MOST APPROVED, And Long experienced waterworks.  
Containing, The manner of Winter and Summer-drowning of Meadow and Pasture, by the advantage of the least, River, Brook, Fount, or Waterprill adjacent; there-by to make those grounds (especially if they be dry) more Fertile Ten for One.  
As also a demonstration of a Project, for the great benefit of the Commonwealth generally, but of Herefordshire especially.  
judicium in melius perplexus cuncta referto,  
Vera rei, donec sit manifesta fides.  
By ROWLAND VAUGHAN, Esquire.  
Imprinted at London by GEORGE EID. 1610.   

A panegyric, In the deserved honour of this most profitable work, and no less renowned than much-desired Proiect.  

I Sing of him that is as dear to me  
As to the World; to whom both aye are bound;  
Then brief, for Bond so long, I cannot be;  
Unless my Love were (like my Lines) too round.   

Proportion doth so please Wit, Will, and Sense,  
That where it wants, it grieves Sense, Will, and Wit:  
Then by Proportion of his Excellence,  
Thus must we shape our praise of Him, and It.   

When as the Earth all soiled in sin did lie,  
Th'almighties long-provokt inraged-HAND  
Emptied Heavens Bottles, it to purify;  
And made that 
a Noah's flood.  FLOOD that mud to countermand.   

So, for like crimes, of late, we plagued have been  
With like 
b The Inundation caused by the boiling up of the sea in Munmouth and Glamorgan shire, the year 1607.  O'reflowing, washing all away  
That lay the Earth upon, or Earth within,  
Within the limits where this Deluge lay!   

Which Inundations were for Earth unfit:  
But he whose Hand and Head this WORK composed,  
Shows how to drown the Earth to profit it:  
And being Ill, to make it Well-disposd.   

Some with their Lands, do oft so sink themselves,  
That they to it, and it to them yield nought,  
But, in the Ocean what do yield the Shelves;  
Which when they see, they 
a Few Hadlands take pleasure to behold the lands they had.  flee, with pensive thought.   

But in His Drown, He makes Lands arise,  
In grace and goodness to the highest pitch;  
And Meads, and Pastures price he multiples;  
So, while some lies, He rise doth in the 
b Trenches, by which his works are affected.  Ditch.   

His royal TRENCH (that all the rest commands)  
And holds the sperm of Herbage by a Spring)  
Infuseth in the womb of sterile Lands,  
The Liquid seed that makes them Plenty bring.   

Here, two of the inferior Elements  
(joining in Coitu) Water on the Leaze  
(Like sperm most active in such compliments)  
Begets the full-pancht Foison of Increase:   

For, through Earth's rifts into her hollow womb,  
(Where Nature doth her Twyning-Issue frame)  
The water soaks, whereof doth kindly come  
Full- 
c By equivocation it may be taken for Infants as well as Barnes: Barn being the name of Infant in some places of England.  Barns, to joy the Lords that hold the same;   

For, as all women's wombs do barren seem,  
That never had society of Men;  
So fertile Grounds we often barren deem,  
Whose Bowels, Water fills not now and then.   

Then, Earth and Water, warmed with the Sun,  
Engenders what doth make Mankind engender:  
For Venus quickly will to ruin run,  
If 
a Sine Cerere & Baccho, friget Venus.  Ceres and her Bacchus not defend her.   

Then look how much the Race of Man is worth,  
So much is worth this Art, maintaining it;  
Then o how dear is he that brought it forth,  
With pain and cost for Mankinds benefit!   

Though present Times (that oft ungrateful prove)  
May undervalue both his Work and Him;  
Yet Aftertimes will prise them Price above,  
And hold them Dirt that do their glory dim.   

For He by Wisdom, overrules the Fates,  
By Wit defeating passions of the Air;  
When they against his welfare nurse debates,  
While fools (overruled by each) die through despair.   

In dropping Summers, that do mar the Meads,  
His Trenches drain the Rains superfluous Alms;  
And when heat wounds the Earth (
b The Sun exhaling all radical moisture from thence by the wounds or chaps which are made by summer's heat.  to death that bleeds)  
He cures the chaps with richest Water-balmes.   

So, when Heaven (ceaseless) weeps to see Earth's sin  
He can restrain those Tears from hurting him;  
Until his Tears the Heavens to 
a The tears of sinners, are the wine of Angels.  joy do win,  
While other Grounds are torn, the life from limb.   

And when the Earth grows Iron, for Hearts so grown,  
He can dissolve it strait (as Wax it were;)  
Mantling the Meadows in their Summer-Gowne;  
So joys in hope, while others grieve in fear.   

" Thus wisemen 
b Ars dominabitur astris.  rule the Stars, as Stars do fools;  
" And each man's manners do his Fortune's square;  
" Art learns to thrive in Nature's practic Schools;  
" And Fortune favours men of actions rare.   

Such one is this rare Subject of my Rhymes,  
Who reigns by merry motion, o'er my Spleen;  
Such is this 
c Or clear Mirror.  Waterglasse, wherein these Times  
Do see how to adorn their Meads in Greene..   

He from a Molehill (from whose hollow womb▪  
Issued a 
d From the observation whereof, proceeded the rest of his works, as in this his book more at large is expressed.  Water-fount) a Mount did rear;  
A Mount of large Revenues thence did come;  
So, a Molehill great with young a Mountain bare!   

How many Rivers, Founts, and Water-prills,  
(Tendering their service to their Lords for Rent)  
Are near employed but in poor Water-mills,  
While the dry Grounds unto the Bones are brent.   

To Tantalus I can resemble those  
That touch the water that they ne'er do taste;  
And pine away, Fruit being at their Nose,  
So, in Abundance, they to nought do waste.   

The Brooks run murmuring by their parched Brinks  
(Pure virgin Nymphs) and chide against the Stancks,  
When as their sweetest proffered service stinks,  
So coily kiss the chapt-lippes of the Banks.   

And (weak as water) in their Beds do stretch  
(As 'twere to yield their Ghost for such disgrace)  
Their Crystal limbs unto the utmost Reach;  
And 
a In dry Summers the Rivers grow lowest.  shrink from th'arms that (useless) them embrace.   

When as the Meads, wherein their Beds do lie,  
Make towards them, and fall by lumps therein;  
Who (of the yellow jaundice like to die)  
Creep to their 
b When the Banks are ch●pt, they (cleeving) fall by mammocks into the River.  Beds, their love and health to win.   

O Landlords see, O see great Lords of Land  
These senseless creatures moved to either's aid  
But for your help, who may their helps command:  
Then well command, you shall be well obeyed.   

Help Nature in her Works, that works for you;  
And be not idle when you may do good:  
" Pains are but 
c Gains take away the thought of pains.  Sports when earnest gains ensue:  
" For, Sport, in earnest, lies in Livelihood.   

The Golden-age is now returned again,  
Sith Gold's the God that all commands therein;  
By Gold (next God) Kings conquer, rule and reign;  
With Gold we may commute, or grace our sin.   

Briefly, by Him we may do what we will,  
Although we would do more than well we may:  
For He makes ill too good, and good too ill;  
And more than God, the ill do him obey.   

Then if ye would be either Great or Good,  
Or Good and Great (all which he 
Wealth helps Virtue in her operations; whose hands were else bound from overt action.  can you make)  
Take pleasure (o) to save your livings Blood  
And stream it through their Limbs, for Profus' sake.   

This Esculapius of diseased Grounds,  
(Casting their Water in his Urinals)  
(His Trenches) sees what Humour ore-abounds,  
And cures them strait by Drought or Water-falls.   

This little-great-great-little Flash of Witt.  
This Soul of Action, all composed of Flame,  
(Mounting by Action to high Benefit)  
Exalts his State, his Countries, and his Fame.   

He well deserves to be a Lord of Land,  
That o'er 
b All gauly & too dry grounds rebel against nature, and men's profit  rebellious Lands, thus Lords it well:  
O that all Lords that can much Land command  
Would so command it, when it doth rebel.   

But Pleasure, Pomp, and inter-larded Ease  
Possess great Landlords; who, for rebel Grounds,  
Do Rack their Rents, and idly live on these  
Or spoil their Tenants Cropp with careless Hounds.   

But this rare Spirit, (that hath nor Flesh, nor Bone,  
But Man even in the Abstract) hunts for Wealth  
With Wit, that runs where Profit should be sown  
By wholesome Pains; so, reaps both Wealth, & Health   

Whether the Cost, or Time, which he hath spent  
Be most, it's hard to say: for, twenty years  
His Pounds, by thousands, he his Grounds hath lent,  
Which pays now use, on use, as it appears.   

The Place wherein is fallen His happy lot  
hight Golden-Valley; and so justly held:  
His Royal TRENCH, is as his melting Pot,  
Whence issues Liquid-gold the Vale to gild!   

O that I had a World of glorious words,  
In golden Verse (with gold) to paint his praise,  
I would blind envies Eyes, and make Landlords  
By this suns rising; see their Sons to raise.   

But o! this is not all thou dost behight  
Deer Vaughan, thy Dear Country for her good;  
For, thou resolvest to raise that 
a The Country's good.  benefit  
Out of thy private care; and Liu'lyhood.   

Thy many trades (too many to rehearse  
That shall on thy Foundation steadfast stand)  
Shall with their Prayers, still the Heavens pierce;  
And bless their Founders rare Head, Heart, and Hand!   

That public Table which thou will erect  
(Where forty every Meal shall freely feed)  
Will be the Cause of this so good Effect  
To plant both Trades and Traffic there with speed.   

There shall thy jovialist Mechanicalls  
Attend this Table, all in Scarlet Caps;  
(As if they were King Arthures Seneschals)  
And, for their pains shall fill their Chaps and Laps.   

For, never since King Arthur's glorious days  
(Whose radiant Knights did Ring his Table round)  
Did ever any such a Table raise  
As this, where Viands shall to all abound!   

Nay this, shall that frank Table far exceed  
If we respect the good still done by each:  
For, that fed none but such as had no need;  
But this (like God) shall feed both poor and rich!   

This Table then (that still shall bear thy Name  
In Hyrogliphicks of the daintiest Cates)  
As oft as it is spread shall spread thy Fame  
Beyond the greatest conquering Potentates!   

They spill with spite, what thou in pity spendest;  
They only great, thou good, how ever small;  
Subversion they, Erection thou intend'st;  
They foes to most, but Thou a friend to all.   

Thy virtuous care to have thy God adored  
(Among thy Pains and Pleasures) all will bless  
Thy Pension for a 
a Preacher & Curate for daily service.  Preacher of his Word,  
Shows thou seekest Heaven, and earthly happiness.   

A Chapel and a Curate for the same  
(The one maintained, the other built by Thee  
For God's Diurnal praise) shall make thy Name  
In Rubric of the Saints enrolled to be.   

Thine alms-house for thy 
b Any way mischanced in their Bodies, So that they cannot work.  hapless Mechanics  
Shall blaze thy charity to afterages;  
And longer last in Breasts of men, than Bricks;  
Increasing still thy heavenly Master's Wages.   

If holy David had great thanks from Heaven  
But for the Thought to make the 
c 2. Sam. 7.2.16.  Ark an House;  
Then thanks of all, to Thee, should still be given  
Whose purpose is to all commodious.   

O happy Captain! that hast passed the Pikes  
Of sharpest Storms, still wounding Soldiers states,  
To end thy Days in that which all men likes,  
joy, Mirth, and Fellowship which ends debates.   

Thy Drums and Trumpets (Mars his melody)  
That wont were to call thy foes to fight,  
Shall now but call a friendly Company  
(For honest ends) to feasting and delight.   

Glory of Wales, and lustre of thy name,  
That giv'st to both sans Paralleled renown,  
Upon the Poles inscribed be thy Fame,  
That it to World's unknown may still be known▪   

That they may say a Nook but of an Isle  
That Northward lies, doth yield a rarer Man,  
Then larger Lands by many a Thousand Mile,  
Who can do 
a What is before expressed.  Thus, and will do what He can.   

But many monarchs, many Worlds have won,  
Yet, with their Win have not won that praise  
As this great-litttle Lord of hearts hath done,  
For good-deedes done to These, and after-days.   

Now Envy swell, and break thy bitterest Gall  
With ceaseless fretting at these sweet Effects,  
Th'eternal good which he intends to all  
His Fame (well fenced) above a Foil erects.   

Lived He among the Pagans, they would make  
His glorious 
b Like Mars, jupiter and Saturn.  Mansion some auspicious Star;  
And make their Altars fume still for his sake  
As to a God, to whom still bound they are:   

For, Bacchus but for planting, first, those 
a Vines.  Plants  
Whereby men's Wealth, and wit are oft o'erthrown  
Which wanton Nature rather craves, then wants,  
They, as a God, with Gods do still enthrone.   

But let us Christians, though not yield Him this,  
Yet give him Love and Honour due t' a Man,  
That makes men live (like Gods) in Wealth, and Bliss,  
And heave his Fame to Heaven if we can.   

Vain Hanno taught his less vain Birds to say  
He was a God: and then he turned them lose  
That they abroad might chant it still; but they  
(So gone) with silence proved their God, a Goose.   

Then, though no God he were, yet might He be  
A right 
b Geese (by reason of their vigilancy) kept the Pagan Gods in the Roman Capitol.  God-keeper in the Capitol:  
They Geese (at most) and so (at least) was He;  
Or, if aught less, his Godhead was a Gull.   

But what I say, none taught me but thy Worth;  
Nor shall it (like those Birds) thy Fame betray:  
But these my Lines shall then best set thee forth  
When thou art worse than Worms, and less than Clay.   

As well thy Crest, as Coat (o wondrous thing!)  
A Serpent is, about an Infant's Neck:  
Who was thine Ancestor, as Bards do sing,  
So borne (alive) the Fates to countercheck.   

From him thou cam'st; as one, in him preserved;  
(By way of Miracle) for this good end,  
As, by thy skill, to have so well deserved  
Of all the Kingdom, which it much will mend.   

This praise (perhaps) which thy deserts exact,  
By Envy will be thought poetic skill,  
Playing the Vice, but in a glozing Act,  
And so wrong Wit to soothe an erring will.   

But yet if Art should leave true Art vnpraised,  
(The only Meed the Time all Art affords)  
What Spirit by Art, would then at all be razed  
(From this World's hell) if Art should want good words?   

Then, be the mouth of Envy wide as Hell  
Still open in thy spite, yet say I still  
Thy praise exceeds, because thou dost excel  
In these thy works, that work Good out of 
Good Grass out of ill ground.  iii.   

If I be lavish of good-words; thou art  
As lavish of the good which thou canst do:  
Then, must thy praise be greate-good, like thine Art,  
That goods thy praisers, and dispraisers too.   

In short (sith on thy praise I long have stood  
Whereon my verses Feet do freely fall)  
As thou dost work by Floods, so thouart a Flood  
Of working, running to the Good of all.   

For as the Sun doth shine on good and bad;  
So dost thou (Sun of Useful Science) still:  
Then, Flood, and Sun, thou art the ground to glad,  
And make it fruitful to the good and ill.   

But sith th'obscurest Spark of thy bright 
a Descended from his Ancestors.  Tribe  
Speaks thus of Thee, (thou small-great man of worth)  
It may be thought I praise to thee ascribe  
As part mine own; so falsely, set thee forth:  
But those, so thinking, when thy Worth they prove,  
With me, will thee both honour, praise and love.   
Your poor kinsman, and honourer of true virtue in whom soever. JOHN DAVIES of Hereford.   

In praise of this no less pleasant than most profitable work.  

Lo here a work; a work? nay, more than so,  
A work of works: for all it doth contain,  
Makes wealth by Water, over Land to flow,  
Whereto works run, that reach to honest gain.   

Then, hast thou Land? and Water therewithal?  
A little Land and Water so may stand,  
That Land shall rise by that small Waters fall  
To high esteem, and raise thee with that Land.   

This is no Dream; or if a Dream it be,  
It is a Golden one; and shows by It  
That golden Worlds of wealth shall compass thee  
If, in this dream, thou art this work of Witte.  
Then shalt thou (waking) see (for thine avail)  
Thy Grass all Gold as in the Golden-Vale.   
john Strangwage.   

In Libri Auctorem.  

THe be is little, yet esteemed much,  
(With no less cause) for Works as sweet, as rare:  
Who, but with Dews, do make their owners rich;  
And, but for others, work with ceaseless care.   

Then here's a honey- be, that, but with Dews,  
(Exchequered in some Trench, as in a Hive)  
Sour grounds with Milk and Honey overflows.  
Whereon both He and Others sweetly live.   

Which, not so much for his own good, he gets;  
(though (like a be) at need, he feeds thereon)  
But to fill others too, with honeyed Sweets;  
So, with a be, holds just comparison.  
In this they differ; Bees for this do die,  
But He, for this shall live immortally.   
Robert Corbet.   

In praise of this most profitable work.  

NO Plant can prosper if it water wants,  
Nor Herbage flourish in a thirsty soil;  
But give that Drink; with water ply your Plants,  
And both will yield you profit for your toil.   

Some Grounds yield Cellars, wherein Nature puts  
Her choicest liquors to refresh the Mould;  
There, Founts, and Channels, for their Streams, she cuts,  
To cheer the Grounds where they their course do hold.   

But Nature's providence but little boots,  
Where water runs at waste along the Land;  
None giving drink unto the thirsty Roots,  
Out of those Cellars, being hard at hand.  
Then to the Common and the Private weal,  
How dear is he that doth this art reveal?   
Henry Fletcher.   

To the worthy Author and his work.  

VAUGHAN, thou hast a Soul surmounting Souls,  
In high Conceit, and Action; whose bright fire  
Mounts to the Sphere, that Gain to Glory rowles,  
Which Men still seek, and Gods themselves desire.   

Who, for thy country's profit, dost not spare  
Thy Pains, thy Means, thy Body, and thy Mind;  
Whose will is bend to make all well to far  
By honest labour, in a diverse kind.   

A Project here thou hast (in pleasant phrase)  
Objected to the world's Desiring-eye,  
That while some practice, some it doth amaze,  
To see men marred, soon made again thereby.  
Then sith (like God) thou canst make Men of Clods,  
We needs must rank thee with the Semy-gods.   
Richard Harry's.   

In praise of these most praise worthy waterworks.  

BY Fireworks many have exploited things  
Past all belief, and made the World admire;  
Which Element, being on her flaming Wings,  
So Active is, that all it strikes is Fire.   

That comes to nought, that so is overcome:  
But, these rich waterworks work leisurely  
Most quick increase, in Earth's most barren Womb,  
Which bears what One doth ten times sextuply.   

Then who believes by Fire to find that Stone  
Projecting Gold, much err in that their Creed;  
Sith it is Earth, that's kindly overflown,  
That is the Stone (indeed) that does the Deed:  
Then wouldst thou make pure Gold? o'erflow thy land;  
So, shall thy Soil be turned to golden Sand.   
Silvanus' Davies.   

In praise of this as pleasant as profitable work.  

Wouldst have great pleasure? then take pains to read  
This little Tract: which little pains will do:  
Look'st thou for profit? then, thou here mayst speed;  
Where pleasure great brings forth great profit too.   

Upon a Subject rude, as is the Earth,  
Never was Pleasure so predominant:  
Nor ne'er so blithe was profit at her birth  
As here, sith here, she is so puissant.   

All famous Writers still directly shot  
The Shafts of their Endeavours at these two;  
For hitting these, they gain and glory got;  
The gain of Love, and Learning's glory too.   

Then love and laud him, who hath close compact  
Pleasure and profit for thee in this Tract.   
Tho: Rant.   

In the praise of the Author and his effectual works.  
Dear Rowland, let thine Oliver have leave,  
Among thy Lauders, his short Breath to spend,  
To help them so, to Heaven thy fame to heave;  
Whose Works are Means t'an Earthly-heau'nly End:  
Then, Rowland, take me with Thee Here, and There;  
That Rowland still may have his Oliver.  
Oliver Maynson.   

In praise of the Work and Author.  
MY little ROWLAND you may look that I  
(All things considered) MUCH should say of you:  
Then, this your WORK (to say that MUCH in few)  
Shall work the Workers endless Praise: and why?  
" A worldly Wit, with Heavenly Helps endowed,  
" Gets Ground, and Glory of the Multitude.  
john Hoskins.   

Once more for a Farewell. In deserved praise of this never-too-much praised work..  

GOod Wine doth need no Bush: (Lord! who can tell  
How oft this old-said-Saw hath praised new Books?)  
But yet good Water (drawn from Founts and Brooks)  
By Sluice (the Sign) makes dry Grounds drink it well.   

Men may have store of Water, and dry Land;  
Yet, if they draw it not through Trenches fit,  
(By Sluice, that shows how (well) to utter it)  
It idly runs, while scarce the Owners stand.   

Good Water, then by Sluice, through Trench must pass  
For good return; that else runs to no end;  
Which Sign doth draw it in, itself to spend  
On dryest Grounds, that (drunken) cast up Grass;  
Which giddy Simile, in sober Sense,  
Shows the Effect of this Works excellence.   
john Davies.   

THE AUTHOR.  
I Would not fear with Cynic Dogs to fight  
Came they in Front: But, this will ill be borne;  
Perhaps some Curs behind my Back will bite:  
But that's their shame, my glory it to scorn.  
ROWLAND VAUGHAN.   

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WILIAM EARL OF PEMBROKE LORD HERBERT OF CARDIFF, MARmion and S. Quintin; Lord Parr of Rosse, and Kendal; Lord Warden of the Stanneries: Captain of his majesties Garrison-towne of Portesmouth; and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter; My most honoured and respected Lord.  
MOST HONOURABLE, and my Noblest Lord: I have out of my lives experience, prepared a Watery workemanshipp, which I think the Gods forbade the excellent creatures in former times to handle; but I have performed That, that hath begot a world of work in Me (which some men say will either impair my wit, or hazard my estate (they said so in the execution of my waterworks) but they over-said themselves, and the most part have given me satisfaction by main submission or reconciliation) I doubt not but the rest, in my mechanical undertakings, will do the like, because some have subscribed, and many offer conditional pertaking.  
What blessing soever Invention doth raise, your Lordship knows is subject to a hodge-podge of speech; and until it be performed, Envy, Malice, and all spiteful detraction follows; so is it with me. But (my good Lord) seeing that 
a Custom is a great Lord of command.  Lordly custom wills that great Lords should patronize invention; I do most humbly beseech your Lordship (on my behalf) so to do; you being (next unto my dear Sovereign and His) heir apparent to my heart; having entailed my dutiful services to the heirs male of your body; and for want of such issue, to the heirs male of my Lord of Mongomery, for ever, without revocation: these affections, proceed not (my honourable Lord) from any sinister respect; these following considerations be the cause: The remembrance of that worthy Prince your Father, and more worthy (if might be) your Grandfather, and great Grandsires, from the battles of 
b In these several battles, the Vaughan's mine Ancestors followed yours.  Cressy, Poitiers, Egincourt, and Banbury, with many others before, and since. Where the many services of mine to yours hath been such as Tradition will tell your Lordship, and I tell you with all, that abundant favours we found, makes me think myself bound to your Lordship in recognizance of duty, and you tied (by honourable and parrall covenants from them, to protect me and all my endeavours, labouring for the good of the commonwealth, and your glory. Now, if I make it not appear a most flourishing commonwealth; and such as never poor Subject in the Kingdom did raise, put me by with your hand, as unworthy of any favourable respect.  
Your Lordship shall find no Monopole required; but, this I require at your hands: In matters of commonwealth, Expedition is always of the Quorum; It is one of the chiefest friends (my Lord) the Suitor (except he be a wrangler) hath in all the King's courts: therefore I can require no less then that your Lordship command I may have convenient access, without restraint to perform my commonwealths desires, with these limitations and due observance, that I disturb not your Lordship's quiet, nor conferences, with honourable persons, & others of account: watching, & taking the advantage-of Time, and Place; a word at one time, and two at another. Think not (most Noble Lord) that I am either insolently saucy, or too bold. Your Lordshimpp shall hereafter understand the quality and condition of my undertakings will admit little delay; I speak partly out of the complaint of an old servant of your Grandfather Pembroke's, my Uncle Thomas Vaughan: who was to take his trial for his life at Kings-bench-Barre at ten of the clock in the morning, having forgotten my Lord's remembrance to some good friend, prayed pass of the Groom of his chamber being French: who with hard words stopped his passage; but he putting one of his Arms betwixt the Frenchman's twist, the other about his neck, threw him at my lords feet, and told his Lordship the cause was, he came for his life: My Lord hearing that, allowed this his coming with a vengeance, in respect of his necessity to prevent a mischief, and with patience privileged the offence, beating the Groom for his ill respect: So good my Lord, make me free of your presence; and command your principal Attendants (as Secretaries, but especially the Gentlemen of your Chamber, and Grooms) to take special notice, My coming is to do you all honour. If I should attend Hours, Times and Seasons, I should be in that case as if I wear to deal with your Lordship by Petition, & to purchase your speech with a price, so the memory of three hundred years dependency should be trodden under foot as of no value.  
As Lawyers not fed every Term, breeds neglect of their Clients, with discontinuances and cessations; so, your Lordship may handle the matter, and post me over by discontinuance, that you will forget I have not done my duty this two years and more. But your greatest and dearest Servants can witness my appearance: Though happily not furnished with such glittering Garments as might light my way to you: for, Scarlet of Bilth (Welch frizes other name) hath now little grace amongst great ones: But the Hood makes not the Friar, not a brave Coat a brave man.  
Now be it known to your Lordship, and to all men (with the help of my Lord God, the Kings most excellent Majesty, and you my dear Lord:) I purpose to raise a golden world (for commonwealth) in the Golden-Vale in Herefordshire (being the pride of all that County) bordering on Wales, joining to Ewias Lacie (from whence your Lordship is descended) being the richest: yet (for want of employment) the plentifullest place 
a The richest Country breeds the idlest (therefore the poorest) people.  of poor in the Kingdom, yielding two or three-hundred-folde▪ the number so increasing (Idleness having gotten the upper hand;) if Trades be not raised; beggary will carry such reputation in my quarter of the country, as if it had the whole to halves. Therefore (my honourable Lord) put not only your hands, but all your will and all your strength hereto, praying my Lord of Moungomery to assist your Lordship (if there be cause.) Let it be Vaughan's supplication of Beggars unto his Royal Majesty, that they may have means to work, and so to live.  
There be within a mile and a half from my house every way, five hundred poor habitations; whose greatest means consist in spinning Flax, Hemp, and Hurdes. They dispose the seasons of the year in this manner: I will begin with May, 
How the poor of the country dispose of the seasons of the year.  june, and july, (three of the merriest months for beggars) which yield the best increase for their purpose, to raise multitudes: Whey, Curds, Buttermilk, and such belly-provision, abounding in the neighbourhood, serves their turn. As Wountes or Moles, hunt after worms, the ground being delue-able: so, these Idelers live intolerably by other means, and neglect their painful labours by oppressing the neighbourhood. August, September and October, with that permision which the Lord hath allowed the poorer sort to gather the Ears of corn, they do much harm. I have seen three hundred Leazers or Gleaners in one Gentleman's cornfield at once; his servants gathering & stouking the boundsheaves, the sheaves lying on the ground like dead carcases in an overthrown battle, they following the spoil not like soldiers (which scorn to rifle) but like thieves desirous to steal; so this army holds pillaging Wheat, Rye, Barley, Pease, and Oats: Oates, a grain which never grew in Canaan, nor Egypt, and altogether out of the allowance of Leazing.  
Under colour of the last grain, Oats, it being the latest harvest, they do (without mercy in hot blood steal, 
The Beggars good husbandry of my country.  rob Orchards, Gardens, Hop-yards and Crabtrees: so what with leazing and stealing, they do poorly maintain themselves November, December, and almost all january, with some healps from the neighbourhood.  
Thus your Lordship sees (before God and the world) the principal means of their maintenance. The last three months, February, March, and April, little labour serves their turn: they hope by the heat of the Sun, (seasoning themselves like Snakes under headges) to recover the month of May with much poverty, long-fasting, and little-praying: and so make an end of their years travel in the Easter holidays.  
There is not one amongst ten that hath five shillings to buy a Bale of Flax, but forced to borrow money to put up their trade, and run to Hereford (losing a days work) to fetch the same: This done, they be driven to buy half a bushel of corn three or four miles off, and in their return attend the grinding of it; which if a better Customer come, they are sure to be served last. Withal, they spend one day with the Weaver, and after it is wove, before they can sell, they make many journeys to markets, and honest men's houses: And thus many days are misspent in most miserable manner.  

The means to amend the Country's misery.  Now (my Honourable Lord) to help all these miseries; I have, out of a years consideration, put a foot a Remedy which cannot well be done, unless your Lordship do promise to countenance my discovery; if you do, I'll make your glory shine as far above all other Subjects, as my Plot is hateful to many envious persons.  

The first work is the Mill.  My Mill is my first Work, governed by a little Bastard- Brook, fed with eight living Springs, built with no desire to entertain Customers, but only to grind mine own corn.  
In my first Foundation, the Country said I should never be able to perform the same. They said withal, I could not command the water; and that I should want custom to countervail the charge. I have built my Mill, and acquainted the water with his course. Unto this Mill, I build all Offices and necessary rooms serving my Mechanical.  
The dining room to entertain Knights and Gentlemen: 
The use of the dyning-roome.  Buttery, Pantry, Kitchen, Larders, Pastry, Surueying-roome, Backhouse, Brewhouse, Sellors, Killning for Malt, Slaughter-house, Sellors belonging to the Slaughter-house, Vting-roomes, 
Officers.  Garnars, Malting-roomes. Officers; the Clerk, Miller, Loder, Mault-maker: Butcher, Chandler, Cooks, Bakers, Brewers, 
Trades.  Tanner, Shoemaker, Cobbler, Glover, Currier, scythe and Sickle-maker, Nayler, Smith, joiner, Cooper, Carpenter, Gardiner, Mercer, Cutler, Barber, Stocking-knitters, Hosier, Lanthorne-maker, Fletcher, Bowyer, (hold breath) The Tailor, Sempster, Launderers, Wheeleer, Cardmaker for Spinners, Hatter, Point-maker, Shepherds, Hinds, Dairy-people, Swinheards; two Vittelers, and a noise of Musicians with the Greene-Dragon and Talbot.  
If I mistake in marshalling my Mechanical, your Lordship must understand I am no Herold: they be a disordered Company; the offence not great to place one knave before another. All which be appointed Attendants to maintain and furnish 
a Twenty broad looms employed for fine cloth.  twenty broad Looms for the finest cloth; ten narrow Looms for courser Wool, Flax, Hemp, and Hurds. Ten Fustian Looms, with such Silk-loomes as necessity shall require: A Walker, Dier, Cottoner, Shermen, Spinners, Carders, Sorters of wool, pickers, and Quill-winders; which number will rise to some 
b Two thousand employed in the underbusinesse of the Commonwealth.  two thousand and upward. For all which (except Spinners and Carders) I find convenient house-room. They shall never lose an hours time to provide for such means as the back or belly requires: bread, beef, mutton, butter and cheese of mine own provision, shall attend their appointed hours, without their trouble or loss of labour to any Market or other place, at the best rates of the Kingdom, unless it be in the Mountains, where Owen Glindour was shut up: A place unfit for Trades. There, a craftsman may have twenty Eggs a penny, a good round Bullock for two Marks, and other necessaries rate-ably.  
But I speak of the Golden-Vale, the Lombardy of Herefordshire, the Garden of the Old Gallants and Paradise of the backside of the principality. 
c The Golden Valley is the Paradise of all the parts beyond Severn.  I protest, had I four little livings joining to some I have, I would not change my poor estate to be great Duke of Muscovia, where the flesh falls from the face in a frosty morning, like Lime from a Ceiling soaked with Raine. But to prosecute mine argument, and that your Lordship shall not think I forget myself, I must let you know they shall neither Roast, Bake, nor Boil: mine own Range, Ovens, and furnace, shall ever do them that service without their trouble or charge, with little loss unto me. All Trades under my obeisance, shall be at their election, whether they will buy their flesh Raw, Roasted, Boiled, or cold. No Tradesman shall rate his own commodity, but the Clerk, Recorder of the company, (being of the quorum) shall say to the Tanner: you bought so many hundred Hides of my Master, you may afford a Dicker of Leather at such a price: and Shoemaker, you, your shoes at such a price. You Glover, bought so many thousand Pelts; you may afford your Gloves at such a rate. And so every Artificer shall be limited to Merchandise each to other, 
The commerce of the Company.  at rates reasonable agreeing with their good gain. But for all out and Incommers that will traffic with my Mechanical, I leave them subject to their fortune. I will have but one of each trade: 
But one of each Trade.  as a Tailor, with as many servants as his Tailorship thinks good: and the rest, as each trade requires. I hope (my Lord) I have told you comfortable news: yet I will increase your comfort, with comfort upon comfort: and so comfortable, that all our company will turn their Songs, and Carols, into singing of Psalms and Hymns to the honour and praise of the living Lord, the Kings most excellent Majesty, and your Lordship. But before we shall be able to sing in tune, you must be Master of the Music, and Organist withal.  
Now I have made known unto your Lordship my moral and Mechanical mysteries, you see what preparation I have made for the body: If care be not had for the salvation of the soul, all my buildings and foundations be shuttle and sandy. I am by the virtuous and honest Gentlemen, and others in my neighbourhood, importuned to raise a famous Preacher amongst them. 
A famous preacher shall be maintained.  Their importunity shall not need, I will desire only their assistance with but a little more help than my own; your Lordship's favour ever assisting us. The case stands thus. There came unto me, a dozen years since, a young Minister, having a good wit, a good memory, and a pretty dribble of learning: who made himself fit to teach children. He was entertained like a Levite; and had the liberty of a Levite; but within short time he became a counterfeit Puritan. Under colour whereof he engrossed half the good opinions of the Parish, to retail them to his profit and advantage, and though himself were presisely given, yet he did little harm: I know not that he hath reconciled any to that quick-siluer-brained pure faction (as good hap is.) I had ever a good hope, that he would-subscribe, and obey the Cannons and Institutions of our Church, as he did.  
A Benefice being void near unto me (in her late majesties gift) an honourable kinsman of mine, gave me the presentation for this counterfeit. He had Institution and Induction according to the common course: but (my honourable Lord) as every liquor serves not to colour all colours: so, every soil fits not every person. He had no sooner received the benefit of this Benefice, but the principal of his parishioners told me I had planted a Machivel amongst them; a cunning Politician, and an horrible usurer, 
Three special virtues to withstand the Flesh, the world and the Devil.  making complaint to the Bishop thereof. But (my good Lord) because he had been my servant, I prayed the Bishop with patience to hear his defence, and for that time prevented the likelihood of his disgrace. whereupon I wrought with him to depart with that thing, and had agreed for his remove, with a purpose (as the Bishop doth know) to plant a famous Preacher there, and told him all my intendiments: and to that end I most humbly prayed the Bishop that it would please his Lordship, to give liberty to one of his chaplains, a learned and virtuous man, (Master Best) to be the man. That one living of his, not able to maintain a preaching Minister, there was one other joining thereunto, which we purpose to unite: Having gotten the consent of the Lord Bishop, with promise of his best endeavour. But (my honourable Lord) here comes in the hinderer of the salvation of souls, this counterfeit Puritan, this Machiavellian, this politician, & Usurer, by the gift of a friendly Patron, hath as yet gone beyond the uniting of these Churches; and disappointed us of our Preaching- Minister, (as I learned) by plain simony; and some treachery (withal) to his old Master. 
Policy, in worldly businesses, prevails more than Piety.  There were not two Sermons in the Golden-Vale this 500 years, unless some Circumselion came by chance, until my Lord his Grace, that now is, of Canterbury his coming to that See. Now, whether we deserve to have a Preaching Minister or no, we appeal to the World. There was an old Monk upon the dissolution of the Abbey of Doier, that was cast from thence, came unto the place where this Minister serves: He did expound without licence, divide and sever the corpse of the word, from the Spirit; so spoiling the Scripture with idle inventions, that at his end he left neither Protestant, Puritan nor Papist; but a few of the simpler sort, more inclined to Mass then to sound Religion. And of late, the late Canons do straightly appoint four Sermons, yearly. In this manner (My Lord) this Machiavellian, Politician, and Usurer having gotten two Benefices, thinks it sufficient with his eight-quarter Sermons in his two Churches, to clear the infection which the old Monk bred: He not cunning enough to dress and cure the crazed of his flock, hath only judgement with his Hook to catch and hold a sheep; which by overhard handling he doth so bruise, that now they can by no means endure that all-catching-fast-holding Instrument.  
And of late hath lent a young Preacher (being his prime practice) ten pound in money to make eight 
a A most unholy-holy kind of Usury.  quarter-sermons yearly: which Preacher venter's his life sixteene-times over the great River of Wye, and as many more up and down a huge hill lying in his way; the danger of the least of which is able so to distract a good scholars memory, as to forget a Sermon well penned, and no worse cond. I have wondered many times of the young Preacher, who did but learn to preach the other day, how he was furnished with one in the forenoon, and another in the after: Herein shall I use your Lordships means, that we may have this Usurer removed. It must be done; and I think this to be the best means: Your Lordship may commend him to some strange Ambassador out of Asia or Africa; not in Europe, he will learn the Language instantly: He is fit for any strange Religion. He will serve for an Intelligencer to execute any cunning Stratagem belonging to matters of State. When your Lordship hath understood the trueness of all my invention (which happily you will run over withal expedition, like an old Priest 
a Swift reading an enemy to like understanding.  reading an Homily to task, (which I wish not.) Then will you undo all the hopes I have, in with-standing the pride of many ill speakers.  
If you do not particularly examine, that you may be able to defend, and report that we build no Monasteries, nor succour Seminaries, nor much respect un-preaching Ministers.  
We build our Church which is down: A Chapel for Prayer for all my Mechanical: 
a Chapel built, and a Curate maintained.  A famous Preacher to rectify their hearts and show them the way to Heaven: These, with an alms-house (my Lord) to provide for the over-aged persons, lame, blind and all such as necessity doth cause to forbear their own gettings. Your Lordship doth see I am no Papist, nor Puritan, but a true Protestant according to the King's Injunctions. And where the Puritans babble against one Minister to have two livings, let the Superintendant of them, with some other of their purified number, come to the Hundred I dwell in, 
Twenty four Parishes in Webtre Hundred, and not one able to maintain a Preaching Minister.  (which is Weabtre) I will show them four and twenty parishes; not any one of all able to maintain a Preaching Minister. If these be they whom they call Puritans that speak against a Preacher to have two or three livings together in my Hundred; I wish I were a poor Burges of the honourable house of Parliament, then would I endeavour to diet them so for livings, that I would make them fast Extempore, as well as pray, and preach as the Spirit prompts.  
The most men now do say, if I had money enough, I might perform my undertakings▪ So (my Lord) if a man had money ynongh (with the LORDS permission) He might build a Tower of Babel. I cannot see how money can be wanting, I have so many honourable friends; Lords Spiritual and Temporal, Bishop Babington, Bishop Benet, and Bishop Parrie, grave and venerable Prelates of the Kingdom. Lords Temporal: Your Lordship, my Lord of Montgomery, with many other great Lords (my Kinsmen) I mean not to trouble: Only my dear Lord the Lord chief justice, and one judge more, who is a Lord in Westminster Hall, I hope to see him a Lord to the last: And do tell your Lordship (betwixt you and me be it spoken) He is one of the best Lawyers in the Land; else very good ones are deceived; and though he be so, let him use what dilatory Plea he list to put me off, I mean to put his Purse to the push of the pike: He said he would do nothing therein: but, he swore not; or if he had, I know he makes a difference betwixt Me, and a Rash oath. But to our purpose; Your Lordship is now become General of that Army; and I your Lieutenant; If any mutiny against our Commonwealth, or speak (out of a hot brained humour) that that they understand not: My Lord, silence them with your wisdom, or defy them with your power, which can never be better employed in worldly respects, then for the protection of a Common-good. Though all the world should say I should want money in my first beginnings, yet I thank God they cannot say I want honourable friends, such as the Lord Bishops, your Lordships with others; which may lend me money (if please you and them) I will not for a million anger any of you, to make a motion to borrow money: if lend come in out of your honourable dispositions, I would I might never put up my Trades, 
Beginning is half the whole.  if I refuse any for a year, two or three. It's a better course (ten to one) then to take money to usury; knowing what I know: and I know as much (perhaps) that way as any poor Gentleman in Wales (without vain glory be it spoken.) First (my Lord) he that will take money upon usury, must deal with the Scrivener in Dialogue manner; thus for example: Sir, have you any money? What is your name (saith the Scrivener) Sir Brute Bankcrout Knight, late of Hadland in the County of Cumberland. Who be be your sureties? Sir Alexander All-spent, and Sir Lancelot Little-left: I know them well; worshipful Gentlemen: But I tell you (Sir Brute) you must find Citizens: The Scrivener (withal) rounds the Knight in the ear, saying The World is dangerous and full of iniquity, but if your worship can procure such and such Townsmen, you shall command my pains from six to six months. Now it may be sir Brute, with Sir Alexander, and Sir Lancelot, may spend six times six days (unless they meet with a dear friend to furnish them after twenty in the hundred) before their turn be served. Once (my Lord) I thought to borrow a hundred pound at a Pinch, but the Gentleman that owed the money would not traffic with me because I dwelled beyond Severn. A foul indignity to your Lordships Have, having such royal livings in Monmouth and Glamorganshire. I beseech your Lordship order may be taken that we may be as free of the Usurers Courts of Requests as other Shires be; we are out of the principality, and the King's Subjects: then to be barred from those Benefits & Immunities which the Law doth allow, were lawless and unreasonable. Our Shire is a Shire-royall; and we pay as royally for our usury as if we dealt with 
a Usurers as jews by their trade.  jews, the cursedst Generation of all Adam's children. Another time I dealt for a hundred pound with an Usurer Hold-borne-ward; and having neglected my Hour, his wives Sheet-travell with him by night, gave (O course fortune) my days labour the Canvas: & driven to become suitor to her mightiness (great Princess of darkness) so what by means of some else of Lawn, a Sugarloaf, and a pair of silk Stocks (Wood ones being much more meet) I was beholden to neither of them, thanks be to my means: But missing my day, with this consideration-Taker he set Sentinel, two Sergeants, on the height of the Hill near Paul's; I shall never forget the fashion of their faces, two Orange-tawny-beards, in a bloody field (Gules my Lord:) they walked as if they would have over-walked me; but, having gotten my broadside, they said stand. I had the word ready, at whose suit? (thinking I had been in the wars, & they Sentinels to give pass) they brought me to a 
a Counter in the Poultry.  Garrison near the Exchange guarded with a number of Varletiers. God knew my heart when I saw all Halberds, and no Muskets, for than I thought the dispatch in mine execution would be the slower: howbeit I did with as much speed as I could, ransom myself: I speak not as if it tended to provoke any of your Lordships to pity me; but to lesson such young Gentlemen, as (at careless liberty) serves under your Lordshpps colours, that they accept of no office under the Usurers or Brokers check: your Lordship shall hear many of the Nobility (out of their honourable zeal to public profit) commend my Commonwealth: yet if any of them (like Puritans) burn with zeal to lend me money to so good a purpose, the heavens forefend that I should quench it; no, it is good to be zealous in a good matter.  
Thus having tired your Lordship's attention, I thought to have made an end; but my love to you exceeding the ordinary love of men, draws me on to trouble you further for your 
a Strange Paradox, yet true if a man's increase of estate tends to his ease.  ease.  
Once I heard your Father's name (being my Lord and Master) ill spoken off by a world of people, and two other great Earls, three Knights, and divers Gentlemen, ill spoken off by the inhabitants from Tintarne to Comtyder, on both sides Wye, threescore miles a head; I being a servant, the Cause stood so strong with the Country, I could by no means devise how to make a quarrel to defend my Lord's honour. I little thought I should have been in place to have heard so many ill-speakers, and so few defenders, against so many honourable persons and others of account, and durst do nothing.  
I prayed to hear their grievances: They said time out of mind, as appeared by their Records (Kept in the Castle of the Hay, burnt by one Owen Glindour) the River of Wie (their free & Mother-river) was (in the troublesome times, between the houses of York & Lancaster) so Weared & fortified, as if the Salmon therein (on pain of imprisonment) had been forbidden their usual walks; and on pain of death (as in case of high treason) not to trade with any of the Earl of Marches men.  
The humble request of four or five shires will be, that your Honours (with the rest) will take pity on a whole country, groaning under the burden of intolerable Wears; which (for private) are the very Dams and Let's of public profit. Your three houses, with one Lords more, having more interest in those shires (under his Majesty) than all other Landlords.  
The Country's relief rests almost in your Lordship's hands: the duty you owe my Lord of Shrewsbury, and his dear respects of you, commands that Wear. My Brother and myself being Commissioners in a Commission of Shewres, not daring to do our duties without my Lord your Father's privity, (he having one Wear on the River, being Lord Precedent of Wales, and our Lord and Master:) we acquainted him with the Commission, and upon my salvation (I protest) he commanded us that his Wear should be pulled down, if it appeared profitable to the country.  
That noble Earl of Worcester, with his Honourable and virtuous son the Lord Harbart, how their Wears will be dispensed withal in these days, all the shires will refer unto their honourable dispositions. 
Patience perforce.  For Sir Edward Winter; there is nothing (I take it) but true honour in him: My acquaintance with him is but small: yet if I be not much deceived, he respects more the common-good, than his own private; although (indeed) he was (to say the truth) upon the last Commission a Commissioner very bitter against the Wears overthrow. I saw the reasons thereof; and did allow of his unreasonable prosecution. He showed much wit therein, and did us more harm than all the rest: God forgive him, and make him as firm to the over-throwers of Wears, as he is fast to their upholders. Sir john Scudamore, hath always been the comfort of the country: Nurse to the Infancy of many young Gentlemen bred therein, and cherisher of the rest, that were not adverse. He hath ever said, 
A good offer of a good heart.  if there were any hope that the overthrow of the Wears would make the River (Wye) Navigable, Portable, or Sammonable, he would pull down his first, to give an instance to others.  
I beseech your Lordship bear witness, I say nothing of Sir Roger Bodenhams' Wear; nor of none of the Wears above Hereford Bridge. But this I say, it's a pitiful thing that any of your Lordships Wears with the rest, (built like Babel threatening the skies with their eminence) should hinder the Salmon-fishing, which gave that sustenance to five or six shires, as many thousands, were a thousand times better sustained and comforted then now they are, or can be.  
All that can be said, why the River cannot be made Port-able is; Some Fords when they are at the lowest will want water. A poor and needy speech! As if there were not means enough to channel such shallows, in Summer they being at the smallest, and peaceablest time to be wrought.  
Good my LORD, down with the Wears, let us have Wine with our Venison. the carriage of it from London by land, 
Bristol better served with Sacks then Gascoine wine.  makes a cup of Claret look like a weak lean wench that hath the green sickness. And such as we have from Bristol, is fitter to be drunk with a Welsh Goat, than an English Buck.  
We are bard of our Meat, bound from our Drink, and many other provisions, which almost all other shires have. During your Father's lifetime our hopes were a foot, we had the Vanguard in the war: But, since his death, put to the Rear, by occasion of your nonage, and such accidents as befell.  
But now seeing your sacred Sovereign puts his hands on your shoulders (without which the greatest Subject cannot put his hand on his heart, for want of one) forget not (my noblest Lord) to fall at his feet in favour of your Father's favourites. If a Commission of Shewres happen amongst us (by God's visitation) than I hope you will most earnestly beseech his Majesty, that his Supersidias knock not out the brains of the Commission of Salmon-fishing. The foresaid Supersidias hath always been our utter overthrow. My good Lord, compare all the Rivers in the Kingdom together; and you shall see and hear by all antiquity, the River of Wye, did exceed all other for Salmon. These Wears your three forementioned Lordships, with the rest do owe. They do you and them but the least service; they bring some few of your Salmon in season to your Table: and a hundred thousand be served unseasonably. In my memory, it hath bred an inbred murmur amongst us, which hath made the most so melancholy, as I think the brains of many be not settled in their true situation. They confess their error, and report their mistaking: 
It is manly to err, beastly to continue in error.  first, to be from a worthy old Gentlemen, Master Philip jones, who out of a blind zeal (like Papists that go on pilgrimage) yet wanting the true length of the three Lords legs, (but held a true course agreeing with all acts of Parliament) did put a foot the Commission of Shewres, not thinking the Earls of the Land to be the Gods of the Earth. His years worn out, and memory decayed, fourscore odd years drawing on the day of his death, never trained at the Counsel-table, durst not press into the presence, and (like a dotard) did never New-yeares-gift the Ladies of the Privy & Bedchamber: than what with illiberality of breeding, some misery and untidy handling, suffered to be shuffled into the Commission of Shewres, friends and foes: so, by often meetings and overlong delays, harazed and wore out all his hopes in doing any good. The first Commission having made a peaceable end by Supersidias; the death of which Commission bred more lamentation in three Shires, 
The private is more respected than the public weal, of men private.  than the death of three Earls (best commonwealths men) would do in all England. The last Commission might be played on the Stage: The principal persons were Commissioners; all which had Wears on the River: and all had reason enough to overrule Baby-Commissioners. As at a quarter Sessions, one great man will under-take the managing of matters belonging to all the Bench. If poor I, should but speak to countenance a cause (for a wench made woman before her time.) He looks on the one side, as if I were put in Commission only to certify Recognizances for Alehouses: or to give a respective voice if a faction happen to arise: so, these Baby-commissioners for the River of Wye, hold their Hats in their hands, the one leg lower than the other, ready to do all their duties at once: and the grand Commissioners (like Bishop Bonner) with Riding-rods, 
Alluding to that in master Fox his Acts and Monuments.  threaten displeasure, or utter destruction, to all that were not of their devotion towards the Wears. This hath been the common course and custom of the Commission of shewres, to outcountenance the cause by the greatest persons: but, the LORD of Heaven ever so wrought, that the Weare-owners were more beholden to the supersidias then to twelve men: twelve men having given their Verdict, a judgement against the Wears & after all this a supersidias! O! The consideration of it would have made old Ployden (had he been living) forswear the Law in his latter days. Master Blonden being of counsel with the Country, it so moved him (being overcome with puffing and blowing) that he wrought upward and downward, as if he had taken a vomit or a purgation. 
A Trinity of Ladies able to work miracles.  I remember in Queen Elizabeth's days my Lady of Warwick, Mistress Blanch Parry, and my Lady Scudamore, in little Laye-matters would steal opportunity to serve some friends turns; but where and in whom the supersidias rests at command, this mystery I would my good Lord would learn; because none of these (near and dear Ladies) durst intermeddle so far in matters of Commonwealth. Twenty Commissioners attend the service, whereof four to be of the Quorum, ever in place: the greatest men of the number, having no desire to proceed: Many days meeting disappointed for want of appearance: the jewry sworn, their appearance, by penalty, appointed twenty miles off: the twenty Commissioners present, some to uphold and some to overthrow. In this manner, for a long Summer's day (which dured six months) we bore the brunt of all opposition. Our last meeting was at Chepstow, and at the mouth of the river Wye, the jewry (having day given for their verdict, riding over the bridge) upon a sudden saw the water swollen with a sea of Salmon. The Inquest inquiring of them what news? they answered by signs (sith they were as mute as fishes) they were bard of their native country, where all their ancestors were bred and borne: 
An assault towards, against Chepstow-bridge by Salmon.  & in their infancy nursed, till they came to Salmon's estate. This moan they made by instinct of nature: the jury prayed they would commit no riot, but endure the day of the juries verdict without their further approach; and order should happily be taken for egress & regress as of old: The Bridge being in a dangerous case mean while; for it seemed their so near coming, tended to no other purpose but to strike up the heels of the Bridge, not laying his glory in the dust, but the water: For fear whereof (as if the Bridge had lost his heart of Oak) it fell down (heartlesse-lubber) of itself within one year following; and for the Salmon's further comfort, the jewrie told them the great Lords were Lords of the sticks and stakes, not of the River; the River was the Kings: no prohibition lay against them, but that they might lawfully enter into their old habitations and places of resort: only the great Lords will say, they have three years possession, or it may be, challenge prescription; which cannot be; you being the King's Tenants, no time going beyond the King. I am not satisfied, 
It is most strange, and yet most true.  how after such a world of Labour and Toil by the Commissioners and jurors, that the bare Information of a Weare-owner (perhaps) could annihilate all our painful Endeavours for the good of six Shires with a supersidias.  
If I should forget to tell your Lordship it hath been in the memory of many yet living, that the River of Wye did yield Salmon so plentifully as Sturgeon in some parts of Germany: & that a Herefordshire servant would surfeit on fresh Salmon as oft as a North-Hampton-shire-man on fat Venison: and since my nativity, till years of discretion had overtaken me, I could not Learn this lesson. For my Foster-mother Woodhill, old mother Webb, and mother Spooner (such Mothers there are (my good Lord) though you know not their Fathers) telling the Wonders of the Wears so pitifully, as if they had been in the captivity at Babylon: How thirty Salmon were taken such a morning at a draft, and thirty three, at another time!  
The Supplication of Beggars so moved the heart of that famous King Henry the eight in his later days, that he did nothing else but platform Foundations for true and sound Religion.  
If these Wears had been in his days in such manner as they be now, he would have taken the like order with them as he did with Abbeys and Monasteries. 
a Behead them like Traitors.  As an Heresy is bred and hatched amongst those that understands no true Religion soonest; so, in the tender time of that sweet and gracious King Edward the sixth, these Wears had their breeding and increase.  
But GOD determining his time untimely, the Weare-owners got a descent against us: and on a sudden we fell into the hands of a King of a strange Language; then we (being Britain's) could speak no Spanish; he and his queen too too much troubled in establishing their own Religion, we had enough to do to defend our bodies from Bishop Bonner's Bonfires: and deferred all our intended Supplications to a hope-fuller time.  
Our late, and blessed Sovereign Queen Elizabeth (England's joy, defender of the faith, & faithful establisher of true Religion; (whose matchless Princely virtues, the world did, and ever shall admire) yet her aged years troubled with a discontented war 
c That of Tyron.  forced us to silence with many a sorrowful heart.  
Now (my Lord) the time is come to exhibit our supplications: the King of glory hath sent us his sacred servant King james, together with a fruitful Queen and royal Issue, according to our own hearts: A King that can teach Religion; a King from beyond his Cradle, and free from strange devotion; succeeding a most religious Maiden-Queene.  

b Time is now most opportune.  Now, is our time most humbly to beseech your Lordship (you having immediate grace and favour from his Majesty, we poor wretches not daring to speak, being people of the quietest and peaceablest dispositions of the Kingdom) not to neglect our Commonwealth. Remember the love your Father and Grandfather bore their-our Country: remember we were their kinsmen, and servants, and of the dearest respect of any whatsoever with them. We desire but passage of the Law of the Land; and that your Lordship will not speak in favour of your own Wear (O supernatural virtue!) nor my Lord of Shrewsburies', nor any of the rest, no, nor suffer a supersidias to land near Chepstowsbridge lest it make it shake for fear, of a second Commotion of Salmon against it. I have acquainted your Lordship with this matter-mechanical, & made known unto you the raising of our Church, the planting of our Preacher, the Chapel & alms-house with the rest apendant: if your Lordship take but a superficial view of this giddy Invention (as some of your late servants termed it) it will satisfy me, it being but a particular plot, not able to be performed by any whose estate exceeds mine a million; because the place of my Residence affords Meadow, Pasture, all kind of Corn, Wood, Water near at hand; & especially blest with such a number of Beggars as are able to undo a Country. But my Lord, I do most humbly pray, that in the reading & viewing of my waterworks, you will unite your heart and eyes to read respectively, for retention sake, to the 
a A gainful end of painful reading.  end you may call to account, your Stewards and Suruayors of your Lordships Manors, Lands and Tenements; What Rivers, Brooks, Fountains and Springs do inhabit the compass of your command, and that your Lordship will spare sporting-times for some few hours, that I may give you such information, and precepts withal; that (at your pleasure) you may charrecter what profit this Watery Element will raise you, more than ever was raised.  
I do not say I will; but I could, in your Monmoth and Glamorgan shire-countrey single out (in a short time) all the Rivers, Brooks, Fountains and Springs which owe duty or speak well of any of your Lordships Lands. If my Labours be in that manner commanded, it will cost your Lordship Warrants for Bucks, and Letters of Privilege, that your Tenants raise not 
b Fear of private harm makes public hatred often to arise from long-laid▪ rest.  head against me: weening my coming to be the overthrow of their Posterity.  
I protest that's not my purpose, but to put a foot the Mystery of Winter and Sommer-drowning, to the comfort of the Country, and present profit of the present Inhabitants: humbly praying your Lordship, as you shall receive a great increase: so, you do not (according to the new fashion) by extreme racking, ransack the succeeding Issue of the faithful Followers of your eldest Ancestors, whose old gotten-glory, at Rhodes and Malta (in defence of the holy-land) the British Traditions and Records, in great abundance, do testify.  
I have done with my Mechanical, and the hopeful river of Wye; only I will fix this accidental merriment in the Frontispiece (or broad-brow) of my Preface to my waterworks: signifying the cause of these excursions to proceed from unbelieving creatures, possessed and puf-pasted with pride and peevish opposition.  
An act of Parliament will be required for joining of Peter-Church, Vou-church and Torneston, there distance being not a mile a sunder; Torneston having only one inhabitant to make a Congregation; the living extending itself but unto ten pounds yearly; two of them straining themselves to make forty in the whole.  
A most miserable allowance for a Preacher and his Curate; and most miserable the time when Ignorantes (out of heat of a preposterous zeal not able to render a reason of the faith they hold, nor well know whereof they do affirm) will adventure (with libellous Articles) to inform (against men conformable) a reverend father, Bishop Bennet (Bishop of the Diocese) whose heart was prepared with all his power to the higher house of the Parliament to settle this precedent (viz: to unite three Parishes into one) in the Border of the principality; Yet a new fangl'd fellow, presumed to falsify the testimony of the Inhabitants of those three Parishes, and sought a Preaching Minister of purpose to alter the antiquity of their religion, and change the true ceremonies thereunto incident, unto a strict observation of quick-siluer-brained Discipline: and cause me to be questioned before the Bishop for these misdemeanours, as if Heresy or Sacrilege had been the ground. But the Bishop (most judiciously) quit me as no way taxable. I desired by Act of Parliament to unite these Churches into one body (being patron of two of them, the third under a prebend of the Cathedral Church:) but they wrought with the Ecclesiastical state by principal men, that an homily audibly red would be as edifiable unto the simpler sort as a presician-Sermon unto the reformed phantastiques. These troubles, the African-Politician hath raised: And I fear a further mischief, that he will enforce those lunatics to stir up the Patron Prebend to a higher pitch; his infirmity offering nothing less than all the likelihoods of discontentment. But having gotten a feesimple in the Bishop, a freehold in the Dean and chapter; an inheritance in the rest of the Cathedrals, we beg at your Lordships hands to add the Act of Parliament to put us in possession. In following which Act, it is necessary your Lordship warrant my descent from gladis de gam Daughter of S. David Gam, slain in the vanguard of the battle of Egincourt; who being sent by Henry the fifth to discover the force of the French; Answered, they were enough to be slain, enough to be taken prisoners, enough to run away: which speech continues to his everlasting praise: this Gladis being mother to your Lordship's Ancestors & mine: the Earl of Pembroke, Sir Richard Herbert, Vaughan of Bradwardin, Vaughan of Hergest, & Vaughan of Tretowr her 5. sons-al 5. brethren & all 5. overthrown at Banbury field. Five such brethren out of one woman, the 13. shires of Wales hath seldom yielded: my Lord, I am By Gladis, kin to most of the Old Nobility: which aged descent is almost worn out, yet not so worn, but either by consanguinity, or affinity, I can light on a Howard, a Herbert, a Somerset, a Carew, or a Knowles, ever ready to assist an Act of Parliament to raise a preaching Minister. These turbulent over-frighted, stirred up the hearts of the poorest people to a dangerous mislike with invective breathe, that they must go above a mile to a sermon; that their Church would not contain the three Parishes at a Sermon time; that it could not be done by Law, and that forty pound was sufficient for a Preacher, and that I did it not out of zeal, but out of ambition; seeking mine own glory & gain, wherein (God is my judge, my Lord) they wrong me as much as their own charitable judgements.  
NOw my (honourable Lord) I come to the point: to make rehearsal, and to demonstrate my undertake; setting forth the Clothier (with his twenty broad Looms) for the finest cloth, to be the worthiest. Ten narrow Looms for course Wool, Flax, Hemp, and Hurdes. Some Fustian-loomes, with such silke-loomes as shall be needful: Two thousand poor Spinners, Carders, Wooll-pyckers, Quil-winders, with the Broad and Narrow-weavers'; Fifty Habitations with Shops, Chambers, chimneys, and cisterns for washing their hands; for several Artificers, that neither Clothiers, Weavers, pickers of Woll, Quill-winders, Spinners and Carders, shall ever lose an hours labour. No women, children, nor Prentices, shall be free of this place, but all selected journeymen of the best ability of body and Art that may be had. I give fifty pound yearly and perpetually unto a Preacher; twenty pound yearly and perpetually unto a Curate; who shall always attend the Artificers, to read morning and evening prayer in their Chapel. An alms-house for such as (I said before) necessity doth cause to forbear their own gettings.  
Many Honourable Gentlemen finding mine ability such, as not suddenly able to raise the same: they wished I would prepare a number of benevolent Contributers, persons of the greatest worth, best affected, and known to be most comfortable to the Commonwealth: out of which Number, I do most humbly invite your Lordship, with my Honourable Lord of Mountgomery to this benevolent preparation.  
I likewise invite some venerable and reverend Bishops (my especial good and loving Lords) the Lord Bishops of Worcester, Hereford and Gloucester.  
I invite my Honourable Lords the Lord Chiefe-Iustice of England, and that worthy Lord Chiefe-Iustice of the Common-pleas: the Lord Chiefe-Baron, and my Lords the judges in general.  
I invite the Knights of the bath, Knights of the Field, and Knights of GREAT BRITAIN, Master Talbot of Grafton, Master Sheldon of Beley, Master Dutton of Sherborne, and Master Harley of Bromptonbrian, withal Esquires and Gentlemen of all the Counties of the kingdom.  
I have separated your Lordships (with the rest) from the society of the sullied leier of Subjects: so respective have I been in the execution of this Invention.  
If your Lordship will know what hath induced me to these purposes: being over-questioned by the Tag-ragg-rable of dull-pated Ignorants; that I had protested and promised to publish my waterworks long before this:  
And ever-hoping to reduce it into that form which might be pleasing to all posterity, and not quarreled at by any, it being so full of difficulty and varyetye of form and matter.  
Not possible to give it his Ornament without this that follows; having neither Precedent nor Example, to stir me up any way to the like labours: Ever desirous to use a correspondency: So as a Soldier I will leave some testimony or Relic of that Honourable rank wherein I had my breeding: and end my days with a soldier-like farewell.  
Being one of her majesties Captains, raised in eighty-eight, having my directions from my Honourable LORD and Master your Father: I have spent that small Talon & skill: Never curious in concealing from my Lieutenant, Ancient, Sergeant, Corporals, and Drum, the worthiness of the war: unto which I am much inclined.  
Most humbly beseeching your Lordship, if you hear any say, I am fantastical, say you (my dear LORD) I am but curious; so excuse mine Imperfections the best you may, and I will ever honour you.  
The time is spent, and I must spend some time with the Printer: and a little more in sorting, cowching, and planting my dyning-roome, free from all disorder.  
In what manner my Table shall be furnished; What attendance the Mechanical Artificers shall perform; how industrious my Ancient and Sergeant shall be in preparing all these Artificers for his majesties service, into what place it shall please his Highness to command them.  
Now (my Lord) I end with this material circumstance being extracted out of mine own means. I signified in mine Epistle to your Lordship, A dining-room to entertain a world of worthy benevolent Contributers: The Table perpetually furnished to entertain forty of those Contributers daily in expectance; A hundred Artificers subject to the Service of the Table: Twenty five attending at Dinner, and twentyfive at supper: fifty more on the morrow: and so the hundred Artificers shall attend the Table in this manner Daily and Perpetually.  
In recompense whereof they receive the benefit of the Reversion with all the comfort I can afford them.  
All the Artificers to attend the Preacher to Sermon and home again. The Visitor of the Negligencers Attendant to inform their misdemeanours to the chief of the Company, if there be cause that no common Swearer, Drunkard nor Swaggerer shall live within the limits of my allowance. His first offence warned, the second punished, the third discharged for ever from the place: Every Artificer shall unto every Contributor (at their coming thither) humble themselves with (all respective obedience) acknowledging them by word and deed to be the Founders of their well-doing, and happy Commonwealth.  
The Dining-room wainscoted, and fairly hanged with Arras.  
Touching the Fare to be served to the Table daily and perpetually, forty full dishes of variety of meats; with a Pastry of Venison to Dinner, and another to supper, when they are in season.  
A Sentinel set from ten to eleven in a Turret, for discovery, to see what Contributer comes: If a Footman dwelling in the neighbourhood; he gives the Alarm by the toll of a Bell, signifying him to be a Footman; which heard, than the Drum sounds. If a Horseman, by the Alarm he signifies him to be a Horseman, and then the Trumpet sounds And upon their coming into the Dining-room, All Officers of the company entertain the Contributers with all joy and merriment: the wind Instrument, with all sorts of Music plays Dinner and Supper: and to add all the comfortable contentment to all Contributers, from Bartholomew day to Mid-may.  
The Groom of the Chamber shall at his peril prepare a good fire with Ash, Hawthorne, and Charcoal.  
My LORD, that honourable and most worthy judge the Lord Chief justice Poppham hearing of my Drown; said Cousin, how dost thou drown? I told him by help of a River or Brook; by Wear and sluice to take part, or all, into my Trench-royall. What's thy Trench royal (saith he?)  

The Trench-royall is a Cistern that serves all offices in a Nobleman's house.  As a Cistern in your Lordships house, that serves all Offices: My Trench-royal serves my Counter Trenches; my Defending-Trenches, my Topping or Braving-trenches, my Winter and Sommer-Trenches; my Double and Treble-trenches; a traversing-trench with a point; And my Euerlasting-trench, with other troublesome trenches, which in my Map I will more exactly demonstrate.  
The good Lord hearing all these words, (able to raise a Spirit) said: Cousin art thou out of thy wits?  
My Lord for distinction sake (said I) I must give them significant names, such as my servants attending my Winter and Sommer-drowning may understand to execute my commands.  
So, my Lord, I having given satisfaction to the honourable person, I will make it most plainly appear to your Lordship how feasible this Work is: that all Cynick-Doggs or Lamb-biters, may with shame be silenced, and their foul Mouths muzzled.  
It is yet wondered at, by almost all, how a particular and private Gentleman should be able to bring all this to pass.  
But my good Lord (on my behalf) I humbly pray you to pray all of the better sort, 
To speak what we know not, is to think what we should not.  to be sparing of their censures herein; for artless- Aims seldom hits the mark.  
I would that no man should say, I do it out of ambition or other sinister respect: for the Rule of Charity is: in cases doubtful, we should judge the best.  
But if any (notwithstanding) should be so injurious to say so, then (my LORD) they may say the Clothier; the habitation for Artificers, the Chapel, and Preacher, Curate, alms-house; My Table for the benefit of poor Artificers, and whatsoever else is good (yea a Common-good) is out of ambition.  
I hope (my good Lord) I shall hear no more of such Objections; if I do, though I am no Poet yet I can make Ballads, To the tune of up-tayls-all: For I'll lash them I'faith with Rhymes that shall make it rankle where they fall.  
But to take away the wonder of the World, and to give satisfaction to the enuious-unsatisfied  
I can keep three hundred Kine, three hundred young cattle, 
This I mince thus for ill digesting stomachs.  three thousand Sheep, all these Winter and Summer: Having beside ten Plough-Land, all hard at hand; four Milles as near, and within two mile of the place Timber sufficient for all my Buildings. And Firewood enough for all the Artificers, the Inholder and the rest; Wallstone, tile, Lime and Brick, as necessary as any man living.  
My good LORD, I do not thus Inventory my Estate, 
A just excuse.  and paint forth the Particulars, as if I were to sell it by the Drum; or as looking thereon with Vainegloryous Eyes. No, no, my good LORD, nothing less (for there is no such cause, I am the more sorry.) But I do it (perforce) to give the doubtful Inquisitor satisfaction for the settling of his belief herein, That I attempt nothing with out the limmitts of mine own strength.  
But now your Lordship shall hear an end of the Wonder. All men will confess, three hundred Kine will raise, Brawns, Bacons, Porks, Pigs, Geese, Turkeys, Capons, Hens, Chickens, Ducks, & the like. They will confess ten Plow-land in several places, all within a mile, with my Tithe-barnes, will do the like.  
They will confess my four Milles being within a flight shoot one of another, will do the like: They will confess my Brewhouse, my Backe-house, my Kitchen, my Beare-seller, my shambles; and the water from my Vtingvats will do the like. Besides in a M●ste-yeare I can feed a world of Hogs.  
Your Lordship sees I am forced to do, and overdo, as one that must do All, else nothing will be done▪ I think I have besturd myself pretty well, to make the whole world wonder at me.  
Your Lordship shall now see what benefit I receive for the perpetual continuance of this Table. 
What benefit can be raised.   
The Butter and Cheese of my three hundred Kine, I sell, and furnish the Clothyer, his Broadeweavers, Spinners, Carders & the rest; with all the Mechanicalls therewith. The Corn of ten Plowlands, Wheat, Rye, & Malt made in my own Killing; I grind at my own Milles: Baked, & Brewed in my Bakehouse and Brewhouse; and sold to the foresaid persons: My Wool, my Muttons, Lambs, and culld-sheepe, of my three thousand I sell to the said persons: I sell yearly one hundred of my eldest Oxen, Kine, and my culled young cattle fat to the persons aforesaid: I sell yearly one hundred of my eldest Oxen, Kine, and my culled young-cattells, fat to the persons aforesaid: I find all Artificers; and Innkeepers wood, which will be ten times more profitable unto me then now. Let Men judge what benefit I may make of my Brewhouse, and what of my Bakehouse, what of my shambles, my Hay & Provender; my Chandlers-shopp, my Bark unto the Tanner: to whom I sell all my Hides; the Glover hath all my Pelts: what provision my own estate will not afford, the neighbourhood can provide it, that neither want nor scarcity shall afflict any of his majesties servants and subjects.  
My good Lord, let it not seem irksome to you, nor cloy your dainty ear, that thus I belabour your attention with repetition of these countrey-commodities, and commonwealths Requisites; so to season your courtly pleasures, as sharp sauce doth sweet meats, but when you bend your regard to these things (as I doubt not but you will: For active wit in short time turns to working wisdom:) The world's observation will then know, you wax ripe for the highest employments: For it strongly argues youth is then well mellowed, when it begins to look into these necessaries for man's life with Ages eyes. Pleasures, that tickle our senses, make us but spoil Pretious-time; while they betray our Reason, that should rule rebellious affections that ought to obey. The sooner these enemies▪ to man's dignity, are shaken off from the Mind, the sooner will the Mind advance the Body to dignity.  
It is a glorious (how ever troublesome) thing to have a chief Oar in the Ship of a well-governd state. The benefit of life in great men cannot be better employed then to the benefit of good men. For the Back and Belly is Nature's chief care; these being provided for, she sweetly takes repose. What is over & beside, is for Ornament, which she wants not: for pomp which she requires not: or for pleasure, which if she wanted, she would the more abound in all goodness.  
Now, (my good Lord) these Indevoures and Works of mine (tending to thee full supply of the Back and Bellies wants) are to be heedfully respected in their particulars, by you that one day may have this care cast upon you, by God, King, & Country, to see to the necessities of All, while you consult but with a Few. It's merry in hall, when beards wag all, (saith the old Proverb). And it's a merry Weale-publick, where ever-enough is as good as a feast, sufficing all by good government.  

The manner of my Drown.  
AFter I had spent some years in Queen Elizabeth's Court, and saw the greatness and glory thereof under the command of Mistress Blanch Parry (an honourable & Virtuous Gentlewoman, my Aunt and Mistress) my spirit being too tender to endure the bitterness of her humour; I was by her careful (though crabbed austerity) forced unto the Irish wars, where I continued three or four years sometimes twist deep in that country-water: & what with long fasting and ill diet, I was possessed with the Country-disease: 
Flix.  the extremity whereof hasted me to return to my Father's home in the County of Heref. for recovery of my health: which within six months I obtained. After it pleased GOD to give me recovery, I resolved for the Lowe-countrey-warres again: and having begun my journey thetherward, I happened on a Country-Gentlewoman, who was seized of a Manor, and overjoyed Mill: which converted all my martial endeavours and hopes of honour, to these country-labours: Having sojourned two years in my Father's house, wearied in doing nothing, and fearing my fortunes had been overthrown in putting by my Martial occupation; I began to expostulate with myself what was best to be done to preserve my reputation with my martial companions, and withal to give contentment to my virtuous and loving wife. And while I was to settle a resolution, comparing these desires together, my wives importunity caused me to quit their ordinary familiarity, yet with limitation; at such times as conveniency might afford.  
This restraint of hers, drew me to the attendance of home-labours; who prayed me withal in my walks abroad, to have an eye to her Miller's true dealing. I prayed her to put over that service to some servant of hers: for of all trades I had least confidence in their truth: and therefore required the more pains to be taken in watching their water, & looking to their fingers, which I was loath to undertake: notwithstanding, (upon better consideration, lest she should have held me careless of her good, and so ill deserve her love) I obeyed her will, as many do, and many miseries do ensue thereby. So, in the month of March, falling (with the stream) to the milneward within my Mead (with no desire I protest) to fashion or form Husbandry) I happened to find a Mole or Wants nest, raised on the brim of the Brook, like a great hillock; from which nest or hillock, there issued a little stream of water, (drawn by the working of the Want) down a shelving or descending ground, one pace broad, and some twenty in length.  
The running of which little Stream, did, (at that time) wonderfully content me, seeing it pleasing green; and that other on both sides full of Moss, 
The first cause that the work was undertaken.  and Hidebound for want of water. This was the first cause I undertook the drowning of grounds.  
Now, to proceed to the execution of my work (being persuaded of the excellency of the water) I examined how many footefall the Brook yielded, from my Mill to the upper-most part of my grounds, being in length a measured Mile.  
There lay of old Meadow-ground thirty acres overworn with age, and heavily laden with Moss, Cowslips, and much other imperfect grass, betwixt my Mill-streame, and the main River; which (with two shillings cost) my granfather, and his grandsire, with the rest, might have drowned at their pleasures: But from the beginning, never any thing was done, that either tradition or record, could witness, or any other testimony.  
Having viewed the convenientest place, the upper-most part of my ground would afford for placing a Commanding-Weare, or Sluice, I espied divers Water-falls on my neighbour's grounds, higher than mine by seven or eight foot; which gave me greater advantage for drowning of more ground, than I was (of my own power) able to do. I acquainted them with my purpose: the one (being a Gentleman of worth and good nature) gave me leave to plant the one end of my Wear on his side the River▪ the other (my Tenant) being very aged and simple) (by no persuasion I could use) would yield his consent: alleging it would mar his ground: yea, sometimes his Appletrees: and men told him water would raise the Rush, and kill his Cowslipps, which was the chiefest Flower that his Daughters had, (being many) to trick the Maypole withal. All which with silence I passed over for a time, knowing his simplicity to exceed his discretion; yet in the end I reenforced my persuasions, and told him (next unto the King) I was to be obeyed in matters reasonable: and that it became him not to provoke his Land lord; nor to stand at the staffs end with his Commander. Yet these Buggs-words would not move him. Then gave I a fresh charge, and to draw him on with a Bait which he would soon bite at, told him I had a Meddow-plott in his neighbourhood, worth ten pound, which I would part with on reasonable terms: but before I could make him believe he was a fool he got the fee-simple thereof. 
For no simple fee.  Which Precedent doth falsify the old-said-Saw, Thou art an old doting fool. After I had wrought this far, I caused my servant (a joiner) to make a level to discover what quantity of ground I might, (from the entry of the Water) obtain: allowing his dubling-course, compassing Hills to carry it plym or even: which fell out to be some three hundred Acres. After I had plimmed it upon a true Level, I betook myself to the favour of my Tenants, Friends and Neighbours, in running my maine-trench (which I call my Trench-royall) I call it so, because I have within the contents of my work, Counter-trenches, defending trenches, topping, or braving-trenches. Winter and Summer-trenches, double and treble-trenches, a traversing trench with a point, and an everlasting trench, with other troublesome-trenches: which in my Map I will more lively express.  
When the Inhabitants of the country wherein I inhabit, (namely the Golden-Valley) saw I had begun some part of my work, they summoned a consultation against me, and my man john the levellour: saying our wits were in our hands, and not in our heads: so, we both for three or four years, lay level to the whole Country-censure for such Enginors as their forefathers heard not of, nor they well able to endure without merriment.  
When my labours took beginning, they became subject to discourse: diverse Gentlemen with others, inquired from whence I had my Examples; and where I saw any such work? I could not answer them but with an other question: namely, where saw you any such? They said, no where. Truly nor 1  
In the running and casting of my Trench-royall, though it were leveled from the beginning to the end, upon the face of the ground, yet in the bottom I did likewise level it to avoid error.  
For the Breadth and Depth, my proportion is ten foot broad, and four foot deep; unless in the beginning, to fetch the water to my drowning-grounds, I ran it some half mile, eight foot deep; and in some places six-tenne-foote broad. All the rest of the Course, for two miles and a half in length, according to my former proportion.  
When my Work began, in the Eye of the Country, to carry a show of profit, it pleased many (out of their courtesy) to give it commendations, 
Ignorants praise good end, but doubt, or dispraise their beginnings.  and to applaud the Invention.  
The joiner hearing the commendations to be general, and he the Leveller (which was (he thought) the chief Agent in the Action) there grew a brabble betwixt us. He began to insult and arrogate as a coadjutor, by reason of his leveling, and desired he might be signified a principal party to the Invention.  
I bade him have patience, the Invention was mine, together with the dignity: and told him withal the ambition of soldiers would not endure society with men of Mechanical trades: I only employed his hand, and not his head.  
So having compounded the brabble between us, I fell into the hands of an unskilful Carpenter, in planting my commanding Wear or Scluce, cross the main River.  
He gave me such assurance for the safe continuance thereof; that he undertook to maintain it with twelve pence a year, during his life.  
After he had prepared it ready for the foundation, he planted some thousand stakes in the bottom of the Brook to carry the main Syll. When the syl was lodged upon the Pile of Stakes, I began to suspect the foundation, and told him a great part of the water would undermine the syl, and that I should hardly endure the want thereof at my Drowning-times; especially in Summer.  
He grew tasty, hot, and peremptory; and said it was not the masters manner to control; but, to examine: and that all his waterworks were according to the Venetian foundation, built altogether upon Piles: but the Venetian-fashion forced me to want water ten years space, which was out of my way two thousand pounds.  
The reason was this; the water undermining the syl, it forced the Earth beyond the posts, which were placed in the firm ground; and having gotten the upper hand of the main-Land it could not be holp until the Sylle were raised again. I had a continual purpose to re-edify it, but that I was interrupted by the ordinary course of Process out of the honourable Courts of star-chamber, Chancery, and Wards; the last of the three bred more white hairs in my head in one year, than all my Wetshod-water-workes did in sixteen. Not that I had cause to complain of Injustice; but, because I understood not the course of the Courts, being puzzled with an old Feodary, and a foolish Escheter, (the life and death of my cause resting in their mercy.) Twelve jurors who passed against me, law, equity, and conscience. Upon which Verdict, I was, by Injunction, commanded to deliver the body of a Ward I had in keeping, which I refused to do: It happened my Council found Error in the Office, and overthrewe the former proceedings, which was the overthrow of my waterworks for five years space.  
The overthrown- Office was a stolen Office, and found before I had notice of it. But being overthrown, matter of greater consequence followed.  
The Queen's Attorney commanded the Feodary, who had gotten a grant of the Ward, to exhibit enformation against me in his name: we had Commission upon Commission: we endured heavy and chargeable examinations.  
Upon which Examinations I had a Hearing in that Honourable Court; and though it could not pass against me, yet it passed not with me. One other Commission came down, A jury impanalled, Witnesses reexamined. That jury found with me, & (in my conscience) not one of the number understood his evidence: All which I show to satisfy the Inquisitor, why so long I neglected my begun waterworks. When the Escheator, Feodary, Commissioners, and jurors had put their hands & seals to the Office, I prepared myself to my forsaken waterworks; having left my wanton Ward in London in the custody of a Precisian or Puritan-Taylor, who would not endure to hear one of his servants Swear by the Cross of his Shears, he was so full of Sanctity in deceit. But the first news I heard, 
a Holy fraud is the falsest fraud.  he married my Welsh Niece to his English Nephew; and at my return I was driven to take his word that he was neither privy to the contract, nor the marriage.  
I desired but his oath for my satisfaction; he bad me have patience, it was not his fashion to forswear himself. Thus hoping I had been quit of the cause, I prayed recompense of the Offender: But within six months a new Commission came down; and a new Office found against me: which manner of proceeding (I think) was able to breed white hairs in a Britons beard.   

SINCE THE FIRST Time I undertook the drowning of my grounds, I (as carefully as I could) sought to better my understanding by other men's labours: yet in the whole Kingdom I never found, nor heard of a work worthy observation: Having so many Rivers, Brooks, Fountains and Springs, which run idly unto the Sea: without Wear, Sluice, stay, stank or dam, to turn some part of them upon grounds that need them, or to contain the substance of plow'd lands and dunghills, which by violent showers wash away, 
As good no running, as running for no good.  and runs ranging by those grounds that hunger and thirst for want of moisture. Our Husbandmen brag of raising Corn: How? out of their painful labours, but (if they want compost) their increase is but barren, and for aught I have seen (except some few Soils which yield plenty of Hay, by often overflowing of fresh Rivers, or the Tide staying upon them as it were by dam) those fresh-waters yield their increase by nature, without industry. I would ask how many Shires be in England, and in every Shire how many Rivers, Brooks, Fountains, and Springs? If the number be great, I would know how they be employed, and what our Corne-maisters (which carry the reputation for good husbandry) will say to it? They will say (peradventure) and so will all Husbandmen (without peradventure) it is easy to raise Corn with store of Compost: but (wanting Hay;) I would learn how compost may be raised? The question between errable converted to meadow, and errable not converted, willbe this: some will say, there is no reason to put good errable to bad pasture. So say I too, Others will say, ordinary errable exceeds ordinary Pasture. It may be true: but I speak of good errable appointed to be drowned: I will give no estimat of English Errable; situate near London or Haven Towns, or to places more vendible than the country wherein I inhabit. Yet this will I exemplify out of my experience, if the Principality were duly employed, & each acre handled according to some plots begun, I would hope to live to see Wales called the Garden of England: for our Welch-mountains yields infinite Fountains & Springs, the Grounds Fearny & broomy, it being of as a excellent temper to entertain water as heart can wish; unless we fly to the main Sandy-grounds, which are but sparingly found in Wales; the Country lying in a hot quarter of no cold Climate.  
Now, to speak of drowning, 
a At what time, with what water, & how long you ought to down your Grounds.  at what time of the year, with what water, how long it may continue on the ground, and what effect it will work, you shall have all I know to the uttermost; at least if I remember all.  
Now, fixing your fancy on this Mystery, you must pry into every Fallow-field, Dung hill, and Watercourse in your neighbourhood: then compare the quantity of ground unto the quantity of water you can draw unto it, and if you find water enough to answer your desire, then in the beginning of your ground, plant your wear or scluce in height level with the Banks, or exceeding it one foot (or there abouts) o'erthwart the River or Brook: and carry your Trench-Royall (which is your grandmaister-Trench) so far as your ground extends plimm or level: that from the mouth of your Wear, or Scluce, to the end of the ditch or trench, your water may flow back again over your scluce into the River or brook. In so doing, you have a full command forward and backward (without any descent) to drown at your pleasure: though your trench royal rise in the end twenty, or forty foot from the mouth of the scluce.  
Having prepared your drowning-course, be very 
a Look well to the leveling of the grounds that are to be drowned  careful that all your ground subject to the same (whether Meadow, Pasture, or Errable) be as plain as any garden-plott. If you leave any sorrow, reane, or slade, unlevelled, you shall find that sorrow, reane, or slade, will receive the most part of your water idly: which otherwise would disperse over the whole; and cumber you with the care of new ploughing it to make it the more plain: which will hinder you two or three years at the least. Havinng made your wear or scluce, your Drowning-course or Trench, your ground leveled or plimmed, them follows your attendance: in flood-times see you suffer not your floud-water by negligence to pass away into the brook, river & sea; but by your sluice, command it to your grounds; and continue it playing thereon so long as it appears muddy: and finding the substance decaying (from a fat flood unto clear water) take up your sluice or flood-gates, and suffer the clear water to have his course unto the main brook or river again, until new or fresh-flouds appear; and still as it riseth muddy, employ it on your grounds during the winter-season. When you have spent the winter in muddy-floods, and your grounds seasoned by sucking the substance of each fallow, 
In the beginning of March clear your grounds from cold cleare-water.  and dunghill: be sure, in the beginning of March, to clear your ground of cold water; and keep it as dry, as a child under the hands of a dainty Nurse; that the continuance of cold water in the body of your ground in the spring, breed neither Rush, Bolt, nor Spierygrasse: but grass much more profitable, thick, long, and fine; void of all Moss, Hard-heads, Cowslips, or any weed whatsoever. Observe respectively your soil, whether clay, or sand: for, sandy-grounds will endure ten times more water (being naturally hot) then the cold clay: yet some washers of grounds, (in their own conceits) will imagine it's behoveful to turn the water at all times on their lands; or as long as they (in their discretion) think good. But so may (with indiscretion) surfeit a clay-ground with a drunken-dropsie, 
The best husbands or husband▪ men  as all the Physicians in the neighbourhood, with all their visitations, will hardly heal in two years space. Having sufficiently sped your clay-ground in the drowning-time, (I mean Winter) you may (by negligence, or ignorance) suffer cold water, in the heat of Summer, to cool your ground so much, that the vital spirits will be decayed: and that moisture having gotten the upperhand, the Sun works, out of that drunken-dropsie ground, the Rush, and all other ill-pleasing stuff, and unprofitable trash. I said in the Spring, you must keep your grounds dry. If March follow his kind, and April dry, overflow it with Cleare-water, that it receive no drought: for, all men know, if the Spring be dry in May, it's two to one hay never goes a begging.  
Amongst other things, an old Drunkard once warned me, I should not suffer the roof of my mouth to be dry: yet I never followed his example: I remember the cup was never from his mouth, and he in the end died of a dropsy: so, in claye-ground, in the heat of Summer, drown it moderately: and, (it being once sufficiently seasoned in May) you need not drown it until a day, two or three before you mow. At which time you provide for mowing, if sufficient showers, have not qualified the drought of your ground; let down your sluice into your trench-royall, that there-by you may command so much water to serve your turn as you desire. Which Trench-royall running on the plimme or level, suffer it to descend, where you mean first to mow, and you shall find this manner of drowning in the morning of your mowing so profitable and good, that commonly you gain ten or twelve days advantage in growing: 
How profitable to drown a little before mowing.  for, drowning before mowing a day, two, or three, so supples the ground that it doth most sweetly release the root of every particular grass, although the Sun be never so extreme hot: otherwise, if you drown not before you mow: you mow one day, you t an other, you spend one in gathering it into winde-cockes: and withal, stand upon the uncertainty of the weather, whether you dare adventure to break your cocks or no. Being broken, they must have a drying time before they can be put into greater cocks; and then opening them again into the last and greatest, by tedding, gathering, cocking, recocking, and treble-cocking, your hay continuing above a week on the ground; the ground being bare, and enduring the heat of the Sun at Midsummer (in the hottest time) it doth so dry and parch the ground, that if the heavens yield not more rain than is necessary for a Commonwealth, your later-mates will prove unprofitable: where drowning before mowing, will make good a second mowing: and in walking over grounds I will tread as on Velvet, 
Signs of well seasoned grounds.  or a Turkey Carpet.  
This Drowning before Mowing, puts worms to execution, or forceth them to fly from their habitation: for sure I am that that ground will not be troubled with them until they raise a new generation; and that cannot well be in those grounds without great store of heat? which if it happen, to what end serves your water, but to season the ground again. The Summer may be so extremely hot as the fervency thereof may force you to double or treble drowning; yet I would wish all those that have not the true understanding and use of the water (before they put this in execution) to inquire where any such work is; and havinng found the place, to observe the Wear that commands the River, and to note the length of the trench-royall, and plimme thereof: what stankes, lists, or trenches be within the contents of the grounds: and, having found your drowning, and forerecited trenches, observe what height every stank or dam is: and if you can see the floods playing against the dam, your experience in beholding it goeth far beyond mine.  
I will not forget the two-foote-trench, topping your Maine-river, within four, or five foot from the Bank, as occasion is offered. The use of which Trench so near the River, many may wonder at (as many have done) why it should be drawn so near the main- river it being but two foot broad and one foot deep.  
I know not how all Rivers and Brooks run elsewhere, but in that which I labour, the ground is much higher on the River side, than the maine-flatt-bottome, and, where by sluice I drown some thirty Acars upon a reasonable level; yet upon the River side the height is such, as my sluice will do no good, if I suffer the water to descend into the flat bottom, not taking the advantage in the beginning of my Topping-trench.  

A fault to drown some, and to leave some of the same ground undrowned.  If part of your ground be drowned, and some part forgotten, there is a fault somewhere; either by ignorance, or negligence, or both: but to help both; I pray you forget not to run this trench, topping and braving your River, that in the Winter, you drown that with the rest.  
In Summer, your command is more absolute, it being shelving or descending to your flatt-bottome-ground; you may with a board of two foot broad, and one foot deep, stay that water, and suffer it to play upon the face of the ground, half a quarter of an hour, or little more, until it meet with your flat bottom.  
And thus you may handle the braveing-trenche, by drowning the shelving ground every morning in the heat of Summer, before and after mowing; so long as you find the Sun forcible.  
Your flatt-bottom ground, being, in the heat of Summer, drowned, suffer the water from your shelving or descending Trench, but to kiss the hand or soot of the same: for it being clay, and once drowned, before mowing in the extreme heat, it will not endure a second drowning without danger: unless the heat do so extreamlye increase, that one extremity must encounter another.  
So, 
You must double drown in the summer if there be cause.  you may fall to double drowning (if there be cause) which you shall easily find by trying the temper of your ground, thus:  
If a riding rod (being somewhat stiff) will enter into the ground two foot deep or more, it showeth it hath had moisture sufficient by the former drownning;  
If the rod will not enter in, but by difficulty, or forcible handling, you may judge it to be over-dryed: And in this manner make trial in what state your ground stands, whether too dry, or sufficiently seasoned.  
If to dry, give it watery sustenance to nourish and revive the dying root: and, having satisfied your ground, suffer your two-foote-trench to have a continual course of water, Winter and Summer, for these reasons following: That is to say; In Summer, when you would drown, your trench being full, you need not stay the letting down of a sluice out of the main River: for, so shall you stay the time until your water rise to the highest of your sluice; and being risen, must have a time to come into your two-foote-trench, to execute what you would have done: where otherwise, your trench being continually full, you may (as I said) appoint your servant with a board to stay or stop the trench; and so from place to place, drown your shelving or descending ground from the beginning of your trench, to the end thereof both day lie and hourly.  
This Topping or Braving-trench; hath this excellency withal, that it running continually in the trench, 
Wants will not work in water, nor where it soaks.  frees your grounds from Moules or Wants: for they will not work in water.  
If they desire to fall into the midst of your other Meads, they must under-mine the Trench, swim the Trench, or some way shuffle over.  
If they do; see their danger: they being once found to work in the belly of your Mead, they be subject to death, by your commanding the water from your two-foote-trench to descend on the rearward; the sudden course whereof comes so fast upon them, and they wanting footmanshippe to rescue their lives, are overtaken, to their utter overthrow.  
Suffer not one Moule, or Want to live between your two-foote-trench and the main River, which is not far distant.  
They having no great scope to work, will so undermine from the brink of the main River to the brim of your Trench, that in your drowning-time, in the heat of Summer, you shall find so many Springs from their workingholes into the River, which if you stop not, with great care, 
The Officeers of the Braving Trench.  in finding the places of breach, the most part of your water will run into the River idly.  
To speak of the braving-trench: Beginning at the Commanding-weare, or Scluce, it works this effect: if the violence of the flood should be such, as upon a sudden, your hay at Midsummer should be drowned by overflowing the bank, or in your After-math-time the like should happen, it is at your choice whether you will suffer that inconvenience or no: for the Earth taken out of your two-foote- Trench, being thrown on the one side of the same, raiseth the Ground higher than that beyond the River, by two foot at the least: which forceth the Flood altogether, on the other side, and keeps your Hay and After-math ever in safety.  
This Topping or Braving-trench must run to the lower part of your Grounds, as a handmaid to the main River, to attend your pleasure Winter and Summer.  
I would have you suffer some Water to run therein continually: Which continual running will scour your Trench, and let all filth from falling therein: and if it should fall you are driven to often cleansing it.  
Being sometimes with Water and sometimes without, the Mole or Want instantly possesseth the same, and works along the Trench an Arrow shoot in length: And it being so exceeding moist, makes many Holes, clean through into the main River, and at your next turning in of the Water will it issue out at every particular Hole; and your Trench, being but four or five foot from the River, the Ground being too much moistened, falleth or calueth down into the same.  
It's not sufficient when you have conveyed your Water from your first Sluice into the Body of your ground or braving-trench, then to give it liberty to run a head: for so will it fall into the lowest part; 
How to govern and lead the Water from your braving Trench over your grounds.  but you must govern and lead it, beginning at the highest of the ground, unto rising places, and so suffer it to descend against some stank, or Dam; which you must raise as occasion shall be offered: As this; if your ground falls so much that the course of the water offers to run into the main River again, before you have done with it: Raise a stank a foot, two, three, four, or five, or so many as may stay it to the height you desire, and force the same against the Ground unto your lower Grounds; and so continue it playing from stank, to stank, from the beginning to the end thereof.  
So, shall you be sure by raising of these Stankes or dams, to stay all the substance of substantial Waters which is forced by your Wears, or Sluices, into the body of your ground, there to remain: where if there were no stank or Dammne, the water (running headlong into the lowest part) carrieth the substance so mainly forward, that little or nothing at all willbe left upon the face of the ground to nourish the same.  

How to make your Stanks or dams.  Now to furnish you with the present understanding, how to make your Flanks or Dams; in what place, and how far you would have it drowned; repair into the lowest part in the beginning of your uppermost ground; where if you desire to pound it to such a height; pitch your Level there; which Level (or Instrument) I will make known more familarly unto you in the Map of my Work, (which you shall find in this book inserted) and command your servant to hold some staff with a paper bound about, some two inches broad: and look through your Level from the lowest part of your Ground, unto your desired place. In this manner your Level will assure you how to cast your ground to an inch.  
And when you have truly learned to Level, which in one hour I will undertake to teach you, you may range over the Kingdom as principal surveyors of Rivers, 
Water works, be most chargeable to the Ignorant.  Brooks, Fountains, and Springs, and accuse the best wits of the greatest negligence, in matter of the greatest Commonwealth.  
It hath been said by some, Waterworks be chargeable and dangerous. They be so; for if you adventure to command main Rivers, as Thames, Severne, and the like: you may judge with what difficulty it will be done. In their beginnings Breadth and Depth is increased by a number of small Brooks, the Command thereof goeth beyond the estates of the most men: yet there is no River in the Realm (be it Thames, or Severn) where there is any descent, but that I will steal, by Countertrench (when the muddy flood is level with the bank) so much water as I desire.  
If you ask me how broad, 
Your Trench must be made great or small according to the quantity of ground you are to drown.  and deep the Trench must be: I would know what quantity of ground you have to drown if much, your Trench must be the wider and deeper. I need not put you in mind to raise a sluice on the mouth of your trench; if you do it not, common inconvenience will compel you.  
You will never drown so oft as the flood riseth to the height of the bank, because of your hayand after-math in Summer: Therefore as I said, you will be compelled for your safety-sake to Sluice your trench.  
As your Trench-royall feeds your sheluing-groundes and falls into the flat-bottome, and rising to the height of your first, second and third stank with the rest; take heed the water exceed not the height of any of your stanks or dams a hayrs-breadth: for the force of the water and violence of the wind in a furious tempest, will overthrow it, as if the Canon played against it.  
I have forborn to speak of my Stank-Royall, which is of purpose prepared to entertain the Trench-royall: which Trench-royall, in the continuance of his running, undertakes the safe conduct of three Brooks and some Springs withal to the Rendezvous or place of general Consultation, where their employment shall be; whether against the Stanke-royall, the Maine-stankes, the Countertrench, or the rest. But indeed the Stanke-royall entertains all comers, the Trench-royall and her Handmaid Brookes: and forceth them seven foot in height.  
The advantage whereof, drowneth sixscore Acres in three hours, 
sixscore Acres may be drowned in three hours.  and twenty Acres in the return back.  
In a Countertrench forty Acres; in a Traversin-trench twenty more; in Summer and Winter-Trenches, twenty; in double and treble Trenches (and the rest) twenty more.  
Take up the Sluice which commands the Stanke-royall, and in one hour, my Everlasting Trench conveys the Trench-royll and all the handmaid Brookes, into the main River: and (for aught I have heard) after I gave it pass, it had peaceable progress into Severne without examination.  
I will acquaint you with a manner of drowning which you may very well like off.  
If you will handle two or three hundred Acres of Ground you shall daily drown Winter and Summer for ever, some part shelving or descending and the rest Flat-bottome, divides by Defending-Trenches: For, clear Water will supple your Sheluing-Ground if it continue thereon six or seven days; But, there's a discretion to be used; Therefore I advise, as you drown the Sheluing-Ground with cold and clear Water in the cold of Winter, suffer none to fall into the Flat-bottome; but, your Muddy-flouds: For you well know, that the water passing downward, doth endure most violent labour in running: and being suddenly taken away, it doth suddenly dry, and none at all remains to infect the ground.  
If it steal into the Flatt-bottome, the coldness of the cleare-water with the coldness of the ground, in the cold of Winter, wanting the heat of the Sun to dry it up (it being lodged in so plain and pleasing a place) will venture life to raise the rush. 
The Rush will be raised by overmuch moisture.   
Now, seeing I have spoken of the excellency of drowning, I will speak somewhat of mine ambition therein.  
There was never General of an army-royal, nor Admiral of an Armado, more ambitious, than I have been in braving my Trench-Royall: And wearied with over-walking myself therein, I repaired to my stank-royall; and I being raised seven foot in height, I was so possessed with the pride of my walk, that I thought myself fitter to be Governor of a Town of War, than Commander of a hungry Waterwork.  
But remembering (within the compass of my age) a Great Person stood to be General of an Army, that never saw the face of the War nor never fought Combat with an Enemy; A Council of war being called, it was answered, by a Grand-captain, he had neither the Words, nor Art of War: Therefore dangerous for the States to adventure the Kingdom to try his experience. The rest more undervalved him, Saying he were fitter to be Chancellor to a Lord-Bishoppe then General of an Armie-Royall.  

Sharp censures made me fall blountly to my works.  These their censures, fortified me in mine old labours: So by little and little, I forgot the Ambitious Resolutions of the Honourable Wars, and the Pleasures of a Park (withal) wherein I yearly killed at least twen-Buckes and Sores.  
The love of my waterworks, stole my desire from thence, that in the whole number of twenty years, I cannot say I was at the kill of one Buck, although my Parke-pale came within twenty foot of my trench-Royall, having some years twenty Bucks, killed with a kennel of Hounds, and loving the sport as much as he that loved it most.  
The Master of a Waterwork may well be compared to the general of an Army, which having beleaguered a Town, it behoveth him for their safety to fortify and block all passages and Inroads, that the Enemies sudden Alarm annoy them not: So, must the Master of a Waterwork attend every shut, and shower that threatens excess (whether in mid day, or mid night) commanding his Centinell-Seruant to search the sluices, whether they be up or down.  
If it happen before mowing, or in your after-math-time, take up the Sluice, and give it passage into the main River: for, the sudden overplus, your Trench-royall, will convoy into your everlasting-trench; unless, your desire be to overflow some parcel of pasture or mead that's over-eaten.  
I protest it hath been more grievous to me in Summer-season, to see a muddy-floud run idle without command, then to see a lusty wanderer quarter the country, without being put to work. 
The several offices of the sluices.  Touching the offices of my number of sluices; the first commands the main-river in the beginning of my Trench-royall. The second, commands the main River into my braving-trench some half mile lower. The third, commands the same River a mile below, at the lowest part of my ground: So, you see, that within the running of two miles, I plant three sluices; the main Silles being forty foot long. The reason why I planted so many within the length of two miles, was this: the river being thirty foot broad, and tenfoote deep, my Trench-royall being but tenfoote broad, and foure-foote deep, it received no more water than the breadth and depth would give leave.  
Notwithstanding the quantity of water my Trench-royall received, I did not find the want of any in the maine-river; which caused me to raise those two other sluices: grieving so commodious an Element, so rich and substantial, should fall into the Bowels of the sea, without profit. I call that a Trench-royall, 
what a trench royal is.  where part of the maine-river is commanded by sluice into it. I call that a countertrench, 
What a counter trench is.  where part of the river is stolen in by the rising of the flood to the level of the bank without sluice. 
What a topping and braving trench is  My topping or braving-trench is that which handmaides the maine-river (side by side) unto the end of the work. The Winter and Summer-trenches, 
What the winter and summer trench is.  be those that water the grounds in the Summertime. Having drowned with clear water a parcel of ground, it being satisfied and forsaken, I furnish the rest of my Trenches with that water, until a Mead of thirty or forty Acres be sufficiently seasoned. You must know, you cannot drown so many Acres, not having the advantage of these many Trenches and Lists, unless your ground be all flatt-bottom; having a stout and strong water withal. My double and treble-trenches, 
What double and treble trenches require.  require a parcel of plain ground containing forty Acres or more. At your turning-water in, it will hardly disperse over the whole; the weakness thereof is such in Summer-season if it be not holp and assisted with Summer-lysts, that run the length of the land you labour in. You may raise the List in this manner; In the midst of the Mead, in place of best advantage, force a couple of Furrows of each side with your Plough, encountering each other; cleanse those Furrows, and place the earth above: by this means your List falls out to be a footepath, when both sides of your ground are drowned, Summer and Winter.  
This manner of speaking may seem strange unto you; But, if you did see the manner of the work, you would say it could not be otherwise expressed.  
The traversing-trench, is, that which receives the water from the countertrench; 
What the traversing-trenche is.  and the Stanke-royall (running on a whorle, his sluice being taken up) is received by a Bastard-sluce, which doth disperse on both sides the Treneh; and that's the cause I call it a Traversing-trench.  

What the everlasting-trench doth.  My everlasting-trench endures more trouble than all the rest: the Trench-royall running at a floud-time (as a ship under-sail, being Admiral of the rest) and having determined of all the duties of the several Stankes, Trenches, and handmaid brooks, they humble themselves to the Stanke-royall; and prays no longer continuance there, than they prove profitable to that place▪ which is so long as they carry filth in their foreheads, (I mean a muddy flood) and declining to a clear water, the everlasting-trenche receives it to his common course, with as much joy to the Master as may be.  
I cannot well give significant names to all those Trenches, which I call troublesome; therefore I pray I may be forborn to speak of them at this time. I had almost forgotten to make a true report of the everlasting-trench: it's but a bastard-brooke, falling from my Park into the mouth of my trench-royall, and his course stopped by a Wear or sluice, not inferior to any in the maine-river. This bastard-brooke is commanded by that sluice to attend the trench-royall to the rendezvous, or place of employment, drowning altogether, which descending against the stanke-royall, is forced into his ever-lasting-course again.  
Against another Wear or sluice (comparable to any of the rest what-so ever) you shall understand why these two main Wears or sluices be planted upon so beggarly a brook: 
Wherefore the Wears or sluices are planted.  the trench-royall crossing the brook so far as the ground extends, must either have pass in the end (which cannot be without leave of the inhabitant below) or forced back again over the first Wear, three mile above; which may be: but the purpose is, the everlasting-trench shall have an everlasting continuance, to receive the Surplus of the floud-water for defence of your Hey, and after-math. The ancient breadth and depth is enlarged: for, that the flood being drawn into the Trench-royall, must fall into this everlasting-trench: and being enlarged, the trench-royall entertains it without prejudice to any of the grounds.  
My lasting discourse hath almost done with my everlasting-trench. As the trench-royall commands the everlasting-trench to the rendezvous or Consultation-place: so the countertrench hath the like command elsewhere. And as the everlasting-trench is sluced to give pass to the trench-royal to the lowest part, so I place one other Bastard fluce more; which receives the countertrench; and many times, both royal and counter-trenches meet against that sluice; which to his power, doth yield as much profit as any in all my works.  
If your grounds, at any time, be so hard frozen, as the hardness thereof is like to continue, such a snow may happen upon your frozen grounds, 
What is to be done in hard Frosts, and great snow?  as may remain thereon so long as the extremity of wether endures: or so long as you and your cattle will be weary off, which to prevent, let down your sluices, drown the frozen grounds when the snow begins to fall: so shall you release the grass being bound, and spend the snow, which threatens your prejudice, and free your grounds, that all kind of cattle, (Sheep especially) may have sufficient sustenance therein.  
My trench royal, from the beginning to the end, is three miles long; it runs so precisely on the plimme or level that every fifth year I am driven to cleanse the channel: such store of muddy-substance is forced by my first sluice therein. As the River Nilus drowns Aegips from the Abissine Mountains, enriching the cowtrey, to the wonder of the world: so doth the muddy▪ floods from the upper part of the Golden Valley, (as from a Golden Mountain or Fountain) improve my estate beyond belief. It's not unknown to my neighbourhood my demesnes at Newcourt was set and forsaken at forty pound by year, besides my Park. I set it so myself, & let any man, that hath an upright judgement and equal eyes in his head, view and review it, he will say it will yield within three years, three hundredth pounds yearly, besides my Park. Many have said to me, no other man's grounds lie so convenient to drown as mine at Newcourt. 
The Golden Valley is but seven miles in length, and one mile broad.  I answered them, yes: for, three other livings of mine, afford the like advantage for drowning. The Vale is but seven mile in length, and not a mile over any where. Yet there be diverse Gentlemen therein, whose livings might be bettered, some a hundred, some two hundred pounds yearly: amongst the rest, there's one that dwells on my right hand: the River divides our demesnes, who might stock his grounds with stankes, trenches, lists, bastard-sluces, and such inventions as the ground requires; being all flatbottom: and I truly take it, he may drown four hundred Acres with less charge ten times then mine: not having one Maine-Weare or Sluice to raise: For, those I have planted, serves for both grounds: but whether it be his ignorance in not understanding, or negligence in forbearing, I know not; but, I am sure, it's out of his way an hundred pounds a year.  
There is another Gentleman, who dwells on my left hand, makes show of understanding it; yet are his grounds over-howed with the like neglect: but seeming to excuse it by some unexpected troubles (which indeed he endured) & that his weighty occasions would not give him leave to under-take, nor suffer his servants to attend it, he having in the eye of his house, a hundred Acres of errable land, worth not above three shillings an Acre, which amounts but to fifteen pound a year. Yet I made him this offer, if he would be pleased to make it plain, as plain might be, for four years, I would give him fifteen pound a year, being the true value of his land: and after the end of the four years, I would take it for one and twenty, yielding him a hundred pounds a year, the charge wholly mine, in raising sluices; stankes, trenches, and what else soever: 
A liberal offer refused, which if taken, had benefited the offerer more than the offered.  so, during the four years, he should receive fifteen pound a year; and ever after, a hundred pound yearly to him and his heirs for ever.  
I did not require any thing until the four years were expired, and then my demand was but three hundred pound.  
The year following, one hundred came in unto him again, the second, an other hundred, & the third he received another; so in 3. years, he received his three hundred pound.  
He offered me nothing, and he hath done nothing; so this is but an accusation for negligence, setting it forth in as friendly manner as I may. O! if the Lord of a Manor did but know what an offence it is to plant an under-shot-mil upon a River, where the situation of the soil affords drown: He were better to put his wits awork to make Windmills in plain ground, if he would consider what he looseth by it.  
For example; my right-hand-neighbour having such a Mill as I speak off, worth some ten pound by year, and four hundred Acres of excellent ground to handle: he forbears his Winter and Summer drowning, to give satisfaction to this unsatisfiable glutton the Vnder-shot-mil, where, in the trueness of husbandry, he should daily drown three hundred Acres for ever.  
As the Sun shines ever once a day in Alexandria, by reason whereof the Land yields sweet increase; so might he say he dwelled daily in the Land of Canaan, which ever flows with Milk and honey.  
And as the greatness of the Turk obscures the Persian-glory, or as the Hungarian forces are the only Obstacle, hindering the Turks descending to the conquest of the Christian Kingdoms; so should his stankes or dams encounter the downfall of the Muddy floods from the Mountains of great Cadwalleder.  
Thus much to encourage my neighbour for the undertaking of waterworks. 
The length of the Trench Royal.   
My Trench-royall being three miles long, and running plimm or level forward and backward; I plant divers Bastard-sluces cross the Trench-royall, for Winter and Summer drowning.  
If any man will be so fantastical as to carry his wife level by water to her Dairy, or build Barnes and Cattell-houses over the same for ease of his Oxen, I refer myself to his consideration whether it be not possible; the Trench royal being ten foot broad, 
The breadth and depth of the Trench-royall.  and four foot deep. Likewise if by Boat you will carry Compost, Corn, hay, Wood, Stone, Milk, or any other Provision, it's referred to your like consideration. I made two little Ones for the carriage of earth, which I found to do me such service, as I know two Teams in a day could not countervail any of them.  
Their burden being but two load a piece three servants commanded them both, in; their charging and discharging: their length being twenty foot; the breadth but three: Had I a Boat with a Keel five or six & thirty foot long, 
The good service of a Boat.  and nine foot broad, I would carry seven or eight load of Compost at a time; Corn in Sheaves would conveniently be carried; but how many load of Hay, at a time, I can but guess: You must at all times examine how your Trench royal is stored with muddy-substance; it being furnished by the main River, every flood, every second, or third year it riseth in the bottom 2. foot at the least; especially for a mile or two coming in at the mouth of the Trench, it doth fill the forepart of the same: & unless you cleanse those parts you cannot receive so much water by 10. foot broad. and 2-foot deep: the want whereof you shall find in your lower grounds. As the finest husbandmen be most provident and studious to make their profit answer their labour; so let not the charge of cleansing the Trench-royall be grievous unto you: in respect the recompense shall (much more than the greatest usury) outgo your laying out.  
In the year 1601. I was forced to cleanse my trench-royall, being almost filled to the levill of the Bank, and for the excellency of the substance therein contained, all the dunghills in the country can witness it was their very quintessence: the quantity thereof may be estimated by the breadth and depth; and I know five hundred honest Yeomen, Husbandmen, and labourers would say, the Substance would overcountervail the charge being employed for Wheat, Onions, Cabiges, Carats, or any other Roots agreeing with the nature of that Residence of the Trenches.  
Which Muddy substance being put on the one side of your Trench-royall, you may by Boat, carry to your wheat-land, to your Garden, or to better any other barren ground that yields no profit: For, I will drown Winter and Summer at my pleasure, a thousand Acres of Meadow.  
I will sustain no inconvenience at any time, unless the negligence of my servants suffer the Sluices to be up when they should be down; or some envious, lewd, or malicious person, in the nighttime lose them down of purpose to harm me.  
No Subject in the Kingdom can certainly say he hath the like Grounds, unless he daily drown as I do. And for these thousand Acres I shall be able to Mowe them twice a year.  
If I please: The rush, the Moss, the boult, the hard head, and many other unprofitable weeds craves mercy at my hands for their life in respect of their former offences; with protestation never to trouble the ground again.  
I do not see why the cowslip should have more favour than the rest, unless it be to countenance the Maypole.  
I have not done all I can do, I can Graze my mowing Meads, until the first of May. I would see who can do the like, without the hazard of his Hay that Summer, unless he follow my example. It may be said by some among themselves that you (neighbour) and I, 
In Lombary grass grows apparently twice a day being cut twice a day.  may do the like: But then, that You, and I must live by the Rivers of Leadon, Dowbanke, Frommey, or in the Land of Lombardy, where grass groweth apparently twice a day.  
Those young Gentlemen that have scarce living enough to maintain themselves in the misery of this Age; should (if they did well) learn to level and quarter a ground: then sell that little they have; and afterwards examine the Records in the custody of the Clerk of the Statutes; there shall they find that Clerk to have more Clients (in my conscience) than any Councillor in the Kingdom.  
And for mine own part (without vainglory be it said) I am as well known in that Office as a better man.  
Thus, by taking pains, following the Ordinaries, and being acquainted with the under-sheriffs, & Atourneys of every County; those Gentlemen for a quart of Canavary-wine, will give you a Calendar of all 
(a) Yronicé.  the Landlords, that are beforehand with the World: In which if they deal not injuriously with you, you shall find my name. This done, examine the Rivers, Brooks, Fountains and Springs in every County, whether they be employed or no. If they run idle, make your match in the country you best like off; & I assure you, you shall find more Land to be sold utterly neglected (while the water runs at waist) than a thousand such young Gentlemen I speak off, will buy.  
I do advise all men that willbe Undertakers in this Husbandry, to be perfect in the true Survey of the number of Acres that may be drowned; and that they make choice (as near as they can) of errable-land: which commonly exceeds not two or three shillings an Acre yearly. Old Pasture covered with moss, that nature hath forsaken, and Medow-ground (if there be any) that takes more pride in the company of the Cowslipp, than the gilt-cupp which carrieth the garland from the rest.  
And for your comfort, (be this spoken) if in the laying out of five hundred pound, at the end of four years, you make it not two or three thousand pound, 
Nota.  your choice is bad, and luck worse. During those forty years you cannot receive less than the rate you buy it at; which is twenty years purchase, or as you can agree: And so from five hundred to a thousand, two, three, or as much as your estate will stretch too; the more the better.  
If you find difficulty in my discourse; any Easter or Michell-masse Term you shall find me in the house of a true Britain (master Wotton a Scrivener) in Fleetstreet, over against Saint Dunstan's Church. And for a Supper, at john Gents you shall have your Bellyful of waterworks. For my Drown, my name hath been so scandallized in open Ordinary, by a Western Gentleman, who, since the King's majesties coming, is become a Knight of account, but rash censure deserves little reckoning in mine account: Many men spoke diversly of my labours for a long time, because the Honourable Courts (as they thought) had brought me to Beggers-bay: and failing in the true execution of my works, in not placing a Plank of four inches thick, and twenty inches broad, under the main syl, to prevent the water from undermining the same, and withal failing to lay my Grounds (by the indiscretion of my Servants) level or plain, and not understanding of what strength my Stanks should be to with stand the weight of the Water that plays against them, & what allowance to give each stank in his Foundation; and forbearing the running of my Trench-Royal to the end of his Course for many years, and not thinking Stankes to be necessary for the commanding of Grounds disoebeying my desire, and withal (lately) running Counter-Trenches, which next the Trench-royall, have place above any; which were not dreamed off before; many sluices, and for many years, were forborn in places most convenient, and much profit lost thereby: 
Twenty years practise in these Works.  my speculation having continuance in practice above twenty years.  
But were it now to begin again, I would perform it in one: and raise it to the greatest profit in four: so hard a thing is it for any mortal man to perfitt any profitable invention, without pains, cost, and continuance of time.  
They say now, if Master Vaughan had these & these grounds he would do This and This. This opinion have I gotten in the country where I dwell.  
There is a Shropshire Gentleman (Master Hoord) a famous man, his labours (I know) have taken trial at envies Bar, by ignorant jurors and unjust judges for a work he performed. It was chargeable unto him; the situation thereof was such as it could not be otherwise handled. I saw it, viewed it, and examined it; and I know it doth much more than countervail the charge. But had I been acquainted with him, in his first beginning, he should not have spent his time to so small profit: not that he mistook in the handling thereof; but knowing my own errors, and by costly experience able to instruct him; I found no want of Art in him, but the want of Winter and Summer-water to serve his turn.  
I would have persuaded him to have forborn that barren undertaking, & to have gotten five or six thousand pound with ten times less labour, in the choice of a thousand places elsewhere, where he might have drowned daily for ever.  
Muddy-flouds do often happen in Summertime. If the running of them idle be so unto other men as it is unto me, 
Muddy floods often happen in Summertime.  let them do as I do; ever have one pasture bore eaten: and as you keep one special Chamber in your house to entertain a stranger, so, you always have one Pasture for that muddy-floud, which will pay you after twice twenty in the hundred. It's confessed by all in the Golden-Vale, that that little land which we have would be bettered fifteen hundred pounds a year. If the like were done throughout England, 
Note the profit of drown.  it would profit the kingdom in a year two Millions: which would maintain an army-royal, to the honour of Great Britain, and be most comfortable to all honourable Soldiers, Crest-fallen for want of war and military employment.  
It pleased master Hoord to view the place where my waterworks were performed, accompanied with three judicious and understanding Gentlemen, namely, Master Brainton, Master Pearl, and Master Wolridge; what their belief was, I refer it to those who have a desire to be informed.  
Any Gentleman or other having performed a work, and brought it to his absolute perfection; should not sit down by it: but having finished that Work, and being Master but of one Living, 
Note this advice.  I would (as I formerly said) advise him to sell it: and at the end of four years make good account by purchase, to gain six, if not ten for one. I have a Mead called nine dayes-math: an excellent Mead, and approved for such of all my neighbours. I sold the herbage thereof diverse years for five pound per Annum: but within few years, after the floods played upon it, I sold the Hey for ten pound yearly: and the latter or after-math was richly worth five. I will graze this Mead until May: yet notwithstanding the Hey will yield me ten pound, and the after-math five. Now having (I hope) profited the intelligent Reader, thus far: all the favour I desire at his hands, in lieu thereof, is this, That I may have leave to give new names unto mine old grounds, without being laughed at in ordinaries by scarce ordinary understanders. Some they must have; for, those they had by drowning are covered with new earth. And withal, they be enlarged above two hundred Acres. I cannot call that the nine-daies-math, which now is above 30. (unless I should forget my counting-craft) nor that a Moor which is firm and pleasing ground; nor that the rushy-leasow, which is reduced now unto a more fruitful and profitable plot, if the rush appear there again, he forfeits the fee-simple of his life: so having my grounds divided into 12. parts, their names (under favour) be altered and now called in this manner: the Pink, the Gille-flower, the Carnation, 
The new names of the Meads and Pastures.  the Rosemary, the Marigold, the gilt-cup, the Honeysuckle, the daisy, the Garland, the Eglantine, the Cowslip & the Primrose. Some do say their Kine do yield more milk having often change, than those that graze in only one pasture. I say nothing to it: but, believe those dairy women that affirm it. This I can say, for any that desire often change, (as the most part would have fresh and fresh pasture) if they (being curious) will not be coy to handle a Cow-shore in his kind: then thus; When the Kine be put over to some other ground, you know their stain or dung by heat of the sun will grow hard: and within short time, will force a proud and insolent grass; such as the Kine in their return will not touch.  
When you turn out your Kine into fresh feeding; be sure to disperse and sever those Cow-shares, that the place be, not stained with any pollution. They being dispersed; drown your ground with clear water: or mud (if a flood happen) the ground being bare, two Blessings encounter each other, and purify the place where the Cow-shores were fallen: so, at the next turning in of your Kine, some fortnight after, they shall find nothing to distemper or offend the taste: the water doth cleanse and clear all annoyance to the beast, and breeds perfect life in every growing grass. This last Summer 1604. in Trinity term, being above at London, I came not down till after Midsummer: having grazed my mowing Meads too too long after May. Upon my return, I inquired in what state my grounds stood, my servants answered they were sufficiently seasoned; 
Eye-pleasers are often liars.  but (in deed) they did (as many) servants do) report the best of the worst, to excuse their negligence: the Meads were not so sufficiently drowned, as the necessity thereof required: They being neglected before mowing, not trying their temper with a riding-rod, (my belief was so great in those greater Liars) but after mowing, the truth appeared, the quantity of Meade (in one place) being three score and ten Acres, by reason of the mowing, making, and carriage, before the ground were free to drown, the extremity of the heat was so great, that the grass turned yellow; being tainted, as a sheep on a dry rot: or, as a man inly sick, and newly recovered faults into a relapse again.  
In this manner my grounds had gotten the green-sickness or a buruing-feaver (I know not well whether) If in the extreme heat you would drown with judgement, you should not drown in the heat of the day: but in the night from sun to sun. But being forced, I suffered the water to work night and day; the season of the year falling out to be dry: the sun extremely hot; the ground hot, dry, and hard: so what between the heat of the sun, and heat of the ground, the water became lukewarm, and failed to effect that good which by Nature otherwise it would have done.  
And if I be not deceived, the infection of the earth, had poisoned the water: or made it so sick, as it was not able to endure the ground. As a scudding shower of rain, 
The quality of ground distempered with heat.  doth raise upon a dung-hill-poole great bubbles (like an Oxe-eye) by falling of the drops thereon; or, as water in a pot, by the heat of the fire, doth labour, and show distemper: so, did that waterwork, play, and bubble on the face of the ground, showing (for a quarter of an hour) nothing but discontent.  
The ground being qualified, the grass did not instantly grow (as at other times, being orderly fed) the colour being changed, the grass standing at the point of death, being in that case as a sick patient having taken a purgation, who must have a time of recovery: so did the grass, for diverse days, show nothing but sorrow, heaviness and all discomfort. It being once made yellow by the heat of the Sun, and recovered of the Yellow-Iaundies, although the comfort of the water put life into it; yet, during the season, it had never his perfect complexion again: the point ever carrying a show of poisoning; which error (with God's help) I will never commit hereafter  
Let all men drown before they Mowe, and after Mowing, your grass will not be yellow, but as green as a Leek. You must always keep your grounds in a true temper; they must never be too wet in the Winter, but when you drown; nor too dry in the Summer, having water enough. I had almost forgotten this; before you raise your stankes, be sure to clear your grounds from Moles or Wants, 
Moles are mischievous vermin in or about such waterworks  they be dangerous creatures (like a Usurer that's hardly gotten out of a man's land, wherein he hath gotten footing,) if they have possession in a stank.  
You know when all other grounds be drowned some part of the stank will be free; they will not fail to rend and tear your stank like Rabbits in a sandy soil. I protest two or three Wants in my stanke-royall, was out of my way twenty pound a year, for many years. I put a fumbling fellow to attend their walks, who (not being cunning enough to destroy them) utterly plagued me; until I happened upon a good workman, who hath cleared my stankes & my braving-trench. And were it not for my braving-trench and my stankes, I should never need the use of a Want-killer; because I do so oft drown in Wintertime; which often drowning doth force them to forsake the soil.  
I would desire no better pastime than the hunting of a Want in a plain Mead. My braving-trench being close by the main River: my trench-royall lying on the height of the ground: my servant seeing her cast, if near the trench-royall he commands water into a descending trench; and doth force her on the face of the ground with much submission, praying her Clergy: her offence being Burglary in breaking my stankes, although she were the first means that occasioned all these undertake, yet I could not be drawn to yield her a pardon: had she wrought in any other part of my grounds, I had not taken it so grievously: but, in spoiling my fundamental parts, with working clean through my stankes, and forcing them, by the extremity of the water altogether down, she was uncapable of pardon. If he that hath an over-shoote-mill would enter into an account with himself, whether it were more profitable for him Winter and Summer to drown grounds, or to grind corn, it would put him to a pussle.  
I know many men that have Mills, who for a desire to gain a peck of corn a day (and many days fails to get any) so that by a true computation, 
Drowning more profitable than Mills.  in the whole year, the Mill may be worth some four or five pound: and in drowning, four or five acres of barren ground, I will raise a far greater benefit.  
But because he will give reputation unto his demesnes, or information on the marriage of his son, that he hath such a Mill; he had rather suffer muddy Floods in the Winter, and clear Waters in Summer to break their limbs on his Mill wheels, then exercise his wits (by Drowning (to attain a world of wealth.  
It is groan to a kind of proverbial speech, in the Golden-Vaile, that he that doth drown is a good Husband: he that may and will not, is figured out with the syllable, Fu.  
I know, I have as good an Ouer-shot-mill for Water enough as this Kingdom yields: yet rather than I would grind my own Corn at a floud-time, or in my drowning times in Summer, I would carry it ten mile off to be ground, though the Miller told the one half.  
Being requested by many Gentlemen of the best quality, to put these waterworks in Print: I prayed those ingenious Gentlemen, (Sergeant Lovel and master Coulthurst) to speak what they thought concerning the same.  
They both (under their hands by way of subscription) said; it would be very profitable to the Kingdom to be put in execution: being of late a common thing in Devonshire; but, not in so ample manner.  
For draining of grounds Master Lovel is Sergeant-major of the same; 
draining of Grounds, cousine-Germain to Drowning.  yet I'll say as the mean Counsellor saith to the Sergeant at Law; under favour (master Sergeant) I'll declare what I did in your Element of draining, being but Cousin-Germaine removed to mine of Drowning.  
A Ring of ground (some fourscore Acres) situate stirrope-wise; a Brook in the upper-part crossing the same, in the smaller point of his extent, there running from Adam's days in likelihood: the greater quantity of the ground from the Creation never sound: but stained with the Bolt, the Rush, a Quagmire coherent, with many other Improfitables, never mowed, nor grazed in the driest days, but knee deep in water. It lay at the gaze for five thousand six-hundred and six years, and by general opinion it stood in state of damnation; as if it had been cursed like Mare-mortuum for the sin of Sodom.  
When I had divided my sound Grounds from those infected with leprosy; with as many maister-trenches as were neeedful to conduct my draining, Sucking, Working, & Searching-trenches into the maister-trenches; having but two foot descent to procure a passage; all this being performed; that spongy bog drained, dried and made fit for any use: I drew the Brook which crossed the upper point of the Ground down into the belly of the bog, to make privy search in every particular Trench, what filth fell therein.  
Livery and Season taken, 
Livery & Season taken by the Brook.  Atornement of Tenants, Fealty, with all other Ceremonies that Littelton lays down to raise Uses, Cusstomes, or Estates of Inheritance, with payment of pence, and the strongest Fortifications my skill could afford for an everlasting continuance, and clear keeping of the draining, Sucking, Working, and searching Trenches.  
I protest I had almost forgotten this ensuing most necessary Invention. 
A necessary Invention for suppling hard Grounds for easiness of Trenching.   
I was in the Parish of Peter-Church to run a Trench-royall some mile on the plimm: The country-people made themselves believe it would cost me a thousand Marks. Before I ran any part of my Trench: I planted my Sluices cross the River, at such time as my Sluices were down, the Water did rise to the level of the Greene-sward: the Sluices being up, the Water sunk unto his ordinary course again.  
So had I the command of the Sluices to rise and sink the Water at my pleasure.  
Having leveled the Trench: I put eight Labourers to work therein, who, (during the whole day) wrought but one Perch, which was but six foot broad, and three foot deep: To whom I said (when I perceived how little they had done in a day) I see now it's true, as the Country saith: 
countrymen's Conjectures are not always Oraclces.  It will cost me a thousand Marks ere I effect this Work, if it go no better forward. They said unto me they did their best endeavour: But after they had taken some half a foot of the green sward (or face of the ground away) they could not force their spades or spittels one inch deep, the hardness of the Earth was such: and wished me to give over that undertaking.  
It was somewhat before Michaelmas (the Winter-raine not having suppled or mollified the ground any whit at all) I commanded them to attend their labour on the morrow; then did I cause them to run forty perches in length, six foot broad, & but half a foot deep; which halfe-foote deep the spades did easily enter: And so for that day, I ended with them Then they demanded what employment I would put them to the next morrow? I bade them good night: and willed them to be there very early in the morning. After they were gone, I caused my man, to let down the sluices, and raise the Water to the height thereof, and Suddenly the Trench flowing, it entered with such puissance as if it would have dissolved the very Bowels of the Ground. Then early before their coming my Servant took up the Sluices, 
A notable sudden effect of Water on hard ground uneasy to be Trenched.  sunk the Water, and gave it the liberty of the main River, that they the next day, easily forced their spades two foot deep and more. And in this manner, with the water, I suppled the Trench from the beginning to the end, & saved thereby a hundred pound at least.  
Many worthy and expert men have written of the breeding of cattle, 
The manner of breeding Calves.  whose endeavours I much reverence, and refer them to be commended by Posterity: Yet, will I venture to lay down mine experience in the younger sort, for the Falling, Weaning, and Raising of Calves: which (briefly) is this: Those Calves you mean to breed: a month before they fall, let your Cow or Kine be well fed with good Hay, that she or they may be the better able to be delivered of them, and to yield plenty of Milk: Upon their first Calving, suffer them not to have too much milk for three or four days: For in over-sucking themselves, they will be so glutted with the plenty and newness of it, that nature in them will be overcome, & be subject to Gillying or Scouring, which will hinder them for a long time. When they be five or six days old, let them suck as much as they can: When they come to be a month old, provide a Cratch for fine Hay, and a Trough for clean Water, although you have no meaning that they shall sustain themselves thereby: but to prepare and acquaint them (in a wanton manner) to learn to eat Hay, 
How to learn them to eat Hay & drink Water.  and drink Water. Daily they will be nibbling with the Hay and Water as desirous as some idle persons be of tobacco and Ale.  
When they be eight weeks old take away the Milk of one Teat from your Calf in milking your Cow before the Calf be suffered to suck: the want of which Teat (for hunger and thirst) will provoke both your Calf to eat Hay, and drink Water. Continue him so for four days; then take away, or milk one other Teat from your Calf as aforesaid, which is half the Milk; so, will you force your Calf to a greater desire of Hay and Water: After this, take away the milk of another Teat within four days after; and so after that take away all. Handling the matter in this manner, your Calf will never mourn, for want of Milk or loss of Dam, but will cheerfully fall to eating of Hay and Drinking of water immediately.  
Let your Servants be very careful to litter them with clean Straw daily, and keep them sweet with good Hay: and let them never want clear water. If you have good scope of house-room let them run and play their fills: When you purpose to turn them to grass, 
What you must do when you purpose to turn them to Grass.  keep them in the House upon Hay and Water until Mid-may: If you turn them out (as the most do) in April, you undo them: the nights being cold, the grounds cold, the grass weak and raw: they never acquainted with the air, will mislike with your unkind dealing: in token whereof the heir will turn; and their bellies lose, scour, or gilly, that they never will be themselves: because the Sun hath not wrought sufficiently with heat to comfort the ground that should feed and comfort them.  
When they have been some month in your best Meads in Mid-may, and after recovered their strength: put them into some higher Grounds where there is Grass, water, and shadow enough: Let them rest there until Bartholomew: then put them over into your After-maths before the time of the year grows cold, and then it will so puff them with pride that all the winter following they will scorn the malice of the hardness of the Season if they may have their fills of Hay, and fog with a Hovel or House in the extremest cold days to shelter them.  
The first year being spent, every man knows how to handle them: If you will have them principal cattle, give them hay enough the second Winter.  
But what a Calf am I to teach Countrymen to breed Calves by Art, when they (good Husbands) breed them fast enough by Nature; 
Husbandmen breeds Calves by Nature.  I therefore bequeath this Doctrine to Gentlemen that can better tell how to breed a Hound then a Calf; and refer what else might be spoken, to the discretion of the experienced.  
Thus have I touched what I handle with as much brevity as I could: ommitting nothing that may give evidence on the behalf of those Particulars, which will fall out to be as true in effect as in appearance when ever they are put to their strictest Trial.  
THerefore, now nothing remains more to be said; but to entreat thee (friendly Reader) to bear with my merry-sorry Style, if therein any where I have not observed a precise scholarlike Decorum: for Mars his University (wherein sometime I have been matriculated, and proceeded to some degrees of command, according to my study and time spent therein) affords no rules of speaking in Print, yet Soldiers (in their Element) best speak in Print: and can express what else lies in the compass of their spacious conceits, like men of Wit, Art, and Courage; which they that speak altogether by the Book, oft fail to perform. But howsoever, as this Work, now finished, is published for thy profit, and expressed in such manner as I thought would yield thee most pleasure: so thou wilt accept it kindly, and thereby give me cause to be ever studious of thy benefit.  
Principally, though lastly, I am humbly to entreat you (my good Lord of Pembroke) to look on my plainness, and wink at my boldness: the first, proceeding from my Nature, the last, from my Education: Yet, what is here bluntly expressed, was first of all sharply conceived, with much whetting of Wit, and no less filing of Invention. But what it is, it is all Yours, as he is, that will no longer be, than he remains  
Your Lordships even beyond his uttermost. Rowland Vaughan.    

Those that are desirous to see a Mill sawing Timber, there shall their desires be fully satisfied, seeing a Mill by a Watercourse, keep a dozen Saws on work together. As also by the like stream of water, a dozen Spits or Broaches turned at once. Which turning, turns all Turn-spit jacks out of countenance, though they be never so saucy, and their tongues run on Wheels, yet, this Waterwork, works them out of all favour with the Cook, that loves to do much with little labour, whom the jacks distemper (which often happens) soon makes hot as a Tost, because (like a Cricket) he lives ever about Fire.   

The Conclusion.  

THus runs our waterworks unto this end,  
That all that work by them, by them may play▪  
For, if they Mossy-grounds by them amend,  
For pains and pleasures (then) they'll freely pay.   

This WORK consists not (like some idle Tracts)  
In show alone, or Speculation:  
No; this is practical, fair shows in Acts,  
To make the poorest, the richest Nation.   

Then, chiefly aimed I not at publick-good,  
I would not thus divulge my private skill:  
But, bee'ng freeborn, my nature's like my Blood;  
Which would do good to all, and no man ill:  
Then, All (I hope) or of that All, the best  
Will wish me well: as for the rest, I rest.   
Theirs as they give me cause, Rowland Vaughan.  
FINIS.   

In praise of the Work and Author.  
TO praise a work of such a worth as this,  
That shows the way t'enrich both earth & man:  
Deserves a wit that rare and excellent is,  
And all to short, excel in what it can.  
The Author, and his work do merit fame;  
Without the glory of a Poet's name.  
Anthony Davies.