the motiues
which first drew me to vndertake the worke, they were diuers: as first,
when I saw one man translate and paraphrase most excellently vpon
_Virgils Georgickes_, a worke onely belonging to the Italian climbe, &
nothing agreeable with ours another translates _Libault & Steuens_, a
worke of infinit excellency, yet onely proper and naturall to the
French, and not to vs: and another takes collections from _Zenophon_, and
others; all forrainers and vtterly vnacquainted with our climbes: when
this I beheld, and saw with what good liking they were entertained of
all men; and that euery man was dumbe to speake any thing of the
_Husbandry_ of our owne kingdome, I could not but imagine it a worke most
acceptable to men, and most profitable to the kingdome, to set downe the
true manner and nature of our right English _Husbandry_, our soyle being
as delicate, apt, and fit for increase as any forraine soyle whatsoeuer,
and as farre out-going other kingdomes in some commoditie, as they vs in
other some. Hence, and from these considerations, I began this worke, of
which I haue here sent thee but a small tast, which if I finde accepted,
according to mine intent, I will not cease (God permitting mee life) to
passe through all manner of English _Husbandry_ and _Huswifery_ whatsoeuer,
without omission of the least scruple that can any way belong to either
of their knowledges. Now gentle reader whereas you may be driuen to some
amazement, at two titles which insue in the booke, namely, a former part
before the first, and the first part, you shall vnderstand that those
first sheetes were detained both from the Stationer and me, till the
booke was almost all printed; and my selfe by extreame sicknesse kept
from ouer-viewing the same, wherefore I must intreate your fauour in
this impression and the rather in as much as there wanteth neither any
of the words or matter whatsoeuer: _Farewell_.

Thine
_G. M._

A
FORMER PART,
before the first Part: Being an absolute perfect Introduction into
all the Rules of true Husbandry; and must first of all be read, or
the Readers labour will be frustrate.

CHAP. I.

_The Proem of the Author. What a Husbandman is: His Vtilitie and
Necessitie._

It is a common Adage in our English speech, that a man generally seene
in all things can bee particularly perfect or compleate in none: Which
Prouerbe there is no question will both by the curious and enuious be
heauily i