Maison rustique, or The countrey farme· Compyled in the French tongue by Charles Steuens, and Iohn Liebault, Doctors of Physicke. And translated into English by Richard Surflet, practitioner in physicke. Now newly reuiewed, corrected, and augmented, with diuers large additions, out of the works of Serres his Agriculture, Vinet his Maison champestre, French. Albyterio in Spanish, Grilli in Italian; and other authors. And the husbandrie of France, Italie, and Spaine, reconciled and made to agree with ours here in England: by Geruase Markham. The whole contents are in the page following

CHAP. LII.

Of the King of birds, or the little King▪ otherwise called Robin-Redbreast.

YOu shall vnderstand that the little king, or king of birds is naturally very small, of a daintie tractable complexion, he singeth most sweetly, and is not much inferior in this respect vnto the Nightingale. He is oftentimes seene in Winter vpon the tops or roofes of houses, or vpon old ruines on that side that the Sunne shineth, and whereas the wind may least annoy him. He is to be fed in this sort: You must keepe him warme in his nest, giuing him for his meate of a sheepes heart, or of a calues heart minced, in all points as wee haue alreadie said, speaking of the Nightingale. He must be fed with a little atonce, and oft, by reason of his digestion, being carefull that hee take no cold, and especially in the night. For which cause, you shall put him in a cage, which hath some prettie prouision made like a little chamber, trimmed with red cloth, and made as it were a little ho••-house, wherinto he may go, in the night season, and shun the cold all the whole yere. Now when he shall be vsed to be fed, you shall feed him with some heart well beaten, and small minced, & sometimes you shal giue him of the paste that is vsed to be gi∣uen to Nightingales, which will do him no small good. And you shal giue him some∣times

flies to pecke for her greater ioy and speedier taming, and herein you shall vse great diligence.

Notes

• The king of b••rds.