THE REFORMED VIRGINIAN SILKWORM, Or, a Rare and New DISCOVERY OF A speedy way, and easy means, found out by a young Lady in England, she having made full proof thereof in May, Anno 1652. For the feeding of Silkworms in the Woods, on the Mulberry-Tree-leaves in Virginia: Who after forty day's time, present their most rich golden-coloured silken Fleece, to the instant wonderful enriching of all the Planters there, requiring from them neither cost, labour, or hindrance in any of their other emploments whatsoever. And also to the good hopes, that the Indians, seeing and finding that there is neither Art, Skill, or Pains in the thing: they will readily set upon it, being by the benefit thereof enabled to buy of the English (in way of Truck for their Silk-bottoms) all those things that they most desire.  
LONDON, Printed by John Streater, for Giles Calvert at the Black-Spread-Eagle at the West end of Paul's, 1655.   

TO THE Reader.  
Ingenious Reader,  
I Have in my Legacy of Husbandry bequeathed something unto thee concerning Silkworms, which hath wakened many to search after the means to advance that part of Husbandry. But because the Letter of King james to the Lords Lieutenants of the several Shires of England, for the increasing of Mulberry Trees, and the breeding of Silkworms, for the making of Silk in this Nation, had not annexed unto them in that Treatise the Instructions tending to that purpose, and being but few, wholly out of print, and very much desired: I thought good upon the occasion of the printing of this Letter to those of Virginia, to publish it also for the benefit of those who shall be willing to employ themselves in this way of industry, which seemeth to be brought unto a more perfect and speedy accomplishment than heretofore hath been known either here or in France, as by the contents of this adjoined Letter (wherein the Experiment of a virtuous Lady of this Nation for the breeding of Silkworms, is addressed unto the Planters of Virginia) is set forth to encourage both them and others to set upon this work, to benefit themselves and the Nation thereby. And truly the Gentleman who doth address this Letter to the Planters of the Virginian Colony is much to be commended for his affection to the public, because he doth not conceal (as some Muck-worms do for private ends) the Advantages which may be reaped by singular industrious Attempts or experiments of profit; but desires the benefit of others, even of all, to be increased. And it were to be wished, that every one to whom God (from whom comes every good & perfect gift) doth impart any rare and profitable Secret of Industry, would open himself towards his Brethren, as this publick-hearted Gentleman doth; then would all hands be set a work, and every one would become instrumental to serve himself and his Neighbours in Love, and overcome the burden of poverty, which for want of employment and decay of Trade, doth lie so heavy upon very many, whose burdens might be either born, or made easy, if all the gifts of God were made use of, for the end for which he doth bestow them, namely, to profit withal towards others, as it becometh the Members of the same Christian, and Human, and Nationall Society; for the same rule holds in all these respects among such as understand what it is to be a good Commonwealths-man in the State, as well as in the Communion of Saints: And to this good and generous inclination, which I wish may more and more abound in them with the grace of God, I shall leave thee and rest,  
Thy most assured and faithful servant, SAMUEL HARTLIB.   

Instructions for the increase and Planting of Mulberry-trees.  

What ground is fit for the Mulberry-seeds, how the same is to be ordered, and 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, and come up after they be sown, you shall dig it two foot deep, breaking the clods as small as may be, and afterwards 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 22 hours, and after that you shall dry them again half dry, or some what 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 Seed, 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 straight line) make certain furrows in the Beds above mentioned, of some four fingers deep, & 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 January, 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 eight inches in length, and their tops about half a foot above their roots, more or less, according to the strength of the said plaints, 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 aforesaid.   

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 month's 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 16 foot the one from the other: if in other ground, intending to make a Wood of them 18 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 Silk-wormes 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, and having cut it full of small holes, lay it within the same upon the eggs, and upon that again some few Mulbery-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 as well 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 forth, out 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 18 inches one above the other.  
The said shelves are not to be placed in any ground-room, nor yet next unto the tiles, but in some middle room of your house which openeth upon the North and South, that you may the more conveniently give them either heat or air, according as the time and 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, and keep them from Rats and Mice, which otherwise might devour them. You must observe the times of their coming forth, and keep every one, one or two day's 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 Mulbery-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, and 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 throughly undergone 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 cold 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 too 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 shelus, and not suffer them to lie too thick together: and 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 Rosmary, the stalks of Lavender, or such like) make Arches between the foresaid shelves.  
Upon the branches and sprigs whereof, the worms will fasten themselves, and 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 alaid. 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.  
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 Grogran, etc. to be of a grayish colour, you may take them off gently with a knife, and having put them into a piece of Say or such like, keep them in a covered box amongst your woollen , 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 to benefit either 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.    

An Extract of a Letter from Germany, concerning Silkworms, written to S. H, Esquire.  
AS for keeping of Silkworms I must confess I have spent likewise some time in the ordering and observing of them in as much as this very year (1653) I have had from them so much good Silk (and equal to that which is brought either out of Persia or Italy) as have made me two pair of Stockings. And I have found by experience that they may be kept as well in Germany as in other Countries, and that Mulberry-trees will grow in abundance upon our Lands; wherefore I have often wished that the Emperor (of Germany) would follow the most laudable example of the K. of France, who having forbidden the importation of foreign Silk into his Kingdom hath thereby so much obliged the industry of the People of France, that they are come to a great perfection in this Silken Manufacture. But concerning the Experiments of making Silk out of Nettles or out of Flax, I never have tried either of them. Only I remember that I have seen once a very fine and delicate yarn or thread, which was made purely out of Nettles. I do not believe, that those Artist of Hamburg and Wolfenbuttel which you have named unto me in your Letter, will communicate their Skill for a public good, as long as they can get their own comfortable subsistence by it.   

A Letter written by Mr. Ra. Austen, from Oxford, Febr. 18. 1654. Imparting his Experiments about Silkworms and how to wind off the Silk from the Bottoms, when the Worms have done spinning?  
COncerning my experiences about Silkworms, I only say thus much. That I am fully satisfied upon good and sure grounds that the keeping of them (store of them) in these parts would be of very great profit, could we but get Mulberry leaves sufficient to feed them. For upon my own knowledge and experience (last year) upon some thousands of them, I see what might be by more. For my great doubt and question was satisfied about the winding of the Silk from the Bottoms, when the Worms have done spinning. I plainly see it is very easy, Children of 6. or 7. years old can apprehend it, and do it. For the Worms having done spinning, which is within 4. or 5. days of their beginning, through out-mo●… silk is ravelled off, and the end is found immediately, which runs on (5. or 10. or 16. or more bottoms together) in a basin of water, a little gum drag mixed. Some Bottoms (if the Worms were strong and well fed) run without breaking, scarce once or twice till all be off, and such as break, are quickly found again. The truth is, if the Worms are scanted of leaves, their silk is so small, that it holds not so well as that of lusty Worms. I saw many brave Skains of Silk wound off the last year, and helped to do part of it myself. Now the great matter is, How to propagate Mulberry-trees enough. As for the ordinary way, by boughs, we can have but few that way. I am from time to time experimenting other ways by Seed, Inoculating, Grafting, &c: what will be the result, as yet I know not: I doubt not, but God will in his good time bring to light and set on foot many good and worthy designs, more than are in these Nations. We had need to labour to be of the like Principles of that worthy person, whose Paper you enclosed, patiently and humbly to wait the Lords season, and to design for God in all we go about, which will crown our endeavours with comfort and success.   

A Rare and new-discovered speedy way, and easy means of keeping of Silkworms, being thus made known to the Colony in VIRGINIA.  
Harken well you beloved Planters, to what in these few lines I shall declare unto you; and is thus sent you in Print, that all of you may communicate the great and superlative good and benefit will be unto every one of you: who so is wise, will ponder these things, and give the prai●e and glory to God, the Author of all good Inventions, how Providence having brought this to pass for ●ll your exceeding great happiness and increase of store of wealth, with so much ea●e, so little labour, no cost unto you; and in so short a time as forty days, this wealth flows in upon you.  
You now I conceive desire to know it, and I am as willing to impart it unto you: thus then in brief, in a plain manner, that all may understand it,  
The same Lady, who last year sent you her Books of Health and Wealth, (who hath the happiness to bear the honourable name of your incomparable Country) continuing her sincere affections to the advancing of your welfares in all kinds; and amongst the rest in this rich work of Silk, knowing Virginia to be in all respects most proper for it, (as by a late Book ●ent you published by Mr. Williams,) not only in regard of the Climate being the same with China, from whence the infinite quantity of silk comes, but abounding (as it doth) with Mulberry-trees naturally growing there, and exceeding it by the Silkworm-bottoms found in her Woods. She hath I say this Spring found out (by the special blessing of God upon her intentions) so rare, so speedy, and so costless a way and means for the feeding of Silkwormes: by the trial and experiment she so luckily made, to the admiration of all that have seen or heard of it, as a thing scarce credible; because not heretofore thought of, nay, as it were, held impossible by such Authors as have written of the ordering and feeding of Silkworms: that this her invention being thus made known unto you, her beloved friends in Virginia, she is most confident, and assures herself you will all there instantly without further delay (which will be the joy of her heart) become great and rich Masters of this noble Silk-work to all your unspeakable wealth. 
The way to speedy wealth was by some hundreds o● you to remous some 60 mile● miles South by land, and to attempt th● discovery of the Westerly Sea, on the border of Virginia, and both two ve●… easily achieved, etc. The lady ha●… of these Sil● bottoms in h●… Cabinet as Jewels to convince the incredulous, they are ten times bigge● then any in Europe to admiration, a●… of infinite encouragement to the work.   
Do but as she hath done; follow but with good courage your cheerful leader, and doubtless you shall find (what she desires you may,) namely, Great profit and pleasure in an honest employment. This Silken-Mine will be to you of more benefit than a Mine of silver.  
In the beginning of May last 1652, when her young Mulberry-tree in her Garden began to put out its buds, 
Contrary 〈◊〉 Book Rule.  than her Silkworm-eggs began to hatch, 
These eggs were purposely ●…posed to ●…re, cold, winds, and ●…ost, being ●aid & spaw●ed on a wall 〈◊〉 a chamber, ●nd there re●ained all ●inter long to ●…y the virtue ●f the Eggs, ●…c. And twice ●efore they ●…me out of ●…eir bottoms, ●…x times in ●…l. ●he seventh, ●…ey appear, ●…en come ●…t, a gallant ●…ken white-●…nged Fly,  as the nature of this wise creature is, when her food gins once to appear, she comes forth of her shell: she presently laying a Mulberry-leafe upon these little crawling creatures, they came all upon it instantly; then she carried the leaf and them upon it to the tree, upon whose leaves they made hast to be; and there they day and night fed themselves, creeping from leaf to leaf, and branch to branch at their own liberties most pleasing to themselves; they grew and thrived wonderfully, and surpassed in largeness of body those other worms she kept in her chamber (she having been many a year a Mistress of Silkworms, and kept them by the Book-rules) this good and prosperous beginning heightened her hopes. The worms, as their nature is, cast off or slipped out of their skins four several times, still growing greater and greater to the singular delight and content of their Mistress. About 45 days thus feeding upon the leaves, they▪ began that rare and glorious work of spinning their Silk-bottomes upon the leaves and branches of the tree; such a gallant sight to behold, it ravished the Spectators, and their Mistress joy was crowned with excess of happiness herein and hereby, apparently finding the incomparable felicity this would prove to her dearly beloved Virginia, (for so you must give her leave to call it,) for she concluded, and so must all you, that this being thus effected in England, how much more with assured confidence will the worms live, feed, and spin in Virginia? 
〈◊〉 weather it ●…ms hurts ●…m there; 〈◊〉 heat and as they ●…ter them●…es under 〈◊〉 great ●…ves as with ●…eld, but ●…ther do ●…m them, 〈◊〉 easy is a ●…vasse cove●… reared o●… the trees ●…ave them 〈◊〉 either of 〈◊〉.  she upon serious and due consideration of this thing, gave God hearty and humble thanks.  
And what can any of you now wish, for more encouragement? the full proof is made, the work (or rather let me call it) the pleasure is effected with so much ease, so little cost, hazard or pains, as all may admire it.  
'Tis not the hundreth part of your care, labour, or toil you take about your Tobacco, and an hundred times (as I may say) all things put together more gain and profit to you than you make by Tobacco, which in truth is but smoke and vapour, but this a reall-royall-solid-rich-staple Commodity.  
And yet if you will have still smoke, so this neither will nor can hinder your labour in that, or take from you any other employment you have a mind unto.  
Consider, consider I pray you (beloved friends) your incomparable happiness in this thing, and bless God for it. Surely I should much wrong your judgements and patience if I should spend any more arguments to persuade you to this so great benefit to you, and should be like to him that to manifest the clear Sunshine at noonday, brought in a candle.  
In a word, there's nothing is or can be wanting but your true thankfulness to God for completing this happy invention, and your present speedy putting it in practice.  
Yet give me leave, before I bid you adieu, to add the incomparable joy this Lady hath, who is confidently persuaded (her daily prayers are to God for it) that this new invented way of thus keeping Silkworms on the Trees; it requiring neither skill nor pains, (this last being the only Remora, in the Savages nature, which witholds them from attempting any thing of labour) that when the Indians shall behold and see you begin the business, they will with all alacrity set upon it likewise, and imitate you. And that you to encourage them (as well you may) do agree with them, that for every poundweight of Silk-bottoms they bring unto you, you give them (as well it deserves) 5 shil. worth in any Commodities they desire.  
And thus by the blessing of Almighty God, there may be good hope of their civilising and conversion; so that they may be likewise great gainers both in body and soul by this thing. And if this prove so, (Gods mercies and works being far beyond our capacities) how much then indeed will Virginia's happiness be every way raised to the height of Bliss. The promise being made, That they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the Firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever; which the God of wisdom and power grant to you all in Virginia, and so, Lord, prosper this work in their hands, Lord, prosper their handiwork; good luck I wish you all in the name of the Lord, Amen, Amen, Amen.  
Memorandum; that you take notice, that the Birds will eat up the Silkworms on the trees, so that care must be had (and it's easily prevented by several ways and means, as you will devise) to scare away the birds; if all fail, a boy may be set that may affright them them all away with some noise, or by nets encompassing the trees, and the birds will also carry the Silk-bottoms off the trees, if they be let there remain; but that's soon pre●ented, by taking them speedily away. And this of the birds is the chief reason, that Virginia abounds not with plenty of the natural wild Silkworms, they devouring most of them: and it's a wonder how any at all escape them, but that God preserves some few of the race, that his power and wisdom may be seen, and the aptness of the Country to invite you to the work.  
It will be good for you to encourage the Savages, when they find any bottoms in the woods, to bring them to you, that you may get of the race, and seed to increase it. 
For their Bottom being ten ●imes bigger ●hen ours, ●hat mighty ●reat Worms ●ust they be, ●nd what encouragement 〈◊〉 this to the business, and ●ow much ●ore silk they ●ake then ●…rs, etc.  Some say, the original Silkworm is produced by the corruption of the old Mulberry-tree and leaves, by the Sun and moisture. But that none of you may want a stock to begin your Silk-work, the Lady aforesaid hath sent you store of Silkworm-eggs to be distributed amongst you: 
Till you can ●et and gain ●…e Egg and ●eed of your pastoral gal●…nt large Silk ●orm: which 〈◊〉 chief that ●…u must en●…vour to store ●…ur selves ●…th, no Eggs ●…mparable to 〈◊〉, etc.  and if you begin but with an 100 eggs this year, they will next year be above 1000; for one female Silk-fly will lay 3, 4, 500 at a time, all things more and more concurring to your encouragement.  
Now the two Propositions that tend to infinite welfare, benefit, and wonderful advantage both to England and the Colony jointly, are those that follow, they which upon no terms are to be omitted to be published and effected.  
First, that with all speed some kind of Coin be sent to Virginia, that may be authorized to pass there for their Commerce and better trading. But whether all silver somewhat valued above its worth, or part silver and part copper, is left to the wi●e judgements in that case. But of this confidently be assured, that without some kind of coin or other, that Colony can no way prosper or thrive, nor any staple-commodities be set up, or Artificers in any kind follow their professions: for Tobacco being now their money, and that with which all Commerce is driven, and payments made in, and passeth from man to man; all men are set upon that thing with the neglect of all other rich and solid innumerable Commodities that are in that land to be had: and till this remedy of Coin be applied, there can be no prosperity in that Colony. Were not the thing as apparent to all men's understandings as light is from darkness; I should allege many reasons for it, but it's so needless to spend time about it, as it might well be thought a great absurdity. What then remains? but that some public spirited Patriot that would immortalize his name and honour in the procuring of this so necessary a thing to be speedily effected, wherein also as the general good he shall do, so the benefit will be ever great to those that shall undertake the carrying over this Coin; be it what it will be, all men know it so well what the gain will be, as there's no need to name it in particular manner, they cannot wish for more profit than that will be to the undertakers, and the Colony will with all their hearts be content with it, and esteem them happy and thrice happy Benefactors.  
The second thing is, that a Publication be procured and sent to the Colony in Virginia, declaring unto them, that there shall be liberty for all men to bring from thence for the space of ten years to come, any commodity that they shall there raise, into England, Custom and Excize free, (Tobacco only excepted, which may pay double Custom, if so thought fit:) and further that to what value of money such commodities shall be sold for here in England, (being rated at the Customhouse at their entry;) it shall be lawful to carry out to Virginia any Commodities again to the same proportion & worth, Custom and Excize free.  
These two reasonable things granted; as they shall infinitily with all speed advance the Plantation, so shall they (all things duly weighed in the scale of prudence) be no less beneficial to England, as all men that have their eyes in their heads, and English hearts in their bodies, see and apparently know, nothing more sure and certain; and all stable and needful Commodities brought out of all-liberall- Virginia into England at a very reasonable rate and price, much cheaper than now we have them, and are fain to fetch them with great hazard from doubtful friends, or Heathen Nations, to their great enriching and our own impoverishing, as to all knowing men is most apparent; we shall be free from the usurpation of foreign Princes and States in our Estates, Lives, Liberties and shipping: and we may conclude boldly and rejoicingly, that Providence hath provided this all-sufficient Country of Virginia against these times, and to these intents, that hence we may have all we want from our own brethren, our Navy there increased to what number we please; for this incomparable land affords naturally all whate'er belongs to the building and rigging of a Navy in all complete manner from top to toe, as may be said; and by a safe, a sure, certain, easy, near at hand westerly discovery, (part by land, and part by Rivers and Seas) contract all the riches of the South-sea, the Molocos, Philipines', China, etc. by 3000 leagues nearer to us, without molestation by any Prince or Pirate, and shall not need at all to be troubled, if Rushia, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, yea France Spain, Italy, Constantinople were removed 5000 times more distant from us: 
Sir Francis Drake was An. 1577 in a Westerly Sea one the back of Virginia, in 37 degrees in opposite to the head of James Town in Virginia and he failed from that Country which he called Nova Albion, in an open Sea to the Molocos and China, and so that also this way a trade may be made to those places to the back of Virginia, etc.  for in one word, what ever these countries' afford, either necessary or superfluous, all-sufficient Virginia within its limits will produce unto us. And shall there not I say then now be found a zealous Patriot, that will stand up for his Country, and procure these things to be done out of hand? Now God forbidden; I commit the business to God, having done what I conceive my part is, who only have good wishes, and daily prayers to attend this enterprise, which God prosper, Amen.   

POSTSCRIPT.  
At a friend's importunity, (the former part sent to the Press) I am thus enforced to make this Addition, and upon the great hopes that upon trial it will be found, that you may have two Silk-harvests in one six month's time; of the eggs a second brood may be hatched in June, and so fed by Mulberry-leaves, though then it may be it must be in an house, that then for the promoting of such a good design nothing of encouragement may be wanting, nor any obstructions in the business, under pretence of wanting needful housing for to feed the worms in. Thus much I will assure you,  
That the slightest and simplest kind of housing or coverture (though the books are too superstitions and ceremonious in the rules which are many that they give concerning the ordering of the worm, which are not so necessary as they pretend;) I assure you, you will abundantly content and satisfy this, though noble, yet most humble creature, even with any habitation to do her work in. And to this intent I now declare unto you, (that all excuse may be taken from you) that the poor simple people in Italy, Spain, Languedock, Provence, etc. do keep and feed their Silkworms in the same low earthen-floored Rooms, wherein themselves lodge and do all their houshould-affairs, feeding them on shelves and on tables, giving them leaves without any more curiosity, and they thrive and prosper with them as well as in the greatest Cities and stately chambers of the greatest rich men's Palates.  

Sicily.  And that in Sicily and Calabria, the common Silk-Masters there do at time of year in the Spring, set up only slight boarded houses in the fields round about the Mulberry groves, and placing shelves in the inside of them, two foot one above the other to the roof, and a table all a long the mid●… of the room, they strowing their leaves on these shelves and table, there feed their worms, and there they spin in the room their Master lies for the space of five or six week's time, and they have abundance of silk without more ado, and a man and a boy will tend all the worms that come of six ounces of eggs, and those worms will spin 60 poundweight of silk, and that but at 20 shil. the pound, is worth 60 ls. in ready money, a sufficient gain to allure a man to the work I tro; 
The great ga●… of the Silkworks in a house, how much more i● the trees, will it be to you. The simplest and slightest houses or covertures will be sufficient for the Wor● to feed in, a●… live and spin●… let no man doubt it, etc.  but the gain by the natural worm multiplying will fare exceed it. And I may not forget yet more that the Persian manner is to pitch up only tents of Canvas, and Booths round their Mulberry-wood, and there-under they strew the Mulberry-tree leaves on the ground there their worms feed and live and spin, and do well in all kinds, the Persians living also the time of five weeks in the tents. Thus all these examples do manifestly prove unto you that very simple and slight housing and 〈…〉 coverture will content the Silkworms, and they will thri●e we●… in them. And thus you see that very poor and slight houses in Virginia will do the deed. Nay rest assured that the very Savages houses built but with Poles Arbor-wi●e, and covered top and sides with mats, will be abundantly satisfactory to the worms, and they will thrive in them as you shall find upon trial. And let me tell you, being desirous that you may do all things with the least cost and labour to you, and to invite also the Savages to the work for their own gain; do but take your Reeds and small Canes in Virginia, and run but a strong need●e and thread thorough the Reeds which will hold them together, and so you may presently make shelves and tables with them as narrow and as broad as you please; and in truth you shall find this kind of shelf and tabling to feed your worms on much better in many respects than boards: 
Concerning the winding off your Silk, this Lady hath lent you one of the wheels, so ●hat by it all of ●ou may make ●he like to do ●hat work, so ●ou shall want ●othing to speed the work  but you may make trial of the Persian way also by strowing your leaves on the ground in these houses, and so feed them, and so your second brood of Silkworms may also be thus kept and nourished in this kind of housing and coverture; Experience is the Mistress of fools, saith the Proverb: and it is not an unwise man's part often to make trials, though to some men they may seem impossibilities, yet rare and strange things have upon trial often been found out; and if you would but show the Savages samples of all kind of things, you should soon by them know more in a month what is in that Country to be had than you have done these 40 years; and for reward they would bring in of all kinds unto you, what they have and you desire to know, so a sudden discovery may be made of all things in that land to your infinite gain.  
To conclude with this Memento, that there are nine things that appear, are of no or small difficulty to you and the Savages to enterprise, and get gain and wealth to be produced from these Commodities; I will but name them and leave them to your better judgements and thoughts.  

1 This Silk, so easy, speedy, and profitable a thing.  
2 The Silk-grasse naturally there growing, which to the Indians the only labour is of putting it up, and bringing it to you at such a price; a rich Commodity if known.  
3 The planting Vines, small labour, little cost, long enduring.  
4 The multiplying of Cunny-warrens, so easy a thing, the wool of a skin now worth 8 pence, which is more than the body, yet the flesh is considerable meat; the wool is and will be very vendible for this new Invention, not only of these fine light hats now sold at 15 and 20 shil. but the spining of the wool, and making stockings of it as fine as those of silk.  
5 The increasing of abundance of Bees for wax and honey, their food so plentiful in Virginia, as in no Land more, and if with an hatchet you do but slash your Pinetrees, Firre-trees, Locus, and other trees, there will store of liquor come out of them, on which the Bee will gather infinite store of honey and wax, as in Russia and other Countries they do.  
6 The planting of Sugarcanes, that being no more laborious than the Indian wheat, setting it, and once set in good Land they grow eight or ten years, and the Indians pains will only be to cut them yearly down, and sell them to you.  
7 That of the Cotton-tree is the like for many years, gathering of the cod of wool from them, as we do Roses from the Rose-bushes.  
8 That of Ginger soon done, the planting and the gathering of it.  
9 That of grafting your Crabtrees with Apples and Pears for Cider and Perry, you knowing that a man in one day will graft an 100 stocks, and they will grow night and day, while you eat, sleep, and play, and last 100 years to your great gain and profit.   
I may not further enlarge myself for the present, these are but tastes and hints for your better wits to work on: so with a thousand good wishes, I bid you adieu.  
Floreat VIRGINIA.   

The fashion of the Bottom.  
The Silk Bottom of the natural Worm in Virginia, found there in the Woods, is ten Inches about, and six Inches in length to admiration: & whereas ours in Europe have their Sleeve and lose Silk on the outside; and then in a more closer covering they entomb themselves. These rare Worms, before they enclose themselves up, fill with Silk the great emptiness, and afterwards enclose themselves in the middle of it, so they have a double Bottom.  
The lose Sleeve Silk is all on the outside of this compass, for if that were reckoned in, the compass of the Bottom would far exceed this proportion: But this is sufficient to be the Wonder of the whole World: to the Glory of the Creator, and Exaltation of VIRGINIA.   

A Loving Advertisement to all the Ingenious Gentlemen-Planters in Virginia now upon the Design of Silk.  By V F. 
Gentlemen,  
Such hath been the singular favour of Providence to you and the Lady, that since the publishing of this Book; it hath so happily lighted into the hands of divers worthy persons, being not only Gentlemen-Travellers of credit, & Merchants of reputation; but likewise wonderfully taken with the love of Virginia, and no less zealously affected to the advancement of the Silk-trade in that Land, which they judge (not of their experience and knowledge of what they have and observed in the Easterly parts of the World, where abundance of Silk is made) that no part of the World is more proper for Silk then all-sufficient- Virginia: In regard of the excellency of the temper of the Climate, which naturally produceth not only Mulberries for food; but the Silkworm itself, in that wonderful greatness of the wild Silk-bottom: which as they say, The whole Universe affords not, nor brings forth the like to their own small admiration. And that there is no greater quantities of them found or seen they conclude, it is in regard of the birds who are their natural enemies, & devour most of them. And these Gentlemen are confident, that you did not know & practise those ways and means, for the feeding and preservation of them, as in some far remote Regions is practised by those Nations, that are expert Masters of Silk-wormes, Virginia would instantly abound with great store of Silk, and surpass all those Countries in that rich commodity, and you all become with great speed and small cost, or l●…tle labour one of the happiest, wealthiest people that the World affords. And to the intent that such a blessing may not be longer wanting to you, they ha●e out of their superlative benign affections, and public spirit, imparted to the Lady these ensuing Relations, with their earnest desires and advises, that you all in Virginia may out of hand be made partakers of them. And then knowing them, you may no longer live in gross darkness and ignorance of so great a treasure that you are possessors of, and may now have and enjoy the full use and benefit of, which hitherunto hath most strangely been hidden from the eyes of body and mind; They conceiving that the chief cause thereof hath been the pernicious blinding smoke of Tobacco, that thus hath dimmed and obscured your better intellectuals; but when you begin to put these ways & means in practice, they say you will bless yourselves (as they do) that you have not in this long time discovered the infinite wealth and happiness that will arise unto you out of Silk. But not longer to detain from you this most precious eyesalve, for the speedy curing of your infirmity, and making you all rich (which is your main aim in that new world).   

Harken well to these Informations, which the Lady earnestly desires may thus be with all speed made known to you all.  
THe one Traveller declared, That he passed a Country where he saw those people had their Silkworms feeding on their Mulberry-trees in the fields & there they live & spun their Bottoms on the trees, And to protect this noble profitable creature & to defend it from the birds, they used a most slight, simple, plain invention speedily effected & of no cost or labour to them, which was certain great sheets of Reeds or Canes, that they hung over and about their trees, tied to certain poles that encompassed them. And in this easy manner they obtained great abundant quantities of silk, to their wonderful enriching. The sheets of Reeds were joined together by a need●e and thread, running through each Reed at several equal distances, and so drew them close and firm together. This for you to imitate, is in every respect to your wonderful happiness.  
Another of these Travellers saith, That he passed a Country where the inhabitants did make large Tents or Booths all of Reeds and Canes, and in them placed shelves and tables made likewise of Reeds, on which they fed their Worms, strewing leaves on them. These tents they set up round about their Mulberry-Groves, and with much celerity, and no cost.  
A third Gentleman and Merchant, that lived long in the farthest parts of Turkey, affirmeth, That there the inhabitants begin every Spring, March, to feed their Worms, and continue it till October, six month's time: their Worm's hatching & re-hatching, one generation or brood succeeding the other: so that they have three harvests of silk-bottoms, in that space of time, every five or six weeks one: they feed their Worms in great long Barns made of Reeds or Canes, the walls and roofs of them, and shelves as aforesaid, and the Worms when they have done feeding, spin their bottoms upon the reedy walls and roofs; and that they have two crops of leaves from their trees: for those trees that have their leaves pulled off in March, April, and May, do re-leave again, and have new and fresh leaves in June, July and August, wherewith they feed their latter generation or brood of Worms very profitably.  
And in confirmation of this, you shall know, the same hath been found true in England, that the Mulberry-tree will leave twice in a Summer, the Lady had the experience of it, and therefore much more will it do with you, which will be a most singular advantage to you.  
I must not omit to add what these Gentlemen farther advise, that you can never sufficiently augment the store of food for this Noble Creature: for store of food is the main foundation, upon whose speeding the Silk-trade is to be erected: for if that be not wanting, no obstruction can be in it. For the glorious Worm is so infinite in multiplication, with that celerity as is incredible, so that she will never be defective unto you: they therefore counsel, that you graft your Mulberries with all care and speed upon these several trees, upon which they will exceedingly thrive, viz. the Poplar, the Elm, the Chestnut, Beech, Quince, Medler, Fig, Pear, Apple, and Cornell-trees. And also upon any other trees, of which upon a trial you find the Worm will taste or eat their leaves. Likewise that you set of your Mulberry-slips as big as your thumb, about two foot long: and put them into good wel-digged ground in September, setting them a foot in the ground, bruising the ends of them, and watering them the next Summer well, if need be: in the same manner as in Kent, they set the Codling-slips. That you also cause the Indians to bring unto your habitations all the young Mulberry-trees that are within an hundred miles of your Colony. But let me acquaint you that they admire what some Gentlemen Planters of credit tell them; that your brave Worms do not only live, feed, and spin upon the Mulberry-trees in the Woods, but do the same upon the Poplar-trees, Plum-trees, and Appletrees:: such an encouragement to the Silk-trade, the World (say they) never yet heard of before, which must needs lift you up to a most speedy and incomparable height of wealth and riches, in a moment of time.  
And by your gentle patience and generosity, give me leave to propound unto you, the earnest request the Lady hath to all of you; that you please to inform her (being also the desire of many others) how it comes to pass that your Worms get to your several trees, not only to the Mulberry, but to others: For in no other countries' the Silk-worme-flie doth use her wings to fly with: so that yours must either do it (and so at time of year couple and fly to sundry trees; and there lay their eggs which remain till Spring again) or that your trees do naturally engender and produce the Worms (as it is conceived, the original of them so happened at first) but which way soever it be, it's rare and remarkable; and proves Virginia to be one of the most superlative Countries in all the Universe for the Silk-trade; and none comparable unto the excellency of its natural temper for Silk.  
Then that you also inform her all you can of the nature, actions, qualities and dispositions in all kinds of this most wonderful Creature, every way so admirable, what by any English or Savage hath been any way observed in her: when her eggs first hatch, then how long time she is feeding before she spins, upon what part of the trees she fastens her Bottom; How long she continues in her Bottom before she comes out a Fly, then when they couple, where they lay their eggs, upon what part of the trees? How long they live after that time? For these in the old World never eat after they once begin to spin: how large in bigness and compass are commonly their bottoms? if all of one colour, or divers? In what part of the Country are most of them seen and found? what do the Savages call them, or know any use of them; what birds are they that most devour them? (for did they not, they would swarm all the Land over in a very few years); if any thing besides birds be hurtful to them? Their greatness and doubleness of their Bottoms are wonderful, none ever known to be so, which argues the strength and richness of this noble Worm, her vigour and hardness exceeds, that can endure all wethers and seasons both alive and in her eggs. A great encouragement to you all that she is not a nice curious kind of Silkworm; but stout and robustous, that will require little care or attendance, of small cost unto you. But her food and protection is all she requires, and pays you ten thousand-fold for what you bestow on her. That you please to send of her Bottoms to satisfy all men, who are like the Queen of Sheba, much better trust their eyes than ears; some of their eggs likewise upon that which they lay them, and the Fly (though dead) which will many a year retain her perfect form in a box: do not the worms hatch and spin twice or thrice in a Summer?  
Let me add one Petition more, and I have done. viz. That some of your precious Silk-grass may be sent the Lady, who is confident upon the trial she will make of it, she will give you so pleasing an account and so profitable unto you, in making known unto you what an unknown wealth you have: she prays you (and all is for your own gain) to boar and cut all your trees (a most easy thing) and thereby you shall discover presently, what rich Gums, what Balsams, what Oils, and precious healthful Liquors they will yield you for profit & necessity: For all men know that many kinds of trees do yield most pleasant and healthsome Wines (as I may call them) for man to drink; so also you will find out all sorts of Die and Colours (instantly done): cut and bruise all kinds of your Woods, Barks, and Leaves of Trees, Roots, Berries, Nuts, Fruits, Plants, Weeds; and but boil them in a Skillet, and then put in a little piece of white Woollen or Linen cloth with some Allom, and you shall instantly find and see what rich Colours they will make. What is Indigo but a Weed, so Woad and Madder? What is Brasil, Fustick, Logwood, and many more kind of Die, but Woods? what Coucheneal the rich Scarlet die, but a Fly, or the excrements of the Indian Figtree? what is the newfound rich dying stuff of 25. l. a Tun, but of a tree that is brought from the Island of Liberty, near Cape Florida where Captain Sailes plants? And shall Virginia not yield a drop of good Liquor or Colour? It cannot be; if but a trial thus easy were made.  
By burning of all kind of Woods and Gums, you'll soon find by your nose what sweet Perfumes they yield. And by the ponderousness or weight of earths, you may know if Minerals or not? Let it be known also, if you have not Waters of more than ordinary qualities; for taste, colours, smell, weight, hotness, or coldness? there is much depends upon them. And you shall know if they proceed out of any Minerals, by taking a glass full, and putting into it a Gall beaten to powder, which will turn the water into a reddish colour: and send samples of all kind of strange earths, and of all other kind of things without fail. And lastly, (if it be not too much presumption to beg the favour to receive that honour from you) which she no ways deserves nor can hope to requite: To inform her what be the things, the ways, the means to advance Virginia's Prosperity, if they may be procured and effected. If any error be committed in telling you all this: there is hope your pardon may be obtained, seeing your only good and benefit hath caused all this that hath been said: and the zeal of your wealth and happiness hath drawn all to this length:  
Sirs, you have the faithful testimonies of those aforesaid worthy Gentlemen, and nothing can be now wanting unto you but putting all in practice, what they have declared; and for your good are such invitations and encouragements unto you, that more cannot be wished for. There remains nothing but humble thanks to God, and to these Gentlemen your due respects, whom God hath made such Instruments for your happiness, hoping their noble courteous examples will allure all other Gentlemen Travellers to cast into this good work some mites of their further knowledges, and every man to contribute his prayers and help to this or any other hopeful design: seeing the consequence of them may be so good and great, not only to the English Nation at home and abroad; but to the poor Savages their welfare of souls and bodies, which God grant.   

An Other Advertisement.  
THe Silk-Trade, (unless we will be deaf to Reason and Experience) cannot be denied the precedency of all Trades that are at this day a foot, in either World: And that in regard of its great and certain gain in so small a time; A man and a Boy being able to tend as many Silkworms in two Month's space, as will yield you sixty pounds: 
According to that is made Sicily by a Man and Bo●  which done, they leave you ten Months free for any other employment. In regard of its small skill, less pains, care and labour, no hazard, no cost or charge, (more than a twelve-penny Reel) no troublesome tools or Implements: in regard of its incredible ease and pleasure, as not requiring strength of Body, of Wit, of Purse, any stock to begin with, only hands and eyes to gather leaves and feed the Worms with, or protect them from the Birds: if kept on the Trees (their natural Mansion:) Admitting of all Ages, (for a Child can do all that belongs to it) all Sexes, all Qualities, (a most fit recreation for Ladies, especially being begun and ended in the two pleasantest Months of the year, March and April.) And all Callings too; for if Saint Paul made Tents, who can plead exemption from tending Silkworms? 
A most prop●… employment 〈◊〉 the lazy In●…ans.  Again, Silk is less chargeable in Warehouse, Fraight, etc. then any other Commodity, and yet none more durable, lasting, neat, vendible, nor more easily transportable: for Fi●e hundred pounds worth of Silk, fraights less, and takes up less room than ten pounds worth of Tobacco.  
Now where Worms and Food abound naturally, and the Inhabitants are born with Brains, the advancement of the Silk Trade must needs be proportionable: upon which double score Virginia hath the advantage of any place in the yet discovered World; I mean for Worms and Food, which may be thus severally demonstrated. Their Worms (partly annually produced by heat and moisture as our Caterpillars and other Infects each Spring, partly by Eggs which have escaped the Birds who are the greatest cause of their scarcity (which otherwise would swarm over all the Land) devouring them when they are Worms, Eggs and Bottoms) exceed ours not only in strength, hardiness and greatness, (being when Flies as big as men's Thumbs) but also in the largeness of their Bottoms, which are as big as Lemons; (for Mr. William Wright of Nansamond found of them above seven inches round) and one of them weighs more than a score of ours; insomuch that whereas a Thousand of our Worms made but one pound of Silk, worth at most here 30s. a pound, a thousand of their natural Worms will make ten pounds of Silk, worth here twenty shillings the pound. And certainly they need not object or be troubled at the somewhat more coarseness of their Silk, since they from the same number of Worms receive ten pounds in money for our thirty shillings.  
As for their Food, the Virginia Worms feed not only on the Mulberry (their sole food in all other parts of the World) but also on the Crab, Plum, Poplar; Oak, Apple, Cherry and Pohickerry-tree leaves, with sundry other shrubs and bushes. For proof whereof, Mistress Mary Ward sent over to her Cousin ten bottoms taken from Apple trees. Esquire Ferrar her Kinsman likewise sent her ten more, pulled off from Oaks and divers shrubs. Mr Laurence Ward some taken from the Pohickerry tree, Mr Wright from the Cherry tree. So Dr Russel and others.  
The Objection, or rather groundless surmise of the Worms being hurt by Thunder in Virginia, is sufficiently cleared, not only by the Natural Worms living so well, and thriving there so admirably on the trees; but also by trial made there this Spring of our Worms. That ever to be honoured Noble Squire Diggs having (at his very great charge) sent for two Armenians out of Turkey skilful men, and made ten pound of Silk, which had not want of Eggs hindered him, would have been so many Thousand pounds.  
Nothing then wants to make Virginia rival Peru for wealth, more than to persuade the Planters to provide themselves this Winter (to lose no more time) of as many of the Natural Worms bottoms as possibly they can. They will now be found in the Woods on the dis-leaved trees, though most of them are spun by the Worms on the tree leaves, which falling to the ground, they perish with them; and this is another great cause that so few bottoms are to be found. The Bottoms thus gotten must be carefully kept in some long boxes till the Flies come forth, happily in February or March. For they remain in their bottoms 300. days, ours but 20. so that their Eggs (whereof one female will lay a spoonful, suppose 500) lie unhatched but about nine days, ours nine months.  
When your Worms are hatched, you may keep them either on the trees (being assured that they will live on that kind of Tree whatsoever it be from whence you took your Bottoms) and then you shall need only to protect them from the Birds; or else in some slight kind of housing, Reedy arbours, Indian mansions, or what else you can devise there cheapest and speediest, and then your only labour and care is to give them leaves, which you may either strip off, or clip from off your Trees, or if you will, lop off little branches (which may perhaps prove a good way for you: for thereby the leaves will remain the longer fresh) and give them to your Worms, who for the labour of every Man and Boy thus inployed only in two month's time, will repay you with threescore pounds worth of Silk.  
Your own Experience (Gentlemen) will I hope ere this time twelu-moneth certify you of the truth that is here set down, unless you shall rather choose to hug your own poverty, and make much of that slavery and drudgery you wear out yourselves with, in toiling about that contemptible, beggarly Indian Weed, TOBACCO.   

The Copy of Esquire Diggs his Letter, to his much honoured friend, John Ferrar, Esquire at his house at little Gidding, in Huntingtonshire. From Virginia, June 21. 1654.  
Sir,  
I Have received your many and several Letters, printed papers, and Queries; and, would my occasions have permitted, I should ere this, have given you that due thanks you deserve, and punctually have answered all your judicious and pleasing Queries: But I was so taken up in sending daily for Mulberry-leaves, as they are now so far scattered from my present Plantation, that I could not possibly answer your expectations; That only difficulty made me to make but 400. pound weight of Silk-bottomes, which I caused to be wound of 7. or 8. l. of Silk in a day: Sir, I do very well approve of your last well printed Paper, sent the Colony for making trial of the Natural Silkworm, but such was my ill hap, that I could not this spring meet with any of those Bottoms, but shall this next Winter procure of them, all I can; Sir, I am now confident, I have conquered all the great feared difficulty of this rich commodity, and made its sweet easy and speedy Profitt so evident to all the Virginians (and that it doth not at all hinder their too much beloved Tobacco, but that they may proceed with both together) that now I doubt not (nor they) but that in a short time here will be great quantities made of Silk; you in England will reap much advantage, and gain many ways by it, (more than most men can pet see) and I by God's blessing the comfort and joy, in setting up so noble, so beneficial, a staple vendible commodity. My people differ very little from the rules set down in your, Mr. Williams his Book, and as Esquire Samuel Hartlib hath also directed in his advertizement of Silkworms unto us; only in the hatching of the Worms-Eggs, they are more curious, of which I shall, when I have more time, give you a more particular account: I made 10. l. of seed or Eggs this spring to give away to divers Planters, that are very earnest (seeing so great a benefit before their eyes) to become also Silk-masters, you need not fear it but that this next spring there will be divers trials made of the hopeful Natural Worms, that you so highly prise (and not without good cause) and which is more, perhaps they may fall one after another and be re-hatched that we may have a double Silk harvest in one summer (as you have formerly hinted to us). Pray Sir will you be pleased at this time to excuse my too much brevity in this great business of so much concernment, of so much happiness to this Country, and attribute it to my great haste, and much business upon the ships sudden departure, having many more dispatches to make to Friends; But in my next, I shall make you double amends; I pray present my service to the virtuous Lady Virginia: Sir I daily pray for your long life, and welfare, and now rest.  
Sir your most humble Servant, Edward Diggs.   

A Way Experimented by Mr. Farrar, to make the Gummy-hard Natural Virginia Bottoms (which hitherto by no art could be be prepared to unwind by reason of the Gummy hardness) to unwind with ease, to the great advantage of the Planters of the Silk-trade in Virginia.  
YOu must take Soap-boilers lie or liquor, which is very sharp and strong, and set that in a vessel over the fire till it be warm, then put in as many of your hard gummy Bottoms as you please, and let them rest in that liquor, till it be scalding-hot, and so remain half a quarter of an hour more or less, till they be so dissolved that you may take out one and find it fit to unwind; which you must thus do.  
First put the Bottoms into scalding clean water, and having lain a while therein, then take them out and proceed to unwind them as the custom is.  
In case Soap-boilers lie or liquor be not to be had, you may make a strong liquor of the Ashes of any Wood, with boiling water, the stronger the better, and this may and will also perform the work. And this is just as you make a lie to buck clothes withal. Only note it must be very strong made.   


An Extract out of a very Ingenious Gentleman's Letter from Dublin, Concerning the Reformed Virginian Silkworm.  
I Thank you for your Virginian Paper. Me thinks the Experiment is most Natural to my apprehensions, that the Worms should feed and thrive best upon the leaves growing on the Trees, rather than in the Houses, and that they, like other Caterpillars (of whom these are a sort) did at first breed so, and that Houses were rather an Invention for expediency,  
But their Proposition about Money to be carried to Virginia, I utterly dislike; even somuch as if it were possible, I would banish Money from Ireland.   

An Animadversion upon the Letter from Dublin.  
I like not the Gentleman's Reason why he likes the Proposition concerning feeding o● Silkworms upon the Trees.  
For almost all Plants, even the most rare now in use were Originally (namely since the deluge) wild and past muster amongst Weeds, & are improved to such a degree of excellency to the eye, nose or , by industry and home-helps and contrivances: So john Tradeskin by Lambeth, by the advantage of putting his Trees, and other Plants into a warm house in winter or a stow, nurses up those things fair and fragrant, which would without that help either die or be dwarft. This is the reason why tame Pigeons or Coneys are larger, and breed better, and oftener than wild. Yet I conclude not a 'gainst the thing itself; for questionless, that the leaves have more heart, fresh and green, then half withered, if the cause of their withering were known or considered, But I can say little to this, as having no experience,    

A new observation, concerning the feeding of Silkworms with Lettuce, imparted from Dublin.  
I Have only to present you with some observations I made concerning the feeding of Silkworms (meeting here accidentally with a kinswoman of mine that keeps great store of them) whi●h generally is believed only to be done, with Mulberry leaves: the contrary of which is here by some pra●ctised. viz. to feed them with Lettuce; which the worms eat very readily, grow as those big as that are fed with Mulberry leaves & spin as much Silk: They will also eat the herb called Dantedelyon, but whether that will so well agree with them as Lettuce, I have not tried, but with Lettuce they will thrive very well, eating nothing else all the year.   

More Observations concerning the feeding of Silkworms with Lettuce,  
SIR,  
MY good Cousin Mr. W. sent me the letter, you wrote to him; and the note sent you out of Ireland, that intimated the happy success the Gentlewoman had then in keeping Silkworms, not only on the Mulberry-tree-leaves, but with Lettuce leaves, the thing you much desired that my Daughter should have made known unto her. Truly Sir your singular humanity and goodness in all things more and more extends itself for the public benefit of all, and I see to the particular satisfaction of your Friends, though Strangers to you yet those that have dally cause more and more to honour you, as we justly do. Sir, this your favour is both by myself and Daughter so much resented as it requires from us, very hearty and particular thanks to be tendered to your worth. She is a lover of Rarities in these kinds, and to try conclusions upon her Silkworms, and no way envious, but much rejoices to hear that any have had that good success with Lettuce as you writ of, and shall herself again make a third trial in that kind, for she hath 2. years last passed tried herself to have kept some with Lettuce leavs & so did & they thrived as well as they kept with Mulberrys, but still when the time of spinning came they would not spin, but then died and this put her out of heart to try further, yet I may tell you, she persuaded a Gentleman near her to keep some with Lettuce 25. days and then fed them with Mulberrys at last, and these did very well and spun as good Bottoms as those wholly kept with Mulberry leaves. But now she resolves upon your intimation of the experiment made in Ireland to try a third time, and to give you an account of her success in June next, if God permit.  
And now Sir she presents this printed enclosed paper to your worthy judgement, if you find not it matter of consideration and reason for her to send it as a second new years gift to Virginia, hoping that it may do good there to the Planters and inform them of much truth; and invite them to the business of Silk, which God grant, Amen.  
This other paper of Rhyming lines (for Verses they deserve not the name) yet being that what her Brother a young Scholar hath collected out of Letters, that were sent her from Virginia and given her, she also sends you to further inform you of things done, last spring.  
Thus worthy, Sir, with the due respects of both our kindest salutes, wishing you all happiness in this and the better world, I rest ever.  
Yours in all love and service JOHN FERRAR. littel Gidding Huntingshire. this 28. Novemb. 1653.  
SIR,  
She makes bold to present you with a sample of Virginia Silk-grass sent her by a friend. It's a rarity, and she hopes will delight you who have such a public Spirit to rejoice, and further a Common good; as she hath great hopes this will prove a commodity next to the Silk there, as skilful men and Artists do assure her of it, and thousands of poor people will be set a work with it, if it prove there to be in quantity.   

Upon the most Noble, Virginian natural Silkworm her wonderful, various, plentiful food; The infinite, speedy, great wealth she will produce to her protector; (in 45. days the time of her feeding) with small labour, cost, or skill, (learned in an hour's space by any child.) The singular aptness of that rare Superlative Climate, in Breeding them on so many several kinds of Trees in her Woods where they live, Feed and Spin, their mighty large, strange, double-bottoms of Silk: To the admiration of this our Old World; but to the exaltation and glory of incomparable Virginia, in the New.  

WHere Worms and Food do naturally abound,  
A Gallant Silken Trade must there be found:  
Virginia excels the World in both,  
Envy nor Malice can gain say this troth.  
Many a man the causes feign would hear,  
How these rare Worms came first or still come there.  
Infects produced are by heat and moisture  
Who in strange shapes and forms do oft appear.  
In Spring our trees the Caterpillars rear;  
Their trees likewise these noble creatures bear.  
And some proceed from eggs that scaped are  
From their enemy's sight, which thing is rare.  
They feed not only on the Mulberry  
Which in our World sole food is held to be  
For all such precious Worms of that degree:  
But Poplar, Plum, Crab, Oak, and Apple tree,  
Yea Cherry, and tree called Pohickery:  
So on the Shrubs and Bushes feed full many  
Her Worms are huge whose bottoms dare  
With Lemons of the largest size compare.  
And twenty one of ours will sure poise less  
Than one of theirs for weight and ponderousness.  
Master William Wright of Nansamound  
Found Bottoms above seven Inches round.  
And though the Silk prove not all out so fine  
As Persian, that's no let to the design.  
For since a thousand of our Bottoms make  
But one pound of fine Silk, you'll ten pounds take  
From theirs. If we at Thirty shillings sell  
Our pound, for twenty they'll afford theirs well.  
The pains that's taken is alike in either  
But the gains by theirs eight times greater:  
Then, we confined are to the Mulberry  
For food, their Worms have great Variety.  
Her dainty coloured flies and large Worms  
In length and bigness do surpass men's Thumbs.  
Whereas ours short of little fingers come.  
Our flies come out in twenty days and lay  
Eggs, theirs not still three hundred as they say  
O wondrous thing! a Worm to fast so long  
And then come out a painted Fly so strong.  
Nine mouths full out our eggs unhatched remain  
Nine days in Spring makes theirs revive again  
A Planter (I wish they had him named)  
A spoonful eggs from one fly he gained  
Which to five hundred at least amounted  
Loe shortly endless they must be counted.  
In March they first begin to live and feed  
In April they have done the Silken deed  
The sweetest, pleasantst time in all the year.  
You to this Wealth the chanting Birds will cheer  
And ten month's time they leave you with great ease  
To spend it in what profit you shall please.  
Rare Worms who feeding five and forty days  
On leaves of sundry Plants and shrubs repaies  
Their keepers with fine Silk which wants no strength  
And yet extends itself some miles in length  
And for the labour of a Man and Boy  
They gain you Sixty pounds which is no toy.  
If you from Birds protect them on the trees  
(Their natural mansions) 'twill them best please  
Your pains is spared in giving them the leaves  
By which alone you gain their Silken sleaves  
For non-parrel Virginia in her Woods,  
Brings forth as all men know these precious goods:  
Where thousand fleeces fit for Prince's Robes  
On Virgin-trees shall hang in Silken Globes.  
The noble Worm so hardy, strong and stout  
No weather ill is able them to rout.  
The reasons why the numbers are so small  
Less Cruel Birds devour most of them all  
When they are Worms yea Eggs or Silken ball.  
Most bottoms likewise on the leaves are spun  
Both falling to the ground do perish soon  
Those only found that spun are on the branch  
Not by their care but providential chance  
Which only show themselves when all is bare  
To Find in Summer any 'tis most rare.  
If to prevent both dangers you intent  
A Reedy-Arbourwell will do't, you'll find  
Or slightest coverture in any kind  
The skill and pains to all each Child can do:  
As you shall find on trial 'tis most true.  
And may in Wealth compare with rich Peru.  
And for all Tools that appertain thereto  
A Twelve-peny Reel is all it will cost you,  
No wit, no strength, no purse, no stock will need  
But Eyes and hands, the Worms to guard and feed.  
And thus you see done is the Silken deed:  
Which brings you so great wealth with so much speed.  
Five hundred pounds worth of rich Silk, all know  
Fraights less than ten pounds in poor Tobacco  
Silks are no trash, no toy, nor Pedlars ware;  
Staple, good, and ready chink every where.  
Twenty shillings a pound 'twill yield you clear  
And Ships to fetch it will come flying there.  
Queens of the best edition need not scorn  
In her own Livery to serve this Worm:  
Only to give her leaves is all she craves  
And in reward with Silk she'll make you brave.  
Out of her rich belly by her mouth spun  
Weaves it into a most curious bottom  
Which by a Reel turning with hand of man  
Is wholly wound off most neatly again.  
To feed Silkworms no calling can disdain  
Seeing they yield you so much honest gain  
No employment in the World so likely  
To make so soon your lazy Savage Wealthy.  
For his Silk bottoms in exchange shall have  
From English, what he so needs, begs, and craves  
Red coats, hose, shoes, knives, they highly deem  
Jews-trumps, Bells, Beads, all toys, no less esteem.   

If all be thus the cause you now demand  
Why hath this knowledge been thus long detained  
And but now by the Lady's Books inflamed  
Ignorance of Planters so strange hath been  
Till now ne'er knew nor dreamt of this rich thing  
Confessed it is, that of't some they have seen  
Regardlessly, but ne'er did them esteem.  
Which loss of Wealth and Honour they'll regain  
And Virgin's Counsel follow will amain.  
The happy onset they this Spring have made  
Assures them all a stately precious trade.  
Sir Henry Chichly that Heroic Knight  
Affirms there's not an ingenuous Wight.  
In Virginia but makes all speed he can  
To be e'er long a Silken noble man.  
And say, Colonel Ludlow certifies  
That thence from Silk great profit will arise;  
Yea worthy Bernard that stout Colonel  
Informs the Lady the work most facile  
And of rich Silken stuffs, made shortly there  
He hopes that he and others shall soon wear.  
So major John Westrope saith, Silk will be  
A gallant design for their brave Country.  
Thunder was that, that some men only doubt  
But trial made this Spring puts that fear out.  
In all Lands where Worms are kept 'tis wonder  
To hear that any were harmed by thunder.  
Their natural Worm proves this more truer.  
Mr. Gorge Lob's that prudent old Planter  
Tells her that Worms ne'er spun Silk daintier.  
Let's give those Gentlewomen their full deuce  
Mistress Garret and Burbage for Silk clues  
That Colonels Wife needs not far to rove  
Her Court affords a pleasant Mulberry Grove:  
But noble Diggs carries the Bell away  
(Lass! want of eggs made so small the essay)  
His two Armenians from Turkey sent  
Are now most busy on his brave attempt  
And had he stock sufficient for next year  
Ten thousand pound of Silk would then appear  
And to the skies his worthy deeds upreare.  
Lo here what mistress Mary Ward hath sent  
And to her Lady Cousin she presents  
Ten rare Bottoms took from her Appletree  
That all England may it believe and see.  
Her honoured Kinsman Esquire F●rrar,  
To confirm and make the wonder greater  
Ten more likewise hath sent her, which he found  
On stately Oaks and Shrubs that kiss the ground  
And Doctor Russell that learned Physician  
Hath with his, made a full addition.  
For things more slowly do affect the mind  
Which ears do hear then those that eyes do find.  
Now from smoke Virginia shall be raised  
And throughout the World be duly praised.  
Ah Blessed be God that now in his due time  
This Silken light apparently doth shine   

Then come, O come with sacred Days  
Let us sound the Almightys praise   
I. F.   

To the most Noble deserving Esquire Diggs: upon the Arrival of his two Armenians out of Turkey into Virginia.  
Courage, brave Sir: sigh Aid from God is sent  
Proceed, go on, drive forth thy great intent.   

A Comparison between the gain and labour of TOBACCO and SILK.  
TObacco requires 9 month's time, much care and labour, both without and within doors, and a man's Crop is commonly 15 hundred weight of Tobacco, and this at two pence a pound is 14 pound gain.  
Silk requires six week's time, if done in a house, and by the labour of a man and boy, in gathering leaves, and tending the worms that come of six ounces seed, there is by so many worms spun as much Silk as will weigh sixty pound weight, and this but at 20 shil. a pound, yields 60 l. in ready money.  
Tobacco, leaves a man but 3 months in the year for other business.  
Silk, leaves a man ten month's time in the year, for any other employments.  


14 pounds a man gains by his Crop of Tobacco.  
60 pounds a man and boy gains by his Crop of Silk.   Then let all men judge which is the more gainful.  
But what will be the gain and profit, by the worms feeding and spinning on the Trees is more considerable, and also the natural Virginia-Worms bottom exceeding ours in Europe 20 times in bigness, and in weight: what a Treasure than will this be, and no labour, cost, hazard, expense of time at all, a Boy only to keep away the Birds from eating the Silkworms on the Trees, etc.   

Thus learned Bartas upon this noble & admirable Creature.  
YEt may I not this Wondrous Worm pass by,  
Of fly urned Worm, and of a Worm a Fly.  
Two Births, two Deaths, here Nature hath assigned her,  
Leaving a Posthum●, dead-live Seed behind her;  
Which soon transforms the fresh and tender leaves  
Of Thisbe's pale tree, to those tender sleaves  
(On Oval Clues) of soft smooth silken Flax,  
which more for us then for herself she makes.  
O precious fleece! which only did adorn  
The sacred loins of Princes heretofore:  
But our proud age, with prodigal abuse  
Hath so profaned the old honourable use:  
That Shifters now, that scarce have bread to eat  
Disdain plain Silk, unless it be beset  
With one of those brave Metals, whose desire  
Burns greedy souls with an impartial fire.  
Had Du Bartas fully known all the virtues and rarities in this incomparable Creature, even a miracle in Nature, he would have enlarged his Poems in a more ample manner in the praise of it, to the great honour of the Creator. Cui Gloria, Amen.   

Homo Vermis.  

We all are creeping Worms of th' earth,  
Some are Silkworms great by birth,  
Glow-Worms some that shine by night,  
Slow-Worms others, apt to by't,  
Some are muck-Worms slaves to wealth,  
Maw-Worms some that wrong the health,  
Some to the public no good willers,  
Cancker-Worms and Caterpillars;  
Found about the earth we're crawling,  
For a sorry life we're sprawling,  
Putrid stuff we suck, it fills us,  
Death then sets his foot and kills us.    
FINIS.