But the chiefe pleasure and pastime which commeth by wilde
woods, is, that being joined to your house and champion habitation, (which is
the place, where it must be seated or planted) it is pleasant to the sight: for
by his diversitie of greenenes, it marvellously delighteth, and with great
contentment recreateth the sight.
The second pleasure or pastime is, that the woodes (being
neere unto your lodging) are alwaies full of all sorts of pretie birds, which
might sing sommer and winter all the day long, and the most part of the night
as nightingales and other such like, wherby their songs become joyful and
delightsome to the eare, and so there is a pleasure and great contentment to the
eare even to them in the house if it be neere unto.
Another pleasure us, that in the said woods there are
alwaies great store of wood coists, popiniaies, stares, cranes and other sorts
of bird which make you pastime to see them flie: there may also pleasure be
reaped in taking of them with little engines, as with a call, nets, the
tonnell, or others such like.
The fourth is, that in the woods are to be had conies,
hares, squirrels, and other sorts of small beasts pleasant to behold, and of
great service for the provision of vittaile.
The fifth is, that in hot seasons you may purchase a coole
aire within the said woods, as those which will cover and defend you from the
iniurie and vexation of the sunne, and contrariwise cooling you whether the
heate will or no: and therein you have aklso to behold a comfortable greenenes,
both upon the boughs and ground, which keepeth his grass greene through the
cooleness and shadow of the trees.
The sixth is, that in winter being in the said woods, you
are out of the iniurie and force of the winds and great cold, because they
breake them off: and further in these woods you are solitarie, and may use your
leasure, in reading, writing or meditating upon your affaires, without being
disquieted or distracted, or drawne to cast your sight abroad over any far
distant place of countrie, in as much as the sight cannot pearse through the
boughs or bushes.
The Countrie Farm or Maison Rustique
Charles Estienne & Jean Liebault
1600
