touch their bodies to gather any scent for the dogs in such manner as there would if they were in other couert places as woods corne and other coole places and especially when they feed in any greene corne because they rest their bodies in one place When the horse-man shall find such hares and shall perceiue the default of the dogs by reason of the high way he must draw them on forward all along the said high way following them continually vntil such time as the dogs find her out gate or else till he haue found some little valley or coole place in the middest of the way where the dogs may seeme to haue found her scent And he himselfe also must light from off his horse to see if that he can espie any of the traces of the hare such as we haue described them before And by these traces or footsteps he shall by little and little picke out which way she is gone and this amongst hunts-men is called the pricking forth of the hare one obseruation no lesse needfull than any other obseruation whatsoeuer for it is not to be vsed onely in plaine high waies and foot pathes but also in any other ground which is plaine as vpon fallowe lands or other worne ground where the greene swarth is taken away and this aboue all other is the most safest and surest way for the recouering of a losse because it goes not by coniecture or imagination but by certaine knowledge and by knowledge of that member by which the hound hunteth only and by which he beareth the whole scent he seeketh The hare hath a thousand other shifts all which in generall the warie and wilie horse-man may meet withall if when he hath seene her fetch her first compasse and withall got the knowledge of the coast which she betaketh her selfe vnto in her course he get before her to behold her with his eies and in the same place incourage the dogs making them to fetch great circuits to the end they may be sure to include and compasse all her wiles and shifting tricks Hares liue not aboue seuen yeares at the most and especially the males they haue this tricke with them that if the male and the female doe liue together in a countrie they will neuer suffer other strange hares to abide there if they can remedie it except it be such as they haue bred and thereupon some say That the more that any place is hunted the moe hares are found there because that strangers and those of other countries do come thither The hare being killed it will be good to giue the dogs their fees the better to incourage them and to cause them with much more ioy to hunt in that place afterward This their repast or fees may be made of bread cheese and some other dainties all put into the bodie of the hare that so it may bee moistned and ouerdrowned with bloud and after spread vpon the cleane grasse For their second sort of meate as a more royall banquet if there be store of hares taken will bee good to vncase one and first taking out her lights then to cast the whole carkasse to the dogs giuing them leaue to teare and eat her and after that they haue eaten her to giue them bread least they should proue sicke at their stomakes and cast their gorge seeing that hares flesh is enemie vnto them In like manner when the dog which is taught to
Grey by reason of his colour who is a beast of infinit great industrie cleanlinesse and fearefulnesse doth first make the Foxes earth but not with any determinate purpose that the Foxe should inioy it but as a place of refuge and rest for himselfe onely which as soone as the Foxe findeth out he presently watcheth the going out of the Badger and then entring in at the hole he defileth the mouth and entrance thereof both with his dung and pisse which is the loathsomest of all excraments in such filthie and hatefull manner that the Badger returning and finding his lodging so nastily beraied presently he forsakes the place and commeth there no more but leaues it to the Foxe and digs himselfe a new cell in another place But to our former purpose when the the dogges haue once ouerthrowne the Foxe he resisteth a little but it is not with any such boldnesse and courage as to daunt the dogs neither hath he any daungerous bite and yet some say that he hath his shift as to clap his taile betwixt his legs when he seeth himselfe once ouerthrowne by the dogs and to pisse vpon it and therewithall to besprinckle the dogs to the end that feeling the stench thereof they may be driuen backe and let him depart If you take a bitch Fox when she is salt and cutting away her priuie member and the gut annexed thereunto with the little testicles or stones which are the cause of ingendring being the same that gelders vse to take from bitches when they geld them and put all the same cut in prettie gobbets into some little pot all hot as they were cut away and take Galbanum and put it in mingling alltogether and couering it that all may not breath out you may keepe it a whole yeare and make it serue at any time when you would make a traine to allure the dog Foxe by taking the skin or a collop of lard and putting it vpon a gridyron and when it shall be broyled and all hot moisting it in the pot where the priuie part of the Fox and Galbanum is therwith making all your traines then you shall perceiue the male Foxes following oâ— you euery where but he that maketh the craine must rub the soles of his shoes with cowes dung least they should take the scent of his feete Thus you may see the means how to draw on the dog foxes to any place where you may take them in a snare or gin and so kill them in the euening with a cros-bow This is most true that if you rub an earth dog with brimstone or with oile of the lees of oyle and thereupon cause him to take the earth where there are foxes or brocks they will get themselues thence and come no more there for two or three moneths There is furthermore another thing to be noted that after that the earth dogs are come out of the earth of foxes or brocks they must be washed with warme water and sope to rid them of the mould that shall bee gotten betwixt the haire and the skin for else they would grow scabbed of a scab that would very hardly heale Some subtile foxe hunters take the foxe without any helpe of dogs with this wile they rub the sole of their shooes with a great peece of lard lately rosted at such time as they are about to returne home from the wood or from any plaine where they know that there is any foxes after the same manner they vse to scatter by the way as they goe little morsells of hogs liuer dipped in hony drawing after them a dead cat whereupon the foxe following the trace at hand allured by the scent of the lard and hogs liuers they haue a man accompanying them with a harquebuze or arrow to kill him at a blow CHAP. XXXIX The manner of killing the Brocke AS for the killing of the Brocke it is more difficult than the killing of the Foxe as hath beene said because their holes are deepe and narrow and consisting of many conueyances and passages for which cause it is meâ—â—e and conuenient for the vndertaking of such a worke first to haue foure or fiue men furnished with spades and tooles fit for the digging of the earth secondly halfe a dozen of good earth dogs at the least euery one armed with his collar about his necke of the breadth of three singers and hung with little bels to hunt the seuerall earths to the end that the Brocks may be driuen the sooner to their stand and the dogs defended the better by those collars from taking any hurt and when it is perceiued that the Brocks are at their stand or that the dogs grow weary out of breath or the bels to be full of earth you must take vp the dogs and take away their collars from them wheras at the first they are of good â—eruice and cause the Brocke the sooner to take them to their stand But before you let slip the dogs there must regard be had to view the earths what manner of ones they be and the place wherein they lie and where the furthest parts of them are for otherwise a man should but loose his labour in so much as if the earths should be on the side of a hill it were requisite that the dogs were put in vnderneath toward the valley to the end that the brocke may be compelled and forced to the vttermost end of the vppermost holes where the said earths are not so deep as the other and therefore may the more easily be digged But otherwise if the earth should be in some raised peece of ground and therwithall round about the same the rising ground being seated in the middest of a flat peece of ground then the dogs must be put in at the holes which are highest and neerest vnto the top of the rising ground but before they be let slip and put into such earths there must twentie or thirtie blowes bee giuen with the head of the spade vpon the highest parts of the earths thereby to cause Brockes to remooue from out of the middest of them and to cause them to descend to the furthest ends of their earthes which are in the bottome of the rising ground There must alwaies two or three dogs be let slip at the mouths of the holes that so by their vehemencie and eagrenesse they may part and put a sunder the Brocks which shal be together and force them to flie to their rests They haue a tricke to stand the abbaie at the places where their holes doe meete and stoutly to resist the dogs in such places which when it is perceiued it is requisite to smite three or foure blowes with the spade and if yet for all that they will not remoue you must forthwith discouer them with an aâ—gar Then when it is perceiued that they are fled vnto the furthest part of their holes you must not pierce through right vpon them for then they would bolt forward
of greatest price they are exceeding tender and very apt to take surfeits and therefore â—eldome long liued which is the reason that they are not of such generall vse as other hawkes are neither are they got but with great cost and paineâ—ulnesse which maketh them to be held of very great price and so not for euerie ones purchase Aboue all other things they may not endure the losse of any bloud in so much that the shedding of one poore droppe though at the pounce or other outward part which is least mortall is the vtter losse of the haukes life they can in no sort be kept too cold or withered too much in so much that if after her flying you suffer her to sit abroad one whole frostie night she will be much the soâ—nder and better for the same Nay I haue seene some Faulconers which after the bathing of the hawke haue set her abroad till the moisture hath beene frozen vpon their feathers and hath beene persuaded that she hath â—lowne her next slight much better for the same she must be exceeding painefully laboured withall at her first beginning for she is apt to take deslike at the mans face and therfore must be carried vpon the fist more than any other hauke she must also be kept much bare-faced after she is acquainted with the man and câ—ntinually stroaked and coyd about the head bodie and feet with a loose feather to make her more â—ame and gentil she must also be much whooped and gibbetted vnto that she may be acquainted with the voice of the man and with those sounds which she must obey and â—ollow she may very well be flowne from Michaelmas vntill the Spring but in no wise after for the â—eaâ—on of the yeare growing then warme and lust springing within her out of a naturall instinct which she hath to her owne clyme she will away and leaue you how well soeuer reclaimed or how sharpe and â—it soeuer â—et for the pleasure you go about In so much that it hath been credibly known that diuers Gerfaulcons haue beene taken vp in Island some with French and some with Englâ—sh varuells vpon them to the great admiration and astonishment both of those which haue taken them and those which haue lost them The Gerfaulcon like the Faulcon gentill is to to be chosen all of one peâ—ce and either a blacke or â—andie male by no meanes dropt but of a cleere and bright plume with ful summed feathers vubrused and vnbroken of all hawks they couer their sicknesse longest and out of their meâ—â—alls seeme sound when they are inwardly most rotten thereforâ— it is not good in any wise to buy or meddle with them til you haue seene them mute receiued â— full gorge and put it ouer and lastly in the morning haue seene her casting in all which if you find no extraordinare imperfection you may then safely buy her and what losâ—e after succeeds impute it to your owne negligence The male to the Gerfaulcon is that which is called â—he Ierkin being a much lesse bird yet of exceeding good mettall and courage and as sit to flie at the riuer as any other hawke vvhatsoeuer hauing a naturall loue to all manner of water foule and continually when he is vvild making his prey vpon the same The Sacre being a principall bird amongst those of the prey is like vnto the Faulcon in greatnesse a hawke that is good for the Kite but hee may bee made fit for any vvild flesh as also for the open field to take wild Geese Feasant Parâ—ridge and all other sorts of vvild foule The Sacre is of more ill fauoured coloured feathers than any other hawke for she is of a colour as it were betwixt red and smokie short sooted hauing blew legs and talons It is a vvandring bird and seldome found in this countrie her Teirselet is the Sacret so that the Sacret is the male and the Sacre is the female Noble men desirous to haue some sport betwixt him and the Kite do first make the Kite to stoope for the Kite is woont in the Summer to keepe on high in the aire to eâ—uoy the coolenesse of the aire vvhich is greatest in the middle region of the aire by hauing some one or other Faulconer to carrie a ducke vpon his fist hauing a certaine quantitie of a Fox taile hanging thereat thus letting her fle in some plaine ground they giue the Kite occasion to stoope for vvhen the Kite is aduised of the Ducke he stoopeth by and by vnto the ground and drawing neere vnto her doth there keepe himselfe without doing any other thing but beholding of her as maruelling at her forme Then the Sacre is to be cast off at him who thinking himselfe swift hopeth by flight to ouertake him wherupon the Kite mounteth vpward turning round therewithall as much as he can and so the combate becommeth pleasant to behold especially if it be in a plaine without trees and that the aire be cleare and without wind for one shall see both the Sacre and the Kite to mount so high as that they will be both out of sight but all will not serue for the Sacre will make him yeeld beaâ—ing him downe to the ground with such chumps as he lighteth vpon him withall The Lanier diffâ—reth not much from the Faulcon and he taketh his surname of the Faulcon for he is commonly called the Faulcon Lanier he is commonly found in this countrey and for that hee is of gentle conditions and better endureth grosâ—e meates than any other Hawke men are wont to content themselues with him causing him to serue their purpose euerie way Faulconers chuse those Laniers that haue great heads short bills blew and yellow feet their fore-feathers of a mixture of black and white not hauing ouerthwart strakes as the Faulcon but straight spots going along the feathers a short and somewhat thicke necke as also a bill of the same fashion The Lanier is the female and the Lancret is the male and hath not so bigge a bodie as the female neither yet so well esteemed of but as for the rest he is almost like the female in plumage There is no kind of bird that keepeth his pearch more constantly He abideth with vs in Winter and is to be seene of vs at all times contrarie to the fashion of ethers which keepe not in our countries but in the Summer time Faâ—lconers when they would make the Lanier a forrester they put him in a lower roome so dark as that he can see nothing except at such times as he is fed and likewise they neuer carrie him vpon their fist but in the night And when that he is readie to flie they make a fire in the chamber for to heat him that so he may afterward be bathed in pure vvine and hauing dried him againe they giue him to feede on the braines of a Henne then getting forward before day toward the place vvhere the game is they cast him off
cure theÌ„ being bewitched 187. the stable for Beeues and how it must be built 90 Birds of all sorts their taking 931 〈…〉 was not accounted of of old 704. and all the sorts of Birds ibid. 〈…〉 of the Cage with their diseases and remedies 724. the manner of taking of them and how to make them sing ibid. and to keepe them from hauing lice ibid. the taking of singing Birds 715 Canarie Birds how they may be knowne from others and their diseases 722 Birds of the Prey and Fawlcoâ—â—ie and their foode 705 706. their diseases and remedies ibid. rauenous Birds 707 To purge Birds that eate Mustard seed 730. the diseases incident to â—uerie kind of Bird 729. to know how long euerie Bird liueth in his kind 730. Birds their bathing a signe of raine 25. what Birds are good to make Hawkes 705. and that there are tenne kinds of them ibid. Bird-cages how made and placed 18 〈◊〉 of two sorts and where planted 212 Bisket 582 Bistorâ— 20â— Bitter Cherry-tâ—ee 374 Blaâ—k birds are notable birds not subiect to any diseases 729. and their foode 727 â—lanch what kind of corne 218 Bâ—asâ—hemie maketh a man contemptible 23 Manâ— Bloud and Goats bloud distilled 457. Drakes bloud and the vertues therof ibid. Goats bloud good against the stone 120 â—loud-sackers swallowed by an oxâ— 96. or by a sheepe 116 â—â—rage and his vertues 175 Wild â—orâ— and Sow how they differ 69â— wild Boâ—es the murtherers of dogges 692 693. the hunting of them is dangerous 690. they vse no turnes 691. how to kill them ibid. and what good commeth of the killing of them 692. the best time to hunt them and the signes of a good one 690. the difference betwixt them and tame Hogs 691. his wounds are dangerous 690. after foure yeres they do nothing but grow leaner â—7â— Box-tree the death of Bees 285 Branne of meale 573 Bread the making thereof 571. the differences of corne whereof it is made ibid. the differences of bread 580. Bread of diuers sorts according to the diâ—ersitie of Corne and Countries 576. repletion of bread the worst kind of repletion 580. Bread called Paâ—n Mâ—lleâ— or Pain de bouchâ— 578. spiced bread 579. old bread is euill for the bodie 582. the diuers vses of bread 583. tosted bread after meat ibid. washed bread good 〈◊〉 the health ibid. Bisket 582 579. Bread distilled 465 Brewhousâ— for Beere 587 Bridannâ—aâ—x what kind of paste-meaâ— they be â—85 Brocks are of two sorts 699. their earths ibid. they are more hard to take than Foxes and what their nature is 702. wherefore their flesh is good 698 Broome 285. Butchers Broome 290 Brye scituate betweene the riuers of Seyne and Maâ—ne and therefore plentifull in fruit and corne to the people of Brye are subtle fierce and raâ—h 23 Bubbles great in the water are a signe of â—aine 25 Bâ—ssles or wild Beeues 103. to plow with them 540 He that hath Bugle and Sanicle careth not for the Surgeon of a bugle 20â— Buglosse 175 Building as it is now vsed is differing from that of old 1. where and how to â—eat your buildings 6. the building and inclosing of a Farme-house 14. to build on the top of high ground 10 Building must be answerable to the reuenue 18 Bulâ—ing house where it should be 16 Bulls and the markes of a good Bull 62. one Bull to 60. Kyne 104. Bulls tied to a Figtree become gentle 294 Buâ—gundians are free and willing but headstrong 23 Burnet and his vertues 171. distilled 461 Butter and how it must be made 64 65. and where it must be made 16 Butterâ—lies eating Bees 226 Moe and more foolish Buyers than sellers 3 Buzzards and Sparrow-hawkes doe differ the manner how to take and feed them and to cure their diseases 708 C CAbbâ—ges of all sorts how they must be husbanded 165. when to be sowne 160. old Cabbage seed bringeth forth Radishes 164. certaine obseâ—â—ations about Cabbages 165. good for all diseases 166. enemies to Vines and Wine ibid. they resist drunkennesse 165. rotten they hurt their next hearbes ibid. Great Cages make the birds nothing the better 13 Cain borne the third day of the Moone an ill day 32 Cakes 58â— Calues and how to geld them 63 Calamint 244 The Calander her nature 726 Camomile 252 The people of Campaigne willing but stâ—â—ding in their opinion 23 A Candle of sheepes â—eweâ— keepeth mice from eating clothes in a chest 116 Canker in trees 89 Canterburie-bels 237 Caper-trees and Capers 291. Distilled Capers 467 In what things Carters must be cunning and expert 123 Caraway 249 Carets 158 186 Carps how to fish for them 507 Carpenters hearbe 496 Carpinus a kind of Oake tree 666 Caterpillers of the Garden die by the termes of women 314. to cleanse the trees from their hearts 403. to helpe the Vines from being spoiled of them 607 Cathltican distilled 462 Cato a great husbandman 4 Cats licking the soles of their feet and reaching ouer their eares therewith a signe of raine 25 Caues and Cellars 17 Cedar trees 285 Celondine 198. good for the eies 310. a compound water of Celondine 461 Cements to ouer-draw cesternes withall and the composition and making thereof 9 Centuarie the sotts and vertues 212 Ceruise-tree male and female in what soile it delighteth and the natures of the fruit 395 The making of drinke of Ceruises 419 Cesternes requisite in gardens that are drie and destitute of water 6. in what place they are to be situated and fitted ibid. Eeles must be fed and kept in them and wherefore ibid. Chalke maketh a leane ground 6 The Farmois Chamber 16 The men seruants their Chamber ibid. Chamlet made of Goats haire 117 Chanaan borne the 12. of the Moone a dangerous day 33 The people of Chartres are painefull peaceable handsome and giuen to lay vp 23 Cheese of all sorts 65. and the way to make it ibid. Cheese for the Linnet ibid. In what place Cheese must be laid vp to keepe 16 Cherries sweet 375. Cherries without stones 361. spiced Cherries 362. Cherries early ripe 363. Cherries at all times 365. how to keepe them good sound 407. Cherries preserued 421. the space to be allowed betwixt Cherrie-trees 399 Cheruile 182 Chesnut tree the most esteemed amongst trees 649. and in what season it must be planced 36. what ground it loueth best and the nature thereof 391. of the fruit ibid. to make them grow of seed 655 Chesnuts planted 338. how to keepe them 407 Chibols and Cyues 158 177 Chickens of diuers colours 73 Children borne the first day of the new Moone doe liue long 32 Ciehlings a kind of Peason 563 Cider inuented by the Normans 409. and how it must be made ibid. c. the vertues of Cider 414. Tastelesse and mungrell Ciders 416 Cinnamon distilled 480 Cinqueâ—â—ile 104 Citron trees 297. the maner to plant them 302. bearing red fruit 363. how to keepe them 408 Citruls in what quarter of the Moone to be gathered 31 Cipresse tree male and female
ones 21â— vlcers of the mouth 197 199 203. of the eares 209. inward 207. of the lungs 205. of the â—emeâ— 459. comming of the pocks 58 203. vlcers in Oxen. 102 A low and base Votte 148. to haue a good voice 176 To stay Vomiting 48 204 213 249. to cause vomiting speedily 449. to prouoke vomite 285. to the curing of a quartane and tertian ague 298 Vrine of all sorts and to procure the making of vrine 〈◊〉 97 171 176 180 182 194 197 199 203 205 208 210 211 212 246 248 251 371 397 453 679 690 Horses hardly able to make their Vrine 141. W WArts 60 206. hanging Warts â—16 Against Witchcrafâ— 199 Fukeâ— for Women c. 208 304 465 Wormes amongst Beeâ— 398 Wormes and how to kill them 157 200 201 203 205. 207 220 245 247 251 285 372 〈◊〉 690. wormes in little children 180 210 244 246 561 693. wormes menting horses 146. to cause the wormes that trouble dogges to fall from them 677 678. to kill them that destroy trees 405 406. to keepe flesh from all manner of wormes 197. to cause them to come out of the earth in great aboundance 386 The flying 〈◊〉 a disease in horses 142 To kill earth Wâ—rmes that eat the roots of hearbes 401 Wounds in dogges 678 Woundâ— 198 200 207 214 against all sorts of wounds 204. against the inflammation thereof 28â— wounds fresh and new â—7 207 209 214 220. old 58 214. maligned 201. wounds in the armes and legges 219. in the noble and â—nner parts 207 208. in the head 〈◊〉 in the guts 288. wounds with Dagges 59. to draw yâ—on out of a wound 199. for to consider of inward and outward wounds 202 205 207 211 212. an excellent balme for green wounds and cuts 57 204 437 Wringâ—â—â—â— 249 Windinesse in the stomacke or bellie ibid. Y THe Yard swolne and the cure thereof The Yard of an Oxe growne hard FINIS Pâ—â—tarch in â—eg Apoh 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 2. Chro. 26. â—0 Genes 4. â— â— Sam. â— 14. 〈…〉 The varietie of Countries causeth a diuers manner of labouring of the earth Ouer-much curiositie the ruinâ— of good wits What manner of Husbandrie iâ— entreated of in that which followâ—th The name of the Country â—ouse 〈◊〉 a Farme Meese or field Inheritance The Translator The English practise added to the French The Summe of the first Booke The Sâ—mme of the second Booke The Summe of the third Booke The Summe of the fourth Book The Summe of the fiâ—â— Booke The Summe of the sixt Booke The Summe of the seventh Booke The Kitchin must be the first piece of building in a good house Purchase by statute the surest of al others That there be 〈◊〉 foolish buyers than sellers That Land 〈◊〉 striâ—e in hand Labour 〈…〉 a Householder That 〈◊〉 to say that euerything hauing attained his height doth in the â—nd decrease 〈…〉 A good aire 〈…〉 Farme Neere vnto a good neighbor Farre from places of garrison Farre from Riuers and Brookt It behoueth vâ— to content our selues with that which God and Nature affoordeth Rockâ—e grounds good for the bearing of Vines and so for such Countries as a bound with Vines A high and flat Countrey Pooles Cesternes Pits called Aranques To make a Cesterne for to hold and keepe Raine water The way to prepare ground for the bearing of wood A Country neare vnto Riuers The pleasures of Princes A drie Countrey A Hill to build vpon 〈…〉 Wells of good Water Fountaines To find out the beads of Fountaines The best time to 〈◊〉 out Spring-heads 〈…〉 What Waters are best Places giuen tâ— bring forth 〈◊〉 Deceitfull stone-pits Why the earth is termed by the name of a Mother That it is against the nature of the free Countrey of Beaâ—x to beare any Rie Toâ—â—aine the Garden of France Man by labour is able to tame euery thing Watrie and marish places The vnder parts of watrie grounds Islands of Flaunders To build on the tops of high ground Wild grounds Desarts and Bull-rushes Stâ—nie grounds Vntilled grounds Sandie grounds What is 〈◊〉 to know the nature of great Sand. Strong grounds Rough ground A clay ground To build vpon a high ground Territories and fields lying in Croye and Ardose The nature of the earth must be knowne An old prouerh That of compulsions comes no good Good ground a fruitfull countrey of France The fruitfulnes of Aquitaine The inconueniences of the Southerne wind in Languedoc Prouence and Guienne The signes of a good and sertile ground Naughtie earth Great Cages make not theiâ— Birds good Vnfaithfull Farmers The eye of the Master fatteth the Horse 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈◊〉 The base Courts 〈…〉 Of the Ligâ—ts to be made in Building 〈…〉 The Wells of the Câ—â—rt Tâ—e dore of â—he Hâ—use A partition The Farmers Lodge The Farmers Ouen The Farmers Chamber Garners Stables for Hoâ—se 〈…〉 Oxe-housâ—s The entrance of the householdeâ—s dwelling place The round staires The Kitchin The chietest Lights must be tâ—ward the East Garners The North wind good for the keeping of Corne. A Henne-house Turkâ—â— Hennâ—â— and Cockâ— Fesants 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 What things are most fit to be farmed out The chiefe key of all the rest 〈…〉 To order his Suites What time the Householder should keepe at his Farme and when he may best goâ— abroad to the Towne or elsewherâ— Men cannot abide to be roughly entreated Husbandmens apparrell To know to write and read is not necessarie for a farmâ—r Paper endureth all tâ—ings A Farmer must haue much knowledge 〈…〉 Nâ—cessarie things to be prouided It is not good â—o exact too much at a seruants hands The naturall inclimatâ—on of the sâ—uerall Câ—untâ—imen of France Normans Normans Picards Bâ—yais Limâ—sins Goscoins 〈…〉 〈…〉 The fâ—retelling of Raine Signes â—oreâ—â—kening great store of Raine Signes â—oretâ—kening Snow Haile Signes â—orâ—â—tkening Winds The signes foretokening Tâ—â—nder Lightnings and Tempests The signes â—ore-tokening faire Weather Sigâ—es â—oretokening the beâ—innings and endings of times Signes â—oretokening Cold. A long Winter The heat oâ— Summer The knowledge of the disposition of eueriâ—â—oneth 〈…〉 A good or bad yeare Signes foretokening fruitfulnesse A barren â—â—are Tokens â—â—reshewing Cornâ— to be good cheape or deare Signes foreâ—â—kening a sickly or sound yeare Thâ— Sunne and the Moone great Lights Of the Moone Tâ—e cause of the growâ—h and waâ—â— of thâ— Moone To slaughter Caâ—â—ell in the new of the Moone Fruit-trees and others To cleanse trees To gather fruits Grapes To sow Cornâ— To winnow or fanne to searce and lay vp Corne vnder locke To grind Corne. Onions soâ—n in the wanâ— Tâ— mow Medâ—wâ—s To dung them Ianuarie Februarie March Aprill May. Iune Iuly August September October Nouember December To â—se Bread temperately Prouision for Drinke The Plague Naphe A continuall Feauer A Quartane Aguâ— Thirst. A Tertian Ague A Quotidian Ague Headach comming of Heat Headach comming of drinking of Wine Headach proceeding of Coldâ— Frensie Drowsinesse or heauinesse of Sleepe
the cakes which liquorish women vse to make of the meale It must not be sowne but in the midst of Summer whiles the times continue drie and that there is no raine looked for of a long time for the raine doth hurt it after it is sowne cleane contrarie to other plants which all of them reioice in raine after they are sowne The oyle which is pressed out of the seed of Sesame doth neuer freeze and is the lightest of all other Oyles and yet being mixt with Wine or Aqua-vitae sinketh to the bottome There is no account to be made of this graine for nourishment because it is giuen to ouercome the stomacke and is hardly digested as is all oylie matter Lentils LEntils must be sowne at two times in Autumne and most commonly especially in France and cold Countries in the Spring time whiles the Moone encreaseth vnto the twelfth thereof and either in a small or little mould or in a fat and fertile ground for when they be in flower they destroy and spoyle themselues through too much moisture or by putting too farre out of the earth And to the end they may grow the more speedily and the greater they must be mixt with drie dung before they be sowne and foure or fiue daies after that they haue beene so laid to rest in this dung to sowe them They will keepe long and continue if they be mingled with ashes or if they be put in pots wherein oyle and preserues haue beene kept or and if they be sprinkled with vineger mixt with Beniouin Lentils howsoeuer auncient Philosophers had them in estimation are of hard digestion hurtfull to the stomacke filling the guts full of wind darkening the sight and causing fearefull dreames and withall are nothing good if they be not boyled with flesh or fried with oyle Fasels FAsels grow in stubbly grounds or rather a great deale better in fat grounds which are tilled and sowne euerie yeare and they are to be sowne betwixt the tenth of October and the first of Nouember or else in March as other pulâ—e after that the ground hath beene eared about the eleuenth of Nouember They must be sowne after that they haue beene steept in water for to make them grow the mose easily and that at large when they are sowne and alwaies as they ripen to gather them They make far grounds where they be sowne they are accustomed to beare much fruit they keepe a long time they swell and grow greater in boyling and are of a good pleasant tast vnto all mâ—ns mouthes It is true that they are windie and hard to digest but yet notwithstanding they are apt to prouoke vnto venerie if after they be boyled they be powdred ouer with Pepper Galanga and Sugar and yet more specially if they be boyled in fat milke vntill they burst If you mind to take away their windinesse eat them with Mustard or Caraway seed If you haue beene bitten of a Horse take Fasels chew them and apply them so chewed vnto the greene wound Young gentlewomen that striue to be beautifull may distill a water of Fasels that is singular good for the same end and purpose Lupines LVpines craue no great husbandrie are good cheape and doe more good to the ground than anie other seed for when as Vineyards and arable grounds are become leane they stand in stead of verie good manure vnto them Likewise for want of dung they may be sowne in grounds that stand in need to be dunged if after they haue put forth their flowers the second time they be plowed vnder the ground they grow well in a leane ground and such as is tyred and worne out with sowing and they may be sowne in anie ground especially in stubbly grounds such as are not tilled for in what sort soeuer they be sowne they will abide the roughnesse of the ground and negligence of the husbandman neither doe they craue anie weeding as well in respect of their root which is single as also for that if it were hurt they would die presently and because also that it should bee but labour lost for they are so farre off from being infected and wronged with weeds that they euen kill them and cause them to die And this is the cause why manie sowe them in the middest of Vineyards to the end they may draw vnto them all the bitternesse of the Vineyard as being the qualitie most familiar vnto them and with which they best agree Notwithstanding they may not be sowne deepe for when they flower they are made no account of Of all other kinds of Pulse they only stand not in need to be laid vp in Garners but rather vpon some floore where the smoake may comâ— vnto them for if moisture take them they will grow full of wormes which eate vp that which should make them sprout and that which is remaining can doe no good they must be gathered after raine for if it should be drie weather they would fall out of their cods and be lost Lupines are good to feed Oxen in Winter but they must be steept in salted and riuer water and afterward boyled they serue also for to feed men to make bread thereof when it is a time of dearth of other corne Some doe note this speciall propertie in them which is that they turne about euerie day with the Sunne insomuch as that by them workmen are taught the time of the day though it be not cleare and Sunne-shine Lupines stampt and laid vpon the nauell doâ— kill wormes in little children the decoction thereof doth prouoke the termes of women and taketh away the obstructions of the sight by reason whereof manie doe wish them to be taken of young maidens and women which haue pale colours Their meale is singular good in caâ—aplasmes to resolue the swelling of the Kings euill and other hard tumours as well boyled in honey and vineger as in honey and water and likewise for the Sciaâ—ica Beanes BEanes must be sowne in a fat soile or else a ground that is well manured and eared with two earings and although it be in stubbly grounds and seated in low bottomes vvhither all the fat and substance of the higher parts doth descend notwithstanding the earth must be â—liâ—ed and cut small and the clods broken before they be sowne for albeit that amongst all the other sorts of pulse there be not any that doe so little vvaste and the strength and juice of the earth notwithstanding they desire to be vvell and deepe couered vvithin the earth they must be diligently vveeded at such time as they peepe out of the earth for so the fruit vvill be much more and their coddes farre the tenderer They may be sowne at two times of the yeare in Autumne vvhere it is a strong ground and the beanes be great and in the Spring especially in this Countrie in a vveake and light ground the beanes being but small and of the common size those vvhich are sowne in Autumne are