thereof the settling a Staple building of Store-houses the viewing the ground on shore for landing and drying of Nets making and drying of Fish and the building of Block-houses for the security of Trade The manner of the Hollanders fishing for Herring with Busses and other Vessels for Ling and Cod according to the Journal kept thereof is as followeth We set sail from Gravesend the 27th of April 1633 and having Letters from the Earl of Pembroke to Mr. William Dicks of Edinbourg in Scotland we directed our course towards Scotland but by reason of soul weather weâ—e forced into Harwich and set sail from thence the 30 th Ditto the wind not favouring us we came to an Anchor in Yarmouth Road and there going on shore were informed that the Hollanders Busses did drive at Sea for Herrings on that Coast and that from the Holms before Yarmouth to Bookness in Scotland North north-North-East is 96 Leagues and from Bookness to the South end of Shotland North and by East about 53 Leagues The fifth of May we set sail from Yarmouth and by stress of wind were forced into Scarbrouh and there going on shore were informed of the Hollanders Busses fishing on that Coast and that from Searbrough Northwards towards Catness in 45 Fathom or thereabouts in that fair way is usually the first Summer Herrings caught From Scarbrough we set sail and came to an Anchor before Leith in Scotland the 13 th Ditto where going on shore and from thence to Edinburg delivered my Letters to Mr. William Dicks who was at that time Governor of the Island of Shotland and did receive the Revenue of those Islands Having received my Instructions and Letters from Mr. William Dicks directed to Mr. James Scot who lived at that time in the North parts of the Islands of Shotland and was Agent or Deputy to the said William Dicks We set sail from Leith and came to an Anchor at Casten in the Islands of Orkney the 22 Ditto And because these Islands are very considerable as to the Fishing Trade I cannot pass them by without a brief description thereof which is as followeth The Islands of Orkney are 31 and lye from the North and North-East Point of Scotland the first and Southermost Island is called Elhey but the greatest and chiefest Island of Orkney is called Maland which lieth Southermost from the Point of Catness on the North side of this great Island are the Havens where the Ships come to that Trade in those parts and to the Island called Lewis and the Islands therebouts The Lewis Islands are the Islands on the West of Scotland and those Seas being also very considerable as to the Fishing-Trade I make bold to give account thereof as followeth These Islands lying Westward from Scotland and to the Northward of Ireland are in number 34. There are four great Islands that lie near the main Land but the greatest and chiefest Island is called Lewis which lyeth Northward from the foresaid Islands but the Northermost of all the Islands which lyeth towards the Orkanes about sixteen Leagues from Lewis is called Rona betwixt Rona and Orkney lye some small Islands The Island Lewis lyeth from Shotland South-West or more Westerly about 58 Leagues and from the South end of Lewis to the North-West of Ireland is 27 Leagues In and between these Islands are many very good Sounds and Havens for Ships Lewis with the Islands belonging to it ly South and By-West and South South-West about 29 Leagues I shall farther add to my boldness and give you an account of the Islands of Fero. These Islands lye Northward from the Lewis Islands about 54 Leagues and from Shotland Westerly about 58 Leagues and are in number 22. The Sounds and Havens are many The Southermost great Island is called Sugdro on the North side of this Island are several good Sounds and Havens but the best and chiefest of all the Havens and where all the Trade and Merchandise is is called Tor-Haven which lyeth on the great Island Strone But these Islands being out of my Road I shall return to my former Discourse on the Coast of Orkney and Shotland The South part of Shotland lyeth about 20 Leagues Northward from the Island called Maland but between the Islands of Orkney and Shotland lye two Islands the one called Fair-hill and the other called Fulo these two Islands lye about 10 Leagues one from the other Fulo lyeth North-North-East from Fair-hill The Island Fair-hill lyeth from the North-East point of Orkney about 9 Leagues and the Southermost point of Shotland lyeth from Fair-hill North and By-East about 8 Leagues and from Fulo East and By-South about four Leagues Being informed of the manner of the Hollanders fishing for Herring Ling and Cod with Busses and Dogger-boats in those Seas and the Inhabitants of the Islands manner and way of Fishing we set sail from Casten and came to an Anchor by Sunbroug-head being the South part of Shotland the third of June and going ashore spake with the Good-man of Quandale one of the chief of those parts the said Gentleman with other of the Inhabitants did inform me of their manner of Trading with the Hamburgers and others and of the Hollanders fishing for Herring on that Coast also of their Dogger-boats that fish only for Ling and Cod. After I had received information from the Inhabitants of the several Islands and the manner of Fishing and Trading there we set sail from thence and came to an Anchor in Bracey-Sound otherwise called Broad-Sound a very gallant Harbour where many Ships may lye Land-lockt for all Winds Having informed my self by the Inhabitants of those parts of the manner of their Trading and Fishing and the Hollanders fishing for Herrings driving on that Coast we set sail from thence and came to an Anchor in Evey-Sound the Northermost Sound in Shotland on the 12 Ditto and there going on shore I continued about 11 or 12 Months and in that time travelling the greatest part of the Island by Sea and Land did thereby better inform my self concerning the manner of Trading and Fishing by the Inhabitants and the Hollanders at Sea The Land of Shotland lyeth North and By-East and South or South and West about 60 Miles But there are many Islands belonging to Shotland which I shall have occasion to mention hereafter That which is most considerable are the Sounds and Harbours On the West-side of the Southward Point of Shotland there is a good Harbour and Sound called St. Magnus and on the East-side near Sunbrough-head is a fair Sand-Bay where there is good Anchoring in ten or twelve Fathom to the Northward of this last Sound there is another Sound called Hambrough-Haven which is a lade-place for the Hamburgers and Scots About 9 or 10 Leagues from the Southward point of Shotland there is a Chanel that runneth through the Land the South-part of the Land divided by the Channel is called Swanberg the other part so divided or the North-part is called Laxford within
distance is first to delve a Plot of land 4 foot square and let the 4 angle points or corners of the square lie North-east North-west South-east and South-west that the Plants which are to be parted in those Plots may have the benefit of the Sun all the day this performed then cast up a small trench or ditch a foot deep if there be so much good earth and 18 inches wide let all this earth be evenly laid on the Plot delved the Clods hackt or cut small and the grass and weeds gathered or weeded out this done set or plant one seed or plant about a foot from each point or corner of the square Plot and in the middle one then you will have 5 Seeds or Plants in this Quadrat Now at every 30 foot distance throughout the acre of Land delve or cast up such a Plot of ground so you will have 40 quadrats or square plots in the whole and leave a sufficient distance of land between the outmost Rows and the Fence The Seed or Sets planted in the whole ground are 200 which may all grow 3 or 4 years then leaving one of the best Plants of what kind of Timber-trees you please pull or craw up all the rest which you may either sell give away or plan in other grounds the remainder will be 40. By this way or manner of planting you may make as much benefit of the Acre of Land within a small matter as if there were not a Tree growing in it and these 40 Timber-trees being all Oaks within a hundred and fifty years may be worth 200 pounds which is a good improvement requiring no more charges than the first planting and not losing any benefit of the land And if this quadrat or square figure doth not like you there may be digged or delved so many Plots of ground as aforesaid round or circular and the ditch cast up as about the squares then plant or set the four Seeds or Plants equally about the Circle and one in the middle the four Seeds or Plants pointing to the four quarters of the Wind as hath been directed The reason of this way of planting is to increase the mould or earth for the Plants to put forth their shoots in also the being inclosed will preserve them from danger in time of Harvest you may set Beans in these plots of ground but not too near the Plants and if you sow seed of the Furrs-bush about the edges of the bank The Furres will keep the Plants warm in the Winter and preserve them from being hurt by Cattel and as the Plants or Trees increase the Furrs will decrease or after the Plants are grown up out of the reach of Cattel the Furrs may be cuâ— and so destroyed if the rightâ— season of the year be observed Now there is another way of planting not inferior to any of these formerly spoken of We shall consider of the Acre of Land in length and breadth to be 40 perch long and 4 perch broad the just content of an Acre at 16 foot and an half to the pole or perch The Plants to be provided for the planting this ground may be of all the sorts of Timber-trees formerly mentioned they should be about the size of the Thorn plants yet something greater but not bigger than an ordinary mans finger The Plants being provided you may begin to work thus on the North north-North-east or North-west side of this Acre of Land make a Ditch 3 foot wide and 18 inches deep the said Ditch to extend to the farther ends of the plot which is 40 Rod After the first Turf is laid with the swarth or grass side downwards the upper side pared chopped and made even and that the Plants are cut and trimmed lay them on as you were directed in planting the Thorne hedge only observing to leave the trunk or body of these plants one inch longer than those of the thorns Also the distance of ground between these plants must be 3 foot After the Plants are laid in an even rank or row with the slope or cut side downwards or sidewayes towards the South and the head of the Plants lying at least 7 or 8 inches higher than the roots then cast or throw up good store of the best earth on the roots afterwards all the earth which you cleanse out of the Ditch spreading it all over the Plants plain and even This bank is not to lye high as that of the Thorns but level as other grounds There is in this row or bank 220 Plants now allowing 4 foot of ground that the first Plants and earth cast up as aforesaid doth cover The second Ditch must be begun five foot distance from the head of the first bank which is 8 foot from the beginning of the first Ditch This second Ditch or Row of Plants will fall behind the first and must be made and planted every way as the first and after the second a third and so continue keeping the same distance till all the Plot be planted Then have you in the Acre of Ground 8 Rows and 1760 Plants The Trees that are thus planted will thrive and grow wonderfully between the Ditches and Banks you may delve and sow or set Beans Pease or any other grain or corn This Acre of ground may be improved by planting for Timber-trees and under-Woods for Hop-poles as you have been formerly directed So much may serve for the improvement of one single Acre which being too little a Plot to take up the whole industry of a Man or my designe I shall now take in a greater quantity of land and proceed to a thousand Acres which I at first intended The thousand Acres then doth contain by the Rod Pole or Pearch at 16 foot and a half to the Pole 160000 which is in yards 4840000 and doth amount unto in feet or by the foâ—t 43560000 Now according to every one of these three Numbers only considering the distance between the Fence and outmost row of Plants as before mentioned must the quantity of seed be provided because you shall not be put to the trouble in counting how many of these seeds a Bushel by measure may contain I shall give a particular account thereof which take as followeth The first number the distance being Perches will require 160000 acorns which amounts to by measure according to the former Rule in the one Acre given 25 Bushels The second number according to the distance of yards will require 4840000 acorns which comes to by measure 756 Bushels one Peck The third or last number being feet will require 43560000 acorns which will come to by measure 6806 Bushel one Peck As for the other seed which are Ashen keyes and Beechen Mast they may be also measured by the Bushel as the Acorns first counting how many of each will go or will be contained in one pint or gallon Having considered and computed what the charges both of seed and Plants will amount unto by knowing what quantity
set down how to plant 200 Acres of Land at well for Pleasure as Profit wherein there shall be pleasant Walks with Timber-trees and Groves of Vnder-woods and several Orchards and Gardens with Fruit Flowers and Herbs both for Food and Physick variety of Fowl Bees Silk-worms Bucks Does Hares and other Creatures of several kinds And a short account of the Charges and Profit of keeping a thousand Doe-Conies in Hutches the profit amounting to 450 pounds per annum Also Fish-ponds and Streams of water stored with many kinds of Fish and stocked with Decoy-Ducks And the Vse and Vertues of all the Plants growing in this Garden of Pleasure THe Figure of this Garden or profitable and delightfull Place is a Quadrat the 4 Angles or square sides lying South-east North-west South-west and North-east the length of one side or Angle containing 178 Perch 15 foot 11 inches The whole Plot is to be inclosed with a Ditch and Quick hedge of White-thorn as hath been directed to fence in the great Wood In the middle of this Garden containing 200 Acres Woodland Measure that is 18 foot to the Perch in length shall be erected a convenient Dwelling-house and other usefull Buildings for Corn and Cattel the Front of the said House to stand South-east and the Scite thereof to be inclosed for Yards Gardens and Orchards we allow to take up 20 Acres On the north-North-east side of this our Garden and 36 foot from the Fence or outmost bounds is to be planted to Row of Oaks extending to the ends of the said Angles or square Sides but observing to keep the same distance of 36 foot from the Fence of the other Angles or North-west and South-east Sides This first Row of Oak being set or planted allowing 21 foot of land between each Plant there is to be planted another or second Row of Oaks 36 foot distance from the first and keeping the distance of 21 foot between every Plant in the said Row This performed then 36 foot from the last Row of Oaks is to be planted 2 Rows of Chesnut Plants all of them keeping the same distance one from the other as the Oaks and 36 foot from the last Row of Chesnuts must be planted 2 Rows of Beech Plants also 36 foot from the last outmost Row of Beech may be planted 2 Rows of Walnut Plants the said Beech and Walnuts are to be planted at the same distance as was the Chesnuts 4 pearch or 72 foot from the last Row of Walnuts you may plant a Grove or Thicket of White Thorn the breadth to be one pearch and the length extending as far as the Walnuts From the Thorns the space of land between being 9 foot is to be planted a Coppice or Thicket of Ash and Withey Sets equally mixed the breadth of the said Plot of Ash and Withey Plants must be 4 pearch and the length 81 foot shorter at each end then the Thorn Thicket Half a pearch or 9 foot from the Ash Coppice shall be planted 4 pearch of Land in breadth with Hazel-nut Sets and the length to be the same as that of the Ash. Leaving 1 pearch or 18 foot space of ground from the Hazel Coppice there must be planted the breadth of 4 pearch in breadth with Rasberry Blackberry Barberry Goosberry and Currant Bushes All these are to be planted equally in several Beds and the edges of the said Beds planted with Strawberries The whole Plot being planted and equally mixed with all the several sorts and colours of Berries with convenient Walks between each Bed and containing the same length with the Nut-wood One pearch distant from the said Plot of Berries is to be planted the same length and breadth of land with Philberd Nut Sets Keeping the distance of 9 foot from the last Plot planted the next to be planted are Withey and Ash Sets the length and breadth of the said Plot to be the same as was last planted with Philberds Now as an Architect will lay a good foundation before he build we have advised first to plant and as the first Plot planted of this our Grove was a Thorn Thicket so likewise must the last or that opposite to the first and also both ends of this entire Inclosure observing to keep the distances with length and breadth of this last Thicket as that first planted and also the Thorns planted at the two ends of the Grove must be of the same breadth and joyn to the ends of the first and last Thorns planted About the middle of the last or South-west side of the Grove and opposite to the Dwelling-house must be left unplanted a space of Land or Ground on which to build or set up a fair Gate for entrance into the Wood or Grove aforesaid also there must be left unplanted 72 foot of Land in breadth beginning at the said Gate or middle of the Thorn Thicket and extending overthwart or cross dividing the Grove which will make a Pleasant Walk there being erected a Fountain in the middle of the said Walk whose streams dividing the Grove into 4 parts will be of great use for the refreshing all things as well Vegetatives and Sensitives as Rationals and at each end of the said Walk is to be planted a Mulberry-tree These Directions being observed and performed on the South-west side of the House is to be planted the same quantity of Land with all the several sorts of Plants aforementioned keeping the same distance of 36 foot from the Fence and likewise the same distance of Plants according to the manner and way of the first or North-east part of the Land planted These two Groves and Timber-trees in them are not planted only for Pleasant Walkes but Harbor and feeding places for wild Peacocks Turkies Pheasants Blackbirds Thrushes Felfares and all other useful Birds that live on such food as there grows The Land disposed of as to the scite of the House Groves and Woods planted for Timber-trees arises to 120 Acres and a half out of the remainder of Land which is 80 Acres on the North-east side of the Dwelling-House and flanking the North point of the Kitchin Garden and about the middle distance of Land between the said point and South-west side of the North-east Grove shall be inclosed a square Plot of Land containing 10 Acres with a Mote or Water-course 18 foot broad About the middle of the ground thus inclosed shall be built a Shed or low rooft House 4 square answering the Figure of the Land inclosed the walls or sides of the said Shed should be 7 foot high built with brick The length of every square side must be 80 foot and the breadth 10 foot between the walls within the House then the 4 square sides or whole House contains 320 foot round and the Plot of ground or Yard within the House allowing 18 inches for the thickness of the Wall will contain 54 foot square Within this House we shall place 240 Conie-Hutches or Boxes each of them containing 5 Rooms one
compass answerable to the heigth will be a good size for most grounds neither must the hills be made piked or sharp on the top nor yet too flat and so retain or hold any rain or wet which shall fall upon it but you shall keep a due middle proportion convenient for the Plants and Poles Now these hills are not to be made intirely all of one Mould but there may be mixed with the natural earth Sope-ashes and the earth which lyeth under Dunghils or very old rotten Dung. These three bodies being equally mixed the hills are to be placed in an orderly manner making Allies between them about 4 foot broad and these hills must not stand all directly behind each other but the first Row being made the next must be placed over against the middle distance between the first Row of hills and so the third over against the second and the fourth over against the middle distance of the third Row and so forward till both the Acres be planted that the Sun may give comfort to every Plant and the best time to begin this Work is about October This being performed you shall then pare or hack up all the green swarth through all the alleys between the hills about 2 or 3 inches thick and with the said swarth so pared up cover all the hills almost to the top turning the green swarth next unto the earth of the hills so as it may rot then when the Alleys aâ—e thus clensed of the swarth take good store of Fern and lay the same of a good thickness quite through all the Alleys and round the sides of the hills and the said Fern having all the Winter to rot will not only be a comfort to the hills and much preserve the Plants from many evils but also kill both grass and weeds and being shovelled up together with the earth in the Spring will be a good Manure to replenish the hills and make them prosper exceedingly also will save much charges in providing other Manure Now the hills being thus prepared in October next following you may open the hills in the tops and set in every hill 4 Hop Plants and they must be set deep in the earth and covered all over at least 3 inches thick and if with the earth which covereth the Plants you mix Ox blood and lime it will not only give great comfort and nourishment to the Plants but defend and save the Roots from Worms other Vermin and Weeds In the following Spring about April finding the small Cyons which will issue or grow from the roots of the Plants you shall thâ—n set up the Poles which would be long and streight either of Ash Chesnut Withey or Alder-wood And in putting these Poles into the earth there ought to be care taken that they do not bruise or hurt the Hop-roots Secondly the said Poles must be put a good depth in the earth that the wind do not blow them down Thirdly your care must be to place the Poles round the hills at a good distance that one Pole may not shadow the other but so stand that every Plant may have benefit of the Sun The number of Poles that every hill will take up or require must be answerable to the Cyons which grow or issue from the Plants allowing to every Pole one or two Cyons and if the Plants will thrive then every hill will take up or require 4 Poles and not above These Cyons when the hills are poled must be twined about the several Poles with the Sun and loosely tyed to the said Poles and if the Plants put forth more Cyons then the number allowed for each Pole then the rest or overplus must be cut off close to the Stock of the Roots and if any Cyons do grow afterwards they must be pulled away thâ—t they may not run up the Poles Now although the Fern and Soap-Ashes formerly mentioned will by killing and destroying all manner of Weeds save much charges in weeding the Garden yet if any Weeds do grow they must be carefully pulled up especially from the Plants or hoed and with the earth laid up round the hills and that the Sun may destroy the Weeds and the earth be a comfort to the Stocks or Plants We shall now return again into the great Yard and view the Malt-house wherein is built an Artificial Kiln on which to dry the Hops Malt or other corn with any kind of Fuel or Firing and give no evil taste or smel either to the Hops or Malt. Here you may also see many other necessary Houses as to Brew Bake the Dairy-house and several other usefull Houses for keeping Pheasants Partridges and other Fowl to be spent in the Family or sold at Markets but time will not admit of a longer stay in this place If you please to walk through the Court Yard on the North east side 2 Rows of Chesnut and Walnut-trees equally mixed will direct you to the bounds of the Cony-Warren where there will be a Draw-bridge let down by which you may pass over the water and behold those profitable Creatures so little esteemed by most people Round the Warren and neer the Water are several small Hutches made of boards for the Spruce Ducks to lay their Eggs in Passing over the Mote again and walking through the pleasant Cow-pasture on the North-east of the Warren a Gate will be opened to receive you into the Grove and being entered a large Walk will lead you to a Fountain in the middle of the said Grove From thence issue 4 streams of water On both sides of this large Walk are several pleasant smaller Walks but of a greater length where you may chance to see many Pheasants running and if it be the season of the year you may delight your self with those several sorts of Nuts and Berries there growing Walking through the second Gate scituate at the north-North-east end of the large middle Walk you will enter into the great Wood of Timber-trees where may be seen 2 Herd of Deer containing 20 Brace of Bucks and Does 3 Brace of Roe Deer and two Brace of Harts and Hinds all the Male Dear are gelt except those that serve the Rut And if you carefully look up into the Trees you may chance to see several wild Peacocks and Turkies at perch and on the ground a brace or two of Haâ—es at squot Also in this Wood is kept a lease of bastard Barbary breeding Mares and a brace of handsom Geldings for present use and in the Stable a comely bastard Barbary Stone-horse to be a Stallion for the Mares And if it be the season of the year and day you may see 50 good Swine feeding on the Mast that fall from the trees there being a Swineherd tending on them On the South-west side of the Dwelâ—ing-House is also a Wood of Timber trees and a Grove inclosed containing the same number of Plants and Trees and the same quantity of Land planted as that on the North-east side Between