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. I.

What manner of Husbandrie is entreated of in the Discourse following.

EVen as the manner of building vsed at this day, for the co∣uering and rest of men, is nor like vnto that of old time: so we see the manner of the labouring of the earth for the nourishment and sustenance of the same, to differ great∣ly, according to the Countries, Soyle, Grounds, and Si∣tuation of the Places wherein they are seated: yea, there is not so much as their language, apparrell, or household-stuffe and working tooles, but they change after the fashi∣ons of Countries, which notwithstanding doe not hinder, but that in euerie thing wee may be as well fitted as they which went before vs. By this we may see our late kinde of Husbandrie to attaine and bring with it the like is∣sue and effects which that of the Auncients did, which is nothing else, but to liue of the encrease of the Earth, well husbanded and tilled by vs.

Wherefore I haue thought it impertinent and vnseemely to tie my self to the se∣uerall sorts of labour vsed of men in times past, and that because that Countries in∣habited by diuers sorts of people, haue, according to the seuerall varietie of them, e∣uerie one affoorded many particular and seuerall sorts of liuing; as also for that it hath alwaies beene the custome of men (to the end they might the more easily fit and apply themselues to the good liking of others) to compose and frame themselues ac∣cording to the manners of the Countrey, without affecting, either by the reading of old Writers, or their owne ouer-reaching curiositie (the ruine and ouerthrow of all good wits) so many new inuented fashions of Building, Tilling, Speaking, or Wri∣ting: seeing, that by such meanes, in seeming to reforme things without the perfect knowledge of them, men haue beene brought oftentimes vtterly to spill, spoyle, and marre the same. And therefore I would not haue you to maruell, if the Frame and Toile vsed about our French Countrey-Farme be not altogether like to that of for∣mer and auncient daies: for it is my purpose (following the Prouerbe, which sayth, That we must learne the manners of our auncient predecessours, and practise accor∣ding to the present Age) to lay out vnto you the waies, so to dwell vpon, order, and maintaine a Farme, Meese, or Inheritance in the Fields (name it as you please) as

that it may keepe and maintaine with the profit and encrease thereof, a painefull and skilfull Husbandman, and all his Familie: whereupon it commeth to passe, that the countrey inhabitants doe call it at this day the onely or principall and greatest gaine that is, because no other thing bringeth more gaine vnto the master thereof than the earth, if it be well husbanded and reasonably maintained.

Now for as much as (with good reason) my countreymen of England may obiect against this Worke, that albeit it may sort well with any soyle that is in any degree (how much collaterall soeuer) allyed to this temper, clyme, & mixture of the French: yet to vs that are so much remote in nature and qualitie, and who••e Earth giueth vn∣to vs, for our most generall profit, things and fruits, either little, or very stranger-wise, acquainted with them; and in as much as there may be found that difference in our labours, which may equall the difference of our tasts, they being as farre from our Barley as wee from their Vine, and wee as farre from their Fruits as they from our Woolls; I will, after the faithfull translation of their noble experiences, adde the dif∣ference of our customes, and to their labors adde the experience and knowledge of our best Husbandmen, hoping thereby to giue a publike content to ou•• Nation▪ who seeing the true difference of both Kingdomes, may, out of an easie iudgement, both compare and collect that which shall be fittest for his vse and commoditie.

Notes

• The varietie of Countries cau∣seth a diuers manner of la∣bouring of the earth.
• Ouer-much cu∣riositie the ruin•• of good wits.
• What manner of Husbandrie i•• entreated of in that which follow••th.
• The name of the Country ••ouse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a Farme, Meese, or field Inheri∣tance.
• The Translator.
• The English practise added to the French.