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
but halfe spoiled with the foule weather and yet notwithstanding all this there was no rot of sheepe that yeere the like I have knowne in March and April and yet no rot at all that yeere whereby it appeareth that in the faid months of May and Iune immoderate raine doth produce that frim and frothy grasse which by its laxative and rarifying quality doth dissolve and weaken the livers of the sheepe more or lesse according to the strength or weakenesse of their livers before caused by nature or by art helping nature and also according to the greater or lesser quantity of raine and moisture in the said months and this accident commeth to passe usually in low grounds and such as abound with the astringent fatnesse which in dry yeeres are as sound as any other grounds yet when they are so plentifully watered with much raine in the spring part of summer the grasse shooteth up so hastily that the dissolving and rarifying fatnesse doth predominate in its composition and changeth its nature so wonderfully that it is able to worke this mischievous effect for it is cleere that in winter when the grasse groweth either slowly or not at all there is none of these accidents be the weather never so moist rainy neither in low fat grounds nor in high barren grounds neither in the latter part of summer nor yet in the very beginning of the spring time but only in the pride of the spring viz. in May and Iune and most especially in Iune Wherefore let every one trouble himselfe no further but to fodder his sheepe in winter with the most astringent fodder according to my former directions and withall to withdraw them from the frim and fat low grounds to the more barren and dry grounds in the said months of May and Iune and especially in Iune in such yeeres onely when those months are extreme moist and rainie and I will hazzard my reputation upon it which I value more than all the sheepe both rotten and sound in England and never as yet forfeited the same in any affaires of this nature that he shall never stand in need to lay the key under his doore and bid good night to his Land-lord through any prejudice which shall come to him through this misfortune 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 AS for the new Inventions for the saving of mens worke in an over-peopled Common-wealth it is disputable whether they be for the generall good or not yet in regard that the chiefe policie consisteth in finding out wayes how the same quantitie of land may maintaine more people then it did before which cannot be done any way but by industrie of the people therefore I conceive that in the new Inventions it is for the generall good to save mens workes by Engines for if one workeman can doe as much with his Engine as ten men can doe without it there is nine mens maintenance saved to the Common-wealth whereby plenty is increased to every one I must needs confesse that if the common practice in Husbandry now used was to set their Corne the common way that then the Engine newly invented for that purpose might doe more hurt then good for that so many would then want imployment as we see in London there was an Invention to grinde the Needles many at once whereby halfe the Needle-makers had gone a begging if the new device had not bin restrained but in this case it is farre otherwayes for here is imployment for many more people then before though there be many mens workes saved which would be lost working the rude way also here is a great improvement in the quantitie of land for by this meanes the new people set on worke doe get maintenance for many more then themselves by their industry upon the same quantitie of land which would maintaine but a few before And it is to be conceived that when these Inventions and Improvements shall be throughly put in practise then the Common-wealth will not be overpeopled but rather there will want people to accomplish the worke whereby it will appeare that the saving of mens workes will then be a profitable Invention 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 Objection I. WEE finde in your Booke some things somewhat airie and not so solid as we did expect amongst the rest you alleage that all riches are made of vapours congealed and that you will teach us to congeale vapours at pleasure into as much treasure as we list and into what forme we please if you satisfie us in this point we will beare with all the rest of your imperfections for these are our chiefe desire and this worke being the summe of your Book calleth your reputation most in question if you doe not performe your undertaking herein Answer It is plaine that all Trees Plants and Fruits are made of vapours congealed for nothing vegetateth but in Summer when the heate of the Sunne is in force to rarifie and turne the said fatnesse of the earth into a vapour and is more manifestly seene in Greeneland where the heate is wanting there the Aire is not able to erect it selfe into one Tree in the whole Countrey and for a more full demonstration of this my position that all things are nothing but congealed vapours let us consider of these things following viz. the raining of Frogges Thunderstones Wheate or a thing almost like to it the cause of these things can be no other but that when a convenient heate had almost formed them in their proper Spheare viz. in the superficies of the earth then a greater heate accidentally comming raised up the spermaticall substance thereof into the common Aire and there hatched the same till such time as the magnitude and ponderositie thereof caused them to fall to their proper Sphere And as for the infinitie of this worke it is plaine that a thousand Oke Trees or other will grow in one Farme in the hedgerowes as well as one and for the gaine thereof what are they at the first but a thousand Acorns the like is to be seene in Corne. I have had 38. eares of Barley containing 1124. graines come of one graine set in foure moneths so we see there is no more to be done but to learne to fit the seede to the ground and Climate and then to plant it and then we see that Nature is no niggard but giveth riches to all that are industrious be their number never so much increased Objection II. We finde a contradiction in your Booke for in one place you say that all riches are made of the fatnesse of the earth which is a combustible
A DISCOVERY OF INFINITE TREASVRE HIDDEN SINCE THE VVORLDS BEGINNING VVhereunto all men of what degree soever are friendly invited to be sharers with the Discoverer G. P. Prov. 13. ver 11. Wealth gotten by vanitie shall be diminished but he that gathereth it by labour shall prosper Homo quantò plus cognoscit intelligit bonum profert actu tantò Deo similior LONDON Printed by I. L. and are to be sold by George Hutton within the Turn-stile in Holborne 1639. TO HIS VVORTHY FRIEND MASTER VVILLIAM ENGLEBERT ESQVIRE HEALTH and Happinesse SIR I Have read of an ancient custome used amongst the Heathens that when they brought their sacrifices into the Temple they brought therewith all such receits of medicines for diseases as they had found out by experience and there delivered them to be preserved for the perpetuall benefit of their posteritie their consciences perswading them that their Sacrifices would be better accepted therefore and that it was a wicked deed to let such knowledge die with them which might do so much good to others as for the action I think so well of it as I am minded to make it my paterne and therefore desire that under your patronage I may bring in my receit containing a medicine no doubt for innumerable diseases as taking away the fundamentall cause thereof to wit indigence which by causing of the mindes sadnesse produceth Melancholious bloud and humours the fountaine of the diseases of these times the diseases thus caused kill by distance of time cordials do but deferre the time there is no approved medicine but this in an over-peopled Common-wealth to wit good improvements of the earth which may be effected by the new inventions contained in this Booke and there is nothing wanting but willing mindes to make this Countrey the Paradise of the World if Gentlemen of qualitie would be pleased to begin first and to lay the corner Stone of this building all would follow without question for that gaine the Loadstone of the World being laid a little open by practise would draw the rest there is no cause that I know why they should be slacke in it there be a great number of Parishes within my knowledge and without question infinite more that I know not where the Landlord by laying out of his money upon these improvements may gaine double as much as by purchasing of new Lands also the Parsons Tithes of many things may be doubled and the inhabitants though much increased may live better then before If this be not a better cure for an over-peopled Common-wealth then to make violent incursions upon others territories as is too frequent I referre the matter to all mens judgements the whole world is all of one Gods making and no question is or should be one body Politique wherein to use Phlebotomie when there is no other meanes ready is as foolish as to doe the same thing in Bodies naturall also there is no disparagement to men of qualitie to take this worke in hand for many men of eminent dignitie have laboured in these affaires amongst which let Dioclesian the Emperour serve for brevities sake in this place who when he had resigned his Scepter could finde no such pleasure and contentment in any thing as he did in the planting and grassing of trees and in the Sowing and Setting of profitable Seeds and surely it is a wonderfull delectation to see that the earths fatnesse being the Treasure and indeed the Fountaine of all Treasure and Riches in the World may be transformed into what forme the Workman listeth This Treasure is discovered more at large in the Chapter concerning the fertilizing of Land and is included plentifully in every Element viz. in the Aire which is manifest in that the Camelion an Animall and the Semper-vive a Plant can live and grow in magnitude and ponderositie without touching any other Element also in the Water by the infinite increase of Fishes also in the earth by the infinite and inexhaustible treasure which it produceth continually onely in the earth it is frequently miscompounded the reasons are declared at large in this Booke for it consisteth of a double nature the one Terrestriall the other Celestiall or Aethiriall if either of these predominate then the earth is barren and bringeth forth nothing that is beneficiall for if the Aethereall part be not of force and quantitie sufficient by the heate of the Sunne to lift up the Terrestriall part then no fruit thereof springeth Againe if the Terrestriall part be not of force to coagulate and harden the other into profitable fruits then all is turned into smoake like the accustomed works of Alchymistes all the skill consisteth in the right compounding of these two substances which in many places may be done with such facilitie as is wonderfull the reasons hereafter declared are sufficient to turne Plow-men into Philosophers and to make them to excell their predecessors even as a learned Physician excelleth an Empericke For though many notable improvements have been heretofore found out yet they came more by accident then by good grounds of reason yet infinitely beneficiall and therefore not to be despised for he that found out the way of fertilizing of Land with Lime or Marle though by accident did a more charitable deed in publishing thereof then if he had built all the Hospitalls in England for the one feedeth and cloatheth a few hungry and naked persons the other enableth an infinite number both to feed and clothe themselves and others these things have moved me to bestow much time and charges in these affaires deeming my attempt to be the most excellent that wit can be employed about for that these knowledges are more durable then common riches and no Lawyer can make an estate so indefesible as an approved and profitable experiment is the reason why I chose you to be my Patron is your ripenesse of Iudgement in affaires of this nature you being a Gentleman that hath spent threescore yeares time in invention to doe good to the State and Common-wealth and that hath accomplished more profitable experiments then any man in these latter ages if witnesse be expected let the noble and bountifull gift of Queene Elizabeth for your full accomplishment of your works projected and never accomplished formerly by any serve the turne To conclude my desire is that you and all Readers would be pleased to consider that my time being spent in practicall experiments may well deny mee Scholasticall Oratorie and therefore I desire no more of you or of any Reader but that my good meaning may serve in stead of Ciceroes Oratorie to smooth over and dawbe up my imperfections that way and that the paines and charges being mine and the profit being to redound to the Readers if they be so pleased may serve in stead of Demosthenes his eloquence to perswade them to take them thankfully so I humbly take my leave this twentieth of November 1638. Your bounden servant GABRIEL PLATTES The Contents
in the building repairing and beautifying of Churches and turne the noise of Drummes and Cannons into Hallelujahs and would according to my naturall pronenesse try conclusion whether Peace or Warre were better Yet howsoever it cometh to passe in the generall I would be glad that this particular Kingdome would be a little ruled by my fancie which in this point is not different from the vulgar to whom every contrarie opinion seemeth frivolous and ridiculous as the opinion of those doth to me who contend for trifles and had rather forgoe their future happinesse than lose an inch of ground in standing out for their strong conceited opinions yea verily they seeme to me as ridiculous and childish as for Boyes to fall together by the eares and teare one anothers clothes and give one another bloudy noses about Cherry-stones points pinnes and other trifles which they play for Wherein I am just like the Inhabitants in China who suppose that they have two eyes and all others have but one therein manifesting their strong conceit of their owne wisedome for that they thinke they know more than all the World besides Yet I conceive my good meaning may beare me out in it for that I conceiving my selfe to see the Kingdome post away apace into povertie and want am willing to shew my good will for the prevention of such a mischiefe And I am not wedded to my fancie so much but that I wish every one to take better counsell when he may have it and in the meane time to accept of mine rather than of worse And where good counsell is wanting let every one tell himselfe the old fable of Aesope concerning the contention betwixt the members and the belly and let him set before him the successe of their discord and also the happinesse that they had enjoyed by concord and let it move them to joyne together for all their profits and let them thinke as I thinke till they be better advised that there is more wit in that fable then is in an hundred of our new fabulous fancies and strong conceited whimseyes And whereas the old saying is true That need is the whetstone of wit let us be wiser than our Predecessours and whet our wits with the thought of it and studie to prevent neede before it cometh for that the prevention of a disease is better than the cure afterwards And let us not make so great a difference betweene providence and prudence as some doe and if either be preferred let providence goe before so will prudence be lesse troubled when he cometh to doe his dutie and lesse repentance will serve when a vice hath beene stayed before it be actually committed And let me not totally destroy fancie for that it is cause of much good sometimes for Birds would not take so much care and paines to feede their young ones but that every one thinketh his owne little one to be the fairest and I would not have spent so much money labour and time but to fulfill my fancie For I have as small reason to doe it as any man in England having received many wrongs and injuries by divers persons whom I freely forgive and desire God Almightie to doe the like for it was not they that did it but that wicked root Covetousnesse which got possession of their hearts with whom I can never be reconciled but have vowed the ruine thereof and cannot be stayed with any perswasion whatsoever And having tried divers waies to accomplish my enterprise can finde none but to choake suffocate and make it to surfeit to death with the food that it most loveth And it is a strange thing to see that I cannot rule my passion but to run headlong upon it though I see plainly that pride and luxurie are like to grow in the roome of it And that I shall be just like to a Tinker that stoppeth one hole and maketh two greater and were it not for feare of this mischiefe I would declare something that here shall be omitted For I would be loath to be so bad a Physitian as to have no more care in the Composition of my medicine but that the hot ingredients thereof should cure an Ague by putting the patient into a Feaver being a more dangerous disease Amongst all my Observations in the workes of nature I could never finde so exquisite a Modell or resemblance of a well ordered and flourishing Common-wealth as is an hive of Bees who in these two principall points doe so farre excell men that they may well goe to Schoole to them for first they are all industrious and suffer no drones to remaine amongst them and by this meanes their well living is no whit diminished by growing numerous Secondly they are all bent to worke for the generall good which is manifestly seene by this one remarkable point for when any one hath fortune to finde out a pot or vessell of honey he doth not like men eate it all up himselfe but forthwith he goeth home and telleth his fellowes whom he guideth to the treasure which he hath found and there they worke with one consent till they have carried it to their owne hives if they be not letted by force I being schooled by this commendable example have published this Discovery which must needs prove some huge Creature for that it hath been threescore and foureteene yeares betweene the conception and the birth this treasure consisteth of improvements in Husbandry whereof the least is inestimable and infinite for that thereby so many lives present and future are maintained these partly by a Booke given me by one of my Auncestors containing all the remarkable observations for fiftie yeares of the weather the plentie and scarcitie the cheapnesse and dearenesse with all accidentall occurrences and the naturall causes of the same and partly by my owne observations and experiments for the space of 24 yeares I have by the blessing of God found out which if I should conceale and not publish I conceive that I did commit as execrable a villanie and as much defile my conscience as if I should see a number of men in danger of drowning and should not lend them my hand to helpe them if any one shall calumniate these improvements with the name of innovations let him be pleased to remember himselfe that such innovations as these have beene accustomed in all ancient times as the people grew more and more numerous to be put in practise for three severall times the people growing too numerous for their maintenance God hath given understanding to men to improve the earth in such a wonderfull manner that it was able to maintaine double the number and so he that made mouthes sent meat by teaching them understanding how to get it for when there were but few they were maintained by Fish Fowle Venison and Fruits freely provided by Nature but when they grew too numerous for that food they found out the Spade and used industry to augment their food by their indeavours