he liked better of our good fare
in such coarse cabins than of their own thin diet in their prince-like
habitations and palaces. In like sort as every country house is thus
apparelled on the outside, so is it inwardly divided into sundry rooms
above and beneath; and, where plenty of wood is, they cover them with
tiles, otherwise with straw, sedge, or reed,[163] except some quarry of
slate be near hand, from whence they have for their money much as may
suffice them. The clay wherewith our houses are impannelled is either
white, red, or blue; and of these the first doth participate very much of
the nature of our chalk; the second is called loam; but the third eftsoons
changeth colour as soon as it is wrought, notwithstanding that it looks
blue when it is thrown out of the pit. Of chalk also we have our excellent
asbestos or white lime, made in most places, wherewith being quenched, we
strike over our clay works and stone walls, in cities, good towns, rich
farmers' and gentlemen's houses: otherwise, instead of chalk (where it
wanteth, for it is so scant that in some places it is sold by the pound),
they are compelled to burn a certain kind of red stone, as in Wales, and
elsewhere other stones and shells of oysters and like fish found upon the
sea coast, which, being converted into lime, doth naturally (as the other)
abhor and eschew water, whereby it is dissolved, and nevertheless desire
oil, wherewith it is easily mixed, as I have seen by experience. Within
their doors also, such as are of ability do oft make their floors and
parget of fine alabaster burned, which they call plaster of Paris, whereof
in some places we have great plenty, and that very profitable against the
rage of fire. In plastering likewise of our fairest houses over our heads,
we use to lay first a line or two of white mortar, tempered with hair,
upon laths, which are nailed one by another (or sometimes upon reed of
wickers more dangerous for fire, and made fast here and there saplaths for
falling down), and finally cover all with the aforesaid plaster, which,
beside the delectable whiteness of the stuff itself, is laid on so even
and smoothly as nothing in my judgment can be done with more exactness.
The walls of our houses on the inner sides in like sort be either hanged
with tapestry, arras work, or painted cloths, wherein either divers
histories, or herbs, beasts, knots, and such like are stained, or else
they are ceiled with oak of our own, or wainsc