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
I have heard of now hitherto doe demonstrate to God and the world their ignoble nature and their beastiall swinish and viperous dispositions CHAP. II. Wherein is plainely shewed how workemen may be provided for the accomplishing of the enterprise AS for workmen for this businesse I make no question but that all working poore will be ready upon the first summons to come to worke if so be they may receive maintenance for the same which now they want extreamely which I would advise all Landlords to disburse in regard that they shall receive an improvement in their rents of farre more value then the money disbursed would yeeld by purchase of new lands yet in regard that these are not sufficient I could wish that many others might be imployed which might best be spared in the common-wealth of which sort are liars shifters and deceivers of others and which doe now eat the bread of other mens labours by their subtilties but in regard we are to make use of their bodies for labour therefore their conquest is fit to be accomplished by stratagem which is a difficult worke to deceive the deceiver I have studied much to finde out an Invention how to effect this enterprise and finde that as receivers make theeves so temerarious beleevers make liars and to redresse this mischiefe I have sometimes thought it the best way to beleeve no man whereupon this inavoidable inconvenience followed that many times we should reject the truth as well as lies and deceit for I finde that truth spoken plainly doth echo in the minde of the hearers saying the same things over againe but this is the mischiefe that so few hearers have understanding to judge which is true and which is false for where the hearers want abilitie to judge there lies and deceit make the same echo which truth doth in the former so while these persons can finde any shallow brain'd beleevers there is small hope that we shall winne them to be labourers in our new husbandrie therefore amongst all stratagems to winne the field of them I finde none like unto my first invention contained in the first Chapter viz. to bow the knee of the heart in the roome of the usuall bowing of the knee of the body and withall to be humble petitioners to the donor of wisedome and understanding to send the light of truth and the knowledge of truth into the world plentifully then doe these persons become suitors to be admitted to be workmen in our new husbandrie being defeated in their former trades so shall we have workmen enough to accomplish our enterprise for the present time and as for the future there will be such an exquisite proceeding that it will be as difficult a thing to discerne whether the people increasing cause the fertilitie to increase or whether the fertilitie increasing cause the people to increase as it is for a Philosopher to finde out by argumentation whether the egge or the bird was first For the numerous increase of people diminisheth not their maintenance so long as they are all industrious no more then twenty hives of Bees are impoverished more then if there were but one in the same garden so long as they are all industrious and suffer no drones to live among them But because that in the meane time some shall reap benefit by avoiding these deceivers I wil shew a politicall invention how to finde out their knaverie which is thus made manifest even as he that hath good gold to sell will goe to the most expert Goldsmithsr efiners or say Masters and will by that meanes get the best price but contrariwise he that hath counterfeit mettall will go to those which are more ignorant fearing the greatest and there make their markets even so he that hath a good project and truth on his side will goe with it to the most able men of judgement wherers the deceivers will goe to those of the weakest judgement there by winning facilitie to deceive therefore the safest way is for every man to doubt his owne judgement and not to be too rash in giving credence till the greattest experience hath determined the doubt CHAP. III. Wherein is manifestly shewed how tooles and instruments may be provided the most commodious way for the worke AS for Tooles and Instruments though they be made of two materials chiefely to wit wood and iron yet is wood the chiefe thing to be provided for in regard that without it no iron can be provided for I finde by experience that all attempts to make iron with Seacoale or other coales are vanitie for though it may be melted that way yet the good metallicall qualitie of the iron is destroyed or at least the greatest part of it for I finde by experience an Arsenicall or Antimoniall qualitie in all subterraneall substances combustible both which are poisons to iron Now the multitude of Timber brought yearely from Norway and other parts doe plainly demonstrate the scarcitie thereof here also it may be conjectured what a miserable case the Kingdome will be plunged into about an Age or two hence for want of Timber There is a Law in Spaine that he that cutteth downe a tree shall plant three young ones for it and by this meanes there are builded in two Provinces both not so great as Yorkeshire twentie Ships yearely and yet the wood increaseth If this Law were observed here how happie would it be for the posteritie the charge is little there is nothing wanting but one of my first inventions to wit love manifested by working for the generall good not onely of all that are now alive but also of those that shall come after And I see no reason why Landlords should not contract with their tenants to put this worke in practise diligently for then their rents will be more and more improved every yeare and if this be omitted their rents will be diminished in future time Now for the improvement of this worke I would have all Timber trees planted in hedge-rowes and by this means no ground will be lost but all woods and thornie grounds may be turned into fruitfull fields and pastures and are apt to be made fertile by my new inventions besides the planting of the Timber trees in hedgerowes bringeth a double commoditie for they are not onely an helpe to divide the land of industrious persons from the land of the idle that every one may enjoy the fruit of his owne labours but also they will be notable shelter for the Cattle in Winter to preserve them from cold stormes and no lesse commodious to keepe them from the heate of Summer And if any one shall object against the multitude of ground lost by hedgerowes let him remember himselfe that every hedge gaineth ten times his proportion of land for that the Cattle in hot weather are thereby shrouded which else would destroy more with their feet then they eat with their mouthes by their gadding and running up and downe whereby that every Beast eateth
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
is apt to coagulate and harden by the heate of the Sunne upon the Corne the next day and if it happen often to fall upon divers dayes together and no raine come to wash it off then it getteth power to suffocate and strangle the vegetative vertue of the Corne and so it withereth by the heate of the Sunne whose heate before caused it to vegetate and multiply as for the remedy it is thus to be cured let two men in the morning before the rising of the Sunne goe up and downe the furrowes of the Corne and holding a cord stretched betwixt them carry it so that it may shake off the dew which will easily be done before that the Sunnes heate hath exhaled the thinnest part thereof and caused the thicker part to be clammie and glutenous and for better information of the time of this accident let men observe when the Hive Bees goe abroad more early then ordinary and let there be watchmen for this purpose and to the end that all things might be conducible to the generall profit I will spend a few lines in the commendation of this creature of God the Bee who getteth her riches totally out of nothing but what else would be lost for whatsoever she getteth is that which the flowers by their attractive vertue draw to them in the night out of the dew that falleth and if the Bees should not by their industrie in the day time fetch it away the said flowers would not draw the same the next night and so the foode of honey would be lost for all foode is nothing but Aire congealed which is manifest in the precedent and ensuing discourses therefore seeing that these creatures are such an excellent instrument to congeale Aire I wish they were more made use of for what were it for every one to have Bees they aske nothing but an house rent-free to dwell in and when they die they bequeath their riches to their landlords I have knowne many experiments tried to save their lives by driving them feeding them sleeping them that they should not eate that in Winter which they got in the Summer but all was vaine for what was gotten in the East was lost in the West and when all wayes were tried the old wayes were found to be the best and surest I must confesse I have seene Bees driven into a new hive in the plaine Countrey and so carried into the Forrest wherein the flowers and blossomes flourished later then in the plaine Countrey and by that meanes they got maintenance for the Winter following but this was in a yeare when the weather was faire and prosperous all the while during the flourishing of the flowers and blossomes in both Countries which is a thing very seldome seene and therefore I will advise no man to the practice being so fickle and dangerous for I love not to Tantalize men with vaine hopes for Tantalus his Apples never filled the belly nor the purse which was cause that I advise men so much to industry as the surest way for their profit and wish that they may not be Tantalized by others which tell them faire tales sorting with their humours thereby gaining opportunitie to make use of the most dispositions which are apt to give credence upon slight grounds if the tale told be such as they desire to be true though it be unpossible according to the old Proverbe Quod volumus omnes facile credimus which is cause that so many are deceived in the world for their constitution ruleth their passion almost generally and their passion likewise overruleth their reason so that he that looketh into the businesse perspicuously thinketh the world to be mad or foolish and the world thinketh the same by him as it was by Democritus who through his contrarietie in conceit to the vulgar multitude was deemed mad though he had more wit then all the rest whereby it appeares that strong conceit rather then solid understanding beareth the greatest sway in the world and there is another reason why I would have every one to have Bees and that is that they might be their Schoole Masters as well as their watchmen to forewarne them of the mildew for their industrious heed in this worke that no opportunitie escape them to worke while the time serveth for the generall welfare of their Common-wealth declareth the admirable discipline of the great law of Nature which they obey and will by no meanes breake for any conceits or private quarrells and let me not forget to spend a little Inke and Paper about Hops I have knowne a thousand pound dammage in one Hoppe Garden in a weeke or a fortnights time by this Mildew I have shaken some poles in the morning and have found that it did good by the difference betwixt those and the others but I have not brought the experiment to full perfection for want of oportunitie I thought to have watered the Hops with such spouts as are used in London when houses are on fire by sprouting up the water very high that it might fall like raine and performe the effect thereof and let no man overvalue the charge for one thousand pounds worth of Hops being preserved thus when others neglect the worke will be worth neere ten thousand pound such a yeare when the greatest part are spoiled by this misfortune which is manifest by the difference of the prizes at Sturbridge Faire and other places being one yeare at twentie or thirtie shillings a hundred and the next yeare at ten pound a hundred If any one will try this experiment fully that hath better oportunitie then I have and then publish it for the generall good he shall be my brother for that we are both of a Trade or profession which shall be called Knowledge-mongers differing from Fishmongers Iron-mongers c. in that we pay so deare for our wares and give them away for nothing which is the cause why we thrive no better of our Trades but let us not be disheartned for we will lay our heads together to bring our Trade into request by laying open the benefit of our Inventions and by discovering the vanitie of other devices where one mans gaine cometh by anothers losse so will the Major part come tous through their good dispositions and love to vertue honesty and goodnesse and so the rest must come to us by force or else want and povertie will expell them out of the Schoole of Husbandry and we will comfort our selves in the meane time with the incomparable joy of a good conscience and feare no disaster in our enterprise assuring our selves that God is on our sides and so conclude with the saying Si Deus nobiscum quis contra nos CHAP. X. Wherein is manifestly shewed the cause of the rotting of Sheepe with the prevention and cure AS for the rotting of Sheepe a thing which hath undone many an honest simple man for want of knowledge to prevent it I will proceed according to my wonted manner to