follies that they did not rather suffer it with patience then suffer their hearts to breake so untemperately with discontent and so long till the vapours thereof had lifted up so much melancholly to the braine that it was therewith overwhelmed and the curious Organs thereof so obstructed and stopped that it was afterward uncurable Of which things I wish every one to take heede betime for when the Steede is stolne it is too late to make fast the stable doore I deny not but that in other yeares and by much moisture falling in other moneths some few Sheepe of the most waterish and flegmaticke constitution may be caught with this disease but this is not of that materiall consequence which I aime at my meaning being to prevent the grand inconveniences caused by ignorance as for those which are more triviall I desire that every one may indeavour to prevent or cure by his owne industrie by adding somewhat of his owne for the full accomplishing of the worke intended and for his furtherance I will here set downe the erronious opinions of many Husbandmen in this matter some are of opinion that much rainie weather in clipping time doth cause this effect which is manifestly false for that the same cause is in the salt marshes and barren forrests where the rot never commeth as is in the plaine and fertile fields I denie not but that the externall coldnesse and moisture when the Sheepe are new shorne may be somewhat coadjuting to produce this mischievous effect but yet not the sole cause which I desire may be prevented by taking time to sheare Sheepe in faire and pleasant weather and to house them a day or two upon urgent occasion of sudden and great raine If any one object that no man knoweth how to choose this time I answer him that he may foresee it by weather-glasses for that purpose which I could demonstrate but that I delight not to plod on in common paths but will rather referre him to Master Bates his Booke lately written and intituled The Masteries of Nature and Art wherein he may see the worke made manifest and that sufficient warning is given of all mutations of weather by an infallible Prognosticutive experiment I have seene many of these glasses ready made fit and sold in the Glasse-shops in London together with a printed paper shewing the use thereof which will be profitable for the Countreymen for divers other occasions as well as this and every active handed man may make them the plainest way for twelve pence charge which will serve as well as the best others are of opinion that Honey-dewes cause this effect but this is false also for there are more honey-dewes in sound yeares for Sheepe then in rotten yeares and this is manifest that in yeares when Sheepe are most subject to this disease the Bees are likewise most subject to die in the Winter time with famine which may be discerned by the lightnesse of their Hives in Iuly but this is not a generall rule for Hives in all Countries for some yeares when the Hives in the plaine Countrey are light and not well furnished for maintenance in the Winter time the same yeare Forrest Hives are rich and heavie and the cause is for that the weather was faire and pleasant in the latter part of Summer when the barren Forrests flourished and foule and rainie in the former part of Summer when the plaine Countrey did flourish and this is generally observed by my selfe and my Predecessour for the space of threescore and fourteene yeares that alwayes when the Hives of Bees were hight and not well provided for Winter 〈…〉 Vallies the same yeare the Sheepe died of the rot extreamely which upon my first taking notice of I thought that both these diseases proceeded from one and the same cause but upon further investigation it proved to be true in part but not in the totall for the multitude of raine in May and Iune caused both these effects but yet in the Bees it caused their ruine by frequent washing of the honey-dewes and also by hindring them from working in their best season and in the Sheepe by producing frimme and frothie grasse abounding with moisture which these cattle can not beare for if the grasse be never so firme yet sheepe though they never drinke their bodies will yeeld Urine contrarie to other Cattle who if their meate be moist drinke so much lesse water and thereby save their livers from dissolution and putrifaction some have though that the kells like cobwebs have done this effect but that is false likewise for that they are as plentifull in the salt Marshes and barren places as in the fertile grounds some have thought that a certaine kinde of thicke-leaved grasse like almost to Purslaine hath done the mischiefe but this is also false for that the rot commeth where there is none of it some have thought that the Land-flouds caused it these have some hint of the truth but not fully for it is found by experience that where the earth is fattened with Land-flouds in the neather part of the fertile fields there the sheepe are most subject to this discase but the reason is that there the grasse is most frimme and frothie and most abounding with moisture in moist Summers therefore let them be withdrawne to the higher places of the fields in such yeares onely when the moneths of May and Iune prove very moist and rainie and the field is noonne these things being duely observed will produce more generall benefit then many greater studies and seeing that Husbandrie did not onely build but also maintaine all Schooles I could wish that it was better fortified being the very foundation of a prosperous Common-wealth and if every one would equalize my benevolence who have reaped double benefit out of the Schooles we will erect a Colledge for Inventions in Husbandrie in retribution of their former supplies to Learning and so conclude that quid pro quo is lawfull payment this is one of the richest experiments in this Booke and dependeth upon skill more then upon corporall labour and therefore I desire that it may be thankfully accepted and made use of being a thing that no man could fully ever discover before my selfe nor my selfe neither but that I had helpe by the experience of my Predecessour And to the end that men may with the most ease prevent this great losse in their flockes of sheep by rotting let it please them to understand that during my owne 24. yeeres observations and for any thing that I can finde in my Book of 50. yeeres observations there was never any materiall losse by this misfortune nor any rot of sheepe worthy to be taken notice of but in such years when the months of May and Iune and especially Iune proved to bee extreame moist and rainie weather for I have observed that in some yeeres Iuly August and September haue been so immoderate moist and rainie that no hay not Corne could be well gotten
CHPA I. WHerein is manifestly shewed the nature of the subject which we are to worke upon viz. the terrestriall Globe consisting of earth and water the situation of it and the second causes of its stabilitie CHAP. II. Wherein is plainely shewed how workemen may be provided for the accomplishing of the enterprise CHAP. III. Wherein is manifestly shewed how tooles and instruments may bee provided the most commodious way for the worke CHAP. IIII. Wherein is shewed how foode and maintenance for the workmen may be provided by the industrie of the said workmen CHAP. V. Wherein is shewed that the common way in Husbandry at this time used will produce in length of time nothing but povertie and beggerie CHAP. VI. Wherein is shewed that the new Inventions and Improvements contained in this Booke will produce maintenance for all though they shall grow never so numerous whereby the Frontispice of this Booke is cleared from imposture in that it proclaimeth the treasure to be infinite CHAP. VII Wherein is declared the manner how to make barren land fertile and that as the people increase so by their industrie their foode may increase even as twentie Hives of Bees being all industrious doe live as well as if there were but one in the same garden CHAP. VIII Wherein is shewed how to prevent the blasting of Corne and that the cause thereof doth not come through thunder and lightning according to the common opinion but through the deficiencie of the Husbandmens knowledge CHAP. IX Wherein is manifestly shewed the cause of the mildew with the preventions and cures CHAP. X. Wherein is manifestly shewed the cause of the rotting of Sheepe with the prevention and cure CHAP. XI Wherein is shewed that in these Ages Inventions to save the number of mens workes are not profitable to a Common-wealth overcharged with people but rather the contrary CHAP. XII As for the Objections against any thing contained in this Booke to free my selfe from all partialitie toward my owne side I have here set them downe all punctually as they have bin objected by severall Husbandmen and others in sundry conferences Librum hunc de Agriculturâ á G. P. scriptum typis mandari permitto Julii 28. 1638. Sa. Baker A DISCOVERIE OF INFINITE TREAsure hidden since the worlds beginning whereunto all men of what degree soever are friendly invited to be sharers with the Discourser G. P. I Must needs confesse that divers of these inventions and improvements contained in this Booke are not totally hidden from the world at this day yet in regard that some of them are onely known to my self others not generally known and all of them not practised generally but the profit thereof which might accrue to the Common wealth hath hitherto beene lost I have been bold to intitle the Book A Discovery of infinite Treasure c. for that the intent of the publishing thereof is that all in generall might receive benefit thereby and that they might be satisfied so fully before hand that they might joyn together with one consent to accomplish the work more speedily for the generall good of all that are present and alive and also for the generall good of their posteritie whose happinesse all men are bound to indeavour themselves by their providence to further though it should be some charges and labour extraordinarie for by this meanes shall they shew themselves to be more like to the Creator of all things who provideth forth all Ages as well as for the present time If any one shall carpe at any thing conteined in this Book let him be pleased to call to minde the old saying viz. That a given Horse is not to be looked in the mouth especially when he hath cost so deare to the giver I must needs confesse that here is neither Stile nor Composure answerable to the worth of the subject for which I crave pardon in regard that my time hath been spent in action and practise and not in the Schooles This Book is published for those which through their debonere disposition wil accept the Authors good meaning though it were but painted with a coale and for such as will take a little paines to spell and put together the same themselves and expound it to the best advantage for the generall good for which it was intended to please all is a thing impossible for that very reason it self which doth or at least should rule their pleasures differeth according to the constitution of the bodies and also according to the Climates wherein reasonable creatures live which because it may seeme strange I will demonstrate by some few experiments amongst many As for the Climate the opposition in the determination of divers controversies doth sufficiently testifie as for the finall determinations of controversies in severall Climates differing one from another it doth manifest the other for the first it is found that where a question ariseth there every one disputeth according to his fancie his constitution causing his will and his will causing his braines to invent and forge arguments to make good that which he desireth be it good or evil as for the second the Climate differing causeth the Major part of the Assembly to agree upon a determination which sorteth with the constitutions of the bodies in that Climate for more plaine demonstration hereof let us observe first severall determinations in severall Climates of the same question secondly let us observe severall determinations in one and the same Climate of the very same question as for the first the different determinations betwixt us and the Southerne Countries about having many wives or but one sheweth that the Climates being hotter or colder do sway the mindes of the disputants as for the second the late law for the having of onely one wife doth demonstrate the coldnesse of the Climate together with the difficultie of acquiring of maintenance both which sway the mindes of the disputants here and as for riches the things most desired are they not striven for according to the naturall desire of the parties affected to them Is it not manifest that many wise and prudent men have despised multitude of riches and honours and other have affected the same most earnestly and accomplished them with much danger and difficultie and these have thought one another mad or foolish for that they were of severall opinions caused by their divers constitutions which swayed their reasons with such violence that their judgements were hood-winked And is it not manifest also that many mischievous contentions have risen between parties in the same Climate and betweene severall Countries in divers Climates about frivolous questions where neither partie hath had truth on their side though they both thought they had it infallibly like our hot Apocalyps men and fierce expounders of Daniel who are sure in their owne conceit that they have such divine revelations that they cannot possibly be deceived Of this nature are the most part of the deceptions in the world at this time
industrious when as the benefit of their labours is to fall into other mens purses unlesse there be a Contract betweene the Landlord and Teuant whereby a just share may redound to both parties answerable to their merit which it this were done then would the Husbandmen be much stirred up to trie experiments and if they should but spend their spare times in these workes there is no question but that many fat veines of marle chalke lime-stone and other earth would be discovered in many places which now lie hidden and doe no good at all Also the Common wealth would be furnished with Timber trees in such manner that the wealth thereof would not be so exhausted as it is and is more like to be in future time by importation of Timber from other Countries Also it would be furnished with fruit trees which is a wonderfull commoditie in time of dearth and scarcitie for before this last yeare it hath never happened that Corne and Fruits have both failed in one yeare but even when Corne was scarce and deare then fruits were plentifull which produced Perry and Cider in great plentie so that the Countrey received great reliefe not onely for their drinke but also for their food and this I can witnesse for the space of threescore and fourteene yeares partly by mine owne experiences and partly by my book of fiftie yeares observations CHAP. V. Wherein is shewed that the common way in Husbandrie at this time used will produce in length of time nothing but povertie and beggerie AS for the Common way and practise in Husbandrie used at this day all men of good understanding doe know that it produceth every yeare barrennesse more and more and in the end will produce nothing but povertie and beggerie but whether the same may be redressed by new Inventions and Improvements is a thing much doubted and indeed the question cannot be determined by any other way then by experience which admitteth no imposture for every Husbandman knoweth that sheepe being fed upon the Commons and carried with their full bellies into the Folds upon the arable land doe impoverish the one ground to fatten the other whereby it commeth to passe that one Acre of land inclosed is better then foure Acres of the same in Common whereby it is plaine that three parts of foure of all Commons are utterly lost also the destruction of Timber and the neglect of the increase thereof also the neglect of severall other workes plainely declared in this booke Also they know that the Land flouds doe carry away the fatnesse from the arable land and all high grounds in huge quantitie into the Sea which is further manifested by the leaving of some small part thereof in the meadowes whereby they are inriched also the further manifestation of this truth is seene by Nilus in Egypt the Granarie of the World where they have no more fertilitie then the water bringeth yearely in his belly in certaine moneths during its overflowing of the ground in whose residence left behinde they use to sow their seed and have incredible increase and the greater the overflowing is the greater is their plentie which they can discerne by certaine pillars marked with severall marks which the height of the water touching higher or lower doth demonstrate afore-hand the quantitie of the ensuing plentie Which residence of the water if it had hapned in a Countrey where it had not beene taken notice of nor the nutrimentall vertue thereof bin extracted yearely by sowing of Corne or other things there is no question but that it would have become a fat veine of marle able to have fertilized other land for I could never apprehend any other reason of the veines of marle but that the water left that fat mussilage in former times whose fatnesse hath not bin exhausted since by any industrie and the same reason I conceive is the cause why limestone and chalke doth fatten ground onely here is the difference that the limestone and chalke are covered with more common earth and are placed so that the subterraneall vapours doe more impregnate them and indurate them into an hard masse so that they doe stand in need of fire to unlose their firme compaction whereby they may yeeld their nutrimentall vertue and where any of these substances shall be discovered there they are to be accounted as hidden Treasure found for that they are farre more worth then a-any Gold or Silver mine being not onely infinite and not to be exhausted by time but also the profit thereof not to be diminished through the multitude of Sharers which inconvenience all other Treasures are subject unto which is the reason that Husbandry is holden the most honest and conscionable life in the world and the supporter of all the rest which being compared with it are nothing but toyes and trifles neither considerable almost at all in respect of Husbandry which supporteth the World whereby it appeareth that any new Invention or Improvement in Husbandry is inestimable for that so many lives are thereby susteined CHAP. VI. Wherein is shewed that the new inventions and improvements contained in this Booke will produce maintenance for all though they shall grow never so numerous whereby the Frontispice of this Booke is cleared from imposture in that it proclaimeth the treasure to be infinite AS for the remedy for the avoiding of the encrease of barrennesse and decrease of fertilitie caused by the accustomed manner of Husbandry now used the whole tenour of this Book doth manifestly shew as by these particulars here under written doth more plainely appeare wherein I submit my self to the Readers judgement not onely for the annuall profit which will accrue to the Common-wealth when the said new inventions and improvemens shall be brought to full perfection but also in the meane time for the setting of poore people to worke in the most apt places to receive the benefit of these new inventions for I know a thousand places in England where an hundred pounds laid out will bring in an hundred pounds per annum with convenient industry perpetually to the worlds end In such places as these I would have my new inventions and improvements put in practise at the first and afterward according to the old saying Let him that commeth last fetch his water the furthest The annuall profit of the timber trees after one age will amount to The annuall profit of the fruit trees after halfe an age will be The annuall profit of the wooddy and thornie grounds being turned into fruitfull fields and pastures will be The annuall profit of the new meadow ground caused by the watering and fatting thereof by the Persian wheeles will be The annuall profit of the Mossie and Ant hilly grounds being made double of value by these new improvements will be The annuall profit of the third part of all the arable ground in England which may be turned into pasture and hey ground in regard that the two third parts are sufficient to
matter as Oile Grease Rosen Pitch Tallow Sulphure c. and in another place you say also that Gold is made of the said fatnesse of the earth which is a substance altogether free from burning and is not diminished in the fire we would be resolved how these seeming contrarieties can be true Answer I said that there is a double fatnesse in every compounded body the one combustible and the other incombustible which may be seene in the burning of the highest twigges of any Tree for first there riseth a sharpe vapour in the burning which is the universall spirit of the world and the vehiculum which by the helpe of the Sunnes heate lifteth up the former fatnesse then the combustible part consumeth into aire by the fire then the ashes remaining being laid upon land fatneth it whereby a fatnesse incombustible is discovered and these two fatnesses are in mineralls as well as vegetables and of the incombustible and fixed fatnesse minerall is Gold made by nature and also by art imitating Nature and if any man doubt it let him hazzard a good wager upon it which shall be equalized and the question shall be determined by the greatest viz. experience which admitteth no imposture yet I could advise my best friends that love to trie experience to spend their money time and studie upon Improvements in Husbandrie being workes more certaine and more profitable Objection III. We must needs confesse that barrennesse increaseth by the usuall practise in Husbandry at this day and by the two wayes alledged by you in your Booke viz. first by the carrying of the sheepe from the Commons with their full bellies into the Folds whereby the one ground is impoverished to inrich the other and this we conceive may be cured by your new Inventions for providing of manure which was neglected before secondly the Land is much impoverished by great Land-flouds which carry a wonderfull quantitie of fatnesse yearely into the Sea but how this should be remedied we know not we must needs confesse that your Inventions for the providing of manure more then before are excellent good and profitable for the generall good and will withstand the barrennesse much so that it will not increase so fast as it did before yet we conceive that barrennesse will still increase though more slowly for all your multiplications of manure will not equalize much lesse overmatch the fatnesse carried yearely by Land-flouds into the Sea Answer It is certaine that the new provision of manure by Lime ashes Marle Mussilage and residence of water and by the rest of the Inventions will equalize and overmatch the great quantitie of fatnesse carried yearely into the Sea if the same shall be industriously put in practise the subterraneall vapours yearely elevate a great quantitie of fatnesse though in some places more abundantly then in others for I have knowne arable land borne good corne time out of minde with every third yeares rest and fallowing without any manure at all but onely by this subterraneall vapour arising from some subterraneall fat substance but though this be but in some speciall places yet there is no question but that it helpeth well in all places though of it selfe it be not sufficient without addition of manure but if all men would be ruled by me we would not onely put these workes in practise very industriously for the generall good thereby to testifie our love to all men both living and yet to come but also we would make use of my first Invention mentioned in my first Chapter viz. to bow the knee of the heart instead of the usual and complementall bowing of the knee of the body to the Donor of all goodnesse then might we have firme confidence having formerly testified our love to God by the generall love of all his creatures especially those of our own kind that he would send the former and the latter raine in due season without scanting us at any time and pouring downe too much at other times whereof we had experience this last yeere wherein both these events have caused losse to this Kingdome above the value of 20. subsidies in one yeere if this new invention were well put in practice then would the heart-maker take away these our stony and hard hearts and give us hearts of flesh and all mourning and lamentation for want of food would be done away for then would our labours be seconded by the chiefe master in Husbandry so that we should no more bee frustrated of our expected Harvest Objection IIII. Wee finde your answers so satisfactory that wee will make no more objections but this one which we will almost answer our selves which is this wee must needs confesse that your discourse concerning the preservation of Corne from blasting is very rationall and argueth much skill in Husbandry yet whether the practise thereof will be answerable though we see no cause to doubt thereof yet being schooled by your selfe wee will suspend our full beleefe thereof till experience testifie and manifest the truth and wee desire to be excused herein because it is your own counsell to us wherein wee see not but that howsoever it proveth you your selfe are out of blame for that every man may try the truth thereof by your owne direction without any materiall prejudice in small quantitie at the first Therefore if it may please you to shew us your new invented Engines and the use of them how the tedious labour of your new workes may be eased then we will declare our opinions to all posterity and so take our leaves Answer Well goe with me and you shall receive as much satisfaction by demonstration as formerly by discourse You see here the experiment of my Persian wheele you see that it is 40. foot high you see that the bottles doe fill in the River and empty themselves into a Trough 36. foot high and the water is conveyed into yonder Ditch which is a mile long you see divers stops in the Ditch whereby the water is caused to flow over yonder barren ground whereby it is become good medow you see it is of no great cost nor subject to be out of order nor doth require any great repaire you see the motion is perpetuall day and night without looking to if you were in Persia you might see two or three hundred of these in one River if the water come from chalky or lime-stone ground or be mixed with land-flouds then it doth fatten the ground wonderfull Now looke upon my Engine for the cleansing of Thorny and rough grounds you see the nether part is like a three grayned dung-forke onely it is 40. times greater and stronger you see the upper part is like a leaver but ten times stronger and very much longer you see here a great bush of Thornes and Briers together which to eradicate the common way would spend a good part of a mans dayes worke Now thus I set my Instrument halfe a foot from the root of it slopewise then