Transcriber’s Note

Spellings are inconsistent, especially the use of ée and ee. Words remain as presented in the original, including the use of u/v and i/j.

Note that while the title page and contents reference a “Tretise, called Goodmens Recreation” regarding angling and the fighting cocke [sic] this content was not in the original scan and thus is not included here.

THE
Second Booke of the
English Husbandman.

CONTAYNING
the Ordering of the Kitchin-Garden, and the Planting of strange Flowers:
the breeding of all manner of Cattell. Together with the Cures, the feeding of Cattell, the Ordering both of Pastures and Meddow-ground: with the vse both of high-wood and vnder-wood.

WHEREVNTO IS ADDED
a Treatise, called Goodmens Recreation:
Contayning a Discourse of the generall Art of Fishing, with the Angle, and otherwise; and of all the hidden secrets belonging thereunto.

TOGETHER
With the Choyce, Ordering, Breeding, and Dyeting of the fighting Cocke.

A worke neuer written before by any Author.

By G. M.

LONDON: Printed by T.S. for Iohn Browne, and are to be sould at his shop in S. Dunstanes Church-yard in Fleetstreet. 1614.

A Table of all the principall matters contayned in this Booke.

Chap. I.

How the Husbandman shall iudge and fore-know all kinde of weather, and other seasons of the yeere.

Chap. II.

The choyse of Grounds for the Kitchin-Garden, and the ordering thereof.

The Contents.

Chap. III.

Of the Sowing and Ordering of all manner Pot Hearbes.

The Contents.

Chap. IIII.

Of sowing of certaine Hearbes which are to be eaten, but especially are medicinall, yet euer in the Husbandmans Garden.

The Contents.

Chap. V.

Of diuer sorts of Sallet-Hearbes, their manner of Sowing and Ordering.

The Contents.

Chap. VI.

Of Flowers of all sorts, both forraine and home-bred, their sowing, planting, and preseruing.

The Contents.

Chap. VII.

How to preserue all manner of Seeds, Hearbs, Flowers, and Fruits, from all manner of noysome and pestilent things, which deuoure and hurt them.

The Contents.

The Table of the second part of the second Booke. Contayning the Ordering of all sorts of VVoods, and the breeding of Cattell.

Chap. I.

Of the beginning of VVoods, first sowing, and necessary vse.

The Contents.

Chap. II.

The deuision of vnder-Woods, their sale and profit.

The Contents.

Chap. III.

Of High woods, and their plantation.

The Contents.

Chap. IIII.

The preseruation and sale of High woods.

The Contents.

Chap. V.

Of the breeding of Wood in rich Champaine Soyles.

The Contents.

Chap. VI.

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

The Contents.

Chap. VII.

Of Pasture grounds, their order, profit, and generall vse.

The Contents.

Chap. VIII.

A new method of the Husbandly curing of all manner of Cattell.

The Contents.

The end of the Table for Husbandry.

Of Angling.

Chap. I.

Of Angling: the Vertue, Vse, and Antiquitie.

The Contents.

Chap. II.

Of the Tooles, and Implements for Angling.

The Contents.

Chap. III.

Of the Anglers cloathes, and inward qualities.

The Contents.

Chap. IIII.

Of the seasons to Angle in.

The Contents.

Chap. V.

Of Baits in generall, and of euery particular kinde, their seasons and vse.

The Contents.

Chap. VI.

Of Angling for euery seuerall kinde of Fish, according to their natures.

The Contents.

Chap. VII.

Of taking Fish without Angles, and of laying Hookes.

Chap. VIII.

Of preseruing Fish from all sorts of deuourers.

Chap. IX.

Of ordering of Ponds for the preseruation of Fish.

Chap. X.

Of the best Water-Lime.

Of the fighting Cocke.

Chap. I.

Of the Choyce, Ordering, Breeding, and Dyeting of the fighting Cocke.

The Contents.

FINIS.

THE FIRST PART of the second Booke of the English Husbandman: Contayning the Ordering of the Kitchin-garden, and the planting of strange Flovvers.

Chap. I.

How the Husbandman shall iudge and fore-know all kinde of Weathers, and other seasons of the yeere.

Although GOD out of his infinite prouidence, is the onely directer and ruler of all things, gouerning the yéeres, dayes, minutes and seasons of the yeere according to the power of his Will: yet for as much as hee hath giuen vs his Creatures, and placed the Celestiall bodies to holde their influences in vs, and all things else which haue increasement, reuealing vnto vs from their motions, the alteration and qualities of euery season, it shall be very behouefull for euery Husbandman to know the signes and tokens of euery particular season, as when it is likely to Raine, when Snow, when Thunder, when the Winds will rise, when the Winter will rage, & when the Frosts will haue the longest continuance, that fashioning his labours, according to the temperature or distemperature of the weather, hee may with good iudgement and aduise, eschew many euils which succéede rash and vnfore-looking actions.

Of Rayne.

To speake then first of the generall signes of Raine, you shall vnderstand that the olde Husbandmen did obserue rules generall, and rules speciall: the generall rules were such as concerned eyther all, most, or a great part of the whole yéere: the rules speciall, those which concerned dayes, houres, and times present: of which I will first speake in this place.

Signes from Clouds.

If therefore you shall at any time perceiue a Cloud rising from the lowest part of the Horizon, and that the maine body be blacke and thicke, and his beames (as it were) Curtaine-wise, extending vpward, and driuen before the windes: it is a certaine and infallible signe of a present showre of Raine, yet but momentary and soone spent, or passed ouer: but if the Cloud shall arise against the Winde, and as it were spread it selfe against the violence of the same, then shall the Raine be of much longer continuance.

Signes from the Moone.

If when you sée the new Moone appeare, you perceiue that some part of her Hornes are obscured, or if it be black, or discoulored in the middest: if it hang much to the West, if it be compast or girdled about, eyther with thicke, or waterish transparent vapours: if it looke more then ordinarily pale, or if it shall beginne to raine small and mist-like on the fourth or fift day of her age, all these are infallible signes of Raine, and the last an assured signe that the Raine will continue all that quarter of the Moone following.

Signes from the Sunne.

If you shall sée the Sunne rise earely in the Morning, and spread forth his Beames violently, yet with a very moyst and waterish complexion, and there-withall in the West you doe sée a bedde of thicke vapours to arise, increase and ascend vpward, then shall you bee assured that at high noone, when those vapours and the Sunne shall méet, there will be raine, and that raine of no short continuance: If you shall sée the Sunne rise red, and turne sodainely blacke, if it haue many red clouds about it mixt with blackenesse, if it haue a spacious Circle about it, or if when it setteth you sée it fall behinde a banke of darke and blacke Cloudes, they be all most certaine and infallible signes of raine, which will presently follow.

Signes from the Lightning.

If it lighten at noone, or any time whilest the Sunne shineth, eyther with Thunder or without thunder, or if it lighten in fayre weather, or if it lighten more then it thundereth, all are most certaine signes of raine which will follow.

Signes from Fowle.

If you shall perceiue water-Fowle to bathe much: if the Crow wet her head at the water brimme, or if shée wade into the water, or if she shall cry and call much: if the Rauen shall croake with a hollow or sounding voyce: if the house-Cocke shall crow at all houres: if Pigions shall come home late to the Doue-house: if Sparrowes shall chyrpe and cry earely in the morning: if Bées flye not farre from their Hyues: if Flies and small Gnats bite sharpe and sore, all are most certaine signes of raine, which will presently follow.

Signes from Beasts.

If you shall perceiue your Oxen to eate more gréedily, and with a more earnest stomacke then their vsuall custome: if your Kine gaze and looke much vpward: if Swine shall play and gambole vp and downe: if Horses being at grasse shall scope, course, and chase one another: or if the Cat shall wash behinde her eare, all are certaine signes of raine to follow.

Signes from things without motion.

If Salt turne moyst standing in dry places, if Channels, Vaults, and common Sewers stincke more then vsuall: if Bels seeme to sound louder then they were wont: if the Tazell at any time close vp his pricks: if Soote fall much from the Chimney: If oyle shall sparkle much when it burneth, or if Marble, Pauing-stone, or other wals shall sweat, or be much moyst, all are most ineuitable signes of rayne which will follow.

Signes of much Raine.

If Raine, when it falleth, make great bubbles, or such a noyse as is not ordinary: or if raine fall mildely, small, and mist-like: or if rayne fall in a calme when no winde stirreth: or if when it rayneth you cannot perceiue the Racke or Clouds to moue: if Pullen flye to their roust assoone as the raine begins: if the Raine-bow stretch towards the South, or if it doe reflect and shéedoole: if you shall sée one or more Weather-gals which are like Raine-bowes, onely they arise from the Horison but a small way vpward, all these are most certaine signes of much raine that will follow.

Signes of Snow or Haile.

If blacke Clouds shall turne sodainely white: if about eyther the Sunne or Moone be pale, and waterish Circles, or that they séeme to shine as through a miste: if the Ayre be thicke and extreame cold without frosts: if with the signes of raine be mixt signes of cold also, or if windes be nipping and extreame sharp, all are most certaine tokens that Snow or Hayle will follow presently after.

Signes of winde.

If when the Sunne setteth it looketh red and fiery, and that all that part of the Horizon looke red also, or if it looke blewish, or séeme greater then his ordinary proportion: If the Moone doe blush or looke high colloured, if the Racke ride high, and the Firmament be much vaulted: if Woods and Hils séeme to make a noyse: if the Stars séeme to shine brighter then vsuall: if it shall thunder in Winter, or if it thunder without lightning: if Bels be heard farre off with more ease then accustomed, and presently in the same instant be not heard at all: If Cobwebs flye much in the ayre: If Hernes or Heronshoes cry much in their flying: If fire sparkle much, or if wood or Wainscot cracke much, all these are most certaine signes of much winde that will follow after.

Signes of tempests.

If you shall perceiue the Morning or Euening Sunne, eyther in the Sommer or in the Autumne, to shine hotter or to scortch more then accustomed, when the ayre is prest with an extreame blacke cloude, or with many clouds, if you perceiue whirlewindes to blow oft and violently: if you sée the Raine-bow shall appeare in the West without raine: if you sée flames and meteors flashing in the ayre, or if the Porpus shall be séene in the fresh Riuer, all are most certaine signes of thunder, lightnings and tempests, which will follow.

Signes of faire weather.

If the Sun rise gray and cléere in the morning, and likewise setteth without darkenesse, not loosing a minute in the declination: if the euening skye be ruddy and not fierie, more purple then skarlet: if the Moone be cléere when it is foure or fiue dayes olde: if it lighten after Sunne-set without thunder: if the dewe fall in great abundance and in the rising ascend vp to the mountaines: if the North winde blow strong: if the Owle doe whup much and not scrytch: if flyes at night play much in the Suns beames: if Crowes flocke much together, and cakell and talke: if Bats flye busily vp and downe after Sunne-set, if you sée Cranes flye high, and water-Fowle make their haunts farre off from the water, all these are most certaine signes of very faire weather which will follow after.

Signes of Winter.

If water-Fowle forsake the Water: if the Nightingale sing more then other Birds, if Cranes flocke together, if Géese fight for their féeding place, or if Sparrowes call very earely in the Morning, any of these are certaine signes that winter is néere at hand.

Signes of the Spring.

If the West winde blowe freshly Morning and Euening: if the colde abate and loose much of his vigor, if Swallowes begin to come in and flye busily about, if the brest-bone of the Mallard or Woodcocke looke white and cléere, any of these are certaine signes that the Spring is at hand.

Signes of a hot Sommer.

If the Ramme ride in the Spring, and shew more then an vsuall lust: if the Spring haue beene very extraordinarily colde, or if Mildewes fall not in the Woodland-Countryes, any of these are certaine signes of a hot Summer to follow after.

Signes of a long Winter.

If you shall sée the Oake leaden with Akornes: if the brest-bone of the Mallard when he is kild looke red: if Hornets be séene after the end October, or if Cattell doe trample and tread the earth much, making it myrie, or like a new plowde field: any of these are most certaine signes that the Winter will be sharpe, long, and cruell.

Signes of a forward or backward yeer.

If there fall much Raine before October, by meanes whereof many inundations doe follow, and that such wet lye long aboue ground: it is a most infallible token that the yéere will be very forward: but if the wet doe fall after October then it is a signe that the yéere will be indifferent, but and if the wet fall after Nouember, then it is held for most certaine that the yéere will fall out very slacke and backeward.

Signes of a good or bad yeere.

If the Oke Apples, when they are opened, bréed flyes, or if Haruest be seasonable, and the Spring warme: if Snow fall in February: if Broome put forth great store of Flowers: if the Walnut-trée haue more blossoms then leaues: if the flower of the Sea-Onion wither not quickly, or if the Spring be preserued from frosts and blasting, then any of these are certaine signes that the yéere will proue passing good and fruitfull: but if the Oake Apple bréede instéed of a Flye a Spyder: if Comets or Meteors oppresse the Ayre: if the Sommer fall out vnnaturally moyst: if the dewes when they fall at the rising of the Sunne descend to the Riuers: if frosts come in vnseasonable times: if wood-Birds flye to the plaines, and refuse couert: if the Sunne haue his whole body, or at least thrée parts Ecclipsed: when Corne beginneth to bloome, and is not fully Kirneld, then any of these be most certaine signes that the yéere will proue bad, barrayne, & fruitlesse.

Signes from Christmas day.

Againe, if Christmas day shall fall vpon the Sunday, the yéere shall be good, seasonable and abounding with all store and plenty: if it fall vpon Munday the yéere shall be reasonable temperate and fruitfull, onely something subiect to inundation of waters, losse by shipwracke, and some mortality of people, especially women in childbearing: if it fall vpon Tuesday, the yéere will proue very barraine and vnfruitfull, much dearth will raigne, and amongst people great plague and mortallitie: if it fall vpon Wednesday, the yéere shall be reasonably seasonable, though a little inconstant: there shall be plenty of all things, onely much sickenesse, and great likelyhood of warres: if it fall vpon the Thursday, the yéere shall be generally very temperate and wholesome, onely the Sommer subiect to moistnesse, much deuision is like to fall amongst the Clergie, and women shall be giuen to more laciuiousnesse then at other seasons: if it fall on the Friday, the yéere shall be barraine and vnwholesome, for sickenesse shall rage with great violence, much mortallitie shall fall amongst yong Children, and both Corne and Cattell shall be scarce, and of a déere reckoning: if it fall on the Saturday, the yéere shall be reasonably good and plentifull, onely the people of the world shall be excéeding peruerse, & much giuen to mutinie & dissention one against another.

Signes from the Sunne rising.

Againe, if the Sunne rise without impediment, and shine bright and cléere vpon Christmas day, the yéere will be very plentifull: if it rise likewise cléere the second day in Christmas, then Corne will fall in price: if it rise cléere the third day in Christmas, there will onely be dissention in the Church: if on the fourth day, it foreshewes trouble vnto yong persons: if on the fift day, it shewes that many good things will increase: if on the sixt, doubtlesse euery Garden will bring forth great plenty: if on the seauenth, then is much dearth and scarcitie to be feared: if it shine cléere on the eyght day in Christmas, then there is likely to be great store of Fish: if on the ninth, it will doubtles proue a good yéere for all manner of Cattell: if on the tenth, the yéere is likely to yéeld much cause of mourning: if on the eleauenth, there will fall much fogges, thicke mistes, and great infection will follow after. Lastly, if the Sunne shine cléere the twelfth day after Christmas, it fore-shewes much warre and troubles, with great losse and bloudshed.

Signes from the twelue dayes in Christmas.

Againe, according to these former obseruations, you shall vnderstand, that what weather shall fall or be on the sixe and twentieth day of December, the like weather shall be all the moneth of Ianuary after, what shall be on the seauen and twentieth of December, the like shall be all the moneth of February following: what weather shall be on the eight and twentieth day of December, the like weather shall be all March following: what weather shall be the nine and twentieth day of December, the same shall be all Aprill after: what on the thirtieth, the same all May: what on the one and thirtieth the like all Iune following: what weather shall fall on the first of Ianuary, the same shall be all Iuly after: what on the second of Ianuary, the same all August after: what on the third, the same all September after: what on the fourth, the same all October following: what on the fift, the same all Nouember after, and what weather shall fall on the sixt of Ianuary, which is Twelft-day, the same weather shall fall all December following.

Signes from Saint Pauls day.

Againe, if Saint Pauls day proue fayre, dry and bright, it foresheweth plenty of all things the yéere following: but if it be misty then it shewes great dearth of Cattell. If there fall vpon that day Snow or Raine, then it shewes Famine and Want of Corne, but if it be windy, tempestuous, or if it thunder, then it sheweth that great warres will follow.

Signes from Maudlin, and Saint Swythens day.

Againe, looke what quantitie of raine falleth eyther on Mary Maudlins day, or on Saint Swithens day, be it more or lesse, the same proportion will fall for the space of forty dayes after: but if these two dayes be fayre and dry all the time of Haruest will be so also.

If Corne shall be cheape or deare.

Now if you will know whether Corne shall be cheape or déere, take twelue principall graynes of Wheate out of the strength of the eare, vpon the first day of Ianuary, and when the harth of your Chimney is most hot, swéepe it cleane, then make a stranger lay one of those Graynes on the hot hearth, then marke it well, and if it leape a little, Corne shall be reasonably cheape, but if it leape much then Corne shall be excéeding cheape, but if it lye still and moue not, then the price of Corne shall stand, and continue still for that Moneth: and thus you shall vse your twelue Graines, the first day of euery Moneth one after another, that is to say, euery Moneth one Graine, and you shall know the rising and falling of Corne in euery Moneth, all the yéere following.

Signes from Thunder.

If it shall thunder much the first Sunday of the New-yéere, it shewes great death and mortallitie amongst learned men: if it thunder the first Munday, it shewes great death of women, and many Eclipses of the Sunne: if it thunder on the first Tuesday, it shewes plenty of Corne, but much Warre and dissention: if it thunder on the first Wednesday, it shewes mortallitie and death amongst the worst sort of people, both Male and Female, besides much Warre and bloudshed: if it thunder on the first Thursday in the New-yéere, it sheweth much plenty of Corne that will follow: if it thunder on the first Friday, it betokeneth the losse of great personages, and men of authoritie, many affrayes and murthers, with much perill and danger. Lastly, if it thunder vpon the first Saturday in the New-yéere, it foresheweth onely a generall plague and infection, which shall raigne with strong violence.

Signes of sicknes or health.

If you shall perceiue the Summer and Spring time to fall out very moyst and rainy, without winde, yet in their owne natures very hot & scortching, or if the Southerne or Southwest-winde blow much without raine: if many fogs and mists fall in the Morning, and ouercome the Sunnes beames at noone also: if the Sunne suffer any large Eclipse: if Autumne and Winter be more foggy then moyst or cold: if the Dowe or Leauen, of which you mould your bread, doe quickely mould and cleaue together without labour: if Dogs runne madde, if Birds forsake their nests: if Shéepe rot: if Fennes, Marrish-grounds, and muddy places abound with Frogges: if Mud-wals bréede Swine lice or Sowes: if Moales forsake the earth: if the small Pocks or Meazels be rife and abound in the Spring time, or if women generally doe miscarry in childe-bedde, any of these are most certaine signes of much sickenesse and mortallitie that will follow the yéere after: and all such signes as are directly contrarie to any of these, as if the Summer and Spring doe fall out drye and windy: if the South or Southwest-winde bring with it euer rayne: if no fogs or mists oppresse the ayre, and so forth of all the rest which are before shewed, are most certaine and infallible tokens of a very wholesome and healthfull yéere, which will euer follow after.

The preseruation of health.

Now for the preseruation of your health, and to preuent all such sickenesses as are incident to follow in these casuall and daungerous yéeres: through euery seuerall moneth in the yéere you shall obserue these few precepts.

First, in the month of Ianuary you shall forbeare to let bloud, vnlesse vpon violent extreamitie, & that the signes be excéeding good for the same, you shall drinke white wine in the morning fasting, & rub your head with a course Towell very hard, but yet cleane, for it is a most wholesom friction.

In the month of February, you shall not let bloud for wantonnesse, but néede: you shall forbeare Hearbe-pottage, for at that time onely they are least wholesome: you shall kéepe the soles of your féete from wet, and vse euery morning your former friction.

In the moneth of March, the signe being good, you may let bloud according to your youth, strength, and necessitie: you may take hot and swéet meats and drinkes, especially Almonds, Figs & Reyzins, & vse also your former friction.

In the month of Aprill, you may bléed as in the month of March: in it also you may purge, by the order of a learned directer: let your dyet be hot and fresh meats, and your drinke temperate: also in this moneth your former friction is excéeding wholesome.

In the month of May be no sluggard, for the bed is vnwholesome, cléerified Way is this moneth a most soueraigne drinke, and Sage with swéet Butter is a most excellent breakefast: yong Lettuce is an approued good Sallet, and the inthrals or offall of Beasts would by all meanes be refused, it is also good to let bloud in this month onely for necessitie, and not for pleasure, and beware by all means, not to go wetshooed in the dew of the morning.

In the month of Iune obserue the dyet of May, or if you be of youthfull bloud it is not amisse if it be a little cooler, and for bléeding let it be for vrgent necessitie.

In the month of Iuly eschew all wanton bed-sport: and if each morning you take of draught of clarified Butter-Milke it is very wholesome: vse coole Iulyps, and meats that are fresh, and not stirring: now forbeare Lettice, and bléede not, except it be in cause of great extreamitie.

In the month of August forbeare all manner of Worts, and Cabadges, and generally all meats and Spices which are hot and inflaming: but by any meanes bléed not at all, except by the direction of most approued learning.

In the month of September you may eate any sort of ripe Fruits: you may bathe in hot bathes, for colde causes, at your pleasure, and you may let bloud according to your necessitie: those foods are best which are of lightest disgestion, and those drinkes most wholesome which are rather strong then scouring.

In the moneth of October, spare not any bloud, except great extreamitie compell you, and for your dyet, let it be of such foods as are most strong and nourishing, and your drinke Béere or Ale, of indifferent strength, and now and then at the midst, and end of meales, a draught or two of such Wines as are pleasant, strong, and wholesome: Sallets of Flowers, preserued in Vinegar & Sugar, as either Violets, Broome-flowers, or Gelly-flowers of all kindes, or Sampyre, Purslan, or Beane-rods, preserued in pickell, are of excellent vse, both in this moneth, and the other two which follow.

In the Moneth of Nouember open also no vaine, but for great néed, because the blood is then gathered together into the principall vessels: Bathing in this Moneth is vtterly to be refused, onely let your body be kept warme, and euery colde humour or obstruction, rather dissolued by moderate frictions, as is shewed in the moneth of Ianuary and February, then by the violence of any other inward medicine. Shell-Fish in this moneth is very wholesome, and so are all other sorts of Fish, which are not too rawe or slymie.

In the Moneth of December blood-letting should be also forborne, except vpon some especiall dayes, as after the fiue and twentieth day at the soonest: and for your diet let it be meate which is hot and nourishing, but by no meanes that which bréedeth melancholie bloud. Vse strong Wine and sharpe Sauces: as for the warmth of your body, next vnto good cloathing, let it euer procéed from exercise that is moderate, then from toasting, or broiling your selfe against the fire, for in this Month that body can hardly be sound whose shinnes are made pyde and motley with the fiers scortching.

And thus much touching the experience of the English Husbandman in these fore-knowledges, and ayming after the times to come, being drawne from the obseruations and rules left vs by succession of times of those learned Fathers, and other best knowne and approued in these knowledges: yet I doe not binde euery Husbandman to make as it were new Créeds of these Principles, but onely to giue them to his memory, as things that will neither oppresse nor hurt it, and if in any seldome-séene particularitie, any shall vary from the purpose of the relation, to remember that there is aboue vs a God of all Truth and Knowledge, who will dispose and gouerne all things, according to his good Will and Pleasure: to which let euery Creature submit, in as much as hee onely knoweth what is for mankinde most best and most conuenient.

Chap. II.

The choyce of ground for the Kitchin-garden, and the ordering thereof.

A Promise honest and profitable, being seriously made, I holde a sinne capitall to neglect, especially where the goodnesse stretcheth it selfe ouer a whole Kingdome: and hence I haue assumed to perfect both my promise and my labour in building vp that weake foundation which I formerly laid, of the English Husbandman: wherein, contrary to all other Authors, I am neither beholden to Pliny, Virgil, Columella, Varo, Rutillius, Libault, nor any other Forrainer, but onely to our owne best experienst Countreymen, whose daily knowledge hath made them most perfect in their professions: and what better instruction can be had then that which we receiue from the professors, being men of our owne neighbourhood, acquainted with our Climate and Soile, and the necessary things agréeing with the bettering of the same: and not resort, as our Translators haue done, to strangers helpe, who tels you that you must meanure your ground with Asses dung, when our Kingdome hath not so many foure-footed Asses as wil meanure one Acre, and many such like things which our Kingdome affordeth not: therefore according to the plaine true English fashion, thus I pursue my purpose.

The choyce of Ground.

Touching the choyse of Ground, I haue in the former part of this Booke shewed you the true nature and goodnesse of euery seuerall Soyle: and you are to vnderstand that the best Soyle is best for this purpose, because it is least laborsome, and most profitable: yet notwithstanding that some of our translated Authors doth vtterly disalow for Gardens many Soyles, as namely, all Sands, all Chawkie earths, all Grauell, all Earths like dust, and any Earth which chappeth or openeth in the heat of Summer, by that meanes depriuing almost halfe our kingdome of the benefit of Gardens, yet I assure you there is no Soyle whatsoeuer (if it lye from the inundation of water, or be not absolutely boggy) but with industry will beare any Fruit, Hearbe, or Flower, plentifully, and without any casualtie procéeding from the barraines therof: witnes a most worthy Garden in the barren Peake of Darbyshire, where there is no curious Trée or Plant wanting, nor doe they flourish in any place more brauely.

The bettering of Grounds.

Now for mine owne part, I write generally to all Husbandmen, not to those onely which liue in fertile and fat Soyles, and therefore I would haue no man say, the Soyle where I liue is so barraine, that I cannot haue a Garden: for if the Soyle wherein you liue, be barraine, then shall you in the latter end of September breake vp your earth more then a Spade-graft déepe, and be well assured that at euery Spade-graft you breake the mould well, and leaue not the rootes of any wéeds within it, then let it rest till the midst of October, at which time if any wéeds appeare vpon it, by all meanes let them be pluckt vp by the roots, which done, The trenching of Grounds. you shall trench your ground at least a yarde and a halfe déepe, and then bury in those trenches, if it be a Sand or grauell earth, great store of Oxe or Cow meanure, if it be a colde Chalkie Clay, or a moyst ground, then great store of Horse meanure, of both which meanures the oldest and rottenest is the best: but if you liue in such a Soyle as there is neyther of these meanures bred therein, then take straw of any kinde whatsoeuer, and spread it in the high-way where there is much trauell, & when it is rotten with the beating of Horse féet, then cause it to be shoueld vp, & with it fill your trenches, but if Straw be wanting, then if you haue any muddy ditches or ponds, scowre the mud out of them, & with it fill vp your trenches: & although these are not so long lasting as the two first sorts of meanures, yet they are sufficient to bring forth increase, & must supply where necessity inforceth, alwayes hauing discretion when you sée your ground abate in fruitfulnes, to replenish it with fresh meanure.

Now as you fill your trenches with meanure, let one mixe the earth therewithall, and as it were blend and incorporate them together: thus hauing gone ouer so much ground as you intend to plant or sowe vpon, you shall let it rest till the midst of Ianuary, at which time you shall breake it vp in trenches againe, but not aboue thrée quarters of a yarde déepe, and then fill vp those trenches with meanure as before, and lay your earth as leuell as is possible, & so let it rest till the beginning of March (if the weather be seasonable for sowing or planting) otherwise let it stay till mid-March, and as soone as the Moone is changed you shall then dig it vp the fourth time, and make it fit to receyue your séede, but in this fourth time of turning ouer your earth, you shall dig it but a little better then a Spade-graft depth, and euer as you dig it, mixe it with fresh meanure: if your ground be subiect to much chapping or rining, then you shall at this last digging mixe the earth with ashes and Horse meanure mixt together, which will binde and holde the earth from chapping.

Of breaking the Garden moulde.

After you haue digd your ground in this order, and made it leuell, you shal with an Iron Rake breake the great clods of earth, and bring it to as fine a mould as is possible, euer obseruing that if in the breaking of the clods or otherwise, you perceiue the roots or stalks of any wéeds to arise, you shall presently with your hand pull them out, and cast them on heaps, that they may serue eyther for the fire or the dunghill: Ordering of Garden-beds. which done, you shall tread out your beds in such orderly sort, that you may passe from one to the other without eyther treading vpon the beds, or striding ouer them: & thus much for the barraine & sterrill ground, which although all ancient & late writers reiect, as not worthy to be imployed to this vse, yet beléeue it, being husbanded as is said before, it will equall in fruitfulnes the best ground.

Of the fruitfull Soyle.

Touching your rich and perfect grounds, which of themselues are apt to put forth with little labour, you shall onely at the latter end of September breake vp the Earth, and making greater Trenches, fill them well with Oxe meanure, and then turning the Earth vpon the meanure, leuell your ground very carefully, breake the clots and rake it very painefully, and then treade out your beds, as is before sayd, artificially; but if the ground which you breake vp, be eyther gréene-swarth, or much ouergrowne with wéeds (as these rich soyles must euer be the one or the other) (for they will not be idle, but continually bringing forth) then at this first digging and dunging you shall haue diuers which shall follow the Spade, who shall take away all manner of roots, gréenes, grasse-tufts, stones, or whatsoeuer may bréede anoyance to the ground: which worke being perfected, you shall let the ground rest all winter till the beginning of March, that the frost may mellow and ripen the mould, and also kill the roots of such wéeds as the Spade hath turned vp, and haue béene omitted to be pulled away.

Now so soone as March is come, vpon the first change of the Moone, you shall digge vp this Earth againe, leuell it, and order it in all points as was sayd of the barraine Earth, onely there will néede no more vse of meanure, but as soone as it is digged, raked, leuelled, and brought into a fine mould, you may then tread out your Beds, as aforesayd, euer proportioning the quantitie of them according to the quantitie of your séedes, hauing the most of that which is most in vse, and the least of the contrary.

Now as touching the fencing and inclosing of your Garden, I haue in the former Booke shewed you the same at large, and giuen seuerall instructions, according to mens seuerall abilities, with this caution, that whether your fence be wall, pale, dead-hedge, ditch, or quickset, yet it must be so high that it may with assurance kéepe all manner of Pullen from flying ouer the same, who are the greatest enemies to a Garden that may be.

The necessariest Ornament in a Garden.

There would be also in this Kitchin-Garden, if with conueniency it may be brought to passe, eyther a Pumpe, Well, or Cesterne, which might flow continually with water all the Summer time, for the watering of Hearbs, as shall be héereafter declared. And thus much touching the choyce of ground for a Kitchin-garden, and the ordering of the same.

Chap. III.

Of the sowing and ordering of all manner of Pot-hearbs.

When you haue prepared your ground, and cast your beds in an orderly fashion, as is before spoken, you shall then take your Séeds which Séeds would by no meanes be aboue a yéere olde: and hauing sorted them seuerally, euery one by it selfe, and appointed the beds which shall seuerally receiue them: you shall in this manner sowe your Pot-hearbs, which craue not much roote, because their onely benefit is in the leafe: take your séeds and put them into a wooden Tray, then take your Garden moulde, the finest that may be, being made almost as fine as ashes, and mixe your Séeds, and that mould very well together, then goe to the bedde where you meane to bestow them, and hauing newly rackt it (to stirre vp the fresh mould) with your hand sprinkle and sowe them all ouer the bed, so thicke as may be: which done, with a fine Rake, rake the bed gently ouer, then taking spare fine mould, put it into a ridling Siue, and sift it ouer the bed better then two fingers thickenesse, and so let it rest: thus you shall doe seuerally with euery séede one after another, bestowing euery one vpon a seuerall bed.

Of all sorts of Pot-hearbs.
Of Endiue and Succorie.

Now for your Pot-hearbs, which are most generally in vse, they be these: Endiue and Succorie, which delight in moyst ground, and will endure the winter. Bleete of which there be two kindes, Red and White: this Hearbe neuer néedeth wéeding, and if he be suffered to shed his séed it will hardly euer to be got out of a Garden.

Of Beets.

Then Beets, which must be much wéeded, for they loue to liue by themselues, and if they grow too thicke you may take them vp when they are a finger long in their owne earth, and set them in another bed, and they will prosper much better.

Land-Cresses.

Then land Cresses, which is both a good Pot-hearbe and a good Sallet-Hearbe: it loueth shadowie places, where the Sunne shineth least, and standeth in néed of little dung.

Parcely.

Then Parcely, which of all Hearbs is of most vse, it is longest in appearing aboue ground, and the elder séed is the quicker in growth, but not the surer; but eyther being once come vp increase naturally, and doe hardly euer decay: it cannot grow too thicke, but as you vse it you must cut off the toppes with your knife, and by no meanes pull vp the rootes: if it be put into a little pursse, and beaten against the ground, to bruise it a little before it be sowne, it will make it haue a large crisped leafe.

Of Sauory.

Then Sauory, of which are two kindes, the Winter-Sauory, and Summer, both delight in leane ground, and are quicke of growth, and long lasting.

Of Time.

Then Time, of which are also two kindes, the running Time, and the Garden Time: they delight in fertile ground, and from the séede are very slow of growth, therefore it is best euer to set them from the slip. The running Time doth delight in the shadow, but the Garden Time in the Sunne.

French Mallowes.

Then French-Mallowes, which will ioy in any ground, and are quicke of growth.

Cheruill.

Then Cheruill, which will not by any meanes grow with any other Hearbe.

Of Dill.

Then Dill, which may be sowne almost in any moneth of the yéere as well as March: it endureth all weathers, but loueth the warmth best.

Of Isop.

Then Isop, which in like manner as Time is, slow of growth from the séed, and therefore fitter to be set from the slips, after it hath once taken roote it encreaseth wonderfully, and will hardly be destroyed.

Of Mints.

Then Mints, which flourish onely in the Summer time, but dye in the Winter, it delighteth most in the moyst ground.

Violets.

Then Violets, the leaues whereof are a good Pot-hearb, and the Flowers preserued in close glasse pots, with strong Wine-vinegar and Sugar, a most excellent Sallet: it doth delight to grow high, and will grow spéedely eyther from the plant or from the séed.

Of Basill.

Then Basill, which would be sowne in the warme weather, as at the beginning of May, for the séed is tender, and when you haue sowne it, you shall presse the earth downe vpon it with your féet, for the séede can endure no hollownesse: if you sowe it at the fall of the Leafe, you shall sprinkle the séede with Vinegar, and when you water it let the Sunne be at his height.

Sweet Marioram.

Then swéet Marioram, which would be sowne on rich ground, and farre from Sunneshine, for it taketh no delight in his beames.

Marigolds.

Then Marigolds, which renew euery moneth, and endure the Winter as well as the Summer: this Hearbe the oftner you remoue it, the bigger it groweth.

Of Strawberries.

Then Strawberries, whose leaues are a good Pot-hearbe, and the fruit the wholesommest berry: this Hearbe of all other, would be set of the plant, and not sowne from the séed, for the oft changing and remouing of it causeth it to grow bigger and bigger: it groweth best vnder the shadowes of other Hearbes, but very sufficiently in beds, or else where.

Of Borage and Buglosse.

Then Borage and Buglosse, both which are of one nature: they would be sowne in small quantity, for where they take they will runne ouer a whole Garden: the séed must be gathered when it is halfe ripe it is so apt to shed, and when you gather it you must plucke vp the stalkes, leaues & all, and so laying them one vpon another thrée or foure dayes, their own heat will bring the séed to ripenes.

Of Rosemary.

Then Rosemary, which is an Hearbe tender and curious, yet of singular vertue: it is soone slaine with frost or lightening: it will grow plentifully from the séede, but much better from the slip, it delighteth to be planted against some Wall where it may haue the reflection of the Sunne, for to stand vnpropped of himselfe, the very shaking of the winde will kill it.

Of Penyroyal.

Then Penyroyall, which most properly is vsed to be mixt with Puddings, made of the bloud of Beasts, & Oatmeale: of it there be two kindes, Male and Female: the Male beareth a white flower, and the Female a purple: it must be sowne in small quantity, for it will runne and spread ouer-much ground: it delighteth most in moyst earth.

Of Leekes.

Then Leekes, which would haue a fertile ground, and as soone as they be shot vp a good length you shall cut the blades to the polt, and then remoue the heads, and set them borderwise about your other beds: this remouing after the cutting off the blades, wil make them grow bigger, and prosper better, as for thrusting Oyster-shels or Tyle-shreads vnder them, to make the heads bigger, it is a toy, for if the mould be loose and good, the Léeke will come to his perfect growth: they may be sowne both in March, Aprill, May, and Iune, and they may be remoued all Iuly, August, September and October.

Of Onions.

Then Onions, which differ not much from the nature of Léekes, they loue a fertile Soyle, and would be sowne with the séeds of Sauory: when they come vp if they grow too thicke, as is often séene, you shall plucke vp some and spend them in the Pot and in Sallets, to giue the rest more roome, and some you shall take vp and replant in other beds, which you may preserue for séede: those Onions which you would not haue to séede, you shall cut off the blades in the midst, that the iuyce may descend downeward, and when you sée the heads of the Onions appearing aboue the earth, you shall with your féet tread them into the ground: there be some very well experienst Husbands, which will take the fayrest, goodliest and soundest Onions they can get, and in this moneth of March set them thrée fingers déepe in the earth, and these of all other bring forth the purest and best séede, for which purpose onely they are preserued: as soone as your séed-Onions are knotted, you shall vnderproppe them with square cradles, made of stickes, least the waight of the boules which carry the séede, should breake the blades.

Of gathering Onion-seede, or the Onion.

The time of gathering your séede is, when it is all turned purely blacke, and the time of gathering the Onions is, when the heads doe forsake the earth, after they be gathered you shall lay them on a dry floore for a fortnight, or more, and then binde them vp in ropes, and hang them where they may haue the ayre of the fire, onely note that shall gather your Onions in the increase of the Moone, as they were sowne, and not otherwise.

Many other Pot-hearbs there be, which for as much as they differ nothing, eyther in sowing, planting, or ordering, from these which I haue rehearsed, I will héere omit them, and thinke this sufficient, touching the sowing and ordering of all manner of Pot-hearbs.

Chap. IIII.

Of the sowing of certaine Hearbs, which are to be eaten, but especially are medicinall, yet euer in the Husbandmans Garden.

Of Arage.

Of Hearbes which are medicinall, I will begin with Arage or Orache, which being colde and moyst is very excellent against the hot Gout: it is to be sowne in any moneth, from February till December: it loueth much moisture, and therefore must be oft watered: it must be sowne excéeding thinne, and quickly couered, for the ayre is offensiue.

Of Lumbardy Loueage.

Next it is Lumbardy, Loueage, which being hot and dry, is very purgatiue, it desireth a very fruitfull ground, but if it be sowne where it may haue much shadow and some shelter accompanied with moysture, it will grow in any ground, the moneths for sowing thereof, is, from the midst of February till Haruest.

Of Fennell.

Fennell is also hot and dry, and it comforteth the stomacke, openeth the inward vessels, and helpeth disgestion; it may be sowne in any moneth, and vpon any indifferent ground, especially if it be a little stony, the séede would not be very old, though of all other it be the longest laster.

Of Anise.

Anise is hot and dry, it dissolueth humors and obstructions, and is very comfortable to weake stomacks, it delighteth in a good and loose mould, and is to be sowne in the height of the Spring onely.

Of Comin.

Comin is of the nature of Anise and Fennell, and mixt with either, is very soueraine against all inward sicknesses procéeding from cold, it loueth a fruitfull rich earth & much warmth, and therfore the later it is sowne in the Spring, it is so much the better, and aboue all things it would be sowne in the hottest time of the day, & if it be mixed with other séeds, it is so much the better, and appeareth the sooner.

Of Coliander.

Coliander is of the nature of the earth, cold & dry, it helps disgestion, & suppresseth vapours which offend the braine, it may be sowne vpon any indifferent ground, & in any month except December and Ianuary, the elder the séedes are the better so they be sound, and they desire much watering.

Of Rue.

Rue or Hearb-grace is hot and dry, & is very soueraigne against all inward infection, putrifactions, and impostumations, it ioyeth in any reasonable ground so it grow warme and dry, the moneths fittest for the sowing thereof, is March, Aprill or May, and the mould would be firme and not subiect to ryuing, whence it procéedes that no meanure is so good for the encrease thereof as horse-dung and ashes mixt together: the beds would be made high & discending, that no moysture may stay thereon, they must be carefully wéeded, for in their first growth otherwise they are soone choaked.