¶ A DISCOURSE Of husbandry.  
No less profitable than delectable: declaring how by the husbandry, or rather Housewiferie of Hens, for five hundred franks or French pounds (making English money lv. li. xj. s. i.d.) once employed, one may gain in the year four thousand and five hundredth franks (which in English money, maketh five hundredth pounds) of honest profit: all costs and charges deducted.  
Written in the French tongue by Master Prudens Choiselat. And lately translated into English by R. E.  
¶ Imprinted at London by John Kyngston, for miles Jennynges dwelling in S. Paul's Churchyard, at the sign of the Bible.  
1580.   

A sauce, if twelve French pence.  
Xij sauce maketh a French Teston, which is four groats. English.  
Three Souses, make a groat.  
A Frank or French pound, is twenty Souses, xviij. Souses make two shillings, after nine Souses to a shilling. So remaineth of the Frank two Souses to make up the Frank of twenty Souses.  
Nine French pence, make one English penny, nine Souses, one shilling: nine franks one English pound: nine hundredth, one hundredth: nine thousand, one thousand.   

To the right honourable the County Rotchfort, knight of the order of the King, and capitainc of five hundred men of Arms of his Ordinances.  
MY lord, having from my youth in memory the precept of Apelles, most excellent Painter of his time, who commanded his Prentices not to pass one day, without drawing of a line, to the end to keep them in breath and continuance (as doth the Hunter his Greybound) he seemeth by that precept to show how great idleness is to be avoided, and how great is the loss of time, to leave the exercise of travail. And therefore, not to transgress this precept in these tumultuous and turbulent times, composed of more than civil wars in the bowels of France, I have addressed myself for the avoiding of Jdlenesse, to draw my line upon an humble and low subject, to make a discourse of domestical husbandry, and to she we how a diligent man may of one little somme, draw great gains by honest means. Which doing, I greatly recreate my spirits among my books, and forget a great part of my sorrowful thoughts of these troublous times. And for asmuch as I know, that after long practice of Arms, and the great travail which you have had therein, the travail of letters shallbe greatly delectable unto you, when with equal pace, you join wisdom with magnanimity, I have taken upon me the boldness, to present unto you this my little labour, by the reading whereof you may take one hour of recreation. I have addressed this little husbandry in such order that the practice being therein well instructed in buying, and conservation of things bought, with discrete distribution of the same, may assure himself to lack no merchants. This little discourse, is of the time of the troubles of the year 1567. before that the wind Caecias drew the Cloud of troubles into the Countries of Poictu and Lodunoys, where I appointed the merchant to make his emploit, as shallbe seen in the reading.  
Yours moste obeisant, Prudent Choyselat.   

The Author to his friend afflicted with the troubles of the Civil wars in France, in the year of our Lord, M.D.LXVII.  
THe calamities and encumbrances, the miseries and sorrows, which proceed of the insolency, into the which the people of this time is plunged in this age of Iron (of Iron I may say, hardened to misfortune) hath well witnessed unto us, how true is the ancient Proverb, which saith: That jupiter is slow to visit the skin of the Goat: Yet that in fine, he permitteth not an evil fact unpunished. We have seen with our eyes, and felt by effect in our France, at the rising of these jaste troubles, falling upon us like tempest of Hail unlooked for. The which, as coming out of the Box of Pandora, or out of the bursten infected prison, was so spread among men, and hath made such overture of vice and mischief, that all sorts of evil are set at liberty. Mars the Executor of the wrath of the goddess hath vomited his Eholour without measure, that the burning thereof hath chafed them, not only to social wars, but to all devilish attempts, more than Megariqu, to Robberies and Murders, and (as saith Cicero) to Phalarismes and most cruel inhumanities. Vulcan leaving his proper Region, hath followed these miseries, and searched these habitations, to exercise these operations: In such sort that it is easy to judge, that these mishaps are fallen among men, to put them in memory of their sins, found in the said goats skin, of the which you have paid your lot: as I have known by the complaints, which you have made for your great losses of money, and menage spoiled and destroyed by sackcage, and pillage also of your Nobles. In the which I lament your fortune, as a common Shipwreck: but patience must surmount. And to help you, I have none other mean then by advise and counsel: you know that all my life, I have spent little time in hoarding of richesses, and things caduke. And that rather I took pleasure to content my Spirits, in reading and searching of such things, as few men have found. Yet not to refuse the help of a friend in necessity: and understanding that there yet remaineth unto you, five or six hundred franks, which you have hidden, forcing so great a mischance, it seemeth unto me, to the end that you in nothing diminish your state of living, so to redress the same, that you may easily in short time, re-enter into as great and ample revenues, as you had before the said troubles.  
Your revenue doubtless, consisteth in husbandry of all sorts of cattle, as beeves, Kine, Mares, Sheep, foul, and such other things as rejoiceth them, which are given to the country life. I can be a witness how your table was ever ready for your familiar friends: And your wife and daughter were of worshipful estimation, and of careful provision for your family, entertained by honest sparing and frugality, requisite in due time and season. At which time also you were well esteemed, for your liberality toward your neighbours and friends. But seeing that Fortune hath courned her visage (as she is accustomed to do, when the time agreeth with her) you must needs retire, and not suffer her to remain with you in like regard as before. And therefore you must forget those losses, and think of a gain to come: to the which you shall attain easily, with this little some remaining, if you will employ it, as I will advertise you. And this without spot of villainy, or filthy and excessive gains. Furthermore, your husbandry shall flourish, and your name shallbe more known in France, than was among the Greeks, the name of him that burnt the Temple of Diana in Ephesus.  
And to make no longer discourse: advise yourself to bestow your some of money in buying of Hens: not Meleagrides, the which Bellonius in his Peregrination affirmeth, to be our Hens of the Indies (being the true Graniers of Oats) but common Hens of our Country: and husband or employ them in such sort, as I will show hereafter. And be not impatient to attend the conclusion.  
first of all, it is necessary to have them, near unto the city of Paris, famous and of great renown throughout all the world, to be the mart and seat of all good Arts, and Sciences, and populous of all sorts of men, if there be any other under the Sun. There consider the situation of some commodious place well builded, having good rooms and Stabies, with a Court or yard enclosed of two Acres of ground, more or less, and walled of sufficient height. With also two other Acres enclosed, for an other purpose, whereof we will speak hereafter. Of these are enough to be found, in the old rural buildings about the City of Paris. So then can you not say, that you are straightly lodged. For Quintus Cincinnatus Citezine of Rome (so named for wearing his heir combed and breaded) possessed no more when he was called to the dignity of Dictator, as writeth Valerius Maximus in his fourth book.  
The aforesaid Manor place or Farm, with Yard or Court enclosed, you shall take by Lease for certain years, paying yearly rend for the dwelling of you and your family. You shall dispose your Stables commodiously, for your Hens and Chickens, with the view or prospecte toward the Winter Driente, that the Sun may give the good morrow to your Hens, which greatly delight at the Morning Sun, as noteth Columella in his ninth book of husbandry: also Varro in his third book.  
The Hen houses, shallbe commodious and profitable, if they be alone or solitary, and the Planks well covered with clay, because the hens delight to prune and tumble themselves in dust, and to be kept warm. And therefore bodrdes or plaster, are not convenient to this purpose.  
The lather's, or Perches must be from the ground two foot high. Also flat, and not round, because the Hens do not bend, or crook their claws or Talons, as do other graspeling fowls.  
The said Hen houses also, in the day time must be open, that they may be evented with wind and Air. And that the night air may more easily transpire and breathe out, that it may cause no disease by close air, which in short time causeth putrefaction, and diseases thereof proceeding.  
Under the Hen houses, and all about the stables shall he hanged many Panyers of convement bigness, stuffed with hay, to receive the Hens when they lay. For Hay in this case, is much better than Straw, because it is softer and warmer, and is not so apt to engender Lice or Worms. I do not mean that it should be so dear as was that which was sold for four Attiques the handful, for men to eat, at the time of the great Famine in jerusalem, as writeth josephus in his seventh book of the war of the jews, the four Attiques amounting to xiv. French Souses, after three Souses and six French pence for a sauce, as much as the Roman penny, as writeth learned Budaeus in his book De Ass.  
When you have thus disposed your Hen houses, and made them sure and safe against all hurtful beasts and vermin, that may enter by Day or Night, and have well placed the Panyars, to receive and harbour them, you shall bestow the some of three hundredth franks, in buying of good Hens, which may cost you after the rate of five Souses (which is six pence and two thirds) the piece, by reason of the dearth which is now, 
xxv. Franks iv. s. vj. d. & ij. thirds of j d.  by occasion of wars. Which shallbe twelve hundredth Hens, after five and twentic franks the hundred.  
The Countries of Angeou, Touraine, and Lodunoys, have been the countries with Britain, less troubled with the said Civil wars: and therefore Hens are there better cheap: Also very good, strong, well membered, and of the best race to make your emploite.  
You shall choose the youngest, which are apt to lay then the old: And the cammon, more than they of kind: or the Black, Red, and Tawny, which are more fruitful than the Grey or White, as Aristotle affirmeth in his History of beasts in the first book, the first Chapter. And also they which have their crest or comb double and upright, as witnesseth Pliny in his natural History. Also Palladius and Petrus Crescencis in his book of husbandry. Likewise Carolus Stephanus a man of our time, and a diligent gatherer of things Economike, pertaining to Household and husbandry.  
They of a mean bigness, are the best, having their breast large, their body well fleshed, not with long spurs like unto Cocks, for they commonly break their Eggs. Take heed also that they be not to fat. Witness the good wife, which being in love with her Hen, fed her so well, and made her so fat, that she left laying, as rehearseth Esope in his Fables.  
You ought to think, that the good woman loved her Hen no less, than the Emperor Honorius, Son of Theodosius loved his, named Rome. Who understanding that Alaricus king of the Goths had taken Rome (which was the ancient City of Rome) was very sad, supposing that Alaricus had taken his Hen, which he so much loved, as Zonar the Greek Historiographer hath written, in the life of Honorius. I say the ancient Rome, because the Emperors of the East parts, called Constantinople, new Room.  
In like manner you shall buy Cocks, to sort or match them: six score Cocks shall suffice for the twelve hundredth Hens. 
v. li. vi. s. viii. d.  For one Cock, may suffice for ten Hens. They may cost you ten Souses the piece, over and above the price of the Hens: which amounteth to xlviij. franks. They of the age from a year and a half, unto two years, are the best.  
To know them well, you shall consider the Plumage, or Feathers. The Black, Red, and Tawny, are the best. Also they that have their Comb or Creaste upright, and double, or divided. Their eyes red and glistering: Their beck, short and hooked: well spurred: their going, haughty and proud: Their voice strong and sounding: and such as crow much, representing such a Majesty, as did the Cock of the Persians, which among them was reverenced, and honoured for a king, as reciteth Aristophanes. At the least, that they show a certain hardiness, as they which the Carians, people of the less Asia, bore upon their Morion or Helmet, going to battle: as Alexander de Alexandro hath written in the xx. Chapter of his first book.  
And if you will take pleasure in Divination of things to come by Cocks, 
Alectoromantia,  (which Divination is named Alectoromantia) as did jamblicus master of Proclus, as Libanius his companion, great and learned Philosophers, in the time of the Emperor Valens, you may make experiment of such predictions, and therewith do pleasure to your friends.  
And to the end that you shall not be ignorant in the theoric, or Speculation of the said Divination, I will show you a certain practice and Prognostication thereof. Certain great lords were curious to know, who should be successor to the Empire, after Valens, favourer of the damnable sect of the Arrians: praying the said Philosophers to give answer, according to their Art and experience, which they had of such things. Who were very diligent to sa●i●fie their request, as commonly men of letters are not ingrate to communicate to others, the fruits of their garden.  
Therefore jamblicus, and Libanius, chose a place very plain and equal, of convenient largeness: and caused fine powder, or ashes to be sifted therein. In the which powder, they wrote the xxiv. letters of the Alphabet equally distant the one from the other, one little cubit a so●der, which is a foot and a half.  
The xxiv. Letters so written and ordered, made a Figure pentagon, or of five angles, having five equal distances: Upon every of the which letters, they laid ten grains, one of Wheat, and an other of Barley.  
The Figure being set in order, they took a Cock, and said to him these words: Cock envious, Cock jealous, Cock proud: Eat the grain, and leave the letter. Then making a great whispering, in manner of a Charm, they let the Cock so Charmed, eat certain of the grains lying upon the letters. The which letters then joined together, and set in order, according to the grains which lay on them, these letters were found. T, H, E, O, D. 
Theod.  And were thereby contented to search no further.  
And by this Divination by the Cock, the said Philosophers gave answer, that the successor of the Empire, should be one Theodosius, or Theodorus, or Theodotus, where of Valens being advertised, was greatly displeased, fearing lest his children should be deprived of the Empire. And therefore put to death all the great Lords, which were so named. jamblicus had evil fortune, and shortly after was poisoned. Vopiscus, Lampridius, and Zonare, which have written the lives of the Emperors of the East and West, will make you wise in this Prognostication.  
Not without reason I have rehearsed unto you this little cubit. For if your figure Pentagon, were directed by the great cubit (which is of nine foot, according to the which, the Ark of Noah was measured, as some Speculatours have affirmed) you might fail in your Divination, and shall not come to the knowledge of that your desire.  
Nevertheless, for asmuch as such Divinations, be deceipts, and enchantments of the eyes and senses, having in them no substance of truth, but rather of lies, you shall give no faith thereto. For falsehood is ever overcome by truth: as by example allegorike, josephus in his History of the Antiquity of the jews, in the second book and fift Chapter declareth: As also is written in Exodus, Chapter seven. Where the rod of Moses, was by the finger of God turned into a very Serpent, and devoured the fantastic Serpents of the Magicians of Pharaa. And the Authors of the said Magic, finally received their reward as did jamblicus: and as did Arphaxat the Magician of Persia, who was stricken with a thunderbolt: As was also the bailiff of Mascon, whom the Devil carried away, as our Chronicles witnesseth. And also as were Mathetin and Hollere, Magicians of the Goths, which were overwhelmed, as writeth Olaus Magnus in his History of the North Regions, in the third book. Likewise Oddo a Magician of Demnarke, who was drowned. And infinite others came to the like evil end.  
But now to return to our Hens: To entreat them and govern them well, you must have four servants or maids, with large ears, well to conceive, and understand your commandments: and the feet of Hearts, with diligent expedition to execute the same: and a trusty right hand to be faithful, loyal, obedient, and of few words. For (as saith the Terentian Parmenio) it is a great fault in servants to be babbelers, and not to keep their masters counsel.  
Their office shallbe to bring the Hens into their houses every day, at five of the clock in the Evening in Summer: and at three of the clock in Winter. Also that they be diligent to close the entries, and windows of the Hen houses, that in the night the Fox (natural enemy to Hens) Weaselles, or Polecattes, may have no access. And in the morning, to open the entries and windows, that they may come forth. And then to make clean the perches and lathers. Also to refresh their Pots and troughs with clean water. For filthy and corrupt water, engendereth the pip, and other sicknesses.  
In the day also, the said servants must be mindful to visit the Panyers, if they be furnish with hay, and to refresh them if need be. The which must be done every week, for engendering of lice, Worms, and Vermin, which make the hens lean, and cause them to scratch.  
In like manner they must he diligent, in gathering the Eggs. And by account to deliver them to a woman, which shall lay them in order upon fair wheat straw, in a place of large and free air, to be kept fresh and cold. The same servants, after that in the Morning, they have given them their feeding of Barley and Oats, and sometimes also Fetches, or tars, shall cast among them some dry Horse-dounge, to the end that the Hens may labour the more, to search their meat with scraping. For such exercise, is wholesome for them. Then about Noon, they shall feed them again, calling them with loud voice, that they may be acquainted with the call of their keepers, whom they will soon know, as did the sparrow of Lesbian Catullma: The Parrot of Corinna Ouidiana: The Thrustle of Agrippina the wife of the Emperor Claudius: The Raven of the Shoemaker of Romme, which gave the good morrow to the emperors Liberius, Germanicus, and Drusus. And was bought for twenty Sesterns, amounting to the some of five hundred crowns of our money, by the supputation of Budaeus, after the rate of five and twenty Crowns one Sesterne. And in like manner shall they do a little before they bring them to roust.  
If your yard contain two Acres enclosed, you may thereof Plough half an Acre in some corner, where the Hens may sometimes in the day scrape the ground, and tumble themselves in the dust or sand, wherein they take great pleasure. You shall Plough or hardell the said land, once in the month, that it become not too hard, that the Hens may easily raise it, without hurting their claws.  
You may also cast certain seeds upon the Ploughed ground, and cover it with the hardell, that the Hens may take both more pleasure and labour, in discovering it. For the Hens through idleness, become gross and heavy, and will cease from laying.  
When your husbandry shallbe thus well ordered, you must practise in the City of Paris, with ten or twelve Physicians, dwelling in sundry places of the said City. Not of the beardless and delicate Apollinaries, which care for nothing but glory, and civil flattery, to get rich wives. But of the bearded Aesculapians, such as was the famous Florentine, a man of singular knowledge, and experience in his art, and famous for the wise counsel which he gave to his daughter, pursued by the unchaste love of Ladislaus king of Naples and Hungary.  
Such ancient Physicians, will easily permit the necessity of Nature, and confirm the wholesome edict of the Emperor Claudius: who (as witnesseth Suetonius) permitted in banquets and companies, freely and without shame, to let scape the wind of the beallie, knowing that certain shamefast persons, subject to the Colic, have died for holding the said ventosity: As also Cicero in the xxij. book of his Epistles, saith that farting ought to be as free as belching, after the opinion of the stoics.  
You shall give them to understand, that you can daily furnish their Pacientes with new laid Eggs, every morning without fail. You shall also advertise them, of them that have the selling, and distribution of them.  
You shall also take heed, that you have not to deal with such Physicians, which have nought else to do them to walk their Mules, as they were which were observed by Master Francis Rabbles Pentagruell, to depart out of their lodging at six of the clock in the morning, and to return at Noon without striking of stroke. For such are the very pacientes of impacientes, by the understanding of Epoptiques and Acromatiques of Aristotle and Alexander his Disciple, which they thought only worthy to be read, as writeth Quintus Curtius.  
In like manner you must be acquainted with xv. or xx. Gainsellers, or Regraters, such as can chat and babble best, and walk about all the streets, and the four corners of the city, and the most famous places of the same: as the Burse, the Palace, the great hauls, the Ports, and other places of great resort: Assuring them to furnish them daily of a number of new laid Eggs, which they shall sell and distribute to your profit, agreeing with them for reasonable price and wages, as shallbe said hereafter.  
Having keep this order, you shall be careful and diligent, to cause your Eggs daily to be carried to the Gainsesters, or women that shall sell them again in the morning of the day following. You may carry them best upon Asses. For which purpose, that Beast is very proper, because of his slow going, that he break not the Eggs. But take heed that they eat no Figs, least you bruste for laughing, as did the Philosopher Chrysippus, as writeth Diogenes Laertius, in his book of the lives of Philosophers. The like also chanced to Philomenes, as writeth Valerius Maximus, in his Chapter of rare kinds of Death.  
Now it resteth to make you understand the profit, that shall come unto you daily of your sum: all charges and expenses deducted: the rent of your house paid, the wages of your servants, the Gainsellers contented, the charges of the Ass, his keeper counted, and also the grain or corn wherewith your Hens are fed. For of the sale of Eggs, is taken no custom, or imposition, as was in the time of John Ducas Emperor of Constantinople, and successor of Theodosius Lascaris, who was so excessive, that in a few days, the Crown of Irene the Empress, was thereby marvelously enriched in precious stones and jewels, as Nephorius hath left in writing, in the third book of the History Bizantine, in the chapter, of the famine of the Turks.  
You shall sell, or cause to be sold, every new laid egg easily for six French pence the piece. For I assure you, that within the city of Paris, are a thousand, yea rather two thousand, that will gladly give a Carolus (which is nine French pence) for every new laid Egg, being thereof assured: wherein see you fail not.  
How many Gentlemen and Gentlewomen are there, which greatly desire in the Morning, to eat a new laid Egg? How many are there of citizens, and their wives, touched with the like desire: How many old folks weary of Flesh, could for their Dinner be content, with a new laid Egg or two? For you must know that an Egg, is naturally of good nourishment, wholesome, delicate, of easy digestion, and maketh good blood, as writeth Alexander Aphrodiseus in his second book, and xxviij. question of his Problems. Likewise Albertus Magnus writeth, that an Egg engendereth in a man, as much good blood, as is the bigness of the yolk, which turneth almost all into blood.  
I have yet made no memory of sick folks, which of necessity have need of new laid Eggs, by the ordinance of the Physicians, whose friendship you shall entertain for the same purpose. The number of the which sick folks, I am sure in the said city, will daily surmount a thousand persons without speaking of them that keep a certain diet, as well to increase the lusts of their pleasures in Venery, as also to restore that which sometime by excessive wantonness, they have diminished of their strength and health. For these also shall have need of your merchandise.  
You may therefore by this deduction, be assured of the vent and sale, and deliverance of your Eggs day by day as much as your Hens shall do their endeavour, orderly to furnish your Customers.  
Now let us return to our account. You can gather no less every day of your xii. hundredth Hens, than eight hundredth Eggs: which are two terces or third parts of the number: Leaving the other terce or third part of your Hens, in the mean time to rest and repose themselves. For the season is not every day agreeable for all Hens to lay: Specially in the midst of Winter, and other times near unto that. But you shall then help them in giving them fenugreek, commonly called the dredge of Horses. And also Barley half sodde. For these things keep them in natural heat, and cause them to lay. 
L. Souses v. s. vi. d. and two. third parts of a penny xliiij. s. v. d. ij. thirds.   
Eight hundredth Eggs, by supputation Arithemeticall, at six French pence the piece, will yield. L. Souses for the hundredth. Which in number producte, maketh xx. franks or French pounds a day. Which is, for the said eight hundredth, seven score franks the week, and seven thousand three hundredth franks the year, of honest profit.  
Let us devise the charges. And that which then remaineth, we will call the gains and profit. For the Lawyers say, that we call nothing profit, savyug what remaineth after the charges deducted: as the famous Lawyer Papinian hath well defined in the xxiv. book of the Pandectes, under the title of repetition of dowry after the marriage dissolved.  
first for the pension of the work man, 
ij. s. two. d. and two. thirds.  and his House for every day twenty sauce: which by the year cometh to three hundredth, three score and five franks. I here understand years of the Sun consisting of three hundredth, three score and five days.  
For four Servants or maids, twenty Souses the day, which is for each of them for wages, meat and drink, five Souses to find themselves: 
xl. li. xi. s. i d. & i. third  amounting in the year to the like sum of three hundredth three score and five franks. You know how greatly sobriety is to be commended in servants, both men and women: which kick when they be fat (as do Monks in the mewe) and murmur when they be full. Among the which, we mean not such as with pure conscience, exercise themselves in their vow of contemplation of Divine things, in whose souls, contemplation taketh perfection, as saith the Divines. For in all sorts of men, the best ought to be respected, and the worst noted. Neither yet do I mean, that you should be sparing for the meat of your servants, as was the Abbot of Poson in Hungary, who was wont to say that of all the works of his servants, the moving of their jaws grieved him most: he was so filthiss covetous, that he disdained to see his servants eat, as writeth Aeneas Silvius in the xlij. Chapter of his History of Boheme.  
For the charges of the two Asses (although Thistles grow every where abundantly) we will allow five Souses a day: amounting to four score and tweltie franks, 
vi. d. and ij. thirds. x. li. v. s.  and five Souses in the year. And for the Ass keeper (whom you may also apply too other service, after that he hath brought his Eggs to the place appointed (who can have no less than one maid to accompany him, whose allowance being after the rate of five Souses the day, cometh to four score and twelve Franks, and five Souses the year. Whom you shall advertise, that he overcharge not his Asses lest they murmur as do the Monks unreformed.  
The Emperor Augustus Caesar after the victory Actium against Antonius, injured by the love of Cleopatra Queen of Egipte, going to see the ships captive, found suddenly an Asse-keper, and asked him what was his name: Who answered that his name was Fortunatus: and the names of his Asses, Victorious. Thereby gratulating the victory of the Emperor. You may feel the profit of your Asses with like congratulation, and hope of good Fortune and victory, against them that would have thrown you into miserable poverty: if you follow your business with requisite diligence as did the said Emperor Augustus his wars: Avoiding such delices and pleasures, as Antonius used with Cleopatra.  
For meat or feeding for the Hens, shall suffice for the day two quarters of Paris measure, as well in Barley as in Oats, Fitches, or tars: and in Winter, 
Septier is the Quarter of Paris v. s. vi. d. and ij. thirds.  beard or horned Wheat, (which in champaign is called Sarasine Wheat) after xxv. Souses the Septier or quarter, which by the day amounteth to L. Souses: and in the year seven hundredth, four score and seven franks, and ten Souses, which is four score and seven. li. x. s.  
As touching the Physicians, some of themselves shall have need of your merchandise: as they that have a Family, and many little children: whom you must visit weekly with certain quarterons of new laid Eggs, brought on thursday for friday and saterday. At Easter also with certain Red Eggs to present to their neighbours, as the revenue of their practic. But such as have no family, and seek for wife and house, following the precept of Xenophon in his Oeconomiques, you may to (gratify them) show them the increase of your Housebandry, and recite unto them the pleasure which you receive therein, to hasten them to cast themselves into the net of happy Mishap, and yet in the mean time honour them with some pretty Presents.  
And if you have the means to recover Pullettes, or Chickens of the race of the Hen, which engendereth them perfectly form, scraping and peeping, and following the Hen, as soon as they be out of the Egg (as rehearseth Apuleius in his book of the golden Ass) you may thereby give argument of high Philosophy of novelties, upon the doubt which they make, if the round Eggs bring forth Cocks, and the long Eggs Hens. Wherein Albertus Magnus the Ape of Aristotle, doth contrary his Master, in the sixth book of Beasts.  
But in the resolution of this question, you shall find them no less troubled, 
A pretty question.  then in this: which is, why there are more Sheep than Wolves: Seeing that one Sheep commonly engendereth not but one, or seldom times two, whereas the Wolf bringeth forth eight or nine. Again, in consideration that for one Wolf that is killed, a thousand or two thousand Sheep go to the slaughter. For the reason which Herodotus bringeth in his third book of his Muse of Thalia, (where he saith, that Nature hath made fierce and cruel Beasts more fruitful, speaking of the multitude of Serpents and Vipers, which in Arabia keep the Trees of Frankincense (can not be applied to Wolves, which are fierce and ravening. But to return to our charges.  
For the entertainment of the said Physicians, I give you estate of two hundred and three score franks by the year. 
xxviij. li. xvii. s. ix d. one third.  So shall your Physicians have no occasion to complain, that they have the pension of Pulters. Of other fidelity nevertheless, that he that is found culpable of false report, shall abide the judgement of the Senator Papirius, at the siege of Aquilon, a Town of the Samnites, of the which Valerius Maximus maketh mention in his seventh book.  
To the Gainsellers, 
vi. d. and ij. thirds. xv. s. vi. d. ij. thirds. xl. li. xi. s. i d. and i. third.  you shall give five Souses for a hundred. Giving them charge, that they sell not in your name, any Eggs but yours. Which in sum, shallbe by the week seven franks: and by the year, three hundred, three score and five franks. In the which you shall do nothing contrary to the opinion of Socrates, who blamed them that bought Merchandise by gross, to sell them again to others by retail, as hurtful to the common wealth.  
Then the supputation or count being made upon xx. franks of the sale of your Eggs by the day, 
x. li. iiij. s. v. d. one third. viii. hundred vi. li. ij. s. ij. d. ij. thirds. three hundred li. seven. s. ij. d. ij. thirds.  amounting to seven thousand and three hundred franks by the year, we must rebate the sum of two thousand, seven hundredth and three franks, and five Souses Tournois, (of currant money) for the expenses here before counted. So remaineth unto you the profit by the year, the sum of four thousand, five hundredth, four score and xuj. franks, and five Souses, which is five hundredth and xj. li. xiii. s. x. d. and ij. thirds.  
And when your laying Hens shallbe no more than six C. a day, leaving the other six C. in rest to abide their season, yet shall remain unto you xv. franks by the day: and by the year, iii. M. iiii. C. xlvii. franks, three Souses, 
xxxiij. s. iiii. d.  and ix. pence, all charges deducted, which amounteth to three hundredth four score and three li. v. d.  
Which seemeth to me an honest gain and profit, upon the emploiing of so little a sum, and that, without all filthy Usury: By the means also whereof, your may feast your friends, and lead a joyful life: I say not prodigal, as of Asope the Tragic, with his platter of small birds, whereof Pliny maketh mention in the tenth book of his Natural History. Neither so dainty or gluttonous as of Apitius, that was in the time of the Emperor Tiberius. Neither yet so sumptuous and magnificent, as that of Lucullus noted of plutarch (in his book of the lives of famous men) for the banquet which he made upon the sudden, for Pompeius and Cicero: the expense whereof was no less than twelve hundred and fifty Crowns, coming to fifty Sesternes Roman. Or that of Pomponius Atticus. Again on the other part, I mean not that your living shallbe so straight, in frugality or sparing, as was that of Curius Dentatus, who lived with radish roots. Or of Pertinax, who would be served ten times with one Salet. Neither so vile or sparing, as was Epaminondas a great Lord of Thebes, who kept his chamber while his apparel was amending, because he would have no change.  
But temperate and modest, as that of the Kings of Egipte, who before they fell too their meat, disputed of modesty and sobriety, taking pleasure in banquets, more joyful, then sumptuous or exquisite. And so shall you not fall into the penalty of the Law Numeral of julius, who prefined a Tax to be paid of the charges, made in great feasts and banquets.  
And for as much as it may seem a thing undecent, that a man should make profession of an Art, or traffic of Merchandise, whereof he hath no knowledge, being ignorant of the natures and temperatures of the things, which he hath in hand: I will not fail to advertise you of the diseases, which come to Hens and Cocks, and of their remedies, and when it shallbe needful to change them, and put others in their places, to the end that your number do not diminish: as you know that by surrogation, the kinds of all things are preserved in their being, and so remain perpetually, as divine Diotimus taught Socrates in the second book of the feast of Plato.  
Their common disease is the pip, which is a disease of the tongue, the end whereof is thereby hardened, in manner of a gristle. And thereby also the Hen loseth her taste, both in eating and drinking: and infecteth also the other Hens, specially within the house, and the place of their feeding.  
This disease proceedeth, either of being long without drinking of clean and fresh water, or by drinking of foul and stinking water. And to heal it, you must take the Hen, and take away the superfluity, which groweth on the tongue hardened at the end. And then wash the tongue and beak with oil, in the which shallbe tempered a head of Garlic. And put among their meat Staphesacre: and to rub the tongue well with Spittle or Vinegar, first tempered in the mouth of the servant.  
another disease, is the Catare or Rheum, which is a fluxion of cold humours in the head of the Heaves, making them to hang their wings, and their Creastes or combs. The remedy is, to traverse or overthwart their nosethrells with a Feather put through them, to open the Fluxion or Rheum that is stopped, and maketh them blind. It shall also be good to warm their drink in Winter: because such diseases proceed of cold, or drinking of Frozen water, or lying under the Moon, the mother of all moistuesse.  
Against the Lice and Vermin, which maketh them lean, feeble, and unfruitful, I have showed you the remedy. But when the disease is now come, the remedy is too bathe them with a little wine, or drink, in the which shall be sodden some Comine, or Staphisacre, commonly called the death of Lice, applying it to the heads of little children, with ointmentes.  
If you doubt, how I know this, not alleging any Author for the proof: you shall understand that I have learned it, by practise of the common people, in like manner as the wisemen among the hebrews, named Cabalistae, and the like among the Gauls named druids, learned their Sciences by Tradition, from mouth to mouth, and from hand to hand without letters. Whereby is come to pass, that in our France, the government is more by customs not written, then by written laws: as julius Caesar hath written in his Commentaries, of the conquest of the Gauls or frenchmen, in his sixth Book.  
The ancients have written certain remeadies, to keep the Hens from the Fox, as Palladius in his book of husbandry, teacheth how to rub the walls of the Hen house, with the gall of a Fox, and to cut in little pieces the flesh of a Fox, and to mingle it with the hens meat, to cause the Fox to abhor to come near it, by feeling the death of his proper kind, which nature can not abide, as Pliny writeth in his nine and twenty book of his Natural History. But the most sovereign remedy, is to keep fast and close the doors and windows in the night. And that in the day, your servants often times come, and go in all places and corners of your close. And that near unto it, or the Hen house, be no heaps of wood, bushes, or stones, where such beasts may be hid or harboured. For, the beasts which live by rapt, have ever a certain fear joined with their craftiness, and desire of ravening.  
About the time of Autumn, you shall every year draw a hundred or two hundred of the eldest of your Hens, and such as have their claws longest, and grossest. In place of the which, you shall put younger of such sort or quality, As I have before described.  
If peradventure you be of opinion, to keep your Eggs of one season for an other, you must lay them in order upon sheaves of straw very fresh, with the sharp end upward, or to lay them in Panyers in like manner. And that they be well covered with straw, that they be not turned by too much heat, or cold. And if you will choose the best for your friends, take Candida, Longa, Nova (that is) white, long, and new, following the opinion of the school of Salerne.  
The other two Acres which remain about your Yard, Court, or place enclosed, shall be commodious to sow Barley, which is a grain very proper for the nurture of Hens. And if you can recover Barley of the seed of Aethiope, whereas dwell the jews of the line of Dan, Nepthalin, Gad, and Asser, near to the river of Sabbatique (which Moses affirmeth to be the river in the holy scripture called Gosan) it shallbe singular good, because one grant thereof bringeth forth an hundred, as Eldad Damus the Hebrew hath written in his brief History of the Empire of the jews, enclosed in Aethiope.  
I will write unto you more ample of the other profits, which concern the nurture of Hens, as of what properties they are, and what one may draw of their substances. But my end hath been none other than to give advise, how for a little somme of money and little travail, you may get great profit: to the end that you may the more easily forget your losses, and accustom yourself to the noise and clucking of your Hens: and not to seem more delicate, then was the good Philosopher Socrates, who bore it easily because they laid him Eggs: as he bore patiently the murmuring and scolding of his wife Xantippe, because she bore him children.  
You may every day see your menage or husbandry. And (as did the Peripatici) walk about the closes, and other places: and consider the endeavour of your servants. Whom also by this means you shall make more careful and diligent: and your Hens better entreated, according to the apothegm which saith: That the eye of the Master maketh the servant prompter, and the Horse fatter: as also Aristotle maketh mention in his first book of Economics. But how so ever it be, direct your husbandry in such order, that bones be not given to Asses, and Thistles to Dogs.  
The Maid servant or Chamberlain, of Promotheus (named Experience) who served him, after that he had brought from Heaven the liberal Sciences, and to whom when he drew near to death he gave them by Testament, may in short time assure you, either to continue this Merchandise and traffic, or to leave it. For she (Experience I mean) is one of the chief servants which you must have, with other diligent company.  
You ought not to take it greevousstie to leave your dwelling place, and accustomed pleasant Air, or your neighbours, cousins, or friends. For you know well the incommodities which Civil war bringeth, the which (as writeth Cicero to Marcus Marcellus, in the fourth book of his familiar Epistles) is no less lamentable, than the victory gotten by shedding of domestical blood. And therefore not without reason saith the Proverb: That war is pleasant to such as hath no experience thereof. The which saying Erasmus, a rare man in all kind of learning hath in his Chiliades, dilated by many examples: as you may also easily judge at this present. You know also that the Merchant to fly poverty, hazardeth himself by land and sea, and leaveth his native air and country.  
And for the doubt that you may have, not to be assured in peaceable possession of your enclosed ground, against the violence of thieves and soldiers: I would wish you for the guard thereof, either the waking Serpent which kept the gardens of Hespides (famous for the golden apples) slain by Hercules of Thebes, or the furious Bulls which kept the golden fleece in the isle of Colchos, under the king Aoetas the father of Meda, which were overcome and taken by ●a●o● of Thessalia, at the voyage of the Argonautae. Have recourse to the Metamorphoses of Ovid in the fourth and seventh Book. But better than all this shall serve for your security, a tablet of three or four flower de Lice (the kings Seal) authorized by the king: which shallbe of greater efficacy than any other safeguard that you can desire.  
For final counsel, I pray you continue in the love and fear of God, obeisance to your Prince and his Magistrates, reverence to all superiors, with patience of your losses, to occupy your trade without fraud, and you shall find multiplication of all your goods. And then (as saith Juvenal in his third Satire) you may say that you are son of a white Hen.  
But when you shallbe known to do service to so excellent a Common wealth as is the city of Paris (which surmounteth all those that have been famous among the Greeks) and that you have given the first entry, and (as saith the Proverb) broken the Ice to others, I suppose your enemies shallbe repulsed, as were they of Furius Cressinus Citezin of Room enueighed of his neighbours, because that of a little he raised more gain, than they did of much tillage. For the which they imputed unto him, that he used Witchcraft, and Enchantment. Who bringing for the his instruments of husbandry, his diligent servants: was discharged of all such suspicions, and of all men greatly commended, as writeth Titus Livius. And furthermore your felicity and prosperity, shallbe a passion to your enemies, as chanceth to all envious persons.  
I know other experiences very prompt. But of no greater gain than six franks the day, all charges deducted Therefore, if my first instructions seem not agreeable unto your Nature, advertise me thereof, that I may direct unto you an other way more easy, and no less delectable, though of less profit.  
Peradventure some will think this Counsel very strange and ridiculous, and perhaps of difficult execution. To think it strange, there is no greater reason, considering the nourishing of Hens for honest gains, is no new or strange thing, if we believe that which Celius Rhodoginus, a worthy Author, hath written in his fowertene book of Antiquities: That in the isle of Delos (otherwise called Ortygia for the boundance of Quails) being one of the most famous of the Cyclades in the sea Aegaeum were found many that made estate and traffic in the nourishment of Hens, for gain and profit. Who were so well exercised herein, and in the knowledge of their Hens, that only upon the sight of an Egg, they could easily judge what Hen it came from. Therefore, that selling of Eggs hath ever been a thing commonly used: have recourse to the Impost, which was in the time of the Emperor Honorius, as is said heretofore.  
As touching mockers, no man can establish any thing so good or well ordered, that the mocker shall not bite, when Envy hath made impression in his foolish brain, and hath there taken up his lodging, to torment his host.  
And to resolve you of such difficulties, let us take hold of the saying of Agathon a young gentle man, in the Oration which he made of Love, in the feast of Plato, saying: that we aught more to fear the judgement of a few wisemen, then of many ignorant fools and mockers. For wisemen slowly give the lose bridle to their congues, but use their words with judgement: as also writeth Cicero in his Oration for Plancius, saying: That the judgement of ten wise and grave men in one city, importeth more than the judgement of all the common people, who for the most part judge without counsel or reason.  
If any man shall say that the invention of this counsel is old: I confess unto you that I am not the first teacher hereof, as was Carbilius of the first letters at Rome, or the first Schoolmaster: yet hath it not been practised in our tyme. And as writeth the Poet Horatius. Many things are renewed which time hath devoured, and buried as dead, the which again in time shallbe drowned in the River of Oblivion, and shall again return to their estate by course, as doo● in manner all worldly things, as wise Solomon also witnesseth.  
Assure yourself my dear freed, that Magnifico Megret, or any other Alchemiste, have not with their furnaces and Alembikes, drawn more profit by the Philosopher's stone, than you shall draw out of the beally of your Hens, if you will join pleasure with pain. And so shall you be out of danger, 〈◊〉 which such Alchemistes fall, who oftentimes consume their Patrimony, and blow it away with bellows. But ever beware the Fox. In the mean time you shall receive of your friend this little gift, such as it is, in hope hereafter to recover of him some better thing when occasion doth serve, which (occasion) you must take by the he●●e before, that it scape not from you.  
Now therefore for the end of this account, you must arm yourself with patience when affliction is sent, and anoide poverty (the enemy of all good manners) by exercise of honest and profitable frugality in ●●yng the things, which you have gotten by your labour: and therewith also a reputation not bulgare, which shallbe bruited through all France, for the novelty of your enterprise. Whereof some will take such pleasure, as 〈◊〉 move the severe Cato's to laughing, and raise the Melancholic Mi●● of weeping Democrites.  
And finally, you shall herewith receive the contentation of your loving friend with this pleasant present, to mitigate the furrows of these cloudy times, and to put you in good comfort of better hope in time to come.  

¶ Hatching of Eggs without Hens, as writeth joannes Porta in his second book of Magic Natural.  
TAke the dung of Pigeons or Hens beaten into powder, and finely sifted. Then lay the Eggs in such sort, that one touch not an other for breaking. And see they be well covered with the said dung both under and above, in close Panyers or Coops commodious for the purpose, so that the rounder or bigger end of the Eggs be downward. But first you must lay a bed of hens feathers, and thereon the dung: and likewise an other rank or bed of Feathers upon the dung that covereth the Eggs. This done, you shall every four and twenty hours turn the Eggs, that they may equally receive the heat. They may thus be kept, in a place of temperate heat. And when twenty days are past, if you shall perceive that the chickens strike the shell with their bills, hearken if they peep. For often it chanceth, that for the thickness of the skin or film, they can not break forth. Then help them with taking of the Shell. And immediately bring the Hen unto them. The like may be done in a warm. Quen, tempered to the measure and proportion of Natural heat. Likewise also in hot Horse dung, with like diligence of measuring and conserving of heat, with adding of new and pure dung every seventh day.  
Cardanus in his twelfth book De Subtilitate, writeth much in like manner: But saith that you must first make two Cusshions or Pillows filled with hens dung, beaten into fine powder and Sifted. Then by sowing or other means, fastening on the Pillows Hens Feathers both great and small of good thickness, and lay the Eggs between them in a warm place etc. as before. He writeth that in the great City of Alkair or Babilonia Nova in Egypt, they use thus to hatch Eggs in great multitude.   
FINIS.