OF THE OPENING OF RIVERS FOR NAVIGATION, The Benefit exemplified, By The Two AVONS Of Salisbury and Bristol. WITH A Mediterranean Passage by Water for BILLANDERS of Thirty Tun, between Bristol and London. With the Results.  
LONDON: Printed by James Cottrel, 1655.   

To his Highness, OLIVER, Lord PROTECTOR of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging.  
May it please your Highness,  
ALthough this following Design be see forth both plain in speech, and unpolished for eloquence (my Genius having not assumed the one, nor my endeavours in Literature attained the other) not for want of desire, but ability to perform it: Yet notwithstanding I beseech your Highness favour to make the best Construction of it, which here I most humbly present to your Highness, under whose wing I fly for protection and assistance, which otherwise will be an Embryo or Abortive never to receive life, if not animated by your powerful hand.  
Wherefore in all humility I do make this Address unto your Highness, by the great lustre owned to your Name from all parts of Europe, your Conquest of the Seas making your Highness receive famous and renowned Courtship from all Princes; All Lands being ambitious of our friendship, in Contemplation of divine Providence thus advancing you and your affairs: And as your Highness is thus esteemed by all Foreign Nations for your happy achievements, so I the humblest of your servants am desirous, by presenting this which is the first Domestic service, to your Highness' Consideration, to make you as popular at home as you are abroad, that all may see your aims are no other than the true advancement of the Public good of this people now under your Highness' Government; the continuance whereof shall have the daily prayers of him, that as in duty bound, remains  
July the 9 1655. Your Highness, though unworthy, yet most humble and faithful Servant, Francis Matthew.  
If your Highness approve of this Overture presented, and be pleased to Command my Attendance on the Lords of your Highness most Honourable Privy-Council, I shall be ready to give them further Satisfaction herein, for perfecting this Design, and removing all difficulties.   

Of the opening of Rivers for Navigation, etc.  
IN these Papers we are not to reflect upon this Island, as capable of such waterings as the flat Netherlands, whose benefits may seem to allure us to the like industry; nevertheless England's fair Valleys, and rich Inlets, through which many noble Rivers insinuate themselves, might with the imitation of the industrious Netherlanders be made in many places docible of Navigation, to the inestimable comfort, satisfaction, ease, and profit of the public, especially during the seven (which we call) winter-months, when waters abound in our Rivers, and the Seacoasts so dangerous for Navigation.  
The Objections of the difference of the Soil, must not deter us from so advantageous an enterprise, terman will not think himself highly advanced, to come out of a River into the Sea; out of a Billander to a man of War, whose constant pay will be far greater, and whose employment will be of much more credit, and carry with it more hope of preferment?  
Hence also many thousands of Horse, now only used for Packs and Burdens, would be spared, and so multiplied for Warlike service, and their feeding employed upon improveable stocks.  
The facility of Commerce from one place to another, and the cheapness of transportation of Commodities without so much grinding and ploughing up our highways, which maketh them now in so many places so impassable.  
You shall see Western Wagons, which they call Plows, carry forty hundred weight; insomuch as between Bristol and Marlborough, they have been enforced at a Hill they call Bagdown-hill, to put twenty beasts, Horse and Oxen, to draw it up: This great abuse by this means would be taken away, by keeping our highways pleasant; and withal, by this transportation of Commodities by River, the price of Commodities would fail.  
The Imposition, though easy, laid upon every such Navigable passage, would, as Rivers by degrees are opened, amount to a fair revenue, without any grievance at all to the people, but rather with much comfort as it is embraced in other Countries, where they cannot live without the help of these Billanders, passing and repassing daily from Town to Town, from Market to Market, and from Coast to Coast; these be only some few of so many benefits which will result from the opening of Rivers.  

General Observations upon all Rivers as they are thought fit to be made Navigable.  
To rise as high in opening the said Rivers as they shall be found feasible, there to make a Wharf, Magazine, 
See Rastal a● large in his Havens & Rivers upon the 27 of Eliz.  or Warehouses for all such Commodities as are useful to those parts of the Country, both for Trade in Merchandizing, and Service in time of War, with far greater expedition.  
If any other River practiceable for Boats lie near the head, 
Let the head of the Avon which falleth down from Rugby to Warwick, and so into the Severne, be examined with the Welland, which riseth near to the head of the Avon, & falleth down to Stamford, and so through the Isle of Ely, into the Sea.  or side of the said River, and that the ground favour the opening of a still River to be drawn between them, then to join them with Sasses, alias Locks, or otherwise. But should the ground be repugnant, than a fair stone Causeway, not exceeding one little days journey for Horse, or Carts, to be raised between the said Rivers; where the Navigation ends, a Wharf, or Magazine to be made as aforesaid, if these Rivers reach from Sea to Sea, not otherwise.  
By the like industry, many Mediterranean passages by water, with the help of such Cawseys, would be found from one Sea to the other, and not to have the old Channel of any River to be forsaken to gain a shorter passage.) For, as hath been said, Rivers are never out of their way; and upon these Navigable pasages, our chief Manufactures should be set up for the Commodities of transportation.  
Object. These great works always bring forth great difficulties, though the benefit should be never so apparent.  
Answ. Can any thing of this nature seem difficult to a State resolved to do good to its people? Difficulties are the boundaries of narrow hearts, such ought not to be the heart of a State, which should most rejoice in difficult things, in the overcoming of which, so much honour is achieved.  
A business well pondered and seriously resolved on, by a powerful Undertaker, is carried like the world upon Atlas' shoulders, without groaning.  
Object. 2. Most of our Rivers in the Summer time will want water to carry a Boat, even our Thames sometimes is so shallow, as our Barges are gravelled.  
Answ. Such Rivers as shall be judged fit for Navigation must not be debarred the Contribution which other Springs, Brooks, and Rivers would give them; wherefore all such Streams, 
These expressly forbidden in Magna Charta, Cap. 2. See Henr. primi, Cap. 12. Also Walsingham, in Edw. 3 And see John Davis in his Irish Reports.  great or small, which would willingly fall into our said Rivers designed for Navigation, aught to be free, and not to be bound up with Wears, Sluices, Pens for Mills, and the like imprestures, which keep up, stop, and divert the Waters from their natural Course, and fall into those Navigable Rivers.  
Those Mills either the State should buy of the Owners of them, and erect for every Water-mill three Horsemills, for the necessity of the Country adjoining, or so agree with the Owners of them, that they pulling up their Water-mills and such apparent purprestures for the free Course of Waters should themselves set up the said Horsemills for the use of the Country in places more convenient, then to go in some place a mile or two to a Water-mill, which asketh a days employment for a man and Horse.  
And truly, if the consumption of our Timber hold on but some few years more, there will be none left to build either Water-mill or Windmill, they requiring the best and strongest Timber we have: so that of necessity we shall be driven to set up these Horsemills, which are built with our meanest Wood, our Oak being little enough to maintain our Shipping, were it never so well preserved hereafter.   

The Avon of Bristol made Navigable as high as Malmsbury and Calne, with the Profits for Transportation of Coals and other Commodities.  
Which also may with facility produce a Mediterranean passage by water from Bristol to London.  
The Coal-pits in Kings-wood near Bristol, and if they suffice not those Colliaries upon the Severn-side to furnish that Country so much destitute of Fuel up to Malmsbury and Calne, in this manner may be looked upon: This River made Navigable for Billanders flat-bottomed Boats of thirty tun, which draw loaden but three foot and an half of water. The work being feasible at a far less Charge than the yearly Profit will come to, these Colliers are to be dealt with to bring Coal either out of Kings-wood, or from the Severn, to a place assigned them for wharfage, they affording the Newcastle Cauldron at the said Wharfage for 10 s. 2 d.  
Those Colliers in Wales, the State may take it into their own hands, giving the Owners yearly more for them then they now make.  
These Colliaries settled, 
These of Kingswood are upon the States own soil.  and the River of Bristol made Navigable, the State to licence 300 of these Billanders, each bearing thirty Cauldron (only London measure) and these to bring Coal from the Wharf up the said River as high as Malmsbury and Calne, paying 10 s. 2 d. the London Cauldron at the Wharf, and 5 s. for every such Cauldron for the passage up the River, and sell them at Malmsbury and Calne for 18 s. 2 d. the London Cauldron.  
The Owner or Merchant of the Wharf having for every such London Cauldron delivered, 
These sold at 18 s. 2 d. London Cauldron.  10 s. 2 d. The State for the passage of every such Cauldron 5 s.  
The Billander for his freight for every such Cauldron, 3 s.  
The difference of Newcastle and London measure in the Cauldron, being a third Coal, two Newcastle Cauldron making three of London: The surplus of measure should be given to the State, to be landed near the said Wharves, upon a Wharf called the State's Wharf.  
The other Wharves to be divided into six; 
Surplus of measure to belong to the State.  every Wharf having his squadron of 50 Billanders, belonging to the Owners and Merchants of the several Wharves; which Wharves may have their Names from the Colours they shall bear.  
These Wharves to be kept by the Owners of the Coal which lieth upon them, who are to receive (as hath been said) 10 s. 2 d. for every Cauldron given out, London measure.  
These Billanders are to sail up the River, every squadron by its self, having each his Admiral, and Rear-Admiral, carrying their Flags of proper Colours, none of the said squadron sailing before his Admiral, nor any behind his Rear-Admiral; and this to prevent disorder as they pass through the Country.  
They are so to discharge both the duties at the Wharf, and the duties for the Passage, as to make no stay at all.  
Every Admiral at the discharge of the duties for his whole squadron (for he is to undertake it) is to receive a Ticket for his free passage through the River, without which they are not to pass the Block-house or Fort for preserving the State's revenue.  
These Wharves aforesaid, are to have correspondent Wharves at Malmsbury and Calne, and to be regulated as the former, one Squadron not unlading at another's Wharf, where each Billander is to receive for its freight of 30 Cauldrons, 4 l. 10 s. every voyage; and two of these voyages may well be made in one month.  
The Wharves paying the Billanders their Salary, and keeping the Coals for all such as fetch it there at 18 s. 2 d. the London Cauldron.  
As concerning the Coal, before should be laid upon the State's Wharf, being the third Coal gained in the Nowcastle measure, that also is to have at Malmsbury and Calne a Wharf called the State's Wharf, corresponding to the former, where that surplus of measure should be had and kept for the benefit of the State, in thankfulness for that great charge in making the River thus Navigable, for the benefit of the Country: And thereby the benefit of the Coal, and Passage, cometh to the State (the freight of the Billander only excepted.)  

The groundwork being thus laid, the Profits are these:   l. s. d. Every Billanders fraight with 30 London Cauldron for the Passage only, 
These from Bristol to Malmsbury, and Calne, making two voyages every 〈◊〉 month, carry 126000 Cauldron.  Fruits to the State Every voyage— 7 10 0 Every Squadron of 50 of these Billanders fruits to the State every voyage— 375 0 0 Every voyage of 300 Billanders for Passage only, fruits to the State— 2250 0 0 Surplus of Measure to the State alone:    Every such Billander freight with the Surplus of Measure upon the third Coal, fruits to the State, both for Coal and Passage— 22 10 0 Every Squadrens of 50 Billanders, every Carriage fraight as aforesaid, fruits to the State— 1125 0 0 Every voyage of those 300 Billanders fraight as aforesaid, fruits to the State— 6750 0 0  
The Coal as they are first brought to the Wharves should be so Ordered, as the third Coal be duly carried to the Wharf of the State.  
As to clear what hath been said, If 20 Cauldron Newcastle measure be brought from the Pits to the Wharves, they are to be divided into 30 Cauldron London measure, of which the State is to have 10 Cauldron laid upon its Wharf; and so proportionable to all that are brought from the Pits to any Wharf, the third Coal being always carried to the State's Wharf. The Staple of Coal being thus settled for all that Country about Malmsbury and Calne, and Coal being sold there constantly for 18 s. 2 d. the London Cauldron to all that will fetch them, that is, at the price of 6 d. the London Bushel; No question is to be made, but that a marvellous great quantity will be thus vented, to the great blessing of the people, who now pay about Calne and Malmsbury never under 12 d. the Bushel, and commonly more, being carried by horse from Bristol: Should 50000 Cauldron only be thus yearly vented, it is a great Revenue, and would in the very Profits to the State rise in this sole Commodity of Coal. unto— 20833 6 8 That is, for Passage— 12500 0 0 And for the third Coal gained— 8333 6 8  
And no doubt Bristol, so great a place of Traffic, would make use of this River as high as Calne towards the transportation of their Merchandise from Bristol to London, it being the worst and most hilly part of the way, and lieth full in the passage to London.  
 l. s. d. A Billander of 30 Tun, laden with Merchandise from Bristol to Calne, taking but one Farthing per pound, fruits to the State every voyage 62 10 0  
It may well make two voyages every Month.  
This River being thus practised as high as Malmsbury and Calne, should our Seas be at any time infested with Enemy Fleets in such sort as with 〈◊〉 eminent danger, London and other parts of this Commonwealth, could not be served with Coal from Newcastle and Sunderland;  
How facile a thing it were from Malmsbury, lying upon the said River, to open a passage for these Billanders of 30 Tun, which draw water but three foot and half, loaden into the River Isis, by Creeklade and Latchlade, and so into the Thames, all that land-passage being not above 4 or 5 miles (inviting the Undertaker) being very low, and practicable ground, most fit for the Design.   

By this means there would be a Mediterranean passage from Bristol to London by water;  
Not only for the supply of much Coal in time of necessity, but for all other Commodities brought into Bristol, which in time of Hostility London could not otherwise enjoy, but by excessive Rates for Land-carriages or conveyances by Sea: but by this passage once opened, all Commodities may be brought from Bristol to London (even at one farthing per pound) we now paying all the wintertime for carriage by Land between London and Bristol 4 s. per cent. and so preserve our horses for the State's Service.  
The whole Charge of this Navigable Passage would be paid with the Profits of one only year: And as for Coal for 2 s. more upon the London Cauldron for freight, they also this way would be brought to London at 20 s. 2 d. the Cauldron, London Cauldron. Howsoever great caution ought to be used, that during times of Peace no Coal should be brought to London this way, to the end our shipping, which is much employed in the transportation of that Commodity, might still be kept up, for the safety, benefit, and honour of this State.  
It were good that the 2 d. upon every Cauldron were paid towards the defraying of the Salary of Officers upon the Wharf, and towards the Passage yearly at Cardiff, the nearest Colliary to Bristol, that is upon the Severn, excellent Scotish-Coals, which also would drive a great trade upon this passage, being sold by the Tun.  
This passage in time of Peace should be used for transportation of Merchandise to London, and from London to Bristol, only from the first of October to the first of April, partly not to obstruct our Navigation by Sea, all the Summertime when the doubling of the Cape of Cornwall is not dangerous, nor our Coasts so subject to storms; And partly by reason of the Avon, and Isis, and the Thames itself in those winter-months will not want water, which in the Summer they do: And for Coal, our Seas being not infested, none should pass higher than Malmsbury and Calne, not to hinder, as hath been said, our Navigation, for that Commodity by Sea, which must still be endeavoured to be kept up to the full.  
Now who should be the Undertaker of this great work but the State itself? it being too great an expense for any private man or Corporation to lay out; and of too great a Profit for them to receive, being effected.  
Some endeavours have been used by that noble Patriot, Sir John Harrington, to make this River Navigable between Bristol and the Bath, which work I have seen: 
This to be observed well by by the Cities of Bath and Bristol, lest they labour in vain.  but the Design being too narrow for this our great Proposal, it were in vain to be again set upon, either by any private man, or the said two Towns, unless they intended to make the River and their Sasses so large as the River to carry Billanders of thirty Tun, and their Sasses to hold half a dozen of these Billanders at once.  
I went down to see Sir Joh. harrington's intended Sass some two miles below the Bath, & I found the Engineer to have much abused the noble Knight in his work, making his Sass upon the very Dam of the River, which would have been a perpetual and forcible enemy to his work. Besides, I found by measuring his Sass, that it would contain but one only Boat, and that only of 8 Tun: which narrow Design would no way have served to this our Mediterranean Passage; But must have been again ripped up and destroyed: The Sass itself being to be otherwise placed, and made far larger.  
He who hath seen the Sass, between Ipris and Vuerne in Flanders, will confess it a noble work, and capable of Public Service (which this I spoke of no way is) 〈◊〉 much is the memory of that noble Knight to be honoured, in showing himself to his ability, a public man, labouring so much for the good of his Country.  
Many Sasses are to be made upon this River of Avon, it being so much a fayling-water, insomuch it is now forced to be kept up with many Dams, every one of which must have his Sass, but not upon the Dam, but upon the side of it, as the Figure expresseth.  
The Proposer of this Paper hath no other interest in this Design, than a true Patriot ought to have a desire for the Public good, to see it effected, and by it his Country served: And if he shall perceive it embraced, it will encourage him to offer up to the Public service of his Country other improvements of greater Consequence.  
FINIS.    

 diagram of Sir John Harrington's proposed sasse (lock) on the River Avon 
Above and below the Dam.  
Thus the Sasse to go  
The avon.  
The Dam.  
Sir john harrington's Sasse  
The avon.