A NEW INSTUCTION OF PLOUGHING AND SETTING OF CORN, HANDLED IN MANNER OF A DIALOGUE between a Ploughman and a Scholar.  
Wherein is proved plainly that Ploughing and Setting, is much more profitable and less chargeable, than Ploughing and Sowing.  
By EDWARD MAXEY. Gent.  
He that withdraweth the Corn, the people will curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth Corne.  Prou. 11.26.  men ploughing with horses and setting a field 
Imprinted at London by Felix Kyngston, dwelling in Pater noster row, over against the sign of the chequer. 1601.   

TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL SIR RICHARD MARTEN KNIGHT, MASTER OF HER majesties MINT, ALDERMAN, and twice Lord Mayor of the City of London.  
IT is well known (right Worshipful) how great a benefactor and furtherer you have been to many good works and profitable to the Commonwealth: for by your employments, the inhabitants of sundry parts of England and Wales, have gained for many years, many thousand pounds yearly. How much then those poor are bound to praise God for you, and such as further the like good works, all wise men acquainted with your great charge and travel can testify, which I thought worthy to be published, and left in memory for other ages yet to come, to your great commendation and encouragement of others, to follow your good example. And now (right Worshipful) calling to mind my former time spent in Husbandry; the most sweet and comfortable kind of life to all virtuous minds (that Adam's posterity can enjoy) if it were not for the wickedness of servants, who discourage many industrious minds; and seeing an unskilful Pamphlet (called God speed the Plough) to be so long unanswered, set forth by some Novice in Husbandry, as should appear as well by his writing, as that he saith in the same, it is none of his profession; which hath and may do much hurt by dissuading men from so profitable an employment as the setting of Corn; which when I considered, and remembering that I had spent the most part of thirty years in Husbandry: I adventured to publish this little Treatise, for the instruction of those that will be persuaded to practise this kind of excellent and profitable work: which with myself I desire to be protected by your accustomed loving favour towards me.  
Yours to be commanded, EDW. MAXEY.   

TO THE CHRISTIAN READER.  
WHereas there are two books written concerning the setting of Corn: the first commending it, the second disgracing it; both of them discoursing so Scholarlike, that the plain Country Husband man, cannot judge which of them hath most skill for instruction in this kind of Husbandry; and perceiving that the second treatise (called God speed the Plough) hath dissuaded great numbers from the practice of setting of Corn: I was advised and resolved to adventure the public censuring of this Instruction. Wherein I desire to prove how much more easy and profitable, Ploughing and Setting will be in all places, and that with less charge, then either Ploughing and Sowing, or digging and Setting, desiring to be freed from all suspicion, to contend for art or learning with any of the former writers. And like a plain Ploughman to show my opinion, what I think of the former contention, between the Plough and the spade: in a word, I judge both these profitable instruments may right well be used in their proper places, that the Plough may keep his place in the fields, 
A little good counsel would have saved all your labour in writing, and mine in answering: but I: hope it will do good.  to the great increase of Corn, and the Spade in the Gardens for roots, herbs, and flowers, necessary for household provision. And I could have wished you the Gentleman and author of the book (called God speed the Plough) had taken better counsel of some skilful Husbandman, before you had published a book, wherein you endeavour to correct and teach an Art, which you acknowledge is none of your profession, & to have considered how easily for the most part our English Nation are dissuaded from good causes, neither for the glory of God, or the honour and profit of their Prince and Country: for though it be true, that very few innovations in the Church, or novelties in a state, are not always and generally good, and profitable for all places, and for all people: yet these profitable inventions, specially in Husbandry, should rather be commended then disgraced, until a manifest error in them be discovered, and that by experience and proof. Again, you ought rather to have remembered and well considered the lamentable case of the poor that lived in distress in the late years of dearth, who notwithstanding the charitable orders taken by her Majesty, her honourable Counsel and other officers of the kingdom, to the glory of God, and their high commendation: yet was it well seen with the eyes of the truly charitable, that except the King of heaven and earth had relieved the poor people of this Land, with Corn out of his storehouses in other Countries; the poor and the rich also had been in hazard to have perished by famine, that might have fallen upon this sinful people, or by some woeful calamities, inseparable companions of penury and want. And let every indifferent man consider what huge quantities of Corn may yearly be saved, that now is cast away by Ploughing and Sowing: yet give me leave plainly to give you a project what this would come unto. Some writers of our time account but nine thousand six hundred and two and fifty Parishes, or thereabouts, in England, and suppose six hundred and two and fifty of them to be in Cities and Towns using no tillage: and so account but nine thousand Country Parishes, and because the author of the book (called God speed the Plough) writeth, that if a Parish have three thousand Acres of arable land, which is about thirty or forty Ploughlands in a Parish, therefore mistrusting his judgement, we will admit but ten Plowelands, one Parish with another; so nine thousand Parishes hath four score and ten thousand Plowlands, and that if in every Ploweland there may easily be saved yearly ten or twelve quarters of Seed Corn, that now is cast away, which shall be directly proved, it will amount to some nine or ten hundred thousand quarters of Grain that might every year be saved in her majesties dominions: I dare affirm so much (be it more or less) as would fetch hither the Indies Treasure out of Spain and other Countries far distant; to the great honour and riches of our Prince and Country, and especially the maintenance of our English Navy, with plentiful provision also of victuals for Soldiers both by Sea and Land, to their exceeding comfort, and the terror of all foreign enemies.  
And to conclude, I wish that they whose hearts the Lord hath endued with true wisdom, and charity, to remember and consider well of this danger, from which the Lord hath so lately delivered us: and let us all serve that God in the moderate use of his creatures, and not consume in riotous gluttony and drunkenness, such great quantities of his blessings, to the hurt of our bodies and souls, the poor being ready to famish before our eyes. So I commend thee good Christian Reader, to God's protection, and this work to the blessing of the Almighty.  
The particular proofs of this good Husbandry, shall be seen in a dialogue, between a Ploughman and a Scholar, for the better instruction of plain Country people.  
E. M.   

A NEW INSTRUCTION OF PLOUGHING AND SETTING OF CORN, HANDLED IN manner of a Dialogue between a Ploughman and a Scholar.  Ploughman. 
SEeing I am appointed to defend the profitable art of setting of Corn, though in respect of learning very unfit, yet because I have professed and practised Husbandry for the most part of thirty years, and that you, the author of the book (called God speed the Plough) say that husbandry is no part of your profession, I may hope to maintain against you by way of argument in plain Husbandry, that Ploughing and Setting is much better and more profitable, than either Ploughing and Sowing, or Digging and Setting.  Scholar. 
I marvel that my book doth so much offend you, I thought to have pleased you and all Ploughman, for so commending the old fashion of Ploughing and Sowing.  Ploughman. 
Surely sir you have no otherwise offended me, than all other men that desire the good of their Country, and be sorry to see the simple abused and discouraged by your means, and how you please an other sort of wilful men, that will neither know what may be profitable for themselves, nor have any such hearty love to their Country and poor neighbours, as they ought to have. As for your book, howsoever you meant, it serves to so little good purpose (in my conceit) that it was the chief cause that moved me to take this work in hand, to correct (if it were possible) the evil humours and prejudicate opinions against Corne-Setting, that it hath planted in men's heads and hearts.  Scholar. 
I am sorry that my book should breed any evil humours in men's heads or hearts, and I pray you what faults do you find in my book?  Ploughman. 
Sir there be faults too many, which being the fruits of your idle hours (as you say) be not much to be marveled at, for seldom doth idleness bring forth any profit in husbandry. And it is not my purpose to expostulate with you upon all particular faults; they are too many to trouble the reader with: but you shall hear mine opinion, like a man of my plain profession, & I will tell you my mind what I do think in this argument, as well as I can. To pass over other matters, I will begin to defend our old fashion of Ploughs, against your strange Plough, that you say might be so made and handled, that it may go deeper by a foot more than ordinary, proportioning the strength of the Teeme and Plough together. 
Note that the question between the old fashion Ploughs and this strange Plough, is but to prove the Plough apt to set Corne.  Sir, if you can devise a Plough that will go deeper in all grounds (for you make no difference) a foot more than ordinary, it were good you brought it forth; for surely it is likely to prove an implement of great force to our English Husbandry: for with it you must be compelled to plough land twenty inches deep or thereabouts, and yet I must confess to my remembrance, I never saw any Plough, though drawn with ten oxen, to go above eight or ten inches ordinarily, and that with much a do; and I pray you, how many Oxen or Horse will your Plough require to be drawn with? for in some places if you make it go, we plain country men will suspect you will Conjure: and in many places the quality of the mould will not permit our ten inches, much less your two and twenty. Again, what use I pray you shall the Commonwealth have of such an implement, where either it cannot go unless the diunell draw it, or may not go for the evil mould it will turn up? and so your Plough in that place doth more harm, than your book can do good any where else.  Scholar. 
Not so sir, I will have my Teeme and my Plough so made, that it shall go well of that depth in such grounds, as I will choose to set my Corn in.  Ploughman. 
It may be possible (if it please God to work such wonders by your invention) but we the poorer sort of Husbandmen, cannot make Ploughs, and provide Teems of that value and quality; neither have we such change of Land, as to make choice of apt grounds to bear the weight of such Ploughs & Teems; but I doubt not by God's help, to plough and dress ten Acres of Land, as well as you shall do with your strange Plough, or any man shall do with a spade, except he dig it two spit deep, & so bury the first spit with the second, which will be both extreme chargeable and impossible in most grounds; and yet where he may dig but one spit, there will remain needs unburied specially the Cooch, which I never saw destroyed, but with a summer fallow, or burning the land, as the Devonshire men do: the which killing of weeds, howsoever it can be done, is the chief cause, that upon extreme barren Land, those country people have good Corn, which otherwise 
The destroying of weeds, a chief point in Husbandry.  should have little or none: and I desire all good Husbands to consider how necessary it is for them to destroy the weeds, before they sow or set their Corn, that (if possibly they can) they suffer not the weeds to suck out the sap of their grounds in the spring time, and all summer, before they commit their seed to the ground, endangering it with such enemies, which they may do (in my opinion) by one or two plowings more in their summer fallow above ordinary, if the weedy condition of the Land, or the season of the year do require it.  Scholar. 
Well sir, admit you do plough your Land as well as the Spade can do it, as deep as your Plough will go, yet as I say, you cannot plough it deep enough, nor lay it level and plain for the setters to work upon.  Ploughman. 

The Corn sowed above furrow, often lieth not one inch deep.  To this I answer, first that I will blow it deep enough, for what should set my Corn to grow as well, and much better (being set in due proportion & order) when it hath as much hollow & lose ground under him, to spread root and lie pleasantly in, as your book or the former appoints, or as our sown Corn ever had, since sowing was first used, and that is but three or four inches deep: and as far as I know, our english Corn rooteth not past two or three inches directly downwards. So then, if it root downwards, and spring upwards but five or six inches at the most; marvel why you should think I should not plough it deep enough, when yourself faith you will plough it yet deeper by a foot more if need be, and I pray you so do, but take heed you meet not with those furious beasts you speak of in your book, 
This Plough will serve to make ditches, but for the danger of those beasts.  that will devour the Corn when it lieth so deep and light, for if they catch you and your Plough (in most grounds of England) they would surely devour your Plough, and put your person in great hazard, without speedy help: and therefore we will not blow so deep, it is good sleeping in a whole skin. But if you had been contented with half a foot more than ordinary, there had been some possibility in some places, yet with much ado: therefore I pray you give some men leave, that have or may have good Teems & Ploughs, though not made after your fashion, to go but two or three inches more than ordinary, & then they may blow some ten or twelve inches with much ado where the land will permit, so if our Corn have five or six inches to spring upward, (even from the lower most part of his root) and as much downward, it shall be sufficient to content us with the increase of eight or six quarters upon an Acre: 
Note well.  do you plough it deeper for thirty or twenty quarters upon an Acre (God send it you that venture so deep for it.) And as for laying our ground level and plain, we will not follow your counsel in your book, nor fear your wooden dagger, your huswife-like instructions are to rake away the grass that the light Harrow leaveth, till it be as level as a Garden, and then to set it; as though any good husband would have his Land so out of tilth, and overgrown with weeds, that at sowing or setting time, the Land should need the raking of the grass, after a good summer fallow. It is time for such a Ploughman to throw his Plough in the hedge, and take the Spade in hand, and become one of your threescore labourers: and then in the fame place you tell us of laying it as level as a Garden. And I pray you sir, then what shall become of the Corn of the best and most grounds of England, specially for Wheat and Rye? 
Winter Corn cannot lie too high in most grounds.  For if you level it so like a Garden, without all question, it will be drowned for the most part, & come to little or no good at all, for all men I think that ever saw Husbandry, or understood natural reason, know that such Land; nay, most Land must be laid high and round with furrows, according to the quality of the soil, or else the seed will be drowned. And to break the clods, we may use the Rowler, as we do for our Barley if need be, and so much shall serve for instruction, or rather persuasion of such as you have inveigled with so many idle doubts, in a matter that may be perceived by those that are not wilfully blind, or not skilful at all in Husbandry.  Scholar. 
Not so sir, these are not altogether so idle as you make them, but I pray you how will you make this barren Land rich enough, to have such increase as will answer the charge of setting?  Ploughman. 
Indeed that is not altogether so idle as the other, but yet very easy to be answered, and very likely to be compassed, even in the barrenest Countries and places far removed from all means to enrich their Land. Here then I would advise all good Husbandmen that intent setting, to lay all their soil and foul dung that they used to scatter over thirtyAcres or there about, (being their ordinary season) I say, lay it upon ten Acres. And by reason they leave twenty Acres to rest, they shall keep more store of Sheep either of their own, or take to fold of other men's, and so keep them better, and by that means their fold will be much bigger, and their Land will be folded much better: and if there be any Marl of Chalk, or of other sort of good mould near to be had by any means, they shall now have leisure to fetch it, by reason they have so little tillage to do: or else do this, follow the example of a Gentleman that made a great quantity of soil, by the fodering of all his cattle upon a piece of exceeding rank ground about an Acre, which being very good and resty Land near his house, he ploughed up in the end of April, when his cattle went to grass, and with two or three plowings so mixed the resty rank ground with the dung and so fodder of his cattle, that he had ten load for one of very good soil, (to the fatting of other grounds) then otherwise he should have had; and also there is much dung to be made with fern in places where it is near: many good Husbands do provide great store in summer, that in winter will serve for cattle to sit dry upon, and make great store of soil, with little cost, having now so much leisure in this small Tillage. By these and divers other good means very common and easy, when men have little ploughing, they may so enrich their land, that they shall not need to doubt of a better increase (by God's help) sufficient to pay the charge of setting liberally, with threefold increase at Harvest.  Scholar. 
Then you may fall into another inconvenience, that I warned you of in my book, that is, to make your land too rank, and then your Corn will ledge, and every stalk will be slender and long, every ear will be heavier and longer than ordinary, and so the Corn will fall down and ledge, and come to little good.  Ploughman. 
This inconvenience will easily be helped. We had first need to help our barren land, and make it hearty, and then for falling and ledging I will set it thin enough, as the quality of the ground requireth: for it is the thick sowing of rank land upon evil tillage that causeth Corn to ledge. 
Note.  If the land be rich and the year wet, the Corn rank, and the weeds many; then (as you say) it is like to ledge: few poor men in England complain their land is too rich, or desire their Corn more thin, for then their purses would be more empty. I could easily teach them such tricks as well as you with all 
Reason and experience teacheth and proveth, that the straw will be bigger and much stronger.  your cunning: and as for the length and slenderness of the straw, I doubt not but it will be fit to bear the heavy ears, which God send me, and take you the light if you like them better.  Scholar. 
Your reasons may prove good for sowing, but for setting, you will be set a ground presently. For where will you get people enough to set a Season fit for a Teeme to be kept on? All the labourers in the Country will scant serve you, and five or six such as you would be.  Ploughman. 
Sir, I wonder what you mean to talk still so idly, as though it were fit for me or any man, to set our whole seasons, when we have laid all our soil, and bestowed all our labour, tillage, and cost, upon the third part only, to the intent to make that so hearty and rich, that by all reason, common experience, and God's blessing, it may yield as much and more increase than the whole would have done. Neither am I tied by any necessity (that I know of) to set all my third part, unsesse I may do it conveniently in all respects: 
Note well.  for when I have thus ploughed my land and made it ready to set, I may sow thereof what I will if I lack setters, and it is likely to bear three times as much, being thus well handled; as other poor barren land so misused for lack of such good Husbandry. But now for setting of ten Acres of Wheat or Rye, or other grain, being the third part of most men's Season, why should I not find people enough to set them, seeing you confess that threescore labourers, and twenty women and children, will dig and set thirty Acres in seven weeks? Why good sir, if I be at the charge, and can dress my land with my Plough myself, what have I to do with your threescore labourers that should have been employed in your digging: I will spare them all for you, seeing you will needs have so many Acres digged, for you might as well have understood Master Plate, the author of the first book, that he meant not to have the whole number of every man's season to be digged, when he proposed that three Acres might bear as much as thirty: And although I am of your opinion, this will seldom prove true in action, yet cannot you nor the best Scholar in England disprove the principles that he grounds his proportion upon, for he adds divers approved examples in practice to prove his arguments. And for your twenty women and children, poor people, I am sorry; for the most of them may still want work, and live a starving kind of miserable life, for by your persuasions they should earn just nothing; and so none of the poor by this means set to work in your Husbandry. Well, yet I will propose less work by the third part in my Husbandry, and so will have but the third part of your women and children; 
Note.  which being but seven, will set my ten Acres in seven weeks, whilst your threescore diggers and twenty women and children be digging and setting your thirty Acres in the same time by your own account: and by God's help, if this third part of the land be employed, we shall have work sufficient for all our poor people, and poor people enough for all our work. I will therefore spare you four or five of those seven poor people for a supply to your company, lest any should happen to fail in some hot skirmish, and then I shall only be troubled with some two or three of your poor people, or some lame Soldier; 
Provision for lame and maimed Soldiers  he will serve my turn though he want a leg or an arm: and so let us reckon the charge of three poor women and children, which will be hired for eighteen pence a day at most, which is but nine shillings 
Charges of setting.  a week, and for seven weeks is three pounds three shillings for the wages of those poor people, unto whom I will join our two plow-folkes; for away go our Teems to rest and gather flesh against winter, our Wives will spare one of their maids, and many of us have two or three children, and ourselves for overseers of the work, all these are above nine persons for your seven, and all their charges is but three pounds three shillings more than ordinary; 
Ten Acres as soon ploughed and set with seven people, as thirty digged and set with sour score.  and so you see that two or three poor people at most with our own family, shall be as well able to set our ten Acres in seven weeks, as your fourscore men, women and children shall dig and set thirty Acres in the very same time. But if you think that Wheat or Rye will be set in the beginning of March in rich land, as you say in your book (and truly I am of your opinion) and the rather, because you affirm that the best crop of Corn that ever you saw, was a summer crop of Wheat upon a rich ground: now it will be a great commodity if we may stay to set our richest land until after Christide: for by some means or other, we may by that time make some of our land better than other, and the nature of some land of itself is much better than other; then will we set our poorest land first, and begin about the middle of September, or near thereupon, every Country and place, as the condition of the land requireth, and so continue setting in the fairest weather, until the middle of December or there about; so than we shall have some thirteen weeks at least before Christide, and some seven weeks after, before March. 
It is most certain that this late setting or sowing being in very good ground, is the best to avoid the Mildew and the smut.  Thus a poor Farmer may well set ten Acres in twenty weeks with his own family, having wife and children as most have, and do it all by leisure.  Scholar. 
I must needs confess, that your experience 
Your mislike or writing, will not hinder, if it prove profitable.  hath taught you to say more in this matter than I conceived of it before. But yet seeing you look for no more increase than six or eight quarters upon an Acre, it is not the admirable art the first book speaks of (which made me mislike and write as I did) for many men in divers places have had the like increase; neither do I yet perceive how the charges of setting will be answered, nor any matter worthy so great account as you make of it.  Ploughman. 
What you see I know not, or what the cause should be I cannot tell, that so many men should be so blind or so unwilling to see how to do themselves and their neighbours so much good: but I fear me it is the just punishment of God upon us the sinful people of this good Land, that we having so great plenty of all good things, do consume with gluttony and with drunkenness so great blessings of God already bestowed upon us: 
A caveat for gluttons and drunkards.  and if we should by this means or any other, expect a greater abundance than yet we have received, it is to be feared that the Lord that seethe how wickedly we would consume it, will not permit such an unthankful people to receive so exceeding great a benefit, but even by our own frowardness will quite overthrow it. 
Take heed of murmuring and unthankfulness, joined with frowardness.  But yet let us see if we can possibly be brought to discern any thing worthy account in this novelty, as you term it: And for example, say that thirty Acres by rod, will require three bushels of seed Winchester measure to every Acre, 
In some part of Essex their land requireth less seed, well observed by some good Husbands.  (for so you say it will) and so in most land it doth, which is eleven quarters and two bushels of seed to thirty Acres: What is the usual increase upon an Acre in the common fields barren land?  Scholar. 
The increase of an Acre of such barren land, commonly is not above two quarters one year with another, and one Acre with another, and when they so do, there need be no dearth in England; for where one hath above, three hath not so much: and therefore you will hardly approve that your setting will be to any great purpose in those common fields, barren Land.  Ploughman. 

The best setting of Corn is in the common fields, barren land, when by these instructions it is so amended.  Very well sir, I am glad you have declared your conceit in this point, and even for those barren Countries and barren common fields, do I avow this Husbandry to be most profitable, and for their sakes only and altogether do I take all this pains, and use so many persuasions against so many fond objections, as you and most men use against this good Husbandry of Corn setting, and not for those that are occupiers of rich land, either by nature or so made by soil. Their increase is plentiful already, and therefore I think it no great work of charity to bestow much labour upon such rich men, as commonly with good Husbandry use such rich land: but I speak and write for poor men, and desire to make their poor land and them the richer by this good Husbandry, which I will maintain upon equal terms or by practice, with any Husbandman in England, of what country or shire so ever he be or dwell in. 
Note well.  And now to our purpose again, and I pray you mark well what I say, you confess (as the truth is) that an Acre by the Rod will bear but two quarters commonly one year with another, which is but threescore quarters for thirty Acres, and that such an Acre will require three bushels to sow it, which is for thirty Acres eleven quarters and two bushels of seed, as aforesaid; so then take your eleven quarters two bushels of seed sowed at seed time, out of threescore quarters reaped at harvest, there will remain forty eight quarters and six bushels increase by this computation: then come to our ten Acres of like measure, which will be set with five bushels, what may we look for every year upon an Acre set with half a bushel? by God's blessing we are as likely to have six or seven quarters upon an Acre that is well dunged, tilled, the seed choicely picked, and the land orderly set, as other have had upon an Acre sown, which is upon ten Acres threescore and ten quarters: And what is then our increase of these ten Acres, if you take five bushels of seed set at seed time, out of threescore and ten quarters reaped at harvest, there will remain some threescore and nine quarters and three bushels increase; so it is manifest, that our increase by setting of ten Acres with five bushels, is more than by sowing of thirty Acres with eleven quarters and two bushels, by some twenty quarters and five bushels.  Scholar. 
Say that all this do follow, as you would have it, and truly I cannot deny but it may; yet the charge of setting and the trouble will be so great, that it will not be worth the practice.  Ploughman. 
Well, it is manifestly proved, that two or three poor people with the ordinary family of all men that sow thirty Acres to a season, may set ten Acres, and that the wages of those poor people for setting time, was but three pounds three shillings at six pence a day: and for that charge, you do save twenty Acres of land at five shillings an Acre, five pounds; and the Ploughing of that land three plowings to every Acre before you sow it, which is threescore plowings at two shillings every time, is six pounds: than you save some twenty quarters and five bushels of Corn as aforesaid, worth in most years twenty shillings a quarter, comes to twenty pounds twelve shillings six pence. So by this reckoning, which in truth and substance cannot be denied, you will save some one and thirty pounds twelve shillings six pence. And although I do prize the twenty Acres so spared as aforesaid, at five shillings an Acre (as it were to be let out for rent) yet I rather think that any good Husband that so spareth twenty Acres to rest from his principal seasons or Wheat, Rye, or Barley, will sow (after the old fashion if it please him) some six, eight, or ten Acres with Pease, beans, buck, otherwise called french Wheat, or with Oats upon one earth or Ploughing, whereby he may have great store of straw for his cattle, meat for his wives Hens, and provender for his Horse, over and beside so much increase and profit of those six, eight or ten Acres, as shall defray all the extraordinary charge of setting with advantage. And because I have heard this kind of complaint often; and many men doubt their neighbours and their own servants will not meddle with such a piddling troublesome work, whose frowardness no doubt will do much hurt: I wish any such that dwell amongst such neighbours, or have such servants (as indeed I think many have) to sell some three or four quarters of their seed corn, that before was spared, and allow double their wages to strangers, and I will assure them workmen plenty to do so easy and clean a work. And yet then the charge will be but six pound six shillings: which taken out of the former profits, there will remain some twenty five pound six shillings six pence, which will help a poor Farmer towards the payment of his rent.  Scholar. 

This objection is none of your own Master Scholar, you had help of a Lawyer.  Your comparison between ten acres passing well husbanded and made rich, and then set, and thirty acres of barren land sowed, no doubt will be a matter of great difference, and therefore I wish to be followed of all men. But what say you to good land, either by nature or help of soil, that will usually bear five or six quarters upon an acre? and if your setting will amount to no more increase, then after a man hath laid all his cost upon so small quantity of land, and made it so good, he will sow it, and save the charge of setting.  Ploughman. 
If this book do but persuade our countrymen, that occupy much barren land, to sow but the third part or half their land, which they were wont to work out of heart, with their poor cattle and themselves, I shall not only think my labour happily bestowed in writing, but all the poor people may thank God as much for the printing of it, as for any book set forth in our time, (for a matter of this quality) and which is of no small importance for the commonwealth of this land. But yet I must not yield that ploughing and sowing will be of like profit for the commonwealth, as ploughing and setting, seeing the same will be done yet with much less charge, comparing ten acres of the best land set, with other ten as good sowed, which I will prove by example and tried experience: and first it is well known by often trial, that less than half a bushel of very choice seed wheat, will set as much land as three bushels will sow. So that whereas ten or twelve great Acres of land will require some three or four quarters to sow them; the same land may be set with six or seven bushels at the most, for there will be saved some three quarters of the best seed Corn every year, which is now worth forty shillings a quarter, and cometh to six pounds, and exceedeth the extraordinary charge of setting aforesaid by much, 
Five or six thousand quarters of Grain saved every year by Corn setting, all objections answered.  and will amount to the saving of some three hundred thousand quarters of the best Wheat and Rye growing in this Land: and much more in Barley, Pease, and Beans, and so of all sorts of grain: I think it would save above five or six hundred thousand quarters every year in her majesties Dominions. And yet give me leave to tell you Gentleman, that I dare confidently avow (seeing both reason doth teach and experience doth prove) that an Acre orderly set, will yield more increase by some three quarters, than an Acre sown: which increase at Harvest being added to the other three quarters saved at seed time, cometh to some six quarters of Corn at forty shillings a quarter, twelve pound, as it is now worth, in many Countries, which will defray the charges of setting double, though your Plowmen follow their Teems & give us no help. And yet this I must confess, that in time of great plenty, when Corn is at a low price, and where chargeable servants or labourers dwell, 
Chargeable servants and ill workmen, a great hindrance to all good Husbandire.  that will not serve or work under five pound and a fustian doublet; or in such places where their land and themselves are so rich: with such times, places and persons, this poor book, or rather book for the poor, hath yet little to say, until such time as they be brought to consider; that after great plenty may follow as great scarcity, the wealthiest Corn-master and stoutest labourer or servant, may in time become like one of their poorest neighbours. Great men in this and all ages have been subject to their fall. 
Lazy usury, a capital enemy to all industrious husbandry, Jews only did use it in England, about the reign of King Richard the first, anno 1189. job. 1.1. 1. Pet. 4.7.  job was accounted as rich in his time, as the greatest Corn-master or the wealthiest Usurer that lives in our time: yet the Lord made an example of his servant job to all posterity, albeit he was an upright and just man, one that feared God and eschewed evil. If vengeance begin at the house of God, where shall the wicked and ungodly appear. I writ not this against good minded men, whom it hath pleased God to bless with plenty of Corn, and yet love their brethren and poor neighbours: some such good men no doubt have been and yet are in England, who may be accounted patterns for others to follow, or patrons, that is, fathers to their Country, by storing up Corn in the time of plenty, with purpose to bring it forth in scarcity, to sell it at a lower rate for the good of the poor. Such good men no doubt are to be praised with gracious joseph, 
The murmuring of the people provoketh God's wrath.  who by laying up of Corn in the time of plenty, preserved not only the whole kingdom of Egypt, but also the whole Church of God, then visible on earth, for which cause his industry is recorded and commended for the instruction of all posterity. And by the way, I wish all murmuring people to consider what it is to grudge and repine against God's works, and to be more advised how they speak against good Magistrates and such good men, as carefully respect the public weal of the Land. 
Exod. 16.2. Numb. 11.13.  Furthermore, that it may yet appear more manifestly, that ploughing and setting of Corn is every way much more profitable and less chargeable than ploughing and sowing, and that every Farmer may easily set the third part of his land with his own family, and two or three of the poorest people only at setting time (whereby he may yet have more leisure to practise and perform every complement that shall be likely to further his increase) let him Till but the third part of his land, as of thirty Acres ten, and so whereas he was wont to give his thirty Acres upon a summer fallow, some four or five plowings (as some grounds will require) and as most good Husbands do: for thereby they do kill the weeds, which of all things I would all men should most specially regard: So then thirty Acres having at least four plowings, amounteth to an hundred and twenty days work at the least; and ten Acres having five plowings every Acre, which is but fifty days work at the most: so here is threescore and ten days work spared in your winter season for Wheat or Rye, and as much for Barley, which being in all one hundred and twenty days work or there about, is very near the third part of the whole year spared for your Ploughs and Teems, 
The third part of the year spared from ploughing, by setting of corn, therefore forget not therein to four God.  which I wish should be otherwise employed to some good work, as no doubt but every good Husband will find work enough for them to do. But yet let them bestow some part of this time so well gained, a little to serve God in prayer morning and evening, either in their private families, or with a diligent Minister (they that dwell near the Church) one half hour in a morning or evening, or both: if they have any thing to do at Church with God, or with their neighbours, it will be a good meeting place if it be done to good purposes. It is a small portion of so many days spared, and no doubt but God will the rather bless the increase of such as will serve him, according as he hath promised; and as the Scripture saith, Paul planteth, Apollo watereth, but it is the Lord, no doubt, that giveth the increase, as well in temporal as in spiritual blessings. 
Beware of Atheism.  Thus we all must believe, and so I hope we do, unless there be any of so desperate and cursed opinion, that thinks there is no God to bless and help their increase, which God forbidden that her majesties dominions should bear any such detestable and cursed imps and limbs of Satan to rest on this earth, that should so much as give any cause of suspicion of any such abomination: so as many as do so well begin the day with the service of God, may cheerfully expect from the Almighty a blessing upon their labours: who promiseth to bless the work of our hands if we fear him. And to proceed in this argument yet a little further in our Husbandry, which no doubt may be yet exceeding lie furthered divers ways in this time so well gained: as first to make great choice of our Seed corn: for as Master Plate well saith, every corn that is within the ear is not apt to grow, for God hath created some of them for the food of living creatures, and some for seed. 
The choice of the seed, the kill of the weed, and resting of the land, and time so well gained, to do all this and serve God too, is like to bring a good increase.  There be in every ear certain abortive or bastardly corns small and whinderlings, which will hardly grow, and are unprofitable for any good increase: but there are other corns which are bigger and fairer than the rest, which (no doubt) God by nature hath ordained for good and great increase: and therefore seeing you have so much leisure, you may spend more time in picking your Seed, corn after corn, if you think good. 
The best way to make choice of your seed.  But indeed the best way and most speedy is to put the corn into a tub of water, and so the most heavy corn will soon sink to the bottom, and the lightest (with other seeds which were wont to be sown) you may take presently away: for else in a small time the lighter will also sink, by taking water to make it heavy also. But you must do this but a little before you intent to sow it, and in doing whereof you may help your Seed corn very much, as it were with a dunging, as I myself have done my Seed barley. When the year hath proved dry at Barley seed time, I have caused certain wotting fats or tubs, used for Malting, to be filled with water, and caused Cow dung and Pigeon dung to be put into the same water, stirring it together, and it hath stood a day or two, but the longer the better, with often stirring it. Then have I let or powered out the same water from the dung, and put it into other clean vessels: and then I put in my Seed all day and all night, and the next day took it out and laid it upon a floor to dry it fit to handle, and cast abroad by sowing. And truly that Barley hath shot an ear as soon as other that was sown some fourteen days before it. Whereof (in my opinion) one great commodity doth follow, in that the corn (specially Barley) at that time of the year cometh away so speedily, that it out groweth all the weeds, who are the chief and deadly enemies to all corn. Thus the corn may flourish and be master of the field, like a brave Captain: for so no doubt he getteth better root to begin the world with, and more heart to continue and bring forth increase more abundantly, when it hath at first gotten the start and upper hand of his mortal enemies. 
One hundred and twenty days yet spared for good Husbands, to enrich their land and themselves.  This picking and watering work is fittest to be performed by the good wife, and her maids, and children at home, and our hundred and twenty days that we spared from ploughing, as aforesaid, yet giveth more time to the good man and his Ploughman with their Teems to fetch Marl of Chalk, or of any other kind of soil, fit for the condition of their land, if it be possible to be had, as no doubt it is in most places, though in some they may happen to go far for it: but in six or seven weeks (part of the foresaid time) a Teeme will carry much, though it be far to fetch. Further also those that have sour barren cold grounds, may in this time all by leisure, follow the example of the Cornish and Devonshire men, that beat and burn their land, which no doubt is an excellent piece of good Husbandry, and now used by good Husbands in many places of England and Wales. 
A commendation of Cornwall and Devonshire.  And whereof Cornwall and Devon hath so tasted the benefit, that whereas of late time Cornwall was wont to have most of their bread-corn by sea from other countries, now by this means they have great plenty to spare, and send over much by sea into other countries. There will be many other profitable works found out by many good Husbands to keep their people and Teems at work, 
The Blow and the Spade very good frineds, & allow each others work for setting, as the place requireth.  if it please them, and such as have a better mind to use the Spade to set their Corn: and so by experience shall find much better increase, which I will not deny, but it may be so; nor discommend the industrious invention and practice of the Spade, and specially for setting of poor people to work, which indeed is a matter of great regard, which by no means I would hinder: for as in this action by setting of Corn, the chief and principal respect is the saving of such a goodly deal of Seed Corn yearly so fondly cast away, as before is showed; so specially by setting of Corn the poorest and most miserable people, that can otherwise earn little or nothing, shall now be set to work, because they are best cheap to be hired, and are as well able to perform this work as the lusty labourers, that sometime in some countries no reasonable wages will entertain them: 
Middlesex, Kent, and places near the mighty city of London.  these are fit for rich men, and to be employed in rich land, where the owners may have rich crops to pay such great wages to such proud labourers and servants, that will serve and work where they list, and have what wages they list, and then do what they list, make what laws and statutes her Majesty, her Council and the Parliament can devise: I mean such servants as intend not to serve their masters faithfully for their master's profit, but for their own, amongst whom there are many thieves, which some Gentlemen, Farmers and other, with their wives and children have dearly paid for, to their great and importable loss and hindrance. This proud kind of slovens and sluts, which some masters have and do keep from the halter, have no need to be pitied, but rather to be punished. 
A reward for faithful and good servants.  And such masters whom it pleaseth God to bless with a good servant, let him be accounted as a precious jewel, and used with due respect, pay him his wages truly, and leave him not a poor man: It is the Lord the great Master his commandment by the wise Solomon, as you may read in his proverbs. As touching the Instruments to be employed about setting of Corn, although I might leave every man to his own invention, or refer them to Master Plaits book, whose instructions in many things I do commend: yet because it may be that all men have not that book, and desire some instruction, therefore I will recite an example of his, which he best commendeth, which is a board of three foot in length, or thereabouts, and twelve or ten inches in breadth, having divers holes bored therein, according to such distance as every particular man doth best fancy, through each of which holes a wooden dipper or pin to be thrust into the ground, being of the bigness of ones finger, and of three or four inches in length, having a shoulder or crosse-pin to keep one self same certainty in the depth of each hole. Now my invention is to have two boards of some two foot broad every where, and in the middle a staff or handle set fast to remove them: or if any do like better to have them one foot broad, and two or three foot long, and in every of those boards one or two staves or handles, of some two foot high set fast to remove them, and also to leave upon for their worship's ease: but for this matter of making of holes, I must say with you master Scholar, I profess to press this argument no further, being no part of my profession, but leave it to them that shall use and practise this invention. Only this I do advise that every man do well consider the quality of his own ground, if it be exceeding rank, four or five inches distance; but most commonly three or four inches is likely to be most fit, and two or three inches deep, as the ground is heavy or light. And peradventure the clods may sometime hinder: for which purpose this board and this handle or two be very fit to thrust down the clods. These boards are to be directed by a line, to keep a straight course in setting, having always a Rake with thick teeth and a broad head, which at one pull will sufficiently fill all the holes. And for example, to such as are very simple, it is thought good to set down the order of making of the holes in every board, as the same holes shall be of distance more or less: as if your board be ten inches broad and three foot long, and your holes five inches distance, there must be two rows of holes and seven holes in a row, and at every end and fide there must be two inches and more left, and for every scantling or distance, whether it be three, four, or five inches, leave always the outside and the ends half the distance or less in every board, and so it will make a true continuance of one scantling throughout all the work. But if this labour by writing and printing be lost in the behalf of ploughing and setting, and that men should continue so wilfully blind to despise God's blessings upon themselves, their poor neighbours, and the whole Commonwealth: yet it is to be wished that where men are so obstinately addicted to old custom, they would yet follow the old proverb, which saith, A little land well tilled, a little house well filled, and a little wife well wild, no doubt but his little land would be as profitable for his purse, as his little good wife comfortable to his mind.  
Thus I draw to an end, desiring the reader to take some view of such great benefits as this action of ploughing and setting may (by God's mercy) bring to this our Country. And I leave the success to God's good blessing. And first (here I say) the ploughing taketh away the laborious and chargeable work of the Spade, which made setting of corn seem unprofitable, and unpossible to have labourers and people sufficient to dress and set fifty Acres, of three thousand in a Parish, as the adverse book supposeth. This now by ploughing and setting is proved that every third Acre may be set in all places throughout her majesties Dominions. Secondly, it proveth ploughing and setting to be less chargeable than ploughing and sowing: 
Provision for lame soldiers and poor children. This benefit is not lightly to be respected.  Thirdly, we have proved that this may be done by the ordinary family of most men, with some help of two or three of his poorest neighbours, old men and women, poor children, lame and distressed soldiers, that now can have no work for their living. Fourthly, I say this, these poor people (that indeed aught to be kept from a starving kind of life in so plentiful a Country as England is, by the wealthy inhabitants of every Parish, to whom now they are both chargeable and grievous) by this good means they may be kept from hunger, cold, nakedness, and idleness, breeding monstrous vices against God, her Majesty, and this present happy State; deserving whipping and hanging, to the spoil of their bodies, & peril of their souls. Fiftly, it saveth great abundance of the best corn, growing within her majesties Dominions, which now is yearly cast away and lost by sowing, or rather burying it too deep under furrow, or lying too shallow above furrow, for Crows and Mice and other vermin to devour from the poor people. Sixtly, it spareth two parts of the land, that is, of thirty Acres twenty may be spared to lie and rest to gather heart for a while, and after when it is ploughed again it will bring forth increase of corn abundantly, as all men know. Seventhly, it will increase great store of pasture in the common fields, to the relief of all cattle, and whereby 
Two hundred pasture sheep well fed, will dung a fold better than three hundred poor sheep hungerly kept  there may be kept both greater number and better sheep both for growth, wool and soundness, that by these means, being plentifully fed, will enlarge the poor man's fold, and also they will dung his land much better, to the like increase of corn in greater abundance. Eightly, it will save great quantities of Hey and Corn for horsemeate, which now is spent upon poor working cattle tired to death, with great store of work upon much tillage of barren land: so that when by this means great quantities of grass and hay is saved from working cattle, than greater store maybe reserved to the fatting of cattle; so that Gentlemen, Farmers, and other householders may feed many of their own Oxen, Cows and Sheep fat, and need not go so often to the Butchers, and then their Kine will give much more milk to make Butter and Cheese, when they are much better fed with grass and hay plentifully: and of these it will come to pass that their bacon Hogs shall be fed fat with their whey of their Kine, and with the corn that the working cattle were wont to eat up, and then shall those householders have less need of the Markets for their household provision, which will be a means to bring down the price of all flesh (fit to be eaten) and of white meat, that the poor Artificers and labourers may eat their victuals better cheap. Ninthly, it will be a notable means to overthrow the wicked depopulation of the lords people, her majesties loving subjects, who have been most lamentably driven out of their habitations, and divers towns and villages, overthrown by enclosures, which yet continue, and rather will increase, notwithstanding the great care and order taken by her Majesty, and the great officers of her Kingdoms in the high Court of Parliament, as appeareth by an act made of purpose against 
Setting of Corn good for Seafaring men, let them praise God also.  the same. Tenthly, it will breed and save such plenty of corn in England, by God's help, that we may spare great quantities to be transported without any prejudice, but rather great good to all our English nation of all sorts, as well poor as rich, to the great increase of the treasury of this Realm, the maintenance of our English Navy, Shipping and Mariners, with provision of victuals for her majesties soldiers and Armies, by Sea and by Land, to the fear and terror of all foreign enemies.  
These and many other excellent benefits (no doubt) would follow this good kind of Husbandry, which deserveth a more learned handling than I can say, or do profess to be in me. If any man do think this work to be needless, for that there is already sufficiently written in former books: I answer, that to my knowledge there is none that hath hitherto written of the ploughing and setting of Corn; neither do I perceive the people so instructed, but rather most ignorant, and great numbers do utterly protest against the practice, as an idle novelty, being lately discouraged by this Pamphlet, called God speed the Plough. Now the Almighty bless all good husbands in Husbandry, and grant a blessing to this mine endeavour, to his glory, the honour of our Prince, the comfort of the poor, and the general good of all the Land.   

A COMPARISON BETWEEN PLOUGHING AND SOWING OF THREE ACRES of land, after the old fashion, and ploughing and setting of one Acre after the manner declared in this Book.  
And first for the Charge.  

A Computation for poor Farmers that pay great rents.  THE rent of three Acres in most places is worth some five shillings an Acre. The land, according to the use of the common fields, doth lie summer fallow the first year, and beareth Corn the other, and so the Farmer payeth two years rend before he hath his crop, which rent cometh to thirty shillings.  
The ploughing of these, if it be well done, and as most grounds require, every Acre four times, which is twelve plowings, at two shillings every time cometh to four and twenty shillings.  
The dunging of these three Acres with some twelve or fourteen load upon every Acre, and is for three Acres some forty load, at six pence a load, spread upon the land, amounteth to twenty shillings.  
The seed that will sow it is usually two bushels and a half of Wheat or Rye for every Acre, which is seven bushels and a half, at four shillings the bushel, cometh to thirty shillings.  
The weeding, reaping, and other charges in two years, though uncertain, yet for example ten shillings. Thus two years rend and charges cometh to five pound fourteen shillings.  
The usual increase in the common fields barren land, having so little help with dung, is but two quarters upon an Acre: but allow twenty bushels to stop a wranglers mouth, which is for three Acres seven quarters and a half, rated at four shillings a bushel, thirty two shillings the quarter, cometh to twelve pounds. Out of which if you take the charge aforesaid, there remaineth to the Farmer for his stock, six pound six shillings. And so for every one of those Acres, allowing so good increase and so great a price, the profit is two and forty shillings.  
Then let us see what profit one Acre, being well ploughed, well dunged, and orderly set, will yield, and so for the charge of one Acre. The rent of one Acre, at the price aforesaid, which was five shillings an Acre, for two years ten shillings. The ploughing five times for this one Acre, if need be, ten shillings. The dunging with forty load upon this Acre at six pence a load, twenty shillings. The seed to set this one Acre, half a bushel, two shillings. The setting of this Acre, one man at eight pence a day, and some four poor people at four pence a day, will set this Acre in some six days, and all their wages is twelve shillings. The weeding, reaping, and other charges, three shillings four pence. The sum of the charges cometh to seven and fifty shillings four pence.  
This Acre so well tilled, with three times as much dung as any one of the other, with excellent seed and orderly set, although we cannot promise thirty or twenty quarters, yet we may have seven or eight quarters upon an Acre, which is usual upon very good land, which being rated at four shillings, as the other, cometh to twelve pound sixteen shillings. Out of which also if you take the charge, which is fifty seven shillings four pence, there will remain nine pound eighteen shillings eight pence. And so this one Acre exceedeth the other three in profits, with half the stock, the sum of three pound twelve shillings eight pence. But suppose the foresaid wrangler will not allow eight quarters upon an Acre, yet set down some five quarters, which cometh to five pound two shillings eight pence, the charges deducted, yet doth it exceed any one of the other by some three pound and eight pence.  
Some part of this great profits I would have bestowed upon the poor to weed this one Acre, in March or April, or sometime before the Corn be too high, to pull up the weeds by the roots, and then you shall see the Corn flourish: keep down the weeds, and have no more need of weeding in this season.  

Work and provision for old poor weak men, their wives and children.  Now a word or two to encourage a poor man that hath a wife and three or four children, that often wanteth work in some countries, yea though he be weak, sickly or lame, yet he may set Corn with his family, and have sufficient to serve his house: therefore let them fall to work cheerfully this next season, and praise the Lord, for his mercy endureth for ever.  
FINIS.