INSTRVCTIons for the increasing of Mulberry Trees, and the breeding of Silkworms, for the making of Silk in this Kingdom.  
Whereunto is annexed his majesties Letters to the Lords Lieutenants of the several Shires of England, tending to that purpose.  
LONDON Printed by E.A. for Eleazar Edgar, and are to be sold at his Shop in Paules-Church-yard, at the Sign of the Windmill. 1609   

To the READER.  
AS one desirous of nothing more than the public good, I here most willingly impart unto thee (Gentle Reader) that which by my own experience I find in regard of the benefit it affords, worthy thy pains and observation. It hath pleased his Majesty out of his deep discerning judgement, to give my purpose a special approbation & withal to express a willingness in himself to further so good a business as by his gracious Letters hereunto annexed most manifestly appears. Accept therefore of these my brief directions, & approve of them as they prove: I could have extended them to a farther length; but Oratory needs not where the thing itself persuades: Yet some peradventure that have laboured in the like before, will take occasion to countenance themselves & make my brevity an argument of unsufficiency, although I hope they will consider that a King's Picture may be as perfect in a penny as in the largest coin.  
And whatsoever hath been by them published, interpreting other men's works, according to the practice thereof in Foreign parts, where the same as yet is generally better understood, I doubt not but future trial will verify this my book to be every way here more correspondent to the creature whereof it treats: and for such I commend it to each unpartial understanding.  
Remaining always, Thine for the public Weal: W. S   

james Rex. Right trusty and Welbelooved we greet you well.  
IT is a principal part of that Christian care which appertaineth to sovereignty, to endeavour by all means possible, aswell to beget as to increase among their people the knowledge and practice of all Arts and Trades, whereby they may be both waned from idleness & the enormities thereof, which are infinite, and exercised in such industries and labours, as are accompanied with evident hopes, not only of preserving people from the shame and grief of penuire, but also of raising and increasing them in wealth and abundance, The scope which every freeborn spirit aimeth at, not in regard of himself only and the ease which a plentiful estate bringeth to every one in his particular, but also in regard of the honour of their native country, whose commendations is no way more set forth then in the people's activeness and industry. The consideration whereof having of late occupied our mind, who always esteem our people's good our necessary contemplations, we have conceived as well by the discourse of our own reason, as by information, gathered from others, that the making of silk might as well be effected here as it is in the kingdom of France, where the same hath of late years been put in practice: For neither is the climate of this I'll so far distinct or different in condition from that country, especially from the hither parts thereof, but that it is to be hoped that those things which by industry prosper there, may by like industry used here have like success: and many private persons who for their pleasure have bred of those worms, have found no experience to the contrary, but that they may be nourished and maintained here if provision were made for planting of Mulberry trees, whose leaves are the food of the Worms. And therefore we have thought good hereby to let you understand, that although in suffering this invention to take place, we do show ourselves somewhat an adversary to our profit, which in the matter of our Customs for silk brought from beyond the Seas, will receive some diminution: Nevertheless, when there is question of so great and public utility to come to our kingdom and subjects in general, and whereby (besides multitudes of people of both sexes and all ages) such as in regard of impotency are unfit for other labour, may be set on work, comforted and relieved; We are content that our private benefit shall give way to the public, and therefore being persuaded that no well affected Subject will refuse to put his helping hand to such a work as can have no other private end in us, but the desire of the welfare of our people, we have thought good in this form only to require you (as a person of greatest authority within that County) and from whom the generality may receive notice of our pleasure (with more conveniency them otherwise) to take occasion either at the quarter Sessions, or at some other public place of meeting, to persuade and require such as are of ability (without descending to trouble the poor, for whom we seek to provide) to buy and distribute in that County, the number of ten thousand Mulberry plants, which shall be delivered unto them at our City of etc., at the rate of three farthings the Plant; or at six shillings the hundred, containing five-score plants. And because the buying of the said Plants at this rate, may at first seem chargeable to our said subjects, (whom we would be loath to burden) we have taken order, that in March or April next, there shall be delivered at the said place a good quantity of Mulberie-seedes, there to be sold to such as will buy them, By means whereof the said plants will be delivered at a smaller rate them they can be afforded being carried from hence: having resolved also in the mean time that there shall be published in print a plain Instruction and direction, both for the increasing of the said Mulberietrees, the breeding of the Silkworms, & all other things needful to be understood, for the perfecting of a work every way so commendable & profitable as well to the planter as to those that shall use the trade; Having now made known unto you the motives as they stand, with the public good, wherein every man is interessed, because we know how much the example of our own Deputie-lievetenants and justices, will further this cause, if you and other your neighbours will be content to take some good quantities hereof, to distribute upon your own lands: we are content to acknowledge thus much more in this direction of ours, that all things of this nature tending to plantations, increase of Science, and works of industry, are things so naturally pleasing to our own disposition, as we shall take it for an argument of extraordinary affection towards our person, beside, the judgement we shall make of the good dispositions in all those that shall express in any kind their ready minds, to further the same, And shall esteem that in furthering the same, they seek to further our honour and contentment, who having seen in few years space past, that our Brother the French King hath since his coming to that Crown, both begun and brought to perfection the making of Silks in his country, whereby he hath won to himself honour, and to his subjects a marvelous increase of wealth, would account it no little happiness to us, if the same work which we begun among our people with no less zeal to their good (than any Prince can have to the good of theirs) might in our time produce the fruits which there it hath done; whereof we nothing doubt if ours will be found as tractable and apt to further their own good, now the way is showed them by us their Sovereign, As these of France have been to conform themselves to the directions of their King.  
Given under our Signet at our Palace of Westminster, the Sixteenth of November, in the sixth year of England, France and Ireland, and of Scotland the two & fortieth.   

INSTRUCTIONS For the increase and planting of Mulberry Trees.  

What ground is fit for the Mulberry seeds, how the same is to be ordered, & in what sort the seeds are to be sowed therein.  
THE ground which ought to be appointed for this purpose, besides the natural goodness of it, must be reasonably well dunged, and withal so situated, as that the heat of the sun may cherish it, and the nipping blasts of either the North wind or the East, may not annoy it: the choice thereof thus made, that the seeds may the better prosper, & come up after they be sown, you shall dig it two foot deep, breaking the clods as small as may be, and afterward you shall divide the same into several Beds of not above five foot in breadth, so that you shall not need to endanger the plants by treading upon them, when either you water or weed them.  
The Mulberry seeds you shall lay in water for the space of xxii hours, and after that you shall dry them again half dry, or somewhat more, that when you sow them they may not cleave together: Thus done, you must cast them upon the foresaid beds, not altogether so thick as you use to do other garden Seeds, and then cover them with some fine earth (passed through a Sieve) about half an inch thick: In dry weather you shall water them every two days at the farthest, as likewise the Plants that shall come of them; and keep them as clean from weeds as possibly you can.  
The time in which you ought to sow them for your best advantage, is either in March, April, or May, when frosts are either altogether past, or at the least not so sharp, or of so long continuance, as to endanger their upspring.  
There is yet another way to sow them, and that is as followeth: you shall (being directed by a strait line) make certain furrows in the beds above mentioned of some four fingers deep, and about a foot in distance the one from the other: After this, you shall open the earth with your hands, on either side of the aforesaid Furrows, some two fingers from the bottom, and where you have so opened it, shall you sow your seeds; and then cover them half a finger thick with the earth which before you opened.   

When the Plants that are sprung up of the seeds, are to be removed, and how they are to be planted the first time.  
IN the months of September, October, November, December, March or April, the next year after the seeds are sown, you may remove their plants, (or in the month of januarie, if it be not in frosty weather) and set them in the like beds as before, and about one foot the one from the other, but first you must cut off their roots about 8. inches in length, and their tops about half a foot above their roots, more or less, according to the strength of the said plants, for the weaker they be the less tops you shall leave them. In this sort you may suffer them to remain (weeding and watering them as need shall require) till they be grown six foot in length above their roots, whereunto when once they have attained, you may cut their tops, and suffer them to spread, always having a care to take away the many branches or succours, that may any way hinder their growth, until they be come to their full length of six foot, as a foresaid.   

When, and how the Plants are to be removed the second time, and in what manner they are to be planted where they shall remain.  
IN the Months aforesaid, (according as your plants are waxen strong,) you may remove them either into the hedges of your fields, or into any other grounds. If in hedges, you must set them sixteen foot the one from the other, if in other ground, intending to make a wood of them eighteen foot at the least. But a month before you do remove them, you must make the holes (wherein you purpose to set them) about four foot in breadth, and so deep as that their roots may be well covered, and some half a foot of lose earth left under them, having always a special care so to place them, that they may receive the benefit of the Sun, and not to be shadowed or overspread by any neighbouring trees.   

When, and how the eggs of the Silkworms are to be hatched, and how to order the Worms that shall come of them.  
WHen the leaves of Mulberry trees begin a little to bud forth, take the Eggs of your Silkworms, and lay them in a piece of Say, or such like stuff, and in the day time carry them in some warm place about you, in a little safe Box, but in the night either lay them in your bed or between two warm pillows, until such time as the worms begin to come forth: then take a piece of paper of the wideness of the said box, & having cut it full of small holes, lay in within the same upon the Eggs, and upon that again some few Mulberry leaves, to which the Worms as they are hatched, will continually come. These leaves with the worms upon them, you must still remove into other boxes, laying fresh leaves aswell on those that are removed as on the paper where the Eggs are; and this is the course which must be duly kept and observed, until such times as all the worms be come forth of their shells, still keeping their boxes warm: as aforesaid, but no longer about you, but until the worms begin to come forthout of which boxes you may safely take them, when once they have passed their second sickness, and feed them upon shelves of two foot in breadth, and eighteen inches one above the other, as in this figure following is expressed.   depiction of feeding shelves for silk worms 
The said shelves are not to be place in any ground-roome, nor yet next unto the Tiles, but in some middle room of your house which openeth upon the North & south, that you may the more conveniently give them either heat or air, according as the time & season shall require. Besides, you must not make them close unto the Walls but so as you may pass about them, the better to look unto the Worms, & keep them from Rats & Mice, which otherwise might devour them. You must observe the times of their coming forth, and keep every one or two days hatching by themselves, that you may the better understand their several sicknesses or sleepings, which are four in the time of their feeding. The first commonly some twelve days after they are hatched, and from that time at the end of every eight days, according to the weather and their good or ill usage: during which time of every sickness, which lasteth two or three days, you must feed them but very little, as only to relieve such of them, as shall have passed their sickness before the rest, and those that shall not fall into their sickness so soon.  
The whole time that the worms do feed, is about nine weeks, whereof until they come unto their first sickness, give them young Mulberry leaves twice every day, but few at a time; from thence until their second sickness, twice every day in greater quantity; and so from their second to their third sickness, increasing the quantity of the leaves, according as you perceive the worms to grow in strength, and clear of sickness: from the third until their fourth sickness; you may give them leaves thrice every day and the fourth being past, you may let them have so many as they will eat, always having a care that you give them none, but such as are dry, and well aired upon a Table or cloth, before they be laid upon them, and withal gathered so near as may be, at such times as either the sun or wind hath cleared them of the dew that falleth upon them.  
For the feeding of Worms you need observe no other order then this, lay the Mulberry leaves upon them, and every two or three days remove them, and make clean their boxes, or shelves, unless in times of their sickness, for than they are not to be touched: the leaves which you take from them when you give them fresh to feed upon, you must lay in some convenient place, and upon them a few new leaves, to which the worms that lay hidden in the old, will come, & then you may pass them with the said new leaves to the rest of the worms: And now lest any thing should be omitted, which serves to perfect the discovery of so excellent a benefit, I will advise you to be very diligent in keeping clean their Boxes, or Shelves, as being a special means whereby to preserve them; wherefore when you intent to do it; you shall remove them together with the uppermost leaves whereon they lie, unto other boxes or shelves, for with your hands you may not touch them, till they have thoroughly under-gone their third sickness, and then may you pass them gently with clean hands, without doing them any harm: provided that the party that cometh near them smell not of garlic, onions or the like. The first five weeks of their age you must be very careful to keep them warm, and in time of rain or could weather, to set in the room where they remain, a pan with coals burning in it, now and then some juniper, Benjamin, and such like, that yieldeth sweet smells. But afterwards, unless in time of extraordinary cold, give them air, and take heed of keeping them to hot, being always mindful to store the room with herbs and flowers which are delightful and pleasing to the smell. As the worms increase in bigness, you shall disperse them abroad upon more boards, or shelves, and not suffer them to lie too thick together, & if you find any of them broken, or of a yellow glistering colour inclining to sickness, cast them away lest they infect the rest, and sort such as are not sick, the greatest and strongest by themselves, for so the lesser will prosper the better.   

When, and how to make fit rooms for the Worms to work their bottoms of silk in, and in what sort the said bottoms are to be used.  
AS soon as by the clear amber coloured bodies of your worms, you shall perceive them ready to give their silk, you must (with heath made very clean, or with the branches of Rosemary, the stalks of Lavender, or such like) make Arches between the foresaid shelves, according as this figure following doth direct you.   depiction of shelves on which silk worms are set to spin 
Upon the branches and sprigs whereof, the worms will fasten themselves, & make their bottoms, which in fourteen days after the worm beginneth to work them, you may take away; and those which you are minded to use for the best silk, you must either presently wind or kill the worms which are within them, by laying the said bottoms two or three days in the Sun, or in some Oven after the bread baked therein is taken out, and the fierceness of the heat is alaide. The other bottoms which you intent to keep for seed, you must lay in some convenient warm place, until the Worms come forth, which is commonly some sixteen or twenty days from the beginning of their work: and as they do come forth you must put them together upon some piece of old Say, Grogeran, the backside of old Velvet, or the like, made fast against some Wall or hang in your house, according as this figure following over the leaf, doth prescribe.   the life cycle of the silk worm 
There they will engender, and the Male having spent himself, falleth down, and in short time after dieth, as also doth the Female, when she hath laid her Eggs, Which Eggs, when you perceive them upon the Say or Grogrean, etc. to be of a grayish colour, you may take them off gently with a knife, and having put them in a piece of Say or such like, keep them in a covered box amongst your  clothes, or the like, till the year following: But not in any moist room, for it is hurtful for them, neither where there is too much heat; lest the worms should be hatched before you can have any food for them.  
The making of a Wheel, as likewise the way to wind the said Silk from the bottoms, can hardly be set down so plainly, as to be rightly understood: Wherefore when time shall serve, there shall be sent into every County of this kingdom, a Wheel ready made, and a man that shall instruct all such as are desirous to learn the use thereof: Till when, I will commend these brief instructions to be carefully considered of all such as are willing either to benefit themselves or their country, that being skilful in the Contemplation, they may the readier, and with less error apply themselves to Action, which painful industry, with God's assistance, will quickly perfect.   
FINIS.