Foure bookes of husbandry, collected by M. Conradus Heresbachius, counseller to the hygh and mighty prince, the Duke of Cleue: conteyning the whole arte and trade of husbandry, vvith the antiquitie, and commendation thereof. Nevvely Englished, and increased, by Barnabe Googe, Esquire

The first Booke of husbandry, entreatyng of earable ground, tyllage, and pasture. (Book 1)

Cono. Rigo. Metella. Hermes.

CONO.

MEE thinketh I heare a neighing and trampling of Horses without, goe HERMES, goe know what strangers there are.

HERMES.

Syr, yfmy sight fayle me not, it is RIGO, the principall Secretarie.

METELLA.

A goodly matter, scarse haue you been two dayes at home, and nowe you must be sent for agayne to the Court, perhaps to be sent abrode in some embassage.

CONO.

God forbyd, iudge the best, it may be he comes to see me of curtesie and frendship.

RIGO.

Ah maister CONO, I am glad I haue founde you in the middes of your countrey ioyes and pleasures: Surely you are a happy man, that shifting your selfe from the troubles and turmoyles of the Court, can picke out so quiet a life, and geuyng ouer all, can secretly lye hid in the pleasant Countrey, suffering vs in the meane time to be cost and torne with the cares and bu∣sinesse of the common weale.

CONO.

Surely I must confesse I haue taken a happy way, yf these goddes of the Earth would suffer me to enioy suche hap∣pinesse, that haue bequeathed the troublesome and ambitious life of the Court to the bottome of the Sea. But what? doo you intend to bring me againe to my olde troubles, being thus hap∣pily discharged?

RIGO.

Nothing lesse, though I woulde be very glad you should not so hastily forsake the Court, nor ridde your selfe from the affayres of the common wealth. You know we are not borne to liue to our selues, nor at our owne pleasures: but for our countrey, our common weale and state whereto we are cal∣led. There can not be a woorse thing, then for a man to suffer his countrey forsaken, to come into the handes of villanous persons, and to reioyce with him selfe, that being out of Gunshot, he hath left the hurlie burlie of gonernment. And though Cato had no

neede of Rome, yet Rome and Cato his freendes had neede of hym.

CONO.

I graunt you, as long as yeeres and strength wyll beare it, wee are bound to serue in our vocation: but as you your selfe are driuen to confesse, there is sometime a reasonable cause of geuing ouer. Lucullus is highly commended,* 1.1 that whyle his body was strong and lusty, he applied him selfe wholy to the ser∣uice of his Countrey, and that after his honourable seruice both abrode and at home, in the ende he got him selfe quietly agayne to his booke. And Scipio,* 1.2 who after he had conquered both Car∣thage and Numidia, was content rather to leaue of and rest him sel••e, then to doo as Marius dyd, who after so many woorthy victo∣ries and atchiued honours, coulde not content him selfe when he was well, but puft vp with vnmeasurable desyre of glory and go∣uernment, would in his olde age contend with young men, wher∣by he brought him selfe at the length to most miserable miserie. Surely Cicero tooke a better way by much,* 1.3 when after the ouer∣throwe of Catelins conspiracie, he rather contented him selfe to liue quietly at home, then by ambitious intermedling with the contentions of the common wealth, to bring him selfe in danger of his lyfe. The desyre of bearing rule in a common weale, is to be moderated with a certaine bounded modestie, specially in this age of ours, when Courtes are subiect to suche enuies, hatreds, flatteries, slaunders, couetous and ambitious desyres, and where no place is left for vertuousnesse and christian simplicitie. These are the thinges that droue Socrates and Plato from their common weales, and doo likewyse keepe me, being nowe of good yeeres and sickely, y^• Court forsaken, in this my poore cottage at home.

RIGO.

Yea, but age is no sufficient excuse for you to leaue the gouernyng of your countrey. You knowe 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the labour of young men, and the counsell of olde men, and how those common weales are safely alwayest guided, where olde mens heads, and young mens armes are stirryng. Father Nestor got great commendation for his counsell at the siege of Troy,* 1.4 where as Peleus and Laertes were despised, and ac∣compted for benchwhistlers at home.* 1.5

CONO.

Some are tickled with glory: some with gaine, gifts,

and rewardes, retayne the Cockrowen Courtiers, yea suche as haue one of their feete alredy in the graue. Now yf we woulde content our selues with this lyfe, and geue our selues to the true and perfect lyfe,

In Princes Courtes vve should not gape nor gase, Nor yll successe in sutes should vexe our mynde: No vayne nor fond deuise our eyes should dase, Nor levvde affection should our fancie blynde. All suche thynges should be left and layde asyde, Novve lyues alas eache out of order quite: And to our shame the tyme avvay dooth slyde•• All seeke to lyue, but none to liue vpryght.

As the Poet excellently wel wryteth in his Epigram, it were the part of a mad man or a coxcome to runne headlong without any profite into danger, when as he may liue godly and quietly at home without all trouble, as our olde fathers were woont to doo.

RIGO.

It is very true, the Poete accompteth him blessed to whom this lyfe can happen: But in the meane tyme you are a∣lone, and leade your lyfe with beastes, lowtes of the Countrey, and trees, that haue spent all your tyme before among wyse and honourable personages.* 1.6 Socrates affyrmeth wysdome to be lear∣ned in Cities, and not among beastes and trees.

CONO.

Socrates his iudgement, though I wyll not gayne∣say, yet it appeareth by his disputations with Iscomachus in Xenophon, that he dyd not disalowe the Countrey mans lyfe. And as for my liuing alone, it almost happeneth here to me, as Cicero reporteth Scipio to say, that he was neuer lesse alone, then when he was alone: for being alone, I haue continuall conference with the grauest and wysest men. For eyther I apply my self wholy to the sacred oracles of the Prophetes and the Apostles, who teach the true wysedome, by which both Kinges rule, and Princes gouerne, and by which our soules (whiche we cheefely ought to regard) are fedde, whiche also shewe vnto vs the perfect way to that euerlastyng Court aboue: or when I list, I haue the compa∣ny of the greatest Princes and Monarchies of the worlde, with whom I conferre of the doubtful state and gouernement of com∣mon weales,* 1.7 in reading the Histories and Chronicles of the

worlde, trauayling as it were throughout all nations, or readyng the woorkes of such as write in husbandrie, I occupie my minde in the beholdyng the woonderfull woorkemanship of GOD in Trees, Plantes, and Beastes, whereby in the Creature, I ac∣knowledge the Creator. And besides these dumbe companions, my freendes come sometime to see me, sometime Gentlemen, sometime Noblemen, sometime the Prince hym selfe vouchsa∣feth to vnite me: so that there is scarcely any day but that some come vnto me, some for their pleasure, some for good wyll, and some for their businesse: For to my freendes and my neyghbours, I neyther denie my counsell, nor my trauayle. Therefore is it ve∣ry expedient that good choyse be made of Lawyers, and discreete men for the Countrey, alwayes prouided, they geue their coun∣sell free and without wages. Many times beside, you from the Court sende me hyther processe and arbitrementes to be tryed before me. Thus haue I in the Countrey sweeter and pleasan∣ter company then you haue, eyther in the Court or Citie.

RIGO.

Tell me then I beseeche you, howe you bestowe your time, and howe you are occupied all the day? for I doubt not but you doo as much as in you lyeth to spend the time as profitably as you may.

CONO.

I wyll tell you throughly, and not dissemble with you, yf ye wyll geue me the hearing, and to begin, I wyll vse the woordes and verses of the foresaide Poete, though in other his writinges fearse honest, yet in this speaking very graue & wyse.

Fyrst serued on knees the Maiestie diuine, My Seruantes next and ground I ouerlooke: To euery man his taske I doo assigne, VVhen this is doone I get me to my booke.

I vse commonly to ryse first of all mee selfe, specially in Som∣mer, when we loose the healthfullest and sweetest time with slug∣gishnesse. Aristotle accompteth early rysing to be best both for health, wealth, and studie. In the Winter yf I be loth to ryse, yf either the vn••easonablenesse of the weather, or sicknesse cause me to keepe my bed, I commit all to my Steward, whose faith and diligence I am sure of, whom I haue so well instructed, that I

may safely make him my deputie, I haue also Euriclia my maide, so skilfull in huswyferie, that she may well be my wyues suffra∣gan, these twayne we appoynt to supply our places: but yf the weather and time serue, I play the woorkemaister mee selfe. And though I haue a Bailiffe as skilfull as may be, yet remem∣bring the olde sayeing,* 1.8 that the best doung for the feelde is the maisters foote, and the best prouender for the horse the maisters eye, I play the ouerseer mee selfe. That it is holsome to ryse be∣times, I am perswaded both by the counsell of the most graue Philosophers, and besides by myne owne experience. When my Seruantes are all set to woorke, and euery man as busie as may be, I get me into my Closet to serue GOD, and to reade the holy Scriptures: (for this order I alwayes keepe, to appoint mee selfe euery day my taske, in reading some part eyther of the old Testament or of the newe): that doone, I write or reade such thinges as I thinke most needefull, or dispatche what businesse so euer I haue in my house, or with Sutars abrode. A litle be∣fore dinner I walke abrode, if it be faire, eyther in my Garden, or in the Feeldes, if it be foule, in my Galerie: when I come in, I finde an Egge, a Thick, a peece of Rid, or a peece of Ueale, Fishe, Butter, and suche like, as my Foldes, my Yarde, or my Dayrie and Fishpondes wyl yeelde, sometime a Sallet, or such fruites as the Garden or Orchard dooth beare: whiche victuals without any charges my wyfe prouideth me, wherewith I con∣tent mee selfe aswell, as yf I had the dayntiest dishe in Europe. I neuer lightly sit aboue one houre at my meate: after dinner I passe the tyme with talking with my wyfe, my seruantes, or yf I haue any, with my ghestes: I rise and walke about my ground, where I viewe my woorkemen, my pastures, my medowes, my corne, and my cattel. When I am in the Countrey, I goe euery day, yf the weather be good, and no other great businesse, about my grounde: if not euery day, at the least once in two or three dayes: as often as I come to the Citie from the Countrey, I doo the like, to vnderstand howe my ground is husbanded, and what is doone, what vndoone: neither doo I euer goe about it, but some good commeth of my trauayle. In the meane whyle I beholde the woonderfull wysdome of Nature, and the incompre∣hensible

woorking of the most mightie GOD in his Crea∣tures, which as Cicero truely affirmeth,* 1.9 is the delicatest foode of the Soule, and the thing that maketh vs come neerest vnto God. Here way I with mee selfe, the benefites and woonderfull woorkes of God, who bringeth foorth Grasse for th•• cattell, and greene Herbe for the vse of man, that he may bring foode out of the Earth according to the Psalme.* 1.10 Heere he preacheth to me.

The fruitefull Earth that tyld in sundry vvyse, Vnto the eye her goodly fruites dooth yeelde: The Violettes svveete that eache vvhere thicke doo ryse, And stayne vvith purple dye the pleasant feelde, The feelde vvith hearbes, the hearbes vvith branches braue, The glittring flovvres that shine like starres of lyght, And springyng fast disclose the grace they haue, Eache hearbe vvith sundry flovvre most svveete in syght.

What woorkeman is there in the world, that is able to frame or counterfeyte suche heauenly woorkes? Who could of a sclender grasse make Wheate or Bread, and of a tender twigge bring foorth so noble a licour as Wine? but only that mightie Lorde that hath created all thinges visible and inuisible. With these sightes doo I recreate my mind, and geue thankes vnto GOD, the creator and conseruer of all thinges, for his great and ex∣ceeding goodnesse, I sing the song, to thee O Lorde belongeth prayses in Sion, or, praise thou the Lorde O my soule. &c. be∣seeching GOD to blesse the giftes that he hath geuen vs through his bounteous liberalitie, to enriche the Feeldes, and to prosper the Corne and the Grasse, and that he wyll crowne the yeere with his plenteousnesse, that we may enioy the fruites of the Earth with thankesgeuing, to the honour of him, and the pro∣fite of our neighbour. Then returning home, I goe to writing or reading, or suche other businesse as I haue: but with study, or inuention, I neuer meddle, in three houres after I haue dyned. I suppe with a smal pittans, and after supper I eyther seeldome or neuer write or reade, but rather passe the time in seeing my Sheepe come home from the Feelde, and my Oxen dragging home the Plowe with weerie neckes, in beholding the pleasant Pastures sweetely smelling about my house, or my heardes of cattel lowing hard by me: sometime I list to rest me vnder an old

Holme, sometime vpon the greene grasse, in the meane time pas∣seth by me the pleasant Riuer, the streames falling from the springes with a comfortable noyse, or els walking by the Riuer side, or in my Garden, or neerest pastures, I conferre with my Wife or Seruantes of husbandry, appointing what I wil haue doone: if my Bailiffe haue any thing to say, if any thing be to be bought or solde: for a good husband, as Cato sayth, must rather be a sellar then a byer.* 1.11 Sometimes (specially in Winter) after s••pper, I make my Minister to tell something out of the holy Scripture, or els some pleasant storie, so that it be honest and godly, and such as may edi••ie. Two or three houres after supper I get me to bedde, and commonly as I saide before, the last in the house, except my Chamberlayne and my Stewarde.

RIGO.

In the meane time being farre from the Churche, ne••∣ther can you heare the sermons, nor be present with your wyfe & your household at seruice: for your owne part though ye may sup∣ply the matter with reading, yet your wyfe and your seruantes can not so doo.

CONO.

For my part (without vaunt be it spoken,) I haue ser∣uice euery day at certaine appointed houres, where preacheth to me dayly the Prophetes, the Apostles, Basil, Chrisostome, Nazi∣anzen, Cyril, Ciprian, Ambrose, Austen, and other excellent preachers, whom I am sure I heare with greater profite, then yf I shoulde heare your sir Iohn lacklatines and foolishe felowes in your Churches. My wyfe also being geuen to readyng, readeth the Byble and certaine Psalmes translated into our owne tongue, if there be any thing to hard or darke for her, I make her to vn∣derstand it: besides, she hath priuate praiers of her owne that she vseth: in the meane time I haue one, that vppon the holy dayes (if the weather or our businesse be such as we can not goe to Church) readeth the Gospell, teacheth the Catechisme, and ministreth the Sacramentes when time requires: but in the Sommer time, if the weather be not vnreasonable, we goe al∣wayes vpon the Sundayes and Festiuall dayes to our Parishe Churche, where we heare our Curate, and receaue the blessed Communion: as for my household, I bring them to this order, that they alwayes serue God before their going to woorke, and

at their comming to meales. It is written of Anthonie the Er∣mite, that being demaunded of a certaine Philosopher, howe he coulde in the solitarie wyldernesse without any bookes, occupie him selfe in the studie of diuinitie:* 1.12 He answeared, that the whole world serued him for bookes, as a well furnished Librarie, in which he alwayes read the woonderfull woorkmanship of God, which in euery place stood before his eyes. In the like sort haue I my household seruantes well instructed in the cheefe groundes of true religion, who leauyng to their vocation and innocencie of their life, not caried away with the vaine entisementes and plea∣sures of Cities, doo beholde the Maiestie of GOD in his woorkes, and honour the Creator in his Creatures, not only vp∣pon the Sundayes, but euery day through the yeere, where they may also heare the litle Birdes, & other creatures in their kindes, setting out the glory and Maiestie of God.

RIGO.

You seeme to tell me of a Schoole of diuinitie, and not of a husbandmans Cottage, this was the very order of the Patriarkes, and the Monasteries in the Primatiue Churche.

CONO.

* 1.13In deede Chrisostome would haue all Christians, ma∣ried folkes and vnmaried, to leade their liues according to the rule and order of Monkes: but of such Monkes as liued in those dayes, not such good felowes as ours be nowe: for the professi∣on of a Monke in that age, was no other but the life of the purest and perfectest Christians, whiche kinde of life the olde Patri∣arkes as the Scriptures doo witnesse did leade.

RIGO.

I oftentimes woondred, that hauing so goodly a house and so well furnished in the Citie as you haue, what you meant to desire rather to dwell in the Countrey: but nowe that I see the good order of your life, I leaue to woonder any longer.

CONO.

It is naturall to me, and left me by my parentes, to delight in husbandrie: for my Father, my Graundfather, my great Graundfather, and as farre as I can fetche my petigree, all my Auncestours were occupiers of husbandry, and were all borne and died in this house that you see.

RIGO.

I remember not long since, being in businesse with the Chauncellour Hypsographus, a sober man, your neighbour, and one that delightes in husbandry, it was my chaunce to see your fa∣ther,

surely a man would haue taken him for olde Laertes in Homer, or rather for Abram, or Isahac, and as the Chauncellour tolde me, he was foure score and tenne yeeres olde: but so faire he bare his age, as I tooke him to be scarse fiftie, his memorie and iudge∣ment seemed to serue him woonderous well, he would talke of the orders of the Countrey, of the antiquities there abouts, of the stories of the Scripture, so sweetely and eloquently, as I was woonderfully in loue with him: he had the Prophetes and the E∣uangelistes at his fingers endes, so that I sawe the noble men had him in estimation, not without great cause.

CONO.

In deede he tooke suche delight in the holy Scrip∣tures, as no day passed him without reading some part of them: he vsed to goe commonly euery day to the next Parishe Churche, neither woulde he misse any Sermon that he coulde heare of, he brought both Preacher and Priest into order, and caused them to frame their liues according to the rule of the Gospell.

RIGO.

You paynt me here the patterne of a Bishoppe, or an ouerseer: in deede the most part of these Priestes had neede of suche ouerseers to restraine their couetousnesse, the spring of all their abuses.

CONO.

To returne to my quietnesse or my husbandry from whence I digressed, doo you yet marueyle howe I can delight mee selfe with this so honest and profitable a quietnesse, then which in the iudgement of the holiest and wysest men, there is no∣thing more honest nor better,* 1.14 neither is there beside any trade of life more meete for a Gentleman, nor trauayle more accepta∣ble to GOD, then is the tilling of the ground. The people in the olde time (as Cato a man of great wysdome, and a teacher of husbandry dooth witnesse) as oft as they would geue a man the name of an honest man, they woulde call him a good husbande, comprehending in that name as muche commendation, as they could geue him: besides, most mightie Kinges and Emperours were no whit ashamed to professe this trade,* 1.15 as Xenophon repor∣teth of king Cyrus: the like wryteth Quintus Curtius of Abdolominus. Numa the king of the Romanes bare a singuler affection to hus∣bandry, for that he thought there was no kinde of life so sitte to maintaine eyther peace or warres, or for the prouision of a mans

life, being rather a geuer of good life, then richesse. Moreouer, Hiero, Philometor, Attalus, Archilaus, and a great number of Princes more, were delighted with y^e profession of husbandry: this know∣ledge is also hyghly commended by Homer, the very fountaine in his time of wysedome, whereas he describeth Alcinous the king of the Pheaces, whose delight in the planting and pleasures of his Or∣chardes was woonderfull. And Laertes the olde man, that with his continuall occupying of husbandry, brought his minde better to beare the absence of his sonne. Hesiodus in his woorke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 geueth great prayse to Astrea, that being banished the Ci∣tie, gaue him selfe to the life of the Countrey: Yea the ground hath beforetime been tilled by the handes of Emperours, the Earth in the meane time reioysing to be torne with a Uictorers shaare, and to be plowed with the handes of a tryumphant Con∣querer, eyther because they dealt with the like regarde in their seede, as in their warres, or vsed suche diligence in the Corne feeldes, as they dyd in the Campe, or els because all things hand∣led with honest and vertuous fyngers prosper the better, beyng more ••arefully looked to. Serranus when he was called to honour,* 1.16 was found sowing of seede. The Dictators office was brought by the Purceuant to Cincinatus being all naked and besmeared with sweat and dust.* 1.17 The Purceuantes had fyrst their name of calling Senato••rs and Gouernours, out of the Countrey to the Citie. In like sort had this name at the first, the Fabij, the Pisons, the Curij, the Lentuli, the Ciceroes, the Pilumni, and other auncient houses. Horace telleth, that of husbandmen haue been bread the valyaun∣test and woorthyest Souldiers, affyrming that the hand that hath been vsed to the Spade, prooueth often of greatest value in the Feelde. Homer reporteth a great valiancie in Vlisses his Netheard in the slaughter of those felowes that woulde haue rauished his maistresse. Most certayne it is, that a great number of Empe∣rours haue sprong from the Plowe. And to let others goe, it is knowen that the Emperours Galerius and Maximinus,* 1.18 came both of them from poore Herdmen to the imperiall dignitie. The like is written of Iustine, Constancianus, Probus, and Aurelianus. The stories report, that M. Curius the Emperour was found in his house boy∣ling of a Rape roote, when he refused the great summes of golde

brought by the Samnites Embassadours. What should I speake of the antiquitie of it?* 1.19 the holy Scriptures declare husbandry to be the auncientest of al trades. And to begin with the very beginning of man, and that neither Osyris, nor Dionysius, were the fyrst foun∣ders of this knowledge, as the Panims fable, but that the most mightie Lorde him selfe did fyrst ordayne it: for Adam and his sonnes were all husbandmen, Noe was a planter of Uines,* 1.20 Abra∣ham, Isahac, and Iacob, were shepheardes, Saul from his Asses, and Dauid from his sheepe were called to the crowne, Eliseus and Amos of shepheardes were made Prophetes. Ozias as we reade professed husbandry. Iesus the sonne of Syrache commending husbandry a∣boue the rest, sayth, he customa••ily vsed him selfe to hold the Plow, to driue the Cart, and to keepe Cattell: but what neede we more? Our Sauiour CHRISTE him selfe glorieth to be the sonne of a husbandman, and frameth his parables of planting of Uines, of Sheepe and Shepheardes: moreouer, as it is in Luke, our Lorde seemeth to be a teacher of husbandry, where he sheweth, that ••rees are to be digged about and dunged, that they may prosper the bet∣te••. For si••h this knowledge is of al other most innocent, and with∣out which it ••s most plaine we are not able to liue: the best and the godliest men haue alwayes imbraced it, and the olde fathers haue euer counted it the very Cosin Germane to wysedome.* 1.21 Cicero cal∣leth it the mistresse of iustice, diligens, and thriftinesse: some others call it the Mother and Nurs of al other artes. For wheras we may liue without the other, without this we are not able to sustayne our life: besides, the gayne that hereof aryseth, is most godly, and least subiect to enuie, for it hath to deale with the Earth, that restoreth with gayne such thinges as is committed vnto her, specially y•• it be furthered with the blessing of GOD. The only gentlemanly way of encreasing the house, is the trade of husbandry: and for this cause they were alwayes accompted the perfectest Gentle∣men, that,* 1.22 content with the liuing their auncestours left them, liued in the Countrey of their landes, not medling with figging, chop∣ping, and changing, nor seeking their liuing by handycraftes. M. Varro in his time sayth there was great complaint made, that the Fathers forsaking the Plough and the Sicle, began to creepe into the Towne, and busied them selues rather with Pageantes

and Midsommer games, then with the Uineyard or the Feeldi••, whereas the Gouernours of Rome so deuided the yeere, as they assigned only the nienth day for businesse of the Citie, and the rest of t••e tune for the tyllage of the Countrey, whereby being harde∣ned with labour in peace, they might the better be able to abyde the trauayle of warres. Whiche Countrey people were alwayes preferred before the people of the Citie, and more Nobilitie thought to be in them that tyld the ground abrode, then in those that liuing idely within the walles, spent their time vnder the shadowe of the Pen••house: except a man wyll, with the common sort, thinke it more honest to get his liuing with the blood and ca∣lamitie of poore soules, or not daring to deale with the swoorde to make his gayne of marchandize, and being a creature of the land, contrary to his kind, geue him selfe to the rage of the Seas, and the pleasure of the Windes, wandring like a Birde from shore to shore, and countrey to countrey, or to folowe this goodly profession of bawling at a barre, and for gaine to open his iawes at euery benche. Surely as I saide before, this onely hath been euer counted the innocentest trade of life, of al men, & in all ages. By husbandry were made riche the godly Fathers, Abram, Loth, Iacob, and Ioab: and most certaine it is, that this profession and this gayne, is most acceptable to GOD, when he commaunded Adam to tyll the grounde,* 1.23 and to get his liuing with the sweat of his browes. Thus is husbandry of suche aucthoritie, as GOD with his open witnesse hath alowed it,* 1.24 and afterwardes by his seruant Moses hath added his blessing vnto it, saying, I wyl geue the ground my blessing in the sixth yeere, and it shal bring foorth the fruites of three yeeres. And againe, If you wyl keepe my commaundementes,* 1.25 I wyll send you raine in due season, and the Earth shall yeelde her increase, and your trees shalbe loden with fruite, the threasshing time shall last tyll the vintage, and the vin∣tage shall endure tyll the sowing time, and you shall eate your bread with plenteousnesse. What can there be nowe more plea∣sant to a Christian man, then to get his liuing by suche meanes as he knoweth dooth please GOD, and to play the Philosopher in the most sweete contemplation of the benefites of GOD, and to acknowledge and reuerence the wysedome and power of the

diuine Maiestie, and his bounteousnesse to mankinde, to geue him thankes and prayse for his goodnesse, the very hearbes and Creatures in the Feelde in the meane time preaching vnto vs.

RIGO.

You frame me here of a husbandman a diuine, and al∣most bring me in minde to become a husbandman, who alwayes hitherto with the common sort, accounted this husbandry to be a beastly and a beggerly occupation.

CONO.

What diuinitie there is in it, and what a feeld of the acknowledged benifites of God, you haue heard. That the com∣mon sort doo thinke it a beastly and a beggerly kinde of lyfe, it is no maruelye, syth the common people doo neuer iudge aryght. The common people doo woonder at the pompe of the Court, and iudge them for the happiest men, that deckt with golde and purple, are in greatest fauour with Princes, and Officers, and Councellours to them, litle knowing in the meane time what heapes of sorowes lyes hyd vnder that braue and glittering mi∣••erie. The common sort preferreth shamefull and beastly delica∣sie, before honest and vertuous labour, ioyning to consume the nyght in drunkennesse, leacherie, & villanie, and the day in sleepe and pastime, thinking suche happy, as neither behold the rysing nor setting of y^e Sunne. But those that are of sounder iudgement, account the husbandmen most happy, yf they knewe their owne felicitie, to whom the Earth in a farre quieter maner dooth mini∣ster a sufficient liuyng.

And thou with gorgeous gates the buyldynges hye, With early greetinges alvvayes doo not flovve, Nor seelyng garnisht gaye vvith Imagrye, Nor ritche attyre vve see, nor costly shovve: Yet stedfast state and lyfe vnskild of guyle, VVith vvealth yenough and pastures vvyde at vvyll, And people strong traynde vp to payne and toyle, And youth vvith dyet small contented styll, Where godly zeale and vertues all dyd dvvell, VVhen Iustice last dyd bidde the vvorlde farevvell.

As the Poete hath most grauely written in the prayse of the hus∣band.* 1.26 Aglaus Sophidus was iudged happy by the Oracle of Apollo, because he occupied a smal corner of Arcadia, but yet sufficient for

his liuelode, where he spent his life without euer comming a∣brode: whose order of lyfe sheweth, that he was neither vexed with greedie desyre, neither with any other trouble of minde, as Plinie witnesseth. But I holde you to long with commendation of that which of it selfe is sufficiently commended. Hawe, wyfe, I pray you let vs goe to dinner.

METELLA.

You shall syr by and by. God morowe maister RIGO, I thought Xenoplutus had been here, who vseth to fetch my husband away: he hath by chaunce been nowe at home a weeke or twayne, which some mislikyng, preferre him to most paineful and troublesome businesse, procuring him to be sent in embassage beyond the pyllers of Hercules, and (which they would be lothe to beare them selues) they cast all vppon his backe as a common packhorse, who being nowe olde, reason would he shoulde be spa∣red and suffered to be in quiet, that being at the last free from the turmoyles of the world, he myght geue him selfe to his prayers, and prepare him selfe for heauen.

RIGO.

It were more for the benefite of his Countrey, that maister CONO came oftner to the Court, but he is the seeldome•• there, because he taketh such pleasure in his husbandry: howbeit, I came for no such purpose, but only to visite him, beyng my olde freend.

CONO.

You must beare with a womans bablyng.

RIGO.

I pray you, sins it is not yet dinner tyme, let vs walke about, that I may viewe your house tyll dinner be redy.

CONO.

If it please you, I wyll shewe you my house, where I haue appoynted my kyngdome.

RIGO.

Nowe surely you haue as happy & as pleasant a king∣dome as may be.

CONO.

* 1.27In deede I confesse mee selfe happy in this, that con∣tentyng mee selfe with my poore estate, I desyre no more: for as he sayth.

The man that most dooth here possesse, * 1.28Thou canst not iustly happy name, But he vvhom GOD vvith giftes dooth blesse, And vvell dooth knovve to vse the same: Hym mayest thou rather rightly call, A happy man aboue them all.

Surely I, in this my kingdome, or rather poore cottage, am more happy then a great sort of Kinges and Princes of the world, that are lordes of so many and so large dominions. Riches are not to be measured by their multitude,* 1.29 but by the minde of the possessor. And as Dauid sayth, a litle is better with the godly, then the great richesse of the wicked. Cincinatus occupied onely foure acres of grounde. Socrates hauyng but twentie markes in all the worlde, was counted a riche man. So I with Virgil doo commend great possessions, but had rather occupie litle. Therefore looke not to see here the house of Lucullus, or Hyrcius, which is reported to be solde for 4000000. HS. Suche stately dwellinges and mar∣ble floores, as Cicero sayth, I despise.

RIGO.

Notwithstandyng, here is all thinges faire, and as it appeareth commodiously buylt.

CONO.

For my part, I build my house, as they say, according to my purse, agreeable to my calling, and to my liuing. I wyl shewe you in order howe I haue cast it, folowyng the aduise of Iscomachus in Xenophon, whom Cicero doth greatly commend. And fyrst,* 1.30 the seate of my house hath mooued me to builde it after this sort. Cato would haue a man long in determination to builde, but to plant and sowe out of hand. Our fathers herebefore obserued the same, and seemed to folowe the counsell of Cato and Columella, with whom agreeth also Plinie, that the owner build his house in good order, so as neither the house be to great for the lande, nor the lande to muche for the house. And herein it is written, that L. Lucullus, and Qu. Scaeuola were both to blame: for one of them had a greater house then was answearable to his liuing: the other, which was Scaeuola, built a smaller house then his liuyng re∣quired, where both are vnprofitable to the maister. For the great ruinous house, not onely is more chargeable in buildyng, but al∣so asketh greater cost in the maintayning. Againe, if the house be to litle, it wyl be a destruction and losse of your Corne & fruite: therefore is it greatly to purpose, in what sort we build and or∣deyne our house. Cato would haue the house so seated, as the ayre be good about it,* 1.31 and (yf it may be) placed at the bottome of a hill, looking directly South, and in a holsome corner. Varros mind is, to haue it placed towarde the East, that it may haue the sha∣dowe

in Sommer, and the Sunne in Winter: with whom Co∣lumella agreeth, saying, that yf habilitie serue, the seate is to be wyshed in a holsome place (for Cato as shal hereafter be shewed, would haue healthy standing cheefely regarded) with a fruitefull moulde, some part of it champion, some hilly, lying East or South, well watred and woodded, and standing not farre of from some hauen, or nauigable riuer, to the end he may cary and trans∣port such thinges as him listeth. Cornelius Tacitus writeth, that the Germanes were woont to build their houses, as the Hyll, the Ri∣uer, the Wood, or the Lake, would best suffer them.

RIGO.

Hereof I thinke sprang at the fyrst so many surnames as are at this day deriued from Mountaynes, Riuers, Lakes, and Wooddes.

CONO.

It may be, yet others doo counsayle, in no case to set your house neere a Marshe, or a great Riuer: for the Fennes and Marshes in the heate of the yeere, doo send foorth pestilent and deadly dampes, and a great number of venemous Creatures: which dying, for lacke of their olde moystoure, infecteth the ayre, and breedeth sundry and strange diseases. Homer affyrmeth very truely, that the ayre whiche in the mornyng commeth from the Riuer, is very vnholsome and daungerous: and therefore yf the house must needes be built neere a Riuer, they would haue suche heede taken, as the Riuer rather stande on the backside of the house, then before it: and that the frunt of the house be turned from the hurtfull and vnholsome wyndes, and placed towardes the healthiest quarters. Sins all waters commonly with dam∣pishe vapours in Sommer, and stincking colde mystes in Win∣ter, except they be well purged with holsome Windes, doo in∣fect both man and beast with pestilence: best is it therefore in good and healthy places, to set the house toward the East, or the South, and in suspected ayres to place them agaynst the North. From the Sea it is good to be as farre as may be, because the windes that blowe from the Sea, are vnholsome, and the space lying betwixt you and it, yeeldes alwayes a lothsome ayre. You must beware besides, that you see not your house by any great hie way, least you be molested with passingers, and troubled often tymes with more ghestes then you would haue.

RIGO.

As farre as I remember, the olde felowes dyd measure the goodnesse of their dwelling,* 1.32 by the qualities of their neygh∣bours.

CONO.

You say very well, in deede I had almost forgotten it, a frowarde knaue to a mans neyghbour, is not one of the least mischiefes, as shalbe sayde in the end of this booke. I haue kno∣wen sundry good men desyrous of quietnesse, that haue forsaken good dwellinges, rather then they would abyde the iniuries and troubles of suche companions: wherfore Hesiodus had some reason in saying, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

As great a mischeefe is a frovvard knaue, As is the ioy a neighbour good to haue.

But you maruayle what I meane by suche a long preamble, surely I am the longer in this matter, because you should vnder∣stand the reason of building of my house. For whereas there are sundry purposes of building, and some build for pleasure, some for wantonnesse, and some for necessitie, I thought it good to resyte the mindes of the olde wryters, concerning the building of a house. And when as euerie one will not suffer suche curiositie as they require in y^e placing of a house, some building vpon Riuers, some without or within the Marshe walles, who can not shunne the neighbourhood of the Riuer or the Sea, some in Lakes, some in Wooddes, and some building vpon mountaynes, are driuen to supply the defect of nature with arte & industrie, I mee selfe syth I can by no meanes auoyde the neerenesse of the Riuer, do seeke as much as in mee lyes, to turne away the discomodities: and because I feele the discomoditie of the rysing of the flooddes, I haue set my house in this place without the bankes, and mounted it as hie as I could: and least the rage of the water, and force of the yce should beare it away, I haue planted round about it great trees: and that I might shun the dampes of the ground, and the blastes of vnholsome windes, I haue turned my doores and my windowes to the holsomest quarters.

RIGO.

Surely, eyther you, or your auncestours haue both com∣modiously & handsomely placed this house, for y^e front is double, one part looking towards y^e East, the other towards the South,

and so built with Galeries and Gables, as it both receiueth the Sunne in Winter, and the shadowe in Sommer: besides, you haue a fayre Porche as you enter in, that keepeth away the wind and the rayne from the doore.

CONO.

All the one side, if you marke it, where the front is, ly∣eth South, receyuyng from the fyrst corner, the rising of the Sunne in Winter, declining somewhat from the West, wherby it is warme in Winter, and not troubled with ouer great heate in Sommer: for this kinde of building hath an equall medlie of the Winter windes and Sommer windes, so that it receiueth the coole windes in Sommer, and is not subiect to the bitter blastes in Winter, though there be something in it that might be amen∣ded, and that dooth not well please me.

RIGO.

Some part of the building, mee thinketh, is after the Italian maner.

CONO.

Some part of it, being ruinous, I built after my fan∣cie, and suche as I found sounde, I thought yenough for me to keepe the reparations.

RIGO.

I pray you proceede with the describing of the rest. This base court seemeth also to me to be after the Italian fashion with two gates.

CONO.

This Court I thus deuised mee selfe. Here was a kinde of Court before, but not so commodious: therefore I made a square wall here with a great gate, for the bringing in of my ca∣riages, and a lesser for people to passe in and out. In the voyde place here besides the porche, I haue made a litle walke, couered with a Uine, with diuers seates in it for shadowe, where I many times walke and talke with suche suters as I haue: I haue in it a table of stone to suppe vpon when I am disposed. Oueragaynst the gate, as you see, at the South side of the Court, there is a Backhouse, and a Cornemill, with Ouens for bread, and other baked meates, there is also a Brewehouse with an Oast for dry∣ing of Malt to make Beere with.

RIGO.

Surely all very handsome, and in very good order.

CONO.

These offices (for feare of fyre) you see, are all seuered from the house: there is hereunto adioyning a very fayre well, which besides the seruice heere, dooth also serue my Kitchin, and

other houses of office: for within the house, I haue neyther well nor fountayne, which is a great discommoditie, suche as I would geue a great deale of money to remedie, both for health & coole∣nesse in Sommer, and for watring my Gardens and my Or∣chardes. Water is one of the principalest things to be cared for, as the greatest cause of health both in man & beast: but this want is supplied partly by a good well without, & partly by Sesternes receauing the rayne water that falles in certayne Conduites and pipes, which water is most holsome for the body: and beside, the Riuer is not farre of.

RIGO.

Come on I pray you, let vs see this Backhouse, I heare that you haue a newe and a strange fashioned Mill of your owne deuise••

CONO.

You shall see it. When as in a great house, there is great neede of Corne Mylles, and the common Milles, being faire of, the way foule, and I at myne owne libertie to grinde at home, or where I lyst, thinking to make a mill here at home, when neyther place nor aucthoritie wyll serue me to builde eyther a water mill or a wind mill, and a querne, or a hand mill, dooth but a litle good: and to build a horse mill were more troublesome. When I sawe the wheeles that they vse to draw water with, turned with Asses or men, I thought in the like sort the wheele of a mill myght be turned, and after this sort de∣uised I this engine, whiche a couple of Asses, guided by a boy, doo easilye turne, and make very fine meale, sufficient for myne owne house, and most times for my neighbours, whom I suffer to grinde tolle free.

RIGO.

Surely I like well your deuise. What wyll not the dili∣gence of man bring to passe?

CONO.

I fynde it profitable vnto me, but because it is not the speediest way of grinding, I haue beside a horse mill, whiche yf neede require, is turned about with a Iade or two.

RIGO.

Lo here is a great leade placed handsomely in a Bricke furnace in the corner, whiche I thinke serueth to brewe with all.

CONO.

In deede to that ende is it most occupied, but it ser∣ueth other turnes beside.

RIGO.

There is a Hopper (mee thinketh) ouer the toppe of the

Oast, whereto serueth it?

CONO.

It serueth to conuey downe the Malt, after it is wa∣tred vnto the heare cloth, where it is dryed.

RIGO.

Wherefore serueth that great Tonne?

CONO.

To water the Barly in when neede is, otherwyse it serueth for a Mashfatte. Hereby is a Backhouse and a Pastrie with two Ouens, one seruing for householde bread, the other for manchet for myne owne table, and for Tartes and fine baake-meates. Here are also troughes to keepe meale in, and troughes to lay leauen in, and there is a fayre table to mould vpon.

RIGO.

All is handsome: but what meanes this building a∣bout your Court?

CONO.

These buildinges seuered from the rest, doo serue for gheste chambers, with a chamber for my hotte house: this syde you see lyeth agaynst the settyng of the sunne in Sommer, where the sunne may lye from noone tyll nyght.

RIGO.

But that litle Ile moated about, and seuered from the court with a Bridge, seemeth to be more gorgeously and sumptu∣ously built, I take it to be your owne lodging, where you, your wyfe, and your seruantes meane to lye safely.

CONO.

It is euen so, and therefore it is built vpon a higher ground, both for the safegard of the fundation, and for the better ayre & fayrer prospect: beside, my Garden and my Orchard are ad••oyning to it, whiche with the sweete smell of the ••loures, and the fayre beautie of the trees, bringeth both health and pleasure. The wyndowes for the most part open al East, and some of them North, very fewe West, except from suche Chambers or Galle∣ries Southward, where I dyne and suppe, to receiue the sunne in Winter abundantly, and in Sommer very litle: the Tower that you see serueth for my Douehouse.

RIGO.

The great flyghtes of this house must needes fyll the maisters purse, and serue the Kitchin well.

CONO.

In deede, yf as that noble and passing well learned Varro affyrmeth, they might be solde as in some ages they haue been at eyght pound a payre, or that a man might meete with suche fooles, as Columella writeth of, that haue geuen 40. pound for a payre, I graunt I coulde make a good handsome gayne of

them, but as they be, they hardly serue myne owne table.

RIGO.

What dooth not the madde desyre of delicasie procure? euen in our dayes of late I haue heard, there was threescore Flo∣rens geuen for a payre.

CONO

I wyl keepe you no longer here about mine owne lod∣ging, you haue seene a great number of better houses, and parad∣uenture had rather ouer looke my outhouses.

RIGO.

I had so in deede, you haue, I see, deuided your house into three partes.

CONO.

So I thought it best, one for mee selfe, an other for my husbandmen, and the thirde for graine and fruit••.

RIGO.

What meaneth this Cell here so handsomely built at the entrance?

CONO.

This is syr, my Bayliffes lodging, I lay him by the Gate, that he may see who goeth in and out, and what is brought and goeth foorth, from thence he may also looke in••o the Kit∣chin, and see and heare what is there doone: for beside the meate that is dressed, there are other thinges doone there in the Win∣ter morninges. Ouer my Gate I haue laide my Steward, from whence he may looke into the Court, and to the Gate, and ouersee his neighbour the Bayly.

RIGO.

Mary syr here is watche and warde in deede, this I thinke you learned of Varro, for it is a part of his order.

CONO.

Thus experience teacheth. Hereby is my storehouse.

RIGO.

Mercifull God, what a sort of tooles haue you here?

CONO.

Hesiodus would haue a husbande haue all his furniture redy, and wyll not haue him borowe in any case.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Of others borovve not, lest they refuse to lend, So thou shalt vvant, the tyme shall passe, and businesse neuer end.

Therefore I haue so furnished my Bailiffe, as he hath of euery sort two. Marcus Varro deuideth his husbandry necessaries into three partes: vowels, where he puts his owne seruantes, & suche as he hyreth: halfe vowels, where his woorking cattell be: and mutes, be these that you see, whereof the smaller sort be these,

Axes, Hatchettes, and Sithes, of all sortes, Corne Sithes, Grasse Sithes, Stubble Sithes, Handbils, Syckles, Kniues, Peasehookes, Spades, Shouels, Wedges, Draggehookes, great Sawes, ••e••••er Sawes, Handsawes, Timbersawes, Pitch-forkes, Iron hookes, Iron forkes, Twybilles, Dung forkes, Tonges, Sheares, Sysars, Mattockes, Fyles, Cleauers, Claspea, Lance••••, Stringes, Cutting kniues, Gelding tooles, Clipping sheares, Leauers, Presses, Rulers, Garden Rakes, Hammers, Ch••ppe 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Winches, Pulleys, Wheeles, Rakes, single and double, Yokes, Collers, Bridse reynes, Head∣st••lles, Halters, ••raaces, Cordes, Ha••nes, Baskets, Fannes, ••••hippes, Fidels, Strikes, Spoakes, Drawyng kniues, S••cks, Walkes, Bottels, Weede hookes, Brakes, Hempe be••elles, Du••a••es, Spundelles, Wharles, Fyreshouels, Fyre-stones, G••ed••o••ns, Handbarowes, Dung Cartes, Wheeleba∣rowes, Maundes, Hampers, Ropes, and Line, of all sortes. The so••••es and partes of P••owes and Waynes, I wyll shewe you when we 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into the court next the Heybarne•• Hogsheds, Tonnes, and Uessels, for Wine, Beere, and Water, Pipes, Tonne••s, and suche like, shall likewyse be shewed you, when you come to the Brewhouse, and Windsel••er. With Co••erakes, Siues, S••rc••rs, Boul••ing rubbes, Bou••••ars, that you shall see in the Backhouse, and instrumentes for all other purposes, layd vp euery one in his place, till they be to be occupied: for it is very necessarie to haue of euery sort two, as the number of your ser∣uantes and necessitie requires: that yf one be lost or broken, you be not driuen to goe a borowyng, or to leaue your woorke, wher∣by your men shalbe idle, whyle your tooles be a seeking. For to runne euery day to the Towne to get newe, is not for a husbands profile. Beside, in the meane time your seruantes ••oyter, and lose more then the value of their tooles.

RIGO.

Truely they be all placed in good order.

CONO.

I place fyrst by them selues, suche as are most in vse, that they may be the redier, and next to them, suche as be occupi∣ed once in a moneth, or in a yeere: I geue the keeping of them al by ••ale, to my steward or my bayliffe, that they may deliuer them out as neede is, and lay them vp againe, and charge them in any

case to looke to them euery moneth, that they may mend what is amisse in them.

RIGO.

Order is a iolly felowe, and no goodlier a thing in a man, then to doo euery thing orderly, and to ••ay vp euery thing in such order, as it may redily be found, of which a singuler exam∣ple dooth Iscomachus shewe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Xenophon, in his Phenician barke, wherein a woonder it is to see what a deale of stuffe he hath be∣stowed in so small a vessell: he caried with him all the furniture that a man should neede, and euery thing in such order placed, as they were at hand when neede was, without any trouble.

CONO.

I mee selfe haue an inuentorie of all my husbandry implementes, and so hath my Bayly and his Wyfe, my steward hath the key of the storehouse, and deliuers out, and receaues as I tolde you, what euery man needes: for I wyllyngly neither bo∣rowe nor lend: I haue a neighbour or twayne, of whom some∣time I borowe, and send agayne: but except them, to none as Cato teacheth me.

RIGO.

The same Cato also as I remember, teacheth to know a mans husbandry by his tooles, & therfore by your great number of tooles, a man may gesse you haue a great deale of occupying.

CONO.

The double number of them makes the muster the greater: otherwyse, yf they were but to serue the turne, they would not seeme so many.

RIGO.

I pray you goe forward with your description.

CONO.

You see a voyd roome before the Kitchin, whiche is an entrie both to the Kitchin, to the folkes Chamber, and to the Oxhouses, which ought to be neere togeather, yf any missefor∣tune shoulde happen to the cattell in the night, that my men might speedely helpe them.

RIGO.

The Kitching is very well handled,* 1.33 in that you haue so well pargetted the rooffe.

CONO.

It is because I haue a great number of seruantes, whiche for lacke of other roome, doo dine and suppe here: beside, the pargetting or seeling, is a good safetie against fyre.

RIGO.

Here is a good handsome roosse by the Chimney, well stored with redde Hearing, Bacon, and Marulmas beefe, there is also a handsome sincke by the Kitchin.

CONO.

This lettised wall that you see, ioyneth to my Bay∣liffes chamber, so that he may see what is doone in the Kitchin, and about the house.* 1.34 Hereunto is also ioyned my Larder, a vault with three roomes, one seruing for Butter and Milke, the other for Beere and Wine, the thirde for to keepe ••leshe in: here haue I no wyndowes to the South, nor to the West, but all to the North, and to the East, because these quarters are least subiect to corruption,* 1.35 and wyll longest preserue any thing. Aboue in the loft yonder, doo I lay my corne vpon a fayre floore, closely fenced and seeled against Mise, receauing the light by lattisse windowes from the North. Harde by, is an other loft very close, with like windowes towarde the North,* 1.36 seruing for my fruite: for that quarter is colde, and not moist, whereby it preserues best, both Meate, Corne, and fruite. Nowe yf you wyll goe through this doore, you may beholde the backside of my house: loe here a fayre threasshing floore, wherevpon my Corne is sundry times threas∣shed, fan••ed, and winnowed, and many other thinges doone, cheefely in the Winter morninges, though I haue beside a threasshing place in my barne. On eache side, are lodginges for my seruantes, and other roomes and loftes for strawe and fodder for my cattell: and there by the stables, are also seruantes lod∣ginges on euery side, and my maides chamber neere the Kitchin, and the wasshing house. You see this forestall closed round a∣bout, to the end that the cattel, when they be watred and putforth, while their houses be made cleane, may be in safetie. And here I keepe also Geese, Duckes, Peacocks, Turkicockes, and other poultry. It is as you see, so enclosed with stables, barnes, and other houses, that nothing can get out. Varro wyll in any case haue two courtes, an inner court with a litle pond in it of standing w••ter, or running water, in maner of a Fishepond, and there he would haue Horse and Oxen, comming from the Feelde, or sta∣ble, to be watred and washed, and to serue likewyse for Sheepe, Swyne, and Geese. In the vtter court would he haue a Lake to cart in wheeles, staues, and peeces of timber, for instrumentes of husbandry, that they might there be seasoned. This court he woulde haue often strawed with strawe, and Chaffe, that be∣ing trampled with cattell, it may serue to laye vpon the grounde.

You see in this court a double dounghil, one of them newely thro∣wen out of the stables, an other olde one seruing for the Feelde: for new doung is nothing so good as the olde, for manuring of the ground.

RIGO.

What meanes these twigges, bowes, and strawes, cast vpon the doung?

CONO.

This preserues the doung, that the iuyce that y^e ground requires, be not sucked out of the sunne: and hyther also runnes the water from the Laundry to moist it the better. Varro woulde haue here also a lodging for seruantes. But lest we tarry to long among the dounghilles, let vs goe see the other buildinges about the Court. These great roomes that you see,* 1.37 be Barnes to la•••• Corne in. In some places they vse houses, in others agayne, stackes set vpon proppes, which they call mowes: but the houses are a great deale better. Next to the Barnes, are the stables,* 1.38 stan∣ding arowe round about the Court. And because Virgil woulde haue the stable stande towarde the south, and Vitrunius, neere the fyre, I haue folowed their order in building my stables. And first haue I set here my stable for my Cart horse. I haue an other stable neere myne owne lodging, for my Horses of seruice, and Hackneyes.

RIGO.

That seemeth to be very handsomely built.

CONO.

The next are houses for my sheepe, and next them for Kine, Calues, & Heyfers. There is a Hogstie with two roomes, one for my farrowyng sowes, the other for Hogges and Bores. There is also a thirde stie, not farre from the washouse, for the fatting of my Porkes: euery kinde hath their keepers lying neere them, that they may be at hand whatsoeuer chaunceth. Last of all there stands my Heybarne, which hath in the vpper roomes my Hey, and beneath, Waynes, Cartes, Carres, Waggons, Coaches, Harrowes, Sledes, Plowes, Rowlers, Wheeles, Naues, Cartshooes, Yokes, Rakes, Plowbeames, and suche other like, which are there safe from wet, and from pilferers.

RIGO.

I pray you who dooth looke to all this geare, and kee∣peth euery man to his woorke?

CONO.

My Bayliffe, as I tolde you before, ouerseeth both my woorke and my woorkemen: besides, I haue •• Stewarde

that looketh to the receauing of my reuenues and commodities.

RIGO.

Your Bayliffe had neede to be a skilfull and a trustie man.

CONO.

You say true, for as Xenophon sayth, the choyse of a Bayliffe and a Phisition ought to be one: you must choose suche a one,* 1.39 as being a very expert husbandman, may well be able to take the charge, and not to be ignorant of those things him selfe, that he commaundeth others to doo: for nothing is well taught or learned, without example. For as Cato sayth of a husbande of the olde stampe, it goeth ill with that maister whom the Bayliffe must teache. As Iscomachus being demaunded of Socrates, whether he would buye a Bayly, as he woulde hire a Smith, or rather teache him him selfe at home? He answeared, he would haue him of his owne teaching.

RIGO.

But this is after the olde world, wherein no man was vnskilfull: but it is a woonder, how you that haue alwayes been brought vp in Princes affayres, could in these dayes (when very fewe, except Plowmen, and such as haue no other trade of lyfe, haue any skill in it) apply your mind so vnto it, as a man would thinke you had neuer minded any other profession.

CONO.

Surely I thinke he shall neuer haue a good Baylye, that is not able him selfe to iudge skilfully of him: nor let hym euer thinke to haue his woorke wel doone, that knoweth not how nor which way thinges ought to be doone, but must be faine to learne of his man: for the••e is none can iudge of a woorke but a woorkeman. Therefore in the choyse of a Bayliffe,* 1.40 I woulde haue foure thinges cheefely considered: that he be louing, dili∣gent, meete to rule, and trustie: and yf you wyll adde a fyft, I am well contented, that is, that he be not geuen to drunken∣nesse: for a drunkenman looseth with his memorie the regarde of his duetie. I doo not enquire whether he haue been brought vp ciuilly or deyntely, but I woulde haue him a hard fellowe, brought vp from his childehood to labour, and one that were throughly well skilled, of a meane age, that he be not vnwylling to woorke for youth, nor vnable to crauayle for age. I woulde haue him haue some skil in Carpentrie, that if there happened to be any thing broken about his Stables, his Cartes, or any other

his instrumentes, he might speedely mend them, and that he coulde mend Walles and Hedges. I woulde haue him also not vnskilful in y^• diseases of cattell: such a one as hath been brought vp with skilful husbandes, wyll prooue meetest to haue charge. For there be a great number, that though they be skilfull ye∣nough in their profession, yet haue they not gouernment in them: but eyther vsing to much sharpnesse, or to muche gentlenesse to∣wardes suche as be vnder them, doo hinder the profite of their maister, and therefore I woulde haue a Bayliffe well tryed be∣fore he be taken: neither is it onely to be sought, whether he be skilfull in this craft, but whether he be trustie and louing to his maister, without whiche, he is not woorth a rushe, though his skill be neuer so great. And cheefely, he must be skilfull in this, to know what worke is meetest for euery man: for some woorkes require strength more then skill, and others, otherwyse. And therefore in appointing of these, he ought to haue great iudge∣ment and good discretion, which he can not haue, except he haue good skill. Therefore a Bayliffe is as well to be taught as a Smith, or a Carpenter: and the knowledge of husbandry is greater and of more difficultie. Wherefore I marueyle, that in this so necessarie an occupation, there are found so fewe maisters and prentices.

RIGO.

Perhaps the tediousnesse and hardnesse thereof driueth them away.

CONO.

Why haue not Orators been likewyse driuen away, for hitherto as Cicero sayth, there hath been no perfect Orator found.

RIGO.

Of whom would you haue your Bayliffe to be taught?

CONO.

Your question is good, I wyll shewe you, though very few haue taught what belongeth to a husband in all things, neither shall you finde many skilfull in euery point. Therefore he that shall be a Baylie, must be taught by degrees, he must fyrst begin when he is a childe,* 1.41 with keeping of Sheepe or Swyne, and when he is elder, with droues of cattell, and keeping of horse: he must learne next to digge, to threashe, to set, to sowe, to hedge, to build, to mend such thinges as are broken, to play the butcher, to geue drinkes and medicines to sicke cattell, and such other like

thinges. And thus must he proceede from one to an other, tyll hauing passed them all, he come to be a maister, euen as Gregory Nazianzen teacheth of a Byshop, and as Tully would haue a gene∣rall, after he hath borne all other offices of the feelde.

RIGO.

You shewe me woonderfull Philosophie.

CONO.

As I saide at the fyrst, his best age is betwixt thirtie and threescore: for the flames of lustie youth beginning to abate, he wyll not be so hotte in his wooing: for whyle he folowes that game, he wyll haue no minde but of his minion, neither shal any reward be so welcome vnto him, as the fruite of his fancie, nor any greefe so great to him, as the fayling of his desire. If he once passe threescore, he waxeth slouthfull and vnable to labour. For I had rather haue the woorke of a painefull and diligent Bayliffe, then the seruice of a great number of slouthful lubbers: as he that had rather haue a Lion captaine ouer Hartes, then a Hart cap∣taine ouer Lions. This must cheefely be looked vnto (sins early going to woorke is a great matter) that the Bailiffe be a good riser, and that, supplying his maisters place, he may be the fyrst vp in the mornyng, and the last that goeth to bedde, and that he see the doores fast locked, and euery man in bedde, that the cattel haue meate yenough, and be well littured, that he set forward, ac∣cording to the time of the yeere, suche as doo loyter in their la∣bour, that he him selfe goe lustely before, that he suffer no man af∣ter it is day to lagge behinde, but that they folowe the Bayliffe lustely with a courage, as yf he were their captaine in a skir∣mishe: and that he vse sundry deuises to cheare them vp in their labour, sometime as it were to helpe him that fainteth, to take his toole out of his hand, and labour lustely before him. And as a carefull shepheard earlie carying out his sheepe, and bringyng them home late, looketh that he leaue none of his flocke behinde him: so likewyse ought a good Bailiffe to carrie out his men, and to haue good regard ouer them. If any of them happen to be hurt or sicke, let him looke to the dressing of them, and yf they be very sicke, to carrie them to the sicke folkes lodging, and to see that they be well ordered: and to that vse haue I built yonder house that you see, remooued from the other buildinges, that the sicke may be had thyther and looked vnto, specially yf their di∣seases

be contagious, lest other should be infected. It is the mai∣sters duetie to haue such regarde of the health of his seruauntes, and to haue such care of them, that their sicknesse may be preuen∣ted by good medicines and good looking to: as to see that theyr meate and drinke be wholsome and good, and geuen in due sea∣son: beside, that the Bailiffe eate his meate with them, and not by him selfe, whereby it shalbe the better ordered. And because Phisitians are not alwayes at hand in the Countrey, it behoueth to vse such remedies as experience hath taught, and such as haue holpen others of like diseases. Those that labour in the Sunne (because the Sunne hurteth the body and the vaynes) theyr diet must be the thinner, that they make not to great meales, but eate litle and often: this order keepeth them in health, and hel∣peth digestion. Some doo vse to geue Woormewood wine, or potage made of Woormewood. It is very necessarie for them sometimes to re••reate them selues, so that in the meane whyle they geue not them selues to noughtinesse. There must be heede taken, that they drinke not when they be hotte, nor lye vppon the colde ground: yf their water be not good, it must be wel purified. It is very good also to let them drinke Barly water. We must remember that seruantes be men: besides, such good looking to, wyll breede a greater good wyll and duetie, and lightly they wyl serue the faythfuller and better when they haue their health, whiche haue had good cherishing in their sicknesse: and besides (which is not so well obserued in greater gouernours) the Bay∣liffe must beware that he deale not to cruelly, nor to gently with them, that he alwayes make much of those that be diligent and painefull, that he be not to hastie with the woorser sort, that they may rather reuerence him for his seueritie, then hate him for his crueltie, whiche he shall easely bring to passe, yf he rather be∣ware that they offende not, then after their offence to late to pu∣nishe them. For there is none so good a bridle for an euil disposed person, as to let him alwayes be occupied. So that Catoes saying herein is most true, that men in dooing nothing, learne to doo euyll. Let them haue their allowance and their meate in due sea∣son, let them alwayes feede togeather in one place, and the Bay∣liffe with them, that he may be an example to them of all thrifti∣nesse.

If he ••inde any of them to haue labour••d painefully and t••uely, let him geue them a good countenance, & encourage them with rewardes, to make them the wyllinger to doo their dueties beside, let him looke that they be rather well clothed, then curi∣o•••••••• apparelled, that their garmentes may keepe them from the colde a••d the rayne: let their wages be well paide them, that the w••at thereof be no excuse for them to lo••••er in their labour. And as meate and apparell is necessarie for them, so likewyse is cor∣rect••on. For the wyse man sayth, Geue a Horse the whip, an Asse the sn••••••ell, and a Foole the rodde. And agayne, He that deales to gently with his seruauntes, shal make them in the ende stub∣borne and froward. Aboue all thinges let hym see that they feare God, let him in no wyse suffer them to sweare or to blaspheme, nor to vse filthy or vngodly speache: but let him prouide that they be instructed in the Catechisme, that they vse prayer, that they go to Sermons vpon the holy dayes, and receaue the Sacraments at times appoynted, that they be not hunters of Alehouses or euill company. For as the Poet sayth, It is lawfull to be well occupied, euen on the Festiuall dayes. When they haue serued GOD, and dyned, let them walke abrode in the ground, let them looke there be no cattell in the Corne, and stoppe suche Gappes as they fynde open, and looke that their cattell be in safetie a∣brode. To be short, the Bayliffe must in all these matters be as it were a Byshop, or a maister of the woorkes, so shall euery man the better doo the woorke that belongeth vnto him. The Bailyffe must neuer be from their heeles, least in his absence they fall to loytering, neither must he suffer them any time to be idel: he hym selfe must not be geuen to drinking or gaming, nor to huntyng or fysshing, except for his maisters profyte: let him very seeldome enterteyne any ghestes, except they be of his maisters re••inewe: let him not bestowe his maisters money about his owne mar∣chandize, for such kinde of bargainyng makes him the slacker in his duetie, and maketh his accomptes seeldome fall out iust. A∣boue all thinges this is to be wisshed in the Bayliffe, that he doo not thinke him selfe wyser then his maister, or suppose him selfe to haue more skill then he hath, and that he alwayes seeke to learne suche thinges as he is ignorant of. For as it is very profi∣table

to doo any thing skilfully, so is it more hurtfull to doo it vn∣towardly. Columella had rather haue a Bailiffe that could neither reade nor write, so that his memorie be good: for such a Bailiffe (sayth he) wyll oftner bring his maister money, then a booke: be∣cause (not able to wryte) he can not so easely frame a false ac∣compt. The Bailiffes wyfe must alwayes be with him,* 1.42 that she may keepe him from running at rouers, and may helpe him in his labours: her age must be such also, as we required in the Bai∣liffe before, she must be painefull, healthy, carefull, and honest. she must not be to ylfauoured, lest she be lothsome vnto him, nor to beautifull, least he doate to muche vppon her, and keepe home when he shoulde be abrode. She must in the meane time looke to the ••itchin, and to other woorkes at home, gouerne the maides, and keepe them at their woorke, looke to their necessaries, and geue them their allowance.

RIGO.

You seeme to me here, to make the Bailiffe a maister, and the maister a Bailiffe.

CONO.

This age of ours, quite corrupted with delicacie and deyntinesse, litle regardeth the honest and profitable or∣ders of our forefathers: for in those dayes the maisters them selues plaide the husbandes, and thought it not to goe well with that maister that must be taught by his Bailiffe, as Cato witnes∣seth, and Varro also complaineth, that the husbandes in his dayes had forsaken the Plowe and the Sithe, and gotten them selues within the walles, and spent their time rather in Maygames and Midsommer sightes, then with tylling the ground, or planting of Uines. Therefore Cato and the olde wryters doo attribute many thinges to the maister, that we assigne to the Bailiffe. And I, though I seeme to put the charge of the household in the handes of my Bailiffe, yet wyll I mee selfe be ouerseer, and haue euery thing doone as I appoynt, entreating gently (as I taught the Bailiffe afore) both the Bailiffe and my labourers, regardyng more their labour then my gaynes. But I carrie you about to long, being fasting, I pray you let vs goe to dinner: you shall not dyne at the Court to day, neither meant I to shew you, as you see, the pallace of Lucullus, but the poore cottage of Cincinatus, Abdolo∣minus, or Laertes. Here you see the roomes for my husbandmen,

seuered from myne owne house, but yet so, as I may easely see whatsoeuer they doo. Here I and my wyfe with our householde seruantes doo lye.

RIGO.

All very excellently well as may be, there is nothing wanting that is to be wished for. Maistresse METELLA, you trouble your selfe to muche, like Martha, about the prouiding of your dinner.

METELLA.

Not a whit syr, you must be contented with Coun∣trey fare, you shall neither haue redde Deere, Marchpane, nor Sturgian, nor any Courtiers fare: but an Egge, and a Sallet, a Pullet, or a peece of Lambe.

RIGO.

This diete contenteth me aboue all other.

CONO.

Fal to it then, & tel me how you like our countrey wine.

RIGO.

Surely it passeth eyther wine of Orleans, or Aniow. I did not thinke to haue founde so good a cuppe of wine in these quarters.

CONO.

The husbandry, and good season of the yere doth yeeld the same.

RIGO.

Well, we sit to long at dinner. The weather being so fayre and so pleasant abrode, it is ashame to sitte any longer, but to walke out and looke vpon your ground.

CONO.

The weather being faire, you bring a Horse to the Feelde (as they say) when you speake to me of going abrode: for I mee selfe, yf the weather or businesse doo not let me, am euery day, according to Catoes counsell, abrode in my ground: and yf it please you, I wyll carie you abrode and shewe you my grounde. You must not looke to see the great Countreys of Metellus or Lu∣cullus, but the possessions of a poore Countrey man, that conten∣ted with his state, would be as he is, and would not change liues with the Emperour.

RIGO.

* 1.43I pray you let me here your opinion of the Feeld, and the tilture thereof: for I see you are a perfect husbande, and no∣thing vnskilfull. I haue a great desyre to heare some rules, and such as serue our turne best.

CONO.

If it be a shame for an apprentice at the lawe, and a pleadar of causes to be ignorant of the lawe wherein he dealeth, a greater shame is it for a professor of husbandry, to be vnskilful

in the ground whereon his whole trade lyeth. Howe is he able to iudge vprightly in husbandry, that knoweth not whiche way to tyll his lande? The professours of all other artes, do commonly keepe to them selues, suche thinges as be the chiefe mysteries of their knowledge.* 1.44 Contrariwy••e, the husband reioyceth to haue euery body made prime to his skill, & being demaunded in what sort he dooth this and that, he gladly declareth his whole dealing in euery poynt: suche good natured men dooth this knowledge make. I haue ordered my ground here, according to the diligence of the olde fathers, rather then for the wantonnesse of these times. Therefore I wyl fyrst shewe you their opinions, and afterwards myne owne fancie. First, Cato appointeth niene degrees of the land in Italie.* 1.45 The fyrst, the Uineyard, that yeeldeth muche and good wine: the next, the well watred Garden: the thirde the Wyllowe Groue: the fourth, for Oliue trees: the fifth, for Med¦dowe: the sixth, Corne ground: the seuenth, for Coppie grounde: the eyght, for Timber trees: the last, for Mast. But these de∣grees as Varro saith, are not generally allowed of, neither haue we the vse of them all in these Countreys: but make most accompt of such land, as serueth for Garden or Orchard grounde, Corne, or Fishpondes. Of Corne ground I wyll fyrst entreate, and af∣terwardes of Pasture, Meddowe, Wood Lande, and Wyllowe Groues.

RIGO.

I pray you then take the paines to shewe the nature of it,* 1.46 and which way the best ground may be knowen.

CONO.

Cato counteth that the best grounde, that lyeth at the foote of a mountayne, being leuell and lying toward the Sunne, as the whole Countrey of Italie lyeth. In colde and Norther••ye Countreys, it is good to haue the lande lying East and South, least these two quarters, being bard of by any hil, the land be fro∣zen with colde: but in hotte Countreyes it is better to haue the ground lye North, both for pleasure and health.

RIGO.

They say it is needeful to knowe the conditions of eue∣ry ground.

CONO.

It is so, and sooner shall you doo it, then the conditi∣ons of a man: for being well tylled, it wyll not deceaue you, but deale iustly with you. To knowe the nature of euery grounde,

Iscomachus in Xenophon, dooth wyll you to marke wel the plantes and the yeeld of the Countrey,* 1.47 except you wyll loose your labour or fyght with God. Varro counsels you to looke whether there be in the land eyther Stone, Marble, Sande, Grauell, Raddell, Chalke, Claye, Preble, or Carbuncle, that is ground ouer hea∣ted and parched with the Sunne, whiche wyll burne the rootes of what so euer commeth in it. Also yf it be wette or weepyng ground, or subiect vnto other inconueniences, and suche grounde also, according to the nature of the soyle, is good or euyl. In some Countreys stonie grounde is altogeather barren, specially for Corne and Fruite. In other places agayne, they vse stones in the manuring and bettring of their lande, as in certayne places of Arden is to be seene. Theophrascus wryteth, that the Corynths dyd cast away all the stones out of the Feeldes of Sarragosa, and there∣by made the ground the woorse, when, the stones being away and the Countrey hot, there was no succour left to defend the ground from the extreame heate of the Sunne. In other places in stonie and hilly groundes Otes doo prosper well. In lyke sort, in all Countreys we must regarde the layre of the Countrey, and the nature of the seede that we sowe: for Grauell in some places is cast vppon the ground in steade of doung, and some thinges pros∣per best in grauelie groundes. In Barbarie (as Columella dooth w••tnesse) the very rotten sandes exceede any other grounde in fruitefulnesse. It is also something to the purpose, whether the grauell be white, redde, or yellowe: besides, some grounde dooth deceaue both with colour and qualitie. In some Countreys the blacke mould is onely esteemed: in others, the fat redde mould is thought best. In Englande, the chalkie grounde beareth good corne, and pastures very well. In some places the thicke and the clammie ground is most fruitefull. In al these it is to be learned, what is best for the hill ground, what for the valley, what for the tylled, what for the leye grounde, what the moyst seggie grounde requires, and what the drye and barraine. Also in planting, what ground is best for Uines, what for other trees, what delightes in drie ground, what in moyst ground. Virgil commendeth a mellowe ground that is fatte, and wyll soone be resolued, for such ground is tylled with smalest charge and labour: the next, is that whiche

is fa••••e and stiffe, which greatly recompenceth the husbande his trauaile and charges: the woorst, is that which is dry, leane, and stiffe: for both it is tylled with great labour, and beside, neither answeareth in his croppe the husbandes trauayle, neither serueth it for good meddowe or pasture any time after, and therfore such ground is not to be medled withall. Also, the goodnesse of the ground is easely perceaued by perfect tokens: for a clod sprinck∣led with a litle water,* 1.48 if in working with the hand it be clammie, and cleauing, and sticketh to the fyngers like Pitche, when it is handled as the Poete sayth, and breaketh not in falling to the grounde, this sheweth a naturall fatnesse and richenesse to be in it: besides, you may knowe the mould that is good for Corne, yf it beare Bulrusshes, Thistels, Threeleaued grasse, Danewoort, Brambles, Blackthorne, and such like, as neuer growe but in good grounde: as on the other syde, lothsome and illfauoured weedes, declare a leane and a bitter ground: Ferne, and withe∣red plantes, a colde grounde: sadde, and heauy coloured, a moyst and a wette ground: a raddell and a stony ground, is discerned by the eye, a stiffe and tough clay, by the labour and toyle of the Ox∣en. A good token is it also of good ground, where the Crowes and the Pyes folowe in great number the Plowe, scraping in the steppes of the Plowman. The goodnesse is likewyse knowen, yf at the Sunne setting, after a Raynebowe, and in a shewre of rayne folowyng a great drouthe, it yeeldeth a pleasaunt sauour: also in taste it wyl appeare, yf tasting a clodde that hath been wa∣tred in an earthen vessell, you finde it sweete, it is a signe of riche grounde, yf bitter, a great token of barren grounde, yf it be sal∣tishe, it is to be shunned, and not to be vsed vppon the dounghill. You must remember also, that ground wyll some times change, and of fruitefull become barren,* 1.49 whiche hath been seene, as Plinie reporteth, in the olde time in Thessali, and in our time, in sundry places of our Countrey. Beside, one kind of ground, though it be neuer so fertill, wyll not beare all thinges, as the Poete wysely note••h,* 1.50 Ne serues one ground for euery Croppe. Moreouer, the dispo∣sition of the Heauens is a great matter, all Countreys haue not the weather and ayre alike: wherfore it is the part of a good husband to knowe the nature and propertie of his ground, and to

marke the disposition of it for euery part of the yeere: he must al∣so consider what Croppe is best for euery layer. Some ground serueth for Corne, some for Uines, some for Oliues, some for Meddowe, some for Pasture, neither may all thinges well be sowen in riche grounde, nor nothing in barren ground. Suche thinges as neede not muche moysture, are best sowed in lyght ground, as the great Elauer, Sperie, Chich, and the other pulses that are pulled and not cut. Those that require more sustenaunce, are sowen in richer ground, as Potte hearbes, Wheate, Rye, Barley, Linseede. Some of them doo good to the grounde the yeere folowyng, as Lupines that are vsed to be sowen for the be••∣tering of the grounde. There is difference also to be put betwixt fruites for pleasure, and such as be for profite: as fruite trees and flowres, and suche thinges as yeeld both pleasure and sustenanc••, and are also profitable to the grounde. You must choose for Wyllowes, Osyres, and Reedes, a wette and a marrish ground: and contrary where you wyll haue Come & Pulse, that delightes in drye ground, Sperage & such like, must be sowen in shaddowy places, and other ground for Quicksets, Tymber, Mast, & Few∣el: yea such ground as is very grauely and barren, hath his vse, where you may plant Birche & suche like, and waterie groundes where you may set Alders, Broome, and Bullrusshes.

RIGO.

Surely the temperature of the ayre, dooth very muche in the fruitefulnesse of the grounde, for I haue oftentimes mar∣ked, that one kinde of ground is more fruiteful in one Countrey, then in an other.

CONO.

In Venefri, the Grauell grounde beares Oliues best, where as about Granado, they require the richest ground that may be. When in other places the Uine dooth not prosper very well in stonie groundes, about the Rhine the very ragged rockes doo yeelde as fruitefull Uines as may be seene. Plinie dooth wit∣nesse, that in some places the Uines do grow euen in the Fennes and Marshes, suche a secrete force is there in Nature. About Ch••l••ia, an Ilande about the Rodes, it is saide there is a peece of ground so fruitefull, that they mowe their Barley being sowen in his season, and their Croppe, sowe it agayne, and geather it with their other grayne. The Albanoyses receaue the friuite of theyr

lande 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 vntylled and vnsowen, and beyng once sowen, it yeeldeth his Croppe three yeeres togeather. Homer cal∣leth Phrigea 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and Argos 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Herodotus wryteth, that Babylon is so fruitefull, as the grounde yeeldeth encrease two hundred and three hundred folde. Plinie affyrmeth, the en∣crease in his time to be fiftie, and to good husbandes an hundred folde. About Monte Gibello, it is reported by credible persons, to be an hundred folde. Italy is so fruitefull,* 1.51 that Varro calleth it the Garden of the worlde, because it is so fertill and well planted in euery place: Campania, being full of Corne: Apulia, plenteous with Wine: and Venafri, aboundyng with oyle.

RIGO.

I haue heard say, that Germanie and Fraunce haue not been in times past very fertyll, and that they haue been altogea∣ther without Uines, and nowe we see no Countrey more fruite∣full, that yeeldeth greater aboundance of all thinges. Where can you finde better wines, then about Bauaer and the Rhine? I speake not of their great store of Grayne,* 1.52 Mines of Golde, Sil∣uer, Iron, and Leade. In the Countrey of Thuryn in Germanie, it is sayde, that after Wheate once sowen, the ground wyll yeelde Rye of it selfe two yeeres togeather.

CONO.

Yea, and in our Countrey here, we haue ground that wyll beare Wheate euery yeere. Rape seede being once sowen with vs, dooth often yeeld his Crop two yeeres togeather, with∣out sowyng or labouring.

RIGO.

Under the Northren Pole it is reported the grounde is so fertyll, as they sowe in the Mornyng, and reape at Noone. In Barbarye,* 1.53 where the ground is lowe, they plant vnder the Date tree the Oliue, vnder the Oliue the Figge tree, vnder the Figge the Pomegranate, vnder it the Uine, vnder the Uine they sowe Wheate, and vnder Wheate Pulse, all prospering one vnder the others shadowe, and yeelding their fruite the same yeere.

CONO.

That made me to say, that the grounde folowes the disposition of the Heauens.

RIGO.

But syth in all places the ground is not of lyke good∣nesse, what yf we chaunce vppon a leane and a barren ground, as Heathy, Brushy, & Grauelly ground? may these be made fruite∣full, and mended by arte?

CONO.

Uery well, there is no Countrey that the most gra∣tious Lorde hath left without sufficient yeelde, yf labour and tra∣uayle bee not refused.

RIGO.

That skill I would gladly vnderstand.

CONO.

It is brought to passe diuers wayes, principally by dounging and diligent labour:* 1.54 and to this end serue those heapes of doung that I lately shewed you.

RIGO.

I pray you let me knowe what doung dooth most en∣riche the ground.

CONO.

Varro, and Columella his folower, appoynt three sortes of dounges:* 1.55 the fyrst of Poultrie, the next of Men, the thirde of Cattell. Of the fyrst sort, the best is that whiche is had out of Douehouses, the next is of Pulleyne, and al other foule, except Geese and Duckes, which is hurtfull. The people in the old age had such store of Poultrie and Foule, as the doung of them suf∣fised for the manuring of theyr ground. The next to this, is man •• ordure, if it be mixed with other rubbishe of the house: for of it selfe it is to hot,* 1.56 and bur••es the grounde. Mans vrine beyng sixe monethes kept, and powred vppon the rootes of Apple trees and Uines, bringeth great fru••tefulnesse to the trees, and geueth a pleasant taste to the fruite. In the thirde place is the doung of Cattell, whereof the best is the doung of Asses, because this beast dooth chawe with most leysure, whereby his meate being wel di∣gested, is made the profitabler doung. Next to this, is the doung of Sheepe, next of Goates, then of Oxen, and Horses: the woorst of all of Swyne, very hurtfull to Corne, but vsed in some places for Gardens, for lacke of other doung, but is a great breeder of noysome weedes: yet Plinie seemeth to allowe it, as the fylth of a filthy creature. The doung of Horses likewyse, where the Hor∣ses are fedde with Barley, dooth breede great store of weedes. The Lupine before he beare his Codde, is most commended, be∣ing turned vp with the Plowe or Mattocke, and layd in bundels about the rootes of Trees or Uines. Where they haue no store of Cattel, they vse to mend their ground with Straw and Ferne, and with the stalkes of Lupines, and the branches layde togea∣ther in some Ditch: herevnto you may cast Asshes, the fylth of Synckes and Priuies, and strawe, with dust and other thinges

raked togeather: but in the middest, you must lay some sounde matter against the breeding of Adders and Snakes: also Hum∣lockes, Walwoort, and the weedes growyng about Wyllowe trees and Ferne, with other such rotten weedes you may gea∣ther and lay vnder your Sheepe. They that dwell in Grauelie and Heathie groundes, doo take the Turues of the Earth and the Heath, & laying them in heapes powdred with a litle doung, suffer them to lye & rotte, and after lay it vpon barren ground, but specially where they keepe great store of Sheepe, they cast into their Foldes suche Turues pared from the grounde. Columella countes them but euyll hu••bandes, that haue of euery one of the lesser kind of cattell lesse then a cart lode of doung in 300. dayes, and of eache of the greater sort tenne loade, beside the fylth and durt of the yarde. This is also to be noted, that the doung that hath lyen a yeere is best for Corne,* 1.57 for it hath is of sufficient strength, and breedeth lesse weedes: but vppon Meddowe and Pasture, you must lay the newest, because it bringes most grasse, and this must be doone in Februarie, the Moone encreasing, for this is the best time to cause encrease of grasse. In the manuring of your ground, looke that you lay most doung vpon the toppe of the Hill, for the rayne wyll beare it to the lower partes fast ye∣nough. He that mindes to haue his grounde beare Corne, yf he meane to sowe in the ende of Sommer, must turne in his doung in September: yf in the spring, he may lay it on at any time all the Winter.* 1.58 What time so euer it be doone, you must looke that the winde be Westerly, and the Moone in the wane. This obser∣uation helpeth greatly to the bettering of the grounde. Besyde, you must not forget to let the doung be drye before it be layd vp∣pon the ground. For though Columella doo bidde the contrary, our owne experience wylles vs not to folowe him: for doung whyle it is moyst,* 1.59 dooth more harme to the ground then good, as dayly experience teacheth. Nowe as your lande wyll waxe colde, yf it be not dounged, so wil it be dryed or burnt, if it be manured yeere∣ly, or to much. The watrie ground requireth more store of doung, and the drye ground the lesse.

RIGO.

I remember I haue yer this seene Earth taken out of the Feeldes neere adioyning, and layde vppon the lande, I

therefore gesse, the earth may be mended with earth.

CONO.

The Germanes, besydes sundry other sortes of en∣riching of their groundes, doo in steade of doung, cast vppon it a kinde of pith and fatnesse of the earth: (Plinie countes it to be fyrst deuised in Englande and Fraunce) called Marga,* 1.60 as it were the fatte of the Earth: but I rather thinke it to be the inuention of the Germanes, with whom yet both the name and the vse is re∣tayned: it is gotten in deepe pittes, but not alike in all soyles. That part of Fraunce that lyes vpon the Maase, dooth shewe a sandy kinde of Marle, differing from the fatte Marle of Ger∣manie, but of the same qualitie: whiche caried vppon the Sea in vessels, is sold as a great marchandize. In some places the skow∣ring of Pondes and Ditches is vsed, to the great enriching of the grounde, in the mountaynie and barren groundes. In some Countreys they make their land very fruitefull with laying on of Chalke,* 1.61 as Plinie testifyeth of the Burgundians, and the Gas∣koynes. And in Germanie in our dayes, this maner of mendyng of ground is common. But long vse of it, in the ende bringes the grounde to be starke nought, whereby the common people haue a speache, that ground enriched with Chalke, makes a riche fa∣ther, and a beggerly sonne. A litle lower, not farre from the Maase, in the Countrey of Lyege, they mende their lande with a kinde of s••ate stone, which cast vpon the ground dooth moulder a∣way, and makes the grounde fatter.* 1.62 In Lombardie they lyke so well the vse of asshes, as they esteeme it farre aboue any doung, thinking doung not meete to be vsed for the vnholsomenesse ther∣of. Columella wryteth, that his Uncle was woont to mende sandy and grauely groundes with Chalke, and chalkie & hard grounds with grauell and sande, whereby he had alwayes goodly Corne. So doo I thinke, that Riuer lande by ouerflowynges, and fast ground with mudde mingled with sande and grauell, wyll be made muche better.

RIGO.

You haue t••ught me sundry wayes of mendyng of ground, I would gladly nowe learne the ryght way of plowyng and sowyng.

CONO.

* 1.63In plowyng and orderly preparing grounde for seede, consistes the cheefest poynt of husbandry. Cato affyrmeth

the fyrst point of husbandry, to be to prepare the grounde well, the seconde, to plowe it well, and the thirde, to doung it well. Of plowing and turnyng vp the grounde, the fashion is diuers, ac∣cordyng to the nature of euery soyle & countrey. All great feeldes are tylled with the Plowe and the Share, the lesser with the Spade. The Plowes are of sundry fashions, accordyng to the diuersitie of Countreys, some single, some double, some with wheeles, some without. The partes of the Plowe,* 1.64 are the Tayle, the Shelfe, the Beame, the Foote, the Coulter, the Share, the Wheeles, and the Staffe. The Share, is that which fyrst cuttes the way for the Coulter, that afterwards turnes vp the Forowe. Where the ground is light, they vse only a small Share. In Liff∣lande they haue for their Plowe nothing but a Forke. In Syria, where they can not goe very deepe, they vse (as Theophrastus writes) very little Plowes. Plinie wryteth, that wheeles for Plowes were deuised by the Frenchemen, and called Plugrat, a Germaine name, which corruptly is printed Planarati. In diuers places where the grounde is stiffe, they haue a litle wyng on the ryght syde of the Coulter, whiche wyng is to be remooued to whiche syde you list: with the Rodde or Staffe well poynted, the plowman maketh cleane his Coulter. When you woorke, your Oxen must be yoked euen togeather, that they may drawe more handsomely with heads at libertie, and lesse hurt to their neckes. This kinde of yoking is better liked of many, then to be yoked by the hornes:* 1.65 for the Cattell shalbe able to drawe better with the necke and the brest, then they shall with their heades: and this way they put to the force of their whole bodyes, whereas the other way (being restrayned by the yoke on their heads) they are so greeued, as they scarsely race the vpper part of the earth. Where Horses may be vsed, their vse is more commodious for the Plowe, and the fewer of them the better: for many Horses drawe too hastyly, and make too large Furrowes, which is not good: whereby we see the grounde to be excellently well plowed in Gelderland,* 1.66 and about Coleyne, where they plowe alwayes with two Horses, going very softly. In Fraunce and other pla∣ces, where they plowe with Oxen, they make theyr Furrowes rather deepe then brode. Where the ground is stiffe, the Coulter

must be the greater and the stronger, that it may goe the deeper: for yf the crust of the earth be turned vp very brode, it remayneth still hole, whereby neither the weedes are killed, nor the ground can be well harrowed. The Furrowe ought not to exceede one hundred and twentie foote in length, for yf it doo, as Columella sayth, it is hurtfull to the beastes, because they are to muche wee∣ried withall: but this rule, where the feeldes are large, is not in many places regarded, as in the Countrey of Gulicke, where the feeldes are great, their Furrowes are drawen very long. You must not plowe in wette weather, nor wette ground, nor when after a long drouthe a little rayne falling, hath but wette the vt∣ter part, and not gone deepe. If it be too wette when it is plow∣ed, it dooth no good that yeere. You must therefore haue a regard to the temperature of your season, that it be neither to drye, nor to wette: for, too muche moysture maketh it to durtie, and too great drynesse maketh that it wyll neuer woorke well: for eyther the hardnesse of the Earth resisteth the Plowe, or yf it doo enter, it breakes it not small yenough, but turneth vp great flakes, hurtful to the next plowing. For though the land be as riche as may be, yet yf you goe any deapth,* 1.67 you shall haue it barren, which is tur∣ned vp in these great cloddes, whereby it happeneth that the bad moulde, mixed with the good, yeeldeth the woorser Croppe. Where you haue plowed in a drye season, it is good to haue some moysture in your second stirring, whiche moistning the grounde, shall make your labour the lighter. Where the grounde is riche, and hath long borne water, it is to be stirred againe when the weather waxeth warme, and when the weedes are full growen, and haue their seedes in their toppe, whiche being plowed so thicke, as you can scarse see where the Coulter hath gone, vtterly killeth and destroyeth the weedes: besides, through many stir∣ringes, your Fallowe is brought to so fine a moulde, as it shall neede very little or no harrowing at all when you sowe it: for the old Roman••s, as Columella wytnesseth, would ••ay that the ground was yll husbanded, that after sowing had neede of the Harrowe. Moreouer, the good husband must trie whether it be wel plowed or no, and not onely trust your eyes, which (the Balkes being co∣uered with mould) may easely be deceyued, but trie it with your

hand (which is a certainer proofe) by thrusting downe a rodde in∣to the Furrowe, which yf it pearce a like in euery place, it shew∣eth that the ground is wel plowed.* 1.68 If it be shallowe in one place, and deepe in an other, it declares the grounde to be euill handled in the plowing. If you are to plowe vpon a Hill, you must plowe ouerthwart,* 1.69 and not vp and downe: for therby the inconuenience of the steepenesse is met with, and the labour of both Man and Cattell is lightened: but herein you must beware, that you plow not alwayes one way, but sometime higher, sometime lower, woorking a slope, as you shall see cause. Touching the season of your plowing,* 1.70 it must be cheefely in the spring, as the Poete well teacheth. VVhen as the pleasaunt spryng. &c. For in Sommer the ground is to hard and churlishe, and in Winter to fowle and dur∣tie: but in the Spring the ground being mellowe, is easely to be wrought, and the weedes are then best turned in, whiche both doo good for the enriching of the grounde, & plucked vp by the rootes before they haue seeded, wyll neuer spring agayne. And therefore with vs, we vse to begin to plowe about the middest of Marche: but in sandy and light grounde, they vse to plowe in the middest of Winter, yf the season wyll suffer, Plinie is of opinion, that stiffe ground also should then be stirred. A slendar and leuell ground, subiect to the water, would be fyrst plowed in the ende of August, and stirred againe in September, and prepared for sowyng a∣bout the twelfth of Marche. The light hilly ground, is not to be broken vp in Sommer, but about the Ralendes of September: for yf it be broken vp afore, being barren and without iuyce, it is burnt vp with the Sunne, and hath no goodnesse remayning in it. Wette ground, some would haue broken vp after the Ides of April, whiche being plowed at that time, shoulde be stirred a∣gayne about the tenth of Iune, and after againe, about the Ra∣lendes of September, according to Columellaes minde. But those that are skilfull in husbandry agree, that after the tenth of Iune, without great store of rayne, you shall not plowe: for yf the yeere be wette, there is nothing to the contrary but you may plowe in Iuly. In the meane time, beware that you deale not with ground ouerwette, as I gaue you warnyng before.

RIGO.

May I plowe in the night, yf I lyst?

CONO.

* 1.71Yea very well, in Sommer time and in hotte Coun∣treys you may begin in the Euening, and continue til the Sunne ryse, that the moisture and fatnesse of the grounde, may remayne shadowed vnder the Clodde: and that the Cattell through ouer∣much heate of the Sunne, be not diseased nor hurt. Howe oft you shall plowe the ground that you meane to sowe, partly the nature of the soyle, and partly y^e condition of the seede wyl teache you, as when we come to it, I wyl tel you: for it is not needeful to stirre a grauelly and a light ground, so often as the stiffe ground: yet we finde that land, the oftner it is stirred, the better it beares. So that for some seede, you must not only twyfallowe & threefallowe your ground, but also fourefallow it, as they vse in the fruitefullest pla∣ces of Italy and Germanie. In Misnia and Austria, they plowe but twyse. Stiffe ground, as they commonly doo in Italy, is best to be sowed vpon the fifth stirring, in Tuscan, vpon the nienth. Thus hath euery Countrey both in this, and other matters, his fashion, according to the nature of the grounde.

RIGO.

But may I not sowe one peece of grounde euery yeere without resting?

CONO.

There are some groundes you may sowe yeerely, as in Italy and Austria, and likewyse in some partes here about the Riuer, that are fruiteful eyther by nature, or by ouerflowyng. In other places you must obserue the olde saying of the husbande, Take not too muche of your grounde. Virgil would haue grounde rest euery other yeere: which, if you haue store of ground, out of al doubt is best. Hereof had the ground, that is sowed euery yeere, his name in the olde tyme: but commonly euen the best grounde requireth rest the third, the fourth, or (at y^e farthest) the fifth yeere. Varro wryteth, that in Olynthia the lande beareth euery yeere, and euery thirde yeere most plentifully. But yf you wyll doo well, you must let it lye euery other yeere, according to the nature of the soyle, or els sowe it with lighter seede, that soketh out lesse the substance of the ground, as Lupines and others, that we wyl shortly entreate of. It is also muche to be considered, whether the ground that you plowe be laye ground yeerely sowen, or fallowe. If you breake vp newe ground, yf it be riche, heauie, and prepa∣red for seede, it suffiseth to plowe it once, and to sowe it immedi∣atly,

and harrowe it. If it be ligh•• and grauelly ground, you mu•••• thryfallowe it, specially at the first breaking vp.

RIGO.

Here you speake of diuers tearmes belonging to this trade,* 1.72 I pray you make me to vnderstand them, before you pro∣ceede any farther.

CONO.

This arte (as likewyse al other) hath certaine woordes peculiar and belonging to it selfe: and because sundry men of good learning haue herein been deceiued, least my matter shoulde be marred with darke and strange tearmes, I wyl declare the woordes as plaine as I can, digressing a whyle from my farther ••peache.

RIGO.

I beseeche you hartely.

CONO.

We take Agrum, a Feelde in out speache, not for a iu∣risdiction, a Diocesse,* 1.73 or a Shire, as the olde Lawiers take it: but with Iabolenus and Florentinus, we count it a parcell of grounde, eyther earable or pasture. Ager, Aruus, or Aruum, we call earable grounde that is to be plowed and sowen. Varro would rather haue it called Aratum and not Satum. The Feelde that is called Restibilis, is that which is renewed & euery yeere sowen, called of the Greke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 because his fruietfulnesse continueth to the next yeere•• & yeeldeth his Crop euery yeere. Ager Noualis, is called of Varro, the grounde that hath been sowed & fallowed: of Plinie counted to be sowen euery other yeere: with the Lawiers it is counted ground newe plowed, that hath lyen a yeere: we, according to the vulgar speache (for we must speake with the most, & iudge with the few∣est) doo call Nouale Agrum, that which is new broken vp, and hath not before been plowed, whereof commeth Noualium Decimae, the cythes of new broken vp land, yet I know there are some learned that count it that; which after his Crop lyes lay. Veruactum is of Varro taken for y^e grounde, that in the Spring time is turned vp, and hath been for a whyle spared. Oftentimes is this also called Nouale, both the feelde that hath lyen a yeere, and that whiche is broken vp the first Spring: for thus faith Varro, There is great difference whe••her you sowe in vntilled ground, or in that whiche is yeerely sowen, and is called Restibilis, or in that whiche hath ly∣en a while, and is broken vp in the Spring. Moreouer, both Co∣••imella, and Plinie, doo vse not seeldome Veruact•••• for ground newe

broken vp in the Spring, taking their reason of the time, wherby 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, may be interpreted by the name of Veruactum, or Nouale. The Feelde is saide to be plowed, to be stir∣red with the Plowe when it is turned vp: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 as Hesiodus saith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, it is broken vp when it is first plowed lying in great Cloddes: the seconde plowing is called Offringere Agrum, or Iterare, to plowe againe, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Terti∣are to thry allowe it•• Ageriteratus, and tertiatus, be vsuall woordes with Columella and Plinie, Nouare, is to chaunge the grounde w••ll husbanded before, and to plowe it and prepare it for the sowing season. Occare, to harrowe it, as Varro sayth, is so to breake it, as there remaine no Clodde. The Harrowe, is an instrument crosse lettused, to breake the Cloddes withall, and to couer the seedes. Cr••tire, is likewyse vsed in the same signification. A••rare, is when that which is sowen and come to some grouth, is turned in with the Plowe Plinie calleth Ararare, as it were Aratrare, to plow often that which is sowen. Sarrire, is to purge with the Rake. Runcare, is to weede out of the grounde noisome weedes, for whiche is also vsed Auerruncare and deruncare, and of Columellá, Exherbare•• Pas••••nare, and Rep••stinare, is to digge about the Uines. Pastinum, is a forked instrument vsed in planting of Uines. Lirare, and Occare, are al∣most one, where we plowe, so as we leaue betwixt two Fur∣rowes a Ridge, for the drie keeping of the graine like a Garden bedde. And hereof is that space called Lira a Ridge, whiche the husbandmen call ••orcas, because the place being raysed hye, de∣fendeth the Corne from the water, & Lira Hortensis, a bed in a Gar∣den. Scamm••n, a Balke, is the grosse earth that hath scaped the Plow••. Plinie wylleth, that there be no Balkes made, nor great Cloddes remayning, meaning the great Turffe that is turned vp at the fyrst plowing. Scamnatus Ager, is called of Vibius Vrbicus, that lande which runneth all in length from West to East, whiche yf it be more of length then breadth, and lyeth vpon the North, is called Strigatus The land it selfe is also called grosse and rawe, that is not well mellowed, whiche hath neede to be seasoned with the heate of the Sommer, and the colde of Winter, and to be plowed in the Spring. It is also called riche, fruitefull, fertyll: and that which is nought and yeeldes not his fruite, is called leane, barren,

hungry, or brynishe, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Also salt, bitter: sennishe, where the water still continues: wette, that some time lyes drye: Car∣bunckled, that is burnt with the sonne, rotten and mossie. It is al∣so called pleasaunt ground, sweete, blacke, rotten, and mellowed, which are the signes of good ground: but hereof I thinke I haue nowe spoken sufficiently.

RIGO.

That you may continue your speache, I pray you goe to your former matter agayne.

CONO.

When you haue broken vp your ground, yf it be No∣ualis as I sayde, and not tylled before, you may sowe it presently, and harrowe it, and yf neede be, rake it. The ground that is yeere∣ly sowen, & that hath lyne spare, is to be plowed thryse, according to the nature of the soyle, and the seede that you meane to sowe.

RIGO.

Nowe you haue tolde me howe to order my lande for seede, I pray you let me vnderstande the sortes of seede, and in what sort they must be sowed.

CONO.

That must I doo. The seede that commeth of that whiche the Latines call Fruges,* 1.74 as Pulse and Corne, we here doo call Fruges, all sortes of haruest grayne, which the Germanes call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, because they are geathered in their beautie and their ripenesse. Iulian the Lawyer, calleth Fruges all thinges wherewith a man is fedde. The auncient writers doo vnderstand it more largely, for all the fruites of the earth. Plinie deuides it in∣to two kindes, into Corne that growes on Eare, as Gallus the Lawyer defines it: the other that beareth Coddes, as all kinde of Pulse, or pedware. Of the first kinde, is Wheate, Rye, Bar∣ley, Bigge, Otes, Beechewheate, or Bucke, or if you wyll in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Ryse, & Lenten Wheate, though all kindes growe not in all places, nor haue in euery place all one name. In some places you haue not Lenten Wheate, cheefely where there is plentie of Bigge. In other places they vse neither Otes nor Bucke. Of the kindes of Pulse are these•• Beanes, Peason, Lentiles, Chiches, Tares, Lintels, Lupines, and suche lyke. And though there be sundry sortes of seede, and euery Countr••y hath his kinde,* 1.75 and sowes such as best agrees with their nature: yet generally this is to be regarded, that you sowe none that are olde and dryed, but the newest: for olde seede dooth oftentymes

as they wryte, change their nature: as the seede of Colwoortes, that being sowen, turneth to Rapes, and Rape seede likewyse in∣to Colwoortes. The seede of the fyrst yeere is best, of two yeere olde woorse, and of three, woorst of all, the rest is barren and nought. The best seede also is that which is waightiest, and lyeth in the bottome, and such as is full, and being broken hath a good colour: such as is wrinckled, and thinne in the ••are, is to be thro∣wen away. There is also another necessarie note, to haue the seede from strange grounde, & from the woorse to the better, and not the contrary, nor from colde Countreys into hotte, nor from the forward to the slowe, and to beware that it be not bitten with Birdes, Mise, or Antes: and to prosper the better, sprinckle them before they be sowen, with the yuice of Houseleeke. If you mingle with your grayne the seede of Bearfoote, and sowe it a∣bout your grounde, you shal saue it from the anoyance of Birdes. You must sowe your Ridges with an equall hande,* 1.76 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and all alike in euery place, letting your foote (specially the right foote) & your hand go togeather: Wheate, Rye, Barly, Otes, and other, cheefely such as beare Coddes, as Milium, and Panicum, must be sowen with a ful hand, but Rape seede only with three fingers.

RIGO.

A man must vse his hande I perceaue, as the Harper dooth, to make it perfite.

CONO.

He must in deede. And as we put more water to stronger wine then we doo to small, and laye the greater burden vpon the stronger man, and some stomacke requires the stron∣ger foode, so some grounde may beare muche seede, and some away with lesse: neither can it be certaynely appoynted, howe muche seede is generally to be cast vppon an acre: though I knowe the olde wryters appoynted certayne quantitie to euery acre, whiche perhaps might serue with them: but we shoulde foulie deceaue our selues•• yf we shoulde obserue the lyke in eue∣ry place. First, because some grounde requireth more seede then other, as the grounde is of stiffenesse or lightnesse: for the stiffer ground (as in Hollande neere the Rhyne) requires muche seede•• where lighter grounde requireth lesse. The timely sowing, the thinner: and the later, as Columella sayth, the thicker. Second∣ly, their measures and acres differ, as the thing that at this day is

not throughly agreed vpon. But nowe you shal heare what seede euery ground requireth.

RIGO.

That I long to heare.

CONO.

After long rest, or the fyrst dounging, eyther Barley or Wheate is to be sowen: but Wheate, though it require good ground, yet yf the ground be to riche where it is sowen, it wyll growe to ranke, and lye leadge vpon the grounde. And therefore vppon suche grounde, it is best to sowe your Wheate after a crop of Barley, Pease, or Buck, and after your Wheate crop, to sowe it with Rye: and then againe (yf the grounde waxe not poore) with Barley. In very riche grounde, immediatly after the geathering of Rape seede, plowe it presently for Bucke, whereby you may haue two Croppes in one yeere. In like ma∣ner the Cabegged Rape sowen after Rye, maketh two haruestes in one yeere. Pease, Beanes, Tares, and Fitches, and almost al Pulse els, requireth riche ground, which afterwards may yeere∣ly serue for Wheate, Milium, and Rape. Plinie woulde not haue Rapes sowen, but in very well dunged ground: but we finde by experience, that after a croppe of Rye in meane ground, you shall haue the same yeere great Rapes. Sandy and Grauesly ground, must rest euery third yeere, for two or three yeeres, that being then well dounged, you may sowe Rye, or Buck, and after Oates. In good pasture ground newe broken vp, you may sowe Oates after the fyrst plowing, after that, Rape seede, then Bar∣ley, after that Wheate, or Rye, and at last Oates, or Rye, yf the nature of the countrey be for it. When this is doone, you must eyther doung it, or let it lye laye. If the ground be mellowe, after Barley in some places they sowe Millet, then Rad••she, after that Barley, and Wheate, as in Campania: and such ground is suffi∣ciently plowed, when it is sowen in some place where Lenten Wheate is sowen, it restes three monethes, & after is sowen with Beanes in the Spring, in no other wyse may you charge in∣different ground. If after two seasons of Corne, you sowe Pulse or Pedwaxe, the barrenner ground must rest three yeeres. Some wyl in no case haue you sowe Wheate, or Barley, in ground that lyes f••llowe. After that ye haue thus sowen your seede in ground thryse plowed and well prepared,* 1.77 then must you straight w••yes

harrowe it, which is doone with a lettused instrument full of teeth drawen vpon the ground, whereby the Cloddes are broken, and the seede couered: in some places it is doone with a boorde tyed to the Plowe,* 1.78 whiche they call in Latine Lirare. Sometime Ra∣kyng is needefull, whiche in the Spring, looseth the earth made clunged with the cold of Winter, & letteth in the freshe warmth. It is best to rake Wheate, Barley, and Beanes, twyse. More∣ouer, they breake a sunder with the Rouler the greater and stif∣fer Clods.* 1.79 Weeding is when the Corne is knotted, the nough∣tie weedes being plucked vp, deliuereth the rootes of the Corne, and seuereth it. To speake of the season of Sowyng,* 1.80 it is agreed vpon of all men, that there ought to be no sowing in Winter, for the Winter Corne when it is sowed before Winter, appeareth aboue the ground somtimes within a seuen night after, which yf it be sowed after Winter is begunne, it scarsely appeareth in fourtie dayes after. Some very fondly thinke it better to sowe in the Spring, then in Autumne. Plinie wryteth, that in Treuers the Haruest being in, they haue sowed in the coldest of Winter, and rakyng their grounde in the spring, haue had an excellent good Croppe after. Amongst our haruest sedes, there are some harder y^t are able to abide the Winter, which are sowen in hotte Coun∣treys, as Virgil sayth, about the setting of the seuen starres, which Columella vnderstandeth to be about one and thirtie dayes after the Autumne Aequinoctial, that is, the nienth Kalendes of Nouem∣ber, and in Fraunce and Germanse in September, and the be∣ginning of October, as Rape seede, Wheate, Rye, Winter Barley, that are nourished in the blade all Winter, and grow vp towardes earing in the Spring. Some there be that wyll you to sowe before, only in drye ground and hotte Countreys. Some agayne woulde haue you sowe in colde Countreys after the Au∣tumne Aequinoctial, in hotte Countreys later, least they shoulde flo∣rishe before the Winter, and be destroyed of woormes, or blasted. Some on the other side make haste,* 1.81 saying, That soone sowing sometimes deceaues, but late sowing, euer. It is good reason to sowe timely in wette groundes, that the seede rotte not with ouer muche moysture, and later in drye groundes, least lying long and not sprowting, it come to nought. Also, in timely sowyng, to ••owe

thicker, because it is slowe in rooting, and in later sowyng, thin∣ner, least with the thicknesse it be choked. Sommer seedes, whiche are sowed before the risyng of the seuen starres,* 1.82 and in the Spring, as Beanes, Pease, and suche, Pulse, Millet, Panicum, Sesamum, Sommer Barley, Flaxe, Hempe, Oates, Buck, Sporia, and suche other, are sowed in the Spring time. In Asia and Grece they sowe all as they say, at the setting of the seuen starres. Now, although there be certaine precepts of the tyme of sowing, and howe muche seede is meete for euery quantitie of grounde: surely, they might as I haue saide before, for theyr owne Countrey and nature of their ground, geue a kind of gesse: but to determine any thing herein certainely, there is no man that can doo it, but the ground and euery mans owne practise is herein the best maister.* 1.83 One auncient generall rule of husbandry there is, wherein we are warned in cold Countreys to sowe late, in temperate Countreyes sooner, and in hot regions soonest of al. Eratosthenes sayth, that India is subiect to muche raynes in Som∣mer, and that then they sowe Flaxe, Sesamum, Ryse, and Mil∣let: and in Winter, Wheate, Barley, Pedware, and other fruites that we haue not. Hesiodus, the Prince in his time of hus∣bandry, wyls vs to sowe accordyng to the custome of Grece, his naturall countrey. Virgil, Cato, Varro, Columella, and Plinie, appoint their rules for Italy, whose mindes yf you wyll haue folowed in all other places, you shall but seeke to couer euery pot with one couer. But to come to the matter, sythe the seedes of sundry na∣tures, require sundry times of sowyng, and diuers sortes of orde∣ring, and that herein euery Countrey hath his guise, I wyll here (obseruing suche customes as are most generall to them all) seuerally shewe you of euery seede by him selfe, and so declare vn∣to you the order of their sowyng. And fyrst, amongest all the fruites and grayne that the Earth dooth yeeld for our sustenance,* 1.84 the cheefest place is rightly geuen vnto Wheate, called in Greke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Italian Grano, in Spanishe Trigo, in Dutch VVeyss, in Frenche Fourment, as a grayne most needefull for man, and there∣fore most fruitefull, because God hath ordayned it to nourishe man withall. It is woonderfull what yeeld it hath been of in some Countreys. Augustus his deputie sent hym from Bisaice in A∣frica,

of one grayne of Wheate foure hundred branches. And Plinie witnesseth, that in the same place, one bushel hath yeelded a hundred and fyftie bushels.

RIGO.

There are that holde opinion, that this which the com∣mon people call Wheate, the Germanes VVeyss, and the Hollan∣ders Terue, is not the true Wheate, but a kinde of Rye, and that the true Wheate whiche the Italians call Grano, groweth onely in Italy and in Spayne.

CONO.

That whiche growes in Italy and Cicil at this day, differeth not from ours in fashion, colour, nor flowre, though the grayne there be somewhat great, and the flowre more clammey, whiche maketh it that it can not be long kept, specially about Rome. And whereas our Wheate is eyther bearded or pollarde, theirs is altogeather pold: we call it pold or pollard, that hath no Aanes vpon the eares. And that we call y^e Aane, which grow∣eth out of the eare like a long pricke or a darte, whereby the eare is defended from the daunger of Birdes. With Virgil the Aane is vsed for the Corne, as the parke for y^e Wheate. Gluma is the husks of the Corne whose top is the Aane. F••it is the small grayne lesser then the corne that growes in the top of the ripe eare. To returne to the Wheate, I graunt there are some that doubt of this Wheate of ours, suche hath been the iniurie of the tyme (as all thinges almost forgotten) we scarsely knowe howe to name the foode that we dayl•• feede of. For my part, I wyl followe com∣mon vse as a maistresse in speache. The olde writers haue writ∣ten of sundry sortes of Wheate, whereof they haue thought that most needefull to be sowen, whiche they called Robus, as the fay∣rest and wayghtiest. The second called Siligo, they vsed in their fy∣nest Cheate. The thirde, they called Trimestre, because it woulde be ripe in three monethes after the sowing. Though Columella a∣lowe no suche kinde, yet was it most auncient with the Grekes, and called Trim••non, growyng onely in the colde countreys. In Th••••cia they haue a kinde that is ripe in two monethes, and is co∣uered with a number of huskes, against the extreme colde of the Countrey. In our Countreys also we haue Wheate and Rye, that we sowe with our Sommer grayne, as we likewyse doo Rape seede, but to no great commodititie: for the Winter seedes

too farre exceede them, and being nourished in the earth al Win∣ter, they prooue, as Theophrastus sayth, of more substance and pro∣fyte. Amongest all these sortes Plinie recounteth the Wheate of Italy to be the best, both for beautie and weyght. We vse with vs only two sortes, differing in this, that the one hath smoothe eares without any beardes, the other with long beardes or Aanes, very ruffe and sharpe, not much vnlike to Winter Bailey: in al other properties they are both alike. It is sowen in September, the season being fayre,* 1.85 the grounde thryse plowed and well raked or harrowed, although you may sowe it very well after once plow∣ing vpon grounde where Pease, Tares, or Buck hath been new∣ly had of, in a good soyle. Plinie and Columella woulde haue you sowe of Wheate and Rye, fyue busshels vpon an acre: but as I haue saide before, this mea••ure is to be measured by reason. We at this day sowe not so much Wheate vpon an acre as Rye, nor so much Rye as Barley. It is best, yf the Winter be like to be colde, to sowe the sooner: yf warme, the later. Wheate delighteth in a leuell, riche, warme, and a drye ground: a shaddowy, weedy, and a hilly ground, it loueth not, though Plinie say the hil yeeldeth harder Wheate, but no great store. After it is sowen, it putteth out a great company of small rootes, and appeareth at the fyrst wy or blade: it hath sundry stalkes, but suche as can not branche all the Winter, as other Winter Corne is, it is nourished in blade: when the Spring draweth on, it beginneth to spindle: vp∣pon the thirde or fourth ioynt thereof, commeth out the eare, which fyrst appeareth enclosed in the blade, it flowreth the fourth or fyfth day after: yf it growe to rancke at the fyrst, it is eaten downe with cattel, or in some place mowed: it is after weeded, it flowres about y^e tenth of Iune, sooner or later, as the yeere falles out, euen at one time almost with y^e Uine, two noble floures with comfortable sauour flourishing at once. Varro affyrmeth, that the Wh••ate lyeth fyfteene dayes in the blade, flourisheth fyfteene, and ripeth fyfteene: after it hath flowred it waxeth greater, and as Theophrastus sayth, is within fourtie dayes after ful ripe, where with the latest they reape in the eyght moneth. Other say in sixe and thirtie dayes, & reaped in the nienth moneth. It neuer eares, tyll al his ioyntes or knottes he growen. There are foure iointes

in Wheate, as Plinie sayth, and eyght in Barley: but in our coun∣trey and our dayes, both Wheate, Rye, Barley, and Oates, haue but foure, and that not alwayes. Before the full number of the ioyntes, there is no appearing of the eare: whiche when it com∣meth, beginneth to flowre within foure or fyue dayes, and so ma∣ny, or little more, it fadeth. When the flowre is gone, the grayne begins to swel, and in foure or fyue dayes after to ripe. The blade of the Wheate is something like a Sedge, but narrower then the Barley: the Spindel, Stalke, or Strawe thereof, is smoo∣ther and gentler, and not so brittle as of Barley. It is closed in many coates. The stalke that beareth the eare is higher then that of Barley, the eare groweth more vpryghe and farther from the blade, the chaffe is softer, sweeter, and more full of iuyce, the eare of Wheate is out of order and vneuen, as well of the Pollard as of the hearded, where as Barley hath his eare of iust number and in perfect order. In Bact••i••, it is sayde a grayne of Wheate is equall in quantitie to an eare of our Wheate. In Babylon, the blades both of Wheate and Barley, as Herodotus reporteth, are foure inches brode. Wheate, as Columella wryteth, after the third sowing chaungeth to Rye, which hath been knowen in Germa∣nie, as I sayde before, in many places. Of Wheate is made Amyl, the making whereof Cato and Dioscorides teacheth. After Wheate we sowe with vs Rye. There are that thinke it to be that whiche the Greekes call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, though Homer take 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for a kinde of foode for Horses: some others take it for a kinde of Wheate. He∣rodotus sayth, Bread was made of it. Of Laurentius, it is called Far, of Gasa, Siligo. Diuers learned men call it Secale, and take it for Pli∣nies farrago•• the Frenchemen cal it Segle, the Dutchemen Rock, the Italians almost as the Latines Saegala: the grayne is something blacke, and maketh blackishe bread. But to passe ouer all contro∣uersies, I folowe the Countrey speache, and take Siligo for our common Rye whiche is sowed immediatly after Wheate, about the ende of September, or in the beginning of October, in good ground: in sandy and grauelly ground, it is sowed in Februarie, and called Sommer Wheate: it requireth the best grounde, warme, and fast, and refuseth not light grounde and grauelly, so it be helped with doung: it loueth wette grounde as ill as

Wheate, they both require to be sowen in a deepe moulde and a plaine soyle: but Rye is sowed a litle after Wheate, in the sowyng whereof, you must occupie a thirde part more then of Wheate: it prospereth lightly in any grounde, and many times with the yeeld of a hundred for one. It must be sowed after the third plowing as Wheate & harrowed much after the same sort, the stalke or steale thereof, is smaller then the Wheate stalke, tal∣ler, and stronger, his care hanging downewardes, and therefore more subiect to blasting, because it receiueth and keepeth the wa∣ter that falles whyle it flowreth, and suffereth the violence of mystes and frostes: the strawe thereof is gentle and flaxible, ser∣uing for Uines and coueringes of houses. Nowe foloweth Bar••ley,* 1.86 accounted in the olde generations among the woorthyest sort of grayne, and not of small estimation at this day. The Italians call it Beade or Beaue, or Orze: the Spaniards Ceuada: the Dutch men Gerst: the Frenchemen Orge: the Grecians 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: and though it be vsed in Greece and Italie, and suche warme and fruitefull Countreys for cattelles foode, as Homer also witnesseth, yet in the Northerne Countreyes it supplies the place both of Bread and Wine. There are of it two sortes Hex••stichon and Po∣lystichum, whose eares are three, foure, & sometimes sixe square, and diuers eares springing from one grayne, euery eare contey∣nyng aboue fourescore graynes, so woonderfull are the gyftes and blessinges of GOD. The other sort is called Distichon, ha∣uing in the eare but two rankes or orders only. Agayne, there is one kinde of it to be sowed in Winter, an other for Sommer. The Winter Barley is of better yeeld, but it is soone hurt, spe∣cially with much wette and frostes folowyng. There is nothyng more hurtfull to Winter Corne, specially Barley, Rape seede, and Rye, then the wette of Winter, nipped with often frostes, and after a warme thawe to be presently frozen agayne: both the sortes of Barley require grounde that is very riche. Winter Barley after two or three plowinges, is to be sowed in Septem∣ber: Sommer Barley in March, or April, after twyse plowing: and many times, necessitie forcing, after once plowing: in the sowing, you must occupie more seede by halfe, then in sowyng of Wheate: it requires a mellowe and a fatte ground, and therfore

is best sowed, where the grounde is most manured. The Winter seede flowreth in May, and is ripe in Iune at the furthest. This kinde was not woont to be sowed in these partes, but great num∣bers nowe, mooued by my example, doo vse and receiue great gaynes by it. The Sommer Barley in many Countreys is ripe and redy in three monethes af••er the sowyng. In Aragon as Plinie wryteth, it maketh double haruestes euery yeere. The seuenth day after it is sowen, it commeth vp, and one end of the seede run∣neth downe in roote, the other, that ••ooner springeth, commeth vp in blade: the greater ende of the grayne maketh the roote, and the slenderer the flowre. In other grayne the roote and the blade spring both from one part, the blades of both kindes are ruffe. It must be geathered with more speede then other graynes, for the strawe of it is very brittell. Of Barley is made, as Dioscorides wryteth, both Beere and Ale.

RIGO.

I lyke your Beere you haue excellently wel, I pray you tell me in what sor•• you make it?

CONO.

I wyll not hyde my cunnyng in this matter. My Barley is fyrst steeped in a Sestorne of water a day or two, yf it be Winter seede it is harder hulled, and requireth the longer watering. The Sommer grayne is thinner, and requireth a les∣ser tyme. When it is watred, I drye it vpon a floore or a keel, tyll it swel and breake, putting out as it were litle beardes or threds: yf it be layde thinne, it wyll in Sommer, specially in March, drye and breake of it selfe without any fyre. You must take good heede that in sprowting it open not to much, and loose his flowre. This being doone I grinde it, and put the meale into a Mash Fatte, wherevnto I put my licour sodden, and after let it seethe three or foure times, adding vnto it, both for holsomenesse and taste, the flowre of the Hoppe: after this, I put on Yeest, and set it a woor∣kyng, and then cleanse it. The more it is cleansed, the holsomer and cleerer it is: that whiche commeth of the spurging, is kept both for brewing and baking: the drinke wyll be the better, yf you put to it a fourth part or sixth part of Wheate: the more Corne you la•• on, the pleasaunter and better coloured wyll your Beere be. Your greatest care must be to see it well sodden, well cleanse••, and well hopped, otherwyse Malt of it selfe wyll soone

corrupt. Obseruing this order, your drinke shalbe both holsome and pleasant: that endureth best and longest, that is brewed in March. There is made of Barley Alica, a reasonable good meate, and Ptisan. How they must be made, you may reade in Plinie. Next to Wheate and Barley, foloweth Zea, which the common people both in Italy,* 1.87 Spaine, and Flaunders, call Spelta: the Frenche call it Espeltra, with Homer is greatly commended 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the feel des that beareth the Zeam, being as Galen sayth, the meane betwixt Wheate and Barley, for he hath the qualities of eache of them, & is of two sortes, the one in stalke, ioynt, and care, like to Wheate, and carieth in euery huske two seedes, and therefore is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the other hauing both stalke and eare shorter, and but one grayne in euery huske, growing in two rankes, and in the toppe resembling Barley with his sharpe Aa••es. In Ita∣ly, specially about Mirandula and Concordia, it is vsed in prouender for Horses, it is not in these Countreys in vse. I woulde sowe it here, syth the ground wyll well serue for it, and that both bread and drinke might be made of it very well, but that it is some∣thing troublesome to grinde, because of the double huskes. It de∣syreth a moyst ground, riche and good, it is sowed, after the same maner that Wheate is sowed, in September or October: it flow∣reth in Iune, and is ripe in Iuly, very meete for cold Countreys, because it can abide frost and stormes.

RIGO.

There is (as I remember) a kinde of Wheate called Far,* 1.88 the auncient people called it Adoreum, that groweth in many Countreys.

CONO.

You say true, for with the olde sort Far was a general name to all Corne, as Wheate Far, Barley Far, and Rye Far, and when Mylles were not yet deuised, they did beate their Corne in Morters, whereof came, that the Meale was call••d Farina: yet af∣ter, was the name of Far onely geuen to Adoreum, though Columel∣la called it alwayes Far Adoreum, making foure sundry sortes of it. The Frenchemen call it Brance, the Italians Sandala, the Spani∣ardes Escand••a, the common people of our Countrey call it Farro, the Dutche Keskome, whose grayne is very like Wheate, but that it is shorter and thicker, and where Wheate hath a clift, there hath it a risyng: it is heauier then Barley, and lighter then

Wheate, it yeeldeth more Meale then any other Corne. The people of Rome as Plinie sayth, liued with this Corne at the ••yrst three hundred yeeres, it groweth in Egypt without Aane, with a greater ••are and a waightier, it hath in the stalke seuen ioyntes, and can not be cleansed, except it be parched. Fraunce hath two sortes therof, one of a reddishe colour, which the people cal redde Wheate, the other whiter, whiche they call white Wheate, the eare is threesquare, not vnlike to spelt. In Italy they make pot∣tage of it for their labourers. Far or Adoreum, Virgil would haue sow∣en before the setting of the seuen starres, after the Aequinoctiall of Autum: but in wette and colde barren groundes, it is best to sowe it about the Kalendes of October, that it may take deepe roote before the s••eezing and colde in Winter. It is sowed in lowe grounde, watrishe, and chalkie: after it is sowed, it must be har∣rawed, raked, and weeded: the raking looseth in the Spring, the heauie sha••tes of Winter. In raking or harrawyng, you must take heede, as I haue said before, that you hurte not the rootes: weeding when it is knotted, seuereth the Corne from all anoyan∣ces. The Frencheman sowe it in hollowe Furrowes, because it is very subiect to blasting, thinking thereby to preserue it both from blast and mildewe. To sowe it in hie ground is discommen∣ded, though it prospereth t••e••e well yenough, because cattell can not away with it, for the sharpenesse and ruffenesse of the eares, and because it requireth great labour in getting of the huskes, which yf it be not cleared of, is neither good for man nor beast: the vncleane Chasfe dooth hurt with the Cough the Cattelles lunges. Amongest the Winter seedes, Rape seede dooth cha∣lenge his place,* 1.89 whiche I take to be the seede of the Rape which Plinie maketh for his third kinde, and wylde, whose roote, lyke the Raddishe, runneth in length, the leaues being ruffe like the o∣ther kindes, and the stalke busshy and full of branches: the roote of it is good for nothing, but is onely sowed for the seede, where∣of they make oyle seruing for poore mens kitchins, fastes, and lightes, specially in Germanie where they want the oyle of O∣liues, whereby aryseth great gaynes to the husbandman. In the hotte Countreyes where they haue other oyle yenough, this seede is of no vse but in feeding of Byrdes: it is sowed in the ende of

August, or the beginnyng of September: howe be it, sometime it is sowen in March among the Sommer seedes, but to nothing so great a profite: it is cast into very riche grounde or wel manu∣red, thryse plowed and well tylled, it must be sowed very thinne: for being a very small seede, it must not be sowed with the full hande as Wheate is, but onely with three fyngers: it flowreth in March or there abouts, as the yeere is forward, and continew∣eth his flowring a long time: the flowre is yellowe and very sweete, wherein Bees doo muche delight: as soone as it hath left flowring, it is presently ripe, it groweth two cubites in height bearing a plentifull seede in little small Coddes, it rendreth for one b••sshell, a hundred busshels of seede. Hitherto haue I spoken of Winter seedes, nowe must I tell you of suche as are sowen to∣wardes Sommer.

RIGO.

Wyll you speake nothing of the Rape roote which is greatly occupied of the husbandman, and not to be despised as a thing that groweth in great quantitie, & is meetely good meate bo••h for man and beast.

CONO.

The Rape is named of the Greekes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in I∣talian Rapo, in Spanishe Nabo, in Frenche Rauen. The ordering of which, though I tooke it to belong to the garden, wherein you are able to say more then I, yet because you require it, and that sometime the husbandmen doo plant them in their Feeldes, I wyl tell you as much as I knowe therein. There are two kindes of them, the fyrst dooth roote all in length lyke the Radishe, whiche in many places of Germanie is vsed for a dayntie meate, the other eyther groweth in great roundnesse, or els very flatte: they are nourished with mystes, frostes, and cold, three monethes togeather, and growe to an exceedyng greatnesse. Plinie wryteth, that he hath seene Rootes of them that haue weyghed fourtie pound. Some say, they haue seene of them that haue weyghed an hundred pounde. It is woonderfull, that of so litle a seede shoulde come so great a roote The Greekes make two kindes of them, the male and the female, both comming of one seede, the male when it is sowed thicke, and the female when it is sowed thinne. There are two seasons for the sowing of it, eyther in Marche, whiche wyll be ripe about the tenth of Iune, or in Iuly or Au∣gust,

after the first plowyng, commonly vppon the ground where Rye and Winter Barley haue been newely had of. It is thought they are the sweeter by lying in the ground all Winter, when as the encrease is not in the leafe, but in the roote. They are also sowed (as Plinie wryteth) in hot & moyst Countreys in the spring, and w••ll the better encrease yf they be sowed with Chaffe, who woulde also haue the sower naked, and in castyng the seede, to wyshe good lucke to hym selfe, and to his neyghbours. They are preserued from the Caterpiller, which commonly consumeth the young leaues, by mingling the seede with Soote, or steepyng them all a nyght in the iuyce of Houseleeke: Columella affyrmeth, that he hym selfe hath seene it prooued.

RIGO.

Nowe proceede (I pray you) with your Sommer seedes.

CONO.

The Sommer seedes are almost all suche as are ripe within three monethes, or foure at the vttermost after they are sowen, and some of them sooner, yf the grounde and the weather be good.* 1.90 Among the sommer seedes we wyl fyrst talke of grayne, and after of pulse. Of the grayne, Oates are the fyrst that are sowed, though Virgil count them barren, and Plinie counteth them rather weedes then Corne, affyrmyng that Barley when it pros∣pereth not, wyll many tymes turne to Oates: yet the Frenche men and the Germanes count it (at this day) the best prouender for Horses, and foode for Cattell. Plinie also witnesseth, that the Germanes vsed to make pottage of Oates. And Dioscorides ma∣keth mention of Oaten po••tage. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, pottage or gruell is made of Oates, it is called of the Greekes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Italian Vena, in Spanishe Auena, in Frenche Auoyne, in Dutche Hauer, whiche though it growe not commonly in Italy, yet vpon monte Fic••l••o, and in the kyngdome of Naples about Siponto it is founde. We haue amongst vs two kyndes of them, one full and weyghty, seruing in deere yeeres to make bread and drynke of, specially yf it be medled wi••h a little Barley, and this kind pros∣pereth in riche and newe broken vp ground exceedingly. The other kinde is lyghter, whiche the common people call Gwen and Brumhauer, it is very lyght, and yeeldeth but little flowre nor foode, it groweth vpon sandy and barrayne groundes, and ser∣ueth

well for Cattell and for Horse, both the kyndes haue busshy toppes, from whence hangeth the seede in lykewyse, resemblyng the Grassehopper: the flowre of it is white, and from one grayne, there springeth diuers stalkes. With Dioscorides, Bromos is a kynd of Oates that resembleth Wheate in the stalke and the blade, and groweth like wylde Wheate. Theophrastus calleth it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 The Oate is not daungerous in the choyse of his grounde, but groweth lyke a good fellowe in euery place••, where no seede els wyll growe. Of the lyke disposition almost is Buck or Beeche∣wheate,* 1.91 vnknowen to our olde fathers. It is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Beechewheate or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Blackwheate, though 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 signifieth an other grayne. I had rather call it Beechwheate, be∣cause the grayne thereof is threecorned, not vnlyke the Beeche∣mast both in colour and fourme, differing onely in the smalenesse. The stalke is very great, and straked like to the greater Fearne: It hath many branches with a bushy toppe, a great sort of white flowres in a knop, lyke the flowres of Elder: it flowreth long to∣geather, and after appeareth the grayne, fyrst white and gree∣nishe, in shape threecornerd: after they be ripe the colour chaun∣geth to blacke or brownishe like a Chestnutte. This grayne hath not long since ben brought from Russia & the Northerne partes into Germanie: nowe is it become common, and vsed for fatting of Hogges, and serueth the common people in deare seasons to make bread & dr••nke withal, it may be sowed in any ground how ••adde so euer it be: howebeit, it dooth best in good grounde, and is sowen in April and May, and in Iune, after the reaping of Rape seede. You must sowe lesse of it vppon an acre by a fourth part then of Wheate or Rye: it is much vsed to be sowed vpon the ground where Rapes growe, wherby the ground dooth yeeld a double Croppe in one yeere. When it is sowen, it commeth vn, yf it be moyst weather, within foure or fiue dayes after, hauyng two leaues at •• fyrst appearing, not much vnlike to Purcelaine. Amongst the Sommer seedes is also receiued Sommer Bar∣ley,* 1.92 whiche from the Sonnes entring into the Aequinoctiall, till the end of Marche and April, is sowen, and is reaped againe for the most part in three monethes, or at the vttermost foure. It requi∣reth (as Winter Barley dooth) a riche and a mellowe grounde,

and to be sowed after twyse plowing, though sometime for neces∣sitie it is sowed after the fyrst plowyng. And though it yeelde no•• so good nor so perfect a grayne as the Winter Corne dooth, whose grayne as Theophrastus wryteth, is farre more perfect and of stronger substaunce, bringing greater strawe and weigh∣tier Eares, yet because it is harder husked, and the Sommer seede more fyne and gentle, is therefore of most men desired, and counted to yeelde more flowre then the Winter grayne: some a∣gayne preferre the other Millet,* 1.93 called in Latine Millium, in Greke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Italian Milio, or Miglio, hauing as it were a thousand graynes in a Eare, as Festus seemeth to auowe, in Spanishe Mijo, in Frenche Millet, and in Dutche Hyers, where they make pottage of it and bread. The Russians and Moscouians are chiefely nou∣rished with this kind of pottage, which they make with the flowre mingled with milke, and the blood that they let from their Hor∣ses. The men of Ind, as Plinie sayth, knowe no other grayne bu•• Barley and Millet, which grew in his time plentifullest in Cam∣pania, it is the best leauen that may be made, neither is there any grayne comparable to it for weyght, that more increaseth in ba∣kyng: for of one busshell hath been drawen threescore pounde of bread, and a busshell of sodden meate, made of three quarters wet and vnsodde. It is sowed at this day in euery place, though very lit••le in y^e lowe Countrey, it groweth with a stalke full of ioyntes a cubite high, a leafe like a Reede, a round and a small seede han∣ging downe in long ruinnes with many toppes, it groweth some∣time seuen foote hie, it delighteth in a watrishe moorie grounde, and in grauel, so it be nowe and then ouerflowen, it hateth drye and chalkie groundes. Some geue counsell to sowe it fyrst in a colde and a wette ground, and then in a hotte ground: before the Spring you must not sowe it, for it delighteth muche in warmth. A little seede of it, is sufficient for a great deale of ground: yf it be sowed thicke, it comes to nought: a great handfull wyll serue a whole acre, wherefore in raking, you must rake out what is more then needefull: an acre beareth fourtie busshels, yf it be wel sowed, euery seede yeeldeth about a pottell. It is forbidden to be sowen among Uines or fruite trees, and must continually be weeded and raked. When the eare is full growen, it must be gea∣thered

with the hande, and dryed in the Sunne, least the wh••t weather shatter the seedes. This grayne may very long be pre∣serued, for being well layde vp where the winde can not come, it wyll well laste an hundred yeere. There is an other like grayne that they call Indian Millet, with a great grayne, and a blacke and bigge reedy stalke, whiche was fyrst brought into Italy in the raigne of Nero, which (as Plinie sayth) was called Loba, whe••e as Lobae are rather the Coddes of all Pulse, and Phobae the manes and ••oppes of Millet, as it appeareth by Theophrastus.* 1.94 Panicum is called of the Greekes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of the Dutch Psennich, or Heidengre••ss, of the Italians•• Pannacho, the Spaniardes Panizo, the Frenche∣men Pani••, so called of the little Pannicles wherein the seede ly∣eth. It commeth vp like Millet, with many leaues and slippes, glittering with a reddishe busshy toppe, full of seedes lyke Mu∣stard seede, some yellowe, purple, blacke, and white: it must be or∣dered in all thinges almost as Millet: being sowed in Sommer, it is ripe in fourtie dayes after: in other places sowed in May in wette grounde, it is to be geathered in September. The haruest, and the vse of it, is almost all one with Millet, neyther can it as Millet be fined without parching, when it beginnes to spindel, it must be well weeded, least the weedes ouergrowe it: being well dr••st with Cheesyl and Milke, it maketh indifferent good meate, in bread it is not so muche vsed as Millet: for the bread is very drye, and croombleth lyke S••••d or Asshes, being altogeather without moysture or cleauing: but the common people remedi∣yng that with Larde or Oyle, doo make a shift with it as wel as they can. They that dwell about Pontus, are sayde to esteeme it aboue all other foode, as the people of Nauare doo at this day. In many Countreys it is vsed onely to feede Pigeons withall. Of the number of outlandishe grayne, is Ryse,* 1.95 in share as Theophra∣stus sayth, lyke Darnell, hauyng a busshy toppe lyke Millet or Pannicle, but no Eare: his grayne is lyke the kinde of Barley called Zea, the leaues are thicke lyke leaues of Leekes, but broa∣der, the stalke a cubite hie, the floure purple. This grayne is but geason in Fraunce and Germanie, but in Italy and Lumbardy common, where it is called Elriso, and Men••stro Del riso, the French∣men leauyng the fyrst letter, doo call it Rison, the Greekes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,

the Spaniardes call it Arross, Plinie supposeth it to be engendred of the water Sedge. There is made of it Furmentie, as Horace calles it Ryse Furmentie. It is sowed in March as Millet and Pannicle is. The Indians (they say) do bruse it before they sowe it, to make it the lighter of digestion. And as Strabo reporteth, they make drinke of it?

RIGO.

* 1.96What say you to Sesamum, that was greatly in vse in the olde tyme.

CONO.

Sesamum is named with the Greekes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Ita∣lians Se••amo, the Spaniard A••onioli•• the Frenchemen Iugiolin. In tymes pa••t, it hath been more vsed and greatly commended, both of Columella and Plinie. At t••is day it is knowen to a very fewe, as a great sort ••f seedes els are, in so muche as the very Corne that we dayly seede of, we scarsely knowe what it is. Some reckon it in the number of Grayne, and some of Pulse: the stalke there∣of is not lyke Millet or Pannicle, full of ioyntes, but playne and smoothe lyke a reede, the leaues thereof ruddy, the seede white, not so bigge as Lineseede, and is conteined in little knoppes like Poppie: it is sowen before the rysing of the Seuen Starres, af∣ter the maner of Italy. Columella sayth, that he hath seene it in Ci∣licia and Sy••ia sowed in Iune and Iuly, and reaped in Autume. It requires a mellowe blacke moulde, though it wyll growe vppon good sandy grounde, and forced ground, rayne is hurtfull vnto it after it is sowed, where as it ••oth good to all other grayne, no great Cattell nor Uermine wyll meddle with it, it hurteth ground very muche, because of the great quantitie and thicknesse of the stalke, and the number of the rootes. Plinie wryteth, that it was brought out of India, and vsed both for meate and oyle. But to returne to such graine as we are acquainted with. Amongst the Sommer seedes is Myscelyn to be reckoned. The husbandmen doo sometime make a medley of sundry sortes of seedes, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them partly for Cattell, and partly for hope, that though some of them fayle, yet some wyll gro••e. But here must you beware, lest you mingle not Winter Corne and Sommer Corne togea∣ther, for that were a great ouersight, and one of them must needes perishe. Some Barley may well be mingled with Oates or Buck, as well for brewing, as for feeding of cattell: and Tares

or other lyke Pulse may be myngled with Oates, as very good foode for beastes. They are to be fowed in tyme and place as I haue colde before, in my seuerall entreatyng of them.

RIGO.

You haue well satisfied me for Grayne and Corne, you may nowe (yf it please you) doo as much in Pulse.

CONO.

Pulse or Pedware,* 1.97 is called of the Greekes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the other partes of the fruites of the grounde: of these, there are sundry sortes as you haue seene of Corne: some put Millet, Pan∣nicle, and Sesanum, to this kind, because Columo••ll•• sometimes puts them in the number of Grayne, and sometime of Pulse: but I folowyng Plinie herein, doo put them amongest the kindes of Grayne, accountyng those to be Pulse, whose seedes are contey∣ned in coddes, as Beanes, Pease, Len••••es, Tares, Chy••hes, Fytches, and such lyke, which all are to be sowen in the Spring. Of all kinde of Pulse, the greatest honour is due to the Beane as Plinie witnesseth, as to a Pulse that is most commodious for man and beast.* 1.98 In Greeke it is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Italian and La∣tine Faba, in Spanishe Haua, in Frenche Feue, in Dutche Bonen. This amongest all other Pulse groweth in height w••thout any stay, it hath a thicke leafe, a creasted flowre of diuers colours, spotted white and blacke, whiche Varro calles the lamentable let∣ters, it hath a long Codde, his fruite within broade, lyke the nayle of a man, of diuers colours, it appeareth at the fyrst with many leaues lyke a Pease, and not with one alone lyke Wheate. It is sowed fyrst of all other Pulse in the Spring tyme as Virgil wyll haue it, and timely, because of Fabalia, whiche is the offall of the Beanes, for both the Coddes and the stalke, is a foode that cattel muche delightes in. Columella reporteth howe he heard a skilfull husband say, that he had rather haue the offall of Beanes timely sowed, then the Croppe of that which is ripe in three monethes, you must sowe them in the encrease of the Moone, and after once plowing. It is sayde, that yf they be enclosed in Goates doung and sowed, they wyll yeelde great encrease, and that the partes that are eaten or gnawne, in the encrease of the Moone wyll fyll vp agayne. If they be sowed neere to the rootes of Trees, they wyll kyll them. Some holde opinion, that yf they be steeped in Capons blood, they wyll be safe from all hurtfull weedes, and

that layde in water a day or two before they be sowen, they wyll growe the sooner. The Beane delighteth in riche and wel doun∣ged ground, as all other Pulse dooth: wette and lowe grounde it dooth not refuse, though all the rest desyre drye grounde, it way∣eth not weedyng, being able to ouergrowe them. Of all other Pulse it onely springeth with an vpryght stalke full of knottes, and hollowe. And where as all other Pulse are long in flowre, this flowreth longest, flowring fourtie dayes together, one stalke beginning when others end, and not all at one time as Wheate, they codde in sundry dayes, the lowest part of the stalke flowring fyrst, and so vpward styll in order. So fruitefull are they in some places, as you shall finde one stalke to beare a hundred Beanes. The Beanes sticke close to their Coddes, the blacke in theyr ••oppes, the Latines call Hilum, the Coddes Valuuli, the woormes that breede in them, Midae. Lomentum is the Meale which the peo∣ple in olde tyme dyd vse for the smoothing of their skinnes. Fresa Faba was the Beane that was but finally broken, and hulled••in the Myll. Refrina was that whiche they vsed to offer in sacrifyce for good lucke with their Corne. It is good to steepe your Beanes in the water of Saltpeeter, a day before you sowe them, you shall keepe them from Wyuels as (Palladius sayth) yf you geather them in the wane of the Moone, and cherishe them, and lay them vp before the encrease. Beanes, and all other Pulse doo mend the ground that they are sowen in. The next to Beanes in woorthynesse and sowyng is Pease,* 1.99 called in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Italian Pise, and Piselle, in Spanishe Aruera, in Frenche Pese, in Dutch Errettem, a Pulse that groweth with hollowe stalkes and full of branches lying vpon the grounde, many leaues and long, the Coddes rounde, conteyning in them round seedes and white: though Plinie wryte, that they be cornerd as Chych, of which sort we haue some at this day blewishe, with flowres in shape like the Butter••lye, purple coloured toward the middest. There are two sortes of Pease, the one sort coueteth to climbe aloft, and runneth vp vppon stickes, to whiche with little wynders he bindeth hym selfe, and is for the most part onely sowen in Gardens, the other sort groweth lowe, and creepeth vpon the grounde: both kindes are very good to be eaten, specially when they be young and ten∣der,

they must be sowen in warme groundes, for they can in no wyse away with colde: they are sowed eyther vppon fallowes, or rather in riche and yeerely bearing ground once plowed, and as all other Pulse, in a gentle and a mellowe moulde, the season be∣ing warme and moyst. Columella sayth, that ground is made very riche with them, if they be presently plowed, and the Culter turne in and couer that whiche the Hooke hath newely left. They are sowed among Sommer Corne, commonly with the fyrst. Fyrst Beanes, Pease, and Lentiles, then Tares, and Oates, as is sayde before. Pease and Tares must be sowen in March and A∣pril, and in the wane of the Moone, le••t they growe to ranke, and flowre out of order: where as the best sowing for all other Pulse and grayne, is in y^e encrease of the Moone. There are that count Pease to be the Pulse that the Greekes call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Latines Eruum, the Italians Eruo, the Spaniardes Yeruo, the Dutchmen Eruen, of which there are two kindes, the one white, the other red. The later is wylde, and groweth in Hedges and Corne feeldes: it is a small plant, hauyng his leaues narrowe and s••lender, his flowre eyther white, or medled with purple, growyng neere to∣geather like Pease, there is no great businesse about it, it deligh∣teth in a leane barren ground, not moyst, for it wyll be spilt with too muche rancknesse: it must be sowed before Marche, with which moneth it agreeth not, because it is then hurtfull vnto cat∣tell. Eruilia is a Pulse like smal Beanes, some white, some blacke, and others speckled: it hath a stalke like Pease, and climeth lyke a Hoppe, the Coddes are smoothe like Pescoddes: The leaues longer then the leaues of Beanes: the flowre is a pleasant foode to Bees. In Fraunce and Lumbardie it is called Dora, or Do∣rella, Phaseolus in Latine,* 1.100 in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 garden Sma∣lax, some call it Fasiolum, and Dolichium, among the Italians some call it Fagiuoli, some Smilace, de gli Horti, others Fagiuolo, Turcheses, others Lasanie, the Spaniardes call it Frisoles, the Frenchemen Fasioles, and Fales Pinceos, the Dutchmen Fas••len, or wyld Bonen. It is a kynde of Pulse, whereof there are white, redde, and yel∣lowe, and some specked with blacke spottes: the leaues are lyke Iuie leaues, but something tenderer, the stalke is s••lender, wyn∣dyng, with claspes about such-plantes as are next hym, runnyng

vp so hie, as you may make Herbers vnder hym, the coddes are longer then Fennigrecke, the Graynes within diuers coloured and fashioned lyke Kydneys: it prospereth in a fatte and a yeere∣ly bearyng ground, in Gardens, or where you wyll: and because it climeth aloft, there must be set by them poales or staues, from the whiche runnyng to the toppes, it climeth vppon Trees, ser∣uyng well for the shadowyng of Herbers and Summer hou∣ses. It is sowen of diuers from the Ides of October to the Ra∣lendes of Nouember in some places, and with vs in Marche. It flowreth in Sommer, the meate of them is but indifferent, the iuyce not very good, the Coddes and the Graynes are eaten to∣geather, or lyke Sperage. The Iewes sell them at Rome pre∣serued, to be eaten rawe. Lens and Lenticula, in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.101 in Italian Lendi iae bon maenastre, in Spanishe Lenteza, in Frenche Lentilla, in Duch Linsen, is a Pulse very thicke and bus∣shy, with leaues lyke the Tare, with three or foure very small Graynes in euery Codde, of all Pulses the least, they are soft and flatte. The white ones for theyr pleasauntnesse are the best, and such as are aptest to seethe and consume most water in their boylyng. It is sowen with vs in Germanie in March and in A∣pril, the Moone encreasyng, in mellowe ground, being riche and drye: yet Plinie would rather haue the ground leane then riche, and the season drye: it flowreth in Iuly, at whiche tyme by ouer muche rancknesse and moysture, it soone corrupteth. Therefore to cause it quickely to spring and wel to prosper, it must be ming∣led with drye doung before it be sowen: and when it hath lyen so mingled foure or fyue dayes, it must be cast into the grounde. It groweth hy•• (as they say) when it is wette in warme water and Saltpeter before it be sowen, & wyl neuer corrupt being sprinck∣led with Bengwin and Uineger. Varro wylleth, that you sowe it from the fiue and twentieth day of the Moone to the thirtieth, so shall it be safe from Snayles. And Columella affyrmeth, that yf it be mingled with Asshes, it w••ll be safe from all annoyance. Cicer in Latine,* 1.102 in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Italian Ceci, Cicere Rosso, and Cicere b••ance, in Spanishe Ganrangos, in Frenche Chiche, and in Dutch Cicererbs, is a busshy kynde of Pulse, hauyng a rounde Codde, and therein a couple of three cornered seedes, whereof

there are that make three kindes, whyte, read, and blacke, diffe∣rin•• onely in the colour of theyr flowre: the best kinde hath a sti••••e stalke, crooked, little leaues indented, a whyte, a purple, or a blacke flowre. And wheras other Pulse haue their coddes long and brode, according to their seede, this beareth them rounde: it delighteth in a blacke and a riche moulde, is a great spoyler of land, and therefore not good for newe broken vp ground: it may be sowen at any time, in March, in rayny weather, and in very riche ground: the seede must be steeped in water a day before it be sowen, to the end it may spring the sooner: it flowreth in Iune and Iuly, and then falleth to seede: it flowreth a very long while, and is geathered the fourth day, being rype in a very short tyme: when it is in flowre, of all other Pulse it receyueth harme by rayne: when it is rype it must be geathered out of hande, for it scattereth very soone, and lyeth hid when it is fallen. In the chych there neuer breedeth any worme, contrary to all Pulse else: and because it dryueth away Caterpillers, it is counted good to be set in Gardens. Cicercula in Latine,* 1.103 in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Ita∣lian Cicerse, in Spanish Cizerche, it differeth from the Chych, on∣ly in that it is somewhat blacker, which Plinie accounteth to haue vneauen corners as Pease hath: and in many places about vs, they vse them in steede of Pease, esteeming them farre aboue Peason: for they both yeeld more flowre then Pease, & is lighter of digestion, and not so subiect to wormes. Columella countes it ra∣ther in the ••umber of Fodder for cattell, then of Passe for man: in which number are these that followe. And ••ir••t Vici•• in Latine,* 1.104 in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Dutch VVycken, in Frenche Vessae, so called as Varro thinkes of wynding, because it hath 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or claspes as the Uine hath, wherby it clymeth vpon such st••lkes as growe next it: it groweth halfe a y••rde hie, le••••••ed like Tyutare, s••u••ng that they be something narrower, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 like the ••lowre of Pease, hauing little bl••cke seedes in 〈◊〉〈◊〉, nor altogether: ounde, but bro••e like the L••ntell: it re••uired above ground, though it w••l also grow wel yenough in shadowye places, or ••any ground with small labour, being not trou••le come to the 〈…〉〈…〉 it requireth but once plowing, and s••••keth for 〈…〉〈…〉 ••or doung••ng, but ••nricheth the lande of it se••••e, specially if ••he

grounde be plowed when the crop is of, so that the Stalkes may be turned in: for otherwise the Rootes and Stalkes re∣mayning, doo sucke out the goodnesse of the ground: yet Cato would haue it sowen in grassie ground, not watrishe, and in newe broken vp ground after the d••awe be gone, & the moysture dryed vp with the Sunne and the Winde. You must beware that you sowe no more, then you m••y wel couer the same day: for the ••east deawe in the world dooth spoyle it. Neither must you sowe them before the Moone be 24. dayes olde, otherwise the Snayle will deuoure it: his tyme of sowing is, as Plinie writeth, at the setting of the Starre called the Berward, that it may serue to feede in December: the seco••d sowing is in Ianuarie: the last, in March. In Germanie they vse to sowe them in March or Aprill, chiefly for fodder for the••r cattell. To sowe Tares, and as Plinie sayth Beanes, in not broken vp grounde without l••sse, is a great peece of husbandry: they flowre in Iune, at which tyme they are very good of skowre horses: it is good to ••aye them vp in the codde, and to keepe them to serue Cattell withall. Tares & Oates make a good meslyne sowed together. Lupinus in Latin,* 1.105 in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Italian and French almost as in Latin, in Spanish Altramuz, in Dutch Roomsche Boouen, is a Pulse ha∣uing one onely stalke, the leafe tagged in fiue diuisions like a starre, the flowre white, the coddes tagged, & indented about, ha∣uing within them ••iue or sixe seedes hard, brode, & red, the leaues thereof doo fal. This pulse requireth least trouble, and is of smal p••ice, and yet most helpeth the grounde of any thing that is sowen: for there can be no better manuring for barrayne Uine∣yardes and Corne ••eeldes then this, which eyther vpon barrayne ground prospereth, or kept in the Garner, endureth a wonderfull w••yle: being sodden and layd in water, it feedeth Oxen in Win∣ter very well, and in tyme of dearth (as Columella sayth) ser∣ueth men to asswage their hunger: it prospereth in sandy and grauelly gro••ndes, in the worst land that may be: neyther loueth i•• to haue any labour bestowed vpon it, nor weyeth the goodnesse of the ground. So fruitfull it is, as if it be cast among Bushes and Br••er, yet will it roote and prosper: it refuseth both Har∣rowing and Raking, & is not anoyed with Weedes, but killeth

the weedes about it. If doung be wantyng to mende the ground withall, this serues the turne aboue all other: for being sowed and turned in with the Plowe, it serueth the turne in steede of dounging: it is sowed timeliest of all other, and reaped last: it is sowed before all other Pulse, a little after Haruest: couer it how sclenderly you wyll, it careth not, an excellent good seede for an euyll husbande: yet desyreth it the warmth of Aut••me, that it may be well rooted before Winter come, for otherwyse the colde is hurtfull vnto it. It flowreth thryse, fyrst in May, then agayne in Iune, and last in Iuly: after euery flowryng it beareth his codde. Before it flowreth, they v••e to put in Cattel: for where as they wyll feede vpon all other grasse or weedes, onely this for the bitternesse thereof whyle it is greene, they leaue vntouched. Be∣ing dryed, it serueth for sustenaunce both of man and beast: to cat∣tel it is geuen medled with Chaffe, and for bread for mans vse: it is mingled with Wheate flowre, or Barley flowre: it is good to keepe it in a smokie loaft, for yf it lye moyst, it is eaten of l••ttle woormes and spoyled. The leafe keepeth course and turneth with the Sunne, whereby it sheweth to the husbande, euen in cloudie weather, what time of the day it is. Fenú grecum in Latine,* 1.106 in Greeke with Theophrastus and others 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, with Dioscorides 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, of others 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Frenche Fenegres, and Fenigrent in Italian, Faenigraeco in Spanishe, Al••oluas in Dutche, sometime by the Latine name, and commonly Ro∣herne and Lockshorne, commeth vp with a small stalke, the leefe lyke a Threeleaued grasse, it is sowed well in a sclender barrayne ground, you must take heede you plowe it thicke, and not very deepe: for yf the seede be couered aboue foure fyngers thicke, it wyll very hardly growe. Therefore the grounde must be tyld with small Plowes, and the seede presently couered with Rakes. There are two sortes of it, the one called of the common people Siliqua or code, whiche they sowe for fodder in Sep••em∣ber, the other in Ianuarie, or the beginnyng of Februarie: when they sowe it for seede, it flowreth in Iune and Iuly, when also it beareth his codde, but the seede is not ripe t••ll August: it is dressed to be eaten after the order of Lupines, with vineger, wa∣ter and salt, some put to a little oyle: it is vsed both for fodder,

and diuers other vses. Furthermore, of Pulse called of Gelliu•• Le••ament•• we haue these generall rules, that they al beare coddes, and haue single rootes euery one, except the Beane, the Chich growyng deepest. The stalke of the Bean•• and the Lupine is al∣so single, the others are all fall o•• branches and selender slippes, and all hollowe. All Pulse for the most part are to be sowed in the Spring and req••ire very r••che ground••, except the Lupine, that c••res not where he lyes: they are all sowen in the encrease of the Moone, except Pease: yf they be watred be••ore their sow∣ing, they prosper the better: they are speedily to be geathered when they be ripe, for they suddaynely shatter: they wyll endure longest, being ge••thered in the change of the Moone. It is much to be regarded whether you wyl keepe or sell them, for the seedes in the encrease of the Moone doo waxe greater, the••e are that pre∣serue them in earth••n vesse••es, str••wyng asshes vnder them, and sprinckling them with Uineger: some vse asshes alone, other so••e 〈…〉〈…〉 sprinckle them with Bergewine vineger, as I haue saide of the Lin••yll. Moreouer, the Greekes haue wylled to mingle with t••e doung a little Saltp••ter when you sowe them, wher••by they shall the better seethe and be the tenderer: and yf they be not presently ••ender, they wyll to cast into the pot a little Mustard see••e, whiche wyll make them straightway well. Theo∣phrastus addeth diuers thinges beside, whiche were to long to tell.

RIGO.

Is ••t needefull or euery husbandman to sowe all these Gra••ne and Pul••e in h••s ground?

CONO.

No, but as I ••aide before, in speaking of grounde and seede, you must cheefely sowe suche as best agree with the nature of your grounde: howe be it, there are some of them that refuse no grounde. There are certayne of them as Varro sayth, that are not sowen for present necessitie, but for other after∣turnes. And others agayne that are of necessitie to be sowen, as Corne for man, and Fodder for cattell: of whiche must speciall care he had, that there be no 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of them, without which we can not ••iue: as Rye, Otes, and Buck, Lupines and certayne Pulse els for fodder, refuse no grounde, though it be neuer so barren. Besides,* 1.107 when as the husband must not onely haue a care of pro∣uiding such as serue for the sustenaunce of man, but also for suche

as serue for the feeding of poore cattell, without whiche the grounde can not be husbanded: therefore must he sowe P••lse for the vse of man and beast, and fodder in more abundance for the sustenaunce of bea••tes. Amongst all sortes of fodder, that is counted for the cheefe and the best, which the people of olde time•• and the Italians at this day call Medica,* 1.108 some call it Treefoyle, the Frenche men cal it Grand ••rest••, the Spaniardes ••lfals••, others call it Burgandie grasse, because it was brought in by the Bur∣gundians, it is nowe also come into Germanie, and there called Welsholken, in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Plinie wryteth, that it was brought by the Romanes out of Media into Italy, differing al∣most nothing from Tryfolly or Threeleaued grasse: but that it is gr••••ter, higher, and rancker, for in stalke, leafe, and flowre, it is all one, it groweth altogeather busshing in leaues. In the toppe of the st••lke it putteth foorth short coddes, writhen lyke hornes indented about, and hauing as it were little prickles, wherein is the seede shaped like a Moone, and growyng to the codde in bignesse as the Lentyl: which being chawed, tasteth like Pe••se: euery codde hath his seede, it requireth a fatte grounde withou•• stones, full of iuyce and riche: in many places it com∣meth not vp, in others it springeth very thicke. Varro geueth charge, that it be not sowed in too drye a grounde or tyckle, but in good and well seasoned. Plinie would haue the grounde be drye and very riche, Columella biddeth, that the feelde where this Me∣dica shalbe sowed, should be broken vp about October, and so to lye mellowyng al the Winter, and then to stirre it in Februarie, and the stones cast out, to harrowe it well, and after in Marche to order it garden wyse, castyng it into beddes, euery bedde ten foote broade, and fyftie in length, so that they may be easily w••∣tred, and of euery side well weeded: then laying on good olde doung, let it lye tyll Apryl, and at the ende of April sowe it in such proportion, as euery handful of seede may occupie fyue foote in breadth, and ten in length: and couer the seede out of hand, ra∣king them with woodden Rakes, for the Sunne wyl soone burne them. After it is sowen, that it come vp an inche in heyght, you must beware you touche not the grounde with any iron instru∣ment, but eyther with your yngers, or with Rakes of wood,

weede it well from all other noysome thinges, otherwise it wyll growe wylde and turne to pasture. Let the fyrst haruest be long deferred, to the ende he may somewhat shed his seedes: at other tymes you may mowe it as soone as you w••l, and geue it to your cattell. Suche as are skilfull in husbandry, doo say, that yf you mingle Otes with the seede of Medica, and sowe them, they wyll cause them to stocke very well: it is sowed in April or later, in May, to scape the frostes, and the seede is cast in lyke sort as Wheate is. When it beginneth to branche, al other weedes must be weeded away: and being this ordred, you may mowe it sixe tymes a yeere. It flowreth sixe times, or at the least fiue times, so it be not cut. When you haue mowed it, water it well, and as it springeth, weede it agayne. And thus as I sayde, you may mowe it sixe times a yeere, and it shall thus continue ten yeeres togeather: it enricheth the ground, all poore and feeble cattel, are soone brought vp with it: it likewyse healeth cattell that are di∣seased: but when it fyrst springeth, tyl cattell be acquainted with it, you must geue them but little at once, lest the strangenesse of the foode hurt them: for it maketh them to swell, and breedeth great abundance of blood. Columella wryteth, that one acre of it wyll well fynde three Horses a yeere. In some Countreyes this hearbe dooth growe in great plentie in euery Meddowe, eyther of the nature of the grounde, or through the disposition of the heauens, and sometime the relikes of that whiche ••ath been long agoe sowen, dooth yeerely spring of the seede that falleth, and ouergrowen with grasse & weedes, dooth change into meddowe. I see no cause but that it may growe of it selfe, but that perhaps suche plantes as are brought out of strange Countreys requyre sowyng and dressing: it is best to be mowed when it beginneth to flowre, for it must not be suffered to seede, whereby the fodder shall be the better: whiche being well layde vp, wyll continue in goodnesse three yeeres, to the great profite of the Grasier, for as I haue sayde before, there can be no better fodder deuised for cat∣tell, wherewith they wyll better feede, and sooner ryse. The next in goodnesse in this Medica is Cytisus,* 1.109 woonderfully as Plinie wry∣teth commended of Aristomachus, and as Vergil sayth, a good fod∣der for Sheepe, and beyng drye, a delightfull foode to Swyne:

it may be mooued sundry times in the yeere, to the great commo∣ditie of the husband: a little whereof dooth soone fatte vp cattell, neither is there any other grasse that yeeldeth eyther more abun∣dance or better mylke, the most soueraine medicine for the sick∣nes••e o•• cattell that may be: b••side, the Philosophers promise, that Bees wyll neuer fayle that haue this grasse growyng neare them: therefore it is necessarie to haue your grounde stored with it, as the thing that best serueth fo•• Poultrie and Cattell: the leaues and seedes are to be geuen to leane and drouping Pullen: some call it Telinen, some Trefoyle, some great Melilot, the Ro∣manes call it Trifolu maius, great Tras••e, it is a plant al hearie and whytishe, as Rhamnus is, hauing branches halfe a yarde long and more, wherevpon groweth leaues lyke vnto Fenygreeke or Cla∣uer, but something lesse, hauyng a ry••yng crest in the middest of them. This plant was fyrst founde in the Ilande Cythno, and from thence spread throughout the Cyclads, and so to Greece, wher∣by the store of Cheese came to be great: neyther is there any Countrey at this day, where they may not haue great plentie (as Columella sayth) of this shrubbe. In Italy it groweth about the encl••syars of Uineyardes, it shr••nketh neyther for heate, colde, frost, nor snowe: it requireth good groude, yf the weather be very drye, it must be watred, and when it fyrst springes well har∣rowed after three yeeres, you may cut it downe and geue it your cattell. Va••ro woulde haue it sowen in well ordred ground, as the seede of Colwoortes should be, and after remooued and set a foote and a halfe a sunder, or els to be set of the slippes. The tyme of sowyng of Cytisus is eyther in Autume, or in the spryng, in ground well plowed and layde out in be••des: yf you want the seede, you may take the slippe, so that you set them foure foote a sunder, and a bancke cast about them with earth well dounged: you may also set them before September, when they wyll very well growe and abyde the colde in Winter: it lasteth but three yeere. Colu∣mella hath two kindes of Cytisus, one wylde, the other of the Gar∣den. The wylde dooth with his claspers feede very well: it wyn∣deth about, and killes his neighbours as the Iuie dooth: it is founde in Cornefeeldes, specially amongst Barley, the flowre thereof is lyke the flowre of Pease, the leafe yf it be bruysed, smel∣leth

like Rocke••, and being champ••d in the mouth, it tasteth like Chyche, or Pease. There is an other kinde of fodder among the plantes, vnknowen to y^e old wryters, very good to feede both cat∣tel & Poultrye. I know not whether it be knowen in other Coun∣treys beside Germanie, the common people call it Spury, or Sperie:* 1.110 it h••th a stalke a foote in height or more, busshed foorth in mans branches, it hath a whyte flowre without any leafe: the flowre endeth in little knoppes as Flaxe hath, conteynyng in them a very little seede like Rape seede. They are much deceiued that take it for Cytisus, when that (as Dioscorides sayth) hath leaues like Fenugreeke, and this is altogeather without leaues: neither is the seede any thing like, though the vse be almost one. The best Milke and Butter in Germanie, commeth of this fee∣ding: wherefore it is esteemed almost as good as Barley, or o∣ther grayne: the strawe is better then any Heye: the Chaffe fee∣deth as well as any Graynes: the seede feedeth Pigeons and Poultrie in Winter passing well: it is sowed in sandie and light groundes all the Sommer long, and some sowe it in Spring time with Oates for the seede sake: in Autume and Haruest time it is sowed to feede Cattell: it is profitable for husbandes that dwell in sandy and grauelly Countreys, wherefore they shoulde neuer be without good store of it, for Hennes, Bees, Goates, Sheepe, Oxen, and all kinde of Cattell delight very muche in it: nowe remayneth the sowyng of Flaxe and Hempe.

RIGO.

I looke for it.

CONO.

These, although they be not to be receiued in the number of Corne nor Pulse, Fodder nor Hearbes, yet is there great account to be made of them with y^e husbandmans thinges, without whiche no house can be furnished, nor man wel apparel∣led: whiche being beaten to a sof••nesse, serueth for webbes of Linnen, and twysting of Cordes: and more, of t••is so little a seede dooth spring that, which (as Plinie sayth) carrieth the whole worlde hether and thether, that bryngeth Egypt to Italy, and carryeth vs from Cales of Ostia in seuen dayes.* 1.111 Linum in Latine, in Greeke, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Italian and S••••nishe Lino, in French Dulin, in Dutch almost like, ••auing that they call the seede Lyn and the plant Flaxe, is a very common hearbe, wherewith women

are set a woorke: it hath a sclender stalke, not muche vnlike to Sperie, but that it groweth higher a litle, & bigger, with nar∣row leaues, & long blewe flowres in the top, which falling away, leaueth behinde them little round knoppes as bigge as a Pease, wherin are enclosed yellowe seedes: it delighteth in rich ground and somewhat moyst, some sowe it in barrayne grounde: after once plowyng, it is sowed in the Spring, and geathered in som∣mer. In Gelderland and Gulicke, where there is great store of it, they sowe it about the beginnyng of May: there are agayne that obserue three seasons for the sowyng of it, as the weather shall fall out, for it requireth rayne and moysture: the ripenesse of it, is perceiued by the waxing yellowe, and swelling of the knoppes that holde the seede, being then plucked vp and made in little bundels, it is dryed in the Sunne, the rootes standyng vp∣warde that the seede may fall out. Some vse agayne to carde of the knoppes with an iron Combe, and drying them in the Sunne to geather the seede. The bundels afterwardes are layde in wa∣ter heated with the Sunne, with some wayght vppon them to keepe them downe: the rynde waxing loose, sheweth when they haue been steeped yenough. Then the bundels vnloosed and dry∣ed in the Sunne, are beaten with beetelles, when as the vtter rynde is pilled of, and combed and hacked vpon an iron combe: the more wrong it suffereth, the better doth it prooue: the Towe is seuered from the Flaxe, and appoynted for his vse, so are they seuerally spon vpon the Distaffe, made vp in bottomes, and sent to the Weauers, whereof are wouen webbes, to the great com∣moditie of al men. Last of all, the webbe is layde out in the hotte Sunne, and sprinckled with water, whereby it is brought to a passing whitenesse. It may be remembred, that not long since the women of Germanie knewe no costlyer attyre. The best Flaxe that is at this day, is brought from Moscouia, Liuonia, and those Countreys, farre excelling ours in heyght and goodnesse. Ex∣cept there be great encrease of it, & price in the Countrey where you dwel, Columella would not haue you meddle with the sowing of it, for it is most hurtfull to the ground, as Virgil hath noted.

Flaxe, vvhere he grovves dooth burne the feelde, The lyke dooth Oates and Poppey yeelde.

And therefore (but that women must haue something to occupie theyr handes withall) it were more profite to sowe the grounde with corne, and to bye linnen abrode, especially yf you way the hart of your grounde, and the charges of the makyng. Hempe, in Latine Canubis,* 1.112 in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Italian Canabe, in Spanishe Cannamo, in Frenche Chamura, and in Dutch Haueph, is a plant of the Reedishe kinde, hauing a very strong sauour: it groweth with a single stalke, and many times to suche a heyght, that it matcheth with indifferent Trees: it is of great necessitie for the vse of man, and serueth both for makyng of Canuisse, and framing of Ropes: the stalke hath many knottes, out of whiche proceedeth branches with narrowe leaues indented and sharpe. Dioscorides describeth both the wylde Hempe, and the Garden Hempe to haue leaues lyke the Ashe, hollowe stalkes, a stinkyng sauour, and rounde seede. There are two kindes of it, the Male, that is without floure, and beareth a seede of sundry colours: and the Female, that, to recompence her barrennesse, dooth yeelde a white flowre: it is sowed in Gardens, Orchardes, or other goo•• grounde (as Plinie would haue it) after a Southwest wind: with vs it is sowen in the ende of April, for it can not away with cold: some sowe it at the rysing of the starre called the Berward, which is at the ende of Februarie, or the beginning of March: it loueth ri••che grounde well dounged and watred, and deepe plowed: it is noughty sowing of it in raynie weather, the thicker you sowe it, the tenderer it wyll be, and therefore many times it is sowen thryse, though some there be that appoynt to euery foote square sixe seedes. The Female or fyrble Hempe is fyrst pulled vp, af∣terward the Male, or the Carle, when his seede is ripe, is pluc∣ked vp, and made vp in bundels, layde in the Sunne for three or foure dayes, and after is cast into the water, with weyght layd vpon him for eyght or tenne dayes, tyll he be sufficiently watred, and as Flaxe, tyll the Rynde waxe loose: then taken out, it is dryed with the Sunne, and after broken in the Brake, and then combed and hacked for Yarne and Ropes. Of Hempe, are made Cables, Cordes, Nettes, and Sayles for Shippes, garmentes for Labourers, Shertes, and Sheetes: the Shales or Stalkes serue for the heating of Ouens, or kyndeling of Fyres.

RIGO.

In the Countrey of Gulicke, and some partes of Fraunce, I remember I haue seene an hearbe planted of the common people with great diligence, that serueth as they sayd for Dyars.

CONO.

You say true, that hearbe Cesar in his Comentaries of the warres of Fraunce,* 1.113 calleth Glastum, in Greeke 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Italian Gnado, in Spanishe Pastel, in Frenche with the com∣mon sort Guadum, and Guesde, in Dutch VVeyt, the Dyars doo vse it, and with them it is greatly esteemed, and great gayne aryseth thereof vnto the people of Gelderland, Iulyes, and Turyn, and diuers Countreys els: the leaues as Plinie wryteth, are lyke vn∣to Dock leaues. Dioscorides wryteth of two kindes, the wyld, and the Garden Woade, saying, that the Garden Woade whiche Dyars vse, hath leaues lyke Plantayne, but something thicker, and the wylde, leaues lyke Lentyll, with yellowe flowres: with this hearbe Cesar sayth the people of Englande were woont to paynt theyr faces and bodyes, to seeme more terrible to theyr enimies: it requireth lyke sowyng and soyle as Wheate dooth: but it is a great soker of the grounde, and muche hurteth it: it woulde haue a very riche and a fatte grounde, and well dygged: for the grounde were better to be turned vp with Spades then with Plowes for the sowyng of this Plant, and it must be very well weeded. It is sowed in Gelderland in April, and after the common peoples rule, in Easter wecke: at the first f••llowing they marle the grounde, after sowe it: you must be very heede∣full in the weedyng of it. When it is growen a handfull hye and more, they suffer it not to flowre, but with an instrument for the purpose, they cut it close by the roote, washe it, and carry it to the Myll, and suffering it to growe agayne, they cut it three or foure times, and so leaue it to seede. The greene hearbe they grinde in Milles like Apple Milles, pressing it, til they get out al the iuyce thereof, then roule they it vp with their handes in rounde balles, and so laye it vpon boorded floores to be dryed.

RIGO.

You haue greatly delighted me, in describing vnto me the order of sowyng of seedes, without whiche, not onely the people of the Countrey, but also the Courtiar and Citizen are not able to liue: my desyre is nowe to vnderstande the order of Har∣uest,

the Countrey mans long looked for tyme, and the reward of all his toyle.

CONO.

* 1.114I wyl proceede in the accomplishing of your request. When the Corne is ripe, before it be scorched with the great heate of the Sunne (whiche is most extreame at the rysyng of the lesser Dogge) it is to be cut downe out of hande: for de∣lay herein is daungerous. Fyrst, because that birdes, and other vermine wyll deuoure it: and agayne, both the Grayne and the Eare, the toppe and the strawe being brittell and ouer drye, wyl soone fall to the ground: yf storme or tempest chaunce to aryse, the greatest part thereof wyll to the grounde, and therefore it must not be lingred, but when it dooth looke yellowe in euery place, and before that the Grayne be thorowe hard, when they come to looke reddishe, you must then haue it in, that it may ra∣ther waxe in the Barne then in the Feelde. Experience teacheth, that yf it be cutte downe in due time, the seede wyll growe in fulnesse as it lyeth in the Barne: for the Moone encreasyng, the Corne growes greater: at the chaunge, you must geather such seede, as you woulde should be least fautie. Varro sayth, that the best tyme for Haruest, is betwixt the Sunnestay, and the Dogge dayes: for the Corne they say, dooth lye in the blade .xv. dayes, flowreth .xv. dayes, and ripeth in .xv. dayes. Amongst Grayne & Pulse, the fyrst that is to be geathered, is Rape seede.* 1.115 And because the seede, when the cod beginneth to waxe yellowe, declareth ripenesse, it must be geathered out of hand: and sythe the seede wyll easyly skatter, it must be layde eyther in playne smoothe places in the Feelde, or vpon Canuasse: and yf it be pre∣sently to be carryed, the Wayne or Cart must be lyned with sheetes, lest with iogging and tottring of the carryage, the seede fall thorowe. You must take good heede as well here, as in all other Pulse, that you preuent the rayne, for the rayne falling, the coddes doo open. As soone as your Rape seede is of, yf the grounde be plowed, you may sowe Bucke, or Branke as they call it: so that of one peece of ground in one yeere, you may make two haruestes. Next vnto Rape haruest in these Countreys, fol∣loweth the haruest of Winter Barley,* 1.116 whiche is to be dispatched before the seede (the Eare being ouer dryed) doo fall, for they

haue not huskes to conteyne them as Wheate hath, & the Eares being brittel, wyll soone fall: yet some thinke it best to let the Barley lye a whyle in the Feelde, whereby they thinke the Grayne wyll waxe the greater. Then foloweth the Hempe har∣uest. But fyrst (as I sayde before) the Fymble or the Female,* 1.117 is pulled, and is dryed a whyle in the Sunne, then (bounde vp in bundels) it is throwen into the water, and kept downe with some weyght, that it swimme not aboue. After lykewyse the Male, the ••eede declaryng his ripenesse is pulde vp, and the seede beyng threasshed out, it is cast into the water, tyll the stalke be softe: after, beyng dryed in the Sunne, it is made vp in bundels to be knockt and shaled in Winter euenynges. Rye is to be mowed in Iune or Iuly, and after that, Wheate.* 1.118 No better rule, then before the Grayne be hard, and when it hath changed colour. An olde Prouerbe (as Plinie sayth) it is better to haue in haruest two dayes to soone, the•• three dayes to late. In Rye there is not suche seare in scattering as in Wheate, whiche as soone as it is ripe, wyll shedde with euery wynde. Wherefore good heede must be taken, that you linger not with Wheate after it is ripe: although Plinie affyrmeth, that Wheate wyll haue greater yeelde when it standes long: but surely deferring of it is daungerous, as well for the deuouryng of Byrdes and Uermine, as for shat∣tring and fallyng of the seede through storme and weather: as the proofe was seene in the great wyndes that were in the yeere of our redemption .1567. Then foloweth the haruest of Pease, Beanes,* 1.119 Tares, and Lentyles, accordyng as they are tymely sowed, wherein you must take heede, as I warned you before in Rape seede, that they lye not abrode in the rayne: for yf they doo, they wyll open and loose their seede. Last of all, commeth the haruest of the other sommer seedes, as of Barley, Pannicle, Myllet, and Oates. It is founde by experience, that rayne is good for Oates after they be downe: for it causeth them to swell and to be fuller, and to that ende they are left in the Feelde many times two or three weekes after they be downe.

RIGO.

What order haue you in your reaping?

CONO.

There are diuers sortes of reaping,* 1.120 accordyng to the maner of euery Countrey. Some with Sy••hes, which differ also

as the woorke requires. In this Countrey we vse three sortes of Corne Sythes, for eyther we haue a Sythe like a Syckle, which holden in the ryght hande, they cutte the strawe close by the grounde, and haue in the leaft hande a long hooke, wherewith they pull togeather that, that they haue cut, and laye it in heapes: and in this sort Wheate and Rye, and suche Grayne as hath the sturdiest strawe, is reaped. In other places, as in Iulis, where the grounde being very ritche, the Corne groweth higher and ranc∣ker, there they holde their leaft hande full of Corne, and with the ryght hand with t••othed Syckles they cut it, leauing the strawe vnder their handes long, to helpe the grounde withall. In other places they vse a greater Sythe with a long Suath, and fence•• with a crooked frame of stickes, wherwith with both their hands they cut downe the Corne, and laye it in Swathes as they doo Grasse when they mowe it, and with that they mowe the higher sortes of Cor••e. Varro, and Columella, and other, doo tell of sundry other sortes of reaping. Palladius teacheth, beside the labour of men, a shorter way to be doone with an Oxe, that shall in short tyme cut downe all that groweth, whiche was woont to be vsed in Fraunce. The deuise was, a lowe kinde of Carre with a couple of wheeles, and the Frunt armed with sharpe Syckles, whiche forced by the beast through the Corne, did cut downe al before it. This tricke might be vsed in leuell and champion Countreys: but with vs it woulde make but ilfauoured woorke. In reapyng, you must regarde to goe with the wynde: for yf you woorke a∣gaynst the wynde, it wylbe hurtfull as (Xenophon sayth) both to your eyes and your handes. If the strawe be but short, you must goe neerer the grounde: yf it be long, you may put your Syckles to the middest to dispatche it the sooner, and to make it thresshe the better: and the stabble vpon the grounde must eyther, accor∣dyng to Virgils rule be burnt, or rotte vppon the grounde for the bettryng of the land. Some preserue that whiche is longest, to ••hatche Barnes, Stables, and Countrey Cottages withall. And where Hay is scant, it serueth for foddring of Cattell: for Barley strawe is a foode that Bullockes loue wel, and beside, al kinde of strawe, is good to litter withall. When the Corne is downe, it is presently to be bounde in sheaues: although Barley,

Oates, and other Corne and Pulse is made vp in Coppes and Ryckes, but not without hurt and hazarde. The Corne beyng cut, is not to be had into the Barne presently, but to be let drye, accordyng to the nature of euery Grayne and Pulse: for yf it be carryed in before it be through drye, it corrupteth and rot∣teth. Oates and Buck, are longest left abroade, as also Len∣tyles, Pease, and Pulse: because they are longest in drying. Wheate may soonest be carryed, yf it be not mingled with too many weedes, that hynder the drying of it. When haruest is in, the grounde must out of hand be plowed, both to kyll the weedes, and to make it the meeter for the next sowyng. The Corne cutte downe and drye,* 1.121 is to be layde eyther in Barnes, Houels, or Stacks, and after in Winter to be trode out with beastes, or thresshed out with Flayles, and to be clensed with Fannes.

RIGO.

In Italy they vse to treade out their Corne with Cat∣tell, the lyke reporteth Xenophon of the Greekes.

CONO.

I haue seene it mee selfe, where they rather take Horse then Oxen, and that time they also wynnowe their Corne, thinking the Southwest wynde to be best for that purpose: but to stay for that, Columella thinketh but the part of a smal husband.

RIGO.

I see you haue very large Barnes, what order obserue you in the building of them?

CONO.

You must so set your Barne,* 1.122 that the Corne may be well brought into it, and see it be very close on euery side, leauing open a space for twoo doores, a fore doore and a backe doore, but so, as neyther of them open to the West, but rather North and East, and at both sides of the floore bestowe your Corne in seue∣rall tasses and moowes, so that you may easyly come to euery one at your pleasure. And though the Corne be laide vpon Battes in the floores, yet let there be a space left in the middest, that may be open to the very toppe, that you may fetche what sort you list to be thresshed. In some places they haue a Pully in the mid∣dest, wherewith they hoyse vp the Corne to the very Rafters of the house. In Holland they haue fewe close Barnes, but all ho∣uels and stackes, so placed with hanging rooffes vppon postes, that with pinnes and wynches, they may heyghten it, or let it downe as they list.

RIGO.

Those kynde of Barnes they say, are not so subiect to Myse and Rattes, nor so chargeable as the other.

CONO.

Howe so euer the Barne be, you must place it as hie as you may, least y^e Corne be spoyled with moysture or dampes. Some thinke it better for them to be thatched then tiled: the largenesse must be according to y^e greatnesse of your occupying. Some to the ende Cattes and Weesels may the better come by, they doo vaute the floore with Bryckes, and laying rafters there∣on, doo lay on their Corne. The floore must be fayre and smoothe made, so as the Corne may be well threasshed or troden out. Co∣lumella woulde haue the floore faire paued with Flint or Stone, whereby the Corne wyll the sooner be threasshed, and the floore not hu••t with beatyng and trampling of Oxen: and when it is fande or wynnowed, it wyll not be full of grauell and durt, as the earthen floores yeelde. But we content our selues with our earthen floores, wel made and of good earth, mixed with a little Chaffe, and the groundes of oyle: for this preserueth the Corne from Myse and Emets. You must make it very eeuen and leauel, and after it is mingled with Chaffe, let it be wel troden, & so suf∣fered to drye. You must keepe also from it Beastes and Poultry, whiche with tramplyng and skraping wyll make it rugged and vneuen. When the floore is drye, the Corne layde on it, is beaten out with Flayles & cleaned with Fannes, though in some place they rather lyke to tread it out with Oxen, and to wynnowe it af∣ter the olde fashion with the winde.

RIGO.

Well syr, when you haue thus threasshed your Corne, what wayes haue you to keepe it from Wyuels?

CONO.

The Garners, or Corne loftes, wherein your Corne thus threasshed and cleansed shalbe layde,* 1.123 must stande hye, that they may be blowen through with the Easterne and Northerne windes, to whiche no moysture from the places adioynyng must be suffered to come: for y^e quarters of the Heauen that are coldest and dryest, doo both preserue Corne the longest. In Spayne and Apulia beyng hotte Countreys, the wynde is not onely let in on the sydes by wyndowes, but also at the bottome by grates. Some agayne preserues it in vautes vnder the graunde, where the drye earth dooth cherishe such fruites as she hath brought foorth, vsed

as Varro sayth, in Spayne and Garthage: a••d in our dayes we vse to keepe both Wine and Grayne in suche vaultes. In Coun∣treys that are very wette and watrishe, it is better to make them in Garrettes as hie as may be, hauing good regarde that it be well walled and floored. Moreouer, where as Corne is subiect to Wyuels and Uermine, except it be very safely laide vp, it wyll soone be consumed:* 1.124 therefore you must make with Clay ming∣led in steade of strawe with heare, then ouercast it within and without with white Potters Claye, last of all, steepe the rootes and leaues of wylde Cucumbers in water two dayes, and with that water, and Lime, and Sand, make plaister, and washe therewithall the walles within: albeit Plinie countes Lyme as hurtfull a thing as may be for Corne. Some mingle with Lyme the vryne of Cattell, as a thing that wyll destroy Wyuels, or the leaues of Houseleeke, of Wormewood, or Hoppes: but specially yf you haue it, there is nothing so good to destroy all suche Uer∣mine, as the dregges and bottome of Oyle: some vse in the steade therof, the pickle of Herringes. Hauing in this sort ordered their feelinges, & their floores being dry, they suppose that no hurtful woorme shal annoy what so euer Corne they lay in them. Some lay vnder their Corne, Fleewoort: others thinke it an assured re∣medie, yf they be often fanned & wynnowed, and thereby cooled: but Columella thinkes it vntrue, and that by this meanes the ver∣mine shall not onely be not driuen out, but they shalbe dispearsed throughout all the Corne, whiche yf they otherwyse be left alone, wyll meddle with no more then the outward partes, for a hand∣bredth depth within, there neuer breedes any Wyuels: and therefore he thinkes it better to let that alone that is alredy cor∣rupted, and wyll goe no further, then with farther medling to marre all: for it is an easie matter when so euer ye neede to occu∣pie it, to take away that is taynted, and to vse the rest. But for al this, experience teacheth vs, that there is no so good a remedie to destroy the Wyuel, as is the often fannyng and wynnowing in Sommer. After the first two yeeres, they holde opinion they wil not meddle with Corne: but I weerie you with carrying you to muche about, and yf it please you, we wyll returne home.

RIGO.

If it be for your ease so to doo: otherwyse there can be

no greater pleasure to me, then walking abrode to heare you talke of husbandry.* 1.125 Are these that I see your Pastures, where your fatte Oxen, and your Mares, and your Caltes goe lea∣ping?

CONO.

They are so. I lay all my Pastures seuerall, for eue∣ry kinde of Cattell to be by him selfe: in the hythermost that you see, are my Cattell that I fatte: in the next are my Horses, my Mares, and my Coltes: in the next are my young breede, Yeere∣linges, and Twayeerelinges. The Meddowes that you see in yonder Ualley, lye all to be mowed. Here next to my house, are my Sucklings, that are brought to their dammes to sucke thrise a day, and therefore ought to be neare: howe be it, suche as feede farre of, must diligently and dayly be looked to, for feare of disea∣ses.

RIGO.

Since I haue troubled you this farre, I can not leaue till I vnderstand all your orders.

CONO.

No trouble at all to me, but rather as I said before, the recording hereof, is my great ioy: for in talking of these mat∣ters you bring me abedde.

RIGO.

I pray you then take the paines to describe me the or∣dering of Pastures and Meddowes, when as there seemeth to be a great affinitie betwixt them and Corne grounde, and be∣cause they are sometimes also to be plowed, mee thinketh this part remayneth to be spoken of.

CONO.

With all my hart, I wyll satisfie your desyre in as muche as I am able: and in deede since I haue all this whyle spoken of Corne grounde, it is not out of order to tell you my minde of Pasture: and although Cato in some places dooth geue the preeminence to the Uineyarde, yet other olde wryters doo most of all preferre Pastures, as the grounde that requireth least a doo about it: and therefore they were called as Varro sayth, Prata, because they were parata, alway in redinesse, and needed nei∣ther great charge nor labour, nor are in danger of storme or tem∣pestes, as other kinde of grounde is, except suche parcels as lye neare Riuers and Ilandes, whiche are sometimes ouerflowed: and that discommoditie is sufficiently recompenced with the fat∣nesse that the water leaues behinde it, whiche enricheth the

grounde, and makes it the better yeerely to yeelde his gayne ey∣ther in Pasture or Meddowe. The Pastures wi••h vs doo com∣monly serue both for Pasture or Meddowe when we list, special∣ly in suche places where the grounde is ritche and drye, whiche they had ratired to employ to Pasture, because with dounging of Cattell, it waxeth ••••wayes the better, whereas with continuall bearing of He••, in hath growen to be mossie and nought: but where the grounde is alwayes wette and watrishe, there it is bet∣ter to let it lye for Meddowe. Columella maketh two kindes of Pasture grounde, whereof one is alwayes drye, the other ouer∣flowen. The good and the riche grounde hath no neede of ouer∣flowyng, the Hay being muche better that groweth of the selfe goodnesse of the grounde, then that whiche is forced by waters: whiche sometime notwithstandyng is needefull, yf the barren∣nesse of the grounde requireth it: for in badde and noughtie grounde, good Meddowe may be made, if it lye to be ouerflowen: but then must the grounde neither lye hollowe, nor in hilles, lest the one of them keepe the waters vppon it to long, and the other presently let it soorth agayne. Therefyre lyeth the grounde best, that lyeth leuelest, which suffereth not the water to remayne ve∣ry long, nor auoydeth it too soone. If in suche grounde it chaunce to stand ouerlong, it may be auorded with water streame at your pleasure: for both ouerplus, and the want of water are alike hurtfull vnto Meddowes. It is very handsome, where drye and barrayne grounde lyeth so by the Riuer, as the water may be let in by Trenches when you lyst: in fine, the occupying of Pasture groundes require more care then trauayle. First, that we suffer not Busshes, Thornes, nor great Weedes, to ouergrowe them, but to destroy some of them, as Brembles, Bryers, Bulrusshes, and Sedges in the ende of Sommer, and the other that be Som∣mer Weedes, as Sowthystell, and all other Thystels, in the Spring. You must take heede of Swyne, that spoyle and turne vp the grounde ilfauouredly, and all other Cattell: except it be in hard and drye weather, for otherwyse they gult and ma••re the grounde with the deepe sincking of their feete treading in the Grasse, and breaking the Rootes. The badde and barrayne groundes are to be helped with doung in Winter, specially in

Februarie, the Moone encreasing, and the stones, stickes, and suche baggage as lye scattered abrode, are to be throwen out soo∣ner or later, as the grounde is. There are some Meddowes that with long lying, are ouer growen with Mosse, whiche the old husbands were woout to remedie with casting of certaine seedes abrode, or with laying on of doung, specially Pigeons doung: but nothing is so good for this purpose, as often to cast asshes vp∣pon it, for that destroyeth Mosse out of hand. Notwithstanding, these are but troublesome remedies. The best and certainest is to plowe it: for the grounde after his long rest, will beare goodly Corne. But after you haue plowed it, it wyll scarse recouer his olde estate againe for Pasture or Meddowe in three or foure yeeres. When you meane to let your ground lye againe for Med∣dowe or Pasture, your best is to sowe it with Oates, and to har∣rowe the grounde euen and leuell, and to hurle out all the stones and suche thinges as may hurt the Sythe: for Oates is a great breeder of Grasse. Some doo cast Hey seede, geathered from the Heyloaft or the racks, ouer the grounde before they harrowe it. Others agayne, when their Meddowes haue lyen long, sowe Beanes vpon them, or Rape seede, or Millet, and the yeere af∣ter, Wheate: and the thirde yeere they let them lye againe for Meddowe or Pasture. You must beware, that whyle the ground is loose and soft, you let not in the water, for the force of the water wyll washe away the earth from the rootes of the Grasse, and wyll not suffer them to growe togeather: neither must you (for the like daunger) suffer Cattell to come vppon it, except in the seconde yeere Goates, or Sheepe, or suche like, after you haue mowed it, and that yf the season be very drye. The thirde yeere you may put on your greater sort of Cattell againe, and yf the grounde be hilly and barrayne, you may doung the highest part of it in Februarie, as I saide before, casting on it some Hey seede: for the higher part being mended, the rayne or water that comes to it, wyll carry downe some part of the richenesse to the hot∣tome. as I saide before, when I spake of the manuring of eara∣ble grounde. But yf you wyl lay in newe grounde for Meddowe, and that you may haue your choyse, take such as is ritche, dewye, leuell, or a little hanging, or choose suche as valley, where the wa∣ter

can neither lye long, nor runne away to fast: neither is the rancke Grasse alwayes a signe of good grounde: for what good∣lyer Grasse is there saith Plinie, then is in Germanie, and yet you shall there haue sand within a little of the vpper part. Neither is it alway a watrie grounde where the Grasse growes hie, for the very Mountaines in Sycherland yeeld great and hie Grasse for Cattell. The Pastures that lyes by the Lakes of Dumone in Au∣stri and Hungry are but selender, nor about the Rhine, specially at his falling into the Sea about Holland, as likewyse in Frislande and Flaunders. Caesar Vopiscus, the Feeldes of Roscius were the principal of Italie, where the Grasse would so soone growe, as it woulde hide a staffe in a day. You may make good Meddowe of any grounde, so it may be watred. Your Meddowes are to be purged in September and October, and to be ridde of all Bus∣shes, Brambles, and great foule Weedes, and al thinges els that annoy them: then after that it hath often been stirred, and with many times plowing made fine, the stones cast away, and the cloddes in euery place broken, you must doung it well with freshe doung, the Moone encreasing. Let them be kept from gulling and trampling of Cattel. The Mouldhilles & dounging of Horse and Bullockes, must with your Spade be cast abroade, whiche yf they remaine, would eyther be harberours of Antes and suche like Uermine, or els breeders of hurtful and vnprofitable weedes: your Meddowes must be laide in towardes Marche, and kept from Cattell, and made very cleane: yf they be not ritche, they must be mended with doung, whiche must be laide on, the Moone encreasing, and the newer the doung be, the better it is, and the more Grasse it makes: whiche must be laide vpon the toppe of the highest of the grounde, that the goodnesse may runne to the bottome. The best hearbe for Pasture or Meddowe, is the Tre∣foyle or Clauer: the next is sweete Grasse: the woorst as Plinie saith, is Russhes, Fearne, and Horsetayle.

RIGO.

Howe shall I knowe when the Grasse is ripe, and rea∣dy to be cutte?

CONO.

The time of cutting of it, is when the Bent begin∣neth to fade and to waxe stiffe, and before it wyther. Cato biddes not to mowe your Grasse with the latest, but before the seede be

ripe. It is best cut downe before it wyther, whereby you shall haue bot•• more, and better Hey of it. Some, where they may ouerflowe it, doo water it a day before they cut it, it cutteth bet∣ter after a dewye Euening.

RIGO.

Doo you cut Grasse in the like sort as you doo Corne?

CONO.

Almost in the like same sort, some do vse short Sythes, mowing it with one hand: but we here doo vse the common great Sythe, mowing with both our handes, as I saide before, that Oates, and Barley, and suche other like Corne was mowed: whiche Sythes we vse to sharpe with Whetstones, or instru∣mentes of Wood dressed with Sande. The Grasse being cutte, must be well tedded and turned in the Sommer, and not cocked till it be drye: and yf it chaunce to be wette with rayne, it must not be turned, till the vpper part be dryed. There is a measure to be vsed in making of it, that it be not had in too drie, nor to greene. The one sort, yf the iuyce be dryed vp, serueth only for lit∣ter: the other (too greene and moyst) yf it be carryed into the Loft, rotteth, and the vapour being ouerheated, falleth on fyre and burneth. And yf so be the rayne chaunce to fall vpon the Grasse that is newe cut downe, yf it be not stirred, it takes not so muche harme: but yf it be once turned, you must still be stirring of it, otherwyse it will rotte. Therefore the vppermost part before it be turned, must be well dryed with the Sunne and the Winde: when it is dryed, we lay it in windrowes, and then make it vp in Cockes, and after that in Moowes, which must be sharpe and piked in the toppe, the better to defend it from the rayne: whiche yf it doo not fall, yet is it good so to doo, that they may sweate in the saide Moowes, and digest what so euer moysture is in it. And therefore good husbandes doo not lay it vp in their Loftes, till suche time as it hath sweat in the Feelde. Grasse is commonly mowed twyse a yeere, in May or Iune, and againe after Har∣uest: the first mowing is counted the best. As soone as the Hey is of after the first mowing, it woulde be ouerflowed (yf you may conueniently) to the ende the after swath may be mowed in Au∣tume, whiche they call in Latine Cordum. In the Dukedome of Spol••to, it is saide they mowe foure times a yeere, being drye grounde, and diuers other places thryse a yeere. Medica may be

rutte sixe times a yeere, yf it be ordered as it ought to be. It is best mowed when it beginneth to flowre, for it must not growe to seede: being dryed, it is made vp in bundels, and kept good three yeeres, to the great comfort of poore Cattell: but because I haue tolde you of Medica before, it is but vayne to rehearse it agayne.

RIGO.

You haue spoken of a very large and great knowledge of husbandry, whiche out of doubt requireth in a man great tra∣uayle and diligence.

CONO.

It requireth in deede great diligence and trauayle, howebeit, it recompenceth the paines and the charges not with∣out great gaynes, whereof Plinie bringeth for example Caius Cre∣sinus, who when vppon a little peece of grounde he reaped more fruite and graynes a great deale, then his neighbours did vppon their great occupiers, gr••we into great hatred amongst them, as though they had bewitched their feeldes: whereof being accused by Spurius Albinus, and fearing to be condemned, when the Quest should passe vppon him, he bringes all his instrumentes of hus∣bandry into the common place, and brought in there with all his daughter, a iolly great royle, his iron tooles perfectly wel made, great Spades,* 1.126 mightie Coulters, and lustie Cattell: loe here (quoth he) myne echauntments, neither can I bring before you my great and painefull labours, watchinges, and sweat: where∣vppon he was presently quitte by the voyces of them all. But I keepe you to long about my husbandry, it is good time we leaue and goe home.

RIGO.

With a good wyll. If I may obtayne one thing at your handes, whiche when you haue made an ende with, I wyll trouble you no longer.

CONO.

What is that?

RIGO.

If a man woulde bye a Farme or a Mannour, in what sort shall he best doo it? for I dout not but you haue good skill in suche matters.

CONO.

Iscomachus in Xenophon telleth, that his father taught him that he shoulde neuer buye a peece of grounde, that had been skilfully or curiously husbanded before, but rather suche ground as by the slouthfulnesse and pouertie of the maister, had lyen vn∣tilled and neglected, and yet seeme to be very good grounde: as

it is better to bye a leane Horse, so that he be not olde, and that he haue the tokens of a good Horse, then a fatte Horse, and one that is curiously kept. A well ordered peeece of lande is helde deare, and yeeldes no great encrease, and therefore is neither so pleasant nor so profitable, as that which by good husbandry may be made better. Cato woulde haue two thinges to be obserued in bying of lande, the goodnesse of the ground, and the holsomenesse of the ayre: of whiche two, yf eyther be lacking, whosoeuer dooth bye it, he iudgeth him mad, and meete to be sent to Bedlem: for none that is well in his wittes, wyll bestowe cost vppon barraine grounde, nor hazarde him selfe for a little riche grounde, to be alwayes subiect to pestilentiall diseases: for where a man must deale with the Deuil, there is not onely his commoditie, but his life doubtfull, and rather his death then his gayne certaine. After these two principall notes, as Columella sayth, Cato added of like weyght these three that folowe to be regarded: the Way, the Water, & the Neighbour. The goodnesse of the waye is a great matter, for it both makes the maister haue a delight to goe about it, and it is commodious for carriage, whiche bringeth great gayne, and litleth charges. Of the commoditie of water who doubteth, without whose vse no man is able to liue. Of a mans neighbour, he woulde haue a man haue speciall regarde. Hesiodus sayth, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, an euill neighbour is a great mischiefe. I haue knowen diuers, that for the troublesomenesse of theyr neighbour, haue forsaken good dwellings, and changed golde for copper, because they haue had false knaues to their neighbours, and quarellers, that suffering their cattel to runne at large in eue∣ry mans ground to spoyle their Corne and their Uines, would also cutte downe wood, and take what so euer they finde, alwayes brabling about the boundes of their grounde, that a man coulde neuer be in quiet for them: or els haue dwelt by some Caterpil∣ler Ruffian or Swashbuckler, that would leaue no kinde of mis∣cheefe vndoone. Amongst all which commonly there is not so ill a neighbour, as the newe vpstart, that takes vpon him the name of a gentleman, who though you vse him neuer so well, wyll at one time or other geue you to vnderstand from whence he comes, and make you syng with Claudian.

ASPERIVS NIHIL EST HV MILI CVM SVRGIT IN ALTVM. A leudar vvretche there lyues not vnder skye, Then Clovvne that climes from base estate to hye.

As the Prouerbe in Englande is, Set a Knaue on horsebacke, and you shall see him shoulder a Knight: for an Ape wyll be an Ape, though you clothe him in Purple. Surely M. Portius would haue a man shunne the neighbourhood of suche as the pestilence. I for my part am happie in this point, that I haue no neighbour that I neede to feare.

RIGO.

Perhaps they dare not for your aucthoritie doo, as otherwyse they woulde.

CONO.

But since death and other casualties riddes a man of them, the dwelling is not to be left, yf it haue other good commo∣dities, except it be placed in the borders of sundry Countreys that be subiect to great sicknesses. Some commend the dwelling that hath faire wayes about it, is neare some Riuer or good mar∣ket, wherby a man may carrie his marchādize with lesse charges. The olde fellowes would neuer haue a man place him selfe neare the hie way, for pilffering of such as passe by, and troublesome∣nesse of ghestes, as I saide before in speaking of the placing of an house. In the letting of a Farme,* 1.127 those thinges are to be obser∣ued that I spake of before, in describing of a Bayliffe of husban∣dry and his labour: that you let it to suche, whose trauayle and good behauiour you may be assured of, and that you regard more their good ordering of the lande then the rent, which is least hurt∣full, and most gaynefull. For where as the grounde is well hus∣banded, you shall commonly haue gayne, and neuer losse, except by vnreasonablenesse of the weather, whiche the Ciuil Lawyer sayth shoulde not be any damage to the Tenaunt, or the inuasion of the enimie, where the Tenaunt can not helpe it. Besides, the Lorde must not deale with his Tenaunt so straightly in euery poynt, as by lawe he might, for his rent dayes, bargaynes of wood, quit rentes, or suche, the rigour wherein is more trouble∣some then beneficial: neither ought we to take euery aduantage, for lawe many times is right plaine wrong: neither must ye be to slacke on the other side, for too muche gentelnesse many times makes a man the woorst. And therefore it is good yf the Farmer

be slacke in his paimentes, to make him to knowe it: but in no wyse to be a rayser or enhaunser of rentes, for that discomfortes, and many times vndooeth the Tenaunt. Moreouer, you must not lightly change the olde Farmer, both because of his desertes, and that he is better acquainted with the grounde then a newe. L. Vo∣lusius would alwayes say, that he was in best case for his landes, that had alwayes his Tenauntes borne and bread vp in them, whereby the long familiaritie shoulde make them more louingly to vse them selues: for sure it is an euill vse often to change Te∣nauntes, and therefore I doo like well that order, where the land is let for the liues of the Tenaunt, his Wyfe, and his Chylde, paying a yeerely rent, so that as long as he payes his rent, and keepes the reparations, it shall not be lawfull to deceiue him: for hereby the Tenaunt shall be prouoked to order the grounde with more diligen••e, to repayre the house, & to looke to it in al pointes as to his owne, bestowyng many times as muche as he hath vp∣pon it. This way of letting lande mee see••es is best, where the ground is subiect to the Sea or the Riuer, or other daunger, that the Tenaunt be charged with the maintenaunce of it. And here be sure that you let it rather to one of habilitie, then to a an vn∣thriftie man that is not able to beare it, whereby you may loose both your land & your rent. In suche place as lyes neare the lord, he may occupie it by his Bayliffe, or to hawues: but where it is farre of, it is better to let it out for a yeerely rent vpon y^e foresayd couenantes. For yf you occupie it with your seruauntes, they wyl eyther looke yll to your cattel, or your ground, or suffer thinges to be stolen, or steale them selues, or make you be at more charges then needeth, & be carelesse in euery thing. In letting of ground commonly it is couenaunted, that the Tenaunt shall not let nor sell without leaue of the lorde, and that he shall not breake any Pasture or Medowe lande, and what, and howe muche he shall sowe of eue••y kinde of grayne, howe much he shall haue for Pa∣sture, howe muche he shall let lye, and howe muche he shal mend. Here haue you almost as muche as I am able to say in husban∣dyng of the grounde.

RIGO.

I thanke you, you haue greatly delighted me with the describing of your Pasture grounde and Earable.

¶ The ende of the fyrst Booke.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lucullus.
• * 1.2

  Scipio.
• * 1.3

  Ci••ero.
• * 1.4

  Nestor.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.6

  Socrate••
• * 1.7

  The vse of a solita•••••• lyfe.
• * 1.8

  The best doung 〈◊〉〈◊〉 groun•• is the ma••••ters foote.
• * 1.9

  A••adem. ••u••st••o. lib. 1.
• * 1.10

  Psalm. 104.
• * 1.11

  A good hus∣band must r••ther be a sell••r th••n a byer.
• * 1.12

  The saying of saint An∣thonie.
• * 1.13

  Homelie. 56 ••pon the. 16 of Matth. and in other places.
• * 1.14

  The com∣mendation of husban∣dry.
• * 1.15

  Emperour•• and kinges professou••s of husban∣dry.
• * 1.16

  Serranus.
• * 1.17

  Cincinatus.
• * 1.18

  Husbandmē come to be Emperours.
• * 1.19

  The anti∣quitie of husbandry.
• * 1.20

  The fyrst planter of Vines.
• * 1.21

  Husbandry the mother and nurse of all other artes.
• * 1.22

  The woor∣thynesse of husbandmē.
• * 1.23

  Gene. 3.
• * 1.24

  Husbandry pleasyng to God.
• * 1.25

  Leuit. 26.
• * 1.26

  Geor. ••.
• * 1.27

  Who is happy.
• * 1.28

  Horac••.
• * 1.29

  VVho ••s riche.
• * 1.30

  The order of building of a house for the Coun∣trey.
• * 1.31

  The seate of a house.
• * 1.32

  Neighbour∣hood.
• * 1.33

  The Kit∣chin.
• * 1.34

  Larder.
• * 1.35

  Corneloft.
• * 1.36

  Appleloft.
• * 1.37

  Barnes.
• * 1.38

  Stable••.
• * 1.39

  The cho••se of a ••••••••iffe o•• ••u••ban∣dry.
• * 1.40

  What thin∣ges ough•• ••o be in a Bay∣liffe o•• hus∣bandry.
• * 1.41

  The tray∣nyng of a Bayliffe.
• * 1.42

  The Bay∣liffes vvyfe.
• * 1.43

  Of the tyl∣lyng and husban∣ding of the ground.
• * 1.44

  The good nature of the husband∣man.
• * 1.45

  The degrees and sortes of ground.
• * 1.46

  Of Corn•• ground.
• * 1.47

  Hovve to knovve the goodnese of the grounde.
• * 1.48

  Signes of the good∣nesse of the ground.
• * 1.49

  Grounde vvyl change.
• * 1.50

  The disposi∣tion of the heauens to be obseru••d.
• * 1.51

  Italy, the garden of the vvorlde.
• * 1.52

  The fruite∣fulnesse of Germanie.
• * 1.53

  The fruite∣fulnesse of Barbary.
• * 1.54

  Of doung∣ing of groūd
• * 1.55

  The sortes of doung.
• * 1.56

  Vryne
• * 1.57

  Olde doung best for Corne, and nevve doung for Med∣dovve.
• * 1.58

  The obser∣uing of the VVinde and the Moone, in mending of the groūd
• * 1.59

  VVet doung hurtes the feelde.
• * 1.60

  Marle, a fat kinde of earth vsed commonly at this day in diuers partes of Sussex and ••en••, for the enriching of lande.
• * 1.61

  Chalke vsed for mending of ground.
• * 1.62

  Dounging vvith asshes.
• * 1.63

  The m••ner of plovving.
• * 1.64

  The partes of the plow.
• * 1.65

  This dravv∣ing vvith the head, is vsed in the vpper partes of Fraunce and Spayne.
• * 1.66

  The like is vsed vvith vs in Norfolke, and I incon∣shy••d.
• * 1.67

  Dead mould
• * 1.68

  Tryall of good plovv∣ing.
• * 1.69

  The plovv∣ing of a hill
• * 1.70

  The best time of plovving.
• * 1.71

  Plowyng in the nyght.
• * 1.72

  Diuers La∣tine vvoords belong to husbandry, interpreted.
• * 1.73

  Agri Vo••a.
• * 1.74

  Of seede, & their diuersi∣tie.
• * 1.75

  Olde seede not to be sovven.
• * 1.76

  The order of sovvyng.
• * 1.77

  Harrowing.
• * 1.78

  Rakyng.
• * 1.79

  Rovvlyng.
• * 1.80

  The tyme for sovvyng.
• * 1.81

  Late sovve∣ing alvvayes ••ayleth.
• * 1.82

  Sommer grayne.
• * 1.83

  A generall rule.
• * 1.84

  VVheate.
• * 1.85

  The tyme for VVheate sovvyng.
• * 1.86

  Barley.
• * 1.87

  Zea.
• * 1.88

  Far. Ad••••reum.
• * 1.89

  Rape.
• * 1.90

  Oate••.
• * 1.91

  Buck.
• * 1.92

  Sommer Barley.
• * 1.93

  Myllet.
• * 1.94

  Panicle.
• * 1.95

  Ryse.
• * 1.96

  Sesamum.
• * 1.97

  Of Pulse
• * 1.98

  Beanes••
• * 1.99

  Pease.
• * 1.100

  Frenche Beanes.
• * 1.101

  Lyntels.
• * 1.102

  ••hyche.
• * 1.103

  Cic••rcula.
• * 1.104

  Tares and fodder for Cattel.
• * 1.105

  Lupines.
• * 1.106

  Fenugreeke.
• * 1.107

  Fodder for C••ttell.
• * 1.108

  Medica.
• * 1.109

  Cytisus.
• * 1.110

  Sperie.
• * 1.111

  Flaxe.
• * 1.112

  Hempe.
• * 1.113

  VVoade.
• * 1.114

  Haruest.
• * 1.115

  Rape har∣••est.
• * 1.116

  Haruest for VVinter Barley.
• * 1.117

  H••mpe h••r¦u••••t.
• * 1.118

  Rye and VVheate haruest.
• * 1.119

  The har∣uest of all o••her Corne and Pul••e.
• * 1.120

  Diuers sorts of reapyng.
• * 1.121

  Plovving af∣ter Haruest.
• * 1.122

  The Barne.
• * 1.123

  Garners.
• * 1.124

  Agaynst breedyng of VVyuels.
• * 1.125

  Of pasture & medovve
• * 1.126

  The diligēce of Caius Cresinus.
• * 1.127

  The lettyng of a Farme