ir substance solid
and stiffe: all which are defences of health and long life. Their
strength withstands all forcible winds." His seventeenth chapter is on
the Ornaments of an Orchard. I here give the whole of that chapter:

"Me thinks hitherto we haue but a bare Orchard for fruit, and but halfe
good, so long as it wants those comely ornaments, that should giue
beauty to all our labours, and make much for the honest delight of the
owner and his friends.

"For it is not to be doubted: but as God hath giuen man things
profitable, so hath he allowed him honest comfort, delight, and
recreation in all the workes of his hands. Nay, all his labours vnder
the sunne without this are troubles, and vexation of mind: For what is
greedy gaine, without delight, but moyling, and turmoyling slauery? But
comfortable delight, with content, is the good of euery thing, and the
patterne of heauen. A morsell of bread with comfort, is better by much
than a fat oxe with vnquietnesse. And who can deny, but the principall
end of an Orchard, is the honest delight of one wearied with the works
of his lawfull calling? The very workes of and in an Orchard and Garden,
are better than the ease and rest of and from other labours. When God
had made man after his owne image, in a perfect state, and would haue
him to represent himselfe in authority, tranquillity and pleasure vpon
the earth, he placed him in Paradise. What was Paradise? but a Garden
and Orchard of trees and hearbs, full of pleasure? and nothing there but
delights. The gods of the earth, resembling the great God of heauen in
authority, maiestie, and abundance of all things, wherein is their most
delight? and whither doe they withdraw themselues from the troublesome
affaires of their estate, being tyred with the hearing and iudging of
litigious Controuersies? choked (as it were) with the close ayres of
their sumptuous buildings, their stomacks cloyed with variety of
Banquets, their eares filled and ouerburthened with tedious
discoursings? whither? but into their Orchards, made and prepared,
dressed and destinated for that purpose, to renue and refresh their
sences, and to call home their ouer-wearied spirits. Nay, it is (no
doubt) a comfort to them, to set open their cazements into a most
delicate Garden and Orchard, whereby they may not onely see that,
wherein they are so much delighted, but also to giue fresh, sweet, and
pleasant ayre to their galleries and chambers.

"And looke, what