Plinics Naturall Hiftorfei 



A penned it with fo high a ftyle^asthey may feemc to any man for to have written Bookc's for Ora- 

 tourstoreadjratherthantothecapaciticof plainc husbandmen for to praciife. Firltand fore- 

 moft thcrcfore^Iwillfor the moft part deale by Oracks^thatistofay/cntentious Sawes^ forto 

 determine this qucftion in hand : concerning which , there arc as many to be found in number, 

 and thofe as true in cffe<Si:;, as in any other pitt and profeffion of this our life whatfoever i And 

 kaft any man fhould thinks it ftrangCjthat I call thcfc rules of Husbandrie, Oracles ; who would 

 take them forieflfe, confidering how they proceed from Time, a god moft cercein, and are dcli- 

 vcrcd and approoYcd byExpcrience^thetrueft prophetof all others; And begin 1 will v\ith 

 C/t/tffirft. 



Gbaf, v. 



the ^urchafwg or taking to ferme of houfe and Und^ 



'npHechildicn (faith C4/e»)thatarebcgottcnby Husbandmen, proovc moft valiant, the har- 

 I dieftfouldicrs, andfuchasthinke leaftKarmeof all others. In buying of land, takehced « 

 youbcnottoohotandscgreuponthc purch^fe. In the husbanding of ground, fpare for " 

 no painc & travell ; but in the purchafing thcrof be you nothing forward : a thing over-bought, 

 hath evermore repentance, and had I wift, attending upon it. They that arc about a purchafc,^^ 

 ought above all^to fee how the ground is watered, what waics and avenues be about it, &:what 

 neighbours be neare unto it. Outofeveryoneof thcfc pointS5matters of great importance and 



C deepe conclufions may be picked,and thofc moft ccrtcin and infallible . Cato addcth moreover 

 and faith;, That there would bee good regard had of the people confining, and other grounds 

 boundingthercupon, whether they becweliliking,faiie,and trim to fee unto Phorthefebee his 

 words. It is a good (ignc (quoth hee) that the teimc is well fcatcd and in a commodious quarter, 

 if all about looke well. Atntm Begulm (he who during the firft Punicke warrc was twife Confuli 

 of Rome) was wont to fay, That a man Should not purchafe an unholefome peece of land, were 

 it never fo rich and fruitful! , nor make choife pf a barraine foile, were it never fo healthie. Now 

 as touching the heakhfulnelTc of a place^a man may not alwaies conclude thcreot by the colour 

 and frcth hew of the inhabitants; for m'apy times itfalleth outjthatthofe who beufcd to peftilenc 

 places, hold out well and have their health jyc^ and by their looks bewray no harms that they 



D take. Moreover5fome quarters and coafts there be,which at fome times of thcyeare ftand found 

 and healthie enough :but I will count none holcfome,but inch as be healthful! all the year long. 

 An ill peece of land is that, which putteth the lord thereof to pame, and with which he is forced 

 to wrcftlcfor to have his health. C4/i> would have this point efpecially to be confidercdjThat the 

 foile ofa ferme (fituatc as hath been faid) be good of it felle, and fertile: alfo, that ncarc unto it 

 there be ftoreof labourers :and thai it be not farre from a good and ftrong townc .-moreover, 

 that it have fufficicntmeanes for tranfporting of tlie commodities which ityeeldcth, either by 

 veftels upon water, or otherwife bywainesuponthcland. Furthermore, that the manourhoufe 

 be well built, and the land about ic as well husbanded. Howbeic, herein I fee many men to erre 

 much, and greatly to be deceived : for they hold opinion, that the negligence and ill husbandry 



E t)f the former lord, is good for him that ("hall purcliafe land and come arter him. But I fay,thcrc 

 is nothing more daungcrous anddifadvantageous to the buyer, than land fo left waft and out of 

 heart: and therefore C4/(7giveth good counfelljto purchafe land of a good husband, and not 

 raftily and hand over h<^d to defpife and fct light by the skill and knowledge of another. Who 

 faith moreover. That as well land as men(which are of great charge and expencc)how gainful! 

 focver they may feemc to bee, yceld not much profit in the end to the xm^^tJe cUro^ when all 

 counts be caft and recknings madcHethcrforc judgethjthat the Vine yeeldeth the bcft revenue, 

 of allcommoditiesbclongingtoafermetand goodreafbnhehathfoto fay,becaufc above all 

 things he taketh order to cut off cxpcnceas much as may be. Next to it, hee reckoneth Hort- 

 yards,fuch efpecially as have water at commaund: and good caufc why, provided alwaies that 



F they lie under a good towne fide. [In the third place he raungeth the Ofier plots,and after them 

 Olive rewes ;] then he countcth ofmcdow?,which our aunceftors called Paratajas a man would 

 fay^ Readie and Provided. The fame Cato being asked. What was the inoft affured profit rifing 

 out of land Pmade this anfwer, TofcedcAttatlnvtll : becing asked againe, Whatwasthc next? 

 OMar y (quoth hee) tofeed in s weane. By which anfwcrs hec would feemc to conclude, that the 



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