The manner of my Drownings.

AFter I had spent some yeares in Queene Eli­zabeths Court, and saw the greatnes and glory therof vnder the com­mand of Mistres Blanch Parry (an honorable & Vertuous Gentlewo­man, my Aunt and Mistresse) my spirite beeing too tender to indure the bitternesse of her hu­mor; I was by her carefull (though crabbed au­sterity) forced vnto the Irish wars, where I cō ­tinued three or foure yeares some-times twist deep in that country-water: & what with long fasting and ill diet, I was possessed with the Country-disease: Flix. the extremity whereof hasted mee to returne to my Fathers home in the County of Heref. for recouery of my health: [Page] which within sixe months I obteined. After it pleased GOD to giue mee recouery, I re­solued for the Lowe-countrey-warres againe: and hauing begun my iourney thetherward, I happened on a Country-Gentlewoman, who was seized of a Mannor, and ouer-shot Mill: which conuerted all my martiall endeuours and hopes of honor, to these country-labours: Hauing soiourn'd two yeares in my Fathers house, wearied in doing nothing, and fearing my for­tunes had beene ouer-throwne in putting by my Martiall occupation; I began to expostulate with my selfe what was best to be done to pre­serue my reputation with my martiall compa­nions, and with-all to giue contentment to my vertuous and louing wife. And while I was to settle a resolution, comparing these desires together, my Wiues importunity caused mee to quitt their ordinary familiarity, yet with li­mitation; at such times as conueniency might afforde.

This restraint of hers, drewe mee to the at­tendance of home-labours; who prayed mee with-all in my walkes abroad, to haue an eye to her Millers true dealing. I prayed her to put ouer that seruice to some seruant of hers: for of all trades I had least confidence in their truth: and therefore required the more paines to be taken in watching their water, & looking [Page] to their fingers, which I was loth to vnder­take: not-with-standing, (vpon better consi­deration, least shee should haue held me care­lesse of her good, and so ill deserue her loue) I obeyed her will, as many doe, and many mi­series do ensew thereby. So, in the month of March, falling (with the streame) to the milne­ward within my Meade (with no desire I pro­test) to fashion or forme Husbandry) I happe­ned to finde a Mole or Wants nest, raised on the brim of the Brooke, like a great hillocke; from which nest or hillocke, there issued a little streame of water, (drawne by the work­ing of the Wante) downe a sheluing or des­cending ground, one pase broad, and some twenty in length.

The running of which little Streame, did, (at that time) wonderfully content mee, see­ing it pleasing Greene; and that other on both sides full of Mosse, The first cause that the work was vnder­taken. and Hide-bound for want of water. This was the first cause I vnder-tooke the drowning of grounds.

Now, to proceede to the execution of my vvorke (beeing perswaded of the excellen­cie of the water) I examined how many foote­fall the Brooke yeelded, from my Mill to the vpper-most part of my grounds, beeing in length a measured Mile.

There laye of old Meadow-ground thirty [Page] acres ouer-worne with age, and heauily laden with Mosse, Cowslips, and much other imperfit grasse, betwixt my Mill-streame, and the maine Riuer; which (with two shillings cost) my gran­father, and his gransire, with the rest, might haue drown'd at their pleasures: But from the beginning, neuer any thing was done, that either tradition or record, could witnesse, or any other testimonie.

Hauing vewed the conuenientest place, the vpper-most part of my ground would afforde for placing a Commanding-Weare, or Sluce, I espied diuers Water-falls on my neighbours grounds, higher then mine by seauen or eight foote; which gaue me greater aduantage for drowning of more ground, then I was (of my owne power) able to doe. I acquainted them with my purpose: the one (being a Gentleman of worth and good nature) gaue mee leaue to plant the one end of my Weare on his side the Riuer ▪ the other (my Tenant) beeing very aged and simple) (by no perswa­sion I could vse) would yeeld his consent: al­ledging it would marre his ground: yea, some-times his Apple-trees: and men tolde him water would raise the Rush, and kill his Cow-slipps, which was the cheefest Flower that his Daughters had, (beeing many) to tricke the May-pole withall. All which with [Page] scilence I past ouer for a time, knowing his simplicity to exceed his discretion; yet in the end I re-enforc'd my perswations, and tolde him (next vnto the King) I was to bee obeyed in matters reasonable: and that it became him not to prouoke his Land lord; nor to stand at the staffes end with his Commander. Yet these Buggs-words would not mooue him. Then gaue I a fresh charge, and to draw him on with a Baite which hee would soone bite at, tould him I had a Meddow-plott in his neighbour­hood, worth ten pound, which I would part with on reasonable termes: but before I could make him beleeue hee was a foole he gott the Fee-simple thereof. For no simple fee. Which President doth fal­sifie the old-said-Saw, Thou art an old doting foole. After I had wrought this farre, I caused my seruant (a Ioyner) to make a leuell to dis­couer what quantitie of ground I might, (from the entry of the Water) obtaine: allow­ing his dubling-course, compassing Hills to cary it plym or euen: which fell out to bee some three hundred Acres. After I had plimmed it vpon a true Leuell, I be-tooke my selfe to the fauour of my Tenants, Friends and Neighbours, in running my maine-trench (which I call my Trench-royall) I call it so, because I haue with­in the contents of my worke, Counter-trenches, defending trenches, topping, or brauing-trenches. [Page] Winter and Summer-trenches, double and treble-trenches, a trauersing trench with a point, and an euer-lasting trench, with other troublesome-trenches: which in my Map I will more liuely expresse.

When the Inhabitants of the country wher­in I inhabit, (namely the Golden-Valley) saw I had begun some part of my worke, they sum­moned a consultation against mee, and my man Iohn the leuellour: saying our wittes were in our hands, and not in our heads: so, we both for three or foure yeares, laye leuell to the whole Country-censure for such Enginors as their fore-fathers heard not of, nor they well able to endure with-out merryment.

When my labours tooke beginning, they became subiect to discourse: Diuerse Gentle­men with others, inquired from whence I had my Examples; and where I saw any such worke? I could not answere them but with an other question: namely, where sawe you any such? They said, no where. Truly nor I.

In the running and casting of my Trench-royall, though it were leueld from the begin­ning to the end, vpon the face of the ground, yet in the bottome I did likewise leuell it to auoyde error.

For the Breadth and Depth, my propor­cion [Page] is ten foote broad, and foure foote deep; vnlesse in the beginning, to fetch the water to my drowning-grounds, I rann it some halfe mile, eight foot deepe; and in some places six-tenne-foote broad. Al the rest of the Course, for two miles and a halfe in length, according to my former proportion.

VVhen my VVorke began, in the Eye of the Countrey, to carry a shew of profit, it pleased many (out of their courtesie) to giue it com­mendations, Ignorants praise good endings, but doubt, or dis­praise their beginnings. and to applaud the Inuention.

The Ioyner hearing the commendations to bee generall, and hee the Leueller (which was (he thought) the cheefe Agent in the Acti­on) there grew a brabble betwixt vs. Hee began to insult and arrogate as a Coadiu­tor, by reason of his leuelling, and desired hee might bee signified a principall party to the Inuention.

I bad him haue patience, the Inuention was mine, together with the dignity: and told him withal the ambition of soldiers would not indure society with men of Mechanicall trades: I only imploy'd his hand, and not his head.

So hauing compounded the brabble be­tweene vs, I fell into the handes of an vn­skilfull Carpenter, in planting my commaun­ding Weare or Scluce, crosse the maine Riuer.

Hee gaue mee such assurance for the safe con­tinuance [Page] thereof; that hee vndertooke to maintaine it with twelue pence a yeare, during his life.

After hee had prepared it ready for the foundation, hee planted some thousand stakes in the bottom of the Brooke to carry the maine Syll. When the Syll was lodged vppon the Pile of Stakes, I began to suspect the foundation, and told him a great part of the water would vndermine the Syll, and that I should hardly indure the want ther­of at my Drowning-times; especially in Sommer.

Hee grew teasty, hott, and peremptory; and sayd it was not the Maisters manner to controule; but, to examine: and that all his VVater-workes were according to the Veneti­an foundation, built altogether vppon Piles: but the Venetian-fashion forced mee to want water ten yeares space, which was out of my way two thousand poundes.

The reason was this; the water vndermi­ning the Syll, it forced the Earth beyond the postes, which were placed in the firme ground; and hauing gotten the vpper hand of the main-Land it could not bee holp vntill the Sylle were rais'd againe. I hadde a continu­al purpose to re-edifie it, but that I was inte­rupted by the ordinary course of Processe [Page] out of the honorable Courts of Starre-cham­ber, Chancery, and Wardes; the last of the three bredd more white haires in my head in one yeare, then all my Wetshod-water-workes did in sixteene. Not that I had cause to com­plaine of Iniustice; but, because I vnderstood not the course of the Courts, being pusled with an old Feodary, and a foolish Escheter, (the life and death of my cause resting in their mercy.) Twelue Iurors who passed against mee, lawe, equity, and conscience. Vpon which Verdit, I was, by Iniunction, comman­ded to deliuer the body of a Warde I had in keeping, which I refused to doe: It happe­ned my Councell found Error in the Office, and ouer-threwe the former proceedings, which was the ouer-throwe of my Water-workes for fiue yeares space.

The ouer-throwne- Office was a stolne Office, and found before I had notice of it. But beeing ouer-throwne, matter of greater consequence followed.

The Queenes Atturney commanded the Feodary, who had gotten a grant of the Ward, to exhibite enformation against mee in his name: wee had Commission vpon Commissi­on: wee indured heauye and chargeable examinations.

Vppon which Examinations I had a [Page] Hearing in that Honourable Courte; and though it could not passe against me, yet it passed not with mee. One other Commission came downe, A lury impanalled, Witnesses re-examined. That Iury found with mee, & (in my conscience) not one of the number vnder­stood his euidence: All which I shew to satis­fie the Inquisitor, why so long I neglected my begunne Water-workes. When the Escheator, Feodary, Commissioners, and Iurors hadde putt their hands & seales to the Office, I prepared my self to my forsaken Water-works; hauing left my wanton Ward in London in the custody of a Precisian or Puritan-Taylor, who would not indure to heare one of his seruants Sweare by the Crosse of his Sheares, hee was so full of Sanctity in deceipt. But the first newes I heard, Holy fraud is the falsest fraud. hee marryed my Welch Neece to his English Nephew; and at my returne I was driuen to take his word that hee was neyther priuy to the contract, nor the marriage.

I desir'd but his oth for my satisfaction; hee badde mee haue patience, it was not his fashion to forsweare him-selfe. Thus hoping I had beene quit of the cause, I pray­ed recompence of the Offender: But with­in sixe months a new Commission came downe; and a new Office found against mee: which manner of proceeding (I thinke) was [Page] able to breede white hayres in a Brittaines beard.

SINCE THE FIRST Time I vndertooke the drowning of my groundes, I (as carefully as I could) sought to better my vn­derstanding by other mens labours: yet in the whole Kingdom I neuer found, nor heard of a work worthy obseruation: Hauing so many Riuers, Brooks, Fountaines and Springs, which run idely vnto the Sea: without Weare, Sluce, stay, stanke or dam, to turne some part of them vpon grounds that need them, or to containe the substance of plow'd lands and dunghils, which by violent showers washe away, As good no running, as running for no good. and runnes ranging by those grounds that hun­ger and thirst for want of moisture. Our Husbandmen brag of raising Corne: How? out of ther painfull labours, but (if they want compost) their increase is but barren, and for ought I haue seene (except some few Soiles which yeeld plenty of Hay, by often o­uerflowing of fresh Riuers, or the Tide staying vppon them as it were by damm) those fresh-waters [Page] yeeld their increase by nature, without industry. I would aske how many Shires bee in England, and in euery Shire how many Ri­uers, Brooks, Fountaines, and Springes? If the number be great, I would know how they be imployed, and what our Corne-maisters (which carry the reputation for good hus­bandry) will say to it? They will say (per­aduenture) and so will all Husband-men (with­out peraduenture) it is easie to raise Corne with store of Compost: but (wanting Hay;) I would learne how compost may bee raised? The question betweene errable conuerted to medow, and errable not conuerted, wilbe this: some will say, there is no reason to put good errable to bad pasture. So say I too, Others will say, ordinary errable exceedes ordinary Pasture. It may bee true: but I speake of good errable appointed to bee drowned: I will giue no estimat of English Errable; scituate neare London or Hauen Townes, or to places more vendible then the country wherein I inhabite. Yet this will I exempli­fie out of my experience, if the Principality were duly imploied, & each acre handled ac­cording to some plots begun, I would hope to liue to see Wales called the Garden of England: for our Welch-mountains yeelds infinit Foun­tains & Springs, the Grounds Fearny & broomy, [Page] it being of as a excellent temper to intertaine water as heart can wish; vnlesse wee flye to the maine Sandy-grounds, which are but sparingly found in Wales; the Country lying in a hotte quarter of no cold Climate.

Now, to speake of drowning, At what time, with what water, & how long you ought to downe your Grounds. at what time of the yeare, with what water, how long it may continue on the ground, and what ef­fect it will worke, you shall haue all I know to the vttermost; at least if I remember all.

Now, fixing your fancy on this Misterie, you must pry into euery Fallow-field, Dung hil, and Water-course in your neighbourhood: then compare the quantity of ground vnto the quantity of water you can draw vnto it, and if you find water ynough to answer your desire, then in the beginning of your ground, plant your weare or scluce in height leuell with the Bankes, or exceeding it one foote (or there a­boutes) ore-thwart the Riuer or Brooke: and carry your Trench-Royall (which is your grand­maister-Trench) so farre as your ground ex­tendes plimm or leuell: that from the mouth of your Weare, or Scluce, to the end of the ditch or trench, your water may flow backe againe ouer your scluce into the Riuer or brooke. In so doing, you haue a full command forward and backward (without any descent) to drowne at your pleasure: though your [Page] trench royall rise in the end twenty, or forty foote from the mouth of the scluce.

Hauing prepared your drowning-course, bee very Looke well to the leuel­ling of the grounds that are to be drownedcarefull that all your ground sub­iect to the same (whether Medow, Pasture, or Errable) bee as plaine as any garden-plott. If you leaue any forrow, reane, or slade, vn­leuelled, you shall finde that forrow, reane, or slade, will receiue the most part of your wa­ter idely: which otherwise would disperce ouer the whole; and comber you with the care of new plowing it to make it the more plaine: which will hinder you two or three yeares at the least. Hauīng made your weare or scluce, your Drowning-course or Trench, your ground leuelled or plimmed, thē followes your attendāce: in flood-times see you suffer not your floud-water by negligence to passe away into the brooke, riuer & sea; but by your sluce, com­maund it to your grounds; and continue it playing theron so long as it appeares muddy: and finding the substance decaying (from a fat floud vnto cleare water) take vpp your sluce or floud-gates, and suffer the cleare water to haue his course vnto the maine brook or riuer again, vntill new or fresh-flouds appeare; and still as it riseth muddy, imploy it on your grounds du­ring the winter-season. When you haue spent the winter in muddy-floods, and your grounds [Page] seasoned by sucking the substance of each fallow, In the begin­ning of March cleere your grounds from cold cleare­water. and dung-hill: be sure, in the beginning of March, to cleare your ground of cold water; and keepe it as dry, as a child vnder the hands of a dainty Nurce; that the continuance of cold water in the body of your ground in the spring, breed neither Rush, Boult, nor Spiery­grasse: but grasse much more profitable, thick, long, and fine; voyde of all Mosse, Hard­heads, Cow-slips, or any weede what-so-euer. Obserue respectiuely your soyle, whether clay, or sand: for, sandy-grounds will endure tenne times more water (being naturally hotte) then the cold clay: yet some washers of grounds, (in their owne conceits) will imagine it's be­hoouefull to turne the water at all times on their lands; or as long as they (in their discre­tion) thinke good. But so may (with indiscre­tion) surfeit a clay-ground with a drunken-dropsie, The best hus­bands or husband▪men as all the Phisitions in the neighbour­hood, with all their visitations, will hardly heale in two yeares space. Hauing sufficiently sped your clay-ground in the drowning-time, (I meane Winter) you may (by negligence, or ig­norance) suffer colde water, in the heate of Summer, to coole your ground so much, that the vitall spirits will bee decayed: and that moisture hauing gotten the vpper-hand, the Sunne workes, out of that drunken-dropsie [Page] ground, the Rush, and all other ill-pleasing stuffe, and vnprofitable trash. I said in the Spring, you must keepe your grounds drye. If March follow his kinde, and Aprill drye, ouer­flowe it with Cleare-water, that it receiue no drought: for, all men know, if the Spring bee drye in May, it's two to one Haye neuer goes a begging.

Amongst other things, an olde Drunk­ard once warned mee, I should not suffer the roofe of my mouth to bee drye: yet I neuer followed his example: I remember the cup was neuer from his mouth, and hee in the end dyed of a dropsie: so, in claye-ground, in the heate of Summer, drowne it moderately: and, (it beeing once sufficiently seasoned in May) you need not drowne it vntill a day, two or three before you mowe. At which time you prouide for mowing, if sufficient showers, haue not quallified the drought of your ground; let downe your sluce into your trench-royall, that there-by you may command so much water to serue your turne as you desire. Which Trench-royall running on the plimme or leuell, suffer it to discend, where you meane first to mowe, and you shall finde this manner of drowning in the morning of your mowing so profitable and good, that [Page] commonly you gaine ten or twelue dayes ad­uantage in growing: How profita­ble to drowne a little before mowing. for, drowning before mowing a day, two, or three, so supples the ground that it doth most sweetly release the roote of euery particuler grasse, although the Sunne bee neuer so extreame hotte: other­wise, if you drowne not before you mowe: you mow one day, you ted an other, you spend one in gathering it into winde-cockes: and with-all, stand vpon the vncertainty of the weather, whether you dare aduenter to breake your cockes or no. Beeing broken, they must haue a drying time before they can bee put into greater cockes; and then opening them againe into the last and greatest, by tedding, gathering, cocking, recocking, and treble-cocking, your haye continuing aboue a weeke on the ground; the ground being bare, and induring the heate of the Sunne at Mid-summer (in the hottest time) it doth so drye and parch the ground, that if the heauens yeeld not more raine then is necessary for a Common-wealth, your later-mates will prooue vnprofitable: where drowning before mowing, will make good a second mowing: and in walking ouer grounds I will tread as on Veluet, Signes of well seasoned grounds▪ or a Tur­key Carpet.

This Drowning before Mowing, puts wormes to execution, or forceth them to flye from [Page] their habitation: for sure I am that that ground will not bee troubled with them vn­till they raise a new generation; and that can­not well bee in those grounds with-out great store of heate? which if it happen, to what end serues your water, but to season the ground againe. The Summer may bee so ex­treamly hotte as the feruencie thereof may force you to double or trebble drowning; yet I would wish all those that haue not the true vnderstanding and vse of the water (before they put this in execution) to enquire where any such worke is; and hauīng found the place, to obserue the Weare that commands the Riuer, and to note the length of the trench-royall, and plimme thereof: what stankes, lists, or trenches bee within the contents of the grounds: and, hauing found your drowning, and fore-recited trenches, obserue what height euery stanke or damme is: and if you can see the flouds playing against the damme, your experience in beholding it goeth farre be­yond mine.

I will not forgett the two-foote-trench, top­ping your Maine-riuer, with-in foure, or fiue foote from the Banke, as occasion is offered. The vse of which Trench so neere the Riuer, many may wonder at (as many haue done) why it should bee drawne so neare the [Page] maine- riuer it being but two foote broad and one foote deepe.

I know not how all Riuers and Brookes runne else-where, but in that which I labour, the ground is much higher on the Riuer side, then the maine-flatt-bottome, and, where by sluce I drowne some thirty Acars vpon a reasona­ble leuell; yet vpon the Riuer side the height is such, as my sluce will doe no good, if I suf­fer the water to descend into the flat bottome, not taking the aduantage in the beginning of my Topping-trench.

A fault to drowne some, and to leaue some of the same ground vndrowned.If part of your ground bee drownd, and some part forgotten, there is a fault some­where; either by ignorance, or negligence, or both: but to helpe both; I pray you forgett not to runne this trench, topping and brauing your Riuer, that in the Winter, you drowne that with the rest.

In Summer, your commaund is more abso­lute, it beeing sheluing or descending to your flatt-bottome-ground; you may with a boord of two foote broad, and one foote deepe, stay that water, and suffer it to play vpon the face of the ground, halfe a quarter of an houre, or little more, vntill it meete with your flatt bottome.

And thus you may handle the braueing-trenche, by drowning the sheluing ground [Page] euery morning in the heate of Summer, be­fore and after mowing; so long as you finde the Sunne forceable.

Your flatt-bottom ground, beeing, in the heate of Summer, drownd, suffer the water from your sheluing or descending Trenche, but to kisse the hand or soote of the same: for it beeing claye, and once drowned, be­fore mowing in the extreame heate, it will not endure a second drowning with-out dan­ger: vnlesse the heate doe so extreamlye in­crease, that one extremitie must incounter another.

So, You must double drown in the summer if there bee cause. you may fall to double drowning (if there bee cause) which you shall easilye finde by trying the temper of your ground, thus:

If a riding rodde (beeing some-what stiffe) will enter into the ground two foote deepe or more, it sheweth it hath had moysture sufficient by the former drown­ning;

If the rodde will not enter in, but by dif­ficultie, or forceable handling, you may iudge it to bee ouer-dryed: And in this manner make tryall in what state your ground stands, whether too drye, or suffi­ciently seasoned.

[Page]If to drye, giue it watry sustenance to nourish and reuiue the dying roote: and, hauing satis­fied your ground, suffer your two-foote-trench to haue a continuall course of water, Winter and Summer, for these reasons following: That is to say; In Summer, when you would drowne, your trench beeing full, you neede not staye the letting downe of a sluce out of the maine Riuer: for, so shall you staye the time vntill your water rise to the highest of your sluce; and beeing risen, must haue a time to come into your two-foote-trench, to execute what you would haue done: where other­wise, your trench beeing continually full, you may (as I sayd) appoint your seruant with a boord to stay or stoppe the trench; and so from place to place, drowne your sheluing or descending ground from the beginning of your trench, to the end thereof both day lye and hourely.

This Topping or Brauing-trench; hath this excellencie with-all, that it running conti­nually in the trench, VVants will not worke in water, nor where it soakes. frees your grounds from Moules or Wants: for they will not worke in water.

If they desire to fall into the midst of your other Meades, they must vnder-mine the Trench, swimme the Trench, or some way shuffle ouer.

[Page]If they do; see their danger: they being once found to worke in the belly of your Mead, they bee subiect to death, by your comman­ding the water from your two-foote-trench to descend on the rere-ward; the sodaine course whereof comes so fast vppon them, and they wanting foot-manshippe to rescue their liues, are ouertaken, to their vtter ouer­throw.

Suffer not one Moule, or Want to liue be­tweene your two-foote-trench and the maine Riuer, which is not far distant.

They hauing no great scope to worke, will so vndermine from the brink of the maine Ri­uer to the brimm of your Trench, that in your drowning-time, in the heate of Sommer, you shall finde so many Springs from their working­holes into y ^e Riuer, which if you stop not, with great care, The Offiers of the Brauing Trench. in finding the places of breach, the most part of your water will runne into the Riuer idely.

To speake of the brauing-trench: Be­ginning at the Commanding-weare, or Scluce, it works this effect: if the violence of the flood should bee such, as vppon a sodaine, your hay at Midsomer should be drowned by ouer-flow­ing the banke, or in your After-math-time the like should happen, it is at your choise whe­ther you will suffer that inconuenience or no: [Page] for the Earth taken out of your two-foote- Trench, beeing throwne on the one side of the same, raiseth the Ground higher then that beyond the Riuer, by two foote at the least: which forceth the Floud altogether, on the other side, and keeps your Hay and Af­ter-math euer in safety.

This Topping or Brauing-Trench must runne to the lower part of your Groundes, as a hand­maid to the maine Riuer, to attend your plea­sure Winter and Sommer.

I would haue you suffer some VVater to runne therein continually: VVhich con­tinuall running will scowre your Trench, and lett all filth from falling therein: and if it should fall you are driuen to often clean­sing it.

Beeing sometimes with VVater and some­times without, the Mole or VVant instantly possesseth the same, and workes along the Trench an Arrow shoote in length: And it beeing so exceeding moist, makes ma­ny Holes, cleane through into the maine Riuer, and at your next turning in of the VVater will it issue out at euery particular Hole; and your Trench, beeing but foure or fiue foote from the Riuer, the Ground beeing too much moistned, falleth or calueth downe into the same.

[Page]It's not sufficient when you haue conueyed your Water from your first Sluce into the Bo­dy of your ground or brauing-trench, then to giue it liberty to runne a head: for so will it fall into the lowest part; How to go­uerne and lead the Water from your brauing Trench ouer your grounds. but you must gouern and lead it, beginning at the highest of the ground, vnto rising places, and so suffer it to descend against some Stanke, or Damme; which you must raise as occasion shall bee of­fered: As this; if your ground falls so much that the course of the water offers to runne into the maine Riuer againe, before you haue done with it: Raise a Stanke a foote, two, three, foure, or fiue, or so many as may stay it to the height you desire, and force the same against the Ground vnto your lower Grounds; and so continue it playing from Stanke, to Stanke, from the beginning to the end thereof.

So, shall you bee sure by raising of these Stankes or Damms, to stay all the substance of substantiall Waters which is forced by your Weares, or Sluces, into the body of your ground, there to remaine: where if there were no Stanke or Dammne, the water (running head-long into the lowest part) carrieth the sub­stance so mainly forward, that little or nothing at all wilbe left vpon the face of the ground to nourish the same.

[Page] How to make your Stanks or Damms.Now to furnish you with the present vnder­standing, how to make your Flanks or Dams; in what place, and how farre you would haue it drowned; repaire into the lowest part in the beginning of your vppermost ground; where if you desire to pound it to such a hight; pitch your Leuell there; which Leuell (or Instrument) I will make knowne more fa­milarly vnto you in the Mapp of my Worke, (which you shall find in this booke incerted) and commaund your seruant to hold some staffe with a paper bound about, some two in­ches broad: and looke through your Leuell from the lowest part of your Ground, vnto your desired place. In this manner your Leuell will assure you how to cast your ground to an inch.

And when you haue truly learned to Leuel, which in one hour I will vndertake to teach you, you may range ouer the Kingdome as principall suruayors of Riuers, Water works, be most char­geable to the Ignorant. Brookes, Foun­taines, and Springs, and accuse the best wits of the greatest negligence, in matter of the grea­test Common-wealth.

It hath beene sayd by some, Water-Workes be chargeable and dangerous. They bee so; for if you aduenture to commaund maine Riuers, as Thames, Seuerne, and the like: you may iudge with what difficulty it will bee done. In their beginnings [Page] Breadth and Depth is increased by a num­ber of small Brookes, the Commaund therof goeth beyond the estates of the most men: yet there is no Riuer in the Realme (be it Thames, or Seuern) where there is any descent, but that I wil steale, by Counter-trench (when the muddy floud is leuel with the bank) so much water as I desire.

If you aske mee how broad, Your Trench must be made great or small according to the quantity of ground you are to drown. and deepe the Trench must be: I would know what quantity of ground you haue to drowne if much, your Trench must be the wider and deeper. I need not putt you in minde to raise a sluce on the mouth of your trench; if you do it not, common inconuenience will compell you.

You will neuer drowne so oft as the floud riseth to the height of the banke, because of your hayand after-math in Sommer: Therfore as I sayd, you will be compelled for your safe­ty-sake to Sluce your trench.

As your Trench-royall feedes your sheluing-groundes and falls into the flat-bottome, and ri­sing to the height of your first, second and third stanke with the rest; take heed the wa­ter exceed not the height of any of your stanks or damms a hayrs-breadth: for the force of the water and violence of the winde in a furious tempest, will ouer-throw it, as if the Canon plaid against it.

[Page]I haue forborne to speake of my Stank-Royall, which is of purpose prepared to inter­taine the Trench-royall: which Trench-royall, in the continuance of his running, vnder­takes the safe conduct of three Brookes and some Springes withall to the Rendez-uous or place of generall Consultation, where their im­ployment shall be; whether against the Stanke-royall, the Maine-stankes, the Counter-Trench, or the rest. But indeed the Stanke-royall inter­taines all commers, the Trench-royall and her Hand-maid Brookes: and forceth them seauen foote in height.

The aduantage wherof, drowneth sixe-score Acres in three houres, Six-score A­cres may be drownd in three houres. and twenty Acres in the returne backe.

In a Counter-trench forty Acres; in a Trauer­sin-Trench twenty more; in Sommer and Winter-Trenches, twenty; in double and treble Trenches (and the rest) twenty more.

Take vpp the Sluce which commaunds the Stanke-royall, and in one houre, my Euer-lasting Trench conueyes the Trench-royll and all the hand-maid Brookes, into the maine Riuer: and (for ought I haue heard) after I gaue it passe, it had peaceable progres into Seuerne without examination.

I will acquaint you with a manner of drow­ning which you may very well like off.

[Page]If you will handle two or three hundred Acres of Ground you shall dayly drowne Winter and Sommer for euer, some part shel­uing or descending and the rest Flat-bottome, deuides by Defending-Trenches: For, cleare VVater will supple your Sheluing-Ground if it continue thereon sixe or seauen dayes; But, ther's a discretion to bee vsed; There­fore I aduise, as you drowne the Sheluing-Ground with cold and cleare Water in the cold of Winter, suffer none to fall into the Flat-bottome; but, your Muddy-flouds: For you well know, that the water passing downe­ward, doth indure most violent labour in running: and beeing sodainly taken away, it doth sodainly drye, and none at all remaines to infect the ground.

If it steale into the Flatt-bottome, the cold­nesse of the cleare-water with the coldnesse of the ground, in the cold of Winter, wanting the heat of the Sunne to dry it vp (it being lodged in so plaine and pleasing a place) will venture life to raise the rush. The Rush will be raised by ouer-much moisture.

Now, seeing I haue spoken of the excellen­cy of drowning, I will speak som-what of mine ambition therein.

THer was neuer General of an Army-royall, [Page] nor Admirall of an Armado, more ambi­tious, then I haue beene in brauing my Trench-Royall: And wearied with ouer-wal­king my selfe therein, I repayred to my stank-royall; and I beeing raised seauen foote in height, I was so possest with the pride of my walke, that I thought my selfe fit­ter to bee Gouernour of a Towne of Warre, then Commaunder of a hungry VVater-worke.

But remembring (within the compasse of my age) a Greate Person stood to bee Ge­nerall of an Armie, that neuer saw the face of the Warre nor neuer fought Combat with an Enemy; A Councell of Warr beeing cal­led, it was answered, by a Grand-Captaine, hee had neither the Words, nor Art of VVar: Therefore dangerous for the States to aduen­ture the Kingdome to try his experience. The rest more vnder-valued him, Saying hee were fitter to bee Chauncellor to a Lord-Bishoppe then Generall of an Armie-Roy­all.

Sharp censures made me fal blountly to my workes.These their censures, fortified mee in mine old labours: So by little and little, I for­gatt the Ambitious Resolutions of the Ho­nourable VVarrs, and the Pleasures of a Parke (withall) wherein I yearely killed at least twen-Buckes and Sores.

[Page]The loue of my Water-workes, stole my desire from thence, that in the whole number of twenty yeares, I cannot say I was at the killing of one Bucke, although my Parke-pale came within twenty foote of my trench-Royall, ha­uing some yeares twenty Buckes, killed with a kennell of Hounds, and louing the sport as much as he that lou'd it most.

The Maister of a Water-worke may well bee compared to the generall of an Armie, which hauing beleagred a Towne, it behooueth him for their safetie to fortifie and block all passages and In-rodes, that the Enemies sodaine Alarum annoy them not: So, must the Maister of a Water-worke attend euery shutt, and shower that threatens excesse (whether in mid day, or mid night) commanding his Centinell-Seruant to search the sluces, whether they bee vp or downe.

If it happen before mowing, or in your after-math-time, take vp the Sluce, and giue it pas­sage into the maine Riuer: for, the sodaine ouer-plus, your Trench-royall, will conuoy into your euerlasting-trench; vnlesse, your desire be to ouer-flow some parcell of pasture or meade thats ouer-eaten.

I protest it hath beene more grieuous to mee in Summer-season, to see a muddy-floud run idle with-out command, then to see a lustie [Page] wanderer quarter the country, with-out being put to worke. The seuerall offices of the sluces. Touching the offices of my number of sluces; the first commands the main-riuer in the beginning of my Trench-royall. The second, commands the maine Riuer into my brauing-trench some halfe mile lower. The third, commands the same Riuer a mile below, at the lowest part of my ground: So, you see, that within the running of two miles, I plant three sluces; the maine Silles being forty foote long. The reason why I planted so many with­in the length of two miles, was this: the riuer being thirty foote broad, and ten-foote deepe, my Trench-royall beeing but ten-foote broad, and foure-foote deepe, it receiued no more water then the breadth and depth would giue leaue.

Not-with-standing the quantity of water my Trench-royall receiued, I did not find the want of any in the maine-riuer; which caused me to raise those two other sluces: grieuing so com­modious an Element, so rich and substantiall, should fall into the Bowels of the sea, with-out profit. I call that a Trench-royall, what a trench royall is. where part of the maine-riuer is commanded by sluce into it. I call that a counter-trench, What a coun­ter trench is. where part of the riuer is stolne in by the rising of the flood to the leuell of the banke with-out sluce. What a top­ping and bra­uing trench is My topping or brauing-trench is that which hand-maides [Page] the maine-riuer (side by side) vnto the end of the worke. The Winter and Summer-trenches, What the winter and summer trench is. bee those that water the grounds in the Sum­mer-time. Hauing drownd with cleare water a parcell of ground, it being satisfied and for­saken, I furnish the rest of my Trenches with that water, vntill a Meade of thirty or fortye Acres bee sufficiently seasoned. You must know, you cannot drowne so many Acres, not hauing the aduantage of these many Trenches and Lists, vnlesse your ground bee all flatt-bot­tom; hauing a stoute and strong water with-all. My double and treble-trenches, What double and treble trenches require. require a par­cell of plaine ground containing fortye Acres or more. At your turning-water in, it will hard­lye dispeirce ouer the whole; the weakenesse thereof is such in Summer-season if it bee not holpe and assisted with Summer-lysts, that runne the length of the land you labour in. You may raise the Liste in this manner; In the middest of the Meade, in place of best aduantage, force a couple of Furrowes of each side with your Plowe, encountring each other; cleanse those Furrowes, and place the earth aboue: by this meanes your List falls out to be a foote-path, when both sides of your ground are drownde, Summer and Winter.

This manner of speaking may seeme strange [Page] vnto you; But, if you did see the manner of the worke, you would say it could not bee otherwise exprest.

The trauersing-trench, is, that which receiues the water from the counter-trench; What the trauersing-trenche is. and the Stanke-royall (running on a whorle, his sluce be­ing taken vp) is receiued by a Bastard-sluce, which doth disperse on both sides the Treneh; and that's the cause I call it a Trauersing-trench.

What the euerlasting-trench doth.My euerlasting-trench endures more trou­ble then all the rest: the Trench-royall running at a floud-time (as a shipp vnder-saile, beeing Admirall of the rest) and hauing determined of all the duties of the seuerall Stankes, Tren­ches, and hand-maide brookes, they humble them-selues to the Stanke-royall; and prayes no longer continuance there, then they prooue profitable to that place▪ which is so long as they carry filth in their fore-heads, (I meane a muddy floud) and declining to a cleere water, the euerlasting-trenche receiues it to his common course, with as much ioye to the Maister as may bee.

I cannot well giue significant names to all those Trenches, which I call troublesome; there­fore I pray I may bee forborne to speake of them at this time. I had almost forgotten to make a true report of the euerlasting-trench: [Page] it's but a bastard-brooke, falling from my Parke into the mouth of my trench-royall, and his course stopt by a Weare or sluce, not inferiour to any in the maine-riuer. This bastard-brooke is commanded by that sluce to attend the trench-royall to the rendez-uous, or place of imploy­ment, drowning altogether, which descen­ding against the stanke-royall, is forced into his euer-lasting-course againe.

Against another Weare or sluce (comparable to any of the rest what-so euer) you shall vn­derstand why these two maine Weares or sluces bee planted vpon so beggerly a brooke: Wherefore the Weares or sluces are planted. the trench-royall crossing the brooke so farre as the ground extends, must either haue passe in the end (which cannot bee with-out leaue of the inhabitant belowe) or forc'd backe againe ouer the first Weare, three mile aboue; which may bee: but the purpose is, the euerlasting-trench shall haue an euerlasting continuance, to receiue the Surplus of the floud-water for defence of your Hey, and after-math. The an­cient bredth and depth is inlarged: for, that the floud being drawne into the Trench-royall, must fall into this euerlasting-trench: and be­ing inlarged, the trench-royall intertaines it without preiudice to any of the grounds.

My lasting discourse hath almost done with my euerlasting-trench. As the trench-royall [Page] commands the euerlasting-trench to the ren­dezuous or Consultation-place: so the counter-trench hath the like command else-where. And as the euerlasting-trench is sluced to giue passe to the trench-royal to the lowest part, so I place one other Bastard fluce more; which receiues the counter-trench; and many times, both royall and counter-trenches meete against that sluce; which to his power, doth yeeld as much profit as any in all my workes.

If your grounds, at any time, be so hard fro­zen, as the hardnesse thereof is like to conti­nue, such a snow may happen vpon your frozen grounds, What is to be done in hard Frosts, and great snowe? as may remaine thereon so long as the extremity of wether indures: or so long as you and your cattell will be weary off, which to preuent, let downe your sluces, drowne the frozen grounds when the snow begins to fall: so shall you release the grasse being bound, and spend the snowe, which threatens your preiu­dice, and free your grounds, that all kinde of cattle, (Sheepe especially) may haue sufficient sustenance therein.

My trench royall, from the beginning to the end, is three miles long; it runnes so precisely on the plimme or leuell that euery fifth yeare I am driuen to cleanse the channell: such store of muddy-substance is forc'd by my first sluce therein. As the Riuer Nilus drownes Aegips [Page] from the Abissine Mountaines, enriching the couutrey, to the wonder of the world: so doth the muddy▪ flouds from the vpper part of the Golden Valley, (as from a Golden Mountaine or Fountaine) improoue my estate beyond be­leefe. It's not vnknowne to my neighbourhood my demeasnes at New-court was set and forsaken at forty pound by year, besides my Parke. I set it so my selfe, & let any man, that hath an vpright iudgment and equall eyes in his head, view and reuiew it, hee will say it will yeeld within three yeares, three hundreth pounds yearely, besides my Parke. Many haue said to me, no other mans grounds lie so conuenient to drowne as mine at New-court. The Golden Valley is but seauen miles in length, and one mile broad. I answred them, yes: for, three other liuings of mine, affoord the like aduantage for drowning. The Vale is but seauen mile in length, and not a mile ouer any where. Yet there be diuerse Gentlemen therein, whose li­uings might bee bettered, some a hundred, some two hundred pounds yearly: amongst the rest, there's one that dwells on my right hand: the Riuer deuides our demeasnes, who might stock his grounds with stankes, trenches, lists, ba­stard-sluces, and such inuentions as the ground requires; being all flat-bottom: and I truly take it, he may drowne foure hundred Acres with lesse charge tenn times then mine: not hauing one Maine-Weare or Sluce to rayse: For, those I [Page] haue planted, serues for both grounds: but whether it be his ignorance in not vnderstand­ing, or negligence in forbearing, I know not; but, I am sure, it's out of his way an hundred pounds a yeare.

There is another Gentleman, who dwells on my left hand, makes shew of vnderstan­ding it; yet are his grounds ouer-howed with the like neglect: but seeming to excuse it by some vnexpected troubles (which indeed hee indured) & that his weighty occasions would not giue him leaue to vnder-take, nor suffer his seruants to attend it, hee hauing in the eye of his house, a hundred Acres of errable land, worth not aboue three shillings an Acre, which amounts but to fifteene pound a yeare. Yet I made him this offer, if he would bee pleased to make it plaine, as plaine might bee, for foure yeares, I would giue him fifteene pound a yeare, beeing the true valew of his land: and after the end of the foure yeares, I would take it for one and twenty, yeelding him a hundred pounds a yeare, the charge wholy mine, in raising sluces; stankes, trenches, and what else so-euer: A liberall of­fer refused, which if takē, had benefited the offerer more then the offered. so, during the foure yeares, hee should receiue fifteene pound a yeare; and euer after, a hundred pound yeare­ly to him and his heires for euer.

[Page]I did not require any thing vntill the foure yeares were expired, and then my demaund was but three hundred pound.

The yeare following, one hundred came in vnto him againe, the second, an other hun­dred, & the third he receiued another; so in 3. yeares, he receiued his three hundred pound.

He offered me nothing, and hee hath done nothing; so this is but an accusation for neg­ligence, setting it forth in as friendly manner as I may. O! if the Lord of a Mannor did but know what an offence it is to plant an vn­der-shot-mil vpon a Riuer, where the scituation of the soile affords drownings: He were better to put his wits aworke to make VVindmils in plain ground, if hee would consider what hee looseth by it.

For example; my right-hand-neighbour ha­uing such a Mill as I speake off, worth some tenne pound by yeare, and four hundred Acres of excellent ground to handle: hee forbeares his Winter and Sommer drowning, to giue sa­tisfaction to this vnsatisfiable glutton the Vn­der-shot-mil, where, in the trunesse of husban­dry, hee should dayly drowne three hundred Acres for euer.

As the Sun shines euer once a day in Alex­andria, by reason whereof the Land yeelds sweete increase; so might he say he dwelt daily [Page] in the Land of Canaan, which euer flowes with Milke and Hony.

And as the greatnesse of the Turke obscures the Persian-glory, or as the Hungarian forces are the only Obstacle, hindering the Turkes descending to the conquest of the Christian Kingdomes; so should his stankes or Damms incounter the downe-fall of the Muddy flouds from the Mountaines of great Cadwalleder.

Thus much to incourage my neighbour for the vndertaking of Water-workes. The length of the Trench Royall.

My Trench-royall beeing three miles long, and running plimm or leuel forward and back­ward; I plant diuers Bastard-sluces crosse the Trench-royall, for Winter and Sommer drow­ning.

If any man will bee so phantasticall as to carry his wife leuell by water to her Dairy, or build Barnes and Cattell-houses ouer the same for ease of his Oxen, I refer my selfe to his consideration whether it be not possible; the Trench royall beeing tenne foote broad, The breadth and depth of the Trench-royall. and foure foote deepe. Likewise if by Boate you will carry Compost, Corne, Hey, Wood, Stone, Milke, or any other Prouision, its referred to your like consideration. I made two litle Ones for the carriage of earth, which I found to doe mee such seruice, as I know two Teames in a day could not counteruaile any of them.

[Page]Their burden beeing but two load a peece three seruants commaunded them both, in; their charging and discharging: their length being twenty foot; the breadth but three: Had I a Boate with a Keele fiue or six & thirty foot long, The good seruice of a Boat. and nine foot broad, I would carry sea­uen or eight load of Compost at a time; Corne in Sheaues would conueniently bee carried; but how many load of Hay, at a time, I can but gesse: You must at al times examine how your Trench royall is stored with muddy-substance; it beeing furnished by the main Riuer, euery flood, euery second, or third yeare it riseth in the bottom 2. foot at the least; especially for a mile or two comming in at the mouth of the Trench, it doth fil the fore-part of the same: & vnles you cleanse those parts you cannot re­ceiue so much water by 10. foot broad. and 2-foot deepe: the want whereof you shall find in your lower grounds. As the finest husband-mē be most prouident and studious to make their profit answer their labor; so let not the charge of clensing the Trench-royall be greeuous vnto you: in respect the recompence shall (much more then the greatest vsury) outgo your lay­ing out.

In the yeare 1601. I was forced to cleanse my trench-royall, being almost fil'd to the leuill of the Banke, and for the excellency of the [Page] substance therein conteyned, all the dung-hils in the countrey can witnesse it was their very quintessence: the quantity thereof may be esti­mated by the breadth and depth; and I know fiue hundred honest Yeomen, Husbandmen, and Laborers would say, the Substance would ouer-counteruaile the charge beeing imploy­ed for Wheat, Onyons, Cabiges, Carets, or any other Rootes agreeing with the nature of that Residence of the Trenches.

Which Muddy substance beeing put on the one side of your Trench-royall, you may by Boat, carry to your wheat-land, to your Garden, or to better any other barren ground that yeeldes no profit: For, I will drowne Winter and Sommer at my pleasure, a thousand Acres of Medow.

I will sustaine no inconuenience at any time, vnlesse the negligence of my seruants suffer the Sluces to be vpp when they should be downe; or some enuious, lewd, or malitious person, in the night-time loose them downe of purpose to harme me.

No Subiect in the Kingdome can certainly say hee hath the like Groundes, vnlesse he daily drowne as I doe. And for these thousand Acres I shall bee able to Mowe them twise a yeare.

[Page]If I please: The rush, the Mosse, the boult, the hard head, and many other vnprofitable wedes craues mercy at my handes for their life in respect of their former offences; with pro­testation neuer to trouble the ground againe.

I doe not see why the cowslip should haue more fauour then the rest, vnlesse it bee to countenance the May-pole.

I haue not done all I can doe, I can Graze my mowing Meades, vntill the first of Maie. I would see who can doe the like, without the hazard of his Hay that Sommer, vnlesse hee follow my example. It may bee sayd by some among them-selues that you (neighbour) and I, In Lumbardy grasse growes apparantly twice a day being cut twice a day. may doe the like: But then, that You, and I must liue by the Riuers of Leadon, Dow­banke, Frommey, or in the Land of Lombardy, where grasse groweth apparantly twise a day.

Those young Gentlemen that haue scarce liuing ynough to maintaine them-selues in the misery of this Age; should (if they did well) learne to leuell and quarter a ground: then sell that little they haue; and afterwards exa­mine the Records in the custody of the Clarke of the Statutes; there shall they finde that Clarke to haue more Clyents (in my conscience) then any Councellor in the Kingdome.

[Page]And for mine owne part (without vaine-glory bee it said) I am as well knowne in that Office as a better man.

Thus, by taking paines, following the Ordi­naries, and being acquainted with the Vnder-Sheriffs, & Atourneies of euery County; those Gentlemen for a quart of Canauary-Wine, wil giue you a Kallender of all Yronicé. y ^e Land-lords, that are before-hand with the World: In which if they deale not iniuriously with you, you shal find my name. This done, examine the Riuers, Brookes, Fountaines and Springs in euery County, whether they bee imployed or no. If they run idle, make your match in the countrey you best like off; & I assure you, you shall find more Land to be sold vtterly neglected (while the water runnes at wast) then a thou­sand such young Gentlemen I speake off, will buy.

I do aduise all men that wilbe Vnder-takers in this Husbandry, to bee perfect in the true Sur­uey of the number of Acres that may be drow­ned; and that they make choyce (as neare as they can) of errable-land: which commonly exceedes not two or three shillinges an Acre yearly. Old Pasture couered with mosse, that nature hath forsaken, and Medow-ground (if there bee any) that takes more pride in the company of the Cowslipp, then [Page] the gilt-cupp which carrieth the garland from the rest.

And for your comfort, (bee this spoken) if in the laying out of fiue hundred pound, at the end of foure yeares, you make it not two or three thousand pound, Nota. your choyce is bad, and lucke worse. During those forty yeares you cannot receiue lesse then the rate you buy it att; which is twenty yeares pur­chase, or as you can agree: And so from fiue hundred to a thousand, two, three, or as much as your estate will stretch too; the more the better.

If you finde difficulty in my discourse; any Easter or Michell-masse Tearme you shall finde me in the house of a true Brittaine (maister VVotton a Scriuener) in Fleet-street, ouer against Saint Dunstans Church. And for a Supper, at Iohn Gents you shall haue your Belly-full of Water-workes. For my Drownings, my name hath beene so scandalliz'd in open Ordinary, by a Westerne Gentleman, who, since the Kings Maiesties comming, is become a Knight of account, but rash censure deserues little reckoning in mine account: Many men spake diuersly of my labours for a long time, because the Honourable Courts (as they thought) had brought mee to Beggers-bay: and failing in the true execution of my workes, [Page] in not placing a Planke of foure inches thicke, and twenty inches broad, vnder the maine Syll, to preuent the water from vndermining the same, and withall fayling to lay my Groundes (by the indiscretion of my Seruants) leuell or plaine, and not vnderstanding of what strength my Stanks should be to with stand the weight of the VVater that playes against them, & what alowance to giue each Stanke in his Foundati­on; and forbearing the running of my Trench-Royal to the end of his Course for many yeares, and not thinking Stankes to bee necessary for the commaunding of Grounds disoebeying my desire, and withall (lately) running Coun­ter-Trenches, which next the Trench-royall, haue place aboue any; which were not drempt off before; many sluces, and for many yeares, were forborne in places most conuenient, and much profit lost thereby: Twenty yeares practise in these VVorkes. my speculation hauing continuance in practise aboue twenty yeares.

But were it now to beginne againe, I would performe it in one: and raise it to the greatest profit in foure: so hard a thing is it for any mortall man to perfitt any profi­table inuention, without paines, cost, and con­tinuance of time.

They say now, if Maister Vaughan had these & these grounds he would doe This and This. [Page] This opinion haue I gotten in the countrey where I dwell.

There is a Shropshire Gentleman (Maister Hoord) a famous man, his labours (I know) haue taken tryall at Enuies Barre, by igno­rant Iurors and vniust Iudges for a worke hee performed. It was chargeable vnto him; the situation thereof was such as it could not be otherwise handled. I saw it, viewed it, and examined it; and I know it doth much more then counteruaile the charge. But had I beene acquainted with him, in his first beginning, he should not haue spent his time to so small pro­fit: not that he mistooke in the handling ther­of; but knowing my owne errors, and by cost­ly experience able to instruct him; I found no want of Arte in him, but the want of Winter and Summer-water to serue his turne.

I would haue perswaded him to haue forborn that barren vnder-taking, & to haue gotten fiue or sixe thousand pound with ten times lesse labour, in the choise of a thousand places else­where, where hee might haue drowned dayly for euer.

Muddy-flouds doe often happen in Summer-time. If the running of them idle bee so vnto other men as it is vnto mee, Muddy flouds often happen in Summer-time. let them doe as I doe; euer haue one pasture bare eaten: and as [Page] you keepe one speciall Chamber in your house to entertaine a stranger, so, you alwayes haue one Pasture for that muddy-floud, which will pay you after twise twenty in the hundred. It's confessed by all in the Golden-Vale, that that lit­tle land which wee haue would be bettred fif­teene hundred pounds a yeare. If the like were done through-out England, Note the profit of drownings. it would profit the kingdome in a yeare two Millions: which would maintaine an army-royall, to the honour of Great Brittaine, and be most comfortable to all honourable Souldiers, Crest-falne for want of warre and military imployment.

It pleased maister Hoord to view the place where my Water-workes were performed, ac­companied with three iuditious and vnderstan­ing Gentlemen, namely, Maister Brainton, Mai­ster Pearle, and Maister Wolridge; what their beleefe was, I referre it to those who haue a desire to be informed.

Any Gentleman or other hauing performed a worke, and brought it to his absolute perfecti­on; should not sit downe by it: but hauing fi­nished that Worke, and being Maister but of one Liuing, Note this aduice. I would (as I formerly said) aduise him to sell it: and at the end of foure yeares make good account by purchase, to gaine sixe, if not ten for one. I haue a Meade called nine dayes-math: an exellent Meade, and approued for such of all my neighbours. I sold the her­bage [Page] thereof diuerse yeares for fiue pound per Annum: but within few yeares, after the flouds plaid vpon it, I solde the Hey for ten pound yearely: and the latter or after-math was richly worth fiue. I will graze this Meade vntill May: yet notwithstanding the Hey will yeeld me ten pound, and the after-math fiue. Now hauing (I hope) profited the intelligent Reader, thus far: al the fauour I desire at his hands, in lue therof, is this, That I may haue leaue to giue new names vnto mine old grounds, without beeing laught at in ordinaries by scarce ordinary vnder­standers. Some they must haue; for, those they had by drowning are couered with new earth. And with-all, they bee inlarged aboue two hundred Acres. I cannot call that the nine-daies-math, which now is aboue 30. (vnlesse I should forget my counting-craft) nor that a Moore which is firme and pleasing ground; nor that the rushy-leasow, which is reduc'd now vnto a more fruitfull and profitable plot, if the rush ap­peare there againe, he forfeits the Fee-simple of his life: so hauing my grounds deuided into 12. parts, their names (vnder fauour) be altered and now called in this manner: the Pinck, the Gille-flower, the Carnation, The nevv names of the Meades and Pastures. the Rosemary, y ^e Mary-gold, the gilt-cup, the Honysuckle, the Daysy, y ^e Garland, the Eglentine, the Cowslip & the Primrose. Some do say their Kine doe yeeld more milke hauing often change, then those that graze in only one pasture. [Page] I say nothing to it: but, beleeue those dairy wo­men that affirme it. This I can say, for any that desire often change, (as the most part would haue fresh and fresh pasture) if they (being cu­rious) will not bee coy to handle a Cow-shore in his kinde: then thus; When the Kine bee put ouer to some other ground, you know their staine or dung by heate of the sunne will grow hard: and within short time, will force a proud and insolent grasse; such as the Kine in their returne will not touch.

When you turne out your Kine into fresh feeding; bee sure to disperce and seuer those Cow-shares, that the place be, not stained with any polution. They being dispersed; drowne your ground with cleare water: or mudd (if a floud happen) the ground being bare, two Bles­sings incounter each other, and purifie the place where the Cow-shores were falne: so, at the next turning in of your Kine, some fort­night after, they shall finde nothing to distem­per or offend the taste: the water doth cleanse and cleare all annoyance to the beast, and breeds perfect life in euery growing grasse. This last Summer 1604. in Trinity terme, be­ing aboue at London, I came not downe till after Mid-Summer: hauing grazed my mowing Meades too too long after May. Vpon my re­turne, I enquired in what state my grounds stood, [Page] my seruants answered they were sufficient­lye seasoned; Eye-pleasers are often liers. but (in deed) they did (as many) seruants doe) report the best of the worst, to excuse their negligence: the Meades were not so sufficiently drownd, as the necessitie thereof required: They being neglected before mow­ing, not trying their temper with a riding-rod, (my beliefe was so great in those greater Liers) but after mowing, the truth appeared, the quantity of Meade (in one place) being three score and ten Acres, by reason of the mowing, making, and cariage, before the ground were free to drowne, the extremitie of the heate was so great, that the grasse turned yellow; being tainted, as a sheepe on a drye rotte: or, as a man inlye sick, and newly recouered faules into a relaps againe.

In this manner my grounds had gotten the greene-sicknesse or a buruing-feauer (I know not well whether) If in the extreame heate you would drowne with Iudgement, you should not drowne in the heate of the day: but in the night from sunne to sunne. But being forc'd, I suffered the water to worke night and day; the season of the yeare falling out to bee dry: the sunne extreamly hotte; the ground hott, dry, and hard: so what betweene the heate of the sunne, and heate of the ground, the water be­came luke-warme, and faild to effect that good [Page] which by Nature other-wise it would haue done.

And if I be not deceiued, the infection of the earth, had poysoned the water: or made it so sick, as it was not able to endure the ground. As a scudding shewer of raine, The quality of ground distempered with heate. doth raise vpon a dung-hill-poole great bubbles (like an Oxe-eye) by falling of the drops thereon; or, as water in a pott, by the heate of the fire, doth labour, and shew distemper: so, did that water-worke, play, and bubble on the face of the ground, shewing (for a quarter of an houre) nothing but discontent.

The ground being qualified, the grasse did not instantly grow (as at other times, being or­derly fedd) the coullour being changed, the grasse standing at the point of death, being in that case as a sicke pacient hauing taken a pur­gation, who must haue a time of recouery: so did the grasse, for diuerse dayes, shew nothing but sorrow, heauinesse and all discomfort. It beeing once made yellow by the heate of the Sunne, and recouered of the Yellow-Iaundies, although the comfort of the water put life in­to it; yet, during the season, it had neuer his perfect complection againe: the point euer carrying a shew of poysoning; which error (with Gods helpe) I will neuer committ hereafter

[Page]Let all men drowne before they Mowe, and after Mowing, your grasse will not bee yellow, but as greene as a Leeke. You must alwayes keepe your grounds in a true temper; they must neuer be too wet in the Winter, but when you drowne; nor too drye in the Summer, hauing water enough. I had almost forgotten this; be­fore you raise your stankes, bee sure to cleare your grounds from Moles or Wantes, Moles are mischieuous vermin in or about such water-works they bee dangerous creatures (like a Vsurer that's hard­ly gotten out of a mans land, wherein hee hath gotten footing,) if they haue possession in a stanke.

You know when all other grounds be drownd some part of the stanke will bee free; they will not faile to rend and teare your stanke like Rabbets in a sandy soile. I protest two or three Wants in my stanke-royall, was out of my waye twenty pound a yeare, for many yeares. I put a fumbling fellowe to attend their walkes, who (not beeing cunning enough to destroy them) vtterly plagued me; vntil I hapned vpon a good worke-man, who hath cleared my stankes & my brauing-trench. And were it not for my brauing-trench and my stankes, I should neuer need the vse of a Want-killer; because I do so oft drowne in Winter-time; which often drowning doth force them to forsake the soile.

I would desire no better pastime then the [Page] hunting of a Wante in a plaine Meade. My bra­uing-trench being close by the maine Riuer: my trench-royall lying on the height of the ground: my seruant seeing her cast, if neare the trench-royall hee commands water into a descending trench; and doth force her on the face of the ground with much submission, praying her Clergie: her offence being Burglary in break­ing my stankes, although she were the first meanes that occasioned all these vnder-takings, yet I could not bee drawne to yeeld her a par­don: had she wrought in any other part of my grounds, I had not taken it so grieuously: but, in spoyling my fundamentall parts, with work­ing cleane through my stankes, and forcing them, by the extremitie of the water altoge­ther doune, she was vncapable of pardon. If he that hath an ouer-shoote-Mill would enter into an account with him-selfe, whether it were more profitable for him Winter and Summer to drowne grounds, or to grind corne, it would put him to a pussle.

I know many men that haue Mills, who for a desire to gaine a peck of corne a daye (and many dayes failes to get any) so that by a true computation, Drowning more profita­ble then Mills. in the whole yeare, the Mill may bee worth some foure or fiue pound: and in drowning, foure or fiue acres of barren ground, I will raise a farre greater benefitt.

[Page]But because he wil giue reputation vnto his demeasnes, or information on the marriage of his sonne, that hee hath such a Mill; hee had rather suffer muddy Flouds in the VVinter, and cleare VVaters in Sommer to breake their limbs on his Mill wheeles, then exercise his wits (by Drowning (to attaine a world of wealth.

It is grone to a kinde of prouerbiall speech, in the Golden-Vaile, that hee that doth drowne is a good Husband: hee that may and wil not, is figured out with the sillable, Fu.

I know, I haue as good an Ouer-shot-mill for VVater ynough as this Kingdome yeeldes: yet rather then I would grinde my owne Corne at a floud-time, or in my drowning times in Sommer, I would carry it tenne mile off to be ground, though the Miller told the one halfe.

Beeing requested by many Gentlemen of the best quality, to putt these VVater-workes in Print: I praied those ingenious Gentlemen, (Sergeant Louell and maister Coulthurst) to speake what they thought concerning the same.

They both (vnder their handes by way of subscription) said; it would bee very profitable to the Kingdome to be put in execution: being of late a common thing in Deuonshire; but, not in so ample manner.

[Page]For drayning of groundes Maister Louell is Serieant-Maior of the same; Drayning of Grounds, cou­sine-Germain to Drowning. yet Ile say as the meane Counsellor saith to the Serieant at Law; vnder fauour (maister Serieant) Ile declare what I didde in your Element of Drayning, beeing but Cousin-Germaine remoued to mine of Drowning.

A Ring of ground (some foure-score Acres) scituate stirrope-wise; a Brook in the vpper-part crossing the same, in the smaller point of his extent, there running from Adams dayes in likely-hood: the greater quantity of the ground from the Creation neuer sound: but stain'd with the Boult, the Rush, a Quagmire coherent, w ^t many other Improfitables, neuer mowed, nor grazed in the driest daies, but knee deepe in water. It lay at the gaze for fiue thousand six-hundred and six yeares, and by general opinion it stood in state of damnation; as if it hadde beene curs'd like Mare-mortuum for the sin of Sodom.

When I hadde deuided my sounde Groundes from those infected with leprosie; with as many maister-trenches as were neeed­ful to conduct my Drayning, Sucking, Working, & Searching-trenches into the maister-trenches; hauing but two foote descent to procure a passage; all this beeing performed; that spungy bogg draind, dryed and made fitt [Page] for any vse: I drew the Brooke which crossed the vpper point of the Ground downe into the belly of the bogg, to make priuy search in euery particuler Trench, what filth fell therein.

Liuery and Season taken, Liuery & Sea­son taken by the Brooke. Atornement of Tennants, Fealty, with all other Ceremonies that Littelton layes downe to raise Vses, Cus­stomes, or Estates of Inheritance, with pay­ment of pence, and the strongest Fortifica­tions my skill could afford for an euerlas­ting continuance, and cleare keeping of the Drayning, Sucking, Working, and searching Trenches.

I protest I had almost forgotten this insuing most necessary Inuention. A necessary Inuention for suppling hard Groundes for easinesse of Trenching.

I was in the Parish of Peter-Church to runne a Trench-royall some mile on the plimm: The Countrey-people made them­selues beleeue it would cost mee a thousand Markes. Before I ran any part of my Trench: I planted my Sluces crosse the Riuer, at such time as my Sluces were downe, the Water did rise to the leuell of the Greene-sward: the Sluces beeing vppe, the Water suncke vn­to his ordinary course againe.

So hadde I the commaund of the Slu­ces to ryse and sinke the Water at my pleasure.

[Page]Hauing leuelled the Trench: I put eight La­bourers to worke therein, who, (during the whole day) wrought but one Pearch, which was but sixe foote broad, and three foot deep: To whome I said (when I perceiued how little they had done in a day) I see now it's true, as the Country saith: Countrymens Coniectures ar not alwaies Oraclces. It will cost me a thousand Markes ere I effect this VVorke, if it go no bet­ter forward. They said vnto me they did their best indeauor: But after they had taken some halfe a foot of the greene sward (or face of the ground away) they could not force their spades or spittels one inch deepe, the hardnesse of the Earth was such: and wish'd mee to giue ouer that vnder-taking.

It was some-what before Michelmas (the Winter-raine not hauing suppled or mollified the ground any whit at al) I commanded them to attend their labour on the morrow; then did I cause them to run forty pearches in length, six foot broad, & but halfe a foot deepe; which halfe-foote deepe the spades did easily enter: And so for that day, I ended with them Then they demaunded what imployment I would putt them to the next morrow? I bad them good night: and willed them to bee there ve­ry early in the morning. After they were gon, I caus'd my man, to let downe the sluces, and raise the VVater to the height thereof, and [Page] Sodainly the Trench flowing, it entred with such puissance as if it would haue dissolued the very Bowels of the Ground. Then early be­fore their comming my Seruant tooke vp the Sluces, A notable so­daine effect of Water on hard ground vneasie to bee Trenched. sunke the VVater, and gaue it the liber­ty of the maine Riuer, that they the next day, easily forced their spades two foote deepe and more. And in this manner, with the water, I suppled the Trench from the beginning to the end, & saued thereby a hundred pound at least.

Many worthy and expert men haue written of the breeding of Cattell, The manner of breeding Calues. whose indeauours I much reuerence, and referre them to bee commended by Posterity: Yet, will I venter to lay downe mine experience in the youn­ger sort, for the Falling, VVeaning, and Raising of Calues: which (breefly) is this: Those Calues you meane to breed: a month before they fall, lett your Cow or Kine bee well fed with good Hay, that she or they may be the better able to bee deliuered of them, and to yeeld plenty of Milke: Vppon their first Caluing, suffer them not to haue too much milke for three or foure dayes: For in ouer-sucking them-selues, they will bee so glutted with the plenty and newnesse of it, that nature in them will bee ouercome, & be subiect to Gillying or Scowring, which wil hinder them for a long time. VVhen they [Page] bee fiue or sixe dayes old, let them sucke as much as they can: When they come to bee a month old, prouide a Cratch for fine Hay, and a Trough for cleane Water, although you haue no meaning that they shall sustaine them-selues thereby: but to prepare and ac­quaint them (in a wanton manner) to learne to eate Hay, How to learne them to eat Hay & drinke VVater. and drinke VVater. Dayly they will bee nibling with the Hay and VVater as desi­rous as some idle persons bee of Tobaco and Ale.

VVhen they bee eight weekes old take away the Milke of one Teat from your Calfe in milking your Cow before the Calfe bee suffered to sucke: the want of which Teate (for hunger and thirst) will prouoke both your Calfe to eate Hay, and drinke VVater. Continue him so for foure dayes; then take away, or milke one other Teate from your Calfe as aforesaid, which is halfe the Milke; so, will you force your Calfe to a greater de­sire of Hay and VVater: After this, take away the milk of another Teate within foure daies after; and so after that take away all. Hand­ling the matter in this manner, your Calfe will neuer mourne, for want of Milke or losse of Damme, but will cheer­fully fall to eating of Hay and Drinking of [Page] water immediatly.

Let your Seruants be very carefull to lit­ter them with cleane Straw dayly, and keepe them sweete with good Hay: and let them neuer want cleare water. If you haue good scope of House-roome lett them run and play their fils: VVhen you purpose to turne them to grasse, What you must do when you purpose to turne them to Grasse. keepe them in the House vppon Hay and VVater vntill Mid-may: If you turne them out (as the most do) in Aprill, you vn­doe them: the nights being cold, the grounds cold, the grasse weake and raw: they neuer acquainted with the ayre, will mislike with your vnkinde dealing: in token whereof the heyre will turne; and their bellies loose, scowre, or gilly, that they neuer will be them­selues: because the Sun hath not wrought suf­ficiently with heate to comfort the ground that should feed and comfort them.

VVhen they haue beene some month in your best Meads in Mid-may, and after re­couered their strength: put them into some higher Groundes where there is Grasse, water, and shadow ynough: Lett them rest there vntill Bartholomew: then put them ouer into your After-maths before the time of the yeare growes cold, and then it wil so puffe them with pride y ^t al the winter following they wil scorn y ^e [Page] malice of the hardnesse of the Season if they may haue their fills of Hay, and fogg with a Houell or House in the extreamest cold daies to shelter them.

The first yeare beeing spent, euery man knowes how to handle them: If you will haue them principall cattell, giue them hay ynough the second Winter.

But what a Calfe am I to teach Countrey­men to breed Calues by Art, when they (good Husbands) breed them fast ynough by Na­ture; Husbandmen breeds Calues by Nature. I therefore bequeath this Doctrine to Gentlemen that can better tell how to breed a Hound then a Calfe; and referre what else might be spoken, to the discretion of the ex­perienced.

Thus haue I toucht what I handle with as much breuity as I could: ommitting nothing that may giue euidence on the behalfe of those Perticulers, which will fall out to bee as true in effect as in apparance when euer they are put to their strictest Triall.

THerefore, now nothing remaines more to be said; but to intreat thee (friendly Rea­der) to beare with my merry-sorry Stile, if ther­in any where I haue not obserued a precise scholler-like Decorum: for Mars his Vniuersity (wherein sometime I haue bene matriculated, [Page] and proceeded to some degrees of command, according to my study and time spent therein) affoords no rules of speaking in Print, yet Sol­diers (in their Element) best speake in Print: and can expresse what else lies in the compasse of their spacious conceits, like men of Wit, Arte, and Courage; which they that speake altogether by the Booke, oft faile to performe. But how­soeuer, as this Worke, now finished, is published for thy profit, and exprest in such manner as I thought would yeeld thee most pleasure: so thou wilt accept it kindly, and thereby giue me cause to be euer studious of thy benefit.

Principally, though lastly, I am humbly to in­treate you (my good Lord of Pembrooke) to looke on my plainenesse, and winke at my bold­nesse: the first, proceeding from my Nature, the last, from my Education: Yet, what is here blunt­ly expressed, was first of all sharply conceiued, with much whetting of Witt, and no lesse filing of Inuention. But what it is, it is all Yours, as he is, that will no longer bee, then he remaines