as Cromer reports will plainly appear as also in France where Vines grow very far North in Picardy and Champeigne so likewise in Lorayn and in those places betwixt France and Germany not to speak of the excellent wine in Arbois in the free County Vines flourish even in Liegh also about Lovayn which are very far North many hundred miles from Alsatia Animadversor Vines grow not sixty miles North of Paris Answer That by the way of Beaumont and Beauvois I I have seen them flourish nigh twenty leagues from Paris and that they may flourish more North divers think and blame either the negligence or ignorance of the Inhabitants Moreover by the way of Pontois through Normandy Vines do flourish even so far North as Arles 35 leagues from Paris and within five leagues of Diepe and I think if the Soil of Normandy were warm land they might flourish further North but Normandy is a stiff chalky land very improper Rhemes also is above twenty leagues N. E. of Paris hath abundance of vines and is accounted the staple of wines in those parts Therefore it will plainly appear vines to flourish sixty miles North of Paris and consequently little from the latitude of some parts of England viz the South-West part of England and therefore I cannot but again desire ingenious Gentlemen to endeavour the planting of vines with us especially those four sorts I have formerly mentioned according to that way that Captain Tuck an ingenious Gentleman of great Chart in Kent doth and that Vines will prosper is not only probable for the reasons aforesaid but also because the vines flourish also naturally in Canada a very cold place and also Mr. Cambden reporteth that many hundred years since that vines did very much flourish in Britâ—ain and of latter years at Ely in Cambridgshire at Ley in Essâ—x as it appears in Dooms Book were six Arpens of Vines and it yeilded twenty Modes of wine also he accuseth us of negligence and sloth that there are not Vineyards in England at present Also William of Malmsbury who lived before William the Conquerour speaketh of the Wine of England and saith it is little inferiour to the French not having such an unpleasant tartness but not long after William and his Sons reign Gascony fell to the English and so remained three hundred years which might be the true cause of the ruine of vineyardâ— Yet at this day I know divers Gentlemen in Kent who make some Hogsheads of good wine most years and every year plant more I hope this business will be prosecuted more generally through this Land seeing it will conduce very much to the profit pleasure and honour of this fortunate Isle Animadversor Pack in so many Plants about Paris c. I mean not of different Species but of the Plants of vines as many well appear by the following words viz. That they may have greater encrease c. And I question not but that the Animadversor hath observed the same fault for the vineyards about Paris have usually twice the number of vine-plants on their ground as are necessary and farther it is certain that if the Vines were thinner the Wine would be better because the Vines do shade one another Animadversor To short Poles as we do Hops c. It is well known that we tye not Hops to short poles but to long ones and therefore I compare the Vine and Hop together in this respect only that both want poles to uphold them but because that the sense is not clear to all in the next Impression a word or two should be added viz. Hops to long ones Animadversor Pressing with the feet not frown in the Northern parts of France c. I lived in Charanton two leagus from Paris a whole Vintage purposely to see how wine was made in France and never saw any other way used there only the husks at the conclusion use to be brought to the great Presse out of which they expresse some small quantity of wine and therewith usually fill their Hogsheads which usually waste in the working and further in Italy I never saw any other way used Moreover to tread out wine with the feet is as I suppose an old custome and no disparagement to the wine for we know that most of the Bakers bread in England is kneaded with the feet and yet none are offended at it Neither did I ever see it work in Caves or great Vessels unlesse for 24 hours as is ordinarily in Lombardy in Italy by eight ten or twelve dayes but presently in France they put it into Hogsheads and there let it work keeping them alwayes full that the scum of froath may go forth Neither do I see any considerable inconvenience by doing thus onely a greater quantity of grosse lees will be at the bottom of the wine but if wine shall any time work in great tubs with the husks of the Grapes it will lose its colour grow Garbo or rough flattish c. Animadversor That would destroy A bitter word against my Countrey-men c. I particularize no Nation and we have the aforesaid Commodities from divers Countreys viz. Poland France Germany Holland Flanders I am sorry that the Animadversor did so unhappily apply it to his own Country and that against my will I am a true Prophet But whatsoever is bitter I disallow and wish it expunged for I protest against it and really did wonder to see it in my discourse hating tartnesse in writings I hope my pen shall slip so no more yet I should be glad if the State would seriously consider what extream inconveniencies may fall on this Nation through want of Hemp and Flax and how easie it is to have sufficient for our selves as I have shewed in my former discourse Animadversor Nothing more hurtful to fruitfulness then common salt c. Niter the only fructifying salt c. Though I consent with the Animadversor that to speak plainly so as the Countrey-man may understand me I say that Niter is the specal cause of fruitfulness yet I cannot deny Salt to be the greatest enemy to it For first about Nantwich where much salt is made by boyling salt-water the refuse salt doth very much improve their Meadows and Palissy a French Author doth likewise affirm that salt doth cause divers places about Rochel to be very fruitful also Sea-sand as I suppose hath its fruitfulnesse from the salt in it Likewise the salt of ashes c. seemeth to me to have as much if not more affinity to common salt as to Niter as appears by its Cubick form yet they do much fertilize both Corn and Pasture Further the Lord Bacon whose authority is of good credit with us attributeth fertility to salt As also Markham whom the Animadversor approveth of as an experienced Husbandman who prescribeth common salt alwayes to be mixed with his Grain for the obtaining of incredible Crops Indeed I grant that if too great a quantity be used through the corrosivenesse thereof
probable they have been such I hear further by divers people of credit that by Records it appeareth that the Tythes of wine in Glocestershire was in divers Parishes considerably great and remaining about 300 years in their possession Mr. Cambden writes so much as also William of Malmesbury who lived 600 years since But at length Gascony coming into the hands of the English from whence cometh the most of the strong French Wine call'd highc-country-Highc-Country-wine and customs being small wine was imported into England from thence better and cheaper then we could make it and it was thought convenient to discourage Vineyards here that the greater trade might be driven with Gascoine and many ships might find imployment thereby Some Astrologers have conceited that the Earth being grown older and therefore colder hath caused the Sun to descend many thousand miles lower to warm and cherish it and one Argument which they bring for this opinion is that Vines and Silkworms are found in those Countreys wherein former times they were unknown But if these fond men had considered the good Husbandry in these times with the blessing of God on it they had not run into such foolish imaginations This is true indeed that the Roman Souldiers who had Alsatia given them to live in which is one of the best and most Southern places of Germany mutined because they thought it so cold that Vines would not grow there that therefore they should be deprived of that delectable liquour whereas we find at this present day Vines flourishing many hundred miles more toward the North both in France Lorain c. and Germany and that they are crept down even to the Latitude of England for the Rhenish-wines grew within a degree of the West-Southern places of this Isle and Paris is not two degrees South of us yet Vines grow threescore miles on this side Paris as by Beaumont Beauvats c. by the way of Picardy near 20 leagues as also by the way of Pontoyse through Normandy at Artes 35 leagues from Paris and 5 from Diep yea the Vines of these places are the most delicate for what wine is preferred before the Neat Rhenish for Ladies and at Table and truely in my opinion though I have travelled twice through France yet no wine pleased me like Vin D'ache and of Paris especially about Rueill which is a very fine brisk wine and not fuming up to the head and Inebriating as other wines I say therefore that it is very probable that if Vines have stept out of Italy into Alsatia from them to these places which are even as far North as England and yet the Wines there are the most delicate that they are not limited and bound there For an hundred miles more or lesse causeth little alteration in heat or cold and some advantages which we have will supply that defect But not to insist too long on probabilities I say that here in England some Ingenious Gentlemen usually make wine very good long lasting without extraordinary labour and costs To instance in one who in Great Chart in the Wilde of Kent a place very moist and cold yearly maketh 6 or 8 Hogsheads which is very much commended by divers who have tasted it and he hath kept some of it two years as he himselfe told me and hath been very good Others likewise in Kent doe the same and lately in Surrey a Gentlewoman told me that they having many Grapes which they could not well tell how to dispose of she to play the good House-wife stampt them to make verjuice but two months after drawing it forth they found it very fine brisk-wine clear like Rock-water and in many other places such experiments have been made I therefore desire Ingenious men to endeavour the raising of so necessary and pleasant a commodity especially when French-Wine is so dear here and I suppose is likely to be dearer I question not but they shall find good profit and pleasure in so doing and that the State will give all encouragements to them and if the French Wine pay Excize and Customs and the Wines here be toll-free they will be able to afford them far cheaper then the French can theirs and supply the whole Isle if they proceed according to these Rules 1. To choose the best sorts of Grapes which are most proper for this Isle and though there are many sorts of Grapes amongst Gardiners yet I commend four sorts especially to them and I desire that they be very carefull in this particular for it is the foundation of the work if you fail in this you fail in all for I know that Burdeaux-Vines which bear very great Grapes make verjuice onely at Paris and that the tender Orleans-Vine doth not thrive there The first sort is the Parsely Vine or Canada-grape because it first came from those parts where it grows naturally and though the Countrey be intolerably cold yet even in the woods without manuring it so far ripeneth his fruits that the Jesuits make wine of it for their Mass and Racineè which is the Juice of the Grape newly exprest and boiled to a Syrupe and is very sweet and pleasant for their Lent-provision as you may read in their Relations and this Vine seemeth to be made for these Northern Countreys because it hath its leaves very small and jagged as if it were on purpose to let in the Sun and it ripeneth sooner then other Grapes as I have observed in Oxford-Graden 2. Sort of Vine is the Rhenish-Grape for it groweth in a temperate Countrey not much hotter in the Summer then England and the wine is excellent as all know 3. Sort is the Paris-grape which is much like the temper of England onely a little hotter in Summer this Grape beareth a small bunch close set together very hardly to endure frosts and other inconveniences and is soon ripe so that the Vintage of Paris is sooner ended then that of Orleans or Burdeaux and though it be not so delicate to the taste as some other Grapes yet it maketh an excellent brisk wine 4. Sort is the small Muskadell which is a very fine pleasant Grape both to eat and to make wine In Italy it usually groweth against their houses walls and of this they make a small pleasant wine a Month or two before the ordinary Vintage It is a tender plant in respect of the other Vines in the fields these Vines I know are the most convenient for this Isle because they bear small bunches and Grapes soon ripen and are hardy to endure frosts and ill weather 2. To choose convenient places For this end I counsel them First to plant Vines on the South-side of their dwelling Houses Barns Stables and Out-houses The Gentleman of Kent whom I mentioned before useth this course and to keep the Vines from hurting his tiles and that the wind may not wrong his Vines he hath a frame made of poles or any kind of wood about a foot from the tiles to the
and Improvements imparted by Gabriel Plats to Mr. Hartlib FOur hundred graines of chosen Wheat doe weigh three quarters of an ounce which is three ounces for a perch and so a hundred and sixty perches must have four hundred and eighty ounces which is in weight thirty pound and in measure half a bushel and two pints If this half bushel being set upon an Acre shall enrease but an hundred for one which is the least encrease of set Corn that ever was known then there will be about 11 quarters upon that Acre And that several sorts of Wheat doe differ at least 11. pound in a bushel in weight and also in the number of grains so that it is impossible to make this accompt absolutely and exactly perfect But yet it appeareth clear that there is above forescore pounds in the two hundred pounds saved in the seed Corn in setting more than by sowing the common way and also that there is above forescore pounds in the hundred pound saved in workmens wages by this new device of setting and also it shall appear that there is above forescore pounds in the hundred pound saved in the Compost by dispersing it by my new Invention in such manner that it shall all lye within the attractive virtue of the seed Corn. Also it shall appear that the Corn upon every Acre being set by my direction shall yeeld a full third part increase more than if it were sown the common way which said third part shall bear all the charges whatsoever both rent and other expences so that by this new way of Husbandry there will be as much Corn gained clear upon every Acre of ground in England as formerly the said land did yeeld one year with another The seed wheat for the setting of an acre is worth half a crown at five shillings a bushel the workmens wages for seting is six shillings the compost costeth little more than the ordinary charges of spreading the dung by the ordinary way of ploughing c. Also it appeareth clear that the gains of one Acre will do a great deal more than to pay for the several Engins which notwithstanding being well trimmed will endure and be serviceable for the space of an hundred years And if any man doubt of it let him cast up the charges of my work more punctually and also the charges of the common way and he shall finde that there is more cleare gains by my way by ten Acres then by thirty done the common way in which accompt I will not be my own carver but will refer my self to the accompt in a little book which I met withall lately though it was printed Anno Dom. 1601. when setting of Wheat was in great practise but afterwards when the price of Wheat grew cheap and Labourers wages grew dear the practise ceased for want of an expeditious way A comparison between Ploughing and Sowing of three Acrees of Land after the old fashion and Ploughing and Setting of one Acre after the manner declared in the book printed Anno Dom. 1601. by Mr. Maxey Gentleman a great practizer in those daies in the art of setting of Corn. And first for the charge The Rent of three Acrees in most places is worth some five shillings an acre the land according to the use of the Common fields doth lye fumer fallow the first year and beareth Corn the other so the Farmer payeth the yeares rent before he hath his crop which rent cometh to thirty shillings The ploughing of these if it be well done and as most grounds require every Acre four times which is twelve plowings at two shillings every time cometh to four and twenty shillings the dunging of these three acres with some twelve or fourteen loads upon every Acre and is for three acres some forty loads at six pence a load spread upon the land amounteth to twenty shillings The seed that will sow it is usually two bushels and an half of Wheat or Rye for every acre which is a eleven bushels and an half at four shillings the bushel cometh to thirty shillings The Weeding and Reaping and other charges in two years though uncertain yet for example ten shillings thus two yeares rent and charges cometh to five pound fourteen shillings The usual encrease in the common fields barren lands have so little help with dung is but two quarters upon an acre but allow twenty bushels to stop a wranglers mouth which is for three acres seven quarters and a half rated at four shillings a bushel thirty two shillings the quarter cometh to twelve pound out of which if you take the charge aforesaid there remaineth to the Farmer for his stock six pound six shillings and so for every one of those acres allowing so good encrease and so good a price the profit two and forty shillings And you shall understand that notwithstanding their accompts and mine own of seven or eight quarters upon an Acre and also of Sir Hugh Plats accompt of fifteen twenty five and twenty or thirty quarters upon an acre yet all these accompts may be true for you may learn by my book so to fertilize your land that it may bring thirty quarters upon an acre in such years when the Months of May June and July prove exceeding hot and dry which I would advise no man to trust to in regard that these three Moneths scarce prove so once in a eleven years in these Insulary Countries which are subject greatly to the change of weather and if these Months prove moyst and rainy then all ground that is so mightily enriched will be spoyled with rankness and therefore the safest way is to order your Compost so that an Acre may bear 11. quarters one year with another And though I have known that an Acre of Barley hath â—orr by accident thirty quarters and that the same thirty quarters were worth the same year threescore pounds yet the adventure was so dangerous that I would advise no man to attempt the like And thus a friend of mine proceeded viz. he ploughed up at Michaelmass twenty Acres of very fertile and rank green sword ground and afterward cross ploughed it and harrowed it three or four times to kill the grass and also to mingle the fat earth with the lean then he sowed it about the begining of March with Barley before the vehement drought came had cover'd the ground so full that it was as if it were even turfed with the Corn so that afterwards the violent heat and drought which spoyled the thin and barren Corn in the Common fields did cause this Corn to have but a short straw yet the rich earth put forth a large ear and very exceeding thick and also the corn was plump and round which had the weather happened to be moyst and rainy then there would have been almost nothing but straw but so it came to pass that he had thirty quarters upon every Acre which was upon the twenty Acres six hundred quarters and by reason
Land is not worth above fifteen years purchase But if the use of money went at no more than at other places then five pound bestowed upon an Acre of ground would stand a man in but five or six shillings a year and the acre of land so amended would be worth as hath been shewed six and twenty or thirty yeares purchase Whereby it appeareth that as the rate of Use now goeth no man but where the land lyeth extraordinarily happy for it can amend his Land but to his own losse whereas if money were let as it is in other Countries he might bestow more than double as much as now he may and yet be a great gainer thereby and consequently as was before remembred should to his own benefit purchase land to the Common-wealth Neither would such purchase of Land to the Common-wealth be the benefit to the landed men onely the benefit would be as much to the poor Labourers of the Land For now when Corn and other fruits of the land which grow by labour are cheap the Plough and Mattock are cast into the hedge there is little work for poor men and that at a low rate whereas if the mendment of their own lands were the cheapest purchase to the owner if there were many more people than there are they should be readily set a work at better rates than now they are and none that had their health and limbs could be poor but by their extreamest lazinesse A Bank of Lands or an Improvement of Lands never thought on in former Ages Begun to be presented upon most rationable and demonstrable grounds by Mr. William Potter a Gentleman of great deserts and of a most Publique Spirit which being more fully cleared in all its Particulars and established by publique Authority may become a standing and setled Meanes to enrich the whole Nation and also to remove Taxes and other publique Burdens THrough the long continuance of the Wars Trade hath been interrupted great losses sustained at sea the people constrained to live upon the main stock mens credits ruined many debts otherwise good lost both friends and enemies plundered or sequestred and Taxes c. unavoydably continued whereby the Nation is now in a very low condition There is a great necessity that this Epidemical disease of ruin in mens estates should be cured for hereby 1. The Rich that should support others are diminished in number and weakned in means and the Poor that should be upheld are increased both in number and necessities 2. If the removing of Burdens be necessary the removing of Poverty without which the rest are in effect no burdens is more necessary 3. The Trade Manufacture Shipping Strength Repute and flourishing estate of the Nation depends as the meanes upon the Riches thereof 4. The servility of a low condition deprives men of much leisure and freedom in attending higher things This burden may be removed by encouraging such employments and undertakings as tend to increase the estates of some without impoverishing others for whatsoever takes from one mans estate as much as it adds to another doth not inrich the Nation The capacity of inriching this Nation is in a sort infinite 1. By making it the Scale of Trade to other people which consists in buying the commodities of other Countries working them here and selling them again in forraign parts Whereby if England were a City upon a Rock and held no land of their own they might be maintained comfortably Witnesse Holland 2. By Plantations throughout the world which tends to lessen our charge and increase our means by the returnes of commodities out of the industry of those that otherwise must be maintained for nothing 3. By the Fishing-trade wherein the Sea affords a vast Treasure without demanding any rent for it all which three last particulars would yeeld a kind of infinite of increase if there were no want of stock to employ therein 4. By improving our present Possessions For 1. Almost all the Land in England might be made to yeeld much more encrease if men had money to imploy in manuring the same 2. Divers Husbandmen want wherewith to stock their ground whereby perhaps the Nation suffers more than many times by much unseasonable weather 3. A great part of Ireland lyes at present waste which without great stock to plant is like so to continue 4. There are great quantities of oazie grounds about the Sea-coast and other Fens and waste grounds besides Forrests and Commons which drained and improved might equalize in value some two or three Counties in England 5. There are many Mines in England Ireland and Scotland which being wrought would much increase our Exportation and imployment for poor men To set all these Wheels a going two things are necessary viz. that the people may know where to be furnished with stock at low interest and that a sufficient quantity of currant money be disperced amongst them And indeed the great Remora is that the people are generally voyd of stock whereby it is impossible they should deal either in the Forraign Trade Fishing Plantations or Improving their own possessions by reason whereof both poor and rich are deprived of imployment and forced to live chiefly upon the Principal to the greater increase of their poverty and ruin Whereas if they knew where to obtain such stock at low Interest it would both enable them to prosecute the aforesaid ends and also make way for the more speedy vent of commodities in other Nations for greatnesse of stock at low Interest would enable the English Merchants to deal for much and thereby to buy cheap work cheap and sel for lesse profit in the pound and also to procure their commodities at the best hand viz. at the places of their growth in their proper season whereby out-trading and underselling other Nations they obtain the pre-emption of sale and so cannot fail of vent abroad Also great stock at low Interest would enable Merchants to raise the price of our own native commodities in Forraign parts by keeping them for a good Market which helps much towards the enriching of a Nation Again if there were great quantity of money disperced amongst the people of this land there would not wantvent of commodities amongst themselves For in this case every man to improve his stock would be laying out that mony in commodities those that receive it would be laying it out again upon others and those upon others and so on which would beget a constant return or quick vent for commodities proportionable to the quantity of money so perpetually revolving amongst them Now if through plenty of mony amongst the people there were as much vent for commodity as the earth could by industry be made to afford men would not spare either the Sea or the Land but the one by the Fishing Trade the other by Husbandry and all ingenious wayes of Improvement here in England by planting in Ireland and other new Plantations throughout the whole Globe would bestow