Most approued, and long experienced vvater-vvorkes Containing, the manner of winter and summer-drowning of medow and pasture, by the aduantage of the least, riuer, brooke, fount, or water-prill adiacent; there-by to make those grounds (especially if they be drye) more fertile ten for one. As also a demonstration of a proiect, for the great benefit of the common-wealth generally, but of Hereford-shire especially. / By Rowland Vaughan, Esquire. Vaughan, Rowland, fl. 1610. This text is an enriched version of the TCP digital transcription A14287 of text S119037 in the English Short Title Catalog (STC 24603). Textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. The text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with MorphAdorner. The annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). Textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. This text has not been fully proofread Approx. 192 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 72 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. EarlyPrint Project Evanston,IL, Notre Dame, IN, St. Louis, MO 2018 A14287 STC 24603 ESTC S119037 99854244 99854244 19653 2248502460

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A14287) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 19653) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 728:12) Most approued, and long experienced vvater-vvorkes Containing, the manner of winter and summer-drowning of medow and pasture, by the aduantage of the least, riuer, brooke, fount, or water-prill adiacent; there-by to make those grounds (especially if they be drye) more fertile ten for one. As also a demonstration of a proiect, for the great benefit of the common-wealth generally, but of Hereford-shire especially. / By Rowland Vaughan, Esquire. Vaughan, Rowland, fl. 1610. Davies, John, 1565?-1618. [140] p., [2] folded plates By George Eld, Imprinted at London : 1610. Includes "A panegyricke", in verse, signed: Iohn Dauies of Hereford. Signatures: A² B-S⁴. Running title reads: Water-works. The first leaf is blank. S4v is blank. Variant: S4v bears author's promissory note dated 29 Nov. 1609. Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery. eng Irrigation -- England -- Early works to 1800. Great Britain -- Economic conditions -- Early works to 1800. eebo Most approued, and long experienced vvater-vvorkes. Containing, the manner of winter and summer-drowning of medow and pasture, by the aduantage of the Vaughan, Rowland, 1610 143 32946 2 0 0 0 0 0 0.61 B The rate of 0.61 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the B category of texts with fewer than 10 defects per 10,000 words. 2002-11 Assigned for keying and markup 2002-12 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2003-01 Sampled and proofread 2003-01 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-02 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

MOST APPROVED , And Long experienced WATER-WORKES .

Containing , The manner of Winter and Summer-drowning of Medow and Pasture , by the aduantage of the least , Riuer , Brooke , Fount , or Waterprill adiacent ; there-by to make those grounds ( especially if they be drye ) more Fertile Ten for One.

As also a demonstration of a Proiect , for the great benefit of the Common-wealth generally , but of Hereford-shire especially .

Iudicium in melius perplexus cuncta referto , Vera rei , donec sit manifesta fides .

By ROWLAND VAVGHAN , Esquire .

Imprinted at London by GEORGE EID. 1610.

A PANEGYRICKE , In the deserued honor of this most profitable worke , and no lesse renowned then much-desired Proiect. I Sing of him that is as deere to mee As to the World ; to whom both aye are bound ; Then briefe , for Bond so long , I cannot be ; Vnlesse my Loue were ( like my Lines ) too round . Proportion doth so please Witte , Will , and Sense , That where it wants , it grieues Sense , Will , and Witte : Then by Proportion of his Excellence , Thus must we shape our praise of Him , and It. When as the Earth all soild in sinne did lye , Th' almighties long-prouokt inraged-HAND Emptied Heau'ns Bottles , it to purifie ; And made that a a Noahs floud . FLVD that mud to countermand . So , for like crimes , of late , we plagu'd haue bin With like b b The Inundation caused by the boiling vp of the sea in Munmouth and Glamorgan shire , the yeare 1607. O'reflowings , washing all away That lay the Earth vpon , or Earth within , Within the limitts where this Deluge lay ! Which Inundations were for Earth vnfit : But hee whose Hand and Head this WORKE compos'd , Shewes how to drowne the Earth to profit it : And beeing Ill , to make it Well-disposd . Some with their Lands , doe oft so sinck them-selues , That they to it , and it to them yeeld nought , But , in the Ocean what doe yeeld the Shelues ; Which when they see , they a a Few Hadlands take pleasure to behold the lands they had . flee , with pensiue thought . But in His Drownings , He makes Lands arise , In grace and goodnesse to the highest pitch ; And Meades , and Pastures price he multiples ; So , while some lies , He rise doth in the b b Trenches , by which his workes are affected . Ditch . His royall TRENCH ( that all the rest commands ) And holds the Sperme of Herbage by a Spring ) Infuseth in the wombe of sterile Lands , The Liquid seede that makes them Plenty bring . Here , two of the inferior Elements ( Ioyning in Coitu ) Water on the Leaze ( Like Sperme most actiue in such complements ) Begets the full-pancht Foison of Increase : For , through Earths rifts into her hollow wombe , ( Where Nature doth her Twyning-Issue frame ) The water soakes , whereof doth kindly come Full - c c By equiuocation it may bee taken for Infants as wel as Barnes : Barne being the name of Infant in some places of England . Barnes , to ioy the Lords that hold the same ; For , as all Womens wombes do barren seeme , That neuer had societie of Men ; So fertill Grounds we often barren deeme , Whose Bowells , Water fills not now and then . Then , Earth and Water , warmed with the Sunne , Ingenders what doth make Man-kinde ingender : For Venus quickly will to ruine runne , If a a Sine Cerere & Baccho , friget Venus . Ceres and her Bacchus not defend her . Then looke how much the Race of Man is worth , So much is worth this Arte , maintaining it ; Then ô how deere is hee that brought it forth , With paine and cost for Man-kinds benefit ! Though present Times ( that oft vngratefull prooue ) May vnder-valew both his Worke and Him ; Yet After-times will prize them Price aboue , And hold them Durt that doe their glory dim . For He by Wisedome , ouer-rules the Fates , By Witt defeating passions of the Ayre ; When they against his well-fare nurse debates , While fooles ( ore-rul'd by each ) die through dispaire . In dropping Sommers , that do marre the Meads , His Trenches draine the Raines superfluous Almes ; And when heate wounds the Earth ( b b The Sunne exhaling all radicall moysture from thence by the wounds or chaps which are made by summers heate . to death that bleeds ) Hee cures the chaps with richest Water-balmes . So , when Heau'n ( ceaselesse ) weepes to see Earths sinne He can restraine those Teares from hurting him ; Vntill his Teares the Heau'ns to a a The teares of sinners , are the wine of Angels . ioy do win , While other Grounds are torne , the life from limbe . And when the Earth growes Iron , for Hearts so growne , Hee can dissolue it straite ( as Waxe it were ; ) Mantling the Meadowes in their Summer-Gowne ; So ioyes in hope , while others grieue in feare . " Thus wisemen b b Ars dominabitur astris . rule the Starres , as Starres doe fooles ; " And each mans manners doe his Fortunes square ; " Arte learnes to thriue in Natures practick Schooles ; " And Fortune fauours men of actions rare . Such one is this rare Subiect of my Rimes , Who raignes by mirry motion , 'ore my Spleene ; Such is this c c Or cleare Mirrour . Water-glasse , wherein these Times Do see how to adorne their Meades in Greene . . Hee from a Mole-hill ( from whose hollow wombe ▪ Issu'd a d d From the obseruation whereof , proceeded the rest of his workes , as in this his booke more at large is expressed . Water-fount ) a Mount did reare ; A Mount of large Reuenues thence did come ; So , a Mole-hill great with yong a Mountaine bare ! How many Riuers , Founts , and Water-prills , ( Tendring their seruice to their Lords for Rent ) Are nere imployde but in poore Water-mills , While the drye Grounds vnto the Bones are brent . To Tantalus I can resemble those That touch the water that they n'ere doe taste ; And pine away , Fruite being at their Nose , So , in Aboundance , they to nought do waste . The Brookes runne murmuring by their parched Brincks ( Pure virgin Nimphes ) and chide against the Stancks , When as their sweetest profer'd seruice stinkes , So coyly kisse the chapt-lippes of the Bankes . And ( weake as water ) in their Beds do stretch ( As t' were to yeeld their Ghost for such disgrace ) Their Christall limbes vnto the vtmost Reach ; And a a In dry Summers the Riuers grow lowest . shrinke from th' Armes that ( vselesse ) them imbrace . When as the Meads , wherein their Beds do lye , Make towards them , and fall by lumpes therein ; Who ( of the yellow Iaundise like to dye ) Creepe to their b b When the Bankes are ch●pt , they ( cleeuing ) fall by mammocks into the Riuer . Beds , their loue and health to winne . O Landlords see , O see great Lords of Land These sencelesse creatures mou'd to eithers aid But for your helpe , who may their helpes command : Then well command , you shall be well obaid . Helpe Nature in her Workes , that workes for you ; And be not idle when you may do good : " Paines are but c c Gaines take away the thought of Paines . Sports when earnest gaines insue : " For , Sport , in earnest , lies in Liuelihood . The Golden-age is now return'd againe , Sith Gold 's the God that all commands therein ; By Gold ( next God ) Kings conquer , rule and raign ; With Gold we may commute , or grace our sinne . Briefly , by Him we may do what we will , Although we would do more then well we may : For He makes ill too good , and good too ill ; And more then God , the ill do him obay . Then if ye would be eyther Great or Good , Or Good and Great ( all which he Wealth helps Vertue in her operations ; whose hands were else bound from ouert action . can you make ) Take pleasure ( ô ) to saue your Liuings Bloud And streame it through their Limbes , for Profus sake . This Esculapius of diseased Grounds , ( Casting their Water in his Vrinalls ) ( His Trenches ) sees what Humor ore-abounds , And cures them straight by Drought or Water-falls . This little-great-great-little Flash of Witt. This Soule of Action , all compos'd of Flame , ( Mounting by Action to high Benefit ) Exalts his State , his Countries , and his Fame . He well deserues to be a Lord of Land , That ore b b All gauly & too dry grounds rebell against nature , and mens profit rebellious Lands , thus Lords it well : O that all Lords that can much Land command Would so command it , when it doth rebell . But Pleasure , Pompe , and inter-larded Ease Possesse great Land-lords ; who , for rebell Groundes , Do Racke their Rents , and idely liue on these Or spoyle their Tenants Cropp with carelesse Houndes . But this rare Spirit , ( that hath nor Flesh , nor Bone , But Man euen in the Abstract ) hunts for Wealth With Witt , that runnes where Profit should be sowne By wholesome Paines ; so , reaps both Wealth , & Health Whether the Cost , or Time , which he hath spent Be most , it 's hard to say : for , twenty yeares His Pounds , by thousands , he his Grounds hath lent , Which payes now vse , on vse , as it appeares . The Place wherein is fall'n His happy Lott Hight Golden-Valley ; and so iustly held : His Royall TRENCH , is as his melting Pott , Whence issues Liquid-gold the Vale to gild ! O that I had a World of glorious wordes , In golden Verse ( with gold ) to paint his praise , I would blinde Enuies Eyes , and make Land-lords By this Sunnes rising ; see their Sonnes to raise . But ô ! this is not all thou dost behight Deere Vaughan , thy Deere Country for her good ; For , thou resolu'st to raise that a a The Countries good . benefit Out of thy priuate care ; and Liu'lyhood . Thy many trades ( too many to rehearse That shall on thy Foundation stedfast stand ) Shall with their Praiers , still the Heauens pierce ; And blesse their Founders rare Head , Heart , and Hand ! That publike Table which thou will erect ( Where forty euery Meale shall freely feed ) Will be the Cause of this so good Effect To plant both Trades and Trafficke there with speed . There shall thy Iouialist Mechanicalls Attend this Table , all in Scarlet Cappes ; ( As if they were King Arthures Seneschals ) And , for their paines shall fill their Chapps and Lapps . For , neuer since King Arthurs glorious dayes ( Whose radiant Knights did Ring his Table round ) Did euer any such a Table raise As this , where Viands shall to all abound ! Nay this , shall that franke Table farre exceed If we respect the good still done by each : For , that fedde none but such as had no need ; But this ( like God ) shall feed both poore and rich ! This Table then ( that still shall beare thy Name In Hyrogliphicks of the daintiest Cates ) As oft as it is spread shall spread thy Fame Beyond the greatest conquering Potentates ! They spill with spite , what thou in pitty spend'st ; They onely great , thou good , how euer small ; Subuersion they , Erection thou intend'st ; They foes to most , but Thou a friend to all . Thy vertuous care to haue thy God ador'd ( Among thy Paines and Pleasures ) all will blesse Thy Pension for a a a Preacher & Curate for daily seruice . Preacher of his Word , Shewes thou seek'st Heauen , and earthly happinesse . A Chappell and a Curate for the same ( The one maintain'd , the other built by Thee For Gods Diurnall praise ) shall make thy Name In Rubricke of the Saints enrold to be . Thine Almes-house for thy b b Any way mischanc't in their Bodies , So that they cannot work . haplesse Mechanicks Shall blaze thy charity to After-ages ; And longer last in Brests of men , then Bricks ; Increasing still thy heauenly Masters Wages . If holy Dauid had great thanks from Heau'n But for the Thought to make the c c 2. Sam. 7.2.16 . Arke an House ; Then thanks of all , to Thee , should still be giu'n Whose purpose is to all commodious . O happy Captaine ! that hast past the Pikes Of sharpest Stormes , still wounding Soldiers states , To end thy Dayes in that which all men likes , Ioy , Mirth , and Fellowship which ends debates . Thy Drummes and Trumpets ( Mars his melodie ) That wonted were to call thy foes to fight , Shall now but call a friendly Company ( For honest ends ) to feasting and delight . Glory of Wales , and luster of thy name , That giu'st to both sans Parralel'd renowne , Vpon the Poles inscribed be thy Fame , That it to Worlds vnknowne may still be knowne ▪ That they may say a Nooke but of an Isle That North-ward lies , doth yeeld a rarer Man , Then larger Lands by many a Thousand Mile , Who can do a a What is before expressed . Thus , and will do what He can . But many Monarches , many Worldes haue wonne , Yet , with their Winnings haue not wonne that praise As this great-litttle Lord of hearts hath done , For good-deedes done to These , and After-dayes . Now Enuy swell , and breake thy bitter'st Gall With ceaselesse fretting at these sweete Effects , Th' eternall good which he intends to all His Fame ( well fenc'd ) aboue a Foile erects . Liu'd He among the Pagans , they would make His glorious b b Like Mars , Iupiter and Saturne . Mansion some auspicious Starre ; And make their Altars fume still for his sake As to a God , to whome still bound they are : For , Bacchus but for planting , first , those a a Vines . Plants Whereby mens Wealth , and Witt are oft ore'throwne Which wanton Nature rather craues , then wants , They , as a God , with Gods do still enthrone . But let vs Christians , though not yeeld Him this , Yet giue him Loue and Honor due t' a Man , That makes men liue ( like Gods ) in Wealth , and Blisse , And heaue his Fame to Heauen if we can . Vaine Hanno taught his lesse vaine Birds to say Hee was a God : and then he turn'd them loose That they abroad might chaunt it still ; but they ( So gon ) with silence prou'd their God , a Goose. Then , though no God he were , yet might He be A right b b Geese ( by reason of their vigilancy ) kept the Pagan Gods in the Romaine Capitoll . God-keeper in the Capitoll : They Geese ( at most ) and so ( at least ) was He ; Or , if ought lesse , his God-head was a Gull . But what I say , none taught me but thy Worth ; Nor shall it ( like those Birds ) thy Fame betray : But these my Lines shall then best sett thee forth When thou art worse then Wormes , and lesse then Clay . As well thy Crest , as Coat ( ó wondrous thing ! ) A Serpent is , about an Infants Necke : Who was thine Ancestor , as Bards do sing , So borne ( aliue ) the Fates to counterchecke . From him thou cam'st ; as one , in him preseru'd ; ( By way of Miracle ) for this good end , As , by thy skill , to haue so well deseru'd Of all the Kingdome , which it much will mend . This praise ( perhaps ) which thy deserts exact , By Enuy will be thought poeticke skill , Playing the Vice , but in a glozing Act , And so wrong Witte to sooth an erring will . But yet if Arte should leaue true Arte vnprais'd , ( The only Meed the Time all Arte affords ) What Spirit by Art , would then at all be raiz'd ( From this Worlds hel ) if Art should want good words ? Then , be the mouth of Enuy wide as Hell Still open in thy spight , yet say I still Thy praise exceeds , because thou dost excell In these thy works , that worke Good out of Good Grasse out of ill ground . Ill. If I be lauish of good-words ; thou art As lauish of the good which thou canst do : Then , must thy praise be greate-good , like thine Arte , That goods thy praisers , and dispraisers too . In short ( sith on thy praise I long haue stood Whereon my verses Feete do freely fall ) As thou dost worke by Flouds , so th' art a Floud Of working , running to the Good of all . For as the Sunne doth shine on good and bad ; So doost thou ( Sunne of Vse-full Science ) still : Then , Floud , and Sunne , thou art the ground to glad , And make it fruitfull to the good and ill . But sith th' obscurest Sparke of thy bright a a Descended from his Ancestors . Tribe Speakes thus of Thee , ( thou small-great man of worth ) It may be thought I praise to thee ascribe As part mine owne ; so falsely , set thee forth : But those , so thinking , when thy Worth they prooue , With mee , will thee both honor , praise and loue . Your poore kinsman , and honorer of true vertue in whome so-euer . IOHN DAVIES of Hereford .
In praise of this no lesse pleasant then most profitable worke . LOe heere a worke ; a worke ? nay , more then so , A worke of workes : for all it doth containe , Makes wealth by Water , ouer Land to floe , Where-to workes runne , that reach to honest gaine . Then , hast thou Land ? and Water there-with-all ? A little Land and Water so may stand , That Land shall rise by that small Waters fall To high esteeme , and raise thee with that Land . This is no Dreame ; or if a Dreame it bee , It is a Golden one ; and shewes by It That golden Worlds of wealth shall compasse thee If , in this dreame , thou art this worke of Witte . Then shalt thou ( waking ) see ( for thine auaile ) Thy Grasse all Golde as in the Golden-Vale . Iohn Strangwage .
In Libri Auctorem . THe Bee is little , yet esteemed much , ( With no lesse cause ) for Workes as sweete , as rare : Who , but with Dewes , doe make their owners rich ; And , but for others , worke with ceaslesse care . Then here 's a hony - Bee , that , but with Dewes , ( Exchequer'd in some Trench , as in a Hiue ) Sowre grounds with Milke and Hony ouer-flowes . Whereon both Hee and Others sweetly liue . Which , not so much for his owne good , he gets ; ( Though ( like a Bee ) at need , hee feedes thereon ) But to fill others too , with honyed Sweets ; So , with a Bee , holds iust comparison . In this they differ ; Bees for this doe dye , But Hee , for this shall liue immortally . Robt Corbet .
In praise of this most profitable worke . NO Plant can prosper if it water wants , Nor Herbage flourish in a thirsty soile ; But giue that Drinke ; with water ply your Plants , And both will yeeld you profit for your toyle . Some Grounds yeeld Cellers , wherein Nature putts Her choisest liquers to refresh the Mould ; There , Founts , and Channels , for their Streames , she cuts , To cheere the Grounds where they their course do hold . But Natures prouidence but little bootes , Where water runnes at waste along the Land ; None giuing drinke vnto the thirsty Rootes , Out of those Cellers , being hard at hand . Then to the Common and the Priuate weale , How deere is hee that doth this arte reueale ? Henry Fletcher .
To the worthy Author and his worke . VAVGHAN , thou hast a Soule surmounting Soules , In high Conceit , and Action ; whose bright fire Mounts to the Spheare , that Gaine to Glory rowles , Which Men still seeke , and Gods them-selues desire . Who , for thy countries profit , doest not spare Thy Paines , thy Meanes , thy Body , and thy Minde ; Whose will is bent to make all well to fare By honest labour , in a diuerse kinde . A Proiect heere thou hast ( in pleasant phrase ) Obiected to the worlds Desiring-eye , That while some practise , some it doth amaze , To see men mar'd , soone made againe thereby . Then sith ( like God ) thou canst make Men of Clods , We needs must ranke thee with the Semy-gods . Richard Harries .
In praise of these most praise worthy Water-workes . BY Fire-workes many haue exploited things Past all beliefe , and made the World admire ; Which Element , beeing on her flaming Wings , So Actiue is , that all it strikes is Fire . That comes to nought , that so is ouer-come : But , these rich Water-workes worke leisurely Most quick increase , in Earths most barren Wombe , Which beares what One doth ten times sextuply . Then who beleeues by Fire to finde that Stone Proiecting Gold , much erre in that their Creede ; Sith it is Earth , that 's kindly ouer-flowne , That is the Stone ( indeed ) that does the Deed : Then would'st thou make pure Gold ? ore-flow thy land ; So , shall thy Soile be turn'd to golden Sand. Siluanus Dauies .
In praise of this as pleasant as profitable worke . WOuld'st haue great pleasure ? then take paines to read This little Tract : which little paines will doe : Look'st thou for profit ? then , thou heere maist speed ; Where pleasure great brings forth great profit too . Vpon a Subiect rude , as is the Earth , Neuer was Pleasure so predominant : Nor ne're so blithe was profit at her birth As here , sith here , she is so puissant . All famous Writers still directly shott The Shafts of their Indeuours at these two ; For hitting these , they gaine and glory gott ; The gaine of Loue , and Learnings glory too . Then loue and laud him , who hath close compact Pleasure and profit for thee in this Tract . Tho: Rant .
In the praise of the Author and his effectuall workes . DEere Rowland , let thine Oliuer haue leaue , Among thy Lauders , his short Breath to spend , To helpe them so , to Heau'n thy fame to heaue ; Whose Workes are Meanes t' an Earthly-heau'nly End : Then , Rowland , take me with Thee Here , and There ; That Rowland still may haue his Oliuer . Oliuer Maynson .
In praise of the Worke and Author . MY little ROWLAND you may looke that I ( All things considered ) MVCH should say of you : Then , this your WORKE ( to say that MVCH in few ) Shall worke the Workers endlesse Praise : and why ? " A worldly Witt , with Heau'nly Helpes indow'd , " Getts Ground , and Glory of the Multitude . Iohn Hoskins .
Once more for a Farewell . In deserued praise of this neuer-too-much praysed Worke . . GOod Wine doth need no Bush : ( Lord ! who can tell How oft this old-said-Saw hath prais'd new Bookes ? ) But yet good Water ( drawne from Founts and Brookes ) By Sluce ( the Signe ) makes dry Groundes drinke it well . Men may haue store of Water , and dry Land ; Yet , if they draw it not through Trenches fitt , ( By Sluce , that shewes how ( well ) to vtter it ) It idely runnes , while scarse the Owners stand . Good Water , then by Sluce , through Trench must passe For good returne ; that else runnes to no end ; Which Signe doth draw it in , it selfe to spend On dryest Grounds , that ( drunken ) cast vp Grasse ; Which giddy Simily , in sober Sence , Shewes the Effect of this Workes excellence . Iohn Dauies .
THE AVTHOR . I Would not feare with Cinick Doggs to fight Came they in Front : But , this will ill be borne ; Perhaps some Curres behind my Backe will bite : But that 's their shame , my glory it to scorne . ROWLAND VAVGHAN .
TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE WILIAM EARLE OF PEMBROOKE LORD HERBERT OF CARDIFFE , MARmion and S. Quintin ; Lord Parre of Rosse , and Kendall ; Lord Warden of the Stanneries : Captaine of his Maiesties Garrison-towne of Portesmouth ; and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter ; My most honoured and respected Lord .

MOST HONOVRABLE , and my Noblest Lord : I haue out of my liues experience , prepared a Watry workemanshipp , which I thinke the Gods forbad the excellent creatures in former times to handle ; but I haue performed That , that hath begott a world of worke in Me ( which some men say will either impayre my witt , or hazard my estate ( they said so in the execution of my water-workes ) but they ouer-said them-selues , and the most part haue giuen mee satisfaction by maine submission or reconciliation ) I doubt not but the rest , in my mechanical vndertakings , will doe the like , because some haue subscribed , and many offer conditionall pertakings .

What blessing soeuer Inuention doth raise , your Lordshipp knowes is subiect to a hotch-potch of speach ; and vntill it bee performed , Enuy , Mallice , and all spightfull detraction followes ; so is it with me . But ( my good Lord ) seeing that a a Custome is a great Lord of command . Lordly custome wils that great Lordes should patronize inuention ; I doe most humbly beseech your Lordshipp ( on my behalfe ) so to doe ; you beeing ( next vnto my deare Soueraigne and His ) heire apparant to my heart ; hauing intaild my dutifull seruices to the heirs male of your body ; and for want of such issue , to the heirs male of my Lord of Mongomery , for euer , without reuocation : these affections , proceed not ( my honourable Lord ) from any sinister respect ; these following considerations be the cause : The remembrance of that worthy Prince your Father , and more worthy ( if might be ) your Grand-father , and great Grandsiers , from the battels of b b In these seueral battels , the Vaughans mine Ancestors followed yours . Cressy , Poytiers , Egincourt , and Banbury , with many others before , and since . Where the many seruices of mine to yours hath bene such as Tradition will tell your Lordshipp , and I tell you with all , that aboundant fauours we found , makes mee thinke my selfe bound to your Lordship in recognisance of duty , and you tyed ( by honourable and parrall couenants from them , to protect me and all my indeuors , laboring for the good of the common-wealth , and your glory . Now , if I make it not appeare a most flourishing common-wealth ; and such as neuer poore Subiect in the Kingdome did raise , put me by with your hand , as vnworthy of any fauorable respect .

Your Lordshipp shall finde no Monopole required ; but , this I require at your handes : In matters of common-wealth , Expedition is alwayes of the Quorum ; It is one of the chiefest friends ( my Lord ) the Suter ( except he be a wrangler ) hath in all the Kings courts : therefore I can require no lesse then that your Lordship command I may haue conuenient accesse , without restraynt to performe my common-wealthes desires , with these limitations and due obseruance , that I disturbe not your Lordships quiet , nor conferences , with honourable persons , & others of accompt : watching , & taking the aduantage-of Time , and Place ; a word at one time , and two at another . Thinke not ( most Noble Lord ) that I am eyther insolently saucy , or too bold . Your Lordshīpp shall here-after vnderstand the quality and condition of my vndertakings will admit little delay ; I speake partly out of the complaint of an old seruant of your Grandfather Pembrookes , my Vncle Thomas Vaughan : who was to take his tryall for his life at Kings-bench-Barre at tenne of the clocke in the morning , hauing forgotten my Lords remembrance to some good friend , prayed passe of the Groome of his chamber being French : who with hard wordes stopped his passage ; but he putting one of his Armes betwixt the French-mans twist , the other about his necke , threw him at my Lordes feete , and told his Lordshipp the cause was , he came for his life : My Lord hearing that , allowed this his comming with a vengeance , in respect of his necessity to preuent a mischief , and with patience priuiledg'd the offence , beating the Groome for his ill respect : So good my Lord , make me free of your presence ; and command your principall Attendants ( as Secretaries , but especially the Gentlemen of your Chamber , and Groomes ) to take speciall notice , My comming is to doe you all honour . If I should attend Houres , Times and Seasons , I should bee in that case as if I weare to deale with your Lordship by Petition , & to purchase your speach with a price , so the memory of three hundred yeares dependancy should be trodden vnder foot as of no value .

As Lawyers not fedde euery Tearme , breeds neglect of their Clients , with discontinuances and cessations ; so , your Lordshipp may handle the matter , and post me ouer by discontinuance , that you will forgett I haue not done my duty this two yeares and more . But your greatest and dearest Seruants can witnesse my appearance : Though happily not furnished with such glittering Garments as might light my way to you : for , Scarlet of Bilth ( Welch frizes other name ) hath now little grace amongst great ones : But the Hood makes not the Fryar , not a braue Coate a braue man .

Now be it knowne to your Lordship , and to all men ( with the helpe of my Lord God , the Kings most excellent Maiesty , and you my deare Lord : ) I purpose to raise a golden world ( for common-wealth ) in the Golden-Vale in Herefordshire ( being the pride of al that County ) bordering on Wales , ioyning to Ewias Lacy ( from whence your Lordshipp is descended ) being the richest : yet ( for want of imployment ) the plentifullest place a a The richest Countrey breeds the idlest ( therefore the poorest ) people . of poore in the Kingdome , yeelding two or three-hundred-folde ▪ the number so increasing ( Idlenesse hauing gotten the vpper hand ; ) if Trades bee not raised ; beggery will carry such reputation in my quarter of the country , as if it had the whole to halues . Therefore ( my honorable Lord ) put not onely your hands , but all your will and all your strength hereto , praying my Lord of Moungomery to assist your Lordship ( if there bee cause . ) Let it be Vaughans supplication of Beggers vnto his Royall Maiestie , that they may haue meanes to worke , and so to liue .

There bee within a mile and a halfe from my house euery way , fiue hundred poore habitations ; whose greatest meanes consist in spinning Flaxe , Hempe , and Hurdes . They dispose the seasons of the yeare in this manner : I will begin with May , How the poore of the country dispose of the seasons of the yeare . Iune , and Iuly , ( three of the merriest moneths for beggars ) which yeeld the best increase for their purpose , to raise multitudes : Whey , Curdes , Butter-milke , and such belly-prouision , abounding in the neighbourhood , serues their turne . As Wountes or Moles , hunt after wormes , the ground being delue-able : so , these Idelers liue intollerablie by other meanes , and neglect their painfull labours by oppressing the neighbourhood . August , September and October , with that permision which the Lord hath allowed the poorer sort to gather the Eares of corne , they do much harme . I haue seene three hundred Leazers or Gleaners in one Gentlemans corne-field at once ; his seruants gathering & stouking the boundsheaues , the sheaues lying on the ground like dead carcases in an ouer-throwne battell , they following the spoyle not like souldiers ( which scorne to rifle ) but like theeues desirous to steale ; so this army holdes pillaging Wheate , Rye , Barly , Pease , and Oates : Oates , a graine which neuer grew in Canaan , nor Aegypt , and altogether out of the allowance of Leazing .

Vnder coulour of the last graine , Oates , it being the latest haruest , they doe ( with-out mercy in hotte bloud steale , The Beggers good husbandry of my countrey . robbe Orchards , Gardens , Hop-yards and Crab-trees : so what with leazing and stealing , they doe poorely maintaine them-selues Nouember , December , and almost all Ianuary , with some healps from the neighbourhood .

Thus your Lordship sees ( before God and the world ) the principall meanes of their maintenance . The last three moneths , February , March , and Aprill , little labour serues their turne : they hope by the heate of the Sunne , ( seasoning them-selues like Snakes vnder headges ) to recouer the month of May with much pouerty , long-fasting , and little-praying : and so make an end of their yeares trauell in the Easter holy-dayes .

There is not one amongst ten that hath fiue shillings to buy a Bale of Flaxe , but forc'd to borrow money to put vp their trade , and runne to Hereford ( loosing a dayes worke ) to fetche the same : This done , they bee driuen to buy halfe a bushell of corne three or foure miles off , and in their returne attend the grinding of it ; which if a better Customer come , they are sure to be serued last . Withall , they spend one day with the Weauer , and after it is woue , before they can sell , they make many iourneyes to markets , and honest mens houses : And thus many dayes are mispent in most miserable maner .

The meanes to amend the Countries misery . Now ( my Honourable Lord ) to helpe all these miseries ; I haue , out of a yeares consideration , put a foote a Remedy which cannot well bee done , vnlesse your Lordship doe promise to countenance my discouery ; if you do , I le make your glory shine as farre aboue all other Subiects , as my Plot is hatefull to many enuious persons .

The first worke is the Mill. My Mill is my first Worke , gouerned by a little Bastard - Brooke , fedde with eight liuing Springs , built with no desire to intertaine Customers , but onely to grinde mine owne corne .

In my first Foundation , the Countrey said I should neuer bee able to performe the same . They said with-all , I could not command the water ; and that I should want custome to counteruaile the charge . I haue built my Mill , and acquainted the water with his course . Vnto this Mill , I build all Offices and necessary roomes seruing my Mechanicals .

The dining roome to entertaine Knights and Gentlemen : The vse of the dyning-roome . Buttry , Pantry , Kitchin , Larders , Pastry , Surueying-roome , Back-house , Brew-house , Sellors , Killning for Malt , Slaughter-house , Sellors belonging to the Slaughter-house , Vting-roomes , Officers . Garnars , Malting-roomes . Officers ; the Clarke , Miller , Loder , Mault-maker : Butcher , Chandler , Cookes , Bakers , Brewers , Trades . Tanner , Shoo-maker , Cobler , Glouer , Currier , Sithe and Sickle-maker , Nayler , Smith , Ioyner , Cooper , Carpenter , Gardiner , Mercer , Cutler , Barber , Stocking-knitters , Hosier , Lanthorne-maker , Fletcher , Bowyer , ( hold breath ) The Taylor , Sempster , Launderers , Wheeleer , Card-maker for Spinners , Hatter , Point-maker , Sheapheards , Hindes , Dairy-people , Swinheards ; two Vittelers , and a noyse of Musitions with the Greene-Dragon and Talbot .

If I mistake in marshalling my Mechanicals , your Lordshipp must vnderstand I am no Herold : they be a disordered Company ; the offence not great to place one knaue before another . All which be appointed Attendants to maintaine and furnish a a Twenty broad loomes imploide for fine cloth . twenty broad Loomes for the finest cloth ; tenne narrow Loomes for courser Wooll , Flax , Hemp , and Hurds . Tenne Fustian Loomes , with such Silk-loomes as necessity shall require : A Walker , Dier , Cottoner , Sher-men , Spinners , Carders , Sorters of wooll , pickers , and Quill-winders ; which number wil rise to some b b Two thousand imploide in the vnderbusinesse of the Common-wealth . two thousand and vpward . For all which ( except Spinners and Carders ) I find conuenient house-roome . They shall neuer loose an houres time to prouide for such meanes as the backe or belly requires : bread , beefe , mutton , butter and cheese of mine owne prouision , shall attend their appointed houres , without their trouble or losse of labor to any Market or other place , at the best rates of the Kingdome , vnlesse it bee in the Mountaines , where Owen Glindovr was shutt vp : A place vnfit for Trades . There , a Crafts-man may haue twenty Eggs a penny , a good round Bullocke for two Markes , and other necessaries rate-ably .

But I speake of the Golden-Vale , the Lombardy of Herefordshire , the Garden of the Old Gallants and Paradice of the backside of the Principallitie . c c The Golden Valley is the Paradise of al the parts beyond Seuern . I protest , had I foure little Liuings ioyning to some I haue , I would not change my poore estate to bee great Duke of Muscouia , where the flesh falles from the face in a frosty morning , like Lime from a Seeling soaked with Raine . But to prosecute mine argument , and that your Lordship shall not thinke I forget my selfe , I must let you know they shall neither Roste , Bake , nor Boyle : mine owne Range , Ouens , and Furnesse , shall euer doe them that seruice with-out their trouble or charge , with little losse vnto mee . All Trades vnder my obeysance , shall bee at their election , whether they will buy their flesh Rawe , Roasted , Boyled , or cold . No Trades-man shall rate his owne commodity , but the Clarke , Recorder of the company , ( being of the quorum ) shall say to the Tanner : you bought so many hundred Hides of my Maister , you may affoord a Dicker of Leather at such a price : and Shoo-maker , you , your shooes at such a price . You Glouer , bought so many thousand Pelts ; you may afforde your Gloues at such a rate . And so euery Artificer shall bee limitted to Marchandize each to other , The commerce of the Company . at rates reasonable agreeing with their good gaine . But for all out and In-commers that will traffick with my Mechanicals , I leaue them subiect to their fortune . I will haue but one of each trade : But one of each Trade . as a Tailor , with as many seruants as his Tailorship thinkes good : and the rest , as each trade requires . I hope ( my Lord ) I haue told you comfortable newes : yet I will increase your comfort , with comfort vpon comfort : and so comfortable , that all our company will turne their Songs , and Carrols , into singing of Psalmes and Himnes to the honour and praise of the liuing Lord , the Kings most excellent Maiesty , and your Lordship . But before we shall bee able to sing in tune , you must bee Maister of the Musick , and Organist with-all .

Now I haue made knowne vnto your Lordship my morrall and Mechanicall mysteries , you see what preparation I haue made for the body : If care be not had for the saluation of the soule , all my buildings and foundations bee shuttle and sandy . I am by the vertuous and honest Gentlemen , and others in my neighbourhood , importuned to raise a famous Preacher amongst them . A famous preacher shall be maintaind . Their importunity shall not need , I will desire onely their assistance with but a little more helpe then my owne ; your Lordships fauour euer assisting vs . The case stands thus . There came vnto mee , a dozen yeares since , a yong Minister , hauing a good witte , a good memory , and a pritty dribble of learning : who made him-selfe fitte to teach children . Hee was intertained like a Leuite ; and had the liberty of a Leuite ; but with-in short time hee became a counterfeit Puritane . Vnder coulour whereof he ingros'd halfe the good opinions of the Parish , to retaile them to his profit and aduantage , and though him-selfe were presisely giuen , yet hee did little harme : I know not that hee hath reconcil'd any to that quick-siluer-brain'd pure faction ( as good happ is . ) I had euer a good hope , that hee would-subscribe , and obey the Cannons and Institutions of our Church , as hee did .

A Benefice being voyde neere vnto mee ( in her late Maiesties gift ) an honorable kinsman of mine , gaue mee the presentation for this counterfeit . Hee had Institution and Induction according to the common course : but ( my honorable Lord ) as euery licquor serues not to coullor all coulors : so , euery soyle fitts not euery person . Hee had no sooner receiued the benefit of this Benifice , but the principall of his parishoners told mee I had planted a Machiuel amongst them ; a cunning Pollitician , and an horrible vsurer , Three speciall vertues to withstand the Flesh , the world and the Deuill . making complaint to the Bishop therof . But ( my good Lord ) because he had bin my seruant , I praide the Bishop with patience to heare his defence , and for that time preuented the likely-hood of his disgrace . Where-vpon I wrought with him to depart with that thing , and had agreed for his remooue , with a purpose ( as the Bishop doth know ) to plant a famous Preacher there , and told him all my intendiments : and to that end I most humbly praide the Bishop that it would please his Lordship , to giue liberty to one of his Chaplins , a learned and vertuous man , ( Maister Best ) to bee the man . That one liuing of his , not able to maintaine a preaching Minister , there was one other ioyning there-vnto , which wee purpose to vnite : Hauing gotten the consent of the Lord Bishop , with promise of his best indeuour . But ( my honorable Lord ) here comes in the hindrer of the saluation of soules , this counterfeit Puritane , this Machiuillian , this politician , & Vsurer , by the gift of a friendlye Patron , hath as yet gone beyond the vniting of these Churches ; and disapointed vs of our Preaching - Minister , ( as I learnt ) by plaine symonie ; and some treachery ( withall ) to his old Maister . Policy , in wordly businesses , preuailes more then Piety . There were not two Sermons in the Golden-Vale this 500. yeares , vnlesse some Circumselion came by chance , vntill my Lord his Grace , that now is , of Canterburie his comming to that See . Now , whether we deserue to haue a Preaching Minister or no , we appeale to the World . There was an old Monke vppon the dissolution of the Abbey of Doier , that was cast from thence , came vnto the place where this Minister serues : Hee did expound without licence , deuide and seuer the corps of the word , from the Spirit ; so spoyling the Scripture with idle inuentions , that at his end he left neither Protestant , Puritane nor Papist ; but a few of the simpler sort , more inclined to Masse then to sound Religion . And of late , the late Canons do straightly appoint foure Sermons , yearly . In this manner ( My Lord ) this Machiuilian , Polititian , and Vserer hauing gotten two Benifices , thinks it sufficient with his eight-quarter Sermons in his two Churches , to cleare the infection which the old Monke bred : Hee not cunning ynough to dresse and cure the crazed of his flocke , hath onely iudgement with his Hooke to catch and hold a sheepe ; which by ouer-hard handling hee doth so bruize , that now they can by no meanes indure that all-catching-fast-holding Instrument .

And of late hath lent a young Preacher ( being his prime practise ) ten pound in money to make eight a a A most vnholy-holy kind of Vsury . quarter-sermons yearly : which Preacher venters his life sixteene-times ouer the great Riuer of Wye , and as many more vpp and downe a huge hill lying in his way ; the danger of the least of which is able so to distract a good Schollers memory , as to forgette a Sermon well pend , and no worse cond. I haue wondred many times of the young Preacher , who did but learne to preach the other day , how hee was furnished with one in the fore-noone , and another in the after : Heerein shall I vse your Lordshipps meanes , that wee may haue this Vserer remoued . It must bee done ; and I thinke this to be the best meanes : Your Lordshipp may commend him to some strange Ambassadour out of Asia or Africke ; not in Europe , hee will learne the Language instantly : Hee is fit for any strange Religion . Hee will serue for an Intelligencer to execute any cunning Stratagem belonging to matters of State . When your Lordshipp hath vnderstood the trunesse of all my inuention ( which happily you will runne ouer withall expedition , like an old Priest a a Swift reading an enemy to like vnderstanding . reading an Homily to taske , ( which I wish not . ) Then will you vndo all the hopes I haue , in with-standing the pride of many ill speakers .

If you doe not particularly examine , that you may bee able to defend , and report that wee build no Monasteries , nor succor Seminaries , nor much respect vn-preaching Ministers .

Wee build our Church which is downe : A Chappell for Prayer for all my Mechanicals : a a Chappell built , and a Curate maintained . A famous Preacher to rectifie their hearts and shew them the way to Heauen : These , with an Almes-house ( my Lord ) to prouide for the ouer-aged persons , lame , blinde and all such as necessity doth cause to for-beare their own gettings . Your Lordship doth see I am no Papist , nor Puritane , but a true Protestant according to the Kings Iniunctions . And where the Puritans babble against one Minister to haue two Liuings , lett the Superintendant of them , with some other of their purified number , come to the Hundred I dwell in , Twenty foure Parishes in Webtre Hundred , and not one able to maintaine a Preaching Minister . ( which is Weabtre ) I will shew them foure and twenty parishes ; not any one of all able to maintain a Preaching Minister . If these be they whome they call Puritans that speake against a Preacher to haue two or three Liuings together in my Hundred ; I wish I were a poore Burges of the honourable house of Parliament , then would I indeauor to diet them so for Liuings , that I would make them fast Extempore , as well as pray , and preach as the Spirit prompts .

The most men now doe say , if I hadde money ynough , I might performe my vndertakings ▪ So ( my Lord ) if a man had money ynongh ( with the LORDS permission ) Hee might build a Towre of Babell . I cannot see how mony can be wanting , I haue so many honourable friendes ; Lords Spirituall and Temporall , Bishopp Babington , Bishopp Benet , and Bishoppe Parrie , graue and venerable Prelates of the Kingdome . Lords Temporall : Your Lordshippe , my Lord of Montgomery , with many other great Lordes ( my Kinsmen ) I meane not to trouble : Only my deare Lord the Lord cheefe Iustice , and one Iudge more , who is a Lord in Westminster Hall , I hope to see him a Lord to the last : And doe tell your Lordshippe ( betwixt you and mee bee it spoken ) Hee is one of the best Lawyers in the Land ; else very good ones are deceiued ; and though hee bee so , let him vse what dilatory Plea hee list to putte me off , I meane to putt his Pursse to the push of the pike : Hee sayd hee would doe nothing therein : but , hee sware not ; or if hee had , I know hee makes a difference betwixt Mee , and a Rash oth . But to our purpose ; Your Lordshipp is now become Generall of that Army ; and I your Lieutenant ; If any muteny against our Common-wealth , or speake ( out of a hott brain'd humor ) that that they vnderstand not : My Lord , silence them with your wisedome , or defie them with your power , which can neuer bee better imploid in worldly respects , then for the protection of a Common-good . Though all the world should say I should want money in my first beginnings , yet I thanke God they cannot say I want honorable friends , such as the Lord Bishops , your Lordships with others ; which may lend me money ( if please you and them ) I wil not for a million anger any of you , to make a motion to borrow money : if lendings come in out of your honourable dispositions , I would I might neuer put vpp my Trades , Beginning is halfe the whole . if I refuse any for a yeare , two or three . It s a better course ( tenne to one ) then to take money to vsury ; knowing what I know : and I know as much ( perhaps ) that way as any poore Gentleman in Wales ( without vaine glory bee it spoken . ) First ( my Lord ) hee that will take money vppon vsury , must deale with the Scriuener in Dialogue manner ; thus for example : Sir , haue you any money ? What is your name ( saith the Scriuener ) Sir Brute Bankcrout Knight , late of Hadland in the County of Cumberland . Who bee bee your sureties ? Sir Alexander All-spent , and Sir Lancelot Little-left : I know them well ; worshipfull Gentlemen : But I tell you ( Sir Brute ) you must finde Cittizens : The Scriuener ( withall ) rounds the Knight in the eare , saying The World is dangerous and full of iniquity , but if your worship can procure such and such Townes-men , you shall commaund my paines from sixe to sixe months . Now it may bee sir Brute , with Sir Alexander , and Sir Lancelot , may spend sixe times sixe dayes ( vnlesse they meet with a deare friend to furnish them after twenty in the hundred ) before their turne bee serued . Once ( my Lord ) I thought to borrowe a hundred pound at a Pinch , but the Gentlman that ow'd the money would not traffick with me because I dwelt beyond Seuern . A foule indignity to your Lordshipps Hauings , hauing such royal Liuings in Monmouth and Glamorganshire . I beseech your Lordship order may be taken that we may be as free of the Vserers Courts of Requests as other Shires be ; we are out of the principallity , and the Kings Subiects : then to bee barred from those Benefits & Immunities which the Law doth alow , were lawlesse and vnreasonable . Our Shire is a Shire-royall ; and we pay as royally for our vsury as if we dealt with a a Vserers as Iewes by their trade . Iewes , the cursedst Generation of all Adams children . Another time I dealt for a hundred pound with an Vserer Hold-borne-ward ; and hauing neglected my Houre , his Wiues Sheet-trauell with him by night , gaue ( O course fortune ) my dayes labour the Canuase : & driuen to become suter to her mightines ( great Princesse of darknes ) so what by meanes of som ells of Lawn , a Sugar-loafe , and a paire of silke Stocks ( Woode ones being much more meete ) I was beholden to neither of them , thankes be to my meanes : But missing my day , with this consideration-Taker he set Sentinell , two Sergeants , on the height of the Hill neare Paules ; I shall neuer forget the fashion of their faces , two Orange-tawny-beards , in a bloody field ( Gules my Lord : ) they walked as if they would haue ouer-walked me ; but , hauing gotten my broad-side , they sayd stand . I had the word ready , at whose sute ? ( thinking I had bin in the wars , & they Sentinels to giue passe ) they brought me to a a a Counter in the Poultry . Garrison neare the Exchange garded with a number of Varletiers . God knew my heart when I saw all Halberds , and no Muskets , for then I thought the dispatch in mine execution would be the slower : howbeit I did with as much speed as I could , ransom my selfe : I speak not as if it tended to prouok any of your Lordships to pitty me ; but to lesson such young Gentlemen , as ( at careles liberty ) serues vnder your Lordshpps coulors , that they accept of no office vnder the Vserers or Brokers check : your Lordship shal heare many of the Nobility ( out of their honorable zeale to publik profit ) commend my Common-wealth : yet if any of them ( like Puritans ) burn with zeale to lend me money to so good a purpose , the heauens fore-fend that I should quench it ; no , it is good to bee zealous in a good matter .

Thus hauing tyred your Lordships attention , I thought to haue made an end ; but my loue to you exceeding the ordinary loue of men , drawes me on to trouble you further for your a a Strange Paradox , yet true if a mans increase of estate tends to his ease . ease .

Once I heard your Fathers name ( beeing my Lord and Maister ) ill spoken off by a world of people , and two other great Earles , three Knights , and diuers Genlemen , ill spoken off by the inhabitants from Tintarne to Comtyder , on both sides Wye , threescore miles a head ; I being a seruant , the Cause stood so strong with the Countrey , I could by no meanes deuise how to make a quarrell to defend my Lords honour . I little thought I should haue beene in place to haue heard so many ill-speakers , and so few defenders , against so many honourable persons and others of account , and durst doe nothing .

I praid to heare their Greeuances : They said time out of minde , as appeared by their Records ( Kept in the Castell of the Hay , burnt by one Owen Glindovr ) the Riuer of Wie ( their free & Mother-Riuer ) was ( in the troublesome times , betweene the houses of York & Lancaster ) so Weared & fortified , as if the Salmons therein ( on paine of imprisonment ) had beene forbidden their vsuall walkes ; and on paine of death ( as in case of high treason ) not to trade with any of the Earle of Marches men .

The humble request of foure or fiue shires will be , that your Honors ( with the rest ) will take pitty on a whole country , groning vnder the burthen of intollerable Weares ; which ( for priuate ) are the very Dammes and Let ts of publike profit . Your three houses , with one Lords more , hauing more interest in those shires ( vnder his Maiestie ) then all other Landlords .

The Countries reliefe rests al-most in your Lordships hands : the duty you owe my Lord of Shrewsbury , and his deare respects of you , commands that Weare . My Brother and my selfe being Commissioners in a Commission of Shewres , not daring to doe our duties without my Lord your Fathers priuity , ( hee hauing one Weare on the Riuer , being Lord President of Wales , and our Lord and Maister : ) wee acquainted him with the Commission , and vpon my saluation ( I protest ) he commanded vs that his Weare should bee puld downe , if it appeared profitable to the country .

That noble Earle of Worcester , with his Honorable and vertuous sonne the Lord Harbart , how their Weares will be dispensed with-all in these daies , all the shires will referre vnto their honorable dispositions . Pacience perforce . For Sir Edward Winter ; there is nothing ( I take it ) but true honor in him : My acquaintance with him is but small : yet if I bee not much deceiued , hee respects more the common-good , then his owne priuate ; although ( indeed ) hee was ( to say the truth ) vpon the last Commission a Commissioner very bitter against the Weares ouerthrow . I saw the reasons thereof ; and did allowe of his vnreasonable prosecution . Hee shewed much witte therein , and did vs more harme then all the rest : God forgiue him , and make him as firme to the ouer-throwers of Weares , as he is fast to their vpholders . Sir Iohn Scudamore , hath alwayes beene the comfort of the country : Nurse to the Infancie of many young Gentlemen bred therein , and cherisher of the rest , that were not aduerse . Hee hath euer said , A good offer of a good heart . if there were any hope that the ouer-throw of the Weares would make the Riuer ( Wye ) Nauigable , Portable , or Sammonable , hee would pull downe his first , to giue an instance to others .

I beseech your Lordshipp beare witnesse , I saye nothing of Sir Roger Bodenhams Weare ; nor of none of the Weares aboue Hereford Bridge . But this I say , it 's a pittifull thing that any of your Lordshipps Weares with the rest , ( built like Babell threatning the skies with their eminence ) should hinder the Salmon-fishing , which gaue that sustenance to fiue or sixe shires , as many thousands , were a thousand times better susteined and comforted then now they are , or can bee .

All that can be said , why the Riuer cannot bee made Port-able is ; Some Fords when they are at the lowest will want water . A poore and needy speech ! As if there were not meanes enough to chanell such shallows , in Summer they being at the smallest , and peaceablest time to bee wrought .

Good my LORD , downe with the Weares , let vs haue Wine with our Venison . the carriage of it from London by land , Bristoll better serued with Sacks then Gascoine wine . makes a cup of Claret looke like a weake leane wench that hath the greene sicknesse . And such as we haue from Bristowe , is fitter to be drunke with a Welsh Goate , then an English Buck.

Wee are barde of our Meate , bound from our Drinke , and many other prouisions , which almost all other shires haue . During your Fathers life-time our hopes were a foote , wee had the Vantgard in the warre : But , since his death , put to the Reare , by occasion of your nonage , and such accidents as beefell .

But now seeing your sacred Soueraigne puts his hands on your shoulders ( without which the greatest Subiect cannot put his hand on his heart , for want of one ) forget not ( my noblest Lord ) to fall at his feete in fauour of your Fathers fauorites . If a Commission of Shewres happen amongst vs ( by Gods visitation ) then I hope you will most earnestly beseech his Maiestie , that his Supersidias knock not out the braines of the Commission of Salmon-fishing . The fore-said Supersidias hath alwayes beene our vtter ouer-throw . My good Lord , compare all the Riuers in the Kingdome together ; and you shall see and heare by all antiquitie , the Riuer of Wye , did exceede all other for Salmon . These Weares your three fore-mentioned Lordships , with the rest doe owe . They doe you and them but the least seruice ; they bring some fewe of your Salmons in season to your Table : and a hundred thousand bee serued vnseasonably . In my memory , it hath bred an inbred murmure amongst vs , which hath made the most so melancholy , as I thinke the braines of many be not setled in their true situation . They confesse their error , and report their mistaking : It is manly to erre , beastly to continue in error . first , to bee from a worthy old Gentlemen , Maister Philip Iones , who out of a blind zeale ( like Papists that goe on pilgrimage ) yet wanting the true length of the three Lords legges , ( but held a true course agreeing with all actes of Parliament ) did put a foote the Commission of Shewres , not thinking the Earles of the Land to bee the Gods of the Earth . His yeares worne out , and memory decayed , foure-score odde yeares drawing on the day of his death , neuer trained at the Counsell-table , durst not presse into the presence , and ( like a dotard ) did neuer New-yeares-gift the Ladies of the Priuie & Bed-chamber : then what with illiberality of breeding , some misery and vntidy handling , suffered to be shuffled into the Commission of Shewres , friends and foes : so , by often meetings and ouer-long delayes , harazed and wore out all his hopes in dooing any good . The first Commission hauing made a peaceable end by Supersidias ; the death of which Commission bred more lamentation in three Shires , The priuate is more respected then the publike weale , of men priuate . then the death of three Earles ( best common-wealths men ) would doe in all England . The last Commission might be played on the Stage : The principall persons were Commissioners ; all which had Weares on the Riuer : and all had reason enough to ouer-rule Baby-Commissioners . As at a quarter Sessions , one great man will vnder-take the managing of matters belonging to all the Bench. If poore I , should but speake to countenance a cause ( for a wench made woman before her time . ) Hee lookes on the one side , as if I were put in Commission onely to certifie Recognisances for Ale-houses : or to giue a respectiue voyce if a faction happen to arise : so , these Baby-commissioners for the Riuer of Wye , hold their Hattes in their hands , the one legge lower then the other , ready to doe all their duties at once : and the grand Commissioners ( like Bishop Bonner ) with Riding-rods , Alluding to that in maister Fox his Acts and Monuments . threaten displeasure , or vtter destruction , to all that were not of their deuotion towards the Weares . This hath beene the common course and custome of the Commission of shewres , to out-countenance the cause by the greatest persons : but , the LORD of Heauen euer so wrought , that the Weare-owners were more beholden to the supersidias then to twelue men : twelue men hauing giuen their Verdit , a Iudgement against the Weares & after all this a supersidias ! Ó ! The consideration of it would haue made old Ployden ( had hee beene liuing ) forsweare the Law in his latter dayes . Maister Blonden being of counsell with the Country , it so mooued him ( being ouer-come with puffing and blowing ) that hee wrought vpward and downward , as if hee had taken a vomit or a purgation . A Trinity of Ladies able to worke miracles . I remember in Queene Elizabeths dayes my Lady of Warwick , Mistresse Blanch Parry , and my Lady Scudamore , in little Laye-matters would steale opportunity to serue some friends turnes ; but where and in whome the supersidias rests at command , this mystery I would my good Lord would learne ; because none of these ( neere and deere Ladies ) durst intermeddle so farre in matters of Common-wealth . Twenty Commissioners attend the seruice , whereof foure to be of the Quorum , euer in place : the greatest men of the number , hauing no desire to proceed : Many dayes meeting disappointed for want of appearance : the Iewry sworne , their appearance , by penalty , appointed twentye miles off : the twenty Commissioners present , some to vphold and some to ouer-throw . In this manner , for a long Summers day ( which dured sixe months ) wee bare the brunt of all opposition . Our last meeting was at Chepstow , and at the mouth of the riuer Wye , the Iewry ( hauing day giuen for their verdit , riding ouer the bridge ) vpon a sodaine saw the water swolne with a sea of Salmon . The Inquest enquiring of them what news ? they answred by signes ( sith they were as mute as fishes ) they were bard of their natiue country , where all their ancestors were bred and borne : An assault towards , against Chepstow-bridge by Salmons . & in their infancy nursd , till they came to Salmons estate . This moane they made by instinct of nature : the Iury praid they would commit no ryot , but indure the day of the Iuries verdict with-out their further approach ; and order should happily be taken for egresse & regresse as of old : The Bridge being in a dangerous case meane while ; for it seem'd their so neere comming , tended to no other purpose but to strike vp the heeles of the Bridge , not laying his glory in the dust , but the water : For feare whereof ( as if the Bridge had lost his heart of Oake ) it fell downe ( heartlesse-lubber ) of it selfe within one yeare following ; and for the Salmons further comfort , the Iewrie told them the great Lords were Lords of the stickes and stakes , not of the Riuer ; the Riuer was the Kings : no prohibition lay against them , but that they might lawfully enter into their old habitations and places of resort : onely the great Lords will say , they haue three yeares possession , or it may be , chalenge prescription ; which cannot bee ; you being the Kings Tenants , no time going beyond the King . I am not satisfied , It is most strange , and yet most true . how after such a world of Labour and Toyle by the Commissioners and Iurors , that the bare Information of a Weare-owner ( perhaps ) could annihilate all our painfull Indeuours for the good of sixe Shieres with a supersidias .

If I should forget to tell your Lordshipp it hath beene in the memory of many yet liuing , that the Riuer of Wye did yeeld Salmon so plentifully as Sturgeon in some partes of Germany : & that a Hereford-shire seruant would surfet on fresh Salmon as oft as a North-Hampton-shire-man on fatt Venison : and since my natiuity , till yeares of discretion had ouer-taken mee , I could not Learne this lesson . For my Foster-mother Woodhill , old mother Webb , and mother Spooner ( such Mothers there are ( my good Lord ) though you know not their Fathers ) telling the Wonders of the Weares so pittifully , as if they hadde beene in the captiuity at Babilon : How thirty Salmons were taken such a morning at a draught , and thirty three , at another time !

The Supplication of Beggers so moued the heart of that famous King Henry the eight in his later dayes , that hee did nothing else but platforme Foundations for true and sound Religion .

If these Weares had bin in his daies in such manner as they be now , he would haue taken the like order with them as hee didde with Abbeyes and Monasteries . a a Behead them like Traytors . As an Heresie is bred and hatched amongst those that vnderstands no true Religion soonest ; so , in the tender time of that sweete and gratious King Edward the sixt , these Weares had their breeding and increase .

But GOD determining his time vntimely , the Weare-owners gott a descent against vs : and on a sodaine wee fell into the handes of a King of a strange Language ; then wee ( being Brittaines ) could speake no Spanish ; hee and his queene too too much troubled in establishing their owne Religion , wee had ynough to doe to defend our bodies from Bishop Bonners Bon-fiers : and deferred all our intended Supplications to a hope-fuller time .

Our late , and blessed Soueraigne Queene Elizabeth ( Englands ioy , defender of the faith , & faithful establisher of true Religion ; ( whose matchlesse Princely vertues , the world didde , and euer shal admire ) yet her aged yeares troubled with a discontented warre c c That of Tyron . forced vs to silence with many a sorrowfull heart .

Now ( my Lord ) the time is come to exhibite our supplications : the King of glory hath sent vs his sacred seruant King Iames , together with a fruitfull Queene and royall Issue , according to our owne heartes : A King that can teach Religion ; a King from beyond his Cradle , and free from strange deuotion ; succeeding a most religious Maiden-Queene .

b b Time is now most opportune . Now , is our time most humbly to beseech your Lordshippe ( you hauing immediate grace and fauor from his Maiestie , wee poore wretches not daring to speake , beeing people of the quietest and peaceablest dispositions of the Kingdome ) not to neglect our Common-wealth . Remember the loue your Father and Grand-father bare their-our Countrey : remember wee were their kinsmen , and seruants , and of the dearest respect of any what-soeuer with them . Wee desire but passage of the Law of the Land ; and that your Lordship wil not speak in fauor of your owne Weare ( O super-naturall vertue ! ) nor my Lord of Shrewsburies , nor any of the rest , no , nor suffer a supersidias to land neare Chepstowsbridge least it make it shake for feare , of a second Commotion of Salmons against it . I haue acquainted your Lordshipp with this matter-mechanical , & made known vnto you the raising of our Church , the planting of our Preacher , the Chappel & Almes-house with the rest apendant : if your Lordship take but a superficial view of this giddy Inuention ( as som of your late seruants term'd it ) it wil satisfie me , it being but a particular plot , not able to be performed by any whose estate exceedes mine a million ; because the place of my Residence affords Meddow , Pasture , all kinde of Corne , Wood , Water near at hand ; & especially blest with such a number of Beggers as are able to vndoe a Countrey . But my Lord , I doe most humbly pray , that in the reading & viewing of my Water-workes , you will vnite your heart and eyes to read respectiuely , for retention sake , to the a a A gainfull end of painefull reading . end you may call to account , your Stewards and Suruayors of your Lordshipps Mannors , Lands and Tenements ; What Riuers , Brookes , Fountaines and Springes do inhabite the compasse of your command , and that your Lordshipp will spare sporting-times for some few houres , that I may giue you such information , and precepts withall ; that ( at your pleasure ) you may charrecter what profit this Watry Element will raise you , more then euer was raised .

I do not say I wil ; but I could , in your Monmoth and Glamorgan shire-countrey single out ( in a short time ) all the Riuers , Brookes , Fountaines and Springs which owe duty or speake well of any of your Lordshipps Lands . If my Labors bee in that manner commaunded , it will cost your Lordship Warrants for Bucks , and Letters of Priuiledge , that your Tenants raise not b b Feare of priuate harme makes publike hatred often to arise from long-laid ▪ rest . head against mee : weening my comming to bee the ouerthrow of their Posterity .

I protest that s not my purpose , but to put a foote the Mistery of Winter and Sommer-drownings , to the comfort of the Countrey , and present profit of the present Inhabitants : humbly praying your Lordshipp , as you shall receiue a great increase : so , you do not ( according to the new fashion ) by extreme racking , ransake the succeeding Issue of the faithfull Followers of your eldest Ancestors , whose old gotten-glory , at Rodes and Malta ( in defence of the holy-land ) the Brittish Traditions and Recordes , in great aboundance , doe testifie .

I haue done with my Mechanicals , and the hopefull riuer of Wye ; only I will fixe this accidentall merryment in the Frontispice ( or broad-brow ) of my Preface to my Water-workes : signifying the cause of these excursions to proceed from vnbeleeuing creatures , possessed and puf-pasted with pride and peeuish opposition .

An act of Parliament will bee required for ioyning of Peter-Church , Vou-church and Torneston , there distance beeing not a mile a sunder ; Torneston hauing onely one inhabitant to make a Congregation ; the liuing extending it selfe but vnto ten pounds yearely ; two of them straining them-selues to make forty in the whole .

A most miserable alowance for a Preacher and his Curate ; and most miserable the time when Ignorantes ( out of heate of a preposterous zeale not able to render a reason of the faith they hold , nor well know wherof they do affirme ) will aduenture ( with libellous Articles ) to informe ( against men conformable ) a reuerend father , Bishop Bennet ( Bishop of the Diocesse ) whose heart was prepared with all his power to the higher house of the Parliament to settle this president ( viz: to vnite three Parishes into one ) in the Border of the principallity ; Yet a new fangl'd fellow , presumed to falsefie the testimony of the Inhabitants of those three Parishes , and sought a Preaching Minister of purpose to alter the antiquity of their religion , and change the true ceremonies ther-vnto incident , vnto a strickt obseruation of quick-siluer-brain'd Discipline : and cause mee to bee questioned before the Bishopp for these misdemeanors , as if Heresie or Sacriledge had beene the ground . But the Bishop ( most iudiciously ) quitte mee as no way taxable . I desir'd by Acte of Parliament to vnite these Churches into one body ( being patron of two of them , the third vnder a prebend of the Cathedral Church : ) but they wrought with the Ecclesiastical state by principall men , that an homily audibly red would be as edifiable vnto the simpler sort as a presician-Sermon vnto the reformed phantastiques . These troubles , the African-Politician hath raised : And I feare a further mischiefe , that he will inforce those Lunatikes to stirr vpp the Patron Prebend to a higher pitch ; his infirmity offering nothing lesse then all the likelyhoods of discontentment . But hauing gotten a fee-simple in the Bishop , a free-hold in the Deane and chapter ; an inheritance in the rest of the Cathedrals , we beg at your Lordshipps handes to add the Act of Parliament to put vs in possession . In following which Acte , it is necessary your Lordship warrant my descent from gladis de gam Daughter of S. Dauid Gam , slaine in the vangard of the battell of Egincourt ; who beeing sent by Henry the fift to discouer the force of the French ; Answered , they were ynow to be slaine , e-now to be taken prisoners , e-now to run away : which speech continues to his euerlasting praise : this Gladis being mother to your Lordships Ancestors & mine : the Earle of Pembrook , Sir Richard Herbert , Vaughan of Bradwardin , Vaughan of Hergest , & Vaughan of Tretowr hir 5. sons-al 5. brethren & al 5. ouerthrown at Banbury field . Fiue such brethren out of one woman , the 13. shires of Wales hath seldom yeelded : my Lord , I am By Gladis , kin to most of the Old Nobility : which aged descent is almost worn out , yet not so worn , but either by consanguinity , or affinity , I can light on a Howard , a Herbert , a Somerset , a Carew , or a Knowles , euer ready to assist an Act of Parliament to raise a preaching Minister . These turbulent ouer-frighted , stir'd vp the harts of the poorest people to a dangerous mislike with inuectiue breathings , that they must goe aboue a mile to a sermon ; that their Church would not containe the three Parishes at a Sermon time ; that it could not bee done by Law , and that forty pound was sufficient for a Preacher , and that I did it not out of zeale , but out of ambition ; seeking mine owne glory & gaine , wherin ( God is my iudge , my Lord ) they wrong me as much as their own charitable iudgements .

NOw my ( honorable Lord ) I come to the point : to make rehearsal , and to demonstrate my vnder-takings ; setting forth the Clothier ( with his twenty broad Loomes ) for the finest cloth , to be the worthiest . Ten narrow Loomes for course Wooll , Flaxe , Hempe , and Hurdes . Some Fustian-loomes , with such silke-loomes as shall bee needfull : Two thousand poore Spinners , Carders , Wooll-pyckers , Quil-winders , with the Broad and Narrow-weauers ; Fifty Habitations with Shops , Chambers , Chymneys , and Cesterns for washing their hands ; for seuerall Artificers , that neither Clothiers , Weauers , Pyckers of Woll , Quill-winders , Spinners and Carders , shall euer loose an houres labour . No women , children , nor Prentises , shall be free of this place , but all selected Iourney-men of the best ability of body and Arte that may be had . I giue fifty pound yearely and perpetually vnto a Preacher ; twenty pound yearely and perpetually vnto a Curate ; who shall alwayes attend the Artificers , to read morning and euening prayer in their Chappell . An Almes-house for such as ( I sayd before ) necessitie doth cause to for-beare their owne gettings .

Many Honorable Gentlemen finding mine ability such , as not sodenly able to raise the same : they wisht I would prepare a number of beneuolent Contributers , persons of the greatest worth , best affected , and knowne to bee most comfortable to the Common-wealth : out of which Number , I doe most humbly inuite your Lordship , with my Honorable Lord of Mountgomery to this beneuolent preparation .

I likewise inuite some venerable and reuerend Bishops ( my especiall good and louing Lords ) the Lord Bishops of Worcester , Hereford and Gloucester .

I inuite my Honourable Lords the Lord Chiefe-Iustice of England , and that worthye Lord Chiefe-Iustice of the Common-pleas : the Lord Chiefe-Baron , and my Lords the Iudges in generall .

I inuite the Knights of the Bathe , Knights of the Field , and Knights of GREAT BRITAINE , Maister Talbott of Grafton , Maister Sheldon of Beley , Maister Dutton of Sherborne , and Maister Harley of Brompton-brian , with-all Esquires and Gentle-men of all the Counties of the kingdome .

I haue seperated your Lordshipps ( with the rest ) from the society of the sullied leier of Subiects : so respectiue haue I beene in the execution of this Inuention .

If your Lordshipp will know what hath induced mee to these purposes : beeing ouer-questioned by the Tag-ragg-rable of dull-pated Ignorants ; that I had protested and promised to publish my Water-workes long before this :

And euer-hoping to reduce it into that forme which might bee pleasing to all posteritie , and not quarrelled at by anye , it beeing so full of difficultie and varyetye of forme and matter .

Not possible to giue it his Ornament with-out this that followes ; hauing neyther President nor Example , to stirre mee vppe any waye to the like labours : Euer desirous to vse a correspondencie : So as a Souldier I will leaue some testimonie or Relicke of that Honourable rancke wherein I had my breeding : and end my dayes with a Souldier-like fare-well .

BEeing one of hir Maiesties Captaines , raisd in eighty-eight , hauing my directions from my Honourable LORD and Maister your Father : I haue spent that small Talent & skill : Neuer curious in concealing from my Lieutenant , Ancient , Seriant , Corporalls , and Drumme , the worthynesse of the warre : vnto which I am much inclin'd .

Most humblye beseeching your Lordshipp , if you heare any say , I am fantasticall , say you ( my deere LORD ) I am but curious ; so excuse mine Imperfections the best you may , and I will euer honour you .

The time is spent , and I must spende some time with the Printer : and a little more in sorting , cowching , and planting my dyning-roome , free from all disorder .

In what manner my Table shall be furnished ; What attendance the Mechanicall Artificers shall performe ; how industrious my Ancient and Serieant shall bee in preparing all these Artificers for his Maiesties seruice , into what place it shall please his Highnesse to command them .

Now ( my Lord ) I end with this materiall circumstance beeing extracted out of mine owne meanes . I signified in mine Epistle to your Lordshipp , A dining-roome to entertaine a world of worthy beneuolent Contributers : The Table perpetually furnished to intertaine forty of those Contributers dayly in expectancy ; A hundred Artificers subiect to the Seruice of the Table : Twenty fiue attending at Dinner , and twenty-fiue at supper : fifty more on the morrow : and so the hundred Artificers shall attend the Table in this manner Dayly and Perpetually .

In recompence whereof they receiue the benefit of the Reuersion with all the comfort I can afford them .

All the Artificers to attend the Preacher to Sermon and home againe . The Visitor of the Negligencers Attendant to informe their misdemenors to the chiefe of the Company , if there bee cause that no common Swearer , Drunkard nor Swaggerer shall liue within the limits of my allowance . His first offence warned , the second punished , the third discharged for euer from the place : Euery Artificer shall vnto euery Contributor ( at their comming thether ) humble them-selues with ( all respectiue obedience ) acknowledging them by word and deed to be the Founders of their well-doing , and happy Common-wealth .

The Dining-roome wainscoted , and fairly hang'd with Arras .

Touching the Fare to bee serued to the Table dayly and perpetually , forty full dishes of variety of meats ; with a Pasty of Venison to Dinner , and another to supper , when they are in season .

A Sentinell sett from ten to eleuen in a Turret , for discouery , to see what Contributer comes : If a Foot-man dwelling in the neighbourhood ; he giues the Larum by the toule of a Bell , signifying him to bee a Foot-man ; which heard , then the Drumme soundes . If a Horse-man , by the Larum hee signifies him to bee a Horse-man , and then the Trumpet soundes And vpon their comming into the Dining-roome , All Officers of the company intertaine the Contributers with all ioy and merryment : the wind Instrument , with all sortes of Musicke plaies Dinner and Supper : and to adde all the comfortable contentment to all Contributers , from Bartholomew day to Mid-may .

The Groome of the Chamber shall at his perill prepare a good fire with Ashe , Hawthorne , and Char-cole .

My LORD , that honourable and most worthy Iudge the Lord Chiefe Iustice Poppham hearing of my Drownings ; said Cousin , how dost thou drowne ? I told him by helpe of a Riuer or Brooke ; by Weare and sluce to take part , or all , into my Trench-royall . What s thy Trench royall ( saith hee ? )

The Trench-royall is a Cesterne that serues al offices in a Noblemans house . As a Cesterne in your Lordshipps house , that serues all Offices : My Trench-royal serues my Counter Trenches ; my Defending-Trenches , my Topping or Brauing-Trenches , my Winter and Sommer-Trenches ; my Double and Treble-trenches ; a trauersing-trench with a point ; And my Euerlasting-trench , with other troublesome trenches , which in my Mapp I wil more exactly demonstrate .

The good Lord hearing all these wordes , ( able to raise a Spirit ) sayd : Cousin art thou out of thy witts ?

My Lord for distinction sake ( said I ) I must giue them significant names , such as my seruants attending my Winter and Sommer-Drownings may vnderstand to execute my commands .

So , my Lord , I hauing giuen satisfaction to the honourable person , I will make it most plainly appeare to your Lordshippe how fecible this Worke is : that all Cynick-Doggs or Lamb-biters , may with shame be silenced , and their foule Mouthes muzled .

It is yet wondered at , by almost all , how a particular and priuate Gentleman should bee able to bring all this to passe .

But my good Lord ( on my behalf ) I humbly pray you to pray all of the better sort , To speake what we know not , is to thinke what we should not . to bee sparing of their censures herein ; for artlesse - Aimes seldome hitts the marke .

I would that no man should say , I doe it out of ambition or other sinister respect : for the Rule of Charity is : in cases doubtfull , wee should iudge the best .

But if any ( notwithstanding ) should bee so iniurious to say so , then ( my LORD ) they may say the Clothier ; the habitation for Artificers , the Chappell , and Preacher , Curate , Almes-house ; My Table for the benefit of poore Artificers , and whatsoeuer else is good ( yea a Common-good ) is out of ambition .

I hope ( my good Lord ) I shall heare no more of such Obiections ; if I doe , though I am no Poet yet I can make Ballads , To the tune of vp-tayls-all : For I le lash them Ifayth with Rimes that shall make it rancle where they fall .

But to take away the wonder of the World , and to giue satis-faction to the enuious-vnsatisfied

I can keepe three hundred Kine , three hundred young Cattell , This I mince thus for ill digesting stomacks . three thousand Sheepe , all these Winter and Sommer : Hauing besides ten Plough-Land , all hard at hand ; foure Milles as neare , and within two mile of the place Tymber sufficient for all my Buildings . And Fire-wood ynough for all the Artificers , the Inholder and the rest ; Wallstone , Tyle , Lime and Bricke , as necessary as any man liuing .

My good LORD , I doe not thus Inuentory my Estate , A iust excuse . and paint forth the Particulers , as if I were to sell it by the Drumme ; or as looking thereon with Vaine-gloryous Eyes . No , no , my good LORD , nothing lesse ( for there is no such cause , I am the more sorry . ) But I doe it ( perforce ) to giue the doubtfull Inquisitor satisfaction for the setling of his beleefe herein , That I attempt nothing with out the limmitts of mine owne strength .

But now your Lordshippe shall heare an end of the Wonder . All men wil confesse , three hundred Kine wil raise , Braunes , Bacons , Porks , Piggs , Geese , Turkeis , Capons , Hens , Chickens , Ducks , & the like . They wil confes ten Plow-land in seuerall places , all with-in a myle , with my Tithe-barnes , will do the like .

They will confesse my foure Milles beeing within a flight shoote one of another , will doe the like : They will confesse my Brew-house , my Backe-house , my Kitchin , my Beare-seller , my shambles ; and the water from my Vtingvats will doe the like . Besides in a M●ste-yeare I can feed a world of Hogges .

Your Lordship sees I am forc'd to doe , and ouer-doe , as one that must doe All , else nothing will bee done ▪ I thinke I haue besturd my selfe pritty well , to make the whole world wonder at mee .

Your Lordshipp shall now see what benefit I receiue for the perpetuall continuance of this Table . What benefit can be raised .

The Butter and Cheese of my three hundred Kine , I sell , and furnish the Clothyer , his Broadeweauers , Spinners , Carders & the rest ; with all the Mechanicalls there-with . The Corne of ten Plowlands , Wheate , Rye , & Malt made in my own Killing ; I grinde at my owne Milles : Bak'd , & Brewed in my Bake-house and Brew-house ; and sold to the foresaid persons : My Wooll , my Muttons , Lambes , and culld-sheepe , of my three thousand I sell to the sayde persons : I sell yearely one hundred of my eldest Oxen , Kine , and my cul'd young Cattell fatte to the persons aforesaid : I sell yearely one hundred of my eldest Oxen , Kine , and my cul'd young-cattell , fat to the persons aforesaid : I finde all Artificers ; and In-keepers wood , which will bee ten times more profitable vnto me then now . Let Men iudge what benefit I may make of my Brew-house , and what of my Bake-house , what of my shambles , my Haye & Prouender ; my Chandlers-shopp , my Barke vnto the Tanner : to whom I sell all my Hides ; the Glouer hath all my Pelts : what prouision my owne estate will not affoord , the neighbourhood can prouide it , that neither want nor scarsitie shall afflict any of his Maiesties seruants and subiects .

My good Lord , let it not seeme irkesome to you , nor cloy your dainty eare , that thus I belabour your attention with repetition of these countrey-commodities , and common-wealths Requisites ; so to season your courtly pleasures , as sharpe sawce doth sweete meates , but when you bend your regarde to these things ( as I doubt not but you will : For actiue witte in short time turnes to working wisdome : ) The worlds obseruation will then know , you waxe ripe for the highest imployments : For it strongly argues youth is then well mellowed , when it begins to looke into these necessaries for mans life with Ages eyes . Pleasures , that tickle our sences , make vs but spoile Pretious-time ; while they betray our Reason , that should rule rebellious affections that ought to obey . The sooner these enemies ▪ to mans dignity , are shaken off from the Minde , the sooner will the Minde aduance the Body to dignity .

It is a glorious ( how euer troublesome ) thing to haue a chiefe Oare in the Shipp of a well-gouernd state . The benefit of life in great men cannot be better imployde then to the benefit of good men . For the Back and Belly is Natures chiefe care ; these beeing prouided for , shee sweetly takes repose . What is ouer & beside , is for Ornament , which shee wants not : for pompe which she requires not : or for pleasure , which if shee wanted , shee would the more abound in all goodnesse .

Now , ( my good Lord ) these Indeuoures and Workes of mine ( tending to thee full supply of the Back and Bellyes wants ) are to be heedfully respected in their particulers , by you that one day may haue this care cast vpon you , by God , King , & Countrey , to see to the necessities of All , while you consult but with a Few . It s merry in hall , when beards wagge all , ( saith the old Prouerbe ) . And it 's a merry Weale-publick , where euer-enough is as good as a feast , suffizing all by good gouernment .

The manner of my Drownings .

AFter I had spent some yeares in Queene Elizabeths Court , and saw the greatnes and glory therof vnder the command of Mistres Blanch Parry ( an honorable & Vertuous Gentlewoman , my Aunt and Mistresse ) my spirite beeing too tender to indure the bitternesse of her humor ; I was by her carefull ( though crabbed austerity ) forced vnto the Irish wars , where I continued three or foure yeares some-times twist deep in that country-water : & what with long fasting and ill diet , I was possessed with the Country-disease : Flix . the extremity whereof hasted mee to returne to my Fathers home in the County of Heref. for recouery of my health : which within sixe months I obteined . After it pleased GOD to giue mee recouery , I resolued for the Lowe-countrey-warres againe : and hauing begun my iourney thetherward , I happened on a Country-Gentlewoman , who was seized of a Mannor , and ouer-shot Mill : which conuerted all my martiall endeuours and hopes of honor , to these country-labours : Hauing soiourn'd two yeares in my Fathers house , wearied in doing nothing , and fearing my fortunes had beene ouer-throwne in putting by my Martiall occupation ; I began to expostulate with my selfe what was best to be done to preserue my reputation with my martiall companions , and with-all to giue contentment to my vertuous and louing wife . And while I was to settle a resolution , comparing these desires together , my Wiues importunity caused mee to quitt their ordinary familiarity , yet with limitation ; at such times as conueniency might afforde .

This restraint of hers , drewe mee to the attendance of home-labours ; who prayed mee with-all in my walkes abroad , to haue an eye to her Millers true dealing . I prayed her to put ouer that seruice to some seruant of hers : for of all trades I had least confidence in their truth : and therefore required the more paines to be taken in watching their water , & looking to their fingers , which I was loth to vndertake : not-with-standing , ( vpon better consideration , least shee should haue held me carelesse of her good , and so ill deserue her loue ) I obeyed her will , as many doe , and many miseries do ensew thereby . So , in the month of March , falling ( with the streame ) to the milneward within my Meade ( with no desire I protest ) to fashion or forme Husbandry ) I happened to finde a Mole or Wants nest , raised on the brim of the Brooke , like a great hillocke ; from which nest or hillocke , there issued a little streame of water , ( drawne by the working of the Wante ) downe a sheluing or descending ground , one pase broad , and some twenty in length .

The running of which little Streame , did , ( at that time ) wonderfully content mee , seeing it pleasing Greene ; and that other on both sides full of Mosse , The first cause that the work was vndertaken . and Hide-bound for want of water . This was the first cause I vnder-tooke the drowning of grounds .

Now , to proceede to the execution of my worke ( beeing perswaded of the excellencie of the water ) I examined how many footefall the Brooke yeelded , from my Mill to the vpper-most part of my grounds , beeing in length a measured Mile .

There laye of old Meadow-ground thirty acres ouer-worne with age , and heauily laden with Mosse , Cowslips , and much other imperfit grasse , betwixt my Mill-streame , and the maine Riuer ; which ( with two shillings cost ) my granfather , and his gransire , with the rest , might haue drown'd at their pleasures : But from the beginning , neuer any thing was done , that either tradition or record , could witnesse , or any other testimonie .

Hauing vewed the conuenientest place , the vpper-most part of my ground would afforde for placing a Commanding-Weare , or Sluce , I espied diuers Water-falls on my neighbours grounds , higher then mine by seauen or eight foote ; which gaue me greater aduantage for drowning of more ground , then I was ( of my owne power ) able to doe . I acquainted them with my purpose : the one ( being a Gentleman of worth and good nature ) gaue mee leaue to plant the one end of my Weare on his side the Riuer ▪ the other ( my Tenant ) beeing very aged and simple ) ( by no perswasion I could vse ) would yeeld his consent : alledging it would marre his ground : yea , some-times his Apple-trees : and men tolde him water would raise the Rush , and kill his Cow-slipps , which was the cheefest Flower that his Daughters had , ( beeing many ) to tricke the May-pole withall . All which with scilence I past ouer for a time , knowing his simplicity to exceed his discretion ; yet in the end I re-enforc'd my perswations , and tolde him ( next vnto the King ) I was to bee obeyed in matters reasonable : and that it became him not to prouoke his Land lord ; nor to stand at the staffes end with his Commander . Yet these Buggs-words would not mooue him . Then gaue I a fresh charge , and to draw him on with a Baite which hee would soone bite at , tould him I had a Meddow-plott in his neighbourhood , worth ten pound , which I would part with on reasonable termes : but before I could make him beleeue hee was a foole he gott the Fee-simple thereof . For no simple fee . Which President doth falsifie the old-said-Saw , Thou art an old doting foole . After I had wrought this farre , I caused my seruant ( a Ioyner ) to make a leuell to discouer what quantitie of ground I might , ( from the entry of the Water ) obtaine : allowing his dubling-course , compassing Hills to cary it plym or euen : which fell out to bee some three hundred Acres . After I had plimmed it vpon a true Leuell , I be-tooke my selfe to the fauour of my Tenants , Friends and Neighbours , in running my maine-trench ( which I call my Trench-royall ) I call it so , because I haue within the contents of my worke , Counter-trenches , defending trenches , topping , or brauing-trenches . Winter and Summer-trenches , double and treble-trenches , a trauersing trench with a point , and an euer-lasting trench , with other troublesome-trenches : which in my Map I will more liuely expresse .

When the Inhabitants of the country wherin I inhabit , ( namely the Golden-Valley ) saw I had begun some part of my worke , they summoned a consultation against mee , and my man Iohn the leuellour : saying our wittes were in our hands , and not in our heads : so , we both for three or foure yeares , laye leuell to the whole Country-censure for such Enginors as their fore-fathers heard not of , nor they well able to endure with-out merryment .

When my labours tooke beginning , they became subiect to discourse : Diuerse Gentlemen with others , inquired from whence I had my Examples ; and where I saw any such worke ? I could not answere them but with an other question : namely , where sawe you any such ? They said , no where . Truly nor I.

In the running and casting of my Trench-royall , though it were leueld from the beginning to the end , vpon the face of the ground , yet in the bottome I did likewise leuell it to auoyde error .

For the Breadth and Depth , my proporcion is ten foote broad , and foure foote deep ; vnlesse in the beginning , to fetch the water to my drowning-grounds , I rann it some halfe mile , eight foot deepe ; and in some places six-tenne-foote broad . Al the rest of the Course , for two miles and a halfe in length , according to my former proportion .

When my Worke began , in the Eye of the Countrey , to carry a shew of profit , it pleased many ( out of their courtesie ) to giue it commendations , Ignorants praise good endings , but doubt , or dispraise their beginnings . and to applaud the Inuention .

The Ioyner hearing the commendations to bee generall , and hee the Leueller ( which was ( he thought ) the cheefe Agent in the Action ) there grew a brabble betwixt vs . Hee began to insult and arrogate as a Coadiutor , by reason of his leuelling , and desired hee might bee signified a principall party to the Inuention .

I bad him haue patience , the Inuention was mine , together with the dignity : and told him withal the ambition of soldiers would not indure society with men of Mechanicall trades : I only imploy'd his hand , and not his head .

So hauing compounded the brabble betweene vs , I fell into the handes of an vnskilfull Carpenter , in planting my commaunding Weare or Scluce , crosse the maine Riuer .

Hee gaue mee such assurance for the safe continuance thereof ; that hee vndertooke to maintaine it with twelue pence a yeare , during his life .

After hee had prepared it ready for the foundation , hee planted some thousand stakes in the bottom of the Brooke to carry the maine Syll. When the Syll was lodged vppon the Pile of Stakes , I began to suspect the foundation , and told him a great part of the water would vndermine the Syll , and that I should hardly indure the want therof at my Drowning-times ; especially in Sommer .

Hee grew teasty , hott , and peremptory ; and sayd it was not the Maisters manner to controule ; but , to examine : and that all his Water-workes were according to the Venetian foundation , built altogether vppon Piles : but the Venetian-fashion forced mee to want water ten yeares space , which was out of my way two thousand poundes .

The reason was this ; the water vndermining the Syll , it forced the Earth beyond the postes , which were placed in the firme ground ; and hauing gotten the vpper hand of the main-Land it could not bee holp vntill the Sylle were rais'd againe . I hadde a continual purpose to re-edifie it , but that I was interupted by the ordinary course of Processe out of the honorable Courts of Starre-chamber , Chancery , and Wardes ; the last of the three bredd more white haires in my head in one yeare , then all my Wetshod-water-workes did in sixteene . Not that I had cause to complaine of Iniustice ; but , because I vnderstood not the course of the Courts , being pusled with an old Feodary , and a foolish Escheter , ( the life and death of my cause resting in their mercy . ) Twelue Iurors who passed against mee , lawe , equity , and conscience . Vpon which Verdit , I was , by Iniunction , commanded to deliuer the body of a Warde I had in keeping , which I refused to doe : It happened my Councell found Error in the Office , and ouer-threwe the former proceedings , which was the ouer-throwe of my Water-workes for fiue yeares space .

The ouer-throwne - Office was a stolne Office , and found before I had notice of it . But beeing ouer-throwne , matter of greater consequence followed .

The Queenes Atturney commanded the Feodary , who had gotten a grant of the Ward , to exhibite enformation against mee in his name : wee had Commission vpon Commission : wee indured heauye and chargeable examinations .

Vppon which Examinations I had a Hearing in that Honourable Courte ; and though it could not passe against me , yet it passed not with mee . One other Commission came downe , A lury impanalled , Witnesses re-examined . That Iury found with mee , & ( in my conscience ) not one of the number vnderstood his euidence : All which I shew to satisfie the Inquisitor , why so long I neglected my begunne Water-workes . When the Escheator , Feodary , Commissioners , and Iurors hadde putt their hands & seales to the Office , I prepared my self to my forsaken Water-works ; hauing left my wanton Ward in London in the custody of a Precisian or Puritan-Taylor , who would not indure to heare one of his seruants Sweare by the Crosse of his Sheares , hee was so full of Sanctity in deceipt . But the first newes I heard , a a Holy fraud is the falsest fraud . hee marryed my Welch Neece to his English Nephew ; and at my returne I was driuen to take his word that hee was neyther priuy to the contract , nor the marriage .

I desir'd but his oth for my satisfaction ; hee badde mee haue patience , it was not his fashion to forsweare him-selfe . Thus hoping I had beene quit of the cause , I prayed recompence of the Offender : But within sixe months a new Commission came downe ; and a new Office found against mee : which manner of proceeding ( I thinke ) was able to breede white hayres in a Brittaines beard .

SINCE THE FIRST Time I vndertooke the drowning of my groundes , I ( as carefully as I could ) sought to better my vnderstanding by other mens labours : yet in the whole Kingdom I neuer found , nor heard of a work worthy obseruation : Hauing so many Riuers , Brooks , Fountaines and Springs , which run idely vnto the Sea : without Weare , Sluce , stay , stanke or dam , to turne some part of them vpon grounds that need them , or to containe the substance of plow'd lands and dunghils , which by violent showers washe away , As good no running , as running for no good . and runnes ranging by those grounds that hunger and thirst for want of moisture . Our Husbandmen brag of raising Corne : How ? out of ther painfull labours , but ( if they want compost ) their increase is but barren , and for ought I haue seene ( except some few Soiles which yeeld plenty of Hay , by often ouerflowing of fresh Riuers , or the Tide staying vppon them as it were by damm ) those fresh-waters yeeld their increase by nature , without industry . I would aske how many Shires bee in England , and in euery Shire how many Riuers , Brooks , Fountaines , and Springes ? If the number be great , I would know how they be imployed , and what our Corne-maisters ( which carry the reputation for good husbandry ) will say to it ? They will say ( peraduenture ) and so will all Husband-men ( without peraduenture ) it is easie to raise Corne with store of Compost : but ( wanting Hay ; ) I would learne how compost may bee raised ? The question betweene errable conuerted to medow , and errable not conuerted , wil be this : some will say , there is no reason to put good errable to bad pasture . So say I too , Others will say , ordinary errable exceedes ordinary Pasture . It may bee true : but I speake of good errable appointed to bee drowned : I will giue no estimat of English Errable ; scituate neare London or Hauen Townes , or to places more vendible then the country wherein I inhabite . Yet this will I exemplifie out of my experience , if the Principality were duly imploied , & each acre handled according to some plots begun , I would hope to liue to see Wales called the Garden of England : for our Welch-mountains yeelds infinit Fountains & Springs , the Grounds Fearny & broomy , it being of as a excellent temper to intertaine water as heart can wish ; vnlesse wee flye to the maine Sandy-grounds , which are but sparingly found in Wales ; the Country lying in a hotte quarter of no cold Climate .

Now , to speake of drowning , a a At what time , with what water , & how long you ought to downe your Grounds . at what time of the yeare , with what water , how long it may continue on the ground , and what effect it will worke , you shall haue all I know to the vttermost ; at least if I remember all .

Now , fixing your fancy on this Misterie , you must pry into euery Fallow-field , Dung hil , and Water-course in your neighbourhood : then compare the quantity of ground vnto the quantity of water you can draw vnto it , and if you find water ynough to answer your desire , then in the beginning of your ground , plant your weare or scluce in height leuell with the Bankes , or exceeding it one foote ( or there aboutes ) ore-thwart the Riuer or Brooke : and carry your Trench-Royall ( which is your grandmaister-Trench ) so farre as your ground extendes plimm or leuell : that from the mouth of your Weare , or Scluce , to the end of the ditch or trench , your water may flow backe againe ouer your scluce into the Riuer or brooke . In so doing , you haue a full command forward and backward ( without any descent ) to drowne at your pleasure : though your trench royall rise in the end twenty , or forty foote from the mouth of the scluce .

Hauing prepared your drowning-course , bee very a a Looke well to the leuelling of the grounds that are to be drowned carefull that all your ground subiect to the same ( whether Medow , Pasture , or Errable ) bee as plaine as any garden-plott . If you leaue any forrow , reane , or slade , vnleuelled , you shall finde that forrow , reane , or slade , will receiue the most part of your water idely : which otherwise would disperce ouer the whole ; and comber you with the care of new plowing it to make it the more plaine : which will hinder you two or three yeares at the least . Hauīng made your weare or scluce , your Drowning-course or Trench , your ground leuelled or plimmed , them followes your attendance : in flood-times see you suffer not your floud-water by negligence to passe away into the brooke , riuer & sea ; but by your sluce , commaund it to your grounds ; and continue it playing theron so long as it appeares muddy : and finding the substance decaying ( from a fat floud vnto cleare water ) take vpp your sluce or floud-gates , and suffer the cleare water to haue his course vnto the maine brook or riuer again , vntill new or fresh-flouds appeare ; and still as it riseth muddy , imploy it on your grounds during the winter-season . When you haue spent the winter in muddy-floods , and your grounds seasoned by sucking the substance of each fallow , In the beginning of March cleere your grounds from cold cleare-water . and dung-hill : be sure , in the beginning of March , to cleare your ground of cold water ; and keepe it as dry , as a child vnder the hands of a dainty Nurce ; that the continuance of cold water in the body of your ground in the spring , breed neither Rush , Boult , nor Spierygrasse : but grasse much more profitable , thick , long , and fine ; voyde of all Mosse , Hard-heads , Cow-slips , or any weede what-so-euer . Obserue respectiuely your soyle , whether clay , or sand : for , sandy-grounds will endure tenne times more water ( being naturally hotte ) then the cold clay : yet some washers of grounds , ( in their owne conceits ) will imagine it 's behoouefull to turne the water at all times on their lands ; or as long as they ( in their discretion ) thinke good . But so may ( with indiscretion ) surfeit a clay-ground with a drunken-dropsie , The best husbands or husband ▪ men as all the Phisitions in the neighbourhood , with all their visitations , will hardly heale in two yeares space . Hauing sufficiently sped your clay-ground in the drowning-time , ( I meane Winter ) you may ( by negligence , or ignorance ) suffer colde water , in the heate of Summer , to coole your ground so much , that the vitall spirits will bee decayed : and that moisture hauing gotten the vpper-hand , the Sunne workes , out of that drunken-dropsie ground , the Rush , and all other ill-pleasing stuffe , and vnprofitable trash . I said in the Spring , you must keepe your grounds drye . If March follow his kinde , and Aprill drye , ouerflowe it with Cleare-water , that it receiue no drought : for , all men know , if the Spring bee drye in May , it 's two to one Haye neuer goes a begging .

Amongst other things , an olde Drunkard once warned mee , I should not suffer the roofe of my mouth to bee drye : yet I neuer followed his example : I remember the cup was neuer from his mouth , and hee in the end dyed of a dropsie : so , in claye-ground , in the heate of Summer , drowne it moderately : and , ( it beeing once sufficiently seasoned in May ) you need not drowne it vntill a day , two or three before you mowe . At which time you prouide for mowing , if sufficient showers , haue not quallified the drought of your ground ; let downe your sluce into your trench-royall , that there-by you may command so much water to serue your turne as you desire . Which Trench-royall running on the plimme or leuell , suffer it to discend , where you meane first to mowe , and you shall finde this manner of drowning in the morning of your mowing so profitable and good , that commonly you gaine ten or twelue dayes aduantage in growing : How profitable to drowne a little before mowing . for , drowning before mowing a day , two , or three , so supples the ground that it doth most sweetly release the roote of euery particuler grasse , although the Sunne bee neuer so extreame hotte : otherwise , if you drowne not before you mowe : you mow one day , you ted an other , you spend one in gathering it into winde-cockes : and with-all , stand vpon the vncertainty of the weather , whether you dare aduenter to breake your cockes or no. Beeing broken , they must haue a drying time before they can bee put into greater cockes ; and then opening them againe into the last and greatest , by tedding , gathering , cocking , recocking , and treble-cocking , your haye continuing aboue a weeke on the ground ; the ground being bare , and induring the heate of the Sunne at Mid-summer ( in the hottest time ) it doth so drye and parch the ground , that if the heauens yeeld not more raine then is necessary for a Common-wealth , your later-mates will prooue vnprofitable : where drowning before mowing , will make good a second mowing : and in walking ouer grounds I will tread as on Veluet , Signes of well seasoned grounds . or a Turkey Carpet .

This Drowning before Mowing , puts wormes to execution , or forceth them to flye from their habitation : for sure I am that that ground will not bee troubled with them vntill they raise a new generation ; and that cannot well bee in those grounds with-out great store of heate ? which if it happen , to what end serues your water , but to season the ground againe . The Summer may bee so extreamly hotte as the feruencie thereof may force you to double or trebble drowning ; yet I would wish all those that haue not the true vnderstanding and vse of the water ( before they put this in execution ) to enquire where any such worke is ; and hauīng found the place , to obserue the Weare that commands the Riuer , and to note the length of the trench-royall , and plimme thereof : what stankes , lists , or trenches bee within the contents of the grounds : and , hauing found your drowning , and fore-recited trenches , obserue what height euery stanke or damme is : and if you can see the flouds playing against the damme , your experience in beholding it goeth farre beyond mine .

I will not forgett the two-foote-trench , topping your Maine-riuer , with-in foure , or fiue foote from the Banke , as occasion is offered . The vse of which Trench so neere the Riuer , many may wonder at ( as many haue done ) why it should bee drawne so neare the maine - riuer it being but two foote broad and one foote deepe .

I know not how all Riuers and Brookes runne else-where , but in that which I labour , the ground is much higher on the Riuer side , then the maine-flatt-bottome , and , where by sluce I drowne some thirty Acars vpon a reasonable leuell ; yet vpon the Riuer side the height is such , as my sluce will doe no good , if I suffer the water to descend into the flat bottome , not taking the aduantage in the beginning of my Topping-trench .

A fault to drowne some , and to leaue some of the same ground vndrowned . If part of your ground bee drownd , and some part forgotten , there is a fault somewhere ; either by ignorance , or negligence , or both : but to helpe both ; I pray you forgett not to runne this trench , topping and brauing your Riuer , that in the Winter , you drowne that with the rest .

In Summer , your commaund is more absolute , it beeing sheluing or descending to your flatt-bottome-ground ; you may with a boord of two foote broad , and one foote deepe , stay that water , and suffer it to play vpon the face of the ground , halfe a quarter of an houre , or little more , vntill it meete with your flatt bottome .

And thus you may handle the braueing-trenche , by drowning the sheluing ground euery morning in the heate of Summer , before and after mowing ; so long as you finde the Sunne forceable .

Your flatt-bottom ground , beeing , in the heate of Summer , drownd , suffer the water from your sheluing or descending Trenche , but to kisse the hand or soote of the same : for it beeing claye , and once drowned , before mowing in the extreame heate , it will not endure a second drowning with-out danger : vnlesse the heate doe so extreamlye increase , that one extremitie must incounter another .

So , You must double drown in the summer if there bee cause . you may fall to double drowning ( if there bee cause ) which you shall easilye finde by trying the temper of your ground , thus :

If a riding rodde ( beeing some-what stiffe ) will enter into the ground two foote deepe or more , it sheweth it hath had moysture sufficient by the former drownning ;

If the rodde will not enter in , but by difficultie , or forceable handling , you may iudge it to bee ouer-dryed : And in this manner make tryall in what state your ground stands , whether too drye , or sufficiently seasoned .

If to drye , giue it watry sustenance to nourish and reuiue the dying roote : and , hauing satisfied your ground , suffer your two-foote-trench to haue a continuall course of water , Winter and Summer , for these reasons following : That is to say ; In Summer , when you would drowne , your trench beeing full , you neede not staye the letting downe of a sluce out of the maine Riuer : for , so shall you staye the time vntill your water rise to the highest of your sluce ; and beeing risen , must haue a time to come into your two-foote-trench , to execute what you would haue done : where otherwise , your trench beeing continually full , you may ( as I sayd ) appoint your seruant with a boord to stay or stoppe the trench ; and so from place to place , drowne your sheluing or descending ground from the beginning of your trench , to the end thereof both day lye and hourely .

This Topping or Brauing-trench ; hath this excellencie with-all , that it running continually in the trench , Wants will not worke in water , nor where it soakes . frees your grounds from Moules or Wants : for they will not worke in water .

If they desire to fall into the midst of your other Meades , they must vnder-mine the Trench , swimme the Trench , or some way shuffle ouer .

If they do ; see their danger : they being once found to worke in the belly of your Mead , they bee subiect to death , by your commanding the water from your two-foote-trench to descend on the rere-ward ; the sodaine course whereof comes so fast vppon them , and they wanting foot-manshippe to rescue their liues , are ouertaken , to their vtter ouerthrow .

Suffer not one Moule , or Want to liue betweene your two-foote-trench and the maine Riuer , which is not far distant .

They hauing no great scope to worke , will so vndermine from the brink of the maine Riuer to the brimm of your Trench , that in your drowning-time , in the heate of Sommer , you shall finde so many Springs from their workingholes into the Riuer , which if you stop not , with great care , The Offiers of the Brauing Trench . in finding the places of breach , the most part of your water will runne into the Riuer idely .

To speake of the brauing-trench : Beginning at the Commanding-weare , or Scluce , it works this effect : if the violence of the flood should bee such , as vppon a sodaine , your hay at Midsomer should be drowned by ouer-flowing the banke , or in your After-math-time the like should happen , it is at your choise whether you will suffer that inconuenience or no : for the Earth taken out of your two-foote - Trench , beeing throwne on the one side of the same , raiseth the Ground higher then that beyond the Riuer , by two foote at the least : which forceth the Floud altogether , on the other side , and keeps your Hay and After-math euer in safety .

This Topping or Brauing-Trench must runne to the lower part of your Groundes , as a handmaid to the maine Riuer , to attend your pleasure Winter and Sommer .

I would haue you suffer some Water to runne therein continually : Which continuall running will scowre your Trench , and lett all filth from falling therein : and if it should fall you are driuen to often cleansing it .

Beeing sometimes with Water and sometimes without , the Mole or Want instantly possesseth the same , and workes along the Trench an Arrow shoote in length : And it beeing so exceeding moist , makes many Holes , cleane through into the maine Riuer , and at your next turning in of the Water will it issue out at euery particular Hole ; and your Trench , beeing but foure or fiue foote from the Riuer , the Ground beeing too much moistned , falleth or calueth downe into the same .

It 's not sufficient when you haue conueyed your Water from your first Sluce into the Body of your ground or brauing-trench , then to giue it liberty to runne a head : for so will it fall into the lowest part ; How to gouerne and lead the Water from your brauing Trench ouer your grounds . but you must gouern and lead it , beginning at the highest of the ground , vnto rising places , and so suffer it to descend against some Stanke , or Damme ; which you must raise as occasion shall bee offered : As this ; if your ground falls so much that the course of the water offers to runne into the maine Riuer againe , before you haue done with it : Raise a Stanke a foote , two , three , foure , or fiue , or so many as may stay it to the height you desire , and force the same against the Ground vnto your lower Grounds ; and so continue it playing from Stanke , to Stanke , from the beginning to the end thereof .

So , shall you bee sure by raising of these Stankes or Damms , to stay all the substance of substantiall Waters which is forced by your Weares , or Sluces , into the body of your ground , there to remaine : where if there were no Stanke or Dammne , the water ( running head-long into the lowest part ) carrieth the substance so mainly forward , that little or nothing at all wil be left vpon the face of the ground to nourish the same .

How to make your Stanks or Damms . Now to furnish you with the present vnderstanding , how to make your Flanks or Dams ; in what place , and how farre you would haue it drowned ; repaire into the lowest part in the beginning of your vppermost ground ; where if you desire to pound it to such a hight ; pitch your Leuell there ; which Leuell ( or Instrument ) I will make knowne more familarly vnto you in the Mapp of my Worke , ( which you shall find in this booke incerted ) and commaund your seruant to hold some staffe with a paper bound about , some two inches broad : and looke through your Leuell from the lowest part of your Ground , vnto your desired place . In this manner your Leuell will assure you how to cast your ground to an inch .

And when you haue truly learned to Leuel , which in one hour I will vndertake to teach you , you may range ouer the Kingdome as principall suruayors of Riuers , Water works , be most chargeable to the Ignorant . Brookes , Fountaines , and Springs , and accuse the best wits of the greatest negligence , in matter of the greatest Common-wealth .

It hath beene sayd by some , Water-Workes be chargeable and dangerous . They bee so ; for if you aduenture to commaund maine Riuers , as Thames , Seuerne , and the like : you may iudge with what difficulty it will bee done . In their beginnings Breadth and Depth is increased by a number of small Brookes , the Commaund therof goeth beyond the estates of the most men : yet there is no Riuer in the Realme ( be it Thames , or Seuern ) where there is any descent , but that I wil steale , by Counter-trench ( when the muddy floud is leuel with the bank ) so much water as I desire .

If you aske mee how broad , Your Trench must be made great or small according to the quantity of ground you are to drown . and deepe the Trench must be : I would know what quantity of ground you haue to drowne if much , your Trench must be the wider and deeper . I need not putt you in minde to raise a sluce on the mouth of your trench ; if you do it not , common inconuenience will compell you .

You will neuer drowne so oft as the floud riseth to the height of the banke , because of your hayand after-math in Sommer : Therfore as I sayd , you will be compelled for your safety-sake to Sluce your trench .

As your Trench-royall feedes your sheluing-groundes and falls into the flat-bottome , and rising to the height of your first , second and third stanke with the rest ; take heed the water exceed not the height of any of your stanks or damms a hayrs-breadth : for the force of the water and violence of the winde in a furious tempest , will ouer-throw it , as if the Canon plaid against it .

I haue forborne to speake of my Stank-Royall , which is of purpose prepared to intertaine the Trench-royall : which Trench-royall , in the continuance of his running , vndertakes the safe conduct of three Brookes and some Springes withall to the Rendez-uous or place of generall Consultation , where their imployment shall be ; whether against the Stanke-royall , the Maine-stankes , the Counter-Trench , or the rest . But indeed the Stanke-royall intertaines all commers , the Trench-royall and her Hand-maid Brookes : and forceth them seauen foote in height .

The aduantage wherof , drowneth sixe-score Acres in three houres , Six-score Acres may be drownd in three houres . and twenty Acres in the returne backe .

In a Counter-trench forty Acres ; in a Trauersin-Trench twenty more ; in Sommer and Winter-Trenches , twenty ; in double and treble Trenches ( and the rest ) twenty more .

Take vpp the Sluce which commaunds the Stanke-royall , and in one houre , my Euer-lasting Trench conueyes the Trench-royll and all the hand-maid Brookes , into the maine Riuer : and ( for ought I haue heard ) after I gaue it passe , it had peaceable progres into Seuerne without examination .

I will acquaint you with a manner of drowning which you may very well like off .

If you will handle two or three hundred Acres of Ground you shall dayly drowne Winter and Sommer for euer , some part sheluing or descending and the rest Flat-bottome , deuides by Defending-Trenches : For , cleare Water will supple your Sheluing-Ground if it continue thereon sixe or seauen dayes ; But , ther 's a discretion to bee vsed ; Therefore I aduise , as you drowne the Sheluing-Ground with cold and cleare Water in the cold of Winter , suffer none to fall into the Flat-bottome ; but , your Muddy-flouds : For you well know , that the water passing downeward , doth indure most violent labour in running : and beeing sodainly taken away , it doth sodainly drye , and none at all remaines to infect the ground .

If it steale into the Flatt-bottome , the coldnesse of the cleare-water with the coldnesse of the ground , in the cold of Winter , wanting the heat of the Sunne to dry it vp ( it being lodged in so plaine and pleasing a place ) will venture life to raise the rush . The Rush will be raised by ouer-much moisture .

Now , seeing I haue spoken of the excellency of drowning , I will speak som-what of mine ambition therein .

THer was neuer General of an Army-royall , nor Admirall of an Armado , more ambitious , then I haue beene in brauing my Trench-Royall : And wearied with ouer-walking my selfe therein , I repayred to my stank-royall ; and I beeing raised seauen foote in height , I was so possest with the pride of my walke , that I thought my selfe fitter to bee Gouernour of a Towne of Warre , then Commaunder of a hungry Water-worke .

But remembring ( within the compasse of my age ) a Greate Person stood to bee Generall of an Armie , that neuer saw the face of the Warre nor neuer fought Combat with an Enemy ; A Councell of Warr beeing called , it was answered , by a Grand-Captaine , hee had neither the Words , nor Art of War : Therefore dangerous for the States to aduenture the Kingdome to try his experience . The rest more vnder-valued him , Saying hee were fitter to bee Chauncellor to a Lord-Bishoppe then Generall of an Armie-Royall .

Sharp censures made me fal blountly to my workes . These their censures , fortified mee in mine old labours : So by little and little , I forgatt the Ambitious Resolutions of the Honourable Warrs , and the Pleasures of a Parke ( withall ) wherein I yearely killed at least twen-Buckes and Sores .

The loue of my Water-workes , stole my desire from thence , that in the whole number of twenty yeares , I cannot say I was at the killing of one Bucke , although my Parke-pale came within twenty foote of my trench-Royall , hauing some yeares twenty Buckes , killed with a kennell of Hounds , and louing the sport as much as he that lou'd it most .

The Maister of a Water-worke may well bee compared to the generall of an Armie , which hauing beleagred a Towne , it behooueth him for their safetie to fortifie and block all passages and In-rodes , that the Enemies sodaine Alarum annoy them not : So , must the Maister of a Water-worke attend euery shutt , and shower that threatens excesse ( whether in mid day , or mid night ) commanding his Centinell-Seruant to search the sluces , whether they bee vp or downe .

If it happen before mowing , or in your after-math-time , take vp the Sluce , and giue it passage into the maine Riuer : for , the sodaine ouer-plus , your Trench-royall , will conuoy into your euerlasting-trench ; vnlesse , your desire be to ouer-flow some parcell of pasture or meade that s ouer-eaten .

I protest it hath beene more grieuous to mee in Summer-season , to see a muddy-floud run idle with-out command , then to see a lustie wanderer quarter the country , with-out being put to worke . The seuerall offices of the sluces . Touching the offices of my number of sluces ; the first commands the main-riuer in the beginning of my Trench-royall . The second , commands the maine Riuer into my brauing-trench some halfe mile lower . The third , commands the same Riuer a mile below , at the lowest part of my ground : So , you see , that within the running of two miles , I plant three sluces ; the maine Silles being forty foote long . The reason why I planted so many within the length of two miles , was this : the riuer being thirty foote broad , and ten-foote deepe , my Trench-royall beeing but ten-foote broad , and foure-foote deepe , it receiued no more water then the breadth and depth would giue leaue .

Not-with-standing the quantity of water my Trench-royall receiued , I did not find the want of any in the maine-riuer ; which caused me to raise those two other sluces : grieuing so commodious an Element , so rich and substantiall , should fall into the Bowels of the sea , with-out profit . I call that a Trench-royall , what a trench royall is . where part of the maine-riuer is commanded by sluce into it . I call that a counter-trench , What a counter trench is . where part of the riuer is stolne in by the rising of the flood to the leuell of the banke with-out sluce . What a topping and brauing trench is My topping or brauing-trench is that which hand-maides the maine-riuer ( side by side ) vnto the end of the worke . The Winter and Summer-trenches , What the winter and summer trench is . bee those that water the grounds in the Summer-time . Hauing drownd with cleare water a parcell of ground , it being satisfied and forsaken , I furnish the rest of my Trenches with that water , vntill a Meade of thirty or fortye Acres bee sufficiently seasoned . You must know , you cannot drowne so many Acres , not hauing the aduantage of these many Trenches and Lists , vnlesse your ground bee all flatt-bottom ; hauing a stoute and strong water with-all . My double and treble-trenches , What double and treble trenches require . require a parcell of plaine ground containing fortye Acres or more . At your turning-water in , it will hardlye dispeirce ouer the whole ; the weakenesse thereof is such in Summer-season if it bee not holpe and assisted with Summer-lysts , that runne the length of the land you labour in . You may raise the Liste in this manner ; In the middest of the Meade , in place of best aduantage , force a couple of Furrowes of each side with your Plowe , encountring each other ; cleanse those Furrowes , and place the earth aboue : by this meanes your List falls out to be a foote-path , when both sides of your ground are drownde , Summer and Winter .

This manner of speaking may seeme strange vnto you ; But , if you did see the manner of the worke , you would say it could not bee otherwise exprest .

The trauersing-trench , is , that which receiues the water from the counter-trench ; What the trauersing-trenche is . and the Stanke-royall ( running on a whorle , his sluce being taken vp ) is receiued by a Bastard-sluce , which doth disperse on both sides the Treneh ; and that 's the cause I call it a Trauersing-trench .

What the euerlasting-trench doth . My euerlasting-trench endures more trouble then all the rest : the Trench-royall running at a floud-time ( as a shipp vnder-saile , beeing Admirall of the rest ) and hauing determined of all the duties of the seuerall Stankes , Trenches , and hand-maide brookes , they humble them-selues to the Stanke-royall ; and prayes no longer continuance there , then they prooue profitable to that place ▪ which is so long as they carry filth in their fore-heads , ( I meane a muddy floud ) and declining to a cleere water , the euerlasting-trenche receiues it to his common course , with as much ioye to the Maister as may bee .

I cannot well giue significant names to all those Trenches , which I call troublesome ; therefore I pray I may bee forborne to speake of them at this time . I had almost forgotten to make a true report of the euerlasting-trench : it 's but a bastard-brooke , falling from my Parke into the mouth of my trench-royall , and his course stopt by a Weare or sluce , not inferiour to any in the maine-riuer . This bastard-brooke is commanded by that sluce to attend the trench-royall to the rendez-uous , or place of imployment , drowning altogether , which descending against the stanke-royall , is forced into his euer-lasting-course againe .

Against another Weare or sluce ( comparable to any of the rest what-so euer ) you shall vnderstand why these two maine Weares or sluces bee planted vpon so beggerly a brooke : Wherefore the Weares or sluces are planted . the trench-royall crossing the brooke so farre as the ground extends , must either haue passe in the end ( which cannot bee with-out leaue of the inhabitant belowe ) or forc'd backe againe ouer the first Weare , three mile aboue ; which may bee : but the purpose is , the euerlasting-trench shall haue an euerlasting continuance , to receiue the Surplus of the floud-water for defence of your Hey , and after-math . The ancient bredth and depth is inlarged : for , that the floud being drawne into the Trench-royall , must fall into this euerlasting-trench : and being inlarged , the trench-royall intertaines it without preiudice to any of the grounds .

My lasting discourse hath almost done with my euerlasting-trench . As the trench-royall commands the euerlasting-trench to the rendezuous or Consultation-place : so the counter-trench hath the like command else-where . And as the euerlasting-trench is sluced to giue passe to the trench-royal to the lowest part , so I place one other Bastard fluce more ; which receiues the counter-trench ; and many times , both royall and counter-trenches meete against that sluce ; which to his power , doth yeeld as much profit as any in all my workes .

If your grounds , at any time , be so hard frozen , as the hardnesse thereof is like to continue , such a snow may happen vpon your frozen grounds , What is to be done in hard Frosts , and great snowe ? as may remaine thereon so long as the extremity of wether indures : or so long as you and your cattell will be weary off , which to preuent , let downe your sluces , drowne the frozen grounds when the snow begins to fall : so shall you release the grasse being bound , and spend the snowe , which threatens your preiudice , and free your grounds , that all kinde of cattle , ( Sheepe especially ) may haue sufficient sustenance therein .

My trench royall , from the beginning to the end , is three miles long ; it runnes so precisely on the plimme or leuell that euery fifth yeare I am driuen to cleanse the channell : such store of muddy-substance is forc'd by my first sluce therein . As the Riuer Nilus drownes Aegips from the Abissine Mountaines , enriching the couutrey , to the wonder of the world : so doth the muddy ▪ flouds from the vpper part of the Golden Valley , ( as from a Golden Mountaine or Fountaine ) improoue my estate beyond beleefe . It 's not vnknowne to my neighbourhood my demeasnes at New-court was set and forsaken at forty pound by year , besides my Parke . I set it so my selfe , & let any man , that hath an vpright iudgment and equall eyes in his head , view and reuiew it , hee will say it will yeeld within three yeares , three hundreth pounds yearely , besides my Parke . Many haue said to me , no other mans grounds lie so conuenient to drowne as mine at New-court . The Golden Valley is but seauen miles in length , and one mile broad . I answred them , yes : for , three other liuings of mine , affoord the like aduantage for drowning . The Vale is but seauen mile in length , and not a mile ouer any where . Yet there be diuerse Gentlemen therein , whose liuings might bee bettered , some a hundred , some two hundred pounds yearly : amongst the rest , there 's one that dwells on my right hand : the Riuer deuides our demeasnes , who might stock his grounds with stankes , trenches , lists , bastard-sluces , and such inuentions as the ground requires ; being all flat-bottom : and I truly take it , he may drowne foure hundred Acres with lesse charge tenn times then mine : not hauing one Maine-Weare or Sluce to rayse : For , those I haue planted , serues for both grounds : but whether it be his ignorance in not vnderstanding , or negligence in forbearing , I know not ; but , I am sure , it 's out of his way an hundred pounds a yeare .

There is another Gentleman , who dwells on my left hand , makes shew of vnderstanding it ; yet are his grounds ouer-howed with the like neglect : but seeming to excuse it by some vnexpected troubles ( which indeed hee indured ) & that his weighty occasions would not giue him leaue to vnder-take , nor suffer his seruants to attend it , hee hauing in the eye of his house , a hundred Acres of errable land , worth not aboue three shillings an Acre , which amounts but to fifteene pound a yeare . Yet I made him this offer , if he would bee pleased to make it plaine , as plaine might bee , for foure yeares , I would giue him fifteene pound a yeare , beeing the true valew of his land : and after the end of the foure yeares , I would take it for one and twenty , yeelding him a hundred pounds a yeare , the charge wholy mine , in raising sluces ; stankes , trenches , and what else so-euer : A liberall offer refused , which if taken , had benefited the offerer more then the offered . so , during the foure yeares , hee should receiue fifteene pound a yeare ; and euer after , a hundred pound yearely to him and his heires for euer .

I did not require any thing vntill the foure yeares were expired , and then my demaund was but three hundred pound .

The yeare following , one hundred came in vnto him againe , the second , an other hundred , & the third he receiued another ; so in 3. yeares , he receiued his three hundred pound .

He offered me nothing , and hee hath done nothing ; so this is but an accusation for negligence , setting it forth in as friendly manner as I may . O! if the Lord of a Mannor did but know what an offence it is to plant an vnder-shot-mil vpon a Riuer , where the scituation of the soile affords drownings : He were better to put his wits aworke to make Windmils in plain ground , if hee would consider what hee looseth by it .

For example ; my right-hand-neighbour hauing such a Mill as I speake off , worth some tenne pound by yeare , and four hundred Acres of excellent ground to handle : hee forbeares his Winter and Sommer drowning , to giue satisfaction to this vnsatisfiable glutton the Vnder-shot-mil , where , in the trunesse of husbandry , hee should dayly drowne three hundred Acres for euer .

As the Sun shines euer once a day in Alexandria , by reason whereof the Land yeelds sweete increase ; so might he say he dwelt daily in the Land of Canaan , which euer flowes with Milke and Hony .

And as the greatnesse of the Turke obscures the Persian-glory , or as the Hungarian forces are the only Obstacle , hindering the Turkes descending to the conquest of the Christian Kingdomes ; so should his stankes or Damms incounter the downe-fall of the Muddy flouds from the Mountaines of great Cadwalleder .

Thus much to incourage my neighbour for the vndertaking of Water-workes . The length of the Trench Royall .

My Trench-royall beeing three miles long , and running plimm or leuel forward and backward ; I plant diuers Bastard-sluces crosse the Trench-royall , for Winter and Sommer drowning .

If any man will bee so phantasticall as to carry his wife leuell by water to her Dairy , or build Barnes and Cattell-houses ouer the same for ease of his Oxen , I refer my selfe to his consideration whether it be not possible ; the Trench royall beeing tenne foote broad , The breadth and depth of the Trench-royall . and foure foote deepe . Likewise if by Boate you will carry Compost , Corne , Hey , Wood , Stone , Milke , or any other Prouision , it s referred to your like consideration . I made two litle Ones for the carriage of earth , which I found to doe mee such seruice , as I know two Teames in a day could not counteruaile any of them .

Their burden beeing but two load a peece three seruants commaunded them both , in ; their charging and discharging : their length being twenty foot ; the breadth but three : Had I a Boate with a Keele fiue or six & thirty foot long , The good seruice of a Boat . and nine foot broad , I would carry seauen or eight load of Compost at a time ; Corne in Sheaues would conueniently bee carried ; but how many load of Hay , at a time , I can but gesse : You must at al times examine how your Trench royall is stored with muddy-substance ; it beeing furnished by the main Riuer , euery flood , euery second , or third yeare it riseth in the bottom 2. foot at the least ; especially for a mile or two comming in at the mouth of the Trench , it doth fil the fore-part of the same : & vnles you cleanse those parts you cannot receiue so much water by 10. foot broad . and 2-foot deepe : the want whereof you shall find in your lower grounds . As the finest husband-men be most prouident and studious to make their profit answer their labor ; so let not the charge of clensing the Trench-royall be greeuous vnto you : in respect the recompence shall ( much more then the greatest vsury ) outgo your laying out .

In the yeare 1601. I was forced to cleanse my trench-royall , being almost fil'd to the leuill of the Banke , and for the excellency of the substance therein conteyned , all the dung-hils in the countrey can witnesse it was their very quintessence : the quantity thereof may be estimated by the breadth and depth ; and I know fiue hundred honest Yeomen , Husbandmen , and Laborers would say , the Substance would ouer-counteruaile the charge beeing imployed for Wheat , Onyons , Cabiges , Carets , or any other Rootes agreeing with the nature of that Residence of the Trenches .

Which Muddy substance beeing put on the one side of your Trench-royall , you may by Boat , carry to your wheat-land , to your Garden , or to better any other barren ground that yeeldes no profit : For , I will drowne Winter and Sommer at my pleasure , a thousand Acres of Medow .

I will sustaine no inconuenience at any time , vnlesse the negligence of my seruants suffer the Sluces to be vpp when they should be downe ; or some enuious , lewd , or malitious person , in the night-time loose them downe of purpose to harme me .

No Subiect in the Kingdome can certainly say hee hath the like Groundes , vnlesse he daily drowne as I doe . And for these thousand Acres I shall bee able to Mowe them twise a yeare .

If I please : The rush , the Mosse , the boult , the hard head , and many other vnprofitable wedes craues mercy at my handes for their life in respect of their former offences ; with protestation neuer to trouble the ground againe .

I doe not see why the cowslip should haue more fauour then the rest , vnlesse it bee to countenance the May-pole .

I haue not done all I can doe , I can Graze my mowing Meades , vntill the first of Maie . I would see who can doe the like , without the hazard of his Hay that Sommer , vnlesse hee follow my example . It may bee sayd by some among them-selues that you ( neighbour ) and I , In Lumbardy grasse growes apparantly twice a day being cut twice a day . may doe the like : But then , that You , and I must liue by the Riuers of Leadon , Dowbanke , Frommey , or in the Land of Lombardy , where grasse groweth apparantly twise a day .

Those young Gentlemen that haue scarce liuing ynough to maintaine them-selues in the misery of this Age ; should ( if they did well ) learne to leuell and quarter a ground : then sell that little they haue ; and afterwards examine the Records in the custody of the Clarke of the Statutes ; there shall they finde that Clarke to haue more Clyents ( in my conscience ) then any Councellor in the Kingdome .

And for mine owne part ( without vaine-glory bee it said ) I am as well knowne in that Office as a better man .

Thus , by taking paines , following the Ordinaries , and being acquainted with the Vnder-Sheriffs , & Atourneies of euery County ; those Gentlemen for a quart of Canauary-Wine , wil giue you a Kallender of all (a) (a) Yronicé . the Land-lords , that are before-hand with the World : In which if they deale not iniuriously with you , you shal find my name . This done , examine the Riuers , Brookes , Fountaines and Springs in euery County , whether they bee imployed or no. If they run idle , make your match in the countrey you best like off ; & I assure you , you shall find more Land to be sold vtterly neglected ( while the water runnes at wast ) then a thousand such young Gentlemen I speake off , will buy .

I do aduise all men that wil be Vnder-takers in this Husbandry , to bee perfect in the true Suruey of the number of Acres that may be drowned ; and that they make choyce ( as neare as they can ) of errable-land : which commonly exceedes not two or three shillinges an Acre yearly . Old Pasture couered with mosse , that nature hath forsaken , and Medow-ground ( if there bee any ) that takes more pride in the company of the Cowslipp , then the gilt-cupp which carrieth the garland from the rest .

And for your comfort , ( bee this spoken ) if in the laying out of fiue hundred pound , at the end of foure yeares , you make it not two or three thousand pound , Nota. your choyce is bad , and lucke worse . During those forty yeares you cannot receiue lesse then the rate you buy it att ; which is twenty yeares purchase , or as you can agree : And so from fiue hundred to a thousand , two , three , or as much as your estate will stretch too ; the more the better .

If you finde difficulty in my discourse ; any Easter or Michell-masse Tearme you shall finde me in the house of a true Brittaine ( maister Wotton a Scriuener ) in Fleet-street , ouer against Saint Dunstans Church . And for a Supper , at Iohn Gents you shall haue your Belly-full of Water-workes . For my Drownings , my name hath beene so scandalliz'd in open Ordinary , by a Westerne Gentleman , who , since the Kings Maiesties comming , is become a Knight of account , but rash censure deserues little reckoning in mine account : Many men spake diuersly of my labours for a long time , because the Honourable Courts ( as they thought ) had brought mee to Beggers-bay : and failing in the true execution of my workes , in not placing a Planke of foure inches thicke , and twenty inches broad , vnder the maine Syll , to preuent the water from vndermining the same , and withall fayling to lay my Groundes ( by the indiscretion of my Seruants ) leuell or plaine , and not vnderstanding of what strength my Stanks should be to with stand the weight of the Water that playes against them , & what alowance to giue each Stanke in his Foundation ; and forbearing the running of my Trench-Royal to the end of his Course for many yeares , and not thinking Stankes to bee necessary for the commaunding of Grounds disoebeying my desire , and withall ( lately ) running Counter-Trenches , which next the Trench-royall , haue place aboue any ; which were not drempt off before ; many sluces , and for many yeares , were forborne in places most conuenient , and much profit lost thereby : Twenty yeares practise in these Workes . my speculation hauing continuance in practise aboue twenty yeares .

But were it now to beginne againe , I would performe it in one : and raise it to the greatest profit in foure : so hard a thing is it for any mortall man to perfitt any profitable inuention , without paines , cost , and continuance of time .

They say now , if Maister Vaughan had these & these grounds he would doe This and This. This opinion haue I gotten in the countrey where I dwell .

There is a Shropshire Gentleman ( Maister Hoord ) a famous man , his labours ( I know ) haue taken tryall at Enuies Barre , by ignorant Iurors and vniust Iudges for a worke hee performed . It was chargeable vnto him ; the situation thereof was such as it could not be otherwise handled . I saw it , viewed it , and examined it ; and I know it doth much more then counteruaile the charge . But had I beene acquainted with him , in his first beginning , he should not haue spent his time to so small profit : not that he mistooke in the handling therof ; but knowing my owne errors , and by costly experience able to instruct him ; I found no want of Arte in him , but the want of Winter and Summer-water to serue his turne .

I would haue perswaded him to haue forborn that barren vnder-taking , & to haue gotten fiue or sixe thousand pound with ten times lesse labour , in the choise of a thousand places elsewhere , where hee might haue drowned dayly for euer .

Muddy-flouds doe often happen in Summer-time . If the running of them idle bee so vnto other men as it is vnto mee , Muddy flouds often happen in Summer-time . let them doe as I doe ; euer haue one pasture bare eaten : and as you keepe one speciall Chamber in your house to entertaine a stranger , so , you alwayes haue one Pasture for that muddy-floud , which will pay you after twise twenty in the hundred . It 's confessed by all in the Golden-Vale , that that little land which wee haue would be bettred fifteene hundred pounds a yeare . If the like were done through-out England , Note the profit of drownings . it would profit the kingdome in a yeare two Millions : which would maintaine an army-royall , to the honour of Great Brittaine , and be most comfortable to all honourable Souldiers , Crest-falne for want of warre and military imployment .

It pleased maister Hoord to view the place where my Water-workes were performed , accompanied with three iuditious and vnderstaning Gentlemen , namely , Maister Brainton , Maister Pearle , and Maister Wolridge ; what their beleefe was , I referre it to those who haue a desire to be informed .

Any Gentleman or other hauing performed a worke , and brought it to his absolute perfection ; should not sit downe by it : but hauing finished that Worke , and being Maister but of one Liuing , Note this aduice . I would ( as I formerly said ) aduise him to sell it : and at the end of foure yeares make good account by purchase , to gaine sixe , if not ten for one . I haue a Meade called nine dayes-math : an exellent Meade , and approued for such of all my neighbours . I sold the herbage thereof diuerse yeares for fiue pound per Annum : but within few yeares , after the flouds plaid vpon it , I solde the Hey for ten pound yearely : and the latter or after-math was richly worth fiue . I will graze this Meade vntill May : yet notwithstanding the Hey will yeeld me ten pound , and the after-math fiue . Now hauing ( I hope ) profited the intelligent Reader , thus far : al the fauour I desire at his hands , in lue therof , is this , That I may haue leaue to giue new names vnto mine old grounds , without beeing laught at in ordinaries by scarce ordinary vnderstanders . Some they must haue ; for , those they had by drowning are couered with new earth . And with-all , they bee inlarged aboue two hundred Acres . I cannot call that the nine-daies-math , which now is aboue 30. ( vnlesse I should forget my counting-craft ) nor that a Moore which is firme and pleasing ground ; nor that the rushy-leasow , which is reduc'd now vnto a more fruitfull and profitable plot , if the rush appeare there againe , he forfeits the Fee-simple of his life : so hauing my grounds deuided into 12. parts , their names ( vnder fauour ) be altered and now called in this manner : the Pinck , the Gille-flower , the Carnation , The new names of the Meades and Pastures . the Rosemary , the Mary-gold , the gilt-cup , the Honysuckle , the Daysy , the Garland , the Eglentine , the Cowslip & the Primrose . Some do say their Kine doe yeeld more milke hauing often change , then those that graze in only one pasture . I say nothing to it : but , beleeue those dairy women that affirme it . This I can say , for any that desire often change , ( as the most part would haue fresh and fresh pasture ) if they ( being curious ) will not bee coy to handle a Cow-shore in his kinde : then thus ; When the Kine bee put ouer to some other ground , you know their staine or dung by heate of the sunne will grow hard : and within short time , will force a proud and insolent grasse ; such as the Kine in their returne will not touch .

When you turne out your Kine into fresh feeding ; bee sure to disperce and seuer those Cow-shares , that the place be , not stained with any polution . They being dispersed ; drowne your ground with cleare water : or mudd ( if a floud happen ) the ground being bare , two Blessings incounter each other , and purifie the place where the Cow-shores were falne : so , at the next turning in of your Kine , some fortnight after , they shall finde nothing to distemper or offend the taste : the water doth cleanse and cleare all annoyance to the beast , and breeds perfect life in euery growing grasse . This last Summer 1604. in Trinity terme , being aboue at London , I came not downe till after Mid-Summer : hauing grazed my mowing Meades too too long after May . Vpon my returne , I enquired in what state my grounds stood , my seruants answered they were sufficientlye seasoned ; Eye-pleasers are often liers . but ( in deed ) they did ( as many ) seruants doe ) report the best of the worst , to excuse their negligence : the Meades were not so sufficiently drownd , as the necessitie thereof required : They being neglected before mowing , not trying their temper with a riding-rod , ( my beliefe was so great in those greater Liers ) but after mowing , the truth appeared , the quantity of Meade ( in one place ) being three score and ten Acres , by reason of the mowing , making , and cariage , before the ground were free to drowne , the extremitie of the heate was so great , that the grasse turned yellow ; being tainted , as a sheepe on a drye rotte : or , as a man inlye sick , and newly recouered faules into a relaps againe .

In this manner my grounds had gotten the greene-sicknesse or a buruing-feauer ( I know not well whether ) If in the extreame heate you would drowne with Iudgement , you should not drowne in the heate of the day : but in the night from sunne to sunne . But being forc'd , I suffered the water to worke night and day ; the season of the yeare falling out to bee dry : the sunne extreamly hotte ; the ground hott , dry , and hard : so what betweene the heate of the sunne , and heate of the ground , the water became luke-warme , and faild to effect that good which by Nature other-wise it would haue done .

And if I be not deceiued , the infection of the earth , had poysoned the water : or made it so sick , as it was not able to endure the ground . As a scudding shewer of raine , The quality of ground distempered with heate . doth raise vpon a dung-hill-poole great bubbles ( like an Oxe-eye ) by falling of the drops thereon ; or , as water in a pott , by the heate of the fire , doth labour , and shew distemper : so , did that water-worke , play , and bubble on the face of the ground , shewing ( for a quarter of an houre ) nothing but discontent .

The ground being qualified , the grasse did not instantly grow ( as at other times , being orderly fedd ) the coullour being changed , the grasse standing at the point of death , being in that case as a sicke pacient hauing taken a purgation , who must haue a time of recouery : so did the grasse , for diuerse dayes , shew nothing but sorrow , heauinesse and all discomfort . It beeing once made yellow by the heate of the Sunne , and recouered of the Yellow-Iaundies , although the comfort of the water put life into it ; yet , during the season , it had neuer his perfect complection againe : the point euer carrying a shew of poysoning ; which error ( with Gods helpe ) I will neuer committ hereafter

Let all men drowne before they Mowe , and after Mowing , your grasse will not bee yellow , but as greene as a Leeke . You must alwayes keepe your grounds in a true temper ; they must neuer be too wet in the Winter , but when you drowne ; nor too drye in the Summer , hauing water enough . I had almost forgotten this ; before you raise your stankes , bee sure to cleare your grounds from Moles or Wantes , Moles are mischieuous vermin in or about such water-works they bee dangerous creatures ( like a Vsurer that 's hardly gotten out of a mans land , wherein hee hath gotten footing , ) if they haue possession in a stanke .

You know when all other grounds be drownd some part of the stanke will bee free ; they will not faile to rend and teare your stanke like Rabbets in a sandy soile . I protest two or three Wants in my stanke-royall , was out of my waye twenty pound a yeare , for many yeares . I put a fumbling fellowe to attend their walkes , who ( not beeing cunning enough to destroy them ) vtterly plagued me ; vntil I hapned vpon a good worke-man , who hath cleared my stankes & my brauing-trench . And were it not for my brauing-trench and my stankes , I should neuer need the vse of a Want-killer ; because I do so oft drowne in Winter-time ; which often drowning doth force them to forsake the soile .

I would desire no better pastime then the hunting of a Wante in a plaine Meade . My brauing-trench being close by the maine Riuer : my trench-royall lying on the height of the ground : my seruant seeing her cast , if neare the trench-royall hee commands water into a descending trench ; and doth force her on the face of the ground with much submission , praying her Clergie : her offence being Burglary in breaking my stankes , although she were the first meanes that occasioned all these vnder-takings , yet I could not bee drawne to yeeld her a pardon : had she wrought in any other part of my grounds , I had not taken it so grieuously : but , in spoyling my fundamentall parts , with working cleane through my stankes , and forcing them , by the extremitie of the water altogether doune , she was vncapable of pardon . If he that hath an ouer-shoote-Mill would enter into an account with him-selfe , whether it were more profitable for him Winter and Summer to drowne grounds , or to grind corne , it would put him to a pussle .

I know many men that haue Mills , who for a desire to gaine a peck of corne a daye ( and many dayes failes to get any ) so that by a true computation , Drowning more profitable then Mills . in the whole yeare , the Mill may bee worth some foure or fiue pound : and in drowning , foure or fiue acres of barren ground , I will raise a farre greater benefitt .

But because he wil giue reputation vnto his demeasnes , or information on the marriage of his sonne , that hee hath such a Mill ; hee had rather suffer muddy Flouds in the Winter , and cleare Waters in Sommer to breake their limbs on his Mill wheeles , then exercise his wits ( by Drowning ( to attaine a world of wealth .

It is grone to a kinde of prouerbiall speech , in the Golden-Vaile , that hee that doth drowne is a good Husband : hee that may and wil not , is figured out with the sillable , Fu.

I know , I haue as good an Ouer-shot-mill for Water ynough as this Kingdome yeeldes : yet rather then I would grinde my owne Corne at a floud-time , or in my drowning times in Sommer , I would carry it tenne mile off to be ground , though the Miller told the one halfe .

Beeing requested by many Gentlemen of the best quality , to putt these Water-workes in Print : I praied those ingenious Gentlemen , ( Sergeant Louell and maister Coulthurst ) to speake what they thought concerning the same .

They both ( vnder their handes by way of subscription ) said ; it would bee very profitable to the Kingdome to be put in execution : being of late a common thing in Deuonshire ; but , not in so ample manner .

For drayning of groundes Maister Louell is Serieant-Maior of the same ; Drayning of Grounds , cousine-Germain to Drowning . yet I le say as the meane Counsellor saith to the Serieant at Law ; vnder fauour ( maister Serieant ) I le declare what I didde in your Element of Drayning , beeing but Cousin-Germaine remoued to mine of Drowning .

A Ring of ground ( some foure-score Acres ) scituate stirrope-wise ; a Brook in the vpper-part crossing the same , in the smaller point of his extent , there running from Adams dayes in likely-hood : the greater quantity of the ground from the Creation neuer sound : but stain'd with the Boult , the Rush , a Quagmire coherent , with many other Improfitables , neuer mowed , nor grazed in the driest daies , but knee deepe in water . It lay at the gaze for fiue thousand six-hundred and six yeares , and by general opinion it stood in state of damnation ; as if it hadde beene curs'd like Mare-mortuum for the sin of Sodom .

When I hadde deuided my sounde Groundes from those infected with leprosie ; with as many maister-trenches as were neeedful to conduct my Drayning , Sucking , Working , & Searching-trenches into the maister-trenches ; hauing but two foote descent to procure a passage ; all this beeing performed ; that spungy bogg draind , dryed and made fitt for any vse : I drew the Brooke which crossed the vpper point of the Ground downe into the belly of the bogg , to make priuy search in euery particuler Trench , what filth fell therein .

Liuery and Season taken , Liuery & Season taken by the Brooke . Atornement of Tennants , Fealty , with all other Ceremonies that Littelton layes downe to raise Vses , Cusstomes , or Estates of Inheritance , with payment of pence , and the strongest Fortifications my skill could afford for an euerlasting continuance , and cleare keeping of the Drayning , Sucking , Working , and searching Trenches .

I protest I had almost forgotten this insuing most necessary Inuention . A necessary Inuention for suppling hard Groundes for easinesse of Trenching .

I was in the Parish of Peter-Church to runne a Trench-royall some mile on the plimm : The Countrey-people made themselues beleeue it would cost mee a thousand Markes . Before I ran any part of my Trench : I planted my Sluces crosse the Riuer , at such time as my Sluces were downe , the Water did rise to the leuell of the Greene-sward : the Sluces beeing vppe , the Water suncke vnto his ordinary course againe .

So hadde I the commaund of the Sluces to ryse and sinke the Water at my pleasure .

Hauing leuelled the Trench : I put eight Labourers to worke therein , who , ( during the whole day ) wrought but one Pearch , which was but sixe foote broad , and three foot deep : To whome I said ( when I perceiued how little they had done in a day ) I see now it 's true , as the Country saith : Countrymens Coniectures ar not alwaies Oraclces . It will cost me a thousand Markes ere I effect this Worke , if it go no better forward . They said vnto me they did their best indeauor : But after they had taken some halfe a foot of the greene sward ( or face of the ground away ) they could not force their spades or spittels one inch deepe , the hardnesse of the Earth was such : and wish'd mee to giue ouer that vnder-taking .

It was some-what before Michelmas ( the Winter-raine not hauing suppled or mollified the ground any whit at al ) I commanded them to attend their labour on the morrow ; then did I cause them to run forty pearches in length , six foot broad , & but halfe a foot deepe ; which halfe-foote deepe the spades did easily enter : And so for that day , I ended with them Then they demaunded what imployment I would putt them to the next morrow ? I bad them good night : and willed them to bee there very early in the morning . After they were gon , I caus'd my man , to let downe the sluces , and raise the Water to the height thereof , and Sodainly the Trench flowing , it entred with such puissance as if it would haue dissolued the very Bowels of the Ground . Then early before their comming my Seruant tooke vp the Sluces , A notable sodaine effect of Water on hard ground vneasie to bee Trenched . sunke the Water , and gaue it the liberty of the maine Riuer , that they the next day , easily forced their spades two foote deepe and more . And in this manner , with the water , I suppled the Trench from the beginning to the end , & saued thereby a hundred pound at least .

Many worthy and expert men haue written of the breeding of Cattell , The manner of breeding Calues . whose indeauours I much reuerence , and referre them to bee commended by Posterity : Yet , will I venter to lay downe mine experience in the younger sort , for the Falling , Weaning , and Raising of Calues : which ( breefly ) is this : Those Calues you meane to breed : a month before they fall , lett your Cow or Kine bee well fed with good Hay , that she or they may be the better able to bee deliuered of them , and to yeeld plenty of Milke : Vppon their first Caluing , suffer them not to haue too much milke for three or foure dayes : For in ouer-sucking them-selues , they will bee so glutted with the plenty and newnesse of it , that nature in them will bee ouercome , & be subiect to Gillying or Scowring , which wil hinder them for a long time . When they bee fiue or sixe dayes old , let them sucke as much as they can : When they come to bee a month old , prouide a Cratch for fine Hay , and a Trough for cleane Water , although you haue no meaning that they shall sustaine them-selues thereby : but to prepare and acquaint them ( in a wanton manner ) to learne to eate Hay , How to learne them to eat Hay & drinke Water . and drinke Water . Dayly they will bee nibling with the Hay and Water as desirous as some idle persons bee of Tobaco and Ale .

When they bee eight weekes old take away the Milke of one Teat from your Calfe in milking your Cow before the Calfe bee suffered to sucke : the want of which Teate ( for hunger and thirst ) will prouoke both your Calfe to eate Hay , and drinke Water . Continue him so for foure dayes ; then take away , or milke one other Teate from your Calfe as aforesaid , which is halfe the Milke ; so , will you force your Calfe to a greater desire of Hay and Water : After this , take away the milk of another Teate within foure daies after ; and so after that take away all . Handling the matter in this manner , your Calfe will neuer mourne , for want of Milke or losse of Damme , but will cheerfully fall to eating of Hay and Drinking of water immediatly .

Let your Seruants be very carefull to litter them with cleane Straw dayly , and keepe them sweete with good Hay : and let them neuer want cleare water . If you haue good scope of House-roome lett them run and play their fils : When you purpose to turne them to grasse , What you must do when you purpose to turne them to Grasse . keepe them in the House vppon Hay and Water vntill Mid-may : If you turne them out ( as the most do ) in Aprill , you vndoe them : the nights being cold , the grounds cold , the grasse weake and raw : they neuer acquainted with the ayre , will mislike with your vnkinde dealing : in token whereof the heyre will turne ; and their bellies loose , scowre , or gilly , that they neuer will be themselues : because the Sun hath not wrought sufficiently with heate to comfort the ground that should feed and comfort them .

When they haue beene some month in your best Meads in Mid-may , and after recouered their strength : put them into some higher Groundes where there is Grasse , water , and shadow ynough : Lett them rest there vntill Bartholomew : then put them ouer into your After-maths before the time of the yeare growes cold , and then it wil so puffe them with pride that al the winter following they wil scorn the malice of the hardnesse of the Season if they may haue their fills of Hay , and fogg with a Houell or House in the extreamest cold daies to shelter them .

The first yeare beeing spent , euery man knowes how to handle them : If you will haue them principall cattell , giue them hay ynough the second Winter .

But what a Calfe am I to teach Countreymen to breed Calues by Art , when they ( good Husbands ) breed them fast ynough by Nature ; Husbandmen breeds Calues by Nature . I therefore bequeath this Doctrine to Gentlemen that can better tell how to breed a Hound then a Calfe ; and referre what else might be spoken , to the discretion of the experienced .

Thus haue I toucht what I handle with as much breuity as I could : ommitting nothing that may giue euidence on the behalfe of those Perticulers , which will fall out to bee as true in effect as in apparance when euer they are put to their strictest Triall .

THerefore , now nothing remaines more to be said ; but to intreat thee ( friendly Reader ) to beare with my merry-sorry Stile , if therin any where I haue not obserued a precise scholler-like Decorum : for Mars his Vniuersity ( wherein sometime I haue bene matriculated , and proceeded to some degrees of command , according to my study and time spent therein ) affoords no rules of speaking in Print , yet Soldiers ( in their Element ) best speake in Print : and can expresse what else lies in the compasse of their spacious conceits , like men of Wit , Arte , and Courage ; which they that speake altogether by the Booke , oft faile to performe . But howsoeuer , as this Worke , now finished , is published for thy profit , and exprest in such manner as I thought would yeeld thee most pleasure : so thou wilt accept it kindly , and thereby giue me cause to be euer studious of thy benefit .

Principally , though lastly , I am humbly to intreate you ( my good Lord of Pembrooke ) to looke on my plainenesse , and winke at my boldnesse : the first , proceeding from my Nature , the last , from my Education : Yet , what is here bluntly expressed , was first of all sharply conceiued , with much whetting of Witt , and no lesse filing of Inuention . But what it is , it is all Yours , as he is , that will no longer bee , then he remaines

Your Lordships euen beyond his vttermost . Rowland Vaughan .

Those that are desirous to see a Mill sawing Timber , there shall their desires bee fully satisfied , seeing a Mill by a Water-course , keepe a dozen Sawes on worke together . As also by the like streame of water , a dozen Spitts or Broches turned at once . Which turning , turnes all Turn-spit Iacks out of countenan e , though they be neuer so sawcie , and their tongues runne on Wheeles , yet , this Water-worke , workes them out of all fauour with the Cooke , that loues to doe much with little labour , whom the Iacks distemper ( which often happens ) soone makes hott as a Tost , because ( like a Cricket ) he liues euer about Fyre .

The Conclusion . THus runnes our Water-workes vnto this end , That all that worke by them , by them may play ▪ For , if they Mossy-grounds by them amend , For paines and pleasures ( then ) they 'l freely pay . This WORKE consists not ( like some idle Tracts ) In shew alone , or Speculation : No ; this is practicall , faire shewes in Acts , To make the poor'st , the richest Nation . Then , chiefly aym'd I not at publick-good , I would not thus divulge my priuate skill : But , bee'ng free-borne , my Natur 's like my Blood ; Which would do good to all , and no man ill : Then , All ( I hope ) or of that All , the best Will wish me well : as for the rest , I rest . Theirs as they giue me cause , Rowland Vaughan . FINIS .
In praise of the Worke and Author . TO praise a worke of such a worth as this , That shews the way t' inrich both earth & man : Deserues a witt that rare and excellent is , And all to short , excell in what it can . The Author , and his worke do merit fame ; With-out the glory of a Poets name . Anthony Dauies .

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