SEeing I am appoynted to defend the profitable arte of setting of Corne , though in respect of learning very vnfit , yet because I haue professed and practized Husbandrie for the most part of thirtie yeeres , and that you , the author of the booke ( called God speede the Plough ) say that husbandrie is no part of your profession , I may hope to maintaine against you by way of argument in plaine Husbandrie , that Plowing and Setting is much better and more profitable , than either Plowing and Sowing , or Digging and Setting .

I maruell that my booke doth so much offend you , I thought to haue pleased you and all Ploughmen , for so commending the olde fashion of Plowing and Sowing .

Surely sir you haue no otherwise offended me , than all other men that desire the good of their Countrie , and be sorie to see the simple abused and discouraged by your meanes , and how you please an other sort of wilfull men , that will neither know what may be profitable for themselues , nor haue any such heartie loue to their Countrie and poore neighbours , as they ought to haue . As for your booke , howsoeuer you meant , it serues to so little good purpose ( in my conceite ) that it was the chiefe cause that moued me to take this worke in hand , to correct ( if it were possible ) the euill humors and preiudicate opinions against Corne-Setting , that it hath planted in mens heads and hearts .

I am sorie that my booke should breede any euill humors in mens heads or hearts , and I pray you what faults doe you finde in my booke ?

Sir there be faults too many , which being the fruites of your idle houres ( as you say ) be not much to be marueiled at , for seldome doth idlenes bring forth any profite in husbandrie . And it is not my purpose to expostulate with you vpon all particular faults ; they are too many to trouble the reader with : but you shall heare mine opinion , like a man of my plaine profession , & I will tell you my minde what I doe thinke in this argument , as well as I can . To passe ouer other matters , I will begin to defend our old fashion of Ploughes , against your strange Plough , that you say might be so made and handled , that it may goe deeper by a foote more than ordinarie , proportioning the strength of the Teeme and Plough together . Note that the question betweene the olde fashion Ploughes and this strange Plough , is but to proue the Plough apt to set Corne . Sir , if you can deuise a Plough that will goe deeper in all grounds ( for you make no difference ) a foote more than ordinarie , it were good you brought it forth ; for surely it is likely to proue an implement of great force to our English Husbandrie : for with it you must be compelled to plowe land twentie inches deepe or thereabouts , and yet I must confesse to my remembrance , I neuer saw any Plough , though drawne with ten oxen , to goe aboue eight or ten inches ordinarilie , and that with much a doe ; and I pray you , how many Oxen or Horse will your Plough require to be drawne with ? for in some places if you make it goe , we plaine countrie men will suspect you will Coniure : and in many places the qualitie of the mould will not permit our ten inches , much lesse your two and twentie . Againe , what vse I pray you shall the Common-wealth haue of such an implement , where either it cannot goe vnles the diūell draw it , or may not goe for the euill mould it will turne vp ? and so your Plough in that place doth more harme , than your booke can doe good any where else .

Not so sir , I will haue my Teeme and my Plough so made , that it shall goe well of that depth in such grounds , as I will chuse to set my Corne in .

It may be possible ( if it please God to worke such wonders by your inuention ) but we the poorer sort of Husbandmen , cannot make Ploughs , and prouide Teemes of that value and qualitie ; neither haue we such change of Land , as to make choyse of apt grounds to beare the weight of such Plowes & Teemes ; but I doubt not by Gods helpe , to plowe and dresse ten Acres of Land , as well as you shall doe with your strange Plough , or any man shal do with a spade , except he digge it two spit deepe , & so burie the first spit with the second , which wil be both extreme chargeable and impossible in most grounds ; and yet where he may digge but one spit , there will remaine needes vnburied specially the Cooch , which I neuer saw destroyed , but with a sommer fallow , or burning the land , as the Deuonshire men doe : the which killing of weedes , howsoeuer it can be done , is the chiefe cause , that vpon extreame barren Land , those countrie people haue good Corne , which otherwise The destroying of weedes , a chiefe poynt in Husbandry . should haue little or none : and I desire all good Husbands to consider how necessarie it is for them to destroy the weedes , before they sowe or set their Corne , that ( if possiblie they can ) they suffer not the weeds to sucke out the sappe of their grounds in the spring time , and all sommer , before they commit their seede to the ground , indangering it with such enemies , which they may doe ( in my opinion ) by one or two plowings more in their sommer fallow aboue ordinarie , if the weedie condition of the Land , or the season of the yeere doe require it .

Well sir , admit you doe plowe your Land as well as the Spade can doe it , as deepe as your Plough will goe , yet as I say , you cannot plowe it deepe enough , nor lay it leuell and plaine for the setters to worke vpon .

The Corne sowed aboue furrow , often lieth not one inch deepe . To this I answere , first that I will plow it deepe enough , for what should set my Corne to grow as well , and much better ( being set in due proportion & order ) when it hath as much hollow & loose ground vnder him , to spread roote and lie pleasantly in , as your booke or the former appoynts , or as our sowne Corne euer had , since sowing was first vsed , and that is but three or foure inches deepe : and as farre as I know , our english Corne rooteth not past two or three inches directly downwards . So then , if it roote downewards , and spring vpwards but fiue or sixe inches at the most ; meruaile why you should thinke I should not plowe it deepe enough , when your selfe faith you will plowe it yet deeper by a foote more if neede be , and I pray you so do , but take heede you meete not with those furious beasts you speake of in your book , This Plough will serue to make ditches , but for the danger of those beasts . that will deuoure the Corne when it lieth so deepe and light , for if they catch you and your Plough ( in most grounds of England ) they would surely deuoure your Plough , and put your person in great hazard , without speedie helpe : and therefore we will not plow so deepe , it is good sleeping in a whole skin . But if you had been contented with halfe a foote more then ordinarie , there had been some possibilitie in some places , yet with much adoe : therfore I pray you giue some men leaue , that haue or may haue good Teemes & Ploughs , though not made after your fashion , to goe but two or three inches more than ordinary , & then they may plow some ten or twelue inches with much adoe where the land will permit , so if our Corne haue fiue or sixe inches to spring vpward , ( euen from the lower most part of his roote ) and as much downward , it shall be sufficient to content vs with the increase of eyght or sixe quarters vpon an Acre : Note well . doe you plowe it deeper for thirtie or twentie quarters vpon an Acre ( God send it you that venter so deepe for it . ) And as for laying our ground leuell and plaine , we will not follow your counsell in your booke , nor feare your woodden dagger , your huswife-like instructions are to rake away the grasse that the light Harrow leaueth , till it be as leuell as a Garden , and then to set it ; as though any good husband would haue his Land so out of tilth , and ouergrowne with weedes , that at sowing or setting time , the Land should neede the raking of the grasse , after a good sommer fallowe . It is time for such a Ploughman to throwe his Plough in the hedge , and take the Spade in hand , and become one of your threescore laborers : and then in the fame place you tell vs of laying it as leuell as a Garden . And I pray you sir , then what shall become of the Corne of the best and most grounds of England , speciallie for Wheate and Rie ? Winter Corne cannot lie too hie in most grounds . For if you leuell it so like a Garden , without all question , it will be drowned for the most part , & come to little or no good at all , for all men I thinke that euer saw Husbandrie , or vnderstoode naturall reason , know that such Land ; nay , most Land must be laide high and round with furrowes , according to the qualitie of the soile , or else the seede will be drowned . And to breake the clods , we may vse the Rowler , as we doe for our Barlie if neede be , and so much shall serue for instruction , or rather perswasion of such as you haue inueigled with so many idle doubts , in a matter that may be perceiued by those that are not wilfullie blinde , or not skilfull at all in Husbandrie .

Not so sir , these are not altogether so idle as you make them , but I pray you how will you make this barren Land rich enough , to haue such increase as will answere the charge of setting ?

Indeede that is not altogether so idle as the other , but yet very easie to be answered , and very likelie to be compassed , euen in the barrenest Countries and places farre remoued from all meanes to enrich their Land . Here then I would aduise all good Husband-men that intend setting , to lay all their soile and foule doung that they vsed to scatter ouer thirtyAcres or there abouts , ( being their ordinarie season ) I say , lay it vpon ten Acres . And by reason they leaue twentie Acres to rest , they shall keepe more store of Sheepe either of their own , or take to folde of other mens , and so keep them better , and by that meanes their folde will be much bigger , and their Land will be folded much better : and if there be any Marle of Chalke , or of other sort of good molde neere to be had by any meanes , they shall now haue leasure to fetch it , by reason they haue so little tillage to doe : or else doe this , follow the example of a Gentleman that made a great quantitie of soile , by the fodering of all his Cattell vpon a peece of exceeding ranke ground about an Acre , which being very good and restie Land neere his house , he plowed vp in the end of Aprill , when his Cattell went to grasse , and with two or three plowings so mixed the restie ranke ground with the doung and so fodder of his cattell , that he had ten loade for one of very good soile , ( to the fatting of other grounds ) then otherwise he should haue had ; and also there is much dounge to be made with Ferne in places where it is neere : many good Husbands do prouide great store in summer , that in winter will serue for cattell to sit drie vpon , and make great store of soile , with little cost , hauing now so much leisure in this small Tillage . By these and diuers other good meanes very common and easie , when men haue little plowing , they may so inrich their land , that they shall not neede to doubt of a better increase ( by Gods helpe ) sufficient to pay the charge of setting liberally , with threefold increase at Haruest .

Then you may fall into another inconuenience , that I warned you of in my booke , that is , to make your land too ranke , and then your Corne will ledge , and euery stalke will be slender and long , euery eare will be heauier and longer than ordinarie , and so the Corne will fall downe and ledge , and come to little good .

This inconuenience will easilie be helped . Wee had first neede to helpe our barren land , and make it hartie , and then for falling and ledging I will set it thin enough , as the qualitie of the ground requireth : for it is the thicke sowing of ranke land vpon euill tillage that causeth Corne to ledge . Note . If the land be rich and the yeere wet , the Corne ranke , and the weedes many ; then ( as you say ) it is like to ledge : few poore men in England complaine their land is too rich , or desire their Corne more thin , for then their purses would be more emptie . I could easilie teach them such tricks as well as you with all Reason and experience teacheth and proueth , that the straw will be bigger and much stronger . your cunning : and as for the length and slendernes of the straw , I doubt not but it will be fit to beare the heauie eares , which God send me , and take you the light if you like them better .

Your reasons may proue good for sowing , but for setting , you will be set a ground presentlie . For where will you get people enow to set a Season fit for a Teeme to be kept on ? All the labourers in the Countrie will scant serue you , and fiue or sixe such as you would be .

Sir , I wonder what you meane to talke still so idlie , as though it were fit for me or any man , to set our whole seasons , when we haue laide all our soile , and bestowed all our labour , tillage , and cost , vpon the third part onely , to the intent to make that so hartie and rich , that by all reason , common experience , and Gods blessing , it may yeeld as much and more increase than the whole would haue done . Neither am I tied by any necessitie ( that I know of ) to set all my third part , vnsesse I may doe it conuenientlie in all respects : Note well . for when I haue thus plowed my land and made it readie to set , I may sowe thereof what I will if I lacke setters , and it is likelie to beare three times as much , being thus well handled ; as other poore barren land so misused for lacke of such good Husbandrie . But now for setting of ten Acres of Wheate or Rie , or other graine , being the third part of most mens Season , why should I not finde people enow to set them , seeing you confesse that threescore laborers , and twentie women and children , will digge and set thirtie Acres in seuen weekes ? Why good sir , if I be at the charge , and can dresse my land with my Plough my selfe , what haue I to doe with your threescore labourers that should haue been imployed in your digging : I will spare them all for you , seeing you will needes haue so many Acres digged , for you might as well haue vnderstoode Master Plat , the author of the first booke , that he meant not to haue the whole number of euery mans season to be digged , when he proposed that three Acres might beare as much as thirtie : And although I am of your opinion , this will seldome proue true in action , yet cannot you nor the best Scholler in England disproue the principles that he grounds his proportion vpon , for he addes diuers approued examples in practise to proue his arguments . And for your twentie women and children , poore people , I am sorrie ; for the most of them may still want worke , and liue a staruing kinde of miserable life , for by your perswasions they should earne iust nothing ; and so none of the poore by this meanes set to worke in your Husbandrie . Well , yet I will propose lesse worke by the third part in my Husbandrie , and so will haue but the third part of your women and children ; Note . which being but seuen , will set my ten Acres in seuen weekes , whilest your threescore diggers and twentie women and children be digging and setting your thirtie Acres in the same time by your owne account : and by Gods helpe , if this third part of the land be imployed , we shall haue worke sufficient for all our poore people , and poore people enow for all our worke . I will therefore spare you foure or fiue of those seuen poore people for a supplie to your companie , least any should happen to faile in some hot skirmish , and then I shall onely be troubled with some two or three of your poore people , or some lame Souldier ; Prouision for lame and maimed Souldiers he will serue my turne though he want a legge or an arme : and so let vs recken the charge of three poore women and children , which will be hired for eighteene pence a day at most , which is but nine shillings Charges of setting . a weeke , and for seuen weekes is three poundes three shillings for the wages of those poore people , vnto whom I will ioyne our two plow-folkes ; for away goe our Teemes to rest and gather flesh against winter , our Wiues will spare one of their maides , and many of vs haue two or three children , and our selues for ouer-seers of the worke , all these are aboue nine persons for your seuen , and all their charges is but three poundes three shillings more than ordinarie ; Ten Acres as soone plowed and set with seuen people , as thirtie digged and set with soure score . and so you see that two or three poore people at most with our owne familie , shall be as well able to set our ten Acres in seuen weekes , as your fourescore men , women and children shall digge and set thirtie Acres in the very same time . But if you thinke that Wheate or Rie will be set in the beginning of March in rich land , as you say in your booke ( and truly I am of your opinion ) and the rather , because you affirme that the best croppe of Corne that euer you saw , was a sommer croppe of Wheate vpon a rich ground : now it will be a great commoditie if we may stay to set our richest land vntill after Christide : for by some meanes or other , we may by that time make some of our land better than other , and the nature of some land of it selfe is much better than other ; then will we set our poorest land first , and begin about the middle of September , or neere thereupon , euery Countrie and place , as the condition of the land requireth , and so continue setting in the fairest weather , vntill the middle of December or there abouts ; so then we shall haue some thirteene weeks at least before Christide , and some seuen weekes after , before March . It is most certaine that this late setting or sowing being in very good ground , is the best to auoide the Mildew and the smut . Thus a poore Farmer may well set ten Acres in twentie weekes with his owne familie , hauing wife and children as most haue , and doe it all by leasure .

I must needes confesse , that your experience Your mislike or writing , will not hinder , if it proue profitable . hath taught you to say more in this matter than I conceiued of it before . But yet seeing you looke for no more increase than sixe or eight quarters vpon an Acre , it is not the admirable arte the first booke speakes of ( which made me mislike and write as I did ) for many men in diuers places haue had the like increase ; neither doe I yet perceiue how the charges of setting will be answered , nor any matter worthie so great account as you make of it .

What you see I know not , or what the cause should be I cannot tell , that so many men should be so blinde or so vnwilling to see how to doe themselues and their neighbours so much good : but I feare me it is the iust punishment of God vpon vs the sinfull people of this good Land , that we hauing so great plentie of all good things , do consume with gluttonie and with drunkennesse so great blessings of God alreadie bestowed vpon vs : A caueat for gluttons and drunkards . and if we should by this meanes or any other , expect a greater aboundance than yet we haue receiued , it is to be feared that the Lord that seeth how wickedlie we would consume it , will not permit such an vnthankfull people to receiue so exceeding great a benefit , but euen by our owne frowardnes will quite ouerthrow it . Take heede of murmuring and vnthankfulnes , ioyned with frowardnes . But yet let vs see if we can possiblie be brought to discerne any thing worthie account in this noueltie , as you tearme it : And for example , say that thirtie Acres by Rodde , will require three bushels of seede Winchester measure to euerie Acre , In some part of Essex their land requireth lesse seede , well obserued by some good Husbands . ( for so you say it will ) and so in most land it doth , which is eleuen quarters and two bushels of seede to thirtie Acres : What is the vsuall increase vpon an Acre in the common fields barren land ?

The increase of an Acre of such barren land , commonly is not aboue two quarters one yeere with another , and one Acre with another , and when they so doe , there neede be no dearth in England ; for where one hath aboue , three hath not so much : and therefore you will hardlie approue that your setting will be to any great purpose in those common fields , barren Land .

The best setting of Corne is in the common fields , barren land , when by these instructions it is so amended . Verie well sir , I am glad you haue declared your conceite in this poynt , and euen for those barren Countries and barren common fields , doe I auowe this Husbandrie to be most profitable , and for their sakes onlie and altogether doe I take all this paines , and vse so manie perswasions against so many fond obiections , as you and most men vse against this good Husbandrie of Corne setting , and not for those that are occupiers of rich land , either by nature or so made by soile . Their increase is plentifull alreadie , and therefore I thinke it no great worke of charitie to bestow much labour vpon such rich men , as commonlie with good Husbandrie vse such rich land : but I speake and write for poore men , and desire to make their poore land and them the richer by this good Husbandrie , which I will maintaine vpon equall tearmes or by practise , with any Husbandman in England , of what countrie or shire so euer he be or dwell in . Note well . And now to our purpose again , and I pray you marke well what I say , you confesse ( as the truth is ) that an Acre by the Rodde will beare but two quarters commonlie one yeere with another , which is but threescore quarters for thirtie Acres , and that such an Acre will require three bushels to sowe it , which is for thirtie Acres eleuen quarters and two bushels of seede , as aforesaide ; so then take your eleuen quarters two bushels of seede sowed at seede time , out of threescore quarters reaped at haruest , there will remaine fortie eight quarters and sixe bushels increase by this computation : then come to our ten Acres of like measure , which will be set with fiue bushels , what may we looke for euerie yeere vpon an Acre set with halfe a bushell ? by Gods blessing we are as likelie to haue sixe or seuen quarters vpon an Acre that is well dunged , tilled , the seede choiselie picked , and the land orderlie set , as other haue had vpon an Acre sowne , which is vpon ten Acres threescore and ten quarters : And what is then our increase of these ten Acres , if you take fiue bushels of seede set at seede time , out of threescore and ten quarters reaped at haruest , there will remaine some threescore and nine quarters and three bushels increase ; so it is manifest , that our increase by setting of ten Acres with fiue bushels , is more then by sowing of thirtie Acres with eleuen quarters and two bushels , by some twenty quarters and fiue bushels .

Say that all this doe follow , as you would haue it , and truly I cannot deny but it may ; yet the charge of setting and the trouble will be so great , that it will not be worth the practise .

Well , it is manifestlie proued , that two or three poore people with the ordinarie familie of all men that sowe thirtie Acres to a season , may set ten Acres , and that the wages of those poore people for setting time , was but three poundes three shillings at sixe pence a day : and for that charge , you do saue twentie Acres of land at fiue shillings an Acre , fiue poundes ; and the Plowing of that land three plowings to euery Acre before you sowe it , which is threescore plowings at two shillings euerie time , is sixe poundes : then you saue some twentie quarters and fiue bushels of Corne as aforesaid , worth in most yeeres twenty shillings a quarter , comes to twentie poundes twelue shillings sixe pence . So by this reckening , which in truth and substance cannot be denied , you will saue some one and thirtie poundes twelue shillings sixe pence . And although I doe prise the twentie Acres so spared as aforesaid , at fiue shillings an Acre ( as it were to be let out for rent ) yet I rather thinke that any good Husband that so spareth twentie Acres to rest from his principall seasons or Wheate , Rie , or Barlie , will sowe ( after the olde fashion if it please him ) some sixe , eight , or ten Acres with Pease , Beanes , Bucke , otherwise called french Wheate , or with Oates vpon one earth or Plowing , whereby he may haue great store of strawe for his Cattell , meate for his wiues Hens , and prouender for his Horse , ouer and besides so much increase and profite of those sixe , eight or ten Acres , as shall defraie all the extraordinarie charge of setting with aduantage . And because I haue heard this kinde of complaint often ; and many men doubt their neighbours and their own seruants will not meddle with such a pidling troublesome worke , whose frowardnes no doubt will doe much hurt : I wish any such that dwell amongst such neighbours , or haue such seruants ( as indeed I thinke many haue ) to sell some three or foure quarters of their seede corne , that before was spared , and allow double their wages to straungers , and I will assure them workmen plentie to doe so easie and cleane a worke . And yet then the charge will be but sixe pound sixe shillings : which taken out of the former profits , there will remaine some twentie fiue pound sixe shillings sixe pence , which will helpe a poore Farmer towards the payment of his rent .

This obiection is none of your owne Master Scholler , you had helpe of a Lawyer . Your comparison betweene tenne acres passing well husbanded and made rich , and then set , and thirtie acres of barren land sowed , no doubt will bee a matter of great difference , and therefore I wish to be followed of all men . But what say you to good land , either by nature or helpe of soyle , that will vsually beare fiue or sixe quarters vpon an acre ? and if your setting will amount to no more increase , then after a man hath laid all his cost vpon so small quantitie of land , and made it so good , he will sow it , and saue the charge of setting .

If this booke do but perswade our countrimen , that occupie much barren land , to sow but the third part or halfe their land , which they were wont to worke out of heart , with their poore cattell and themselues , I shall not onely thinke my labour happely bestowed in writing , but all the poore people may thank God as much for the printing of it , as for any booke set foorth in our time , ( for a matter of this qualitie ) and which is of no small importance for the common-wealth of this land . But yet I must not yeeld that plowing and sowing will be of like profit for the common-wealth , as plowing and setting , seeing the same will be done yet with much lesse charge , comparing tenne acres of the best land set , with other tenne as good sowed , which I will prooue by example and tried experience : and first it is wel knowne by often triall , that lesse then halfe a bushel of very choise seede wheate , will set as much land as three bushels will sowe . So that whereas ten or twelue great Acres of land will require some three or foure quarters to sowe them ; the same land may be set with sixe or seuen bushels at the most , for there will be saued some three quarters of the best seede Corne euery yeere , which is now worth fortie shillings a quarter , and commeth to sixe poundes , and exceedeth the extraordinarie charge of setting aforesaid by much , Fiue or sixe thousand quarters of Graine saued euery yeare by Corne setting , all obiections answered . and will amount to the sauing of some three hundred thousand quarters of the best Wheate and Rie growing in this Land : and much more in Barlie , Pease , and Beanes , and so of all sorts of graine : I thinke it would saue aboue fiue or sixe hundred thousand quarters euery yeere in her Maiesties Dominions . And yet giue mee leaue to tell you Gentleman , that I dare confidently auow ( seeing both reason doth teach and experience doth proue ) that an Acre orderly set , will yeeld more increase by some three quarters , than an Acre sowne : which increase at Haruest being added to the other three quarters saued at seede time , commeth to some sixe quarters of Corne at fortie shillings a quarter , twelue pound , as it is now worth , in many Countries , which will defray the charges of setting double , though your Plowmen follow their Teemes & giue vs no help . And yet this I must confesse , that in time of great plentie , when Corne is at a low price , and where chargeable seruants or labourers dwell , Chargeable seruants and ill workemen , a great hinderance to all good Husbandire . that will not serue or worke vnder fiue pound and a fustian doublet ; or in such places where their land and themselues are so rich : with such times , places and persons , this poore booke , or rather booke for the poore , hath yet little to say , vntil such time as they be brought to consider ; that after great plentie may follow as great scarsitie , the wealthiest Corne-master and stoutest labourer or seruant , may in time become like one of their poorest neighbours . Great men in this and all ages haue been subiect to their fall . Lasie vsurie , a capitall enemie to all industrious husbandrie , lewes onely did vse it in England , about the raigne of King Richard the first , anno 1189. Iob. 1.1 . 1. Pet. 4.7 . Iob was accounted as rich in his time , as the greatest Corne-master or the wealthiest Vsurer that liues in our time : yet the Lord made an example of his seruant Iob to all posteritie , albeit hee was an vpright and iust man , one that feared God and eschued euil . If vengeance begin at the house of God , where shall the wicked and vngodly appeare . I write not this against good minded men , whom it hath pleased God to blesse with plentie of Corne , and yet loue their brethren and poore neighbours : some such good men no doubt haue been and yet are in England , who may be accounted patterns for others to followe , or patrons , that is , fathers to their Countrie , by storing vp Corne in the time of plentie , with purpose to bring it forth in scarcitie , to sell it at a lower rate for the good of the poore . Such good men no doubt are to be praised with gracious Ioseph , The murmuring of the people prouoketh Gods wrath . who by laying vp of Corne in the time of plenty , preserued not only the whole kingdome of Aegypt , but also the whole Church of God , then visible on earth , for which cause his industrie is recorded and commended for the instruction of all posteritie . And by the way , I wish all murmuring people to consider what it is to grudge and repine against Gods works , and to be more aduised how they speake against good Magistrates and such good men , as carefullie respect the publike weale of the Land . Exod. 16.2 . Numb. 11.13 . Furthermore , that it may yet appeare more manifestly , that plowing and setting of Corne is euery way much more profitable and lesse chargeable than plowing and sowing , and that euerie Farmer may easilie set the third part of his land with his owne familie , and two or three of the poorest people only at setting time ( whereby he may yet haue more leasure to practise and performe euerie complement that shall be likelie to further his increase ) let him Tyll but the third part of his land , as of thirtie Acres ten , and so whereas he was wont to giue his thirtie Acres vpon a sommer fallow , some foure or fiue plowings ( as some grounds will require ) and as most good Husbands doe : for thereby they doe kill the weedes , which of all things I would all men should most speciallie regard : So then thirtie Acres hauing at least foure plowings , amounteth to an hundred and twentie daies worke at the least ; and ten Acres hauing fiue plowings euerie Acre , which is but fiftie daies worke at the most : so here is threescore and ten daies worke spared in your winter season for Wheate or Rie , and as much for Barlie , which being in all one hundred and twentie daies worke or there about , is very neere the third part of the whole yeere spared for your Plowes and Teemes , The third part of the yeere spared from plowing , by setting of corne , therefore forget not therein to forue God . which I wish should be otherwise imployed to some good worke , as no doubt but euerie good Husband will finde worke enough for them to do . But yet let them bestowe some part of this time so well gained , a little to serue God in prayer morning and euening , either in their priuat families , or with a diligent Minister ( they that dwel neere the Church ) one halfe houre in a morning or euening , or both : if they haue any thing to doe at Church with God , or with their neighbours , it will be a good meeting place if it be done to good purposes . It is a small portion of so many daies spared , and no doubt but God will the rather blesse the increase of such as will serue him , according as he hath promised ; and as the Scripture saith , Paul planteth , Apollo watereth , but it is the Lord , no doubt , that giueth the increase , as well in temporall as in spirituall blessings . Beware of Atheisme . Thus we all must beleeue , and so I hope we doe , vnlesse there be any of so desperate and cursed opinion , that thinks there is no God to blesse and helpe their increase , which God forbid that her Maiesties dominions should beare any such detestable and cursed imps and lims of Sathan to rest on this earth , that should so much as giue any cause of suspition of any such abomination : so as many as doe so well begin the day with the seruice of God , may cheerefullie expect from the Almightie a blessing vpon their labours : who promiseth to blesse the worke of our hands if we feare him . And to proceede in this argument yet a little further in our Husbandrie , which no doubt may be yet exceeding lie furthered diuers waies in this time so well gained : as first to make great choise of our Seede corne : for as Master Plat well saith , euerie corne that is within the eare is not apt to grow , for God hath created some of them for the food of liuing creatures , and some for seed . The choise of the seede , the killing of the weede , and resting of the land , and time so well gained , to doe all this and serue God too , is like to bring a good increase . There be in euerie eare certaine abortiue or bastardlie cornes small and whinderlings , which will hardlie grow , and are vnprofitable for any good increase : but there are other cornes which are bigger and fairer then the rest , which ( no doubt ) God by nature hath ordained for good and great increase : and therefore seeing you haue so much leisure , you may spend more time in picking your Seede , corne after corne , if you thinke good . The best way to make choise of your seede . But indeed the best way and most speedie is to put the corne into a tub of water , and so the most heauie corne will soonest sinke to the bottome , and the lightest ( with other seedes which were wont to be sowen ) you may take presentlie away : for els in a small time the lighter will also sinke , by taking water to make it heauie also . But you must doe this but a little before you intend to sow it , and in doing whereof you may helpe your Seed corne verie much , as it were with a dunging , as I my selfe haue done my Seede barlie . When the yeere hath prooued drie at Barlie seed time , I haue caused certaine wotting fattes or tubs , vsed for Malting , to be filled with water , and caused Cow dung and Pigeon dung to be put into the same water , stirring it together , and it hath stood a day or two , but the longer the better , with often stirring it . Then haue I let or powred out the same water from the dung , and put it into other cleane vessels : and then I put in my Seede all day and all night , and the next day tooke it out and laid it vpon a floore to dry it fit to handle , and cast abroad by sowing . And trulie that Barlie hath shot an eare as soone as other that was sowen some fourteene daies before it . Whereof ( in my opinion ) one great commoditie dooth follow , in that the corne ( speciallie Barlie ) at that time of the yeere commeth away so speedelie , that it out groweth all the weedes , who are the chiefe and deadlie enemies to all corne . Thus the corne may flourish and be master of the field , like a braue Captaine : for so no doubt hee getteth better roote to begin the world with , and more heart to continue and bring foorth increase more aboundantlie , when it hath at first gotten the start and vpper hand of his mortall enemies . One hundred and twentie daies yet spared for good Husbands , to inrich their land and themselues . This picking and watring worke is fittest to be performed by the good wife , and her maides , and children at home , and our hundred and twentie daies that wee spared from plowing , as aforesaid , yet giueth more time to the good man and his Ploughmen with their Teemes to fetch Marle of Chalk , or of any other kind of soile , fit for the condition of their land , if it be possible to be had , as no doubt it is in most places , though in some they may happen to goe farre for it : but in sixe or seuen weekes ( part of the foresaid time ) a Teeme will carrie much , though it be farre to fetch . Further also those that haue sower barren colde grounds , may in this time all by leisure , follow the example of the Cornish and Deuonshire men , that beate and burne their land , which no doubt is an excellent peece of good Husbandrie , and now vsed by good Husbands in manie places of England and Wales . A commendation of Cornewall and Deuonshire . And whereof Cornewall and Deuon hath so tasted the benefit , that whereas of late time Cornewall was wont to haue most of their bread-corne by sea from other countries , now by this meanes they haue great plentie to spare , and send ouer much by sea into other countries . There will be manie other profitable workes found out by manie good Husbands to keepe their people and Teemes at worke , The Plow and the Spade very good frīeds , & allow each others worke for setting , as the place requireth . if it please them , and such as haue a better minde to vse the Spade to set their Corne : and so by experience shall finde much better increase , which I will not denie , but it may be so ; nor discommend the industrious inuention and practise of the Spade , and speciallie for setting of poore people to worke , which indeede is a matter of great regard , which by no meanes I would hinder : for as in this action by setting of Corne , the chiefe and principall respect is the sauing of such a goodlie deale of Seede Corne yeerelie so fondlie cast away , as before is shewed ; so speciallie by setting of Corne the poorest and most miserable people , that can otherwise earne little or nothing , shall now be set to worke , because they are best cheape to be hired , and are as well able to performe this worke as the lustie labourers , that sometime in some countries no reasonable wages will intertaine them : Middlesex , Kent , and places neere the mightie citie of London . these are fit for rich men , and to be imployed in rich land , where the owners may haue rich crops to pay such great wages to such proud labourers and seruants , that will serue and worke where they list , and haue what wages they list , and then doe what they list , make what lawes and statutes her Maiestie , her Councell and the Parliament can deuise : I meane such seruants as intend not to serue their masters faithfullie for their masters profit , but for their owne , amongst whom there are manie theeues , which some Gentlemen , Farmers and other , with their wiues and children haue dearely paid for , to their great and importable losse and hindrance . This proud kinde of slouens and sluts , which some masters haue and doe keepe from the halter , haue no need to be pitied , but rather to be punished . A reward for faithfull and good seruants . And such masters whom it pleaseth God to blesse with a good seruant , let him be accompted as a precious iewell , and vsed with due respect , pay him his wages trulie , and leaue him not a poore man : It is the Lord the great Master his commaundement by the wise Salomon , as you may reade in his Prouerbes . As touching the Instruments to bee employed about setting of Corne , although I might leaue euerie man to his owne inuention , or referre them to Master Plats booke , whose instructions in many things I doe commend : yet because it may be that all men haue not that booke , and desire some instruction , therefore I will recite an example of his , which he best commendeth , which is a boord of three foote in length , or thereabouts , and twelue or tenne inches in breadth , hauing diuers holes bored therein , according to such distance as euerie particular man dooth best fansie , through each of which holes a woodden dipper or pin to be thrust into the ground , being of the bignes of ones finger , and of three or foure inches in length , hauing a shoulder or crosse-pin to keepe one selfe same certaintie in the depth of each hole . Now my inuention is to haue two boords of some two foote broad euerie where , and in the middle a staffe or handle set fast to remoue them : or if any doe like better to haue them one foote broad , and two or three foot long , and in euerie of those boords one or two staues or handles , of some two foote high set fast to remooue them , and also to leaue vpon for their worships ease : but for this matter of making of holes , I must say with you master Scholler , I professe to presse this argument no further , being no part of my profession , but leaue it to them that shall vse and practise this inuention . Only this I doe aduise that euerie man doe well consider the qualitie of his owne ground , if it bee exceeding ranke , foure or fiue inches distance ; but most commonly three or foure inches is likely to be most fit , and two or three inches deepe , as the ground is heauie or light . And peraduenture the clods may sometime hinder : for which purpose this boorde and this handle or two be verie fit to thrust downe the clods . These boords are to be directed by a line , to keepe a streight course in setting , hauing alwaies a Rake with thicke teeth and a broad head , which at one pull will sufficiently fill all the holes . And for example , to such as are verie simple , it is thought good to set downe the order of making of the holes in euerie boord , as the same holes shall be of distance more or lesse : as if your boord be tenne inches broad and three foote long , and your holes fiue inches distance , there must bee two rowes of holes and seuen holes in a row , and at euery end and fide there must be two inches and more left , and for euery scantling or distance , whether it be three , foure , or fiue inches , leaue alwaies the outside and the ends halfe the distance or lesse in euerie boord , and so it will make a true continuance of one scantling throughout all the worke . But if this labour by writing and printing be lost in the behalfe of plowing and setting , and that men shuld continue so wilfullie blind to despise Gods blessings vpon themselues , their poore neighbours , and the whole Common-wealth : yet it is to be wished that where men are so obstinatelie addicted to old custome , they would yet follow the olde prouerbe , which saith , A little land well tild , a little house well fild , and a little wife well wild , no doubt but his little land would be as profitable for his purse , as his little good wife comfortable to his minde .