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. XV.

Of Hennes.

AS concerning the ordering of Pullen, which is the chiefest thing that a good Huswife is to regard, there must care be had that the Henne-house be eue∣rie day made cleane, euen so soone as the Pullen be out, and the dung p••t aside for the fatting of the Medowes: The Baskets for them to lay in of∣tentimes shaken vp, and refresht with new straw and neasts, and their Pearches and Ladders scraped euerie weeke: The roofe or vpper part of the house shut in euerie night at Sunne-set for feare of Fulmers, and opened euerie morning at Sunne-rise▪ Their Water-pots to let them drinke at, must be kept cleane, and filled with clea•••• water euerie day, and that twice in Winter, and thrice in Summer: Let their water be cleare alwayes, least otherwise it cause them to haue the Pip; which thing happeneth as soone vnto them of the filthinesse of their water, as of the want of it: Let her 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be cast out vpon the dunghill oftentimes fresh straw right ouer-against the Bar••••, where the Pullen vse to scrabble; and neere vnto the same place let her cause to be put sand, dust, or ashes, to procure them the pleasure of dusting themselues in the Sunne, and pruning of their feathers: Let her cause to be remoued farre from them the resi∣dence of wine or drosse of the Presse, of whatsoeuer fruits, and from the place of their

haunt, for such things keepe them from laying. And it further behoueth her to haue this care, as to see that throughout all the Henne-house there be neither Lath broken, nor any place of the walls hauing any Lome fallen either without or within, or any shee•• of Lead lifted vp or raised, thereby to preuent the danger of Ca••s, Foxes, Wea∣sels, Poleca••s, Fulmers, and other beasts, giuen to rauin abroad in the night: as also the Kite, Hen-harrow, and Owle, which sometimes will not let to swap into the very Brood-house to catch and carrie away the Chickens.

And to the end you may not lose any of them, you must cut off the great feathers of one wing from such as vse oftentimes to flye ouer walls, that so also by this meanes you may keepe them out of your Gardens; for they would take it vp for a custome, and it would keepe them from laying. And for a surer preuention of the foresaid mischiefes, ouer and aboue that which hath beene said (for it is not good to clip the wings of Cocks or Capons) you must fasten and set rowes of thorne faggots vpon the tops of the walls of the said Gardens and all other places elsewhere.

The Brood-house shall be built aside from the Farme-place, farre off from the lodging of the chiefe Lord, because that such birds are loathsome, doe foule euerie thing, and spoyle whatsoeuer household furniture: turned toward the East, from the Winter and Northerne quarter, neere vnto the Ouen of the Kitchin, if it be possible, to the end that the heat thereof, which helpeth them to lay, and the smoake which is verie wholesome for the Pullen, may reach euen vnto it.

It shall haue a little window right vpon the East, by which the Pullen may come forth into the Court in the morning, and goe in againe at euening: it shall be shut at night, to the end they may nestle themselues more safely from the danger of such beasts as are apt to offer them wrong: without, and on the side next the Court, they shall haue pretie ladders, by which the Pullen may flye vp into the window, and in∣to their house, to roust and rest themselues for the night time. This Henne-house must be well layd with Lome, and smoothed both within and without, to the end, that Cats, Fulmers, and Snakes, and other dangerous beasts, may not come neere vn∣to the Pultrie: and that neere vnto this Henne-house, in the middest of the Court▪ there be certaine Trees or Arbors for sowre Grapes, to the end that Pullen may haue shadow vnder it in Summer, and that Chickens may haue couer and defence against the Kite, the Owles, and other such rauenous birds. It is not good that they should sleepe vpon the plaine floore, that so their ordure and dung may not hang vnto their feet, for thus they would grow to haue paine in their feet, and to become gow••ie. For this cause, you must set all along the Henne-house, a foot higher than the floore, and two feet one from another, ••quare Pearches, not round, because that if they should be round, the Pullen could not sit fast vpon them. Right ouer-against the Henne-house, and a little way off from it, you shall prepare a dunghill for the benefit of the Pullen after this sort and manner: Cast a great deale of earth into a great hole of purpose made for such an end, which you shall besprinkle with the bloud of Oxen and other beasts, killed onely for the Hide; afterward you shall cast a reasonable quantitie of Oates vpon the same, and you shall turne the said earth the vppermost lowermost: in a small time there will be engendred such a great quantitie of wormes, as that the Pullen shall haue picking worke there for a long time; and the gras••e which shall sticke there, will correct the fat which they shall get by the wormes which they haue picked: And when you shall see the prouision of wormes to faile, you may begin againe your watering of the earth with bloud, and sowing of Oates thereupon, as at the first. Some to haue fa•• Ca∣pons, and of a pleasant flesh, when the Mulberries are in season, doe plant Mul∣berrie trees in their Courts: for Capons, and all other manner of Fowles, which feede vpon Mulberries, become maruellous fat, and of an excellent taste and verdure.

To euerie dozen of Hennes one good Cocke is sufficient: howsoeuer those of for∣mer daies doe allow one to euerie fiue; and he must not be of colour white, nor yet gray, but red, tawnie, or black; his body wel compact, his crest or combe very vpright,

red, thicke, not notched, toothed or gasht with cuts, a well raised necke and high, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pinions and flight of his wings great, his eares great and verie white, his bill 〈◊〉〈◊〉, thicke, and crooked, his eye blacke, in a circle that is red, yellow, or azure; his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of a rose colour, standing of a white and red mixture; the feathers of his necke long, golden, and changeable; his legges verie scalie, thick, and short, his clawes short and fast; his spurs stiffe and sharpe; his tayle vpright, gros••e, thicke, and crooking back∣ward ouer his head.

The taw••e or reddish Henne in like manner is the best, and that which hath the feathers of her wings blacke, though shee her selfe be not altogether blacke: for the gray or blacke colour is but little worth, because they be hard to bring vp, and spa∣ringly giuen to lay egges; and yet moreouer, they be small, alwayes leane, vnhealth∣full, and their flesh of small rell••sh. The stature of the Henne must be indifferent, her head great, her combe vpright and verie red, her bodie great and square, her necke thicke, and breast large. The dwarfe or little Hennes doe lay oftener than the other, but they are not so fit to be set on egges to bring forth Chickens. The greater Hennes are not so giuen to lay: wherefore Hennes of middle size are to be preferred before the other, foreseene that they haue large wings, and their bodies thick set with feathers: and if they haue fiue clawes as the Cockes, they are more wild, and not so tame as others. The Henne that hath spurs, spoyleth her egges, hatcheth not so ordi∣narily, and sometimes eateth the egges shee sitteth on. The Henne which is giuen daintily to affect and feed vpon the grapes, being the thing that keepeth her from laying, will be kept from seeking after and eating of them, by giuing her the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the wild Vine; for this doth cause such a roughnes••e or edge in her as in those that haue eaten sowre fruits. The Henne that is too fat, or which hath the flux of the belly, layeth wind egges. The young Henne is nothing skilfull either to fit or to lead Chic∣kens: wherefore you must fat the Henne with spurres, and the Chauntres••e or crow∣ing Henne, and her that scratcheth and allureth the other Hennes, by clocking, a•• the Cocke is wont to doe; and that, by plucking first the greatest feathers of her wings, and giuing for to eat great store of Mille••, Barly, and Paste, cut in gobbets, brui••ed Acornes, Bran mixt with pottage, the huskes of Rice, Pannickle, and Oates, or the crums of Wheat bread steept in the water of Barly flower, and to keepe her in a close place where she cannot stirre, and to pull the feathers of her head, thighs, and r••mpe. Such Hennes thus fatted by the hands of a man, may be recouered at any time of the yeare, but the fle••h is not of ••o good rellish as when they grow fat going abroad at their libertie: which thing happeneth and falleth out more commonly at one time of the yeare than at another, the verie right and naturall season of their chiefe fatting be∣ing in the moneths of Ianuarie and Februarie, for indeed in these moneths Hennes are nothing inferior vnto Capons. The Henne that is too fat, shall be made leane by mixing of Fullers earth with her water, and of the powder of a softened Bricke in her meat. And if she haue a loose belly, you must giue her for her first meat the white of an egge roasted and beaten in a Mortar with the double quantitie of Bulleis. And for the mad Henne, which breaketh her egges and eateth them, you must cast Alablaster vpon the yolke of an egge, so long as till it be hard therewith, and so to make this to serue (being fashioned like a shell) for her neast: or else to make an egge of Alablaster or Fullers earth, and to put it in her neast, and to leaue her no more but that only egg•• after she hath laid. Vnto a young Henne which falleth to clocking, you must take one of her small feathers, and thrust it through her nosthrils: for it is not for a young Henne to doe any thing but lay egges, and for the old to sit. Our Huswiues (in that point too seuere and iniurious) doe plucke away all their feathers from vnder their wings, euen all ouer their bellies, & doe therewithall cast them into the water to cool•• their hea•• withall; or else they keepe them fa••ting foure dayes together in a Chick•••• Cowpe. And if you be not disposed to keepe a Henne to brood, you must by and by, or within two daies after that she hath brought forth her young, let her forth again to haue the companie of Cocks, to the end she may forget them and begin againe to lay•• and therewithall to rub the pulled belly of a great and fat Capon, and one that

is young, with stinging Nettles, and after to deliuer him the Chickens to brood and lead.

The Henne is subiect to the spots of the eyes when she is old: to the rheume and distilling of watrie humors at her nosthrils, by hauing taken cold, or hauing drunke frozen water, or at least such as was too cold, or by reason of the Henne-house being left open in the night, or by hauing rousted vpon the trees in the open aire, or finally by not hauing found the house open, or some other couert to runne vnder, in the time of raine: Vnto the loosenesse of the belly, when their meat is too thinne, or when they haue eaten some hearbes apt to worke the same, or when the Henne-house hath beene open all night: Vnto the Pip of the tongue, either for want of drinke, or for drinking troubled and filthie water: To fleas and ver∣mine when they sit, or when they haue not wherein to tumble and roule, or to make themselues cleane, or when their dung is let to continue a long time together in the house: And to the bitings of venimous Beasts, which haunt the dunghill and old walls, as the Scorpion, Snake, Spider, Shrew, Lizards, and New••es of the wall.

For the scab and inflammation of the eyes, you must bath them in the water of Purcelane, or in Womans milke: and for the spots, you must rub the eye with Sal Ammoniack, Cummin, and Honey, brayed together in a Mortar, and that as much of the one as of the other, except you haue the skill to take them vp, or to cause them to be taken and lifted vp with a needle.

For the rheume, you must put a feather crosse their nosthrils, and wa••me their wa∣ter, and sometimes chafe their feet, especially little and yong Pulle••s, which are wont to be wrapt in cloth a certaine time for the same, or else in feathers, and then put into a pot, and set in a warme Ouen, or neere vnto some fire in some fit and conuenient place: And if the rheume or matter of the stuffing of their nosthrils be setled in some place, as vnder the eyes, or towards their bill, you must launce the impostume gently, and giue passage for that to come forth which is therein contained, and put in place a little brayed salt.

For the loosenesse of the belly, some make them me••t of the husks of Barly steept in wine, and incorporated with waxe; and some doe mingle with their water the de∣coction of a Pomegranate or Quinces.

And if that Pullein be costiue, especially the younger sort, they are prouoked with a wild oat: and some vse to pull off the feathers of their rumpe, and vpon the inside of their thighs, to the end that their dung may not be long detained and kept within their bodies, because that so it might stop the passage: and as for Hennes, it is suffici∣ent to put honey into their water by themselues.

For the Pip, some vse to wash their bill with oyle wherein hath steept a cloue of Garlick: and some make them to eat stauesacre amongst their meat: and for to cure the younger sort, some put them in a sieue made to dresse Fetches, or Darnell, & per∣fume them with Pennyryall, Organie, Hysope, and Line: and some doe hold the head of the Pullet ouer the fume, the bill gaping: and in case of extremitie, to take it quite away from them, some doe vse to open their bill, draw out their tongue verie gently and softly, and after with their naile raise the higher part, and draw downe to the end, or lowest part thereof, the white which is seene to grow vpon the top of the tongue; and after it is raised vp and rooted out, without any breaking of skin, they rub the tongue with spettle, or with a little vineger, or else they touch it with a bruised cloue of Garlicke.

For fleas and vermine, they must be washed in wine wherein hath beene boyled Cummin and S••auesacre, or else in water wherein haue boyled wild Lupines.

Against the biting of venimous Beasts, you must annoi•• the place with oyle of Scorpion••, and apply vpon it some Mithridate; and further, cast some small quantitie of ••reacle into their water-pot, and cause them to drinke.

For the danger of Beasts, especially of Cats and Fulmers, which come in the night time vnto the Henne-house to eat the Hennes and egges, old Writers do giue counsell to cast at the entrie of the dore, and to scatter thereabouts, bunches of Rue, as also to

put some tender sprouts of the same vnder the wings of the fowle: or else to besme•••••• about the walls of the Henne-house, and round about the window, the gall of a Ca•• or of a Foxe.

Furthermore, to keepe Pulleine from Foxes, that they doe not eat them, it is good now and then to mingle amongst their meat the flesh of a Foxe sodden and shret into verie small pieces: for, as some say, their flesh doth keepe and retayne a certaine smell thereof, which is the cause that Foxes dare not come neere vnto them.

Hennes begin to lay in Februarie and March, and some of them in those moneths being part of their first yeare. They which begin to lay at a yeare and a halfe, or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 two yeres, are better to be liked: and then they must be verie well fed, and that some times with Oats and Fenugreeke for to heat them. And if you be desirous that they should lay great egges (for commonly the fattest Hennes lay the smallest egges) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and temper Fullers earth among their meat: or else put powned Bricke among Brain, and temper th••m together with a little wine and water, and make them an ordinarie meat thereof: or else make them all their meat of Barley, halfe boyled with Fetches and Mille••: or else perfume them in the night with Brimstone, for this will keepe them sound also: if you giue vnto them young Nettles chopped and boyled with Branne, they will lay great store of egges.

They leaue laying about the third of Nouember, which is at such time as the cold beginneth: but if vpon curiositie you would keepe by themselues some of the fai∣rest to lay egges all Winter long, you must feed them with tosted bread steept from euening to morning, and giue them to their breakfast: and for their meat in the day time and at night to cast them some little quantitie of Oates, Barley, or Wheas, which doth warme them: or some Mustard seed, which aboue all other things cau∣seth Hennes to lay egges good store, that is to say, in the sharpe cold times of Win∣ter; which thing you shall proue verie true by experience, if you make triall of it: or else to seed them with Earth-wormes, which will also cause them to lay egges in great number. You must not let them sit presently after their first yeare of laying▪ and when they are past three yeares old, you must eat them. You must also dis∣patch and make away with those that are barren and lay not at all: and as for those that doe lay very much, you must change their Neasts often, and marke their egges, to set them in time, if it be possible. When they are casting off their feathers, other∣wise called of the common people moulting, you must not suffer them to goe out of the place whereinto you haue shut them, except it be to refresh them when it is verie faire, and then to keepe them that the Eagle and Kite doe not fall vp∣on them.

It is vsuall to set Hennes the second yeare of their laying, and so the third and fourth: and so let any set many Hennes at one time, and vnder their straw some pieces of yron, for feare it shou'd thunder, or else some Bay leaues, or the heads of Garlicke, or else some greene grasse, for some say that this is good against the Pip and the mon∣strous fruit. They are put there in the growth of the Moone, after the twelfth day of the new Moone vntill the foureteenth, saith Florentine; and Columella saith, from the tenth vnto the fifteenth, to the end that the Hennes may hatch in the next new Moone, for to that end they stand not in need of any moe daies than one and twentie. And the Neasts of these Hennes must be made in the bottome of a Tunne or Pipe, to the end that when they come off they cause not any thing to fall or roule. Some per∣fume the straw that they are to sit vpon, before they lay the egges therein, with Brim∣stone, to keepe the Henne for hatching before her time. And you shall set vnder her the egges that you haue marked, and of those the fairest and newest, and if it be possi∣ble, those of her owne: And looke that they haue beene layd since the seuenth of Fe∣bruarie, and before the two and twentieth of September: for such as are layd at any other time, are nothing worth, no more than those which were first layd, or yet those which were layd by the Henne without the help of the Cock: and there must alwaie••s care be had that they be odde, that is to say, in Ianuary fifteene, in March nineteene, and

after Aprill one and twentie. The greatest part of the inhabitants of Lyons doe ad∣mit of no other number than three and twentie. After the second of October they set not any more, neyther indeed ought they, if it be not in Ouens, according to the vse of the inhabitants of Maliha, and some of those of Beauceron: But Hennes are too much punished and put to paine to breed and bring vp Chickens in Winter. As also there is a common opinion receiued, That after mid-Iune Hennes are small worth, and cannot encrea••e so rightly; and well to the purpose.

If curiositie draw you to set egges vnder Hennes which be not their owne, as those of the Goose, Peacocke, or Indian Henne, or else of Ducks, then let them be put vn∣der the Henne some seuen or nine dayes before, and after adde thereto of her owne some such odde number, as hath beene spoken of before: But and if they be Fesants egges, you need not to set the Henne any sooner vpon them, then and if they were her owne; for they require no more time to be hatcht in: And if you would haue them all Henne-birds, then set such egges as are more round and blunt, for the long and sharpe-pointed ones are commonly Cock-birds.

Some are carefull not to put one after another into the Neast, but set them in rowes in a Woodden Platter, and thence let themslide downe into the Neast verie softly. And care must be had, that neither Cockes, nor any other Hennes, may goe in to sit vpon them: and to that end twice euery day to set meat and drinke so neere vnto the Henne, as that shee need not rise for to feed her selfe; for if but for her meat shee once cast off her care of them, it will be much adoe to get her to returne vnto them againe, if she be not a free and verie kind Henne. If the Henne haue small care to returne vn∣to her egges, to sit vpon them equally, it will be good sometimes to turne them ouer softly when she shall be from her Neast.

There are some women that cannot stay to the end of the Hatching: but about the fourth day after the setting of the Henne, they will be heauing euerie one of them vp one after one to looke vpon in the cleere Sunne-shine, and if they see not bloudie streames or threads within them, they cast them out, and put vnder others in their places. And in like manner, at the one and twentith day, if they find that she stayeth from hatching, they take off the Henne. But good sitting Hennes will not returne any more to their Neasts, after that the egges haue been touched. Likewise the good Huswife sayth, That as for the egges which are vnder the Henne, they ought not to be touched till they be hatched. Likewise they must be well chosen and viewed in the Sunne betwixt both her hands before that they be put vnder the Henne. Such as doe any thing doubt that the egges are not all good, and that the Chickens cannot come forth by reason of the hardnesse of the shell, must not faile to bath them about the eighteenth day in a hollow dish and warme water, and to take away such as swim aboue the water, putting the rest vnder the Henne againe. But you must not force the Henne to rise off the Neast in your thus doing.

You shall greatly pleasure the Henne, if when the Chickens begin to chirpe, and there be found some which will not let the Chicken come forth, by reason of the hardnesse of the shell, that then you helpe her to breake the same: howsoeuer indeed this is the part of a good conditioned Henne, as also to flye at your face if you come neere to her, after she hath once heard them cheape or chirpe vnder her.

The little Chickens, newly hatched, must be put vnder a Sieue, and lightly per∣fumed with Rosemarie, for to keepe them from the Pip: and for the space of two dayes you must not giue them any thing to eat, but put them vnder some Henne that hath not manie, and which is not either of Partridge colour, or wild and vntamed, that thereby they may be kept warme whiles the other are in hatching: or which is better, to put them to follow some Capon so soone as they be hatched, rather than any Henne; for by that meanes they will be better defended both from Cold and rauenous Birds, as also better fed: besides that, hereby the Henne will be the fitter to fall to laying of egges againe. It is true indeed, that there must choice be made of a ••ound and couragious Capon, to plucke away his feathers from vnder his belly, and to nettle him with the strongest and most stinging Nettles that you can get,

and after to make him drunke with bread steeped in wine, and to put him vnder a basket made of Osiers, with his brood of Chickens, and so leaue him these some time▪ to the end he may fall in loue with them. So soone as he shall be at libertie, hee will beare them vp, keepe them, lead them, and become a more foolish, doting, or true louer of them, than the Henne her selfe would haue beene: Howbeit, the naturall dame is verie carefull, and giuen to keepe them vnder her wings verie wisely, with∣out doing them any manner of harme or hurt. When as therefore they be two day•••• old, you must crumble them some soft Bread and Cheese, or else some Barley meale, and Garden Cresses, softened and infused in wine and water, with a few of the leau•••• of Leekes chopped verie small, and a little sodden, and this will be good for them against Rheumes and the Pip: And after this time, for the space of fifteene dayes, they must be kept vnder a Cowpe with the Henne or Capon: and then at the end of those dayes to let them runne about both leader and followers, giuing them still the same nourishment to feed vpon. And if you haue manie sitting Hennes that ha••e hatched at one time, giue and put the Chickens of the one vnto another of the eldest and most vsed to lead, or else to a Capon, as hath beene said, and let the younger Hennes returne againe to the Cocke: but see that you put not aboue fiue and twen∣tie or thirtie vnto any one Henne, because shee will not be able to couer or brood a∣boue that number. Againe, there must good care be had, that the Henne which le••∣deth them be not curst and brutish, that so she may not hurt them as she is scratching, or set them in a heat by flying; neither yet that she be giuen to much climbing, or gad∣ding into such places as her little ones cannot follow her into. Wherefore it shall be good not to suffer them to goe so soone to the Court-yard, but rather, for the space of fortie dayes, to keepe them that they goe not from the place where they were hatched. You must likewise beware that the Snake doe not breath vpon or hisse at them: for the smell of such breath is so pestilent vnto them, as that it generally kil∣leth them all. The remedie is, to burne oftentimes, neere vnto their Cowpe, Hart••-horne, Galbanum, or Womens haire, for the fume or smoake of these doth driue them away.

It is a paine to goe about to hatch Chickens without the heat of the Henne: and although the thing may be done, yet it is not so certaine nor so profitable. They are set on a row, the sharpe pointed end vpward, in an Ouen verie meanely warme, and vpon warme Hennes dung, which must be renewed euerie six dayes; and ouer and vnder them thus set, some doe put bagges of Feathers, and they must be stirred now and then: after the eighteenth day, they must be bathed in warme water; and th•• one and twentieth, they must be holpen to breake the shell. Againe, it may be done otherwise: The same day that you set a Henne (to the end that you may the better remember, because it is not so easie to number the dayes as to tell the egges) you may take as manie egges as you haue set, and put them vpon bagges full of Hennes dung (well dryed, sifted, and compassed about with Downe, or such soft Feathers as are on the inside of the thighes) and made after the manner of Neasts. And againe, others doe make a bed of the said Downe vpon the bagges, and vpon this bed they rank•• their egges, as hath been said, and after couering them with other Downe and bagges aboue, in such sort, as that the Downe and bagges lye close round about, and euerie where touching the egges: which done, after three or foure dayes, they must be ••ur∣ned once euerie day, and that so softly and nimbly, as that they may not hit one vp∣on another: And at the twentieth day (being such time as the Hennes begin to picke the egge-shells) you must helpe to make way for this your brood to come forth, and after put them to some Henne that hath but a few. But there is nothing beyond and besides naturall inclination and disposition to be attempted in any thing.

The Henne will sit all Winter as well as in Summer, if shee haue meat made of Branne, mixt with the leaues and seed of drie Nettles.

You must make choice of such egges as are of blacke Pullets, as much as are more holesome, daintie, full, and substantiall than those of other Hennes, by how much they

want of being so old: let it not be aboue two dayes old, let it be white and long, ac∣cording to the common verse,

The egge is good, and for delight, Thats long and new, and white in sight.

To know if the egge be new, you must make such triall as we haue set downe to be vsed, to proue and know such as are good to be set.

The huswife that maketh account to sell egges, must in Winter keepe them warme vpon straw, and well couered; and in Summer coole in Bran, according to the aduise of old Writers: but (be it spoken vnder correction) I am quite of a contrarie mind; for the Straw is coole, and the Bran hot: Adde further, that egges kept in Bran in Summer doe corrupt the sooner. They which doe couer and powder them with salt, or lay them in brine, doe impaire them, and leaue them not whole and full, which will be a hinderance in the sale of them: and there is no doubt but that the egge doth take some bad rellish also by that meanes. The Cellar is a good place to keepe them in both Winter and Summer.

I doe not intend here to make any discourse, which of the two was first made, the Egge or the Henne: Looke for the deciding of this curious question in the end of Macrobius, and in Plutarch his Opuscula: And you shall learne a great deale better of Aristotle and Plinie, than of Hippocrates, how the Chicken is made within the egge of the white, and nourished by the yolke, seeing that the yolke is of more easie digestion than the white.

As concerning the cutting of Cock-Chickens, it must be done shortly after that their dam hath forsaken them, and that they run not chirping after her, but begin to crow and to fall in loue with Pullets; for if they scape the first yeare and halfe, then there is no order to be taken with them: and you must take the best bodied, and those which are best thriuen and set with feathers, and yet not growne to that full perfecti∣on and naturall growth of feathers which Cocks are garnished withall: for after you haue made choice of such as shall serue for the benefit and leading of your Hennes, to keepe them, as those which are the best made, and most bold, you must cut the other, for to feed and fat either in the Cowpe or in the Chaffe-house.

Some men (as for example at Mans and in Bretaigne) doe put out their eyes, as they doe vnto Gossings, and giue meat of corne halfe boyled, and of paste well crusht and braked, and made into gobbets, and thus they become fat within fortie dayes at the most: but they must be well looked to, and haue all their feathers pulled from about their heads, to the end to keepe them from vermine.

As concerning other particulars, of the Henne, of the Egge and of the Medicines which the Husbandman may draw from them for the good of his health:

The Henne will hatch Chickens of diuers colours, if ••hee sit vpon egges drawne with variable and diuers or painted colours: as also shee will hatch Pullets of verie pleasant colour to behold, if you make her tread by male Pigeons, or Partridges, or Feasants. To be briefe, you shall haue Pullets, Pigeons, Feasants, and such other kinds of Fowles of diuers colours, if you prouide aboue, beneath, and on euerie side of their Cowpes, or other place where they make their abode, places of receit and co∣uertures, of such colour as you shall wish them to be of.

Hennes will lay great egges, if you pound Bricks, and mixe them with Bran and wine, bray them all very well, and giue them to the Hennes to eat: or else make a fine pouder of Brick, mix it with Barly Bran, & giue it them to eat. Some for the very same purpose do mollifie the Fullers earth that is red, and mix it among the Hennes meat.

If by the space of foure dayes, or seuen at the most, you steepe an egge in verie strong vineger, you shall so soften the shell, as that the egge may easily be so handled as that you may draw it through any sort of ring that you shall weare vpon your sin∣ger, and thrust it into such a Violl as you your selfe would wish to haue it put in: likewise you shall bring it to his former shape, if you steepe it in coole water. In like manner, an egge steept in Aqua vitae for some space of time, doth quite wast and spend it selfe.

If you would keepe egges long, that they should not breake, set them so orderly in baskets, as that they may stand right vp, and that the end which is sharpe-pointed may be vpward, and by this meanes a man may carrie such a burthen of them as shall be layd vpon him, without breaking any of them. Likewise this is a thing verie true and well approued, that an egge hath so firme and strong a frame, as that no man, be he neuer so strong, is able to breake it betwixt the palmes of his hands, being taken and holden long-waies.

It hath beene obserued of a long time, that the egges layd after the new of the Moone in the moneth of August, or in the wane of the Moone in the moneth of Nouember, as those likewise which are layd on the day of the Natiuitie, or on the day of the Ascension, are lasting and durable, and not easily corrupted. Whereof there cannot be deuised any other reason, than that in some of them the shell is made hard, and not to be pierced through of the ayre by the coldnesse of the time: and in the other there is a most quick exhaling and expending of that which might be cor∣rupted within the egge, by the heat of the tune and season then being.

Some find within the stomacke of a Capon a stone, of the bignesse of a Beane, which maketh a man strong and lustie vnto the act of carnall copulation; and with∣all, maketh him louing, fauorable, and gracious amongst women.

Some hold it for an vndoubted truth, that for want of fire an egge may be rosted, being turned and whirled about a long time in a sling.

An egge will take any forme of character that you will, on the inside thereof, if you write vpon the shell with inke made of Galls, Allome, and Vineger, and after that such writing is dried in the Sunne, put the egge in brine that is verie strong, and after boyle it and take away the shell, and there you shall find the writing.

The shell of the egge emptied all out, and filled with May dew, and layd forth af∣terward in the Sunne-thine at noone day, is easily lifted vp into the ayre without the aid or assistance of any other thing.

An egge armed with thread, and put into the middest of a hot burning fire, kee∣peth the thread from burning at all.

A Henne slit in two, and applyed all hot vnto the bitings of venimous beasts, draweth out the venime thereof: or otherwise, if you take and plucke the fundament of any liuing fowle verie bare, and apply it to the parts offended by the stinging of a Snake, or to the Carbuncles and Buboes rising of the infection, doth the like. And this sheweth, that a Henne hath a naturall contrarietie against poyson. And this may further be knowne, because that Hennes doe eat venimous things, as Toades, Vipers, Snakes, Aspes, and other Serpents, without their taking of any harme thereby.

The inward membrane of the Hennes stomacke or maw, as also of a Capons, dried and powdred, is a soueraigne thing against the flux of the belly, grauell in the reines, and difficultie to make water.

The broth which is made of a Henne, or old Cocke, is good to loosen the bellie: and yet more effectually, if one stuffe a Henne with Mercurie, Germander, wild Saffron, and such other hearbes. Also the broth of a Henne or Cocke is singular a∣gainst euerie disease, if she be stuffed with hearbes appropriate and fit for the cure of the said diseases.

The stones of a Capon, nourished and fed with meat steeped in milke, are soue∣raigne for the speedie restoring of them which are worne away and consumed by continuance of long sicknesse.

The fat of a Henne washed in Rose water, is good for the chops and clifts in the lips, as also for those which happen in the hands by reason of Winter cold.

The gall of a Henne or Capon dropt into the eye, doth take away the spots of the eyes, if you mixe it with the water of Eye-bright.

The dung of a Henne dried and finely powdred, and applyed to the eyes which haue lost their haire, causeth the same to come againe, if you mixe it with honey, or oyle of Linseed: If it be tempered with oyle of Roses, and applyed, it is good

against burnings: being brayed with vinegar and honey, it cureth within an houre such as are neere strangled by eating of Mushromes, for it maketh them to vomite a thicke and flegmatike humor. A Physition in Galens time did cure all manner of old Collickes, giuing the sicke to drinke of this dung with Hypocras made of honey and wine.

A hard rosted egge eaten with vineger stayeth the flux of the belly, if you mixe with it the powder of Harts horne.

A Cataplasme made of the yolke and white of an egge well beaten with the iuice or water of Plantaine and Nightshade, applyed vnto burnings, doth quench and ex∣tinguish them.

The white of an egge beaten, and with the powder of Frankincense, Mastick, and Galls applyed vnto the browes, doth stay the bleeding at the nose.

The yolke of an egge swallowed alone, stayeth the Cough, and such other distilla∣tions as fall downe vpon the lungs and other parts of the breast. The yolke of an egge, which is layd in the full of the Moone, doth cleanse and take away all manner of spots appearing in the face. The thin membrane or skin which is on the inside of the egge-shell dried, finely poudred and mixt with the white of the egge, doth heale the clifts of the lips. The egge-shell made into ashes, and drunke with wine, doth stay the spetting of bloud, and is good to whiten and cleanse the teeth, to comfort and incarnate the gummes. The egge-shels, out of which there haue come Chickens, being poudred and mixed with white wine, doe breake as well the stone of the reines as of the bladder. The white of the egge mixed with vnquencht Lime, the shell of an egge burnt to ashes, old Tyle well poudred, and Bitumen, maketh a Cement verie excellent to glue and ioyne together againe the broken parts and pieces of Glasses. An egge spread vpon wood, or any kind of garment, doth keepe the same from the burning of the fire.

Notes

• The Hen-house kept cleane.
• Baskets for Hennes to lay in.
• Pearches and ladders made cleane and rubd downe. Their d••••nking ••••ought kept cleane.
• Fresh straw on the dung ill.
• The dustin, of Pullen.
• To take away the le••s of Hennes ••aying.
• Beasts to be pro∣uided against as enemies to poul∣trie.
• The wings of Cocks & Capons must not be cut.
• The Brood-house.
• The markes of a good Henne.
• The Henne with spurs.
• The daint••e-mouthed Henne
• The o••er-fat Henne.
• The mad-brai∣ned Henne.
• A young Henne clocking.
• A young Henne good only to lay egges.
• An old Henne is good to sit.
• To take away a Hennes desire to sit.
• Capons to brood and lead Chic∣kens.
• The diseases of old Hennes.
• The Henne Pip.
• Fleas and vermin•• about Hennes.
• Physicke for Hennes.
• For the rheume in Henn••s.
• For the loose∣nesse of the belly in Hennes.
• For costiue••esse in Hennes.
• To take the Pip from H••nes▪
• Against Fleas and Vermine.
• Against the ••i∣tings of veni∣mous Beasts.
• Against Beasts that eat Pullein.
• Against Foxes.
• The laying of Hennes.
• To haue egges all Winter time.
• The time to set Hennes.
• Ouens to set egges in.
• To set egges of other birds vn∣der Hennes.
• To haue Henne-birds or Cock-birds.
• A Ceremonie obserued in set∣ting of egges.
• The Hennes meat & drinks must be set within the thing she sit∣eth in.
• The impatiencie of women.
• To trie the egges that must be set.
• The Henne Pip.
• To hatch Chic∣kens without the heat of the Henne.
• Y•• know a good egge.
• How egges may be kept in Win∣ter and Sum∣mer.
• To g••ld Cock∣reld.
• To fat Capons.
• capons of Means and Bretaigne.
• Chickens of di∣uers colours.
• Great egges.
• To make egges soft.
• How to keepe egges.
• What egges will keepe best.
• The stone in a Capons stomack.
• To rost an egge without any fire.
• An egge writ∣ten vpon.
• An egge lifted vp into the aire.
• The applying of a Henne to draw forth venome.
• The innermost skin of the Hens stomack, against the flux of the be••••y & grauell.
• The broth of a Henne good to loosen the belly.
• The stones of a Capon.
• The fat of a Henne.
• The gall of a Henne.
• Henne-dung.
• A hard rosted egge.
• The yolke and white of an egge.
• The white of an egge.
• The yolke of an egge.