could not reuell deuour and swyll y had hee committed into the handes of Fortune to sporte wythall Exercise is called the best sauce for meate and hunger is coumpted a delicate or daynty dishe fynely sawced for the prouocations of glottonye and curious cates and iunkettes sought for both out of the ayre the heauens earth and the Sea doe not sauouâ—e or relice better wyth an ydle slouthfull person then bread doth wyth him that laboureth and is an hungered Ptolomeus the kynge wanderinge throughe Egipt and his souldiers hauinge not ouertaken hym wyth victuels beynge verye hungrye dyd eate course bread which he gotte out of a shepeheardes cottage greedely with greate appetite swearing that in all his lyfe time he did neuer eate any thinge more sweete and delicate then that bread was Also Darius flyinge from Alexander beinge sore athirste did with great lust and greedines drincke muddye and troubled water taken out of the next ryuer whiche was soylled and stenched wyth dead carcases throwen into it sayinge that hee neuer tasted any thinge sweeter in all his lyfe A certayne swyllinge dronckarde geuen to gullinge quaffinge was wont to say in sporte that hee neuer thursted bycause hee did with oftentimes drinâ—kinge preuente his thirst But the ciuil man must expect and looke that nature wyl require meat which by walking labouring exercisinge himselfe is to bee prouoked by the exaÌ„ple of Socrates the Philosopher whoÌ„ on a tyme walkinge a certayne man asked why he so did he aunswered UUith walkinge honger buy would I fayne Good appetite for my supper to gayne The auncient Romaynes for no other cause vsed to sup in their open courtes vnder the open ayre but to the entent to shew their continencie and frugalitye vnto the people whose care and studie was not so greate to pester their table with manye dishes as it was afterwardes to their posteritie for the Epicure who was the auoucher and meinteyner of pleasures dispised fine and dayntie dilicates and filled the barkes of trees which hee vsed for dishes wyth Herbes and Apples and woulde saye that a man shoulde feede vppon homely meate because they are the more easely to bee had for delicate dishes and exquisite brothes are prepared and dressed with great care and excessiue coste and do make a greater griefe trouble before a man can fynde theym forth then they bringe pleasure in eatinge Hippocrates also wryteth that such persons as are carefull for Gluttonye and Bellycheare are neuer in sound health neyther can be long lyued and that their spirites are so incombred with to much bloud and too much â—ramminge as if they were wallowed and soused in the myre and therfore they haue no mynde vpoÌ„ any sober or heauenly thinge but alwayes frame theymselues to thincke vpon their dishes and how they may fill their bellies It is a thing profitable so to dispose that minde with somthing that thereby at all tymes seasons fruites may be had and reaped for fewe thinges can be wantinge for dayly expences vnto a ciuil man if hee will haue diligente care to looke to his husbandrye and the feedinge of his cattle a very meane diligence wherein Cato sayde did encrease a mannes substaunce neyther ought any man to be ashamed to fede flocks of beasts or heards of cattle for euen most noble persons of all the aunciente people afore tyme did vse to feede and keepe Cattle Let banquettinge be seeldome haunted of a good cittizen for it is vncertayn whether the same banquets purchase a maÌ„ fauour or displeasure for although those that are bidden guestes bee bound to requite the same with like agayn yet there are many whiche beinge neglected and vnbidden do take disdayne thereat and practise againste the same eyther reproche or Iniurye for to keepe Bankettes or feastes is thought to belonge vnto kinges princes and most wealthiest personages Ryot and couetousnes are two plagues which as Titus Liuius sayth haue oftentimes subuerted and vtterlye destroyed whole citties and Empyres Let the good Citizen keepe a meane in his apparell obserue a measure in his degre ability for in deede as it is a fowle thinge to weare yll fauoured and vndecente garmentes so is it subiect to enuye to weare that whiche is to gorgious and fine and especially when as a mannes substance will not stretche to mainteyn the same or wheras hee beinge indebted to others braues it oute vppon other menns purses for in apparel this is to be considered that a man weare nothing but such as he may lawfully and that it doe not differ from the customable order and vsage of his country let it be suche as may become both the person that weareth it his stocke kynred his yearees and manners for as fine braue apparell so far forth as it becoÌ„meth doth adde dignity aucthority vnto meÌ„ so nyce womanish ryotous apparell doth not coÌ„mend set out the body but discouereth the vanitie of the mynde Adrianê° Caesar herin purchased to himself prayse because hee ordayned the the Senators the worshipfull persoÌ„s of Rome should not goe abrode but in their gownes except when they returned home from suppers Al necessarie expences are to be restrayned as the charges of funeralles whiche bring no commodity to those that are dead are chargeable to theÌ„ that are aliue and yet their fame and good report which liued with prayse honestye is not darkned with modest funeral ceremonies but on the other part their funeral poÌ„pe shal not make the memory of them to be famous among posterity whose life hauing bene lose and inglorious hath lefte nothinge behind theÌ„ worthy of memory Cyrus king of Persia commaunded by his last wyl and testament that there should beno other Sepulchre or tombe erected for him then the earth onely which brought forthe grasse flowers then which there can nothinge be fouÌ„de more noble neyther any thing that may more beautifye the graue surely me thinkes the reason of the auncient Egiptians is to bee deryded whereof Dyodorus maketh mention because they dispisinge the tyme of this present lyfe did call their dwelling houses by the names of Innes as the which they coumpted their harbours and lodginges for a small tyme but most vaynlye and fondlye they lashed out lustely and spared no coste in erecting of sumptuous ToÌ„bes burialls for they thought that the graues were the perpetuall euerlasting dwelling places of them that dyed and were therein buried The Scythians as Plutarch mencioned did burie wyth their dead kings their butlers cookes yea and harlotts to that end as I thincke that their kings should want no necessarie seruice after they were dead and certayne countries of India with their dead husbandes eyther burne or burie their beloued wiues or others whoÌ„soeuer they best loued in their life time Oh a matter not only horrible in sight but also to be spokeÌ„ of to kill a lyuing man because the dead
space cooled for if by Nature they had heate in them they wold not so sone become colde And surely vnto me it semeth a thing wonderfull that there are waters ordayned by the prouidence of god medicinable and able to cure all diseases incident vnto mortall men which do not in their curing vexe the diseased persons with slyâ—er sauces Receipts druggs and bitter dilutions neyther torment them with fyre or toole but with a most sweete bathe washing do restore them into their pristinate health Neyther haue y Springs whiche ryse from sulphereous or brimstony soyle these vertues only but those Springs also with passe haue their course through allomye soyle which doth cure the laske resolucion of y sinewes they are very good al 's for them that haue yll digestioÌ„ and yll stomackes Finally they do performe that thing which Asclepiades said was the office of a right good phisician y is to say to cure safely spedely pleasantly bituminous waters also haue their vertues which rather by drincking theÌ„ by bathing do helpe y diseased persoÌ„s for they do make the belly soluble without any payne or griefe do cure almost all the inward diseases of the body by purgation sometime the paynfull wringinge of the intrayles and guttes when they be exâ—lcerated wheÌ„ that excoriacion or bloudynes floweth froÌ„ theÌ„ are herby restored vnto their former health There is also a Nitrous kinde of colde water the drinking whereof doth purge diminisheal vnnatural accesses of the body specially the humours or swelling of the throate or the kinges euill such allomy saltish nitrous Springs yeld forth for the most part an euill smell relish for their ori ginall being from the very lowest partes of the earth do passe through the boate ardent haynes of the same Those that haue written of husbandry do say that euerye kinde of pulse being cast into water and set vppon the fier doth trye the same water very well they be quickly speedely boyled Certayn of the auncient Phisicians affirmed that kind of water to be best which is lightest or els y which being set on the fyre will soonest be boate so that it be cleane and pure vnmossye Al water that is fetchte froÌ„ the moorish or fenny grouÌ„ds is vnholsome so is al y doth not runne but standeth stil or els y whiche runneth through shaddowye places and darcke canes where the Sonne geeueth no shyne but worst of all is snowe dryce water as certayne auncient wrytens haue holden opinioÌ„ Cornelius Colsus doth thus wryte of waters Rayn water is the lightest water y is next is Spring or Wel water then ryuer water and laste of all is pytte water then describeth hee snow or yce water and that standinge water is heauye but the heauiest of all others sayth hee is that which is taken out of a moorish or fenny ground He that throughlye considereth the nature of these thinges wyll wyllingly prouide holesome liquor for the vse of himselfe and his fellowe Cittizens The best situacion for a City is y which is not farre distant froÌ„ the sea or froÌ„ som great nauigable riuer throughe which may be transported caryed out those things wherof we haue to great store and such thinges may bee brought vnto vs wherof wee stand in neede Surelye the mouthes or entries of ryuers haue great oportuâ—â—â—ye 〈…〉 their flowings pleasant tydes do not only enereâ—â—â— pleasure becom most holsom for all cattle sitheÌ„s they may goe easly without any coursing vebemeÌ„t resistaÌ„ce â–ª 〈…〉 water but also do make the fields pastures theruÌ„tâ— adioyning more rancke and fruictfull There is great diuersitie in ryuers euery of theÌ„ hath not coÌ„modity alyke for y riuer Nilus is couÌ„pted y most fertile fruitfullest riuer of al others it floweth through Egipt with great fertilitye for when it â—o hath ouer floweâ— the whole Lande all y Somer tyme it goeth backe agayne into his Chanell and leaueth the fieldes fatted witâ—mâ—ddâ— â–ª and very fruitefull for any tillage insomaâ—h that the inhabitauntes there haue scarcelye any neede of the labour of Oxen or of the helpe of anye husâ—aÌ„â—men to manure the same any further then only to cast thâ—ir seeâ—e theruppon And this do I iudge is to be attributed vnto Nature her selfe the best Parente of all thinges For sithens Egipt was destitute of â—eawe and rayne Nature in supplie thereof gaue thereunto this ryuer whiche should bee able to geeue nourishmeutes vnto Corne and Plantes For the deuine prouidence of God hath appointed innumerable courses of riuers for the vtilitye of the Lande and Soyle through which their course lyeth because no countrye shoulde be altogether without the helpe and furtherance of nature For the increase of the ryuer Nilus doth greately benefite and helpe that countrey because through the great ouerflowing therof many hurtfull beastes breeding there are thereby dispatched drowned except they spedely flye for refuge vnto y higher places vnto whiche Countrye alone these profites and commodities are incident that it neyther hath any cloudes nor cold windes or any thicke exhalacions the water thereof is very sweete insomuche that the Inhabitantes there can easely lyue without wyne and can drincke the same water with great pleasure I suppose the vicinitie or nearenes of the Sea maketh much better for the preseruation and safe keeping of a cittye both for the vse of ciuil lyfe and also for the gathering together of ryches wherewith citties are merueylousâ—ye enâ—â—eased but those Citties are farre more harder to bee besieged which the Sea washeth vpon seeing that to the siege and expugnacion thereof is required not onelye a greate power by Sea but also a greate Armie by land Wherof iâ— the one be wanting the Citizens maye easelye ouâ—â—come the other hoaste when as it shal be harde for y armie by lande to sende any succoure vnto the Nauye by Sea on the other parte the multitude or companye of sea Souldiers may easely be profligated and vanquished by horsemen Therfore conuenient and oportune hauens must bee carefully and wysely chosen out by all theÌ„ that would found and stablishe a Cittye Small fieldes and little Arable groundes easely bringeth dearth of Corne which surely is the cause that thyther is small recourse of people for people pynched with penury and famine be afrayde to mary neyther desireth to haue anye chyldren wherefore in such a couÌ„try they do nothing encrease yea rather the poorer sort hauing respect to their needines famine doe forsake their countrye and seeke to plant themselues in some pleasaunt and fruitfuller soyle elswhere especially if their own couÌ„try be so streite narow that it be not able to feede cattle for next vnto corne cattle whiche greately encreaseth fleshe Mylke and Cheese doe best nourishe As for fishing mee thinckes is not greatly to bee wished for partely because that fishes doe geeue yll nourishement to the bodye and agayne do make
same names euen as if they were loath to defraud their posteritye of the reproche or ignominye of their Auncestors THE VII BOOKE DEscribinge the Natures Vses Profites choyses of all sortes of groundes â–ª The sundrye dispositions and inclinations of Persons accordinge to the quality of the soyle where they be bredde The commoditye of woodes and the orderinge thereof The greate necessitie and benefite of Waters Fountaynes and Springs with the straunge vertues of suÌ„dry VVelles in forrein Countries MArcus Cato said that in buyinge of Landes two thinges especially are to be considered holesomenes of ayre and plentifulnes of the soyle wherof if the one were lacking he iudged that that grouÌ„d was not to be areouÌ„pted of to bee tilled And not without a cause for he that buyeth barren grounde and fruitelesse soyle buyeth to himselfe and all his posteritye after him pouertie and perpetuall labour And hee that buyeth grounde scituate in a pestilent ayre buyeth vnto himselfe and to his succession continual sicknesse vntimely oldeage and hasty death For fruitfulnes of the ground doth not a little further and helpe toward lyuing well and pleasauntly Whereupon the Arabians are called happye because they aâ—ound and are enryched with corne fruites of the earth vynes sweete odâ—urs Good choyse must be had for the buylding of any City that it be set and builded in a very â—olsome plaâ—â—e that is if it stand vpon some what highe groundâ— â–ª For champane and pâ—aâ—â— ground is sâ—eldome in euery â—â—yâ—â— found safe and â—alâ—eyes are subiect â—â—â—â— fulsome fogges dauÌ„gerous mistes but this high place shal neyther â—â—specte the hâ—ate regions of the ayre nor those that bee to muche tolde and frosâ—ye but those that â—ee temperate prosperâ—â—ge towardes the Easte or towardes the Sowthe Excepte it bee suche a countrye as is neare the Sea for y hath commonlye the Southern and Westerne wyndes hurtfull especially if there be â—ennye grounde nere there unto which haue not their course and issue into the Seas or Ryuers for oute of the standinge water so sone as the morning gleames of the sonne appeareth vpon the same there ariseth cold wyndes or dampishe cloudes infecting the spirites of the Cattle feeding in those fenny places with the contagion of that foggye mystinesse they do also infect the place and make it pestilent especiallye in Somer and Autumne what tyme the Southern partes of the world be far hoater theÌ„ at other seasons Aâ—â—â— it al fenny marshye soyle is to bee eschewed shonned because it always venteth out a most poysonned ayre beinge in somer darkned and dymmed with vaporous fogges and in wynter with colde exhalacions mystes moreouer by reason of feruent heate it engendreth â–ª gnattes and other stingingâ— and odious vermin which doe at suche tymes flocke together in swarmes and infect the citye and be very â—oâ—sâ—m both vnto man and beast Many wryters do agree in opinion that Italye of all other countryes is most temperate and euen as the Planet Iupiter hauing his course in the middest â–ª betwene the most hoate and feruent planet of Mats and the most cold planet Saturne by reason of diuersitie in qualities receiueth temperatenes so it stretching and lying betâ—â—n the Northe and South receyueth a temperate â—irture â–ª therfore innumerable prayses doth this countrye deserue as Marcus Vitruuius sayth for it bringeth forth men of body and meÌ„â—ers in proportion most excellent which in fortitude of courage wysedome discipline are able to surpasse all other nations Let the â—uncient Romaynes â—â—â— witnesses herein which with their warliâ—e forecaste and prowesse â—amed and dauÌ„ted the outragious fiercenes of all the Barbarians and which as Cicero saytâ— by theyr own industry either inueÌ„ted al things better theÌ„ al other Nacions orells whatsoeuer they receuied of other countries the same they made much better and perfecter And in small tyme subdued they all Nacions and obteyned the Iurisdiction and Empyre of the whole worlde Naturall Philosophers affirme that some Bodies broughte oute of colde countreys into hoate regions can not endure and continue but are sone dissolued Contrarily persons brought out of hoate regions into colde northernly countryes are not onely not hurt endamaged or diseased by the chaunge of the ayre but are made more lustye healthfull and longer lyued Aristotle witnesseth that those people whiche inhabite colde Countrys doe rather abounde in courage stomacke and strength of bodye then in wysedome or knowledge and that their Bodies are farre taller and fayrer the same country people are also of a whyte complexion of a streight flaxen hayre grayeâ—ed and ful of bloud grosse wytted but very mightye and stroÌ„ge venturous and without feare but in tyme of sicknes they are fearfull and fayntharted as the FreÌ„themâ—â— which because they excelled in largenes of body deryded and scorned the hoastes of the Romayns saying Lo what little fellowes be yonder of so small stature of whome Cesar maketh mention in his most excellent CoÌ„mentaries where he sayth the short and lowe stature of our countrymen was had in contempt amongst that Frenchmen in comparison of the largenesse of their own bodies and a little after as touching their wytte he addeth thus as the Frenchmen are ready and couragiously mynded to take warres in hande at the firste so is their mynde verye tender and nothinge able to resiste aduersities But coÌ„traryâ—wyse men borne in the Southe partes and beinge moresubiâ—â—â— vnto the heate of the Sonne are lesse of perâ—â—age and slendereâ— of stature of brown or swart colour â—urle hayred blacke eyed their legges croked and bendinge weake and nothing strong for these men by reasoÌ„ of their smal store of bloud and subtilitie of the ayre do excell in wytte and are notablie ingenious wherefore they doe quicklye conceiue and attayne the knowledge of thinges and are more prompt for deuises and cogitations in sickenesse they doe shewe themselues to be of a right stout stomacke but in battle very dasterds cowards Cato distinguisheth a good ground by nyne seueral differences The first part he sayth is where Uyneyardes may bring forth abundaunt store of good wynes the Seconde hee appoynteth for an orcharde that may caslye bee watred the third for Osyers the fourth for Oliue trees the fyfte for medowe the sixte is arable grounde apte to beare Corne The Seauenth for Wooddes that may bee felled and lopped at their encrease The eyghte for shrubbes and Bushes The nynthe for woodes that beareth Maste For it must needes bee a good grounde whyche hathe the more parte of all these commodities The Iuniper Trees doe with their Beries nourishe the winter Fowles where wyth also Capons being fedde and crammed doe nowe a dayes furnishe out the Tables and make the same more elegante and the Wâ—oâ—thereof beinge burned sendeth forth a swete smelling Smoke and odoure moste holsome in Sommer to expell dryue awaye all euyll and noysome ayres No man can denye but that the maste of
nor prosper wythoute the mylke of the Nurse So neyther can a Cittye bee sustrayned or cherished without the fruites of the fieldes The example of this noble kinge ALEXANDER ought to exhort all builders of cities to appoint the situacion therof in plentiful fruiteful places and that they whych haue charge ouer the people do especially prouide corne and victuals for their sustētacion for smally should the defence and sauegarde of the citty preuayle to small purpose should the lawes rytes and order of a city serue if the people shoulde sterue for honger for what can bee more daungerous among that people whom neyther armour magistrates neyther Gods Iustice nor mannes Lawes neyther anye shame can keepe in streight order then dearth and famine for verye aptly hereunto saythe Lucanus the Poet. Nescit plebs Ieiuna timere Let therfore first and principall care be for competent prouision of victuall namely bread corne the vse wherof is seene to be farre more necessary then any other thinge and let there bee made three Purueyghours or principall victuallers to haue the ouersighte and surueighe of all victual and make prouision of the same accordinglye let the corne be kept for common vse eyther in deepe trenches cleane fāned from the chaffe and couered ouer whereby for seuen yeares store it may bee well reserued or in brode graners wyth lyttle wyndowes on the north ende thereof wherein for three yeares space it may be preserued from the mothe wyuell and all noysome vermin and let them haue a speciall care that there be no corne or grayne carryed forthe of the citye but in great store and plenty thereof least it become mustye but let it rather be brought in by exchaunge and rechaunge made from y countries neare adioyninge for it were farre better to haue store enoughe at home sufficiently not only to serue them and their country but also if nede were to helpe our distressed neighbours And let theym set a rate or price of things least they being bestowed at the wyl of them that shall sell theym they bee rated and esteemed as it shall seeme good vnto them at all tymes Regarde also must be had that not with a little care diligence the temples and churches of the immortall god which with suche great costes and charges are edefied whiche make the cities specially therby farre more gorgeous haue suche officers and ouerseers for the gouernment thereof leaste otherwise by negligence and slouthe they falle to ruine or decay wherfore AEdiles are to bee appointed which thereupon were called by the Romaines by that name AEdiles because as Varro sayth they had the ouersighte of sacred and priuate houses It was also the charge of the same Officers amongest the Romaines to see that the common streetes and highwayes should bee well leuelled and made euen and that the same should be kept in decent order and that therupon no buildinge should be erected and set which eyther might hynder the commodity or comlynes of the same also they had a charge enioyned them to see that the water conduites common sewers and sinckes should be clensed and scoured and that the bridges should bee repayred and amended moreouer there is nothinge in a free cyttye whyche dothe more breede enuye or hatred then to see certayne fellow citizens in a shorte tyme enryched with the comon mony or treasure whereas the same coulde not suffice them all THE FOVRTH BOKE entreatinge of mutuall Societye in Mariage mayntenaunce of housekeeping ordering of a housholde wyth morall examples of necessary duties in eache degree ADRIANVS Caesar was a Prynce of excellence wytte and exquisite learninge for often tymes he both wrote spake heard others speake and talked wyth hys frendes at once woulde do all this at one tyme he was also greatelye geeuen to Poetrye and a fauourer of all good Sciences in Arithmetique Geometrye Musicke and Payntynge most skilfull he often was wont to say that the Common weale is so to bee regarded of theym whiche beare rule in the same that euerye one shoulde knowe how that he had to doe for the common weale and not for his owne proper and priuate estate Phocion the Athenian when as abundance of treasures was sent vnto hym of gyft from Philip king of Macedonie would not take any of it at all and to the kinges embassadors exhorting him that if he himselfe could easelye lacke the same treasures yet at the least to take it for his childrens vse for whom sayde they it was verye harde beinge in such penury and distresse as they were to maintaine their fathers dignitye he aunswered if my chyldren do resemble and bee lyke to me their father in condicion this lyttle plott of grounde whych hath brought maynteyned me to this dignitye shall also suffice to bringe vp and mainteyn them but if they doe not resemble me sure I wyll not mayntaine their ryotte with these Treasures and ryches In no place at these dayes is founde that lande whiche of it owne frutefulnesse nourisheth the Cyclopes without tyllage and sowing neyther is that Erithrea of Lusitania whyche men saye Gerion sometimes possessed beinge of so rancke and fruitefull soyle that when once the corne is cast vpon the groūd the new sprouting seede eftsones bringethe forthe newe blades and beareth Seauen or rather more haruestes one after another neyther floweth in our coastes that floud Nylus whiche of it selfe bringeth forth an Herbe called Lotos whereof men in those partes doe make bread to eate and whereof wyth such gredynes as Homer sayth they doe eate that they altogether forget y ordering of their housholde affayres wherfore men must prouyde to haue possession of Landes that prouysion of victualles may be reserued from tyme to tyme. Marcus Curius hath by his wysdom taught vs to haue greate store of publique landes and that priuate menne shoulde haue so much thereof as to the meynteyninge of their lyfe and lyuinge shoulde bee necessarye for when as hee oute of his tryumphes had adiudged innumerable acres of Lande to the cōmon weale to euerye manne in seuerall hee onelye alotted Fowertye neyther ▪ reserued he anye greater porcion thereof vnto hymselfe then the reste had Hee was blamed of certayne persons bycause he had geeuen himselfe the leaste parte and had entytled the common weale to the moste parte hee sayde vnto them that no man ought to thincke that grounde to be a little or vnsufficiente whiche shoulde suffice his owne vse and his families As it behooueth ciuill Societye to haue fewe to beare aucthoritye and manye to obey so in housholde affayres there ought to bee one whiche shoulde haue chiefe rule hee to bee auncient in yeares and all the residue to obay And as in a city by due obedience to lawes the magistrate is sayde to gouerne others iustelye so in Commaundynge and obayinge wee haue accustomed to gouerne domesticall dealinges let them whiche beare aucthoritye or office in a common weale know
Chestnuttes is profitable For it is not onely good for beastes to feâ—de vppon but also for a mannes whole housholde Thys Nutte is so couered and harnessed as it were with a prickinge shelle that it can scarce bee taken oute of the same without hurtinge of a mannes handes and therfore the countrye people were wonte to burye the same certayne dayes in pyttes or hoales within the earth tyll suchtime as the vtter moste pylle of the Nuttes opened of it selfe and so oute of euerye Shell there commeth â—woor three Kernelles This Tree groweth verye bygge and is profitable almoste in euerye respecte for buyldinge and of it are made verye good Tubbes and Wyne or Oyle Uesselles whiche the Carpenters of oure tyme doe call the Queene of all Trees because it is coumpted good almoste for all purposes and vses wherefore not onelye for fruite and wood but also for tymber it is to be accoumpted a chiefe and speciall wood How necessarye Fyre is not onely to the nourishment of mans lyfe but almost vnto al vses euery maÌ„ may easelye iudge Therfore very yll should any choyse of habitation be if it eyther stande farre distaunt from Woodes or altogether lacke the commoditye thereof For we haue reade and seene in our tyme that citties by the enemye besieged haue beene forced of necessitye to yelde for default and wante of wood Therefore that Countrye soyle is to bee chosen for habitation whiche aboundeth with fire woode whiche is so to bee vsed and appointed that euerye Seauenth yeare parte of the same Trees maye be cutte downe and lopte and that there maye bee enoughe to suffice the vse of all the whole people for that which is cutte downe had nede to haue Seauen yeares growth before it bee cut agayne that the younge Setttes and shrubbes therof may grow freshe agayne to their full Syse and Skantlinge The Woode whiche serueth for Tymber to Buylde Houses and Shippes wythall muste more diligentlye bee looked vnto preserued and kepte and to bee clensed euerye yeare from Thornes Bryars Brambles that they hynder not the newe Gryffes and springing plants from growynge to their full heighth syse and â—ignesse At the Springe of the yeare Trees do burgein and be stow all their Sappe and strength vpon bowes and buddes and therefore become they weake and exhausted as the bodies of women that are greate wyth Chylde are feebler weaker and slenderer of strength then others when their time of laboure or chyldebirth coÌ„meth they become for a tyme vnweildy and weake tyll they haue with good Cawdels nourishments recouered their former strengthe agayne Euen so trees whyle they burgeyn and beare leaues and afterwards while they nourishe their fruites yet vnrype are of lesse strength and force but wheÌ„ in Autumne their fruites or beries are shaken of and that their leaues doe fall the rootes do take agayne vnto them all their whole sappe and strength and so are restored vnto their former perfect soliditie Thales Milesius preferred water as the principall and chiefest of al other elements for mans nature can easâ—yer beare with the want of any thing theÌ„ of water for admit y corne fayl be not to be had yet the profitable encrease â–ª coÌ„ming of young setts and trees may supplie administer sufficient prouision wherwith to sustayn lyfe We may defende lyfe with fleshe by hauking by fishing with herbes and rootes but where water is wantinge there can no foode neyther bee had nor preserued fitte for mannes sustentacion and therfore we accompte that country altogether vnhappye whiche eyther lacketh water or hath water vnholsome and corrupt Moreouer it was a manner among the Egiptians and of theÌ„ very streitely for a long tyme obserued that before all the houses and temples of their goddes there shoulde be set a potte with water to th ende that they that wente into the Temples might therewith be sprinckled and falling down to the ground with their hands lift vp to heauen might geue thankes vnto the maiestye of God who had bouÌ„tifully blessed relieued them with most holsom water And furthermore wee reade of certayn countries by meanes of waters onely ennobled and made famous as the mountayne Thiliadus amongst the Molossians which Theopompus extolleth and sayth had an hundred bridges Magnesia is coumpted far more famous by reason of the excellency of a Well which the Poets do there testifye to be dedicated vnto the Muses because whosoeuer dranke out of y same became therby swete breasted clearer to singe Neyther is it to be mernayled at forasmuch there be founde innumerable vertues of waters partelye by apparaunt partely by secrete obscure reason Of the Sringe in Arcady whiche the Inhabitauntes called Clitorius which maketh such as taste of the Liquor therof straightways to abhorre al drinking of wine foreuer Uitruuius saythe that there is a Well in Paphlagonia whiche semeth as though it were myxt with wyne insomuch that they which drinke therof are made dronke The lyke Nature and qualitie the ryuer Licesius in Thracia is reported to haue on the banckes whereof manye tymes the traueylers and wayfaring persons are found dronken sleepinge The citty of Ephesus also hath Springes not farre from it the waters wherof seeme mingled with vynegar and therfore are most acceptable vnto sicke persoÌ„s And Strabo the Geographer wryteth that there is a water at Hieropolis so apt for dyinge of Wolle that if y rootes of herbs be stieped mixed therein it maketh as Orient gorious a colour as if it were Scarlet or purple There bee also whiche wryte that at Tharsis a Cyttye in Cicilia is a Ryuer called Cydnus where persons that are bathed and a certayne tyme washed are eased of the goute Moreouer Pomponius in his Cosmographye wryteth that one of the two Islandes called Fortunate is notable and famous throughe the singuler vertue of two seueral springs of whom who so tasteth of the one caÌ„not but laughe continuallye and the onely remedy for theym that bee in that case is to drincke of the other There is also another Springe at Susis in the countrey of Persia whiche looseth and shaketh out the teeth of those that drinke therof but to such persoÌ„s as do washe theÌ„selues therwith it is most holsome And so they saye there is a Lake in Assyria neare vnto the which groweth a slimye glewishe and bytuminous pytchâ— earthe of the same quality wherupon if a birde light shee is streightwaye lymed and tyed fast from flyinge any furder This kynde of Lyquor if it once be set on fier can neuer be extinguished nor queÌ„ched but onely by throwing dust therevppon Aâ—l whot waters haue a medicinable force and vertue aboue other waters although they be of their proper nature cold but because they do flow or haue course throughe the hoate and ardent vaynes of the Earth therfore they come for the warme which notwithstanding cannot long remayn so but be in short