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
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
principally in that which is moist Neither the one nor yet the other doth beare any seed as Writers record notwithstanding it hath beene tried that the male beareth seed and that it cleaueth to the hindermost part of the leaues but yet so little that hardly can a man see it and which cannot be acknowledged or gathered but in the end of Iulie which is the time when it is ripe for to gather it you must cut the leafe neere vnto the root and then hang them vp in your house spreading a linnen cloth vnder them or else some faire cleane white paper I know well that the common sort doe verily thinke and auerre that this seed cannot be gathered but on the night of the wakes of S. Iohn in Sommer and that more is not without great ceremonies and mumbling and muttering of many words betweene the teeth which haue power to driue away Deuills which haue the custodie of the same seed but all this is nothing but fables The decoction thereof is good to prouoke womens termes to cast out the dead child to kill wormes and some doe vse it to heale the frettings or hurts that may be in the fundament fallen downe but especially the female Hearbe Two-pence so called because the leaues resemble small peeces of siluer requireth no great peece of husbandrie about it saue onely that it would haue a moist ground The whole hearbe either in decoction or powder but especially the water thereof distilled in a limbecke is verie singular good for the falling downe of the fundament Fleawort being called of the Latines Psyllium craueth a verie fat well manured and batled ground for else there will no good come of it The seed prepared in forme of a Mucilage and applied in vinegar doth kill the wild fire and teâ—â—er applied vnto the head or brows it taketh away the paine thereof it taketh away also the rednesse of the eyes being applyed thereunto The distilled water is of infinite goodnesse seruing in the paynes of the eyes two or three drops thereof onely being dropt into them This hearbe requireth a verie fat place well manured and tilled likewise we see it grow aboundantly in vineyards and grounds for Wheat and Barlie The leaues are verie singular good for the opening of the liuer and cleansing away of adust humours and this also is the cause why physitians prescribe it with whay in scuruie scabbie and itchie cases and where the leprosie is The juice thereof is good to cleere bleared eyes Ground-swell groweth in euerie ground and without any great care we see if grow likewise neere vnto walls and vpon the townes walls it is greene all the yere and flourisheth as it were in euerie moneth and this is the cause why the Italians call it euerie moneths flower Some thinke that Ground-swell distilled is verie singular good for the Whites in women but beleeue it not before you find it true by proofe for I haue obserued by often vse that this hearbe whether in decoction or otherwise prouoketh the termes that are stayed Birt-wort as well the long as the round must be planted in a fat and fertile soyle such as that where Wheat is sowne and Oliue trees planted Their roots amongst other alâ—â—ost inâ—inite vertues cause womens courses purge the lungs cause spitting cure the cough and prouoke vrine which more is if either of them be taken in drinke especially the round one made in powder with Pepper and Myrrhe it driueth forth the after-birth the dead conception and all other superfluities gathered in the Matrix it doth the like being applied in forme of a Mother suppositorie It purgeth all obstructions of the liuer and easeth all manner of colicke or other griefes which proceed from windie causes it is soueraigne against all manner of poyson or any other infection it cleanseth the bloud and by rubbing the gummes therewith it preserueth the teeth from rotting Centaurie or the gall of the earth aswel the great as the smal desireth a fat ground that is fruitfull and well tilled and yet in such a ground they thriue not well without the great care and industrie of the Gardener Their root in decoction juice or powder moueth womens termes and prouoketh vrine expelleth the dead child purgeth â—legmaticke humors which cause the sciatica openeth the obstructions of the liuer and spleene killeth the wormes profiteth and helpeth palsies convulsions and diseases of the sinews it cleareth the sight and taketh away all mistinesse from them especially the juice dropt into the eyes doth heale their fresh and new wounds and siccatriceth old and maligne vlcers Woodbind craueth no great tilling or husbanding for it groweth euerie where and in what place soeuer it listeth It is true that it desireth greatly to be neere broome hedges and also the borders of fields The fruit of Woodbind drunke with Wine the space of fortie daies taketh away the obstructions of a hard and indurat spleene it purgeth out vrine with such force as that the tenth day the vrine becommeth all bloudie it helpeth women in their child-birth the leaues in decoction or distilled doe heale wounds and filthie vlcers wipe away the spots and scarres of the bodie and of the face Pimpernel hath red and blew flowers and craueth a moist and shadowed ground so likewise we see it grow in the shadows of hedges and bushes Pimpernell with the red flowers stampe and applied vnto the eyes or the juice thereof dropt within them taketh away the inflammations dimnesâ—e and vlcers of the eyes and healâ—th the inflammations of the secret parts Pimpernell with the blew flower boyled with salt and water is a verie good and proper medicine to cure the itch or scurfe and the lice or wormes in the hands if you wash them oâ—t therewith Buckwheat is a verie common hearbe and yet but little knowne by his name it is verie ordinarie in corne and tilled grounds about haruest time The Peasants of Champaigne doe commonly call it Veluote because in my judgement the leaues are hairie which name I mind not to change but rather to keepe for the easier knowing of the hearbe They make vse of it by applying it if at any time in shearing they happen to cut themselues with their sickles For to know it better therefore than onely by the name it putteth forth from the root fiue sixe seuen or eight small branches for the most part layed along vpon the earth of the length of a hand and sometime of a foot bearing leaues somewhat like vnto the little bindweed but indeed they be lesse and more round verie hairie and a little fattie The flower is small and of diuers colours drawing verie neere vnto a pale yellow but in greatnesse it commeth neâ—re vnto the flower of eyeâ— bright but in shape and fashion vnto the nettle slower The water of the leaues and branches distilled whiles it is in force in a Limbeck in Maries-bath is singular
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
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
〈…〉 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
And for this cause some make Sage Wine for 〈◊〉 drinke and a fomentation with the decoction of Sage for the trembling of the 〈◊〉 and other parts It comforteth the mother being taken in a fume at the secret 〈◊〉 by such fume it also stayeth the whites Such as cannot beare their conception 〈◊〉 their time but miscarrie vpon slight causes must oftentimes in the morningeat 〈◊〉 Sage leaues for they strengthen the retentiue facultie keepe aliue and strengthen 〈◊〉 child and make women verie fruitfull And this is the cause why the Egyptian◠〈◊〉 a great mortalitie constrained their wiues to drinke the iuice of Sage with a little 〈◊〉 keeping themselues foure daies from hauing to doe with their husbands and then 〈◊〉 to lye with them that so they might conceiue and bring forth manie children To stirre vp appetite and cleanse the stomacke full of ill humours Sage 〈◊〉 be vsed oftentimes in pottage and otherwise it assuageth the paine of the head 〈◊〉 cleanseth the teeth and gummes it maketh a sweet breath being boyled in wine 〈◊〉 distilled water thereof doth cleare the sight the conserue of the flowers of Sage 〈◊〉 the like vertues Oake of Ierusalem called of the Latines Botrys craueth a drie and sandi◠〈◊〉 or else a watrie ground but such a one as is sandie or grauellie We behold it also 〈◊〉 and then to grow in swift running Brookes Being once sowne it needeth not 〈…〉 sowne againe afterward for it groweth againe euerie yeare and that as it were in 〈◊〉 of a shrub It hath vertues much like vnto Thyme that is to say it is goodâ—â—gainst the suppression of the termes and vrine Being dried and laid in 〈◊〉 it giueth a verie good smell vnto the garments and keepeth them from 〈…〉 decoction thereof with Licorice is wonderfull good for such as haue a short 〈◊〉 and are â—â—uffed in their lungs if you put thereto a little Sugar or syrrup of 〈◊〉 â—ea and furthermore to such as spit matter vpon no other penaltie but that it be vâ—ed a long time The hearbe parched vpon a hot tyle and besprinkled with Malmeâ—ey and applyed vnto the bsllie asswageth the pains of the matrix yea and more too â—f you adde thereunto the leaues of Mugwort and the flowers of Cammomile all friâ—â—d with oyle of Lillies and the yolke of an egge Horehound called in Latine Marrubium or Prassium as well the blacke 〈◊〉 the white groweth in euerie ground but rather in an vntilled than in a tilled ground you may also see it grow neere vnto walls hedges wayes and borders of fields 〈◊〉 is â—rue that the wild deâ—ireth wattie places as ditches little riuers moist and low plaâ—es It is verie good in decoction for the cough and difficultie of breath because it cleanseth the lungs and causeth spitting it prouoketh womens termes and bringâ—th â—orth the after-birth Sea Romane and common Wormewood is not so much sowne or set because of his smell as for the profit that it bringeth vnto the health The Romane groweth in a sandie ground the Sea-Wormewood groweth in a salt and ashiâ— ground â—he common in hillie stonie drie and vntilled grounds for to set them you must writhe the roots Wormwood amongst other his vertues almost infinite and admirable doth especially comfort the stomach laden with cholericke humours but not the stomach oppressed with flegmaticke humors and for that cause there is a Wine made of Wormwood and called by the same name The decoction of dogs-grasse his roots and the crops of Wormewood doe heale the Iaundise The conserue of the crops made of a pound thereof and three pounds of Sugar doth cure the old inâ—eterate and desperate dropsie if it be oftentimes vsed after purging it doth preserue likewise from drunkennesse It is an antidote in case a man haue â—aten venimous Mushromes or taken downe any other venime especially the Hemlocke as also in bitings and stingings of Spideâ—s and other venimous beasts The juice mingled with the kernells of Peaches doth kill the Wormes The leaues made into ashes and mingled with oile of Roses doth make the haire blacke The leaues layed in Wardrobes doe keepe the garments and doe driue away Flies and Gnats Southernewood groweth best being planted of roots or shoots for it doth not so well being sowne of seed It cannot abide much cold nor much heat and therefore it must be planted in some such place of the garden as is temperate The seed the weight of a French Crowne stampt with some of the leaues in white Wine adding thereto an old Nut and a little Bole-Armoniacke all being stâ—ayned and drunke is a singular drinke against the Plague and all manner of poyson The crops of the tops of the leaues and the flowers being beaten and stampt in oyle and made into the forme of a liniment doe serue to shift off the shiuerings of agues if so be that the soles of the feet and verebres of the backe oâ— him that hath the ague be rubbed therewith Southernwood taken inward or applied outward doth kill wormes in young children It is true that Galen for biddeth the taking of it at the mouth because it is an enemie to the stomach Rosemarie loueth chiefly a reasonable sat ground it groweth in any ayre but best by the Sea sides and thereupon it beaâ—eth his name It must be planted in the Spring and Autumne of roots on braunches writhen and see fast in the earth and that in a warme place or at the least lying open vpon the Sunne and not such a place as is verie moist or subject vnto the Northernâ— vvind because this plane can hardly endure the cold and therefore it must be planted vpon the South vader some wall and the good time of planting or it is when it will pricke and then you must take off the small young sprigs and set them three inches vvithin the earth making the earth fast and close vnto them aboue or else of some part of the most leauie branches therof which being afterward helped by making the ground light doth spread and continue fresh hauing no need to be watered except at the verie time of setting of it if the ground be 〈◊〉 and yet notwithstanding if it be watered it will prosper the better and flourish the more So long as it is young it would be diligently weeded and picked it requireth no dung but onely a good mould and to be compassed 〈◊〉 the root with good earth The lees of Wine and the scraps broken off from 〈◊〉 layd at the foot thereof doe cause it to grow maruellously There are two 〈◊〉 Rosemarie the one bearing seed and the other not Some plant it for food 〈◊〉 vnto Hiues because it flowreth betimes and for that the Bees doe greatly delighâ—◠〈◊〉 it and by it doe better continue in health as also make better honey than thâ—se which feed not vpon it at all The flowers of
〈◊〉 the start by which the Pomegranaâ—e hangeth or else lay Pomegranates in 〈◊〉 clay tempered with water and after drie them in the Sunne It is good likewise 〈◊〉 lay them in dust or scrapings or sawings of the Poplar tree the Holme tree or the Oake in a new earthen pot and within it to set them in order in manner of 〈◊〉 and then afterward to couer the pot and lute it verie well But whatsoeuer way 〈◊〉 take the principall end must be to keepe Oranges in a cold and drie plaâ—e and 〈◊〉 they be gathered with their stalkes as also with their little branches if possibly it may be done without hurting the tree for this helpeth much to keepe them long They must likewise be gathered in the old of the Moone so that they be then 〈◊〉 verie drie and not being wet from aboue and then after that to keepe them â— day 〈◊〉 two in the Sunne their flowers lying downeward then after that to cloâ—â— them 〈◊〉 in a pot verie well stopt and well pitcht or â—eared that the ayre may not get in 〈◊〉 doe couer them and worke them ouer verie thicke with Potters earth verie well beaten and tempered and when it is drie then they hang them in a cold place and whâ—â— they will eat them they steepe them in water and take away the earth Others doe wrap euerie one of them alone by it selfe in hay or in straw within cases The 〈◊〉 of Pomegranate trees doe driue away venâ—mous beasts and this was the cause why men in auncient time were wont to put the boughs of Pomegranate trees both vâ—deâ— and aboue them in their beds The Plane tree is more commended for the beautie of his leaues and shadow than for his fruit it groweth of shoots and siences drawne and taken from the tree and planted in a verie moist ground and such as is neere vnto some Fountaine or Riuâ—â— and yet besides this it delighteth to be waâ—red oftentimes with neat Wine and sometimes with mens Vrine to helpe it to shoot vp and grow high and to put forth largâ— and ample branches and long leaues for to make the better shade In this Counâ—â—ey we cannot see manie faire ones I remember that I haue seene one at Basil in 〈◊〉 Peters place betwixt the height of fifteene or sixteene cubits vnder the shield and shadow whereof the people betooke themselues for their refreshment during the time of great and scorching heat Some make dishes of Plane tree wood to 〈◊〉 paine and wringings in the bellie being applyed thereunto You must beware of the dust which hangeth vpon the leaues for being taken into the bodie by drawing in of your breath it hurteth the rough arterie and voice and in like manner the â—ight and hearing if it fall into the eyes or eares The Nettle tree is well ynough knowne in Languedoc and Prouâ—nâ—e especially in a borough neere vnto Mompelier called Bontonnet it groweth in a fat ground well manâ—red and toyled open to the South or East Sunne The wood is good to make Flutes Cornets and other Instruments of Musicke it is good also to make handles for Kniues and Swords The fruit is verie much desired at the Tables of great States of his great sweetnesse and most pleasant and delightsome smell which they find in it that doe eat or smell to it Likewise some doe presse a Wine out of this fruit being stamped and beaten which is verie sweet and seemeth like vnto other new pressed sweet Wines but it lesteth not aboue tenne or twelue daies The Masticke tree delighteth in moist places and is planted after the first day of Februarie it beareth fruit thrice a yeare The leaues barke and wood in decoctions haue power to restraine strengthen and comfort And this is the cause why it is vsed to make Tooth-pickes thereof The Turpentine tree delighteth in a low and moist ground and withall in a 〈◊〉 and warme ayre open vpon the Sunne The leaues barke and wood haue the 〈◊〉 vertue that the Masticke tree The Iuiube tree and others as well foraine as growing in our owne 〈…〉 further to be seene and read of in the third Booke CHAP. LV. Of the two particular Gardens scituate or lying at the end of the Kitchin Garden and of the Garden of Pleasure THe Kitchin Garden and the other of Pleasure being of the largenesse aboue declared may haue referued out of them two or three acres for the profit of the Lord of the farme as for Madder Woâ—d Tasel Line and Hempe And we may also adde vnto these Saffron albeit that all these things euen as well as pulse if it be a free and kind ground doe well deserue 〈◊〉 haue euerie one his seueral field by it selfe and to be tilled and husbanded after the â—anner of corne and pulse For Madder therefore it is meet that there should be appointed out foure or fiue â—eres of ground in a place by it selfe which must not lye farre from the water but in 〈◊〉 free and not in a strong mould and yet not too light which hath had his three or foure arders with the plough or as indeed is best digged and siâ—ted notwithstanding that the sifting of it be a longer peece of worke and of greater cost it being vâ—ed to be cast and tilled with thicker raisings of the earth and smaller clouds than is â—ont to be in the casting or digging of a new vineyard For this plant hath his proper and particular seasons to be dressed and planted in as well as the vine but in this they differ verie manifestly that the one is an hearbe and the other a shrubbe and as it were a knot to many trees the one dieth yearely and there is nothing of it 〈◊〉 request but roots for to make good colours of but the other lasteth and contiâ—â—eth at the least twelue yeares in good liking and liuelihood of which the first sixe is for growth and a little for bringing forth of fruit and the later sixe for whole â—â—mple and intire profit the daunger of haile washing away of the grapes when the â—ines be flowre by much raine and frost being excepted vnto which in like maâ—â—er Madder in subject and oftentimes more than the vine because of his tendernesse This prehemencie it hath that the vine being frozen cannot be recouered but Madder may be either set or â—owne againe as also Woad the speciall husbandrie of such as dwell in Prouence and the wealth and commoditie of Dyers of Cloth or Wooll with what colour soeuer it be It may be sowne or planted but indeed being sowne it yeeldeth scarce at any time any great store of increase but if you will sow it then bestow the like quantitie of the seed thereof vpon an acre as you are wont to doe of Hempe and that in the moneth of March vpon the tops of hills well battilled and â—manured thus the seed being cast into the ground and the same well incorporated with harrows of rakes
it cowes-milke goats-milke or the juice of sweet almonds with sugar The Flemmings vse to make pap-meat thereof which they loue exceeding vvell The Muscouites distill the water of oats and vse it for want of wine and such water heateth and maketh drunke no lesse than Wine Thus much of the French opinion of Oats vvho are indeed but halfe knowing or not so much in the excellencie of the graine but to come to their knowledge who haue the full proofe and triall thereof you shall vnderstand that it is a graine of no lesse worth and estimation than any of the other and questionlesse may much lesse be banished a Common-wealth than of the other in as much as where none of the other will grow there this will you shall then know that Oats will grow in any soyle whatsoeuer as either in fertile or barren hot or cold drie or moist nor doth it aske much labour for in fertile soiles it wil grow with one earing as namely at seed-time which is euer about the end of March or beginning of Aprill it will grow also after any other graine as after wheate rye barley or pulse but it is best sowing it after barley or pulse because to sow it after Wheat or Rie would pill the ground too much and make it barren too soone In barren grounds it will grow with two arders or three at the most as one at Midsommer another at Michaelmas and the third at seed-time or else at Michaelmas and at seed-time onely it must be sowne vnder furrow like barley in loose moulds and after two or three arders but aboue furrow in fast earths and where it hath but one arder onely it must be well harrowed according to the strength of the mould that is to say with wooden-teeth in loose moulds and vvith yron teeth in fast moulds they must be cropt as soone as they turne colour and appeare a little yellow for else they vvill shed their graine as being the loosest corne of all other These Oats are of diuers most excellent vses both for men and also for cattell as first for Oatmeale which is made in this sort as soone as your Oats haue beene thresht and vvynowed you shall lay them on your kilne and vvith a soft fire drie them verie vvell and then carrie them to the milne either the Wind-mill the Water-mill or the Horse-mill and there let the Miller cut them and hull them but by no meanes crush them to fine meale but onely driue the cleane kernell from the courser hull then vvith a fanne or a gentle vvind vvinnow the emptie hulls from the Corne and if so be that you find they be not all cleane hulled then passe them through the mill againe and then vvynow them againe and thus doe till the nulls be cleane taken off vvhich hulls are a verie good prouander for horses as for the Groats vvhich is vsually called common or course Oat-meale they are excellent to make porridge of all kinds and for puddings of all sorts or for any other pap-meat or panada whatsoeuer it is also an excellent food at Sea being boyled in Water or otherwise vsed after the manner of grauell This oat-meale being ground into â—ine meale like other corne maketh diuers kinds of verie good bread chiefely where other corne is not to be had If you mixe the fine meale of Oates with Wheat meale it maketh verie daintie Oat-cakes either thicke or thinne and is of great estimation where they are knowne These Oates being maulted as you mault Barley make a verie good mault and that mault both verie good Ale and Beere only a little more sharpe than that which is made of Barley Lastly those Oates are of all other foods the best that may be for the feeding of horse or fatting of cattell they are also good to seed all sorts of Pulleine especially Geese Swannes and all manner of water-fowle which take much pleasure therein Millet MIllet as those know verie well which dwell in the Countrey Bearne Bigorre and Armignac after that it hath beene steeped some certaine time in water would be sowne either morning or euening in the coole thereof in light and small moulded ground and it groweth not only in grauelly ground but also in sand when the country it wet and moist but in anie case it would not be sowne in drie grounds and such as consist of Fullers earth or are marly neither must it be sowne before the Spring for it requireth heat wherefore it may conueniently be sowne in the end of the moneth of March or else somewhat later that so it may enioy the benefit of the dew a long time It putteth not the husbandman to anie great charges for a little seed will sowe a great deale of ground So soone as it is sowne it must be pressed downe with a hurdle of Wickers well laden to keepe it from the heat of the Sunne in the springing vp thereof for otherwise the seed would grow vp and drie away through the vehâ—mencie and heat of the Sunne-beames Notwithstanding it would be oft and verie well weeded for the â—ooting vp of all manner of ill weedes especially the blacke Millet So soone as it may be spied peeping forth of the earth and before that by the operation of the Sunne the corne doe shew it must be pluckt vp by the hand and be laid in the Sunne afterward to drie and lastly shut vp in some place where it may be kept and being thus ordered it lasteth longer than anie other manner of corne Millet doth good vnto the fields wherein it is gathered in this respect namely that wormes will not hurt the corne that shall be sowne there presently after anie whit at all seeing they will leaue the graine that is sowne and cleaue to the straw of the Millet In the time of dearth they vse to make bread of Millet but vnpleasant ynough especially when it is setled and the inhabitants of Gascoâ—gne and Campaigne doe vse a pappe-meat made of Millet with milke and that not of the pleasantest taste as well the bread as the pappe-meat made of Millet is of small nourishment besides that they make obstructions and that because Millet is cold in the first degree and drie in the third Millet fried with salt and flowers of Camomill and put into a bag doth serue against the paines of the collick and wringings of the bellie To keepe Purgatiues as Rubarb Agarick yea and flesh also from rottennesse and corruption it is good to burie them in Millet Sesame SEsame would be sowne in a blacke ground that is somewhat rotten and moist It groweth also in sandie and fat grauellie grounds or in mingled grounds and it is verie fruitfull euen no lesâ—e than Millet or Pannicke It is true that the good householder needeth not trouble his braine much with the sowing of it seeing it is apt to make the ground altogether barren and yet is good for nothing except the oyle that is pressed out of it and
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
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
Grasâ—e doe â—lose vp in selfe and gather together his leaues if the Swine doe play a long time and runne to and fro shaking and â—earing what they haue taken in running if the wormes come out of the Earth if the Cat after that she hath a long time licked the sole of her foot and trimming â—he haire of her head doe reach the said sole of her foot oftentimes ouer her â—are Likewise he shall foretell great aboundance of Raine if the Clouds be darke deepe and thicke if the drops of water falling from the Skies be somewhat whitish and make great bubbles and great falls here below if the Raine fall mildly and begin to fall with small drops if the Water fallen vpon the Earth in great aboundance without any wind be incontinently drunke vp of the Earth if the Waters of the Fennes and standing Pooles grow warme without the heat of the Sunne more than ordiâ—arie if Hennes with their Chickens by and by in the beginning of the Raine doe flye vnto their houses or if in the morning they come forth late and as it were not vnconstrained to their feeding if the heauenly Bow called in Latine Iris doe stretch it selfe towards the South or if it appeare double triple or foure-fold in the Heauens and if it appeare after it hath rained the feare of future Raine is not quite abandoned He shall foresee times of Snow in Winter if he perceiue that the clouds of darke ones become as it were whitish chiefely when the North wind bloweth if round about the Sunne or the Moone there come diuers pale circles or halfe red ones if in the time of great Cold the ayre grow thicke and somewhat rebated of his sharpenesse if it make a drie Cold without any Frost if together with many signeâ— of Raine there appeare many also of Cold approaching He shall iudge in like sort of Haile if in the Spring or Autumne he see that the clouds of blacke and darke ones become whitish or if about the moneth of Aprill together with many signes of Raine there be mixt darke and whitish clouds Hee shall giue good heed to the tokens fore-shewing future Winds and they are these if the Sunne at his setting be red if the Sunne set amongst reddish clouds if the Sunne all the day long or a great while before his setting haue carried a Purple colour and setting seemeth greater than ordinarie if the Moone haue a red face if the Clouds in a faire Season and beautifull Skie be carried on high if the Clouds appeare in the Heauens gathered together as they were flockes of Sheepe if Forestâ— and the high tops of Mountaines doe make a noyse if the starres of Heauen runne euerie way if they seeme more grosâ—e and of greater light than vsuall if it thunder in the Morning or in Winter if in the Spring time it thunder more mightily and ofter than it lighteneth if the sound of Bells be sometimes heard very easily and by and by not to be heard if the Sparrowes doe sing and chirpe beyond measure if the Dogs tumble themselues vpon the ground if the webs and small threads of the Spiders doe flye in the Ayre if the Duckes doe spread and flicker with their wings often and a long time together if the Heron crie toward night as he is flying if the â—lame of the fire cast forth many small sparkles if the Wood doe crackle and breath out wind more than ordiâ—arie Hee shall fore-tell the happening of any Thunder Brightnesse Lightening and Tempest when hee shall see that in the morning and euening in Summer or in the beginning of Autumne the Sunne yeeldeth a greater heat than ordinarie and when there appeareth in the ayre a verie thicke and deepe cloud if the Wind called Typhon causing Whirle-winds doe blow ragingly and that the ayre be full of many thicke and darke clouds if the dayes in Summer or Autumne be more feruent and hot than the season of the yeare can naturally beare and that sometimes at the Sunne-set there appeare a Raine-bow toward the West if there flye in the ayre many ajriâ— impressions and burning flames He shall be assured of faire Weather when he shall perceiue that the Sunne sheweth it selfe cleane at his rising or cleare and shining at his setting hauing about it manie small clouds apart one from another and withall somewhat red and pleasant when the Sunne in the time of raine setteth haâ—ing his face red and fierie and when the Day-breake which men call the Morning shall appeare of the naturall colour of white and indeed the Prouerbe A red euening and a white morning setteth the Pilgrime a walking teacheth as much if when the Moone is three or foure dayâ—â— old it shew it selfe pleasant and cleane without spots or clouds if when it is in the full it be seene cleare and that that part of the Heauens called S. Iames his way appeare cleare and bright if at euening there appeare many Lightnings not accompanied with Thunders or Clouds if at euening or morning at what time of the yeare soever it be the deaw fall in great abundance if the Northerne wind blow strongly if the Owle after Sâ—â—ne-set doe come forth and whoop all the night without ceasing if the little Fâ—ies before Sunne-set doe swarme together and sport themselues in the Sunne-beameâ— iâ— the Crowes flocke together in great companies and call with a â—ull voice it the Crow call early in the morning if the Bats doe â—omâ— forth of their â—oles at 〈◊〉 set and â—lye vp downe in the open ayre if the Craneâ—â—lye high and doe not betake themselues verie quickly to a lower pitch if Watâ—r-Fowles doe haunt somewhat â—arre off fâ—om the side of the Water And although that the parts of the yeare ordinarily haue their beginning and ending at a certaine time as the Spring beginneth about the seuenteenth of Februarie and endeth about the seuenteenth of May and so consequently of the other notwithstanding for as much as these parts and seasons doe square and fall out of order sometimes sooner sometimes later the good Husbandman shall haue ouer and aboue the common certaine signes and tokens to fore-see the beginnings and endings of the times of the yere as they may fall out extraordinarily As if hee know that Water-Fowles foâ—sake the Water or that the house-Nightingale especially the Male doâ— sing more than any of all the rest if the Cranes flocke together and returne vnto the place from whence they are come if the Geese fight together for their feeding place being in great leanenesâ—e or if the Sparrow more than ordinarie call betimes in the morning he shall say that Winter is at hand In like maner if he see that the Westernâ— wind begin to blow and that the cold rebateth if the Swallows do returne in flocks 〈◊〉 the Ducks haue their breast-bone white at the end of Winter he shall iudge that 〈◊〉 Spring will be verie quickly for such creatures doe
Bodies doth worke her effect in like manner vpon vs as concerning our bodies as well as vpon the rest of earthly things it is most certaine that in lesâ—e than in one moneth it runneth all that course and way which the Sunne is in running all the yeare long and that it hath no light of it selfe but that it taketh and receiueth it all from the Sunne giuing his reuerberations and reflections vnto the Earth with more vehemencie when it is further off from the Sunne as on the contrarie looke how much it commeth the neerer vnto her coniunction with it so much the lesse light and force doth it impart vnto the Earth Hereupon it commeth that we say that the Moone encreaseth or decreaseth not that indeed it doth encrease or decrease saue then when it is in his eclipse being continually enlightned by the Sunne but this his brightnesse onely which it casteth and spreadeth vpon the whole face of the Earth doth only encrease and decrease And this shining brightnesâ—e according as it is longer or lesser time hath likewise more or lesse force to moâ—e the humors of naturall things to worke their effects For by how much the more that this light encreaseth by so much the more doth the moisture thereof spread and communicate it selfe aboundantly throughout the outward parts as on the contrarie by how much it waneth and groweth lesse by so much the naturall humiditie and moisture doth withdraw and betaketh it selfe vnto the inward parts This is thâ— cause why men call the Moone the Mother Nurse Regent and Gouernesse of all such humidities as are in earthly bodies Wherefore to speake first of Field-beasts the well-aduised Farmer shall not kill at any time whatsoeuer his Porkes Muttons Beeues Kine or other Beasts of the flesh whereof he would make his household prouision for the sustenance of his Familie in the wane of the Moone For such flesh as is killed in the decrease of the Moone falleth away and impaireth euerie day and also craueth much fire and time to make it readie withall neither ought any man to maruaile or staâ—d astonished at this if hee consider well that a Sawsage or other such like kind of meat doth grow lesse by a quarter when they are boyled Neither shall he make account of or buy any Horse-flesh or other which was foled or brought forth in the decrease and old age of the Moone for that they are more weake and faint than the rest moreouer they come to no growth neither is their flesh of sufficient weight when they be killed He shall neuer â—â—sh his Pooles Fish-ponds Ditches or Waters with salt Fish in the decay of the Moone for both Fish and other Beasts of the Water especially they which ar◠〈◊〉 with shells or thiâ—ke sâ—ales as Crayfishes Crabs Oysters Muscles and such 〈◊〉 are found veriâ— much impaired in their substance and leane in the old age and 〈◊〉 of the Moone and contrariwise grosse fat and full when she is in her force 〈◊〉 full The Faulkoneâ— shall chuse rather the full Moone to fâ—ye in than the wane 〈◊〉 that Hawkes and all Birds of the prey are a great deale more nimble sharpe and 〈◊〉 aboâ—t the full Moone than in any other time The Horse and Beast subiect 〈◊〉 maladie of the eyes is better at â—ase in the decrease than in the encrease or full 〈◊〉 the Moone He shall make prouision of Faâ—s or of the marrowes of the bones of â—utton Harâ— Beefe and others if he haue need in the full of the Moone not in the 〈◊〉 He shall geld his Bore-Pigs Rammes Bull-Calues or Bulkins and 〈◊〉 when the Moone decreaseth He shall set Egges vnder Hennes or other Fowlâ—â—â—he new of the Moone and principally in the first quarter As for Trees and other Plants the wise and discreet Farmer will plant his Fruit-â—â—ees and others in the new of the Moone and yet not before the first quarter At 〈◊〉 same time he will haue regard to cut downe and lop Wood for his fuell but 〈◊〉 such as he minds to keepe for to build wiâ—hall when the Moone decreaâ—â— being sure that all matter be it to build House Presses Bridges and other 〈◊〉 being cut downe in the decrease of the Moone lasteth a long time and is â—nd maruailoâ—s good and yet better when it is cut downe rather at euening than in 〈◊〉 morning which thing may also be applyed to hewen stone and milstones when 〈◊〉 be cut out of their Quarries and 〈◊〉 He shall plant his Vine in the encrease of 〈◊〉 Moone when it is foure or fiue daies old He shall cut the leane Vines and such 〈◊〉 planted in â— bad soyle in the encrease likewise of the Moone but those which â—ore fat in the going away of the Moone seeing that thus they will bring forth 〈◊〉 Grapes than if they were cut in the encrease in as much as then the Moone 〈◊〉 vpon them to soften them and make them fat cannot chuse but cause abounâ—â—ce of Clusters and Leaues but cutting them the Moone being old the Wood â—ommeth bound and applyeth it selfe onely to bring forth great store of fruit He 〈◊〉 cleanse prune cut at the foot Fruit-trees toward the later end of the Moone 〈◊〉 they will become better laden with fruit He shall make his Nurseries of 〈◊〉 the Moone being ouer the Earth As for Fruits he shall gather Apples Peares and other Fruits as also his Grapes â—he decrease of the Moone because thereby the Wines will be the better and 〈◊〉 kepâ— which otherwise would be in danger to sowre and rot in â—he moneth of 〈◊〉 following being the time that men are wont to cut their Vines And which 〈◊〉 he shall gather and carrie into his house whatsoeuer he would haue to endure 〈◊〉 last long at such time as the Moone shall decrease Hee shall sow his Corne as 〈◊〉 and other Graine he shall weed fanne searce and gather together his Corne 〈◊〉 a locke he shall grind his Corne the better to keepe it in flowre in the end 〈◊〉 old of the Moone It is verie true that the bread encreaseth profiteth more 〈◊〉 be ground the Moone encreasing and being new He shall mow and cut downe 〈◊〉 Corne with Sythe the Moone wasting He shall pull Line and Pulse at the same 〈◊〉 and yet indeed all Pulse gathered or reaped in the growth of the Moone are of 〈◊〉 digestion 〈◊〉 concerning Hearbes he shall sow them the Moone being new and gather them 〈◊〉 the Moone encreaseth in her light as being then of farre greater force than in 〈◊〉 wast and wane At the same time he shall gather Cucumbers Gourds Melons 〈◊〉 Pompions and all Roots which grow in the head whether they be Leekes 〈◊〉 Radishes Turneps Lillies Saffron or such like except Onions which 〈◊〉 be dealt withall cleane contrarie for they become a great deale more grosse 〈◊〉 better fed in the declining than in the augmenting or full of the Moone during
not to be come by but out of some farre Countrey For though the feeding be good and singular for Oxen as in Flanders and elsewhere yet it falleth out so that if they can haue Horse to doe their worke they doe like better thereof than of the Oxe Euen as in Prouence Languedoe and Auuergnac men doe vse the labour of their Mules and their young Colts rather than of Oxen and Kine because they effect not or dispatch their worke 〈◊〉 well or yet so speedily howsoeuer yet the labour of the Oxe is maruellous good auaileable and profitable in strong grounds for they draw the Ploughes deepe into the earth and turne ouer great furrowes as may be seene in Italie where there are great Oxen long and broad breasted in Gascoigne Bourbon Poitou Aniou and Mayne Againe men of ancient time vsed no other beast but Oxen because that Oxen are more sparing for the profit of the Farmer for they are contented to feed vpon pasture without anie other food or prouender besides the great profit and good prouision comming of them for being either shoulder-shot or bruised in aniâ— part or growne impotent and vnable to worke by reason of old age they are 〈◊〉 either for to sell or to kill and salt for his vse profits and commodities which the other kind of Cattell I meane the Horse doe not affoord The Oxe-house must be built of stone paued with grauell or sandie ground somewhat descending and sloping that so the moisture may not stand It must also stand vpon the South that so it may be the more drie and lesse subiect vnto cold and frostie winds it shall be nine foot wide and onely of such height as that the Oxe may stand vpright and the Oxe-keeper may haue space ynough to goe round about them to see and serue them with fodder as also to the end that seeing Oxen will be striking one another with their hornes the weaker may haue space to withdraw himselfe The Rackes must be so high as that the Oxen cannot easily reach them The charge of him that is to keepe the Oxen is to be gentle and louing vnto the Oxen dressing and giuing them their meat prouiding them good litter either of straw or some other thing to rub them euerie euening before they lye downe and in the morning to eurrie them and wipe them cleane gently washing their tayles oft with warme water To keepe their house cleane and not to let Hennes or Swine come therein for feathers will kill Oxen and the dung of a diseased Swine engendreth the Murraine or Plague To giue fresh straw vnto these Cattell and to cast to them in Summer the greene sprouts and tender â—hoots of the arbors of Vines or others and in Winter of Beane stalkes and grasse euening and morning Let him be skilfull to discerne when Plough Oxen haue labored much or little that he may accordingly giue them a proportionable quantitie of meat and also such as shall be necessarie he may not let them take paine or labour in verie hot or verie cold weather neither yet when it is verie moist he may not let them drinke quickly after their trauell but if they 〈◊〉 heated so soone as they be come home hee shall cast a little wine into their throaâ— and shall not tie them to their Manger vntill such time as their wearinesse be ouerpast When there commeth together anie companie of Festiuall daies and rest 〈◊〉 shall grease their hornes and vnder the pasterne together with the hoofe or else â—e shall put vnder an Onion rosted verie soft betwixt two coales tying it thereto with a cloth Let him oftentimes make cleane and refresh their pasternes and not suffer them to cleaue or rend and to that end let him euerie yeare cause to be repaired the pauement of his Oxe-house which will serue also to keepe away beasts and 〈◊〉 which are wont to annoy Oxen. Let him remoue them one farre ynough from another least they should strike one another When they labour not let him water then twice a day in Summer and once in Winter and that in cleare cleane and coole water For as hath beene said heretofore the Oxe seeketh after the water that is clear and most bright as the Horse after that which is troubled Let him carefully looke vpon their comming from field whether anie of them haue got anie thorne in his foot if they be sweatie if the Collar or the Yoke haue caused them anie hurt abouâ— their head or if they be chafed about the neck if they haue beene much prickt with the Goad or with the Gadâ—â—ie or Horneâ— and let him accordingly apply something for the healing of them The gelded Oxe is better meat better marchandise and better for labour than thâ— Bull whose flesh is more hard and tough like a Hide and more troublesome to driue wherefore of a hundred Calues that the Oxe-keeper may haue he shall not â—eepe aboue two to bull the Kine the rest he shall geld all of them about when they â—re two yeares old for after this time he cannot doe it commodiously It would be â—one in Autumne and in the later end of the Moone and the ashes of Vine branâ—hes mixt with Lytharge must be applied to the wound and three daies after pitch â—elted and mixt with the said ashes you must not let him drinke the day wherein â—e is gelded and he must for the same day also eat but a little meat The manner to geld him is to take with two streight rules of wood as it were with quitches or pinâ—ers the strings of his stones then afterward to open the purse and cut out his stones â—n such sort as that he leaue the vpper end thereof whereto the said strings are fastned for by this meanes the calfe is not so much subject to effusion of bloud neither yet will it be altogether spoyled of courage not hauing all his pride taken away but some little left behind and reserued which may still expresse his first and naturall forme Hauing gelded him you must feed him well that he may be fit for labour and feed him according to the seasons and times cheering and cherishing him by sometimes giuing him a little salt sometime robbing his head with your whole hand strâ—aking his backe and rubbing the rest with louing and gentle speeches notwithstanding so long as he is in the house let his hornes be tied and he close made fast to the cratch Couple him with another of the same greatnesse grosenesse age and strength tie them the one by the other lead them into the fields tied together to the end they may one of them loue another let them oftentimes see the Oxen that draw the plow or which till the ground or doe any other manner of worke and to the end they may loose their naturall wildnesse lead them to heare the noise of mills of men of forges and other things which make great rumbling neere vnto the time when
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
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
Cough If he be wearie and ouer-heated you must cast Grease and Wine into his throat Let all women that desire to haue children beware that they neuer take the sent of the vrine of a Horse or Mare-Mule for the smell of their vrine doth make women barren because that they themselues are naturally barren The fume of the hoofe of a Mare-Mule put vpon hot coales and set on fire is so odious vnto Rats and Mice that are in the house that they by and by foeling the smell runne away with great swiftnesse of which you may make triall The end of the first Booke THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE COVNTRIE HOVSE OF GARDENS CHAP. I. Of the Situation Inclosure Ground and fashions of Hedges requisite for Gardens whether they be for profit or for pleasure IT is requisite that we should now occupie our selues in describing the manner of husbanding and tilling of the Earth hauing runne through all that belongeth to the building and inclosing of a Farme the office of the chiefe Lord and of the Farmer and his people and generally whatsoeuer concerneth the raising of profit by keeping of Cattell Wee will begin therefore following the order before propounded to describe Gardens And first with the Kitchin Garden which â—ath beene deuised and appointed to ioine to the one side of the Garden of pleasure â—nd yet separated from it by the intercourse of a great Alley of the breadth of three â—athomes hauing either a Well or Conduit from some Fountaine in the middest â—hereof if you cannot conueniently haue a particular Well in the middest of euerie Garden and besides with an Hedge of Quickset verie thicke in which there may â—e made three doores one to the House another to the place of the Well or Founâ—aine and the third opening vpon the Orchards inclosure This Hedge shall be â—lanted likewise with Hasell trees Goose-berrie bushes white and red Pepper trees Curran trees Eglantines Brambles Wood-bind the wild Vines both the Hollies â—lder trees and Apples of Paradise Ceruise trees Medlar trees and Oliue trees 〈◊〉 it must be more thicke and a greater defence than anie other to preuent danger â—f Cattell getting loose which might a great deale more endammage the good and profit of their Master than they could anie way pleasure him Yet in the planting â—f your Quick-sets according to the opinion of Serres you shall haue great confideâ—ation to the nature of the ground on which you plant them as which are apt for Quick-sets which not apt and which Quick-set is apt for which ground as thus â—our clayne and stiffe clayes which are without anie mixture of sand are slow in â—ringing forth Quick-set yet hauing once taken root they preserue and maintaine â—â—eir Quick-sets longest and therefore the blacke and white Thorne mingled with â—ild Apple trees Ceruise trees Medlar trees Oliue trees or anie other which carriâ—â—h bodie and substance Your mixt Hasell soyles which are Clay and Sand of an equall temper or your fast and close Sands which doe not diuide or runne to a generall dust are the kindlâ—est of all other to bring forth Quick-sets and do preserue and maintaine them for a conuenient time though not so long as the Clayes and are verie speedie in bringing forth therefore anie Quick-set is meet to be planted on such Soyles whether they be Trâ—es Shrubs or Bushes as those before spoken of together with anie thing else that will take root But your grauellie flintie or loose Sands which fall away and neuer fasten vnto the root are the most barren of all other and seldome or with great difficultie bring forth anie good Quick-set at all yet Industrie which is the Mother of all profits hath found out by experience that the best Quick-set which can grow vpon these Soyles is the common Bramble or wild Briâ—r out to the length of two foot or thereabouts and so planted in the earth and amongst them mingled three or foure foot asunder here and there diuers blacke thornes then when the Brambles begin to shoot forth to interlace them and twynd thâ—â— bought-wise about the blacke Thornes making one bought runne into another and plashing them both vpward and downe-ward so close one within another that they may seeme like a Lattice-window and euer and anon to vphold and maintaine the earth to their roots till they be well fastened within the ground and then they wilâ— hold vp the earth afterwards themselues By this experiment onely hath beene seâ—â—e in diâ—ers of these most barren Soyles as strong as thicke and as defensible Quick-sets as in anie other Soyle whatsoeuer as is daily apparent to mens eyes both 〈◊〉 France England and the Low Countries The situation of the said Gardens must be as we haue said before neere vnto the House placed vpon the North rather than vpon the South quarter to the end thaâ— the chiefe Lord and owner of the Farme may out of the windowes of his lodging enioy the pleasure and beautie of his Gardens in some plaine plot of ground which is as it were a little hanging and thereby at the foot thereof receiuing the streame 〈◊〉 some pleasant running water either from some Spring and Fountaine or from somâ— Well or else from the falling of the Raine but farre remoued from the Threshingâ—floore and Barne to the end that the hearbes may not be hurt by the dust dyrt smaâ—â—straw or chaffe which might be conueyed along from the Threshing-floore vnto the Garden by the wind when the Corne is in threshing for such chaffe hauing takeâ— hold vpon the leaues doth pierce them and fret them through and being thus pieâ—ced they burne and parch away presently Likewise for the benefit of their 〈◊〉 it must be iustly liued out and cast into a Square verie equally and vniformally 〈◊〉 yet somewhat sloping for the conueyance of the fall of Raine water and of the 〈◊〉 of the dunghill which continually will be thereby running downeward 〈◊〉 the allies by meanes of the Raine and so will mend the idle and vntoiled 〈◊〉 And by the side of either of those two Gardens within the wall and inclosure of the House there shall be kept two other Gardens if possibly it may be seuered and sâ—parated by other Hedges and a great path betwixt them containing in breadth 〈◊〉 lesse than three fathomes or eighteene foot euerie one finely paued with good â—â—â—â—stones or burned Tyles or made with Steeres or filled with Sand that is to say by 〈◊〉 side of the Kitchen Garden a particular Garden for Hempe Line Saffron 〈◊〉 and other things of profit and good Husbandrie and this requireth a proper 〈◊〉 kind of ordering and by the side of the Garden of pleasure another Gardâ—â— with Pulse as Peason Beanes Fetches Rice Panicke Millet and such other thingâ— for they serue greatly for the keeping of your familie Yet you shall vnderstand 〈◊〉 albeit I thus particularly appoint you these two seuerall Gardens the one for 〈◊〉 and Flax
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
fruits 〈◊〉 from out of this Garden are much better by remouing in doing whereof they are also not onely more freely bestowed but become of a better tast and verdure CHAP. VI. Of the time of sowing the Kitchin Garden ALl seede which are for the store of the Kitchin Garden must be Sowne 〈◊〉 remoued in the encrease of the Moone as namely from the first day 〈◊〉 the sixt for those that are sowne in the decrease they either come 〈◊〉 slowly or else they be nothing worth Besides that although you sow 〈◊〉 the encrease of the Moone it sometime falleth out that notwithstanding your 〈◊〉 be fat full make a white flower and be nothing corrupted or hurt yet some 〈◊〉 constellation which the Gardiners doe call the course of the Heauens doe 〈◊〉 them that they profit not nor yet thriue anie thing at all Although that 〈◊〉 the Husbandman say That the Earth which hath the fauour and benefit of a 〈◊〉 and mild ayre and is watered with some running streame is in all points and râ—spects free and not tyed or bound to anie lawes of sowing but hee cannot 〈◊〉 that whatsoeuer groweth whether it be Plant or Seed hath two ends that is to 〈◊〉 the Root which hath altogether to doe with the Earth and the Branches or vppermost part thereof which hath altogether to doe with the Ayre and the Heauenâ— and that the obseruations drawne from superior bodies as from the proceeding and disposition of the Moone doe shew and proue the ouerthwarts and 〈◊〉 incumbrances wrought against the creatures of the earth both in their 〈◊〉 forth of the earth and drawing to stalke as also in the gouernment of them aâ—terward In moist places and such as are serued with some small currant of water it is 〈◊〉 to sow in the Spring for then the mildnesse and gentlenesse of the yeare followinâ— doth entertaine in verie good sort the growing seeds and the drinesse of the 〈◊〉 cannot hurt them because of the water prest and at hand But when as the 〈◊〉 of the place hath no naturall supply of running water or else such as is verie 〈◊〉 come by in respect of the bringing thither there is no other refuge but the 〈◊〉 of the Winter raine wherefore in such places it is more sure to sow in Aâ—tumne and yet one may well sow there in the Spring so that you cast your 〈◊〉 three foot deepe If a man be disposed to sow Seeds in Summer it must be in the encrease of the Moone of Iuly and August and in Autumne in the encrease of the Moone of September and October as also for the Spring in Februarie and in March In 〈◊〉 naturally cold or which receiue no great heat from the Sunne beames the sowing 〈◊〉 the Spring time must be toward the later end thereof and that in Autumne must 〈◊〉 hastened and early performed On the contrarie the sowing of Seeds in the Sprinâ— time in a hot place must be early performed and the Sowing or Seed-time of Aâ—tumne must be somewhat deferred Seeds doe grow the better when they be 〈◊〉 vpon warme daies or daies that are neither hot nor cold than and if they be 〈◊〉 vpon hot cold or drie daies The Seed that is to be sowne must not be aboue 〈◊〉 yeare old otherwise if they be verie old drie wrinkled leane soft false or 〈◊〉 gathered they will neuer grow nor thriue Wherefore by how much the 〈◊〉 the seeds of Cucumers Melons Leekes and Gourds be so much the sooner they grow On the contrarie by how much the elder the seeds of Parsely Beets 〈◊〉 Cresâ—es and Coriander be so much the more hastily doe they put out of the earth supposed alwaies that age hath not corrupted them Coleworts and 〈◊〉 of all sorts white Succorie Garlicke Leekes and Onions are sowne in Autumne and liue all Winter Coleworts Rocket Cresses Coriander Cheruill Nauets Turneps Radishes Parsneps Carrets Parsely Fennell and other hearbes whose roots are good in pottage are sowne in Autumne and in the Spring notwithstanding they grow better being sowne in Iuly in hot Countries and in August in Countries indifferent hot and in September in cold Countries Lettuce Sorrell Purcelane Cucumbers Gourds Sauorie Harts-horne Trick-madame Beets and other tender hearbes as also Artichokes are sowne in the Spring and for the most part also those of March and Aprill grow more early than those of Februarie according to the diuersitie of the time Aboue all the Seeds which are to be sowne must be well-conditioned full heauie corpulent grosse hauing a good colour yeelding a white flower when they be broken not dustie for dust falling from them when they be broken sheweth that they are corrupted and nothing worth CHAP. VII Within what space Seeds are wâ—nt to grow after they be sowne NOtwithstanding that the nature of the Ground the mildnesse of the Aire fauourable furtherance of the Heauens and the age of the Seed doe cause Seeds to hasten the more or to be the flower in springing out of the bosome of their mother and nurse the earth for as much as that which is sowne in faire weather and an open aire in a hot place and open vpon the Sunne and of new Seed doth shew it selfe sooner than that which is sowne in a contrarie time and place yet euerie Seed hath a certaine time to manifest in selfe in whereto we must haue due regard to the end that there may be prefixed times to sow and looke for the growth of euerie Seed Spinach Basill Nauets and Rocket grow within three daies after they be sowne Lettuce the fourth day Cucumbers and Citruls the fifth Purcelane a little later Annise the fourth Cresses and Mustard-seed the fifth Beets in Summer on the sixt and in Winter on the tenth Arach the eight Coleworts the tenth Leekes the nineteenth or ofter the twentieth Coriander about the fiue and twentieth or else more late if the Seed be new Organie and Sauorie after the thirtieth Parsely in the fortieth for the most part and oftentimes in the fiftieth It is true that in this place the age of the Seed and state of the Aire when the Gardiner doth sow them is of great moment for as I haue said the Leeke Cucumber and Citrull grow sooner if the Seed be new And on the contrarie Parsely Spinach Organie Sauorie Coriander and Cresses when their Seed is sold likewise the Seed of Cucumbers steept in milke or in warme water putteth the sooner out of the earth after the same sort you may make reckoning of Artichokes and manie other hearbes as you shall know hereafter in their particular Treatises CHAP. VIII Of watering weeding sweeping and cutting of Pothearbes SO soone as the ground is full of Seeds in all places you must be carefull to water it if by hap the place be drie of his owne nature that so the Seed may not be hindered of his sprouting by the too much drinesse or that the hearbe alreadie sprung may not die The
due time when as they be ripe The vse of Gourds is not so dangerous as those of Cucumbers so that their waterishnesâ—e be tempered with things meet and sit for the same as with saffron pepper and other such aromaticall powders and for the dish those which are long and white are better and to be preferred before either of the other two sorts Physitians are of opinion that there is nothing better to asswage the heat of hot burning agues to take away the thirst and to loosen the bellie then to vse oftentimes the strayned juice of Gourds stewed without liquor in a new earthen pot set in an ouen There is nothing better for the drinesse of the tongue for sharpe and burning humours and for leaâ—e agueish persons than the vse of the pulpe of Gourds or the Syrope made of their juice CHAP. XXXIX Of Melons and Pompions MElons and Pompions doe not so easily grow in this Countrey because they delight in a Countrey and Ayre that is hot but by force of labour and cunning skill they are drawne vnto it by ordering their beds and remouing of them where they may be shielded from the Cold and receâ—â—e the benefit of the South Sunne and reflexe of the heat of the same from some wall And againe it is a speciall furtherance and helping of them forward to fore-cast that they may grow in such seasons as are verie hot for now and then Summer falleth out 〈◊〉 variable and mixt with cold or drought or moisture as that thereupon they be 〈◊〉 ripe till Autumne and towards the time of Vintage Wherefore it standeth you vpon to hasten them and helpe them forward with dung and with the heat of their beds though this course in the meane time stand not so well with the health of the parties that shall eat them or with the goodnesse and pleasant smell of the Pempions and thereupon it commeth that there are moe grounds planted with Cresses than with Melons amongst vs. Wherefore it were better to reserue for such vse quarter of ground or thereabouts in some place of your Garden where the South Sunne lyeth and is beaten backe by some wall the same also keeping away the North wind hauing no shadow either of Trees or of anie other thing to keepâ— backe the Sunne from it but being withall a good fat and substantiall ground well weeded well tilled and the greene swarth well broken and withall made verie leâ—ell and euen And this your quarter would be againe diuided into foure small quarters and to set your Melon seeds which you intend to plant that yeare but in one of thâ— said little quarters letting the other three râ—st and so succâ—ssiuely in succeeding yeares to low the said little quarters one after another for then the Melons wiâ— grow in their naturall goodnesse and perfection it being their nature to craue a new rested and well manured ground And if it be requisite to helpe such ground wiâ—â— some sweetnesse you must burne vpon it in Winter some Straw or drie Dung 〈◊〉 some Elder tree amongst other wood and mixe the ashes with the earth to the end that during the time of Winter it may grow in season And if the said ground 〈◊〉 need of more helpe it must be dunged with Sheepes dung or else with Goats dung well rotted and this to be done a long time before you intend to sow your Meloâ— seed for as for Horse or Cow dung it must not be vsed except it be when no other thing can be gotten and when it is vsed it must be spread and mixt with the earth long before Seed-time as hath beene said whereby wee may iudge how vnfâ—â— the beds now adaâ—es vsed are for to yeeld good Melons and they that would haâ—e them grow vpon beds as lesle damnifying must make their beds in the said place of the Garden compassed about and hemmed in with a Mat and vpon the bed must be cast a layer of the best and fattest earth that you can find or of earth the thicknesse of three fingers and in this earth to set your seeds for the Melon will not be so much spotted with the dung when there is a mixture of the one and the other You must take the seed of the Melon which hath a thicke and hard huske and looking verie greene within which is of the first growne and of those which grow neerest vnto the root which you shall haue reserued in your Melon plot vntill the full â—ipenesse thereof that so you might haue others grow of it for the seed is better when it is now taken out of the Melon hauing beene all that while from the gathering time kept in the bodie and substance thereof And if you would haue it to grow verie quickly sleepe it in warme water sixe or seuen houres afterward aboâ—â— the tenth day of March make your pits vpon your beds some three or foure foot one from another and two foot in depth and widenesse and if you may make yoâ—â— choice of dung then fill them vp with Sheepe or Goats dung that is old well rotted and crumbly and with verie fine blacke earth together and herewith to fill them vp within two â—ingers Some put therein the dung of horses comming hot from the stable to make thâ—m put forth the sooner but the sauour and goodnesse of the Melon is greatly hindered thereby and thereupon pricke six or ten seeds of your pompions the sharpe end downeward although some put not in aboue foure or fiue and couer them againe gently without much beating or treading of the earth downe vpon them Afterward for to auoid daunger of frosts couer them with straw or mats borne vp with stickes prickt vp one way or if you haue the benefit of great boards or tables of boards borne vp with stones or rubbish by the way that so they may not presle vpon them and that so you may take them vp when the Sunne shineth hot and lay them downe againe when the cold wind bloweth and when frosts come And as soone as the Melons shall haue put forth leaues bigge ynough you must water them with a shred of cloth hanging continually in a pot of water without wetting of the Melon any whit at all and this watering must be continued in a verie drie ground though you haue remoued your Melons till the fruit become of the bignesse of Oranges and if you vse beds you shall remoue them after mid-May in this countrie out of the danger of frosts about fiue or sixe foot one from another vpon a border well tilled and manured And from that time forward you shall weed out diligenetly all the weeds from about them and shall lighten their earth at the trunk of the root without doing any hurt to it and when the flower shall peepe out you must cut off the ends of the armes of the heaâ— be to the end that the flower and the fruit may come forth in greater store aboundance And for
in white wine is verie good for such 〈◊〉 haue a hard Spleene and are subiect to a quartane Ague Bâ—â—onie delighteth to be sowne in a moist and cold ground and neere vnto some wall by which it may be shadowed for it is not 〈◊〉 in loue with the Sun-beames The root hath contrarie properties to the leaues and flowers for the root 〈◊〉 the stomacke and is verie vnsauourie vnto the mouth his leaues and flowers and of 〈◊〉 verâ—e good smell and a tast correspondent and answerable The decoction of Betonie made in white wine assuageth the paines of the 〈◊〉 breaketh the stone and healeth the Iaundise The leaues stamped and applyed 〈◊〉 forme of a Cataplasme doe quickly ioyne together the wounds of the head A Cataplasme made of the leaues with Porkes grease doth ripen the tumors called Câ—â—haires and all other sorts of Impostumes The leaues stamped with a little salt doe heale hollow and cancrous vlcâ—rs To be briefe this hearb hath so manie and so greâ—â— vertues as that the Italian when he would highly commend a man for his giâ—â— will say that he hath moe vertues than Betonie Bugle would be planted in a stonie drie and hillie ground in respect whereof the Latines call it Casolida petrosa It craueth no great paines to be taken with 〈◊〉 The leaues thereof are good to conglutinate and soulder together both outward and inward wounds it is likewise put in drinkes for wounds and that is the cause why some doe commonly say That he that hath Bugle and Sanicle will scarce vouchsâ—â—â— the Chirurgion a Bugle Lions-paw groweth in a clayish ground being withall fat red and somewhat moist commonly in medowes situated in some high place It hath like properties with Bugle and Sanicle but moreouer it taketh away all the paine and heat of inflammations and vlcers The same hearb stamped and applyed vnto the teats of women and young maids maketh them hard and firme Great Comfrey groweth in moist places and hath the same propertie that Bugle hath that is to say to soulder wounds and this is â—o great in both of them as 〈◊〉 that you put Bugle or Comfrey into a pot wherein flesh is boyling the pieces of flesh will become no more manie but one The root of great Comfrey whiles it is yet greene and newly pluckt out of the earth being spread vpon Leather or vpon Linnen and applyed in forme of a Cataplasme vpon goutie or rheumatike places doth presently appease the paine of the gout being a thing often proued and tried The same root dried and made into powder is good to put in childrenâ— pappe which haue their rimme broken as also to stay the flux of the bellie A Cataplasme made of the root of great Comfrey with Beane flower and applyed vnto the place where the childs guts fall downe is a soueraigne remedie to cuâ—â— the same Self-heale craueth a fat ground and where the Sunne beateth not much it groweth of seâ—des and not of rootes and hath like properties that Bugle and Coâ—frey haue especially to stay the spitting of bloud the bloudie flux and to conglutinate wounds within the bodie where no man can come to apply tent or oyntment if there be made a drinke of the iuice of the rootes and leaues thereof which being chafed in your fingers or put vnder your tongue doth smell and tast like Myrrhe Water Germander called of the Latines Scordium groweth verie easily and without great paine or toile so that it be planted by little slippes taken from the old stalke and set in a moist ground for it specially requireth to grow well to be plâ—â—ted in a moist ground and to be often watered It hath the like qualities that Angelica hath against Poyson and the Plague and furthermore the decoction thereof taken as a drinke for certaine daies doth heale the tertian Agues and putteth away 〈◊〉 obstructions of the Spleene and prouoketh vrine Fole-foot must be planted in a verie moist place and craueth to be often watered for so it appeareth when as it is seene to flourish and like best in marish grounds and about currents of waters There groweth a whirish mossâ— about the root of it which if you gather and picke verie cleane and afterward wrap it in a Linnen Cloth with a little Sal nitrum and so boyle it a little in Lee and afterward lay it to drie in the Sunne you shall haue an excellent match to take fire at a flint and fire-steele for it taketh fire so easily that it will light at the first stroke of the 〈◊〉 Amongst other vertues it is singular good to comfort the lungs and parts aboue the breast whether you take it in a decoction or in a syrrup or in manner of a fume at the mouth or otherwise especially if you mingle some slippes of Hysope and some figges or syrrup with the said decoction The great Colts-foot especially the root thereof dried powdred and taken in the weight of two drammes with wine is singular against the Plague if so the partie sweat presently after It is good also to giue vnto Horses which haue the bots or are short-winded The great and small Carline so called as though it were Caroline because this Thistle was in a diuine manner made knowne vnto Charlemaigne by an Angell for the deliuering of his hoast from the Plague which did miserably annoy them doth require to be sowne and planted in a drie ground and stonie and where the Moone and Sunne doth shine pleasantly The root of the great Carline made into powder and taken the weight of a French crowne is singular good against the Plague the feeblenesse and faintnesse of the Heart for the keeping of the Vrine the breaking of the Stone the paines of the Sides and Conuulsions applyed outwardly after it hath beene steept in vineger it helpeth the Sciatica Eringium groweth in an vntilled rough and drie ground The wine wherein the rootes of Eringium haue been boyled prouoketh the Termes and restrained Vrine breaketh the Stone and casteth out it and Grauell It is good for such as haue the falling Sicknesse Dropsie or Iaundise The decoction of the root is singular good to resist Drunkennesse The distilled water of the young buds of the leaues being drunke euerie day and that so oft as one can is maruellous good for them which haue their bodies troubled with vlcers caused of the French Pocks in as much as it comforteth the Liuer The same water is verie profitable for the quartane and quotidian Agues The root thereof taken either in powder or in a decoction with the broth of those Frogges which are vsed to be eaten or for lacke of Frogges in the decoction of a Goslin or green Goose is a preseruatiue against the poyson of the Toad Hedgefrogge and other venimous hearbes It doth good also in the diseases of the heart being drunke with the decoction of Buglosse or Balme Beares-breech
the seed of Gromell to the quantitie of two drammes Ceterach halfe a dramme and Amber two scruples all being powdred with the iuice of Plantaine or Purcelane or Lettuce In like manner two drammes of the seed of Gromell with womens milke doth much comfort and strengthen a woman in her child-birth Hyporicum loueth the like entreatie that Gromell loueth and yet withall it doth refuse a fat and well tilled soyle The iuice of the leaues and flowers healeth cuts and wounds The seed drunke with white wine taketh away the tertian Ague The flowers and crops are principally in vse to make Balmes of for the curing of wounds such like as this is Take of the fruit of the Elme tree the flowers of Hypericum and the buds of Roses put them all together in a Glasse-bottle and set them in the Sunne so long as vntill you see them all so altered and changed as that they may seem to be rotted then straine them all through a linnen cloth and reserue it for your vse See further in the third Booke of the oyle of Hypericum Ground-pine loueth a drie sandie and stonie soyle and groweth better planted than sowne The whole hearbe boyled in honied water doth heale the laundise prouoke the termes in Women prouoke Vrine and is soueraigne against the Sciatica either taken in drinke or applyed vpon the hippe in forme of a Cataplasme for the whole hearbe with the flowers and roots made into powder and taken at the mouth fortie daies with halfe an ounce of Turpentine doth throughly heale the Sciatica The conserue made of the flowers is good for such as are subiect vnto the Palsie The whole hearbe boyled in vineger and taken at the mouth doth minister insinit helpe to a trauailing women when the child is dead in her bodie Agrimonie would be planted in a stonie and drie place and further craueth no great helpe of hand or husbandrie The decoction openeth the obstructions of the Liuer and strengtheneth it and it being boyled and drunke doth helpe against the bitings of venimous beasts The iuice of Agrimonie mixt with vineger and salt in a Liniment doth cure the Itch. Agrimonie is good against the cough of Sheepe and for broken-winded Horses The liquor of the decoction of Agrimonie with fumitorie made like Whay doth prouoke Vrine expell the Termes heale the Itch and Scab of the whole bodie whereupon it is singular in the beginning of the Leprosie The seed mixt with the iuice of Agrimonie and taken in manner of pilles doth kill the Wormes The Stagge being shot and wounded is healed so soone as he hath eaten of this hearbe If you gather good store of this hearbe and steepe it in faire Spring water in a large earthen pot till the water putrifie and then euerie morning wash the face therein it will take away all manner of Morphew Sunne-burning Farn-freckles and other spots or dunnesse of the skinne whatsoeuer making the same also cleare and smooth and filling vp euerie manner of wrinekle Some likewise vse in this case to vse with Agrimonie the like quantitie of Goose-grasse and sure it is not amisse for they haue both one manner of force and working White Mullein groweth euerie where but best in a stonie and sandie ground The white Mullein both leaues flowers rootes and seed is singular good against all manner of venime as also to containe in his place the falling Fundament Good wiues in like manner for this consideration doe make a fume of the seed and flowers of Mullein the flowers of Camomill and Masticke all made into 〈◊〉 The iuice pressed from the root before it put forth his stalke and drunke foureâ—â—â—â— in the quantitie of an ounce with Hippocras or Malmesey in the beginning of a 〈◊〉 of a quartane Feauer doth driue it quite away The iuice pressed out of the floweâ—â— or leaues applyed to Warts doth take them cleane away Likewise Gentlewomâ—n find no better remedie than the iuice of white Mullein flowers to take away the wrinckles and other blemishes in their face The leaues bruised betwixt two stoneâ— and applyed in forme of a Cataplasme vpon the foot of a Horse that hath beene cloyed doth affoord him a singular and present reliefe The water distilled of the flowers quencheth the firinesse of the face if there be a little Camphire added thereâ— unto It doth in like manner with the tumor called Erisipelas the itch burnings 〈◊〉 other diseases of the skin The flowers of white Mullein with the yolke of an eggâ— crummes of bread and the leaues of Leeks applyed vnto the Hemorrhoids doe 〈◊〉 them altogether There groweth about the leaues of white Mullein a whitish 〈◊〉 which is good to make match or tinder to take fire Mercurie craueth one and the same ground with the Vine there to be sowne and grow in great aboundance without anie great care of husbanding and yet thâ—â—â— must care and regard be had not to sow it among Vines because the wine which 〈◊〉 Vines should yeeld amongst whom Mercurie hath beene sowne would retaine the tast of Mercurie and become verie vnpleasant to drinke The iuice of Mercurie being drunke helpeth conception prouoketh womeâ—â— termes and deliuereth them of their after-birth The decoction of Mercurie doâ—â— loose the bellie being drunke or taken in a Clyster Some make a honey of the 〈◊〉 of Mercurie with a halfe quantitie of honey and this is good for laxatiue Clysteâ—â— The iuice of Mercurie taketh away Warts the seed of Mercurie in a decoction with Wormewood doth cure the Iaundise and the iuice thereof with vineger doth ripâ— vp the scab and scurffe Yarrow doth grow in a ground that is indifferent fat and moist The decoctioâ— thereof doth stay all manner of fluxes and especially the red termes of women 〈◊〉 also that which commeth of a wound especially the leaues dried made in powder and drunke with the iuice or water of Comfrey or Plantaine The leafe put into the nose stayeth the bleeding and put into a Clyster it stayeth the bloudie flux Milfoile bearing a white flower being powned with his flower and drunke with 〈◊〉 distilled from the same and Goats milke doth cure the burning of the vrine in 〈◊〉 and the whites in women Danewort groweth better plunted than sowne and craueth a fat ground well â—â—nured and somewhat moist The iuice pressed from the roots of Danewort being drunke for a certaine time preserueth a man from the Gout The seed of Danewort being well washed and drunke in powder to the quantitie of a dramme hauing beene first steeped a whole night in Wine doth helpe the Dropsie because it procureth stooles downward and vomit vpward to the voiding of great store of water Being drunke also with the dâ—coction of ground Pine it asâ—uageth the paine of the Gout and Pocks There is also made a soueraigne Oyntment of the same for the appeasing of the said paines Taâ—â— the iuice of the roots of Danewort the flowers of Rye and
and places to make a speech out of that many standing about and below may heare in like sort shall the Garden of Pleasure be set about and compassed in with arbours made of Iesamin Rosemarie Box Iuniper Cypres trees Sauin Cedars Rose-trees and other dainties first planted and pruned according as the nature of euerie one doth require but after brought into some forme and order with Willow or Iuniper poles such as may serue for the making of arbours The waies and alleys must be couered and â—owen with fine sand well bet or with the powder of the sawing of Marble or with the fine dust of slate-stone and other hewen stone or else paued handsomely with good pit-stone and tyles that are well burnt or with faire peeces of stones such as staires be made of the whole laying of them being leuelled and made euen with a beater or mall made for the purpose or where these are not to be gotten you shall take of fine yellow grauell well mixt with pyble or other such like binding earth and with it trim your alleys others vse to take coale dust or the ashes of Sea-coale well beaten and siâ—ted and with it strow the alleys and although it be not fully so sightfull yet it is profitable in this respect that it keepes them from grasse and weeds and other greenes because nothing will sprout through the same albeit be not troden or walked vpon of a long space This Garden by meanes of a large path of the bredth of six foot shall be diuided into two equall parts the one shall containe the hearbes and flowers vsed to make nosegaies and garlands of as March Violets Prouence Gillo-flowres Purple Gillo-flowres Indian Gillo-flowres small Paunces Daisies yellow and white Gillo-flowres Marigolds Lilly-conually Daffodils Canterburie-bells Purple Veluet flowre Anemones Corne-flag Mugwort Lillies and other such like as may be called the Nosegay Garden Also in it you shall plant all sorts of strange flowers as is the Crowne imperiall the Dulippos of sundrie kinds Narcyssus Hyacynthes Emeryes Hellitropians and a world of other of like nature whose colours being glorious and different make such a braue checkerd mixture that it is both wondrous pleasant and delactable to behold The other part shall haue all other sweet smelling hearbes whether they be such as beare no flowers or if they beare any yet they are not put in Nosegaies alone but the whole hearbe with them as Soothernwood Wormewood Pellitorie Rosemarie Iesamin Marierom Balme Mints Penniroyall Costmarie Hyssope Lauander Basill Sage Sauorie Rue Tansey Thyâ—â—e Cammomile Mugwort bastard Marierom Nept sweet Balme All-good Anis Horehound and others such like and this may be called the Garden for hearbs of a good smell These sweet hearbes and flowres for Nosegaies shall be set in order vpon beds and quarters of such like length and bredth as those of the Kitchin Garden and some of them vpon seats and others in mazes made for the pleasing and recreating of the sight other some are set in proportions made of beds interlaâ—ed and drawne one within another or broken off with borders or without borders the greatest part of which sweet hearbes as also for Nose-gay flowers though they grow â—â—â—rally and of their owne accord without anie labour or trauell of the Gardener especially hearbes for Nose-gaies yet such of them as stand in need of dressing and ordering shall be sowne planted remoued gathered and kept no otherwise than the pot-hearbes but yet notwithstanding regard must be had of the nature of euerie particular one as shall be declared hereafter in the particular description of 〈◊〉 of them CHAP. XLVIII Of hearbes for Flowers or Nose-gaies MArch Violets as well the single as the double must be set of whole 〈◊〉 in a well manured ground and digged the depth of a foot before the â—â—lends of March if you will â—ow them you may doe it in Autumne and the Spring But especially you must beware not to set Violets euerie 〈◊〉 in one and the same place for otherwise it will beare a yellow flower and haue verie little or no smell in it You may make that one and the same Violet shall beare 〈◊〉 the colours that others doe that is to say white pale yellow and red of you mix together the seeds of all and tying them in a Linnen cloth put them in that sort 〈◊〉 a well manured earth The Violet must be gathered in the morning before the 〈◊〉 rise and when it raineth not if so be that you will haue it to keepe his vertues and sweet smell The flowers of March Violets applied vnto the browes doe assuage the headaâ—â— which commeth of too much drinking and procure sleepe He that shall haue takeâ— a blow vpon the head so that it hath astonished him shall not haue anie greater 〈◊〉 if presently after such a blow he drinke Violet flowers stampt and continue the 〈◊〉 drinke for a certaine time There is made of the flowers of Violets Syrrups and Conserues good for the inflammation of the Lungs the Pleurisie Cough 〈◊〉 Agues It is also most excellent to preserue these Violets for Salads to serue all the 〈◊〉 as thus When you haue gathered your Violets and pickt them cleane both 〈◊〉 their stalkes and anie other corruption that may hang ouer their leaues you 〈◊〉 wash them cleane and strike the water through a drie cloth so cleare from them 〈◊〉 may be then take a Glasse-pot of the fashion of a Gally-pot so large as you 〈◊〉 put in your hand and being cleane washt also first in the bottome thereof lay a layre of your Violets of halfe a fingers thicknesse then take of the finest refined Sugar beaten verie small and therewith couer the Violets all ouer then lay another layre of the Violets and couer them with Sugar as you did before and so lay Violets vpon Sugar and Sugar vpon Violets till you haue filled the pot to the 〈…〉 take of the strongest Wine-vineger that can be gotten and poure it into the pot till the vineger swimme aloft then let it rest an houre or two to settle and if you 〈◊〉 that the vineger be shrunke below the flowers you shall fill it vp againe not 〈◊〉 thus to doe till the vineger will shrinke no more then couer the pot vp verie 〈◊〉 with Parchment and Sheepes leather and set it so as it may receiue some 〈◊〉 ayre of the fire and after one moneth vse them as occasion shall serue for they will last all the yeare both Winter and Summer without loosing either their â—â—lour strength sweetnesse or pleasantnesse neither their growth nor fulnesse And in this sort you may preserue all sorts of flowers whatsoeuer as Roses Marigoldâ— Gilliflowers of all kinds Cowslips Primroses Broome flowers Paunfie◠〈◊〉 leaues or anie other sweet and wholesome flower whatsoeuer Wherein is to 〈◊〉 noted that if the flower which you preserue be of a pure white colour and that yoâ— feare the vineger may somewhat abate the brightnesse
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
may grow faire and haue a more pleasant smell it must be planted â—nder the shadow of a Figge-tree or grafted in the rind of a Figge-tree for the 〈◊〉 and sweetnesse of the Figge-tree doth temper the sharpenesse and acrimoâ—ie of the Rue Some say likewise that Rue will grow fairer if the branches thereof 〈◊〉 set in a Beane or Onion and so put into the ground It is likewise reported that it â—â—oweth fairer if one curse and hurt it when they set and plant it But looke how â—â—iendly and kind it is to the Figge-tree so much it is enemie vnto and hateth the â—â—emlocke likewise Gardiners when they would pull vp Rue for feare of hurting â—â—eir hands rub them with the juice of Hemlocke Wild Rue is of greater force than the garden Rue and of a more vnpleasant â—â—ell and also a more dangerous smell furthermore of so sharpe a vapour as that if 〈◊〉 come neere vnto the face neuer so little it will breed the wild fire in it The feed 〈◊〉 of the one and the other by the hot and drie temperature it hath drieth vp the 〈◊〉 of man and maketh him barren the same seed in decoction is good for distilâ—â—tions and the moisture of the matrix Rue hath a singular vertue and force against all manner of venime Likewise we 〈◊〉 that the king Mithridates was accustomed to vse an opiate made of twentie â—â—ues of Rue two drie Figges two old Walnuts and a little Salt to preserue his state â—gainst all manner of poyson For this cause you must plant in your gardens and 〈◊〉 your sheepecoats houses for your fowle and other cattell great quantitie of â—ue for Adders Lizards and other venimous beasts will not come neere vnto 〈◊〉 by the length of the shadow of it Some also hold it as a tried thing that to 〈◊〉 away Cats and Fulmers from hen-houses and doue-houses there is nothing â—etter than to set Rue at the doores thereof or round about them And that to free a â—ome of fleas and gâ—ats it is good to water that same with water sprinkled about with branch of rue In the plague time it is not good to put rue neere vnto your nose â—ontrarie to that which we see many men practise because by the sharpenesse of the 〈◊〉 there is caused a heat and excoriation of the part which it toucheth notwithâ—â—anding to draw out the venime that is in a bubo or pestilent carbuncle there is noâ—â—ing better than to applie thereto a cataplasme made of the leaues of rue stampt with leauen hogs-grease onions figges vnquencht lime sope cantharides and a 〈◊〉 treacle If a man haue eaten of hemlocke ceruse mandrakes blacke poppie 〈…〉 other hearbes which through their great coldnesse haue caused them to be 〈◊〉 and blockish they may profitably vse the juice of rue to drinke it for the 〈◊〉 of them from such danger or else the wine wherein it hath beene boyled Thâ— distilled water of rue powred into vvine and rose-water of each as much is good 〈◊〉 the weakenesse of the sight It is verie soueraigne for the headach and being 〈◊〉 in wine with fennell and so drunke it easeth all obstructions of the spleene or 〈◊〉 and taketh away the pain of the strangurie and also stoppeth any flux being 〈◊〉 with Cummin-seed it easeth all maner of aches and being stampt with home 〈◊〉 flower and the yolke of an egge it cureth any impostumation whatsoeuer All sorts of mints whether garden or wild doe nothing desire the ground 〈◊〉 dunged fat or lying open vpon the Sunne but rather a moist ground neere 〈◊〉 water for want thereof they must be continually watred for else they die it is 〈◊〉 sowne than set but if it be set then it may be either of roots or branches in 〈◊〉 or in the Spring time especially about the twelfth of March or September 〈◊〉 wanteth the seed to sow it may insteed thereof sow the seed of field mints 〈◊〉 the sharpe point downeward thereby to tame and reclaime the wildnesse of it 〈◊〉 it is growne it must not be toucht with any edge toole because thereupon it 〈◊〉 die Neither need you take care to sow it euerie yeare for it will grow of itselfe 〈◊〉 being sowne of set in great aboundance Mints stampt and applyed to breasts too hard and full of milke doe seften 〈◊〉 and hindreth the curding of the milke stampt with salt it is good against the 〈◊〉 of a mad dog stampt and put into a cataplasme it comforteth a weak 〈◊〉 and strengtheneth digestion two or three sprigs of mints taken with the juice of â—â—pomegranat stayeth the hicket vomiting and surfets It is good to help them 〈◊〉 haue lost their smelling by putting it oft to the nose Then leaues dried made in 〈◊〉 and drunke with white wine doth kill the wormes in yong children Such as 〈◊〉 milke aâ—ter they haue eaten it must by and by chaw of the leaues of mints 〈…〉 the quaâ—ling of the milke in their stomachs for mints haue the speciall 〈…〉 keeping milk from curding as also to keepe cheeâ—e from corruption and 〈◊〉 if it be sprinkled with the juice or decoction of mints being â—pplied vnto the 〈◊〉 it asswageth head-ach commming of cold The water of the whole hearbe distilled 〈◊〉 Maries bath in a glasse Alembecke and taken the quantitie of foure ounces 〈◊〉 stay bleeding at the nose which is very strange thing they that would liue 〈◊〉 must not smell vnto not eat any mints and therefore in auncient time it was 〈◊〉 captaines in warre to eat any mints Calamint otherwise called Mentastrum delighteth in the same ground 〈◊〉 mints we see it likewise grow in vntilled grounds neere vnto high waies and hedgâ— It prouoketh the termes in women whether it be taken at the mouth or in 〈◊〉 and that with such violence as that women may not in any case meddle with 〈◊〉 if they take themselues to be with child it is singular good vsed in formentation 〈◊〉 the paines of the stomach for the colicke and distillations the juice thereof 〈◊〉 the mouth killeth wormes in the bellie and being dropt into the eare it killeth 〈◊〉 there also Of this Calamint there are three kinds as the stone Calamint the 〈◊〉 Calamint and the water Calamint the water Calamint is excellent to make 〈…〉 the earth Calamint is verie good against leprosie helpeth paine in the 〈◊〉 and comforteth the stomach lastly the stone Calamint is soueraigne against 〈◊〉 and strengtheneth the heart if it be bruised and made into a plaiâ—ter with 〈…〉 sewet it healeth any venimous wounds and to drinke it three or foure daies 〈◊〉 either in ale or wine it cureth the jaundise Thyme as well of Candie as the common doth grow better planted than 〈◊〉 and craueth a place open vpon the Sunne neere vnto the sea and leane and it 〈◊〉 be planted at mid-March in a well â—illed ground that so it may the sooner
the said tooth-ach It is good also for them which haue the swimming of the head as also for them which are troubled with Melancholie or with the Stone Caâ—s-mint or Nept is a kind of Calamint whereof wee haue spoken before so called because that Cats doe exceedingly delight in the smell thereof and doe tumble themselues round vpon the leaues and stalkes it groweth without anie great husbanding in marshie and waterish places as may easily be seene and tryed It is reported to haue a singular vertue in helping women to conceiue In like manner Physitians are wont to prescribe Bathes and Fomentations made of this hearbe for women that cannot conceiue and haue children Also it is verie delicately purgatiue and openeth the bodie verie gently without offence or danger aftercoâ—â—iâ—enesse French Lauander being and hearbe of a verie good smell and verie vsuall in Languâ—doâ— and Prouence doth craue to be diligently tilled in a fat ground and lying open to the Sunne The decoction syrrup or distilled water doth comfort the braine and memorie taketh away the obstructions of the Liuer Spleene Lungs and Matrix but such as are cholericke must not vse it because it disquieteth them mightily in causing them to vomit and altering them much by bringing a heat vpon all the bodie The drie stonie and Sunne-shining place is verie fit for Lauander whether male or female Before it flower it must be cut and picked verie carefully It is of a sweet smell and good when it is dryed to put amongst Linnens and Woollen Clothes â—mparting of his sweetnesse vnto them and keeping of them from vermine It is verie excellent to comfort weake and wearied sinewes or otherwise ill affected through some cold cause and by reason hereof Baths and Fomentations made of Lauander for Palsies Conuulsions Apoplexies and other such like affects are verie soueraigne The flowers with Cinnamon Nutmeg and Cloues doe heale the beating of the heart The distilled water of the flowers taken in the quantitie of two spoonefuls restoreth the lost speech and healeth the swownings and disease of the heart The consâ—rue and distilled water thereof doe the like The Oyle thereof dryeth vp Rheumes also and beeing annoynted vpon the nape of the necke it is singular good against conuulsions and benummednesse of sinewes All-good otherwise called in French Orualle because it is as much worth as gold groweth in anie ground without seed and with seed it delighteth notwithstanding to be often watered The leaues stamped and applyed doe draw forth thornes and prickes that are fastened and runne into anie part of the bodie whatsoeuer It doth in like manner bring the child out of the mothers bodie being in trauell The wine wherein it hath been steeped in small quantitie doth make men pleasant and cheerefull and apt to carnall copulation The seed thereof put into the eye and turned manie times round about the eye doth cleanse and cleare it in wiping away the â—â—egmaticke humour wherewith you shall well perceiue the seed to be laden and aâ— it were wrapt in small filmes after that it is taken out of the eyes The flowerâ— and seed put in a vessell full of sweet Wine whiles it yet purgeth giueth it the tast of Malmesey It is true that such Wine will quickly make one drunke and cause the head-ach as we see that Beere doth wherein Brewers boyle Clarie in stead of Hoppes Nigella of the Garden must be sowne in a ground that is fat and well tilled The fume of the seed taken doth stay the rheume drie the braine and causeth the smelling that is lost to come againe boyled with water and vineger and holden in the mouth it assuageth tooth-ach Sweet Balme groweth rather in Woods and Forests than in Gardens notwithstanding he that will haue it in his Garden must sow it in a fat and well battild ground where the heat of the Sunne commeth not verie strongly It serueth to reioyce the heart and deliuereth the spirit from melancholike imaginations and fansies it is good not onely against bitings and stingings of venimonâ— beasts but also against the Plague in whatsoeuer manner it be vsed And further if anie man doubt himselfe to haue eaten anie venimous or poysoned meat as it falleth out often in them which haue eaten Mushromes and such like things then this serueth for a singular remedie against the same Such as esteeme it a fine thing to keepe Bees to the end he may preuent their flying away and forsaking of their Hiues as also to cause them to come againe if they be gone away doe rub the Hiues with the flowers of sweet Balme as on the contrarie to driue them and to cause them to forsake them they rub them with the flowers of Fetherfew Camomile as well the white as the yellow hath no need of great tilling it is sufficient to plant it in a drie leane and stonie ground Camomile is singular good to mollifie resolue raâ—ifie and loosen and in this respect there is no remedie better for laâ—â—itudes or wearisomenesse without iust outward causes than bathes made with the leaues and flowers thereof The leaues of Camomile stamped with white wine make a verie good drinke to cure all sorts of Agues but especially Tertians for which reason the Priests of Egypt did consecrate it vnto the Sunne Also the water of Camomile drunke warme in the beginning of the fit doth throughly heale the Tertian by vomit The leaues of Camomile yet greene being dryed vpon a Tyle or hot Fire-panne doe by and by appease the head-ach Being also fried with sweet Sewet and vnset Leekes in a Frying-paâ—â—e and put hot into a Linnen bagge and so applyed to the nauell it killeth Wormes either in old middle age or young infants and taketh away all manner of paine in the bellie Melilot refuseth no ground be it fat or be it drie and yet it loueth to be watered Melilot doth mollifie resolue and rarifie as doth Camomile and yeeldeth a verie good smell especially when it is new or when it raineth in Summer it also assuageth the ach of anie part or member whatsoeuer it be Also the â—uice thereof mixed with Turpentine Waxe and Oyle ripeneth breaketh and healeth anie Impostume whatsoeuer it taketh away all hard swelling and cleanseth wounds Manie men being verie desirous to adorne and set forth their Garden with all sorts of Plants doe amongst the rest prouide to furnish it with Apples of Loue which the Latines call Mala insana by reason of the beautie of their fruit which which is as thicke as a Cucumber drawing towards a red colour They must be sowne in the Spring in a fat and well battild soyle and where the Sun hath great power because they cannot abide any cold they craue the like ordering and husbandrie that the Cucumber doth Many licorish mouthes let not to be eating of these no more than of mushroomes they take
away their pilling they cut them in slices boyle them in water and after frie them in the flower of meale and butter or oyle and then cast vpon them pepper and salt this kind of meat is good for such men as are inclined to dallie with common dames and short-heeld huswiues because it is windie and withall ingendreth cholericke humours inâ—inite obstructions and head-ach sadnesse melancholicke dreames and in the end long continuing agues and therefore it were better to forbeare them Mandrakes as well the male as the female is more acceptable and to be commended for the beautie of his leaues fruit and whole plant than for the smell it hath it must be sowne or planted in some shadowed place a fat and well battild ground and be kept from the cold which it altogether detesteth and cannot abide The Apples of Mandrakes procure sleepe if you put but one of them vnder your eare when you are layed in bed it is all but fables which is spoken of the root which is not so cooling as the apple and hath vertue on the contrarie to drie soften and resolue all the hardnesse of the liuer spleene kings euill and such other tumours how hard and rebellious soeuer that they be Which is more Dioscorides reporteth that if one boyle the rootes of Mandrakes vvith Iuorie for the space of sixe houres it maketh the Iuorie so tractable and softeneth it in such sort as that you may set what impression vpon Iuorie that you please peraduenture such as bring vs vnicornes horne from thence doe vse such deceitfull and wily dealing with vs seeing by such their cunning skill they are able in such sort to soften Iuorie or the Harts-horne and thereby likewise able to worke it to the same forme which we receiue the vnicornes-horne in at this day Within this small time there hath beene seene a plant somewhat like vnto apples of loue bearing a round fruit like an apple diuided vpon the outside as the melon is with furrowes in the beginning it is greene but afterward when it commeth to ripenesse it becommeth somewhat golden and sometimes reddish This plant is more pleasant to the sight than either to the taste or smell because the fruit being eaten it prouoketh loathing and vomiting CHAP. L. Of the forme of setting Hearbes in order by proportion of diuers fashions WEe haue alreadie deliuered the forme of setting Hearbes in order as well such as are of a sweet smell as those which are for nosegaies and that either vpon particular beds or quarters now we will speake of the manner of bestowing of them in proportions of diuers fashions and in labyrinthes or mazes But in this course I cannot set thee downe an vniuersall and as it were inuiolable prescript and ordinance seeing the fashions of proportions doe depend partly vpon the spirit and inuention of the Gardener and partly vpon the pleasure of the maister and Lord vnto whom the ground and garden appertaineth the one whereof is lead by the hops and skips turnings and windings of his braine the other by the pleasing of his eye according to his best fantasie Notwithstanding that there may not any thing be here omitted which might worke your better contentment and greater pleasure by looking vpon the beautie and comelinesse of this your garden-plot I intend to set before you diuers figures of proportions and the manner of drawing of them cunningly to the end you may haue the meanes to chuse those which shall most delight you and best agree with your good liking In which I desire you to giue great thankes and acknowledge your selfe greatly beholden and bound vnto Monsieur Porcher Prior of Crecie in Brie the most excellent man in this art not onely in France but also in all Europe and not vnto me who shall be but his mouth in deliuering what he hath said written and communicated vnto me in precepts yet extant and to be seene with the eye And touching these proportions you shall vnderstand that they are of two kinds inward and outward the inward are those beauties and proportions which are bestowed vpon the inward parts or quarters of your garden as are knots mazes armes braunches or any other curious figures whatsoeuer and these are diuided by slender rowes or lines of hearbes flowers turfes or such like the outward beauties or proportions are those which are bestowed in the outward and generall parts of the whole or entire modell of the garden drawne into what figure knot or deuise your fancie can create or the ground retaine and are diuided by alleyes hedges deepe borders and such like as shall be at large shewed vnto you hereafter To come therefore vnto the matter all the sweet smelling hearbes and others for â—osegaies which we haue mentioned before are not fit and good to make proportions of The most fit and meet are penniroyall lauander hysâ—ope wild thyme rosemarie thyme â—age marierom cammomile violets daisies basil and other such hearbs as well those that are of sweet smell as those which are for nosegayes as for example lauander and rosemarie of a yeare old to make borders about the proportions or knots and as for boxe in as much as it is of a naughtie smell it is to be left off and not dealt withall All the rest of the hearbes as penniroyall hyssope wild thyme thyme sage maâ—ierom and such like are â—ittest to be vsed about the quarters or else in some such preâ—tie little deuises as are made in the middest of borders or whereof proportions of quarters without borders as wel whole as broken are made Germander also is an excellent hearbe for the setting forth of any inward proportion for it growes euen and comely thicke and vpright so is also mother of thyme winter-â—auorie and pinkes prouided that with your sheares you keepe them from too much spreading The hearbes whereof borders shall bee made must bee more high and thickeâ— set of leaues than those whereof proportions of quarters either whole or broken are made or yet the other which are in the middest of the borders that so the beautie and good proportion of the knot or quarter may bee seene and discerned more easily I call in these places that the border which compasseth the proportion or quarter about as also the alleys of the garden I call broken quarters those many small parcels which are sundred and seperate one from another The proportions either without borders or borders are either equally square in widenesse and length or else vnequally squared that is to say longer than they are wide or wider than they are long Or else of the forme and shape of an egge or of a forme and fashion that is mixt of a round and a square or of some such other forme as shall please the gardener as for example the fashion of a flower-deluce of a true loues knot of a lion rampant and other such like portraitures That which shall be in the midst of the proportions with borders
or without borders shall be of a square forme or of the fashion of an egge or round or mixt of a square and a round or some other such like forme If you be disposed to plant any hearbe in the midst of broken quarters it must not bee ouer high but lesse and shorter than those wherewith the proportions are set that so it may not hide or hinder the sight of any part of the quarter It is true indeed that in this middlemost part you may set an hearbe of a meane and middle height yea or some such as for his bignesse may resemble a shrub or little tree but it may not be thicke set with leaues not spreading far abroad but rather putting forth his stalke vpright as doth the Bay and Cypres tree But in respect of the beautie and comelinesse of the quarter you must not plant any thing in it or if you do plant any herbe you must see that it be of a shorter stalke than that which compasseth it about the knot that is made of borders must consist but of two sorts of herbes as for example of Lauander or Rosemarie or Boxe for the border and of Penny-royall of Hissope within It is true that in the middest and foure corners thereof there may be set some Cypres or Rose-marie or some such other herbe or little tree which is not thicke set with leaues not spreading far abroad but rising in height vpright But the knot made of broken quarters may bee made of diuers and differing herbes which notwithstanding may not grow great and tall because they would hinder the view of the garden but they must be short and thinne set with leaues as Sage Penny-royall Margerom Cammomill Daâ—sies Violets Basill Rue and such others which herbes shall be planted in diuers quarters to the setting forth of greater varietie in the knot and to giue grace vnto the little quarters It is true that within some round quarters or squares of broken quarters you may worke some small birds men or other such pourtraites made of Rose-marie according to your pleasure and inuention of your Gardener The herbes wherewith proportions are set out and deckt must bee planted of rootes or slippes the time to plant them is Ianuarie Frebruarie March and Aprill It is true that if you plant herbes especially Penny-royall and Lauander vpon slâ—ps The time of gathering of good plants will be at the end of Ianuarie and in the moneth of Februarie and not later because this kind of slip will not bee frozen by any frost that may happen and withall in the meane time it doth not stand in neede of watring because it hath taken roote before the hot times of the yeare come in Againe if you set herbes of the roote you must stay till March and Aprill and looke well vnto it that your herbes haue â—ound liuing and euery way sufficient rootes for otherwise they will not bee able to prosper spread and grow in the earth but will die for the most part It is meete also that when they are planted you should water them verie often because of the heat then growing more and more euery day for otherwise they will wither or grow small and dwarfish or die right out Wherefore for the greater assurednesse I could wish you to plant your herbes rather of slippes than of rootes for besides that it will bee more easie and of lesse â—harge and cost to purchaseslips than to purchase the whole herbes with the roots Iâ— will be also lesse labour and trauell for to preserue and make to grow the one than the other for the slips will assuredly grow without watering and notwithstanding any frost and they will shew faire and thicke leaued by such time as Sommer shall begin To plant within the earth whether it be root or slip you must cast trenches rather with some short handled hand-forke or hand-spade than with a dibble which you shall find a great deale more easie Behold here the greatest part of the things which you are diligently to looke vnto before you put your hand to the worke of casting your proportions or knots and whereas their whole beautie and commendation doth consist in a well framed and proportioned forme and in a well carried and appointed order of disposing them such as may delight the eie to the end you may attaine this commendable and well pleasing kind of proportion in the contriuing of your quarters you must first cast what is the space and whole contents of your quarter wherein you meane to draw your proportions that so according to the said contents you may fit them with such forme as the place will affoord After that you shall haue in your hand many measures of small cord and yet sufficient strong many cord-reeles and dibbles and such other things to finish the proportions which you desire to haue drawne in your quarter And thus much concerning the meanes which you shall vse in the finishing vp of a knot with borders Before you stretch your line to draw and cast the shape of it you must first take the bredth and length of the border and that such as the quantitie of the ground may conueniently beare and so make it more long and broad or else long and broad accordingly It is true that if you haue good ground enough as about some sixtie foot square after the measure of a common foot euery one containing twelue inches you may make your border large enough but and if you haue lesse quantitie of ground then you must make your border lesse and the proportions at large you shall so finish vp your borders as that in the middest of them you may haue some prettie little knot When you haue cast your ground you shall begin to stretch your line with good and firme line-reeles to take the bredth and length of your borders round about Then you shall draw your line a crosse from the which crosse and from about the which said borders you shall not draw vp your line and line-reeles vntill you haue marked out all your border or at the least one side or halfe of it because this is the directorie for the whole quarter and border to this is it whereby you must be guided and directed for the making of compasses and largenesse of your squares and rounds Furthermore you may stretch your line in the middest of the border thereby to take the iust middest and that for to direct and guid you Furthermore you shall haue two lines of the length of the border or quarter and two foot ouer and these are called the flying or running lines for that they serue to carrie or remoue from place to place for the planting of herbes in the said borders Againe you shall stretch out a line from corner to corner because that without such line you cannot make vp your corners and this is the manner of making your borders As concerning the knot contained within the borders to take the measure of the
proportion or squares you must haue two small rods of the thickenesse of a thombe of willow of some other straight wood the one eight foot long and the other betwixt three and foure the long one to serue for the largest works and the short for the smaller vpon which rods you must marke out your proportions wherof you meane to make your squares or any other â—orme that it shall please you to make For round workes you must haue an instrument commonly called the Gardners Bilboquet the patterne whereof you shall see hereafter but giue it what name it pleaseth you but this is the manner of making of it You shall take a prop or standard somewhat thicker than your thombe you shall put thereto a line of the same thicknesse that your gardening lines are of three or foure foot long or according to the length and greatnesse that you would haue your rounds of Vpon this line shall you make knots according to the bignes or outside of the worke and then another knot for the second or inward circle of the round which shall be eight or nine inches or lesse if you will but I tell you before hand that if you make them any lesse the border will be ouershadowed and will not last and continue so long and yet I still refer it to your owne discretion To euery knot of the said line for to make your rounds withall you shall make fast right ouer against the knot on the backside thereof a little sticke some foure fingers long more or lesse as you shall most fancie and of thicknesse of your little finger By the meanes of these knots shorter or longer you shall make your rounds so many and so big or so little as shall seeme good vnto you If it may not rather stand with your liking to make two Bilboquets one for your smal rounds and another for your greater This figure following doth shew the forme and fashion that must be followed in vsing your lines for the making of your quarters with borders These draughts will serue also to make a border to broken quarters with some small whole and vnbroken proportions in the midst euen as you see a square in the midst and shall further hereafter see it in other portraitures which shall be set out for your vse To work the more surely you shall let all your lines be stretched out in length and our standards props or dibbles fast in the ground vntill such time as you haue throughly finished the border that is to say your crosse lines in the middest as also those which passe from corner to corner and thirdly those which make the sides of the borders All which said lines are noted with the letter B. The others which are marked with the letter A. are the running or flying lines which are carried from one place to another to make middle partitions to the treading of the rounds and to the squaring of the said border when as one side is downe they are then to be taken vp to be pitched down else where And although that here be foure yet two is sufficient at the discretion of the gardener who according as his number of workefolkes is more or lesse shall stretch and draw more or fewer lines The manner of vsing and platforme shewing the practise of handling the lines for the laying out of a simple quarter without any border And how the lines must bee continued and kept stretcht till the whole proportion be drawne out and finished The vse and manner of practising by the stretched lines The vse and manner of practising by the stretched lines A simple proportion or draught of a Knot A simple proportion or draught of a Knot A simple proportion or draught of a Knot A simple proportion or draught of a Knot A simple proportion or draught of a Knot A simple proportion or draught of a Knot A simple proportion or draught of a Knot A simple proportion or draught of a Knot A simple proportion or draught of a Knot The way and maner to stretch the lines to make a quarter with borders and to make a border with squares broken and crossed thorow the middest The manner of stretching your lines vpon a border with a seuered knot in the middest A border with his seuerall proportion in the midst A border of broken squares with a middle consisting of fiue proportions The manner to stretch the lines to make a quarter of broken squares Let rest and abide in their places the lines til you haue finished the proportions Take the measure of the standards of a crosse and corner line whether it be a square or a round and let there be so many of them and as great as the ground will beare And if perhaps you would plant any thing in the middest of the quarter helpe your selfe with the running lines and their standards to plant there what you would without putting downe any other standards or stretching any other lines than are alreadie and those you must not flacke according as hath beene said before The manner of stretching the lines vpon a quarter of broken squares A border of broken squares with the middle The forme and shape of Bilboquet which is an instrument to take the measure of rounds as we haue declared before The forme of a Labyrinth When the hearbes as well of the Borders as of the Quarters are growne vp if they become too thicke set of leaues and by their large spreading doe ouer-shadow the one the other couer the small alleyes of the proportions and therewithall spoyle and huâ—â— the comelinesse of the whole Quarter they must be cut The season to cut them is at all such times as need shall require It is true that there must especiall care be had not to cut them the time of August being once past by reason of the great losâ—e that ensueth in hearbes which thereby will fall to wither and pine away and become as things burned with the Sunne To cut them which stand in a right and straight line you shall stretch a line verie stiffe being of the length of the proportion by the direction whereof you shall cut verie neere first the two sides and then the vpper face thereof As concerning Rounds you must cut them for the â—ight of the Countrey as round as euer you can To cut the Border whether it be of Lauander Rosemarie or Boxe you must vse the ordinarie sheeres which haue handles of wood To cut other smaller and lesse hearbes you must haue sheeres like those which Taylors vse Now you shall againe vnderstand that these inward Quarters wherein you place these Knots or other Deuises may be circumferenced or bound in as well with 〈◊〉 curious Hedges made battlement-wise in sundrie formes according to inuention or carrying the proportions of Pyllasters Flowers shapes of Beasts Birds Creeping things Shippes Trees and such like as with Borders especially if your ground be little or straitened because these Hedges take
sweet of smell and such as will neuer faile but alwaies hold and bring forth in their season besides that a man may fit the root and branchâ—â— thereof to make a shadow Such Roses are not good to make conserues or distilled water nor for anie vse in Physicke onely they are good to drie and put amongst Linnen and other Apparrell because of their good smell It is true that some say that they loosen the bellie Looke further in the third Booke in the Chapter of the speciall properties of Grafting and Planting To haue Roses that shall smell verie sweet you must plant your Rose-tree in a place that is verie drie or else to set it round about with Garlicke The Roses will come early if you make a little trench of some two hands wide round about the Rose-tree and therein powre warme water morning and euening and yet this must not be attempted before it begin to put forth his buds You shall doe the like if you place your Rose-tree in baskets or pots of earth and order them after the manner of timely Gourds and Cucumbers as hath beene taught before You may keepe new Roses in their liuelinesse if you put them in the lees of Oyle so as that the lees may swimme aboue them Others pull vp greene Barly roots and all wherein they wrap Roses as yet not blowne and so put them together in a 〈◊〉 that is not pitched The way to haue greene Roses is if you graft the Rose-tree vpon an old Colewort stalke or vpon the bodie of an Oake but then the Roses will 〈◊〉 no smell You may make the Carnation Rose white if you perfume it with Brimstone 〈◊〉 such time as it beginneth to spread You may haue Roses of a yellow colour if after you haue planted the Rose-tree vvith his naturall earth neere vnto the broome you bore through the broome stalke vvith a vvimble and plant in the same hole diuers roots or shoots of the Rose-tree scraped round about so farre as they are to lye in the hole and after tie and make theâ— fast vnto the broome plant with mortar and whenas you see the hole bored in the stalke to be growne vp againe you shall cut off the broome stalke aboue the plaâ—â— vvhere you bored the hole and shall let the Rose-tree to put forth his shoots and 〈◊〉 by this meanes you shall haue yellow Roses The vertues of the Roses are sufficiently knowne vnto euerie one Some distill the vvhite and Prouence rose vvhich if you vvill haue it to retaine the full qualitie and vertue of the Rose together with the smell and fauour of the same you must distill in a glasse vessell and not in lead as is ordinarily accustomed Some make 〈◊〉 and syropes of carnation Roses which haue force to loosen the bellie and to purge the humours offending in serious and cholericke matter as also good for 〈…〉 the jaundise the obstructions of the liuer and beating of the heart The yellow growing within the Rose which is a flower accompanied as it vvere vvith smal haires doth stay the vvhite flowers of vvomen the white end of the leaues of Roses are good in a decoction to stay all manner of fluxes the cup hath the same force and vertues the seed and vvooll contained within the button of the Rose as also the whole button dried and made into powder is singular good to stay womenâ— whites and termes for the scalding of the vvater for the disease called Gonorrhaea taken the weight of a dram with sowre red wine Box-tree is planted of shoots or boughs after the twelfth day of Nouember It delighteth in hillie places and mountaines and groweth verie well in cold drie and vvindie places It must not be planted neere the place where bees are kept for the flower killeth them sodainly Some affirme that it corrupteth the ayre by the stinking smell it hath and for this cause it would be as sparingly planted in the garden as possibly may be Box-tree is better to make combes and other durable instruments of than for to vse in medicine if it were not that Physitians doe hold that the scrapings or râ—â—ped powder of Box and the leaues thereof boyled in Lee doe cause the haire to looke â—ed Some likewise doe thinke that it hath the like properties that Guaiacum hath in decoctions for the French disease but herein I referre my selfe rather to experiâ—nce than to reason Broome as well the small as the great is planted of shoots and boughs in the inâ—rease of the Moone about the Calends of March It may likewise be sowne and it requireth a drie and sandie ground The flowers as also the seed doe prouoke vrine and breake the stone as well of the reines as of the bladder the flowers prouoke vomit taken in a drinke the leaues and crops boyled in wine or water are good for the dropsie and obstructions of the liuer spleene and kidneyes some vse the stalkes of broome to tie their vines as also to make ropes and sackes of and that by ripening it in water as they doe hempe Spanish broome groweth also in drie places it must be remoued after the first yeare that it is sowne it is sowne in Februarie and remoued in March the next yere after the flowers in decoctions procure vomite after the manner of white hellebor the seed alone doth loosen the bellie and forceth downeward great store of water Furze grow in vntilled and sandie grounds the leaues boyled in water or wine do stay all manner of â—luxes The Cedar-tree is verie rare in these countries so that if you will haue it in your garden you must assigne it a well husbanded ground and lying open vpon the Sun notwithstanding the places where it is found most growing be cold and moist mountaines and full of snow if you doe well you must sow in pots of earth and cases or impaled places the small and exceeding little seed that commeth thereof The liquor thereof put into the hollow parts of the teeth doth stay their ach being anuointed it killeth the wormes and preserueth bodies from rotting The wood is verie pleasant to looke vpon and to smell vnto whereupon some vse it in steed of perfumes Saâ—in is planted as box and groweth much better if it be watered with Wine Lees or sprinkled with the dust of tile stones The leaues as well in decoction as in perâ—umes prouoke the termes and expell the after-birth and dead child they also cause to fall off the warts growing vpon a mans yard As concerning Iunipâ—r it affecteth the tops of mountaines and stonie ground for to grow well in and by how much it is the more â—ost of the winds and pinched with cold so much the fairer it groweth The fruit thereof is good for the stomach for weake and broken people and against all sorts of venime whether it be drunke or taken in a perfume as also against an
that the Sunne may come but sparingly to it to wit euen when the shadow 〈…〉 be hard at the foot if it notwithstanding it delighteth much in places neere 〈◊〉 the Sea in leane and thin grounds where the ayre is warme and temperate of it â—elfe It must be planted in Autumne and in the Spring time of sets of whole plants 〈◊〉 of branches and in March it is planted verie fitly and seasonably when as the â—ap â—putteth vp and commeth to the barbe It may likewise be fowne after the foure 〈◊〉 day of March in a ground that is well manured one foot within the ground 〈◊〉 foure berries together and at the yeares end to remoue it to some other place The Bay-tree feareth the cold aboue all other things and for this cause it must be planted in this countrie in a firme and solide ground as hath beene said to the end that during the times of snow frost and freesing vpon raine the roots may be defended from cold which although the boughes and braunches should be dead by the cold of Winter it would yet continue to bring forth new boughes in the Spring time for the fastnesse and closenesse of the ground will haue let and stayed the ayre from hauing pierced vnto the roots And in caâ—e the ground where you haue planted your Bay-tree should be sandie drie and barren then it will be your part during the time of Winter to spread and cast ashes and straw about the roots of the Bay-tree to preserue the heat of the earth and to withhold the cold from piercing vnto the roots Then for to procure a flourishing and faire Bay-tree two things are necessarie the heat of the ayre and the fastnesse of the ground of which if the one be wanting the Bay-tree will not grow any thing at all or if it grow yet it will be buâ— a small and starued thing as we may easily make triall and proofe in this â—countrie The Bay-tree may be grafted vpon it selfe as also vpon the Dogg-tree the Ash-tree and the Cherrie-tree as we will declare more largely in the third Booke The Myrâ—â—e tree is of two sorts the one is a darke greene the other is a light greene the one beareth a yellow flowre and the other a white but of these the later is the better but euerie sort of Myrâ—le craueth a hot Countrie a light sandie leaâ—â—â— and brittle kind of ground and yet notwithstanding this it groweth well vpon the Sea bankes as also vpon the sides of pooles lakes and fennes It is planted either of young boughs borowed and cut downe for the excessiâ—e ranknesse of them after 〈…〉 foure or fiue yeares old or from the shoots putting forth at the root thereof â—epeâ—â—ting them from the maine root so soone as they be put vp and from after a yeare of their first planting to remoue them or else of seed rubbed and chaâ—ed betwixt your hands and after thrust into an old band or small cord the same buried all along according to that length that it is of in a furrow cast a foot deepe or thereabout and well manured with rotten dung and watering the place The myrtle-tree would be planted in the highest part of the Garden for by his smell it maketh the place most delightsome it may be â—owne also after the manner of the Bay-tree but then it will not grow vp till after a long tâ—me It will grow both high and faire if you make it cleane and scoâ—re it often round about and it will bâ—ing forth much and great fruit if you plant Rose-trees neere vnto it or else plant it neere vnto Oliue-trees in the countrie where they grow for the Myrtle and Oliue trees doe helpe one another greatly It loueth and craueth to be watred with mans vrine but especially with sheepes or when you can get neither of these with warme water wherein it delighteth exceedingly as sometimes appeared by a Myrtle planted neere vnto a bath which to euerie mans sight grew verie pleasantly and beautifully though there were no reckoning or account made thereof Myrtle-berries put in a vessell which is not pitched but well couered doth keepe a long time greene and fresh Some hold it better to put them in hanging vpon their boughs The Myrtle 〈◊〉 nothing so much as cold and taketh delight to be neere vnto pooles brookes and maritime places If you water it oft with warme water it will beare fruit 〈…〉 any kernell The fruit is called Myrtle-berries It must be gathered when it is 〈…〉 great while after the Rose is fallen and shaken It may be grafted vpon another of his owne kind and the white vpon the blacke and the blacke vpon the Apple-treâ— Medlar-tree and Pomegranet-tree After vintage time in the countrie of Prouence where there is a great number of Myrtle-trees the birds feed of the fruit of the Myrtle-tree and thereby become so fat and their flesh so pleasant to eat as that men eat birds so fatted all whole withâ—â—â— pulling out of the garbage insomuch as it is growne into a common prouerbe 〈◊〉 the excrement is better than the flesh The leaues bayes or berries of myrtle-tree by their astringent force and 〈◊〉 doe stay all manner of fluxes whether it be of the bellie or of the termes or principally of the whites the juice and distilled water of Myrtle-tree are singular good to drinke to keepe vp the falling fundament The decoction of the seed of Myrtle-tree doth blacke the haire and keepeth it from falling The berries of the Myrtle-tree may serue in steed of pepper the sauce made therewith worketh the like effect and is singular good to comfort a languishing stomach myrtle berries euen do comfort the heart and cure the beating of the same the ashes of the drie leaues of myrtle-tree burned within a pot of raw earth so throughly as that they become white being afterward washed haue one and the same vertue that Spodium or Pompholâ—â— hath If you cannot make the myrtle-tree to grow in your garden you must content your selfe with the Myrt-tree which craueth the same ground and manner of ordeâ—â—â— that the Myrtle-tree as being a kind of wild Myrtle-tree and which may be 〈…〉 the steed of Myrtle-tree vvhen it cannot be come by as hauing the same or 〈…〉 vertues Butchers-broome is also a kind of wild myrtle which groweth commonly in Forests and Vnderwoods from whence it is better to translate it into your garden 〈◊〉 either to sow or plant it He that is desirous to plant Tamariske in his garden must make choyce of the moist and wettest ground and for want of a sufficient moist ground to water 〈…〉 It is likewise seene that Tamariske doth grow faire and tall by ponds 〈◊〉 and other standing waters It is planted either of roots or sprouts and that from the 〈◊〉 of October till the foure and twentieth of December yea vntill the beginning of Februarie but yet it thriueth best being set of roots there is
no frost almost 〈…〉 hurt it especially the root for when it is once taken it putteth forth continually 〈◊〉 and boughs along the plant The wood is principally commended for that it assuageth and diminisheth 〈◊〉 spleene in such as haue it stopt too full of melancholicke humours and hence 〈…〉 that many troubled with that disease doe eat and drinke in vessells made of 〈◊〉 wood thereof And some likewise doe counsell to giue swine that are troubled 〈◊〉 too much fulnesse of the spleene water to drinke in their â—â—oughâ— hauing first â—â—â—ched therein coales made of the wood of Tamariske The decoction of the 〈…〉 damaske raisons in good for leprous persons and such as haue their spleene 〈◊〉 as also for the pockes Bastard Sene called of the Latines 〈◊〉 delighteth in a fat ground and well battilled with Sheepes dung It groweth not planted but vpon seed and it is meet that the seed be steeped first a long time in water euen vntill it begin to sprout The time to sow it is about the beginning of the moneth of Iune It must not haue any of the branches cut off nor be pruned or touched before the fourth yeare The fruit serueth to good vse for the fatting of Sheepe and maketh them to haue much milke it is good also to fat chickens bees goats and kyne Some take it to be Sene but they doe greatly deceiue and beguile themselues The Caper-tree in many countries groweth without any tilling â—n â—arable ground but where it wanteth if it must be sowne it must be in a hot countrie and a drie stonie and sandie place which shall before hand be inclosed with a little ditch which shall be filled with stone and lyme or else with fat earth for to be a fortresse and defence vnto it that so the roots of the Caper-tree and thereby all shoots that might grow vp from them may be kept from breaking forth and spreading further than this ditch for if they should be stayed and kept backe from spreading by some such meanes it would come to passe that within a small time they would ouer-runne the whole Garden and plant themselues in euerie corner of the same Notwithstanding the Caper-tree is not so noysome in that respect because it may be pulled vp as it is by inueniming I know not by what venimous humour or juice the whole ground and making of it barren It hath no need except a verâ—e little to be any way tilled or fashioned for it groweth well ynough without any thing done vnto it in â—ields and desart grounds It may be sowne in the Spring and Autumne The fruit of the Caper-tree as well the great as the small is good in a fallade to prouoke appetite cleanse the flegmaticke stomach and to take away the obstructions of the liuer but principally of the spleene the rind of the root and leaues haue the like vertue but more effectually Capers both the great and the small whiles they are yet greene and not salted doe nourish a great deale more both of them are in request not so much for that they are fruit as for their manner of preseruing which is performed either with vinegar or else with salt brine for Capers not pickled are of a verie sharpe and vnpleasant tast but the vinegar wherein they are preserued doth make them verie acceptable vnto the stomach but the great ones because they haue both more juice and more pulpe are a great deale better than the little ones though the little ones are more delightsome to the tast than the great ones because they are fuller of vinegar than the great ones Agnus Castuâ— seeing it commeth verie neere to the nature and condition of the Willow and of the same colour with the leaues disagreeing onely in smell craueth to be planted in a watrie place where there is much shadow or at the least to be oft watered The leaues seed and flowers are singular good for them which would liue chastly taken inwardly or applyed outwardly for some say that the leaues 〈◊〉 or â—lowres put into little bâ—gges and applied vnto the reines in bed do helpe to keepe the chastitie of the bodie which is the cause that in many countries it is seene planted almost in all the Monkeries The decoction of the leaues is good against the sealding and burning Vrine as well in drinking as in fomenting it as also against the obstructions of the liuer spleene and matrix If you carrie a branch of Agnus Castus about you you shall not grow wearie no not after much trauell The fume thereof taken in at the secret parts of women doth quench the vnsatiable lust and burning desire vnto venerie and carnall copulation Beane-tree or S. Iohns-bread bearing a long flat and broad fruit like vnto that of Caâ—â—ia would be planted of new shoots in Februarie and Nouember in a drie ground lying open vpon the Sun and where as there are verie deepe ditches made It may also be grafted in a Plum-tree or Almond-tree in any case you must neuer thinke vpon the sowing of it because so it would neuer beare any fruit but would die verie quickly it must be oft watered The Codâ— are good either to fat children or â—winâ— but not so fit to feed men withall It is true that the fruit doth loosen the bellie gently as it were after the manner of Cassia There 〈…〉 sorts of the Date-tree some beare fruit and some 〈…〉 and of the fruitfull some beare a reddish fruit and some a white and 〈…〉 gray Furthermore some are males and some females some are high and 〈…〉 some are stooping downe and but low and therefore called the little or 〈…〉 tree and some of a middle size betwixt both but howsoeuer they differ yet 〈◊〉 they agree that they all desire a hot ayre a great deale more than temperate for in a hot Countrey it bringeth forth verie faire and ripe fruit and of it selfe is 〈◊〉 kept and preserued without anie fâ—rther paine or â—are except it be about the 〈◊〉 of it where in a temperate Region it either ripeneth not his fruit or 〈…〉 none at all It craueth a 〈…〉 and nitrous ground foreseene that it be 〈…〉 moist and this is the cause why it â—roâ—pereth well vpon the Sea coast and if the ground where it be planted be not such it must be watered with salt water 〈…〉 brine It is planted of small Plants with roots in Aprill and May the Plant being well layd about with fat earth Some also sow the new stones of Dates and they bring forth their trees in October two cubits deepe in the ground and that mingled with ashes and well enriched with Goats dung and the sharpe side of it must be vpward it must be watered euerie day and euerie yeare there must be â—alt shed 〈◊〉 it or else which is better that it be oftentimes watered with water that is 〈◊〉 salt Againe that it may grow high and faire it
there is no need of any other labour but keeping of it cleane from hurtfull weeds vntill such time as the said Madder be readie to be gathered in September for to take the seed of it The choyce of the roots which you intend to set and plant must be out of the countrie of high Prouence being more Easterly and coole and as for the sight and tast of them they must be more yellow thicke and stringed comming neere vnto the colour of the true Prouence Orange-tree verie bitter in tast and in seething for the triall of it more red and full of juice that is to say not so drie and withered The time to plant is from March be ended vnto mid-May and as for the best and most profit to be expected from it it is not to be attained or come by till after the two first yeares after the first planting of it and withall you must make a sure defence about your ground against the comming in of cattell for there can no greater hurt happen vnto it In Italie they vse not to take vp the roots of Madder till after they haue continued ten yeares in the ground either set or sowne but they cut the boughes of it euerie yeare to haue the seed and after they couer the roots one after another laying two fingers depth of earth vpon euerie one the measure bâ—ing â—â—ken from his chiefe and principall to the end the frost may not hurt them and that so the roots may grow the thicker after the eight or tenth yeare they pull vp the roots drying them in the Sunne and afterward when they would grind or presse them they doe further drie them in a great Ouen made for the purpose and so presse them vnder a Mill-stone and this is called the fine Madder Thus they haue found by expâ—â—ence that looke how much the longer they delay the gathering of the root so much the more Madder haue they euerie yeare and that fine which is more than if they should take vp the roots euerie yeare You may both sow it and plant it in the samâ— place where you haue taken it vp or which is better sow that place for the nexâ— two or three yeares following with wheat because it will beare verie faire and great store thereof in as much as the field wherein Madder hath beene sowne is â—ade much fairer and better thereby as whereof it may be said this ground hath rested it selfe seeing the root hath done nothing but brought forth boughs for seed and that the leaues falling from them doe as much feed the ground as the ground doth the roots and boughes But Autumne being come and when you see that the hearbe beginneth to lookâ— yellow and to loose his naturall colour you shall draw it out or pull it vp with the spade or pickaxe and shall strip the roots from their leaues which you shall cast vpon small heapes to drie for the space of three or foure daies if the weather be such as it should or else sixe or eight daies in a rainie and moist weather then you shal cauâ—â— them to be taken vp dusted and scraped that so they may haue none of their haiâ—ie strings at them and when they are thus made cleane you shall keepe them whole or ground into powder either grosse and great or more fine and small either for your owne vse or for the sale Madder is in this one thing much to be maruelled at in that it colourâ—â—h his vrine that shall but hold it in his hands and which is more it maketh the bones and flesh of those cattell red which haue beene fed with it some certaine time some say that the powder of it is so penetratiue and so taketh vp the nosâ—hrills as that it inâ—â—nimeth and killeth many in a few yeares The decoction procureth vâ—ine and thâ— termes of women and coloureth egges red that shall be boyled with it The 〈◊〉 because they are rough and stiffe are good to scowre brasse vessell CHAP. LVI Of Woad AS concerning Woad it is tilled in a field and requireth much labour 〈◊〉 as the Nauets or Turneps though there be no part of it in request but the vppermost and that which is furthest off from flowers and stalkes it doth not feare frost raine or extraordinarie cold Indeed it doth not craue any long rested fat ground but a strong ground and such as may be said to be in good plight rather than an indifferent and light it groweth better also in groundâ— which haue layed fallow three or foure yeares before or which haue beene Medoâ—ground two yeares before than in grounds which haue beene well tilled which 〈◊〉 cleane contrarie vnto Madder which craueth as much helpe as the ground oppointed for wheat or vines yea and it craueth the rest of soyle and set from one yeare to one for otherwise the roots when they are set doe degenerate oftentimes and miâ—â—â—rie loosing their force and goodnesse And whereas Madder doth fat the groâ—â—d Woad doth make it leane and therefore it must not be sowne in a leane groâ—â—d where it euermore groweth but little and where it proueth almost nothing woâ—â—â— but rather in a ground that is well manured before it be sowne as also renewed wiâ—â— dung when it is to be sowne But the best approued ground of all other to sow woad in is that which hath laine long swarth and hath seldome beene broken vp 〈◊〉 wherein you are to obserue that in the ploughing vp of such grounds you must turne vp a great and a deepe furrow laying them broad and flat 〈…〉 that the seed may be throughly well couered and that the swatth rotting vnderneath and above the same may be as a warme and comfortable meanure to make it flourish and increase Being sowne of seed it must be diligently harrowed to the end it may be wel couered and incorporate with the earth and when the planes haue put forth their leaues the height of two fingers you must weed and digge it about mid-Aprill or somewhat later according as the time hath beene faire or rainie then shortly afterward you must gather the leaues and they being gathâ—red you must weed and diggâ— the feet of the said roots 〈◊〉 left voyd of their leaues and this must be continued â—uerie moneth that is to say Iune Iulie August and Sepâ—â—mber in such sort that 〈◊〉 as the leaues are gathered from foot to foot fiue times so they must be digged 〈◊〉 the earth cast as oft and that so soone as the gathering of the leaues is past and this labour of digging is ordinarily to be seuen â—â—mes gone ouer that is to say the fiâ—e times now spoken of and the two first which are before any gathering of the leaues doe fall The manner of gathering them is in this soâ—t When the leaues begin to be coloured about the edges and not in the middest you must take them from plant to plant in your hand and breake them off in such manner from the
root as that it may seeme and shew as though one had cut them away with a hooke and after that to lay them in order in the shadow that so the Sunne may not harme or injure them The manner of making Woad Vnder your Mill which would not be as some vse a Mâ—ll-stone for that crusheth out the sap and juice of the Woad too much but a Mill made of strong timbers the compasse of a large Mill-stone being hollow or dâ—â—uided onâ— out-side from the other and running circular or round and these out-sides shall be bound together both in the middest by the drawing axell-tree and also at the outmost Verdges by strong places of yron made broad and flat with reasonable rebated edges and these plates shall be at least three foot in lengâ—h answering to the full bredth of the trough in which the Mill shall run and this Mill must be 〈◊〉 about by a horse Now the leaues as aforesaid being â—â—rewed in the trough vnder the Mill you shall grind them as small as may be till they come to be as it were all one substance which may easily be done by oft turning the Woad ouer and ouer as the Mill runnes which one must continually doe with a shouell then the Woad being thus sufficiently well ground you shall stay the horse and takâ— all the ground Woad out of the trough and then fill the Mill with fresh Woad againe and thus do till you haue ground all you woad which being finished you shall forthwith mould it vp into great round balls as bigge as a culuerine bullet or twice so bigge as a mans fists and these balls you shall place vpon fleakes or hurdles made of small wands pent-housed housed or couered ouer to keepe them from the raine but all the sides open in such wise that the Sunne or Wind may haue full power to passe through the same and these hurdles shall be mounâ—ed one aboue another in many heights and degrees and your Woad balls shall lye thereupon without touching one another till they be throughly well dried then at the later end of the yeare which is towards Nouember you shall breake those balls againâ— and put them vnder the Mill and grind them as before and then taking it from the Mill you shall lay it in great heapes in some coole vault kept for that purpose onely and when vpon this laying together vpon heapes it shall begin to take heat it must be turned and in turning watered vntill it be sufficiently moistned for as too much water drowneth it so too much heat in the heapes doth burne it thereupon you most pile it vpon heapes not high but long ones and stirre it euerie second day so long as till it become cold and yet after this to put it abroad euerie fouâ—th or sixth day while it be throughly cooled indeed And this worke must be verie carefully performed for otherwise the woad would roast it selfe and proue not any thing worth which being so â—â—immed and ordered as it should it is left in some cold and paued place vntill the time of the selling of it and looke how much the longer it lyeth in heapes in this â—ase by so much it becommeth the better and finer The counâ—rie men of Tholouse in whose countrie there groweth great store of Woad doe not grind their Woad-balls into 〈◊〉 but gather it together by great vessells full and put vnder the Mill-stone to 〈◊〉 out the waterish parts of it and then they make vp the remaining substance 〈…〉 like loâ—ues which they drie and rot afterward by laying them in the 〈◊〉 heat of the Sunne in Sommer time and then they cast these lumpes into their 〈◊〉 where they put their Wooll to be died a blew blacke or other colour as it best pleaseth the Dyers The leaues thereof made into a plaister doe 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—stumes and heale wounds new made they stay fluxes of bloud heale the wild 〈◊〉 and the vlcers which runne ouer the whole bodie Also the leaues of Woad thus ground are excellent to kill any itch 〈◊〉 or other râ—islike either in men or children also it is most excellent for the diâ—â—â—â— is 〈◊〉 called the Farcie and cureth it verie sodainely CHAP. LVII Of the Tasell THe Tasell called also Venus her bathing tubbe because it keepeth 〈◊〉 drops of water being by nature as all the other Thistles are hot and drie in the lower part of the leaues close by the stalkes to refresh and water it selfe withall serueth greatly in respect of his head for the vse of Clothworkers both to lay the Wooll of their new clothes so muchâ—â— is 〈◊〉 as also to draw forth so much as lyeth loose out of order amongst the rest and it is 〈◊〉 seruiceable or more vnto Cap-makers after that the Cap is spun wouen 〈◊〉 and scoured with sope Walkers-earth or other scouring earth Now he that will 〈◊〉 profit by this hearbe must make choyce of a good fat ground well 〈…〉 tilled with two three or foure arders and well harrowed and then after 〈◊〉 it with the best seed that possibly may be â—â—und and that verie thicke and when 〈◊〉 hath shot one of the earth as in the beginning of May then to make it cleane 〈◊〉 weed it with the hand and in Iune and Iulie to digge it if need be in the end of September you must gather the heads that haue flowred the first yeare leâ—â—â—â—â— the rest to grow for to be gathered the yeare following at such time as they shall be 〈◊〉 flowre The heads cut off the plants must be planted anew in a well tilled ground putting all the root into holes from one to another which is all one with the 〈◊〉 ring of the Radish and trampling the ground vpon them verie orderly and 〈◊〉 and furthermore to digge them when they begin to pricke and put forth branchesâ—â— in March Aprill and May and to cut them which are cankered or 〈◊〉 and so vnprofitable that so the juice of the earth may be fed vpon by those onely which are good and seruiceable And whereas at the time of their flowring they begin 〈◊〉 flowre on high on the head and so downeward till the whole head be 〈…〉 flowre being once fallen you must cut off the head either euening or morning 〈◊〉 halfe a foot of stalke thereunto Furthermore you must not forget that they must be set or sowne in furrowes that so water may haue an orderly course to fall to the 〈◊〉 of them and giue them a continuall refreshment and not to sow them in anie 〈◊〉 place but such as is reasonably watrie for too much moisture maketh the 〈◊〉 the head thereof which is the thing of most importance more low and short and of lesse commodiousnesse You must not gather or bind them vp in bundells 〈◊〉 a drie season towards the moneth of October at the furthest and not any 〈◊〉 earlier than the later end of September Some gathering it doe leaue it at the 〈◊〉 to drie
in some place by itselfe because it is subject vnto fleas or lice and other 〈◊〉 vermine which causeth the small â—oot that should hold vp the head to fall dowâ—â— others doe put ten or twelue of them in little faggots together and so hang 〈◊〉 standing one a prettie deale from the other in the shade or wind and not in the 〈◊〉 or in any moist place Some drie them in the South Sunne turning them twice or thrice and after hanging them by paires in order vpon poles The Tasell is to be commended in this point for that in the middest of the head thereof after it is well dried there is found a little Worme which being hung about the necke or applied vnto the wrests doth heale the feauer quartaine it assuageth likewise the great ach of impostumes which grow about the nailes being applied â—â—hereunto CHAP. LVIII Of Saffron AS for Saffron the best Farmers and such as are most cunning in the ordering of plants doe make verie much and highly esteeme of that which is called Bastard Saffron and of the common people tearmed Parrot-seed being the same that old writers call Carthamus the plant is of no vse the 〈◊〉 excepted which purgeth flegmaticke humours or else feeds Parrots which are daintie and fine mouthed This plant when it is growne vp being well husbanded 〈◊〉 ordered beareth certaine little thicke heads like the heads of Garleeke and in 〈◊〉 middest of it a flower which one would say were Saffron This good it doth 〈◊〉 that it enricheth and maketh fat the ground where it groweth likewise it â—â—â—ueth no great food or maintenance neither leaueth it any root in the earth after it 〈◊〉 gathered that may put forth or take any acknowledgement of or doe any harme â—â—to the soile wherein it grew There is euerie way as much profit in tilling of this â—earbe as there is in Anise or Fennell when all is said a good Farmer will make profit of euerie thing and there is not as we say so much as the Garleeke and Oniâ—on which he will not raise gaine of by selling them at faires most fitting for their â—â—me and season and so helpe himselfe thereof and fill his purse with money The ordinarie Saffron seruing for sauces painting and making of colours is a â—â—hing of toyle and of profit as may be learned and easily vnderstood by the inhabiâ—â—nts of Tourain Prouence and Portugal where the same growes exceeding aboundantly It is planted like cammomile in the Spring vpon heads foure fingers off one from another but it must be in a free and well battilled ground not verie far nor verie leane but open to the Sunne it must be well troden downe with the feet when it shall let fall his flower but when it buddeth and putteth forth it must be left â—lone to natures worke At the time of the gathering of it you must haue linnen â—loaths to draw it out of his bell euening and morning and after drie it well in the â—hadow of the Sunne and â—ouer it with cleane linnens make it cleane and taking away his white purge it that so it may be free from all filth and fit to be kept in a drie place well couered or in some vessell close stopt and leauing in the earth the Oniâ—â—ns or heads of the Saffron with a good quantitie of Grapes or of the drosse thereof 〈◊〉 it commeth from the presse put vnto them you shall take them vp in the moneth of March when they haue brought forth fruit three yeares and drie them in the Sun â—eeping them after in some place that is not moist that so you may plant them againe 〈◊〉 some other place and ground that is well tilled as hath already beene deliuered at â—â—arge in the fiue and thirtieth Chapter Some are of judgement that it is naught for a 〈◊〉 to vse Saffron much and that it is a speciall venime vnto the heart but howsoeâ—â—er this be true the profit of it is great and therefore commodious and requisite for 〈◊〉 Farmer which would not that his ground should be vnprofitable vnto him See â—ore about in the place aforâ—named concerning Saffron CHAP. LIX A brieâ—e and short reniew concerning Pulse I Will say nothing of the Nauâ—t nor of the two kinds of 〈◊〉 of which the great and round one is for them that dwell in Lymosin 〈◊〉 and Prouence and the long one which they call 〈◊〉 for Fraunce and other places as in like manner I will make no mention of Mustard-seed Millet Pannicke and Cummine neither yet of great wild 〈◊〉 Lupines Lentils and Fenugreeke vvhich notwithstanding are all pulse and â—eed of profit and commoditie for the houshold as hauing reserued them for the 〈◊〉 garden planted at the end of the kitchin-garden I will content my selfe in this place 〈◊〉 admonish the good Farmer that for the bringing of the ground into some kind of occupation during the time of his rest and after that it hath been imployed in bringing forth better corne it will not be amisse to sow therein either 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 foresâ—â—ne that the â—eed after the pulling vp of the plants be so well and thoroughly gathered and carried away as that the ground may be quite rid and 〈◊〉 of the same for otherwise in time there would be nothing to be found amongst this seed but wild Coleworts Dâ—newort and other noysome weeds and in deed pulse 〈◊〉 make as much for good husbandrie as the corne that is good for to make 〈…〉 pottage is in continuall request for the houshold in what house soeuer it be 〈◊〉 make a 〈◊〉 of making bread of Millet as is to be seene in some places of 〈◊〉 but it is not but when great necessitie driueth them to it But howsoâ—â—er 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 peason fiches and fetches are not of lesse request or inferiour in tast unto great 〈…〉 lupines cummine fenugreeke and lentills and for the proofe hereof I will 〈◊〉 to witnesse the people of Aruernia Lymosin Sauoy and Dauphine for the 〈◊〉 whereof not to speake further in this place of any other thing whatsoeuer that may be as it were superfluous we will referre you to learne the whole 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 of tilling of seeds and pulse in arable grounds CHAP. LX. Of remedying of strange accidents that may happen vnto Hearbes THe Hearbes either sowne or planted in the gardens before spoken of 〈◊〉 not hurt onely by haile lightning thunder frosts fogges blashâ—â—â— and other harmes hapning by the courses of seasons but also they 〈◊〉 annoyed by reason of wast and destruction brought vpon them 〈◊〉 little beasts as Grashoppers Weazles Caterpillers house and field Rats 〈◊〉 Moules Pismires Flies Gnats Bats Wall-lice Fleas Greone-flies Horse 〈◊〉 Frogges Snailes Adders and such like which mischiefes you must be 〈◊〉 full to meet withall that so you may not loose your labour about your garden 〈◊〉 frustrated both of the profit and pleasure that might rise and come thereby And to speake generally of the preuenting of these
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
the Apple-tree will not hold and beare his fruit 〈◊〉 it be ripe compasse the stocke of the Apple-tree a good foot from the roots vpâ—ard about with a ring of a lead before it begin to blossome and when the apples shall begin to grow great then take it away Apples must be gathered when the moone is at the full in faire weather and about the fifteenth of September and that by hand without any pole or pealing downe because otherwise the fruit would be much martred and the young siences broken or bruised and so the Apple-tree by that meanes should be spoyled of his young vvood which would cause the losse of the Tree See more of the manner of gathering of them in the Chapter next following of the Peare-tree and as for the 〈◊〉 of keeping of them it must be in such sort as is deliuered hereafter You shall 〈◊〉 frozen Apples if you dip them in cold water and so restore them to their naturall goodnesse There is a kind of wild Apple called a Choake-apple because they are verie harsh in eating and these will serue well for hogges to eat Of these apples likewise you may make verjuice if you presse them in a Cyder-presse or if you squeese them vnder a verjuice milstone Vinegar is also made after this manner You must cut these Apples into gobbâ—â—â— and leaue them in their peeces for the space of three dayes then afterward cast them into a barrell with sufficient quantitie of raine water or fountaine water and after that stop the vessell and so let it stand thirtie daies without touching of it And then at the terme of those daies you shall draw out vinegar and put into them againe as much water as you haue drawne out vinegar There is likewise made with this sort of Apples a kind of drinke called of the Picardines Piquette and this they vse in steed of Wine Of others sorts of Apples there is likewise drinke made which is called Cyder as we shall declare hereafter An Apple cast into a hogshead full of Wine if it swim it sheweth that the Wine is neat but and if it sinke to the bottome it shewes that there is Water mixt with the Wine Infinit are the sorts and so the names of Apples comming as well of natures owne accord without the helpe of man as of the skill of man not being of the race of the former in euerie one of which there is found some speciall qualitie which others haue not but the best of all the rest is the short shanked apple which is marked with spottings as tasting and smelling more excellently than any of all the other sorts And the smell of it is so excellent as that in the time of the plague there is nothing better to cast vpon the coales and to make sweet perfumes of than the rinde thereof The short stalked Apple hath yet further more one notable qualitie for the kernells being taken out of it and the place filled vp with Frankincense and the hole joyned and fast closed together and so rosâ—ed vnder hot embers as that it burne not bringeth an after medicine or remedie to serue when all other fayle to such as are sicke of a pleurisie they hauing it giuen to eat sweet apples doe much good against melancholicke affects and diseases but especially against the 〈◊〉 for if you roast a sweet apple vnder the ashes and season it with the juice of licoâ—ice starch and sugar and after giue it to eat euening and morning two houres before meat vnto one sicke of the pleurisie you shall helpe him exceedingly CHAP. XXIX Of the Peare-tree BVt the Peare-tree being the most in request and precious next vnto the Apple-tree amongst all the fruit-trees that are is ordered for the most part after the manner of the Apple-tree although the vvood and fruit of the one be more firme than that of the other and that the Peare-tree bring forth his fruit late as not before the end of Autumne vvhen as all the great heat is alreadie past notwithstanding you shall set it in the same ground with the Apple-tree and in the first foure or fiue yeares of his grouth you shall lay it open at the foot a litte before the end of December vncouering it euen vnto the rootâ—â— which you shall shaue and trim with a knife bowed againe and in the end of Iaâ—â—arie you shall couer it againe with his owne earth mingled with good made mould keeping from thence forward his place well weeded the foot verie neat and cleane and the stocke verie well freed from intanglements of boughes so farre as the hand can doe it and throughout verie carefully cleansed from mosse snailes and caterpillers husbanding and ordering the earth at the foot of it euerie two yeares at the beginning of Winter for the fruit which the Peare-tree thus husbanded shall beare will be both more faire and better relished and keepe longer The Peare-tree that is planted in a leane drie chalkie or grauelly ground is but of a starued growth bearing a sharpe small and ordinarily a stonie fruit The kernels are sowne in the Nurcerie as those of the Appletree but the hoped fruit is long in comming and scarce attained throughout the whole life of a man for it is farre longer time in comming to perfection than the Apple-tree It groweth also of a branch well chosen and he that will haue it so grow must plant it in September and October in hot Countries but in cold Countries in Februarie and March and in temperate Countries it may be done in either of the two times as it shall best please him But the Peare-tree that is most sure and likeliest to bring contentment of it selfe is that which is grafted vpon the young plant in the Nurcerie and in such curious sort maintained and ordered as hath beene said as also if it be remoued some three yeares after affoording it a large and deepe roome in a good mouldring earth It may also be grafted in a Peach-tree Quince-tree and Almond-tree but yet better vpon it selfe than vpon anie of these for so it becommeth of a better nature It is knowne by proofe that the Peare-tree grafted vpon a Mulberrie-tree bringeth forth red Peares and if it happen that your Peare-tree bring forth a stonie Peare you must remoue the earth from the foot and powre in vpon the rootes euerie day for the space of fifteene daies the lees of good old wine Peares must not be gathered before the later end of Autumne when the great heat of the yeare is past because their moisture being weake and in small quantitie the Sunne suffereth not that it should come vnto anie good consistence before such time as the ayre begin to turne and change into coldnesse and therefore saith Theophraâ—â—us this is the onely fruit-tree that ripeneth his fruit best and soonest in the shadow Such gathering of Peares also must not be taken in hand but after that the Autumnall blasting and dew
and sowre out of hand There are diuers wayes vsed in pressing out this drinke made of Apples in the countrie of Neuz Some doe stampe them putting them in fats and afterward fill them vp with great quantitie of water letting them ferment boyle and purge so long as vntill the water haue got the force and strength of the Cider Others stampe them in a morter and after powre them together with a great quantitie of water into some fat not giuing them any time of concoction and purging but these two wayes are not so much worth this third is better than them both First you must breake your Apples in peeces and after presse them out the way to breake them in peeces is to put them in a presser made â—ound and containing in compasse some seuen or eight â—adome the said compasse and round being contriued after the manner of a trough of two foot broad and deepe at the least in these troughes shall be put and contayned the said apples for the better staying and keeping of them in close together Within these troughes there shall turne about one or two great milstones of stone or of some hard massie and weightie wood fashioned like a wheele carried about vvith one Oxe or Horse or two so as shall be sufficient for power and strength as we haue said in the making of Oyles When the Apples shall be sufficiently broken you must gather into heapes the same and cast them into â—ubs for the purpose and there let them worke for a time as Wine doth and when it hath wrought then you must draw out the juice or liquor call it as you vvill which shall haue runne out of the substance without being prest and turne it vp into vessels whether they be pipes or hogsheads old or altogether new prouided that they haue not taken any ill taste of any vnsauourie liquor the best vessells or caske of all other is that wherein there hath beene Wine and especially white Wine for the sauour of the Wine doth make this juice more acceptable and more affected The Cider that commeth voluntarily without being pressed is the best and sweetest though not alwaies stronger than that which hath abode the presse that likewise is better and more excellent which is made without any mixture of vvater It is true indeed that when apples haue a verie fast and solide pulpe and haue not so much moisture but withall some sharpe relish that then it will not be amisse to mingle some small quantitie of vvater with them to make them breake the better as also after that they be broken by force of the turning stone euen whiles they are working in their fats or before they be put into their fats a working euen at their going to the presse there may vvater be mixt with them to preuent that the Cider may not be too ranke neither yet too sowre or greenish The grounds of the vvorking fat shall be layed vpon the presse interlaced with long straw to keepe the said stamped Apples steedie and stayed that they slip not to and fro when they are pressed the Apples by reason of their roundnesse not being able to stay and abide vnder the doore and other boards of the presser except they be kept in vpon the sides with something and that which shall run out vpon the pressing of them shal be tunâ—ed vp into caske and put to the former or else which is better tunne it vp by it selfe as is done by wine without mingling of it with that which did run out vnpressed the pressed being the stronger though the vnpressed be the more pleasant and sweet The drosse or grosse substance remayning after the pressing shall be put againe into the fat and stamped and sufficient quantitie of water powred in amongst and it shall be let so rest steepe and boyle together for the space of foure and twentie houres after which there shall be made thereof spending Cider or small drinke for the household For the making of this household drinke it shall be after the rate of gathering of one vessell thereof from so much drosse as made foure vessels of the best When the Cider is tunned vp into caske you must let it boyle within the caske by the bung-hole of the caske lest open and thereby to purge it selfe of all his froth scumme and other impurities after the manner of wine and when it is thus well purged you must bung it vp very close and so leaue it to boile againe within his vessell but you must see that at this time the vessell be not top full least in the boiling it breake the vessell And indeed this kind of Cider is a great deale more strong than that which boileth all his boiling with the bung of the vessell open but somewhat more fuming and not so pleasant as the other and it must lye in some cellar for the Winter time but in some caue in the Summer Cideâ— as concerning the tast doth resemble and become like vnto Wine for at the first it is sweet afterward being fined it is somewhat sharpe and when it is altogether fined it hath then a sharper rellish but yet altered from his former verdure euen after the manner of Wine as being more pleasant when it is in fining than when it is fined The Cider is better to keepe than Perrie and there are Ciders found of two or three years old as good in their place as anie Wine that is made It is true indeed that it is subiect vnto the same accidents that Wine is and it must be as heedily regarded in the piercing of it as if it were Wine not giuing it any ayre in the drawing of it if it be possible or if you giue it any at all to giue it when the fossest is halfe out causing the ayre to recoyle before the fountaine be stopt vp and shut So soone as the Cider vessell is emptie you must looke that the less be not let stand in it any long time because that it would breed an infinite number of wormes which would make it to haue an ill smell and stinke in such sort as that it would neuer be good afterward to keepe any Cider And thus much for the making and keeping of Cider Now we will speake of the making of our choise of the Apples To haue excellent Cider you must make it of sweet Apples and that but of one or two sorts and both of them in his kind verie good of a pleasant tast and sweet smell and you must breake and stampe them euery sort by it selfe but put them together vnder the presser That which is made of sweet Apples mixt amongst some sowre ones is not altogether so excellent good and yet in the heat of Summer to be preferred before the most excellent Ciders in that it is more cleare heateth lesse and quencheth thirst better And of a certainetie experience hath taught it that the Cider made of sweet Apples hauing a soft and tender flesh
called quicke and Virgins Brimstone and not artificiall Brimstone vvhen you intend to make your Oyle of Briâ—stone to dâ—still you shall take a sheeâ—e of yron of foure fingers thicknesse and fire red this you shall cast into the small pot vvith Brimstone to make the said Brimstone burne and flame the smoake comming forth of the Godeâ— vvill ascend vp to the vessell hanging aboue vvherein after a short time it vvill be turned into Oyle vvhich Oyle will thence distill into the vesâ—ell below Gather this Oyle and reserue it in a vessell well stopt for to vse for the curing of Gangrenes Fistulaâ—s vâ—cers of the mouth and Ring-wormes if you doe but touch them vvith this Oyle vpon the end of a feather It is singular good against rebellious vlcers comming of the pockes some giue it to drinke with balme water in the morning vnto such as are but scarce cured and recouered of the pockes to the end it may driue out the disâ—ase The oyle of Brimstone may be made otherwise boyle Brimstone in Aqua-vitae vntill there begin an oylie substance to swim aloft gather this liquor with a woollen or linnen cloth or with a little espoone you must sometime renew your Aqua 〈◊〉 vntill you haue gathered oyle ynough if presently after bathing your selfe you annoinâ— with this oyle your bodie infected with Quick-siluerâ— you shall expell and draw forth the said Quick-siluer But concerning all these Oyles see more in our Booke of secret remedies and medicines CHAP. LVII A description of certaine artificiall balmes BVt it is vvell and sufficiently knowne how that now the true and naturall balme is no vvhere to be found and that in place thereof the industrie and skill of man hath inuented Oyles which approach and draw neere in vertues and faculties vnto the true balme now therefore be it in like manner knowne that these Oyles are made either by distillation or impression and that vve will speake onely of some certaine ones which are made by impression ceasing to speake of those which are distilled for them which meddle in drawing out the quintessences of things as you shall further perceiue by our Booke of secret remedies Balme of the maruellous apples Take the maruellous apples either with or without kernells but verie ripe put them in a vessell full of common oyle either old or new or of the oyle of sweet Almonds or Linseed and infuse them a long time in the Sunne or in Maries-bath or in horse-dung that is verie hot or in the earth in a vessell that is well couered ouer with sand and let it remaine there one whole yeare or else two vvhich is the better you may likewise make this oyle of the leaues and little cods without the fruit some with the apples put together with the oile of sweet almonds or linseed oyle doe joyne of liquid varnish one ounce for euerie pound of oyle such an oyle is a singular balme for all wounds inflammations of the breasts and for the appeasing of outward paines and ache for the bursting of young children the vlcers of the matrix and to procure conception if after that the woman is come out of the bath made for the same purpose the annoint her secret parts therewith and drinke of the powder of the leaues with vvhite Wine it is also singular good for the paine of the hemorrhoides being mingled with linseed oyle or the oile of sweet almonds We haue spoken of the maruellous apples in the second Booke where we haue declared how that the hearbe whereupon they grow is called Balsaâ—ina because it hath the vertue of balme The oyles of the flowers of Rosemarie white mullein Paules betonie Nicotian and ground Iuie being thus prepared as we haue spoken of before haue like vertues with balme Another balme Take the fruit of the elme the flowers of Hypericum and the buds of Roses put all together in a glasse bottle with oyle of Oliues stop vp the bottle close and leaue it in the Sunne vntill you see the same all of it in such manner consumed as though it were rotten afterward strayne it and keepe the oyle for your vse Another Take Gumme elemie foure ounces oyle of vvormes oyle of Roses and Hypericon of each two ounces of Venice Turpentine two ounces mix altogether and incorporate them vpon a coale fire afterward keepe it in little bottles Another balme Take the flowers and seeds of Hypericon foure handfulls bruise them throughly and set them in the Sunne the space of ten daies in a glasse bottle with foure pound of old Oyle of Oliues afterward presse them out carefully and put againe as many moe flowers and seeds of Hypericon into the bottle set it in the Sun againe tenne vvhole dayes after presse it out all againe and put thereunto as followeth of oyle of dill and of Venice Turpentine of each a pound and a halfe of Aqua-vitae halfe a pound of Mummia vvood of Aloâ—s masticke myrrhe and Iuieguâ— of each an ounce and a halfe of the rosen of the pine-tree three ounces saffron halfe an ounce cloues nuâ—megs cinnamom of each three drams mix all together and boile them three houres in Maries-bath in a glasse bottle close stopped that nothing may breath out Then set the bottle in the Sunne the space of ten daies reseruing the oyle afterward for pains of the eares wounds fistulaes cankers Noli me tangere c to annoint the backe bone a little before the fit of the ague come vvhich beginneth of cold Another balme take the fruit of the elme vvithin which you shall find a liquor like vnto oyle put it whole into a strong viole which viole you shall stop verie close and burie for the space of fiâ—teene daies in horse dung that is verie hot by reason of his being verâ—e rotten then set it in the Sunne for a certaine time and after gather the cleare part that shall swimme aboue and this vvill be vnto you a singular balme Otherwise gather all the liquor that you find in the fruit of elmes put it in a strong viole adding of the flowers of Hypericon and common oyle stop vp the viole verie close and burie it in horse dung that is well rotted leaue it therein a sufficient time and afterward taking it out you shall haue a singular balme See further in our Booke of secret medicines concerning balmes A briefe discourse of the distilling of Waters CHAP. LVIII Of the profit and commoditie of distillation NOtwithstanding that distillation be the vvorke rather of a Philosopher or Alchymist otherwise called an extracter of quintessences than of a farmer or maister of a Countrie Farme notwithstanding the profit thereof is so great and the vse so laudible and necessarie as that we take not the chiefe Lord of our countrie house to be furnished vvith all such singular commodities as vve desire if he lacke the knowledge and practise of distillation not that I vvould have him to make it
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
the grasse in the vvithering shrinketh away and falls to nothing but a soft fuzzie and vnwholesome substance which no cattell will eat and also to let it stand till it be ripe or that it haue shed it seed is as ill husbandrie for then vvill the juice be too much dried out of the stalke and that substance which should giue nourishment to your cattell will be lost Therefore to know when your grasse is truely fit to be cut you shall looke carefully vpon it and vvhen you see the tops thereof looke browne and the cocke heads bells or bottells which beare the seeds not stand vpright or looke direct into the heauens but bend their heads downeward as looking backe into the earth then you may be certainely assured it is a fit and good time to cut it for the earth hath giuen it all the due it ought to haue and this will be if it be in a most fertile and verie rich soyle such as may be cut twice in the yeare at the beginning of Iune or about a vveeke before Midsommer But if it be in a reasonable ground which hath the title of a good earth onely then it will be about the translation of S. Thomas which is the third of Iulie but if the ground be extreame cold moist and barren then it vvill be after Lammasse and sometimes in the middest of September Now for the generall cutting or mowing of Haye it would euer be done in the new of the Moone and at such time as the vveather by all conjecstures is cleare constant and likely to continue faire As soone as your Haye is mowne if there be plentie of grasse and that you see it lye thicke in the swathes so as the Ayre or Sunne cannot passe freely through it then you shall cause certaine with forkes to follow the â—ythes and as they mow it so to cast it abroad thin whereby the Sunne may vvither it and this is called tedding of hay The next day after the dew is taken from the ground you shall turne it and let it vvither on the other side then handling it and finding it to your feeling fully drie the next day you shall with â—orkes and rakes draw it together in great quantitie into long rows which rows you must draw in that way which the wind blowes most least drawing it in the contrarie way the vvind scatter it abroad and loose both your labour and profit for these rowes are called Wind-rowes and as soone as it is thus gathered together you shall forthwith thrust the haye close vp together and make those Wind-rowes into good bigge handsome cockes sharpe at the top and broad at the bottome such as six or seuen of them may make a Waine-load for howsoeuer sloth or weakenesse may say that little cockes because they aske little labour are best yet it is certaine that the great cockes are much better and keepe the haye safer from vvet if any shal fall and also makes it sweat and haye a great deale more kindly in these cockes you shal let your haye stand a day at least if more it is not amisse and then breake them open againe and let them ley in the Sunne till it haue dried vp all the sweat and moisture that was in them vvhich done you shall load it according to the maner of the soyle wherein you liue and so carrie it to the barne or elswhere according to your pleasure Now this manner of making of haye you must vnderstand is for such as is most fine cleane and the purest grasse without vveeds stumpes thicke leaues or other grosse substances for if you find your grasse to be of that rough nature as for the most part all your vvood-land-grasse is or that it is much intermixt with burnet peny-grasse and other thicke leafed weeds then you shall giue it double withering and after you haue mowed it and tedded it you shall turne it twice or thrice ere you cocke it then being put into drie cocke you shall breake it open in the morning and make it vp into drie cocke againe at night three or foure daies together before you load it and be sure that in the cocke it take a verie good sweat and then carrie it home and stacke it vp as shall please you best But if your ground be extreame barren cold moist and full of verie sowre and stubborne grasse and of that also but little plentie being thin short and hard in the cutting then you shall not need to ted that hay at all but in steed of that labour you shall as it is mowne with your forke make it into thicke little grasse-cockes as bigge as prettie little moale-hills the reason whereof is this That such sowre and harsh grasse being exceeding slow of growth must necessarilie be verie late in the yeare before it can be ripe or readie to be cut whereby wanting the kindlie heat and strength of the Sunne â—t cannot but with great difficultie vvither vvell vvherefore you must adde vnto it all the art which you may to bring it to good haye which this casting it into little heapes and cockes will doe for the grasse so layed together will heat of it selfe and then being often turned and tost that the ayre may goe through it and drie it and then made into cockes againe euerie day bigger and bigger vvill in the end by it owne heat come to as kindly hay as if it had the full benefit of the Sunne And herein you shall obserue that as at first you make them into small cockes so the second day you shall make them into bigger by putting two or three of those cockes into one and the next day you shall put two or three of those bigger cockes into one euerie day increasing the bignesse of the cockes as you find them to vvither till you bring them to so great cockes that three or foure of them will make a Waine-load and in that estate you shall let them stand foure or fiue daies before you load them but vvhilest they are in the little cockes you shall breake them open once or twice a day at least according to the fairenesse of the vveather for you must vnderstand that whilest they are in grasse or vnwithered cockes if you let them lie too long the grasse will turne yellow and begin to putrifie vvhich often stirring vvill preuent Lastly touching the making of hay you must vnderstand that the greatest enemie it hath is wet or raine and therefore you must be carefull to make it vp in the driest and fairest weather you can and if any raine shall happen to fall on it not to turne it till the vpper side be drie for to turne the wet grasse to the wet earth is the readie way to make it rot Now to speake a little touching the choyce and vse of your haye you shall vnderstand that the haye which is most long loggie and of greatest burthen is best for horses being verie drie
Geometâ—ician shall vse for the setting downe in writing the lying buttings and contents of the said peece of ground which he hath measured He must also haue two men that is to say one his assistant to goe before him and to carrie the end of the chayne and to thrust downe into the earth the tenne or twelue shafts and the partie whose ground is measured or some one for him that can lay and point out vnto the Geometrician the bounds and limits of the said peece of ground whether it be arable wood medow or aniâ— other such like place How and in what manner the Measurer of these grounds is to accomplish and performe his worke THis Measurer of grounds being thus suted with all the foresaid instruments seruing for the measuring of ground and hauing likewise the directions and assistance of others as hath beene said to helpe him about his worke must diligenâ—ly enquire of the manner fashion and custome of measuring in that place and of what length his chayne must be how manie poles are contained in an arpent in that countrey and how manie foot are to goe to euerie pole seeing as wee haue said before almost euerie countrey hath his seuerall measure besides this hee being well instructed and taught in the boundings and limits of the peece of ground which hee would measure he must lay aside or else at the least trusse vp his cloake verie close and place himselfe at one of the ends of the plot of ground wood or medow hauing his shafts all of them vnder his girdle on the left side and his Squire hanging by a little crooke at his girdle on the right â—ide there pitch downe his Geometricall staffe making fit and fast his Squire vnto the end thereof and to assigne for his more ease the tenne shafts which hee had made fast vnto the left side at his girdle vnto that place whereas is fixed the little hindge afterward stouping with his head to take his sight and view by shutting the one eye ouerthwart and within the holes or lights of the said Squire the forme and first the length by one side of the Squire afterward the breadth by the other side of the said Squire without stirring or mouing of the Squire at all from out of his place from aboue the staffe of the peece of ground that hee would measure It is true that hee shall need neither staffe nor Squire if the peece of ground be square or of a small compasse because that without any such Squire he shall be able to discerne the forme of the ground and in such cases hee shall onely vse the helpe of his shafts which hee shall giue vnto his assistant and of the chayne the one end whereof he shall hold himselfe and giue the other vnto his assistant which shall goe before to sticke downe the shafâ—s at each end of the chayne both of them herein applying themselues to the same purpose alike The assistant shall goe before and first he shall hold in his left hand the tenne shafts altogether leauing the eleuenth with the Master-measurer to fasten downe in the place where he shall begin his measuring if so be that the measurer doe not chuse rather in stead thereof to vse his staffe the said assistant shall hold one of the ends of the chayne by the ring with the great finger of his right hand and that without aniâ— want of roome for his finger to goe in he shall fasten downe in the earth one of his shafts which his left hand shall haue reached him with his right hand at the end of the chayne as it is stretched forth at length the said Master-measurer shall fullow him and shall take vp the shaft which his assistant hath set downe into the earth then the assistant shall proceed and goe on alwaies carrying the chayne with him and fastening the end of the chayne which hee carrieth with one of his shafts thrust downe into the earth and this shaft the Master-measurer alwaies comming after shall take vp and both of them shall continue and hold on this course the one to put downe the shafts and the other to take them vp vntill such time as the chiefe measurer haue gathered to himselfe all the tenne or twelue shafts which will be so manie or so manie poles This done both of them shall goe vnto two other ends of the said peece of ground and shall doe in like manner as they did at the first where when as the measurer hath measured the length of one side he shall measure the one breadth leauing the length of the other side and the other breadth hauing found out by his Squire that the peece of ground is square if rather for his owne assurance and contentment of the owner he thinke it not meet to measure the two lengths by themselues and the two widenesses by themselues Whereupon it will come to passe that if the peece of ground or wood for an example contaâ—ne from the one end to the other on all sides tenne poles multiplying the one side by the other that is to say tenne by tenne they shall haue the totall summe of the poles of the Square which will be a hundred poles which is one aâ—pent and so hereupon the measurer shall conclude that the place doth containe an arpent Againe if in case that the place were of greater breadth and length than tenne poles square they shall hold on their measuring and passe from one end to the other accounting that which shall be more still reducing all that they measure into hundreds of poles and so into arpents See here the easie way for the measuring of Land Woods and other places of small compasse and square wherein there is no great need of anie Squire but and if the peâ—ce of Land Wood or other such place be of great compasse and contents and yet notwithstanding lying straight on euerie side as of fiue or sixe hundred arpents or more it will stand the measurer vpon to vse the helpe of his Squire wherefore hee shall pitch downe his Geometricall staffe at one of the ends of the said peece and shall set his Squire to the top of the end of his staffe and shall view the other end of the ground through the holes or lights of the said Squire if his sight and largenesse of the place will permit him which if it will not then onely so farre at that time as his sight may bee conâ—â—ied vnto which place directly whither the direct line of the squire doth looke hee shall send his assistant or some other man to pitch downe a diameter that is to say a stake or pole or some other certaine marke so farre off as that the said measurer may see it at that end of the peece where he is taking his sight or else many diameters in many places alwaies directly beholding the first diameter if in case the peece of ground should be of longer distance so as that one two or three
with end If the ground be fashioned like vnto a Wedge that is to say equally long on both sides but hauing one end broader than another as for example twentie pole long and seuen pole broad at the one end and but three at the other then you must gather the two breadths together which will make tenne pole to take the halfe of them will be fiue to multiplie the length withall in the doing whereof you must count fiue times twentie and the summe will rise in all to a hundred pole which make one arpent after the rate of a hundred pole to an arpent and eighteene foot to euerie pole This is your direct course to measure ground fashioned like vnto a vvedge But if the ground should be triangled hauing three sides equall then it is your best vvay to follow this course vvhich is first of all to learne out how manie poles there are in euerie side and then carefully to multiplie the number of the one side by the halfe of the number on the same or another side and that which ariâ—â—â—h of such multiplication vvill be the vvhole contents of the poles of that field as for instance suppose an equall triangled field hauing ten pole on each side I will multiplie the number of the one side by the halfe number of one of the other sides that is to say ten by fiue vvhich is fiftie pole and containe halfe an arpent at a hundred poles an arpent and â—ighteene foot to euerie pole and twelue inches euerie foot If the ground haue the fashion of an Oxe head that is to say be cast into two triangles equally joyned together and that euerie side for example sake containe twentie poles I will multiplie the number of the one side by the number of the other side that is to say twentie by twentie and I vvill say that twentie times twentie poles are foure hundred poles and that foure hundred poles are foure arpents at a hundred poles to an arpent eighteene foot to a pole and twentie inches to a foot If the ground should proue round like a circle you must diuide the same round into two diameters vvhich make foure equall quarters then you must know the number of the poles of euerie quarter afterward to multiplie them vvill be the summe of the whole round compasse of the ground for example euerie quarter of the round doth containe twentie poles vve will multiplie twentie by twentie and so we shall find foure hundred poles vvhich make foure arpents vvhich this round shall containe at a hundred pole to an arpent eighteene foot to a pole and twelue inches to a foot If the ground be of a mixt sort hauing many formes and shapes the best vvill be by the meanes of the squire to reduce them all into squares and then to find out the number of poles in them and to put the said numbers together And if in reducing and bringing of them into foure squared formes you borrow something you must restore the number vvhich you haue borrowed in the totall number vvhich you haue gathered and by this meanes you shall hauâ— the perfect number of yoâ—â— ground And last of all if so be that your ground be intangled vvithin some other peece of ground you must measure all together and afterward taking away the inclosed part and putting the one asunder from the other you must measure your owne by it selfe Thus haue we briefly set downe that vvhich is to be knowne of the Hâ—â—bandman concerning the skill of measuring of lands and whatsoeuer ground if hâ— happen vpon any peece of measuring vvorke which is of greater importance than this which I haue mentioned he must haue recourse vnto the professed skillfull in measuring CHAP. II. What manner of tilling of arable grounds shall be intreated of in this Booke AS it is ordinarily seene that the complexions of people dwelling in the seuerall Prouinces of one great region and countrie doe differ one from another according to the aire or aspect of the Sunne which is called the climat that they dwell in so in like manner one may see the nature and fertilnesse of arable grounds to ingender and bring forth diuers complexions and sorts of ordering of the same more in one place than in another according as the ground shall be moist and glib grauelly consisting of fullers clay brickie stonie or free and well natured vvhich thing did necessarily compell our predecessors inhabitants of this countrie to alter and change the manner of â—illing as also the fashion of the ploughs in France and the conâ—ines of the same as the high and base countrie of Beaun the countrie of Normandie and the confines thereof Sangterre Berrie and Picardie in like manner high and base Brie Champagne Burgoâ—gne Niuernois Bourbonnois Rotelois Forest Lyonois Bresâ—e Sauoye and againe in the countrie of Auuergne Languedoc Solongne where there groweth no corne but Riâ— Bordelais Rothelais Vaudomois Baâ—adois and generally throughout all the countrie of â—anguedoc euen vnto Gascoâ—gne Biscay and Bearne and not to leaue out Prouencâ— and Bretaigne vvhich some call Gallo and Tonnant To be short beyond the countrie of Mayne Touraine Poictou Le Perche and Conte d' Anjou which are as it were the lands of promise in our Countries of France And as it is thus with our Countrie of France so it is likewise with our neighbour countries as both in great Brittaine and the Neatherlands where according to the attration of the soyles so there is found an alteration in their tilling the East part much differing from the West and the North from the South nay euen in one and the selfe same countrie is found much alteration in tillage as shall be said hereafter Of all these sorts of tilling of arable ground vve haue purposed to intreat hereafter in short and easie manner and that in regard onely of the husbandrie of the true and naturall France vvhich vve vnderstand to containe all whatsoeuer is inclosed within the bounds and circuits of the riuers of Oyse Marne and Seyne and our purpose is notwithstanding this to make the husbandrie thereof as a patterno for all other fashions and sorts of tillage vsed in all other countries as well neere as those which are furthest off CHAP. III. Of the nature and conditions of the arable ground in France NOw as concerning the husbandrie of France which comprehendeth and containeth the confines called also French and reacheth vnto the countrie of Sangterre and to be briefe which compasseth all whatsoeuer Seyne doth ouerflow euen to the riuer Oyse both of the one side and of the other coasting along the riuers of Marne and Aube it is certaine that it is veâ—ie strong and toilesome as also the earth is found to be well natured easie to stir blacke deepe lying high when the fallowes come to be ploughed vp hauing few stones and by consequent bearing great store of fruit Againe it beaâ—eth pure Wheat that noble graine for
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
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
they haue a slipperie and moist â—round fit to make pots of for necessarie businesse they plow vpon a causey and as it were vpon an Asses backe and in euerie fiue furrowes they hold it meete to cast one high ridge that is verie large and made also like vnto a caâ—sey that it may both receiue the raine water and that which springeth out of the earth which is alwayes moist and that because of two Riuers lying vpon the one side and on the other and doe moisten and water the grounds there continually vnderneath And for the same purpose which is also practised in small Beaux as in Long-boyau Val de Gallie Val-boyau Niuernois and Bourbonnois they make at the end of their ground certaine rises of sufficient height where betwixt the said rise and arable ground there is a ditch or pit made within it after the fashion of a long fatt to receiue the waters which runne along after great raine for otherwise they would rot and smother the corne This troubleth such as trauell those countries exceedingly and this is the cause of the name whereby they are called the Grashoppers of Brie Insomuch as that they cannot tell how to doe so well as in a rainie day to goe and pull vp Darnell Dane-wort and other ouer-spreading weedes which else they could hardly ouercome being a kind of earing of the ground called of auncient Writers the freeing of Corne-ground from weedes hauing further by such aboundance of raine this scath done vnto their Come as that it is layd bare now and then yea and that though it be neuer so well harrowed and the earth of it selfe strong and mightie There is no need of anie such rises or ditches in the parts of France truly and properly so called neither in the Isle thereof nor in the flat and free Countrey of Blairie as Long-boyau and Labeaâ—ce the verie Barne and Store-house of France the Countries of Oye Sangterre or else of Berry and free Poictou And all grauellie Countries may be well excused and freed from all manner of such inconuenience as appeareth by manie places of Picardie and Solongne euen vnto Percheron so that they make their furrowes close and neere one to another as is wont to be done in low grounds and valleyes The ground must also be plowed in a fit and conuenient time to the end that it may become fruitfull Wherefore the carefull Husbandman shall neuer plow his ground whiles it is wet for running through it with the plough at that time it will doe nothing but runne vpon heapes especially in tough and clammie grounds as also in those which be hard or growing and putting forth their fruit in as much as this maketh them so sad and close that it is impossible to make them fine and small mould againe Likewise it is an absurd thing euer to goe about to put the plough into a dyrtie and myrie ground because it is nothing fit to stirre or deale anie manner of way withall before it become drie and so vnfit as that though you could doe what you would vnto it with the plough yet there is no casting of anie seed into it And if it should fall out that there were anie Tree or Vinâ—-plant in the ground you must passe it ouer in lifting vp the plough from off the shootes which come from the rootes at all times when you perceiue your selfe to be vpon them or 〈◊〉 you shall cut them off with a hatchet rather than bruise and breake them with the culter for feare of breaking the culter it selfe and putting the Oxen or Horse to 〈◊〉 and paines CHAP. X. That the â—attell vsed to plow withall doe differ according to the manner and custome of the Countries IN rough and tough grounds as also in free and kindly grounds as hath been said where there are required as needfull three Horses to a plough of fiftie foot but not so coupled and spanged as they be in Countries where they vse to plow with Mares Oxen Asses or Buffles you must after the first caring breake the clods with the rowler and lay it flat square and plaine with a planke In leane grauellie and weaker grounds you shall not stand in need to be at such cost either with horse or man for it is not requisite that you should draw so deepe a draught in the earth and againe the husbandmen of such Countries haue sooner finished and made an end than others and yet doe labour with more leisure because of the ayre and climate of their Countrey Yet this is but a particular fashion in France therefore to speak more generally both according to that and other forraine soyles you shall vnderstand that there be two principall causes to make a man plow with Horses although he may haue Oxen at his pleasure The one is when he liueth in a verie wet and dyrtie soyle where the ground of it selfe yeeldeth forth such a continuall moisture that the finallest trampling or treading thereupon bringeth it to a verie myre in this case it is best to plow with Horse because they draw euer directly one after the other and tread euer in the furrow without annoying the land and goe also much more light and nimbly than other cattell whereas Oxen going double and treading vpon the land would foyle it and make it so myrie that it would be good for no purpose The other when a man liueth farre from his necessarie accommodations as from his fuell his fencing his timber and other such like necessaries which he must forcibly vse euerie yeare in this case he must euer keepe his teame of Horses because they are fittest for trauell and long iournies doing them euer with the greatest speed and least losse whereas the Oxe being a heauie beast would soone surfet and are indeed so vnapt for the same that a man can hardly doe them greater iniurie Now for the number of Horses to be vsed in the plow it must be according to the greatnesse of the labour and the strength of the cattell for in the heauie and stiffe clayes sixe are euer few ynough either to fallow with or to plow the Pease-earth with and fâ—ure for anie other ardor in the lighter sands foure is sufficient at all times and three vpon anie necessitie As for the mixt soyles if they be binding they will craue as much strength as the clayes but if they be loose the same that serues the light sands will serue them also And herein is to be noted that the stoned Horse is euer better for the draught than either the Mare or Gelding yet all good and meet for seruice Againe they worke with the Asse and the Oxe as in Aâ—uergne with the young Mule and in Romaine and Champaigne in Italie with the Buffle whereas of a truth the labour of Oxen is not readie nor so quicke of dispatch in the time of necessitie and for to remedie and helpe this mischiefe you must begin your worke with the Oxen
be it neuer so good doth become worse and degenerate easily when it is sowne in a bad plot And for as much as I speake onely of Wheat in this place being the graine of most vse in Fraunce you shall vnderstand that there be diuers kinds thereof as shall be shewed hereafter which sith their names are not familiar in other Countries I will here repeat those which are most in vse amongst our neighbours especially in England of which the first is called whole-straw Wheat because the straw is whole and entire not hauing anie hollownesse within it and this is of all Wheat the largest and goodliest and yeeldeth the greatest store of flowre yet not of the most pure and most white colour it prospereth onely on the rich stiffe clay-clay-grounds and must necessarily haue three earings before it be sowne Next vnto it is the great Pollard Wheat which hath no aues vpon the eares it is a large Wheat also and prospereth likewise vpon stiffe clay-grounds yet will aske but one earing because it loues to be sowne vpon Pease-ground from whence Pease was reaped the same yeare The next is small Pollard which loues an indifferent earth as that which is grauelly or of barren mixture and it must haue euer full three earings Then Ograue Wheat which loueth anie well-mixt soyle and will grow either after three earings or but one so it besowne where Pease is reaped Then â—laxen Wheat which will ioy in anie soyle except the stiffe clay or burning sand prouided that it haue fully three earings and be well manured And lastly Chylter Wheat which is like vnto flaxen Wheat It will be good before you sowe your seed to lay it in steepe in water some certaine houres and afterward to spread and lay it abroad somewhere in the shadow to drie that so it may be readie to rowle or runne at such time as it is to be cast into the earth by this meanes you shall chuse the fairest cornes that shall stay behind in the boâ—tome of the water to sowe them which will grow within three or foure daies but as for those which swimme aloft aboue the water they shall be taken away because they are not worth any thing to sow for the best vse for such is either to seed Hennes or else to grind that so you may get out euen that sâ—all quantitie of meale and flowre that is within them Some before the sowing of their corne doe sprinkle it ouer a little with water wherein haue beene infused Houseleeke or the stamped seedes and roots of wild Cucumbers to the end that the corne may not be eaten of Moules field-Mice or other such like vermine Yet howsoeuer this may be a practise in France it is not receiued generally amongst Husbandmen to steepe the corne in water before they sowe it because so much moisture cooleth and drowneth the kernell of it too much Nay they are so farre from the practise thereof that a well-reputed Husbandman will not suffer his corne to be so much as washed before it be sowne The quantitie of corne which must be sowne shall be measured and rated according to the peece of ground for an arpent of fat ground will for the most part take foure bushels of Wheat a reasonable fat ground will take fiue and a leane will take more It is true that there must respect be had vnto the Countrey and place where it is sowne for in cold Countries and places that are waterie being also alwaies subiect to Snowes it is needfull to sowe a great deale more than in hot Countries or in temperate and drie places in as much as the cold and Snow doe corrupt the greatâ—st part of the seed Besides the time is well to be obserued and the disposition of the ayre for in Autumne you must sowe lesse thicke and in Winter or the times approaching and comming neere to Winter a great deale more againe in rainie weather you must sowe thicker than in drie weather Yet in England and other Countries which are much colder than France two bushels of Wheat or Pease will fully sowe an acre and foure bushels of Barly or Oates and three bushels of Beanes which proportion no man need to alter vpon anie occasion whatsoeuer CHAP. XIII Of harrowing and weeding of Corne. PResently after that the seed is bestowed in the ground you must for your last worke harrow it along and crosse ouerthwart and after that â—ake it from furrow to furrow but ouerthwart onely This would be done with Harrowes hauing yron teeth rather than woodden ones because they make the corne settle deeper into the earth which they doe breake and make fmall a great deale better and so by that meanes doe couer the corne with earth as it requireth at the least the thicknesse of foure fingers that so it may be the faster rooted and the safer from birds and thus it must be let alone the whole Winter vpon the Spring True it is that during Winter you must not neglect to make draynes and draughts thereby to carrie away the water that falleth in too great aboundance by raine Now this manner of harrowing is but for such entire grounds as lye together leuell plaine and vndistinguished by lands for were they cast vp with ridges as the lands of many Countries are then could they by no means be harrowed ouerthwart Therefore wheresoeuer your ground lyes in lands or in common mixt amongst your neighbours there you shall euer harrow your lands directly vp and downe the full length of the lands beginning at the furrowes first and so ascending vp to the ridges As for the Harrowes as before I said the woodden Harrow is best for the loose moulds and the yron Harrowes for the tough and binding moulds As for the Oxe-harrow which is as bigge as two Horse-harrowes and hath euer yron teeth it is best for the roughest earths especially new broken vp swarths the Horse-harrowes going before and the Oxe-harrow following after When the Spring time is come and the Wheat hath taken good root you must weed your ground of such store of weedes as Winter raine and the ranknesse of the earth it selfe haue caused to abound and ouer-grow the corne newly put vp as Feâ—ches tame and wild Poppie Cockle and such like and after once hauing weeded it it will be good to doe it the second time as when the eare beginneth to shoot for iâ— so doing the corne will proue faire and cleane But in the meane time you must so weed it at the first as that the rootes be not hurt but that they may remaine couered and laden with the earth that so they may stand faster in the earth and grow the more vpward At the second time of weeding you must not bare it much for and if the Wheat should not shoot vp still more and more it would rot vpon the earth and bring forth nothing Againe at the second weeding you shall stirre and make euen the ground a
it will vvither or not grow at all or else mil-dew turne blacke and become altogether vselesse Amel-corne THere is yet another kind of Corne vvhich the Grecians and Latines call Olyra of a middle size betwixt Wheat and Barlie vnlike altogether vnto Winter-vvheat vvhereof we last spake but of a sort and facultie like vnto spelt whereof vve vvill speake next in order Of this graine Dioscorides maketh mention and Matthiolus calleth it in French Seigle-blanche the tilling and ordering of it is like vnto that of spelt There is verie vvhite bread made thereof there is but small store thereof in France Spelt-corne SPelt-corne is that vvhich the Latines call Zea and hereof the auncient â—â—mans did make great account and gaue it to name Semen by the way of excellencie as the Italians in such places as vvhere the said Spelt groweth in great aboundance doe call it Biada The Graine is lesse and blacker than Wheat It is found sometime single sometime double in an eare set with a long beard It must be sowne in a verie strong and hard ground for otherwise it will not thriue neither is there any sort of Wheat which so troubleth and weakeneth a ground as this but the bread that is made thereof is excellent and of it likewise the Italians vse to make a singular kind of Furmentie Course Wheat-flowre or fine Wheat-meale COurse Wheat-flowre is that which of the Latines is called Similage and is made of Wheat that is excellent good hauing the greatest Bran onely sifted from it but being ground of the best Mill thâ—â— may be gotten howsoeuer the French name Semole vvhich seemeth to be deriued from these Latine ones Sine mola may 〈◊〉 to argue the contrarie We haue not any of the Corne in this Countrie vvhereof the Semole is made but in Prouence it is sowne in great quantitie as also in Champanie and in the Countrie of Naples and from thence there is great store of this 〈◊〉 meale brought vvhich Physitiâ—ns doe prescribe to their sicke patients to make Panade or pap-meat of vvith the broth of a Capon notwithstanding that 〈◊〉 and the greatest part of Physicions doe affirme that the fine meale called of the French Semole is of a grosâ—e and slimie iuice and not digested without difficultie and thereupon injurious to such as haue need of a fine and attenuating nourishment It is certaine that it is of great nourishment as is also the bread that is made thereof In steed of Semole vve vse Maslin and as concerning the Wheat vvhereof the course flowre Semole is made it craueth such ground and manner of husbanding as Maslin doth Furmentie FVrmentie is that vvhich the Latines call Alica or Chondrus and it is a kind of Wheat whereof after that it hath been steeped for some time in vvater and afterward brayed and husked and then in the end dried againe in the Sunne and ground somewhat grosly is made a kind of grosse meale reâ—embling 〈◊〉 verie much vvhereof sometimes is vvoont to be made pap-meat sometimes it is mixt in meat-broth and sometimes panade vvithall all which meats to say the truth doe nourish a great deale more than they profit the health of the bodie in as much as they ingender a thicke clammie and grosâ—e juice verie hurtfull for them that are subject vnto obstructions or vnto the stone and grauell Turkie-Wheat TVrkie-wheat so called or rather Indian wheat because it came first from the West-Indies into Turkie and from thence into France not that it is sowed there any otherwise than for pleasure or for to cause some admiration at the strange things which Frenchmen themselues doe admire and make much account of 〈◊〉 be sowne verie carefully after this manner the field must be diligently tilled according to all the sorts of earings vvhich are woont to be bestowed vpon any 〈◊〉 ground afterward toward the end of March at such time as the Sunne beginneth to affoord his hot and comfortable beames in franker and freer sort the said wheat must be steeped in water two whole daies and when this is done to keepe it till the earth receiue some prettie showres vvhich happening then presently to open the earth vvith some sharpe stake and that all along as streight as a line but with equall and sufficient distances and to cast into euerie one of these holes foure or fiue graines of this vvheat and by and by to close in the earth againe vvith your foot and so in this sort to fill and set a vvhole field with this Corne. If the earth be fat and the seed full and well â—ed it will not faile to sprout within seuen daies and to be ready to mow within fortie daies two moneths three moneths or at the furthest foure moneths sooner or later according to the goodnesse of the ground and power of the Sunne that is to say earlier in a hot place and good ground that lyeth open vpon the Sunne but more late in a cold ground and a leane place It hath the like temperature that our vvheat hath but somewhat more hot as may easily be gathered by the sweetnesse of the bread that is made thereof the meale thereof is vvhiter than that which is made of our wheat but the bread made thereof is more grosse thicke or close and of a more â—lymie substance in such sort as that the nourishment made thereof is likewise more grosse and apter to ingender obstructions vvherâ—â—ore if the dearth of vvheat and famine doe force and compel you to sow of this Turkish-wheat to make bread thereof it will doe better if you mingle it with the flower of our vvheat than and if you should vse it by it selfe all alone The meale of this vvheat in as much as it is thicke and clammie will be good to make cataplasmes of to ripen impostumes withall for being apt to stop the pores of the skin by his clamminesse it cannot chuse but worke such effect Sarasins-wheat SArasins-wheat is a graine verie ordinarie and common throughout all France and more abounding vvithout comparison than the foresaid Turkie-wheat it must be sowne in all manner of grounds because it refuseth not to grow in any vvhether it be grauelly or of any other qualities vvhatsoeuer and that especially in Aprill in hot places or somewhat later in those that are cold and it is so forward and hastie at that it will ripen twice and yeeld you two crops in a yeare in one and the same ground being in a hot ground as is to be seene in Italie It may be mowne at the end of three moneths after it is sown in this countrie it is most vsed in the fatting of hogs pigeons and other fowles and in the time of dearth and famine to make bread which will be a great deale better if with this corne be mingled the corne of our countrie vvheat It may be made into grosse meale euen as the grain called furmentie but better without comparison than that of millet to be imployed in
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
as that of the 〈◊〉 of Beauce but yet to make some manner of recompence more white and such as â—â—teth better than that of Beauce The corne of Brie is of a lesse graine than that of France and Beauce as also a loâ—e of this corne is of lesse quantitie than that of 〈◊〉 corne and of lesse whitenesse and pleasure in eating than that which is made of the corne of France because that Brie is a countrie of sweet cherries and yet notwithstanding it is found that the countrie properly and truely called Brie doth surpasse and goe beyond the two other in massinesse of corne and the cause making it so to be is the shortnesse and thickenes of the skin thereof which is euidently more apparant in it than in the rest which make it to weigh the more The corne of Picardie is of a lesse graine than any of the other three aforesaid and so the bread of this corne is not so good great white or profitable because that this corne is more hard stiffe stubborne and vneasie to grind than the others and therefore such as out of which the flower cannot be well drawne which causeth men commonly to call the corne of Picardie more vile and filthie than the rest seeing when it is ground the bran thereof detaineth and keepeth backe of the flowre within it Champaigne notwithstanding that it flow and abound with corne and make a verie faire and great shew yet it is inferiour vnto the other aforesaid countries because the corne thereof yeeldeth lesse bread than the others because naturally it is giuen to be choking and to run vpon wreathes betwixt the milstones and more redious to grind than others againe it is long thin and clouen in the middest which maketh that it carrieâ—h so much wast bulke Generally wheat the smaller it is and the thinner the huske is the better and whiter the meale is which commeth from it as is both seene in France and in other countries for in England the wheat which groweth on the rich stiffe soyles and is called whole straw wheat being a great large corne with a thicke huske is euer the coursest and blackest of all wheats yet good to the yeeld and rich in meale but the flaxen and chilter wheate which are much smaller and thinner huskt and grow vpon barrenner grounds as for the most part vpon the Iunams and such like doe euer yeeld the finest and whitest meale and therefore are most sought after for the making of fine maunchets sweet bisket Iumballs and such like 〈◊〉 pasts To grind corne THe husbandman hauing made good choice of his corne shall send it to the mill whether it go with water or with wind according as the countrie shall be 〈◊〉 fit and conuenient for or and if he haue choice and may send it to either then 〈◊〉 shall rather chuse to send it to a watermill carried about with a very swift 〈◊〉 for the more forcible turning about of the stone and which hath his 〈◊〉 of a very hard greet and all of one peece if it bee possible such as are in Bâ—ie and Champaigne especially at Ferte vnder Ioarre for the milstones that are tender and soft doe easily breake and quickely grow out of frame and withall do continually 〈◊〉 some grauell in turning about which being mixt with the meale taketh away all the pleasantnes and good sauour of the bread and becommeth oftentimes troublesomâ— vnto the teeth Many doe counsell and aduise to beat the corne in a 〈◊〉 before it be sent to the mill to be ground and in beating of it to sprinkle it ouer with 〈◊〉 and after to drie it in the Sunne and then in the end to send it to the mill Some 〈◊〉 not send it to the mill except it be very drie and when as it is not drie they set it in the Sunne to drie as holding this opinion that the drier it is the more 〈◊〉 it yeeldeth Others besprinkle it with salt water hoping by such watering of it 〈◊〉 the meale will become more white and that they shall haue greater quantite of 〈◊〉 Of old time as may be gathered out of Aristotles problems barley was woone to be pâ—rched before it was ground In France none of these waies of preparing their 〈◊〉 to the mill are vsed but as the corne is so they send it to the mill It is true that the miller is to lay his stones in such sort as that according to the owners will 〈…〉 make a greater or a smaller meale as also according as the corne it selfe shall be more grosse hard small or soft Yet the lesse the corne is bruised the finer the meale will be and the grosser your branne is the better and vvhiter will your paste be vvhence it comes that the skilful Baker wil euer chuse the great black Cullen stones to grinde his fine Wheat vpon which no more but bruising and as it were crushing the corne makes the meale as pure and as vvhite as Snow As for the drinesse or danknesse of corne it is certaine that no graine except Wheat can be too drie but that the skilfull Miller sayes should euer sticke to the Hopper vvhence it comes that he will vvhen he findes his Wheat too drie dash or sprinkle some vvater vpon it which makes it grinde a great deale the better and makes the meale much vvhiter Of Meale Mil-dust flower of Meale Branne fine Meale Wheate Starch and mundified Barley THe corne being ground is turned into Meale in such sort as that meale is no other thing but that vvhich commeth of the corne vvhen it is ground and so the meale falleth out to be such as the corne was that is to say very vvhite if so bee that the corne were pure and cleane thick and short such as the corne of France properly so called is blacke and full of bran if the corne were starued small wrinckled full of filth and dirt long and flat such is the meale of Rie But the husbandman before the grinding of his corne and turning of it into meale must thinke with himselfe vvhether he will keepe it long or no such as he vvill not keep there is no need vvhy he should care of what corne he causeth it to be ground as vvhether it be old or new threshed neither yet how and in what maner but such as he doth entend to keep for some time as in a store-house for to answer the times of necessitie hee must chuse the driest corne that he can meet vvithall because that if it be not verie drie it might verie quickly take heat in the meale and so it is meete that it should bee old threshed and not new and comming from the sheafe although the bread that is made of corne old threshed be not so good as that which is made of new threshed corne and that vvhich commeth fresh from the sheafe for the meale that commeth of corne olde threshed reserued a long time in the garner keepeth better than that
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
the rinde of the Ash-tree taken is singular good to open the obstructions of the Spleene and to draw out great store of water from such as haue the Dropsie as also to make fat folks leane Also the keyes of the Ash or that which is the seed thereof is of most singular vse amongst Painters and being ground maketh him diuers pretie and most vsefull colours The Ash is onely an enemie vnto corne and will not suffer any to grow by any meanes within the compasse of the shadow thereof and therefore it should as seldome as might be be planted in corne-fields except you leaue such large space of greeneswarth betwixt it and the corne-lands that no part of the shadow may extend to the same CHAP. XVII Of Chesnut-trees THe Chesnut-tree is a strong and mightie tree much like vnto the Oake It is a fast wood and good to build withall as also to vnderprop Vines and make other workes which are made of Oake It groweth of the seed of the Chesnut which is sowne after the manner of the Acorne and so it groweth and putteth forth his shoots both sooner and more effectually and taketh commonly in all grounds yea euen in the sandie or grauellie grounds but yet it shunneth the grounds that lie open to the pearching heat of the Sun affecting altogether the little hils and mountaines that are cold and lie vpon the North. The seed or fruit thereof called the Chesnut is sometimes spoyled and that after the same manner that the Acorne is as by too much drinesse vvhich maketh it that it cannot bud or blossome or by too great store of vvater putrifying both the Chesnut and Acorne before it can spring out of the earth or else by cattell moules field-mice and such sorts of vermine which eat or wound the Chesnut Acorne within the ground The nature of the young plants of Chesnut-trees and Oakes are much alike and the manner of dressing them also and if you would haue them to put forth store of boughes you must cut them after they haue beene planted three or foure yeares and not before and that in the beginning of the Spring time for so you shall make them put forth twice as much and yet it is not without danger to vse any edge-toole in cutting them for thereby they oftentimes die So then if there put forth any branches or sprigs along the stem in the first second or third yeare you may at the beginning of such their putting forth crop them off and breake them away with your hand whiles they are young and tender and not to take any knife vnto them and then you shall doe best CHAP. XVIII Of the Oake and the differences thereof Hornebeame Beech Linden tree and others YOu shall vnderstand that the oake is a tree bearing most fruit and affoording the most commoditie of any tree in France And for this cause it hath been accustomed to preserue and keepe store of these kinds of trees in old woods and forests as being most necessarie and profitable Some do make three sorts of this kind of tree and of euery sort a male and a female for notwithstanding that the common people call them all by the common name of oke yet the Latins attribute to euery sort his seueral and proper name calling one sort thereof Robur another Quercus and the third Ilex The first of these sorts is a kind of oake which is very thicke and strong hauing a bodie that is very thicke below and full of knots and very mightie hauing great roots and spreading far and wide in the ground and at the top of the bodie or bole which is but short it beareth many and great quantitie of boughes that are also thick spread abroad and long taking great roome and for that cause are planted the one from the other a great distance that so they may haue roome for their boughs to spread The wood growing vpon this sort of okes is fitter to make fire wood of than timber to build withal because it hath but a short bole and riseth not vp to any great height and squarenesse hauing his boughes therewithall crooked and writhen There are many forrests to be seene wherein this kind of oakes doth grow as namely those whose oakes are thicke and short standing far a sunder and yet spreading on a great breadth aboue The other sort of oakes hath both a reasonable thicke and long bodie as namely of the height of foure or fiue good fadomes as also foure or fiue reasonable tail and straight boughes growing thereupon but nor spread forth into any great breadth as neither the bodie is so well couered and shadowed therewith as the former And this sort of oakes is good for beames of houses and great peeces of timber to be put in buildings as also for to saw and cleaâ—e because it is not knottie and hard as the former And of thâ—s sort there are to be seene many forrests planted in France and they are more thicke and closer growne with timber than the others which I am about to speake of because the boughes of these doe rise more straight vp and take not vp so much roome The third sort of oakes hath a small bodie but very straight and growing to the height of seuen or eight fadomes without any boughes and at the top of their said bodies bearing but sâ—al store of boughes and wood in such sort as that all the wood is in the bole seeming to bee onely a nosegay at the top And this kind of wood standeth very neere the foot one of another rising vp equally and alike vnto a great height and greatnesse and the forrests furnished with this kind are very profitable to make all sorts of buildings wheâ—her it be to make the ioyces thereof or any of the other sorts of long and middle timber as those required for for walls or roofes And of this kind of wood there are many forrests in this countrie All these three sorts of wood do beare a great leafe and that euery one like vnto another saue that they are some of them large and great some but indifferent and the third sort small and little Againe they beare some of them acornes that are more long and thicke othersome acornes that are more thicke and short and againe other some of them acornes that are smaller and longer Furthermore there is not any of these three sorts which consisteth not of male and female The female is commonly called that as Theophrastus saith which beareth the most and strongest fruit whereupon it followeth that if those are to bee called the females which do beare most store of fruit wee must needs call those males which beare least fruit When they beare fruit or when they beare none the barren are called the males and the fruitfull the females Theophrastus putteth another difference betwixt those which are fruitlesse but I meane not to write any thing thereof at this present purposing to be
briefe to referre such as are desirous to see the same to Theophrastus his third booke of the historie of Plants vnder the title of the Oake as also in like manner for all other sorts of trees vvhich I spare to speake of that so I may not exceed my former purpose and intent All these sorts of Oakes are of great continuance and length of life insomuch as that some allot vnto them to liue three hundred yeares that is to say one hundred to grow one hundred to stand at a stay and one hundred to decline and fal away which may easily be seene in the old and auncient forrests And whereas the Oake is long in comming to his growth and long in dying it is no maruell if the Elme the Ash the Maple and other vvoods set in the like and no better ground doe put forth their boughes and branches more speedily and mightily than the Oake for the nature of those trees is to grow vp soone to their pâ—â—fection and so to die and fade soone and the nature of the Oake is to grow by leisure to flourish a long time and to be long before it die Now Nature will not be ouer-chased as may be seene in a horse which commeth to his growth in fiue yeares and man not before he be fiue and twentie and so the whole continuance of the one is more durable than that of the other This I speake in respect of such as by and by looke to haue vvood to become growne according as they can wish giuing them to know that to answere their hastie desire it will be best for them to plant Ashes Elmes and Maple onely seeing they are giuen to spring mightily and in a short time putting forth more boughes in sixe yeares than the Oake in tenne Whereas they which desire to haue a more pleasant profitable and durable vvood though it be longer in comming to perfection must plant Oakes Chesnut-trees Horne-beames and Beech-trees for they are reasonably long in growing and of like durablenesse and put forth but small store of shoots like as the Oake in such sort as that they become trees of one and the same sort and growth and to be planted after one manner and at one time as hath been said before It is very true that the Oake delighteth in a fat good and drie ground euen as the Horne-beame and Beech-tree doe notwithstanding the Horne-beame and Beech will grow more easily in a stonie ground or countrey although that euery sort of trees whatsoeuer be giuen to grow the better by how much the ground is better wherein they are planted But some doe naturally delight in and craue a good ground as for example the Oake if you would haue it to prosper well for and if you plant it in an indifferent ground it will prosper but indifferently and if it be set in a hard and barren soile it hardly prospereth and doth nothing but burne away with the heat of the Sunne and yet Horne-beames and Beeches doe grow in grounds that are but indifferent yea they may be seene to prosper well in hard and stonie grounds The pits are in good season opened and all the said trees more conueniently planted in the moneth of Februarie when the strength of Winter it well broken as alwaies hath beene said The Horne-beameâ—tree called of the Latines Carpinus groweth in the same ground and after the same fashion that thâ— Maple doth The vvood of this tree hath in times past beene vsed to helue husbandmens tooles and to make yokes for Oxen but now it is made matter for the fire being a wood that hath least moisture but more drinesse and which maketh the bâ—st coale Which proceedeth not from the naturall defect of the Tree but from the ill husbanding and planting of the same vvhen either it is not regarded at the first shooting vp or is cropped by cattell vvhen it is tender or else planted in a stiffe-binding earth in vvhich it ioyeth not at all any of vvhich makes it grow crooked knottie and vvithout forme and so consequently of small vse but being planted on good ground vvhose mould is loose and yeelding and husbanded and defended from other annoyances it vvill shoot forth straight and vpright and beare a verie smooth and most delicate timber which timber is of great price and estimation amongst Fletchers for it maketh the strongest and best arrow of any wood whatsoeuer and is preferred farre before either birch or brasill as being of an indifferent and true poise neither so light as the one nor so heauie as the other The beech called of the Latines Fagus as it resembleth the hornebeame verie neere so it craueth the like soile and dressing for the making of it to thriue and grow well it is true that therefore it is worthie to bee had in request because it bringeth â—orth its fruit which is called beech-mast and that of no lesse profit than the acorne at the least the squirrells turtle doues cranes and such other birds doe fat themselues thereupon The men of auncient time did make their wine vessels fats and drinking vessell of the rind of this tree It prospereth exceedingly well in grounds that are full of pyble flint and other small stones whether mixt with sand or clay it mattereth not prouided that the mould bee not too much tough and binding neither exceeding hard and rockie but apt to breake and yeeld to the roote which by reason of the greatnesse of the boale or bodie of the tree which may euer compaire with the oake ought to haue both a strong and a deep hold The timber of the beech is good for boards or planks or for any Ioâ—â—ers ware as bed-steeds tables stooles chaires cubbords chests or any other thing except wainscot or â—eeling which by reason of the softnesse of the timber it is not so much allowed therefore it is also very good for Turners ware and especially for great washing bowles traies and such like or any other houshold necessarie which desireth a plaine smooth wood which is gentle to cut and delicate for the eie to looke on The linden tree groweth very well in hillie and high mounted places so that they bee notwithstanding moist and somewhat waterish the wood thereof is fit to make coffers and boxes and the rinde to make cradles or baskets to lay young children in The corke-tree craueth the like soile with the ash and oake it is no where to be found in all the forrests of France but in great store in the countrie of Bearne and Foix. This is a thing worth the noting in this tree namely that it may haue its barke pilled off without doing of any iniurie vnto the same and this is ordinarily imploied about the making of hiues for bees and for the soles of slipper and pantoâ—â—es vsually worne during the cold time of Winter The yew-tree which the Latines call Taxus is very common in our forrests it groweth
of his dogges of easement hallowing and whupping the dogges continually and casting of boughs of trees in the way where the Hart should passe but if he peâ—ceiue that there be not any of the companie of the coursing dogges neither yet heare any noise of the men that are hunting hee must not vncouple any of his dogges but onely marke the way that the Hart runneth to make report thereof to the companie to the end hee may know whether the same be the Hart in chase or no because that sometimes Harts are driuen through feare out of the places where they vse to lye hearing the noise of the companie of the dogges and horsemen In the meane time the horsemen appointed to wait vpon the companie must alwaies second and keepe by the sides of the dogges to cause them the better to keepe and agree together and to helpe them at a default if at any time they happen to be out of the trace and not to follow the right way They must also haue a care of the vviles and sleights of the Hart vvho vvhen hee seeth himselfe neere pursued by the dogges indeuoureth and bestirreth himselfe how to acquire and rid himselfe of them making many windings and turnes and that in diners manners For sometimes hee busieth himselfe about the finding out of the dennes of other beasts hiding himselfe therein and letting the dogges by that means to ouerslip him as not being able to find the sent of him hauing couched his foure feet vnder his belly and drawing his breath from the coolenesse and moisture of the earth Againe he hath this subtletie and craft by nature as to know that the dogges doe gather more sent from his breathing and feet than from any of the rest of the parts of his bodie But to preuent this his craftie wilinesse you must haue cast many boughes in the entrances of such thickets as the Hart is to passe by to the end they may the better find the last feeting and breathes which will yeeld some neere guesse of the place wherein he shall be hid Othersome times vvhen the Hart seeth the dogges chasing him and that he cannot auoid himselfe from them hee goeth from one thicket to another seeking the haunts of Hindes and other lesser Harts and thrusteth himselfe into their companie and moreouer sometimes draweth them away and causeth them to runne with him the space of a whole houre or more vpon his way afterward casting them off and making way for himselfe out of and farre from any way And if it happen that his wiles be found out by the exquisite sent of the dogges and wisedome of the hunters then he casteth about into his first way to breake off by that meanes his â—ormer traces and thereby to mocke the dogges then after that hee entreth into some large and wide way which he followeth so long as his strength will endure To auoid these sleights the horsemen must haue an eie when the Hart shall fall into companie of other beasts and runne away with them to the end they may stirre vp the old dogges of the companie to pursue the Hart with greater carefulnesse keeping neere about them to helpe and aid them and if the Hart haue taken the broad way to the end he may take away all sent from the dogges for this is a most 〈◊〉 thing that all sorts of beasts doe passe through the broad waies whose earth turneth into powder in such sort as that the way of the Hart and the places which the horne of his foot did tread vpon become quickly filled vp againe and couered by the falling together of the dust the horsemen must looke very carefully and view the ground very well to see if they can perceiue any traces of the Hart and then they shall cast the boughes out of their way lustily and encourage their dogges calling vnto them in cheerefull and cherishing manner Againe it sometime falleth out that Harts doe run ouerthwart the burned grounds where the dogges can haue no sent because the smell of the fire is greater than the sent of the Hart yea and sometimes the dogges doe giue ouer coursing hauing drawne into their nosthrils this euill smell vvhereupon the horsemen must goe aside a little out of their way with the dogges vntill such time as they be got past the same and then bringing their dogges into order againe let them encourage and cheere them forward to follow the game Sometime the Hart runneth a contrarie course to that by which he is winded to the end that his breath may be scattered and dispersed and that it may not come to the sent of the dogges as also that he may heare the noise of the dogges vvhich chase him and then the charge lieth vpon the horsemen to marke his steps and traces Againe there be some Harts which in going from the rest doe make breaches casting themselues vpon their bellies before the horsemen and shew themselues to be put forth by the dogges as if they were wearie and had beene long chased these wiles doe shew them to be verie subtle and long winded able to stand a long time before the dogges trusting in their strength and this the horsemen must beware of to the end they may be able to iudge of the deceitfulnesse of the Harts for sometimes they faine themselues ouer-chased when indeed they are not The signes and tokens shewing that the Hart hath beene long chased are these if in running before the dogges he neither heare nor see any man if he hang downe his head holding his nose vnto the ground if he stumble and stagger reeling with his legges afterward if he see a man vpon the suddaine he lifteth vp his head and giueth a great leape as who would say he were yet strong and lustie furthermore if he haue his mouth black and drie without any froth and his tongue drawne vp into the â—ame if in his gate he shut his hoofe as though he went steadie and yet afterward on the suddaine straineth himselfe and openeth it making great slâ—dings suffering his bones to kisse the ground verie often following commonly the trodden path and broad waies likewise if he meet with a hedge he holdeth along by the side of it to see if he can find any out-gate seeing his strength faileth him to leape ouer Now after his long running and manifold shifts when he becommeth wearie and spent and that he cannot longer stand out being past all hope of himselfe he leaueth the low vvoods and forrests and flieth to the champion fields or vnto the corn-fields and villages bordering next thereto or else he betaketh himselfe to some riuer or lake whereby it falleth out oftentimes that he auoideth and freeth himselfe of the coursing dogges for in champion places and void fields the sent of the footing of the Hart is verie small and as for riuers and lakes he hath the craft rather to take downeward with the streame than to swimme vpward against
they shall be beset and compassed To take birds with your hand you must scatter in some plaine and smooth piece of ground Corne or Millet steept in the lees of good vvine and the iuice of Hemlock and afterward drie them whereof when the birds shall haue eaten they will not be able to flie afterward so that one may take them with his hand To kill birds with the Long-bow or Stone-bow vpon houses trees or butts it is requisite that he that shooteth should haue double shafts forked before vvhen hee vvould kill Geese or other great birds and those verie sharpe euerie vvhere to the end they may cut off the vving or the necke vvhere they shall touch them for to strike them vvith the common shaft vvould not so hurt the bird as that she might be constrained to abide in the place for shee vvould flie away notwithstanding that she vvere hurt or shot through although shee vvould die thereof in another place The end of the seuenth and last Booke of the Countrey House FINIS A TABLE OF THE MATTERS contained in the seuen Bookes of the Countrey House A ABel borne the fourth of the Moone a good day 32 Abrecock-tree and Abrecocks how planted 378. being grafted are verie tender in the time of frost 372 Acornes to grow Oakes vpon how they must be sowne and husbanded 655 An Acre of ground how much it containeth 518 Adam created the first day of the Moone 32 Agrâ—monie 25. their vertues ibid. A good Aire is a necessarie thing to a Farme 4 Alberges or small Peaches 372 Alembecks of glasse how they must be ordered 446 Alembecks of the Venetians 445. how to choose them of glasse 446 Alembecks for distillations 447 Alkermus and the confection thereof 487 Alkakengi and the vertues and statutes thereof 288 Alleys 235 Aller trees and Aller plots 504. how planted 660 Almond trees where and when to be planted 307 Bitter Almonds made sweet 371 Almonds without shell and naturally written vpon ibid. Amel corne 551 Angelâ—ea and his vertues 199. the compound water thereof ibid. The Angeuins louers of their profit 23 Aniou a good soile 12 Annise 249 Ants spoyling Trees and Vines 405 406. to driue away Ants. 314 Apple-trees in what ground they grow best and how grafted 360. most precious and most in request of all other trees 379 How to keepe Apples 408. golden Apples 253. how to haue red Apples 365. Apples with short starts 380. Apples of loue 252. maruellous Apples 287. brought by Monsieur du Bellay B. of Mans 288. Apples of yellow colour 364. Apples of two tastes ibid. wilde Apples distilled 454 Aqua vitae often distilled 455. and whereof it must bee made ibid. it hath infinite vertues 456 Aquitaine a countrey fruitfull in all manner of good things 12 Arach the hearbe and the obseruations thereof 174 Arhâ—rs for Gardens and woods fit tor them 282 Arbâ—rs of the Kitchin Garden 156 The Arders of Arable ground 531 An Arpent of ground how much it containeth 518 Arsâ—â—art why so called and the properties thereof 197 Artichokes 170. their vertues and maner of dressing and the Moules and Mice are enemies vnto them ibid. Asarum Bacchar and the vertues thereof 198. good for a quartane Ague 40 Ashes make a leane ground 6 Ashes cluttering together like balls a signe of raine 25 Ash-tree distilled and the oyle thereof 482 Aâ—peragus may be growne of sheepes hornes 183 Asses to plow withall 539. Asses fore-shewing raine 25. 147 148. the nature burthen and goodnesse of an Asse ibid. Astrologie inuented by Shepheards 110 Auens 182 Autumne and the constitution thereof 34 126 366 380 Auuergne the people thereof are industrious and painefull but coueting other mens gaine 23 B BAdgers or Brocks are of two sorts their earths 699 Bay-tree where it must be sowne 337. in what soile and place it delighteth 396. the faculties thereof 397. Bay-tree keepeth the house from lightning ibid. Bakehouse belonging to the â—arme 570 That a Bailife of Husbandrie cannot carrie such an affection and vigilant eye as the Faâ—mor 15 Balme 252. it increaseth milke in Kyne 496. Balme distilled 453 Balmes artificially made and the description thereof and their kinds 437. Balmes of S. lohns wort 205. excellent Balmes of the hearbe Nicotiana 223 Barbell the fish 507 Barbes in Calues 63 Barley when and in what grounds it must be sowne 554. to prepare mundified Barley 555. Barley must bee sowne in dust 542 Barnes where and how they must be made and seated 18 Basill sowne putteth forth at the end of three â—aies 161. Basill and Amber are at perpetuall hatred 242. Basill causeth ache and scorpions in the head 243. Basill distilled 454 Basseâ—s or earth-dogges and how they must be ordered and saued 702. Bassets of two sorts ibid. and how to traine them vp and nurture them 700 Bastard Dittanie otherwise Fraxinella breaketh the stone 207 Marus Bath 442. the patterne thereof 443. Maries Bath multiplied 442 443 To Batâ—le ground and with what manner of dung 537 Against Baâ—s 315 Beanes what soile they craue 561. and why there are manie fooles whiles they are in flower 562. Beanes amend the ground where they are sowne 11. to cause Beanes to be quickly sodden 569. flowers of Beanes distilled for to keepe 465 â—ards of Goats 238 â—ares-breech 203 〈◊〉 when to be bought and killed 30 of a double kind of life 506. Beasts or their parts distilled 470. to tame wild Beasts 670. signes foretelling death of Beasts 29 〈◊〉 scarce of water 6. it beareth Riâ— contrarie to his nature 10. the people of Beauce are laborious 23 〈◊〉 of diuers sorts according to the diuersities of Countries and the manner of making of them and then temperature 587 590. it fatteth Hennes and Câ—pons 591 〈◊〉 the profit of them and how they must be ordered 316 317. what manner of ones they must be 318. how they must be handled 319. their conditions 321. their chastâ—tie sobrietie neatnesse 322. their kings and waâ—res among themselues 323 324. their kings must be killed which are the cause of their contention and what be their marks ibâ—a Bees that are cruell 326. swarmes of Bees and their fights ibid. what diseases Bees are subiect vnto and their remedies 326. they are engendred of a putrified carcasse 320. their â—ot going farre from their hiues a signe of raine 25 〈◊〉 ringing clearer and louder than ordinarie a â—igne of aine 25 â—â—aiamine borne the 23. dâ—y of the Moone 34 〈◊〉 173. and the speciall obseruations about the same ibid. 〈◊〉 tree 665 666 â—â—esonie â—02 Betonie distilled 453. watâ—r Betonie 211. Paules Betonie 204. called the Leapers hearbe and why ibid. 〈◊〉 or Oxen for the plough 539. fierce and cruell Beeues how tamed 92. of their diseases 9â— 94. three Beeues will not plough so much ground as one horse 91. great Beeues of Languedoâ— or Prouence 103. to cauâ—e Beeues to haue a good stomacke 436. to fat Beeues to sell 104. how they sore-shew raine 25. to
Maisters of families their office and dutie ibid. Masticke tâ—ee 306 Stinking Mathweed 53â— Mead and Methâ—glin what manner of drinke they be amongst the Polanders and Englishmen 332 Medowes and Medow-plots and how many sorts of Medowes and the manner of making them c. 49â— 492 What manner of hearbes must bee sowne in Medowes 495 To harrow water and cut downe Medowes 498. to gather in the hay 499 In what quarter of the Moone Medowes must bee cut downe 32 Medow-sweet 59 Meale of all sorts 573 〈◊〉 Hogges â—07 all Hogges better burnt than scalded ibid. Meâ—hoacan with a discourse of his maruellous root 225 the reason of the name and his vertues ibid. the markes of it ibid. the picture of it â—â—6 Meddicke fodder 494 â—64 and the husbanding of it ibid. Medlars how they may be kept a long time 408 Medlars without stones 36â— Sweet Mâ—lars 365 Spiced Medlarâ— 361 Where Medlars grow best what their facultieâ— be 382 Melilot 252 Melons 192. their gathering and goodnes ibidem Certaine obseruations about Meâ—â—as â—93 Mercurie 20â— Mesâ—ing or Masâ—ing 549-550 Meâ—â—salem borne the 8. day of the Moone a good day and happie day 33 Mâ—â—â—oile 206 The manner of ordering of Milke and well dressing of it 64 Milke of Nurses doth encrease by vsing the fomentation of the decoction of Cabages 166 To encrease Milke of Kine 500 Milke of Asâ—es for such as are in a consumption 147. and to make the bodie white an example ibidem Milke of Goats is leane and for what diseases it is good 119. Their Milke is more wholesome than Sheepes Milke 118. Milke distilled and the vertues thereof 469 Milleâ— how it muâ—â— be sowne and dressed 559 Milleâ— groweth weâ—l in a sandie ground 11 Mints why of old time for bidden to Captaines in warre 244 Myrrhe distilled 545 Oyle of Myrrhe 563 Mâ—tle-tree and his nature 289 Miâ—kâ—ns their 〈◊〉 and nature 725 The Moneths of the yeare and their disposition foreshewed 28 The Moone how it increaseth and decreaseth 30 of the Influencâ—â—â— thereof ibid. what power euery quarter of the yeare hath ouer beasts plants and fruits 32 foreshewing snow in the Winter 25 of the Criticall daies thereof 31 Mortar of wisdome 447 Motherwort groweth in ill-tilled and rough grounds 200 To Mowe 49. To hunt Mowles and to kill them 315 Moysâ— parted the sea the 26. day of the Moone 34 Mugwort 250 Mulberies early and late 362. how kept a long time 409. white ones that neuer grow red or black 363 Mulberietrees their seed where it must be sowne 339 of two sorts and what earth they loue their properties 383 how to graft them ibidem and how they are planted 341 Mulcheepers Mulets Mules their nature food and diseases 251 Mules Muletâ— the diuersities of their generations ibidem rubbing their â—ares more than ordinarie a signe of raine 25 of Auuergne good for the plough 89 they exceed all other beasts 540 a good Mulet is an euill beast ibidem White Mullen 205 Muskadell 364 Musicke inuented by Sheepheâ—rds 110 Mushrums eaten the remedie against their mischiâ—uousnesse 61 Mustard and how it must be made 281 Mustard of diuers countries ibidem N 〈◊〉 born in the ninth day of the Moone an indifferent day 33 Narcissus and why so called 239 Nature is neuer idle 531 Nauewes and Nauâ—â—s and their vertues 158 568 186. being lowne they put forth by the end of three daies 161 The Neat-heard his charge and conditions 90 Necessâ—â—â— begeâ—â—eth skill and awakeneth care 5 A good Neighbour requisite 5 〈◊〉 stinging and dead 209. they make flesh to bee soone 〈◊〉 ibid. New Wine not verâ—e wholesome 617. what it is 622 Necoâ—iana wâ—th hâ—s maruellous vertues 215. an heat be of diâ—ination 2â—â— the Quintessence thereof and two excellent ornaments made of the same 222 223. distilled 453 Nigella 252 Nightingales male and female to know one from the other 719. to cure them being melancholicke 718. how they must be handled and â—ed 717 Mad Nightshade â—â—2 Noâ— the first inuentor of making and drinking of wines 410. borne the tenth of the Moone a prosperous day 33 Normans would be intreated peaceably 23 The North hurtfull to the Farme-house 5 The Nurserie 18 The Orchards Nurserie 334 339 O OAkes and their kinds 556. males and females ibid. Oakes are the most noble and deaâ—est of all other trees 649 At what time Oakes would be planted 652 How to sowe Acoâ—nes for the growing of Oakes 655 656 To haue Oakes greene at all times 363 Oakes grow a hundred yeares stand at one stay a hundred yeares and are decaying a hundred yeares 6â—6 Oake of lerusalem 246 Oate-meale made of Oates and the making thereof 558 575 Oates and their manner of husbandrie 558. distilled ibid. Oile Oliue of three sorts 427. how it must be made prepared and kept 426 428. the vertues thereof ibid. Oile an enemie to plants 429 prepared three waies 424 of many sorts and their vertues 431 hot and cold 432 distilled their faculties and lasting 479 of diuers hearbes and their qualities 433 the manner of pressing them out of fruits 429 three things must be considered in them ibid. made by impression 431 the time fittest to distill them 474 the order to be kept therein 474 475 478 distilled and a discourse thereupon 469 of Roles of two sorts 433. ibid. and a new way to make the same ibid. of Linseed 368 of â—â—uing things or their parts 458 of Gâ—aâ—acum 48â— of Nauets â—86 of Virgins 427 of Foxes how made 434 of Serpents ibid. of Eggeâ— 4â—5 of Wheat ibid. of Hay ibid. of Brimstone 436 â—â— Oile Omphacine 427 〈◊〉 To thaw Oâ—â—â— when it is frozen 428 〈◊〉 Where to keepe and lay vp Oiles 17 〈◊〉 Oliues and Oliue-trees 295 〈◊〉 Oliues how kept long 409 the gathering and profit of them 296 preserued 4â—â— in what ground they delight most 388 their nature ibid. to plant and graft them 388 to geld them ibid. â—â—saruellous things of the Oliue-tree 296 〈◊〉 liueâ—rees grafted vpon the Vine 388 planted in what season 37 grafted ibid. being barren how to make them to become fruitfull 389 must be kept from Turtle-doues and Stares 390 they hinder not Vines 597 full of mosse 339 〈◊〉 â—range-trees what ground they craue 376 how to plant sowe and graâ—t them 302 〈◊〉 â—ranges preserued 421. distilled 464. and how kept 409 〈◊〉 â—â—ganie or bastard Maricrome 245 â—â—rpin 206 â—â—esser Orpin ibid. 〈◊〉 â—he Farnâ—ers 〈◊〉 16 〈◊〉 â—xen more profitable for the Plough than Bulls 90. and how they must be gelded 91 〈◊〉 â—he Ozâ—â—r plot 11 P PAlma-Chrisâ—â— 211 Palmer-wormes and how to kill them 314 Pantrie 579 〈◊〉 â—aper endureth euerie thing â—9 〈…〉 â—88 〈◊〉 â—ild â—arsneps 495 〈◊〉 â—rtridges 84 〈◊〉 â—assion what manner of Wine it is 622 〈…〉 to make bread and how to handle and dresse it 577 〈◊〉 â—asture ground 18 〈◊〉 â—aunsies and their veâ—â—ues 240 〈◊〉 â—tacâ—-plumtree 372 〈◊〉 â—each-trees how planted and where 338 how grafted 362 eately 384 〈◊〉
leache of 425 Dâ—inke of all sorts made after the English manner 588 589 Dung for Gardens 156 E ELme and the goodnesse 650 English practise added to the French 2 F FIgge-treeâ— growing in cold soyles to beare fruitfully 194 Fish in ponds how to feede with the best foode 509 Fish-ponds how to make 505 506 Flaxe â—54 Flower of the night 241 Flowers for Bees 316 Foxes by what meanes they get their eâ—â—ths 70â— G GRound Iuie the vertues 207 Goose grasse the vertues 207 Garden of pleasure how to proportion 234. alleies how trim 235. quarters to adorne 235. inward and outward beautie 277. hedges for borders 278 Grounds wet how to draine 335 Geese enemies to grasse 493 Grasse when best to cut how to make into hay the windrowes the hay cockes 499 Grasse sower and harâ—h choice and vse of hay of moist hay of drie hay 500 curiositie in hay making the grazing is good for hay ground 501 Garners how to make and their vse 547 548 Greyhound 673 diuersitie of Greyhounds choice of Greyhounds the breeding of Greyhounds 674. Greyhounds how to place for Teasers Goshâ—wkes more worth than Sparrowâ— hawkes 707. The differences betweene the Ramage or Brauncherhawkes and the Iâ—as hawkes 708. how to enter your Sparrow hawke all the diseases of the Sparrow hawk 709. phisicke for hawkes the seuerall impediments of hawkes 710 Gerâ—aulcons and their kinds 712. how to keepe the Gerâ—aulcon of Gerâ—aulcons the white is the best 713 H HOrsemans instruments 123 Horses food 124 Horse nose-slit naught 126 Horse to gueld 126 Horse keepers office 126 Horse exercise after water 128 Horse to make trot 132 Horse to make amble 133 Helpeâ— for stumbling 133 Horse to make racke 134 Horse to make gallop 134 Horse with best maâ—kes or signes 135 136 Horses age 136 Hempe 154 Hearbs that will hardly grow and how to preserue to make grow soone â—59 to remoue 163 Hearbs of the East 229 Hearbs of the West 230 Hearbs of the North. 230 231 Hearbs of the South 231 232 233. Heâ—â—â—opian 241 Hiues dead how to order 316 Hâ—ues made of straw 318. where to place them 318 Horses and oxen of France 539 Hempe what ground is best and the ordering 566 Of Hounds 673. Hounds being young how they are to be taught and trained 682 Hunting of Deere at force with Hounds only 686 Hores what places are best to find them in 695 Hobby a Hawke and the vse 712 Hawkes which bee called Longâ— winged Hawkes which short 715 Husbandrie the maner entreated of 1 I INamâ— how to prepare to sow corne vpon 556 L LIllies and their vertues 239 Line or Flax how to order after the English manner 567 568. to make white thred to make oyle of Line seede 568 M MAâ—â—iues and their collars 121 Marâ—â—gon of Constantinople 241 Muâ—â—ard how to make 281 Marmalade how to make of Oranges Lymons Cytrons 420 Meadowâ—s and their differences in England 491 Marshes salt and their profit 492 Maâ—â—in how to crop and gather 550 Malt and how to make it after the English manner 556 557 Maple and the vse 663 Meâ—â—ins and their seuerall kinds 712 N NFâ—s of diuers sorts to take fish with 507 508 Nut trees or Haâ—ell trees 373 O ORchards how to inclose 135 Oyle of Oats 425 Oats a great breeder of grasse 493 Of the Oxe harrow 544 Oats and the profit 558. Oatmeale how to make 558 Oake the goodnesse necessâ—â—ie and vse 619 P PEstilence 147 Pursâ—an to preserue 177 Pyoaâ—â— 242 Pipâ—ins how to sow 336 337 To Preserue Barbeâ—ies 422 To Preserue Filbeâ—â—â—or small nuts 423 Pasts how to make and the diuersities of colours 424 Ploughâ— of diuers fashions 532 Plowing with English Oxen. 340 Pasterie in the right kind and the vse thereof 585 586 Parkâ— what ground they should consist of 668 669. the water for Parks the proâ—it and a strange example therof 669 Q QViâ—keâ—â—â— how to plant 153 Quince cakes how to make 423 R THe best Runnet 65 Rams that are best 110 Rot how to cure 114 â—hewme in the eye 147 â—ye how to sowe and order after the English manner 549 S 〈◊〉 Stâ—â—â—e how to â—eed soone 103 Sheepe and the diuersities 216 Staggers 147 〈◊〉 â—traines 148 〈◊〉 â—pautâ— 148 〈◊〉 â—ignes of outward diseases 148 〈◊〉 â—ignes of inward diseases 148 〈…〉 breakes imposâ—umations 171 〈◊〉 â—pinage sallad 174 〈…〉 pouch vertues 209 〈◊〉 â—â—uces how to make to dâ—ayne medowes 494 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—â—age a great friend to meadowes 496 〈◊〉 â—â—edes to be sowne in meadowes as sweepings of hay-barne floures 496. fodderings of cattell and sheepe and the speciall commoditie thereof 497 498 〈◊〉 â—awne of 〈◊〉 how to preserue 506 〈◊〉 oyle or mudde of ditches good dungâ— 537 〈◊〉 â—eed wheat of diuers sorts 543 〈…〉 how to make them hunt well 681 〈◊〉 Of Spanyâ—â— and their vse and ordering 679 〈◊〉 Setting dogges and their vse 680 〈◊〉 Sythes and Syckles 545 T TAbacco vertues 219 220 Translator to the English Reader 2 Tâ—â—pan 241 V VArietie of Countries causeth a dâ—uers manner of labouring of the earth 1 Violets to preserue 236 W WAlking horses nor good 131 Warts 148 Water-Spanyels their vse and ordering 682 Weeding why not to vse â—59 Weeds how to destroy 334 Winnowing of corne 548 Woad-ground 309. the making of Woad 309. the vertues 320 Y Yâ—llowes 14â— FINIS ⧠A Table of the Diseases and Remedies described in the seuen Bookes of the Farme-House A AFter-birth of women newly brought in bed 54 183 206 207 210 214 247 249 251 287 360 How the Age of a man may be a great while prolonged 428 An euill Aire and 〈◊〉 meanes to driue it away 199 449 Anthrax or Carbuncle 58 Apostemes 120 214. of all sorts and the healing of them 56 57 122. to ripen them 155. cold Apostemes 120. Apostemes of the breast 109 Apostemes in Oxen. 102 Apoplexie 42 239 251 456 To keepe Apparrell 247 Appetite lost 182. how to recouer it againe 291 〈…〉 in horses 139 B BAcke and ache of the backe 434 Barbes a horses disease â—40 Barrennesse in women the remedies 52 82 245 246 249 251 288 To bring women to Bed without paine 243. to bee brought in bed before ones time 54. difficultie to bee brought in bed 54 To keepe Bees from flying away and to driue them 252 Belcking 249. at the mouth 48 Beâ—â—ie and the fluxe thereof 69. the coâ—â—iuenesse of the bellie 71. ache in the bellie 434. coâ—â—iuenesâ—e 206 â— 209 428. to loosen it mightily 287 Bellie-ache fluxe of the bellie and the bellie bound in Oxen 96. paines of the bellie in horses 129 Vntimely Birth 204 Bitings of Dogges that are mad 61 189 199 244 387 391 395 678 of venimous Beasts 205 of the Viper 75 of Serpents 61 102 250 362 677 690 of the Wolfe 7â— of Shrowes 102 147 171 of Scorpions 102 of Flies vpon horses 143 Bitings or wounds made by the wild Bore are dangerous 690 The Bladder 457 Bâ—â—sters 213 Blâ—â—d cluttered 201. fluxe of
head The Horse 〈◊〉 with cold The naile in the eye Against the bloud 〈…〉 pearlâ— and spots in the 〈◊〉 The 〈…〉 The bleared eye The skarre of the eyes Paine of the eye The â—arâ—fore or swelling of the kernels of the hart The auiues The squinancie or inflamation of the throte The Strangles The Barbes The soupe or excrescencâ— vnder the bellie To chase away files The paines of the gums and teeth The short winded horse The cough in a 〈◊〉 The horse 〈◊〉 Ague The faintnesse of the heart The broken backe The horse ouer-heated Paine in the belli Difficultie of vrine For the sniuell The Flying worme The Iauar The Figge The Wenne For a galled backe A horse swayed in the backe The backe 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 The iaundise Costiues The 〈…〉 For a horse that is bursten The â—â—inging of Flies The farcie Clefts For the scabbe The Horse swelled The colicke in a Horse The swellings of the coddes For a Fistula For a Canker The Iauar or scab in the 〈◊〉 The Horse cloyed Alene Horse The enterfering of a horse The spauine Chaps Cliâ—ts The grapes or scabber For the 〈◊〉 swelling For the disease called Paumon or 〈◊〉 galle The disease of the hoofe or the corne of the fâ—oat The garrot The disease of the necke The Palamie or bloudie chops in the palate The courbe or a long swelling beneath the elbow of the hough The swelling of the Knee Broken and chapt Knees Chafings Old tumours Wormes and bots The current Flux of bloud The restie horse Poyson eaten The stinging of Vipers The biting of the Shrew The biting of a mad dogge Hens dung swallowed by the horse The leane horse The raging loue of Mares Yellowes Stagger Pestilence Cords Rheume in the Eye A Warte A Straine Spauen To know diseases by their signes Signes of inward griefes The Horse-leacherie of P. Vegetius translated by the Author The milke of an Asse good for them in consumptions and for to make faire the countenances of women Rest maketh an Asse alwaies after vnfit for labour The markâ—s of a good Asse The diseases of the Asse The Asses-hide The Asses-â—ooâ—e The Aâ—â—e doth 〈…〉 The Mules of Auernia The diuers maners of the engendring of male and female Mules The markes of a good Asse to câ—uer she Mules Signes of a good Horse-Mule Of a good Mare-Mule The diseases of the Horse and Mare-Mule Ague Difficultie of breath Scabs in the pasternes Leanenes Cough Collicke Wearinesse and â—uer-heating The smoâ—ke of the hoofe of a Mare-Muâ—e A Quick-set Hedge The Garden doore The paths in the Garden The Inclosure Grounds Hedges The fashion of an Arbor The binding of the Arbor The worke of the Arbor and of the Vine is alike All manâ—â—r of ground by being long 〈◊〉 doth grow leaâ—t Little Turneps or Nauest Coleworts Great Turneps of both sorts Spinach Leekes and Cyues Onions Chiboles Carrets Sage and Hysope A Labyrinth Lettuce seed To chuse seeds Fine hearbs Seeds that will hardly grow Cucumbers and Citruls The power of the encrease of the Moone To â—â—w seeds in the Spring To sow seeds in Summer At what time seed must be sowne is cold and hot places The age of seeds Watring What water is good for Seeds What time is good to water Weeding and raking Clipping or cutting of hearbes Slips Gatheringâ— The time to gather Seeds The way to keepe hearbes The way to keepe flowers To keepe Prouence Roses To keepe seeds To keepe roots Common Coleworts The seed too old Prouerbe Cabage-cole The curled cole Coleworts of a good tast Red Coleworts The planting of Coleworts The watering of Coleâ—â—â—ts The 〈◊〉 betwixt 〈◊〉 the vine and the Colewort Coleworts doe keepe one from beâ—ng 〈◊〉 Coleworts enemâ—e vnto Organic and Rue Rotten Coleworts The vertues of Coleworts 〈…〉 The curled and cabbaged Lettuce The Romane Lettuce White Lettuce Cabbaged lettuce White and fairâ— Lettucâ—â— To cause Lettuce to small well Salad hearbâ— mixt together The vertues of the Lettuce â—ndiue 〈◊〉 Succoriâ— The vertues of Succorie Spitting of blâ—ud To sow Artichâ—kes vpon beds Choice of Arâ—ichokes Artichokes of a good smell Artichokes smelling like Bayeâ— Sweet Artichokes The vertues of the Artichoke The vertues of Sorrell The bloudie flux The plague The vertues of Burnet Harts-horne To cause harts-horne to thriue The vertues of harts-horne The vertues of Trickmadame Pearceâ—â—one or Sampier The preseruing of Sampier Iaundise Stone Marigolds Tuâ—ied and wel thriuing Marigolds The vertues of Marigolds Beets A speâ—iall 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 Red beets The vertues of the beets For â—o make 〈◊〉 quickly The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Spinage The virtues of Spinage The vertue of Buglosse 〈◊〉 The vertues of Lâ—â—kes Poyson 〈◊〉 at the 〈◊〉 Difficultieâ— of making water For 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 birth Spitting of bloud Small Leeks 〈…〉 〈…〉 Dâ—ought Burning agues Chaps in the lips To preserâ—â— Purcelane To keepe 〈◊〉 from râ—tting To make choâ—ce of 〈◊〉 The vertues of 〈◊〉 Dropsie Kibed heeles The biting of a â—ad dogge Red spots Garlicke Sweet Garliâ—â— How to keepe Garlickâ— The 〈◊〉 of Garlicke The 〈◊〉 of Garlicke The Plague The 〈◊〉 of a mad Doggâ— Nits Liâ—e Colicke Cough 〈◊〉 ach Wormes Difficultie of 〈◊〉 Birds 〈◊〉 The vertues of 〈◊〉 Parsley The vertues of Parsley Deliuerie of women in their trauell A stinking breath To make water The Colicke Paine of the reines Rocket The force of Rocket 〈◊〉 and hardnesse of the spleene Tarragon Smallage Cheruile The vertues of Cherâ—ile Costmarie and 〈◊〉 The way to haue good â—â—ore of Asparagâ—â— Asparagâ—â— may grow of a Sheepes horne 〈…〉 Garden Water-Cresseâ— The vertues of Wateâ— and Garden-Cresses Tâ—â—th-ach Palsie Coâ—â—cke Good Saffron The gâ—thering and keeping of Napes The vertues of Napes Tâ—â—neps Turneps are the â—rdinarie â—eat of them of 〈◊〉 and Sauoy Turnep seed is veriâ— small Faire turneps The keeping of turneps The vertues of turneps Radishes Radishes 〈…〉 Sweet radishes Good radishes Trâ—â—ell of child bâ—â—th Nâ—ise of the â—ares The ill 〈…〉 wine Spots Grauell and 〈…〉 〈…〉 Parsneps Mypes Carrets Skirworts The vertâ—â—s The goodnesse of Mustard The â—ertues of Mustard 〈…〉 The vertues of the cucumber Gourdes The goodnesse of the seed The vertues of Gourdâ—s Melons and Pâ—â—pions The gathering of Melons The goodnesse of Melons 〈…〉 The â—ertues of Melons Melons cause 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Pompions Gourdâ— and Cucumber without seed For the helping forward of their growth A Cucumber without water 〈…〉 Sweet Pompions Suger-Melâ—â—s Lasting Poâ—pions A woman in her tâ—rmes maketh Pompions drie and diâ— To keepe Cucumbers fresh a long time Pompions smeling like Roses Strawberries The â—ertues of Strawberries 〈…〉 Mallowes 〈◊〉 The 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Arsmart Eye-bright 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The vertues of Elicampane Dittander The vertues of Dittander Celandine great and small The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Little Celandâ—â—e 〈…〉 Valerian Angelica The virtues of Angelica Thâ— Plague Against the biting of a â—ad dogge Blessed Thistle The vertues of Blessed thistle Mother-wort Golden-rod The vertues of Golden-rod Saxifrage The great and small Burre Star-thistle Lâ—die-thistle Siluer-grasse
make it purge and boyle vp and withall they hang in the vessell a nodule or knot full of 〈◊〉 pepper ginger graines of paradise and cloues also they cast into the vessell a handfull of Elder-tree-flowres they set the vessell in the Sunne in Summer time for the space of fortie daies or in Winter they set it in some caue vnder the ground This kind of honied water is verie soâ—â—â—aigne against 〈◊〉 agues 〈◊〉 dispositions of the bodie diseases of the braine as the falling sicknesse apoplexie and palsie in which cases wine is forbidden The countrie men of Prouence and the Italians doâ— make marchpaines of honie and almonds after this manner Take white honie three pound and three whites of egges beat all together with a woodden pestill in a bason till it grow vnto the colour of milke afterward see the bason vpon a fire of coales stirring all together very carefully with the pestill till such time as it become somewhat thicke then put thereto sweet almonds stamped and fried such quantitie as shall be needfull for the making of it of some good consistence being yet hot powre it our vpon some marble or polished table make vp your marchpaine thereof and it will be singular good for them to eat which are in a consumption as also to procure spitting CHAP. LXXI Of the markes of good Waxe and the manner of preparing diuers sorts of Waxe GOod Waxe must be of a verie yellow colour smelling sweet far light pure 〈◊〉 close neat and purified from all filth It is the ground of other Waxes called artificiall as being by art made into diuers colours as blacke red greene and white Waxe Blacke Waxe is made with ashes of burnt paper greene by putting 〈◊〉 vnto it red by putting the root of Alkanet vnto common Wax or the powder of Cinnabrium but white Waxe is made many waies but for the most part after this sort and manner Melt Waxe in some vessell â—it for the purpose afterward 〈◊〉 it from all manner of superfluities through a strainer being thus strained 〈…〉 a soft coale fire in a great skellet or vessell of copper to keepe it liquid and in 〈◊〉 close thereby you shall haue one or two great barrells made after the manner of 〈◊〉 â—ubs full of water newly drawne out of the well in which you shall wet 〈…〉 that are round flat and halfe finger thicke fashioned like round coueâ— or 〈◊〉 of pots and in the middest they shall be made fast to a little sticke or woodden 〈◊〉 manner of a graspe by which one may handle them you shall dip the same 〈◊〉 well wet in water in the vessell where the Waxe shall be melted and pâ—eâ—â—â—ly after you shall pull them out full of Waxe and put them in the water â—ubs where the 〈◊〉 will abide that shall haue cleaued vnto them you shall gather this wax together and spread euerie peece by it selfe vpon hurdles couered with linnen cloth in the 〈◊〉 heat of the Sunne in the moneth of Iulie and vpon these you shall leaue it till it become white In the meane time while it shall thus lie in the Sunne if it happen 〈◊〉 the heat of the Sunne be so vehement that it melteâ—h the wax so spâ—ed vpon the hurdles you must water and sprinkle it often with coole water by the same meaâ—â— also defend it from the Bees which will flie thither from all corners to 〈◊〉 out the honie Otherwise boyle the wax in water so oâ—t as vntill that you see it 〈…〉 it this manner of whitening wax is not so sure nor of so easie charges as the 〈◊〉 for the often melting of the Wax doth wast it verie much but the drying of it in the Sunne bringeth no great losse as you shall best find after proofe and triall made To make â—earing candle Take two pound of new Wax a pound of good 〈◊〉 and a quarter of a pound of turpentine mixe them and make searing Wax The end of the second Booke THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE COVNTRIE FARME The Orchard or Greene plot CHAP. I. Of the differences of Orchards or Greene plots and the inclosing of the Fruit-Garden THere are three sorts of Orchards or Greene plots the one otherwise called an Arbour contriued with great bankes and this is pointed out and prouided in a field couered with green grasse and a fountaine in the middest of it and wrought-into dâ—uers plaine and euen plots and braunches consisting of loâ—ts which are sustained and borne vp with carpentrie or frames of timber vnder which a great number of people may sit couered ouer head Of this sort I haue seene at Basill and 〈◊〉 other places in Germanie and to â—it a place for this manner of greene plot it 〈◊〉 requisite that it be cleansed from all manner of stones and weeds not so much as 〈◊〉 roots left vndestroyed and for the better accomplishing hereof there must boyâ—â—ng water be powred vpon such ends of roots as sâ—aying behind in the ground canâ—â—ot be well pulled vp and afterward the floore must be beaten and troden downe 〈◊〉 â—ightily then after this there must be cast great quantity and store of turfes of earth 〈◊〉 of greene graâ—â—e the bare earthie part of them being turned and laied vpward 〈◊〉 afterward daunced vpon with the feet and the beater or pauing-beetle lightly 〈◊〉 ouer them in such sort as that within a short time after the graâ—â—e may begin 〈◊〉 peepe vp and put forth like small haires and finally it is made the sporting green 〈◊〉 for Ladies and Gentlewomen to recreate their spirits in or a place whereinto â—â—hey may withdraw themselues if they would be solitarie and out of â—ight The second sort of greene plots is that which our auncient Frenchmen who first â—â—rote our Romane discourses and histories haue taken and vsed for a place of 〈◊〉 for Princes and was called in aâ—ncient time after the manner of a sojouâ—â—ing 〈◊〉 abiding place but now by the name of a beautifull prospect Which beside the â—â—ately building singularly contriued in partitions diuersitie of workes and most â—â—aire windows compassed in with goodly water ditches â—ed from continuall runâ—â—ng Springs doth containe an â—â—ner and base Court with gardens for pleasure and fruits with vnderwoods warrens fishponds and whatsoeuer goodly and beautifull thing is wont to stand about princely palaces The third sort of greene plots is that which we intend to trim vp in this place and it may supplie the place of the fruit garden for a house respecting and looking to thrift and to keepe a houshold for husbandrie such a one as we haue here 〈◊〉 to furnish and set out euerie way well appointed and in which vve are 〈◊〉 to regard profit joyned with a meane and moderate beautie and coâ—â—â—nesse than any vnnecessarie â—umptuousnesse Therefore to goe on in our designed course and intended plot this place requireâ—h that next after the kitchin and flower gardens with their appurtenâ—â—â—â—
vve make readie and trim vp a greene plot for fruit trees containing in it as much ground as both the other gardens and that without any manner of other aâ—â—eys of 〈◊〉 beewixt it and the gardens or in the middest of it selfe than such distance and spare as must of necessitie be betwixt the trees and whereof we will speake more 〈◊〉 and without also whatsoeuer other husbandriâ— grasse or other things whereof you might hope to make some proâ—it vnderneath whether of hay or any such other thing which would grow there for the fruit tree would not haue his sustenance purâ—oyned or kept from it by the â—â—lling of other plants which might be â—eared about it neither doth it craue to be kept vvaâ—me in Winter time but onely tilled and ordered according to his seasons because that otherwise it would yeeld no profit vnto the owner thereof The situation of the orchard would be vpon some hill top or some little hill rather than in a plaine ground for besides that such seats haue better ayre more pleâ—sant and delightsome for contentment of contemplation and view and diuers other allâ—rements which will there offer themselues the tops of hills are yet more apt to containe greater number of fruit trees to be planted therein than the plaine groâ—â—â— possibly can for such as stand in plaines if they be planted any whitneere do annoy one another vvith their shade the other on the contrarie side according as it 〈◊〉 more and more from the foot causing euerie tree to ouer-looke his fellow taketh away the discommoditie or inconuenience of such ouershadowing one of another It must also be planted somewhat more vpon the North than vpon the South quarter that so it may minister matter of rejoycing to such as shall behold it out at the windowes in his beautie and jolitie Indeed if it be planted vpon the South it 〈◊〉 more open vpon the Sunne whose heat is verie requisite for fruit trees but then 〈◊〉 would not stand so faire for prospect besides that it vvould be offended and 〈◊〉 of the dust and filth of the threshing fâ—oore vvhen the corne is threshâ— if in case it should stand neere vnto it In any case let it not stand vpon the North-West quarter because it is a moâ—â— deadly enemie vnto all sorts of plants but principally of flowers which it singeth as if a fire had passed that vvay and the cause is for that it commeth from the 〈◊〉 side and taketh part with the North vvhich is verie rough and sharpe but yet not so dangerous as that North-West vvind vvhich bloweth once a yeare chiâ—â—ly 〈◊〉 the Spring and spoyleth the cherâ—â—e-tree-flowers and the vine more than any of the 〈◊〉 Whereupon there arose this Latine verse Vae tibi galerna per quâ—m sit clausa 〈◊〉 In any case let not the ground vvhereon you plant your orchard be marshie or 〈◊〉 terish for the fruits growing vpon such grounds are not vvell relished neither 〈◊〉 vvill they last long it must likewise be inriched one yeare before that it be cast and digged to make any nurceriâ— there either of seeds or steckes and after it hath 〈◊〉 the second time digged and dâ—â—ged or marled you must let it rest digest his dung and marle and in like manner pick out the stones that are in it most carefully And as concerning the naturall disposition and goodnesse thereof it must be â—at in handling blacke in colour and vvhich murleth easily in breaking and stirring it vvith your fingers not being hard clayie chalkie or sandie Yet if it be so that the situation of your Farme lyeth in such a soyle as is marshie and vvaterish for 〈◊〉 man cannot make choice of his abiding and it is a brauer reputation to the Husbandman to make a barren earth fruitfull than to make a fruitfull ground pleasant therefore as â— said if your ground lye low and be much subâ—ect to wet and rottenneâ—â—e you shall trench it diuers waies almost in the manner of a Labyrâ—th cutting one â—rench into another in such wiâ—e that the water may haue a descent of falling away into some Brooke Riuer or other Dike which as a Sewer may carrie away the wet and keepâ— the Orchard drâ—â— and also you shall bring from some other Grounds Lakes or Ponds great store of earth mudde and other compas wherewith you shall raise and heighten the bankes betweene the trenches in such â—ort that they may remaine and be farre from the danger of washing or ouerflowing of anie water and these bankes you shall stake well with strong Oaken stakes on euerie side and plant great store of Oziers also about them to maintain and hold vp the earth from falling Then as soone as you see these bankes firme and beginning to grow to haue a greene swarâ—h vpon them you shall plant your fruit-stocks of euerie seuerall kind vpon the same and without all doubt they wil prosper and grow there as well as in any ground whatsoeuer as may be seene in diuers places both of this and other Kingdomes The inclosure or defence vnto the Orchard shall be either a hedge of Quickset which is in truth the most pleasant and conuenient though yet the wall be more profitable as being more strong and built in lesse time which also being planted and handsomely dressed affoordeth not much lesse pleasure than the hedge or else if you like it better a ditch cast about it with a Quickset hedge set vpon the raised side thereof but in this according as the sufficiencie and reuenues of the Farme will beare it 〈◊〉 yet alwaies prouided that it be out of the way of the cattell and where no man 〈…〉 except he enter in at the gareâ—â— and graunted that the wall is the surest kind 〈◊〉 defence as also the strongest most profitable and perfected in least time Besides the wall of all other â—ences is most needfull for the Orchard as well for the strength indurâ—ance and safe keeping of the same as also for the great profit which commeth thereby to all maner of fruit which is planted and plashit vp against the same chiefly in those cold countries where the Sunne is not altogether so violent nor so readie to 〈◊〉 as in these our 〈◊〉 â—oyles of France for it is most certaine that by planting any daintie or render fruit close to a wall and spreading his braunches open against the same which with loopes of leather or felt together with small nailes may easily be done â—aâ—â—ning euerie principall braunch and materiall twig to the wall it will doubtlesse put â—orth as early flower knit and ripen being in a cold and hard â—oyle as if it were in the warâ—nest and fertillest earth which doth best of all agree with its nature as may be seene daily both in the cold and barren countries of Fraunce as also in other kingdomes much more Northerly and lesse beholden to the Suns warmenesse And herein you shall vnderstand that the principall fruit trees which delight