at the court at whitehall, june the sixth, 1673. present the kings most excellent majesty his royal highness the duke of york ... mr speaker. whereas by the late address of both houses of parliament, his majesty was humbly desired by his own example to encourage the constant wearing of the manufactures of his own kingdoms and dominions, ... orders in council. 1673-06-06 england and wales. sovereign (1660-1685 : charles ii) 1673 approx. 5 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a70024 wing e835 estc r35919 99835185 99835185 39854 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a70024) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 39854) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1184:55, 1758:19) at the court at whitehall, june the sixth, 1673. present the kings most excellent majesty his royal highness the duke of york ... mr speaker. whereas by the late address of both houses of parliament, his majesty was humbly desired by his own example to encourage the constant wearing of the manufactures of his own kingdoms and dominions, ... orders in council. 1673-06-06 england and wales. sovereign (1660-1685 : charles ii) charles ii, king of england, 1630-1685. england and wales. privy council. 1 sheet ([1] p.). printed by the assigns of john bill and christopher barker, printers to the kings most excellent majesty, london : 1673. title from caption title and first lines of text. steele notation: exthat custom-; arms 87. identified as wing c2927a on reel 1184 (number cancelled in wing (cd-rom)). reproduction of the original in the huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng silk industry -england -early works to 1800. restraint of trade -england -early works to 1800. great britain -history -charles ii, 1660-1685 -early works to 1800. 2008-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-08 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-10 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2008-10 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion c 2 r diev et mon droit honi soit qvi mal y pense royal blazon or coat of arms at the court at whitehall , june the sixth , 1673. present the kings most excellent majesty his royal highness the duke of york lord chancellour lord treasurer lord privy seal duke of lauderdale duke of ormond earl of ogle lord chamberlain earl of bridgwater earle of bathe earle of carlisle earl of craven earl of arlington earl of carbery viscount halifax lord maynard lord newport lord berkeley lord holles m r secretary coventry m r chancellour of the exchequer m r chancellour of the dutchy master of the ordnance sir thomas osborne m r speaker . whereas by the late address of both houses of parliament , his majesty was humbly desired by his own example to encourage the constant wearing of the manufactures of his own kingdoms and dominions , and to discountenance such persons , men or women in his majesties court , as should wear any manufactures made in forreign countreys ; and that pursuant hereunto his majesty had graciously declared , that he would not onely do it by his own example , but would discountenance all other persons that should wear forreign manufactures ; and that his majesty had given order to the lord treasurer , to direct the commissioners of the customs , to cause all goods of forreign manufacture prohibited by law , to be seized , at what port , or on whose account soever they shall be imported into this kingdom , and that his lordship shall grant no warrant for the release of them . and whereas upon the petition of the silk weavers of london , presented to his majesty in council , setting forth , that they have attained to great skill in contriving and making of silks and stuffs , figured and plain , and that if due encouragement were given to them , and to several other manual trades , by prohibiting the importation of forreign manufactures , they should increase and flourish . his majesty was pleased to declare , and accordingly then gave order to the master of his robes , that he should not prepare for his majesties use in his wearing apparel , any kind of silks or stuffs wrought out of his own dominions , nor any ribons , gloves , hatts , or other things for his wearing , which were manufactured beyond the seas , unless as hereafter excepted . and likewise that the lord chamberlain of his majesties houshold should take care , and give due order , that no person or persons should presume to come into his majesties presence , wearing any of the things aforesaid , being of forreign manufacture , nor any other whatever , unless as followeth ; namely , the lace commonly called point de venice , which may be worn by any until the first day of may next ( and no longer ) as also linen , and calicoes , and such other wearing things as by our own trade are imported from the east indies . to the end therefore that these his majesties commands and orders may be publickly taken notice of , and the more exactly obeyed , it is this day further ordered by his majesty in council , that the right honourable the lord treasurer do renew his orders to the commissioners of the customs , that they direct the seizure and confiscation of all manner of forreign wearing manufactures that are prohibited by law ; and to cause his majesties part thereof to be publickly burnt ; that so the petitioners , his majesties subjects , may find all due encouragement and advantage in the prosecution of their several trades and callings ; and this order is to be printed and affixed in all the ports and custom-houses of england . robert southwell . london , printed by the assigns of john bill and christopher barker , printers to the kings most excellent majesty . 1673. a proclamation discharging silk lace, white lace, and point to be imported or worn upon apparel ... 16 march england and wales. sovereign (1660-1685 : charles ii) 1682 approx. 5 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a58728 wing s1755 estc r28130 10410049 ocm 10410049 44994 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a58728) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 44994) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1389:22) a proclamation discharging silk lace, white lace, and point to be imported or worn upon apparel ... 16 march england and wales. sovereign (1660-1685 : charles ii) menzies, pat. 1 broadside. printed by the heir of andrew anderson, edinburgh : 1682. torn with loss of print. signed pat menzies, cl. sti. concilii. reproduction of original in the huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng charles -ii, -king of england, 1630-1685. proclamations -great britain. silk industry -england -law and legislation. 2008-05 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-08 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-09 john pas sampled and proofread 2008-09 john pas text and markup reviewed and edited 2009-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a proclamation , discharging silk lace , white lace and point to be imported or worn upon apparel . charles , by the grace of god , king of great britain , france , and ireland , defender of the faith ; to _____ macers of our privy council , or messengers at arms , our sheriffs in that part , conjunctly and severally , specially constitute , greeting : forasmuch , as we , out of our princely care for the wealth and flourishing of this our kingdom , by the twelfth act of our present current parliament , did give , and grant several priviledges , liberties , and immunities to such of our good subjects , as would erect , and set up manufactories for their incouragement , and made a stop to the import of divers expensive , and superfluous commodities , exprest in the said act : which had exceedingly exhausted the money of this kingdom ; and hightned the exchange to forraign places , which is now much fallen : and did discharge the wearing of the said prohibited goods , and commodities within this kingdom , after the first of apryl next , under the penalties , and certifications contained in the said act of parliament . and whereas the prefixed day discharging the wearing of the saids prohibited commodities , is now approaching : we have thought fit , with advice of our privy council , hereby to publish , and declare our firm resolution , for putting the said act of parliament to due and punctual execution . and do strictly require and charge all judges , magistrats and others , to whom the execution of the said act is committed , to be careful to see the same put to due and vigorous execution : and to exact and uplift the penalties from the contraveeners , without any favour , or defalcation : as they will be answerable in their several offices and trusts : and we being informed that to evacuat , and elude the foresaid act , and to bring our subjects to greater expenses ; some merchants have taken upon them to import silk laces , white laces , and point laces , of great value : do therefore , with advice foresaid , hereby discharge all merchants , or other persons of what quality soever , to import , into this kingdom ; or any person to wear any apparel , or cloaths upon which there is any silk lace , white lace of threed , or point , after the first day of apryl next , under the penalty of five hundred merks scots , toties quoties , by and attour confiscation of the cloaths , upon which any of the said prohibited laces , or point shall be found , excepting alwayes forth hereof , the having , and wearing of white lace of threed , or point upon rufles , cravats , bands , handkirchiss , and night linens only , but upon no other cloaths , or linens ; and allowing servants to wear their masters or mistrisses old cloaths . and to shew how much , we are resolved to discourage all new expensive inventions to disappoint the said act , when they shal occurre , we discharge a new invention called gratigning , or scratching silk stuffs that shall be worn in cloaths , under the said penaltie : as also we discharge all noblemen , gentlemen , or others , to have upon their liveries any lace made of silk , after the said day , under the penaltie foresaid . and ordains all sheriffs , stewarts , and other judges , and magistrates , to whom the execution of the late act of parliament anent apparel is 〈…〉 cause put this act in execution in the ●●ty and manner prescribed by the said act of parliament : as they will be answerable . the which to do , we commit to you conjunctly and severally , our full power , by these our letters , delivering them , by you duely execute , and indorsat again to the bearer . given under our signet at edinburgh , the sixteenth day of march , one thousand six hundred and eighty two , and of our reign the thretty fourth year . per actum dominorum secreti concilij . pat . menzies , cl. sti. concilij . god save the king . edinburgh , printed by the heir of andrew anderson , printer to his most sacred majesty , 1682. a proclamation for prohibiting the transportation of frames for kniting and making of silk-stockings, and other wearing neccessaries james r. england and wales. sovereign (1685-1688 : james ii) 1686 approx. 6 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a46559 wing j337 estc r15364 12279766 ocm 12279766 58650 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a46559) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 58650) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 869:36) a proclamation for prohibiting the transportation of frames for kniting and making of silk-stockings, and other wearing neccessaries james r. england and wales. sovereign (1685-1688 : james ii) james ii, king of england, 1633-1701. 1 sheet ([1] p.) printed by charles bill, henry hills, and thomas newcomb ..., london : 1686. reproduction of original in huntington library. broadside. at head of title: by the king, a proclamation. at end of text: given at our court at whitehall the twenty fourth day of october 1686. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng silk industry -great britain -law and legislation. broadsides 2007-11 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2008-01 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2008-03 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2008-03 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-09 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion j 2r diev et mon droit honi soit qvi mal y pense royal blazon or coat of arms by the king , a proclamation for prohibiting the transportation of frames for knitting and making of silk-stockings , and other wearing necessaries . james r. vvhereas a very useful and profitable invention was lately found out , for the better and more speédy making and knitting of silk-stockings , and other vvearing necessaries , in a frame , whereby great quantities are wrought off in a little time , his majesties own dominions abundantly supplied , and the rest exported into foreign nations , to the increase of his majesties customs , and the improvement of trade and commerce : and whereas our dearly beloved brother , for the better encouragement of those who use the said art and mystery , was graciously pleased to incorporate them by his royal charter , by the name of master , vvardens and assistants of the society of frame-work-knitters of his majesties cities of london and westminster , and of the kingdom of england and dominion of wales ; and upon the humble petition of the said master , vvardens and assistants , representing to him the great mischiefs and irreparable damage which would inevitably fall upon his subjects by the loss of so great a trade and mystery , by reason that several merchant-strangers and foreigners were labouring to purchase frames to convey them to some secret places near the sea-coast , for their better and more easie transportation , his said majesty , by his royal proclamation , bearing date the fifteénth day of january in the seventeénth year of his reign , did strictly prohibit the transportation of the said new invented frames , or any parcel thereof beyond the seas ; and vve being informed thereof by the humble petition of the said master , vvardens and assistants , praying that vve would be graciously pleased , for preservation of so considerable a trade and mystery within this our kingdom , to issue forth our royal proclamation for the same purposes ; vve , by the advice of our privy council , have thought fit to declare our royal vvill and pleasure to be , and vve do hereby streightly charge and command all and every of our subjects , as well natives as foreigners , that they presume not to transport or cause to be transported any of the said new invented frames , or any pieces or parcels of frames , nor to be aiding or assisting to any person or persons who shall endeavour to transport the same , as they will answer the contrary at their utmost perils . and , for the better hindrance and prevention of the transportation of such frames , and pieces or parcels of frames , vve do further hereby streightly charge and command , that no frames or pieces or parcels of frames , shall be bought , sold , or removed by any person or persons whatsoever , from place to place , without information thereof be first given to the master , vvardens and assistants of the said company of frame-work knitters , or any three of them , or their deputies , to the intent they may take cognizance where and in whose hands they be . and , that our vvill and pleasure herein declared , may be the better observed and executed , vve do further streightly charge and command all customers , comptrollers , searchers , vvaiters , and other officers and ministers whatsoever , attending in any of our ports , that they do from time to time cause diligent and strict search and enquiry to be made for all such frames , and pieces and parcels of frames , as shall be endeavoured to be transported , and the same to seize and detein , under pain of forfeiting their respective places and imployments , in case they should be found negligent or remiss in the execution of these our commands . and vve do further charge and command all mayors , sheriffs , iustices of the peace , constables , and all other officers , civil and military whatsoever , that they be aiding and assisting from time to time unto the said master , vvardens , and assistants , or their deputies , in the searching for all such frames , and pieces and parcels of such frames , as shall be endeavoured to be transported , or shall be brought unto any place near the sea coasts , with intention to transport the same , or shall be removed from place to place contrary to our pleasure herein before declared , and in causing the same to be seized and deteined : and that they do from time to time certifie unto the lords of our privy council , the names of all such persons whom they shall find to be offenders against this our proclamation , to the end that there may be such further proceédings against them , as shall be agreéable to the utmost severity of the law in such cases . given at our court at whitehall the twenty fourth day of october 1686. in the second year of our reign . god save the king . london , printed by charles bill , henry hills , and thomas newcomb , printers to the kings most excellent majesty . 1686. virgo triumphans, or, virginia in generall, but the south part therof in particular including the fertile carolana, and the no lesse excellent island of roanoak, richly and experimentally valued : humbly presented as the auspice of a beginning yeare, to the parliament of england, and councell of state / by edward williams, gent. williams, edward, fl. 1650. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a66359 of text r23293 in the english short title catalog (wing w2660). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 136 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 32 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a66359 wing w2660 estc r23293 12495068 ocm 12495068 62483 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a66359) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 62483) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 951:61) virgo triumphans, or, virginia in generall, but the south part therof in particular including the fertile carolana, and the no lesse excellent island of roanoak, richly and experimentally valued : humbly presented as the auspice of a beginning yeare, to the parliament of england, and councell of state / by edward williams, gent. williams, edward, fl. 1650. ferrar, john, d. 1657. [14], 47 p. printed by thomas harper, for john stephenson, and are to be sold at his shop ..., london : 1650. reproduction of original in huntington library. the material for this work was communicated to williams by john farrer or ferrar. cf. "to the reader." eng silkworms -early works to 1800. north carolina -description and travel -early works to 1800. south carolina -description and travel -early works to 1800. virginia -description and travel -early works to 1800. virginia -history -colonial period, ca. 1600-1775. roanoke island (n.c.) a66359 r23293 (wing w2660). civilwar no virgo triumphans: or, virginia in generall, but the south part therof in particular: including the fertile carolana, and the no lesse excell williams, edward 1650 25223 384 0 0 0 0 0 152 f the rate of 152 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the f category of texts with 100 or more defects per 10,000 words. 2002-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2002-03 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2002-04 tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread 2002-04 john latta text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-05 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion virgo trivmphan● or , virginia in generall , but the south part therof in particular : including the fertile carolana , and the no lesse excellent island of roanoak , richly and experimentally valued . humbly presented as the auspice of a beginning yeare , to the parliament of england , and councell of state . by edvvard williams , gent. london , printed by thomas harper , for john stephenson , and are to be sold at his shop on ludgate-hill , at the signe of the sunne , 1650. to the supreme authority of this nation , the parliament of england . right honorable : this dedication in it selfe unworthy the honour of an addresse to your grandeurs , and of a foile too dead i●●h●ddow to approach neere your most vigorous luster , reposes it selfe yet upon a confidence that in imitation of that god ( of whom you are in power the proper representatives ) who vouchsafed graciously to accept a p●ore paire of turtles from those whose abilities could not ascend t● a more rich oblation , you will be pleased to cast a favourable aspect upo● this humble offering , as proceeding from a gratefull cleere and sincere intention , whose desire being strong●y passionate to present your hono●rs with something more worthy the auspice of a beginning yeare , is circumscribed by a narrownesse of abilities and fortunes . and indeed my lownesse had prompted me to have found out a more humble patron for this treatise ; but since the interest of that nation you have so happily restored to its just and native liberty is the principall ayme intended in it , since the publick acknowledgement of the world unites in this common testimony , that god hath subscribed to all your heroick and christian undertakings with his own broad seal of victory● with his owne field word , go on and prosper : led you through the red sea of bloud into the land of canaan , into the harvest and vintage of israel , since pharoah and his mighty ones have been swallowed up in the rapid current in the hideous cataracts of their ambit●ous opposition ; and have by loud and convincing testimonies ( testimonies attracting the admiration of your friends , and confounding the malice of your enemies ) made it a blessed object of your consideration , that the preservation and fixure requires a bl●ssing no lesse sublime , and a vert●e no less● ex●l●●d , then the acquisiti●n and tenure of conquests , m●de good in the 〈◊〉 christ●ndome by vindicating the english honour up●n the brittish ocean with a ●u●ssant navy , a formidable subject of ●●●●●ment to the forraine enemies of your sion , by a strong winged prosecution of the irish assassinates , a spacious lettred example to teach english mutineers what they may expect by the re● sentence of justice upon irish rebells : all indeavours holding forth the way to improve the interest of this nation , are improperly addressed to any other then your selves , who as you have been the unexampled instruments of our unpinion● liberty , ought to be the sole iudges of whatsoever may relate to our future felicity . we should have suspected the sincerity of history in its delineation of the majesty which sat upon that august , and venerable roman senats , after having made the land tremble under the terrour of their armies , the sea to labour under the burthen of their numerous navies , after having delivered all power oppressing the universall liberty to the revenging beak of their victorious eagles● and minted the governments of the world by the rom●n standard ; had not the concentrici●y of your undertakings had not the homogeniousnesse of your actions and felici●y , vindicated and asserted the honour of antiquity , and raysed your reputations upon so high a wing of glory , that posterity will be los● in the same mist of jealousie and incredulity of your owne augustnesse , yet for ever want the revivall of such examples the restauration of such presidents to confirme them . and to the end you may in all things either parallell or transcend that romane greatnesse , of which you are the inimitable exemplary , who inriched the heart and strengthned the armes of their dominions by dispersing colonies in all angles of their empire , your pious care hath already layd a most signall foundation by inviting incouragemen● to undertakers of that nature : in the pursuit whereof let me beg the liberty in this paper , under your honours patronage to publish the many pressing and convincing reasons which have and may induce you to prosecute a designe of such universall concernment . 1. it will disburthen this nation of many indigent persons , who having formerly perhaps enjoyed a fulnesse of abused or ●orfeyted plenty , & at the present reduced to an inequality of such subsistence , are commonly prompted to their own● and other me●s ruine by making the high way●s ( which should be as publike and inviolable a sanctuary as the most sacred places ) an ambuscado to innocent travellers , by which interruption of passages , there is commonly occasioned a decay and disincouragement of commerce , and dayly examples informe us , that prisons at present are almost as full of crimi●all as indebted persons . 2. it will take off all parish charges , in providing for destitute minors and orphans , whereof there are at presen● a burthensome multitude , wherby the parishes so freed , m●y with greater alacrity and ability , part with c●ntributory moneys to maintaine , recrui●e , and incourage your armies and navies . 3. those orphans so provided for may by gods blessings upon their labours become happy and wealthy instruments , advantagious to the place of their nativity in particular , and their whole nation in generall . whereas the condition of their birth and the usuall way of exposing them● makes them capable of no more gainfull calling then that of day-labourers , or which is more frequent hereditary beggers . 4. the republick in its present constitution abounding with so dangerous a number of male contents , who commonly like shrubs under high and spreading cedars , imagine the spacious height of others to be the cause of their owne lownesse , may by this means be honourably secured , and such men removing their discontents with their persons , will have a brave and ample theater to make their merits and abilities emergent , and a large field to fow and reape the fruit of all their honest industrious and publick intentions . 5. it will to admiration increase the number of ships and sea-men , ( the brazen wall of this nation ) all materialls to advance navigation , being abundantly to be furnished out of those countries , and the more ingenious passengers by conference and disputation with the k●owing mariner , will take a great delight , satisfaction , and ambition , to attaine to the theory of that knowledge , while the lesse capable being accustomed and assigned to an usuall part in the toyle thereof , and instructed by the ordinary seaman , will bee brought to a good readinesse therein and speedy perfection . 6. all materialls for shipping , as timber , cordage , sailes , iron , brasse , ordnance of both mettals , and what ever else we are necessitated ●o supply our wants with out of the e●sterne countries , who make it not unusuall to take advantages of their neighbours necessitie , a●d often times upon a pretence of difference or misintelligence betwixt us , embrace an occ●sion to over-rate or over-custome their commodities , or ( a reall quarrell widening ) sell it to other nations from whence we are forced to supply our selves at a second or third market . 7. it will give us the liberty of storing a great pa●t of europe with a larger plenty of incomparably better fish , then the holander hath found meanes to furnish it withall , and will make us in no long tract of time , if industriously prosecuted , equall , if not transcend him in that his most benificiall staple . 8. it will be to this common wealth a standing and plentifull magazine of wheat , rice , coleseed , r●peseed , flax , cotton , salt , pot-ashes , sope-ashes , sugars , wines , silke , olives , and what ever single is the staple of other nations , shall be found in this joyntly collected . 9. it will furnish us with rich furrs , buffs , hides , tallow , biefe , pork , &c. the growth and increase of cattell i● this nation , receiving a grand interuption and stop , by killing commonly very hopefull yong breed to furnish our markets , or store our shipping , meerly occasioned by want of ground to feed th●m , whereas those provinces afford such a large proportion of rich ground , that neither the increase of this or the succeeding age can in any reasonable probability overfeed the moiety . 10. by it many of your honours reformadoes and disbanded souldiers being dismist with the payment of such part of their arrears as your owne judgement ( guided by the rule of your immense disbursements ) shall thinke a convenient recompence , by transporting themselves thither may change their desperate fortunes into a happy ●ertainty of condition , and a contented livelyhood , which will be a means not only to disburden this republick ( as before ) but to remove all those clamors usualy disturbing your publick consultations , and to win upon them by your bounty to invert all those fearfull imprecations , with which they would ( as much as in them lies ) unblesse your proceedings , into a joyfull and fervent concurrence of prayers to the almighty to shoure downe blessings upon your heads , who , next under him , are the glorious and visible instruments of their increasing happinesse . 11. it will be a generous and moving incouragement to all industrious and publick spirits , to imploy those parts with which god and nature hath blessed them in the discovery of such happy inventions as may drive on hopefull designs with a lesser number of hands then is usually assigned to them , which issues of the brain are legitimate and geniall to beginning plantations , where the greatest want is that of people : but for our own or other popular kingdoms where we are commonly overprest with a greater multitude of labourer● then imployers , by much lesse acceptable , since our indigent people look upon such engins meerly as monoppolies to engrosse their livelihood 12. it will adde a very considerable increase to the revenue of your honours own customs , and i shal assume the liberty in all humility to offer up to your more advised deliberation by way of supplement to your incomes , whether such malefactors as the letter of the law doo●s to death , yet leaves a latitude for extent of mercy in the bosome of the judges , whose release oftentimes proves not only ruinous to them so discharged , since not seldome they returne to their vomit , but pernicious to the common-wealth reinvaded by their insolencies and disorders , might not be made instrumentally serviceable to the state , if ( as it is frequent in other countrey● , where they are condemned to the gallies ) by way of reparation for their crime , they were sentenced to serve a quantity of years according to the nature of their offences , which expired , they should enjoy all immunities with others , and by this course be reduced and accustomed to a regular course of life . of these a thousand transported and employed by an understanding improver , would by their labour advance an income of forty thousand pounds sterling per annum , at the least , and so proportionably according to their number . that all these , and many inestim●ble benefits may have their rise , increase , and perfection from the south parts o● virginia , a country unquestionably our own , devolved to us by a just title , and discovered by john cabot at the english expences who found out and tooke seisure , together with the voluntary submission of the natives to the english obedience of all that continent from cape florida northward , the excellent temper of the aire , the large proportion of ground , the incredible richnesse of soile , the admirable abundance of minerals , vegetables , medicinall drugs , timber , scituation , no lesse proper for all european commodities , then all those staples which entitle china , persia , and other the more opulent provinces of the east to their wealth , reputation , and greatnes ( besides the most christian of all improvements , the converting many thousands of the natives ) i● agreed upon by all who have ever viewed the country : to which the judgement of the most incomparable ralegh may be a convincing assertion , whose preferring of that country before either the north of virginia or new-england , though it may sufficiently command my submission and acquiescence ; yet for more particular satisfaction be pleased to accept these reasons for such praelation . 1. the apparent danger all the colonies may be in if this be not possessed by the english , to prevent the spaniard , who already hath seated himself on the north of florida , and on the back of virginia in 34 , where he is already possessed of rich silver mines , and will no doubt vomit his fury and malice upon the neighbour plantations , if a prehabitation anticipate not his intentions , which backt with your authority , he understands too much of your power , and is too sadly acquainted with your admirable successes and generous resolutions , not to sit downe by any affronts offered to those under the wings of your protection , to attempt any thing against such who are immediately your owne colony , lest thereby he administers matter of a fire , to which his own fortunes in the indies must be a fewel , and himselfe raked up in its ashes . 2. but the south of virginia having a contiguous ledge of at the least one hundred ilands , and in the middest of those the incomparable roanoak , the most of them at the same distance from the continent that the i le of wight is from hampshire , all of hazardous accesse to forrainers , and affording a secure convenience from surprizall by the natives , will if possessed and protected by your power , be as an inoffensive nursery to receive an infant colony , till by an occasion of strength and number , we may poure our selves from thence upon the mayneland , as our ancestors the saxons from the isle of tanet into brittaine . 3. it dispences a moderate equality of heat and cold between the two violent extreams thereof in barbadoes and new england . it will admit of all things producible in any other part of the world , lying in the same parallel with china , persia , japan , cochinchina , candia , cyprus , sicily , the southern parts of greece , spain , italy , and the opposite regions of africa . 4. it hath besides all timber for shipping , the best and reddest cedars● and cypresse trees that may be found in any countrey . 5. and lastly , the planting of this collony will open a most compendious passage to the discovery of those more opulent kingdomes of china , cochinchina , cathaya , japan , the phillipines , summatra , and all those beauteous and opulent provinces of the east indies , which beyond dispute lye open to those seas which wash the south-west parts of virginia , through whose bosome all those most precious commodities which enable the chinesie , cathayan , persian , and indostant empires , may more conveniently , speedily , with more security and lesse expences be transported thence from spawhawn , of other remoter provinces to gombroon , by a long dangerous and expensive caravane , and from thence to surat , where when arrived the doubling of the line , calentures , scurvies , with a long train of diseases and famine attend its transportation into our owne countrey . 6. whereas by expandeing our selves to both sides and seas of virginia , our commerce to those noble nations lies open in short and pleasant voyages to the encouragement , enriching and delight of the s●amen , and personal adventurers , who will share in the delicacies and profits of those kingdoms , without participating in the miseries attending our present voyages thither . the cargason being easily conveyed , by much the greater part of the way , through navigable rivers , and from the eastern shore of virginia in a month , or at the largest six weekes time into england . and by this meanes the hollander , spanyard , and portugall , who ( by the supine negligence of this nation , and its merchant adventurers ) do with insufferable insolence lord over us in both the indies , when they shall to the unknitting of their joints perceive by your nursing care ●ver the infancy of your colonies , that they are arrived under your au●pice , to cover both the seas with numerous navies , and your honours eye of indulgence and providence waking to their security , will be content laying aside all other passions to wave future affronts and injuries , or fall ● deserved sacrifice to your offended justice . and that this addresse may appear the more seasonable , i have ( without any privity or relation to his person ) taken leave to intimate to your honours , that there is a gentleman whom the publick reputation and testimony of those who have the happines to know him render of excellent abilities , integrity , and a never shaken affection to your cause● in all its crisis and dangers● through which god with a clew of successe hath been your conduct ) who hath already undertaken for the transportation of some men thither , and only waits for your honours approbation and authority , the world taking notice , hopes and encouragement from thence , that as this colony is like to be the eldest of your legitimate daughters in that nature , so by your indulgence she shall have the happynesse not to be the yongest in your affection . may that god who hath begirt your house with a grove of lawrell , continue the advance of those victories till the whole nation be crowned with olives : may no sin , no ingratitude of ours divert his protecting ●and from us , his assistant arme from you : may the generations to come in admiration of your vertue and gratitude for their by you● derived happines , make every heart your monument , wherein to embalme your memory whilst the histories of all nations and times enrich their annals with your names as the most serious and triumphant part of all examples and transactions . and lastly may your owne thankfulnes to him from whom these dispensations of mercy have distilled like the dew of hermon upon your ●eads and borders , so continue in your bosoms , that when you shal be ripe for translation , he whose instruments you are , may welcom you with the approbation of , well done good and faithfull servant , which are the undisguised wishes of your honours most humble , obedient , and faithful servant . ed. williams . to the conservers and enlargers of the liberties of this nation , the lord president , and counsell of state . my lords : there is the same nearenesse of relation betwixt your lordships and the parliament of england , which is betwixt the sunne and sun-beames . they from their illustrious luminary dispensing . you disposing those bounties of warmth and animation , which have enriched the common-wealth with all the ornaments of verdure , repullulation and beauty , which at present she is in production of , and by the blessing of the sun of righteousnes ( guiding and fortifying your virtuall and healthfull influences ) may arrive to an absolute perfection , and be perpetuated to their happinesse , to your glory . this introduction which acknowledges so much of your power and greatnes , may make people admire why a treatise of this meanes for form and delivery , a presenter of such inconsiderablenes for parts and fortunes , should presume to cast themselves upon your lordships protection . but my lords , such disincouragements cannot direct any who know humility , and a condescending clemency are the ordinary attendants upon your extraordinary virtues , which take into their patronage the restauration of the publick liberty , and the felicity of nations . the scope of it is the publick benefit of a nation ; to whom should it be dedicated , but to its supporters , to its atlantes , to those who designe the aggrandissement of it in their counsels , perfectionate that designe by their armies ? it were impatriotisme not to publish it , sacriledge to addresse it to any other . it is an indeleble brand to the high-nam'd policy of the 7. henry , who gave away as rich provinces as any the eye of the world views to spain from england , out of avarice , incredulity or contempt ( or indeed all of them together ) of columbus his motion and condition . your lordships move in too high a sphere of prudence and circumspection to become his seconds in that his heresie of wisdom . and who knows but providence has reserved the present opportunity to your times , that under his conduct and auspice you might be designed his glorious instruments of promoving a worke which carries in its bosome the advancement of the gospel , by reduci●g the natives , in its forehead the enlargement of the english greatnesse by extending its empire . my lords , the parliament of this nation , and your selves ( like the twins of hipocrates ) having an inviolable correspondence of teares and smiles , of di●asters and blessings of life and death together , the threads of both your humane emergencies twisted and wound up in the same bottome , makes it impiety to divide the apprecation of blessings . all which may be fitly and mutually added is , that your living persons and posthume counsels may be had in just reverence and due estim●tion : that you may shine like luminaries in our english hemisphere , while the sun compleats his dayly , the moone her nightly circles , till a totall dissolution of nature usher in the great day appointed for a generall audit ; where when an account is to be given of humane actions , may the memory of your owne illustrious generous , and christian undertakings be a cordi●ll to your consciences , the justice and publick conducement of them , a reproach to others , who have abused equall talents of parts and power , and the divine approbation of their sincerity , a conviction to all those who know not how to be gratefull for their owne , or the generall happinesse . and these as they ought to be the publick exorations of all truly english ; so in particular are they the devout wishes of , my lords , your most humble and faithfull servant , edvvard williams . to the reader . it is not out of any particular vanity , to publish my many imperfections in print , nor am i to my best selfe understanding , infected with the disease which domineers in this scribling age , if the publicke benefit of the nation , to which by the condition of our birth , we ow a particular duty , had not bee●e the cleere and uninteressed center of my intentions , i should be too sensible of my owne weakne●se , to expose my selfe to the pity of the wise , the criticisme of the capricious , or the laughter of the ignorant ; and above all to be fastened by the ●ares upon a post , to beg a six penny contribution to buy me , to the trouble of their eyes and patience . ill bookes having the same unhappinesse which followes bloud-shot eyes , the very inspection of whom oftentimes contracts the disease alwayes a kind of abhorrency to the beholder . but my aymes are more publicke : he which reads this● shall discover the beauties of a long neglected virgin the incomparable roanoake , and the adja●ent excellencies of carolana , a country whom god and nature has indulged with blessings incommunicable to any other region . heere you may take view of an island and maine , fertile to admiration , and ( which is more admirable in workes of this nature ) nothing but incorrupted truth in her discovery . it shewes a way to the wealthy to improve their riches , to the necessitous and such as have lost their old , the meanes to erect new fortunes : in a word , it delivers an expedient to this common wealth , how it may shake off the disease growing upon her poverty and decay of trading . nothing but hands and hea●ts wanting to make this country a magazine of all things to the nation , a sanctuary to the afflicted , a treasure to the indigent , and an inimaginable revenue to the adventurers , all grounded upon those never-fayling foundations of reason and experience . neither doe i appropriate the honour ( if any due ) of being the sole author of this tractate , the whole substance of it full of good wishes and generall intentions , was communicated to me by a gentleman of merit and quality , upon perusall o● which , i found an obligation upon m● not to b●ry those advantages which may arise to our ●ountry by keeping it lockt up in silence : the gentl●mans nam● whose permission i obtayned to make it publicke , is mr. john farrer of g●ding in huntingdonshire , a persō of quality & fortunes , who has made good his affections to that incomparable co●ntry , by hazarding a considerable s●mme towards the advancing of the first plantation , and is yet so good a patriot to be ready i● promoving any good designe in the southerne parts of the ( there ) unequald countrey . nor is there heere inserted any thing but what my owne experience of the place , and a publike consent of uninterested authors and people , will subscribe to ; there is little of mine in this , but the language , and some few additionall collections● the substance is entirely the gentlemans above mentioned , which i thought fit to declare , that the reader may ascribe and owe what ever is materially good to him ; what is lesse acceptable or unskilfull in the contrivement , to the imperfections of edvvard williams . virginia in generall , but particularly carolana , which comprehends roanoak , and the southerne parts of virginia richly valued . the scituation and climate of virginia is the subject of every map , to which i shall refer the ●uriosity of those who desire more particular information . yet to shew that nature regards this ornament of the new world with a more indulgent eye then she hath cast upon many other countreys , whatever china , persia , iapan , cyprus , can●y , sicily , greece , the sou●h of italy , spaine , and the opposite parts of africa , to all which she is parallel , may boast of , will be p●oduced in this happy countrey . the sam● boun●y of summer , the same milde remission of winter , with a more virgin and unexhausted soyle being materiall a●guments to shew that modesty and truth receive no diminution by the comparison . nor is the present wildnesse of it without a particular beauty , being all over a naturall grove of o●kes , pines , cedars , cipresse , mulberry , chestnut , laurell , sassafras , cherry , plum-trees , and vines , all of so delectable an aspect , that the melanchollyest eye in the world cannot looke upon it without contentm●nt , nor content himsefe without admiration . no shrubs or u●derwoods choake up your passage , and in its season your foot can hardly direct it selfe where it will not be died in the bloud of large and delicious strawberries : the rivers which every way glide in deepe and navigable chan●els , betwixt the brests of this uberous countrey , and contribute to its conveniency beauty and fertility , labour with the multitude of their fi●hy inhabitants in greater variety of species , and of a more incomparable delicacy in tast and sweetnesse then whatever the european sea can boast of : sturgeon of ten feet , drummes of sixe in length ; conger , e●les , trout , salmon , bret , mul●et , cod , herings , perch , lampreyes , and what ever else can be desired to the satisfaction of the most voluptuous wishes . nor is the land any lesse provided of native flesh , elkes bigger then oxen , whose hide is admirable buffe , flesh excellent , and may be made , if kept domesticke , as usefull for draught and carriage , as oxen. deere in a numerous abundance , and delicate venison , racoones , hares , conyes , bevers , squirrell , beares , all of a delightfull nourishment for food , and their furres rich , warme , and convenient for clothing and merchandise . that no part of this happy country may bee ungratefull to the industrious , the ayre it selfe is often clouded with flights of pigeo●s , partridges , blackbirds , thrushes , dottrels , cranes , hernes , swans , geese , brants , duckes , widgeons , oxeyes , infinites of wilde turkeyes , which have beene knowne to weigh fifty pound weight , ordinarily forty . and the native corne of the country maiz , is so gratefull to the planter , that it returneth him his entrusted seed with the increase of 2 or 3 hu●dred interest , so facilely planted , that one man in 48 hours may prepare as much ground , and set such a quantity of corne , that he may be secure from want of bread all the yeere following , though he should have never so large an appetite to consume it , and have nothing else to live upon . nor is it above three , or at the mo●t foure months intervall betwixt the time of planting and gathering : plan●ed in march , april , or may , it is ready for the barne in june , july , and august ; and of this by a provident management , you may have yeerely three or foure harvests . the stalk bruised yields a juice as big as rice , pleasant as sugar , and the green ears boyled in such juice is comparable in agreeablenesse to the palats to what ever our pease , sp●ragus , or hartichoke , hath eyther for satisfaction or delicacy . nor is the corne difficult in preservation , for in six or seven yeares there is scarce any sensibility of its corruption . but lest our p●lats should have so much of curiosity as to dislike what ever is not native to our owne country , and wheat is justly esteeme● more proper this happy ●oyle , though at the first too rich to receive it , after it hath contributed to your wealth by diminution of its owne richnesse , in three or foure crops of rice , flax , indian corne , coleseed , or rapeseed , will receive the english wheat with a gratefull retribution of thirty for one increase , every acre sowed with wheat will produce six , seven , or eight quarter of the graine intrusted . and though mr. bullocke be pleased to under-rate at it halfe the crowne the bushell , which in the canaries ●ill yeeld ten and twelve shillings , and in spaine eight , yet even in that proportion you are recompenced with six , seven , or eight pound the acre , of which two men by a discreet division of their time , will plow , reape , and in at the least 60 acres . which though it may appeare a matter of admiration , yet i shall easily make it apparant by the following narration , in which such is the exactnesse of the ayre in this country , that you may have five successive harvests of the same grain in different seasons . for though a man and a boy with much ease may plow an acre every day , the ground being pliable of a rich blacke and tender mold , and no frosts or snowes , no usuall droughts or raines to hinder the going of the plow , yet i shall allow a month for the plowing of twelve acres , and thus plowing in september , october , november , december , and january , you may have your severall harvests in june , july , august , and september , which may easily bee inned by the same hands the labour not falling in a glut upon them , but the corne ripening according to its severall seasons . and thus by two mens labours onely you have a gratefull returne of at the least three hundred and sixty quarters of wheat , which will at that under rate formerly mentioned , viz 2s . 6d . yeeld so many pounds sterling : nor is there such difficulty in the threshing , as may be at first sigh't suspected , since it may easily be tread out with oxen , as it is usuall in italy and other countries . the first wheat being reaped , if you desire a croppe of barley , the same land plowed in iuly , will returne its ripe increase in september , so that from one and the same piece of ground you may have the benefit of two different harvests . but the rice ( for production of which this countrey is no lesse proper then those lands which have the greatest reputation of fertility ) sowed , ●eelds a greater encrease with the same labour 40 acres of this plowed if valued but at 7s . 6d . the bushell , will yeeld 600l . all done by two men and a teame of oxen , who may by other labour in the intervall betwixt the committing the seed to ground , and its ripening , fall upon cole●seed or rape-seed , infinitely rich commodities with the same facility . the objection , that the countrey is overgrowne with woods , and consequently not in many yeares to bee penetrable for the plough , c●●●ies a great feeblenesse with it . for there are an immense quantity of indian fields cleared already to our hand by the natives , which till wee grow over populous may every way be abundantly sufficient , but that the very clearing of ground carries an extraordinary benefit with it , i wil make apparent by these following reasons . 1. if wee consider the benefit of pot-ashes growne from ten to fifty pound the tunne , within these twenty yeares , and in all probability likely to encrease by reason of interdicting trade betwixt us and the muscovite , from whence we used to supply our selves ; we shall finde the employment of that very staple will raise a considerable summe of money , and no man so imployed can ( if industrious ) make his labour lesse then one hundred pound , per annum : for if wee consider that those who labour about this in england give twelve pence the bushell for ashes , if wee consider to how many severall parts of the countrey they are compelled to send man and horse before they can procure any quantity to fall to worke upon● if wee consider some of the thriftiest , and wise , and understanding men , fell wood on purpose for this commodity , and yet notwithstanding this brigade of difficulties finde their adventures and labours answered with a large returne of profit , wee who have all these things , already at our owne doore without cost , may with a confidence grounded upon reason expect an advantage much greater , and a clearer profi● . nor can wee admit in discretion , that a large qu●ntity of those should not finde a speedy market , since the decay of tymber is a defect growne universall in europe , and the commodity such a necessary s●aple , that no civill nation can be conveniently without it . nor are pipestaves and clapboard a despicable commodity , of which one man may with ease make fifteene thousand yearely , which in the countrey it selfe are sold for 4l . in the canaries for twenty pound the thousand , and by this meanes the labour of one man will yeeld him 60l . per annum , at the lowest market . if all this be not sufficient to remove the incumbrance of woods , the saw mill may be taken into consideration , which is in every respect highly beneficiall by this timber for building houses , and shipping may be more speedily prepared , and in greater quantity by the labour of two or three men , then by a hundred hands after the usuall manner of sawing . the plankes of walnut-trees for tables or cubbords , cedar and cypresse , for chests , cabinets , and the adorning magnificent buildings , thus prepared will be easily transported into england , and sold at a very considerable value . but that in which there will be an extraordinary use of our woods is the iron mills , which if once erected will be an undecaying staple , and of this forty servants will by their labour raise to the adventurer foure thousand pound yearely : which may easily be apprehended if wee consider the deerenesse of wood in england , where notwithstanding this great clog of difficulty , the master of the mill gaines so much yearely , that he cannot but reckon himselfe a provident saver . neither does virginia yeeld to any other province whatsoever in excellency and plenty of this oare : and i cannot promise to my selfe any other then extraordinary successe and gaine , if this noble and usefull staple be but vigourously followed . and indeed it had long ere this growne to a full perfection , if the treachery of the indians had not crushed it in the beginning , and the backwardnesse of the virginia merchants to reerect it , hindred that countrey from the benefit arising from that universall staple . but to shew something further , what use may be made of woods besides the forementioned wallnut oyle , at the least a fourth part of the trees in viginia being of that species , is an excellent staple , and very gainefull to the industrious labourer . nor is it a contemptible profit that may be made of woods , if by boaring holes in divers trees , of whose vertues wee are yet ignorant , and collecting the juce thereof , a scrutiny be made which are fit for medicinall liquor and balsomes ; which for gummes , perfumes , and dyes , and heere i may justly take occasion to complaine of our owne sloth and indulgence , if compared to the laborious spanyard , who by this very practice have found out many excellent druggs , paints , and colours , meerely by bru●zing and grinding woods , probably convenient for such experimen●s : which if boyled , and a white peece of cloth s●eeped in the boyling liquor● will by its tincture discover what colour it is capable to give , and if many should faile in the tryall , yet does it not fall under the probability , but that divers noble and usefull mysteries of nature may be discovered by some such perforations and scrutinies . nor are the many berries commonly of an excellent collour and lustre unfit for such experiments ; since the labour is little or nothing , and the issue if succesfull of remarkable advantage . and this the spanyard hath experimented to the encrease of gaine and reputation ; and above this is so signally curi●us and industrious , that he hath disco●ered many rare and delightfull colours , not onely by the meanes before mentioned , but by bruizing and boyling divers fish-shells , the brightnesse and variety of colours giving him a just reason to pursue such curious examens . the french relations of their voyages to canada , tell us , that the indians and themselves falling into a contagious disease , of which phisitians could give no reason or remedy , they were all in a short space restored to their health meerely by drinking water , in which saxifrage was infused and boyld , which was then discovered to them by the natives , and wee justly entertaine beliefe that many excellent medicines either for conservation of nature in her vigour or restauration in her decadence may be communicated unto us , if projection of this stampe be so much incouraged by hopes of reward or honour , as to be put in practice . by this improvement of woods , the ground comming to bee cleared , wee have a soile fit to produce what ever is excellent in nature , the vine and olive which naturally simpathize together , will thrive beyond beliefe , nor need it be any interruption to tillage , since the vintage and harvest alwayes fall but in different reasons . that wild vines runne naturally over virginia , ocular experience declares who delighting in the neighbourhood of their beloloved mulberry-trees inseparable associates over all that countrey , and of which in this their wildnesse wines have beene made , of these wines if transplanted and cultivated , there can be made no doubt but a rich and generous wine would be produced : but if wee set the greeke cyprian candian or calabrian grape , those countries lying parallell with this , there neede not be made the smallest question● but it would be a staple which would enrich this countrey to the envy of france and spaine , and furnish the northerne parts of europe , and china it selfe where they plant it not , ( of which more heereafter ) with the noblest wine in the world , and at no excessive prices . and from this staple 't is not unworthy of our most serious con●ideration , what an occasion of wealth would flow upon this nation : virginia when well peopled being able to match spaine in that his soveraigne revenue , and the state by addition to their customes for exportation thereof according to the mode of france and spaine , would in no short time be sensible of this most inestimable benefit : to which if wee joyne the profits of our olives● wee may ( gods favourable hand blessi●g our industry ) be the happiest nation in europe . nor need wee be at that charge for caske under which spain● labours , where ever wee cast our eyes upon this fortunate countrey wee may finde timber proper for it . for the advance of which noble staple , i should propose that the greeke , and other rich vines , being procured from the countries to which they are geniall , every planter in that countrey might be enjoyned to keepe a constant nursery , to the end when the ground is cleared , that they may be fit for removal , and the vineyard speedily planted . further that some greeke , and other vignerous might be hired out of those countries to instruct us in the labour , and lest their envy , pride , or jealousie of being layd aside when their mysterie is discovered , may make them too reserved in communicating their knowledge , they may be assured , besides the continuance of their pension of a share in the profits of every mans vintage , which will the more easily perswade them to be liberall and faithfull in their instructions , since the publick advance of this designe cannot miscarry without a sensible losse to their particular interest . that before their going over a generall consultation may be had whith them what ground is proper , what season fit , what prevention of casualties by bleeding or splitting , what way to preserve or restore wine when vesseld , which species of wine is fittest for transportation over , or retention in the countrey , which for duration , which for present spending : it being in experience manifest that some wines refine themselves by purge upon the sea , others by the same meanes suffer an evaporation of their spirits , joyne to this that some wines collect strength and richnesse , others contract feeblenesse and sowernesse by seniority . these consultations drawne to a head by some able person , and published to be sent over in severall copies to virginia , by the inspection of which people might arrive at such competent knowledge in the mystery , that the reservation or jealousies of those vignerons , could not but be presen●ly● perceived and prevented . but from hence no occasion should bee derived to breake or fall short of any contract made with those vignerons , who are to be exactly dealt with in performance of articles , every way made good unto them , with all just respects to win upon them , and the non-performance of this hath beene the originall cause why virginia at this day doeth not abound with that excellent commodity . those contracted with as hired servants for that imployment , by what miscariage i know not , having promise broken with them , and compelled to labour in the quality of slaves , could not but expresse their resentment of it , and had a good colour of justice to conceale their knowledge , in recompence of the hard measure offered them , which occasioned the laying aside of that noble staple , the diligent prosecution whereof , had by this time brought virginia to an absolute perfection in it , and to a great degree of happinesse and wealth which would attend it . and had this beene as happily followed as it was prudently intended● that excellent country had not hung downe its desolate head in so languishing a condition as the disr●spect cast upon her , till of late yeares had reduced her to . nor had the poore planter ( who usually spends all the profits of his labour in forraigne wines ) been impoverished by the want of it : but with delight might have shaded himselfe under his vine , reaped the benefit of it in autumne , and buried all the memory and sense of his past labours in a cheerfull rejoycing by his owne harth with the issue of his owne vineyard . and from hence might barbadoes , st. christophers , and all our islands in the indies , have richer , better , and by much cheaper , wines transported to them from a place much neerer in distance then spain or the canaries ) and which doubles the benefit such intercourse together , would draw them to an association in power as well as communication of staples . were this brought to a just perfection no other nation could upon a quarrell betwixt us , and spaine , and france , reape a benefit by selling us their wine at a third market . and what wee vend now for it ( that being made native to us ) might be returned in bullion , to the apparent enriching of the common-wealth , and the impoverishing of our enemies , or at the least friends deservedly suspected . all authours of agriculture unanimously consent that neither arable pasture , meadow , or any other grounds are so benigne genuine , or proper for planting vines in , as those cleared lands are , wherein not shrubs , but tall trees were standing . and wee must want a parallell in any part of the world to compare with virginia for tall and goodly timber-trees cleared of all under woods , to which when cleared your vines may be remov●d ( the very removeall of them , as indeed of all other , giving an addition to their perfection ( the excellency of transplantation being more particularly insisted upon heereafter . ) but in the clearing of these woods it will be a saving of labour , and a delight to the vine , besides other profits following to leave the mulberry trees standing there , being such a happy correspondence together such a mutuall love ingrafted in them by nature , that wee well may conclude with this axiome , that the same nature joynes all her excellencies together by an association of simpathies . nor does she wave that her happy order in incomparable virginia , where the soile and climate that fits the one , is equally amiable to the other , their loves and hates happily according , what the one shunnes , the other flies from , what the one affects , challenges the others embraces , and were not this soile and climate most geniall and proper nature her selfe ( whose production● are never uselesse ) would never have crowned the virgin brow of this unexampled countrey , with such a universall plenty of them , or with such a voluntary league have united them every where together . virginia compared to persia . but to illustrate this with another argument : let us compare this felicity-teeming virginia , as it is scituated from 31 degrees of latitude to 40● with other countries , ●eated in the same degrees which opens us a method of observing what commodities nations so planted abound with , which found wee shall discover in this excellent virgin a disposition ingrafted by nature to be mother of all those excellencies , and to be equall ( if not superio● ) as well in all their noble staples , as in nea●enesse to their particular enricher the perpetually auspicious sunne . and this to whom virginia owes the publication and po●tract of her incomparable beauty ; mr. harri●t the noble mathematician delivers us by a happy instance in finding out for her ● noble sister of the same latitude , the most glorious persia , innobled as much by thi● comparison as in her empire . and those who have travelled and viewed persia ; unanimously relate wonders of her admirable fertility in all sorts of graine and fruits , with an unexpressible abund●nce of silke and wines : in which this her rich-bosomed sister claimes an equality in her plenty of mulberries , silke , and gums , vines , maiz , rice , and all sorts of graine : onely as a fuller-dowryed sister she merits a priority in fertility , pleasure , health , and temperature , a virgin countrey , so preserved by nature out of a desire to show mankinde fallen into the old age of the creation , what a brow of fertili●y and beauty she was adorned with when the world was vigorous and youthfull , and she her selfe was unwounded with the plough-shares , and unweakened by her numerous futur● teemings . another eye●witnesse of this victorious empire , delivers to memory that go●●●●● in a province of that countrey , is so incomparably fruitfull , that dearths are never knowne , nor famine ever suspected in it● th●t in one onely city called e●y● there is such an inestimable store of silke , that there might be bought in one day in that city as much silke as will lode three thousand camells . and he is little conversant with experience or history , who is ignorant that the abundance of silke native to that countrey and climate , is almost the sole staple of that mighty empire , by which never tobe exhausted treasure of silkes the sinewes and vitalls of the persian empire , the sophy to the generall good of christendome , keepes both the hornes of the ottoman moone from compleating their ambitious circle . and if the english east-india company of merchants were not wrong-byassed by the factions and sinister ambition of some men in authority amongst them , a great part of that wealthy staple might be transported into england , and by that meanes dispersed over all parts of europe to the enriching and honour of this nation . the digression upon this parallell hath diverted me from ampliation upon the publick benefit , which may devolve into this republick by the olive , which being genuine to the vine , will by a happy consent of nature indisputably flourish in a vast abundance , and by a transportation into the warmer regions , where the heate or scarcity of cattle causeth a like indigence of butter , will be a staple of inestimable value , and of no smaller conducement to our owne shipping , into those provinces neere the equinox , or in those voyages where the doubling of the line either putrifies , or makes it of a taste little pleasing or agreeable to the palate . virginia compared to china . but to leave persia and descend to a more wealthy and powerful parallell , the richest and mightiest empire in the world , lies in the same latitude and climate with our fortunate virginia ; namely china , divided from it only by the southsea , and ( which will bee a part of another discourse ) not of any long distance from it , agreeing with it in multitude of staples . china is stored with an infinite number of mulberry trees to feede silkewormes with , and vends silke in such a vast proportion , that in one onely city lempo , which some call liempo , the portugeses , have with no small admiration , observed that one hundred and sixty thousand pound weight of silk hath beene caried out in one shippe in the onely space of three moneths . into camb●la the chiefe city of tartary ( as authors of great repute and credit , and one who was personally there , reports ) there comes ●very day from china , a thousand waggons laden with silke . nor is china lesse happy in its multitude of navigable rivers , in its wonderfull fertility of all sorts of graine , maiz , rice , &c. of which it receiveth every yeere three or fo●re most plentifull harvests . rivers stored with an incredible quantity of fish and fowle , enriched a●d ennobled with numerous mines of gold , silver , brasse , iron , and other mettalls , quicksilver , nitre , all●m , pretious stones , p●arles , muske , cotton , sugars , rubarb , china root , vast proportions of flax , furres extraordinary rich . to this happinesse of soile and situation , they associate an equall felicity of parts and industry , by which they pretermit not one span of ground which they assign not to particular and profitable uses , and by an ingenious division of the ground according to the quality of the soyle , designe the drier part for wheat and barly , that which is more visited with an improving moysture , to rice and sug●r ; ascents and mountaines to grov●s of pines and chestnuts , betweene which are planted maiz panicle , and all kinde of pulse . in other proper places are mulberry groves , gardens● orchards , flax , and in a word no spot of ground misimployed from its proper advantage . and that virginia is parallell in neerenesse of staples , as well as neighbourhood to the sunne , to that celebrated empire , what multitudes of fish to satisfie the most voluptuous of wishes , can china glory in which virginia may not in justice boast of ? what fowles can she make ostentation of , in which virginia can be esteemed inferiour ? can china , insolent with her prosperity , solely lay clayme to a more singular honour for her affluence in maiz and other grain , for the maintenance and luxury of her plenty-wanton inhabitants , without an open injury to her equall , to her mayden sister , to our incomparable virginia ? are her mulberries springing from a voluntary bounty of nature lesse numerous or usefull then those to which china hath added all the assistance which could be expected from advantages of transplantation , or an industrious people ? if china will descend to particulars , to compare quantity and quality of fish and fowle , let her shew us turkies of 50 pound weight , let her instance an example of one hundred and fifty fowle , to reward the labour of three charges of shot and powder , let her publish a president so worthy of admiration ( and which will not admit beliefe in those bosomes where the eye cannot be witnesse of the action ) of five thousand fish taken at one draught neere cape charls , at the entry into ches●peak bay , and which swells the wonder greater , not one fish under the measure of two feet in length . what fleets come yeerely upon the coasts of new found land , and new england for fish , with an incredible returne ? yet t is a most assured truth , that if they would make experiment upon the south of cape cod , and from thence to the coast of this happy countrey , they would find fish of a greater delicacy , and as full handed plenty , which though foraigners know not , yet if our owne planters would make use of it , would yield them a revenue which cannot admit of any diminution , whilest there are ebbes and flouds , rivers feed and receive the ocean , or nature fayles in ( the elementall originall of all things ) waters . there wants nothing but industrious spirits and incouragement , to make a rich staple of this commodity ; and would the virginians but make salt pits , in which they have a greater convenience of tides ( that part of the universe by reason of a full influence of the moone upon the almost limitlesse atlantick causing the most sp●cious fluxes and refluxes , that any shore of the other divisions in the world is sensible of ) to leave their pits full of salt-water , and more friendly and warme sunbeames to concoct it into salt , then rochel , or any parts of europe . yet notwithstanding these advantages which prefer virginia before rochel , the french king rayses a large proportion of his revenues out of that st●ple yearly , with which he supplyes a great part of christendome . and if from this staple the miserable french can procure a subsistence , some of them a comfortable livelyhood , notwithstanding all the private oppressions of their grinding landlords , the publick tallies , subsidies , aides , imposts , and other hard titles of authorized rapine . what shall wee imagine the freeborne english in a countrey where he owes no rent to any but to god and nature , where he has land to satisfie his desires in its extent , his wishes in its fertility , where free-quarter is a word onely understood by report , may expect of profit and content both in this staple of salt , in that of wines made in those countries , where either the spanish insolence and exactions , the french extortions , or the turkish imperiall robberies , though in the highest degrees of exorbitance , are not of force so to disincourage the inhabitants from attendance upon the vineyard , which notwithstanding all those horse-leach●● of imposition , returnes them such a profit as make them keepe ● middle path betweene the ●scent of riches , and precipice of poverty . nor would it be such a long intervall ( salt being first made ) betwixt the undertaking of this fishing , and the bringing it to perfection ; for if every servant were enjoyned to practise rowing , to be taught to handle sailes , and trimme a vessell , a worke easily practised , and suddainely learned , the pleasantnesse of weather in fishing season , the delicacy of the fish , of which they usually feede themselves with the best , the encouragement of some share in the profit , and their understanding what their owne benefit may bee when their freedome gives them an equallity , will make them willing and able fisher-men and seamen . to adde further to this , if wee consider the abundance , largenesse , and peculiar excellency of the s●urgeon in that countrey , it will not fall into the least of scruples , but that one species will bee of an invaluable profit to the buyer , or if wee repeate to our thoughts the singular plenty of herrings and mackarell , in goodnesse and greatnesse much exceeding what ever of that kinde these our seas produce , a very ordinary understanding may at the first inspection perceive that it will be no great difficulty to out-labour and out-vye the hollander in that his almost onely staple : which wee may also sell at a cheaper market then in common estimation ; if wee revolve the salt to be our owne , which they buy from france , or fetch from the isle of may , and that the very fraight of passengers ( of which allured by this improvement , and the publick approbation , there will be constant multitudes ) in our owne shippes will at the least defray 3 fourths of the charges . i should not unwillingly heare ( though i dispaire ever to know it for a certainety ) that china did exceede us in fishing ; for were it granted , wee should not imagine those wa●ry inhabitants so circumscribed and limited to one part of the ocean especially the same climate and latitude , inviting them as not to visit our opposite shore of southwest virginia in as great variety and plenty . and to the more curious and able persons i shall offer what singular object it were of variety and plenty , if they would take the advantage of some tides and seasons , when the resort of fish is greatest to stoppe the returne of them out of some creeke perpetually flowing with salt by sl●ces , or such other invention : heere would those great ones generate and produce till even they laboured with their owne multitude , if permitted to increase two or three yeares , who might with very small charge be maintained , and yearely render to the proprie●●r an ocean of fish in a narrow confine of water . nor were it unworthy the labour to make an experiment whether the s●urgion himselfe might not receive a kinde of domestication in that narrow circumscript●on , especially if wee let it descend into our thoughts , that ( by small perforations in the sluces he perpet●ally admits a renovation and change of salt water ) he may receive the same benefit of liberty , namely variety of water , which he delights in when unconfined , and admitting the originall breeder not to thrive well by such imprisoning , yet customes ascending as high as nature in the breed , would make that familiar to them , which peradventure might have been offensive to the first spawner , and should they delight ( as in some seasons of the yeare fishes doe vary their resorts ) at any time in fresh water ; a large pond digged neare having either springs to fe●●e it , or raines to fill it , might by communication of a sluce receive both them and salmon , when they s●eke after the freshes . and that fishes may be unwilded , and become domestick , history will sufficiently informe us , wherein are delivered reports of some who growne more particularly intelligent , were distinguisht by names , and understood themselves so called : and mar●iall in one of his epigrams to caes●r , ( i meane domitia● ) tells the prince speaking of fishes so instructed , quid quod nomen habe●t & ad magistri nomen quisque sui venit citatus ? and further , manumque lambit , a thing , which though a poet , and con●equently bold , ev●n to untruths , yet he durst never have obtruded upon caesar , whom himselfe makes a party in the experiment . and to adde something to what hath formerly beene delivered of balsomes and colours , why from the livers and most unctuous parts of those more delicate fishes , may not curiosity finde a means to extract an oyle ; which ( if it be not medicinall , though i am enclined by severall reasons to bel●ene the affirmative ) may notwithstanding artificially distilled after its first extraction prove a delic●cy for the tables of princes and great ones , especially for sauces , and other confections which luxury hath found out for the irritation of dull and retreating appetites . but i cannot believe it to be deprived of its particular virtue in physicall operations , and the industrious conclusions of our ancestors have by such probations discovered many rich mysteries of nature ; whilst wee either glutted with our owne plenty of receipts , or out of a too fond a reverence wee pay to antiquity acquiesce in their prescriptions , as in the ne plus ultra , the hercules pillars of wisedome , beyond which there were no passage , or else feare every innovation brings inconveniences in his traine , which opinion if it had possessed those our ancestors , the world had continued in ignorance , and must for ever have layne sick of an incurable folly in the fooles hospitalls . for what concernes the flax of china , that wee may not lose the smallest circumstance of parallell with virginia , nature her selfe hath enriched this her bosome favourite with a voluntary plant , which by art , industry , and transplantation may be multiplyed and improved to a degree of as plentifull , but more excellent nature : which because of its accession to the quallity of silke , wee entitle silke grasse : of this queene elizabeth had a substantiall and rich peece of grograine made and presented to her . of this mr. porey in his discovery of the great river chamonoak , to the south of iames river delivers a relation of infinite quantity , covering the surface of a vast forest of pine-trees , being 60. miles in length . it had beene wished that the injun●tion given to every planter to set so many thousand plants of this kinde had been effectually prosecuted : the intermission whereof hath beene a prejudice not easily imaginable : nor is it yet too late to effect it , and in all probability by transplantation it may thrive beyond comparison larger , and the skinne of it growne more tender and delicate , may arrive to some equality with the labour of the silke-worme , if it be managed by such rules of nature best sute with its production . for hempe there is a naturall kinde of hempe , a species of flagg in that countrey , from which being boyled you may strippe a long and fine skinne , not onely proper for cordage● but the ●iner sort singularly usefull for linnen ; of this two hundred weight hath beene sent into e●gland , of which hath beene made excellent cordage , and very good linnen . this , by observation of the soile it growes in , and transplanted into grounds of like , but richer property , would together with tht silke-grasse make a staple of admirable returne and profit ; provided every planter had an injunction for this , as well as the former to sow or set a convenient proportion , to which his owne profit ( quickned with the imposition of a mulct in case of neglect ) would easily invite him . and by this meanes would virginia not onely furnish her owne people , but supply other nations with stuffes and linnen . to the brasse of china , wee shall oppose the virginian copper ( or gold , for yet it is doubtfull ) for by a concurrent relation of all the ●ndians , justified to severall english of quality , particularly to the earle of southampton in mr. poryes narrative , to sir william berkely , all seconding mr. heriots report , that within ten dayes west toward the setting of the sunne , the natives of that countrey gathered a kinde of a red sand falling with a streame issuing from a mountaine , which being washed in a sive , and set upon the fire speedily , melts and becomes some copper , which they shew us , but as they say much softer . we shall only suppose it to be copper , contrary to the opinion of divers knowing men , who apprehend it for a richer metall ; but melting with such ease two parts in five turning to a solid metall , the other three parts being peradventure not any thing of the oare , but onely such rubbidge , as joyned to the oare in rouling , and this falling meerely from the superficies of the mountaine , yet a rich copper ; what eye enlightned with the smallest beame of reason , will not conclude it for an extraordintry accession of wealth to this countrey ? and why may not the intralls of this minerall be gold , since the skinne and crust of it is copper ? nature her selfe oftentimes dealing after the mode of divers great men , delighting to lay an unregarded outside over her richest linings . to proceed in contin●ation of our compa●ison with china , if it abound more in visible silver ( of which with our abundance of staples may quickly put us into a ●ondition of entring into completion with ) yet cannot virginia in all probabili●y be destitute of that metall : for besides divers conjectures grounded upon naturall circumstances : mr. gage in his relation of the indies , as●ures us that the spanyards have found out a rich silver mine on the back side of florida westward , in 34 degrees of latitude , and the farther they extend their search northward , the more rich and pure the mines discovered improve themselves . nor shall wee plead inferiority in pearles with china or persia , since mr. heriot assures us of a large quantity of pearles found amongst the natives , spoyled by their ignorance in boring of them , and defacing their orientall lustre , by exposing them to the fire . these were found amongst the indians at roanoak , and the relations of the natives on all hands unanimously concur that the south and west of this opulent countrey was stored with such abundance and variety , that the indians used to make and adorne babies with them : and one of the english had collected a bracelet of very orientall pearle , to the number of five thousand , which were all lost in the returne to england . if china suppose a merit of precedency in muske , virginia may justly oppose them with her musk rat , or muscassus , which in all probability cannot but be the same ; for it is a tradition received into the number of truths , that the confection of their muske in that countrey is bruizing and burying a certaine creature to putrefaction , of which this odour is effected , and it is very open to conjecture that this musk-rat or muscassus , whose flesh and skinne are extraordinary redolent and durant , and of which there is an infinite plenty , by such order may be brought to the same perfection . neither is it so improbable that this odour should proceed from putrefaction , which is naturally an abhorrence to the nosthrill : for if you apply too neare to the substance of the muske , there is an occult subolency of such a putrefactive originall . neither are all excretions of nature in themselves offensive to the sense of smelling , for the fluxe of the civet-ca● is accounted amongst our most soveraigne perfumes : and this experimented will be a staple of noble use , and no lesse benefit . nor shall wee yeeld the laurell of preeminence in richnesse of furres to china , if the furres of beavers , otters , martines , and above all black foxes ( which are upon some part of this continent ) may pretend any title to richnesse : and yet have wee beene hitherto so supinely negligent to permit the dutch and the french to carry away most of this pretious commodity , to trade in our rivers , under-sell us , and which discovers either an ●mplacable malice or insatiable avarice , trade with those indians ( of whom wee have no reason to nourish any great confidence ) for muskets and powder . to conclude , what ever else china may presume to boast of : whether nitre , allum , quicksilver , rhubarb , and china root , of which some wee have already discovered : if wee consider the parallell in latitude , the equality of temperate climate , the parity in soile , and its fertility , the similitude in brave navigable rivers , the unanimous congruity and consent in divers knowne commodities , wee shall have an ample basis to ground conjectures upon , that what ever singularity of nature that nation may imagine her selfe victorious over others , will be found equall in this garden of the world , this aemulous rivall of china , virginia : and the chineses may with as great justice deny the europeans the benefit of both eyes , as boast that they precede in any thing except antiquity of habitation and a long experienced industry , this great luminary of the new world virginia . what ever other commodities , the novelty of inhabiting this amorous virgin hath made it appeare defective in , as sugar , indigo , cotton , ginger , and other advantageous staples , wee shall appeale to all who have seene this unexampled countrey ; ( we meane roanoak , and the more southerne parts , and those countries towards the fertile mangoack ) whether it be guilty of any contrariety , distemper , or extremity , which might hinder their production . the sunne , which in other countreys makes his visit in flames and droughts , heere casts his auspicious beames , and by an innocent and complementall warmth , courts the bosome of this his particular favourite , hastening and disposing its wombe for ripe productions , which salute him in an absolute perfection . winter snowes , frosts , and other excesses , are heere only remembred , never known . the purling springs and wanton rivers every where kissing the happy soyle into a perpetuall verdure , into an unwearied fertility : no obstructions in your expectations , attempt and hope them , prosecute and enjoy them . nor have we in design to lay any imputation upon the barbadoes , which already aboundeth to admiration , with the staples last mentioned , yet it will become our charity to wish the country as healthfull , as it is fruitfull ; that it may answer the expectation and merit of its most industrious and publicke spi●ited planters● who have given a brave example to all , by the effects of their industry and unwearied constancy . from a thing almost lost to memory , ( at the least to reputation ) they have raysed the honour of that island , to be a subject of admiration for wealth and staple , and that so little a circumference of ground should be able to vent the value of two hundred and fifty thousand pound yeerely , as so●e merchants have maintayned , not only addes to the weight and measure of their just estimation , but increases the favourable wishes of all ●overs of industry , that they had a larger proportion of ground to improve upon . and if an invincible sloth doth not possesse us in virginia , ( wee meane the south ) why should not wee rayse an equall or greater profit upon as fertile and convenient a soile ? especially if we consider the populousnesse of the place , has so raysed the price of land there , which we have heere gratis , where number of inhabitants doe so little take from our abundance , that they adde to our wealth , security and plenty , and the sole meanes to increase and improve upon staples . we have made it apparant that what ev●r china hath of st●ple or delicacy , is produced or producible in this above-example virgin . but to shew that even china her selfe must in some t●i●gs giv● plac● to this more happy mayden , te●ra sigillata , or lemnia , ( as peculiar an income to the grand signiors treasury , as that of salt is to the french kings ) and of which china can no way boast , is native to this cou●trey ; vin●s are eyther not naturall , neglected , or not understood by the chineses , but in this incomparable soyle the grape presents it selfe every where to your delighted prospect . and what shadow can there be of scruple that wines well cultivated , and issuing from a rich grape , will not be as commodious a staple to that voluptuous and gluttonous nation , who wanton away their wealth in banquets , as the wines of france and spai● are to the more northerne and lesse abstenious nations of europe ? there needs no objection be made against this staple ; for the southw●st part of virginia being once discovered , the sea laid open and that passage compleat in all its numbers , the pleasure of the commerce , the richnesse of returnes , and the extraordinary quicknes of the profit , will invite so m●ny to come over and plant that commodious quarter of virginia , that as we shall never labour with too numerous a multitude of inhabitants , so we shall not have any great occasion to complaine of the pa●city of planters . nor is tobacco in those indian seas ( especially cured as in virginia , and of that strength and excellency ) a commodity of inconfiderable commerce , particularly if wee call to minde what gayne there is by the exchange for indian commodities , so that any ordinary understanding may comprehend that although tobacco should yeeld but three pence the pound in india , yet by way of barter with those nations where the returne quadruples the value in england , the gaynes gotten by it might be very considerable . but if we may beleeve printed relations ( and the person delivering it so cleerely , is , in my opinion , worthy of all credit ) tobacco from surat to moco yeeld ten for one profit , returned in eastridge feathers to england you have six to one profit ; but this is for those planters who are so infected with that disease of the countrey , that they cannot admit of any other staple , though more gainefull and lesse laborious . yet is not tobacco without its vertues : for the spaniard hath found out , besides the use of it in smoke , ( or the smoky use ) that the juice thereof ( when greene ) applyed to any wound cut , sore , and without any distinction , whether greene , festered , or cankered , will heale it speedily , and almost miraculously ; the leafe bruised or stamped , and applied to any bite or sting of a venemous quality , to any wound made by a poysoned arrow , the green leafe heated in hot ashes , and layd upon any part of the body afflicted with aches , will worke effects answerable to the most powerfull operations of nature . the benefit and part of the silke-worme mystery treated of . but to show to the world that wee may equall the best of the westerne kingdomes in this noble mystery of nature the silke-g286 worme : that france and italy are much below this mignon of glory and profit , the universally advantageous virginia , wee shall ●pon those in●●llible demonstrations of nature , make evident , having the clew of truth , reason , and modesty to direct us . it will not be denied by any , whose forehead is not too brazen , that no countrey is so proper for adventitious as its owne native commodities● the seeds of things suffer a deterioration by changing the propriety of that soile which was geniall to them , and the exact order of nature suffers a diminution , if wee imagine any other climate or region more proper for the perfection of any thing , then where it is originally produced . t●lli●r aff●rmes that this mystery of the silke-worme hath not been experimented in europe above a thousand yeares , being transmitted to our climate out of the asiatick world , in so much that italy hath not beene above 200 yeares enriched with this industrious creature , france received it from italy , and it is observed , that the warmer the region , by so much larger and stronger encrease and texture receive they from the labour of this admirable and naturall weaver . france being of a colder temper then italy , their wo●mes are weaker , in the more northerne part of that kingdome from one ounce of seed they profit five or sixe pound of silke increase , worth at the least ● os . per pound , in languedock , and the warmer provinces the same quantity is increased to 7 , 8 , or 9l . but in brescia , of calabria seede , they use usually to make eleaven or twelve pound of silke from the same originall proportion . the poore people in both those kingdomes buy their mulberry leaves to feede this profitable and industrious spinner , and the very charge of those leaves amounts to a full halfe of all other their expences . the nobility of italy and france ( the grand duke of tuscany himselfe , descending into a part of this profit ) make up a considerable part of their revenue from their trees , the leaves of every one b●ing valued according to their goodnesse and quality , from five shillings to twenty and upwards , so that divers make an income of three , four , five , sometimes a thousand pounds per annum from the sole profit of their mulberry trees . the grand duke from the sale of his , rayses an income communibus annis , of sixty thousand duca●s , yet divers gentlemen in italy make a larger increase of profit , by setting out their mulberry trees to necessitous people , for halfe the gaine arising from the worme so fed . those poore contribute their seed , employ their labour , and are at all expences in bringing the silke to perfection ; yet notwithstanding when completed , the gentleman who sets out his trees , divides the moyety of the entire profit , for the hire of his leaves only , y●t are these people , ma●gre this difficulty , comfortable gayners . and the same tellier is bold to affirme , that non obstante the disagreeablenesse of the country to that worme , in the kingdome of france from the sole revenue now of silke , arises a greater intrade then from their corne , oyle and woad put together , which grow in that kingdome in vast proportions . and another french author affirmeth , that the benefit of the silke-worme , ( of which france hath had no triall till within these fifty yeeres ) ariseth to four millions per annum , ste●ling , and this he pretends to have all circumstances of truth and certainty , drawne from an exact computation to confirme it . if france ( an almost improper countrey for this improvement ) can rayse within the verge of fifty yeeres , so large and numerous a revenue , what shall we imagine italy ( a warmer region , and by much more convenient , although not altogether native for this inriching creature ) may meerely upon this staple returne in their treasury , having besides the advantage of climate , a hundred and fifty yeeres precedency in the mystery , and their seed more s●rong , better fed , and lesse subject to diseases and casualties ? but virginia a countrey which nature hath no lesse particul●●ly assigned for the production , food , and perfection of this creature then persia or china stored naturally with infinites of mulberry-trees , some so large that the leaves thereof have by frenchmen beene esteemed worth 5l● in which the indigenall and naturall worme hath beene found as bigge as wallnuts , and thriving , in the south thereof in admirable plenty and excellence ; if this mystery were but duly followed , and industriously promoved , might be a magazine for all the westerne world , and singly in her selfe outvy france , spaine , and italy , in all their advantages collected . heere the leaves are onely sold by nature , who requires no other satisfaction then industry to make use of her bounty . timber to erect their fabricks is provided , and costs no more then preparing a benevolent sunne , and a serene sky● contributing their indulgence to its perfection . no n●rrow assignation of ground ( richer then the most fertile france or italy can pretend to , or boast of ) to plant those trees on , if not neare enough to the setled plantations ; in briefe , all the conveniences imaginable to assist and advance this to the noblest commerce in the world , if neglect and sloth make us not ingratefull to our selves , and nature , by abusing our selves , by not using her bounty . to further this happy designe , let us d●scend into an unequall comparison : let us compare our most incomparable virginia , where the mulberry and the worme are aboriginall to italy , where they are onely adventitious : let us imagine our owne worme of that strength and greatnesse onely equall to those of brescia and italy , where the usuall of come from sixe ounces of seede is 72 , o● at least 60 pound weight of silke , and adhearing to this parallell ; let us see the apparency in the profit● a man and a boy , if their hands be not sleeping in their pockets , will feede as many wormes as come of sixe or eight ounces of seed till they be past their foure first sicknesses , and within some 14 dayes of spinning : indeed the last 14 dayes require a more extraordinary diligence and attendance , a more frequent and carefull feeding , because in that time they conceive , gather , and store up the disposing matter from whence the silke comes , which by an incomprehensible mystery of nature , they after as it were vomit out of their mouthes , and spinne out of their bowells . at this more particular season , there is a necessity of adding the labour of three or foure helpes more ( to which women or children are as proper as men ) which is an inconsiderable accession considering the gaine arising from it . that you may know the reason why women , children , lame and impotent persons are as ●itting to attend the last fourteene dayes , as men , will appeare by their labour , which is nothing but to feede them within doores , cleanse , dry and perfume their lodgings , with some strengthning● but not overstrong odour . and as one skilfull in this noble mystery is sufficient for the employing , overseeing , and directing hundreds under him , so ( the skill being rather experimentally to be taught , then built upon long and ambiguous precepts ) he may bee able to perfect all those under him , within the five or six weeekes time of their imployment in the full understanding the mystery . and the better to incourage both the teacher and learner of the mystery , the master should be invited by reward to be liberall in communicating his knowledge , and those under his instruction encouraged by arguments of honour and profit proposed to the best proficient , would disperse seeds of emulation and diligence , since every one would imploy himselfe seriously to engrosse and appropriate to himselfe the reputation and advantage in the victory . and in boyes and children , disputations frequently set on foot , with some slight distinction of merit , would make all that are ingeniously disposed , quicken their observation and diligence , to gaine the credit of prelation . though to take off all disincouragement or despayre , from those lesse apprehensive and docible , in this noble and gainefull trade of silke , there is no such absolute necessity layd upon them to be supersticiously and precisely curious in observing the booke rules , and written precepts , that upon the omission or unpunctuall observation of any of those precepts in hatching , lodging , feeding , and tending of the silke-wormes , wee should imagine such minute deviations might occasion an improsperity or generall failing : for wee will admit something may be wanting either in materialls , accommodation , or precisenesse of knowledge ; yet may the worke ( a higher and irresistible cause not interrupting it ) prosper and succeede , notwithstanding such defect , to the great contentment and gaine of them which keepe them . let us imagine it to be granted that the indigency of the person improving the incommodiousnesse of the place , or want of house-roome , which the bookes exactly tye us to , be in many things preterr●gular ( though such a supposition may fall upon any other part of the world more justly then virginia , where all materialls and conveniency answer our exactest wishes ) yet will dayly examples confirme us , that in languedoc , provence , and other parts of france , and as many in spaine and italy , amongst the common sort of that exaction tyred people , that one poore low-rooft cottage , and one roome in it is all the house extent they have to take their sleepe in , dresse their miserable dyet , and serve themselves of for use and retirement ; yet does this industrious creature ( such are the blessings with which god rewards the sweat of industry ) thrive as happily ( and sometimes answer labour with a greater fellcity ) as tho●e which the curiosity of richer persons fit with all commodiousnesse of chamber feeding , and attending , which is a speaking enco●ragement that no man should despaire , but reposing a cheerefull confidence in the blessing of the almighty , with this resolution , that what ever meanes , what ever curiosity , art , or precept , may contribute towards the preparing and fa●ilitation of a worke , yet the end , the event must depend on his eternall goodnesse to crowne it , and all our labours projected with never so great a talent of humane wisdome and experience , must conclude with this never failing truth : that except the lord build the house their labour is but lost that build it● except the lord keepe the city , the watchman watches but in vaine . wee must therefore lift up our hearts and eyes with thankefullnesse unto the hills , unto the mountaine of israel , and rock of david , from whence those streames of blessings must acknowledge their sole , their originall fountaine , which may serve as an admonition , that neither the whole , nor any part of the worke should be begunne without applying our devotions to him : let it therefore be the morning omen to the worke , and the evening auspice , lord prosper the worke of our hands , prosper good lord our handy workes . after the reposall of this confidence in god ; let him apply himselfe with his greatest industry and ability , with this comfort and assurance , that he cannot but make a considerable returne : though wee should be much injurious to art ( the noble right hand and midwife to nature ) if wee should deny a more promising probability of a riper and fuller gaine the more curious and observant he is in following all the approved experiments , rules , directions , and precepts thereunto belonging . but the chiefest aime and intention of those rules are to illustrate the perfection of this art , and to informe your knowledge , and better your future experience and preventionall care , if any misadventure arrive , or miscarriage in the silke-wormes , or if they prosper not equally this yeare with the last ; for by inspection upon them you may understand the cause and reason of such misadventure , and with it the remedy ; and this also takes away all dispaire or disincouragement for men , commonly men till they are convinced in the naturall cause of a disaster or failing attribute , all such mischances to nature , or else impute the non-thriving to their owne misfortune by a ridiculous opinion that they are not ordained to be fortunate in this or that mystery , so freequently does fortune incurre the blame of humane neglect or ignorance . besides wee are to imprint in our knowledge , that no rules c●n have so much of generality and exactnesse , which will not admit of deviations arising from some particular and variable circumstances . wee must not therefore conforme the nature of the climate to our rules , but our rules to it , in which wee must resume to your deliberation how , and in what one climate differs from another , how the constitution of this yeare varies from the next , or the precedent , the immediocrities of heate , cold , drought , and moisture , serenity , or mists , &c. the manner of their lodgings , the quality of the winde to be admitted or excluded : to ●emper a season inclining to a preternaturall coolenesse with an artificiall heate , to refresh and infrigidate the aire in times of immoderate heate , by admitting the cooling aire and windes proceeding from a cooler quarter , and this to be observed with a more particular care ; when they spinne their silke , that creature then being very obnoxious to be stifled with too much heat . there must be likewise a providentiall regard in a moist season , that the mulberry leaves be carefully dryed after their gathering , before they be administred for food to the silke-worme : but if the season pertake more of drought it will be wisedome to let the leaves lye and shade a little after their gathering , that they may have them coole and refreshing , and in seasons of temperature and continued droughts , it may be very requisite to water the roots of the mulberry-tree , which will be a refreshing to the leaves , and this is usually practised in spaine ; especially if the mulberry-tree be seated in a hot or dry ground , which otherwise must not be so prescribed without particular caution . nor is it below our consideration to weigh the condition of the place in which the mulberry is planted , if in a sower foule or wet soile to collect what inconvenience that food may bring unto your worme , and therefore if your necessity will admit it to avoyd such wholly , if not to use them with such qualifications as may make them l●ast offensive . after having regard to the nature of the ground your tree receives ●ts juce from , the quality of the season , in which you gather them ; it falls next to your consideration to compare the kinde and nature of the tree , together with the kinde and nature of their seed , worme , and silke , and directing your selfe by an exact observation of particular circumstances , so to make exceptions , and to order every thing with judgement and discretion thereafter , that your bookes and experience may by that meanes walke hand in hand together . but time and observations will affoord you many experiments , out of which perhaps some more rules of art may be framed , in divers particulars , more consenting to the country and climate of virginia . which finding , after good triall thereupon made , it will become the reputation of a good patriot in generall , and a good master of a family in particular , to digest them into such a regular order and method , that the publication thereof may be a common benefit to all , and a private memoriall to particulars . for since in persia and china it does not fall under likelihood , that they can oblige themselves to observe all particulars in its strictest limitation , where such an infinite quantity of silke passeth through the hands of the people , it is very agreeable to reason that in a climate of the same nature and parallell , namely virginia , there may be rules found out of far l●sse brevity● and more pertinency , then have yet been considered or published . and yet where all these rules are curiously observed , they make not on●ly in spaine and italy , but in the colder parts of france a far greater gaine ( the quantity of adventure and time considered ) by thus chargeably fe●ding of silk-wormes , then by any other commodity whatsoever . but to avoid that inconvenience of fetching leaves a far off , or attending the growth of your owne mulberries , or that necessity which makes the poorer sort of our owne miserable people to lodge them in that roome which is their kitchin , their chamber , their all . with what ease and conveniency may there be a house set up in the middle of a grove of mulberries , naturally growing , where the silkewormes , in a dry cabinet of boords , after the maner of sicily , may be kept ( described more largely in the bookes which treat of this silkeworme , then can bee expected in this paper ) set up with stones in it , in case the countrey and season require it , eyther to correct the ill sents , or ( if so be they are seated in cold● moyst , or shady places , of which your owne sense and experience will quickly acqu●int you ) to give the ayre a temper and qualification , which if not prevented , may destroy your worke by killing the silkeworme . and this lodge built for them , the season of the yeere will invite your selfe and family ( i meane such part of your family as you assigne to this worke ) to lodge there also , the time being at the most but six weekes , and for the first moneth , one third of your family will be sufficient to feed them , but the last 14. dayes ; the other 2. thirds will be requisit that the wormes may bee more often and plentifully fed● the well feeding at that time contributing much to their strength and perfection , and consequently to the improving your expected silke , both in quantity and quality . that all may be invited and courted to this undertaking , in this glorious countrey , nature hath left us destitute of no materialls . to erect these slight silken lodgings , will be no more expences , then your labour ; nor is that any greater , then to cut out some posts and studdes , fit them , and set them up● then to cleave and saw out small quarters , rafters , plankes , pales , and boards , to make and set up the sides of the house , in stead of more substantiall walls , and to cover the roofe in stead of tile . for the effecting of all which with the le●ser trouble , that countrey affords abundance of woods , which will runne out , slit , and cleave into long lengths and br●adths , which by the directnesse of the ground will rive in a manner , as if they had beene sawen for the worke . all which must be so close layd , joyned , and nayled together , the one still lapt over the other , that no winde or raine may penetrate therein to offend that labo●rious creature , and this may easily be prevented , if such chinkes and open places as you shall discover bee stopped up with lome , clay , and lime , of which materialls in those countreyes you will finde no want . and to this purpose the indian mats , and the like things may be made good use of in this way , which will be sure to keepe out winde and perhaps raine : but to these things your owne inventions , pro re nata , will abundantly furnish you with matter of preventing casualties : nor will it bee unseasonable to repeat the extraordinary convenience of saw-mills , which in this case will be in a high degree serviceable to you , and of this the whole colony will be beneficially sensible in boards , ●lankes , housing , silk-worm-lodgings , timber , shipping , and all particular kinde of uses . and this once erected , with what speed may such a house be clapped up together , with a few nailes ●ne lopping over another , either long like a bowling-alley , that the functions of the family may be distinct , and no offensive heat or sent disturbe the worme in his curious operations . or being in doubt of surprisall , some families going into the woods together may equally joyne together , and those woodden houses ( still observing that the roomes where the wormes are may be set end and end together , that so the kitchins and their lodgings may be still the two extreames ) may be cast into the forme of a fort which pall●sadoed , and your house sentinelled by halfe a dozen of good dogges , wil be a sufficient defence against all the natives of the countrey . and this may be in case they worke not in common , which if by compact they agree upon , the lodging for the wormes may be cast in the middle of such a circle , the timber houses round about shading them from over much heat , wind or moisture , and the necessary fires there made , will throughly cleere the ayre of all vapours and mists which may disorder this innocent spinner . the silke harvest ready , and the encrease brought to a just estimation : the cohabitors may according to the agreement made betwixt them , returne with their dividends , and this removall into the woods will have the same nature of content which the citizens take in a time of vacation and city wearinesse ●citizens being never so weary as when they have no worke ) to visit the delights of the countrey , though with different ends ; since these in their voyages of pleasure expend , the other both save and encrease their stock and treasure . these boards ( the worke ended ) being taken downe are serviceable for seaven yeares together , and easily erected or renewed . i am not altogether of advice , that the indians be hired to assist you in these remoter workes , as sensible how apt they and the divell t●eir tutor may be to embrace an occasion of being treacherous ; but if they could be brought to worke by parties ( well watched and spyes amongst themselves set over them ) in the middest of our most populous plantatio●s , with their wives and childr●n , who will easily runne through this curious , but not heavy labour and may be sufficient pawnes for the indian fidelity , if cunningly divided , they would be very serviceable in this kinde for a small reward , and peradventure might be made great use of for this worke heereafter by undertaking it themselves , which may be manifested for these reasons . 1. first , the indian is naturally curious and very ingenious , which they shew in all their works and imitations : the only thing that frights them from bringing any work to perfection , is the labour attending it . 2. but to feed his curiosity , there is nothing in the world more proper then this curious atome of nature the silkeworme : to see this untaught artist spin out his transparent bowels , labour such a monument out of his owne intralls , as may be the shame , the blush of artists , such a robe that solomon in all his glory might con●esse the meannesse of his apparell , in relation to the workemen , c●nnot but bring them to admiration ; and that those spi●i●s whose t●oughts are of a higher wing then ordinary , may bee convinced of a divine power of the hand of god in the creation : which gaynd upon him , it will not be impossible to drive him to an acknowledgement of redemption , if private ends or any other respect then that to gods glory , possesse not those who should cover a multitude of sinnes , by winning a soule to his creator , and forcing him from the jawes of his destroyer . 3. in this curiosity there is little or no labour ( a thing which they abhorre ) their women and children will bee sufficient to goe through with it : and if they could but be brought to it , our t●ade with them for silke would be of greater consequence , then all their furs or other commodities put together . 4. by this meanes it were possible to fasten cloaths upon them , which if once it were effected , that which mr. bullocke excellent patly calls , the universall not of nature . ambition would cement them to a more orderly course of life , and one still striving to outvie the other in bravery of habits : there would be no labour under heaven like this , to reduce them to civility , the toyle thereof being inconsiderable● and the profit great to him in respect of his now trifling merchandise : and to us by trading with them , might bee returned for 5● . the pound at the most in commodities . 5. by this means would he be brought to plant great quantities of mulberry trees round about his plantation , which according to hi● constant inconstancy , evermore shifting , would necessarily , our ●wne numbers increasing , fall into our hands and possession , or if he should against the tide of his nature abide by them , yet a very inconsiderable trifle would buy the propriety from him . 6. the silkeworme harvest lighting at such a season of the year , wherein he by improvidence hath wasted all his bread-corne , at which time he usually retires into the woods to seeke a thinne s●bsistence , by the allurement of this great profit he would undoubtedly s●ay at his plantation , and allow us a share in his increase of silke , for such provision of maiz as would maintaine him , and this would be a large accession of profit to the english . 7. admitting virginia in its whole extent from cape henry southward ( as a worke so easily compassed , and such profit ensuing thereupon , especially to the weroances or reguli● who have many wives , slaves , and children , would hardly faile from being a universall labour ) to containe in all thirty thousand people , of which the fourth part or more men , if this staple be followed by them , and our vigilance preventing any traffick of other nations with them , it will yeeld the colony of course a trade with them worth cleare a hundred thousand pound per annum . neither doe i comprehend a sufficient reason why in so happy a climate as that of virginia ; there may not be a double silke harvest : this i am sure of , that there are secrets in nature of retardation as well as acceleration of springs , and both being industriously brough● to the experiment , the acceleration ante●eeding the first spring , and the retardation postvening the latter by three weekes , ( which may easily be effected by election and distinction of ground to plant in ) and at the latter end of the harvest the seeds being disposed and ripened for production , will without doubt produce an effect answerable to the most inestimable profit intended by it . that the election of ground may doe this , wee may see by freequent examples betwixt things well cultivated , and that which is never transplanted from its first wildnesse , and there are many presidents round about us , where in one and the same towne● one and the same fruit have oftentimes three weekes distance of time betwixt their unequ●ll maturity ; the naturall warmenesse or coldnes of the ground occasioning the advance or procrastination of fruits according to its severall disposition . nor can such a course be any interruption to harvest or vintage , both comming much after the season of the silke-worme , though i should ( in submission to better judgement ) conceive that with transplantation of trees ( such as they would have come later then ordinary , for that purpose being loosed from the ground neare upon the as●●nt of their sap would spring for that season according to ●heir expectation later then is usuall , and the next yeare its novelty of ground having made it wanton will come much earlier , and more improved then those whose fixure to the place of its first pullulation keepes it selfe to its former constancy , and by this meanes the later harvest would not be at the most three weekes time a●ter the ( usuall ) income of the first . and without doubt the chineses and persian could not vend such vast quantities of silke , with which they fa●shion so huge a part of the world with one single harvest , which though wee are at present ignorant of , yet what should discourage us from delivering such conjectures to a tryall , since the examen of it is not without probability , nor the discovery without an extraordinary certainety of profit ? those who will object that notwithstanding ●00 years practice italy hath not discovered this mystery , or if discovered , found it destitute of successe , may be pleased to receive this answer : that there is an immense disproportion betwixt the happyest region of italy , and the south of the excellent virginia . italy ( and that annually ) is subject much to inclemency of winters , in respect of our more temperate maiden , where snows and black swans are alike prodigies ; the cold there is rather like a phletomy to tame the plethorick abundance of springs , then dead it : nor are the springs of italy so early as ours in that climate , and the mulberry shooting forth later then all other t●ees by much , may by this meanes of transplantation and heat of soile , be equall with the first , and by that early apparence give day-light to this and other more abstruse magnalia . i have ins●sted so much the longer upon this mystery of the silk-worme , because ( if it were handled by a better pen , judgement , and ability ) it is every way noble and sublime , so much worthy the knowledge , not onely for the benefit ( which is extraordinary rich how ever ) but for the admiration of nature , who hath ab●eviated all the volum● of her other miracl●s into this her little , but exact epitome , like that artist who contracted the whole body of iliads and odysses into a nutshell . besides what wee have sayd of silke wee shall find the indian profitable to himselfe , and as in the staple of wines , of which when he has received the whole knowledge , wee cannot make the least tittle of doubt , but he will with all eagernesse prosecute it : first , because it concernes his belly , to which no people unde● heaven are more indulgent ; and secondly , his wife and children who plant his corne may take the charge of the vineyard with not much more labour . but that which turnes to our advantage is , that the indian communicating the knowledge of the grape to his neighbours , and they transmitting it all along as far as new spain , will stir up the spanish jealousie to interdict all viti-culture amongst them , and as far as the extent of his power can fathome to prosecute severely all such natives as shall make it a subject of their industry to the prejudice of spaine . this must of necessity make strong combinations and leagues against the spanish tyranny , which though they are not of themselves able to shake off , yet will the spanyard feare to extend himselfe further ( except in such strength as at present his condition denies him ) knowing the indians untinguishable thirst of revenge , and his laying hold of all opportunities to put it in execution , with all the powers of his understanding cruelty and malice . and thus shall the spanyard in case he attempts our supplantation be constantly discovered by the siding indian , and if there be a necessity to prevent his malice , by turning his designe upon his owne head , infinite occasion of intelligence may wee have from the enraged native , how to attaque him in his strongest security , where either the distance or impassability of the way will make him confident and carelesse . further use may be made of the native in fishing after pearle , to which if wee allure him by a constant trade with him for them , his owne profit will quickly enlighten his desire of more , and that desire quicken his industry . that virginia affordes multitude of pearles , mr. lane is sufficient to give publick information , where he tells us a relation delivered to him of a weroance , who had so great quantity of pearle , and did so ordinarily take the same , as that not onely his owne skinnes that he weareth , and the better sort of his gentlemen and followers are set with the sayd pearle ; but also his beds and houses are garnished with them , and that he hath such quantity of them that it is wonder to see : these are mr. lanes words exactly . nor is there any difficulty in the discovery of this , or ingrossing the trade ; especially since wee are the masters of the countrey , and if any other nation should attempt to partake in the benefit of our trade , the strength of virginia is at present such as may repell by violence , all forraigne incroachments upon their trade and livelyhood . the indians unanimously consent that twenty two mil●s beyond the falls , is a rocke of chrystall , and this they evidence by their a●rowes very many whereof are headed with it . and that 3 dayes journey from thence , is a rocke or hill of silver oare . beyond which , over a ledge of hills , by a concurrent relation of all the indians , is the sea , which can be no other but that sea which washes the shore of china , &c. that this report of a great sea southwest beyond the mountains , cannot have the least of fiction or confederacy , since all the indians from canada to florida , doe unjarringly agree in the relation , is obvious to the meanest apprehension . the discovery whereof , if we fall upon it by degrees , will bee a worke of no long time or difficulty , but the unexpressible profit and glory of the action , will rayse the noble head of this above example countrey to such a high zenith of wealth , power , and lustre , that it will be reputed a very remarkable degree of felicity to any nation which shall reach to such a verticall point of glory , as to bee reputed but our second in these most noble considerations . by this meanes what wealth can there be in those richest provinces of the world , in those countries which nature created for h●r cabinets of excellency , which we shall not discover ? what discover without a power of appropriation ? what opulency do●s china teeme with which shall not be made our owne by the midwifry , by the juno lucina of this virtuall passage ? this by a happy transmigration , by an innocent magick will convert that countrey , ( which by a swelling denomination , yet without not some preten●e of reason its natives call by a title signifying all under heaven ) into our maid of admiration and envy virginia . her silke-worm shall spinne for carolana , her cloth of gold be weaved for roanoak . the english name shall keepe company with the sunne , and those nations who owe him a particular adoration shall honour it as the next thing sacred . the e●sterne nations oppressed with the slavery of those ill●strious horseleeches their princes , will come under our shadow , and by a thicke repayre to our most glorious and happy mayden , live with us in that liberty , which nature in their creation intended to the noblest of his creatures mankind . and by this recourse all those curiosities of art , in which those easterne nations transcend europe , will bee conveyed to us with their persons . cattell and horse in which they abound , will bee sold to us for nothing , for european trifles , whilest the more necessary stapl●s of this our westerne world , will be sold at advantages not convenient to be mentioned . the voyage short , easie , rich , and pleasant . no doubling of the line , no calentures , s●urvies , or other long passage diseases , to affright or distast the laborious seaman : whereas now the enfeebling and destroying of mariners is almost an unavoidable consequence of those long and dangerous , rather circumferences● then voyages . but lest we should sing a paean before a victory , it will not bee unworthy our labour to discourse what meanes m●y be used in this discov●ry . which if it should misse in its prosecution , ( for which fayling there is not the least shadow of probability ) yet might carry a vast profit to recompence all your paynes and expences . that it must not bee attempted at the first heat , but must have more recourses then one to the fire of a triall , will bee made apparent by these reasons . first , the inconveniency or non feysibility of carrying so much provision as will serve the discoverers , whose number , in my opinion , cannot bee lower then two hundred , if wee let slide into our deliberation the many unknowne nations , through whose territories we are to make our passage , and which by common estimation , are much more numerous in the inland , then marine countreyes . next admit wee undertake and compasse it with such a number , yet the discovery not being capable of secresie amongst such a multitude of undertakers , the publick resentment of such a felicity approaching , not suffering people to be silent ; wee should have this arrive to the spanyards knowledge , who will roule all stones under heaven to dispossesse or prepossesse , and indeed the danger his peru , chili and philippines , by such seating , may lie obnoxious to , will adde spurres to his inclination to prevent us , which till wee bee in in a condition to resist , may be effected with our absolute ruine . the safest way therefore is , by degrees to steale upon the design , and take our way thither , by ceasing of places of advantage , very frequently found in that contry , which we may progressionaly fortifie at every twenty or five and twenty miles distance , and to these places we may constantly ●end supplies of victu●lls and ammunition , not only for the men there garrisond , but for our owne reception and maint●nance in the discovery : and these men standing continu●lly upon their guard , may ( i meane those most rem●te ) by conference with the indians , discover with much ease , of what distance , what accesse , what harbours , what frequentation , and by what people the neighbour sea consists of ; to take with them exemplars of all mineralls , drugges , dies , colours , birds and beasts , drawne ●o the life in colours , which ( by an invitation of reward ) will be a surer meanes of discovery , ( if any such be ) then by multitudes of people , whose number commonly ( as in the ●x●mple of fernando soto in florida ) hastens no other discovery , but that of unavoydable famine , and being usually , either through nec●ssity , or a disordred maner of living irregular and ●ngoverned , fright the inhabitants from all commerce and conference or else make them join in a confederacy to abuse and remove them by telling their unwelcome company , golden lies , and miracles of countreys farther distant , where they are likely to find small satisfaction for their covetousnes or hunger . reason and experience will cond●mne us of folly , if wee should refuse to profit by commendable examp●es , though proc●eding from enemies or friends suspected : it will be therefore an incitement irreproveable to commend to our owne imitation the custome which the industrious spanyard practiseth in his designe of discoveries : every one of the associates carry a little horne abou● their necks in such journeys , by which meanes if the errour of the night or thickenesse of the woods occasion any separation betw●x● them , or an ambuscado of enemies make the passage doubtfull , by winding of that horne , p●esently notice is given to the rest , who upon receiving the sound give the ●irst winder notice of their residence , to which they may repaire , or testifie their apprehension and readinesse to prevent all hostile stratagems . the same indefatigable nation in their passage over rivers , presently make themselves light canoas after the indian mode , with which entring themselves and swimming their horses ( whose heads they keepe above water by a coller fastened to the boat ) they overcome difficulties of currents , which to any other but those seem● insuperable , and indeed their labour in this kinde show them of admirable resolution and constancy . though wee may entertaine grounds of hope and confidence , that this discovery of the south sea may be made without any tedious land-journey , since it is certaine that from the great confluence of waters in the gulfe of st. laurence , foure mighty rivers receive their sourse , the first whereof pouring it selfe north into canada , another running eastward into the sea called hunsons river , the third running westward into the maine are already discovered , but the fourth upon which wee have reason to fixe high expectation be●ding southward to florida , washes all the backside of virginia , and may in all probability discharge it selfe into the south ocean , which if it suit with our conjectures , virginia will have by that meanes a double accession of security and convenience . for our security it will be a naturall bar betwixt us and the jealous spanyard , who if he shou●d injustly continue the possession of ou● florida , which is indisputably english ; yet thus dividided from us by a vast river full of ●slands , and places convenient to command the channell fortified and maintained by our nation , he is too full of providence and caution to attaque us , if once in so good a posture . for the conveniency which sufficiently speakes it selfe the ease of transportation by water , and all in our owne chanell , the saving of land charges , and probability of a more speedy passage , are prespicuous arguments to commend it . and to confirme the probabilities of this passage by the lake the more strongly , the indians of canada confessed to iames cartier that it is but a moneths sayling , from thence to go to a land where cynanon and cloves are gathered . others told the same person , that from the place where they left their pinnace , there is a river which goeth south-west , from whence there is a whole moneths sayling to go to a certaine land , where there is neither ice no● snow seene , where the inhabitants doe continually war one against the other , where there is great store of orenges , almonds , nuts , and apples , with many other sorts of fruits . what ever beliefe other men bestow upon this relation , i know not ; but tru●ly in such a generall concordance of reports , where there can b● no roome left for confederacy or designe , to be perswaded of the truth therein , cannot have any vitious tincture of facility or credulity . but it is time to remit these high and noble atchievements to the prosecution of those who have more power and ability , who may give such a discovery the honour of their names , and transfer a perpetuall illustrious memory to posterity , we shall onely suppose it faisible and hope the effects will answer such supposition . which if it should faile , why may not virginia in her future felicity of silke be a new china and persia to europe ? why may not all the spicery of the east flourish with an equall successe in this our most justly tempered climate ? already can virginia boast of cinamon , which if transplanted might not be inferiour unto any ? why may not the cloves perfume virginia with as aromatick redolency as the philipine gardens . our aire is more serene , better tempered then theirs , nor have we any more sense of winter to hinder the ascent of sap then the moluccians , if it be any thing more harsh in cold , yet is it but a check to a peradventure too forward spring . what multitude of flowers have our late gardens in england seen non native to this soyle or climate ? fruits thought solely proper to italy and spaine flourish here to the envy of those count●ies , who see often times the colonies in a happier degree of prosperity then the mother , for fruit and flowers . but these designements must be the daughters of time , curiosity and industry , to whom away may be made passab●● , and easie , by that uncabinetting and deciphring of nature , garden philosophy , what harsh disposition in the world will not be lenified and refined by these curious conclusions ? dioclesian could postpose the science of governing mankinde to the knowledge of managing his scions , to see those plants grow up , which his own laureld hand had set , watred and attended● and accordingly flourish , was in a manner the production of so many children , who in this have the advantage , that their florescence is not subject to selfe-deprivation , give them but an acceptable ground● a bounteous aire , and an arriding sunne and they answer the most exact desires of the setter or ingrafter ; but children , let them have all the auxiliares of a full fortune , warmth of education , and heat of encouragement , by some private disease of the genius , by some secret malignity in nature , or its right hand custome , seldome or neuer thrive according to the wishes of the parent , they are either too ranke with insolence , too much parched with rashnesse , or withered with infamy and luxury , that those which planted them instead of delight in that which they esteemed their masterpeece , have nothing but a spring of indignation , or an autumn of melancholly to answer their expectation , and are so far from contentment at their groweth that they would have reckoned it amongst the smiles of their fortunes , that no warmth of theirs had contributed to their production , no indulgence to their continuance and education . these allu●ements are for those whose delights onely are interested and denoted to this retired activity ; but those who looke further will finde ( that which is rarely or never contingent to other contentments ) this pleasure to be attended with an inestimable p●ofit , and one of the most certaine returnes in nature : but this fertility-labouring countrey , especial●y in its southerne beauties , in its roanoak excellencies , like to a princesse , all compos'd of bounty , suffers no addresse to be made unsatisfied . gentle winters to court your seed , warme springs to marry them to perfect masculine ripenesse , nothing but ingratitude and indiligence to delay or divert its liberality , hitherto ( like those confined virgins in a barbarous seraglio ) it hath suffered the imputation or injury of sterility by a non-complacency in its savage amourists , the abundance of perfection having put them into a satiety or incapacicy of enjoyment . the truth of this being abundantly manifest , an apparent profit and delight inviting the able and industrious ; necessity must be the next argument to those whose poverty can pleade no excuse for their indiligence ; yet this laborious necessity is not so ingratefull as in england , and in other more thick-peopled countries , what ever you sweat for in this bounteous region , is crowned with a recompence amazing your expectation ; such things as make poverty and life wearisome , contempt of , or impossibility of any melioration to their condition are things heere never charged upon honest indigence , or denyed to a commendable industry , nor can they palliate their sleepe and sloth with a pretence of wanting materialls to worke upon , or plead that such things as should employ them must be first had out of england , since there is enough abundantly and naturally in that unpresidented countrey to employ their industry , to enrich their labour . though silke●grasse is unquestionably a staple which will bee neighbour to the profit of the silke-worme , though the naturall hempe-flagge may be a merchandize in time equal to english flax , though the sarsaparilla be an extraordinary vendible commodity , though pipestaves be so beneficiall● , that with not many drops an extraordinary workeman may make his labour worth sixty pounds per annum . though he has fish there , and in such abundance that the attending diligently upon two seasons , onely returnes him a reward of one hundred pound sterling in sturgion , salmon , herings , mackrell : pot-ashes a rich and never decaying staple , &c. yet since against this an objection may be made what course they may take for their provisionall subsistence . those who apprehend such doubts will be pleased to receive this answer , in which if they are sensible of reason they cannot faile to receive satisfaction . there is no man will ever be denyed the loane of corne for his house-spending , and seed till the harvest ; if he be a single man he may prepare as much ground if cleared , and set as large quantitie of corne for his owne spending and repayment of what borrowed , in two dayes space as will abundantly suffice him twelve moneths . admit there be no cleared ground , yet if he but unbarke the trees one foot round after the indian mode to prevent the shade occasioned by the leaves , which such unbarking quite destroyes , the corne ( set betwixr those trees ) will thrive and prosper exceedingly , and their greund thus prepared will last seaven or more yeares successively , and this worke cannot last him above five dayes at the longest . if he have a family , his wife and children will be able to beare part in that labour , and many others . for provision of flesh , if he can use his peece he may , even at his labour in the woods , have opportunity of killing venison , hares , wild-foule ( in their season innumerable ) and fish , of which the r●vers are all times plentifully furnished , and of great delic●cy ; if in all this abundance he is yet apprehensive of famine , wee shall refer him to the number of those who are afraid to be starved for meat in a cooks shop . besides what a small summe of money will buy your cattell , and swine in virginia ? whose feeding co●ts them nothing but thankes to god , who has spread that superficies of that noble ●ountrey with perpetuall friut and verdure . poultry in infinite variety and plenty , the forbearance of whose encrease for a small terme of years will make them so numerous , that they may alwayes have a full table . the w●st indie potatoe ( by much more delicate and large then what wee have heere growing● besides that it is a food excellently delicious and strongly nourishing , fixes himselfe wherever planted , with such an irradicable fertility , that being set it eternally grows : of this an extraordinary pleasing and strong drinke may bee composed . nor is the maiz l●sse commendable for bread then malting , of both which in its use it ●ffordeth a peculiar goodnesse and convenience : and i am much to learne how a poore man can in justice complaine of want , when he is as it were besieged with such plenty : this for provision may abundantly satisfie , but if he can be content to forbeare debauches and profusenesse for t●e first three yeares he may by any of the meanes aforesaid arrive to such a condition of ●hriving . that he may allow himselfe a large latitude of expences ( that first three yeares once expired ) without much empairing his fortun●s . but since all men either by constitution of age , oppression of yeares , or different education , are unable o● improper for the fi●●●et or hatchet , i shall offer them a way which may be lesse laborious and peradventure more gainefull ; yet before i descend to this , i must take leave by digression to enlarge something which i have already hinted on , nam●ly the benefit of transplantation . the removing and transposition of wild plants , doth with an ●xperimented happinesse wonderfully mitigate and engentile their 〈◊〉 noble nat●●e ; whether ( as an a●thour delivers it very elegantly ) it be by reason that the nature of plants , as of men , is desirous of novelty and peregrination , or because that at their parting from their former grounds they leave there that ranke wildnesse virulency and ill quality from the forest , where is first rooted the grate●ull novelty and allurement of a well cultivated s●yle makes it receive a new by exiling it from the old savagenesse and indomestication of its first seat and nature . since then the removing of wild plants addes so much to their improvement and melioration confirmed by naturall reason and unerring experience : why may not the diligent labour by removeall and transposing this excellent staple of silke grasse , make it thrive equally in greatnesse and goodnesse , there needes no more art to be used then th●t of comparing the soile ( transplantations int● worse grounds being naturally improsperous ) and though there appeare now somewhat of trouble ( though nothing of lab●ur ) in peeling the silky skinne of , yet that it may be broken as flaxe or cleared by some instrument ( the commodity richly rewarding the nobility of any invention ) to this purpose ; time and further experience will no doubt to the publick enriching of the colony and this nation make apparent . in this any one which is not sworne a servant to ease and sloth , may with a small toile reape a considerable profit . next , what will n●t those vines produce if well husbanded after their transplantation , and in this most delightfull labour the gain is so appareut that almost the blindest judgement may perceive it . orenges , lemons , pine-aples , plantanes , peaches , apricocks , peares , aples , in a word all sort of excellent fruits will grow there in full perfection ; you may sleepe whilst they are growing , after their setting or engrafting , there needes no more labour but your prayers , that they may prosper , and now and then an eye to prevent their casualties , wounds or diseases . sugars , indigos , cotton , and ginger , require a greater industry ; but if wee consider the difference betwixt the two climates of barbadoes and virginia , the immoderate heate of the first and the exact temper of the other , the labour though it may require as frequent handling , yet is by much lesse toylesome . in a word , if a man be yet timerous of a thriving condition in this countrey ; i shall with his pardon believe him , distrustfull of gods providence ; or if he be so vitiously disposed as to hope after a land where he may enjoy an undisturbed plenty without the sweat of his browes , the maps are so extreamely d●ficient in the description of such a countrey , that i must desire him to looke for a new world and kingdome , for such an easie accommodation . if any make an objection why this countrey stored with all these riches , furnished with all these staples , hath so long held downe her head in the lownesse of a desperate condition ? why being capable to crowne her browes with garlands of roses and plenty , she sate desolate amongst the willowes of neglect and poverty ? let them but recall their memory , how by the prevailency of g●ndamore the co●poration w●s dissolved , their patent cancelled , to which if wee adde the cooperation of the indian treachery in their first massacre , they will cease their wonder at its languishing condition● and convert it to a full admiration , how that colony could ever raise her endangered head out of those gulfes of distraction , in which the gold of spaine , the disincouragement of the court , the discontent of the better sort of planters , and the desperate negligence of the more inconsiderable had in humane opinion irrecoverably involved her . but the incomparable virgin hath raised her dejected head , cleared her enclouded reputation , and now like the eld●st daughter of nature expresseth a priority in her dowry ; her browes encircled with opul●ncy to be believed by no other tri●ll , but that of expeperience , her unwounded wombe full ●f all those treasuries which indeere provinces to respect of glory , and may with as great justice as any countrey the sunne honours with his eye-beames , ●ntitle her selfe to an affinity with eden , to an absolute perfection above all but paradize . and this those gentlemen to whom she vouchsaf●s the honour of her embraces , when by the blessings of god upon their labou●s s●ted with the beauty of their cornefield , they shall retire into their groves checkered with vines , olives , mirtles , from thence dilate themselves into their walkes covered in a manner , paved with orenges and lemmons , whence surfeited with variety , they incline to repose in their gardens upon nothing lesse perfumed then rose● and gilly-flowers . when they shall see their numerous heards wanton with the luxury of their pasture , confesse a narrowne●se in their barnes to receive their corne , in bosomes to expresse fully their thank●fulnesse to the almighty authour of these blessings , will ch●arefully confesse : whilst the incomparable roanoak like a queene of the ocean , encircled with an hundred attendant islands , and the most majestick carolana shall in such an ample and noble gratitude by her improvement repay her adventurers and creditors with an interest so far transcending the principall . a valuation of the commodities growing and to be had in virginia : valued in the year , 1621. and since those times improved in all more or lesse , in some ⅓ , in others ½ , in many double , and in some treble . iron , ten pounds the tun . silke coddes , two shillings six pence the pound . raw silk , 13s . 4d . the pound , now at 25s . and 28. per pound . silke grasse to be used for cordage , 6d . the pound : but we hope it will serve for many better uses , and so yeeld a far greater r●te , wherof there can never be too much planted . of this q. elizabeth had a silke gowne made . hemp , from 10s . to 22s . the hundred , flax , from 22s , to 30s . the hundred . cordage , from 20s . to 24s . the hundred . cotton wooll , 8d . the pound . hard pitch , 5s . the hundred . tarre , 5s . the hundred . turpentine , 12s . the hundred . rozen , 5s . the hundred . madde● crop , 4●s . the hundred : course madder , 25s . the hundred . woad , from 12s . to 20 the hundred . annice seeds , 40s . the hundred . powder sugar , panels , muscavadoes an● whites , 25s● 40. and 3l . the hundred . s●urgeon , and caveare , as it is in goodnesse . salt , 30s . the weight . mastick , 3s . the pound . salsa perilla wild , 5l . the hundred . salsa perilla domestick , 10l . the hundred . red earth allenagra , 3s . the hundred . red allum , called carthagena a●lum , 10s . the hundred . roach allum , called romish allum , 10s . the hundred . berry graine , ●s . 6d the pound : the powder of graine , 9s . the pound : it groweth on trees like holly berries . masts for shipping , from 10s . to 3l . a peece . pot-ashes , from 12s . the hundred , to 14. now 40. and 35s . the hundred . sope-ashes , from 6s . to 8s . the hundred . clapboord watered , 30s . the hundred . pipe staves , 4l . the thousand . rape-seed oyle , 10l . the tun , the cakes of it feed kine fat in the winter . oyle of walnuts , 12l . the tun . linseed oyle● 10l . the tun . saffron , 20s . the pound . honey , 2s . the gallon . waxe , 4l . the hundred . shomacke , 7s . the hundred , whereof great plenty in virginia , and good quantity will be vented in england . fustick yong , 8s . the hundred . fustick old , 6s . the hundred , according to the sample . sweet gums , roots , woods , berries for dies and drugs , send of all sorts as much as you can , every sort by it sel●e , there being great quantities of those things in virginia , which after proof made , may be heere valued to their worth . and particularly , we have great hope of the pocoon root , that it will prove better then madder . sables , from 8s . the payre , to 20s . a payre . otter skin● , from 3s . to 5s . a piece . l●zernes , from 2s . to 10 a piece . martins the best , 4s . a piece . wild ca●s , ●8d . a piece . fox skins , ●d . a piece . muske rats skins , 2s . a dozen : the cods of them will serve 〈◊〉 good perfumes . bever skins that are full growne , in season , are worth 7s . a piece . bever skins , not in season , to allow two skins for one , and of the lesser , three for one . old bever skins in mantles , gloves or cap● , the more worne , the better , so they be full of fur , the pound weight is 6s . the new bevers skins are not to bee bought by the pound , because they are thicke and heavy leather , and not so good for use as the old . pearles of all sorts that ye can find : ambergreece as much as you can get : cristall rocke : send as much as you can , and any sort of minerall stones , or earth that weighs very heavy . preserve the walnut trees to make oile of , & cut them not down● so also preserve your mulberry and chestnut trees very carefully . in the month of june , bore holes in divers sorts of trees , wherby you shall see what gums they yield , and let them bee well dried in the sun every day , and send them home in very dry caske . finis . virginia's discovery of silke-vvorms, with their benefit and the implanting of mulberry trees : also the dressing and keeping of vines, for the rich trade of making wines there : together with the making of the saw-mill, very usefull in virginia, for cutting of timber and clapbord, to build with-all, and its conversion to other as profitable uses. williams, edward, fl. 1650. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a66357 of text r235035 in the english short title catalog (wing w2659). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 162 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 43 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a66357 wing w2659 estc r235035 12497606 ocm 12497606 62566 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a66357) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 62566) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 951:60) virginia's discovery of silke-vvorms, with their benefit and the implanting of mulberry trees : also the dressing and keeping of vines, for the rich trade of making wines there : together with the making of the saw-mill, very usefull in virginia, for cutting of timber and clapbord, to build with-all, and its conversion to other as profitable uses. williams, edward, fl. 1650. [6], 75, [3] p. : ill. printed by t.h. for john stephenson ..., london : 1650. reproduction of original in huntington library. attributed to edward williams. cf. nuc pre-1956. the second part of the author's virginia, more especially the south part thereof ... [2d ed.] eng silkworms -early works to 1800. viticulture. wine and wine making -early works to 1800. virginia -history -colonial period, ca. 1600-1775. a66357 r235035 (wing w2659). civilwar no virginia's discovery of silke-vvormes, with their benefit. and the implanting of mulberry trees. also the dressing and keeping of vines, for williams, edward 1650 30903 913 5 0 0 0 0 297 f the rate of 297 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the f category of texts with 100 or more defects per 10,000 words. 2002-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2002-03 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2002-04 tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread 2002-04 john latta text and markup reviewed and edited 2002-05 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion virginia's discovery of silke-vvormes , with their benefit . and the implanting of mulberry trees . also the dressing and keeping of vines , for the rich trade of making wines there . together with the making of the saw-mill , very usefull in virginia , for cutting of timber and clapbord , to build withall , and its conversion to other as profitable uses . london , printed by t. h. for iohn s●ephenson , at the signe of the sun , below ludgate . 1650. to all the virginia merchants , adventurers , and planters . gentlemen : the unhappinesse to be amongst the lowest of men , for parts and fortune , cannot hinder mee from the satisfaction which i receive in my selfe , that none is possessed with a more eager passion of contributing towards the advancing virginia to that degree of felicity which the bounty of nature , richnesse of soyle , and temperature of climate designed her to : and were my power but of as strong a wing as my inclinations and desires , that above-example countrey should be placed in such a zenith of stability , wealth , and glory , that it should behold all the other nationall happinesses of the world in a sphere beneath her ; and her merchants adventurers and planters , like so many load-starres to conduct mankinde into an innocent ocean of unfathom'd wealth of unrocky prosperity . no countrey under the sunne is lesse ingratefull then virginia , if she be but justly courted , but to complement a virgin for her affection by breathing smoake in her nostrils , to expresse our civilities by vapour ; and for all that vast dowry of spaciousnesse , wealth , bounty of aire , and plenty of provisions , to proffer her a joynture of tobacco , is a complement indistinguishable from incivill rudenesse . what riches may not the silke-worme , vine , olive , and almond afford us ? by these noble undertakings wee contract china two thousand leagues nearer to us , and are not troubled though spaine and italy were remooved five thousand more distant from us : and if wee could not satisfie the implacable curiosity of our senses without the easterne spices , it i● without dispute , that what every orient hath of aromatick , ●ould grow without any deterioration in this incomparable countrey . yet if , by some occult propriety of nature , these spices , and gummes should not prosper with that successe in the countrey ●o which they are onely adoptive , as where they are naturall : the south sea flowing upon the skirts of this gloriously appa●relled virgin , would not onely furnish us , but ( through our meanes ) all the westerne worl● with whatever the philippines and china have in ●heir brow , or bosome : which that it may be discovered , a publique incouragement from the merchan●s here , and the colony ●here , would awaken all spirits which have any scintillation of honour , or industry , to undertake the imployment , effect it undertaken , and by the effect raise an unperishable structure for their owne glory , perpetuated by the publique felicity . the grea●est defect that colony can with consent complaine of , is their want of shipping , and the greatest with which others finde ●hemselves perplexed , is the want of industry to build them . if virginia had not as stately timber as any other region wha●soe●er : is it had no● a soyle naturally inviting them to improve her in iron for gunnes , anchors , and other conveniences ; in hempe for cordage , flax for canvase , and pine trees for mast : this defect might be allowed for reall : but where all these concenter , it is as unreasonable to complaine , as for a man seated at a table covered with excellent provision , to accuse his fortune for suffering him to perish wi●h hunger , because his meat is not digested in his stomack , wi●hout putting his hands and teeth to labour . i could cordially wish that there were such quantity of cleared ground in virginia , that every one at his fi●st arrivall might ●ix upon the plough , that the so much discoursed of s●aples of wheat and rye , might be brought to an absolute ripenesse of per●ection : but to imagin● so many millions of trees of a facile removall , or that old planters knowing the benefit thence arising , should part with them to o●hers , and seeke new uncleared grounds for themselves , were meerely to dreame of impossibilities . but the vine , almond , and olive , may be set where the tree is onely barked about to hinder it from leaving ; besides if ●here were a necessi●y to have absolutely cleared grounds , ( ●hich reason it selfe cannot imagine , ) yet foure acres of ground so cleared ●or the vine , will re●urne ( by much ) more profi● , and l●sse trouble , then twenty acres of wheat , at such ra●es as they are prized in the common estimation . but since ●his profi● reverts to the purse wi●hout the toyle of ●radica●ing trees , as great em●lument , as if the ground were al●oge●her treel●sse , to what purpose should we court sweat and affl●ction ? or increase our miseries wi●hout any addition to ou● happin●sse ? gen●lemen , he happinesse o● this n●tion depends upon your co●stancy and prosperi●y , i● you seriously erect these staples , wee shall be free ●rom the imperious usurpations of forraigne princes upon your estates , and shipping , from the rapine of pirates upon your lives or liberties . the decayed number of our shipping may be resupplyed by encouragement of carpenters of all nations , to make use of those materialls which the inimitable liberality of this countrey gratefully presents you with : all staples ( diffusively spread in other regions ) will meet here united , and we shall arrive to that degree of happinesse , to make our intrade by much exceed our exportations : for the compleating of which , if such an inconsiderable , and lost thing as my selfe , could be any way instrumentall , i should as cheerfully hazard my life in the employment , as i now subscribe my selfe , your ready , faithfull , and most humble servant , ed. williams . the discovery of silke-wormes ; with their benefit , and implanting of mulberry trees . the mulberry tree , yielding the sole food of this exellent worme , must first bee provided for , whereof there are myriads dispers● in the wide continent of virginia , which may bee collected by transplanting , grafting , or nursering . for transplantation there are infinite advantages both of well-growne and springing mulberry trees , which may with much facility be removed , and with great felicity thrive upon such a removall , of which experience can afford frequent examples . the grafts must bee chosen from excellent good plants which expresse a large fertility , and bee something large of themselves , by which election there will bee a greater certainety of the goodness● , and a more speedy expectation of g●owth in those grafts , which thrive better when grafted one upon another , then upon the chesnut , apple-tree , elme , white ●ople● , or any other , which if they are not mortally opposite , are however praeternaturall to the silke●worme . the nu●series have so much of tediousnesse and difficulty , that i shall hardly advise to put it in practic● ; yet to those who have a stronger ●●●dulity then my reason ca● perswade mee to● i shall offer the ●ol●●xpedient of effecting it , if that may bee ca●led aptly an exp●●●●●● , which hath so little of expedi●ion in it . let ●h● 〈…〉 to make a nursery , observe , and gather such 〈…〉 will suit with his necessity● of the ripest fruit growing upon those trees which beare the fairest and roundest leaves : these thus gathered , you must wash in two or three waters , pressing them with your hands , by which meanes you shall fi●de the expressed seede in the botto●e of the water : i ●cced● more to the sowing of the mulberries whole without such expression , how ever , either the mulberry entire , or the seede may bee sowed after the manner following . a b●d of fa● earth being digged , husbanded , and the mo●ld brought into a small powder● must have strait rowes or lines in furrowes● all ha●fe a foot equally distant every furrow two inches deepe , and f●u●e broad , this distance may bee something larger that an in●ervall may bee made to the weeder in the weeding of such things ●s may hinder the mulberries growth by participating in its aliment . a great care must bee had to water it often for the first yeare , i● the weather b● dry , the succeeding yeare you may pul up and transplant your mulberry trees int● another ground more at large , viz. at two or three f●●● distance , which must bee not retransplanted till the growth arise to some six inches in the circumference● at which bignesse you m●y remove them to the ground designed for their constant fixation , leaving betwixt each tree a distance of sixteene or twenty foot , that the too muc●●i●inity may not make the extending branches mutually inconvenience either by exclusion of a full sunne , or wound themselves by intertangence of one another● in such warme countries as that of virginia , the root must bee preserved coole and moy●t , by a deeper implantation then is usuall in colder regions . for the election of your plants or sciens you may take notice of two families , or races , of mulberry trees , the black , and the white , discordant in wood , leafe , and fruit ; onely having this in common to spring later then other trees , as never emitti●g their leaves till all apprehension of cold is vanished , the black mulberry is not subdivided into any other species having the wood solid and strong , the leafe large , and rud● in the handling , the fruit black , great● and acceptable to the palate : b●t there are three app●rently di●ferent species in the white , distinguishe● onely by the colour of the fr●it , namely , white , black , and red : yet is this fruit by much lesse gratefull to the palate then that of the black mulberry . no other distinction besides , the colour of the fruit discernes them one from the other , the leaves of all three being of the same meane greatnesse of the same smooth feeling , the wood of the same internall yellownesse , almost as firme as that of the black mulberry . but the silke taking his quality from the leafe make us lay a●ide the black mulberry tree , since the bottomes from thence are too grosse and heavy , whereas the white mulberry makes silke fine and light , to temper which many feed the wormes with two ●orts of meats by dictinction of times , viz● at the beginning with white leaves , that the silke may bee fine , in the closing , with black to fortifie it , and make it weigh : yet this though it have an appearance of reason ●t the first inspection , rarely answers the expectation , the very alteration of the meate as from that which is more delicate , to that which is more grosse , being disagreable to the nature of the worme , who must shew that diminution in the quality of his silkes which hee feeles in the impairing of his n●triment . others make a contrary application of leaves by a more ( imaginative solid foundation● ) which is to begin their dieting with black , and conclude with white ; which cannot succeed better , for the black having disposed the matter of the silke , the white leaves after administred have no power to alter that seminall disposition . wee shall therefore fixe upon it as a principle of nature , not to vary the nourishment of this industrio●s creature . if wee begin with the black mulberry , the continuance of it will bee necessary . if the ground you possesse bee already planted with black mulberries , it is so much losse of time and expences to replant white : but if wee are to commence a thing de novo , every mans reason leading him to chuse the most profitable , and common exp●rience telling us that the white antecede the black ones so incredibly in the poynt of maturation , that six years of growth advance not so much the latter as two the first ; it were an act declaring bethlem for dic●ator , not to prefer the most speedy and profitable before the tedious and improper commodity . besides which em●lument the branches which by that speedy shoot they bring forth will bee usefull for propagation of that tree to infinite numbers . there is yet experimentall election amongst the white mulberries . some affirming that the leaves of those trees which emit the white fruit are fittest to bee assigned for this nourishment , which they fortifie by this reason ; that pullen and swine doe most delight in the white , and never eate the red and black but by constraint , a conjecture not altog●ther irrefragable ; for why may it not bee controverted that pullen and swine being a greedy generation , may rather ballance that which is most grosse and fulsome , as b●st adapted for their palate , then that which is nice , and subtle , and best according to the delicate tendernesse of this creature ? others who have their owne experience to fortifie their ass●rtion , commend the white mulberry bearing the black fruit , the colour demonstrating a better concoction in the fruit , and consequently in the leafe then the others . but ( which wee must bee extreamely curious in ) wee must expell from our yard all muberry trees bearing leaves too much indented , which , besides that it is an apparent signe of small subsistence and ●ncompleated nature , is more defective in quantity and quality of nourishment , then that which is lesse interruptedly circular : yet this may easily bee remedied● if you inoculate such tr●es in the bud , or eseuch●on , having neede of such freedome ; the profit thence arising being very con●iderable for this kinde of nourishment : for by this course that inconsiderable quantity of worthless and famelick leaves receives a happy melioration into an abundant plenty of substantiall and nutritive nature . nor is this transmutation improper , for any other orchard plants which will succeede to yo●r most advantagious expectation , and all indomestick and wild trees may by this bee made capable of a most happy cultivation . this infranchizing may bee practised to the answer of your desires in mulb●rries of all ages : in the older , on their new shoots of the antecedent yeare then lopped ; in the yonger upon the smallest trees of the nursery . but to graft these trees in the first season , th●t their growth will permit it● is most opportune and profitable● for by this meanes your groves of mulberry will bee in●irely delivered from all apprehension of jejune sterility , or insub●tantiall deficiency● nor can ever you feare a want of supply , if you constantly maintaine a nursery of such graf●s , not f●om the seede , but from the shoots and branches of your best trees thus propagated to an unperishable infinity by couching them in the ground , and the trees encreasing by their reimplanting are constantly furnished with leaves of an excellent sweetnesse and greatnesse , exquisitely abundant in nourishment , and consequently exempt from all the inconveniencies which walke hand in hand with ●n ingratefull wildnesse . having described what trees , grafts , and nurseries are best conducent to our mystery ; let us next dilate of their most proper soyle , and best order in planting . the best soyle and order for planting the mulberry . for the soyle it must bee chosen in particular much like that of the vines , inclining rather to dry then moyst , light then heavy , sandy then ●layie ; for those which opinionate themselves that a f●t ground is inconvenient t● mulberries● as supplying leaves of too grosse and unsubtile aliment ; the objection is pritty , but under pardon scarcely solid , neither am i capable of any reason to the contrary , why a rich soyle should not emit the growing tree● with a greater maturation and bignesse , then a leane plantation , where the tender plants are even starved with the sparenesse of distributive moysture and aliment : yet to prevent the too grosse substance of the leafe after the tree by the advantage of a rich nourishment , hath arrived to a competent greatnesse ; the order which wee shall prescribe in their planting will admit the plough amongst them , where cultivation will easily take off the soyle from all exuberancy of fullsome ranknesse . the soyle which is full of springs , lakes , rivers , or ( which is worst of all ) marshes , is particularly to be avoyded . the manner of implanting them would require a distance of foure fathomes or more , which in virginia where wee labour not under a penury of ground , may bee something more spaciously enlarged● the reasons why this extent of distance are : first , the intermixture of spreading branches , where by their contingency they violate and mutually wound themselves will bee avoyded . next , the sunne hath a more unimpeached immi●●ion and distrib●tion 〈◊〉 his beames , with which this tree is most particularly delighted . lastly , this largenesse of intervalls permits a free passage for the plough , to take off all luxuriancy of ranknesse , which t●o much inspissate● the leafes , which must feede this admirable creature . but of such graines as may with least impairement bee sowen under the mulberry trees , oats and pease are the most proper , which during the collection of the leaves may with very small detriment bee trodden upon ( the season commonly falling in april and may , when their blades are backward ) nay the very compressure of the earth makes them afterwards arise more strongly . i approve much more of interplanting the vine ; but ( which i conceive the most convenient for virginia i● ) the setting of the indian potato hath the most inestimable benefit ; the potato having such a happy multiplica●ion of and in it selfe , that whilst there is but a string of the root left behinde in the earth , the species will bee renewed . besides the excellency of the food , whether for man , or ( where such a vast abundance may soone introduce a satiety ) cattle will bring alone with it an inestimable advantage ; whereas corne may too strongly impoverish a ground , and the vine it selfe when it comes to its ripest excellency , will want the compleat comfort of the sunne beames to give fruit a well concocted maturity , the mulberry like an ambitio●s grandee , e●grossing all that favour to himselfe by his prevalency of height and greatnesse . nor should wee bee too curious to plant the trees one over against the other exactly opposite ; but still observing for beauties ●ake to set them in a right line ) rather one against the intervall of the other , that so the sunne may have no interposition from any angle , to warme , comfort , and enrich this tree , which aides the production of so many incomprehensible miracles . the order for collection of the leaves . the order to bee observed for collecting the leaves should bee precisely insisted upon , that the trees may bee of longer and flourishing duration , and the food of a more curious and unsoyled nourishment : it is a truth not to bee denyed , that the disleaving of trees is extreamely prejudiciall , and in some irrecoverably deadly ; the reason is their extraordinary scorching , by being left without any shade of protection : but the mulberry being ( as it were ) destined to this worke which it naturally supporteth , more inprejudicially endures this temper of disleaving then any other trees whatsoever . but for the obviation of this inconvenience , it will bee absolutely necessary for our master of the silkeworme , to have such a proportionable number of trees , that the halfe may alternately repose unpluckt every second yeare . this diligently put into practice will make your trees continue verdant and vigorous for many generations . to gather them with both hands leafe after leafe , is confessedly the most proper , but yet withall the most expencefull ; for the multitude of hands which such a circumstantiall labour would exact . the other way of gathering them with stripping them from the branches , is without doubt extreamely n●cent to the tree , and worm : to the tree by unbarking , wounding , and perishing its branches . nor is it lesse detrimentall to the worme seeing this disorderly collection corrupts and sullies the leaves , which this delicate nice creature perceiving , either rejects them , or sickens upon their reception by bruising the leaves , and expressing that which is the life of its substance , the juice , and this commonly with unwasht hands , which leave the ill odour unremoveable upon them . the removall of these inconveniences is easily effected by following the course they practice in some parts of spaine , which is by clipping the leaves from the branches with a sharpe instrument , like a taylors sheares ; by this way you disleave many stalkes at once , which falling into a cleane sheete spread under that tree for the purpose , seperating afterwards the leaves also , such as are sound from unsound , such as peradventure have much of the stalke , from those which are nothing but leafe , ( the stalke being hurtfull to this tender creature ) and administred to them the sunny side of the leafe upward is the most commendable practise of gathering and feeding that hath hitherto been delivered . the leaves of the old mulberry are to bee much prefer'd before those which are not come to an absolute perfection ; the age of perfection in the mulberry , we reckon to be accomplished in seven or eight yeares , as to soundnesse of nourishment ; not that they grow not after , but by that time it is growne powerfull to conc●ct such succulency as might before over master it . the trees disleaved must by a diligent hand be pruned immediatly after the last collection ; what ever is broken , wounded , or made unprofitable must bee carefully cut off . the extreames of all the branches must be top'd a little with a sharpe pruning knife , which is an invitation to nature to send forth the next yeare more vigorously . but whether it be in gathering the leaves , or pruning the trees , it must bee our principall care that they be intirely beared● the omission of which , by not taking all the leaves off , turnes back the liberallity of the repeating spring . this observation hath been grounded upon practise , made so successefull by experience , that it hath been found , that trees after such culture and disleaving , have within a month attired themselves with such a new border of leaves , that the former imbalding them hath been imperceptible . which induces me to believe a former assertion , that it is possible to have a second silke harvest by this meanes , and why not equall with the first , i know not , since the seed is more youthfull and vigorous then that of the yeare preceding growne feeble by its continuance . the raines if they fall about the time this noble creature drawes unto her perfection and period , is by much more strangely prejudiciall , then when they are in the greatest of their feeding , the wet leaves occasioning them many desperate diseases : the usuall way of prevention is to have a provision of leaves before hand , when there is any jealousie of rainy weather ; but this provision must be laid in a cleane dry place which is fresh aired , and th●t w● may remove all dangers of contracting too much heat , to be turned o●ten , which course , although the raine should not oppr●sse us , yet is it of great conveniency , not so much out of apprehension ●o be necessitated● as for the quality of the food , it being much better after fourteen or fifteen houres resting in a place cleane and drie , then when fresh from the tree . but if you are surprized by an unexpected season of wet , take those mulberries which you intend to ●op the next yeare , ( and the mulberry would be lop'd every ten or twelve yeare , which revives and strengthens the tree with a new youth ) and ●ut their branches which hung up in a drie corner , either of your house or barne , or any other coverture in airy places , will soone have their leaves drie , better condition'd , and of more efficacy then any leaves set to a fire , which is too suddaine , or to winnowing by a winde artificiall and unnaturall . the mulberries chiefe profit consisting in the leafe , we must be carefull to lose nothing of this revenue ; which considered , wee should delay the disheading or lopping of them till the wormes have done feeding , which would be about the latter end of may , or the beginning of iune● and alt●ough by the disbranching of them in such a season , we cannot expect such l●rge returning shoots as those which were cut in february or march , the distance of time being materiall in their growth , yet the profit of the leaves being double , very well answer such in●quality . the mulberry being of so ●ranke and plyable a disposition● that notwithstanding its amp●●ation in unseasonable moone and w●ather , no injuries shall hinder him from regermination . yet are not these advantag●s ( no necessity obstructing them ) to be omitted by any which are not enemies to their owne profit . the mulberries in the increase of the moone pou●ed , or lopt , bring forth their young shoots long without spread●ng bra●ches ; in the wane short , with many little branches crossi●g the principall . to reco●cile this ( the election of the time being i● our power ) the mulberries seated in leane grou●ds , are ●ost properly disheaded in the new moone : those whic● are pl●nted in ●ich ground , in the last quarter ; so will those in the leane soyle emit shoots as long as the barrenn●ss● of the place will afford them : and those of the fa●●er , th●ough the benefit of thei● seat , co●veniently ●●gaine that which they would not easi●y have done , cu● in the inc●●ase● fo● those aspi●ing branches , we●e they not r●st●ai●●d by the counte● shoots who participate with them in nou●●●hme●t would by reason of thei● unweldy length , be fo●ced to b●nd downew●●ds to the deforming of the tree f●om the shape of a muiberry into that of a palme-tree , which is not to bee feared in the rest , by reason of the leanenesse of the ground , forbidding all abundance of shooting : wee have provided for the feeding of this little and great artificer , let us now expresse an equall care in his lodging . the lodging of the silke wormes . t is a vanity to expect emolument from this mysterious creature , if wee sort him not with a lodging proper and agreeable to his nature , who c●n with no lesse disprofit bee ill accommodated in his habitation , then in his nourishment ; who to show a particular affinity with the noblest of creatures , man , makes his affection of habitation equall to his . spaciousnesse , pleasure , healthfu●lness , distance from off●nsive vapours , damps and humidities , warmth in the extreames ●f colds , coolenesse in the extreames of warmth . wh●t ever wee naturally desire and abhorre , does this creature by the prosperity or i●f●licity of his labou●● show a most experimentall r●s●ntment ●f his ●tation there●ore ●ust bee i● the meane twixt the top and bottom● of a foundation , the first being too much obnoxious to h●ats or wi●des , the second to colds and d●mps . the platforme ther●fore of your building his station must be so contrived , as to have his basis three or foure foot above the g●ound , nor ascending within an e●●●ll distanc● of the til●s . a fab●ick ( saith de serres ) of seven fathome in length , three in breadth , and two in height , will entertaine with ease the worm●s enlivened from ten ounces of seed : this pr●portion may be raised acco●ding to your seed . in virgin●a these may be of very sudden erection ; nature hath furni●h●d ●hat excellent countrey with materials , to invite all who have the desire to attempt it . th●t the aire a●d winde ( if coole and dry ) may have free passage to refresh these laborious spinners , who near upon the perfection of their worke are upo● the point of stifling● ( the season , and th●●bund●●ce of 〈◊〉 silke wherewith they are filled , both coop●rating ther●u●to ) w●e must h●ve windowes opening to all angles to receive u●susp●●ted inf●igi●●tions in extreamiti●s of heat , and wa●m●ng transpiratio●s in immod●●ate colds ; y●t with this proviso , that these windowes bee fit not onely to receive any favourable aire , but to expell all noxious vapou●s ; and because this creature loveth any thing that is white and luminous , it will sort excellently well with his disposition and safety , to p●rget or plaster the inside of the house very well and smooth , bo●h to satisfie the eye and preserve him from the danger of rats , which cannot clime up such a wall , though a principall care ought to bee used that the severall stations on which they are lodged , bee remote from all fixures to walls , which might give rats and mice advantage . to build the s●affolds containing these wormes : many pillers of carpenters worke di●ectly squared , shall bee pe●pendicularly erected , from the ground to the seeling , to support the tables which crossing the pillars upon little joynts sixteene inches di●tant one from the other ( exc●pt that from the g●ound which must bee 36 inches . ) upon these tables doe wee l●y our wormes● but their boards must not bee equall in breadth , ev●ry table as it exceeds in height , being to bee narrower then the next below by foure inches , and the highest approaching the ●eeling to bee narrowest of all . this pyramidicall forme is of most beau●y and safety to the wormes ; when wandring upon the edges from one end of the scaffold to another , seeking a fit place ●o ●omi● their ●ilke , they fall in such a precipice from the higher scaffold to the ground , that they break themselves in pieces : but by this means fal●ing but from one scaffold to another , the smallnesse of the distance contributes to their preservation . the breadth of the most low●st table shall bee limited even to this proportion , that easily of one side a man with his hand may reach the middle to a●tend the wormes ; as for the ascending scaffolds their continuall diminution makes the serving of them of greater easinesse . a roome of any capacity will admit severall of these scaffolds ( distinct from the wall for reason before recited of rats ) and also that the attender may come on either side of the scaffold , such space being alwayes to bee left betweene their position . these scaffo●ds must bee made of an unsuspected fi●menesse , to prev●nt the falling downe of a●y ●art of it , or the whole either by the ladder which the keeper ascends , or the weight of the worms themselves , when once growne great and hea●y . to ascend these sc●ffolds , some make boards about the● , ●s it were by galleries● others have their getting up to them by little staires appropriated to this ; others by formes . i approve of none more co●venient then a light ladder which fits all , and poss●sses but one place . the timber fitt●st to employ in the tablure of this scaffolding is usually firre or such light wood : in virginia● i apprehend none fitter then cedar or cypresse , because o● their delicious odours . wee h●ve already spoken of such meanes as may refresh the overheated worme ; r●sts now to d●liver an experiment to wa●me the aire , this creature b●ing no l●s●e enemy to cold in the beginning of his apprentissage , then to hea●e when ●ee is ready to goe out ●f this w●●ld m●st●r workeman . aft●r ●aving built your house for worm● ; let there be a hole pierced through your wall , where you must make an oven , the mou●h whereof must be on the o●● side of the hous● then before you make it off , take pots like flower pots , but such a● will indure the fire● and lay them with the mouth side of these pots tending inwards towards the house● and the bottome within the oven , lay these ●●u● sidelong at an equall distance● and work● up the oven with the po●● incorporate ther●unto . this done you may make a fire in the oven , which by the benefit of the pots conv●y●s a●l the heate to you without any inconvenience of smoake . to make this heate the more agreeable to the wo●mes , and to keepe the house in a temperate and inoffensive warmth , you may put into these 〈◊〉 branches of rosemary , time , roses , juniper , &c. this figure ●heweth the order for ●●nking the t●bl●s on ●●e se●ffolds , to lay the l●aves on , for feeding the wormes . this figure sheweth how to place the rods , betweene the tables , for the wormes to climbe up , and spin their silke . this figure representeth the engine , to wind off the silk from the cods , w●●h furnaces and cawlderns necessary thereto . t●●● f●●ure ●our●ra●●s the cods , with the butterflie● come forth of them , ●o l●y ●heir e●g● upon black s●●g● , chamlet , ●ammy , or such like ●●●ffe , as in this treatise is shewed . the election and use of the seed of the silke-worme . there is a great deale of reason , that we should be curious in the election of ou●●eed ; and t is not more poetick then philosophick , that of horace : est in juvencis est in equis patrum , virsu● nec imbellem feroces progenerant aquilam columbae . what can we expect of generosity in that which has a disposition to degenerate before produced : of all the seeds proper for the vivifying this animall , there is none more exc●llent , as yet a●rived to our knowledge , then that of spaine : this de serres●ffirmeth , though he seeme to be in a kinde of haesitation , whether that of calabria march not in a higher degree of reputation , as yielding more abundance , and of equall hardn●sse with the cod of spaine ; yet this is certaine in nature and reason , that seed transported in●o other colder regions , can no way lay claime to a parity of ●hriving with that continued in its owne climate ; and i doubt not but if the south of virginia , where the silke-worme is a●o●iginally native , were duely inquired after , the seed of that would have a particular excellency , to which all the europaean na●ions must give the glory , the right hand of preheminence . but leaving this to the scrutiny which shall be made by time , and experience , we must grant the prim● opinion to the sp●nish , which however it thrive in france for foure yeares● yet afterwa●ds it degenerates extreamely , so that it must every foure yeares be renew'd , for within that circle it suffe●s a m●nif●st d●clension in goodnesse . comming from spaine it is of a dark taw●y colour , after certaine generations , gray . to prove whether the seed b● dead or not , you must expe●iment it upon your naile , that which breaks in cr●cking , c●sting forth ●umor and moisture , you may ●ssuredly ●steem for good , the other is to be rejected . the smalln●s●● of the sp●nish se●d incr●as●s the number of wormes , for which it deserves ● p●rticular p●ae●ation . no seed of above a yeare old is any fu●ther profitable , till you put them to ha●ch , you may preserve them in boxes thrust amongst wo●llen cl●athes in a trunke or chest , and let the chamber where such trunkes or chests are , be now and then aired with a fire , to the intent they being rather warme then cold , may be praedisposed for a hasty production when the season of the yeare shall invite you to put into practise . to imbibe or steep the seed of silke-wormes in the most generous wine you can procure , is an experiment that hath alwayes answered with a happy successe ; for this not onely discriminates betwixt the good and bad , ( the good alwaies subsiding , and the other floating ) but addes legitimation and strength to the approved ones , making them come forth free and fortified , and causeth them to hatch almost all at one time . after the good are taken out , they must be set to drie in the sunne , or before the fire , layd upon very clean paper , covered with white linnen , or smooth paper , lest the ●eat might bring it prejudice . the vivification of the seed . the spring being come , and the mulberries budding , it will be seasonable to put them to hatching , which ( all other wayes ●mitted , as the keeping them in a boxe , in ones pocket , between a womans brea●●s , &c. ) sorts b●● with reason and convenience , performed thus , viz. that the seed removed from its first vessell , shall b● committed into a box lined with cotton , over which you must put a white paper , which must seperate the seed from the cotton , then cover the seeds ( being not above halfe an inch thick ) with a little bed of sow , over which tow you are to lay a paper pierced very thick with small holes , much about the bignes●e of the tag of a point ; over this paper you shall lay some mulberry leaves . and this is the preparative to hatch them . to bring them forth , lay your boxe so prepared between two pillowes , which moderately warmed with a pan every two houres , and after the first three and foure dayes visiting the box at every such warming , to the end to seperate such as you shall see hatched , who will not faile to creep through the tow , and pierced paper to the mulberry leaves , to which they will cleave : which to remove , you must draw them out of the boxe by taking hold of the mulberry leaves with a needle , and removing them and the wormes adherent into a bigger boxe or si●ve ; with paper at the bottomes , distinguish those of a hasty production from those of a more slow , that the worke may arise more equall . these thus brought forth must by gradations be accustomed to indure the coolenesse of the spring , diminishing dayly something from his accidentall warmnesse : the first foure daies let them in the sieve covered with cleane linnen continue upon the bed , the curtaines closely drawne , then removed into a warme chamber , close from all penetrations , layd upon ranks close together , that they may give and receive mutuall warmth , allowing them a larger proportion of roome , as they increase in bo●y . but the most assured way to preserve the wormes untill their second change in warmth and security from vermine , dust , or other hostilities of nature , is by a great presse or cubbord made with many stages , pargetted or pasted for the agreeablenesse of the odout with oxe dung , made of firre , or mats , and to draw out at will seperately , equally distant foure inches , compassed round about with linnen tackt to the doores , with paper w●ndowes on the sides and formost doore , to admit or exclude aire after the exigency of the occa●ion ; and h●ere vacant places being left at first to enlarge them , as they increase in growth may they bee distinguished according to the dates of their first appearance upon the mulberry , rejecting all that seed , which is not enlivened before the fifth day● as unprofitable for working by confu●ion of times , and uselesse by their weaknesse . foure times doth this excellent artist change his skinne , which is the cause of his so many sicknesses . the first sicknesse arriving within eight dayes from the beginning of his life , is knowne by these symptomes ; the head growes bigge and white , and hee ●●des himselfe under the leaves : to administer any food were needlesse ; but that they are not all sick at one instant , so that some must bee given to nourish th●m which have not arrived to , or past over their sicknesse , which you shall know by their change of colour and creeping upon fresh leaves . the second sicknesse arising within eight dayes , or thereabouts , ●rom thence is knowne by the same accidentalls , and must have the s●me appl●cations , onely now they would bee removed into new , cleane , and more spacious places : the third is in all like the two o●her , though something more dangerous ; heere you must carefully prevent the accession of all cold ayres whatsoever : it may happen that some of these wormes may grow yellow , which is almost incurable in themselves , and deadly contagious to all the rest ; th●se must bee carefully selected from the rest and ejected . remove , enlarge & cleanse as before . eight or ten dayes after appears the 4. change or sicknes● & now the recovered wor●● being increased to their full growth , must be removed , enlarged , & cleansed , as before . at appoynted houres morning and evening must this worme bee f●d from their hatching to their fi●st change or sickness● ; from the second chang● to the third or fourth , they must bee fed three times the day at the l●●st , taking this for an assured max●me , that after the recovery from their last siknesse , the very cloying of them with leaves even to the satiety of their ●ppetite , accelerates th●● to the perfection of their taske ; for these curious v●ssells will the sooner discharge themselves of their precious inclosed substance , by how much they are the sooner replenished . nor is there any p●odigall improvidence in this ; for it hath beene observed that worm●s have eaten neare as much in eight dayes when more sparingly distributed , as in foure when liberally handed to them ; so that by such wary disp●nsa●ion they save no leaves , and lose foure dayes in point of time . but a particular eye of care must bee had to the quality of the leav●s you feede with . no goodn●sse of a selected tree being capable to secure it selfe against ●ccidentall diseases arising from the unnaturalinesse of se●sons , whe●ein by extreames of drought or moisture mildewes , heat drops , and other distempers , all the leaves oftentimes becomming yellowish , spotted , or speckled , declare the nature of that food highly unwholesome and pernicicus : such as grow out of the ●unne in the interior umbragious parts of thick trees are almost as dangerous : nor are the leaves of the second spring which shoot afresh on trees already disleaved of lesse guilt , through the inequality of their ages . one banquet of those gives the last repast that your wormes shall have neede of , a ●iuxe thence arising killing them , and easing you of further trouble , if you ●●count it so to be vigilant over your own● pro●it . the most agreeable to all wormes is to bee fed with leaves of their owne age , and by this the feeble creatur● shall meete with tender leaves , then growne strong with leaves , fu●l growne correspondent to bo●h their complexions . the fault of the wet leaves may bee corrected by patience , attending the serener season ; but of dry leaves you ought at no time ( if you regard your owne profi● with a sober p●ovidence ) to bee unprovided , and the way how to prep●re hath beene already delivered in this treatise . t●●s● preciou● creatures exact no great expence or laborious care during the first three or foure weekes , being satisfied with little , as most agreeeble to the tendern●ss● and smalln●●s● of bodies , and are very w●ll entertained with the leaves of the ●uccours or other branches , from whence for the profit of the tree one should n●c●s●●rily cu● th●m . at the beginning we go to gather leaves with h●nkerchiefs , then with little baskets , la●tly with sacks & maunds , as growing to a bignesse to require it , and a p●rfection to discern it . that the gathere●s of these leav●s sho●ld handle them with pure and washt hands , wee have already decla●ed absolutely necessary : but the governour of these chast and magnificent ●reatures must bee master of an exact purity . the smell of tobacco is deadly to them : let his observance forbeare it : let him have a watchfull eye , that none of an offensive smell approach them ; all ill breathings upon them● whether contracted by fu●some foode or nature make this innocently noble creature expresse her resentment by her owne death , or sicknesse let him pu●ifie the rankn●sse of his owne breath ( when fasting ) with good wine ere he approach them , with the odour whereof the worme is highly cherish●d . let the lodging be swept ev●ry day , and pr●served so by sp●inkling the flou●e with vinegar , and afterwards strawing it with lav●nder , spike , rosemary , time , and such like of well comforting odours . to these we may sometimes adde a perfume composed of frankincense , benioin , storax , and other quickning aromaticks burned in the lodging . let the tables be often made cleane and shifted , by often , i meane eve●y ●●●rd o● fourth day at the furth●st , at which time the litter begins to bee offensive to this curio●s natured creature ; especially with the increase of the heate , let his diligence increase , that no uncleanesse ( at that time more then ordinary maligne ) cut him from the benefit of his labours . the litter must not bee taken away by degrees to the trouble of our curious creature , but all at once ; which may bee effected , if you leave at the end of each scaffold an empty station to place the adjoyning wormes on , whose left station being made cleane is fitted for the next neighbourhood , and thus may all bee removed and shifted by degrees , and a vacant table at the other end of the scaffold r●maines to begin againe ( as afore ) within two , three , or foure dayes at the longest . and thus without carrying far , the wormes shall bee removed with ease and security , not once laying the finger upon their tender bodies ; for giving them fres● leaves at the time of their replacing , the worme will fasten to the leafe , and the leafe may bee removed with his precious burthen , with no lesse safety then convenience . it will bee requisite to dispose the tables in such a fashion that they may bee seperately taken from the scaffold like tills out of drawers ; for this the easiest and lesse nocent way of cleansing , as preventing the falling of any stench upon the lower tables● and by which they are more suddenly discharged of their filth and ordure , meerely by striking them gently on the floore , which done , let them bee swept and brushed perfectly well ; let the tables on which you put your wormes after their first sicknesse bee sprinkled with vinegar or wine , then rubbed over with sweete hearbes to delight and encourage them to labour . some have made tryall , which hath succe●ded happily of the smell of garlick and onions to refresh them ; i dare not absolutely assent to this experiment ; but it is cleare as sunne-shine , that the worme not onely rejoyces in agreeable odours , but is succoured thereby in his greatest maladies : of which we now intend to discourse . the causes of extraordinary maladies in wormes , and their c●re . the extreames of colds and heates , the too sparing , or too abundant administration of victualls in their severall ages , and a maligne disposition of the leaves are the principle causes of all extraordinary maladies which afflict this creature . if the inclemency of cold hath benummed or diseased this innocent artist , the stove or oven formerly mentioned will recover it ( the stopping of all windowes , and other admi●sories of aire cooperating : ) to the greater complement of the cure , let the lodging bee perfumed with redolent gummes , with wine , strong vinegar , or aqua vitae● if on the contrary , the torrid violence of heate have wasted the strength of this suddaine and excellent spinner : the fresh aire admitted at the doores and windowes some brave artificiall fannes or ventalls to raise this breath , if too little , or at the last the exposing them upon their t●bles out of their lodgings to enjoy an uncontrouled and liberall communion of the aire , some halfe an houre before s●nne rising are the proper meanes of their recovery . those which by a wastfull liberality of their keeper in the tendernesse of their age have injured themselves with over feeding , must bee cured by a two dayes abstin●nce , and for some two succeeding dayes di●ted with a moderation . those who famished by the negligence of their keeper are almost languishing to death , must bee restored by giving them meate in slender proportion , but frequently repeated , by such a dyet regaining their forfeited appetite . those which by having fed on yellow spotted , or too yong leav●s have contracted a fluxe , and f●om thence a jaundice and spotted colour , accompanied with black bruisings , must upon the first inspection bee immediately removed into seperate chambers , that the change of ayre and dyet may labour for their almost desperate cure , and to prevent a contagion , which from thence would universally domineere . but s●ch wormes which as ●n accession to this last disease you should behold bathed on the belly by a certain humour flowing in that part of their bodies , are as incurable , good for nothing but to repast your poultry . indeed excepting this last inexpugnable malady perfumes and change of chambers are generally conducing to overcome all diseases and to res●ore a new health and vigour . but this noble creature is by nature sufficiently priviledged from these diseases , if the unskilfullnesse or negligence of the keeper did not violate this priviledge , and by that violation increase his owne trouble . nor is this care of the keeper to bee onely limited to the day , the night too must require a part of his vigilance ; mice and rats then take advantage , and grieved that any creature should labour for man without their participation or obstruction devoure them by troop●s , and the cat her selfe enters in●o a league with these her usuall prey● to prey upon these poore things , whose in●ocency and excellency makes them the more obnoxious to their cruell avarice . to remedy this , the house must not bee without contin●all lampes , bells , and other vaine terr●u●s to aff●ight them : the keeper himselfe also , or his depu●y must frequently walke round about his little army . and le●t the oyle ( which occasions divers indispositions , if it fall ●ut in a drop upon these nice artists ) might bee p●ejudiciall , the lamp●s should bee aff●●●d on the wall , and the portable lig●ts with which hee visits his curious charge of waxe , tallow , firre tree , or any other of innoxious , but illuminative substance . these things well observed , within se●ven or eight dayes at the most , succeeding their four●h and last exuviall sickness● ; the wormes dispose themselves to pay the exp●nce of their diet. t● make prepa●ation for them , there must bee accommodations of ●ods necessary for these wormes ●o c●me up to vomit their silke , and fasten their w●bs by . to ass●mble these wormes ( the terme assigned to this worke ) the most proper matters are rosemary , cutting of vines sho●ts , of chestn●ts , o●es osiers , sallow●s , elmes ashes , and in gen●rall of all flexible shrubs , not having a●y disagreeing od●ur . the feet of these rods ●v●n●d for the better fixure shall bee joyned at 15 inches distant to the table below , and the tops of them ●rched together at that above . w●ich epitomall amphitheater is maste● of as much beauty a● those of the caesars in the great●●t volume of their lustre and magnificence ; the ●pper part of the arch must bee plenti●ully interwoven with sprigs of lavender , spike , thyme , and shrubs delectable to the smell . by this intermixture the wormes shall have ample satisfaction to their restlesse curio●ity , where firmly to fasten their rich matter , having an election of such delectation of perfumes , & variety of shoots : but these twigs must by no means be green , the moisture extreamly offending the cattell , and not suddenly withering , if the aire be moyst . the wormes being removed to these amphitheatrall trophies , you may easily discover their gratefull inclination to spinne , by their bignesse of body , brightn●sse , and clearenesse of belly and neck , neglect of meat , and irregular wandring through the troope ; and a little after to fulfill these promises they ascend their branche● to vomit , or rather spinne out their silky substance . here you must diminish their ordinary , dayly , for they will in short time have united themselves to those shoots or twigs , quite forsaking the table . those wormes which clime not before the others union to the branches , are of a latter hatching ; and to prevent all ●nseasonable intertextures in generall , to the retarding and perishing of the whole worke , must be assembled two other tables arched as these , that they may worke together at one time . the knowledge ( when these wormes have perfected their cod● or bottoms ) may be obtained by an eare that is but the leastwaies curious , these creatures making both a pleasant humming in feeding and continuing it in fashioning their bottoms , give that noise and their compleated worke over both together . that which falls next is the propagation of the seed to be preserved till the next harvest . the propagation of the silke-worme seed . happy creature , which livest onely to doe mankinde service , and dyest when thou hast accomplished it ! miracle of n●ture ! a worme shut up in his owne monument , breakes through his silky grave , transformed into a butterflye ! employes ten dayes to erect himselfe a sepulchre , and an equall proportion of time to leave it ! disimprisoning himselfe from his owne interment , by perforation of his bottome , he returnes to the view of mankinde in the figure of a butterflye , with wings , as if he had already tryumph'd over his mortality ; which done , he and his co-triumphall females , coupling together perpetuate their species by dissolution of their bodies ; and that which compleats the miracle , may arise from the long abstinence of this living three and twenty dayes imprisoned without any sustenance or fruition of that which he takes a particular delight in , day light . removing your branches from the tables , and your silke-balls or bottomes from the branches 5 dayes after the worke is perfected , the balls are then to be made election of , for such seed as you wil preserve for the year following . bono●ill , & de serres do both agree that there should be proportioned 200 balls for one ounce of seed , he balls male and female ( the description of which hereafter . ) but whereas bon●●ill is of opinion that a hundred double or trebble bottomes which two or three wormes have spunne and made up in common , will produce so many wormes as bottom● : i demand his pardon if i accede rather to the judgement of de serres : for from every double or triple bottome there come● forth but one butterflye , though it hath more within : the reason is , it being not probable that they should be all ripe together , that which is most mature by perforation of the balls , exposes the other to the assault of the aire , which giving them cold , they dye imperfect . to distinguish the sexes . the male of the worme , when grown great , is knowne from the female , by a wrinkled head , and a great appearance of eyes ; the female hath the head round without any such appearance . in the bottomes of balls the male is knowne , as having work'd himselfe into a bottome , long , slender , and by much sharper at one end then the other : the bottomes of the female are bigger , softer , round at one end , halfe poynted at the other . the sex in those butterflyes is thus distinguished : the male is lesser of body then the female , stirring the wings more often and more strongly . selecting then two hundred bottomes ( male & female included in the number ) you must passe a thread through the first and outward downe , called the sleave of the ball ( using a wary hand that you pierce not into the silke , lest the cold getting in you should quite abortive your wormes ) of which you must make severall connexions composed of an equall number of both sexes ; these ( to prevent rats and mice ) must be hang'd upon some hooke in a chamber of middle temper , but something inclining to coolenesse , yet however not subject to moysture , that the butterflyes may come out with the more facility , having pierced through their confinement , though nature her selfe infuses in them disposed applications to finde out their opposite sexes , it will be necessary to couple such as yet are disjoyned : all which , after you shall perceive them in conjuncture , must bee set either upon say , piropus , tammey , chamlet , the backside of old velvet , ( in generall vpon any stuffe which has no woolly downe , wherein the graine may be lost , or where it may get betweene the threads , as is linnen ) hang'd upon the wall close by their balls , or in defect of such stuffe , take walnut-tree leaves one handfull , or more as you shall see occasion , tye them by dozens backsides together , hang them at severall nailes or pinnes , and set the coupled buterflies thereon . take the chamlet , or other stuffes , receiving the seed , and rub it gently between your hands , and the seed will come out with great facility . the principall time of the butterflyes issuing out from the cod , is in the morning about eight of the clock : the seed collected must be put into a boxe very cleane pasted with paper , to exclude all aire or dust , kept in a chest in a drye temperate place where it may be preserved till the spring following , avoyding to make any continuall fires in such chambers , lest the warmth untimely hatch the wormes , which being brought forth at such a season must perish for want of food . the spaniard takes commonly the double and triple balls for seed , not that he conceites every double ball should produce two butterflyes , or which is a conceit of more fondnesse , male and female ; but because the multiplicity of creatures spinning their silk in common , make the worke so confused that they cannot well winde it off , which makes them be put in the ranke of the pierced ones for sleave , and i must ingeniously acknowledge my self to accede to his opinion ; for these double and triple balls are not unapt for this purpose , since they commonly , as de serres observes , come rather from a lustinesse and supplenesse of the worme , then any naturall debility : which sure are so much fitter to bee culled out , that the best balls may bee made into silke , which will easily winde , and the seede of these which is fully as proper for seed , but lesse apt for silke : neither doe i know why they should not bee preferred , since the spanish seed proceeding from these double and triple balls carries a particular preheminence above the rest ; which if wee shall make use of , the use is the same with others , except that they must bee clipped at the smaller end with the poynt of a paire of scissors , with a regard that you cut not cleane through the bottome , which would by admission of wind destroy the worm , and this they doe that the butterflies , if more then one , may finde an easie passage ; the best bottomes ( if you will preserve them ) for graine , are great , hard , weighty , and of carnation or flesh colour . the balls preserved for seed being made choice of , the next thing wee are to fall upon is , how to winde off the bottomes designed for silke : which would bee of much more advantage for purity and plenty of silke , and facility of labour , if they could immediately bee wound off . the silke so freshly taken unwinding without any losse or violence : but this delayed , the gumme , by which the worme fastens her threads becomming dry , doth so harden the bottome , that without difficulty and losse , the winding cannot bee accomplished . this expeditious winding prevents the enclosed worme of her full metamorphose into a butterflye , and the bottome from perforation : but then where shall wee finde so many workemen if the designe were generall , as could in seven or eight dayes winde off so many millions of bottomes ? not excluding therefore such as can have that conveniency , the next best course to kill the butterflyes in those bottomes which wee cannot winde off , is by exposing and laying them in the sunne , the heate of which in its owne worke stifles this creature : but let this bee two or three dayes successively ( not all at one exposure , lest your silke be burned instead of stifling its spinner ) two houres before , and two houres afternoone each day respectively . let the bottomes , spread upon sheets , be turned often , that the heate may destroy equally , no one excepted from this sharpe insolation ; but this must not bee done with a rude hand , which instead of turning them may bruise the worme , the slimy matter of whose body , being thus bruised , is very prejudiciall both for staining the silke , and gluing it so together , that no artist can ever unwinde them . removing them ther●fore oftentimes during such sunning with a gentle hand , wrap them thus warmed in sheets , and let them lye in a fr●sh dry chamber . but if the sunne should faile , an oven of such moderate heate a● is usuall after two houres drawing the bread , or heated to such a degree of wa●mth ( laying it over with boards , and the bottomes in sacks upon those boards , there remaining each time an houre and a halfe , repeating it till your experience by opening the most suspected bottome finde the inclosed worme consumed ) will bee of equall operation . but that which is the best and least practised course is this : take your bottomes , and fill such a furnace or copper as your brewers use , halfe full of water : within three fingers breadth of this boyling water , lay a lid or planke or board within the copper , bored through as thick with holes as a cullender , and so fit to the side of the furnace , that it by no meanes may sinke into the water : upon this cover lay a thin carpet of darnix or the like , and upon the carpet the silke bottomes , which must bee often stirred , with care not to use too much violence . the mouth of the copper , except when you stir the bottomes , must bee constantly covered , that the heate may smother the wo●mes : your wormes being dead , lay your bottomes in some roome , where there is aire to dry their moysture . this is an assured ( though not vulgar ) experiment , and by it your silke becomes as easie in the winding , and as pure in colour and substance , as if it had beene spunne the same moment the worme had given it perfection . to wind●●ff the silke fr●m the cod , or b●ttome . the winding off the ●ilke from the cod or bottome , is thus effected : fill a caldron full of very faire water● and s●t it upon a furnace , heate it to such a degree that the wate● becomes bubbled , as though there were small pearles in the middle , being ready to seeth ; then cast in your cods ' or bottomes , still stirring them up and downe with broom● or other small bushes , if yo● shall see that the heate is not capable to make your bottomes winde , augment your fire , otherwise abate it . the bottomes winding the threads will take hold of the broome or brushes ; draw those threads so affixed the length of halfe a yard and more out with your fingers , till all the grossenesse of the bottome bee wound off , which cutting off and laying aside , take all the threads of your bottomes united into one and according to the bignesse of thread you intend to make ( as whether sowing or stitching ) chose the number , not letting the other threads fall into the water againe , which must bee reserved to succeede ) which you must runne through an wyer ring , appoynted for to ranke the threads which ( as you shall see in the draught or picture , ) must be fastened upon the fore part of a piece of wood set directly upon a forme before the round or circle , which wee call a bobin , in the top of which piece in a little space that there is , are fastned two bobin● , distant from one another two fingers ; from this wyer ●ing the thread must bee drawne and crossed upon the bobins , whose onely use there is to twist the silke through a ring which is fastned in the middest of a staffe ; above the bobins you must continue the draught of your thread ; this staffe which moves with the wheele is called a lincet set a crosse beneath the wheeles , from that ring you must fasten your thread upon the wheele it selfe , which must bee still turned till the skeyne of silke bee wound up , the representation see in the next figure . observe , when any thread disconti●ues , his bottome being wound off , to repaire your number from another bottome , this you shall perceive when your full number of bottomes stir not altogether . bee sure that you artificially cut the knots which will bee in your threads , that your silke may bee more pure and uniforme . those which cast gumme arabick in the water under pretence to make the silke winde more p●re and glossey , are but impostours , it being a meere cheate to make the silke weigh the heavier . basins , or caldrons , wherein you p●t your bottoms to winde , if of lead re●tore the silke more pure then those of copper , this mettall being subject to a rubiginous quality , from which lead is wh●ly exe●pt . let the wheeles be large for the better speeding of the worke , that two skeines may be wound off together . that the fire of the furnace may be pure , and without smoake , let it be made of charcoale . the difficulty of their winding may be mollified by sope , put in the basin or caldron ; the old cods or bottoms hardened by time , will have the naturall gumme which glues their threads dissolved , and the silke come off much more easie . those bottomes of silke preserved for seed , and pierced by the butterflyes , may be made of good use , if washing them in water you throwe them into a caldron ready to boyle , with sope in it , which must be dissolved before the bottomes are cast in : thus let them boyle a quarter of an houre , or thereabouts , which done , take them out , wash them in cleane water and d●ye them● being dyed you must beat them with a round st●ffe of a good bignesse upon a stone or some block which is better , which will make them become white , and smooth as wooll . the way to spinne them after is this . they must with the fingers be pul'd one from one another , and opened as wooll uses to be in such preparations , let it then bee put on a distaffe and spunne as small as you can , or please . treatise of the vine . that the use of the vine is really intended by nature for virginia , those infinite s●ore of grapes which crowne the forehead of that happy country are so many speaking testimonies : but what fate hath hitheto diverted our english there inhabiting from the publick undertaking a commodity of so inestimable benefit , i doe not say for a publick staple ( though it would bee as rich as any other one species of traffick whatsoever ) but even from private vineyards , where they might sit under their owne vine , drinke of their owne grapes , satisfie even the most irregular desire of their , voluptuous appetites , and all this de suo , without entring into the merchants book●s for wines , peradventure adulterate , without paying the sweat of their browes for the exudation of the grape , i dare not determinately judge , lest i might bee forced to ascribe it either to a strange nonchalency or sluggishnesse to their owne prof●● , or which is worse an inveterate contempt of all other wayes of improvement ( of what ever returne ) in comparison of fume of tobacco . but that they may not bee ignorant of the profit of the vine , they will bee pleased to know that the vine requires ( once planted ) little more labour then the hoppe . to attend upon foure acrees of hops is the ordinary undertaking of one man in england , who besides this , neglects not many other labours . if one man in virginia bee not sufficient to doe as much as another in england , ● shall either imagine him to bee lame or idle ; nor let them o●j●ct to me the heat of the countrey ; if the mid-dayes be hotter , the mornings are much colder , and the labourer in virginia hath this advantage of being full of bread to ●atie●y , whereas oftentimes the hireling in england having a family to feed , and sometimes no imployment , comes to worke with a famish'd body , and courage , lives meerly de die in diem , with as little hopes of ever changing the copy of his fortune , as renewing the lease of his cottage with his landlord : those are but leane encouragements . in virginia the meanest servant ( if he have any spirit ) is still in expectation of improving his condition , and without any presumption may cherish his hopes , which promise him ( his time expired ) a present happinesse and future possibility of a fortune equall , if not outgoing his master , the encouragement being greater , the care lesse , and his provisionall subsistence by much better : why the laborer in virginia should not ●e ( i do not say superiour ) but equall in strength of body and resolution of minde , to the miserable day-hireling in england , needs an oedipus to unriddle . by this i hope it granted , that the virginian may without any extraordinary efforts of sweat and spirits , labour equally with those of england , and upon this accompt i shall assigne a vignard of four acres to his tillage , an easie taske ; let us compute the profit with the labour , and see what may be the proceed of this ●●●portion well husbanded . that an acre of vines in virginia ( when once growne to perfection ) will yield an equall increase to a common acre of vines in france , there being as great a difference between the soyles as the acres , and much greater ) will i believe be denyed by none , who pretend to modes●y or reason : yet the acre of vines in france , one with another , very few excepted , will yield yearely ten or twelve muyds of wine , a measure containing seventy two gallons ( a very famous frenchman liebault , is my author : ) what the common acre , or arpent , is in france , the same man informes us : an arpent ( the common arpent or acre of france ) is 100 pole in the square , the pole being longer then ours by eighteen inches ; so that one french acre yields three tun of wine and upwards ; our acre being near upon 50 pole more , we doubt not of profit equall . the excellent virginia will pardon me , if for dilucidation of an argument , i make her pure and unexhausted browes descend to weare a gyrlond of fertility equall to that laborious and over-teeming mother , the french kingdome , nay to her common vineyards : yet let us compute the profit arising from the foure acres , being but one mans labour , we shall finde the product even by that estimate , to be twelve tunne of wine , as the recompence of his particular toyle : let us imagine this but at ten pounds the tunne , and the profits of this single person amounts to 120 pounds per annum . here they will object the dearenesse or difficulty of caske ; but this objection must be made by those who know not virginia , where there is such an excellent convenience , and abundance of peculiarly proper timber , that the winter will afford the other labourers together with our vigneron leasure , to cleave pipe-staves sufficient for private use of caske , and to sell to the publique ; one man ( during that little season ) being easily able to make foure thousand . but our acre being a third part bigger , the soyle ½ better , why we may not promise to ou● selves this profit , is an incredulity in england , w●rth a b●and of misunderstanding , in spaine would deserve the inquisition , what soyle is most proper for the vine . hee which will goe to p●ant the vine without the twinne co●sideration of the qualyty of the soyle , and the disposition of the aire , hath much affinity with him who goes to sea without lead or compasse : the one seldome attaines his port , nor the other his harvest . the quality of the ground whereon the vine thrives best , is a fine small mo●ld , of a subsistance rather inclining to a gentle lightnesse , then a churlish stubbornesse : they which would not have it to be very fat , are ignorant that while the vine is yong , the soyle where you plant may be imployed to other tillage , and by such expence of its native richnesse , reduced to that which they commend so highly , mediocrity . but if the fitnesse of the ground transmit a rich and never-failing sap into the nascent vine , making it grow speedy and strongly , if the vine participate of this fatnesse , which it may be they call grossenesse , as desiring to have it more subtile , there is small question to be made , but that this wine so imbodied and fortified by nature , must have extraordinary spirits to preserve it , and that age will have resined all that grossenesse into more pure and noble spirits ; that if transported , the sea will contribute to its melioration : whereas this wine which they call subtile and delicate spirits , if either preserved long or transported far , will with so much applauded subtilty and delicacy lose all his spirits by age and evaporation . scruple therefore at the richnesse of your ground no more then at the ranknesse of your purse ; t is in your power to correct either if there were necessity : let it have the qualities of gentle , easie , fine and light , to be stirred , seated ( if possible ) on the decline of a hill , not neare to any marish ground , nor having any springs gliding through it ; these marish grounds you must avoyd as you would doe levell in a valley . and the reason is , that the vine growing in these parts has a crude and ●ndige●ted bloud , quickly soures , and has neither strength to commend or preserve it , and the frosts in the winter time sinking to his ro●ts , by the moyst passage of his scituation , kills it ; the grapes plumpe and breake , and when as an additionall judgement to your inj●dicious election , a rainy yeare comes to afflict , the kernells breake out , the true juice of the grape accompanying it , and though it fall out that the grape swell againe , yet let not your expectation swell upon it , for instead of good wine proceeding from thence , you will receive nothing but viny water . the gentle , easie , fine , and light ground being the best , does not so wholly arrogate all excellency , as to deny an accession , a neighbourhood of goodnesse to other soyles . the gravelly ground yieldeth wine of a great delicacy , but a small quantity ; besides the infant plants are in danger of being wash'd away in any extraordinary surfeit of raines , such grounds being not able to give them a deep rooting . the like may be said of sandy ground which notwithstanding in some places especially where it is of a nitrous substance , will not yield the palme to any ground o● whatever richnesse ; other grounds may have an enforced richnesse , but because usually all such enfatning compost consists of dung and urine , which spoyle the purity of the vine : if my advice were of any weight , they should never be used for vintage , till necessity commanded my obedience . for the disposition of the aire , as particularly whether inclining to a meridian , or oblique to the south , south-east , or south-west ; if we contemplate the nature of the vine , that it by instinct , prefers places rather hot then cold , drye then moyst ; that it ●areth stormes and tempests , it affecteth a gentle breathing winde , or a serene calme ; we may presently collect that it is neither to be placed open to the north , north-east● nor ( in virginia especially ) to that nursery of storms , the north-west quarters , nor up●n the tops of hills , where it lyes equally assailable to all : the deare place then for the vines imbraces , is a descent , towards , not in a valley ( except never subject to inundation● ) that being sheltred f●om the more blustring domine●rers in the aire , it lye open to the south , south-west , south-east , or any part of the east and west , within the south quarter , for such a gratefull mansion , and acceptable soyle assigned him , doubt not , but he will returne you a rent which shall s●tisfie your most unbounded wishes . but le●t the eye in the option of your vineyard , may impose upon you , considering that every gr●und hath some arcane quali●y which the sight is not able to discover : to make a most certaine experiment , let me propose this way of examen . make a pit in the ground ( where your intentions are to plant ) two foot deep , take a clod of the earth so cast up , powder it , and infuse it in a glasse full of cleare raine-water , do your best to incorporate it with the water by frequent agitation and mixture : let it repose till the subsided earth have made his perfect residence and settlement in the bottome , and the water recovered her native clearenesse ; taste the water , and arrest your judgement upon this , that such a tast as the water delivers to your pallate , will that earth transmit to your wine : if of an inoff●nsive or acceptable relish , you may confidently promise your selfe a wine pure , and consequently ( if the soyle be rich very noble , nor is a salt taste an ill argument : but if it be a bitter aluminous , or su●hury gust , this place is not fit for your planting , you lose your wine and your labour . but virginia has a more certaine assurance ; god and nature have pointed them a soyle ou● with their owne finger ; let them therefore fix their eyes upon those places where either the vine or mulberry grow conjoyn'd , or seperate , and let them assure themselves of the excellency of the soyle , a diffi●ence in this being an affront to nature : yet this caution is to be used that though valleyes are marshy places● may sometime have them by nature , yet their florescence would be much more excellent and healthfull if removed to such a ground as formerly we have made choice of . to make election of plants . curiosity about the choise of your vine plants will commend your husbandry ; let the vine therefore from whence you take your plant be of as little pith as may be , such unpithy vines being both fruitfull and fortified by nature , bearing a remarkable abundance of substantiall grapes and strongly resists the violence of the weather , and of this fertility and firmenesse will your plant also participate . let not the vine you meane to plant from , be above the middle of his strength , or age , and observe ab●ut september th●se which are most laden with grapes , fullest of eyes in their branches , and have been least wounded by the unseasonablenesse of weather . take not a vine growing on a south side to transplant him to a northerne : and set this downe for a principle in nature , that all plants removed to a better scituation and soyle , answer your largest hopes , by their fruitfulnesse : but transplanted to a worse , assure your selfe that without an extraordinary cultivation , there cannot be the least probability of its thriving . let your plant ( if you may with conveniency ) immediatly be planted after its seperation from its originall ; for while it yet retaines any vitall vigour , it will the sooner apply it selfe to the desire of life and nourishment . if your necessity will not admit of this festination , wrap it tenderly in its owne earth ; and when your leisure will permit you to plant it , let it soake some foure or five dayes in water , and ( if possible ) running water : this immerging is a very strong preparative to its sudden taking root . if you apprehend a necessity of keeping him long or transporting him , ( imagine it the cyprian or calabrian grape thus to bee transportable into virginia , ) put him into a close barrell fil'd up with earth ; and that no aire may mortifie him , let both ends of the plant be put into onions or garlick , or ( which is better ) made up with wax , and now and then watred , but not more then to keep the earth from resolving into a dry dust ; for too much moysture might ( instead of preserving him ) make him fructifie , and your plant would become all root . wee have already spoken how we must chuse , but not what we must make choice of : let your plants therefore be of those which grow between the highest and lowest , ( the lowest having too much of earthy juice , and the high●st too little ) let them bee round , smooth , and firme● having many eyes , and about one foot and a halfe of old wood cut off with the new . the manner , and way to ●lan● vines . human curiosity plungeth us in so many unnecessary toils , that it would almost take a person off from necessary labour : look into columella , the countrey farme , the du●ch husbandry and all those supercilious writer● , and you shall see them stand upon such impertinent puntillos ; one while the dependance upon starres benights a man , another while the ground which should produce this or that , must be cast after this forme , or else it will be barren in spight of the bounty of the divine providence . not enumerating therefore all their wayes of planting , i dare lay my life that if the vine were but set on foot in virginia , the ground prepared for it as they doe their tobacco there , by a right line , holes made instead of their hillocks , but larger , deeper , and at greater distance , that there might something grow betwixt them which might be inoffensive to it by nature , and cleare it from being choak'd with weedes , or something drawing a contrary juice , ( peradventure onions and garlick ) or something requiring small nourishment , ( as lupins ) which turn'd into the earth againe ( distance of five foot being left for a plough , with caution not to come too neare the roots , which must be bared with a stowe , the plough running first the length , and then the traverse of those rowes , which therefore must bee lineally straight ) would both fatten the earth , and cultivate the vine all at one moment . yet submitting my selfe to judgements of greater experience then my modesty or natu●e can ever hope for , i shall deliver the severall way of planting the vine , with as much brevity as the matter , and my first resolution rather to contract then inlarge , will permit mee . the first preparing of the earth to receive the vine must bee done in spring or summer , where the ground you digge or cast must bee cleansed from all manner of superfluities whatsoever ; n●mely , roots , weedes , stones , &c. this digging must bee severall times repeated , that the earth by alternate changing its place of top and bottome may bee throughly tempred , the dry refreshed , and the moyst qualified : thus cleansed , cast in into many ●urrowes ( the sides whereof the french call chevaliers or guides , because it should guide you in the planting ) the depth of eighteene inch●s or more ; let the mould cast up above , bee so disposed , that ●t may answer to the depth below . note that these furrowes in a sandy , 〈◊〉 , or wet ground must not bee so hollow as in that which is rough and crabbed : in the bottome of the first you may put stones about the bignes●e of an ordinary brick ( but round ) not bigger , which in the heate of summer refreshes , in violence of raine opens a passage to the water , that it dwell not at the root to rot it . the best season for planting of vines is in october , the moone increasing , the furrowes must bee made in august , that the exposed earth may have time of digestive preparation . if your plant have roots , you must when you plant it cut them of● all , except it bee newly gathered , if it bee a slip or cut , which though it bee not so swift of growth the first yeare , yet is of much longer continuance , you must soake it in water , if it bee possible in running water five or six dayes . hee which plants the vine , the ground thus prepared , and haveing a line with him , that hee may observe a just evennesse and streightnesse , both in the row , and to the opposite plant , that so every foure may make a regular quadrangle , must bow his plant , the bigger end forward one foot into the earth of the ditch , letting first some of the mould from the sides fall into it ; let him tread upon the mould the better to fixe the plant , and with his hand ( the foot still pressing upon that part of the plant which is inearthed ) gently raise or bow the top of the plant that it may grow erect : this done , let him cast some more mould on it , to the thicknesse of six inches , and cut the top of the plant , so as not to leave above three knots or joynts above the earth : let him proceede in planting of the rest , observing the prescribed order : some set two plants together in this order , that if one shou●d faile , the other might recompence the default . if you will have your vine to grow without stakes or props , cut it so , that you let it no : increase above two or three joynts in the yeare , which will make it to stand firme against all stormes , i● but naturally violent . it will bee extreame ill husbandry to plant vines of different kindes or qualities together , such diversity there is in their season of ripenesse ; some preventing your expectation by the suddainenesse of their maturity , others deceiving it by their late ripenesse . wee have spoken of the planting , let us now handle the culture and dresse of it , that his fertility may in some measure requi●e the labour of his impl●nting . the manner of dressing the vine . mid may will bee a season which will best informe you , whether your plants have taken so good root , that it expresses a verdure and germination in his branches ; when therefore the shoot is able to indure dressing , let it bee cut within two or three knots of the old wood , and if any other slips spring from the root , cut them away ( with care however that it wound not the root , or the maine stock , which are wonderfully offended by the too neare approach of any toole that is edged ) that the whole strength of the vine may unite into one common stock or pillar , to support and convey the sap into the permitted branches , of which you may not let any flourish the first yeare of its growth . it is observed , that to cut the vine in the decrease of the moone , makes the fleshy part of the grape of a more substantiall grossenesse and feeding , and is a peculiar remedy for those vines which are given to bee over-ranke with wood : let it bee the care of the vigneron to remoove all obstructions of weedes which uninvited participate of the vines nourishment : the surest way to kill which , is , to turne them in towards the earth , which is not onely a destruction to the thiefe of its moysture , but a r●stitution of the robbery● for the weedes so inverted enrich the ground to the great encouragement of the vine , and the no lesse profit of the vine dressers . let your knife with which you cut your vine bee very sharpe , and let your vine bee cut sloping at one cut , if possible , and not far from the old wood , that the growth of the vine may the more speedily cover the wound . the vines must bee dressed or husbanded ●hree times the yeare , the first culture of it must bee in march , at which time you are to digge about the root three quarters of a foot deep , or thereabouts : the next season must be in april , wherein you must digge about the roote , within a third of the former depth , then you must also prune it by cutting all the branches , and leaving some three knobs or joynts of the new wood in your vine of the first yeares growth , and cutting off all dead or superfluous branch●s of the old , whose permitted branches must also bee pruned , lest they should spend that aliment decreed for the grape in elongation of the branches , all succors also must bee plucked away . in august the like course is to bee used in the wine of the precedent autumne leaving two or three joynts or knobs of new wood : againe the old ones may bee onely digged , if at that time , and at all other times you perceive any dead or wounded branches , you must cut them off something further then the mortification or hurt extends ; and in all prunings let no vine bee cut in the knob or joynt , but in the space betwixt ; there following usually nothing but absolute and irremediable decaying , where they are cut in the articula● knitting● if in aprils dressing , the vine h●ve no branched but onely budded , which is most usuall ( but more especially in march ) you must nip the bud off with your fingers , to the end that the juice which would ascend to hasten the germination , may bee stopped to strengthen and engrosse the store . the third yeare the vine will beare you grapes in these countries , but i am confident that in virginia it wou●d beare at the second ; and this my confidence is grounded upon the hasty perfection all things receive in virginia● by much prec●ding all our neighbour countries . the p●ac●tree arrives not to that viri●ity of growth in eight yeares , in th●s● r●gions , which it obtaines at foure there . the like is verified in apples and cherries : and if it be que●tioned how such men which peradventure b●ing in a necessity , are not able to attend two yea●es for a retu●ne , shall in the meane while subsist : it is easi●y answered● that the intervalls betwixt the dressings of the vines will ●fford space enough for a reasonable crop of tobacco ; and ther● is much mo●e labour in looking to 5000. plants of tobacco then the like number of vines , especially if the intersp●ces be pl●ughed , and ●ow●d with turnips or lupines , which both add● to the fatnesse and unwilding of the ground , and choake up all weeds and grasse which might afflict it . contrariwise , tobacco will admit nothing in the vacant s●aces , and must be perpetually weeded . further , though other vine-masters prescribe the digging about the roots of their plant in august● which is the busie s●●son of inning the tobacco , yet i am driven by divers reasons to wish such culture om●tted at that time of the yeare , since it layes the root by so much the nearer to a violently torrid su● which is so far from cherishing of it , that it burnes it ; by whic● meanes his c●op of tobacco need not at all to be neglected : but these vines steale into such perfection by that time ●hey are arrived at fou●e yeares growth , that twenty thousand plants of tobacco , though sold at 6 pence per pound , ( a great rate in virginia ) will not returne you a like profit , which though it m●y be something sp●ringly believed , yet may be made apparent . for admitting our vines by th●t time of 4 foot high , by their so often cutting of the shoots , nourished u●to a stock strong enough to support it self ; of b●anch●s , by the like tillage , equall in vigour , yield but a gallon of wine per pi●ce , yet here is 20 tun of wine yearely , for 30 yeares together , ( so long will the vine thus husband●d , last fruitfull , and vigorous , if planted with the slip rather then the root ) without any interruption but that which sets bounds and limit to all things , the divine providence in his dispensation of seasons . of the d●seases of vines , and their remedy . before we can justifie our expectations of a good harvest , we must providently foresee and prevent ( as much as in us lies ) such casualties as may make our hope abortive ; let us therefore cast our eye upon such diseases which m●y make the vine unfruitfull , or after the fruit produced , destroy its desired fertility . to prevent the frost from benumming , or absolutely destroying your vines , let there be layd up in divers places heaps of drye du●g , with an i●term●xture of ch●ff● and straw , and when you conjecture the appro●ch of the fro●t , set this combustible stuffe on fire , and the smoake arising from thence will so temper and qu●lifie the aire that your vine for that season will be secured from d●m●n●ge : yet if ( before you have applyed this preventive remedy ) the fruit of your vine be destroyed , cut it off very short , and the strength continuing in the rem●inder will so fortifie it , that the next yeare it will recompence you double in the quantity of your fruit ; for what it hath been rob'd of by the present . to provide against the blasting of your vine : when you perceive it upon the point of budding , cut it as late as may be ; for this late cutting it will make your vine something later● and by consequence , bloss●me or flower at such time as the sunne is ascended to his greatest degree of heat and fervor . to breake off such mists and fogs as are already gathered in the aire , and give probable menaces to fall upon your vines , you must apply your selfe to this remedy : let a smoake round about your vineyard be made with go●ts du●g , kindled and set on fire . such fogges as have outstripped your care and already fallen upon , and endammaged your v●nes , must have the malignity of their vapors taken off , or at least asswaged by irrigation of vines , with the water in which the leaves or roots of wilde cucumbers , or coloquintida have been layd some time to infuse : this must be applied immediatly after the mists . some are of an opinion that bay-trees ( which by the way are dangerously sociable to the vine ) planted round , but not too near the vineyard , wil priviledge the vine from this di●taster , by attracting all the ill disposed mallice of those fogs ●nto it selfe . this till experimented will hardly be worthy beliefe . it is an opinion no way contradicted , that fertility is restored to a vine become barren , if humane urine kept a long while stale , to make it the more salt and ranke , be dropt by degrees upon the vine stock , which must immediately after be laid about with dung and earth mixt together : the season for the application of this cure must be in autumne . another way i should conceive to be altogether as effectuall , namely , to leave it nothing but the stock , bare the roots , and lay there either acornes , chesnuts , or rotted straw ; and if the bignesse of the root will permit it , to cleave it a little way , and to thrust into the ●issure a piece of vine wood , cut small for the purpose ; it being certaine that trees themselves sometimes groane under the sicknesse of being hide-bound : vines are perceived to want moisture , when their leaves turne of a deep red colour : this disease is cured by watring them with sea-water , or stale urine . the bleeding of the vine . the vine sometimes is troubled with an extraordinary efflux , or emanation of its juice ; some call it the weeping , others the ble●ding of the vine , and this disease is commonly so violent , that if not stopped it leaves the vine without blood and life . the remedy is to breake the barke of the vine upon the body thereof , and to anoynt the wound with oyle boyled to the half , or else with the lees of wine not salted ; this done , let it bee watered with vinegar , which by how much the stronger it may bee , is so much more effect●all . the scattering vine . the vine sometimes is oppressed with an unretentive scattering dis●ase , as unable to maintaine the fruit sh●e hath produced , which shee therefore discharges , and let● fall from her ; the symptomes by which you are to judge of this disease , are an unnaturall palenes●e and drynesse of the leaves , the branch it selfe l●nguid , broad , and of a more pithy softn●sse then usuall . the cure to this , is to rub ashes beaten and mixed with strong vinegar abou● the foot of the vine , and to water all tha● is round about the stock : quaer● , whether fissures in the barke made with a sharpe knife some fixe inches long may not bee an additionall receit to the former prescription . the tree peradventure having contracted this malady by too close imprisonment in the barke , being in a manner hide bound● ; how ever the foregoing medicine cannot in this case but sort to better effect , if the tree and barke joyntly be rubbed over then the barke onely , unlesse this medicine could give a relaxation to the barke , which i have no faith in . the vine too full of branches , or luxur●ant . the v●ne expending it selfe too wastfully in overmany branches , must bee cut very short . if this overcome not that luxury , the usuall remedy is , let it bee bared at the roots , and river gravell layd round about the stock , together with a few ashes or else some stones . the reason i apprehend not , except it bee to check its fertility● which i conceive may more prosperously bee effected , if onely the branches being cut , and the stock low , you suffer that exubrancy to waste it selfe in adding more corpulency to the stock , which will of it selfe bee a sufficient spender to restraine and confine the former liberality of juice . the withering vine . if the grapes languish and dry away as they hang upon the vine , before you apply a remedy you must cast away all that are already affected with this contagion ; then water the rest with vinegar , in which ashes of vine branches have beene infused● the most assured remedy is to water the root of the vine , from whence the disease cometh with the stalest urine ; the former remedy being something irregular , as if it were easily feisible to remove a malady by application to the effects , without considering the efficient . the rotting of grapes upon the vine . there are of vines whose fruit putrifie upon the branches before they come to maturity : this disease is remedied by laying old ashes to their root , or gravell , or barley meale mixed with the seed of purcellane about the body ; quaere , whether this disease proceed from a plethorick rankn●sse or em●ciate debility : if from rankenesse all application of ashes hurt it : the symptomes of rankenesse are , when a tree lavishes his moysture into too many branches , which may make him neglect to feede the fruit , as unable to maintaine two spenders ; and i am confident the naturall remedy for this is to bare him ( as much as possible ) of wood , that it may divert the nourishment to the grape ; if from debility , which you shall perceive by a flaccid palenes in the leaves , the same remedy which wee prescribed to the withering vine , vi● . to water the root with urine of a long stalenesse , will bee the most proper . the biting of the cow or oxe . indeede the best way to prevent this disease , is to have your ground either well paled or quicksetted , or both : but that the biting or breathing of kine may not endamage the vine ( which ●●rdly recovers af●er such wound or infection ) water the f●●t stock of your vine with such water as the tanners have used in dressing and mollifying their raw hides , and you may promise your selfe to bee secured from them , they as mortally hating such sents , as the vine abhors their bite or breathing . against caterpillars . the opinion is● that caterpillars and other noysome , though little vermine , will not molest the bud or leafe of the vine , if the hooke or hedgebill wherewith you prune and cut off the superfluous branches of the vine be anoynted over with the blood of a male goat , or the fat of an asse , or of a beare ; or with the oyle wherein catterpillars or brayed garlick have beene boyled , or if you anoynt and rub them with the purse or sheath of a badgers stones , after your hooke has beene ground : these are curious rather then apparently approved medicines , and for their reason i must demurre to give it , quaere , whether the oyle wherein catterpillars or brayed garlick have beene boyled well , rubbed about the stock of the tree , may not make those reptilia ab●or the a●cending , or whether the ●uce of rew so applyed , have not the like vertue . the driving locu●ts from the vine is done by fumigation , as either fi●ing of old oxe dung , galbanum , old shooe soles , harts-●orne , womens haire ; but that which they propose las● , i conceive to bee the best , namely , to plant pionie neare them . to prevent pismires . pismires , who divers times fret in sunder the wood of the vine , even to the very marrow , will not at all approach it , if you anoynt and rub the slock with the dung of kine , or grease of asses . the bay-tree , hasell-tree , and col●worts beare a particular enmity to t●e vine , and expresse it by effects when pl●nted neare ; this i cannot believe to bee out of any magicall antipathy , but rather that these ( as the plum-tree ) are great and strong succors of juice , and happily drawing of the same , by which the vine is more particularly nourished , of which being cheated , it is no wonder if she expresse a decadency . the manner of the vintage . and now wee are come to that which is most acceptable to mankinde , the successefull fruit of his labours reaped in his vintage , which wee must not of a naturall g●eedinesse precipitate , till the grapes bee of such a kindely ripeness● of age , that to let them continue on the vine longer were to lose them ; this ripenesse is visibly understood by a mutation in the branch and grape ; in the branch you shall perceive a manifest mutation by an incline to rednesse in the grape ; if it bee white it alters towards a yellow , if red towards a black colour ; nor are the ta●te and touch les●e discerners of such full maturity ; for if they bee sweete in taste , and the liquor of a glutinous substance , cleaving to the finger ; wee may conclude that both they , and the time to gather them are of full ripenesse . there are also other signes , if the kernell expressed out of the grape betweene your fi●gers , come out cleane , and altogether seperate from the flesh or pulpe of the vine , if after such expression ( gently performed ) the grape diminish nothing from his bignesse , &c. these all , or the most of them concurring , prepare for your harvest . yet in virginia , where the harvest is more abundant then the labourers , to prevent a glut of worke flowing upon few hands , and consequently not possible to bee throughly equalled : it will no● bee amisse to use both anticipation by accelerating nature with artificiall meanes in some , and retardation by arresting the speede of growth in others , to accelerate ashes layd to the foot of vines , and those vines planted to something more advantage of an am●rous sunne , will make them antecede the others , at the least by their advance of foureteen● d●yes ; the other in their naturall course following that spice after , and the others more particularly retarded ( which may bee easily effected by the pruning of them later then the rest just upon their prep●rative to b●d ; which arresting the sap m●kes it afterwards ( though later ) returne with a greater abundance ) staying foureteene dayes later , there will be● compleately sixe weekes time 〈…〉 gathering in of your vintage . and by this meanes you 〈…〉 vineyard tilled or manured every third yeare all over , which 〈…〉 no ingratefull accession to its duration in fertility and 〈◊〉 : those of the most forward ripenesse this year , being retarded the next , and those of the naturall maturation husbanded in that manner , the next winter . the fittest season to gather them must bee in a serene unclouded sky ( the grapes having any raine or dew upon them when gathered , losing much of their perfect strength and goodn●sse ; ) for the wine made of grapes throughly dryed in their collection , hath a greater priviledge of force and continuance : but before this collection bee attempted , all things fitting to receive y●u● vintage must bee prepared in cleanlinesse and order , viz. baskets , caske , and fatts strongly hooped , tubs great and small , stands , pre●●es , &c. and all scoured , washed , and furnished with their necessary instruments and conveniencies . the grape gatherer must distinguish and seperate the leane , green , sower , withered , or rotten grapes , from those which are of absolute ripenesse and soundnesse . that the wine by such an uncomely confusion or mixture may not bee lesse pure , sprightly , and healthfull , then it was intended by nature , such inconfiderate gatherers are sayd to bee of the divells sending , to spoyle gods provisions . nor should they con●usedly mixe good with good , if of different quality , as to mingle that which is strong and rich , with which is small , but delicate . they prescribe that the grapes so gathered should bee left in the ground at least a day or two , and that ●ncovered , provided it raine not , by which meanes , say they , they will become much better , since the sunne , dew , and earth , by this exposure taking from them what ever they have of bad unprofitable moysture , refine and purifie them . a cou●se as far as my span of reason can extend , so far from this promise of refining and purifying , that it absolutely tends to their corruption . have they wanted the sunne and dew when upon the stalke ? could not the same sunne and dew which enripened them , refine and purifie them there ? as for the earths meliorating them , if melioration bee understood by putr●faction , 't is easily granted ; apples that lye on the ground are so meliorated , that is to say rotted , and shall the grape a more delicate and tender fruit avoyd it ? this is by way of digression , but it is necessary● for without this caution a modest man which re●des with an obedient judgement any booke● of these men , taking the authour for an {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} {non-roman} , subscribes to it , observes the prescription , and gaines a doctrine of future providence , by the losse of his present vintage . but after the grapes have rema●ned a day or two in the house , it will bee time to put them into the f●tt to bee trodden out equally . those which tread the grapes should before they go into the fatt have their feete and legges washed extreamely , and themselves covered with a shirt as well ●s drawers , that their sweat may not mixe with the wine , and that nothing in the act of eating fall from their mouths into it , they must bee punctuall in abstaining from eating of the grapes , while they are at this their labour . surely this way of treading the grape is derived from some abstenious man , who devised this stratagem under a pretence of expediting the worke ; but indeede to deter men from drinking that which is so uncomely prepared . i know they will alledge that by tre●ding it flowes more naturally , and withall more pure forth , then that which is pressed ; but withall give mee leave , say that the very presse it selfe if it bee not too violently and greedily laboured , makes it glide forth altogether as naturally and purely , and which is more with greater equality ; for in the presse , all the grapes feele the impultion at once , and if the owner bee not too covetous to bring the drosse and gros●e parts of the grape to a second squeezing● and mixing with the fi●st● without dispute the wine so expressed is altogether as good and strong as that which is trodden , but i am certaine much mor● clea●ly . the wine ( however● being expressed must be poured , drosse , huskes , and all , into a fat to worke or boyle in , which it must doe for the space of foure and twenty houres at the least , if you will h●ve it fine , delicate , and subtile ; but if you desire to have it strong and noble , let it worke in the fat foure or five dayes , with a covering over it , that so the vapour thereof may not exhale , or his force waste it selfe . the fat , or tub prepared , must have immediatly before his reception of the wine , a little bunch of vine branches laid before the tap-hole , which ( that it may not heave up with the wine ) must be kept downe with a cleane stone or brick , or which is better and l●s●e off●nsive , a ring of lead wound about it : this when you draw the wine will hinder the huskes or grapes from comming out with the liquor . your fat must not be full by halfe a foot or more , that the wine may have the more space to boyle or worke in . your wine in vessel'd must not be filled up to the bung , nor the bung closed , that the wine may have the greater liberty of despumation , and rejecting whatever it findes reluctant to its owne nature . every day you must fill up what is expurged , and something more , till you ●inde the wine throughly appea●ed , and discharged of whatever might be obstructive to its generosity : nor must this caske be in the cellar , but either in the open aire , or in some b●rne where it has a liberall respiration ; besides the defects in caske cannot be so easily discovered when the wine is in the cell●r , ●s in open places . when it is so throughly settled , that it hath given over all appetite or signe of boyling , you may have it committed to your cellar , which should stand upon the north here , ( in virginia upon the north-west as the coolest and driest angle ) paved wit● gravell or drye earth , which is lesse subject to moysture or ex●dations then brick , or especially stone , absolutely remote and unmo●ested by any ill odours of stables , sinkes , bathes , marshy places , &c. neither should it have any thing shut up or kept in it , which have any sent of acrimony or harshnesse , as cheese , garlick , onions , oyles , ( trane , neatsfoot , linseed , and others , not the salade-oyle ) it being observed , that nothing is more open or obnoxious to contagion then wine , especially when new . your vessells must be so rank'd in order that they touch not one another , by this meanes to leave a liberty of sight to foresee a misfortune , or prevent it when happened . they must be so close stopped in the bung with clay , that not the least irreption of aire may be capable to taint it , to which it is very subject . to cause new wine to bee quickly purged , put ( after this proportion in the rest : ) to 15 quarts of new wine , halfe a pint of strong vinegar , and within the space of three dayes it will bee fined . to preserve must or new wine all the yeare , take that vine which voluntary distilleth from the grape ; before is suffer the presse , and put it into a vessell pitch'd within and without the same day : let the vessell be halfe full , and very well stop'd with plaster above ; and thus the new wine will continue a long while in his sweetnesse . but to adde to this experiment and the continuance of the wine , you must hinder it from working , which you may well doe , if you put the vessell into some well or river , there to remaine thirty dayes ; for not having boyled it will continue alwayes sweet , and is preserved by the heat of the pitch . others prefer the burying of this vessell in moist gravell : and ( which in my opinion is the best ) others cover the vessell first with the drosse of the wine presse , then heap upon it moyst gravell ; by which meanes , something interposing betwixt the extraordinary moysture and cold of the gravell , which might have some influxe upon the wine , your must preserved in an excellent meane of temper . to know if there be any water in the wine . the malice of servants sometimes swallowing downe their masters wine , and fearing to be discovered if the quantity be diminished , or the basenesse of the dealer to impose upon the merchant , makes both of them adulterate it with water , which not being discernable to the eye , may be made familiar to your knowledge by this experiment : take a withered rush , immerge it in the wine ; after a small space draw it out againe : if the wine have been thus bastarded , you shall perceive the water cleaving to it . otherwise , take raw and wilde peares , cutting , and cleansing them in the midst , or in lieu of them , mulberries , cast them into the wine , if they float , the wine is neat and cleare from such sophistication ; if they subside there is water in it . some doe anoint a reed , a piece of wood , or paper , hay , or some other little bundle of herbs , or strawes with oyle , which if they drye , put into the wine● and after draw them out , if the wine have been embased with water , drops thereof will gather unto the oyl● . another sure tryall is to cast un●laked lime into the wine ; if there be any adulteration , the lime dissolves , if the wine be undevirginated , the lime collects thereby a harder cementation . others take of the wine , and inject it into a frying-pan wherein there is boyling oyle , and the wine ( if depured ) declares it with a loud noise , and frequent bubbles . to make another tryall , lay an egge into the wine , the egge descending , manifests the abuse , not descending , the wine is as the grape bled it . to seperate wine from water . but as the miserable man in the pit desir●d his friend not to question how he fell in , but to advise how he should get out : we will not be satisfied that there is water in the wine , but how it may be sepe●ated from it ; which if we may believe the deliverers of it , who have published it to the world in their names , you must put into the vessell of wine melted allum , then stop the mouth of the vessell with a spunge drenched in oyle , which done , turne the mouth of the vessell so stopped , downewards , and the water onely will come forth , leaving the wine pure : the reason of this i cannot give , and have onely read ( not seen ) the expeririment . the way to correct ●ver much waterishnesse in wine . if gluts of raine have made the yeare so unseasonable , that the grape hath contracted a watry quality to the diminution of his winy goodnesse : or if it fall ou● that after the time of gathering them , there fall such store of raine , that the grapes instead of dewes are too much wetted ; ( such is the profit of exposing the gathered clusters into the open aire for 48 houres ) the remedy is to tread them quickly , and finding the wine weake , by tasting it after it hath been put into the vessell , and begun to boyle there , it must presently be changed , and drawne out into another vessell , for so the watr● parts that are in it will stay behinde in the bottome , yet the wine standing still charged , will be totally corrected , if you put to every fifteen quarts of wine , a pint and a halfe of salt . to make wine of an acceptable odour . if you will perfume your wine with a gratefull odour , by which the braine may be strengthened , as well as the heart exalted : take a few myrtle-berries dry , bray them , and put them into a little barrell of wine ; let it so rest , close stopped , ten dayes afterwards use it at pleasure . the like effect will follow , if you take the blossoms of the grapes ( those especially which growe upon the shrubby vines ) when the vine is in flower , and cast them into the wine , the brimmes of the wine-vessell being rub'd over with the leaves of the pine and cypresse tree , and this will give it a fragrancy delightfully odorate : or which is of equall facility , you may hang an orenge , or pomecitron , ( being of a convenient greatnesse ) and prick it full of cloaves , and that in such sort as it may not touch the wine , shut up in all these applications , the vessell very close . if this like you not , take the simples of such matter as you would have your wine to smell of , infuse them in aqua vitae , the infusion may be repeated by percolation of the old herbs , and addition of new , till it have gotten a full and absolute perfection of th●se odours you desire , then poure the aqua vitae ( the herbs ●trained from it ) into the vessell of wine . to make cute . you may make the boyled wine called cute , if you boyle new wine that is good , lovely , and very sweet untill the third part thereof bee consumed ; when it is growne cold put it into a vessell and use it . but to make this cute , that it may continue all the yeare , gather your grapes whole , and let them lye spread three dayes in the sunne , on the fourth about noone tread them . the liquour or sweet wine which shal runne out into the fatt before the dro●●ey substance come under the presse , must bee boyled one third as before ; then to every nineteene quarts of wine adde an ounce of irees or corne flag well brayed , straine this wine without the lees , which being done , it will continue sweet , firme , and wholesome . to cause troubled wines to settle . to cause troubled wines , and such as are full of lees to settle , poure into thirty quarts of wine , halfe a pint of the lees of oyle boyled , till the third part bee wasted , and the wines will immedi●tely returne to their former settlement . otherwise , which is better and more easie , cast into the wine-vessell the whites of six or seven egges , and stirre them together very well with a stick . to know whether the wine will keepe long . the knowledge whether the wine will continue long or not in a good condition , is thus made apparent : when your wine is tunned up , you must within some time after change it into another vessell , leaving the lees behinde in the first ; which you must diligently stop from taking any vent whatsoever ; after some time you may looke into the lees with carefull animad version , whether they change or contract any ill sent or not , or whether they breed any gnats , or other such creatures ; if you espye none of these mutations or corrupt generation , repose your selfe with all confidence that your wine will continue pure to the longest : but t●●se symptomes discovered , will bee so many admonitions to dispose of that wine with the soonest , which is already by nature inclined to ●urne bad and corrupt ; others take a pipe of elder , or such other wood as may bee hollowed through , with which they receive the sent of the lees , and by them informe themselves how the wine is conditioned . a good pallate will divine of wines by the taste , namely that if the new wine bee sharpe and quick , they repose confidence in its goodnesse and continuance ; but if flat and heavy , then they expect nothing but the contrary to good qualities : againe , if the new wine ( when put into the vessells ) be fat and gl●wy , the sign is prosperous ; but if contrariwise , it be thinne and weake , it is ●n argument that it will easily be turned , to keepe wine at all times . to effect this , you may cast roch-allum ( very finely powdred ) into the , vessell which you meane to put your new wine in , or bay salt very finely powdred : or pibble stones , and little flints taken out of some brooke , or which will retaine the spirits of the wine from evaporating ; more certainly salade oyle , so much as will cover the superficies of the wine . to make that wine sh●l not flowre . vvine will have no flower , if you put into it the flowers of the vine , gathered , and dryed , or the meale of fetches , changing the wine into another vess●ll , when the meale or flowers are settled downe to the bottome . to prepare physicall wines . neither is this digression impertinent ; physitians are not so frequent in virginia , as in padua , or london , and were there more , yet the vast space of ground , those people take up in their scattred dwellings , makes the addresses to them very difficult : that therefore they may ( in absence of the physitian ) have some common remedies for common diseases ; i have thought fit to give them this accompt of medicinall wines out of lie●ault , all of them of excellent virtues , and easie preparations : the first shall be to make wines of wormewood . to which effect , take of sea-wormewood , or in default of that , common wormewood , especially that which hath the small stalke , and short leaves , eight drammes ; stamp them , and binde them in a cloath which is not woven too thick , cast it into the vessell , pouring new wine upon it , making this accompt , that to every three pints of wine there must bee eight drams of wormewood ; continue this proportion in the filling of your vessell , which you must leave with the vent open , that the wine fall not a new to boyling . the use of this wine is good for the paine of the stomack and liver , and to kill wormes . to make wine of horehound . this wine being very soveraigne for the cough , must bee made in the time of vintage , to which purpose you must gather of the crops and tender stalkes of horehound , of that ●specially which growes in leane untilled places ; afterwards cause them to bee dryed in the sunne , make them up into bundles , tying them with a ru●h , sinke them in the vessell to 65 quarts of new wine ; you must put eight pound of horehound to boyle therewith , after the wine is settled the horehound must bee taken out , and the wine stopt very diligently . the wine of anise and dill very good against the difficulty of the urine : the wine of peares against the flux of the belly ; the wine of bayes against the ach and wringings of the belly ; the wine of asarum bace●●r against the j●undise , dropsies , and tertian agues ; the wine of sage against p●ines and weakenesse of the sinewes , are all made as the wine of wormewood . to make wine of betony . take betony , the leaves and seedes about one pound , put it into twenty quarts of wine , and at the expi●atio● of the seven moneth , change the wine into new vessells . this most excellent wine aswageth the paine of the reines , breaketh the stone , and healeth the jaundise . to make the wine of hysop . take the leaves of hysop well stamped , tye them fast in a very fine cloth , and cast about one pound of them into twenty quarts of new wine ; this wine is peculiarly excellent against the diseases of the lungs , an old cough , and shortnesse of breath . wine of pomgranates , made of pomgranates that are scarce ripe , being throughly bruized , and put into a vessell of thick red wine , serveth of singular use against the fluxe of the belly : to which end also serve the wines made of services , mulberries , and quinces . the ancients had a very high opinion of treacle wine , from consideration of its extraordinary vertue in asswaging and healing the bitings of serpents , and other venemous beasts . nor had the vine solely this virtue in its grape , but in the leaves also stamped and applyed unto the grieved part . this vine is thus prepared : cleave three or foure fingers breadth of the plant you intend to set , take out the pith , and replenish the vacant part with treacle , afterwards set the cloven part covered and wrapt in paper . thus vines may bee made soporiferous , if you prepare them in the same manner with opium , as before with treacle , laxative by preparing it with some soluble purge . by this meanes you may have wine to taste like the greeke calabrian frontignac , or any other noble for its excellency ; if the lees purified and preserved bee inserted into the pith of the branch , aromatick , if to these lees you adde compounds of cynamon cassia , cloves , o● what ever shall bee most agreeable to the nostrill and pallate . to remedy wines inclining to corrupt ; and first of wine beginning to soure : if you perceive wine beginning to waxe soure , put into the bottome of your vessell a pot of water well stopt , close the vessell , yet so as at a vent hole to receive and transmit a little aire : the third day draw out the pot , and you shall s●e a noble experiment of attraction , for the water will be stinking● and the wine sound & neat . at what time , and by what accidents wine is most apt to corrupt , with its remedy . the season when wines are subject to turne or bee troubled , is about the summer sol●tice , viz. the 11. of june , at the same time that the vine emits her blossome ; nor then alone , but sometimes about the dog-dayes● by reason of the variety of heates : generally the wine is in some sort of commotion , when a constant s●uth winde disturbes the aire , whether it bee in winter or summer , in great and continued raines also , and windes in earthquakes or mighty thunders . to keepe them f●om turning is by the injection of pan salt , when they boyle or worke , or else o● the seed of smallage , barley-bran , the leaves of bay-trees , or of fennell seed brayed with the ashes of the vine brayed . the like effect have almonds cast into the wine● or the ashes of the oake● the meale of the ●hite fetch both defends the wine from turning , and keepeth it in his soundnesse . allum broken in pieces the same , the worst application is of brimstone , lime , plaister , &c. to r●cover the wine when turned , must bee effected either by changing the vessell , by beaten pepper ; or take whites of egges , beate them very well , and take the froth from thence arising of them , poure them into the vessell , which you must immediately roule after its infusion : or else take twelve kernells of old walnuts ( the virginian walnut i conceive exceeding proper ) rost them under the ashes , and while they ●re yet hot , draw a thread through them , hang them in t●● wine , where they must bee till the wine ( which will not fail ) recover its former colour . if the wine become troubled , either the kernels of pine apples , or peaches , or the whites of egges , and a little salt will not faile to cleare and refine it : others take halfe a pound of allum , as much sugar , make a very small powder thereof , and cast it into the vessell . to helpe wine that beginnes to wast and die . if you by manifest symptomes apprehend your wine suddenly inclining to degenerate and corrupt , this course is prescribed : if it bee clarre● , take the yelke of an egge , if white , the white adde to it three ounces of cleare bright stones taken out of a running river , make them into a small powder , together with two ounces of salt , mingle all together , and ( the wine shifted into another vessell neat and cleane , not tainted with any smell beforehand ) cast in this compound ; mingle it with the wine five or sixe times the day , untill three or foure dayes bee past . this remedy is not prescribed when wine is absolutely spoy●ed , for then it would bee applyed to no purpose ; but that the carefull master should by his observation of it to such a disposition , prevent it by this experiment . to restore wine growne musty , unto his former purity . cast into the vessell cowes milke salted● some ( but to the infinite unhealthfullnesse of him that drinkes it ) attempt this restauration with allum , lime , and brimstone , a more undangerous way is to infuse in it juniper-berries , and irees roots : yet if the wine should continue this ill senting qu●lity , by having taken winde : let it bee rouled too and againe to awaken the spirits thereof , that they may the better disperse the strength of its infu●ion : afterwards set it againe upon his cantling , replenish the vessel and shut it close to prevent winde for the future . to preserve wines from sowring , may bee performed by your disposing of your vessell in a place that is very coole and dry ( the vessels being very well filled and well stopped ) to prevent as well the emission of the spirits , by which the wine continues vigorous , as the admission of aire . but in regard all men are not the masters of such opportune conveniencies , being fo●ced sometimes to make uses of places obnoxious to heate , and drawing one vessell a long time , cannot hinder the secret invasions of aire ; yet if you perceive in time that your vine begines to harbour an acid or soure quality , you shall preserve it from falling into a full degree of sourenesse ; if you take a good piece of l●rd , wrap it well in a linnen cloath , tye it to a small cord , and let it downe by the bunghole into the middle of the wine , still letting it lower as the wine decreaseth . some advise , and not without a great apparence of reason , to put into the vessell , oyle olive , or salade , in such quantity , that it may onely cover the sup●rficies of the wine : which oyle when the wine is drawne off from the lees , may bee seperated from them , and preserved . to take away the waterishnesse and crude moisture of the wine , put into the vessell the leaves of the pomgranate-tree , though in my opinion such wine being easily knowne in the fatt , when first trodden , should be corrected by boyling , as afore . the remedy against venemous beasts falling into the wine , as adders● rats , &c. is , so soone as the dead body is found , to burne it and cast the ashes into the same vessell , s●irring it about with a wooden stick : others give advice to put hot bread into the vessel which will attract all the venemous qualities to it selfe , and cleare the wine . of the olive . the vine and olive being such delightfull associates as to expresse a mutuall emulation for the glory of fertility when planted together . this treatise shall not divide them , they are both exhilaratives , the vine rejoyces the heart , the olive glads the countenance ; and that virginia may expresse the delight she affords to mankinde by being reinforced with this second sister of laughter , the olive ; this discourse particularly designed to her improvement , showes its planting and culture when planted . the olive tree , though it delight in a rich fat ground ; yet if he have a warme aire , and a south , or south-east wind to refresh him , will in all places testifie a bounteous gratitude for its scituation in an almost unlaboured for fertility : yet to prepare a place for this rich plant to prosper on , his prosperity being no small part of your owne , you must digge the pits where you intend to plant them , a yeare before such implanting ; in this pit burne some straw , or which is better castings of vine or brambles ( but no part of oake , there being such a particular enmity betwixt this tree , and the oake , that the olive not onely refuses its neighbourhood , but dies if planted in the place where the oake has beene rooted up ) or you may leave it to the sunne and raine , which will without such adustion exhale and purifie all infectious vapours : the place being provided to plant upon , we must next select our plant. select your plants from the shoots or branches of those olive trees which are yong , faire , and fertile : let them bee in thicknesse the circumference of an ordinary wr●st , in length eighteene inches ; plant it the bigger end downewards into the earth , prepared as before , and ramme the mould , mingled with dung and ashes close about it : let it be digged every yeare in autumne . the time to plant it is in april or may , it must not be transplanted for the first five yeares , nor the boughs cut or pruned till it have attained eight . graft it not but upon it selfe , so will it beare fruit better in the species and number ; in its transplantation you must take up as much of the soyle with its roots , as you can possible , and when you reset it , give it the like scitu●tion for coast and quarter that it had before . olives are intended for two uses when gathered ; either to be● served up at the table in collation , or to make oyle of the largest sort of olive , is most proper for the table , the lesser more particularly convenient for oyle : they must bee gathered with the least offence to the tree that may bee , the bruising of the branches with poles as some use it in striking downe the fruit , makes the tree barren : the best way therefore is to ascend the tree by a ladder , in faire weather ( not so much for conveniency of the gatherer ; as for the profit comming from the olive , which is not to bee taken from the tree , but when it is exceeding dry ) and pulling them with your hand put them into a wicker basket , which you shall have carryed up with you to that purpose . those olives you inten● to preserve or pickle , must not have that full ripenesse which is requisite for those you purpose to make oyle of . the olive● whic● you keepe for banquets must be full of flesh , firme , fast , large , and ovall ; if you will pickle them , put them into an earthen pot , and cover them with salt brine or verjuice , or else with honey , vinegar , oyle and salt smally beaten . if you intend to keepe them long , by changing your salt brine constantly every two or three moneths , you may effect it . for the olives whereof you are to expresse your oyle , you must gather no more at one time then what may be made into oyle that day , and the day following : before you bring them to the presse let them be spred upon hurdles , well pick'd , and cul'd ; let the hurdles not be too thick set with twigs , that the lees and watry humor of the olive ( which if ●xpressed with oyle would make it extreame full of faeculency , and corrupts it both in the nostrill and palate ) may expend , waste it selfe , and drop through ; some therefore that this malignant humor may have a full defluxion before they bring the fruit to the presse , make a high and well-raised floore , with provision of partitions to keep every dayes gathering seperate ; ( which is , if your abundance be such that your presse is not able to discharge you of them dayly ) the bottome of these partitions must be paved with a decline descent , that the moistnesse of the olives may flow away , and be received into gutters or little channels there provided for their transfluxe . the olives being thus prepared for the presse , and the presse readily provided of all things necessary , viz. of fats , v●ssels to receive your severall oyles , scoopes to draw , and empty out the oyle , covers great and small , spunges , pots to carry out the oyle , tyed about by bands or cords of hemp , or broome-barke ; the mill-stones , oyle-mills , pressers , and all other instruments serving thereunto being very well cleansed , and the aire having been before as well heated by a plentifull fire ; ( if it be not warme enough by its naturall scituation ) for the assistance of heat makes all oyly liquors resolve and runne more gently and freely , whereas cold astringes , and detaines it . this presse-house therefore should be so seated , that it may enjoy a full admission and benefit of the south sunne , that we may stand in need of very little fire , if any at all , such heat being no more assistant to the expression , then accessary to the corruption of the oyle . carry your olives thus cleansed to the presse , under which put thē whole in new willow baskets ( the willow adding a beauteous and innocent color to the oyl ; ) the willow also something staving off the rude strokes of the presse , that the olives may be bruised with as little violence , and as much leisure as possible : nor would it be inconvenient if their skin and fl●sh were a little broken at the first with a milstone , so set , that it should not breake the kernels , which would utterly spoyle the olive , taking them from the mill thus prepar'd : let them be stronglier bruised in the presse , and put foure pound of salt to every bushell of olives . the oyle which comes first is by much the best , and the●efore called virgin oyle : the second which comes with more violent expression is fitter for liniments then the table : but the last , which is extorted from the drosse , and stones , is of no use but for lampes ; or such sordid employment . the tuns and vessels wherein the oyle is to be put , must be well dressed with pitch and gumme , made very clean with warme lees , and carefully dryed with a spunge , into which you may powre your oyle within thirty dayes after the expression of it , so much time being necessarily allowed for the settling the lees , which by that will have grounded upon the bottome . the cellars where the vess●ls of oyle are to be conse●ved , must be in a place of constant drynesse and coldnesse , heat and moysture being corrupters of the oyle ; provide ther●fore a cellar on the north coast of your house : and for the better and more neat preservation of your liquor , poure it ●ather into glasse vessels or earthen pots , which ( if they be made capacio●s ) are far more convenient then the pitcht retainers we formerly spoke of . accidents befalling oyle● with their remedies : and first to rec●ver frozen oyle . if ( in the time of winter ) oyle doth freeze together with his lees , you must put into it twice boyled salt , which dissolves and clears your oyle from all further apprehension of danger ; nor need you entertaine a jealousie that it will be salt , since unctuous matters ( and especially oyle ) have seldome any relish of it . to keepe oyle from becommimg ranke . vvhen the oyle begins to change from his first purity of taste to a disposed rankenesse ; the r●medy is to melt an equall proportion of wax and oyle together , to which you are to mingle salt fried in oyle before ; this you must poure into the vessel , which composition above the prevention of it , when beginning to grow ranke , effects an entire restitution to its simple purenesse , when already affected . anniseeds cast into the vessell by a particular attraction , performe the same operation . to purifie troubled oyle . some are of advice , that the applying it to the fire or sun recleares it . others , if the vessell be strong , ca●t into it boyling water : how these remedies agree with their former assertions , ( wherein they declare heat so unnaturall to oyle ) is beyond my reconciling : i for my part , should rather make an experiment of vineger , which being cast into the oyle by degrees , hath such a penetrating and inquirent faculty over all the parts , that it would without doubt recompose it . to recover oyle corrupted in the sent. to performe this , take green olives , pound them , free them from their stones , and cast them into the oyle : or else cast the crums of barley bread mixed with corne salt : otherwise , infuse in your oyle the flowers of melilot : or else hang in the vessell a handfull of the herb coriander , and if you finde the putrifying quality yet unexpelled , cast in divers times of the same herbe , and which is better , change his vessell ; this ill odour others drive away thus : they take grapes , pick out their kernells , stampe them , and with salt make them into a lumpe or lumpes , which you must cast into the vessell , and after ten dayes faile not to change it : which must necessarily be done after the application of any remedy to oyle growne ranke and putrified , the vessell still impairing what the remedy recovers . wee have done with the oyle olive , after the manner of whose expression may bee extorted any unctuous matter of fruits , plants , or seeds● namely , wal●uts , filberds , almonds ( both sweete and bitter ) nutmegs , the kernells of peaches , pine-apples , abricots , cherries , plums , pistach●s , the seede of line , rape , cole , mustard , hempe , poppy , henbane , the seeds or pipins of apples , pears , cucumbers , gourds , melons , and other such like : but that wee may give the reader a more cleare dilucidation of the manner of preparation , wee shall briefely discover the method used in the expression of oyle from almond and nutmegs , which will easily make him apprehend all the rest ; the particu●ar reason which perswades mee to introduce the example of almonds , is b●caus● i have purposed b●fo●e i finish this concluding treatise , to discou●se particularly of the pla●●●ng the almond . whose oyle i●●o bee taken inwa●ds , is to bee thus expressed . pill the almonds after they have steeped some time in warme water , pound them in a mortar of stone or marble with a wooden pestle , make them up in little lumpes or loaves , which you may kne●d with your hands against the vapour of warme water , or put them in a glasse ves●ell of a large content● for some foure or five houres : ( let the seate and glasse bee so contrived , that it may rather bee above the water to receive the vapour on its sides and bottome , then in it ) the almond being thus mollified by the disposition of the moisture , must bee put into a haire cloth or hempen bag , and laid in a presse , whose bottome must be wel heated , hollow , and bending downewards to give the better delabency for the oyle thus expressed , you may bake the drossy part of the almonds under the ashes , which in time of necessity will serve for bread , of plenty for a dainty and fatning food to your poultry . this oyle is of soveraigne , excellency to mitigate and remove the throwes and gripes of women newly delivered , and to aswage the paines of the colli●k or reines , taking it in two ounces of white wine , or one of aqua vit● ; the line , cole , rape● wallnut , and other need not these curiou● preparations , and their cakes are of unmatchable nourishment to fatten kine and other cattle . oyle of nutmegs . oyle of nutmeg ( which in the south part of virginia not subject to any inconveniences of cold would undoubtedly flourish ) is thus made : bray them with a wooden stamper , afterwards presse them out , the plankes being very well heated ; to extract it more rich , divide them into little heapes , and steepe them three da●es in very good wine , after dry them in the shaddow of the sunne two whole dayes , then heate them reasonably in a frying pan upon the fire , sprinkling them with rose-wa●er , and presently presse them . this i judge conveniently sufficient for oyles : let us descend to the planting of the almond-tree , which as it hath a peculiar excellency , so without dispute returnes as ample profit . of the almond tree . though the almond tree delight particularly in gravelly places , of which virginia is too rich to afford a conveniency ; yet there is no dispute , but if the mould wherein you plant them bee mingled with oyster-shels , or ●●ch like , of which there is to bee found inexhaustible quantities , they will have a greater virtue then gravell to the quickning and ingerminating of this tree ; having the perplexed hardne●●e of gravell and unctuousnesse of marle united . the soyle thus prescribed ; let the seat of your almond be in a hot place fully exposed to the south or south-west , and it will not onely flourish to your expectation , but its fruit will bee excellently qualified , and in vast abundance : it groweth very well of the stone , which because it cannot bee procured new should be kept close in a vessell of earth ; to be transported , set i● as you would your peach ; it thrives very well too of the branch o● scien , which must bee cut from the top of the tree , and planted as the olive , the earth rammed very hard about it , and prepared as before , both the stone and the scien should bee steeped for the space of twelve or foure and twenty houres in homed w●ter ; the best season to set or plant it in virginia , is in october and november . this tree will bee of admirable use there , in regard that both that and the olive will hinder no undergrowing corne ; let neither this tree nor your olive grow above ten foot in the stock , and in this as in olives , if you see any branch aspiring higher then his neighbours , represse such ambition by cutting him off , o●herwise hee will divert all the sap of the tree into his owne body● an● leave his fellowes in a starving and perishing condition ; amongst which if you maintaine equality , they will altogether consent in gratitude to returne you a plentifull harvest . the barren almond tree will become fruitfull if you lay o●en his roots in winter , or else if you pierce some part of the stock close to the earth , and put through the hole a wedge of oake , watering it about with stale urine . the bitter almond will bee capable of bul●oration , if you lay round about his bared root swines dung tempered with urine , casting afterwards much mould upon it , this must bee practised yearly , till hee bee perfectly reclaimed , you will finde the same effect if you bore a hole in the stock of the tree , and put therein a wedge wrapped about with cloth dipped in hony . beasts by brousing and cropping of the first and tender branches , change the nature of sweet almonds into bitter almonds , are gathered when their huskes through the heate of the sunne begin to divide ; ( i should therefore advise that those made choice of to set , may bee taken before such exact ripenesse , that the heate of the sunne may not exhale their generating vigour ) if when you have beaten them downe you shell them altogether , and wash them in brine , they will become white , and bee preserved a long time ; cautionarily that you dry them in the sunne ; their repository or granaries must have good open admissories for an unmoist aire , and lye upon that coast that is most open to the north-west , being the driest winde in that country . the medicinall excellency of almonds , is , that they are good for those which are troubled with a clammy fleame in their throat , with weake lungs , and such as are subject to the gravell in the reines or difficulty of urine , they are great restorers to nature , and fortifie the parts tending to generation ; nor is it onely beneficiall in its fruit , for the gumme also of the almond tree arrests the spitting of blood . of the fig tree . the fig tree groweth with an unusuall celerity , as beginning to beare the second yeare from his planting , and is of that nature , that during a moneth or five weekes when grapes are ripe and good to eate , the figge also is at that season dayly mature , and fit for the pallate , it may bee planted as the vine , and effects the same soile ; such as have roots grow sooner , but without doubt the branches continue longer ; the order you observe in planting the vine adheare too in this , and it will prosper . the fittest season to plant it is in october , and the succeeding moneth to the 15. or twentieth : you shall cause them in planting the better to take root , if you loosen the barque , or which is better bruise it gently at the nether end of the stemme about halfe a foot . to cause them to bee fertile , and bring forth fruits remarkable for fullnesse and verdure , put to his root rich mould beaten and tempered with the setlings of oyle olive , and mans dung , or which i like better then this stercoration if it have already a benine soyle , crop the tops and ends of the branches when they first spring . to reclaime a wild fig-tree , water him at the roots with wine and oyle mixed together . if you make a composition of an equall quantity of salt brine and water bestow this irrigation in a small trench round about the body of the tree , your figges are prevented from unripe fallings . to have ea●ly figs , water the tree with oyle and pigions dung , if your ambition be not only to have the earliest , but the latest , take away the fi●st buds , when they are about the bigne●se of a beane . to keepe or preserve them , lay them in a pot of honey full and well stopped , but so that they neither touch the sides of the pot , nor one another . or take an ●arthen pot ( the figs being put in ) stop it close , and immerge this vess●ll to another full of wine , no taint or corruption will possesse your figges so inclosed , while the wine retains his goodn●sse . the plant steeped in brine , or the end thrust into a sea onion , becomes much more fruitfull when planted . this fruit is of great vertue in making the belly soluble in abundance of nourishment and provocation of sweat , dryed and mingled with the flower of linseed or fenugreeke , it resolveth and killeth all impostumes , and hard tumours , in decoctions it assists much in driving away of the co●gh , and difficulty of breath , which last vertue the fruit also expresseth very happily , if steeped in aqua vitae , the night precedent , and taken every morning during the dominion of this disease after you , the milke of the fig-tree dropt into the eare killeth the wormes in it , the leaves of the fig-tree rubbed doe provoke the hemorrhoides : the juice of figs is of equall felicity in opening them , which to increase his excellency amends all roughnesse , ill conditioned scabs small pocks , purples , freckles , ringwormes , and other ●ye●sad blemishes of the face or body therewith anointed , being first tempered with the flower of parched barley , a little cotten wool dipped in this juice , and layd upon the aking tooth asswageth the paine . of the pomeganate tree . the pomegranate tree , which may be planted either from the branch or succour , is one of the most absolute encouragers of an idle person in the world ; provided , it be exempt from the intemperate operation of the cold , neither the torrid heat of the sun , nor the barrennesse of the soyle , shal make him forgoe his glorious rubies ; no culture or dressing is required by it : yet if it be set in a rich soyle , it will be sure to make an advantage of it to his owne flourishing , and your profit : the wine thereof ( for it affordeth wine as wel as excellency of fruit ) may be made after this manner● take the ripe kernels , freed and cleansed from their skins , put them into the presse , and exact the wine , keep it in vess●ls till it is fully fined from all working , which finished , distribute such a quantity of oyle as may float over all the top of the vessel , and this preserves it from sowring or corruption . the pomegranate apple put in a pot of new earth , well covered , and luted with clay , and set into an oven so long , till the fruit may be resolved into powder , is of very princely vertue ; for ( taking the weight of half a crown thereof in red wine ) it miraculously stops the bloudy flux . it is also good in divers diseases of women , which ( because they are more arcanely peculiar to that sex ) i shal forbear to speak of . of the quince tree . the quince tree groweth much sooner from the root then branches : it delighteth in a soyle of a moyst and cold nature , and would therefore be planted towards the more umbragious and coole corners of your garden . the garden , or reclaimed quince , beareth two sorts of fruits , to which curiosity hath assigned sexes , and they are called the quince and quincesse ; the male , which is the quince , is of a more wrinkled , drye , redolent f●uit , and golden colour then the quincesse . if you graft the male upon the female , or e convers● , the quinces thence proceeding will be tender , and may be eaten raw , which without such an hermaphroditisme must of necessity have beene prepared , to which nature , rather then to eate it , crude hath de●igned it . the use of marmalade , and its preparation is so publickly known , that it is unnecessary to repeate it . it is not enough to enjoy the delight of these fruits for the summer onely : the winter too in reason should claime a part of our summer contentments , which cannot bee better expedited then by ●●ying such f●uits as are capable of a refaction , and agreeable when dryed , the principall whereof are the vine or g●ape , the fig , the peach , and abricot . how to dry grapes , that they may bee kept . your grapes being at their just ripenesse , select the fairest out of your vineyard , for such quantity as you shall use , let them lye thin spread while you prepare a lye for them , made of faire water and ashes , proceeding onely from the cuttings of the vine without any other mixture of wood whatsoever : seeth this lye till you have made a strong and clea●e liquor , then taking or straining away the ashes , put the liquor into a cleane caldron , set it againe over the fire till it bee ready to seeth ; then tying the stalkes of your grapes with thread , and fastening the thread to such sticks and in such order bunch by bunch , as chandlers use to dip their candles , which dip them into this lye foure or five severall times : which done , let them dry in the sunne , either so hanging on their sticks , o● which is better upon lattices or hurdles of rods , or the like , untill they bee conveniently dry ; then barrell them , pressing them very hard and flat in the vessell , others dry them upon such lattices or hurdles without steeping them even as they come from the vine , and peradventure more successefully . how to drie ●igges . let them ( as the grape ) bee gathered very ripe ; then lay and spread them upon hurdles or lattices of reeds or osier joyned together , with rifts or vacancies betwixt the covering of those osiers , that the aire transpiring through those voyd spaces may assist the sunne in the drying them ; but you must bee cautious that during their exposure to the open aire no raine or dew incommodate them : when they are dry barrell with the same poise of pressure used to the grapes . others take a bigge reed or cane of two or three foot in length , boring little holes all the length of it , through which they put little sticks of two foot extent , being the small and ●harpe upon which they thread the figs , till they are very full of them , and so hang the cane in the sunne , which dryed they barrell up using the same course as before . how to dry peaches a●d abricots of all sorts . vvhen they are very ripe , pare off the upper skin , cleave them into foure quarters , dry them as you did your figs , barrell them and keepe them for the winter . the manner how you shall prepare them to eate is this ; provide an earthen pot , and after you have washed your peaches in faire water , put them into the pot with as much wine as will cover the peaches , then seeth them halfe a quarter of an houre . they may be● made ready without boyling thus ; let them infuse three or fo●re dayes in wine , ( which way they are much better ) put to them beaten cynamon , and thus they will last a moneth in the wine , eaten every morning they are very wholesome , and provoke a good appetite . the fittest seasons for sowing of seeds . to prescribe rules according to our climate , to tha● of virginia , may have much of affection , but without all peradventures , little of wisdome . wee must therefore seeke for a nearer correspondence in parallells . having therefore seene some letters of an ancient date written by frenchmen , then employed in virginia● to their intrusters , wherein they conf●ss● that of all the provinces of france : none came so neare to that noble countrey , as lang●edock and provenc● , two of the eyes of that kin●dome , abounding withall the d●lights and delicacy that italy can pretend to , or spaine boast of ; i could not but apprehend that their times of sation and insition , of planting and replanting , might in some measure correspond with that place where the english are now seated , and having seene a regular di●tribution of the moneths and seasons in the yeare for sowing , grafting● and other offices belonging to the industrious lovers of agriculture ; i should both unsatisfie my owne conscience● and disoblige that countrey , and its christian inhabitants● if i did not publish it with the same resentment of affection i received it ; not that any should bee so pinioned to these precepts , that neither weather , inconveniency , or want of opportunity should make him recede from the punctuall observation of them : but i speake it out of a very strong confidence that the observations of the seasons according to these prescriptions will sort well with virginia in generall , and the planters in particular , to whom it is intended , and indeed it is as exact a directory as any yet published . i am not ignorant that criticks will laugh at this ; much good doe it them , and why so many moneths for the same seed ? why so many repetitions ? my exceptionist forgets that wee not onely covet to have things early , but their continuance : will it offend him that wee have artichokes in may ? and july both ? because wee may have cabbage , lettuse in april , shall wee bee forbidden to have any in may : the principall scope of this directer was to show how long such and such seedes might bee continued to bee sowen , and in what moneth and moone , if hee apprehend it not ; i can send him to no moneth , but that of june , nor moone , but that of midsommer . he that will sow seed , must know that , some may be sowen at all times of the moneth and moone , as , asparagus , colewort of all sorts , spinage , lettuse , parsnips , reddis● . other● would be sowed in a certaine moneth and moone , as there must bee sowen in february , the moone being — new spike garlike borage buglo●se cheruse coriander gourd● water cre●ses m●jorane palma chri●●ī flower gentl● white poppy pu●stane radish rocket rosemary sorrell double marigold thyme . full anise violet● blites skirworts white succory fennell parsley . old holy thistle cole cabbage white cole green col● cucumber● harts-horn● sampier diers graine spinage cabbage-lettu●● melon● onion● larkes-heel● burnet le●kes● so● in march the moone being , new garlick borage chervile coriander gourds m●jorane white poppy pursl●ine radish sorr●ll double marigold th●me violets . full anise bleets skirworts succory ●●nn●ll apples of love marvellous apples . old artichoke● ba●il thi●●le● bl●ss●d this●le cole cab●age white cole greene cole ci●rons cu●u●bers hart● horne sa●pire dier● graine spinage gilly flower● ●y●sop ca●●age let●use melon● onyon● fl●wer 〈◊〉 burnet leeke● savory . so● in april the moon being new majoran● flower ge●●●e thyme violet● . full apples of love marvellous appl●s . old artichokes cabbage cole citrons harts-horn● sampire gilly flowers . in may in the old of the moon blessed thi●●le● in june the moone new go●rds radishes . old melons cucumbers . in july the moone ●●ll white ●●cc●ry old cabbage let●u●e . in august the moone being full white s●●●ory● herbes growing of seedes that are sowne may bee transplanted ●t all times , except chervils , arrage , spinage , and persely , which are nothing worth when they are transplanted ; ever observed that such transplantation bee in a moist , rainy weather , otherwise they must bee very diligently watered . you may take notice that the choise and age of seedes is double , in chusing them you are to regard that they bee ripe , full , heavy , firme , grosse , and of a good colour , not falling to powder through rottennesse or bruises . some grow bettter of new seedes , as leeks , cucumbers . others grow better of old seeds , as coriander , persley , savory , beets , origanum , cre●ses , spinage , poppey . further observe , that you must preserve from cold , lettuses , artichokes , basill , cabbage cole , diers graine , melons , fifteene dayes after they put forth from the earth . make account that seedes thrive and prosper much better , when they are sowen upon such dayes as are betweene the extreames of cold and heate , then in hot , cold or dry dayes . bee pleased to remember , that seedes must bee gathered in faire weather , in the wane of the moone . they must be kept some in boxes of wood , dry , and not layd upon the ground , but kept very cleane . bagges of leather , dry , and not layd upon the ground , but kept very cleane . ve●●els of earth , dry , and not layd upon the ground , but kept very cleane . others , as onions , in their huske . chibols , in their huske . leek●● in their huske . to do regularly , w● s●ould plant in the last of the moone● gather grafts in the last but one of the moone● graft two dayes after the change of the moone● an explication of the saw-mill , an engine , wherewith force of a wheele in the water , to cut timber with great speed . this engine is very common in norway and mountaines of sweden , wherewith they cut great quantity of deal-bords ; which engine is very necessary to be in a great towne or forrest , to cut timber , whether into planks or otherwise . this heer is not altogether like those of norway : for they make the piece of timber approch the sawes on certaine wheels with teeth ; but because of reparations which those toothd wheeles are often subject unto , i will omit that use : and in stead thereof , put two weights , about 2. or 300. pound weight a piece , whereof one is marked a. the other b. the cords wherewith the sayd weights doe hang , to be fastned at the end of the 2. peeces of moving wood , which slide on two other peeces of fixed wood , by the meanes of certaine small pulleys , which should be within the house , and so the sayd weights should alwayes draw the sayd peeces of moving wood , which advancing alway towards the sawes rising and falling , shall quickly be cut into 4. 5. or 6. peeces , as you shall please to put on saws , and placed at what distance you will have for the thicknesse of the planks or bords ye will cut : and when a peece is cut , then let one with a lever turne a rowler , wherto shall be fastned a strong co●d which shall bring backe the sayd peece of wood , and lift again the weights : and after put aside the peece already cut , to take againe the sawes against another peece of wood . which once done , the ingenious artist may easily convert the same to an instrument of threshing wheat , breaking of hempe or flax , and other as profitable uses . finis . the reformed common-wealth of bees. presented in severall letters and observations to sammuel hartlib esq. with the reformed virginian silk-worm. containing many excellent and choice secrets, experiments, and discoveries for attaining of national and private profits and riches. hartlib, samuel, d. 1662. 1655 approx. 224 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 57 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2009-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a45759 wing h997 estc r207475 99866524 99866524 118800 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a45759) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 118800) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; 127:e840[13]) the reformed common-wealth of bees. presented in severall letters and observations to sammuel hartlib esq. with the reformed virginian silk-worm. containing many excellent and choice secrets, experiments, and discoveries for attaining of national and private profits and riches. hartlib, samuel, d. 1662. hartlib, samuel, d. 1662. reformed virginian silk-worm. [6], 62, [4], 40 p. : ill. printed for giles calvert at the black-spread-eagle at the west-end of pauls, london, : 1655. the reformed virginian silk-worm, has a separate dated t.p. and pagination. annotation on thomason copy: "may. 29.". reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every 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as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng bees -early works to 1800. silkworms -early works to 1800. 2000-00 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2001-08 spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images 2001-09 tcp staff (michigan) sampled and proofread 2001-10 tcp staff (michigan) text and markup reviewed and edited 2001-11 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the reformed common-wealth of bees . presented in severall letters and observations to sammuel hartlib esq. with the reformed virginian silk-worm . containing many excellent and choice secrets , experiments , and discoveries for attaining of national and private profits and riches . london , printed for giles calvert at the black-spread-eagle at the west-end of pauls , 1655. the summary of the sections in the following epistolary treatise of bees . 1. the testimony of an ancient writer of husbandry , of an incredible revenue , , which hath been raised from keeping of bees . pag. 1.2 . 2. an extract of a letter , containing several observations upon the fore-alledged testimony . pag. 2. 3. an experiment of the generation of bees , practised by that great husbandman of cornwal m. carew of anthony . p. 2.3 . 4. dr. arnold boats observations upon the experiment of the generation of bees . pag. 3. 5. the new bee-hive , or a discourse for the right making of bee-hives , shewing their materials , proportion , ordering , and placing : and lastly , their vse and benefit . left for a farwel to his native country , by that zealous , publick-hearted and learned gentleman , thomas brown dr. in divinity , and of the civil laws . 3.4.5.6.7.8 . 6. a quere upon the description of dr. brown's new-invented bee-hive . pag. 11. 7. a letter discovering a new kind of excellent food for bees . pag. 11 , 8. an extract of a letter concerning this new kind of food for bees , pag , 10.11 . 9. an other extract of a letter upon the same subject . pag. 11. 10. how anis may be got to grow in england . pag. 11. 11. a translate of a letter written in high-dutch , communicating , a secret for the better ordering and prserving of bees , practised beyond the seas . pag. 11.12.13.14 . 12. another description of the said secret. pag. 14. 13. a philosophical letter , treating of many other secreets , and experiments for general riches and profits , besides these arising from bees . pag. 15. 14. an enlargment of the philosophical-letter , explaining more fully divers of those more desirable passages for general riches and profits , with the reasons why no more is discovered at this time . pag. 32. 15. a very cheap way , how to keep a stock of bees all winter long . pag. 40. 16. a notable and approved experiment for improving of bees . p. 40.41 . 17. a copy of a letter written by mr. william mew , minister at eastlington in glocestershire to mr. nathaniel angelo fellow of eaton colledg pag. 41. 42. 18. a copy of mr. hartlibs letter to that worthy minister at eastlington mr. william mew . pag. 43.44.45.46 . 19. an extract of mr. mew's answer to mr. hartlib's letter , pag. 46.47.48.49 . 20. a letter concerning that pleasant and profitable invention of a transparent bee-hive , written by that much accomplish't and very ingenious gentleman , mr. christ. wren fellow of all-souls colledg in oxford . with the figure and description of the transparant bee-hive . pag. 50. 51. 21. considerations upon the letter from oxford . pag. 53. 54. 22. some remarkable observations , concerning the swarming of bees together , with a short description of a bee-hive made of glass . pag. 54.55.56 . 23. a singular observation . concerning bee-hives , and buck-wheat , made by mr. thomas babington in his travels into germany . pap. 56.57 . 24. how to make good greek or other wines out of hony. p. 57.58 . 25. a receipt to make a pure mead that shall tast like wine . p. 58. 26. an other way to make a most pleasant and wine-like mead. pag. 58. 27. the common-wealth of bees , represented by mr. gerrard malynes , by way of a digression in his great book called , lex mercatoria , or , the ancient-law merchant . p. 59.60.61.62 . 28. a catalogue of some writers of bees extant in english. pag. 63. some of the grosser errata . pag. 11.r.9 . lin . 22. for etner r. enter , p. 17.l . 31.f . bees r. beef p. 18.l.34.r . sprout & corn , p. 19 . l.11.f . infused r. misused . l. 23.f . excise r. excess , p. 21.l.5.r.ly both open , l. 18.f . fourty r. four p. 22.l.19.f . sceptile r. reptile , p. 24 . l.22 . f. in the fire r. in the a●re , p. 24.l.32.f . diccretick r. diuretick , p. 25.l.7 . & 11 . r . cochineel . p. 27.l.34.r . empyreuma , p. 28.l.6.r . amazed , l. 27.f . macarates r. macerated . p. 29.l.23.r . make its combes , p. 31.l.25 . r. to ergon , l. 27.r . parerga . p. 38.l.18.f . woods r. weeds , l. 37.f . woods r. weeds , p. 42.l.21.f . dury r. durus . some vvriters of bees extant in english. the feminine monarchy , or the history of bees . shewing their admirable nature and properties ; their generation and colonies ; their government , loyalty , art , industry ; enemies , wars , magnanimity , &c. together with the right ordering of them from time to time , and the sweet profit arising thereof . written out of experience by charles butler , magd. plat. in trucul . act. 2. sc. 6. pluris est oculatus testis unus , quam auriti decem . oxford , printed by william turner , for the author . 1634. a book promised by henry gurnay , gentleman . wherein is shewed what great losse cometh to the common-wealth , by the neglect , carelesness and ignorance in the keeping of more store of bees , and the right ordering them to most profit , partly shewed in , that some man having a score of shepes , and his next neighbour not any , or happily , not three in that town of an hundred housholds as many more : and that some country is very plentiful thereof , and the next every way as apt for that commodity , yet very scarce thereof ; and yet the air and the year equally indifferent to all alike , the common errour being to ascribe a greater luck in these kinds to some men more than to others , which is onely through an unskilfulness therein . the ordering of bees . or the tru . history of managing them from time to time , with their honey and wax , shewing their nature and breed . as also what trees , plants and hearbs are good for them , and namely what are hurtful : together with the extraordinary profit arising from them , &c. set forth in a dialogue , resolving all doubts whatsoever . by the late unparallell'd experience , of john levets , gent. london , printed by thom. harper , for john harison , 1634. a treatise concerning the right use and ordering of bees . newly made and set forth , according to the authors own experience : ( which by any heretofore hath not been done ) by edmund southern gent. imprinted at london by thomas orwin , for thomas woodcock , dwelling in pauls church-yard , at the sign of the black bear. 1593. a discourse or history of bees . shewing their nature and vsage , and the great profit of them . written by richard remnant . london , printed by robert young , for thomas slater , dwelling in duck-lane at the white swan . 1637. finis . the reformed common-vvealth of bees , presented in severall letters to samuel hartlib esquire . the testimony of an ancient writer of husbandry , of an incredible revenue , which hath been raised from keeping of bees . varro de re rustica , lib. 3. c. 16. de fructu ; authorem habeo non soluno qui alvearia sua locata habet quotannis quinis millibus pondo mellis , sed etiam h●nc varronem nostrum quem audivi dice item , duos milites se habuisse in hispania fratres vejamos , ex agro falisco locupletes , quibus cum a patre relicta esset parva villa , & agellus non sa●e major jug●ro uno , h●s circum villam totam alvearium facisse , & hortum habuisse ac reliquum thymo , & cythiso obsevisse & apiastro ; hos nunquam minus , ut peroeque d●cerent , dena millia sextertia ex melle recipere esse solitos in english thus . concerning the profit of bees , i have not onely a witnesse , who saith , that he lets out his bees for five thousand pounds of honey by the yeer , but also our friend varro here , whom i have heard say , that he had with him in spain two souldiers , brethren , and rich , to whom their father left a small country house , and a little field , in truth , not greater than one acre , and that round about the house they made a place to keep bees , and a garden , and planted the rest with thyme , cytisus and bawme , and were w●nt to receive yearly for honey , reckoning one year with another , never lesse than ten thousand sesterces , which being in the time of the consuls ( before the caesars ) makes of our mony eighty three pound six shillings eight pence . an extract of a letter containing new observations upon the fore-alledged testimony . the distinction introduced by the gr●mmarians betwixt sestertii and s●stertia , is not alwayes observed by classical authors : and so in varro's words — denae millia sestertia — signifieth no more than — de●i●s milla num●●i sest●rtii — that is in english mony , reckoning the sestert●us at two pence sterling , ( id quod praeter prop●er ●st verum ●jus preti●m ) about four-score and three pound sterling , a very fair yearly revenue to be got out of one acre of ground , and therefore well worth the while , to be alledged by varro , for to encourage men by this example to the keeping of bees . if i were sure to get so much by it , i would soon turn a bee-keeper , which i have a great mind to doe however before i dye ; and therefore pray as many secrets concerning these pretty creatures , as possible you can attain unto ; and for your reward , i promise you a good proportion of honey and wax out of my first crop. an experiment of the generation of bees , practised by that great husbandman of cornwell , old mr. carew of anthony . take a calf , or rather a sturk ( or steer ) of a year old , about the latter end of aprill , bury it eight or ten dayes , till it begin to putrifie and corrupt ; then take it forth of the earth , and opening it , lay it under some hedge , or wall , where it may ●e most subject to the sun , by the heat whereof it will ( a great part of it ) turn into maggets , which ( without any other care ) will live upon the remainder of the corruption . after a while , when they begin to have wings , the whole putrified carcasse would be carried to a place prepared , where the hives stand ready , to which , being perfumed with honey and sweet hearbs , the maggets ( after they have received their wings ) will resort . the gentleman in cornwell , that practised this experiment , used hogsheads , or bigger wine casks , instead of hives , and the practise of the bee being to spend the first part of the summer in filling the upper part of the cask , and so still to work downwards : the gentlemans usuall custome was ( through a door in the upper part of the cask ) to take out what honey he wanted , without any disturbance to the bees , whose work and abode then was in the lower part of the cask . dr. arnold boate's observations upon the experiment of the generation of bees . i did ever think that the generation of bees out of the carcass of a dead calf , given us by divers of the ancients , but most amply and elegantly by virgil in the fourth book of his georgicks , had been a fiction , but am glad to find the contrary by your letter , which confirmed the same out of modern and english experience . and i would as little have thought , that bees would have wrought in such vast hives as hogsheads , whereas some of the ancients give us a caveat , even of the ordinary hives , not to make them too large — ne apes anima despondeante ex desperatione implendi , — least bees should be discouraged out of a despair to fill them . the new bee-hive : or a discourse for the right making of bee-hives , shewing their materials , proportion , ordering , and placing ; and lastly their use and benefit . left for a farewell to his native country , by that zealous publick-hearted and learned gentleman thomas brown dr. in divinity , and of the civill law. it is clear from many good authors , that the ancients made a constant revenue of their bees without killing them at any time , and that this so profitable government of bees is now utterly lost , is too much apparent from the common practise of all nations at this day , who generally kill the bees to take the honey . if by any conjecture or comparing one thing with another , we may be able to find out a meanes to preserve bees , and yet receive a constant and liberall benefit by them , is the subject of this following discourse . although the history of bees hath been largely handled , even to curiosity , yet the principal part of it , concerning their preservation , so as to raise a constant revenue by them , hath not been so clearly set down , as the importance thereof deserveth , seeing that hereupon dependeth the whole businesse of a bee-master ; f●r from the multitude of bees commeth the great increase of honey , and the plenty of honey is the chief meanes to increase your bees , which we shall easily and certainly doe , if we rightly understand and practise the naturall way of ordering them . this task at your intreaty i have adventured upon , whether i have performed it so fully and clearly as i seem to my self to understand it , the successe will judge . for the preserving of bees then , it is of absolute necessity , that they be abundantly provided of food , which in summer your garden and the neighbouring fields must afford , for the winter they will furnish themselves ; also that they be largely , conveniently , and cleanly housed , which two things rightly practised will perform what we desire . i take it for a certain truth , that bees doe never forsake the place of their breeding , so long as it is cleanly and large enough for them , and that accordingly in greatest company they prosper best , as frequent experience proveth , in such places , where they have chosen themselves dwellings in the bodies of great hollow trees , in which have been found combs full of honey wrought down six or eight foot long , as also between the beames and floonings of houses with the like increase , which in all probability could not be done by the labour of any one swarm , though of the greatest numbers , so that of necessity there must have been the increase of some yeares bees , to bring together so great a masse of honey , and it is truly observed , that the old and young bees doe live quietly in the same hive , as did the families in the old world , renewing themselves from year to year . if i shall shew you the way to accomplish this , i have done what i undertook ; upon these two maximes lieth the foundation of all i have to say , that bees will not leave their place of breeding , but for want of room , or some annoiance by noise or ill smells : that in all their workings they move downwards , if the place hinder them not . according to these two rules , your onely care is , to make your hives of such a fashion , as doth naturally and necessarily agree with , and help forward this design , and this can be no other than flat , as well at the top , as at the bottome , both ends of an equall breadth to a hair , in all the hives you make , so that they may be easily set one upon another , as many as you shall see necessary for your purpose , though in some places they make them square of four boards , yet because the round figure is the most perfect . i rather choose it . for the right making of your hives , i shall shew you their materials , proportion , ordering and placing ; and lastly their use and benefit . you may make them , and that will be the best , of such empty cask , as hath had in it honey , muskadine , canarie , or malaga wine , according as you have opportunitie , because these vessels , being already so well seasoned , will not easily loose their savour , and will the better invite the bees , both to come , and to remain in them . for their proportion i would have a. b. every hive to contain a just bushell within the work , the breadth of it to be a third part more than the height , that so it may stand the surer headed , but at one end , which must be c. the upper part of it , in the midst of that head , a round hole d. three or four inches wide , made very smooth , the hives a. b. must be all of a widenesse from the top to the bottome , otherwise the combs will not come out without breaking ; six e. broad hoops will be sufficient , two in the midst , and two at each end , the lowest hoop must be set a large inch from the end of the vessell , leaving so much of it bare , which part must be exceeding smooth and strong , which bare place f. should be covered with a very thin hoop of iron or brasse for its greater strength , and on the fore side of it , three in the midst for the great bees , and six smaller on each side for the lesser , for there , and there onely it may receive offence , the uppermost hoop must be somewhat stronger and broader than the rest by a full inch , and so set on that it may stand out a full inch further than the end of the vessell , thereby leaving sufficient and fit space to set the lower part f. of another vessel fast into it as into a box , so close , that no air can come in , that it may not be moved . and because bees cannot conveniently work in such a void space without some support for their combs , the fittest that i can think on , may be made in imitation of such frames , as gardiners use for their gillifloures , composed of three or four very small hoops , and as many side posts of fir , with some crosse barres at the top , and in the middle to stay the combs , and that these may not be shaken nor moved , in the bare space at the bottom of the vessell , bore two holes , one opposite to the other , through the vessell and the frame , and so fasten them together . and for the more easie and safe removing of your hives , either to see in what estate they be , or to take away such as be full of honey and empty of bees , you must set upon every hive two g. such iron handles as are usually upon bushels , and so you may command them at your pleasure . and for the great hole d. in the top of the hive , you must make a cover h. with a shoulder and a handle , to stop it so close , that no air may come in . your hives a. b. being thus i. c. d. e. k. g. h. made , you must order them as followeth . i will suppose you have at least a. one hive of old bees , at the beginning of the year , take b. one of your new hives , and sweeten both it and the frame very curiously , and fasten them together , set this hive b. where you mean your bees shall stand , leaving the hole d. at the top open , then take a. your old hive of bees , and cut away the skirts of it , as much as conveniently you may , to the very combs , the neerer the better , and make a new door to it , and set it upon b. the new hive , within the compasse of e. the hoop . and because in the bees working down into the lower hive , it is probable that the combs of the two hives will hang together , and so be troublesome to part them , to prevent this inconvenience , lay a false bottom , with a hole in it , upon the top of the lower hive , close to the top of the lower hive , and make it fast . your hives being thus placed , your bees , either for the sweetnesse in the new hive b. or for want of room in the old , will make all haste to work down into b. the new , and so in a short time leave a. the old full of honey and empty of bees , both the old stock , and their increase , going down , working and abiding in b. the new hive , whereby you shall have opportunity , when you see it most convenient , to take away the upper hive full of honey , without the least trouble to the bees , or to your self . when you have taken away a. the upper hive , set on the cover h. upon the hole in the lower hive b. so close that no air may come in , and then set another new empty hive , and a false bottom upon it , as before , sweetned and prepared under it , expecting a fit time when the upper hive shall be full● and the bees gone down into this b. b. lower hive , to take it away as you did the former , and so from time to time as long as the gathering season lasteth , but not towards winter . if your bees increase plentifully , it will be necessary to have three hives one upon another , that so the bees may have room enough for themselves and their swarmes , if you see cause , you may adventure to four , but never higher , which number when you have happily attained , you shall set a new hive well prepared and sweetned , as neer i. the mouth of the lowest hive , as you can conveniently , putting into it some honey-comb , or other sweet things , and raising it on the side half an inch or more , that the bees walking up and down may find a new dwelling ready for them , and at their next swa●ming goe into that hive , and so make it the beginning of a new store . the use and benefit of all that hath been said is , that your bees shall alwayes be provided of a sweet dwelling , large enough for themselves and their increase , and whereby they shall easily be kept together , also of such plenty of food , that when others starve they shall be alwayes strong , both summer and winter , whereby in all probability , by gods blessing , and your own moderate care , you shall have multitudes of bees , and consequently abundance of honey . a the first upper hive . b the second , or the first lower hive . b b the third , or the second lower hive . c the upper bottome . e the hoops . f the lower end of the hive . g the handler on the hives . h the cover for the great hole in the upper hive . i the mouths of the hives . d the great hole in the upper bottome . a querie upon the description of dr. brown's new invented bee-hive . vvhether the square figure may not prove the best , in that there may better be placed a bill or drawer in the bottome of the hive , into which ( being drawn forth ) there may from time to time be food laid for any particular hive , without any disturbance to or from the rest of the hives , where every particular hive may ( if occasion require ) shut up and feed by it self , which in the ordering of bees may prove many times of good concernment . a letter discovering a new kind of excellent food for bees . sir , being much indebted to you for the gift of your legacie , and other choice pieces , and understanding that you are about another of the like nature , which you intend to publish . i thought good in the mean time ( till occasion prompt some other meanes to serve you ) to impart unto you this notable secret , which i had from an old germane captain concerning bees , that by long experience the planting of anise neer them proved the best meanes for multiplying and keeping of them , as also for their breeding of great store of honey . that the hearb being taken , and the inside of the hives rubbed therewith , causeth great multitudes of bees to etner , and become close retainers to those hives , which ought to be placed directly against the sun , so that the sun beames fall just into the orifices of them . that the feeding upon this plant will cause each stock to engender and thrust out three young ones in one year , within which space they doe else not nse to doe so above once . that against the time of their thrusting forth , other hives ought to be placed next to those from whence they thrust forth , which , as also the way leading to the orifices , are to be rubbed with the anise in such sort , that the juyce of the hearb may come forth and stick thereunto , and the young stocks that come forth from the old , will certainly enter into those , and not repair any where else . but in case that upon the neglect any be swarved forth , and settled unto some tree , the fault may be amended by rubbing the inside of the new hive with anise , and holding it on the top of a long pearch unto the bees , who will enter thereinto of themselves as soon as they scent the sweetnesse of the anise . the abovesaid captain related , that a baron in austria so thrived by this secret , that he furnished many countries with honey and wax , and thereby abundantly increaseth his wealth and revenue . this i thought to hand unto the publick by your meanes , resting sir , your most affectionate to serve you f. h. sir , i pray pardon the rudenesse of my language , and to surrogate that which may better abide the touch-stone of publick view . for my being continually called upon will not give me leave to doe it better . an extract of a letter concerning this new kind of food for bees . about the secret concerning bees , on which you desire my judgement , i can say nothing else , but that it must be referred to experience , whereby if it be confirmed ( as indeed i doe think that very likely ) i shall be extreamly beholding to you for it , and i may chance to make great use of it one day , beseeching you heartily , that when ever any of the like shall come to your hands , you would be pleased to impart the same unto me . another extract of a letter upon the same subject . most of those authors that write of the nature and government of bees , of whom i have the matter of a dozen here , name sundry hearbs , to which the bees have a particular liking , and divers others , that are good in sundry respects to be neer the hives , but not one of them all doth name anise , in either of those two classes , as my inquiry ( for which i had no time when i wrote to you about that matter first ) hath taught me ; so as that secret which you imparted unto me concerning the same ( a most excellent one indeed if confirmed by sure experience ) is altogether new , and not borrowed from ancient writers , as you may see hereby . how anise may be got to grow in england , is taught in that excellent book , called , the garden of eden , as followeth . sowe english annise-seeds , when the moon is at the full , in february , or any time between the full and the change : if frosts will not suffer you to take the full moon , hatch them into the ground with a rake stricken thick upon them ; then strew new horse-dung thinly upon the ground , to defend the seeds from the frost . — these will ripen about bartholemew-tide ; then respecting the moon , as before , sowe again , and these seeds will be ripe sooner than those which were sown in february . these seeds will also come up well , being self sown , onely break up the ground about them when they begin to ripen . that ground which you would sowe in february , break up about michaelmas ; let it lie and crumble all the winter , then when you mean to sowe , stir it up again , that it may be mellow , for the mellower the better . a black rich mellow ground is best , and they like well in a rich dunged ground . proved by s. a translate of a letter written in high-dutch , communicating a secret for the better ordering and preserving of bees , practised beyond the seas . sir , i give you many thanks for that direction about bees , but i cannot perceive , how by that way we may prevent their swarming , or the trouble of hiving them . nor doth that way avoid the vulgar errour of destroying the best bees for their honey . to remedy all these and many other inconveniences , i have formerly sought an unusuall way , and in practise have found it good and profitable . i caused hives of glasse to be made , and covered them with wood ; in which covers i made windowes to be opened when i list , which served me for the better considering of their nature , but afforded me no help in the foresaid inconvenience , for such i account them , though i see your man be of a contrary opinion , speaking of often swarming , as a thing very advantageous . it is true , the more swarmes you have , the greater is the number of hives in your bee-garden , but the stocks are so much the weaker , especially every metropolitan stock , out of which his three or four swarmes issued : which consideration gave occasion to that precept , given heretofore by experienced bee-masters , not to suffer any stock to swarm above twice in a year , but rather to prevent it , by giving the bees more room , which is done by setting the bee-hive some inches higher from the bench or stool upon which they stand . that swarming weakeneth the first stocks , is manifest to any one that considereth , that for the production and breeding of the young bees , there is in every hive a great number of attendants , somewhat larger than the bees ( we call them drones ) which are fed by the labours of the bees , as long as they prepare for swarming ; but as soon as the bees resolve to send-out no more colonies , they fall upon the drones and kill them . the young bees are also kept idle till their general be ready , and the whole army be fit to march out all together for a new plantation . the oftner that such swarmes issue out of a stock of bees , the more is the dammage and charge that it suffers from these drones and young bees : all which cost and charges are spared in my way , so that my bees never intending to swarme , had so much the more provision for bad weather and winter , and did so much the sooner set their young ones to work for themselves , and to earn their own meat , as having no pretence to be kept idle , secondly , in the common way it is so hard to keep bees from flying away in swarming time , that the most diligent watchers of them doe now and then lose a swarm : but in my way of ordering them such watching is unnecessary ; for my bees never fly away , because i prevent all occasions of swarming : by which meanes they are also kept from breeding of drones , and new master-bees , or generals ; and their young bees , as soon as they can fly , are set to work among their elders . thirdly , i never needed to kill any of my bees , and yet i could share with them in the honey . it was not unusuall with me to make a whole barrel of honey and wax out of one stock or hive . and besides all these conveniences , my bees were farre better secured and defended from excessive heat and cold , from vermine , theeves , and all other their troublers and enemies . they had also this accommodation , that when they were laden they went downward , but clambered upward when they were unladen , whereas the contrary is necessary in the common-way . i make no question , but that by this time you long to hear what course i took with them ; nor shall i be nice in communicating it , though it cost me above two hundred rix dollers . but if you were here , i could farre more easily shew it , than i can now find words to expresse it well in writing especially thus in a letter . my bee-hives did not stand upright after the usual manner , but lay upon two long poles or railes within my house , in a garret , close under the roof , where the bees could creep in and out under the tiles . the close end of the hive touched the tiles of the roof . in the upper part of each hive i did cut a hole for the bees to goe in and out . the wide end of the hive commonly stands clapt down upon some plank , but in mine it was shut up with a bottom made of straw , pinned to it on every side with wooden skewets . and by the like meanes i could adjoyn straw-hoops of what breadth i pleased , and so lengthen any of my hives as often as need was , so that they never swarmed , though their number increased so much , that by several additions a hive became two or three yards long . the way of taking their honey from them was thus ; i unpinned the wide end of a hive , and by burning linnen rags i smoaked up the bees thence toward the close end of the hive ; and then i might freely take away the prolongers or additional hoops one after another , till i thought the bees could not well spare any more honey . this slight description may make it seem a small matter to those that consider not , that all the aforesaid conveniences will undoubtedly follow it . hereafter i may perhaps expresse it more fully , when i have more leisure to write ; especially if my affairs would permit me to come to you to confer at large of this , &c. another authors description of the said secret. a a common bee-hive . b a prolonger to lengthen or eeke out the hive withall . c a hole cut in the upper end of the hive a. d a bottom or dore to shut up the hive , whether it be single as a , or lengthened as a b b. e the wooden pins in b and d for the joyning of them to the ends of a or b. sir , i here send you the description of my long bee-hives expressed in picture : wherein ( a ) is a common bee-hive , not standing , as the usuall manner is , but laid along upon one side . in the upper part of the hive i cut a round or four cornerd hole , through which the bees may passe in and out , here marked with c. in the placing of the hive you may turn that hole downward if you will , but i turn it alwayes upward , that the bees , when they are laden , may rather goe downward than upward . besides , if i turn it not upwards i cannot well set it close to any hole , left for the bees entrance , under the tiles in the roof of a garret , which is a farre surer way than after the usuall manner , to leave them in a garden , exposed to theeves , vermin , and distempers of weather . where the roof is inconvenient , i use to make a hole in the upright wall of a garret , and set the hive close up against the wall , with a hole in its head precisely answering to that hole in the wall . the open end i shut up with a bottom made of straw , as you see represented at d , which may be opened easily , and yet shuts close and firm by the help of those wooden pins here marked with e. when i perceive that my bees have neer filled their hive , i take off that shutter d , and set on a prolonger , like the hive , but that it hath no head , such as are here marked with b , and then shut it up , as before , with that straw door d. thus i may add as many continuators as i please , shutting close up to one another , alwayes closing the last with d whensoever i intend to take some hony from the bees , i provide linnen rags , wherewith i make a smoak , and let it into the hive , by pulling away the door d , from whence the bees are driven by the smoak toward their small entrance c , so that i may safely take away as many prolongers as i think good , and put a fresh one in the place , shutting it up with the door d. a phylosophicall letter , treating of many other secrets and experiments for generall riches and profits , be sides those arising from bees . in pursuance of your request , and performance of my promise , i shall , according to what i may , indeavour to answer your desire , knowing your sincere zeal for , and care of the publick . truly sir , i should very hardly have entred the stage , had it not been out of that inclination i have to serve you , who neglecting all private interests , doe wholly spend your self in labouring to profit others , who how f●r they may take notice of your pious and sincere endeavours herein i know not , but confidently perswade my self , that your labour will not be lost as to future ages , who will assuredly take notice of your pains and care , and will esteem your labour accordingly . i have read several pieces , by your self published , both lately and formerly , and those discovering , not onely divine and spiritual , but also humane and temporal mysteries . as to the first sort of your discoveries , i hope there is none so unprincipled in christianity , but must and will confesse , that by such talent improving servants much will redound to the advantage of the lord the creditor , and for the edification of many in the wayes of righteousnesse . but as to the later , perhaps the ignorance or perversenesse of the times may impute that to folly , which the ripest of the imputers could hardly equall with solid and reall wisdom , yet you may resolve , that the time will be , when your undertakings herein will more earnestly be prized , for i perswade my self , and that not without good ground , that it is not now long before the time shall come , when ingenuities of all kind shall more and more flourish , when the envy of artists shall cease , who shall not then be jealous , least oth●rs with a dry finger should attain to such things by bare reading , which they in finding out have tryed so many wearisome experiments , which in mine opinion is ( though i confesse god by this meanes doth keep obscured , that which he in his justice judges the ungrateful world at present unworthy of ) but a meer humane conceit , and full of fleshly fragility , for considering the many ripe wits which are in the world , if a man , who hath attained to any measure of reall discovery , should as freely impart the same to such , of whose sincerity he is assured , and withall such , who with himself are daily searchers into the secrets of nature , i am confident , that by this joynt improvement of their utmost ability , more in some few yeares would be found out , then by any one single man could be attained , though he should live to a very great age . therefore sir , i cannot but judicially honour your desires of vindicating what ever excellent you can meet with , from the dark cloud of obscurity , that so the publick may by this meanes reap the fruit of that se●d , being thus scattered , which , if stifled under a clod , would have been for ever unuseful . besides many other useful pieces , those which more neerly concern us here in england , are your two books of husbandry , the one shewing us our defects here in england , the other the braband husbandry , which with gods blessing i hope will redound to the filling of our pastures with cattle , our gardens with all sorts of roots and hearbs , our garners with store of grain , to the wonderful good of this place . next your design for plenty , in the universal planting of fruit trees , to which two i hear you are adding a third treatise concerning bees . these three treatises concern our good and welfare so neerly , that i can but wish them as happily embraced , as ominously offered . for indeed if they were put in practise , the advantage which the common-wealth would reap therein , is beyond estimation : for first of all the plenty of food would soon cheer the mind of those , who through the scarcity thereof , and other necessities , are now likely to ●amish , of which the overplus w●uld not onely provide cloths , the other staffe of life , which necessitie craveth , but also produce several staple commodities , by the which conveniency , yea , superfluity it self would be maintained among tho●●w●● for prese●● are destitute of necessaries . ●or to give you a tast herein , i● lands were improved for hay and root● , as the brabant husbandry doth cheifly insinu●te , that which at p●esent is wa●t , and of little value , would yeild both roots for mans nourishment , and hay for fodder for cattel● by which a double benefit would arise : first , the increase of cattel● and with them of butter , cheese , bees , &c. secondly , land by this improvement would be brought to be of farre gr●ater value for the like , or any other imployment for future . to these adde the oyle , which the seeds of roots would produce , if in qu●ntity sown . and then the roots themselves , with gra●●es , turnip-tops , and the like method , as in the l●rge epistle is taught , with the hay , would be enough ( if not to spare ) to feed cattel that are to be fatted , milch-cowes , and labouring beasts , so would the pastures be the lesse burdened , onely with sheep and other dry kine ; nor should we be so driven in cold weather for the keeping of cattel , which by this meanes would not onely be in good plight , but even fat in the midst of winter : then the abundance of all sort of grain , which would be in these nations with the fruits and honey , would be cast upon us as a superfluous inriching , as if the bounty of the most high were not content to make us happy , but of all other nations most wealthy : for besides the making of bread and beer out of grain , upon which account it is a thing prized of most nations that are civilized , and the ordinary and known use of fruits , i know , and that upon most infallible grounds , that by the abundance of these we might better our being , beyond what at first thoughts can be apprehended . leaving then all known mechanical uses of these commodities , with the value of them on that account , as they are ( in specie ) i shall hint some other applications of them , without considerable charge or trouble , by which meanes a most incredible advantage may redound to him , who hath opportunity , leisure , and list to experiment . and first as to the making of wines : and secondly of strong waters , or spirits ; of which how much is imported into this nation annua●ly , it is beyond my reach to compute . whereas , if instead of having these brought into ●● we were able , besides our own store , to export the like , or farre greater quantity , none will deny , but that this art would indeed b● ( as to the benefit from it redounding ) inv●l●●●le . i say then , and can demonstrate , that out of all graines which are of a mealy substance , as also out of all seeds of the like nature ( not oyly ) may be made excellent strong waters , or aqua vitae ; as also out of all fruits , plums , berries , or roots ; that out of berries , fruits and roots is more mild , but by grain mal●ed and honey it may be quickned . there are of inferior sort of graines , as rye , oates , pease , and the like , which handled as barly , untill it sprout corn , need not then for this work be dryed , but beaten and moisted with its own liquor , and soundly fermented , and will so yeild a monstrous increase . out of one bushel of good pease , i know , will come of spirit , at the least two gallons or more , which will be as strong as the strongest annise-seed-water usually sold in london : this i know is the least , and is done without malting . now to these adde your drossie honey , that , to wit , which comes not forth without squeezing the combs , and you shall encrease your quantity abundantly ; so then by the meanes of honey , graines and fruits , we shall not need so much to fetch canary or malago wines from the spanish territories , nor white or rhenish wines from the french and germane coast , so to inrich them with our commodities , for which we receive but a pallate-pleasing iuyce , which nature craves not for necessity , nay the greatest part thereof is infused in sinful superfluity , bearing the greater price , because farre fetcht ; whereas the nations , with whom wine is made , use farre lesse of it than we who buy it at rack rates , so that it is a prov●●b hispa●us rarò ebrius , the spaniard is seldome 〈◊〉 . the more is 〈◊〉 both our sin and shame , who oft abuse 〈…〉 to drunkennesse ; whereas if it were once 〈…〉 ( as it s easily so to be made ) a domestick commodity , no ma● then would want it for his necessary use , and by the reason of its commonnesse , the price of it would be brought farre lower , and by c●nsequence the request it finds among the sipping gallants of our time would abate ; so that this benefit at least would redound , that besides the moderation which would ensue of that excise in drinking ( which now alas to our shame is in use among us ) we should be able to send forth in considerable quantity that very commodity , the import whereof doth stand this nation , now yearly , in an incomputable sum of money , besides the support of several families by the use of them in specie , which alone were enough to make the abundance thereof to us , not onely acceptable , but also desirable , as for the use of spirits i need not to mention them , since utterance , i suppose , presents it self yearly to this nation of as much as it can spare , and more , i suppose , could be vended , if it might be had . yet one thing i may speak as to that particular : it is known , that fish is no small part of the traffique of this nation , besides that which is used among our selves for our own spending ; of which ( especially cod-fish the principal merchantable fish that is sold ) is taken at the banks of new-found land , and new england . now what quantities of spirits are spent among the fishing companies in new and old england ? i suppose many know better than i can inform them , who for the most part are supplied with dutch or french brandy , those nations eating , as it were , the bread out of our mouths , by which meanes the wages of the painful fisherman is , for the most part , at the winding up pocketted by strangers , whereas if we were able to furnish the same commodity at like or lower price , it would be to us no small annual profit , since , in such like trade , the fisherman consumes , for the most part , one half of his yearly earnings . but i shall leave the managing of commodities to those who are conversant in such employments , at present bounding my self with this , ne sutor ul●ra crepida●n : it is enough for me to shew how commodities may be raised , and those domestick , with inconsiderable paines and trouble , but for the improvement of them , it is good i should leave that task to such , who professedly take upon them the charge of such matters . but while i thus swerve from my professed theme , which is to give you ( according to that observation that i have taken ) an account of bees ; give me leave to hint one thing , which ( in my opinion ) is the master-piece of whatsoever you have waded in . i cannot say that you are the author of it , since i have read many overtures made of and concerning that subject , by others , yet i know that your self are none of the least drivers on of that design , namely , the advancing of credit , so as to make bills currant in payment , to the wonderful encrease of trading , to which i may also adde your office of publique addresse , both which enterprizes ( if not unseasonable mercies at present ) i hope the lord will give this nation to enjoy , but as concerning our present matter , which at this time i chiefly intend , namely , concerning bees , i understand from you , that your chief desire to be informed concerning them , is first , how they may be engendred ? secondly , how encreased ? and thirdly , how inriched with wax and honey ? for the first , the truth is , i have read in some authors of their engendering out of dead kine , fermented with the falling dew . some think , that out of any kind of beast bees may be produced , and doe conclude , that the bees which bestowed their honey on the carcasse of the lion , slain by samson , were of this nature , and bred out of that savage creature ; yet must i confesse , that i never yet saw the experiment of bees engendred in or from any dead carcasse , though i have known several sorts of dead creatures both open , and covered with leaves , lightly exposed to the continual dewes , yet never could i take notice of any such procreation . and that out of kine , either strangled , or otherwise dying , and so lying abroad , exposed to the influence of the heavens , bees naturally will not spring , i am induced : for that in the summer islands , where i was born , i never yet saw one bee , except those of a kind called humble bees , where notwithstanding , to my knowledge , divers cattle both younger and older , have ( perishing by mischance , as it oft falls out there , that the very heat of the noon . sun in summer kills cattle if not removed into the shade ) lyen in the open fields till they have rotted , and have not a night scarce wanted the dew , in which maggots and wormes have bred , but no bees , which if they were so to be bred , i suppose would in lesse than fourty yeares have been seen in those islands , in which i never saw any , though i was naturally a great observer of insects there , where i noted waspes , but no honey making bees . nor is it to be thought , that the climate is averse to the generation of insects , which it there produceth of other kinds as plentifully , if not more than many other places , in which bees are , also my ingendred curiosity was so great , that i took the pain to observe and collect the generation of several insects , with their various mutations from kind to kind , sparing no diligent travel that might benefit me herein . for so soon as i began to read a little in philosophy , i took great content in these contemplations , which after in new england i as carefully noted . in the summer islands i found , that in rain-water kept in wooden troughs ( especially where the sun at some time of the day shineth on it ) there would in time gather a sedimen of muddy matter to the bottome , black and slimy , out of which would breed at the bottom , crawling long ill-favoured wormes , with many feet : these wormes growing bigger and bigger would swim and play together , and engender sexually , till at last growing more slow , they would at length lose almost all motion , at last coming to the top of the water , would by the legs hang neer the superficies , where in few dayes , opening the back , out of them proceeds a fly , which crawling out of the water , is for a day or two tender , after able to fly , which fly , after a time casting its skin , becomes another creeping insect , with out wings , and of it proceeds another fly , farre different from the former . so in the ground , i have often under stones or tufts of grasse found tender wormes , which are naturally in time of their own accord incrusted , and so lying a space , at length break , out of which comes a great butter-fly , which layeth her eggs on the orange tender leaves , where the dew hatcheth them into wormes , which live on the leaves , and if touched send forth long red hornes ; these at length , hanging to the n●●●r part of a bough , are incrusted , and after a long death turning the same kind of butterfly , which before came out of the earth . another sort of wormes , ingendred by the 〈…〉 ences in the earth , being incrusted , proves a singing 〈…〉 after its season , cleaving to a tree , casteth its skin , and of a ●ly becometh a creeping sceptile , and so liveth a long time , till about the season of the year when that fly cometh again . this creeping thing on some tree or other for a time is almost without motion , at last bursting insunder in the back , out of it comes the like singing fly as came before out of the first worm , which was bred in the earth . many such like generations of wormes in the earth , and of crawling creatures in the waters , which after turn into flies , and so again into other husky wormes without motion , and from them to other flying insects . i might speak largely , were it not besides my proposed intent and scope at present . a third very anomalous generation , which i have noted , is of a sort of stinging flies out of rotten trees : these , in the summer islands , i have observed out of the rotting palmeto , and in new england i have seen the same in rotten poplar and birch : in which a man may at one time see some , like to a tender spermatical milk , enclosed in a most tender skin , others like to a white maggot , with a little motion , others now almost shaped like a fly , others full formed , and able to crawle , others ready to come forth , and in a short time after to fly . the generations of beetles , dorres , &c. i have also diligently enquired into , and find , that under stone hedges , where dunghils are usually made of rubbish , they doe chiefly proceed , which some sort of sea shell-fish , buried in the earth , doe also produce the same in kind and fashion with the former . yet , as i said , i never yet could experimentally find any rise of bees from putrefaction , though by me , for curiosity sake , oft attempted , and that with the bloud , also with the flesh of kine , such as by accident perishing , i could procure part of them for tryall sake ; this i have kept , some openly exposed to the dew , others covered with rubbish ( as for the generation of other insects ) other while defended with green leaves and straw , and so buried in the earth , others covered with earth immediately without any defence from the same , in which variety of operations , as i had variety of successe , at various seasons of the year , so never did the event answer the end , for which i imployed this industriou●●nquiry . if any gentleman , that hath on his own experien●e tried this manner of production of bees , please to impa●t ●is 〈◊〉 , ● shall be unto him really thankful , and requi●e 〈…〉 perhaps with as acceptable a discovery 〈…〉 my opinion , is , as it were , natures recreation , 〈…〉 the f●acid ferment of putrifying bodies doth 〈…〉 there is singular and rare variety , so they are int●eded 〈◊〉 blessings or scourges to man. the bee , the silk-wor● , the cochmeel , how greatly profitable to mankind they have been i need not repeat , nay most insects of a shelly or scaly nature , being very excellent in medicinal qualities . i think then , that our sloth is very great , in that we neglect the inquiry into this particular . i shall a little touch , and perhaps not impertinently here . in the summer islands there is a sort of spider , that is very large , and of admirable gay colours , yellowish , blackish , greenish , and reddish , so intermixed , that it makes the creature very delectable to look on ; these in great multitudes are there , who live abroad in the open fields , spinning their webbs from tree to tree of a vast bignesse , to catch flies in , on the which they prey : their webbs are yellow , and most pure silk , of which one maid for tryall knit a pair of gloves , which prove in wearing no whit inferiour to the best silk of the silk-worm . now if these spiders were so kept , as an ingenions man might easily invent , they by feeding kept in good plight , might be made to spin quantity enough , for as much as in few houres they will spin a large web , if their old one be taken away , else they mind onely their prey . but the triall of what may be done in this , i leave to others who may have opportunity ; this i onely insert here to shew , that not the silk-worm onely yeeldeth silk , which is common to this spider with them , and that of the spider nothing in●eriour to the silk , which the worm spinneth . again the cochmeel , which is so rich a commodity , cometh out of a fruit called the indian fig or prickled pear , which as yet none of our nation have attempted to make , which is the cause that die is so scarce , although in all the summer islands the tree bearing that fruit is most plentifull , and the generation of that ins●ct as easie as may be , if but attempted with ingenuity the leaf is of a thick slimy nature , the fruit full of seeds and ●loudred , very wholsome , and hath this property , that it passeth strait to the urine retaining it● colour , and is rejected by urine is red well nigh as it was taken in . this same fruit is not of the like tincture with the insects proceeding from it , but give a colour almost like to brasil●tto wood , which in the fire in a few dayes perisheth . but the insect ●ngendred of this fruit is of a most permanent tincture , i for curiosity examined other vegetables which were of tincture , and found them all to yeeld insects of the like tincture , with that out of which they were procreated . in particular , and with much curiosity , i examined shoomake berries , wh●ch have a red out-side , like to the furre of v●lvet , in small red graines , but the inner kernel not answering the out-side in colour , i found the insects not considerably tincted red , yet in medicinall operations by farre surpassing the virtue of the bare berries , for they had a peculiar diccretick quality . there is a berry also groweth in great quantity , both in the summer islands and in new england , which makes me to con●eive , that it would also grow here : it is with them of the summer islands commonly called redweed , the virtue of it is purgative upwards and downwards strongly , the berry is as red as the prickled pear , and gives much the like tincture . this berry i intended to prepare for medicinal uses● but by occasion my design in that being frustrated , i assayed to see what manner of insects it would yeeld , and there came forth first wormes , which growing husky , with small bumps where the head or upper part lay ( which is easily distinguished in such insects ) i perceived thereby it would produce a fly , which accordingly it did , which was of the bignesse of the cochmeel fly , but a little longer , which grew by the same matter , out of which they were engendred , to a considerable bignesse , when i taking them out , in a gentle heat in a close gl●sse , killed them , and dryed them , and though i have oft assayed the cochmeel for curiosity sake , yet i could not find this , as to the point of tincture , any whit inferiour to that insect , and as to medicinal virtue aequi valent , if not exceeding the other . and i am co●fi●●nt ( though that i have not tryed ) that out of brasil●●to like insects of the same excellent tincture may be produced , knowing experimentally , that out of any wood-berry may , by an anin anta 〈◊〉 f●rmentation ( if i may so speak ) be produced● first a small wor● , 〈◊〉 growing hig●er groweth husky , and at last becomes a 〈…〉 suffered to grow till it have waxed a little , 〈…〉 the tincture of the concrete whence it ●a● produced , which then being graduated beyond its own nature , leav●●h its d●e in grain . i have been the longer upon these kind of insects , desiring , at least , with as much brevity as i can , to give hints of what rare secrets are in nature attainable : so that if any desire the way to fix a faling colour , consider if that c●lour will hold untill the compound may receive a ferment ( f●r fermentation openeth the body ) a●ter which thou shalt cause it to engender insects , which is an easie art : these insects will give thee the tincture of its original concrete , which will hold in grain . now as to medicinal virtues of insects i might be very large , but i shall willingly passe them over ; onely this i shall say , being desirous to try what might be done upon this account , i took blood , and pouring the water from the clodds of them , by putrefaction i had great maggots , with moisture , which consuming the moisture grew in quantity , and were in a manner dry , these i washed clean , killed them , and bruised them , and of them had in a second putrefaction other lesse maggots , somewhat differing from the other , and with a tolerable smell to the other ; these being grown to their greatest , i washed again , killed , and so putrified them , and this a third and a fourth time i repeated , then i took them , and having first washed them , digested them ( being bruised ) for six weeks , and distilling them , had a water and a yellow coloured oyle , of the most exquisite penetrating resolving vertue that ever i knew , which i yet call oleum lumbricorum verum , attempting the same with livers of beasts it succeeded in like manner . but now to return to the history of bees , to wit , their propagation ; it is known , that if they have good hives , with convenient shelter , and sufficient store of meat , they will encrease sufficiently . so then the main matter is to know how bees may best be stored with honey . first of all , if your design of planting of fruit trees take effect , that alone would mightily encrease bees , it is not to be credited what one orchard will afford to that purpose . but because the time of the blossoming of fruit trees lasts not long , there would be found out some fit meanes for to nourish them in the later moneths of the year ; it being a proverb , that a swarm of bees in may is worth a cow and a bottle o● hay , whereas a swarm in july is not worth a fly. for it is evident , that the dew which falls on the floures is that which bees suck ; though iuly , august , september , and part of october , are for the heat of weather , as seasonable for bees to work in as may , yet in them they enrich themselves but little , because of the scarcity of flours , blossomes , honeysuckles , and the like , which at that season of the year are rare . your letter to me ( in which is the transcript of part of an epistle ) to this end , commending the planting of anise , doth seem very rational ; first in that anise yeilds an innumerable company of small floures ( as also sweet fennel ) which if gathered in a morning , the dew on the flowers is very pleasant . the like also is on parsly , carroots , in their flouring , but not so pleasant or grateful to the bees as anise or fennel , in regard of the sweet scent which they carry , which alone is very alluring to them . for in dew it self is a sweet sacharine salt , which yet bees doe not so much desire , unlesse it have a ●ermentall odour , which it acquires within the concavity of sweet floures , as of thime , rosemary , anise , or fennel , &c. yea , experience it self shewes , that by the ferment of these the dew is transmuted , and obtaines a sweetnesse many degrees passing bare dew , yea , and a consistence also , as appeares in manna , the reniabin , and the like , the falling of which i have oft and diligently noted , and find it to be materially nothing but dew , which falling on some things becomes inspissated : yet cannot i but respect the making of honey , as a thing peculiar to bees , and although according to the proverb ( & mel sibi parant vespae ) yet in my opinion there is worthily a great difference to be acknowledged between honey and other inspissated sweetnesses , so that neither manna , nor any such falling congealed sweetnesse , hath the like nature as honey , which in its analysis more easily is apparent . i oft have with a clean linnen gathered the sweetnesse of the tops of fennel , and wringing it out of the linnen , have tryed if or no it had the parts of honey , but found in them a great difference , by which i learned , that bees out of the falling dew , by a peculiar fermenting virtue , doe really transmute what they suck into honey . also that flowers within th●m contain a ●erment , by which the dew that falls in them is ●nverted into a thicker su●stance , and sweet , yet f●rmally disting●ished from honey , which the bees allured , both by the smell and tast , doe greedily resort to and suck , and of it load themselves , out of which they doe separate a more fat substance , which they also transmute into wax , with a formal transmutation . for as much as wax formally differs from all fatnesse in the world , so then the dew , which being collected from any floures , will scarce yeild a twentieth part of caput mortuum , being by the bees suckt and d●gested into honey , then ( if distilled ) will yeild neer a third part in a coal , and the liquor that di●tils will be part coloured , with an exquisite sharp taste , and a faetor of empyreum , which in the other is not so to be found . by which it appeares , that the bee finds not his honey made before-hand , but transmutes that which was not honey into honey , by a peculiar gift of the creator . so by this it may be gathered , that anise in all probability will perform what is promised of it in regard of its fragrant scent , which is so acceptable to that working insect . for i remember , when once upon an experiment , i was digesting a thing w●th oyle of an●se seeds in the sun , neer an orchard , in which were many hives , the bees did swarm exceedingly to the scent , but that which was digesting being of an intoxicating nature , the bees were with it amuzed , and so by the hot sun killed out-right , and i am confident , had i continued my digestions any considerable time , i had soon unstock nigh a dozen of hives , so allu●ing is the ●ragancy of that scent to that creature . yea i have observed , that it is common to them with waspes , to be exceedingly drawn with any eminent sweet odour . adde to the fragrancy of smell the excellent swee●ning ●erment , which from anise or fennel floures is communicated to the dew , so that to suck such clusters of floures in a morning is almost as pleasant as to suck a honey-combe for taste . but the third and main excellency in anise , is the long duration of the flouring time , which may be continued four or five moneths , sowing anise at several times , for it is the floure onely of it , which the bees suck on . yea , and though sown at once , yet of anise , fennel , and the like , the nature is not as apples , to floure at a peculiar time , for as much as at one time a man shall sind both the floure tender , and the seed neer to its full growth , so that this hearb will afford a durable supply to the painful bee , the seed it self being also a very good commodity . but yet there is another way by which bees may be stored most plentifully , and that is by molossoes of sugar , raisins , macarates , with water , and the like . there was a gentleman , who having a late swarm of bees giv●n him , which was so 〈…〉 could not be thought possible for to live out the wi●ter , did 〈◊〉 my ●irection make a mixture of a pint of molossoes with three parts of rain-water , to which he put in a little meal , and sprinkled in●● some few floures : the mixture being set neer unto the bees , they flockt to it , and carried it into their hives , and so would in lesse than a day empty a shallow broad dish , by which meanes they , before full three weeks were out , were so over glutted with hon●y , that by the next spring they were drowned with it , and in that hive was found no lesse than thirty pound weight of the honey and wax . the molossoes was not that which the sugar-refiners leave , for i know not what an enemy the lime alcali that is in it may be to bees , but the first molossoes . now i should for my part rather rake the refuse honey which is got by squeezing the combes , and also the combes washings , which i would sprinkle with a little meal and anise seeds small beaten , the one to keep them from drowning in it , the other for scent , and this , i am assured , will feed bees excellently , and for one pound they will return four : this i know ; the water best for this purpose is that of rain , which hath in it a sweet salt. and that no man may wonder at this , consider how that honey originally is but dew , which is but little different from rain : for as a milch cow drinking soundly of water , doth actually give the more milk , which milk is farre different from water , yet multiplied by it even to sense , so naturally doth the bee transmute what it sucks into honey , insom●ch that if the bee be but allured with the fragancie of the scent , and never so small taste of sweetnesse to suck up material water , yet that it will as well make into honey , as if it were a substance thicker of consistence . and as for the wax , of which the combes is made , i cannot perswade my self that it is the gum of the stalkes of flou●es and tender leaves ( in a microscope to be discerned ) which the bee gathering together , doth of it make combes : for it is evident , that bees doe suck out o● severall things , nay , almost out of innumerable simples of all whi●h they make ( as but one honey ) so but one wax . in russia and m●s●o●y ( i am informed , that ) the bees gather out of the weepings of pine , firre , spruce and deal trees ( which are onely therebinth ) abundance , both of honey and wax , which yet is the same in kind with ours in england , whence i conclude , that bees doe make ( as their honey , so ) their wax , out of that which before was not wax , otherwise it would be a very heterogeneal body ; since the weeping gum of each thing is variated , and followeth the property of that vegetable to which it belongs . besides , there is a vast difference between gummes ( of which some are wholly liquable in water , others partly ) and wax , as also betwixt it and rosin of any sort , likewise its peculiar specifick odour is not common to any other thing with it self . no marvel then , if bees may be sed with their own honey , mixed with three times its quantity of rain water , and out of it they should again make wax and new honey , since like to this is a cows making out of simple water blood , milk , and urine , of which blood and milk come but little ( if ought ) short of the proportionate ●o●dus of honey . nor is the smalnesse of the creature to be accused as if in consistent for so great a task , since god hath made each thing sufficient to its destinated end ; yea , and the same creature with a contemptible stroke of its revenging sting ( which is not much thicker than one of the pores of the cutis is wide ) can swell and inflame our body so beyond its own dimensions , that a prick in the face ( to my knowledge ) hath made one to be for more than a day blind , his eyes being swell'd up , and his face twice as big as before . now to resume , what in the beginning i touched , of the excellencie of honey , it is good to eat , both pleasant and wholsome , in chirurgery and medicine of excellent force , and inriched with a rare quintessence . but besides , by help of it and grain , may be made most excellent wine , nothing i●feriour to the rich●st canary or greek wines , and by the mixture of it with the iuyce of fruits , the best fr●nch or rhenish wines may be paralell'd , if not surpass●d . nor will any of the specifick odour , either of the h●ney , or of the corn , after a threefold fermentation remain . it also will yeild a most excellent aqua vitae , yea it will help such things , which ( by reason of their too much propensity to souring , and slownesse to a working fermentation ) would yeild spirits but sparingly , to ferment exceedingly , and so to yeeld their spirit copiously , as , to wit , many berries , roots : &c. it also will by its addition make as excellent vinegar out of cider , as any france yeilds , without exception . lastly , any wine which is neer pricking may by its h●lp be recovered , brought to a new fermentation , inriched with a new body , which before , being almost worn out , was hungry and l●an , and so made as rasie , pleasant and durable as ever , provided it be not already sour . if these qualities be not sufficient to commend it , i shall add no more . thus sir , i have briefly , and yet in a large epistolical discourse , endeavoured to satisfie you what i can , as to this subject . i confesse my self to have been not very free in this thing , not for that i would not be ready in a greater matter to be serviceable to you and the publick for good ; but truly , i am one of those , who are farre more willing to learn than to ●ssay to teach : the world is now full of books , of which if a good choice were made , one tenth part of the chief being cull'd out , i should willingly passe my suffrage , that the other nine patts should be corrected by the fire , among which this epistle of mine should , by my vote , passe for company . for verily sir , sithence nothing is to a man more pretions than time , it is requisite , that those things which consume that most precious and irrecovocable jewel ( when once lost ) should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; yet i doe assure you , these things ( though perhaps comparatively , many of them but trivial ) i speak not opini●bly , but what i know , and that experimentally ; yet must i confesse , that the subject , lying not altogether in the sphere of my most serious contemplations , perhaps hath not been handled as it might have been , by another more conversant therein , since mellification , respects the work and labour of this insect , not its physical virtues ; i then , whose chief station is among natural things , to examine their analytical phylosophy , and to discover their qualities , as applicable to the art of medicine , together with their parts in composition , their graduations in vertue , their extraction of the craseis in them contained , their various transmutations , alterities and applications . this , i say , being my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and other speculations ( among which this of bees , most applicable to a rural life , from which my profession is in a manner alienated ) coming in but as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , serving for recreation and pleasure , no marvel if sleightnesse in its handling by me should be found ; yet as it is i hope you will accept it , as proceeding from a mind devoted to serve you ; i wish therefore , that it were more worthy your acceptance ; yet as it is i humbly offer it to you , as an acknowledgement of what i desire to perform , and an earnest of what i may hereafter , and that shortly , send forth after this , in case these my first fruits be acceptable . there are herein couched many hints of divers useful experiments , which are not altogether ungroundedly intruded into this epistle , as having dependance some way or other on the proposed subject , which i inserted the rather , that by such touches , which concern things within my own sphere , i might qualifie the sleight texture which is spun concerning the propounded theme , which is , as i said , an enquiry rather of my spare houres for recreation , then any part of my task . i pray a●cept what ever it is , as coming from him , who would have bestow it as freely , if of farre greater value : i shall now no further trouble you , but pray the lord , who is the fountain of all blessing , so to order all your wayes and endeavours , that they may be a blessing to all those , to whom you devote your self , to serve by all your pious publique atchievements ; this is , and shall be the prayer of him , who is most affectionately your unfeigned servan● g. s. an enlargement of the sore-going philosophicall letter , explaining more fully divers of those desirable passages for general riches and prosits : with the reasons why no more is discovered at this time . i received yours of admonitory annotations from my last letter touching bees , in which my scope and intent being to speak concerning mellification , in reference to yours sent to me , concerning the use of anise in the keeping of bees ; many other things fell in accidentally , in which if i were the more brief , it is the more venial , since it was not directly , but onely collaterally agreeing with the propounded scope of that discourse . i shal● therefore , having perused those annotations , return you a larger account of the things therein contained , which i hope will be sufficiently satisfactory to any ingenious spirit . the first answer ( so it is called ) doth seem to desire in that epistle an open candidness , and a candid openness : in that i conceive i was not onely open , but also plain , and i doe not know what i should have added , as to the matter proposed , and not have exceeded the bounds of an epistle , and therefore i really intended what i said , and did conceive my apertnesse a candid testimony o● my intentions . now as to the second answer , to my confident assertion of the fec●b●l●ty of aqua vitae out of grain unmalted , &c. and the producing of wine out of fruit and also grain , equal to spanish and french wines , by the meanes of honey , i conceive , that what was written is sufficiently full and plain . for to write a receipt is a thing both ●●●●●sh , and not so convenient . for first , a man who doth try many experiments , doth not observe so nicely all the circumstances , as if he were to improve the same for profit , onely takes notice what is the effect of his experiments in general . now it is certa●n , that the quantity of matter , and the quality of operation on the matter , may differ but little as to ap●arency , and yet work a plain distinct effect . besides there is not any one mechanick , which hath its basis on phyloso●hy , in which there are not many errors , into which an artist , that hath been long versed in the practique , may hap to fall , and he may thank gray-headed experience for teaching him to amend his errors , and for some casu●● disasters no remedy yet hath be●n ●ound , either totally and infall●bly to p●event , or to amend the same , as i● malting , brewing , tanning . sope-boyling , &c. which ● might instance in , is need required , and time would permit . so then , though i know that out of such materials such a product ma● be , yet i knew withall , that my sel● have in my experiments o●● b●en frustrated , even in those things which before i had done , which 〈◊〉 could not on so few trials know to what cause direc●ly to asc●●be . now 〈◊〉 things b●●me found by casualty , i can hardly hit the same thing ●gai● , ●●en ● assay it ( d●●industria ) without sometimes various errors , it would be not an edifying , but rather a stumbling cou●se , to la● down a receipt , and in so many words to relate my own enchei●●a in its particularities , would be tedious , and not so us●ful , for i know , that he who tries many fortuitous experiments , not to seek for any pa●ticular thing , before proposed to himself , but rather to see what will proceed from such and such things so ordered , it is to be conceived , that what he attaines to is by the farthest way about , which to him , in those accidental trials , proves the nearest way home . but if this were to be further proved upon the account of profit , another course must be taken , of doing in greater quantity , and the easiest and shortest method is desired . therefore i , like a traveller , did intend onely a relation of things fecible , which i have my self again proved , and on my reputation affirm , both possibly and easie in nature ; and this i did to shew the good which might accrew to the publique by the prosecution of your design , both in storing the land with corn , fruits and honey . i added the meanes or key , both for the one and other , namely , by reiterated fermentation , and so writing , i wrote to such , who in some measure understood phylosophy , who weighing the effect with its causes , might not streight condemn my candour , in case he for once or twice should prove unsuccessful , whereas a receipt is every mans meat , and to such who lesse understand nature , what receipt can be full enough . for he who writes , measures other mens understanding partly by his own , and what he understands fully and scientifically , he presupposeth another will understand sufficiently , and therefore leaves out many circumstances which are not so necessary , or may be otherwise , or such which he presupposes ( praecognita ) or what a small insight into practique phylosophy may dictate . my meaning is , that in as much as those experiments were not so reiterated , as a tanners making his liquor , i could not possibly throw the receipts into the mouth of every one that could but gape . for what i try in a gallon , if i should prescribe in that quantity , my receipt would be contemptible , if i should analogize by proportion , my doctrine might be uncertain , in the particular which is most certain in the general . my work is to hint to the ingenuous what may be done , and let it be sufficient that ( fide bona ) i deliver what is really true in nature , and adde the onely meanes , which is by reiterate fermentation . but yet to adde what light i can to him , who would attempt this , i shall , so farre as in me is , discover things more punctually first as to aqua vitae , let pease be taken and steeped in as much water as will cover them , till they swell and corn , and be so ordered as barley is for the malting , onely with this difference , that for this work if they sprout twice as much as barley doth in making malt it is the better : these pease thus sprouted if beaten small , which is easily done they being so tender , put into a vessel , and stopt with a bung and a r●g as usually , these will ferment , and after two , or three , or four moneths , if distilled , will really perform what i promised . the water that soaked them , it is good to save , either for the soaking of fresh , or for putting on them , being beaten , which else require some quantity of water to be added to them , but not much , and the like may be done in all other grain , which the addition of refuse honey will advance ( as to quantity of spirit ) exceedingly . thus may a spirit of aqua vitae be made out of any green growing thing , of which the leaves being fermented , will yeild a small quantity of such a spirit . so roots , berries and seeds , which are not oyly , yea and those which are oyly , whose fatnesse is essential , that is , which may be distilled over in an alembick with water , will afford some more , some lesse of aqua vitae . let me adde , that the spirit which is made out of grain not dryed into malt , is more pleasant than the other . now give me leave to adde my opinion , and what i would try further in this case . i would often stir the matter in fermentation , that is , once a day , during the first twenty dayes , and for the first week , when it begins to work , give it a small vent , which to me seemes a wa● of bettering the fermentation , and by consequent of augmenting and meliorating the spirit . but in this i leave every man to his own ●ngeny , and should be glad to have these my experiments ripened for the good of many . now as to vinification , let me for a ground lay this down for a position , that the vegetable spirit in all hearbs , trees , plants , and fruits , berries , and also seeds , ( not of a grosse oyly nature ) is vinous , but in grain and fruit more especially of the later , of which the grape is but one species . now in both , the rule to distinguish the copiousnesse of this vertue is the sweetnesse ; for by how much the more of that , by so much the more of the vinous spirit . now honey is a vegetable magistery , in part perfected by the specifick virtue of the flour , &c. on which the dew falling , is made sweeter than of it self it was , ( yet formally distinguished from honey , which i have oft proved by disti●l●tion ) but is compleated by the peerlesse virtue of the bee , which doth transmute that sweetnesse into a new creature , which is honey . this therefore , by reason of its eminent sweetnesse , is rich of that vinous spirit fore-mentioned , and may therefore be preferred to either grain or fruit ; for example ; let the tryall be made with about a gallon of honey , despume it , and adde to it about an equall part of water , or three parts of water to two of honey● ferment it with a treble fermentation ; and after six moneths this will be farre richer , both in tast and smell , than any wine that comes from any of the spanish territories , and that by farre . but as the price of good honey goes now , to have a quart of wine in its materials to cost a shilling or sixteen pence , which is the price of good honey , would be a dear rate ; by which it may appear , what the benefit of your present design of inriching us with store of honey may be ; for i say , what i have tried , that wine made of honey alone without any other thing , thrice fermented as it ought to be , gives a drink more like a celestial nectar then a terrestrial wine , both for taste and odour . but graines gives a more austere wine , and alone much resembled a fyall wine , which is done thus . take as much malt as a cask will hold fill it with scalding hot water , that the water be no more than the cask will hold after it is full of malt ; let it soak so for a day and night , then presse it out exquisitely , as wines are pressed , then put it into a vessel , and with yest bring it to work , which by every day moving with a rod , and covering it with cloths , and not giving it much vent , will be continued at least six or seven dayes , so much the better if the vessel be so big beyond what it containes , as that it work not over , and the vent that is left be small● but the bung so closed , as that it may be opened and shut daily for to stir the matter soundly , and when the ferment is ceased , with new yest bring it to a second , and so to a third fermentation , observing the same method as in the first , then close it well , and set it in a cool cellar for about four moneths , in which time it acquires the natural properties of wine , and may be accordingly handled . now by this that hath so plainly been set down , any ingenious man may , by the addition of honey in a various proportion , make what distinction of wine he pleaseth , and the same with the juyce of fruits , with this di●●erence , that fruits doe yeild a wine neerer to rhenish and french then to spanish wines . now as to the spider which i mentioned , i was not then so principled in p●ylosophy , when i lived in those islands , as to observe every observeable thing , but since have hea●d of a maid , who of that silk hath ( for tryal sake ) spun and knit a pair of gloves , which prove no whit inferior or lesse durable than the best silk , whether then they may be transported hither or no , i know not , but if not , yet in the p●antation , where they are naturally ( being under this government ) i presume they might with ingenuity be made p●ofi●able ; first , since they multiply so abundantly : secondly , live in the open fields , not annoyed with weather : thirdly , give silk so copiously , for out of one large spider , in a day , one may draw at the least two drachins of silk , if they have an intire web they s●end little after it is made , but if fed fat , they may be taken in ones hand , without danger to ones self , or dammage to the creature , and one may out of its body wind a good ball of yellow silk daily , which being washed is white enough . fourthly , they will feed on flies , or any blood of beast cloddered exceedingly , and all their nourishment may be forced out in silk , which they as naturally make in their tail ( which is a great bag , like a pigeons egge in bignesse ) as bees doe honey . now if the silk-worm that is so tender , may be so improved , being so hard to feed , and must be kept in houses , much more these spiders , which are so hardy ; and will feed on any trumpery ( and who knowes what they may ●e brought to eat , i my self have fed them with pieces of figs ) may , in my opinion , be brought to singular profit , which● if kept in an open wicker cage in the open air , may be fed at pleasure , and robbed of their silk at least every day , and that not a small quantity at a time . i perswade my self , that one large spider of this sort , would yeild more silk in a summer than six silk-wormes , and that may render them worth the keeping , their silk being full as good as any . yet they may doe as well here as the silk-worm , for ought i know , being by ten fold more hardy than any silk-worm , and flies are a sufficient food for them , which how easily taken i need not mention . as to the india fig , the usuall name of it is the prickled pear , so known in that place , and as to the transportation of it hither , here to grow , it is enough it growes there , being an english plantation , or the fruit it self may , without the tree , be yearly brought over at rates reasonable enough , if first any ingenious man ( whom it may concern ) should , for trial sake , send for a small parcel , and upon tryal find it advantageous . i for my part procured of the fruit for my experiment , and found the generation of that infect out of it , which way i recommend to any that desires further resolution in that point . now as to the generation of ●nsects , i shall give my usuall encheiria , though i need not , having particularly set down the same work , how it is performed out of the blood and livers of beasts , which were enough to any , who by the length of hercules foot , could calculate the proportion of his whole body . vegetables of tincture are either hearbs , woods , or fruits , as berries , &c. as for hearbs , i dry them ( ●● dry they yeild the best tincture ) otherwise stamp them , and let them dry , till they will suffer no juyce to run from them , ( this in the sun or in a proportionable heat ) or if dryed , i infuse them with water in a heat about twenty four houres , then vapour away the water , till the dissolution be as thick a● sirrup ( but for this use strain them not from the feces ) this masse i take and put it into an earthen or wooden vessel , with some straw or something , and bottom ( that it lie not too close ) and so i proportion the quantity to the pot , that the air may come about , and into the masse , ( yet not too much ) then i set this vessel in a ditch or pit made in the earth in a shady place , and put about it some wet leaves , or such putrifying rubbish , and over it a board , and on that some straw or the like , and so it produces , first a shelly husky worm , and then a fly of the tincture of the concrete , but durable , and somewhat more advanced . berries i stamp and boyle them , or evaporate them to the consistence of a rob : and then use them as the other . woods i infuse in water , being pulverised , and boyle out their tincture , and then evaporate the water to such a consistence as the other , and use them in the like way . the flies will play about the sides of the vessel and surface of the matter , which taken , are killed in a warm pan or stove , and dryed , and so kept . thus out of a red berry , of which i spake in my former letter , i made an insect no whit inferiour to the best cochmeel , and i suppose i have added sufficient to the information of the weakest capacity . as for my history of one who did so feed bees , as i spake of in my first letter , the gentleman is at present both out of london , england , and this life , being lately dead . now what concernes the doctrine of fermentations , on which depends the unfolding of the mystery of mellification , and making wax , i have reserved that for another place and time , since being prolixe and phylosophical , it doth require a peculiar treatise , and i falling on it here , found it too abstruse to be briefly handled , lest brief instances , which i should be forced to bring , should beget a thousand scruples and new questions . as for the practique of it , this dilemma answers all : either it will , or it will not ; if it will , then farre more bees may be kept , if out of ( not honey ) they make honey , and out of ( not wax ) they make wax , by an actual transmutation , which i experimentally affirm : if not , then fewer can be kept , if they must seek their wax out of the gummosity of some floures , as some fondly imagine , since wax formally differs from any fatness under heaven . one half houres attendance in a day on a late swarm of bees in iuly or august , will put all out of question to any other that shall try it , as it hath been experimentally put out of controversie to me . but to lay down the phylosophy of the thing will maime a large treatise , which i have in latine composed ( de fermentis ) which i shall be unwilling to dismember , and send part of it out lamely in an english dresse . lastly , as to the meeting of wines , it is done the same way as new are made . viz by dissolving honey in some quantity of it self , and warming it so as it lose not the spirit ( which is to be therefore done in a close vessel ) then put to the vessel of wine , and by yest ( or otherwise ) let it be brought to a thorough working ( as at its first making ) s●●t recovers both life , taste , body and goodnesse , and may then be preserved as if it never had inclined to p●cking . sir , ● hope this will be a full illustration of my former letter , so as that no man shall be able to ●●s●re greater candidnesse . i commit you , in these your pious en●●●vours of the publique good , to his protection● who will undoubtedly at present blesse you in this your enterprise , and hereafter requite the ungratefulnesse of men to you , on this account , with a ple●teous reward . i am , sir , your most affectionately devoted to serve you g. s. a very cheap way to keep a stock of bees all winterlong . tostes of bread sopped in strong ale , and put into a bee-hive , is very good and cheap food for bees , of which they will not leave one crum remaining . it will be fit sometime to lay some dry meal or flo●er of beane● , which dry meal is given them sometimes as ●ey or corn is to conies , or upland pasture to sheep in times of great rain , to prevent the rott , and such diseases , as will necessarily follow from continual moist food . by this meanes you may feed a whole hive of bees for eighteen pence or two shillings all the winterlong . q. whether any other flower or meal will not serve ? and whether it would not be the sweeter , and therefore the better , if the corn ( whether beanes or any other ) were well maulted ? another notable and approved experiment for improving of bees . take an handful of melissa ( that is an hearb which we commonly call baume . ) one drachm of camphire . half a drachm of musk dissolved in rose-water . as much yellow bees-wax as is sufficient . oil of roses as much . stamp the baume and the camphire very well , and put them into the waz , melted with the oyle of roses , and so make it up into a masse ; let it cool before you put in the musk , for otherwise the heat will fume away most of the scent of it . take of this masse as much as an haselnut , and cleave it within your bee-hive . it will much increase the number of your bees , not onely by provoking them to multiplication , but also by enticing many strange bees to come thither , and abide there . you shall also find , both in honey and wax , three times more profit than otherwise you should have had . a coppy of a letter , written by mr. william mewe minister at easlington in glocester-shire , to mr. nathaniel angelo fellow of eaton colledge . sir , being made known to you , i could wish it had been by a better character than a bee-master . t is true , since i left the hot service of the city , i have an apiary in the country , wherein i found profit enough : but i considered , that wax and honey was not all the benefit which god afforded from that creature ; he that sends us to the ant , gives us leave to observe the same and better qualities in the bee ; i observed many rarities in their work and government , by mine own experience upon buttlers observations : but when he told me of a gentleman , in plinies time , that endeavoured to make their works transparent ( but , as he thought , improbable ) i tryed , and finished that essay , to the satisfaction of my self and others . the invention is a fancie that suits with the nature of that creature , they are much taken with their grandeiur , and double their tasks with delight ; i took fourteen quarts out of one of the transparent hives , double their quantity of others , they quickly paid me the charges , with their profit , and doubled it with pleasure ; i can take a strict account of their work , and thereby guesse how the rest prosper . every time i view them ( whilst their work lasts ) i have aliquid novi ( something new ) which must needs be more pleasing than the sight of a fountain , which affords but water , running in the same manner . this honey diversly placed with diversity of combs , whereof i have observed six fill'd in six dayes , of so many quarts , but it was in the time of a mill-dew . if you desire the model or description , i shall give the same to you that i did to dr. wilkins , warden of waddham , who hath , with great curiosity , set up one in his garden , and , as i hear , is setting up another with augmentations : i intended it at first for an hyerogliphick of labour , upon which a gentleman bestowed a statue of that form to crown it , which in three yeares standing yeilded to the injuries of the wind , weather and sun , which being repaird now leaves at the bottom of the pedestal , with this inscription , non amissus sed submissus ( the emblem of our calling ) instead thereof are erected at the top three trygonal dyals , over them three weather-glasses , with a clepsydra to shew the hour when the sun shines not , over that a cock , that will speak the winds seat at mid-night , upon which is bestowed a saphigue to satisfie the latine or english reader , thus ; has apes dury labor hic coronans occidit , sole , & b●rea maligno quos vigil gallus capit & superstes , clepsidra monstrat . labour held this , till storm'd ( alas ) by weather , wind , and sun he was ; all which are wacht , as here they passe , by diall , weather-cock and glasse . thus farre have i denied my self to gratifie your friendship , which i hope will give the grains of allowance , and concealment to a suddain paper , which i could not deny to the bearer of a letter from you ; but if you please to take a sheet and napkin with me for some time , we shall discourse of this , and better matters . mr. hartlib is a gentleman , whom i know not , but by your worthy report , i never saw his works , but shall get them as soon as i can , if in the mean time he shall visit me in person , or by letter , with questions within my sphere , i am a flint that give fire at the first stroke ; i like them well that veiw magnalia dei in minimis , if every man of my ability , through the land , cherished so many hives as i doe , it would be in our common-wealths way 300000 per annum , which is lost by negligence or ignorance of the use of that creature . when i see you , i shall offer more to your consideration than is fitting to be written ; the lord furnish you and me with ability , and fidelity , in our calling , for 't is no great honour ( saith plutarch ) to be excellent out of that . easlington this 19th of september . 1653. true friend , your faithful servant , will. mevve . a coppy mr. hartlib's letter to that worthy minister , at easlington , mr. will. mewe . sir , i am willing to confesse my fault ( if it be a fault ) that my worthy friend mr. angelo took notice of you , as an excellent bee-master : for knowing you by your other better characters , which are so publique , that none can be ignorant thereof , who hath heard of your name , i gave him notice of your rare industry ( a thing not so publiquely known as it deserves ) in discovering the industriousnesse of that pretty creature , and my design was to get him to write to you , so as to make some overture for me , to use freedome afterwards with you about that subject , which he having done , and you having entertained with so much alacrity , and hearty expressions , i am bound to thank you for it , and desirous to expresse my thankfulnesse with such communications , as are within the sphere of my activity of this kind , or of any other better matters of a publique nature ; and in testimony hereof , be pleased to accept of the adjoyned packet with several treatises and books , wherein also you will happily find something , which may give occasion to your ingenious spirit , to try some other conclusions of husbandry with delight and profit : for god's way 's to such as find them out are full of both ; and i am apt to believe , that when god set adam in the garden eden to keep it and dresse it , he meant to exercise his industry , as well about the discovery of the fruitfulnesse of perfect nature , which could not be without much delight to his understanding , as about the pleasantnesse of the place , which he could have by dressing increased , and made compleatly answerable to the perfection of his own imagination . for although there was nothing imperfect in nature before the curse , yet all the imaginable perfections , which the seminal properties of the earth contained , were not actually existent at the first instant ; the kinds were each distinct by themselves , without any defect , but what marriages and combinations there might be made between them , and what the effects thereof would be , when the proper agents and patients should meet , i suppose was left to his industry to try : and although we now come farre short of that knowledge , which he had in nature , and the womb , thereof , by reason of that curse is shut up unto us : yet we find by experience , that to such as are her faithful and laborious servants , and find out the seat of gods vertue in her , to trace the way of his operation , she rewards alwayes their paines both with profit and pleasure , which in your answer to my fore-named worthy friend you bear witnesse unto , when you tell him , that in your apiary in the country , you not onely found profit enough ( and what you mean by enough is left to our conjecture ) but that besides the benefit of wax and honey , you gained more delightful observations of their working , and government , then happily the ant can afford us ; which because i doe very fully believe , therefore i am an humble sutor unto you , that at some spare time you would renew to your own memory your delightful contemplation of the rare qualities of that creature , and putting them to paper , shew forth the wisdome of the creator therein , for such things should not be concealed , because they are reall demonstrations of his power , and i am perswaded , you will take it in good part , that such as love him for himself are curious to know the workmanship o● his hands , and the wayes by which the best discovery thereof is made . if then upon this account you would let some of your sparkes flie abroad amongst us , you may perhaps kindle some light more than we have , which in due time may reflect with some heat upon your self back again . for you tell us , that dr. wilkins , warden of wadham , is setting up a glasse-hive in his garden , with augmentations to that model which he received from you , which no doubt he is obliged to impart unto you , as to the father of the invention ; and if i may be so happy , as to be your schollar , both in that which is your own , and what is super-added by him , perhaps my friends and i will not be altogether unfruitful , at least we shall not be unmindful of you , but give some return of what our experiments may produce . but to doe this we must be set in the way by you ; therefore give me leave to beg a full description of your transparent hive , in the parts and dimensions thereof , and if you have any to spare ( now the season is past ) and would send one up by the carrier which comes from your parts , i shall undertake to see it sent back again unto you without your cost . if you have many glasse-hives , you will be the better able to gratifie me herein , but if you have none to spare , i shall rest satisfied with that , which you shall be pleased to afford me with your convenience . the reason wherefore in the glasse-hives the bees should double their work , and delight in their grandeiur , i conceive , by what you write , is discernable , but as yet i cannot reach it , till by your experience and sagacity the hint be given me , that i may in due time by my self , or some friends , make also a tryall thereof . but have you yet been able to make any estimate of the quantity of wax and honey , which they are able to give one year with another , seeing you speak a very big word of 300000 lt . a year , which might accrew to the nation from this little creature ? i make no doubt , but you are able to make thi , out , although it doth , i confesse , goe beyond my reach , and to raise the industrie which may be used towards the common-wealth of bees in this nation , it would be a thing worth your publique disposition to give a demonstration thereof ; for i suppose it will be grounded more upon the plenty , which your new invention doth yeild , then upon the ordinary way . but happily your experience to something also extraordinary concerning the feeding as well as the hiving of that industrious creature , will give some further addition . for no doubt there are certain hearbs which make them thrive better than others , of all which , if at your convenient time you will be as good as you●●ord , a good flint to give fire at the first stroke , you will give some of us cause here to rejoyce in your light , and i dare promise by the grace of god , your sparkes will not fall in vain , but will find good tinder , at which many candles may be lighted in due time . you see how large and free i am , but your ingenuity hath provoked me , and i aime at nothing , but what may be an advantage to the publique , and a matter of credit and due respect to be yeilded to your self , by , from my house neer charing crosse over against angel court , the 17. november , 1653. sir , your ever faithfull , and most willing friend to serve you , samuell hartlib . an extract of mr. mewe's answer to mr. hartlib's letter . worthy sir , the knocks and calls of two such unknown friends , as your self and mr. angelo , coming with such choyce books , and so much candor , exprest in too many , and two friendly letters , were enough to make the sourest hermite look out of his cell , especially if he spies the coasts clear without swords and pistols . the truth is , i am but one of many my fellow shepherds , that have taken sanctuary in our cotts , ever since the alarme was given us by the anti-pastoral party , and being likely to be stript to the bag and bottle , you cannot blame us , if we whistle away some of our sad and spare houres ( whilst shepherds are smitten , and sheep scatter'd ) to observe magnalia dei in minimis . melancholy loosers will rather play at small games than give over . when i saw god make good his threat ( solvam cingulae regum ) and break the reines of government , i observed , that this pretty bird ( whereof you write ) was true to that government , wherein god and nature had set it to serve . hereupon my pleasure began to vie with my profit , and i was willing , for once , to yeild the stakes to my pleasure . briefly sir , being sent for up amongst others of my profession , to serve the state , i left a model of this innocent phancie in past-board , which at my return ( by the care of my vertuous wife , now with god ) i found set up in the midst of my garden in plain free-stone ; in this i placed an upper and lower hive , over them a trygonal dial , over that three weather glasses , over that a water-watch topt with a weather-cock : this placed in the stead of the statue of labour , which the wind and weather had brought from top to bottom , so that it was obvious to my phantasie , to conceit this to be the hyerogliphick of their hyerarchy , whose labour was lost in their grandeiur , and brought to that low price , that any of their meanest quality might come up to it , and be taken at his word , though he bid never so meanly . i considered , that god gives us leave to make the most and best we can of those relicks of his goodness , whereof we have baffled away the better part ; as those travellers , that have benighted themselves by their frolick baitings , make much of their diversified reflections of the sun set in the clouds , and when they have almost lost his light , make pass-time with his colours . this will excuse me ( in case i fall short of that profit which you suspect i make ) that i begin and stand so long upon the pleasure , and shall now take leave to surfet you with my honey-sops , before ●light you out with my wax-tapers , and then as you like this , you may call again at my hermitage . now what concernes the profit , you tell me of a big word i should let fall , of 300000 lib. per annum , which our nation might make of them , if all of my ability would undertake to keep as many as my self ; one cipher mistaken may much alter the sum ; but grant it so as you have set it , cast it thus , i never kept twenty stalls , and usually take but half , yet doe i value my wax and honey worth twenty nobles at the least ; now if he that is valued but as the tenth part of a parish , at most , can make so much , what may the rest ? what may the county ? what the nation ? whereas you say , a place may be over stockt ( granting mill-dewes ) i deny it . had we an hundred hives for one , where there are store of oakes and maples , the place cannot be over stor'd with bees . so that if there were a statute for parish bees , as well as parish butts , and parochial appiaries design'd for those places , where observed best to thrive , i know not why a parish may not make as much honey ( as one gentleman of norfolk ) viz. 300 li. de claro , as i heard per annum . as for your design of feeding them ( as that gentleman in italy ) i conceive it here unfeaseable , or if it were it would not quit cost ; i care not to feed them , except to save them in spring time , and strengthen them for work : hearbs and floures are but from hand to mouth , serve for bee-bread : if mill-dewes fall not , bees thrive not , for they are , with gods blessing , the antidote to that curse : as for your honest pity to that poor creature ( i shall try a conclusion this summer which may save some few stalls , but in saving ( poor stalls ) we dammage them , and ( in saving the rich ) our selves ; the middle sort are best for store , and enough for those that are not covetous , with whom they seldom thrive , because they over act their part in sparing , as carelesse persons in their neglect of keeping them . i can and shall afford you what satisfaction you please , in any useful question , that concernes the welfare of their common-wealth . as for my transparent hives , i have but two , which are not moveable , else you should willingly have them , whither you return'd them or not ; they serve onely to give me an account of the daily income , and a diary of their negotiations , whereby if i spend half an hour after dinner or supper , i know what hath been done that day ; can shew my friends the queens cells , and sometimes her person , with her retinue ; she afforded me 14. quarts , or neer upon , in one year , and if the rest afford ten a piece i think it a fair gain : there is not an hive to be seen about my house , nor a child stung in a year : my appiary consists of a row of little houses , two stories high , two foot apart , which i find as cheap at seven yeares end as straw hacles , and far more handsome : ( where i have bay windowes i have a set of unseen stalls ) whose room is handcomly spar'd , and their company very harmonious , especially for those that ●edge in their chambers , whether they would wake or sleep , in so much as i have heard some say ( that have there lodged ) they would give twenty pound to have and here the like at home ; the pleasure takes some , the profit others . but if either take off ( and not take up ) our hearts in minding the main , you and i may spare any farther enquiry about them . thus have i stept out of my way , to gratifie you in the exchange of ink and paper , and shall be ready so to doe in things of weightier concernment than b bs. if you shall give the stroke , 't is hard if my flint yeild not some sparks : all your subjects are marvellously well pleasing to me , but above all , your most ingenious and publique spirit makes me love and honour you ; onely i fear your sweetnesse may be abus'd by some undertakers , that are apt to promise much upon the score of hopes and fancies . but you will say , i have done enough for once to weary you , and if i find i have , i shall doe so no more , but rest , easlington in glocester-shire 20 th of december , 1653. sir , your endeared friend , to serve you , will mevve . a letter , concerning that pleasant and profitable invention of a transparent bee-hive , written by that much accomplish'd , and very ingenious gentleman , fellow of all-soules colledge in oxford , mr. christ. wren , with the figure and description of the said transparent bee-hive . honoured sir , you have by several hands intimated your desires to me , of having a particular description of our three-storied-bee-hive . i confesse i was not over forward to execute this command of yours ; and my reason was , because the devise not fully answering our own expectation , i thought it would be much more unsatisfactory to you : but since you please to persist in your desires , ( as mr. rawlinson told me the other day ) i can be no longer shameless to persist in my incivility , especially prompted by mine own ambition , to find any way to shew my self a servant to a person so eminent amongst the ingeniosi as your self . the description , i think , is evident enough in the paper ; i shall onely tell you what effects we find . last may ( as i remember ) we put in two swarmes together , leaving the places to goe in , open onely in the lowermost , but all the passage holes open from box to box : in the middlemost they first began their combes , then in the lowermost , before they had filled the middlemost , and so continued till they had filled both , which before they had quite finished , they began to make two little combes in the upper box , ( all this while deserted ) and continued besides , a part of a comb of the middle story an inch or two up into the upper box , filling almost the passage hole quite up , leaving themselves onely a little hole , as big as two fingers might go in , for their passage up and down : i am not very certain , whether this was not done at first when they wrought in the middle box , and whether this was not the reason , why they wrought so little in the upper box , because they stopped themselves up from an easie passage to it . the combes in the lower stories were well replenished with honey , and suddainly , but these little combes in the upper they quite defert , contrary to our expectation , which was , that they would have wrought most in the upper story , and the middlemost , in which , when they had wrought enough for their own spending , that then we might take away the uppermost from them , and so have continued still : but if we find another year , that they fill not again the uppermost , it will be all one still to take away the lowermost from them , but if that be so , then two hives will be sufficient . we must rather desire of you farther light in this business , which i presume you can afford us , from other mens observations , that have tried the like experiment , for as yet you see ours is imperfect , and we know not what to make of it . all-soules coll. febr. 26. 1654. sir , i am your most obedient humble servant , christ . wren . ab . ab . ab , 3 octogonall boxes exactly in all par , +ticulars of one shape & size , c. a hole in the top , w. ch is the same in every box. d. a cover ( the same to every hole ) turning upon a pinne . e. f. a wiar , w. ch puls the cover to close it upon occasion , ggg . holes throug w ch the ends of the wiars ap , +peare , hhh . the dores , every one to be opened or shut by litle sliders the lower dores are open , the others shut , rk.k. the vpper edges of every box , sloped away convexedly , the bottomes are likwise sloped away concauely , that any one box may fit to any of the other two , m. a litle rey made to screw on the ends of the wiars y t appeare in the holes , by that meanes to close any of the holes , in the sides behind oppo , +site to the sides hhh , are dores that open with hinges & locks about 4 inches one way & 6 the other● & within each a peece of cleere glasse clo , +●se semented to the inside of the box , to look in vpon occasion , each box is lined with rush matt , it standes in a case of stone that serves both as a stock & a covering to it . scale of 〈◊〉 & inchar . considerations upon the letter from oxford . sir , upon speech with mr. greatrix ( according to your desires ) i find , that the substance of what he intimated to you the other day , upon the sight of your letter from oxford , was no other than what truly my thoughts from my own reason , and the sight of dr. brown's essay upon the same subject , confirmed me in : viz. that bees , as they do naturally begin in the top of the hive and work downwards , so do they not like that that top should be more than one , or at most two stories high . for as by the judgements of all that write of bees , a valley is counted the best kind of seat for them , to the intent , that when they come heavy loaden home ( as they do often in a day ) their journey may be a descent , and consequently easie , so from the same reason ought the work within the hive to be so ordered , as to be upon as little ascent as may be , or rather upon a descent . i mean , that it be so ordered , as that the bees may go rather down than upwards within their hive . upon this ground my opinion is , that one box is ( at the beginning ) sufficient , or but two at the most . when this one ( if but one be used at first ) shall be filled , it would ( the entrance into it being first stopped , and the lower middle hole of it be left open ) be set upon another lower box , and when this second box shall be also filled , a third would be set under the two first , and when the whole body of the bees is fully gone down into the third or lowest box , then ( and not before ) may the first or upper box be taken away ; and after this manner may the upper box still be taken away from time to time , as often as the lower shall be filled , and a new empty one put under . this i have gathered from such books as i have met with , but that which from my own private judgement i offer as a futher addition is , that i could wish that the lowest box should be still so placed , as to hang down through and below the planke or seat upon which hives are ordinarily placed , so as that the bees , when they come heavy loaden home , may go downwards into it . when this lowest hive is almost full ( which might be discovered through windows left for that purpose ) than would another empty one be put into its place , and the box that is almost full so to be placed upon the empty one , as that the bees may enter by a hole in the lower part of it , and ( when it is absolutely full ) go down into the lowest box. and by this meanes the heavy loaden bees ( instead of carrying their loads three stories high , according to the oxford practise ) do still work either downwards , or very little upwards . i will conclude this subject with an observation concerning these little creatures , viz. that their king weares no sword , i mean , hath no sting of their own , nor any ianizaries , nor other meanes of safety to themselves , than the loyalty of their subjects . some remarkable observations , concerning the swarming of bees ; together with a short description of a bee-hive made of glasse . although experience tells us , that bees do naturally love to hive in woods and other places out of mens sight , and that chiefly at the time , when they send forth their numerous swarms like so many new colonies ; yet notwithstanding , they may be brought so to part with that kind of wildness , as to give men leave to observe them , and to admire nature , whose pleasure it is , in this contemptible sort of insects , to make shew of the great riches of her treasury . this is not hard to prove . for it is known , that bees , when they begin to swarm , and that the heat of the sun hath drawn them out of their hive , do fly about till their king ( whom nature hath wisely unarmed ) doth by his sitting down determine the place of their rendezvous , which they immediately take notice of , and all those huge numbers of them ( being from that time forwards to make their own fortunes , and to be their own purveyors ) do pitch their camp round about their king. presently after which , a certain kind of bees , which are commonly called scouts , are sent out to discover places for them to hive ; and till these scouts return , the whole swarm sits still to refresh themselves , being weary with flying at their first swarming . these scouts at their return rush violently in upon the swarm , and carry away to the place which they have found , some part of the swarm , together with the king , on whom depends the unity , good fortune and safety of them all . in the northern countries , as poland , lithvania and muscovie , men use to make hives for them on purpose in the woods and where such are the bees chuse them , but if they can find none such , then they hive in old , hollow and rotten trees , and that for many yeares together , till the hollow place being filled with that excellent liquor of honey , they are forced to go to some other place . so that many times those that fell wood do , when they little think of it , find in hollow trees great store of honey . it is remarkable , that most swarms , as soon as they come out , do rest themselves in some place near to their old hives , for two or three houres together , in which time , unless they have hives provided them , they forsake their former master , and betake themselves to the woods and solitary places . but if they have hives provided for them , they submit themselves to the owners of those hives , especially if their king ( which is observeable ) be shut into a little den made on purpose , and be kept there for three or four dayes together . in which time chiefly you may perceive a wonderful diligence in the bees , and that it may be the better seen by such as are curious , and admirers of nature , industry hath shewed how to make hives of glass , which may be placed in gardens , and other convenient places , and even in windowes . the manner whereof is this following . let great care be taken in the choice of the place ; for experience will shew , there lies much in that . it will be best for this purpose to chuse a window towards the sun-rising , for by this means , the bees will have their industry quickened , which from the very sun-rising will set them to work , they being creatures so intent upon their business : and besides , it will free the poor weak things from many inconveniencies . it will be otherwise , if you chuse for this purpose a place towards the west or north , for the light of the rising-sun , coming but late upon a place that is towards the west , will make the bees go late to worke , and the north with its natural sharpness will weaken and shrink up the tender bodies of those little creatures , they delighting in heat : so that the east and the south are for this purpose farre better than the other two quarters of the world . having so chosen the place , let there be made an hive of about a yard high or a little more , after this fashion . fasten four little pillars of wood in two boards , one on the top and the other at the bottom , and let the pillars be answerable to the height of your window , and let that side of the hive , which is to be towards the air , be half a yard broad , and the other side , which is to be towards your chamber , a quarter of a yard broad . in that side which is towards the air , you are to leave a slit of about two fingers breadth , for the bees to fly in and out at , and in the middle of that slit you must put a cross peice of wood , which must be very well fastened , that it slip not up and down , and so crush the honey-combes , but that it may the better bear the weight of them . in the inner side of the hive , you are to make doors about a quarter of a yard broad , and well and strongly bolted , that the bees may be kept from flying into your chamber . through these doors you are to put in your swarm , and take out your honey . and for the space between the aforesaid pillars , you may have it closed either with whole glass , or with smaller peices leaded ; or if you will have the whole hive of glasse , the glass-makers can make it for you , but you must observe the conditions before expressed . having thus prepared all things , you may place the swarms where you intend to have them in the hive , and with delight behold their work , and in a kind of rapture cry out , that the world is the great book of god , containing three leaves , viz. heaven , earth and sea , wherein there are so many characters of the wisdom of god as there are creatures . a singular observation concerning bee-hives and buck-wheat , in reference to bees , made by mr. thomas babington in his travels into germany . in k●mpen-land in germany i have seen about fourty great bee-hives , which contain , when they are full , about seventy pound weight in honey , placed near a great field sown with buck-wheat , and it was related to me of a truth by the inhabitants , that the bees did suck such ●lenty of honey out of it , that in a fortnights time the said hives were all filled there with . the said buck-wheat is a three square grain , which when it is ripe is made use of for pan-cakes , and to brew beer , and excellent good to fatten hogs with , and in blowing time of singular use for bees . how to make good greek , or other wines out of honey . as concerning the passage in my letters concerning honey , i cannot exactly give you an account of it , till i see all the discourse : thus much i remember and know by experience , that if pure honey be gently boiled in pure water , and well scummed , and afterward cooled , and then with barm or yest set to working , as we usually do beer or ale , and then put into a larger vessel for a time , and afterwards drawn into pottles , that a liquor hath , and may be made like fountain water , yet of such a fine excellent tast , and so strong , that some , who have thought themselves of very good pallats , have mistaken it for greek wine . and i question not , but sugar will do the like , but whether i seem to speak of any more ingenious clarifications , as with white of eggs , with falt of tartar , or with other things , that vintners use for their wines , or whither i refer them to glauber , who in his appendix speaketh of some ingenious fermentations and clarifications , i cannot certainly tell . but this i dare boldly say , that if any gentleman would trie experiments upon honey , sugar , yea , or any sweet things , if the sweetness be not too flashy and watry , he shall find divers things both delightful and profitable . i hope glauber , who hath promised divers things in these kinds , and i suppose is most able to accomplish them , will more clearly manifest them for the good and comfort of our northern countries . i desire to hear what other ingenious things are written of late . i think these times very fruitful , and that the great secrets , which have a long time been hid , will shortly be manifested . a receipt to make a pure mead that shall tast like wine . take one part of clarified honey , and eight parts of rain water , or other clear water , and boil them well together in a copper vessel , till half the liquor be boiled away , but while it boiles , you must take off the scum very clean , and when it hath done boiling , and begins to cool , tun it up , and it will work of it self . as soon as it hath done working , you must stop the vessel very close , and bury it under ground for three months , which will make it loose both the smell and tast of the honey and wax , and will make it tast very like wine . another way to make a most pleasant and wine-like mead. take of clarified honey twenty pound , and of clear water thirty two gallons , mingle them well together , and boil that liquor half away , and take off the scum very clean , when it hath done boiling , and begins to cool , put it into a vessel , where hath been rhenish wine before , and put to it four gallons of rhenish wine must , and let it work ; then stop the vessel very close , and bury it under ground for two months together , at the end of which draw it off the lees , and put it into another clean sweet vessel by it self , and it will be very like wine ; and if you would have it of an aromatick tast , you may put these following ingredients into the vessel at first , and let them work with the liquor , viz. of floures of elder , rosemary and majoram , each one handful , of cinnamon two ounces , of cloves six ounces , of ginger , pepper and cardamome , each two scruples , these will give the mead a most pleasant tast . the common-wealth of bees . represented by mr. gerard malynes , by way of a digression in his great book called lex mercatoria , or the antient law-merchant . let us somewhat digress from manufacture to apifacture , and ( with solomon the wise ) send the ●luggard to imitate the painful and laborious bees , for the increase of honey and wax in england , scotland and ireland , and other of his majesties dominions : and let mans help succour this apifacture , if it may be so called , as followeth . the meanes to increase honey and wax , doth properly consist in the preservation of bees , and the making of convenient skepes or bee-hives after a new invention : namely , you may make your skepes either with straw or wicker of two sorts , and to be of two peices , to take off at the crown , or near the midst of the hive ; that when they have gathered and filled up their house , and that the room is scant within , then take away the upper half , and clap on a board , or the bottom , or head of a pitch barrel , or tar barrel , or the like , having pitch on it , casting mault meal , or bean meal upon the same ; and then daube it well with clay about the skirts , and setting on with your clay mixt with some salt ; and when you have thus done , then raise it up below with so many wreythes , as you took above for the gelding of your hives before , which is very needful to make the greater plenty and increase : for making your skepes in this manner , the honey may be taken at all times ; but especially , when you do perceive by the lifting up of your skepes , that your bees are well provided for the winters provision , and that there be plenty of food yet to gather , then cap them . take a strong wyer , make it flat , and cut your combes in two , and then have a parchment in readiness to follow the wyer , to keep asunder the wax from cleaving , laying on your board with pitch and meal , as aforesaid . this to be done in summer . preservation of bees for the climate of great brittain , &c. 1. in march your bees do begin to breed , and then they begin to sit , let them at that time be served twice every week , because : 2. in aprill your bees begin to hatch , serve them in hard and rugged weather , whereby they are hindered to be abroad . 3. in may your bee comming forth , look to serve them until mid may. 4. in iune are your bees in their strength for casting , and then there is great plenty of floures and dews to feed upon . 5. in iuly they are full of honey , therefore cap your first swarmes , and take up the rest for honey that you mean to take up for that year , and cap as followeth . 6. in august is the most breed of bees past , and you may cap likewise those you mean to keep over the year ; i mean your old stocks , for then they may forbear it . 7. in september the gathering of bees is past ; stop close , and if there be any that is not capable , leave them and stop close with clay and salt , and daube below with cow-dung , as the manner is . 8. in october begin to look whether robbers have spoiled any or not ; if it be so that they have , take away your bees as in honey time , and set up your skepes with the combs whole , to be used as hereafter followeth . 9. in november stop up all holes , let none pass in or out ; but if they prove weak , then take away your bees from the combs , and keep them for the second and third swarms after . 10. in december house your bees , if they stand cold : and in the north house all . 11. in ianuary turn up your bees , and throw in wort , and water , and honey twice or thrice , but let your water be warm . 12. in february set forth and serve all them that stand in need , with wort and honey , or honey and water , so it be warm ; and then in march look for their breeding , as is before declared no corrupt combes to be left , but the bad are to be taken forth in the spring time ( being in feeding ) and when you have thrown in one pint of warm wort , and that they are struggling with the clamminess of the wort ; then may you very well take from them any thing that doth annoy them ; which manner of dressing you may observe for many yeares during your skepe , so long as they stand to work new again . necessarie observations concerning the premisses . from the middle of aprill , until the middest of may , look diligently to thy bees ; for then are they near beginning to hatch , and do stand in need of most help , especially if the spring be cold , and the wind holding any part of the north or east ; whereby the tender buds or blossomes do perish , and the bees are driven to the blossomes of apple-trees , which is their utter overthrow and decay . helps for weak bees at all times . take water and honey mixt together made luke warm , and throw it amongst the combes , to the quantity of a pint at a time : or strong wort new run ; or unboiled wort also luke-warm , and the same two or three times at the most ; and this for the first swarm . for the second and third swarm must be given in their hives , to preserve that which they have gathered : take mulce , which is eight times so much water as honey , boiled to a quart or three pints ; set the same with dishes in their shepes , laying a few straws in the dish to keep them from drowning . wort and figs boiled will serve also . the smoak ( as it were the tobacco of bees ) wherein they delight , is cows or oxen dung , sophisticated with sweet wort ; and the marrow of the oxe or cow , being well dried : take the shepe ( which is diseased ) and set it in a meal skiffe or riddle , and then kindle a little fire with your cows dung , and set them over the smoak of the fire , and so smoak them by fits , scarce so long at every time as you can tell ten , and beware not to use this smoaking too oft , but as necessity requireth , and in gentle manner . the necessary use of honey and wax , made me to observe the premisses , wishing , that in all parishes of great brittain and ireland , all the parsons and vicars in country towns and villages , were injoyned to keep bees for their own benefit , and the general good , which they may do conveniently in the church-yards , and other places of their gardens , and some of their children or schollars may attend the same . the multiplying of bees is easie without destroying them , and creation of them is known to many , proceeding of the corruption of a heyfar , the flesh whereof is fit to ingender bees , as the flesh of horses for wasps , or that of man for lice . and to abbreviate , i do refer the desirous reader hereof to mr. hill his book of husbandry , where he speaketh of bees , with the commodity of honey and wax , and of their uses and several profits , collected out of the best learned writers , as plinius , albertus , varro , columella , palladius , aristotle , theophrastus , cardanus , guilielmus de conchis , agrippa , and others . the reformed virginian silk-worm , or , a rare and new discovery of a speedy way , and easie means , found out by a young lady in england she having made full proof thereof in may , anno 1652. for the feeding of silk-worms in the woods , on the mulberry-tree-leaves in virginia : who after fourty dayes 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 emploiments 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 inabled to buy of the english ( in way of truck for their silk-bottoms ) all those things that they most desire . london , printed by iohn streater , for giles calvert at the black-spread-eagle at the west end of pauls , 1655. to the reader . ingenious reader , i have in my legacy of husbandry bequeathed something unto thee concerning silk-worms , which hath wakened many to search after the means to advance that part of husbandry . but because the letter of king iames to the lords lievtenants of the severall shires of england , for the increasing of mulberry trees , and the breeding of silk-worms , 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 contentes of this adjoyned letter ( wherein the experiment of a vertuous lady of this nation for the breeding of silk-worms , 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 addresse this letter to the planters of the virginian colonie is much to be commended for his affection to the publick , 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 encreased . 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 himselfe towards his brethren , as this publick-hearted gentleman doth ; then would all hands be set a work , and every one would become instrumentall to serve himselfe and his neighbours in love , and overcome the burthen of povertie , which for want of employment and decay of trade , doth lie so heavie upon very many , whose burthens might be either born , or made easie , if all the gifts of god were made use of , for the end for which he doth bestow them , namely , to profit withall towards others , as it becommeth 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 faithfull 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 apointed for this purpose , besides the natural goodness of it , must be reasonably well dunged , and withall 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 severall beds of not above five foot in breadth , so that you shall not need to indanger 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 ( past through a si●e ) about half an inch thick . in dry weather you shall water them every two dayes 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 indanger their upspring . there is yet another way to sow them , and that is as followeth : you shall ( being directed by a strait line ) make certain furrows in the beds above mentioned , of some four fingers deep , & 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 moneths of september , october , november , december , march , or april the next yeer after the seeds are sown , you may remove their plants , ( or in the moneth of ianuary , 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 lesse , according to the strength of the said plaints , for the weaker they be the lesse 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 , alwayes having a care to take away the many branches or succours , that may any way hinder their growth untill 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 moneths 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 moneth 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 loose earth left under them , having alwayes a special care so to place them , that they may receive the benefit of the sun , and not to be shadowed or over-spread by any neighbouring trees . when and how the eggs of the silk-wormes are to be hatched , and how to order the wormes that shall come of them . when the leavs of mulberry-trees begin a little to bud forth , take the eggs of your silk-worms , 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 , untill such time as the wormes 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 wormes as they are hatched , will continually come . these leaves with the wormes 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 , untill such times as all the wormes be come forth of their shels , still keeping their boxes warm , as aforesaid ; but no longer about you , but untill the wormes begin to come forth , out of which boxes you may safely take them , when once they have past their second sicknesse , 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 aire , according as the time and season shall require . besides you must not make them close unto the wals , but so as you may passe about them the better to look unto the wormes , and keep them from rats and mice , which otherwise might devoure them . you must observe the times of their comming forth , and keep every one , one or two dayes hatching by themselves , that you may the better understand their severall sicknesses or sleepings , which are foure in the time of their feeding . the first commonly some twelve dayes after they are hatched , and from that time at the end of every eight dayes , according to the weather , and their good or ill usage , during which time of every sicknesse , which lasteth two or three dayes , you must feed them but very little , as onely to relieve such of them , as shall have past their sicknesse before the rest , and those that shall not fall into their sicknesse so soon . the whole time that the worms do feed , is about nine weeks , whereof untill they come unto their first sicknesse , give them young mu●bery-leaves twice every day , but few at a time ; from thence untill their second sickness , twice every day in greater quantity ; and so from their second to their third sicknesse , increasing the quantity of the leaves , according as you perceive the wormes to grow in strength , and clear of sicknesse : from the third untill their fourth sicknesse , you may give them leaves thrice every day , and the fourth being past , you may let them have so many as they will eat , alwayes 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 withall gathered so neer as may be ; at such times as either the sun or winde 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 dayes remove them , and make clean their boxes , or shelves , unlesse in times of their sicknesse , for then 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 passe them with the said new lea●es 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 speciall means whereby to preserve them ; wherefore when you intend 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 sicknesse , and then may you passe them gently with clean hands , without doing them any harm : provided that the party that commeth neer them smell not of garlick , onions , or the like . the first five weeks of their age you must be very carefull 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 smels . but afterwards unlesse in time of extraordinary cold , give them aire , and take heed of keeping them too hot , being alwayes mindfull to store the room with herbs and flowers which are delightfull and pleasing to the smell . as the wormes increase in bigness , you shall disperse them abroad upon more boards , or shelvs , and not suffer them to lie too thick together : and if you finde 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 stalkes of lavender , or such lik ) make arches between the foresaid shelves . vpon the branches and sprigs whereof , the wormes will fasten themselves , and make their bottoms , which in fourteen dayes 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 winde , or kill the worms which are within them , by laying the said bottoms two or three dayes 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 bottomes which you intend to keep for seed , you must lay in some convenient warme place , untill the worms come forth , which is commonly some sixteene or twenty dayes 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 backsid● of old velvet , or the like , made fast against some wall , or hangings in your house . there they will ingender , and the male having spent himselfe , falleth down , and in short time after dieth , as also doth the female when she hath laid her egges , which egges , when you perceive them upon the say or grogran , &c. 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 cloaths , or the like till the year following : but not in any moist room , for it is hurtfull for them , neither where there is too much heat , least the wormes should be hatched before you can have any food for them . the making of a wheel , as likewise the way to winde 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 themselvs or their country , that being skilfull in the contemplation , they may the readier , and with less errour apply themselves to action , which painfull industry , with gods assistance , will quickly perfect . an extract of a letter from germany , concerning silk-worms , written to s. h , esquire . as for keeping of silk-worms i must confess i have spent likewise some time in the ordering and observing of them inasmuch as this very yeare ( 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 mee two paire 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 emperour ( of germany ) would follow the most laudable example of the k. of france , who having forbidden the importation of foraigne 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 seene once a very fine and delicate yarne or thred , which was made purely out of nettels . i do not believe that those artist of hamburg and wolfenbuttel which you have named unto mee in your letter , will communicat their skil for a publique good , as long as they can get their own comfortable subsistance by it . a letter written by mr. ra. austen , from oxford , febr. 18. 1654. imparting his experiments about silk-worms and how to wind off the silk from the bottoms , when the worms have done spinning ? concerning my experiences about silk-worms , 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 mulbery leaves sufficient to feed them . for upon my own knowledge and experience ( last yeare ) 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 si●ke from the bottoms , when the worms have done spinning . i plainly see it is very easy , children of 6. or 7. yeares old can apprehend it , and do it . for the worms having done spinning , which is within 4. or 5. dayes of their beginning , through out-most silke is ravelled off , and the end is found immediately , which runnes on ( 5. or 10. or 16. or more bottoms together ) in a bason 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 yeare , and help't to do part of it my self . now the great matter is , how to propagate mulberry-trees enough . as for the ordinary way , by boughes , we can have but few that way . i am from time to time experimenting other wayes 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 designes , more then 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 waite the lords season , and to designe for god in all we go about , which will crowne our endeavours with comfort and success . a rare and new-discovered speedy way , and easie meanes of keeping of silk-worms , being thus made knowne to the colony in virginia . hearken wel 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 happine●s 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 fourty daies , this wealth flowes in upon you . you know i conceive desire to know it , and i am as wil●ing 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 beare the honourable name of your incomparable countrey ) continuing her sincere affections to the advancing of your welfares in all kindes ; 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 en● you● published by mr. williams , ) not onely 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 speciall blessing of god upon her intentions ) so rare , so speedy , and so costless a way and means for the feeding of silkwormes ; by the triall 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 authours as have written of the ordering and feeding of silk-worms : 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 . do but as she hath done ; follow but with good courage your cheerfull leader , and doubtless you shall finde ( what she desires you may , ) namely , great profit and pleasure in an honest imployment . this silken-mine will be to you of more benefit then 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 , then her silkworm-eggs began to hatch , as the nature of this wise creature is , when her food begins 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 leafe 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 leafe to leafe , and branch to branch at their own liberties most pleasing to themselves ; they grew and thrived wonderfully , and surpassed in largness of body those other wormes she kept in her chamber ( she having been many a year a mistris of silkworms , and kept them by the book-rules ) this good and prosperous beginning heightened her hopes . the wormes , as their nature is , cast off or slipped out of their skins four severall times , still growing greater and greater to the singular delight and content of their mistris . about 45 dayes 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 mistris 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 wormes live , feed , and spin in virginia ? 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 incouragement ? 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 . 't is not the hundreth part of your care , labour , or toyl you take about your tobacco , and an hundred times ( as i may say ) all things put together more gain and profit to you then you make by tobacco , which in truth is but smoak and vapour , but this a reall-royall-solid-rich-staple commodity . and yet if you will have still smoak , so this neither will nor can hinder your labour in that , or take from you any other employment you have a minde 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 perswade you to this so great benefit to you , and should be like to him that to manifest the clear sun-shine at noon-day , brought in a candle . in a word , there 's nothing is or can be wanting but your true thankfulness to god for compleating this happy invention , and your present speedy putting it in practice . yet give me leave ; before i bid you adien , to add the incomparable joy this lady hath , who is confidently perswaded ( 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 incourage them ( as well you may ) do agree with them , that for every pound-weight 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 civilizing 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 workes being far beyond our capacities ) how much then indeed will virginia's happiness be every way raised to the height of blisse . the promise being made , that they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament , and they that turn many to righteousnesse , as the stars for ever and ever ; which the god of wisdome and power grant to you all in virginia , and so , lord , prosper this work in their hands , lord , prosper their handy-work ; good luck i wish you all in the name of the lord , amen , amen , amen . memorandum ; that you take notice , that the birds wi●l eat up the silkworms on the trees , so that care must be had ( and it 's easily prevented by severall wayes and means , as you will devi●e ) to scare away the birds ; if all fail , a boy may be set that may affright them them al away with some noise , or by nets encompa●sing 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 naturall wilde silkworms , they devouring most of them : and it 's a wonder how any at all escape them , but that god preser●es some few of the race , that his power and wisdome may be seen , and the aptnesse of the countrey to invite you to the work . it will be good for you to incourage the savages , when they finde any bottoms in the woods , to bring them to you , that you may get of the race , and seed to increase it . some say , the originall silkworm is produced by the corruption of the old mu●berry-tree and leaves , by the sunne 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 : 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 incouragement . now the two propositions that tend to infinite welfare , benefit , and wonderfull advantage both to england and the colony joyntly , are those that follow , they which upon no terms are to be omitted to be published and effected . first , that with all speed some kinde of coyne be sent to virginia , that may be authorized to passe 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 judgments in that case . but of this confidently be assured , that without some kinde of coyn or other , that colony can no way prosper or thrive , nor any staple-commodities be set up , or artificers in any kinde follow their professions : for tobacco being now their money , and that with which all commerce is driven● , and paiments 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 coyne be applied , there can be no prosperity in that colony . were not the thing as apparent to all mens understandings as light is from darknesse ; i should alledge many reasons for it , but it 's so needlesse to spend time about it , as it might well be thought a great absurdity . what then remains ? but that some publique 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 generall good he shall do , so the benefit will be ever great to those that shall undertake the carrying over this coyne ; 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 then that will be to the undertakers , and the colony will with all their hearts be content with it , and esteeme them happy and thrice happy benefactours . 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 , custome and excize free , ( tobacco onely excepted , which may pay double custome , 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 custome-house at their entry ; ) it shall be lawfull to carry out to virginia any commodities again to the same proportion & worth , custome 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 lesse beneficiall to england , as all men that have their eyes in their heads , and english hearts in their bodies , see and apparantly know , nothing more sure and certain ; and all stable and needfull commodities brought out of all-liberall virginia into england at a very reasonable rate and price , much cheaper then now we have them , and are fain to fetch them with great hazard from doubtfull 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 forreign princes and states in our estates , lives , liberties and shipping● and we may conclude boldly and rejoycingly , that providence hath provided this all-sufficient countrey 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●●e belongs to the building and rigging of a navy in all compleat manner from top to toe , as may be said ; and by a safe , a sure , certain , ease , near at hand westerly disco●ery , ( part by land , and part by rivers and seas ) contract all the riches of the south-sea , the molocos , philipines , china , &c. by 3000 leagues neerer to us , without molestation by any prince or pirat , 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 : for in one word , what ever these countreys 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 countrey , and procure these things to be done out of hand ? now god forbid ; i commit the businesse to god , having done what i conceive my part is , who onely have good wishes , and daily prayers to attend this enterprize , which god prosper , amen . postscript . at a friends importunity , ( the former part sent to the presse ) i am thus enforced to make this addition , and upon the great hopes that upon triall it will be found , that you may have two silk-harvests in one six moneths time ; of the eggs a second brood may be hatched in iune , 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 designe nothing of incouragement may be wanting , not any obstructions in the businesse , under pretence of wanting needfull housing for to feed the wormes in . thus much i will assure you , that the slightest and simplest kinde 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 satisfie 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 , languedo●k● pr●vence , &c. do keep and feed their silk-worms 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 mens palaces . and that in sicilie 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 wormes , and there they spin in the room their master lies for the space of five or six weeks time ; and they have abundance of silk without more ●do ; and a man and a boy will tend all the worms that come of six ounces of eggs , and those wormes will spin 60 pound-weight 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 ; but the gain by the naturall worme multiplying will farre exceed it . and i may not forget yet more all at the persian manner is to pitch up onely tents of canvas , and booths round their mulberry-woods , and there-under they strow the mulberry-tree leaves on the ground● there their wormes feed and live and spin , and do well in all kindes , the persians living also the time of fi●e weeks in the tents . thus all these examples do manifestly prove unto you , that very simple and slight housing and 〈…〉 will content the silk-worms , and they will 〈◊〉 well 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 wormes , and they will thrive in them as you shall finde upon triall . and let me tell you , being desirous that you may do all things with the least cost and ●abour 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 neede and threed thorow 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 finde this kinde of shelf and tab●ing to feed your worms on much better in many respects then boards : but you may make triall 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 silk-worms may also be thus kept and nourished in this kinde of housing and coverture ; experience is the mistris of fools , saith the proverb : and it is not an unwise mans part often to make trials , though to some men they may seem impossibilities , yet rare and strange things have upon triall often been found out ; and if you would but shew the savages samples of all kinde of things , you should soon by them know more in a moneth what is in that countrey to be had then you have done these 40 years ; and for reward they would bring in of all kindes 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 enterprize , 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 silke , so easie , speedy , and profitable a thing . 2 the silk-grasse naturally there growing , which to the indians the onely 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 easie a thing , the wool of a skin now worth 8 pence , which is more then the body , yet the flesh is considerable meat ; the wooll is and will be very vendible for this new in●ention , not onely 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 silke . 5 the increasing of abundance of bees for wax and honey , their food so plentifull in virginia , as in no land more , and if with an hatchet you do but slash your pine-trees , 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 countreys they do . 6 the planting of sugar-canes , that being no more laborious then the indian wheat , setting it , and once set in good land they grow eight or ten years , and the indians pains will onely 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 cods of woll 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 crab-trees with apples and pears for sider 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 inlarge my self for the present , these are but tastes and hints for your better wits to worke on : so with a thousand good wishes , i bid you adiew . floreat virginia . the fashion of the botome . the silke bottome of the naturall 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 sleave and loose silke on the outside ; and then in a more closer covering they intombe themselves . these rare worms , before they inclose themselves up , fill with silke the great emptinesse , and afterwards inclose themselves in the middle of it , so they have a double bottom . the loose sleave silk is all on the outside of this compass , for if that were reckoned in , the compasse 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 creatour , and exaltation of virginia . a loving advertisement to all the ingenious gentlemen-planters in virginia now upon the designe of silk . by v. f. gentlemen , svch hath bin the singular favour of providence to you and the lady , that singe 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 al-sufficient virginia : in regard of the excellency of the temper of the climate , which naturally produceth not onely mulberries for food ; but the silk-worme it selfe , in that wonderful greatness of the wilde silk-bottom : which as they say , the whole vniverse 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 , & devoure most of them . and these gentlemen are confident , that you did not know & practise those ways and meanes , 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 countreyes in that rich commodity , and you all become with great speed and small cost , or li●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 have out of their superlative benigne affections , and publike 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 darknes 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 straingely been hidden from the eyes of body and mind ; they conceiving that the chief cause thereof hath been the pernicious smoak of tobacco , that thus hath dimmed and obscured your better intellectuals ; but when you begin to put these wayes & means in practice , they say you will bl●sse your selves ( 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 eye-salve , for the speedy curing of your infirmity , and making you all rich ( which is your main aime in that new world ) . hearken 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 countrey where he saw those people had their silk-worms 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 incompassed them . and in this easie manner they obtained great abundant quantities of silk , to their wonderful inriching . the sheets of reeds were joyned together by a neede and thred , 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 wonderfull happiness . another of these travellers saith , that he passed a countrey where the inhabitants did make large tents or boothes 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 moneths time : their worms 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 wormes 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 pull'd off in march , april , and may , do re-leave again , and have new and fresh leaves in iune , iuly and august , wherewith they feed their latter generation or brood of wormes 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 counsell , that you graft your mulberries with all care and speed upon these severall trees , upon which they will exceedingly thrive , viz. the popler , the elme , the chesnut , beech , quince , medler , fig , peare , 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-digg'd 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 wormes do not onely live , feed , and spin upon the mulberry-trees in the woods , but do the same upon the poplar-trees , plum-trees , and apple-trees : ● such an incouragement 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 wormes get to your severall trees , not only to the mulberry , but to others : for in no other countreys the silk-worme-flie doth use her wings to flie with : so that yours must either do it ( and so at time of yeer couple and flie to sundry trees ; and there lay their eggs which remain till spring again ) or that your trees do naturally ingender and produce the wormes ( as it is conceived , the original of them so hapned at first ) but which way soever it be , it 's rare and remarkable ; and proves virginia to be one of the most superlative countreys in all the vniverse for the silk-trade ; and none comparable unto the excellency of its naturall temper for silk . then that you also inform her all you can of the nature , actions , qualities and dispositions in all kindes of this most wonderfull creature , every way so admirable , what by any english or savage hath bin 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 countrey 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 devoure them ? ( for did they not , they would swarm all the land over in a very few yeers ) ; if any thing besides birds be hurtfull to them ? their greatness and doubleness of their bottoms are wonder●ul , none ever known to be so , which argues the strength and richness of this noble worm , her vigour and hardnes exceeds , that can endure all wethers and seasons both alive and in her eggs . a great incouragement to you all that she is not a nice curious kinde of silkworme ; 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 satisfie all men , who are like the queen of sheba , much better trust their eyes than eares ; some of their eggs likewise upon that which they lay them , and the fly ( though dead ) which will many a yeer retain her perfect form in a box : do not the wormes 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 triall 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 bore and cut all your trees ( a most easie thing ) and thereby you shall discover presently , what rich gums , what balsoms , what oils , and precious healthful liquours they will yield you for profit & necessity : for all men know that many kindes of trees do yield most pleasant and healthsome wines ( as i may call them ) for man to drink ; so also you will finde out all sorts of dies and colours ( instantly done ) : cut and bruise all kindes 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 linnen cloth with some allom , and you shall instantly finde and see what rich colours they will make . what is indico but a weed , so woad and madder ? what is brasil , fustick , logwood , and many more kinde of dies , but woods ? what coucheneal the rich scarlet die , but a fly , or the excrements of the indian fig-tree ? what is the new-found rich dying stuff of 25. l. a tun ; but of a tree that is brought from the island of liberty , neer cape florida where captain sailes plants ? and shall virginia not yield a drop of good liquour or colour ? it cannot be ; if but a triall thus easie were made . by burning of all kinde of woods and gums , you 'le soon finde 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 kinde of strange earths , and of all other kinde 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 wayes deserves nor can hope to requite : to inform her what be the things , the wayes , the means to advance virginia's prosperity , if they may be procured and effected . if any errour be committed in telling you all this : there is hope your pardon may be obtained , seeing your onely 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 incouragements 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 hopefull designe : 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 , ( unlesse we will be deaf to reason and experience ) cannot be denyed 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 silk-worms in two moneths space , as will yeeld you sixty pounds : which done , they leave you ten moneths free for any other imployment . in regard of its small skill , lesse pains , care and labour , no hazard , no cost or charge , ( more then 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 pur●e , 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 moneths of the year , march and april . ) and all callings too ; for if saint paul made tents , who can plead exemption from tending silk-worms ? again , silk is lesse chargeable in ware-house , fraight , &c. then any other commodity , and yet none more durable , lasting , neat , vendible , nor more easely tran●portable : for fi●e hundred pounds worth of silk , fraights lesse , and takes up lesse room then 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 moysture as our caterpillars and other insects each spring , partly by eggs which have escaped the birds who are the greatest cause of their scarsity ( which otherwise would swarm over all the land ) devouring them when they are worms , eggs and bottoms ) exceed ours not only in strength , hardinesse and greatnesse , ( being when flyes as big as mens thumbs ) but also in the largenesse of their bottoms , which are as big as limons ; ( for mr. william wright of nansamond found of them above seven inches round ) and one of them weighs more then 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 coursnesse of their silk , since they from the same number of worms receive ten pounds in mony 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 ; oake , apple , cherry and pohickerry-tree leaves , with sundry other shrubs and bushēs . for proof whereof , mistresse mary ward sent over to her couzen 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 groundlesse 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 turky skilful men , and made ten pound of silk , which had not want of eggs hindred him , would have been so many thousand pounds . nothing then wants to make virginia rival peru for wealth , more then to perswade 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 flyes come forth , happily in february or march. for they remain in their bottoms 300. dayes , ours but 20. so that their eggs ( whereof one female will lay a spoonfull , suppose 500. ) lye unhatched but about nine dayes , ours nine moneths . 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 onely to protect them from the birds ; or else in some slight kind of housing , reedy arbors , indian mansions , or what else you can devise there cheapest and speediest , and then your onely 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 moneths time , will repay you with three●core pounds worth of silk . your own experience ( gentlemen ) will i hope ere this time twelv-moneth certifie you of the truth that is here set down , unlesse you shall rather chuse to hugg your own poverty , and make much of that slavery and drudgery you wear out your selves with , in toyling about that contemptible , beggarly indian weed , tobacco . the copy of esquire diggs his letter , to his much honoured freind , iohn ferrar , esquire at his house at little gidding , in huntingtonshire . from virginia , june 21. 1654. sir , i have received your many and severall letters , printed papers , and quaeries ; 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 quaeries : but i was so taken up in sending dayly for mulberry-leaves , as they are now so far scattered from my present plantation , that i could not possibly answer you expectations ; that onely difficulty made me to make but 400. pound weight of silk-bottomes , which i caused to be wound of 7. or 8. l. of silke in a day : sir , i doe very well approve of your last well printed paper , sent the colony for making triall of the naturall silk-worme , but such was my ill happe , 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 silke ; you in england will reape much advantage , and gaine many waies by it , ( more then most men can pet see ) and i by gods blessing the comfort and joy , in setting up so noble , so beneficiall , a staple vendible commodity . my people differ very little from the rules set down in your , mr. williams his booke , and as esquire samuell hartlib hath also directed in his advertizement of silk-worms 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 accompt : i made 10. l. of seed or eggs this spring to give away to diverse planters , that are very earnest , ( seeing so great a benefit before their eyes ) to become also silk-masters , you need not feare it but that this next spring there will be divers tryalls made of the hopefull naturall worms , that you so highly prize ( 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 ●n 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 hast , and much business upon the ships sudden departure , having many more dispatches to make to freinds ; but in my next , i shall make you double amends ; i pray present my service to the vertuous lady virginia : sir i daily pray for your long life , and well-fare , and now rest . sir your most humble servant , edward diggs . a way experimented by mr. farrar , to make the gummy-hard naturall virginia bottoms ( which hetherto by no art could be be prepared to unwind by reason of the gummy hardness ) to unwinde with ease , to the great advantage of the planters of the silk-trade in virginia . you must take sope-boylers lye or liquor , which is very sharp and strong , and set that in a vessel over the fire till it be warme , 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 houre more or less , till they be so dissolved that you may take out one and find it fit to unwind ; which you must thus doe . first put the bottoms into scalding clean water , and having layen a while therein , then take them out and proceed to unwind them as the custome is . in case sope-boylers lye or liquor be not to be had , you may make a strong liquor of the ashes of any wood , with boyling water , the stronger the better , and this may and will also perform the work . and this is just as you make a lye to buck clothes withal . only note it must be very strong made . an extract out of a very ingenious gentlemans letter from dublin , concerning the reformed virginian silk-worm . i thank you for your virginian paper . me thinkes the experiment is most natnral to my apprehensions , that the worms should feed and thrive best upon the leaves growing on the trees , rather then in the houses , and that they , like other caterpillers ( 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 gentlemans reason why he likes the proposition concerning feeding of silk-worms 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 palat , by industry and home-helps and contrivances : so iohn 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 faire and fragrant , which would without that help either dye or be dwarft . this is the reason why tame pigeons or conies are larger , and breed better , and oftner then wild . yet i conclude not against the thing it self ; for questionles , that the leaves have more heart , fresh and greene , then halfe withered , if the cau●e 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 silk-worms with lettice , imparted from dublin . i have only to present you with some observations i made concerning the feeding of silk-worms ( meeting here accidentally with a kinswoman of mine that keepes great store o● them ) whieh geuerally is beleeved only to be don , with mulberry leaves : the contrary of which is here by some praectised . viz. to feede them with lettice ; which the worms eat very readily , grow as those big as that are fed with mulberry leaves & spin as much silk : they wil also eate the hearb called dantedelyon , but whether that will so well agree with them as lettice , i have not tried , but with lettice they will thrive very well , eating nothing else all the yeare . more observations concerning the feeding of silk-worms with lettice , sir , my good cosen 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 silk-worms , not only on the mulberry-tree-leaves , but with lettice 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 it selfe for the publique benefit of all , and i see to the particular satisfaction of your freinds , though strangers to you yet those that have daly cause more and more to honour you , as we justly do . sir , this your favour is both by my-self 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 silk-worms , and no way envious , but much rejoyces to heare that any have had that good success with lettis as you write of , and shall her-self againe make a third triall in that kind , for she hath 2. yeares last past tryed her-self to have kept some with lettice leavs & so did & they thrivd as well as they kept with mulberrys , but stil when the time of spinning came they would not spin , but then dyed and this put her out of heart to try further , yet i may tell you , she perswaded a gentleman near her to keep some with lettice 25. daies 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 accompt of her success in iune next , if god permit . and now sir she presents this printed inclosed paper to your worthy judgment , if you find not it matter of consideration and reason for her to send it as a second new yeares gift to virginia , hoping that it may do good there to the planters and informe them of much truth ; and invite them to the business of silk , which god grant ; amen . this other paper of ryming 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 informe 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 iohn ferrar . littell gidding hunting shire this 28. novemb. 1653. sir , she makes bold to present you with a sample of virginia silk-grass sent her by a freind . it 's a rarity , and she hopes will delight you who have such a publique spirit to rejoyce , and further a common good ; as she hath great hopes this will prove a commodity next to the silk there , as skilfull 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 silk-worm 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 , ( learnt in an houres 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 wormes and food doe naturally abound , a gallant silken trade must there be found : virginia excells the world in both , envie nor malice can gaine say this troth . many a man the causes faine would heare , how these rare worms came first or still come there . insects produced are by heat and moisture who in strange shapes and formes do oft appeare . in spring our trees the caterpillers reare ; their trees likewise these noble creatures beare . and some proceed from eggs that scaped are from their enemies 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 popler , plum , crab , oake , 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 lemmons of the largest size compare . and twenty one of ours will sure poize less then 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 designe . for since a thousand of our bottoms make but one pound of fine silk , you 'l ten pounds take from theirs . if we at thirty shillings sell our pound , for twenty they 'l afford theirs well . the paines that 's taken is alike in either but the gaines 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 mens thumbs . whereas ours short of little fingers come . our flies come out in twenty days and lay eggs , their 's 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 unhatch't remaine nine daies in spring makes theirs revive againe a planter ( i wish they had him named ) a spoonfull 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 aprill they have done the silken deed the sweetest , pleasantst time in all the yeare . you to this wealth the chanting birds will cheare and ten moneths time they leave you with great ease to spend it in what profit you shall please . rare worms who feeding five and forty daies on leaves of sundry plants and shrubs repaies their keepers with fine silke which wants no strength and yet extends it selfe some miles in lenght and for the labour of a man and boy they gaine you sixty pounds which is no toy . if you from birds protect them on the trees ( their naturall mansions ) t' will them best please your paines is spar'd in giving them the leaves by which alone you gaine their silken sleaves for non-parrel virginia in her woods , brings forth as all men know these precious goods : where thousand fleeces fit for princes 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 cruell birds devoure 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 providentiall chance which only show themselves when all is bare to find in summer any'tis most rare . if to prevent both dangers you intend a reedy-arbourwell will doe 't , you 'l find or slightest coverture in any kind the skill and paines to all each child can do : as you shall find on triall t is most true . and may in wealth compare with rich peru. and sor all tooles that appertaine thereto a twelve-peny reele is all it will cost you , no wit , no strength , no purse , no stock will need but eies 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 then ten pounds in poore tobacco silkes are no trash , no toy , nor pedlars ware ; staple , good , and ready chinke every where . twenty shillings a pound t' will yield you cleare and ships to fetch it will come flying there . queenes of the best edition need not scorne in her owne livery to serve this worm : only to give her leaves is all she craves and in reward with silk shee 'l make you brave . out of her rich belly by her mouth spun weaves it into a most curious bottom which by a reele turning with hand of man is wholly wound off most neatly againe . to feed silk-worms no caling can disdaine seeing they yeild you so much honest gaine no imployment in the world so likely to make so soone your lasie savage wealthy . for his silk bottoms in exchange shall have from english , what he so needs , begs , and craves red coats , hose , shooes , knives , they highly deeme iewes-trumps , bells , beads , all toys , no less esteeme . if all be thus the cause you now demand why hath this knowledg been thus long detain'd and but now by the ladies books inflam'd ignorance of planters so strange hath been till now ne're knew nor dreamt of this rich thing confest it is , that of 't some they have seene regardlesly , but ne're did them esteeme . which loss of wealth and honour they 'l regaine and virgins counsell follow will amaine . the happy onset they this spring have made assures them all a stately pretious trade . sir henry chichly that heroick knight affirmes ther 's not an ingenuous wight in virginia but makes all speed he can to be e're long a silken noble man. and say , colonel ludlow certifies that thence from silk great profit will arise ; yea worthy bernard that stout colonel informes the lady the work most facile and of rich silken stuffs , made shortly there he hopes that he and others shall soone weare . so major john westrope saith , silk will be a gallant designe for their brave country . thunder was that , that some men onely doubt but triall made this spring puts that feare out . in all lands where worms are kept t is wonder to heare that any were harm'd by thunder . their naturall worm proves this more truer . mr. gorge lobs that prudent old planter tel●s her that worms ne're spun silk daintier . le ts give those gentlewomen their full dues mistress garret and burbage for silk clues that colonells wife needs not farr 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 turky sent are now most busy on his brave attempt and had he stock sufficient for next yeare ten thousand pound of silk would then appeare and to the skies his worthy deeds upreare . loe here what mistress mary ward hath sent and to her lady cosin she presents ten rare bottoms took from her apple tree that all england may it beleeve and see . her honour'd kins-man esquire f●rrar , to confirme and make the wonder greater ten more likewise hath sent her , which he found on stately oakes and shrubs that kiss the ground and doctour russell that learn'd phisitian hath with his , made a full addition . for things more slowly do affect the minde which eares do heare then those that eies do find . now from smoke virginia shall be raised and throughout the world be duly praised . ah blest be god that now in his due time this silken light apparently doth shine then come , o come with sacred lays let us sound the almightys praise i. f. to the most noble deserving esquire diggs : upon the arrivall of his two armenians out of turky into virginia . courage , brave sir : sith ayde 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 moneths time , much care and labour , both without and within dores , and a mans crop is commonly 15 hundred weight of tobacco , and this at two pence a pound is 14 pound gain . silk requires six weeks 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 , yeelds 60 l. in ready money . tobacco , leaves a man but 3 moneths in the year for other business . silk , leaves a man ten moneths time in the year , for any other imployments . 14 pounds a man gaines 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 gainfull . but what will be the gain and profit , by the worms feeding and spinning on the trees is more considerable , and also the naturall virginia-worms bottome exeeding ours in europe 20 times in bigness , and in weight : what a treasure then will this be , and no labour , cost , hazard , expence of time at all , a boy onely to keep away the birds from eating the silk-worms on the trees , &c. thus learned bartas upon this noble & admirable creature . yet may i not this wonderous worm pass by , of fly ●r●'d worm , and of a worm a fly. two births , two deaths , here nature hath assign'd her , leaving a posthum● , dead-live seed behind her ; which soon transforms the fresh and tender leaves of thisbes pale tree , to those tender sleaves ( on ovall clues ) of soft smooth silken flax , which more for us then for her self she makes . o precious fleece ! which only did adorne the sacred loins of princes heretofore : but our proud age , with prodigall abuse hath so profan'd the old honorable use : that shift●rs now , that scarce have bread to eat disdain plain silk , unless it be beset with one of those brave metals , whose desire burns greedy soules with an impartiall fire . had du bartas fully known all the vertues and rarities in this incomparable creature , even a miracle in nature , he would have inlarged his poems in a more ample manner in the praise of it , to the great honour of the creatour . cui gloria , amen . homo vermis . wee all are creeping worms of th' earth , some are silk-worms great by birth , glow-worms some that shine by night , slow-worms others , apt to bite , some are muck-worms slaves to wealth , maw-worms some that wrong the health , some to the publique no good willers , cancker-worms and cater-pillers ; found about the earth wee 'r crawling , for a sorry life wee 'r sprawling , putrid stuff we suck , ●t fills us , death then sets his foot and kills us . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a45759-e7520 the way to speedy wealth was by some hundreds ● you to remov● some 60 mile● miles south by land , an● to attempt th● discovery of the westerly sea , on the border of vir●gin●a , and both two ve●● easily a●chie●ved , &c. the lady hat● of these sil● bottoms in h●● cabinet as jewels to co●●vince the i●●credulous , they are ten times bigg● then any in europe to a●●miration , a●● of infinite i●●couragemen● to the work . contrary ●● book rule . these eggs were purposely e●posed to ●●re , cold , w●nds , and ●ost , being aid & spaw●ed on a wall ●● a chamber , ●nd there re●ained all ●●nter long to ●●y the vertue ●f the eggs , ●c . and twice ●efore they ●●me out of ●●eir bottoms , ●●x times in ●●● . ●he seventh , ●●ey appear , ●hen come ●●t , a gallant ●●ken white●●nged fly , ● weather it ●ms hurts ●m there ; in heat and as they ●lter them●es under great ●●es as with ●●eld , but ●ther do ●m them , ● easie is a ●asse cove●● reared o● the trees ●ave them ● either of ● . for their bot●om being ten ●imes bigger ●hen ours , ●hat mighty ●reat worms ●ust they be , ●nd what in●ouragement ●● this to the ●usinesse , and ●ow much ●ore silk they ●ake then ●●rs , &c. till you can ●et and gain ●●e egg and ●●ed of your ●●turall gal●nt large silk ●orm : which ● chiefly that ●●u must en●●vout to store ●ur selves ●●th , no eggs ●mparable to ● . &c. 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 sailed from that countrey 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 , &c. sicily . the great ga● of the silk-works in a house , how much more i● the trees , wil it be to you . the simplest and slightest houses or cove●tures will be sufficient for the wor● to feed in , a● live aud sp●n let no man doubt it , &c concerning the winding off your silk , this lady hath lent you one of the wheels , so that by it all of you may make ●he like to do ●hat work , so ●ou shall want ●othing to ●peed the work according to that is made sicille by a man and bo a most prop. imployment the lasi● indans .