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[Transcriber's note
Spellings are inconsistent, especially the use of ee and ee. Notes of
changes that have been made for obvious misprints, and of other
anomalies, are at the end of this etext.
There are many sidenotes in the original. They are indicated thus:
{SN: }, and have been grouped together at the start of the paragraph
in which they appear.]
THE
ENGLISH
HVSBANDMAN.
* * * * *
_The first Part_:
CONTAYNING
the Knowledge of the true Nature
of euery Soyle within this Kingdome:
how to Plow it; and the manner of the
Plough, and other Instruments
belonging thereto.
_TOGETHER WITH THE_
Art of Planting, Grafting, and Gardening
after our latest and rarest fashion.
A worke neuer written before by any Author:
and now newly compiled for the benefit
of this KINGDOME.
_By_ G. M.
_Bramo assai, poco, spero nulla chieggio._
_LONDON:_ Printed by _T. S._ for _Iohn Browne_, and are to be sould at
his shop in Saint _Dunstanes_ Church-yard.
1613.
TO THE RIGHT
HONOVRABLE,
and his singular good Lord,
the Lord _Clifton_, Baron of
Layton.
It was a custome (right Honorable, and my most singular good Lord) both
amongst the auntient _Romans_, and also amongst the wise
_Lacedemonians_, that euery idle person should giue an account of the
expence of his howers: Now I that am most idle, and least imployed in
your Familie, present here vnto your Lordships hands an account of the
expence of my idle time, which how well, or ill, it is, your Noble
wisedome must both iudge and correct; onely this I am acertain'd, that
for the generall rules and Maximes of the whole worke, they are most
infallibly true, and perfectly agreeing with our English climate. Now if
your Lordship shall doubt of the true tast of the liquor because it
proceedeth from such a vessell as my selfe, whom you may imagine vtterly
vnseasoned vvith any of these knowledges, beleeue it (my most best Lord)
that for diuers yeeres, wherein I liued most happily, I liued a
Husbandman, amongst Husbandmen of most excellent knowledge; during all
which time I let no obseruation ouer-slip me: for I haue euer from my
Cradle beene naturally giuen to obserue, and albe I haue not that oylie
tongue of ostentation which loueth euer to be babling all, and somewhat
more then it knoweth, drawing from ignorance admiration, and from
wisedome laughter, filling meale-times with much vnprofitable noyse; yet
I thanke my maker I haue a breast which containeth contentment inough
for my selfe, and I hope much benefit for the whole Kingdome; how euer
or whatsoeuer it is, it is all your Lordships, vnder the couert of whose
fauourable protection if it may finde grace it is the vttermost aime
whereunto my wishes aspire, nor shall I feare the malignitie of the
curious, for it is not to them but the honest plaine English Husbandman,
I intend my labours, vvhose defender you haue euer beene, and for whose
Honorable prosperitie both they and I will continually pray.
_Your honours in all
seruiceable humblenesse_,
G. M.
The Epistle to the generall and gentle Reader.
Although (generall reader) the nature of this worst part of this last
age hath conuerted all things to such vildnesse that whatsoeuer is
truely good is now esteemed most vitious, learning being derided,
fortitude drawne into so many definitions that it consisteth in meere
words onely, and although nothing is happy or prosperous, but meere
fashion & ostentation, a tedious fustian-tale at a great mans table,
stuft with bigge words, with out sence, or a mimicke Iester, that can
play three parts in one; the Foole, the Pandar and the Parasit, yet
notwithstanding in this apostate age I haue aduentured to thrust into
the world this booke, which nothing at all belongeth to the silken
scorner, but to the plaine russet honest Husbandman, for whose
particular benefit, and the kingdomes generall profit, I haue with much
paine, care, and industry, passed through the same. Now for the motiues
which first drew me to vndertake the worke, they were diuers: as first,
when I saw one man translate and paraphrase most excellently vpon
_Virgils Georgickes_, a worke onely belonging to the Italian climbe, &
nothing agreeable with ours another translates _Libault & Steuens_, a
worke of infinit excellency, yet onely proper and naturall to the
French, and not to vs: and another takes collections from _Zenophon_, and
others; all forrainers and vtterly vnacquainted with our climbes: when
this I beheld, and saw with what good liking they were entertained of
all men; and that euery man was dumbe to speake any thing of the
_Husbandry_ of our owne kingdome, I could not but imagine it a worke most
acceptable to men, and most profitable to the kingdome, to set downe the
true manner and nature of our right English _Husbandry_, our soyle being
as delicate, apt, and fit for increase as any forraine soyle whatsoeuer,
and as farre out-going other kingdomes in some commoditie, as they vs in
other some. Hence, and from these considerations, I began this worke, of
which I haue here sent thee but a small tast, which if I finde accepted,
according to mine intent, I will not cease (God permitting mee life) to
passe through all manner of English _Husbandry_ and _Huswifery_ whatsoeuer,
without omission of the least scruple that can any way belong to either
of their knowledges. Now gentle reader whereas you may be driuen to some
amazement, at two titles which insue in the booke, namely, a former part
before the first, and the first part, you shall vnderstand that those
first sheetes were detained both from the Stationer and me, till the
booke was almost all printed; and my selfe by extreame sicknesse kept
from ouer-viewing the same, wherefore I must intreate your fauour in
this impression and the rather in as much as there wanteth neither any
of the words or matter whatsoeuer: _Farewell_.
Thine
_G. M._
A
FORMER PART,
before the first Part: Being an absolute perfect Introduction into
all the Rules of true Husbandry; and must first of all be read, or
the Readers labour will be frustrate.