THE COMMONS COMPLAINT.  
WHEREIN IS CONTAINED TWO SPECIAL GRIEVANCES: The first, the general destruction and waste of Woods in this Kingdom, with a remedy for the same: Also how to plant Wood according to the nature of every Soil, without loss of any Ground; and how thereby many more and better cattle may be yearly bred, with the charge and profit that yearly may arise thereby.  
THE SECOND GRIEVANCE IS, THE EXTREME DEARTH OF VICTVALS.  
FOUR REMEDIES FOR THE SAME.  

1. By a general Planting of Fruit-trees, with the charge and profit.  
2. By an extraordinary breeding of Fowl and Pullen in places convenient, by a Plot herein set down for the purpose, with the charge and profit.  
3. By a general destroying of all kind of Vermin, with a near estimation what is yearly devoured and destroyed by them, and how the most of them in short time may be destroyed with a small charge.  
4. Proving the abundance of Corn, that is yearly devoured and destroyed by the infinite number of Pigeons, kept and maintained in this Kingdom.   
LONDON Printed by William Stansby. 1611.   

¶ To the KING'S most Excellent MAJESTY.  
NEXT unto GOD, most dread Sovereign, the love and duty that I own unto your Majesty and Kingdom, hath emboldened me to Dedicate the fruits of my old age and travel unto your Highness, hoping that the subject thereof will no way offend You. It is intended to the good of your Majesty and your Royal Progeny, the general good of the Commonwealth for all posterity; and in part tendeth to your Princely speech to the Parliament. What I shall herein set down I prove by the best Schoolmaster, which is, my long experience, having spent many years in the attaining thereunto, especially these four last years, wherein I have employed my study and travel through some parts of most of the Countries of this Kingdom for this purpose, oft having conference with many of the best Commonwealths-men for my better understanding; desiring by all good means to attain to a perfect knowledge how to Plant, preserve, and maintain the blessings of God as well in this our destroying age as they have been in former times, wherein was left a precedent and plenty of that which is now in effect destroyed. All are given to take the profit present, but few or none at all regard the posterity or future times. This exercise in all ages hath been in high account with the wisest and most worthiest, and hath been blessed by God himself, (as hath appeared to the world:) and by the approbation of your Majesty, may be so put in execution, as the branches thereof may be spread over all your Dominions, to the disburdening of your loving Subjects of all their grievances present and to come. I spare to proceed any further, since your Majesty whom God hath filled with the spirit of wisdom in understanding, by your ready apprehension understandeth much more than I can speak hereof. Thus submitting my poor labours, or rather worthless mite, to the consideration of your Royal Majesty, having nothing else to present the same withal, but my humble prayers to the King of Kings, to multiply the gifts of his holy Spirit more and more upon you, and that you may Reign many happy years amongst us.  
Your highness most humble Subject, Arthur Standish.   

TO THE READER.  
THou hast here gentle Reader, brought home unto thee the harvest of my long experience, with little labour or cost unto thyself, wherein thou mayest plainly according to the nature of every Soil, learn how to plant such profits as naturally our Country hath, and will afford for the profit of thyself and Country. First, how to plant Wood, and how to breed cattle to a greater number, yearly to thy great gain, as shall plainly be proved. In the second, the profit of planting fruit trees in Hedges or Orchards, as of Apples, Wardens and Pears; being no strange novelties, although by want of industry they are made strange unto us, by our buying them from foreign Countries at a dear rate, by our sloth and negligence; whereas by the blessing of God, the very soil of our Hedges is such, as they would yield great plenty, without hindering any other profit, and may be gained with less cost and labour, than any other commodity in this Kingdom whatsoever, as shall herein be proved. In the third, the manner how to breed Fowl and Pullen, by a secure plot from stealing, and from vermin. Lastly, how by a speedy means to destroy all kind of Vermin, especially the feathered kind, with a near estimation what is yearly destroyed by Vermin and Pigeons, both in Corn and other things. By means thereof, not only Corn, but especially other victuals is brought and doth continue at too dear a rate, for the poor Artificer and Labouring man; by which dearth, too oft ariseth discontents, and mutinies among the common sort, as appeared of late by a grievance taken only of the dearth of Corn, in Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and other places, about which time the minds of many were molested: whereupon I took the first occasion to employ my Study and travel in this business, hoping by God's help to prevent such inconveniencies, as too oft doth spring out of the desperate tree of want. Whereupon good Reader, it ensueth, that by the observing of these small directions, thou mayest perform some part of the cause of thy creation, by giving glory to thy Creator, honour, pleasure, and profit to thy King, Country, and to thyself also, by feeling and relieving thy Christian brothers wants, and by a charitable industry, thou mayest raise means to disburden them of all their grievances present and to come, and in the end, by the mercy of our good God, thou mayest be partaker of his loving promises in the Gospel, Come you blessed of my Father, etc. The which I crave for jesus Christ his sake.   

UPON THE AUTHOR AND HIS Most commendable and necessary work.  

FOr me thy pains and subject to commend  
(Each praising each by their dumb silence best)  
Were candle light unto the Sun to lend,  
Send Owls to Athens, paint the Phoenix breast;  
Give Flora Garlands, Love his Myrtle bow,  
Arabia odours, pearl to Thetis brow.   

But Lo the Genius of fair Britain, by  
Commands me speak, and give thee thy desert,  
Who art so careful of posterity,  
And present times unrued of greater part:  
Swearing by Thames she's more enritcht by Standish,  
Then all the gold she got by Drake and Candish.   
Henry Peacham.   

THE COMMONS COMPLAINT.  
We do in all humbleness complain unto your Majesty of the general destruction and waste of wood made within this your Kingdom, more within twenty or thirty last years then in any hundred years before. Little respect is taken but by your Majesty, for the posterity and prosperity of your Kingdom: to many destroyers, but few or none at all doth plant or preserve: by reason thereof there is no Timber left in this Kingdom at this instant only to repair the buildings thereof an other age, much less to build withal: whereby this grievance doth daily increase. The reasons are many: first the want of fire is expected, without the which man's life cannot be preserved: secondly, the want of Timber, Brick, Tile, Lime, Iron, Led and Glass for the building of habitations. Timber for the maintaining of husbandry, for navigation, for vessels, for brewing and the keeping of drink, and all other necessaries for housekeeping: bark for the tanning of Leather, bridges for travel, pales for Parks, poles for Hops, and salt from the Wiches'. The want of wood is, and will be a great decay to tillage, and cannot but be the greatest cause of the dearth of corn, and hindereth greatly the yearly breeding of many cattle, by reason that much straw is yearly burned, that to the breeding of cattle might be employed: the want of wood in many places of this Kingdom constraineth the foyll of cattle to be burned, which should be employed to the strengthening of land, and so doth the want of hurdles for the folding of sheep, and the want of wood causeth too many great losses by fire, that cometh by the burning of straw, and so it may be conceived, no wood no Kingdom.  

The remedies may be thus.  
IF that all owners of land according to the nature of the soils wherein there lands do lie, were enjoined to plant all their hedges with wood (and not only with thorns) so thick as conveniently trees may grow and prosper, allowing four yards between tree and tree: to be topped and lopped for firewood (reserving some part of their hedges where they may think it most convenient for their profit, to be planted with fruit trees, or to plant all with firewood, and plant fruit trees in Orchards, according to their best liking). And that they might be further enjoined to plant for every acre in their several occupations, four trees more, to be preserved for Timber for so many years before any of them should be felled, as the trees may be grown to be good Timber, which will be near fourscore years: and that after that the trees be grown to be Timber, that none should be felled, or at any time before or after wasted, but so many to be planted and continued: And that all such persons as have at this instant their grounds furnished with wood, in such sort as is required, might be also enjoined hereafter to plant and preserve so many trees and so much wood, as hereafter they shall fallen or waste. And that all tenants might be enjoined in like sort to plant their hedges with trees for fire, and to have the lops to their own houses for fire, and to plant two trees for every acre in their occupations for Timber. This being performed, no wit can comprehend what good may in time grow thereby unto the Kingdom, although some taste may be taken by the planting of twenty acres as followeth, with other directions for this purpose. And for the better conceiving thereof: admit that a man have twenty acres only in his occupation of pasture ground, wherein he yearly breedeth or feedeth twenty cattle, and that he should for this purpose in close in the driest corner of that close half an acre, and that there were no fence before about the same, but that it were to be enclosed round with a good ditch and hedge, which would contain forty eight Road, and that the charge at the first should cost three pound six shillings eight pence, and that the maintaining thereof, till the wood that is therein to be planted should be passed taking hurt by cattle, which may be ten years, should cost two pound thirteen shillings four pence more, being in all six pound, more by the half than it can cost. The half acre being thus enclosed, dig therein about Christmas seven score and ten plots of a yard square, leaving three yards every way between the plots digged; let it lie with the grass side down till about Midsummer, then dig it again: and again about Hollantide, when the Mast of Okes, Beech, or the Chates of ash falleth from the trees: then take of the same Mast or Chates, according to the nature of the soil, and set them half a foot a sunder, and not above a hand breadth deep, and keep it weeded well the first two years; being sure that the spring be not trodden on: after which time there may be in September about the midst thereof, the sap being then in the root, all the young plants drawn up to be planted in the hedges of the same close, only reserving two in every plot of the best, being most likely to be trees, and after six years there may be drawn up half the rest to be planted else where, leaving then only a hundred and fifty: in which time the ground may be mowed between the plants, so that thereby there is small loss: for after the three first years the ground may be eaten with sheep, and after ten years the ground may be laid forth to the close, as it was before with seven score and ten young trees, which within fourscore years may well be worth so many pounds. The hedges being planted as is set down cannot yield so little firewood as may be worth twenty shillings a year: the twenty cattle that there is to be bred or fed cannot be less bettered than two shillings in a beast yearly by their quiet living in the wood thus planted: keeping there the flesh that before they lost: being before constrained by the extreme heat of the Sun, and Flies, for want of shadow or wormestall, to run up and down the close losing the flesh in the heat that they got in the cool, and so spoiling the water with running into it, as seldom they could get their bellies full of water (the want thereof breedeth many diseases.) And further by the quiet being of the cattle in the wood, there is grass saved yearly worth twenty shilliings, which before was spoiled by the cattle's running, treading and foiling of the grass. And by this means it appeareth, that after ten years the twenty acres may be improved at the least forty shillings a year by the cattle: so that it is but three years profit thus to improve the twenty acres. And this for the breeding and feeding of cattle, all breeders and feeders will affirm, and that a better breed of cattle may be raised of those grounds that wanteth good water for their cattle and shadow: and for those grounds that wants either, can never breed good cattle, or make so much profit of their Dairies, as best may appear between Lancashire and Lincolnshire, and all other countries where such means of water and wood is wanting. And by the wood the twenty acres is bettered at the least other forty shillings a year: for if it be cast it shall appear, that a tree growing till it be fourscore years old, being then worth twenty shillings, it groweth after three pence a year. So that so many timber-trees so many pounds besides the firewood. What loss or gain here is required, I leave to be censured by the Reader.  

OBJECTIONS.  
It hath been objected that it is against a man's profit to preserve his woods, for they grow but at three shillings four pence an acre per annum, & the ground being converted to pasture it is worth ten shillings an acre per annum. And further it hath been said by some that they have wood enough for them & their heirs, let them plant wood that needeth, either for building or any other uses: and that it cannot be conceived how wood can be planted, in respect of the difference of soils, or how plants may be gotten to plant the Kingdom withal, or that any such profit may arise, and that there is Sea cools enough to supply many wants,   

THE ANSWER.  
THe Objections are too true, as may appear to the world as touching wood, but not in the rest, as hath been proved, and might further appear if a survey were taken of the woods now growing in this Kingdom: for it would be found that the fourth part is not able to maintain itself threescore years without good maintaining and preserving. And as touching the difference of soil, who knoweth not, may hereby know, that wood hath and will grow in most part of all this Kingdom, being planted and preserved, as first appeareth by the peakes of Derby shire and other stony countries, where there is yet to be seen ash wood growing about every town, though very rocky: as for Oak, Beech, Elm, and Ash, it doth grow in flinty or gravelly ground, as appeareth by the Chilterne Country, (as it is termed in many shires) and on the gravelly grounds every way about London, by Elm: and for soft fennish grounds, it appeareth about the towns that there is some, and hath been better store of Elm and Willow, and other such like woods, and would be if it were planted and preserved. The manner how to plant elm & Willow, is to lop a young elm or Willow, the lop being but of three years growth, in the latter end of March or the beginning of April, when the sap is up in the boughs, and the buds ready to put forth: then cut off the boughs so lopped, cut them in lengths of a foot long Coult-foote wise, leaving the knot where the bud is to be put forth in the midst; then lay these short boughs in trenches where you would have the wood to grow, three or four fingers deep, and cover them well with mould well trodden, leaving the knot barren moist ground for the Willow, the Elm will grow in harder ground: If the Spring be dry then water them, and assuredly they will grow sooner to be Trees then sets, so will the bough of any Tree, as well of fruit trees as others, and the tallest and straightest of the same being taken about Lammas, and as near the body of the Tree as may be; with a Knife cut the Bark of the bough clean away of a hand breadth, leaving not any Bark for the sap to return withal to the body, the Bark being thus taken away, then immediately take a good quantity of Clay, and lay thereon some good earth of the side that is to be laid next the tree: and lap the said Clay and Earth about the bough, upon the Bark next to the place where the Bark is taken off, a hand breadth at the least, and moss it and bind it as a graft, so let it stand till the midst of September, then saw it off and set it were you would have it to grow, and as near as you can with the same side to the Sun as was before, and assuredly they will grow to be trees for to be lopped for fire, and your fruit trees will some of them bear fruit the first year, but the second certainly, if the year be seasonable. And so will little young roots of Elm being taken when the sap is in them, and set as quick sets, by which means the Fennish countries may have Elm, Timber firewood, and wormestall or shelter for their cattle. And as for Sea-coals, there is no assurance how long they may endure: it is apparent that Coale mines do decay too fast in most Countries, and are too chargeable to many Countries in respect of carriage, and in most mines are not to be got without the use of much wood.   

What further benefit may be made on sheep-walks, Downs or heaths, by planting of wood where the grounds are barren.  
IF for example, that on every Sheepewalke whereon there is or may be kept five hundred sheep, there were ploughed up about Christmas twenty acres in the lowest bottom of the walk for this purpose, where water may be kept all the year, aswell for the breeding of Fowl, as for the other profits: all which may be maintained under one charge by the Shepherd (without fencing, for that on such Downs little cattle cometh.) Being so ploughed, let it lie till Midsummer: if then it be perceived that there will be Mast that year, then plough it again, and then let it lie until about Hallowmas: Then take the Mast of Oak, Beech and the Chats of Ash, bruised Crabs, after the verjuice is pressed out, and haws: mingle these together to sow about the sides and ends of the ground about a yard broad, and upon the rest sow no haws, but some few kernels of Crabs, then begin at a side and sow five yards of breadth, & plough under this Mast and Chats very shallow, then leave six yards in breadth, and sow and plough five yards more, and so from side to side. And be sure to leave a yard and half at the last side The rest of the headlands to lie till the rest of the Close be sown in March with Oats, that the cattle may not hurt the Mast sown by treading on it.  
The close being thus sown with Mast and Oats, in the mean time there would be a house builded for the shepherd to dwell in, where he may best oversee the ground for his ease. The charge thereof, first, of the house five pound, the ploughing thrice and the harrowing two shillings eight pence an acre, eight pound the Mast, and getting it ready forty shillings, for five quarters of Oats to sow the ground fifty shillings: for the getting of Oats in harvest, and carrying of them into the barn fifty shillings, and so the whole charge is twenty pound, whereof the Oats will yield fifteen pound, if they increase but six of one. Then when the spring is of two years growth, there may be drawn up part of the spring, which may be employed for quicksets, & when the remainder is six years of growth there may be more drawn up to be set: at which drawing there may be got as many as will be well worth five pound, leaving than none but forty four of either side of every row, five yards between every one, and here and there to leave some special one that is like to be a fine tree for Timber, and some hundred or more of the Crabtree stocks to graft on, and in the hedge round about to be left thick four yards between every tree, and so leave as there may be left at the least three thousand five hundred besides Crabtrees. These three thousand five hundred growing twenty years, there may be then two thousand stocked up, which will be well worth twelve pence a piece to be sold, five hundred of the very best to remain for Timber trees, and a thousand to be topped, which at every ten years end may be lopped for fire wood: the tops of that thousand trees cannot be so little worth as fifty pound: by which means at that twenty years end there may be gained by the two thousand trees that are stocked, a hundred pound, and five hundred trees left, that within fourscore years may well be worth five hundred pound: the thousand trees remaining to be lopped will grow after five pound per annum at the least, and the ground being before barren (hardly worth twelve pence an acre) will be worth ten shillings an acre per annum: for by the grass and weeds that will grow the first six years, and the lodging of the sheep in the night, when the weather is such as they cannot be folded, and the shadow of the trees, which are so to be planted that there may be eleven yards between every tree, except in the hedges. The ground will be made very good meadow, and will find the sheep hay enough with good winter pasture, and warm shelter in sharp weather. And if water can be kept, there may be bred with twenty pound cost, fowl or pullen well worth twenty nobles per annum, all charges borne,: if the plot for fowl, be near corn, then may there be best kept wild Ducks and Mallards', which do never hurt corn in field.  
If the like planting of wood were on common Sheepe-walks, Common pastures, and Commons where the lands are so good as they might be sown with Wheat or Rye, with the mast, the whole charge thereof would be made in three years with twenty pound gained at the least, by the crop of Wheat or Rye, and a crop of Oats after between the grounds where the Mast is sown, as before is set down. If the like provision were made in Parks where wood decayeth, and hay is scant for Deer, it would be very beneficial to the owners, and by the planting our Commons, common pastures, or common Sheepe-walks by the charges of the town whereunto such grounds do belong, the charge will be inned, as before is set down, in three years a present relief raised by fowl to the poor of the town, of six pound thirteen shillings four pence, and after ten years, three pound six shillings eight pence at the least by fruit: after twenty years by two thousand trees that may be stocked, one hundred pound to remain for a stock, and five hundred trees, to be left for Timber, and one thousand trees remaining to be lopped which may yield wood worth five pound a year; by which means the towns where such provision may be made, may not only be greatly eased of the charge of their poor, but also have a stock whereby they may be always discharged of such charges as may happen either to Church or King by the increase of the stock. And further take certain knowledge that all barren and mossy grounds may be improved much by letting three years grass rot on the ground, and it is the only way next unto lime to destroy Moss.    

The second grievance, is the dearth of Victuals, with remedy for the same.  
COncerning Victuals, the want thereof is very great, in regard that all kind of Victuals is risen and grown more dear in price within these last six years then in twenty years before: And if the dearth of Victuals shall so happen to increase but a few years to come (as by all likelihood it is like for to do) except some speedy remedy be provided, the poor man by his labours shall not get wherewith to relieve himself and family. This dearth may be much eased, if that every one that hath a Pigeon house might be enjoined or otherwise required to breed yearly extraordinarily a certain number of fowl or pullen, as shall seem best to their liking. The manner and fashion shall be set down by a plot for the purpose, how they may be bred, with the charge and profit that may yearly arise to the owners.  
The reasons whereof are five: first, in regard that a plot to breed fowl or pullen in, which may be made & furnished with less charges then a Pigeon house, yieldeth more profit, and nothing at all offendeth the people; whereas the Pigeons are a great cause of this dearth, and more chargeable than profitable to their owners, and the loss that the Kingdom receiveth thereby is infinite, as at large shall be proved.  
Secondly, that it is to be supposed that every one that is able to build a Pigeon house, is also able to make a plot for fowl or pullen to breed in, and either is or should be the Lord of the Manor, who hath to his Manor some convenient ground to make a plot on for that purpose, and to breed so many pullen or fowl yearly as he keepeth Pigeons.  
Thirdly, that as a Pigeon house is builded for housekeeping, so the fowl and pullen is more profitable, as also shall be proved.  
Fourthly, that as the extreme dearth of victuals causeth many to break up housekeeping, and to put away their servants, whereby many through want fall to stealing, and thereby come to an untimely end: so an extraordinary breeding of fowl and pullen, with other means as followeth, may by God's blessing so ease the extremity thereof, as men may, as their ancestors have in former ages, delight in hospitality, and thereby prevent many inconveniences that the extremity of dearth doth and may procure.  
Fiftly and lastly, the profit of the Fowl and pullen shall be proved to be such as no charitable Christian can deny to perform.  
Now to prove the difference of the charge and profit between a Pigeon house and a plot for fowl and pullen: First, all men of experience know that an ordinary Pigeon house of five yards and a half square, and four yards high to the evesing; in which house there may be contained twelvescore pair of Pigeons, will cost five and twenty pound at the least, and that it will be three years before it cometh to the best profit: and when it cometh to that, the best Pigeon house is seldom worth five pound per annum, except it be within threescore miles of London, where all victuals are dearer than in other places of the Kingdom, or a double house. I will not stand to prove the opinion of the multitude, of the charge of a Pigeon, that she will eat (if she have liberty) a quarter of corn in a year (although I have some reason to believe it, for that two credible persons did affirm unto me, that they had lately seen half a pint of corn at one time, taken out of an old Pigeons crop, and offered to make proof thereof by witnesses of good credit:) but I will admit of that which in common reason is not to be denied, that Pigeons have corn at will to feed on more than half the year: and admitting that there be twelvescore pair in a house of old Pigeons, as commonly there is, and that every old pigeon in that time with her young ones should eat but two bushels, which cometh to six score quarters at a house: & it is generally holden that they hinder the increase of that which would grow, and spoil as much as they eat, from the time that corn groweth ripe in the field, before harvest be done and the seed times. And thus in reason it doth appear, that in all the seed times of the year there is at the least sixteen weeks, in which time she gathereth up much corn that is least uncovered by the harrows, which a shower of rain would cover, and so would grow: and naturally all Pease and beans if they fall not deep in sowing, and be very well covered, they will swell out of the ground, and lie bare upon the ground: and yet not withstanding Pease and beans, and all other corn by nature groweth with the root first into the ground, and then spingeth upwards: so that after the seed times be done, and the corn groweth green, till it gtow so high that the Pigeons cannot go through it, they gather up the corn growing, and break off the blades, and eat the corn: all which will be confidently proved by all Husbandmen and Gentlemen, especially by such as sometimes lend their minds to understand the profit of husbandry.  
This being allowed (which by no means can be disproved) it appeareth that twelve score pair of Pigeons devour, destroy and hinder the increase of twelve score quarters of corn in a year. Admit it were but half so much, and that the corn were rated, being Wheat, Rye, Barley and Pease, but at two shillings and a penny the bushel, sixscore quarters cometh to a hundred pound per annum at a house. Admit further, that the sixth part thereof be the owners of the Pigeon house (for so it is to be supposed that the Lord of the Manor hath a sixth part of the town, than it followeth that his five pounds-worth of Pigeons costeth him sixteen pound thirteen shillings and eight pence at the least. What other charge his Pigeons are unto him, I forbear to relate: the number of the Pigeon houses cannot be fewer than forty thousand, with the Pigeons kept at houses. Now to the charge and profit of fowl or pullen: the plot and all things thereunto belonging will not cost above twenty pound, to have it secure, and so as when occasion is, that some of the wild kind is taken, the taking of some may not offend the rest that are to remain. The plot must be especially for the wild kind of Duck and Mallard, which are best to be kept both for profit and pleasure, in a piece of ground where water is and may be got and kept all the year, of two and twenty yards square, to be moated about with a mote of a road or pole of breadth, which will be twenty pole about; to be made six foot deep in the midst, and something shallower towards the sides, which will cost at five shillings a road, five pound. The leveling of the ground, with quickset and workmanship, four pound, the house being five yards square and six foot high, and having a little chamber over it to keep Oats in to feed them: the house to be but studded and thinly lathed, two fingers between the lathes: which house cannot cost above eight pound, and the bridge and door twenty shillings.  
The plot being made, put into it about Christmas threescore tame Ducks and twenty Mallards', which will cost about three and fifty shillings four pence, or at Candlemas for want of Ducks, forty Hens and ten Cocks, to remain till wild Duck eggs be gotten to breed on in the mean time: there are neither the Hens nor the Ducks, but their eggs will be worth the corn, bran, and drains that the young Ducklings must be fed withal, till they can eat Oats. The plot being thus ready and all things else, send one with a horse for eggs in March into Cambridgshire into the fens, or into any other nearer place, where wild ducks eggs are to be got for money, especially in the fens, if the people have liberty to get them (for in the spring time when the wild ducks lay, the poor sort will go with a dog into the fens, where their dog will put up the fowl out off their nests, and then if they find many eggs therein that be unsitten, they will take most of them away with a ladle, or by some other means; so that they neither handle the eggs that they leave behind, nor breath upon them; and then will mark the place where the nest is, so as they may readily come to it, and once in a week will fetch all the eggs that are laid in the mean time, and so make the duck (whose nature is to lay till her nest be full before she will sit) so poor as they may take her (which oftentimes the hungry sort do.) The eggs being thus got ready, when the keeper of them seethe the hen or duck feather her nest, and beginneth to sit, then lay in the nest twelve wild duck eggs. And thus in two years the whole number of the wild or tame may be bred in such sort as they may be taken off at the owner's pleasure, and a stock of fourscore of the oldest to be left for breeding with twenty Mallards': which four score old ducks will breed and bring up commonly every one of them eight at the least; the whole number to be three hundred and twenty couple, to be sold, are well worth eight pence the couple, which ariseth to the sum of ten pound, and a mark for their young ones. Then the eggs that they will yearly lay to be but worth fifty three shillings and four pence, at five a penny; and the Fish that may be bred in the moat yearly, to be worth thirteen shillings four pence: provided always that there breed no Pikes, for they will destroy the young Fowl but not the Pullen. The whole Sum is fourteen pound, deduct out of the same five pound, to buy ten quarters of Oats yearly, which ten quarters will allow the Fowls above a bushel and half a week, which is more than is needful to be spent on them: for except it be in Frost or Snow when the ground is covered, or when they sit, and the young ones are not able to fly abroad, a very small quantity will serve to give them every morning a few, that every one may get a dozen corns. As for their breed, being once well haunted, they will never away in the day, if they may be in quiet, but altogether in the night, by which means they are safe from Vermin, and they will continue there especially in breeding time. For experience teacheth all men to know, that all thing that hath life, loveth best the place wherein it was bred, finding there their best relief and rest: as appeareth that all the Winter (till breeding time) there are hardly one couple of Ducks and Mallards' to be seen in the Fens, but abundance in Summer time, where they remain until about Michaelmas, and then they go away again. Then further allow forty six shillings eight pence to the keepers and towards the keeping of the Hedge, the remainder is clear (all charges defrayed) six pound thirteen shillings and four pence. Thus is the proof made between the Pigeons and the wild Fowl.  
The plot for tame will not cost so much by the charge of the house for being tame, they may be taken at pleasure.  
The Pullen will yield a greater profit: for there may be likewise kept at a like plot, fourscore Hens, and twenty Cocks, admit every Hen to breed yearly but eight Chickens, (though it will be granted they will breed twice in every year, and at each time eight at the least) their number is sixteenescore couple, whereof eightscore couple to be sold being Chickens at sixpence the couple, make four pound. Fourscore couple of Hens at twelve pence the couple comes to four pound, and fourscore couple of Capons at two shillings the couple, comes to eight pound. The Eggs cannot be less worth than eight pound at five a penny. And the fish that may be bred yearly in the moat will yield thirteen shillings four pence: The total is twenty four pound, thirteen shillings and four pence, out of which deduct thirteen pound, to buy twenty six quarters of Oats, whereby they may be allowed one week with another throughout the year, four bushels. Allow further yearly four pound to the keeper of the Pullen and the maintaining of the plot, although it be supposed, that every one that will be at the charge of any of these Plots, keepeth one that tendeth his Pullen that he hath already, so that the charge hereof will be so much the less. The house for Pullen will cost about forty shillings more than a house for Fowl, in respect that although the house may be two yards narrower, yet it must be three yards longer, with Poles in it for the Pullen to sit upon. As for nests they shall need none in the house, but in borders where they will take more delight to breed in then in a house, and be freer from diseases, by reason of the air, therefore it shall not be greatly needful to have a Chamber in that house, for that the Keeper may bring the Oats at any time when he cometh to them. But the reason why a Chamber is convenient in the house, wherein the Fowl must be used to feed, is especially for the Keeper to stay privately in to take some of the Fowl at pleasure, without offending the rest. Thus all charges to the uttermost being set down, the remainder is seven pound thirteen shillings and four pence per andum de claro, at the least at a cheap rate. The charge of the Plot is under three years purchase for the Pullen, and three years purchase for Ducks and Mallards'. As for the manner of breeding of Pullen and tame Fowl, it is needless to set down, only thus much: For the tame, their charge will be as little or less than the wild, if they be bred in large Pastures, where they may neither do hurt to Corn nor Meadow ground, which the wild will never do. The reason is, the wild keep in the water all the day, and feed altogether in the night, and dare not come near Corn: and their Corn must be given them every morning a little, to draw them to their breeding place in the day, whither they will not fail to come, being there bred and fed. It shall not be needful to bestow much Corn upon the tame, but only at their first being put into the Plot, where they must be kept in for three weeks or a month, in which time being fed every Evening, they will likewise so know their being, that thither they will come in the night, and feed abroad all day, especially if they find that they sit quiet in the night; such is the difference of their kinds, the one feedeth by day, and the other by night. Now it remaineth to know how the wild must be bred, when they have chosen their Nests, which shall appear in the Plot hereafter set down.  
After the Fowl begin to lay, once a week their Keeper may come to their nests when the Fowls are off, which will be towards night; and for that purpose bring with them an Iron ladle, with a handle half a yard long at the least, wherewith they may reach into the nests of the Fowl, and from thence take some of the eldest laid Eggs, as near as they can guess, leaving not above or under, two or three; taking great heed that they neither handle them, nor breath upon them, for their nature is to find that fault, and then they will forsake their nests. Thus may the Eggs for the more profit be taken from them, so long as in discretion shall be thought fit, which commonly will be about some ten weeks, ere that they be perceived to feather their nest: and be sure in the mean time to keep some Eggs, that had been neither handled nor breached on, and if there want Eggs in any of the nests, when it is perceived that they sit, then with the Ladle put in more, and make the number twelve at the least. The manner how to take them is thus.  
The house being made, as before is set down, the door thereof must be thus made: A light frame of Wood as can be made, to be as broad and so long as the Door stead is, being for the purpose a yard or thereabout, for that commonly is the breadth of Canuis or hair Cloth. Then take (for the better lasting) so much hair Cloth as the Door is of height, and make it fast to the frame of wood as a Door, which must be hanged like a Shop window at the top of the Door stead, to be drawn up by a Cord and a Poultry, and so to stand. In the mean time the fowl must be used to be fed in the house, which by little and little they will easily be brought unto, if they be usually fed there, and some tame ones kept among them for that purpose, which for sundry causes I hold the fit to breed on; especially they being not able to fly, must of necessity stay there, which will make the Ducks to resort thither for their mates. And some do hold that the nature of the wild Mallard, is to suck the Eggs if he find them; being thus used to have their Corn in the house, which they may be brought unto, whereof I could give many instances, but one may serve for brevity: One at S. james, the other at the house from whence I descended, the last owner thereof had by a Tenant of his a dozen wild Duck Eggs brought him, which he caused to be set under a Hen, which brought him up twelve young Ducks, and of them were bred many about the moat of his house, so that there hath been threescore at a time; which although they were wild bred, yet would they have followed from the moat through the Court, and into the Hall for meat, being called 
IN the casting of the moat, the best earth must be cast into the Plot, to raise it so as the House may stand three or four yards higher than the sides to the Moteward, that the water may descend; and 〈◊〉 pleasure, there may be some kind of Quickwood set about it, whereby it may be kept Fort-like. The borders for pleasure may be set with Prevet, whereon many conceits may be fashioned, seeming as though the Fowl bred under them; but for profit with Gooseberie sets, which will put forth and be green timely in the year, to shadow the Nests. The passages between the nests, would be a yard broad at the least, and in the vast places about the house, some fruit trees may be planted for profit. On the out side of the moat for Fowl, there must be a double Quickwood set of Whitethorne, kept thick in the bottom that the Fowl may not creep through, to be kept battled if the owner please. The Quickwood to be set close to the side of the Bridge, and the Bridge to lie longer forth then the Hedge, by a yard and a half, so that under either side of the Bridge, there may be a little Door to open and shut at pleasure, to the end the wild king after they be fourteen days old, may be let forth a nights to feed, and to come in a mornings (whereof they will not fail.) The tame kind must not be let forth, till they be passed taking hurt by Vermine, and they to be let forth a mornings, and to come in a Evenings. For Pullen there needeth no Fence at all on the outside: On the Bridge there must be a Door, and so made as no Vermin may creep in, either over or by it, and a Trap continually would be kept on the Bridge. On either side the moat, there must be left a yard and a half, or rather two yards in the inside for the Fowl to sit on at pleasure, and for fishing the moat, the moat may be brother at the owner's pleasure. In large Parks or Pasture grounds, it were most profit to be both Fowl and Pullen, the Plaits being as far asunder as may be.  
Place this between Fol. 20. and 21.  

The Figure of the Plot.   and but sometime used so for pleasure. And when it pleased the owner to see a flight, they were always put out of the moat, and then would they fly to the river, or to some other pits of water where they were to be found, and being fline at, as many as escaped with life, would not fail to come home. The Fowl being thus wont to the house, the Keeper being determined to take any of them, may go into the house and call them thither, according to his wont manner, the Corn being strewed in the house, the Keeper may go up a Ladder into the Chamber, and there stay with the cord of the Door in his hand, as privately as he can, and by degrees let the door down, and when he perceiveth that most of the Fowl are gone forth, then may he let the Door close down, and so take them as quietly as may be, and no whit offend the rest. If all Noble men and others of the better sort would put this in execution in Forests, Chases, Parks, great Pastures and Commons, it would not only be very beneficial for themselves in their housekeeping, but would likewise ease the extreme dearth of victuals, to the easing of this grievance.  

Objections against breeding of Fowl.  
THat such abundance of Fowl by this means may be bred, that thereby Corn may be made dear. Secondly, that they will destroy the increase of Fish. Thirdly, that they will so foil the ground where they are bred, that the cattle will not eat the grass.   

The Answer to this Objection.  
FIrst, as touching the dearth of Corn that by them may grow, that shall be answered hereafter in place for that purpose, and how more Corn may be saved by the tenth part than they can spend, which is yearly destroyed by Vermine.  
Secondly, that they do not destroy or hinder the breed of Fish, as it doth appear, especially in the Fens of the I'll of Ely, where there is greater store of Fish, than there is in any place of England, except it be in such like fenny grounds: in which I'll there is more Fowl than there is in all England beside, especially in spawning time at which time they may do most hurt, but at other times they can do none: For after there is life in the Fish, no swimming Fowl can hurt them. And for the better satisfaction of all men in this point, let every man call to remembrance whether ever he saw or heard of a Fish taken out of a wild Mallards' crop.  
Thirdly, as touching their foiling of the ground, an instance may be taken by all Fennish Commons where they haunt, and by all other Commons where great store of Geese are bred and kept, where is to be seen the foil of the Geese to be thick on the ground (and yet the cattle feeding among it) that in common reason they cannot but gather some of it into their mouths: though the foil of Geese is holden the most dangerous foil of all other Fowl, yet did I never hear any complain of any loss taken either by their foil or feathers, although in the moulting time, the Commons will seem as it were strewed with feathers. And it is holden by many good Husbands, that Fowls, especially Ducks and Mallards' do much good to ground and cattle, especially to Deer and Sheep, namely by gathering up the Worms that so sprout up the earth in the night, which earth in grounds that are eaten bare, is beaten abroad with every shower of Rain upon the short grass, which commonly is the sweetest, whereon the Dear and Sheep desire most to feed; and thereby gather up the earth that is so beaten on the Grass by the rain, which earth is holden by most skilful men in sheep, to be the principal cause of the Rot: which the better may be conceived for as much as experience hath manifested, that seldom either Sheep or Dear rot in grounds deep of Grass. Also Worms live by the fat of the earth, and decay the strength thereof, (as all the great gardiner's do affirm) which Fowl and Pullen will destroy, especially wild Duck and Mallard, in respect that they altogether feed by night on the barest grounds, and upon Worms most of all.    

The second remedy for the dearth of Victuals, by planting of Fruit.  
FOr as much as by the experience that is taken out of most of the Countries of this Kingdom, especially out of some parts of Worcestershire, Glocestershire, & Herefordshire, where it is generally affirmed that there be sundry men, that raiseth to their purses yearly two hundred pounds, by Fruit trees growing there in their hedges and fields, over and beside what he spendeth in his house, in Cider and Perrie: And that there are some persons, that have thirty or forty Hogdsheds in a year for Tithe. And further it appeareth, that in most Towns of this Kingdom, there have been provident Husbands that have planted Orchards, which in effect are now decayed, which have not only been very beneficial to themselves, but also to the Commonwealth, and there be yet some few that do plant, some an Acre of ground, which is yearly worth five pound at the least in Fruit. In respect whereof and for other good considerations, if it were provided (in regard the like profit may be yearly raised in the greater part of this Kingdom, to the great profit of the Planters, and benefit to the Commonwealth, which will likewise be a special means to disburden us of the greatest part of this grievance, for that thereby the extreme price of Victuals will be greatly eased,) That there may be a certain number of fruit trees planted in all the Hedges, as of Apples, Wardens and Pears, and most of all Apples, where Whitethorn and Crabtrees do or may hereafter grow being planted, viz. For every Acre of enclosed ground four trees, which can no way be hurtful, or hinder any other profit whatsoever that may be raised out of hedges. The fruit that by this means may be raised yearly, can not be less worth than twelve hundred thousand pounds, if the fruit were sold but for six pence a bushel.  
And this I may prove two several ways, First, by experience taken from Crabs, it is known to all housewives that a bushel of Crabs, will make two gallons and a half of verjuice, and so much some of the best Chandlors in London have affirmed to me. I have also inquired of some of the better sort inhabiting in the Countries before recited, as I have traveled through those Countries for this purpose for my better experience, how much Cider a bushel of Apples will yield, or a bushel of Pears of Perrie; whose answers for the most part were, that a bushel of ordinary Apples, would at the first press yield two gallons, and a bushel of Pears for the most part, two gallons and a half; and by putting a gallon of fair water into the Apples so pressed, and letting it stand some twelve hours, sometimes stirring them, and then press them again, would yield another gallon, but not so good for long lasting as the first.  
The second is this, that in a bushel there is about ten score of the greatest Pippins, let some of them to the number of twenty be baked in a Pot for the purpose, or take twenty of them and roast, and that man will be holden for a monster, that can eat so many at one meal, which may be sold for a penny, and the surplusage being fourscore, will recompense the labour that is taken about them. By either of these means I hope it will be allowed, that of themselves they are worth the rate before set down, and being baked in Paste, a good and profitable use is made of them in many men's houses, by saving other victuals; and when it pleaseth God to bless those few fruit trees that are in this Kingdom, it will something abate the extreme prices of victuals. This present year may be an instance, and all Drovers of cattle will affirm, that they have felt the smart of the plenty of fruit, and the inhabitants of the City of London will acknowledge, that the fruit that cometh thither, easeth something the prices of victuals.  
The greatest hindrance which may be to these good works of planting fruit, and wood, will be confessed of most men by their experience, who have in their times seen many men begin to plant orchards, and set quickwood, to the end to have hedges in many places, especially by high ways for the saving of corn; and at the first will make some provision for the preserving of the same, which afterwards some by coveting the grass growing in the orchard, putteth some kind of cattle therein which breaketh and spoileth the grafts: others by want of maintaining the fences, whereby their expectation, cost and labour is lost, and so in quickwood after a great cost in planting, for a little more cost in maintaining, all is trodden down and lost: in like sort much good spring wood is spoiled by cattle by want of good fencing. Thus either by covetousness, niggardliness, or negligence, many good actions are overthrown to the loss both of the owner & commonwealth; my counsel herein is to begin well, and to persever therein unto the end.  

Objections against planting of fruit.  
FIrst, that if they be planted in hedges they will be stolen, and the hedges broken for them.  
Secondly, that such plenty of fruit would make corn over-cheape for the farmer.  
Thirdly, that if the hedges were so thick planted with trees, in closes or fields, that are not above six acres, they will be very hurtful; for that if such closes or fields shall happen to be sown with corn or mown for hay, the trees will so keep off the Sun and wind that in wet harvests it will greatly hinder the drying of hay and corn.  
Fourthly, that his land is his own, and he will not be constrained to use it otherwise then he listeth, and that such as have a thousand acres or more in occupation, may have so much fruit as he shall not know what to do with it.   

The answer to these Objections.  
THe first I grant in part, that fruit being planted but in particular may be stolen, and little good may grow thereby, but being generally planted as is required, what cause may any charitable man have to complain? or what man complaineth in any of the Countries before recited (from whence example for this purpose is taken) of stealing his fruit, where the hedges are as thick with fruit trees and other trees as is required? For scarcity causeth stealing, but in those Countries the trees in the hedges hang as commonly full of fruit on the high ways side as on the other, and the hedges of fields and closes in those Countries, and in some other Countries are as thick of fruit trees and other trees as are required, and yet notwithstanding such as have corn or hay in little closes make shift to get it dry. Thus the first & third is answered.  
What charity is in the fourth, I refer to the censure of the indifferent Reader. For it is in reason to be conceived that hardly half of the people of the Kingdom hath not grounds to plant on, but would buy them at the rate set down, being cheaper than any other victuals, & by the plenty of fruit such store of Cydar may be made and kept without loss, until it may happen that a dear year of corn may come, which then may be spent in drink, and barley be converted to bread corn, and by this means corn may always be sold at reasonable prices in this land. This may be proved by the best Merchants who will aver that Cider will keep seven years. And by this means such store of Corn and Cider may always be in the Realm, that much treasure may be brought into the land for Corn, Cider, and many other commodities that may be spared, whereby the Kingdom may be greatly enriched, and the customs increased to the good of the King.  
The second is idle: for what man of experience knoweth not but that the farmer that liveth by tillage, by feeding of beefs, muttons, hogs, pullen, & many other things that may be fed or bred by corn, may make at all times (if he think corn too cheap in the market) by these means a sufficient price of his corn for the buyer and seller. Moreover, much more ground may be converted to the feeding and breeding of cattle and to dairies, all which is (as the world now goeth) very convenient, the rather for that by experience it hath been continually seen that whereas corn is dear one year in seven, yet for other five or six years it is at a more reasonable rate then other victuals, which yearly rise in price, and seldom or never abate. And further if corn be very cheap it may be transported as it hath been, with perry and Cider into other Countries, so that if the farmers should lose something in the prices of their corn, yet they shall gain much more in their housekeeping and other necessaries.  
And whereas it may seem distasteful to some to plant their Fruit trees in the Hedges; admit that there should be an Acre enclosed, wherein may be planted fourscore fruit trees, every tree may have a eleven yard's room to grow on, whereby the ground may take no hurt by Woods, which after ten years will yield one year with another and one tree with another a bushel of fruit, rated as before at six pence the bushel, this profit will amount to forty shillings the Acre at that rate. Admit further, that the charge of enclosing of this acre round about, being 8. Road of breadth, and twenty in length, should cost 18. pence a Road, to have a good Ditch double or triple, set with quick Thorns and Hedged round about on the outside of the Ditch, which Hedge will last well three years: at the three years end towards the later end of March, cut the quick wood upward with a knife close by the ground, & weed the grass clear up from about the roots, the wood of the old Hedge will pay for the labour, and then the first charge is four pound and four shilling. Then Hedge it new again, which may cost thirty and six shillings, that Hedge will last well till the quick wood be passed taking hurt for that in those three years after it is cut, it will grow higher than it would do in ten years being not cut, and so thick that nothing can get through it. In the mean time whilst the Fence is in growing, if there be strewed in a Nursery the kernels of a hundred Apples, or kernels of Crabs, or set when or before the quick wood is set, there will be more sets then that ground requireth, which being well preserved, will be big enough in three or four years to graft upon. The charge being six pound, is but three years purchase.    

The third and fourth grievance, For destroying of Virmine.  
THe greatest devourers of Corn, of these kind are Rooks, Crows and Sparrows, the number whereof is infinite, and so is the quantity of Corn which they destroy yearly. They also greatly hinder the increase of Corn, which when they cannot find it lying above the ground, they scratch it up with their Claws or pick it up with their Bills, Blades and Roots; and when Corn is eared, then if it happen to be laid, both Rooks and Pigeons light upon it, and so spoil it, that if it were worth forty shillings an Acre before, in one week they will make it not worth ten shillings the Acre, One kind of these Crows live much upon Chickens and Fowl, and by their Eggs, and kill young Lambs, and do much hurt beside. There are also many other flying Vermin, that destroy Pheasants, Partridges, Fowl, Pullen and young Rabbits, which are Buzzards, Kites, Ringtailes and Pies, all which or the most part of them may easily be destroyed in three years only, by the pulling down of their nests, in breeding time not suffering any of them to breed, every man to undertake for his own ground upon a penalty, to the use of the poor of the Parish. Two other great spoilers of Fowl, are the shooting in Pieces, and water Dogs; the one galleth more than they kill and get, that are lost, so doth dogs when the Fowl are young, and in moulting time. And much Lead and Powder might be saved, by reason that every man may have Hawks meat by his Fowl and Pullen.  

OBJECTIONS.  
THat true it is that is alleged, that the Vermin before mentioned are as hurtful to the common wealth as is alleged, and that many years since by Act of Parliament there was a special law made for the general destroying of all kind of vermin that could be thought upon, as Foxes, Badgers, Polecats, wild Cats, Stotes, and all other whatsoever, which was as much as then was thought convenient.   

THE ANSWER.  
It appeareth that such an Act was made for the destroying of vermin aforesaid, and of other vermin, but so small an allowance was made that no man made account thereof: wherefore by allowing a good proportion for this business, they may be soon destroyed, and the charge soon ended; and then all vermin being destroyed and Pigeon houses suppressed (excepting only such as are allowed by the Common Laws of this Kingdom) it cannot be thought that corn will ever be dear.    

Of Wood  
THus it is sufficiently proved, that wood being generally planted for every acre of this Kingdom, being at least four and twenty millions, the timber trees growing till they be fourscore years old, cannot be less worth than twenty shillings a tree: whereby it appeareth that every tree groweth after the rate of three pence per annum, & four trees being planted in every acre cometh to twelve pence an acre per annum: so that the sum ariseth to twelve hundred thousand pounds per annum, by reason that the tenants are but to plant two trees in an acre. And the trees for firewood that are required, together with the mast that may grow thereupon, will be as much worth as the timber, and admitting that the fourth part of the Kingdom be already replenished, yet the gain by wood and timber of the other three parts will arise to eighteen hundred thousand pounds. The timber and firewood that shall be planted in pasture ground as aforesaid, will be clearly gained by the better breeding and feeding of the number of cattle more that may be bred by the pasture and straw that may be saved, which is now spoiled and burnt, the worth of beasts two hundred thousand & twelve per annum at the least. All which may be effected with less than three years purchase in pasture & meadow grounds, & the whole charge of planting in barren ground may be recovered in less than six years, & after ten years the soil will be improved from twelve pence an acre per annum, to ten shillings an acre per annum at the least. The firewood of a thousand trees being well husbanded will be worth twelve pence a tree at every ten years end. The ground is improved ten pound per annum, and that the five hundred timber trees remaining will be better worth than five hundred pounds.   

Of Fruit.  
IT is also proved that fruit trees may be planted in twelve millions of acres at the least in this Kingdom, which being rated at two shillings an acre, six pence a tree, the value thereof cometh to twelve hundred thousand pounds per annum, out of which being deducted for the fruit already planted in this Kingdom two hundred thousand pounds, yet there remaineth one million of pounds gained yearly; and that the fruit trees which shall be planted in orchards will not cost above three years purchase, and in hedge rows not one years purchase.   

Of Fowl and Pullen.  
AS concerning the breeding of Fowl and Pullen, it is likewise proved that there may be well bred so many as will be worth four hundred thousand pounds per annum, in this Kingdom, after the rate of eight pence the couple one with another, and that provision being made for the destroying of vermin, there will be Fowls enough soon bred in this Realm: and that if every owner of pigeons should yearly breed so many Fowls or Pullen, as they keep old pigeons, and every man that hath grounds convenient would make plots to breed on as is aforesaid, it would greatly ease the dearth of victuals, the charge whereof will not be above three years purchase: for the better understanding whereof it is to be noted that it appeareth by the general map of this Kingdom that it containeth nine and twenty millions five hundred sixty eight thousand acres, out of which number deducting five millions, and the odd thousands of acres for high ways, wild lying grounds and wastes not fit for planting, there remaineth four and twenty millions, which: being rated at a penny an acre amounteth to an hundred thousand pounds.   

Suppressing of Pigeon houses, and destroying of Vermine.  
ANd it is likewise proved, that by suppressing half the Pigeon houses of this Realm, and of Pigeons kept over Gates, Chambers, and other places for that purpose, there may be yearly saved so much Corn as is worth two Millions of pounds at the least, which they destroy and spoil: which may be effected without charge: and that by the destroying of feathered Fowls, which in like sort destroy and devour Corn, and hinder the increase of the same, there may be saved as much Corn yearly in this Realm, as is worth three millions of pounds. By the destroying of the before recited vermin, there may be saved in fowls and pullen and eggs, which they destroy yearly, the worth of five thousand pound at the least, besides young Fawns, Lambs, Rabbits, and many other things by them destroyed. I can make proof where there were within this three year seven dozen couple of Rabbits found on a heap, carried together in less time than a month by a Stote. Also by a general destroying of Rats and Mice there may be saved yearly in bread, cheese, corn and other things which they devour and destroy, four hundred thousand pound at the least. All or the most part of which vermin may be destroyed with less cost than the loss which is sustained by them in one half year, by allowing a good proportion to every man that destroyeth them as well young and old, as their eggs and nests: which would encourage servants and poor men to be industrious, in destroying the said vermin, and so the work would soon be finished, and the charge ended.  
sum, nine millions, two hundred thousand pound saved and gained by this project yearly to the performers, besides the good that may grow thereby to the Commonwealth.  
That it might be provided that no Tenants should be indamnified by their Landlords by letting any of their Farms, whereupon they have planted wood or fruit, before they have received sufficient profit of their labour, without sufficient recompense for their charge.   
FINIS.