A WORTHY work Profitable to this whole kingdom. Concerning the mending of all highways, as also for waters and Iron works. By Tho: Procter Esquire. printer's or publisher's device LONDON Printed by E. Allde & are to be sold at his house on Lambard-hill, near Olde-fish-streete. 1607. To his most excellent Majesty concerning these projects of the Author. BY knowledge true I did prefer, unto your highness projects three Of much worth, exceeding far the subtle sleight of Enmity. She seeks my truth for to suppress, And I to Wisdom for redress. Where reason is by knowledge found, your highness pleasure to fulfil: Extending many a thousand pound, in secret known to Art and skill, Should single wits thereiudge or deem where knowledge wants or hath not been. I am not of that learned lore, of Riplie, Kellie, and other more; Whose learned worke● are gone before, figuratively, Imeane not so, But plainly in a homely style, showing the truth devoid of guile. In ploughman's painful toil, my skill is something good: And in the art devoid of guile, my mind not wavering stood. Lo yet my heart could not discern, by glozing words that skill to learn. By duty I do bow and yield, by rigours rage I nothing see: By guileful gifts that hath been sild, brought to the baits of flattery: My sight not dim, though blind I am, and lives on earth a simple man. I am not known, nor will not be, but as the Bird who seethe the net: I fall into each jeopardy, and none but God the same can let, Therefore good King know most just, in God above I put my trust. For if with gold I had been fed, myself had had a passing part: And eke my senses had been led, from learning of that noble art Of knowledge, which so many know, unto the end it proves not so, For knowledge is a sccret thing, and knowledge is a virtue great: And knowledge doth make wisdom spring and knowledge 'tis whereof we treat. The love and life of every thing, with due obedience to our King. Blissful thy hap, thy life, and eke the days, as David did to God, give thou thy praise, Who was, who is, everlasting seeing, Rules Princes dead, and those now alive being. A Description of the manner how to mend highways. THis Treatise & description of High ways, for these parts of his majesties Kingdom of Great Britain, with their divers and several platforms, frames, order, and manner of making of them, whereby all the said highways shall or may be made more sound and strong, pleasant, and comfortable for all manner of wayfaring journeying, or traveling with Cartes and carriages, or other ways by these said highways, All which is herein plainly laid open and made manifest by Thomas Proctor Esquire. In this his Treatise is set down for the general good and helpful instruction of all Countrymen, & for all places, and chief and most needfully, where there is great lack and want of good ways, and where there are very little or no good ways made: as in Holland in Lincolne-shire & such like: and to the daily continual great grief and heart breaking of man and beast, with charges, hindrances, wearing and tiring of them, and sometime to the great and imminent danger of their lives, and often spoil and loss of goods, and also in some places else where, great hurt and spoil of Fences and grounds, with riding and going over the Corn, and such like, by shifting & seeking the best way diversly: all which by these means are, or may be remedied and prevented: And although it may be that in the foresaid places, or some of them, there hath been bestowed the yearly great allowance of so many years past, with the yearly labours and charges thereof, and thereto by the laws appointed and provided with the benevolence of so many well disposed persons, deceased, which have given for and towards the making, mending, and repairing of high ways, in divers and sundry places of this his majesties said kingdom, with divers other voluntary helps, beside, the said great allowance of men, and matter fitting to these yearly and common days labour and works, etc. The aforesaid considerately looked into, he findeth no reason why there should be any ill ways. Notwithstanding, all which, or much thereof hath been bestowed to little or no purpose, but much thereof utterly lost both cost, work and stuff, for want of meet matter, or orderly manner in disposing the same in their said works, as appears too manifestly in most of those their works at this day. And as he by his practice and costs, hath found true and proved: That the labour of twenty fix able persons, that are ready in their work, and well disposed thereunto with Pickare, spade shovel, rake and rammer, chipaxe and Augur, to be chosen and taken out of every parish, and so forth generally out of all such numbers, of all usual and common days labours, etc. orderly to be set to work in this his manner, with their carts & carriages according, with some boys and maids to help, where cause requires, shall or may suffice to make half a furlong yearly, and as much good and fair way, and dispatch them, to the bettering of the worst and foulest ways to be made good and strong in every parish, as twice so many should or could have done heretofore in this proportioned work and orderly manner without this said prescribed manner and order herein made known. And here withal is to be remembered that one principal and chief cause of all bad and foul ways is, that the rain water or other water doth lie and rest upon the highways (not orderly and soundly made) which with the working of cart wheels & others, doth pierce down more deeper into the said ways, and so more and more doth soften and rot the same, as by daily experience is seen and known. And also that the ditches and common showers are not yearly cleansed so as is needful, which are the best helps to draw and drain the waters off and from the most part of all highways and grounds (as in reason there should be) and by his majesty's laws ought to be done; which not having been done orderly is one reason of, and whereby much of their former labours and charges with their ways and works are wasted, as aforesaid, and little good way to be found, whereas these foresaid things otherwise prevented, then once well made and strongly done, though but a furlong yearly in every parish so to be made, so as one parish may be helpful unto another next adjoining with men or money, of the surpulsages of other greater parishes, to supply the wants of the lesser parishes, at the rate here in this his book expressed so as by help one of another, there may easily be performed yearly forty rods at the least in every parish, and so yearly by little and little hereby all former labours & charges which have unprofitably been wasted, shall be cut off, and all such future labours and charges shall be prevented and saved to some needful and profitable uses: For this said work once well made and done, must needs be better and cheaper, then yearly still a making and doing, and never well made and done, so as it ought to be, and as is by the laws therefore appointed, intended and meant. The neglect and necessity whereof, and the love to his country in this his last age and years, hath enforced him hereunto, out of his care, charge, pains and practice, to make known the same. The effects whereof doth and may appear with other his studies & labours for the general good of all in this his book duly or indifferently considered, to the making and bettering, as is aforesaid of all highways, thereby to be made more sufficient and durable, more easy, with much lesser matter, stuff, charges, and expenses than ever heretofore hath been done (by their common days labours) which by Art and action doing, will & may cut off and save very much of the yearly charges & labours of former times and works, as aforesaid. First therefore a platform and foundation must be cast & made in cawsy-wise, that is to say, to be made a rod broad at the least, whereupon two carts may meet and pass one by another, & on either side the said causey of that bredsh, to draw a ditch of 3. foot depth, & 4. foot broad, & that earth which shall be so digged, must be cast up from the said ditch to the midst of the causey of a rod broad, proportionally, that the midst & height of the said way may be in breadth one yard, & higher by two foot in the midst, then at the outward sides or edges of the same: the higher the midst and lower the sides, the drier and better way to void the water, which water is the only rotting and spoiling of all high ways, and the only loss of all charge and common days labours heretofore that no good way hath been made and continued for want of true manner and form, and due consideration hereof in their former works. Secondly this causey, if it be of a clayish soil, or of such like slimy or spongy earth, it must be wrought and cast up in the winter season, that it may have time to settle and join firmly and sound together, & so being cast and made as before said, that no carts be suffered to pass upon it, till the spring time, or that the earth thereof be dry and hard, for marring and breaking his shape and form made as beforesaid, for if in Summer it shall be cast, it will rise in such hard clots and tough great lumps, as will hardly with great labour and much ramming be digested and brought to a good foundation, but at a far more greater charge than the before said, when the earth is soft and kindly to dig and join together. The which thus cast & made in winter as before, besure them that your forenamed ditches on either side the said causey be so artificially and hansomelye contrived, made and cleansed of filth and soil, that the rain water which shall fall from the said causey, may have a speedy Current in those ditches, and so falling into ditches which must be made by some good judgement of workmen, or other instrument to that purpose, that the said water from thence may have a good and speedy passage to the next ditches, and so from ditch to ditch, gutter to gutter, or other conveyances of water to the common shores, and so to the next brook or main stream adjoining to the said works or any of them. Thirdly, if your ground or earth in any of your ways to be made, be garden-like mould, soft, sandy or crumbling, or such like short earth, then will that sort of earth with small labour of ramming of itself, with treading and going upon it in their labours & works, settle and join sound together, and especially after some good shewres of rain fallen thereupon, which then will be a good foundation presently, to frame and bind in with Timber, woodrailes or poles, as to place, lay, fill, and cover with stones gravel, sand, or small wood to be cut of Billet or faggot fashion, or any other hard or dry matter to be had or made by art or otherwise (according to the plenty or necessity of every soil and place) as in diverse, and in every sundry several manners, sorts & forms of works and workings, in this his book is declared, showed, and plainly set down in their places for every one to follow and work thereafter accordingly: all which manners and empty places of all those wood frames you do use, must be filled as you see, either with wood, stones, Iron-cinders, Ironstones, Geavel stones or other, & so filled. Lastly to be well covered over with small gravel, rubbish or sand, or any other stones broken small. And here is to be considered, that in every parish one with another there are to be estimated of unspeakable or unknown numbers of householders ploughs & carts to be rated at three shillings every cart, and therefore so many men for their work of highways, to be rated but at 8. pence every man the day, besides the help of women and children, fit to serve in this work as heretofore have done, for gathering of stones and carrying of matter and stuffs with bowls, creeles and baskets & such like, for to fill hollow places according to their accustomed & yearly usual manner heretofore in repairing of high ways, which yearly amounteth to a great sum. From amongst which numbers of householders, ploughs and carts before said are to be chosen or made for this work two and fifty men, with 12. carts, and 12 men part of the said 52. for the service of 6. days to bring in matter and stuff likewise according to the custom of the yearly repairing of high ways in every parish, and that then every cart & man so serviceable in these works, to be rated for their 6. days labour, but as aforesaid, after three shillings the day for every cart so serving, and the rest of the said labouring men being 38 to be rated as aforesaid after eight pence the day, of which number of 38. there must be 20 at the least of very sufficient able men of some good judgement in their own labours: If such be wanting they must be chosen and hired to do such work as the surveyor or surveyors of the said work, shall direct & appoint in every parish according to these his rules in this his book under written. Likewise out of the said rest of 52. now remaining, being now but 20.12. must be sufficient labourers with shovels, pickaxe and spades, for making and fitting the said platform and foundatition in manner and form (as before said) to be ready for the second work, to be laid, made and framed upon, to be filled with earth, and fast rammed for shrinking. These last before said, 20. such able men will dig ditch, cast, level, plain, and make ready, and finish forty rods, which is a furlong in all the said sire days, according to the Statutes heretofore made, of and for the works of every year for every parish yearly this work during, but seven or ten years space, which after the said account of forty rods in every parish yearly to be wrought and made as before said; will make good, fill, and dry up all foul, hollow & bad places with a small yearly charge and labour to be maintained, passable, good and fair for ever after, where heretofore the labours and costs of such great numbers of householders ploughs & carts for these fifty years past have been spent and lost, and little or few good ways made in any such order, manner and form. If the ground, soil, or earth be clayish, or destitute of stones, a binding must needs be made for this work of wood, framed and made & likewise filled with wood, as appeareth by the platforms hereafter described: That is to say, poles of young wood, or rails of base Timber, of length eighteen foot, and in thickness or compass round about some ten or twelve inches one with another, or less where wood is scant, & if they shall lack of that length, to take two short, to make one long, so as when they are framed and made fit, and pinned down with stakes with wooden pins through them, they may be a rod square at the lest within the said frame and crossed with such like timber made fast as is needful, according to the platforms and sundry manners of works and working in this his book plainly set down. Also it is to be considered, that if any such matter & stuff fit for the said work, cannot be had within two miles of the said work, as is most commonly to be had within that compass in most places & parishes thereabouts, being diligently sought for, yet nevertheless 12. carts will suffice within their six common days labour, at two miles off, to bring in sufficient loads of such matterof stones, wood, or other dry or hard matter, as will perform the yearly accomplishment and finishing of one furlong of the worst way every year in every parish, being forty rods a year: and if it be at a mile off, or from the work, than six carts will perform as much as the other twelve: if but at half a mile from the said works or causey, then three carts are able to perform the said carriages, as in stony or would countries, where such stuffs or stones are near at hand. And then there & in such places, so much money, labours & charges is spared & gotten after three shillings in every cart by day, more than in other parishes, where it is not so easy to be had, and so likewise in the men's labours of every householder after eight pence by day, containing great numbers in their former labours of their said highways, besides women & children, as aforesaid, yearly heretofore so inconsiderntely consumed and spent: all which charges hereby so saved, some part thereof to be employed and reckoned for wood for the said frames and strong binding, and making of the said causey and highways with their belongings, & all the rest so saved to be at his majesties good pleasure, to whose most gracious favour, he humbly submitteth himself, and to the good consideration of all his loving country men, for this his skill and pains taken so diversly to his cost and charge in setting forth this his manners of high ways, with his other projects of water, for making of any dry town to have waters brought unto them, or near unto them, or bringing one river to or near unto another, as Thames to or near Severne, or Severne near or to Thames at an easier rate than any other, for boats, lighters and bardges with their ladings and carriages to pass too and fro with Sea-coals, which are as well in his majesties forest of Deane as in Wales, are plenty to be had near there about, for transportation at a reasonable rate, with other more such like places (as now from Newcastle in way of Decay) and also for making of Iron in quality and quantity good and merchantable, according to the nature of the mine, with a third part of wood-coles where it may be spared, or otherwise with out any wood coals at all at great profit, such as thereon may be gained, 33. shillings upon every tun, as the prize of Iron there now goeth, or three shillings upon twenty, upon every return where the same shall be made, for the general good of his majesties kingdom and Subjects. All which, or any of them, he shall show & perform the trial by action & working of workmen, with clear appearance of the benefits and profits thereon, and therein to his Majesty if he shall be called thereto, and thence to any other that shall desire to be satisfied therein, that shall be fit and furnished therefore. A trial and true performance of all the before said, may be made under sixty pound expenses fully to satisfy, every one of capable understanding. These being true, as true they be, not set to work is great pity, But scorn and blame such works they have, where envy knowledge doth deprave. These frames hereafter following (being made of Wood) do represent every one of them a rod of ground square, where they shall be made in wood countries, and where there is wood to be had, may all of them, or any of them be filled with wood, cut billet or faggot fashion, with hurdles or wattles, with bavins or brush wood, or such like for want of bigger, being unbound and well placed and laid, and then well covered over with other matter, & in manner as is declared with small gravel, or gravel stones broken small, Ironstone, Iron Cinders, sandy stone, thalke or lime, or any other hard or dry matter, made by art out of killnes: as brick, hard tile, potshards or other earth, sand or any rubbish whatsoever: the drier, harder, and smaller, the better and fairer the way will be. diagram of roadbed structure depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch diagram of section of roadbed structure depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch diagram of section of roadbed structure depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch diagram of roadbed structure with wood, stone, etc. fillers depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch diagram of section of roadbed structure with wood, stone, etc. fillers depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch diagram of roadbed structure with wood, stone, etc. fillers depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch depiction of wattle framework These are to be likened to the sheepfold hurdles, and four of these will serve a rod way. diagram of crossed framework forming part of roadbed depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch diagram of x-crossed framework filled with stones depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch diagram of latticed framework forming part of roadbed structure depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch diagram of latticed framework filled with stones depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch diagram of latticed framework forming part of roadbed structure depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch This midst and height of the way thus bound, may be filled with any dry matter. diagram of latticed framework filled with stones depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch dioagram of latticed framework forming part of roadbed structure depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch diagram of latticed framework filled with stones depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch diagram of framework filled with paving stones, forming part of roadbed depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch diagram of framework filled with paving stones depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch diagram of wattled frameword forming part of roadbed depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch diagram of part of wattled framework This is the midst and height of the ways, being left a yard and a half broad, filled and covered with any 〈◊〉 matter depiction of ditch bordering roadbed Ditch This about of hurdles is an easy, strong, and cheap way, and is good for clayish or spongy grounds or any other. diagram of framework for roadbed And lastly in those Countries and places, where there shall lack, and is not, or cannot be found, stones, gravel, sand, or young spring wood, to make frames, and to be cut billet or faggot fashion, neither Iron cinders, or any such like hard and dry matter to fill and cover therewith, as in Holland in Lincolnoshire and such other. That there, and in such places, they must make or cause to be made, kilnes like lime kilnes, brick-kilnes, Tile, or Potter kilnes, wherein they must burn with sea-coals, pets or Turns, clay or earth, & make hard matter thereof, of hardness poterlike: the bigger of which matter shall make the upper part of the way upon the foundation thereof, and the smaller thereof to cover again upermoste above the other greater before said, and so ram and settle the same close together on their highways there & in such places, where their greatest care in their works must be to leave their ways high in the midst, and so even and handsome, that no rain-water or overflowings shall tarry or abide upon their causey or high ways, but fall speedily into their ditches, as is most meets and prescribed to all high ways, and in these places, and in such like, where there is little wood or none to be had for heipe thereof, it shall be very good and profitable that there the inhabitants or dwellers near, or other ways shall plant & set young plants of willows or other, as shall be most meet or fitting therefore, all along by the sides of the said highways and ditches, which will grow and yield in short time, yearly help to the mending & repairing of the same said high ways, wattles and with hurdles. The benefits and profits that shall or may arise unto his Majesty and subjects, here by art and action doing, if set on work accordingly. HIs Majesty by his most royal authority, and there under this prescribed manner to be performed and done. There shall be good & fair ways made, which since the making of such good laws, hitherto these 50. years past & more, hath not been made and done accordingly, so as is now hereby taught and set forth how to bre done, and most of them may be finished within the time prescribed, or thereabouts: where by from henceforth may be saved many thousand loads of matter and stuff, charges and labours, and so thethy and there through many thousands of pounds yereiy, If but rated after three shillings for every Cart, out of such numbers as are set usceable to this said work, by his majesty's Laws and statutes appointed. And likewise, if but after 8. pence the day for every man, out of the aforesaid great numbers so serviceable as before said, & yet notwithstanding sufficient left for the yearly repairing of the said ways for ever, and the rest so saved whatsoever, may be otherwise necessarily employed to other uses according to his majesties good pleasure, or as shall be found most meet by his majesty, and his most honourable privy counsel. Also for waters, Rivers and their benefits. THese said waters or small rivers made for Boats and lighters to pass, that is to say, from one river to or near unto another, or from one City, town or place, too or near unto another, or into one another, where the same shall be found meet and needful: as from Thames too or near unto Severne, or from Severne to or near unto Thames, as also from Sarisburie, Stampford, Northhampton, Berry, Wakfield and Leedes, or Oxford, as also from the river of Lee, near unto Stock-bridge, to or near unto Clarken-well lying, and being on the north side of London: all which or any of them may be done accordingly, and any of the which he will undertake to do at an casterate, and better cheap than any other shall do, not using his way and manner. For that he seethe in other men's works, labours and manner, much unprofitably spent, which may and might be spaced and saved, all which the general and necessary uses whereof are many: as for transportation and carrying of coals, Sea-coals, wood, Lead, Iron, corn and grain, Flax, Hemp, and Linen cloth, with many divers and sundry commodities, whereby a custom or rent may grow unto his Majesty, and case of charges & benefit by charges, & other benefits by interchange of commodities to divere Towns, shires and places, whereby men every where may be stirred up and provoked diversly to seek and find out such commodities whatsoever their Country shall afford and bring forth to the proffiting of themselves and others, And also by this means, that carried for five shillings, which now upon every tun carrying costeth twenty, which then there shall or may be saved to help them upon their commodities. The greatness of the manifold benefits, that hereby shall, may or might grow, he leaveth to the good consideration and profound judgement of the best and wisest, & to the good understanding of all in general. The said rivers or streams wheresoever, to be made a rod or perch broad at the least, at 250. pound a mile, or better cheap, as before said: not offending, impeaching, or hurting Milles, dams, wears or streams or fishings, neither overflowing any man's grounds otherwise then their ordinary courses or passages, but rather bettering those men's grounds divers ways, thorough which the said waters shall pass, to the multiplying of water to the said Mills and grounds in Summer, & in dry places and seasons, & multiplying of fish & foul: and upon agreement or reasonable request made, he shall and will be ready with one of his Sons, named Elias Procter, of good & suffictent skill, & experience in the said works, or one of them, upon some convenient warning given, or procurement before made, to come & to show & make and set forth the said water courses, or passages, or any of them, for the better satisfying of them rod by rod, how & which way the same shall or may be done, whereby the owners thorough whose grounds the same shall pass may be agreed & compounded with therefore, yielding him or them but reasonable & necessary charges for them, their man & horses for their coming & going for some 15. days or thereabouts, as shall be found but meet and reasonable. These hereunder doth declare & make known the benefits & profits that shall or may arise upon the making of iron, if the same shall be made with & after the direction of the said Author in act & action, with true performance accordingly. FIrst to make Iron with a third part of wood-coales, where spring woods are, and may be spared for the benefit of the owners, or else to make Iron without any wood-coales at all, where there shall arise profit upon the work And making of good and usual merchantable Iron, according to the quality of the mettle of the mine there, to every one, or to any one that shall lay in and employ stock and money thereon to all needful and necessary uses fit and meet for the same, upon the return of every tun so made, 20. shillings: or three shillings upon the return of every twenty shillings so wrought and made into Iron, as before said, of clear profit, after the rate as the ordinary price of Iron there now goeth, where the same Iron shall be made or wrought, and so much Iron weekelye there to be made, wrought and laid by, to be delivered orderly to secure and benefit the said stock and work, weekly after that rate, and to countervail, free, and discharge all other the ordinary weekly charges, that shall be employed & dispensed therein, with the profit thereof and thereunto due, and so forth from week to week from time to time forth and forwards according: the said stock so continued, and the work still retuned, and going forwards. And so he shall perform unto the ●a●de work and profit yearly the same 〈…〉 yearly of such bar iron. To his Majesty for Farm or Rent. Where any such work shall be builded, erected, and set up upon his majesties waste lands or commons, with water and water courses, Fuel, and Ironstone, and for peat and all other necessaries fitting thereunto, to make rawe-Iron, bare-Iron, as is said, and for farm rend twenty pound a year, yearly for the said farm, whereas now there is scantly any thing at all to be had or made thereof: and likewise to every Lord or owner for farm, as beforesaid unto his Majesty 20. pound the year for such like farm and necessaries, where now there is scantly raised any rent thereof at al. And lastly the Author, explainer and master of these his projects, thinketh and esteemeth himself worthy upon performance of the surplusage whatsoever of the profits of this his project over & above as aforesaid, or some certain yearly stipend as shall be thought reasonable therefore, and what other imposition, benefits and profits may hereby grow & ensue to his majesties kingdom and Subjects, humbly submitteth himself and all the rest to the judgement and consideration of the best and most worthiest to censure and determine. FINIS.