THE Second Book of the English Husbandman.  
CONTAINING the Ordering of the Kitchin-Garden, and the Planting of strange Flowers: the breeding of all manner of cattle. Together with the Cures, the feeding of cattle, the Ordering both of Pastures and Meddow-ground: with the use both of high-wood and under-wood.  
WHEREUNTO IS ADDED a TREATISE, called Goodman's Recreation: Containing a Discourse of the general Art of Fishing, with the Angle, and otherwise; and of all the hidden secrets belonging thereunto.  
TOGETHER With the Choice, Ordering, Breeding, and dieting of the fight Cock.  
A work never written before by any Author.  
By G. M.  
LONDON: Printed by T. S. for john Browne, and are to be sold at his shop in S. Dunstanes Church-yard in Fleetstreet. 1614   

A Table of all the principal matters contained in this Book.  

CHAP. I. How the Husbandman shall judge and foreknow all kind of weather, and other seasons of the year.  

OF Raine.  
Signs from clouds.  
Signs from the Moon.  
Signs from the Sun.  
Signs from Lightning.  
Signs from Fowl.  
Signs from Beasts.  
Signs from things without Motion.  
Signs of much Rain.  
Signs of Snow or hail.  
Signs of Wind.  
Signs of Tempests.  
Signs of fair weather.  
Signs of Winter.  
Signs of the Spring.  
Signs of a hot summer.  
Signs of a long winter.  
Signs of a forward or backward year.  
Signs of a good or bad year.  
Signs from Christmas day.  
Signs from the sun rising.  
Signs from the twelve days in Christmas.  
Signs from S. Paul's day.  
Signs from Maudlin and S. Switthens day, if Corn shall be cheap or dear.  
Signs from Thunder.  
Signs of sickness or health.  
The preservation of health.    

CHAP. II. The choice of Grounds for the Kitchin-Garden, and the ordering thereof.  

The Contents.  
THe choice of Ground.  
The bettering of Grounds.  
The trenching of Grounds.  
Of breaking the Garden-mould.  
Ordering of Garden-beds.  
Of the fruitful soil.  
The necessariest ornament in a Garden.    

CHAP. III. Of the Sowing and Ordering of all manner of Potherbs.  

The Contents.  
OF all sorts of Potherbs.  
Of Endive and Succory.  
Of Beets.  
Of Landcresses.  
Of Parsley.  
Of Savoury.  
Of Time.  
Of French Mallows, and chervil.  
Of Dill.  
Of Issop.  
Of Mints.  
Of Violets.  
Of Basill.  
Of sweet Marjoram and Marigolds.  
Of Strawburyes.  
Of borage and bugloss.  
Of Rosemary.  
Of pennyroyal.  
Of Leeks.  
Of Onions.  
Of gathering Onyon-seeds, or the Onion.    

CHAP. FOUR Of sowing of certain Herbs which are to be eaten, but especially are medicinal, yet ever in the Husbandman's Garden.  

The Contents.  
OF Arage.  
Of Lombary Lovage.  
Of Fennell.  
Of Anise.  
Of cumin.  
Of Colyander.  
Of Rue.  
Of Organy.  
Of white poppy.  
Of Germander.  
Of Cardus Benedictus.  
Of Angelica.  
Of Valerian.  
Of Elecampana.  
Of Pepper-wort.  
Of Phylipendula.    

CHAP. V. Of diver sorts of Sallet-Hearbes, their manner of Sowing and Ordering.  

The Contents.  
OF Lettuce.  
Of spinach.  
Of Asparagus.  
Of coleworts.  
Of Sage.  
Of Purslane.  
Of Artichokes.  
Of Garlic.  
Of Radish.  
Of Navewe.  
Of Parsnips and Carrots.  
Of Pompions or Melons.  
Of Cucumbers.  
Of the Beans of Egypt.  
Of Skirrets.  
A most necessary observation.    

CHAP. VI Of Flowers of all sorts, both foreign and homebred, their sowing, planting, and preserving.  

The Contents.  
OF Roses.  
Of the Damask Rose.  
Of the red Rose.  
Of the white Rose.  
Of the Cinnamon Rose.  
To make the Cinnamon Rose grow double.  
Of the Provence Rose.  
To make Roses smell well.  
General notes touching Roses.  
Of Lavender.  
Of the white Lilly.  
To make Lilies of any colour.  
To make Lilies flourish all the year.  
Of the wood Lilly.  
Of the Flower de Lice.  
Of Pyonye.  
Of Petiluis.  
Of velvet Flowers.  
Of Gillyflowers.  
Of grafting of Gillyflowers.  
Of the smells of Gillyflowers.  
Of the wall Gillyflower.  
Of the Hellytropian.  
Of the Crowne-Emperiall.  
Of the Dulipo.  
Of the Hyacinth.  
Of the Narcissus.  
Of the Daffodil, Colombine, and Chesbole.  
An excellent Caution.  
A new manner of planting Flowers and Fruits.    

CHAP. VII. How to preserve all manner of Seeds, Herbs, Flowers, and Fruits, from all manner of noisome and pestilent things, which devour and hurt them.  

The Contents.  
OF Thunder and Lightning.  
Of Caterpillars.  
Of Toads and Frogs.  
Of the field Mice.  
Of Flies.  
Of the green Flie.  
Of Gnats.  
Of Pissemires.  
Of moles.  
Of Snails.  
Of Moths.  
Of Cankers.  
Of Garden worms.  
An excellent experiment.  
The Conclusion of the Kitchin-Garden.     

The Table of the second part of the second Book. Containing the Ordering of all sorts of Woods, and the breeding of cattle.  

CHAP. I. Of the beginning of Woods, first sowing, and necessary use.  

The Contents.  
WOod better then Gold.  
The excellent uses of Wood  
The plantation of Wood  
The fencing of young Woods.  
When cattle may graze in springs.  
The use of the Clay-ground for Woods.  
A special note.    

CHAP. II. The division of underwoods, their sale and profit.  

The Contents.  
THE division of Woods.  
The value of underwood.  
Of the sale of underwoods.  
How to cut underwoods.  
The fencing of sales.  
The woodward's duty.    

CHAP. III. Of High-woods, and their plantation.  

The Contents.  
WHat High-woods are.  
The beginning of highwoods'.  
The plantation of your high-woods.  
Of planting the Elm.  
Of planting the Ash.  
Objection.  
Answer.    

CHAP. FOUR The preservation and sale of High-woods.  

The Contents.  
OF Trees which take wet inwardly.  
Of Barke-bound.  
Of Hornets and Doors.  
Of the Canker.  
Of Pissemires.  
Of ●uye, Woodbine, and Mysselto.  
Of Thunder and Lightning.  
Of the sale of tall Woods.  
How to choose Timbers.  
Of Mill-Timber.  
Of Timber to bear burden.  
Timber for Poles, Wainescot, etc.  
Timber for Piles or water works.  
The use of the Elm.  
The use of the Ash.  
The use of the Walnut tree.  
The use of the Pear tree.  
The use of the Maple, Beech, or Poplar.  
Of Charcoal.  
How to value Timber.  
How to measure Timber by guess.  
Best seasons for the sale.  
The time for Chapmen.  
When to cut down Timber.    

CHAP. V. Of the breeding of Wood in rich Champain Soils.  

The Contents.  
HOW to set all sorts of quicksets.  
Planting of greater Trees.  
Of the setting of Willows, etc.  
The use of Willows, Sallowes, and osiers.  
The ordering of Willows.  
The ordering of the Osier.    

CHAP. VI Of plashing of Hedges, and lopping or heading of Timber.  

The Contents.  
WHat plashing is.  
How to plash.  
The time of year.  
The tools to plash with.  
The profit of plashing.  
The lopping of Timber.  
What lopping is.  
The season for lopping.  
How you shall lop Timber.    

CHAP. VII. Of Pasture-grounds, their order, profit, and general use.  

The Contents.  
Diversity and use of Pastures.  
Of barren Pastures.  
Signs of barrenness.  
Bettering of Soils.  
Sowing of good seeds.  
For abundance of grass.  
The imperfection of manure.  
To help a slow Spring.  
To help naughty grass.  
To help sun-burning.  
To help ling or braken.  
To help marishes.  
To help mossiness.  
The general use of barren grounds.  
What cattle to be bred.  
Of fertile grounds.  
Division of rich grounds.  
Use of rich grounds.  
Ordering of Pastures.  
Feeding of cattle.  
How to know a fat beast.  
Of Meadows, and their ordering.  
Preservation of Meadows.  
When to lay Meadows.  
When to mow Meadows.  
Inclination of weather.  
The manner to mow Meadows.  
How to make Hay.  
To make fine Hay.  
To make course Hay.  
Use of Hay for cattle of all sorts.    

CHAP. VIII. A new method for the Husbandly curing of all manner of cattle.  

The Contents.  
THE reason of this Chapter.  
All diseases to be cured with twelve medicines.  
Of inward sicknesses.  
The first medicine.  
The second medicine.  
Of outward diseases.  
The third medicine.  
The fourth medicine.  
The fifth medicine.  
The sixth medicine.  
The seventh medicine.  
The eight medicine.  
The ninth medicine.  
The tenth medicine.  
The eleventh medicine.  
The twelfth medicine.  
Diseases in the feet.  
Diseases in the feet, or for stifling.    
The end of the Table for Husbandry.   

Of Angling.  

CHAP. I. Of Angling: the Virtue, Use, and Antiquity.  

The Contents.  
THe Use of Angling.  
The Antiquity of Angling.    

CHAP. II. Of the Tools, and Implements for Angling.  

The Contents.  
OF the Angle-rodde.  
Of the top of the Angle-rodde.  
The Angle-rodde of one piece.  
The Angle-rodde of many pieces.  
Of Lines.  
Of colouring of Lines.  
Of the Cork.  
Of Angle Hooks.  
Of other Implements for Anglers.    

CHAP. III. Of the Anglers clothes, and inward qualities.  

The Contents.  
OF the ANCLERS' Apparel.  
Anglers Virtues.  
Certain Cautions.    

CHAP. FOUR Of the seasons to Angle in.  

The Contents.  
THE Anglers manner of standing.  
The best seasons to Angle in.  
Seasons ill to Angle in.  
Of Fish's haunts.  
Objection.  
Answer.    

CHAP. V. Of Baits in general, and of every particular kind, their seasons and use.  

The Contents.  
SEasons for baits.  
Of Flies.  
The making of Flies.  
Preservation of Baits.  
Of making Pastes.    

CHAP. VI Of Angling for every several kind of Fish, according to their natures.  

The Contents.  
OF the Goodgin, Roche, and Dace.  
Of the carp.  
Of the Chubb, Chevin, or Trout.  
Of the Eel.  
Of the Flounder or Sewant.  
Of the Grailing or barbel.  
Of the bream.  
Of the Tench.  
Of the Bleak, Ruff, or Perch.  
Of the Pike.  
Of Snyckling of the Pike.  
Of the Salmon.    

CHAP. VII.  
Of taking Fish without Angles, and of laying Hooks.   

CHAP. VIII.  
Of preserving Fish from all sorts of devourers.   

CHAP. IX.  
Of ordering of Ponds for the preservation of Fish.   

CHAP. X.  
Of the best Water-Lime.    

Of the fight Cock.  

CHAP. I. Of the Choice, Ordering, Breeding, and dieting of the fight Cock.  

The Contents.  
THE choice of the Cock for battle.  
The breeding of the battle Cock.  
The dieting of Cocks for battle.  
Of taking up Cocks.  
Of the Cocke-penne.  
Of his diet.  
Of sparring of Cocks.  
The stoving of Cocks.  
Of the best diet-bread.  
Of the best scouring.  
The matching of Cocks.  
The preparing Cocks to the fight.  
The ordering of Cocks after the battle, and the curing them.    
FINIS.   

THE FIRST PART of the second BOOK of the English Husbandman: Containing the Ordering of the Kitchin-garden, and the planting of strange FLOWERS.  

CHAP. I. How the Husbandman shall judge and foreknow all kind of Weathers, and other seasons of the year.  
ALthough GOD out of his infinite providence, is the only director and ruler of all things, governing the years, days, minutes and seasons of the year according to the power of his Will: yet for as much as he hath given us his Creatures, and placed the Celestial bodies to hold their influences in us, and all things else which have increasement, revealing unto us from their motions, the alteration and qualities of every season, it shall be very behoveful for every Husbandman to know the signs and tokens of every particular season, as when it is likely to Rain, when Snow, when Thunder, when the Winds will rise, when the Winter will rage, & when the Frosts will have the longest continuance, that fashioning his labours, according to the temperature or distemperature of the weather, he may with good judgement and advise, eschew many evils which succeed rash and unfore-looking actions.  

Of Rain.  To speak then first of the general signs of Rain, you shall understand that the old Husbandmen did observe rules general, and rules special: the general rules were such as concerned either all, most, or a great part of the whole year: the rules special, those which concerned days, hours, and times present: of which I will first speak in this place.  

Signs from Clouds.  If therefore you shall at any time perceive a Cloud rising from the lowest part of the Horizon, and that the main body be black and thick, and his beams (as it were) Curtaine-wise, extending upward, and driven before the winds: it is a certain and infallible sign of a present shower of Rain, yet but momentary and soon spent, or passed over: but if the Cloud shall arise against the Wind, and as it were spread itself against the violence of the same, then shall the Rain be of much longer continuance.  

Signs from the Moon.  If when you see the new Moon appear, you perceive that some part of her Horns are obscured, or if it be black, or discoloured in the midst: if it hang much to the West, if it be compassed or girdled about, either with thick, or waterish transparent vapours: if it look more then ordinarily pale, or if it shall begin to rain small and mist-like on the fourth or fifth day of her age, all these are infallible signs of Rain, and the last an assured sign that the Rain will continue all that quarter of the Moon following.  

Signs from the Sun.  If you shall see the Sun rise early in the Morning, and spread forth his Beams violently, yet with a very moist and waterish complexion, and therewithal in the West you do see a bed of thick vapours to arise, increase and ascend upward, then shall you be assured that at high noon, when those vapours and the Sun shall meet, there will be rain, and that rain of no short continuance: If you shall see the Sun rise red, and turn suddenly black, if it have many red clouds about it mixed with blackness, if it have a spacious Circle about it, or if when it setteth you see it fall behind a bank of dark and black Clouds, they be all most certain and infallible signs of rain, which will presently follow.  
If it lighten at noon, 
Signs from the Lightning.  or any time whilst the Sun shineth, either with Thunder or without thunder, or if it lighten in fair weather, or if it lighten more than it thundereth, all are most certain signs of rain which will follow.  
If you shall perceive waterfowl to bathe much: 
Signs from Fowl.  if the Crow wet her head at the water brim, or if she wade into the water, or if she shall cry and call much: if the Raven shall croak with a hollow or sounding voice: if the house-Cocke shall crow at all hours: if Pigeons shall come home late to the Dove-house: if Sparrows shall chyrpe and cry early in the morning: if Bees fly not far from their Hives: if Flies and small Gnats bite sharp and sore, all are most certain signs of rain, which will presently follow.  
If you shall perceive your Oxen to eat more greedily, 
Signs from Beasts.  and with a more earnest stomach then their usual custom: if your Kine gaze and look much upward: if Swine shall play and gambole up and down: if Horses being at grass shall scope, course, and chase one another: or if the Cat shall wash behind her ear, all are certain signs of rain to follow.  
If Salt turn moist standing in dry places, 
Signs from things without motion.  if Channels, Uaults, and common Sewers stink more than usual: if Bells seem to sound louder than they were wont: if the Tazell at any time close up his pricks: if Soot fall much from the Chimney: If oil shall sparkle much when it burneth, or if Marble, Paving-stone, or other walls shall sweat, or be much moist, all are most inevitable signs of rain which will follow.  

Signs of much Rain.  If Rain, when it falleth, make great bubbles, or such a noise as is not ordinary: or if rain fall mildly, small, and mist-like: or if rain fall in a calm when no wind stirreth: or if when it raineth you cannot perceive the Rack or Clouds to move: if Pullen fly to their roost assoon as the rain begins: if the Rainbow stretch towards the South, or if it do reflect and she dole: if you shall see one or more Weather-gals which are like Rainbows, only they arise from the Horizon but a small way upward, all these are most certain signs of much rain that will follow.  

Signs of Snow or Hail.  If black Clouds shall turn suddenly white: if about either the Sun or Moon be pale, and waterish Circles, or that they seem to shine as through a mist: if the Air be thick and extreme cold without frosts: if with the signs of rain be mixed signs of cold also, or if winds be nipping and extreme sharp, all are most certain tokens that Snow or hail will follow presently after.  

Signs of wind.  If when the Sun setteth it looketh red and fiery, and that all that part of the Horizon look red also, or if it look bluish, or seem greater than his ordinary proportion: If the Moon do blush or look high coloured, if the Rack ride high, and the Firmament be much vaulted: if Woods and Hills seem to make a noise: if the Stars seem to shine brighter than usual: if it shall thunder in Winter, or if it thunder without lightning: if Bells be heard far off with more ease then accustomed, and presently in the same instant be not heard at all: If Cobwebs fly much in the air: If Hernes or Heronsh●es cry much in their flying: If fire sparkle much, or if wood or Wainscot crack much, all these are most certain signs of much wind that will follow after.  

Signs of tempests.  If you shall perceive the Morning or Evening Sun, either in the Summer or in the Autumn, to shine hotter or to scorch more then accustomed, when the air is priest with an extreme black cloud, or with many clouds, if you perceive whirlwinds to blow oft and violently: if you see the Rainbow shall appear in the West without ta'en: if you see flames and meteors flashing in the air, or if the Porpus shall be seen in the fresh River, all are most certain signs of thunder, lightnings and tempests, which will follow.  
If the Sun rise grey and clear in the morning, 
Signs of fair weather.  and likewise setteth without darkness, not losing a minute in the declination: if the evening sky be ruddy and not fiery, more purple than scarlet: if the Moon be clear when it is four or five days old: if it lighten after Sunset without thunder: if the dew fall in great abundance and in the rising ascend up to the mountains: if the North wind blow strong: if the Owl do whup much and not scrytch: if flies at night play much in the Sun's beams: if Crows flock much together, and cakell and talk: if Bats fly busily up and down after Sunset, if you see Cranes fly high, and waterfowl make their haunts far off from the water, all these are most certain signs of very fair weather which will follow after.  
If waterfowl forsake the Water: 
Signs of Winter.  if the Nightingale sing more than other Birds, if Cranes flock together, if Geese fight for their feeding place, or if Sparrows call very early in the Morning, any of these are certain signs that winter is near at hand.  
If the West wind blow freshly Morning and Evening: 
Signs of the Spring.  if the cold abate and lose much of his vigour, if Swallows begin to come in and fly busily about, if the breastbone of the Mallard or Woodcock look white and clear, any of these are certain signs that the Spring is at hand.  
If the Ram ride in the Spring, 
Signs of a hot Summer.  and show more than an usual lust: if the Spring have been very extraordinarily cold, or if Mildews fall not in the Woodland● Countries, any of these are certain signs of a hot Summer to follow after.  

Signs of a long Winter.  If you shall see the Oak loaden with Acorns: if the breastbone of the Mallard when he is killed look red: if Hornets be seen after the end of October, or if cattle do trample and tread the earth much, making it miry, or like a new plowde field: any of these are most certain signs that the Winter will be sharp, long, and cruel.  

Signs of a forward or backward year.  If there fall much Rain before October, by means whereof many inundations do follow, and that such wet lie long above ground: it is a most infallible token that the year will be very forward: but if the wet do fall after October than it is a sign that the year will be indifferent, but and if the wet fall after November, than it is held for most certain that the year will fall out very slack and backward.  

Signs of a good or bad year.  If the Oak Apples, when they are opened, breed flies, or if Harvest be seasonable, and the Spring warm: if Snow fall in February: if Broome put forth great store of Flowers: if the Walnut-trée have more blossoms than leaves: if the flower of the Sea-Onion whither not quickly, or if the Spring be preserved from frosts and blasting, than any of these are certain signs that the year will prove passing good and fruitful: but if the Oak Apple breed instead of a Fly a Spider: if Comets or Meteors oppress the Air: if the Summer fall out unnaturally moist: if the dews when they fall at the rising of the Sun descend to the Rivers: if frosts come in unseasonable times: if woodbirds fly to the plains, and refuse covert: if the Sun have his whole body, or at least three parts Eclipsed: when Corn beginneth to bloom, and is not fully Kirneld, than any of these be most certain signs that the year will prove bad, barren, & fruitless.  

Signs from Christmas day.  Again, if Christmas day shall fall upon the Sunday, the year shall be good, seasonable and abounding with all store and plenty: if it fall upon Monday the year shall be reasonable temperate and fruitful, only something subject to inundation of waters, loss by shipwreck, and some mortality of people, especially women in childbearing: if it fall upon Tuesday, the year will prove very barren and unfruitful, much dearth will reign, and amongst people great plague and mortality: if it fall upon Wednesday, the year shall be reasonably seasonable, though a little inconstant: there shall be plenty of all things, only much sickness, and great likelihood of wars: if it fall upon the Thursday, the year shall be generally very temperate and wholesome, only the Summer subject to moistness, much division is like to fall amongst the Clergy, and women shall be given to more lasciviousness then at other seasons: if it fall on the Friday, the year shall be barren and unwholesome, for sickness shall rage with great violence, much mortality shall fall amongst young Children, and both Corn and cattle shall be scarce, and of a dear reckoning: if it fall on the Saturday, the year shall be reasonably good and plentiful, only the people of the world shall be exceeding perverse, & much given to mutiny & dissension one against another.  
Again, if the Sun rise without impediment, 
Signs from the Sun rising.  and shine bright and clear upon Christmas day, the year will be very plentiful: if it rise likewise clear the second day in Christmas, than Corn will fall in price: if it rise clear the third day in Christmas, there will only be dissension in the Church: if on the fourth day, it foreshows trouble unto young persons: if on the fifth day, it shows that many good things will increase: if on the sixth, doubtless every Garden will bring forth great plenty: if on the seventh, then is much dearth and scarcity to be feared: if it shine clear on the eight day in Christmas, then there is likely to be great store of Fish: if on the ninch, it will doubtless prove a good year for all manner of cattle: if on the tenth, the year is likely to yield much cause of mourning: if on the eleventh, there will fall much fogs, thick mists, and great infection will follow after. Lastly, if the Sun shine clear the twelfth day after Christmas, it foreshows much war and troubles, with great loss and bloodshed.  
Again, according to these former observations, you shall understand, 
Signs from the twelve days in Christmas.  that what weather shall fall or be on the six and twentieth day of December, the like weather shall be all the month of january after, what shall be on the seven and twentieth of December, the like shall be all the month of February following: what weather shall be on the eight and twentieth day of December, the like weather shall be all March following: what weather shall be the nine and twentieth day of December, the same shall be all April after: what on the thirtieth, the same all May: what on the one and thirtieth the like all june following: what weather shall fall on the first of january, the same shall be all july after: what on the second of january, the same all August after: what on the third, the same all September after: what on the fourth, the same all October following: what on the fifth, the same all November after, and what weather shall fall on the sixth of january, which is Twelft-day, the same weather shall fall all December following.  

Signs from Saint Paul's day.  Again, if Saint Paul's day prove fair, dry and bright, it foreshoweth plenty of all things the year following: but if it be misty than it shows great dearth of cattle. If there fall upon that day Snow or Raine, than it shows Famine and Want of Corn, but if it be windy, tempestuous, or if it thunder, than it showeth that great wars will follow.  

Signs from Maudlin, and Saint Swythens day.  Again, look what quantity of rain falleth either on Mary Maudlin's day, or on Saint Swithens day, be it more or less, the same proportion will fall for the space of forty days after: but if these two days be fair and dry all the time of Harvest will be so also.  

If Corn shall be cheap or dear.  Now if you will know whether Corn shall be cheap or dear, take twelve principal grains of Wheat out of the strength of the ear, upon the first day of january, and when the hearth of your Chimney is most hot, sweep it clean, then make a stranger lay one of those Grains on the hot hearth, then mark it well, and if it leap a little, Corn shall be reasonably cheap, but if it leap much then Corn shall be exceeding cheap, but if it lie still and mo●e not, than the price of Corn shall stand, and continue still for that month: and thus you shall use your twelve Grains, the first day of every month one after another, that is to say, every month one Grain, and you shall know the rising and falling of Corn in every month, all the year following.  
If it shall thunder much the first Sunday of the New-yéere, 
Signs from Thunder.  it shows great death and mortality amongst learned men: if it thunder the first Monday, it shows great death of women, and many Eclipses of the Sun: if it thunder on the first Tuesday, it shows plenty of Corn, but much War and dissension: if it thunder on the first Wednesday, it shows mortality and death amongst the worst sort of people, both Male and Female, besides much War and bloodshed: if it thunder on the first Thursday in the New-yéere, it showeth much plenty of Corn that will follow: if it thunder on the first Friday, it betokeneth the loss of great personages, and men of authority, many affrays and murders, with much peril and danger. Lastly, if it thunder upon the first Saturday in the New-yéere, it foreshoweth only a general plague and infection, which shall reign with strong violence.  
If you shall perceive the Summer and Spring time to fall out very moist and rainy, 
Signs of sickness or health.  without wind, yet in their own natures very hot & scorching, or if the Southern or Southwest-winde blow much without rain: if many fogs and mists fall in the Morning, and overcome the suns beams at noon also: if the Sun suffer any large Eclipse: if Autumn and Winter be more foggy than moist or cold: if the Dough or Leaven, of which you mould your bread, do quickly mould and cleave together without labour: if Dogs run mad, if Birds forsake their nests: if Sheep r●t: if Fens, 〈◊〉 grounds, and muddy places abound with Frogs: if Mudwals breed Swine lice or Sows: if moles forsake the earth: if the small Pocks or Meazels be ri●e and abound in the Spring time, or if women generally 〈◊〉 miscarry in childbed, any of these are most certain signs of much sickness and mortality that will follow the year after: and all such signs as are directly contrary to any of these, as if the Summer and Spring do fall out dry and windy: if the South or south-west wind bring with it ever rain: if no fogs or mists oppress the air, and so forth of all the rest which are before showed, are most certain and infallible tokens of a very wholesome and healthful year, which will ever follow after.  

The preservation of health.  Now for the preservation of your health, and to prevent all such sicknesses as are incident to follow in these casual and dangerous years: through every several month in the year you shall observe these few precepts.  
First, in the month of january you shall forbear to let blood, unless upon violent extremity, & that the sig●● be exceeding good for the same, you shall drink white wine in the morning fasting, & rub your head with a course Towel very hard, but yet clean, for it is a most wholesome friction.  
In the month of February, you shall not let blood for wantonness, but need: you shall forbear Hearbe-pottage, for at that time only they are least wholesome: you shall keep the soles of your feet from wet, and use every morning your former friction.  
In the month of March, the sign being good, you may let blood according to your youth, strength, and necessity: you may take hot and sweet meats and drinks, especially Almonds, Figs & Reyzins, & use also your former friction.  
In the month of April, you may bleed as in the month of March: in it also you may purge, by the order of a learned director: let your diet be hot and fresh meats, and your drink temperate: also in this month your former friction is exceeding wholesome.  
In the month of May be no sluggard, for the bed is unwholesome, cléerified Way is this month a most sovereign drink, and Sage with sweet Butter is a most excellent breakfast: young Lettuce is an approved good Salad, and the inthrals or offal of Beasts would by all means be refused, it is also good to let blood in this month only for necessity, and not for pleasure, and beware by all means, not to go weishooed in the dew in the morning.  
In the month of june observe the diet of May, or if you be of youthful blood it is not amiss if it be a little cooler, and for bleeding let it be for urgent necessity.  
In the month of july eschew all wanton bed-sport: and if each morning you take a draft of clarified Buttermilk it is very wholesome: use cool julyps, and meats that are fresh, and not stirring: now forbear Lettuce, and bleed not, except it be in cause of great extremity.  
In the month of August forbear all manner of Words, and cabbages, and generally all meats and Spices which are hot and inflaming: but by any means bleed not at all, except by the direction of most approved learning.  
In the month of September you may eat any sort of ripe Fruits: you may bathe in hot baths, for cold causes, at your pleasure, and you may let blood according to your necessity: those foods are best which are of lightest digestion, and those drinks most wholesome which are rather strong then scouring.  
In the month of October, spare not any blood, except great extremity compel you, and for your diet, let it be of such foods as are most strong and nourishing, and your drink Beer or Ale, of indifferent strength, and now and then at the midst, and end of meals, a draft or two of such Wines as are pleasant, strong, and wholesome: Salads of Flowers, preserved in vinegar & Sugar, as either Violets, Broome-flowers, or Gellyflowers of all kinds, or Sampyre, Purslan, or Beane-●ods, preserved in pickle, are of excellent use, both in this month, and the other two which follow.  
In the month of November open also no vain, but for great need, because the blood is then gathered together into the principal vessels: Bathing in this month is utterly to be refused, only let your body be kept warm, and every cold humour or obstruction, rather dissolved by moderate frictions, as is showed in the month of january and February, then by the violence of any other inward medicine. Shellfish in this month is very wholesome, and so are all other sorts of Fish, which are not too raw or slimy.  
In the month of December blood-letting should be also forborn, except upon some especial days, as after the five and twentieth day at the soon: and for your diet let it be meat which is hot and nourishing, but by no means that which breedeth melancholy blood. Use strong Wine and sharp Sauces: as for the warmth of your body, next unto good clothing, let it ever proceed from exercise that is moderate, then from toasting, or broiling yourself against the fire, for in this Month that body can hardly be sound whose shins are made pied and motley with the fires scorthcing.  
And thus much touching the experience of the English Husbandman in these foreknowledges, and aiming after the times to come, being drawn from the observations and rules left us by succession of times of those learned Fathers, and other best known and approved in these knowledges: yet I do not binde-every Husbandman to make as it were new Créeds of these Principles, but only to give them to his memory, as things that will neither oppress nor hurt it, and if in any seldome-séene particularity, any shall vary from the purpose of the relation, to remember that there is above us a God of all Truth and Knowledge, who will dispose and govern all things, according to his good Will and Pleasure: to which let every Creature submit, in as much as he only knoweth what is for mankind most best and most convenient.   

CHAP. II. The choice of ground for the Kitchin-garden, and the ordering thereof.  
A Promise honest and profitable, being seriously made, I hold a sin capital to neglect, especially where the goodness stretcheth itself over a whole Kingdom: and hence I have assumed to perfect both my promise and my labour in building up that weak foundation which I formerly laid, of the English Husbandman: wherein, contrary to all other Authors, I am neither beholden to Pliny, Virgil, Columella, Varo, Rutillius, Libault, nor any other Foreigner, but only to our own best experienced Countrymen, whose daily knowledge hath made them most perfect in their professions: and what better instruction can be had then that which we receive from the professors, being men of our own neighbourhood, acquainted with our Climate and Soil, and the necessary things agreeing with the bettering of the same? and not resort, as our Translators have done, to strangers help, who tells you that you must manure your ground with Ass' dung, when our Kingdom hath not so many four-footed Asses as will manure one Acre, and many such like things which our Kingdom affordeth not: therefore according to the plain true English fashion, thus I pursue my purpose.  
Touching the choice of Ground, 
The choice of Ground.  I have in the former part of this Book showed you the true nature and goodness of every several Soil: and you are to understand that the best Soil is best for this purpose, because it is least laboursome, and most profitable: yet notwithstanding that some of our translated Authors doth utterly disallow for Gardens many Soils, as namely, all Sands, all Chawkie earths, all Gravel, all Earth's like dust, and any Earth which chappeth or openeth in the heat of Summer, by that means depriving almost half our kingdom of the benefit of Gardens, yet I assure you there is no Soil whatsoever (if it lie from the inundation of water, or be not absolutely boggy) but with industry will bear any Fruit, Herb, or Flower, plentifully, and without any casualty proceeding from the 〈◊〉 thereof: witness a most worthy Garden in the barren Peake of Darbyshire, where there is no curious Tree or Plant wanting, nor do they flourish in any place more bra●●ly.  
Now for mine own part, I write generally to all Husbandmen, not to those only which live in fertile and fat Soils, and therefore I would have no man say, the Soil where I live is so barren, that I cannot have a Garden: for if the Soil wherein you live, be barren, 
The bettering of Grounds.  then shall you in the latter end of September break up your earth more than a Spade-graft deep, and be well assured that at every Spade-graft you break the moul● well, and leave not the roots of any weeds within it, th●● let it rest till the midst of October, at which time if ●●y weeds appear upon it, by all means let them be plucked up by the roots; which done, you shall trench your ground at least a yard and a half deep, and then bury in those trenches, 
The trenching of Grounds.  if it be a Sand or gravel earth, great store o● Ox or Cow manure, if it be a cold Chalky Clay, or a moist ground, then great store of Horse manure, of both which meanures the oldest and rottenest is the best: but if you live in such a Soil as there is neither of these meanures bred therein, then take straw of any kind whatsoever, and spread it in the highway where there is much travel, & when it is rotten with the beating of Horse feet, then cause it to be shoveld up, & with it fill your trenches, but if Straw be wanting, then if you have any muddy ditches or ponds, scour the mud out of them, & with it fill up your trenches: & although these are not so long lasting as the two first sorts of meanures, yet they are sufficient to bring forth increase, & must supply where necessity enforceth, always having discretion when you see your ground abate in fruitfulness, to replenish it with fresh manure.  
Now as you fill your trenches with manure, let one mix the earth therewithal, and as it were blend and incorporate them together: thus having gone over so much ground as you intent to plant or sow upon, you shall let it rest till the midst of january, at which time you shall break it up in trenches again, but not above three quarters of a yard deep, and then fill up those trenches with manure as before, and lay your earth as level as is possible, & so let it rest till the beginning of March (if the weather be seasonable for sowing or planting) otherwise let it stay till mid-March, and as soon as the Moon is changed you shall then dig it up the fourth time, and make it fit to receive your seed, but in this fourth time of turning over your earth, you shall dig it but a little better than a Spade-graft depth, and ever as you dig it, mix it with fresh manure: if your ground be subject to much chapping or rining, than you shall at this last digging mix the earth with ashes and Horse manure mixed together, which will bind and hold the earth from chapping.  
After you have digged your ground in this order, 
Of breaking the Garden mould.  and made it level, you shall with an Iron Rake break the great clods of earth, and bring it to as fine a mould as is possible, ever observing that if in the breaking of the clods or otherwise, you perceive the roots or stalks of any weeds to arise, you shall presently with your hand pull them out, and cast them on heaps, that they may serve either for the fire or the dunghill: 
Ordering of Garden beds.  which done, you shall tread out your beds in such orderly sort, that you may pass from one to the other without either treading upon the beds, or striding over them: & thus much for the barren & sterile ground, which although all ancient & late writers reject, as not worthy to be employed to this use, yet believe it, being husbanded as is said before, it will equal in fruitfulness the best ground.  
Touching your rich and perfect grounds, 
Of the fruitful Soil.  which of themselves are apt to put forth with little labour, you shall only at the latter end of September break up the Earth, and making greater Trenches, 〈…〉 with Ox manure, and then turning the Earth ●pon the manure, level your ground very carefully, br●●ke the clots and rake it very painfully, and their trende ●ut 〈◊〉 beds, as is before said, artificially: but if the ground which you break up, be either gréene-swarth, or much overgrown with weeds (as these rich soils must ever be the one or the other) (for they will not be idle, but continually bringing forth) then at this first digging and dunging you shall have divers which shall follow the Spade, who shall take away all manner of roots, gréenes, grasse-●ults, stones, or whatsoever may breed annoyance to the ground: which work being perfected, you shall let the ground ●est all winter till the beginning of March, that the frost may mellow and ripen the mould, and also kill the roots of such weeds as the Spade hath turned up, and have been omitted to be pulled away.  
Now so soon as March is come, upon the first change of the Moon, you shall dig up this Earth against, level it, and order it in all points as was said of the barren Earth, only there will need no more use of manure, but as soon as it is digged, raked, leveled, and brought into a fine mould, you may then tread out your Beds, as aforesaid, ever proportioning the quantity of them according to the quantity of your seeds, having the most of that which is most in use, and the least of the contrary.  
Now as touching the fencing and enclosing of your Garden, I have in the former Book showed you the same at large, and given several instructions, according to men's several abilities, with this caution, that whether your fence be wall, pale, dead-hedge, ditch, or quickset, yet it must be so high that it may with assurance keep all manner of Pullen from flying over the same, who are the greatest enemies to a Garden that may be.  

The necessariest Ornament in a Garden.  There would be also in this Kitchin-Garden, if with conveniency it may be brought to pass, either a Pump, Well, or Cistern, which might flow continually with water all the Summer time, for the watering of Herbs, as shall be hereafter declared. And thus much touching the choice of ground for a Kitchin-garden, and the ordering of the same.   

CHAP. III. Of the sowing and ordering of all manner of Potherbs.  
WHen you have prepared your ground, and cast your beds in an orderly fashion, as is before spoken, you shall then take your Seeds, which Seeds would by no means be above a year old: and having sorted them severally, every one by itself, and appointed the beds which shall severally receive them: you shall in this manner sow your Potherbs, which crave not much root, because their only benefit is in the leaf: take your seeds and put them into a wooden Tray, then take of your Garden mould, the finest that may be, being made almost as fine as ashes, and mix your Seeds, and that mould very well together, then go to the bed where you mean to bestow them, and having newly racked it (to stir up the fresh mould) with your hand sprinkle and sow them all over the bed, so thick as may be: which done, with a fine Rake, rake the bed gently over, then taking spare fine mould, put it into a riddling Sieve, and sift it over the bed better than two finger's thickness, and so let it rest: thus you shall do severally with every seed one after another, bestowing every one upon a several bed.  
Now for your Potherbs, 
Of all sorts of Potherbs.  which are most generally in use, they be these: Endive and Succory, which delight in moist ground, 
Of Endive and Succory.  and will endure the winter. Bleete of which there be two kinds, Red and White: this Herb never needeth wéeding, and if he be suffered to shed his seed it will hardly ever to be got out of a Garden.  

Of Beets.  Then Beets, which must be much weeded, for they lo●● to live by themselves, and if they grow too thick you may take them up when they are a finger long in their 〈◊〉 earth, and set them in another bed, and they will prosper much better.  

Landcresses.  Then land Cresses, which is both a good Potherbs and a good Sallet-Hearbe: it loveth shadowy places, where the Sun shineth least, and standeth in need of little dung.  

Parcely.  Then Parsley, which of all Herbs is of most use, it is longest in appearing above ground, and the elder s●●d is the quicker in growth, but not the surer; but either being once come up increase naturally, and do hardly ever decay: it cannot grow too thick, but as you use it you must cut off the tops with your knife, and by no means pull up the roots: if it be put into a little purse, and beaten against the ground, to bruise it a little before it be sown, it will make it have a large crisped leaf.  

Of Savoury.  Then Savoury, of which are two kinds, the Winter- Savoury, and Summer, both delight in lean ground, and are quick of growth, and long lasting.  

Of Time.  Then Time, of which are also two kinds, the running Time, and the Garden Time: they delight in fertile ground, and from the seed are very slow of growth, therefore it is best ever to set them from the ●lip. The running Time doth delight in the shadow, but the Garden Time in the Sun.  

French Mallows.  Then French- Mallows, which will joy in any ground, and are quick of growth.  

chervil.  Then chervil, which will not by any means grow with any other Herb.  

Of Dill.  Then Dill, which may be sown almost in any month of the year as well as March: it endureth all weathers, but loveth the warmth best.  

Of Isop.  Then Isop ● which in like manner as Time is, slow of growth from the seed, and therefore ●itter to be set from the slips, after it hath once taken root it increaseth wonderfully, and will hardly be destroyed.  
Then Mints, 
Of Mints.  which flourish only in the Summer time, but die in the Winter, it delighteth most in the moist ground.  
Then Violets, 
Violets.  the leaves whereof are a good Pot-hearb, and the Flowers preserved in close glass pots, with strong Wine-vinegar and Sugar, a most excellent Salad: it doth delight to grow high, and will grow speedily either from the plant or from the seed.  
Then Basill, 
Of Basill.  which would be sown in the warm weather, as at the beginning of May, for the seed is tender, and when you have sown it, you shall press the earth down upon it with your feet, for the seed can endure no hollowness: if you sow it at the fall of the Leaf, you shall sprinkle the seed with vinegar, and when you water it let the Sun be at his height.  
Then sweet Marjoram, 
Sweet Marjoram.  which would be sown on rich ground, and far from Sunshine, for it taketh no delight in his beams.  
Then Marigolds, 
Marigolds.  which renew every month, and endure the Winter as well as the Summer: this Herb the oftener you remove it, the bigger it groweth.  
Then Strawberries, 
Of Strawberries.  whose leaves are a good Pot-hear●e, and the fruit the wholesomest berry: this Herb of all other, would be set of the plant, and not sown from the seed, for the oft changing and removing of it causeth it to grow bigger and bigger: it groweth best under the shadows of other Herbs, but very sufficiently in beds, or else where.  
Then Borage and bugloss, 
Of Borage and bugloss.  both which are of one nature: they would be sown in small quantity, for where they take they will run over a whole Garden: the seed must be gathered when it is half ripe it is so apt to shed, and when you gather it you must pluck up the stalks, leaves & all, and so laying them one upon another three or four days, their own heat will bring the seed to ripeness.  

Of Rosemary.  Then Rosemary, which is an Herb tender and ●●●rious, yet of singular virtue: it is soon slain with frost or lightning: it will grow plentifully from the seed, but much better from the slip, it delighteth to be planted against some Wall where it may have the re●lection of the Sun, for to stand unpropped of himself, the very shaking of the wind will kill it.  

Of Penyroyal.  Then pennyroyal, which most properly is used to be mixed with Puddings, made of the blood of Beasts, & Oatmeal: of it there be two kinds, Male and Female: the Male beareth a white flower, and the Female a purple: it must be sown in small quantity, for it will run and spread overmuch ground: it delighteth most in moist earth.  

Of Leeks.  Then Leeks, which would have a fertile ground, and as soon as they be shot up a good length you shall cut the blades to the polt, and then remove the heads, and set them borderwise about your other beds: this removing after the cutting off the blades, will make them grow bigger, and prosper better, as for thrusting Oyster-shels or Tyle-shreads under them, to make the heads bigger, it is a toy, for if the mould be loose and good, the Leek will come to his perfect growth: they may be sown both in March, April, May, and june, and they may be removed all july, August, September and October.  

Of Onions.  Then Onions, which differ not much from the nature of leeks, they love a fertile Soil, and would be sown with the seeds of Savoury: when they come up if they grow too thick, as is often seen, you shall pluck up some and spend them in the Pot and in Salads, to give the rest more room, and some you shall take up and replant in other beds, which you may preserve for seed: those Onions which you would not have to seed, you shall cut off the b●ades in the midst, that the juice may descend downward, and when you see the heads of the Onions appearing above the earth, you shall with your feet tread them into the ground● there be some very well experienced Husbands, which will take the fairest, goodliest and soundest Onions they can get, and in this month of March set them three fingers deep in the earth, and these of all other bring forth the purest and best seed, for which purpose only they are preserved: as soon as your séed-Onions are knotted, you shall underprop them with square cradles, made of sticks, lest the weight of the bowls which carry the seed, should break the blades.  
The time of gathering your seed is, 
Of gathering Onion-seede, or the Onion.  when it is all turned purely black, and the time of gathering the Onions is, when the heads do forsake the earth, after they be gathered you shall lay them on a dry floor for a fortnight, or more, and then bind them up in ropes, and hang them where they may have the air of the fire, only note that shall gather your Onions in the increase of the Moon, as they were sown, and not otherwise.  
Many other Potherbs there be, which for as much as they differ nothing, either in sowing, planting, or ordering, from these which I have rehearsed, I will here omit them, and think this sufficient, touching the sowing and ordering of all manner of Potherbs.   

CHAP. FOUR Of the sowing of certain Herbs, which are to be eaten, but especially are medicinal, yet ever in the Husbandman's Garden.  
OF Herbs which are medicinal, 
Of Arage.  I will begin with Arage ● or Orache, which being cold and moist is very excellent against the hot Go●t: it is to be sown in any month, from February till December: it loveth much moisture, and therefore must be oft watered: it must be sown exceeding thin, and quickly covered, for the air is offensive.  

Of Lombary Loveage.  Next it is Lombary, Loveage, which being 〈…〉 dry, is very purgative, it desireth a very fruitful 〈◊〉 but if it be sown where it may have much 〈…〉 some shelter accompanied with moisture, it will 〈…〉 any ground, the months for sowing thereof, is, 〈◊〉 the midst of February till Harvest.  

Of Fennell.  Fennell is also hot and dry, and it comforteth the stomach, openeth the inward vessels, and helpeth digestion; it may be sown in any month, and upon any indifferent ground, especially if it be a little stony, the seed would not be very old, though of all other it be the longest la●ter.  

Of Anise.  Anise is hot and dry, it dissolveth humours and obstructions, and is very comfortable to weak stomachs, it delighteth in a good and loose mould, and is to be sown in the height of the Spring only.  

Of Coming.  Coming is of the nature of Anise and Fennel, and mixed with either, is very sovereign against all inward sicknesses proceeding from cold, it loveth a fruitful rich earth & much warmth, and therefore the later it is sown in the Spring, it is so much the better, and above all things it would be sown in the hottest time of the day, & if it be mixed with other seeds, it is so much the better, and appeareth the sooner.  

Of Coliander.  Coliander is of the nature of the earth, cold & dry, it helps digestion, & suppresseth vapours which offend the brain, it may be sown upon any indifferent ground, & in any month except December and january, the elder the seeds are the better so they be sound, and they desire much watering.  

Of Rue.  Rue or Hearb-grace is hot and dry, & is very sovereign against all inward infection, putrefactions, and impostumations, it joyeth in any reasonable ground so it grow warm and dry, the months fittest for the sowing thereof, is March, April or May, and the mould would be firm and not subject to ryving, whence it proceeds that no manure is so good for the increase thereof as horse-dung and ashes mixed together: the beds would be made high & descending, that no moisture may stay thereon, they must be carefully weeded, for in their first growth otherwise they are soon choked.  
Organie is hot and dry, 
Of Organie.  and excellent against any sickness of the liver, the ground in which it most joyeth would be a little stony, and full of rubbish, yet by no means undunged, the month fittest for the sowing thereof is March and September, the Moon being in Libra or any other moist sign, it must be continually watered till it appear● above the earth, but after forborn, for being once well fixed, it is ever certain.  
White Poppy is cold and moist, 
Of white Poppy.  and much provoketh sleep: it delights to be sown in a rich, warm, dry ground, in the months of March, September or November.  
Germander is hot and dry, 
Of Germander.  and excellent against the King's evil; obstructions of the Spleen and hardness of Urine; it is a hard herb, and will prosper in any ground, it is to be sown, either in the spring or fall of the leaf, and is most comely for the setting forth of knots in Gardens.  
Cardus Benedictus, 
Of Cardus Benedictus.  or the blessed Thistell, is hot and dry, it is very sovereign against most inward sicknesses, stauncheth blood, and is a great comforter of the brain, it delighteth in a rich ground and a loose well tempered mould, it must be sown very shallow, and not covered above two inches deep, the first quarter of the Moon is best to sow it in, and in the months of March, May or September, if you sow a little fine flaxen Wheat with it, no doubt but it will prosper the better.  
Angellica is hot and dry, 
Of Angellica.  it openeth and dissolveth obstructions, is an excellent cordial against poison, and all infections, it helpeth the colic, and cureth the biting of mad dogs or venomous beasts, it loveth a fruitful dry mould, but may not endure the trouble of weeds, it is to be sown in March or April, & it flourisheth in july & August, it hath a sweet odour, and helpeth all evil & infected airs.  
Valerian is hot & dry and preventeth infection, 
O● Valerian.  it helpeth stitches and other griefs proceeding from windy causes, it loveth to grow in moist and low places, the ground being well meanured, and fill it be shot at least a handful high, it must be kept with continual watering, the 〈…〉 of the year is the best to sow it in.  

Of Elecampana.  Elecampana, is hot and moist, and good for offences in the lungs, or any outward joint, being troubled with pain proceeding from cold: it is better much to be set th●● sown, yet notwithstanding it may safely enough be sown at any time after mid-March, the ground being rich● soft, and loose, and the seed strewed very thin, and ●t lest two fingers distance one from another.  

Of Pepperwort.  Pepperwort is hot and dry, yet of the two much more hot, it is good against all kind of aches, and other pain in the joints, or sinews: it delighteth in a rich black Soil, fat and loose: it would be sown in February, and removed in September.  

Of Philipendula.  Philipendula is very hot and dry, and is good against abortive births, Stone, Strangury, or any grief proceeding from cold causes: it may be sown in any barren, stony, or gravelly Soil, in the months of May, April, or September: it neither desireth much wéeding, nor much watering, but being once committed to the ground appeareth suddenly: and thus much of those Herbs which are fit for Medicine, of which though there be many others, yet they differ not in their ordering from these already declared.   

CHAP. V. Of divers sorts of Sallet-Hearbes, their manner of sowing and ordering.  

Of Lettuce.  AMongst the many numbers of Sallet-Hearbes I think it not amiss to begin first with Lettuce, which of all other whose virtue is held in the leaf, is most delicate, tender, and pleasant: the ground then in which it most delighteth, is that which is most fertile, best laboured, and of the finest mould, being soft, loose, and more inclining to moisture then dryness: it may be sown in any month of the year, from February to November; it is very quick of growth, and will appear above the earth in four days after the sowing: it would at first be sown thick, and carefully kept with morning and evening waterings, if the season be dry, but not otherwise: after it is grown and fair spread above the earth, which will be in a months space or thereabouts, you shall choose out the fairest and goodliest plants, and taking them up with the earth and all, about their roots, replant or remove them to a new bed of fresh mould, and there set them a foot distance one from another, and fix their roots fast and hard into the ground: then cover or press them down with tile or Slate stones, to make them spread and not spring upward, by which means the leaves will gather together, and cabbage, in a thick and good order, for it is to be understood, that the oftener you remove your Lettuce, the fairer and closer they will cabbage. There be divers which observe to remove Lettuce as soon as six leaves are sprung above the ground; but I like better to remove them when they begin to spindle: they are most esteemed in the months of April, May, and june, for in july they are supposed to carry in them a poisonous substance.  
Next the Lettuce I prefer the herb Spynage, 
Of Spynage.  which delighteth in a well-dunged earth, and may be sown in April, March, September, or October: it would not be mixed with other seeds, because it prospereth best alone.  
Asparagus joyeth in a fertile moist ground, 
Of Asparagus.  the mould being made light which covers it, and the ground well dunged, the Spring is the best time to sow it, and it must be sown in long furrows or trenches made with your finger, and not universally spread over the bed as other seeds are: it loveth moisture, but may not endure the wet to lie long upon it, and therefore the beds would a little descend it: must not be removed till the roots be so feltered together, that they hinder the new branches from springing up, which commonly is two years.  

Of coleworts.  coleworts or cabbage seed delighteth in any well husbanded handed ground, and may be sown in all sorts and seasons as Lettuce is, and must also in the like manner be removed, after the principal leaves are come forth, which will make them to gather together, and cabbage the better: and as they may be sown in any season of the year, so likewise they may be removed at all seasons likewise, except the frost or other unseasonable weather hinder you: and although some men will not allow it to be sown in clay grounds, gravel, chalk, or sand, yet they are deceived; for if the earth be well ordered, they will grow plentifully, only you must observe when you remove them to let them have earth room enough.  

Of Sage.  Sage is in Gardens most common, because it is most wholesome, and though it may be better set from the slip then sown in the seed, yet both will prosper, it loveth any well dressed ground, and may be sown either in February, March, September, or October: it loveth also to grow thick and close together, and will of itself overcome most weeds: it asketh not much dung, neither too great care 〈◊〉 watering, only it would be oft searched, for Toa●es and other venomous things will delight to lie under it, the more Sun and air it hath, the better it is.  

Of Purslane.  Purslane is a most excellent Salad herb, and loveth ● fertile soil, and though it may be sown almost in any month, yet the warmest is the best, as April, May, june, or Septemb. Buck ashes are an excellent manure for them, and for most Salad herbs else, but above all they love dry dust and house-swéepings, they are apt to shed their seed, whence it comes that a ground once possessed of them will seldom want them, they may also be removed, and will prosper much the better.  

Of Artichokes  Artychokes love a fat earth, and may be sown in February or March, the Moon increasing, the seeds must not be sown together, but set one by one a good distance asunder; they must lie somewhat deep, and be firmly covered; yet if you can procure them, I rather with you rather to set them from Slips or young Plants, then sow them from the seeds, for they do so naturally love the earth, that you can hardly slip so waste a leaf from an Artychoke as will not take root; if you sow the seed, you must be careful to weed and water them well, for the first leaves are very tender: also if you remove them after their first springing, the fruit will be bigger and better.  
Garlic is best in September and November, 
Of Garlic.  to be set from the clove, in & about the borders of beds, or other seeds, half a foot one from another, and in February, March, and April, to be sown from the seed: it must be ordered as you order Onion seed, it loves not much wet nor extreme drought, only it desires a good mould which is rich and firm, yet not too much dunged.  
Radish loveth a fertile ground, 
Of Radish.  that is well dunged, chiefly with man's ordure, that is deep trenched, and hath an easy and light mould, and the seeds would be placed either in rows, or about the borders of beds, as you do Garlic: the manner of sowing it is with a dibble or round stick, to make a hole into the ground almost a foot deep, and then into that hole to put not above two seeds at the most, and then close the hole up again, and let the holes be four fingers one from another, it may be sown in most months of the year if the frost hinder not, and to make the root large & tender, and to keep the branch from feeding; you shall as it springs crop off the principal leaves which grow against the heart of the root: to tread them down into the earth after they have fast root is good also.  
Navew, 
Of Navew.  if the earth have any small goodness in it will grow plentifully, neither is offended with any air, only the mould would be loose and rough, for otherwise it many times turneth to Rape: the seed naturally cometh up very thick, therefore it is expedient to remove them and plant them thinner, for that best preserveth their natures, they may be sown in February, March, April, September, or October.  

Of parsnip and Carrots.  parsnip or Carrots are of one and the self nature, they delight in a good fat earth, and would be sown reasonably thick, in long deep trenches like furrows, having a gentle and easy mould either in the month of january, February, or March, or in September, October, or December, they must be carefully well weeded, and if the earth be fat, they need not much watering or other attendance.  

Of pompions.  pompions, Gourds, or Melons, desire a very good ground, or by Nature or Art, the seeds must be sown very thin, as at least half a foot one from another, they would lie reasonably deep, yet the mould very gentle which covers them, they are subject to spread and run over much ground, therefore as they grow you must direct their stems, so as they may not annoy one another, and when they flower you shall lay broad Tiles or Slat● stones under them, that the fruit nor flower may not touch the earth; if you plash them up against trees or walls where they may have the reflection of the Sun, the fruit will be larger, pleasanter, and sooner ripe: they need no wéeding nor watering after you see them appear above the earth, and the best seasons to sow them in, is February, March, or April, those are the best pompions which have the smallest seeds, and are of the most yellowest complexion.  

Of th● cucumber.  cucumber, is a delicate, pleasant, yet very tender fruit, and delighteth in an extraordinary fat earth, especially during the opening or sprouting of the seed, therefore the best and most undoubted safest way for sowing them, is, first in some corner of your Kitchen garden to make a bed of two or three yards square of old Ox dung, and Horse dung mixed together, and at least a yard or better high from the earth, then cover this bed of dung with the richest garden mould you have, better than half a foot thick: then thereon place your seeds half a foot likewise one from another, and be most sure that your seeds be hard and sound (for any softness in them showeth rottenness) then cover them four fingers thick with the like mould: then within seven or eight days, after you shall see them appear above the earth, but in any wise let them continue still till the principal leaves be come forth, and they begin to creep out in length, then with your hand gripping the whole plant, take it up by the roots with the earth and all, and plant it in a bed new digged & trimmed for the purpose with a rich loose mould, and so replant and remove each root severally one after another, and they will grow and bring forth in great plenty. Now by the way you must observe, that as soon as you have sown your seeds you shall provide a Mat, Canvas, or other covering, which being placed upon stakes over the dung bed, shall every night after Sunset be spread over the same, and not taken away till the Sun be risen in the morning, for this will defend the seeds from frosts and other cold dews which are very dangerous. Now if any demand why these seeds are thus sown first on the bed of dung, they shall understand that besides the warmth and fertility thereof, that the seeds are so pleasant and tender, that worms and other creeping things in the earth will destroy them before they can sprout, which this bed of dung preventeth. The months most fit for sowing these seeds, are April, May, and june only, for other are much too cold, and in this manner you may sow any tender seed whatsoever.  
Beans of Egypt delight in a moist waterish ground, 
Of the Bean of Egypt.  rather fertile than any way given to barrenness, yet will plentifully enough prosper in any indifferent earth: they are rather to set then sow, because they must take strong root, and be fi●ed somewhat deep into the earth, and the month which is most proper for them, is the latter end of january, all February and the beginning of March only.  
Skirrets are a delicate root, 
Of Skirrets.  white, tender, and pleasant, little differing in taste or excellency from the Eringo. They delight in a rich mould, moist and well broken, and must be set deep in the earth: after they be a finger length above the ground they would be removed, and planted in a fresh mould, which will preserve them from speedy seeding, for when they run to seed, they lose the virtue of their root. The months fittest for the sowing of them, is March, April, and May, and if you desire to have them all Winter, you may then sow them it September and October. And thus much for Sallet-hearbs, and roots of all natures, of which kinds though there be divers other, yet you shall understand, all are to be ordered in the manner of these before rehearsed, that is to say, such as have their virtues in the stalk or leaves, like Spynage, Asparagus, Purslayn, and such like, those which cabbage or knit together in hard lumps, like Lettuce, coleworts, and such like, and those whose goodness lives in their roots, like Radish, Carrots, Skirrets, and such like.  

A most necessary observation.  Now for a most necessary observation, every Gardener ought to bear this rule in his memory, that all Potherbs must be sown thick, and but thinly covered, as namely not above three fingers: all herbs which cabbage must be sown thick, and deeper covered, as a full handful at least, and in their removing planted thin, and well fixed into the earth: and all roots must be sown thin and deep, as almost a foot either let into the ground, or strewed in deep furrows, digged and laid up for the purpose, in which the quantity of your seed must only direct you: for if you have occasion to sow hardly a handful, than you may set them one by one into the ground at your leisure, but if you have occasion to sow many Pecks or half Pecks, than you shall turn up your earth into deep furrows, and in the bottom thereof scatter your seed, and after rake it into a level, and you shall not only save much labour, but gain your purpose.   

CHAP. VI Of Flowers of all sorts both foreign and homebred, their sowing, planting, and preserving.  
Having written sufficiently of Potherbs and Sallet-hearbs, which are the ornaments of the Husbandman's Kitchen or Table, I will here speak of flowers, which either for their smells, beauties, or both, are the graces of his Chamber. And first, because my main aim and scope is English Husbandry, I will begin with those flowers which are most proper and natural for our climate, of which because I hold Roses both for their smell, beauties, and wholesomeness to exceed all other, I think it not amiss to give them the first place and precedency before all other.  
You shall understand then that Roses are generally and anciently but of three kinds, 
Of Roses.  the Damask, the red, and the white, and what are different from these are but derivations from them, being by grafting, replanting, and phisicking, somewhat altered either in colour, smell, or doubleness of leaf.  
To speak then first of the Damask Rose, 
Of the Damask Rose.  it is fit that all husbandmen know, that Roses may as well be sown from the seed, as planted from the root, Syen, or branch only, they are the slower in coming up, more tender to nourish, and much longer in yielding forth their flowers, yet for satisfaction sake and where necessity urgeth, if of force or pleasure you must sow it from the seed, you shall choose a ruffish earth loose and well dunged, and you shall cast up your beds high and narrow: the month which is fit for their sowing is September, and they must be covered not above four fingers deep, they must be defended well all the Winter from frosts and storms, and then they will bear their flowers plentifully all the next Spring following; yet this is to be noted, that all Roses which rise from the seed simply, their flowers will be single like the Eglantine, or Cyphanie, therefore after your plants are two years old, you must graft one into another, as you do other fruit, and that will make them double and thick: also you must remember that those yellow small seeds which are in the midst of the Rose, are not true Rose seeds, but those which lie hid in the round pear knob under the Rose, which as soon as the leaves are fallen away, will open and show the seed. And thus much touching the sowing of all sorts of Roses, which is for experience and knowledge sake only, for indeed the true use and property of the Rose is to be planted in short slips about fourteen inches long, and the small tassels of the root cut away, they would be set half a foot into the ground, in the same manner as you set ordinary Quickset, and of like thickness, rather a little slope-wise then upright: and though some think March the best season, yet doubtless September is much better for having the root confirmed all the Winter, they will bear the sooner and better all the Summer following; you must be careful to plant them in fair weather, and as near as you can under shelter as by the sides of walls, and such like covert where the Sun may reflect against them, and if they be planted on open beds or borders, than you must with Poles and other necessaries support and hold them up, lest the wind shake their roots and hinder their growing.  

Of the red Rose.  The red Rose is not fully so tender as the Damask, neither is it so pleasant in smell, nor doubleth his leaves so often; yet it is much more Physical, and oftener used in medicine, it is likewise fitter to be planted then sown, and the earth in which it most joyeth would be a little rough or gravelly, and the best compass you can lay unto it, is rubbish or the sweeping of houses, the months to sow or plant it in is March or September, & the time to prune and cut away the superfluous branches is ever the midst of October.  
The white Rose is of less smell than the red, 
Of the white Rose.  and will grow in a harder ground, his use is altogether in Physic as for sore eyes and such like: it will grow into a Tree of some big substance, and is seldom hurt with frosts, storms, or blast: it would likewise be planted from the root against some high wall, either in the month of February or March, and the oftener you plant and replant it, the doubler and larger the flower will be: for the earth it much skilleth not, because it will grow almost in every ground, only it delights most in the shadow, and would be seldom pruned, except you find many dead branches.  
The Cinnamon Rose, 
Of the Cinnamon Rose.  is for the most part sown, and not planted, whence it comes that you shall ever see the leaves single and little, the delicacy thereof being only in the smell, which that you may have most fragrant and strong, you shall take a vessel of earth, being full of small holes in the bottom and sides, and fill it with the richest earth you can get, being made fine and loose, then take Damask Rose seeds which are hard, and sound, and steep them four and twenty hours in Cinnamon water, I do not mean the distilled water, but fair Conduit water, in which good store of Cinnamon hath been steeped, or boiled, or milk, wherein good store of Cinnamon hath been dissolved, and then sow those seeds into the Pot, and cover them almost three fingers deep, than morning and evening till they appear above the earth, water them with that water or milk in which the seeds were steeped, then when they are sprung up a handful or more above the ground, you shall take them up mould and all, and having dressed a border or bed for the purpose, plant them so as they may grow up against some warm wall or pale, and have the Sun most part of the day shining upon them, and you shall be sure to have Roses growing on them, whose smell will be wonderful pleasant, as if they had been spiced with Cinnamon, and the best season of sowing these is ever in March, at high noon day, the weather shining fair, and the wind most calm.  

To make the Cinnamon Rose grow double.  Now if you would have these Roses to grow double, which is an Act yet hid from most Gardeners, you shall 〈◊〉 Michaelmas take the uppermost parts of the Plants from the first knot, and as you graft either Plum or Apple, so graft one into another, and cover the heads with earth or clay tempered with Cinamon-water, and they will not only grow double, but the smell will be much sweeter, and look how oft you will graft and 〈◊〉 graft them, so much more double and double they will prove.  

Of the Province Rose.  The Province Rose is a delicate flower for the eye more than the nose, for his oft grafting abateth his smell, but doubleth his leaf so oft that it is wonderful, therefore if you will have them large and fair, you shall take the fairest Damask Roses you can get, and graft them into the red Rose, and when they have shot out many branches, than you shall graft each several branch again with new grafts of another grafted Damask Rose and thus by grafting grafted upon graft, you shall have as fair and well coloured Province Roses, as you can wish or desire: and thus you may do either in the Spring or fall at your pleasure, but the fall of the leaf is ever held the best season.  

To make Roses smell well.  Now if your Roses chance to lose their smells, as it all happeneth through these double graftings: you shall then plant Garlic heads at the roots of your Roses, and that will bring the pleasantness of their scent unto them again.  

General notes touching Roses.  Now for your general observations, you shall remember that it is good to water your Roses morning and evening till they be gathered; you shall rather covet to plant your Roses in a dry ground then a wet; you shall give them much shelter, strong support, and fresh dung twice at the least every year, when the leaf is fallen, you shall cut and prune the branches, and when the buds appear you, then begin your first watering.  
Lavender is a flower of a hot smell, 
Of Lavender.  and is more esteemed of the plain Country housewife than the dainty Citizen: it is very wholesome amongst linen clothes, and would be sown in a good rich mould, in the months of March or April.  
The white Lily would be s●wen in a fat earth, 
Of the white Lilly.  in the months of October and November, or in March or April, and the seeds must be sown exceeding thin, not one by any means touching another, and the mould which covereth them must be sifted gently upon them.  
If you would have your lilies of a purple colour, 
To make lilies of any colour.  you shall steep your feeds in the lees of red wine, and that will change their complexion, and also you shall water the Plants with the same Lées likewise: if you will have them scarlet red, you shall put vermilion or Cynaber between the rind and the small heads growing about the root: if you would have them blue, you shall dissolve Azure or Byse between the rind and the heads, if yellow Orpment, if green verdigris, and thus of any other colour.  
Now to make them flourish every month in the year, 
To make lilies flourish all the year.  you shall sow your seeds some a foot deep, some half a foot, and some not two inches, so they will spring one after another, and flourish one after another.  
The wood Lilly or Lily of the vale, 
Of the wood Lilly.  delighteth most in a moist ground, and may be sown either in March or September, it is very fair to look on, and not so suffocating in smell as the other lilies are.  
The flower de Lys is of excellent beauty, 
Of the flower de Lice.  but not very pleasant to smell to, it loveth a dry ground & an easy mould, and is fittest to be sown in the month of March.  
Pyonie or the blessed Rose, 
Of Pyonie.  loveth a good fat earth being somewhat loose, and may be sown either in March or September, it asketh not much watering, only some support because the stalks be weak.  
Petillius or Indian eye, 
Of Petillius.  may be sown in any ground, for it desireth neither much water, nor much dung, and the best season for sowing, it is june or 〈…〉 it will bear flowers commonly all the Winter.  

Of Velvet flower.  Velvet flower loveth a rich fertile ground, and must be much watered: the season best for the sowing is Aug●st, 〈◊〉 commonly it will bear flowers all the Winter.  

Of Gylliflowers.  gilly-flowers are of divers kinds, as pinks, Wall-flowers, Carnations, Clove-gilliflowers, and a world of others, which are of all other flowers most sweet and delicates all but the Wall-gilliflower love good fertile earths, and may be sown either in March, july, or August. They are better to be planted of Slips then sown, yet both will prosper. They are very tender, and therefore the best planting of them is in earthen Pots, or half Tubs, which at your pleasure you may remove from the shade to the Sun, and from the roughness of storms to places of shelter, they grow up high on long slender stalks, which you must defend and support with square cradles made of sticks, lest the wind and the weight of the flowers break them: these gilly-flowers you may make of any colour you please, in such sort as is showed you for the colouring of lilies, and if you please to have them of mixed colours you may also, 
Of grafting of Gylliflowers.  by grafting of contrary colours one into another: and you may with as great ease graft the Gylliflower as any fruit whatsoever, by the joining of the knots one into another, and then wrapping them about with a little soft sleeved silk, and covering the place close with soft red Wax well tempered. And you shall understand that the grafting of Gylliflowers maketh them exceeding great, double, and most orient of colour.  

Of the smells of Gylliflowers.  Now if you will have your Gylliflowers of divers smells or odours, you may also with great ease, as thus for example: if you will take two or three great cloves, & steep them four and twenty hours in Damask Rose water, then take them out and bruise them, and put them into a fine Cambric rag, and so bind them about the heart root of the Gylliflower, near to the setting on of the stalk, and so plant it in a fine, soft, and fertile mould, and the flower which springeth from the same, will have so delicate a mixed smell of the Clove and the Rose-water, that it will breed both delight and wonder. If in the same manner you take a stick of Cinnamon, and steep it in Rose water, and then ●ruise it, and bind it as aforesaid, all the flowers will smell strongly of Cinnamon: if you take two grains of fat Musk, and mix it with two drops of Damask Rose water, and bind it as aforesaid, the flowers will smell strongly of Musk, yet not too hot nor offensive, by reason of the correction of the Rose water: and in this sort you may do either with Ambergris, Storax, Benjamin, or any other sweet drug whatsoever; and if in any of these confections before named, you steep the seeds of your Gylliflowers four and twenty hours before you sow them, they will take the same smells in which you steep them, only they will not be so large or double, as those which are replanted or grafted.  
Now for your Wall-Gylliflower, 
Of the Wall-Gylliflower.  it delighteth in hard rubbish, limy, and stony grounds, whence it cometh that they covet most to grow upon walls, pavements, and such like barren places. It may be sown in any month or season, for it is a seed of that hardness, that it makes no difference betwixt Winter and Summer, but will flourish in both equally, and beareth his flowers all the year, whence it comes that the Husbandman preserves it most in his bee-garden; for it is wondrous sweet, and affordeth much honey. It would be sown in very small quantity, for after it have once taken root, it will naturally of itself overspread much ground, and hardly e●er after be rooted out. It is of itself of so exceeding a strong and sweet smell, that it cannot be forced to take any other, and therefore is ever preserved in its own nature.  
The Helytropian or flower of the Sun, 
Of the Helytropian.  is in nature and colour like our English Marigold, only it is exceeding huge in compass, for many of them will be twenty, and four and twenty inches in compass, according to the fertileness of the soil in which they grow, and the oft replanting of their roots, they are exceeding 〈…〉 on, and pleasant to smell, they open their flowers at the rising of the Sun, and close them again at the 〈◊〉 setting, it delighteth in any soil which is fertile 〈◊〉 by Art or Nature, and may be sown in any 〈◊〉 from February till September, the oft planting 〈◊〉 replanting of the root after it is sprung a handful from the earth, maketh it grow to the uttermost bigness, it would have the East and West open upon it, only 〈◊〉 small Penthouse to keep the sharpness of the 〈◊〉 from it.  

Of the Crown Imperial.  The Crown Imperial, is of all flowers both Foreign and homebred, the delicatest and strangest: it hath the true shape of an Imperial Crown, and will be of divers colours, according to the Art of the ●ar●ner. In the midst of the flower you shall see a 〈◊〉 Pearl stand, in proportion, colour, and orientnesse, li●● a true natural Pearl, only it is of a soft liquid substance: This Pearl if you shake the flower never so violently will not fall off, neither if you let it continue never so long, will it either increase or diminish in ●he bigness, but remaineth all one: yet if with your finger you take and wipe it away, in less than an h●●re after you shall have another arise in the same place, and of the same bigness. This Pearl if you taste it upon your tongue, is pleasant and sweet like honey: this flower when the Sun ariseth, you shall see it look directly to the East, with the stalk bent low thereunto, and as the Sun ariseth higher and higher, so the flower will likewise ascend, and when the Sun is come into the Meridian or noon point, which is directly over it, then will it stand upright upon the stalk, and look directly upward, and as the Sun declineth, so will it likewise decline, and at the Sun setting look directly to the West only. The seeds of this flower are very tender, and therefore would be carefully sown in a very rich and fertile earth well broken and manured. The seasons most meet for the same, is the latter end of March, April, or May, for the flowers flourish most in May, june, and july. As soon as it is sprung a handful above the earth; you shall remove it into a fr●sh mould, and that will make it flourish the braver: the root of this flower is like an Apple, or great flat Onion, and therefore in the replanting of it, you must be careful to make a hole large and fit for the same, and to fire the mould gently and close about the same. In the Winter it shrinketh into the earth, and is hardly or not at all discerned, by means whereof I have seen divers supposing it to be dead, to dig up the earth, and negligently spoil the root, but be not you of that opinion, and in the Spring you shall see it arise and flourish bravely.  
The Dulipo is but a little short of the Crown Imperial in pleasantness and rareness, 
Of the Dulipo.  for you may have them of all colours whatsoever, in such sort as was showed you for the lilies, Gylliflowers, and other roots: they are tender at their first springing from the seed, and therefore must be sown in a fine rich mould, in the warmth of the Sun, either in March, April, or May: but after they are once sprung above the ground, they are reasonable hard, and will defend themselves against most weathers: the root of this flower is shaped like a Pear, with the biggest end downward, and many small threads at the bottom; therefore you must be sure when you remove or replant it, to cover all the root in fresh mould, and let not any part of the white thereof be uncovered: this flower by monthly replanting, you may have to flourish in all the Summer months of the year, for in the dead of Winter it shrinketh into the ground, and is hardly or not at all perceived, the stalks of these flowers are weak, therefore to support them, and defend them from the shake of the winds with little square frames of sticks, will be very good 〈◊〉 ●●cessary, it must be oft watered.  

Of the Hyacinth.  The Hyacinth is a flower more delicate to the eye then nose, and is of a good strong nature, for it will ●ndure any reasonable earth, and may be sown in any ●●neth of the Spring, from the beginning of February till mid june: it only hateth tempests and storms, and therefore is commonly sown or planted near unto walls or other shelter. You may have them of any colour you please, as is showed before of other flowers, and in this alteration or mixture of colours their greatest glory appeareth, they will flourish all the Summer long, and if they stand warm, appear very early in the Spring.  

Of the Narcissus.  The Narcissus is a very curious and dainty flower, and through his much variety and alteration in growing, they are supposed to be of divers kinds, but it is not so; for in as much as they are seen to be of divers colours, that is but the Art of the Gardener, as is before expressed in other flowers, and whereas some of them grow single, some double, and some double upon double, you shall understand that such as grow single, grow simply from the seed only, those which are double and no more, are such as have been planted and replanted, the small threads of the roots being clipped away, and nothing left about it that is superfluous, and those which are double upon double, are the double plants grafted one into another. This Narcissus loveth a rich warm soil, the mould being easy and light, it may be sown in any month of the Spring, and will flourish all the Summer after. Before it appear above ground it would be oft watered, but after it sa●●s not how little, for it will defend itself sufficiently.  

Of the Daffodil, Colombine, and Chesbole.  Not unlike unto this is your Daffodil of all kinds and colours, and in the same earths and seasons delighteth either to be sown or planted, and will in the same manner as your Narcissus double and redouble his leaves; so will your Colombine, your Chesbole, and almost any hollow flower whatsoever. Many other foreign flowers there are which grow plentifully in our Kingdom: but the order of their planting and sowing differeth nothing from these which I have already declared, being the most tender and curious of all other, 
An excellent Caution.  therefore I will end this Chapter with this one caution only, that when you shall receive any seed from any foreign Nation, you shall learn as near as you can the nature of the soil from whence it cometh, as hot, moist, cold, or dry it is, and then comparing it with ours, sow it as near as you can in the earth, and in the seasons that are nearest to the soil from whence it came, as thus for example: if it came from a clime much hotter than ours, then shall you sow it in sandy mould or other mould made warm by strength of manure, in the warmest time of the day, and in those months of the Spring, which are warmest, as April or May, you shall let it have the Sun freely all the day and at night, with Mats, Penthouse, or other defence shield it from sharp winds, frosts, or cold dews.  
I have seen divers Noblemen and Gentlemen, 
A new manner of planting flowers and fruits.  which have been very curious in these dainty flowers, which have made large frames of wood with boards of twenty inches deep, standing upon little round wheels of wood, which being made square or round according to the Master's fancy, they have filled with choice earth, such as is most proper to the flower they would have grow, and then in them sow their seeds, or fix their Plants in such sort, as hath been before described, and so placing them in such open places of the Garden, where they may have the strength and violence of the suns heat all the day, and the comfort of such moderate showers, as fall without violence or extraordinary beating, and at night draw them by man's strength into some low vaulted gallery joining upon the Garden, where they may stand warm and safe from storms, winds, frosts, dews, blast, and other mischiefs which ever happen in the suns absence, and in this manner you may not only have all manner of dainty outlandish flowers, but also all sorts of the most delicatest fruits that may be, as the Orange, Limond, pomegranate, Poncythron, Cynamontree, Olive, Almond, or any other, from what clime so ever it be derived, observing only but to make your frames of wood, which contains your earth, but deeper and larger, according to the fruit you plant in it, and that your Alleys through which you draw your Trees when you house them be smooth and level, least being rough and uneven, you jog and shake the roots with the weight of the Trees, which is dangerous. And lest any man may imagine this but an imaginary supposition, I can assure him that within seven miles of London, the experiment is to be seen, where all these fruits and flowers with a world of others grow in two Gardens most abundantly. Now for such flowers or fruits as shall be brought from a colder or more barren ground then our own, there needeth not much curiosity in the plantation of them, because a better ever bringeth forth a better increase, only I would wish you to observe, to give all such fruits or flowers the uttermost liberty of the weather, & rather to add coolness by shadow, then increase any warmth by reflection, as also to augment showers by artificial waterings, rather then to let the root dry for want of continual moisture; many other notes and observations there are, which to discover, would ask a volume larger than I intent, and yet not be more in true substance, than this which is already writ, if the Reader have but so much mother-wit, as by comparing things together, to draw the uses from the true reasons, and to shun contrary by contraries, which what Husbandman is so simple, but he can easily perform, and having the true grounds of experience, frame his descant according to his own fancy, which is a Music best pleasing to all men, since it is not in any one man's power to give a general contentment. And thus much for flowers, and their general and particular ordering.   

CHAP. VII. How to preserve all manner of seeds, herbs, flowers, and fruits, from all manner of noisome and pestilent things which devour and hurt them.  
IT is not enough to bequeath and give your seeds unto the ground, and then immediately to expect (without any further industry) the fruit of your labours, no goodness seldom cometh with such ease: you must therefore know that when you lay your seeds in the ground, they are like so many good men amongst a world of wicked ones, and as it were environed and begirt with main Armies of enemies, from which if your care and diligence do not defend them the most, if not all, will doubtless perish, and of these enemies the worst and most violentest is Thunder and Lightning, 
Of Thunder and Lightning.  which in a moment killeth all sorts of flowers, plants, and trees, even in the height and pride of their flourishing, which to prevent, it hath been the practice of all the ancient Gardeners, to plant against the walls of their Gardens, or in the midst of their quarters, where their choicest flowers grow, the Laurel or bay Tree, which is ever held a defence against those strikings.  
Next unto Thunder and Lightning are Caterpillars, 
Of Caterpillars.  which are a kind of filthy little worms, which lie in Cobwebs about the leaves, devouring them, and poisoning the sap, in such sort, that the Plant dieth speedily after: the way to kill these, is to take strong Urine and Ashes mixed together, and with it to dash and sprinkle all the Plants clean over, and it will both prevent their breeding, or being bred will kill them: the smoke of Brimstone will do the like, yet if they be exceeding much abundant, the surest way to destroy them, is to take old, rotten, mouldy Hay, and setting it on fire, with the blaze thereof burn the Cobwebs, and then with the smoke smother and kill the worms, and they will hardly ever breed in that place again.  

Of Toads and Frogs.  Next these are Toads and Frogs, which are very poisonous and great destroyers of young Plants, chiefly in their first appearing above the ground, and the ancient Gardeners have used to destroy them by burning the fat of a Stag in some part of the Garden beds, from which earth all creatures that have poison in them, will fly with all violence: other Gardeners will watch where the Kite percheth on nights, and gathering up her dung, scatter it upon the beds either simply, or mixed with the shavings of an old Heart's horn, and no venomous thing will come near it.  

Of the field Myce.  Next these are field mice, which will root seeds out of the earth, and devour them abundantly, which to kill you shall take Henbane seed, and beat it to powder, and then mixing it with sweet Oil, fresh Butter, or Grease, make thereof a bait; and when you find where they scratch or root, lay some part of the bait in that place, and they will greedily eat it, and it will kill them: there be other Gardeners which will take a Wéesell, and burning it to ashes, scatter the ashes on the beds, and then no field Mouse will come near them.  

Of Flies.  Next these are Flies, as flesh- Flies, Scarabs, Hornets Doors, and such like, which are great destroyers of Seeds and Plants, when they appear in their first leaf, and are soft and tender, which to destroy, you shall either take Orpment mixed with milk, or the powder of Allome, or the ashes of any of these Flies burnt, and with it sprinkle your beds and young plants all over, and it will keep Flies that they will not dare to come near them.  

Of the green Fly.  If the green Fly, which of all other Flies is most greedy to hurt Seeds and Plants, do offend your Garden, you shall take Henbane leaves, Houseleek, and Mints, and beat them in a Mortar, then strain forth the juice, and then add thereto as much vinegar as was of all the rest, and therewith sprinkle your beds all over, and the green Fly will never come near them. Some hold opinion, that if you plant the herb Rocket in your Garden, that it is a safe preservative against these gr●eacute; even Flies, for it is most certain that the very smell thereof will kill these, and most sorts of all other Flies whatsoever, as hath been found by approved experience, and the sylts of old ancient Abbey Gardens, which a man shall seldom find without this herb planted in them.  
Next these are Gnats, 
Of Gnats.  which although it be the smallest of all Flies, yet it is the greatest, quickest, and sharpest devourer of tender Plants of all other, for it biteth deeper and more venomously sharp, than those which are of much bigger substance: the best way to destroy them is morning and evening, to smoke and perfume your beds either with wet Rosemary, or with mouldy Hay: some use to burn Calamint, and some Ox dung, and sure all are very good, for the smokes are very sharp, and styflle as soon as it is received.  
Next these are Pismyers, 
Of Pismyers.  which also are very noisome unto Gardens, for they will dig up, and carry away the smaller seeds to their hills, and in shrot space spoil and deface a bed of his increase, and the best way to destroy them, is, if you find their hill, to pour hot scalding water upon them: or if upon your Garden beds you strow Ashes or Lime, but especially that which is made of chalk, they will by no means come near them, as you shall find by experience.  
Next these are moles, 
Of moles.  which digging and undermining the earth, turneth up Seeds and Plants in a confused fashion, to the utter destruction and ruin of the Husbandman's labour, the cure whereof is to take them in such sort, as shall be showed in this Book, where I speak of Pasture grounds; but if you find that their increase and continuance multiply with your labour, it shall be then good for you to plant in divers places of your Garden the herb called Palma Christi, in other places Garlicke● and in other places Onions, and it is an assured rule that no Mole will come near where they grow for the strength and violence of their smell, is poisonous and deadly to those blind vermins.  

Of Snails.  Next these are Snails of both kinds, black and white, which are as much offensive to Gardens, as any other crawling thing, for they feed of the tender leaves of plants, and of the outmost rinds of the daintiest herbs or flowers, the way to destroy them, is to sprinkle upon the beds and other places of their abode good store of chimney soot, which by no means they can endure, because it is mortal and poisonous.  

Of Moths.  Next these are Moths or Moaghts, which are very pernicious in a Garden, for they destroy both Seeds and Plants, and there is no better or more certain way to kill them, then by taking old horse hooves, and burning them, with the smoke thereof to perfume all the places where they abide, and it will in an instant kill them; with this smoke only you may keep Arras hanging, tapistry, Néedle-worke, Cushions, or Carpets, or any woollen cloth or garment whatsoever safe from Moths as long as you please, neither need you to use it above once or twice a year at the most, as shall be more at large in another place declared.  

Of Cankers.  Next these are Cankers, which are a kind of filthy worms, which devour both the great and small leaves of all sorts of sweet Plants, especially Lettuce, Cabbadge, Colaflours, and such like; and the way to destroy them, is to scatter amongst your Plants, Goose-dung, or to sprinkle the juice thereof with a wisp of Rue, or herb of Grace over all the beds, and though some with a rusty knife use to scrape them from the leaves, and so kill them on a Tyle-shread, ye● for my part I hold this the nearer way, and both more certain and more easy, as experience will approve.  
Lastly, are your Garden Worms which living in the hollows of the earth feed much upon your tender Garden seeds, 
Of Garden Worms.  and the soft sprouts which first issue from them, especially from all sorts of kernels, in which they delight more than in any other seed whatsoe●er, as you may find by experience, if you please to observe accidents as they happen, without which observation you shall hardly attain to the perfection of an excellent Gardner: 
An excellent experiment.  for if you please to make this trial, take the kernels of a fair sound Pippin, and divide them into two parts, then low the one half in a Garden bed well dressed and trimmed for the purpose, where the worm hath liberty to come and go at his pleasure, sow the other half in some riven bowl, earthen pot, or half Tub, made for the purpose with the same earth or mould that the bed is, and then set the vessel so as no worm may come thereunto, and you shall find that all those Seeds will sprout and come forth, when hardly any one of those in the bed of earth will or can prosper, there being no other reason but the extreme greediness of the devouring worm, which to prevent, you shall take Ox dung, and burn it to ashes, then mix them with the earth wherewith you cover your Seeds, and it will both kill the worms, and make the Seeds sprout both sooner and safer. And thus much for the preservation of Seeds and Plants, from all noisome and pestilent creatures, which being practised with care and diligence, will give unto every honest mind the satisfaction he desireth.  
Now to conclude this small tract or Treatise of the Husbandman's Kitchen Garden, 
The conclusion of the Kitchen Garden.  I would have every honest Reader understand, that I have not taken upon me to model out any curious shape or proportion, but only figured out a perfect nursery, showing you how to breed and bring up all things fit for health or recreation, which being once brought to mature and ripe age, you may dispose into those proper places which may become their worthiness, in which work I would have your own fancy your own director, for I may give pre-eminence to that you least like, and disestéeme that most which to you may seem most worthy, therefore let your own judgement order your Garden, like your house, and your herbs like your furniture, placing the best in the best places, & such as are most conspicuous, and the rest according to their dignities in more inferior rooms, remembering that your galleries, great chambers, and lodgings of state do deserve Arts, your Hall Wainscot, and your meanest offices some Boscadge, or cleanly painting: from this alligorie if you can draw any wit, you may find without my further instruction how to frame Gardens of all sorts to your own contentment.    

THE SECOND PART OF THE SECOND BOOK of the English Husbandman: Containing the ordering of all sorts of Woods, and the breeding of cattle.  

CHAP. I. Of the beginning of Woods, first sowing, and necessary use.  
IT is a Maxim held in Plantations, that no land is habitable, which hath not Wood & Water, they two being as it were the only nerves & strength of a man's safe and wholesome living, and I have heard many wise Gentlemen, exercised, and engaged, in the most noble and ever laudable works of our new Plantations, 
Wood better than Gold.  both of Virginia and the Summer- islands affirm, that they had rather, for a general profit, have a fertile wholesome land, with much wood, then (wanting wood) with a Mine of gold: so infinite great is the use of Timber (whose particulars I need not rehearse) and so insufferable is the want, when we are any way pinched with the same. And hence it springeth that our old ancestors (whose virtues would God we would in some small measure imitate) when they found any hard and barren earth, such as was unapt for grass, or at least such as bar● but grass that would keep life, not comfort life, they presently ploughed it up, and sowed thereon Acorns, Ash-keyes, Maple knots, beech apples, Haws, sloes, Nuts, Bullis, and all other seeds of trees in innumerable quantity, as may appear by the Forests of Del la mere, Sherwood, King's wood, and many other within this kingdom of huge great spaciousness and compass, from whom when the wood is spoiled, the soil serveth to little or no purpose, except it be the keeping alive of a few poor sheep, which yield but little profit more than their carcase. Thus even from the first age of the world hath our forefathers been ever most careful to preserve and increase wood, and for mine own part I have ever observed in all those places where I have seen Woods decayed and destroyed, that the charge of stubbing and other necessaries allowed; those lands have never again yielded the former profit, for the greatest exhaustment that ever I saw of wood ground was to bring it to ten shillings an Art when it was converted to pasture, and being kept to wood, it was worth every seaventéenth year one and twenty pound. A simple Auditor may cast the account of this profit, but such is our greediness, that for our instant use we little respect the good of ours, or our neighbours: But it is no part of my Books method to call offences to question, but only to right the Husbandman in his 〈◊〉 to ordinary profit. Know then that there is nothing more profitable to the Husbandman, 
The excellent uses of Wood  than the increasing and nourishing of wood; from whence (as our common laws terms it) springs these three boots or necessary commodities, to wit Houseboote, Plowe-boote, and Fire-boote, without the first we have neither health, covert, ease, nor safety from savage beasts: without the second we cannot have the fruits of the earth, nor sustenance for our bodies, nor without the last can we defend off the sharp Winters, or maintain life against the numbing colds which would confound us. The consideration of these three things only, might induce us to the preservation of this most excellent commodity: but the other infinite necessities & uses which we make of wood, as shipping, by which we make ourselves Lords of the Seas: fencing which is the bond of concord amongst neighbours: solution & trial of Mines, from whence springs both our glory in peace, and our strength in war, with a world of others suitable unto them, should be motives unresistible to make us with all diligence hast to the most praiseworthy labour of planting wood, in every place and corner, where it may any way conveniently be received.  
If then the Husbandman shall live in a high barren Country (for low-valleyes, 
The plantation of Wood  marshes, or such grounds as are subject to inundations, seldom nourish wood well) or in a soil though not utterly barren, yet of so hard and sour increase, that the hearbage doth in the profit but in small quantity, I would wish him after a general trial of his earth, to divide it into three equal parts, the first and the fruitfullest I would have him preserve for pasture for his cattle of all kinds: the second and next in fertility for corn, being no more than those cattle may till, and the last & most barren to employ for wood: which though he stay long for the profit, yet will pay the interest double. And this ground thus chosen for wood, I would have him plough up from the swarth about the latter end of February, and if it be light earth, as either sand, gravel, or a mixed hazel earth, then immediately to sow it with Acorns, Ash-keyes, Elm & Maple knots, beech-apples, Chestnuts, Ceruisses, Crabs, Pears, Nuts of all kinds, Haws, Hips, Bullice, sloes, and all manner of other wood seeds whatsoever, and as soon as they are sown with strong Ox harrows of iron, to harrow and break the earth, in such fort, that they may be close and safely covered. And in the ploughing of this earth, you must diligently observe to turn up your furrows as deep as is possible, that the seed taking strong and deep root, may the better and with more safety increase, and defend itself against storms and tempests, whereas if the root be but weakly fixed, the smallest blasts will shake the Trees, and make them crooked, writhen, and for small use but fire only.  

The fencing of young woods.  After you have harrowed your earth, and laid your seed safe, you shall fence your ground about with a strong and large fence, as hedge, ditch, pale, or such like, which may keep out all manner of four-footed b●asts, for coming within the same, for the space of ten years after: for you shall understand, that if any cattle shall come where young wood is peeping above the earth, or whilst it is young, tender, and soft, they will naturally crop and browse upon the same, and then be sure that the wood which is so bitten, will never prosper or spring up to any height, but turn to bushy shrubs and ill-favoured tufts, pestering the ground without any hope of profit, whereas if it be defended and kept safe the space of ten years at the least, it will after defend itself, 
When cattle may graze in Springs.  and prosper in despite of any injury: and then after that date you may safely turn your cattle into the same, and let them graze at pleasure, and surely you shall find it a great relief for your young beast, as your yearling Haiffers, Bullocks, Colts, F●●lies, and such like: for I would not wish you to let any elder cattle come within the same, because the grass though it be long, yet it is sour and scouring, and by that means will make your cattle for labour weak and unhealthy, whether it be Ox or Horse, and for much-kines, it will instantly dry up their milk, but for idle hilding beasts, whose profit is coming after, it will serve sufficiently.  

The use of the clay ground for Wood  Now if the earth whereon you sow your wood, be a stiff clay ground, and only barren through the extremity of cold, wet, or such like, as is seen in daily experience: you shall then plough up the ground at the end of januarie in deep furrows, as is before rehearsed; and then let it rest till it have received two or three good Frosts, then after those Frosts some wet, as either snow or rain, and then the next fair season after sow it, as aforesaid, and harrow it, and you shall see the mould break and cover most kindly, which without this bait, and order, it would not do, then fence it as aforesaid, and preserve it from cattle for ten years after.  
And here is to be noted that one Oak growing upon a clay ground, 
A special note.  is worth any five which grows upon the sand, for it is more hard, more tough, and of much longer endurance, not so apt to tear, rive, or consume, either with lime, Rubbish, or any casual moisture, whence it comes that ever your Shipwrights or Mill-wrights desire the clay Oak for their use, and the joiner the sand Oak for smoothness and wainscot. And thus much for the sowing of Wood, and his general uses.   

CHAP. II. The division of underwoods, their sale, and profit.  
Whosoever be a Lord or Master of much under-wood, which is indeed young spring-wood of all kinds, growing thick and close together, either from the seed, as is declared in the former Chapter, or from the roots of former salles, the first being a profit begotten by himself, the other a right left by purchase or inheritance, and desire, as it is the duty of every virtuous husband, to make his best and most lawfullest profit thereof, having not left unto him any precedent of former commodity. 
The division of Woods.  In this case you shall survey the whole circuit of your wood, with every corner and angle there unto belonging, and then as your ability and the quantity of your ground shall afford, you shall divide your whole wood either into twelve, seaventéene, or one and twenty parts of equal Acres, roods, or Rods, and every year you shall sell or take to your own use one of those parts, so that one following yearly after another, our sales may continue time out of mind, and you shall employ as you please so much wood every year of either twelve, seaventéene, or one and twenty years growth. And in this you shall note that the sale of one and twenty, doth far exceed that of seaventéene, and that of seventeen as far that of twelve: but in this it is quantity, and your necessity that must direct you, and not my demonstration: for there be few Husbands but know that an Acre of one and twenty years growth, 
The value of under-wood.  may be worth twenty, nay thirty pounds, that of seaventéene worth eight or ten pounds, and that of twelve, five and six pounds, according to the goodness of the wood, insomuch that the longer a man is able to stay, the greater sure is his profit: but fuel and fence must of necessity be had, and if a man have but twelve acres of wood, I see not but he must be forced to take every year one acre for his own relief, and if he take more, he must either necessarily spoil all, or drive himself into extreme want in few years following: and therefore it is meet that every good husband shape his garment according to his cloth, and only take plenty where plenty is; yet with this husbandly caution that ever the elder your sale is, the richer it is, as you may perceive by the well husbanded Woods of many bishoprics in this land, which are not cut but at thirty years growth.  

Of the sale of underwoods.  When you have made your divisions according to your quantity, you shall begin your sale at an outside where carriages may enter without impeachment to the springs you intent not to cut, and a pole or half pole according to the quantity of ground, you shall preserve (being next of all to the outmost fence) to repair the ring fences of your Wood, and to separate the new sale from the standing Wood: and this amongst woodward's is called Plash-pole. Then at the latterend of januarie you may begin to cut down your under-wood, and sell it either by acres, roods, perches, poles, rods, or dozen, according to the quantity of your earth, or the ability of your buyers. And in this sale I cannot set you down any certain price, because true judgement, and the goodness of your wood must only give you direction, things being ever valued according to their worth and substance, and this sale or the cutting down of under-wood, you may continue from the latter end of januarie, till mid April, at which time the leaf begins to bud forth, or somewhat longer if necessity urge you: the like you may also do from the beginning of September, at which time the leaf begins to shed till the midst of November.  
Now for the manner of cutting down your underwoods, 
How to cut under woods.  although the laws of the Kingdom show you what duty you shall perform therein, what Timber you shall preserve, and how near each Weaver shall stand one to another, yet I would wish you both for your own and the commonwealths sake, to perform somewhat more than that to which you are by law compelled, & therefore you shall give direction to your wood fallers, that when they shall meet with any fair and strait well grown sapling, Oak, Elm, Ash, or such like, to preserve them, and let them stand still, being of such fit distance one from another, that they may not hinder, or trouble each other in their growing, and when you shall find upon a cluster many fair Plants or Saplings; you shall view which is the fairest of them all, and it preserve only, and the rest cut away, that it may prosper the better: also if you find any fair and well grown fruit Trees, as Pears, Chestnuts, Seruisses, and such like, you shall let them stand and clear them from the droppings of the taller trees, and you shall find the profit make you recompense. Now for the general cutting up of the wood, you shall cut it about six inches above the ground, and drawing your strokes upward, cut the wood slope-wise, for that is best to hasten on the new Spring; and those Weavers or young which you preserve and suffer to grow still, you shall prune and trim as you pass by them, cutting away all superfluous branches, twigs, and young spyers, which shall grow either near unto the root, or upon any part of the bole, which is fit to be preserved for Timber, and if you shall find that the earth have by any casualty forsaken the root, and left it bare, which is hurtful to the growth of the Tree, you shall lay fresh earth unto it, and ram the same hard and fast about it.  

The fencing of salles.  Thus when you have made an end of cutting down your sale, and that the wood is cleansed and carried away, and all the loose and scattered sticks raked up into several heaps, and carried away also; for it is the part of every good husband and Woodward, not to see any wood lie and rot upon the ground: you shall then with the under-wood preserved in the Plash-pole, divide by a strong hedge this new cut down sale from the other elder grown wood, and for ten years, as before is spoken, not suffer any four-footed beast to come within the same; 
The Woodwards' duty.  from which rule you shall learn this lesson, that it is the woodward's duty every day to look over all his young Springs, and if by any mischance or negligence cattle shall happen to break into them (as many times they do) then shall he not only drive forth or impound such cattle, but also survey how far and which Plants they have cropped, and having spied them, with his wood Bill, presently cut the Plants so brouzed close by the bottoms of the last shuts, and then they will newly put forth again, as well as if they had never been hindered: which done, he shall find out where the cattle broke in, and then mend the same, so well and sufficiently, that it may prevent the like mischief. Also if these young springs shall stand near unto Forests or elder Woods, which are full of wild Dear, and be no purfewes belonging unto the same, the Woodward then shall never walk without a little dog following him, with which he shall chase such Dear out of his young springs, because it is to be understood, that the brouzing of Dear is as hurtful to young wood, as that of any other cattle whatsoever. And thus much touching the ordering and government of underwoods, with their sales, and the nourishing up of greater Timber.   

CHAP. III. Of High-Woods, and their Plantation.  
HIgh Woods are those which contain only Trees for Timber, 
What high Woods are.  and are not pestered or embraced with the under growth of small brush wood, such as Hazels, Whitethorn, Sallowes and Poplar are; these for the most part consist of Oaks, ash, Elm, beech, Maple, and such like, growing so remote and separate one from another, that although their tops and branches meet, and as it were enfold one within another, yet at the roots a man may walk or ride about them without trouble. These high Woods had their first beginnings from the seed, 
The beginning of high Woods.  as was before declared, and nourished from age to age amongst the underwoods, which, when men began to want food for their breed-cattles, and that from the super-abundance of young Woods, they found some might conveniently be spared, they forthwith in stead of cutting down their young wood above the earth, began to dig it up by the roots, and with stub Axes to tear the mean sinews from the ground, so that it might not renew or increase again, and then leveling the earth, and laying it smooth and plain, to leave nothing standing but the tall Timber trees, between which the grass had more liberty to grow, and cattle more abundance to feed on, and all be not so long and well able to fill the mouth, as that which grows in the thick springs, yet much more sweet and better able to nourish any thing that shall graze upon the same, by reason that the Sun and Frosts having more free power to enter into the ground, the earth is so much the better seasoned, and bringeth forth her increase with more sweetness.  

The Plantation of high Woods.  Some are of opinion, that these high Woods may as well be planted as sown, and that many of them from the first beginning have been so, to which opinion I consent in part: for doubtless I am persuaded, that many small Groves of Ash, Elm, beech and Poplar have been planted, for we see in our daily experience, and the new walks in morefield's by London, are a perfect testimony, that such Plantations may be without trouble or danger: but for the Oak to be taken up and replanted, is very hard, and very seldom in use, neither shall a man in an whole Age see any Oak removed come to perfection or goodness, but grow crooked, knotty, and at the best, but for the use of fuel only: but for the other before rehearsed, you may remove them when they are a dozen years of age, and plant them where you please: and if the earth have in it any goodness at all, they will take rest and grow both speedily, and plentifully. And since I am thus far entered into the plantation of Woods, I will show you how you shall plant and remove every Tree in his due manner and season.  

Of Planting the Elm.  And first for the planting of the Elm, which is an excellent Tree for shadow, and the adorning of walks or dwelling houses, you shall make choice of those Plants which are straightest, soundest, the bark even and v●twound, and at least eighteen or twenty inches in compass: these you shall dig out of the ground, root and all, then at the top of the head, about three fingers under the knot, where the main arms severally issue forth, you shall a little slope-wise cut the head clean off them, and mixing clay and a little horse-dung, or fine ashes together, cover the head round about therewith, then over the same wrap Mo●se, or fine Hay, and bind it about with fa●t cloven osiers, or some such like bands, then with a sharp pruning Bill cut every several branch of the root with●● a finger or two of the stock: which done, and the root picked clean, you shall make a hole to be digged in the place, where you mean to plant the Elm just of that depth, the hole was from whence you digged out the Elm, that so much and no more of the Elm may be hidden in the earth, than was formerly at his removing; and this hole you shall make spacious and easy, and that the mould be soft and loose both underneath and round about the root of the Elm, which done, you shall place your Elm in the same, strait and upright, without either swerving one way or other, which for your better certainty, you may prove either with plumb, level, or other instrument, which being perfected, you shall with rich fresh mould well mixed with old manure, cover and ram the same fast in the earth, in such sort, that no reasonable strength may move or shake it: and all this work must be done in the increase of the Moon, either in the month of October, or at the latter end of january: but the latter end of januarie is ever held the best and safest, for there is no question but you shall see flourishing Trees the next Summer after: and in this sort you may likewise remove either beech, Witcher, or Poplar, bestowing them either in Groves, Walks, hedgerows, or other places of shadow, as shall seem best to your contentment: for their natures being alike, their growthes and flourishings have little difference.  
Now for the replanting or removing the Ash, 
Of Planting the Ash.  though not much, yet there is some difference, for it is not at the first so speedy a putter forth, and flourisher, as the others be: but for the first year laboureth more to bestow and fix his root in the earth, then to spread forth his upper branches, and although some woodward's are of opinion, that so much as the Ash is above the ground, so much he will be under before he begin to flourish outwardly, yet experience doth find it erroneous, for though it be for the first year a little flower then other Trees, yet when it beginneth to flourish, it will overtake the speediest grower. Therefore when you do intend to plant Ashes for a speedy profit, you shall not according to the old custom choose the smooth, small, long Plants, which are hardly three inches in compass, and have put out hardly any branches, and are such as grow from the roots of elder Ashes cut down before, which our ancient woodward's have used to slip or cleave from those roots, no, these are the worst sorts of Plants: but you shall take the true ground-Ash, which springeth from his own proper root, being smooth, even, sound, and strait without bruise, canker, or other impediment. This you shall dig up by the root, being as is before said almost twenty inches in compass, and having cleansed the root, you shall leave each spray not above half a foot, or eight inches in length: but for the small threads or tassels of the root, those you shall cut clean away close by the wood, and so plant it in every point, as was showed you for the planting of the Elm, only the top thereof you shall by no means cut off, because it is a tree of pith, which to divide or lay bare, wer● very dangerous; and the best season for the planting of this Tree, is ever in the increase of the Moon, at the fall of the leaf, which is from the beginning of October till mid November, and at no other time, for it would ever have a whole Winter to fasten his root, and to gather strength, that it may bud forth his leaf the Summer following. Thus you see how you may plant Groves or Copses at your pleasure, and make unto yourself high Woods according to your own pleasure. 
Objection.  But you will object unto me, that you live in such a champain Country, that albe these Plantations might breed unto you infinite pleasure, yet the poverty thereof in wood is such, that these Plants are not there to be found for any money. To which I thus answer, 
Answer.  That in this Kingdoms there is not any Country so barren, or far off remote from wood, being a soil fit to receive wood: But his next neighbour-Country is able to furnish him, especially with these Plants at an easy reckoning: as for example, I hold Northampton shire one of the barrenest for Wood, yet best able to bear wood, and hath not he his neighbour Huntingdon shire and Leicester shire about him, where nurseries of these Plants are bred and preserved for the sale only? Nay, even in Holland, in Lincoln shire, which is the lowest of all Countries, and most unlikely, to hold such a commodity, I have seen as goodly Timber as in any Forest or Chase of this Kingdom: and thus much for the planting of high Woods.   

CHAP. FOUR Of the preservation, and sale of high Woods.  
IT is not sufficient for the Husbandman to sow, plant, and increase wood about his grounds, converting his earth to the uttermost and extremest profit that may spring from the same: but he must also be diligent to preserve and nourish his timber trees from all inconveniences that may any way annoy or afflict them: and to this end he shall daily walk into his Woods, and with a searching eye survey every Tree which is of any account, and see if he can find any fault or annoyance about the same, 
Of Trees which take we● inwardly.  and if casting his eye up to the top, where the main arms shoot forth themselves, he perceive that by the breaking off of some arm or other riven boughs, the wet and drop of the leaves is sunk and fretted into the Timber, which in time will corrupt the heart, and make the Tree hollow. In this case he shall presently mount the Tree, and with his Bill, either cut the place so smooth that the wet may not rest thereon, or else having smoothed it so much as he may with convenience, mix stiff clay and fine hay together, and with the same cover the place, in such manner, that it may put off the wet till it have recovered new bark.  
If he shall perceive any of his younger Trees to be Barke-bound, 
Of Barke-bound.  that is, so stiff and straightly tied within their own rinds, that they cannot increase or prosper: in this case he shall with a sharp drawing knife, made in the proportion of a narrow C draw and open the bark even from the top of the bowl of the Tree down to the root, and then clap Oxe-dung into those slits, let the Tree rest, and in short space you shall see it mightily increase.  

Of Hornets and Doors.  If he shall perceive that Hornets, Doors, or such like, have found some little hollowness in one of his Trees, and seeketh there to shelter and hide themselves, which in little space they will soon make larger, he shall forthwith besmear all the place with Tar and Goose-dung, and it will drive them thence.  

Of the Canker.  If he shall find that by the droppings of other Trees, some of his Trees shall grow cankerous, and lose their bark, which is an accident very usual, and the Trees whose barks are so lost, will with great difficulty after prosper. In this case he shall anoint the place with Tar and Oil mixed together, and then cover the place with clay, where the bark is wanting.  

Of Pismyers.  If he shall perceive any Pismyer hills or beds to be made against any of his Trees, which is very noisome, for they are great destroyers of the barks of Trees: he shall then with hot scalding water kill them, and throw the hill down level and plain with the earth.  

Of ivy, Woodbine, and Misseltoe.  If he shall find any ivy, Woodbine, or mistletoe to grow in or about any of his principal Trees, which do strangle, suffocate, and keep them from increasing, he shall forthwith dig up the roots thereof, and then cut it away or loosen it from about the barks of the Trees.  

Of Thunder and Lightning.  Lastly, if he shall perceive that by Thunder, Lightning, or other plantarie strokes, any of the arms of his well grown Trees be blasted or slain, he shall forthwith cut them away, even close to the quick Wood, and make the place smooth and even where they were joined: thus shall the careful Husbandman with a vigilant eye, regard every enormous and hurtful thing that may offend his Timber, and by that means possess more benefit from a few roods, than others do from many Acres.  
Now when either necessity or the urgent occasions of any needful use, 
Of the sale of tall Woods.  enforceth the Husbandman to make sale of any part of his tall Wood, in which Merchandise there is many pretty and obscure secrets, such as are hard to be showed by any Uerball demonstration, for truly there is not any trucking or marting whatsoever, in which a man may sooner deceive, or be deceived, men buying and selling in a manner hoodwinked: for it is most certain that no man can certainly tell either what pennyworth he selleth, or the other buyeth, so long as the Tree is standing, there be in Trees so many secret faults, and likewise when they are down, and come to the breaking or burkning (as the Woodman terms it) so many unexpected virtues, as for mine own part I have often seen a Tree whose outside hath promised all good hope, the bark being smooth and even, the body large and great, and the arms high set on, and spaciously extended; yet when this Tree hath been felled, and came to burkning, there hath been found a hole in the top, which hath run clean through the heart, and utterly spoiled the whole Timber: so likewise on the contrary part I have seen a Tree very foul at the top, which is suspicious for rottenness, whose arms have grown so close and narrow together, that they have promised little burden, yet being cut down, I have seen that Tree passing sound, the arms double the loads in valuation, and the price being less than any, the proof and goodness to exceed all, so that I must conclude it all together impossible to set down any fixed or certain rules either for the buyer or seller: but for as much as there are divers worthy observances for both parts, and that it is as necessary to buy well as sell well, I will run through every particular observation, which doth belong both to the one and the other party, with which when a man's mind is perfectly acquainted, he may with much bolder confidence adventure to buy or sell in the open Market.  

How to choose Timbers.  The first thing therefore that either buyer or seller should be skilful in, is the choice of all sorts of Timbers, and to know which is fit for every several purpose, the crooked and uneyely being for some uses of much higher price and reckoning then that which is plain, strait, and even grown, 
Of Mill Timber.  as thus for example. If you would buy Timber for Mill-whéeles, the heads of round Turrets, or any kind of any work whatsoever, you shall choose that which is crooked and somewhat bend, bring sound, firm, and unshaken. 
Timber to bear burden.  If you will choose Timber for Summer Trees, Baulks, jawnies, or Tracens, you shall choose that which is most hearty, sound, and much twound, or as it were writhen about, which you shall with great ease perceive by the twinding or crooked going about of the bark, the grain whereof will as it were circle and la● round about the Tree. This Timber which is thus twound or writhen, will by no means rive or cleave asunder, and therefore is esteemed the best to support and bear burden, and the heart thereof will endure and la●● the longest.  

Timber for Pales, Wainscot, etc.  If you will choose Timber for Pales, Singles, Copers-ware, Wainscot, or such like, than you shall ever choose that which is smooth, even, and strait grown, without any manner of twynding or shaking, which you shall perceive by the strait and even growing up of the bark, whose crests will ascend strait and upright, even from the root to the bottom, which is an assured token that all such Timber will shiver and rive into as thin parts as a man would desire.  

Timber for piles or waterworks.  Lastly, if you would choose Timber to make piles of, to drive into the earth, for the framing of Wears with●● the water, the heads of Ponds, or any other work within the water than you shall choose that which is most knotty (so it be sound) for that will drive without splitting, and continue in the earth the longest: and of all Timbers the Elm is accounted the best for this purpose, for it will continue almost everlastingly in the earth without rotting; yet notwithstanding, the Oak is excellent good also: and thus much for the general choice of Oakes.  
Now if you would choose Timber for weather-boards, 
Use of th● Elm.  or to be used in waterworks, or to make Planks for low moist Uaults, than you shall choose the biggest, soundest and smoothest grown Elm, it is also excellent good to make Kitchen tables of, or for boards, for the use of Butchers. If you will choose the most principallest Timber, for Cart or Wain Axel trees, for the naves of wheels, or for any other use of toughness, you shall choose the Elm only, for it exceedeth all other Timbers, and though some Husbandmen are of opinion, that the Elm axletree when it is thoroughly heated, is then most apt to break, they are much deceived, for it will endure far beyond Ash or any other Timber, except Yewgh, which for the scarcity is now of little use in such a purpose. And herein you must observe, that the Elm which you choose for axletrees must be strait, smooth, and without knots, but that which you choose for naves, must be most knotty, twound, and the hardest to be broken or hewed asunder.  
If you will choose Timber for Ploughs, 
Use of the Ash.  ordinary axletrees (for those of Elm are special) the rings of wheels harrow bulls, and such like, than you shall choose the fairest, straightest, biggest, and smoothest grown Ash that you can find, and from the root end upward, you shall cut out a length of axletrees, above it a length of shelbordes, and above it (if the Tree be so large) a length for heads and Skeathes, the largest arms which are somewhat bending, you shall elect for rings for wheels, and so according to the bigness of the Ash, and as your eye can proportion out what will be made of the same, you shall make valuation thereof.  
If you would choose Timber for joined Tables, 
Use of the Walnut tree.  Cupboards, or bedsteads, you shall then make choice of the fairest Walnut-trée you can find, being old, strait, unknotted, and of a high bole: and although either Oak, or Ash will reasonably well serve for this purpose, yet the Walnut-trée is by many degrees the best of all other, for it is of smoothest grain, and to the eye most beautiful, provided that by no means you put it into any work, before it be exceedingly well seasoned.  

Use of the Peartree.  If you would choose Timber for joint stools, Chairs, or Chests, you shall then choose the oldest Peare-trée so it be sound, for it is both smooth, sweet, and delicate, and though it be a very soft Wood, yet in any of these frames it is an exceeding long lastre, and the heart thereof will never breed worm, nor will it in any time loose the colour.  

Use of the Maple, Beech, and Poplar.  If you would choose Timber for Trenchers, Dishes, or any Tourners' ware, or for any in-laying work, you shall then make choice of the fairest and soundest Maple, being smooth and unknotted, for it is the plainest grain, and the whitest Wood of all other: and although either the beech or Poplar will reasonably well serve for these purposes, yet is neither the colours so good, nor the Timber so long lasting. Many other Trees there are which may serve for many other purposes: but these are of most use for our English Husbandman, and will sufficiently serve to pass through all his businesses.  

Of Charcoal.  Touching Charcoal, you shall understand, that Oak, Elm, and Ash, make your longest and best en●uring Coal: the Birtch the finest and brightest Coal, and the beech or Sallow the swiftest Coal. Now for your small Coal, the twigs of the Birtch makes that which kindles the soon, and the Whitethorn that which endures the longest.  

How to value Timber.  Thus when you know how to choose every several Tree, and the true use and profit which can any way be made of the same, and by a practised experience can cast by the survey and view of a standing Wood, the almost entire profit that may arise from the same, dividing in your memory how many are for every several purpose, and to what reckoning they may amount one with the other, and blemishing (if you buy) the good with the bad, or making good (if you sell) the bad with those good-ones which grow near them, you may then boldly venture into any sale either as buyer or seller at you pleasure, and sure if you know (as it is fit you should do) the Market-able prices of all sorts of Timbers in those places, where you are either to buy or sell, as what a Mill-post is worth, what so many inches of well squared Timber, containing so many foot in length, what a dozen of boards of such a size, what so many naves, spokes, rings, sparres, or tracens, or what so much sound and good Plough-timber is worth, and then looking upon a Tree, and computing what may every way be made of the same, allowing the waist which will hardly sometimes defray the charge of breaking up the Tree, you cannot but with great ease draw into your mind the true value of every Tree, and the uttermost profit or loss may any way rise from the same.  
And in this work I would have you to observe this rule very carefully, 
How to measure Timber by guess.  that is, when you come to any great Timber-trée, to fathom or embrace it about with both your arms, and then knowing what quantity your fathom is, and how many fathom girdleth the Tree round about, you may from former experience give a certain guess what inches of squared Timber that Tree will bear, for if you have found in former trials that twice your fathom in the rough bark hath borne twenty, or two and twenty inches squared, and now find that the present Tree on which you look, is no less, but rather with the bigger, you may boldly presume, that being sound, this tree can carry no less square of good Timber: and thus much for the knowledge and choice of tall Woods.  
Now to come to the seasons & fittest times for sale of these high Woods: 
Best seasons for the s●le.  you shall understand that it is meet for every good husband which intendeth to sell any of his high Woodsy to walk into the same immediately after Christmas, & whether they be in woods, Groves, hedgerows, or other places, to mark with a special mark all 〈◊〉 Trees which he intendeth to sell, as well for the 〈◊〉 and cleansing out of all such as are decayed and wast●●, 〈◊〉 also to know the true number of both the good and bad, and thereby in some measure to compute the profit which will arise from the same, for to make sale of them otherwise confusedly, might bring much loss to a man happily, selling away those that would increase their values, and kéep●ing them which daily would decrease their goodness, or so unorderly unmixing his Wood, that where one fair and good Tree would draw a man's eye from beholding divers which are doted, now that only taken away, the rest will remain, and never be sale-able, and therefore ever as near as you can so suit and match your Trees together, that in your sales you may never pass away an absolute worthy Tree: but you may ever couple some which have defects to go with it, as in these days we see Warri●e●s and Poulters sell Rabbits, a fat and a lean ever coupled together. When you have thus marked out what you mean to sell, and disposed your sale according to your best profit, 
The time for Chapmen.  after notice given unto the Country in the Market Towns near adjoining, you shall begin your 〈◊〉 the Candlemas following, which sale you may continu● all the Spring, according to the greatness thereof, or the quickness of buyers. Now for any rules or orders to be observed in these sales, I can prescribe you none certain, because it is meet that every one bind himself to the customs of the Country in which he liveth, whose va●●●tions are divers, for almost every one is several, only in the main they hold together, which is that they seldom make public sales for money down upon the head, but for a certain payment some few months after, which makes the Merchandise more looked to, and the sales go away the faster; and in this the Salesman must be circumspect in the choice of his Chapmen, and where h●● findeth any doubt there to make one neighbour 〈◊〉 bound for another, as for the earnest penny it is ●uer 〈◊〉 and above the price, and must be laid down at the binding up of the bargain, which earnest is in some Countries four pence in the pound, in some eight pence, and in some twelve pence, according to the goodness of the Timber, and hath ever been taken for a fee due to the Salesman for his pains and attendance: and sure if he be carefully honest, it is a merit well bestowed: if otherwise, it is much too much for falsehood, for in him consists the owner's loss or profit, and therefore it may become any man, of what place so ever, to take a strict account from such an officer: or if he have any doubt ever to join with him in commission, another of contrary faction.  
When you have made sale of your Timber, 
When to cut down Timber.  you shall by no means let it be cut down till the end of April, at which time the sap ascending upward, will loosen the bark, and make it come from the body of the Tree easily. You shall cut your Timber down close by the earth, not dig it up by the roots, unless you mean utterly to destroy it, for from the spurns of the root will arise new Spiers, which in process of time, will come to another Tree. As soon as you have felled your Oaks, you shall with your Axe immediately whilst the sap is wet, take all the bark● from the body and the arms, and setting it end-ways up one by another, so place it, that the wind may pass through it, and dry it, and then fell it to the Tanners, which will give you a good price therefore, according to the worth and scarcity thereof. When your Trees are barked, you shall then saw the body into such lengths of Timber, as shall be meet for the purpose for which it is bought, or in such sort as it may be best portable: the arms also you shall hew from the body, and so burken or break them up, as they may be fit to be loaded: all which done, and the Timber carried away, you shall, if you intent to have the Wood renew, fence in the sale, and keep it safe from cattle: and thus much for the preservation and sale of ●igh Woods.   

CHAP. V. Of the breeding of Wood in rich champain soils.  
NAture which is the most perfect worke-mistresse of all things (as all the Philosophers say) but I say our good God out of his most divine wisdom, hath allotted to every soil, if we will note it, through the whole course of this Kingdom, particular profit to sustain and maintain it, as to some Mines, to some Timber, and to some fertility of grass and corn, and where any one of these are, there commonly some of the other is ever wanting, as we 〈◊〉 daily in our experience; and for as much as in the fruitful and fertile soils of this land, of which we esteem the wealthy vales, as that of Essam, White horse, Beluoire ● and many others the best, there is ever great scarcity of Wood, the very wealthiness of the soil itself almost denying to bear such burden, because for the most part the stiffness of those clays is contrary to their growth, yet for as much as the necessity and use of Wood is so great and valuable, I would persuade every good and worthy Husbandman to endeavour himself with all his utmost power and strength, to plant wood in every convenient place round about him, and not to take the rules of the ignorant for his lesson, that sith never any did grow there, therefore never any will grow there: for it is absurd and foolish: nor to say because my ancestors have never done it why should I attempt it? These arguments are made from a false ●●gure, and the Husbandman must remember that his duty is industry, and increase not altogether imitation and precedent, and he must as seriously find out new and nearer profits, as hold those he hath learned: and therefore ●e shall endeavour by all commendable labour to have ever about him whatsoever is necessary for his use: but you will peradventure answer me, that to plant Woods in these rich soils, were very much loss, because the fertility thereof will yield a much better profit. To this I reply, that I would not have you plant any spacious piece of ground with wood, but only your ditches, hedges, and such waste earths, as almost deny any other profit, and that the want of wood in those places may not discourage you, to imagine that wood will not grow there. Do but view the cities of every Town in those rich Countries, the seats of Noblemen & gentlemen's houses, and the Parks which commonly are adjoining thereunto, and you shall hardly see any of them without the fellowship & acquaintance of some wood, which in times past hath been planted either for defence or pleasure, and from thence collect that if wood will grow with my next neighbour, then why not with me, so long as the soil doth not alter? But Labour vincit omnia improbus, True industry was never fruitless. Then for the general good both of yourself & your neighbours, look that you replenish all your ditches & ring fences, with good store of Quickset, that is to say, all that lie high, & out of the danger of water, with Whitethorn, Blackthorn, and briar, and those which are low & subject to washing, with Willows, Sallowes, and Ozyers.  
Now for as much as it is not enough to say unto the Husbandman do this, 
How to ●et all sorts of Quickset.  but that I must also show the manner of doing thereof: I will show you briefly how to set all manner of quicksets, and first for the whitethorn, blackthorn, briar or such like, which must stand free from inundation, you shall when you enclose any piece of ground, after you have marked out the true breadth of your dyke upon the inside thereof, and close by the verge of the dyke, cut with your spade a little trough, half a foot or thereabouts in breadth & depth, in which trough or small gutter, you shall lay the roots of the first row of your quicksets, so as the top ends may look upward, & a little bend in towards the ditch, & these quicksets you shall place within less than a foot one of another: then with your spade beginning to make your ditch, you shall with the 〈◊〉 clean mould, cover all the roots close and fast, so as they will not shake nor stir with your hand, then having r●●sed the bank of your Dyke, and covered the lowest 〈◊〉 of Quickset more than half a foot, and broken the earth so, as it may lie close and handsome together: you shall then after the same manner lay another row of Quickset over the first, I mean not one Quickset directly over another, but the second row placed as it were in the mid●● between two of the first, though at least half a f●●te higher: than you shall cover that row like the former, and over it place a third, which shall stand directly opposite, and over the first, so that in their growth the middle row shall as it were grow between two of the lowest, and two of the highest: and then upon this uppermost row lay the remainder of your earth, and make your bark perfect, and in this sort finishing one yard of the Ditch after another, you shall at length bring your labour to the end of your desire. Now in this labour you are to observe som● special things, as first to look well upon your Sets before you put them into the ground, and be sure that they be green, young, and untainted, then that the roots 〈◊〉 clean, and no small threads or jags hanging about them. And lastly, that they stand upright, and not above four or five inches without the earth at the most, then shall you look well to the making of your bank, and lay the earth so as it may not slip or fall back into the Dyke, so as the rain may wash away the mould, and leave the roots bare: but let all things be done strongly and artificially. The best seasons for this work is the months of February, March, and April, or September, October, and some part of November: if the weather be dry above head, when you have set your Quickset, you shall make a dead hedge upon the top of the new bank, to keep th●se cattle which are within your ground, from breaking forth or hurting the Quickset: and another small fence on the low verge of the Dyke which is outward, to keep those cattle which graze without from running into the dyke, and hurting the quickset. Now after a spring and fall is past, you shall survey all your quickset and weed it clean from all manner of filthiness that doth choke or stifle it, and scratching the fresh mould about it give comfort to the root: then if yo● perceive that any of your Sets be dead, you shall pluck them up, and place new in the room, and if any be blasted in part, and not clean killed, you shall cut away so much as is blasted, and let the rest remain, you shall look well to the Caterpillar and other worms, which mightily devour quicksets, especially in these fat Countries, and if you find any taint of them, destroy them as is showed you in a former Chapter.  
After your Quickset is come to the age of three years, 
Planting of greater Trees.  and that the bank is settled and swarth grown thereon, you shall then within the body of your hedges plant all manner of great Trees, as Ash, beech, Maple, and such like, and also all manner of fruit Trees, as Apples, Pears, Plums, Wardens, and such like, and in the first three years be very careful to preserve each in his true proper nature, and do to them all the rights which is due to their growth, and in that time observe which kind of Trees in the generality prospereth best, and agreeth most naturally with the soil. And of those Trees s●e that you flourish your grounds most plentifully, the particular manner of planting whereof is already formerly declared. And hence doth Kent and Worcester shire boast of their fruit, Windsor, Sherwood, and Hollam shire their Oaks, and other particular Countries their particular commodities.  
Now for the setting of Willow, 
Of the setting of Willows, etc.  Sallow, and osiers, it is a thing so usual and common, that it needeth no great Art in the relation, yet because I would be loath that any omission should be taken for negligence, you shall understand that in setting them you must first respect the place, which would ever be low and moist, the water sometimes washing them, sometimes cooling them, and ever giving them comfort. Now to speak fir●● 〈…〉 low, it would be ever planted upon banks, wher● 〈…〉 stand more dry than wet, for such prosper be●t, and ●●dure longest, as for proof some will continue, twelve, ●●●●teene, nay one and twenty years, where as those which are set close by the water, will hardly endure 〈…〉 not above nine years at the most. Touching their pla●●ing, they be set two manner of ways, but which is the best, is not yet agreed on amongst Husbandmen. The first is to take an Augur full as large in compass (〈◊〉 much shorter) as that wherewith you boar Pump● and with it boar a hole in the earth two-foote, and a 〈◊〉 deep, then having headed some of the choicest W●●●lowes you have, take the fairest and straightest of th●se lops, and then cutting them sloapewise at both ends, and leaving no superfluous twigs cleaving thereunto, put the bigger end down very hard into the earth, and then with the mould which came forth, with the Augur 〈◊〉 the earth close and hard about the Set, so as no reason●●ble strength may shake it. Now there be other Husbandmen which in steed of the Augur take only an Oaken 〈◊〉 Ash stake, of the bigness of an usual set, and with a B●●●tell drive it into the ground two foot and a half, and the● by shaking and opening the earth, pull it out again & then put in the Set as is before showed, and beat 〈◊〉 tread the earth close thereunto, and there is no 〈…〉 the well prospering thereof. Now for the defects which Husbandmen find in these two several plantings. Some say, that the Augur taketh out so much earth, that the Set cannot but stand loose at the root, and so wanting full hold of the earth, either takes not at all, or continues but a little space. Others say that the driving in of the 〈◊〉 beats the earth so hard together, that it withstandeth the passage of the tender sprouts, & so killeth the set, but 〈◊〉 are deceived: for these are but suppositions, and expe●●●ence daily shows us, that these are the best and 〈◊〉 ways of setting of all sorts of Willows that ever 〈◊〉 time brought forth, and I have known one man set this way two hundredth Sets in a day, of which not one hath failed, but all prospered. Now for your Sallowes, you shall set them, and choose the Sets in all points as you do the Willow, only they would be placed a little nearer the water, for they delight somewhat more in moisture, as for the Osier it would be set like other Quickset in the side of banks, so as it may almost touch the water, and as your Willows or Sallowes would be set a little remote one from another, as namely ten foot asunder: so these must be set close together, and in thick rows one against another: and these Osier Plants you must cut from their head, being the principal spiers which grow thereon, and then cut off their tops, leaving them not above two foot long at the most, and of all other they are the quickest in growing.  
And although Willow, 
The use of Willows, Sallowes, and osiers.  Sallow, and Ozyer, are in our laws esteemed but as weeds and no Woods, yet they be so profitable, that the Husbandman can hardly miss them, the Willow and Sallow serving for fence and fuel, to make Harrows, Cart-saddles, & horse Hames, and the Ozyers, for fish Leaps, or Wéeles, for Baskets, Scuttels, Fans to winnow with, and many other things full as necessary: therefore if you have any marish grounds that are useless, bogge-myers, or islands in great rivers, let them be employed to the nourishing of these profitable weeds, and by making drains through them to give the water passage, you shall in small time bring them to earths of great profit, which consideration were it rightly weighed, there would not be half so much waste ground as is in this Kingdom.  
But to my purpose, 
Ordering of the Willow.  when you have planted these Willows, you shall after every flood, see if the water have driven any of them awry, or displease them, and immediately mend them, and set them up strait again. It any cattle shall pill or bark them, you shall pull up such Sets, and place new in their room. Your Willow set would by no means be to long 〈…〉 first setting, for than it will never bear a good 〈…〉 too short is likewise as unprofitable, therefore it is hold to be five foot above the earth, is a length sufficienty you may head your Willows once in three years, or 〈◊〉 at the furthest, and when you see the bodies wax hollow● you may cut them down for the fire, and fix new Sets in their places.  

Ordering of Ozier.  The Osier to come to his true profit and season, asketh much pruning and trimming, as namely you must keep the stock low, and never above half a foot above the earth, you must pick them clean from Moss, and from the slime and filth, which the everflow of the water will leave upon them: you shall prune the small spiers, and make them grow single one by another, and if any shoot out a double stalk, you shall cut it away, you may head them every second year at the fall only, and though some head them once a year, yet it is not so good husbandry, nor will the Osier be so tough or long lasting. The best seasons for the setting of the Willow, Sallow, or Ozier is, either any part of the Spring or Fall, and the best time to lop the Willow or Sallow, is in the Spring for fence, and in the Fall for timber or fuel: but the Osier would be cut at the fall of the leaf only. And thus much for the breeding of Wood in the rich champain Countries.   

CHAP. VI Of Plashing of Hedges, and Lopping of Timber.  
Having already sufficiently in the former Chapter spoken of the planting of all sorts of quicksets, it is meet now that I show you how to order the hedges being grown and come to perfection. Know then that if after your hedge is come to six or seven years of age, you shall let it grew on without cutting or pruning, that then although it grow thick at the top, yet it will decay and grow so thin at the bottom, that not only beasts but men may run through it, and in the end it will die and come to nothing, which to prevent, it shall be good once in seven or eight years to plash and lay all your Quickset hedges, in which there is much fine Art and cunning to be used. 
What plashing is.  For this plashing is a half cutting or dividing of the quick growth, almost to the outward bark, and then laying it orderly in a slope manner, as you see a cunning hedger lay a dead hedge, and then with the smaller and more pliant branches, to wreath and bind in the tops, making a fence as strong as a wall, for the roof which is more than half cut in sunder, putting forth new branches, which run and entangle themselves amongst the old stocks, do so thicken and fortify the hedge, that it is against the force of beasts impregnable.  
Now to give you some light how you shall plash a hedge, 
How to plash:  though divers Countries differ diversly in those works, yet as near as I can I will show you that which of the best Husbandmen is the best esteemed. 
The time of year.  First, for the time of year either February or October, is passing good, and the increase of the Moon would likewise be observed.  
For the tools which you shall employ, 
The Tools.  they would be a very sharp nimble Hatchet, a good Bill, and a fine pruning knife. Now for the work you shall enter into it, first with your Bill you shall cut away all the superfluous boughs and branches which are of no use, or hinder your work, and then finding the principal stems which issue from the main root, you shall within a foot or less of the ground with your Hatchet, cut the same more than three quarters through, so as they may hang together by nothing but the outward bark, and some part of the outward sap, and this stroke must ever be sloapewise and downward: then take those main bodies of the 〈◊〉 set, so cut, and lay them sloapewise from you, as you would lay a dead hedge, and all the branches which extend from those bodies, and would spread outwardly, you shall likewise cut as before said, and fold them 〈…〉 into your head, and ever within a yard or two distance, where a pretty Plant grows strait up, you shall only cut off the top equal with the height of your hedge, and so let it stand as a stake, about which you shall fold and twinned all your other branches. Now when you come to the top of the hedge, which would commonly not be above five foot high, you shall take the longest, youngest, and most pliant boughs, and cutting them as aforesaid gently bind in the tops of all the rest, and so make your hedge strong and perfect: and herein is to be noted, that the ●●eser and thicker you lay your hedge (so there be nothing in it superfluous) the stronger and better lasting it will be. Many use not to bind in the tops of their plashed hedge●, but only to lay the Quickset and no more: but it is not so husbandly, neither is the hedge of any endurance: many other curiosities there be in the plashing of hedges, but this which I have already showed, is sufficient both for the Husbandman's benefit and understanding.  

The profit of Plashing.  The profit which ariseth from this labour, is the maintenance and defence of fencing, the preserving and increase of Quickset, and a continuance of amity amongst neighbours, when one lives free from offending another. It yieldeth a good Mast for Swine, and with the overplus thereof at these times of plashing, repaireth all a man's dead hedges, and brings good store of fuel both to the Brewhouse, Kitchen, and Backhouse.  

The lopping of Timber.  Next to the plashing, is the lopping of Timber-Trées, which in those Countries which are bare and naked of wood, is of much use, and though I cannot much commend it, because it oft marreth the bodies of Trees, yet I must allow it for necessary, because it is a needful rate, which the Trees pay to their Planters.  
This lopping or heading of Trees, 
What Lopping is.  is the cutting off of the arms and uppermost branches of Trees, and suffering the body to grow still, and it may very well be done once in eight or ten years, 
The season for Lopping.  either at the beginning of the Spring, or at the end of the Fall, as you shall have occasion to use the wood, and immediately after the Moon hath new changed.  
Now for the manner of the work, 
How you shall lop Timber.  there is small curiosity to be used therein, if your Axe be good and sharp, for you shall but cut off the arms and boughs, smooth and clean without nicks, rifts, or gutters, or any thing which may receive wet, whereby the Tree maybe cankered and spoiled. Also in cutting away of the arms, you shall have a great care rather to cut them away (if it be possible) upward then downward, lest when you cut them downward, the weight of the arm suddenly falling down, rive and tear the bark of the body of the Tree, which is dangerous, and hath been the spoil of much Timber: which to prevent, you shall ever before you strike any blow above, make a good large nick underneath, and then after cut it down from above, and so the Tree shall receive no hurt. Also you shall observe to cut the arms close by the body of the Tree, and never to desist till you have made the place as plain and smooth as may be, for to do the contrary, is neither workmanly, nor the part of any good husband. And thus much touching the plashing of Hedges, and lopping of Trees.   

CHAP. VII. Of Pasture grounds, their order, profit, and general use.  
Having already sufficiently entreated of errable Grounds, Gardens, Orchards, and Woods of all kinds, I think it most meet (as falling in his due place) here to write of Pasture grounds, 
Diversities and use of Pastures  which are of two kinds: the first, such Pastures as lie in wood land, mountainous, or cold climes, and are inclined to hardness and barrenness, and therefore only employed to the breeding and bringing forth of cattle: the other such as lie in low, warm, and fruitful soils, and are most fertile and abundant in increase, only employed to the fatting and feeding of cattle.  

Of barren Pastures.  And now to speak of the first sort of Pasture, which being somewhat barren, is preserved for breeding, you shall understand that it is generally dispersed over all this Kingdom, and particularly into every Country, for according to the veanes and mixture of the earth, such is either the richness or poverty of the same, and of those several mixtures I have spoken sufficiently before in that part of this Book, which entreateth of errable ground. Then to proceed to my purpose, it is the first office of the Husbandman when he seeth and knoweth the true nature of his earth, and perceiveth from perfect judgement that it is of very hard increase, 
Signs of barrenness.  which as the temper and mixture of the soil assures him, so also he shall better confirm by these few signs and Characters, which I will deliver: as first, if he see grass flow of growth, and that no Spring will appear before May. If in stead of Clover grass, Dandylion, and honeysuckle, you see your ground furnished with Penigrasse, Bends, and Burnet. If you see much Knotgrass or Speare-grasse, or if you perceive the scorching of the Sun burn away the grass as fast as the rain had brought it forth: or if you find quarries of stone near unto the upper swarth of grass; or if your ground bring forth Ling, Bracken, Gorse, Whynnes, Broome, Bilburie, or Strawburie: or if your ground be morish, full of quick-myers, mossy or full of black Flint, any of these signs make it to be most apparent that the soil is barren and of hard increase.  
And then as before I said it is the Husbandman's first 
Battering of soils.  office to provide for the bettering and perfecting of his earth, which he shall do in this sort. First, if he perceive that the barrenness of his ground proceeds from want of good Plants, 
Sowing of good seeds.  as from want of Clover-grasse, Dandylion, honeysuckle, Cowslop, and other sweet flowers, than he shall repair into the fruitful Countries, and there buy the hay seeds and swéeping of hay-barne-flowers, which he shall every Spring and fall of the leaf sow, as thin as may be, upon such Pastures, as he shall either lay for meadow, or preserve for the latter Spring after Michaelmas. But if he respect not the goodness of grass, 
For abundance of grass.  but the abundance of grass, as those husbands do which live in or about great Cities, than he shall dung those grounds which he will lay for meadow at Candlemas; or those which he will graze or eat in the first beginning of the Spring, at Michaelmas before, with the oldest and rottenest manure he can get, of which the best is the rotten staddell or bottoms of Haystackes, or for want of it the manure of horse-stables, swéeping, and scourings of yards and barns, the mud of old ditches, or else good Ox or Cow manure, any of which will bring forth abundance of grass.  
Yet thus much I must advertise the Husbandman; 
The imperfection of manure.  that this meanuring of Pasture grounds carries with it divers imperfections, for though it occasion abundance of grass to grow, yet the meadow or hay which comes thereof, is so rank, loggie, and fulsome in taste, that a beast taketh no joy to eat thereof, more than to hold very life and soul together. Also the grass thus manure which you intent to graze or eat with your cattle, is by means of the manure so loose at the root, that cattle as they bite pluck up both the grass, root, and all, which being of strong & rank sent in the mouth of a beast, maketh him loath and cast it out again, and so not strive to eat to be fat, but only to maintain life.  

To help a slow Spring.  Now if your Spring be slow, and late in the year before your grass will appear above ground, it is meet then that you enclose your ground, and not only maintain the fences with high and thick quicksets, but also with tall Timber-trées, whose shade and strength may defend many cold blasts from the earth, and add unto it a more natural warmness than it had before, for it is only the coldness of the soil which makes the grass long before it grow. Also in this case it is meet that you lay (as the husbandman terms it) all such Pasture as you intent to graze at the spring following, in November before, & so not being bitten from that time till April following, no doubt but your spring will be both good and forward. There be others which help their slow springing grounds by stocking them in the latter end of the year with great abundance of sheep, who although they bite near to the ground, and leave little grass behind them, yet they so tread and manure it with their hot manure, that it will spring after it cometh to rest, much more early and faster than it was wont. So that to conclude in a word, to make a barren ground spring early, is to keep it warm, let it 〈◊〉 long rest, and manure it well with Sheep.  

To help Knotgrass and Speare-grasse.  If your ground be troubled with Knotgrass or Speare-grasse, it is a sign of too much cold moisture in the earth, and in this case you shall with a great common Plough, made for such a purpose, turn up great furrows through your ground, and make them so descend and fall one into another, that not only the moisture bred in the earth, but that which falls upon the earth, may have a swift passage from the same, and so your soil being drained and kept dry, all those wéedy kinds of grass will soon perish.  
If your ground be subject to the scorching or burning of the Sun, 
To help sunburning.  than you shall understand that it is directly contrary to the last soil we spoke of: for as that by too much moisture is made barren by cold, so this by too much want of moisture is made barren with heat: wherefore the Husbandman shall in this case draw all his drains, to bring moisture into his ground, which sometimes watering and sometimes overflowing the same, will in the end bring it to a reasonable fertility, for it is a rule, that where there may be overflows, there can seldom be any hurt by sun-burning, 
To help quarries of stone.  unless that such soils be upon Limestone ground, or near unto other quarries of hard stone, which lying near unto the upper swarth of the grass, doth so burn the root, that the upper branches cannot prosper. In this case the bringing in of water doth rather hurt then good, wherefore your best course is partly by your own industry, and partly by the labours of others, who are traded in such commodities, to let forth your ground to Stone-diggers or Lime-makers, who digging the quarries out of the earth, and then filling up the empty places with rubbish and other earth, the soil will in short space become as fruitful as any other, for it is only the want of taking root; or the burning up of the root, which makes this kind of earth barren.  
Now if your ground bring forth Ling, Braken, 
To help Ling, Braken, etc.  Gorse, Whinnes, or such like: you shall pair off the upper swarth of the earth, and lay it in the Sun to dry, in the height or heat of Summer, and being thoroughly dried, you shall lay them in round hollow heaps one sod over another, then putting fire unto them, burn them into ashes, which done, spread the ashes, like a manure, over all the ground, and you shall see those weeds will no more spring or grow in that ground.  
If your ground be morish or full of quick myers, you shall then by small drains or trenches draw 〈◊〉 the water, 
To help morishnesse or quick-nyers.  and turn it into some lower ditch or 〈◊〉 and so bringing the ground to a stability or firmness, there is no doubt but fruitfulness, will presently follow after.  

To help mossiness.  Lastly, if your ground be mossy, and bring forth in stead of grass only a soft fussie and unwholesome moss, your only best way to cure the fault, is in the Winter time to tread it much with the feet of cattle, as by making of Hay-stacks in divers parts of such ground, and so fodring your cattle about the same, and so yearly altering the places of your Stacks or Réekes to go overall your ground, & without doubt the treading of the ground will kill the moss, and the meanuring of the cattle, and the expense of Hay-séeds upon the ground, will soon bring the earth to much fruitfulness and goodness.  

The general use of barren grounds.  Now for the general use of these barren grounds, it is to be understood, that albe by the means before showed, they may be helped or bettered, yet they are but only for breed or increase of cattle. Whether the grounds be several and enclosed, or universal and common: whether they be Woods, parks, or Pastures, or heaths, Moors, Downes, or other wild and unlimited places, and these grounds shall be divided into three parts, the first and most fruitfullest lying lowest, lying nearest to the river or some running stream, you shall preserve for meadow, and not suffer any beast to bite upon the same from Candlemas, until the hay be taken from the ground. The second part, you shall graze or eat from Candlemas till Lammas, which would be that which lieth most plain and bleak, and most subject to all weathers. And the third part, which is the warmest and safest, you shall graze from all-Hollantide till Candlemas, and betwixt Lammas and all-Hollantide you shall eat up your eddish or after crop of your meadows.  

What cattle are to be bred.  Now whereas I speak generally, that these barren grounds are for the breed of cattle, yet you shall understand me particularly, as namely, what cattle for what soil, for every barren earth will not bring forth cattle alike, as some will bear a fair Cow or Ox, yet but a little Horse: and some will bring forth a very goodly Horse, yet but a very little horned beast, therefore you shall observe that if your ground lie any thing low, or be subject to much moisture, and so not extremely barren, but although the Spring be late, yet after it springeth, it yieldeth a reasonable bit, this ground is fittest to breed cattle upon, as Cow, Ox, and such like: but if it lie high and dry, if it be stony or mountainous, have much reflection of the Sun: or though it be somewhat more barren than the former earth, and in the best part of the Spring yield but a short, yet sweet bit, this ground is fittest to breed a fair and large horse upon: but if it be extremely barren cold and moist, stony or mossy, so it be replenished with any good store of Underwood● then it is fit to breed small hard Nags upon, or Geldings of a meaner size, Goats, wildeswine, or such like. And lastly, if it be extreme barren, cold, and dry, and altogether without any kind of shelter, but subject to every blast whatsoever, this ground is fit only to breed Sheep upon, as we see by daily experience in the several parts of this Kingdom: so that to conclude, you shall bear in your memory, that where you breed your beast, would be reasonable bit: where you breed your Horse good air and warmth, and where you breed your Sheep, there much spaciousness of ground. And thus much briefly for the nature and use of your barren grounds.  
Now to proceed to your fruitful and rich grounds, 
Of fertile grounds.  whose very increase and abundance of grass, without any other curious relation shows their fertility, there is little observation to be held in the ordering & disposing of them, for being naturally good of themselves, there needeth little Art to the maintenance of the same, only to have an especial care to the fencing and safe keeping of them, to the due time of eating them with your cattle, and to observe a fit proportion of rest for them, in which they may 〈◊〉 and gather head for the maintenance of such 〈…〉 shall feed upon them. And to these, as an especial 〈◊〉 above the rest, must be added a careful diligence not to over stock or lead your ground with more cattle than it may conveniently bear, for if your ground be never so fruitful, if it be overpress with multitudes of cattle, it cannot by any means yield you the profit of your expectation, but return you loss and damage.  

The division of rich grounds.  These fruitful and rich grounds would be divided into two parts, the one pastures, or grounds for continual feeding or nourishing of cattle all the year, the other meadows, from whence you shall gather your Winter's provision of Hay, for the preservation of your cattle, which are either for labour or sale in the Market, and of these two parts I will speak severally.  

The general use of rich grounds.  Yet before I begin to speak largely of them, it is meet you know the general use of these rich and fruitful grounds, which is indeed the feeding or fa●ting up of cattle, either for food in your own house, or for sale in the Market, to the Butcher, Droner, or men of such like place or profession. For indeed to breed much upon these rich grounds, is neither profitable to the Husbandman, nor is the beasts so bred, either so comely or Market-able, as those bred in the harder soils, as we may note in our experience, if we will survey the breeds of cattle in Glostershire, Sommersetshire, and Lincolnshire, which for the most part are bred upon exceeding rich and fertile ground: yet if we take view of them, we shall find that albe they are tall and large, yet they are of slender shape, leane-thighed, crumple-horned, and oft tender and dry skinned, which is a fault very noteworthy amongst Graziers, and indeed are nothing so eyely and Market-able, as those beasts are which are bred in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, and such like, all which are bred upon hard and barren grounds, yet have goodly, large, and round bodies, close trust, thick, and well coupled together, fair heads● velvet skins, and as the Proverb is, are so beautiful in horn and hair, that they are every man's money, in ●uery Market. So that I conclude, that albe upon the rich ground you may breed good. cattle, and it is necessary also so to do for the maintenance of stock, yet the general use, and that which is the greatest profit to the English husbandman, is to graze feed the same.  
Now to proceed to my former purpose, 
Of Pastures and ordering them.  touching that part of rich ground which I call Pasture, because it is only for feeding, you shall first provide that they be very well fenced, according to the nature of the Country, either with ditch, pale, rail, dead hedge, or quicke-growth ●pon shall also see that they be well stored with water, that is sweet and wholesome, for putrefied water breedeth many mortal and infectious diseases amongst cattle. These Pastures must ever be your highest ground, and such as lie safest from inundations. Those Pastures which you lay or give rest to from the beginning of November, you may feed at Candlemas following with hilding beasts, or such as are but beginning to feed, but with your fat beasts not till our Lady's day after: those Pastures which you lay or give rest to at Candlemas, you may very well feed at May following: those which you give rest to at May-day, you may feed at Midsummer, for then the spring is swift and plentiful: those you lay at Midsummer, you may feed at Lammas, and those you lay at Lammas, you may feed in October, and generally all the Winter following: only you shall observe, that those Pastures which lie most in danger of water, or any other casualty, be first eaten, lest by too long delaying ●n unseasonable time come, a●d so you be both prevented of your hope and profit.  
In the ●ating of your Pasture grounds, 
Manner of feeding of cattle.  are many things to be observed, as first for the feeding of your fat cattle, you must by all means be sure that they have full bite, which is to say, length of grass: for cattle, whose tongues are the principal gatherers up of their food, neither can nor will bite near unto the ground, except it be extreme hunger which compels them, and then they take little joy in their food. Next you shall oft (as any fit ●ccasion will give you lea●e) remove and shift them into fre●h grounds, and not expect that they should eat your grass down to the bottom, but only as it were scymme and take the uppermost and choicest part thereof, and so they will feed both swiftly and thoroughly: and for that grass which they shall leave behind them, you shall eat if up after them with your labouring or worke-cattells, and lastly with your sheep. It is very good also amongst your fat beasts ever to have a lean horse or two: for your fat beasts taketh delight to feed with them, and sometimes to bite after them, there being as it were a kind of sympathy or liking of each others tastes. After your grass is fully knit, and hath received his whole strength, which will be at Midsummer, than you may suffer your fat beast to eat a little nearer unto the ground till after Lammas, because there is an extraordinary sweetness therein, springing from the heat of the suns beams only. These few observations well kept, there is no doubt but your cattle will feed well to your contentment, then when you see that they are sufficiently fed, according to the aim of your purpose, whether it be for the use of your household, or the use of the Market, you shall forthwith employ them accordingly, for it is both the loss of time and money, not to put them off by sale or otherwise, so soon as they are come to the end of your desire. For those rich grounds will sometimes make two returns in the year, sometimes three, which is a great profit. And I have heard sometimes of ●ours, but it is very rare, and the cattle so returned must be very well stricken with flesh before they be put unto feeding, but if your ground will return lean beasts fat twice through the year, it is commodity sufficient.  
Now because it is not sufficient to say sell or kill your cattle when they are fat, 
How to know a fat Beast.  except you have the Art and skill to know the same, you shall observe these few rules following, and they will sufficiently instruct you in the same. First, when you see your beast in the general shape and composure of his body show most fair and beautitifull, each member being comely, and each bone covered, in such sort as a perfect shape requireth, as no eye is so stupid as cannot tell when a beast looketh well or ill-favouredly, you shall then guess the beast to be well fed, especially when you see his hucklebones round and not sharp, his ribs smooth, not rough, his flanks full, his natch thick, and his cod round. This when you shall perceive, you shall handle him, and gripping him upon the nethermost ribs, if you feel the skin loose, and the substance soft under your hand, you may be well assured that the beast is very well fed outwardly, that is upon the bones. You shall then lay your hand upon his round hucklebones, and if that feel, under your hand, soft, round and plump, you shall be assured that the beast is well fed both outwardly and inwardly, that is, both in flesh and tallow: than you shall handle him at the setting on of his tail, and if that handle big, thick, full, and soft, it is a true sign that the beast is very well fed outwardly: then handle his natch-bones which are on both sides the setting on of his tail, and if they feel left and loose, it is a sign that he is well fed, both outwardly and inwardly. Lastly, you shall handle his cod and navel, if it be of an Ox, and the navel only if it be a Cow, and if they handle thick, round, soft, great, and plump, it is a most assured sign that the beast is very well tallowed within. And thus when any of these parts or members shall handle in contrary manner, you shall judge of the contrary effects. And thus much touching the knowledge of a fat beast.  
Now for the second part of these rich grounds, 
Of Meadows and their ordering.  which are meadows, they ought to be the most fruitfullest and richest of all other, lying low and level, and being now and then in the Winter season washed with inundations, yet not too too much drenched or washed with the same: for as the moderate overflowing of waters enricheth and fertiles the soil, so the too much soaking or long resting of the water rotteth the earth, & bringeth it to barrenness, neither is it altogether necessary that every meadow should lie so low that it might be overflowed, for there be some high grounds which are free from those floods which will bear meadow in very sufficient manner, & although the lower meadows do abound in the plenty of grass, yet the higher grounds ever beareth the sweeter grass, and it is a rule amongst Husbandmen, that the low meadows do fill, but the high meadows do feed, the low are for the Stable, but the high are for the Cratch, and that which is long will maintain life, but that which is short will breed milk.  

Preservation of Meadows.  The chiefest respect you shall have to your meadows, is to defend and preserve them from moles, and such like vermin, which root up the earth, and destroy the sweet and tender roots of the grass. Next, that you note in what places of the meadow the water standeth longest, & from thence, by small furrows or drains, to give it a free passage, so that the meadow may as it were cleanse & be dry in one instant. Lastly, you shall maintain the banks of all such ditches & other fences bordering about your meadows in good and sufficient manner, both for keeping out of water after your meadows begin to grow, as also for keeping cattle from eating them in the night or other times, which is a great deprivation and loss of the profit you expect to come from them: for you shall understand, that if any overflow shall come unto your meadows after May, it will leave such a sandy filthiness in the grass, that except very moderate showers fall swiftly, and suddenly, to wash it out again, the Hay which shall be got of that crop, will both be unsavoury and unwholesome, and breed in your cattle many dangerous and mortal sicknesses.  

When to lay Meadows.  The best times for laying of meadows to rest, is, if the meadow lie high, as in upland Countries, or if the soil be cold, or the springing thereof slow, at Candlemas: but if the ground be more warm, temperate, & of some more fertility, than you may lay it at our Lady's day in March: but if the ground be most fruitful, then if you lay it at May day, it will be early enough. Also in the laying of your meadows to rest, you shall consider the state of the ground, as whether it be eaten near and bare, and with what cattle, as Horse, Oxen, or Sheep: if it have been eaten bare with Oxen or Horse, than you shall lay it earlier in the year, for it will ask a longer time to grow again: but if it have been eaten with Sheep (although they bite nearest to the ground) yet you may lay it so much later, because the manure which they bestow upon such good ground, will quickly hasten on the Spring: but if your meadows have not been eaten bare, but have a good deep fog upon them still, than you may lay them the latest. Also in the laying of meadows, you shall consider whether they be common or private, if they be common meadows, and that no old custom bind you to the contrary, you shall lay them to rest early in the year, that recovering a forward Spring, you may cut them so much the sooner, and so have the better after-crop, and the longer time to eat it: but if your meadow be private, and at your own particular disposing, than you shall lay it according to your own necessity, and the goodness of the soil, observing ever to give it full time of growth, and not to cut it till the grass be full ripe, for it is better to let it grow a week too long (so the weather be seasonable for the withering of it) then to cut it two days too soon, because when it is too early cut, it not only looseth the strength and goodness, but also the substance and weight, and in the drying shrinketh and wasteth to nothing.  
Touching the fittest time to cut or mow your meadows: 
When to mow Meadows.  If they be laid in a due season, it is held of all the best English husbandmen generally to be a week or a fortnight after Midsummer day, as namely about the translation of Thomas, which is ever the seventeenth day of july, and without question it is a very good time for all men to begin that labour, if their grounds be fruitful and of early growth: but in as much as divers grounds are divers in their growth, some being much more hasty than other some: and for as much as some meadow may as well grow too long as too little a time, as in high land Countries, where the heat and reflection of the Sun will burn and consume away the grass, if it be not gathered in a due season, I would therefore wish every good Husbandman about a week before Midsummer, and a week after, to view his meadows well, and if he see them turn brown, if the Cock heads turn downward and stand not upright, if the Bells and other vessels of seed open and shed their seeds, if your Honisuckles have lost their flowers, and the Penigrasse be hard, dry, and withered, than you shall truly understand that your meadow is ripe and ready to be mown, and the longer it standeth, the more it will lose of the substance, and when any of the contrary signs appear, as when the meadow looks green and fresh, the Cock-heads look upright, the Bells are close and hard, the Honisuckles flowering and purple, and the Penigrasse soft and moist, then is your meadow not ready to cut, nor will the Hay that is so gotten be other then soft, fuzzie, and most unwholesome, no beast taking delight to eat of the same.  

The inclination of the weather.  Now to these considerations, you shall add a careful observation of the state and inclination of the weather, and if you find that the weather is disposed to much wet or incertainty, than you shall forbear to mow, because that moisture will still maintain and hold the graff in his perfect strength so long as it groweth: but if it be once cut down, than the wet will soon rot and spoil it: but if you find the weather inclined to drought and fairness, than you shall with all speed cut down your Hay, for one load got and brought into the barn without rain, is worth two that hath been washed, though but with the smallest shower. There be some Husbandmen that in the mowing of their meadows, will observe the state of the Moon, and other planetary conjectures, but they are fitter for those which seek curiosity more than profit, for mine own part I would wish every good husband but to know truly when his crop is ripe, and then to gather it in the most constant and fairest seasons, which the rules already set down will most amply show him.  
Now for the manner of mowing your meadows, 
The manner how to mow Meadows.  although the general act resteth in the hands of the mower, and that it is hard and impossible, in words, to express the Art of the a●tion, nor is it needful that every Husbandman be a mower, yet for those rules which the English Husbandman should know and observe, I will in no sort omit them. You shall then know that in the mowing of your meadows you shall mow them smooth, plain, and level, and as the Husbandman terms it, with such an even board, that a man may no more but discern the going in and coming forth of the Sith: and this shall be done so close and near unto the ground, as is possible for the workman to get, especially if it be in public and common meadows, because the swap and first crop is all the main profit you can challenge your own: nay, you shall do it also in your own private and several meadows: for although an ignorant custom have drawn some of our Husbandmen, to say and believe that there is no loose in the slight and insufficient mowing of private meadows, because say they, what I lose in the Barn, my cattle finds on the ground, yet they are much deceived in that opinion, for what they so leave on the ground half cut half uncut, is no good food, neither pleasant nor savoury, but dry, hard, and bitter, and indeed no better then sour fog, which may fill, but cannot nourish, and who then will be so simple, as not to prefer sweet Hay before such unsavoury grass? therefore be careful to mow your grass even, and close by the ground, for it will make the fresh grass spring up with more ease, and be much pleasanter in taste.  

How to make Hay.  Next after the mowing of your meadows, followeth the making of your Hay, which is a labour that must be followed with great care and diligence, for it is an old saying, that dearth beginneth at the Hay-barne door, and ●e that is negligent in that, can hardly be good husband 〈◊〉 any thing else, then to show you how you shall make your hay, you shall first understand that no one particular form can stand for a general rule, because Hay must be made according to the nature of the grass, and the soil where it groweth, some being apt to wither and make soon, as that grass which is finest, and hath in it lest weédes, others will be long in making, as that which is full of thick, strong, and sour grass, many weeds, bunnes, and such like hard stalks, which are not easily dried, therefore it is the part of every good Husbandman, either by his eye and knowledge to judge of the nature of his grass, or else to follow the customs of the Country and soil wherein he liveth, but the first, Knowledge, is the better Science. But to proceed to my purpose, I will in the natures of two sorts of grass, the one fine, the other course, show you the general making of all sorts of Hay.  

To make fine Hay.  First, then for the making of your fine rich grass into Hay, if it grow in great abundance, thick and close, and so lieth in the swath, you shall have one with a Pitch fork to follow the Mowers, and to spread and throw the grass thin abroad, that the air and sunbeams may pass through it: and this is called in most Country's ●edding of Hay. The next day, after the Sun hath taken the dew from the ground, you shall turn that which the day before you tedded, and then if you have any more new mown, you shall ted it also. The next day following, as before, when the dew is from the earth, you shall turn your Hay again, and so letting it lie till the Sun be at his height, begin to stir it again, at which time if you find it is reasonably well withered, you shall then draw it into windrowes, that is, you shall mark which way the wind standeth, and the same way that it bloweth, the same way with Forks & Rakes one after another, gather in the Hay into long, great, thick rows: than you shall make those windrowes into large Cocks, of which the biggest is ever the best, for they will defend themselves from rain, if happily any shall fall, whereas the little small Cock lying light together, taketh in the rain like a sponge, and so makes the Hay a great deal much worse than otherwise it would be; when your Hay is thus set in safe Cock, you shall let it rest a day or two, that it may take a little sweat therein, which will make the Hay wondrous pleasant and sweet, then when the Sun is got up to a pretty height, you shall open those Cocks, and after the sun and wind hath passed through them, you may if the grass be clean & fine of itself, without rank grass, load it, and carry it either into the Barn, or such other place, as you have appointed for the receipt thereof: but if it have any rank grass, which you see unwithered amongst it, than you shall make it up again into safe cocks, and so let it rest a day or two more before you lead it away. And thus much for the making up of fine Hay.  
Now for the making of course grass into Hay, 
To make course Hay.  which you must suppose to be grass growing, in cold, moist, woody, and barren grounds, full of wéedie, rough, and stumpie hearbage, long in growing, late ere it can be gathered, and therefore deprived of much of the suns strength, to sweeten and wither it. This grass as soon as it hath been mown and tedded, as it before said: the next day you shall make it into little grass Cocks, as big as little Moale-hilles, and so having lain a day or better, then break them open, and let them receive the sun and wind, for they will heat and si●eat a little in the grass, which makes it Hay the sooner & better: then after the Sun hath spent all his power upon it, you shall make it up into little Cocks again, putting two of the first Cocks into one, then having so lain another day, break them open again, and give them the Sun: then make them up again, and put three or four of those Cocks into one, and so let them lie another day, th●● break them open as before, if the Sun shine fair, and at evening make them up again, putting three or four of those Cocks into one, and so every morning after the Sun is up break them open, a●d at evening ●ake them up again, till you find that the Hay is sufficiently well dried, and sweateth no more in the Cock: but in the morning when you break it open it is dry, without stem, smoke, or vapour arising from it, which both your hand and eye may perceive in the first stirring or moving, and then you may at your pleasure lead it home, and house or stack it as you shall have occasion.  

Use of Hay for cattle to breed or labour with.  Now for the use of Hay, it is twofold, that is, either for the maintenance of breeding cattle, or cattle for labour, or else for the feeding of cattle for the Market, or for slaughter: for the maintenance of breeding cattle; or the cattle which are employed in your Plough or other labours, whether it be draft or travel, you shall make choice of the sweet, and well-dried Hay, which is of fresh and green colour, well withered, sound, and perfect Hay, though it be long, loggie, and not exceeding much sweet, it matters not; for being well Inned and dried, it will serve sufficiently for those purposes: and with this Hay to mingle sometimes Wheat-straw, Rye-straw, Barley, or Oate-straw will not be amiss for hilding, or breed cattle: but for worke-beasts, except necessity constrain, let them have Hay simple of itself, during the busy time of their work, but when they rest, you may use your discretion. For the times of giving Hay or foddering to such cattle as are in the house, the best is in the morning before they go to labour, in the evening when they come from labour, presently after their drink, and at night when you go to bed. But for those cattle which go abroad, as Sheep, hilding Beasts, and such like, to fodder them morning and evening, is out and out fully sufficient.  
Now for the use of Hay for fat cattle, you shall make choice of the fruitfullest, sweetest, finest, and shortest Hay you have, being full of flowers, pleasant and odoriferous to smell on: and although this Hay be mixed with some roughness, yet it is not the worse, for though your fat beast make thereof great orts, yet is the loss not great, for those orts may be given to other hilding and hungry cattle, which will eat them with great eagerness. This Hay would in the first gathering not be withered too sore but so stackt-up with a little hearty greenness that it may a little mo●●-burne, and alter the colour to a Redish brounnesse, but by no means so moist that it may mould, rot, or putrefy, for that is f●●some and v●de, but only alter the colour, and thereby make the smell sweet and stronger. This Hay will entice a beast to eat, and will strengthen and enable his stomach, and withal will breed in him such a drought or thirst, that hardly any water will quench him, and the Grazier takes it ever for an infallible sign, that when his beast drinks much he feedeth fast and his tallo● wonderfully increaseth. For the ordinary times of foddring your fat cattle, if they be in the stall, and as we say, tied up by the head, the best is in the morning before and after water, at noon; in the evening before & after water, and late in the night, when you go to bed, but if they feed abroad, and take the benefit of Fogs and after-grasse, then to fodder them Morning, Evening, and high-noon is fully sufficient.  
Here I could speak of Pease-f●●ding of Sheep, Swine, and other cattle, either at the Trough, Kée●●e, stack, or such like, the several manner of cratches, fashions of st●ls, and many other necessary rules appertaining to this mystery; but I am against my will confine●, and therefore must refer i● to some other occasion, being loath to spoil an excellent discourse, with a tale half fold, and imperfectly spoken: And thus much therefore of Meadows, and their several uses.   

CHAP. VIII. A new method for the husbandly curing of all manner of Cattles diseases.  

The reason for this Chapter.  OF this Theme I have written a whole (or as some will suppose many) Histories, yet doubtless nothing too much, the cause is so necessary and co●●edious: yet this I must let every Reader understand, that what I 〈◊〉 herein formerly done, I did for a general and vncontrou●lable satisfaction to the whole Kingdom, both the learn●● and unlearned, and as well to satisfy the nicest 〈◊〉 most curious opinion, as the simple and plain 〈◊〉 creature: whence it came that I waded Artfully and profoundly into the uttermost secrets of this knowledge, ●●●uing nothing unsearched, or unset down, that might 〈◊〉 way tend to the satisfaction of any judicial Reader, 〈◊〉 therefore took liberty to make a large progress, without sparing any pains, to make my work absolutely 〈◊〉 perfect. But now, having only to do with our 〈◊〉 plain English Husbandman, who either cannot 〈◊〉 read, or else hath little leisure to read, at most but ● little memory to bestow upon his readings; I have 〈◊〉 for his ease both of memory, readings, and other ve●ao●s, drawn him such a method for the curing of all the diseases in cattle, as was never yet found out by 〈◊〉 man or Author whatsoever: and is worthy to be ●●●serued to all posterities for ever and ever.  

Horse's diseases to be cured with twelve Medicines.  To begin then first with the Horse, which is the husbandman's principallest creature, you shall understand that he hath, of my knowledge, one hundred and odd disea●●● or infirmities, besides other hurts and blemishes for 〈◊〉 which, I have severally showed several cures, as may appear by the volumes which are much too great for 〈◊〉 Husbandman to carry in his brains, and therefore for his ease I have drawn all those hundred and odd sicknesses or sorrances, into twelve, and will assure every Husbandman that with these twelve medicines following, he shall perfectly cure all the diseases in a Horse, whatsoever.  
To proceed then-in an orderly manner to the curer: 
Of inward sickness.  Every husbandman must know that all diseases in a horse are inward or outward: inward as offending the vital parts, or outward as troubling the members: to speak then first of inward sickness, I will divide it into two branches, that is, either it offends the heart, or the brain: If it offend the heart, we call them, Fevers, Yellows, Anticor, consumption of lungs, Liver, Spleen, Gall or other intra●●, Worms, Fluxes, Belly-bound, and divers other of like nature: 
The first Medicine.  For any or all which, you shall first let your Horse blood in the neck-veine, and then give him, during his sickness, to drink, either in sweet Wine or strong Ale or Beer, if Wine a pint, if Ale or Beer a quart, two spoonful of the powder called Diapente, made of Aristolochia root, Gen●iana, Mirth, Eboni and Bachi lauri, of each equal quantity, and let it be well brewed together, and do thus every Morning fasting, and let the Horse fast two hours after it.  
If it offend the brain we call them Appopleries Palsies, 
The second Medicine.  Staggers, Colds, Gl●●nder, Thoughts, mourning of the chine, Migrims, dizziness, and a world of such like: and the cure is to take Assafeteda, and dissolving it in vinegar dip hurds therein, and stop it hard into his ears for two Mornings together after you have taken from him great store all blood at his meeke-veine, and then give him to drink, during his sickness, every Morning a quart of Milk, wherein the white and rough cankerrous Moss of an old Oak pale hath been sodden till the Milk grow thick, than strained & so given lukewarm, and if you find that no heaviness or dizziness appear in his head, than you may forbear the blood-letting, and the Assafeteda, but not otherwise, in any case; and thus assuredly these two medicines already declared will cure all the inward diseases in a Horse, whatsoever.  

Of outward diseases.  Now for outward diseases, they are either natural or accidental: If they be natural, they either grow from the generation, or breed, from whence a Horse is descended, or else from corruption of food, or other unwholesome keeping; If they grow from the breed and generation of the Horse, we call them the Uiues, Wens, Knots, or swellings about the throat: and for the cure thereof, take a pennyworth of Pepper, beaten into powder; a spoonful of swines-grease, 
The third medicine.  the juice of one handful of Kew, two spoonfuls of Vinegar, and mix them together, and put this equally into both the Horses ears, and so tie them up and shake the ears, that the medicine may sink down, and take good store of blood from the Horse's neck vein, and temple veins, and use this medicine two or three mornings together.  
If they proéede from corruption of food, or any other unwholesome keeping which corrupteth the blood, than we call them Impostumations, biles, Botches, Fistulas, Polemill, and such like: and the cure is, to take the loam of an old mud wall, 
The fourth Medicine.  straws and all, but let there be no Lime amongst it, and boil this loam with strong Vinegar, till it belike a Pultus, and as hot as the Horse can abide it, apply it to the sore place, and it will not only draw it to a head, and break it, but also draw it, search it, and heal it.  
There be also other diseases which proceed from naughty food, and the corruption of blood, and we call them Farcies, Scabs, Mangy, Scratches, Pains, Ma●landers, Sellanders, 
The fifth Medicine.  and all of such like nature, and the cure is first to slit the hard knots, or rub off the scarf, and make the fore places raw: then take yellow Arsenic beaten to powder, and mix it well with fresh grease, and then therewith anoint the sore places all over, which done, tie up the Horse's head, so as he may not knap or bite himself, and so let him stand an hour or two: then take strong old Piss warmed, and therewith bathe and wash the Horse all over, and so put him to his meat: and in this manner dress the Horse or beast three or four mornings, and it will be sufficient; only you must not fail to take from him good store of blood at his neck vain.  
Now if his diseases proceed from accidental causes, as from wounds, Bruises, Strains, Galls, hurts in the Eyes, excretions, or broken bones, than you shall to every one of these take these several medicines which follow: as first, 
The sixth Medicine.  if they be wounds, in what sort soever taken or received, you shall take Turpentine, Wax, and hogs-grease, of each a like quantity, and melting them together into a salve, dress the wound therewith, and it will heal it, how great or little soever.  
If they be bruises, whether gotten by stroke, naughty Saddles, or other rushes, from whence proceedeth many times old, putrefied & most rancorous ulcers, you shall first if the tumour be only swelled and not broken, 
The seventh Medicine.  apply unto it the fourth medicine of loam and Uingar, but if it be an open old rancorous ulcer, you shall take Hogs-grease, Turpentine, Wax, and Uerdigrease, of each a like quantity, and being well mixed, and incorporated together, dress the sore therewith, till it be whole, for this medicine will abate and keep down any spongy or naughty dead flesh which arises and keeps the sore from healing, and may therefore always be used in such like cases, 
The eight Medicines.  whether the sore be new or old.  
If they be stray●es either of joints or sinews, in what part or member soever it be, old or new, take strong vinegar, Patch-grease, and Wheat-branne, and boil them together till they be thick like a Pultus, and then apply it very hot to the strain, Morning and Evening, and it is a most certain cure, and will keep the member from growing foul, knotted, or gourded, and will also take away all swellings or pains of the limbs whatsoever.  

The ninth Medicine.  If they be Galls, of what kind or nature soever, whether on the back, limbs, or any other outward part of the body, you shall take first fresh Butter scalding hot, and with it first bathe and wash the sore, then take thick Cream, & mixing it with the Soot of a Chimney till it be thick, like a salve, with the same anoint the sore place Morning and Evening, and it will cure it without any fear of dead flesh: if you do strew upon the sore the powder of Rossen it will be good also.  

The tenth Medicine.  If they be any hurts in the eyes, as strokes, inflammations, Pinne-webbe, Canker, or any other mischief whatsoever, you shall then take true ground-Iuie, which otherwise is called of some Ale-hoofe, and beating a good handful thereof in a mortar, with a spoonful or two of white rose-water, or the water of eyebright, then strain it through a clean wet cloth, and with that water dress the sore eye Morning and Evening: or if you can conveniently three or four times a day, for the oftener is the better, and it will without all fail cure any sore eye in the world whatsoever, either of man or beast, or any other creature.  

The eleventh Medicine.  If they be excretions of bones, as Splents, Spavens, Curbs, Ringbones, or such like, in what part or member soever they be, you shall then take white Arsenic, beaten or ground to fine powder, and making a little slit upon the head of the excretion, the length of a Barley corn, or very little more, yet in any ways down deep to the excretion, & then with the point of your knife put the Arsenic upon the excretion, and so let the Horse stand with his head tied up for two hours at least, for in that time the greatest anguish will be gone, and then put him unto his meat, and in three or four days after the excretion will fall away of itself; and then with a little sweet Butter you may cure the sore, which will not be great.  

The twelfth Medicine.  If they be broken bones, or bones out of joint, you shall after you have placed them in their due place, first anoint them with the Oil of Mallows, or for want of it with warm Patch-grease, and then clap about them a plaster made of Pitch, Rossen, and Mastic, and so with soft and flat splints, so splint the member, as it may not move, and so let it rest nine days ere you dress it again, and in any case so sling the Horse or Beast that he may not during that time, put his member to the ground, which a little diligence and pain will easily do.  
If your Horse have any infirmity in his hooves as quitterbone, overreach, 
Diseases in the feet.  prick, crown scab, rotten frush, or any such ulcerous disease, you shall first lay it open, and then heal it with the seventh Medicine. But if it be foundering, fretteshing, or such like, than you shall first pair all his hooves clean over, so thin that you may discern the quick all over, then let him blood at the toes, and take great store of blood from him, but in any case cut not the vein in sunder: then take the sixth medicine, and being boiling hot (after hollow shoes have been tacked on his feet) with Flax hurds dipped therein, stop all the soles of his feet up hard, and thus do twice in six days, and it will bring his feet to their full perfection again, without any great loss or trouble.  
As for the common infirmities in a Horses privy parts; 
Diseases in the privy parts, or for stifling.  which are swellings, inflammations, incording, & such like, you shall but only swim your horse in cold water Morning and Evening, and it is a present help, both for them, or the stifling of a horse in his hinder joint: Thus you see these twelve medicines will sufficiently cure all the diseases in Horse or Beast whatsoever, which who so will not carry in his memory, he is worthy now and then to be punished for his sloth, and sometimes to suffer loss, which may make him more industrious to study for his own good and profit. And thus much for the cure of diseases.   
FINIS.