Rowland Vaughan 
 
 >His Booke 
 
 Published 1610 
 
 Republished and Prefaced by 
 Ellen Beatrice Wood, 1897 
 
 John Hodges 
 
 39 Bedford Street, Strand, London 
 

 Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson 6 Co. 
 At the Ballantyne Press 
 
" Whoever could make two ears of corn or two 
 blades of grass to grow upon a spot of ground where 
 only one grew before, would deserve better of man- 
 kind, and do more essential service to his country, 
 than the whole race of politicians put together." 
 
 SWIFT. 
 
 222819 
 
The extreme quaintness and originality of 
 Rowland Vaughan's little book have led me 
 to republish it, in the hopes that ivhat has 
 charmed me in its diction, will not prove 
 " caviar to the general." The spelling and 
 punctuation I have scrupulously followed, 
 but have omitted the old-fashioned lettering. 
 The original binding was too costly for re- 
 production, so I have taken a suggestion from 
 it, with a view to keeping up the character 
 of the book. 
 
 I cannot write even a small half-page of 
 introduction without acknowledging my in- 
 debtedness to Dr. Vevers, who, by kindly lend- 
 ing me his copy of the " Water-workes" halved 
 my labours by enabling me to transcribe it 
 at home; and to Mr. J. H. Parry of 
 Harewood, from whose hospitable house I 
 
pilgrimaged to see Neiv Court and the 
 Golden Valley, and who has done one or 
 two pilgrimages since, in order to verify 
 my information, or to dig deeper into the 
 subject for me. To those two gentlemen the 
 il hearty thanks of mee" who remain " theirs, 
 as they have given mee cause" 
 
 ELLEN BEATKICE WOOD. 
 
 MOLE WOOD HOUSE, HERTFORD, 
 November 1896. 
 
 VI 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 OF Rowland Vaughan, author of the following 
 pamphlet, so little is known, except what he 
 himself tells us, that an introductory sketch 
 of even a few pages is a matter of some diffi- 
 culty. The second son of Watkyn Vaughan 
 of Bredwardyne, County Hereford, he was in- 
 tended for Court life, his first-cousin, Rowland 
 Vaughan of Porthamel (afterwards M.P. for 
 Breconshire), being Groom of the Chambers 
 to Queen Elizabeth, and his grand-aunt, Dame 
 Blanche Parry, her great friend and chief 
 Bedchamber-woman ; but, as he himself tells 
 us, " his spirit was too tender to endure the 
 bitternesse" of Dame Blanche's "humor," 
 and after some years spent in the greatness 
 and glory of Court, he was "forced" by the 
 same old relative's " careful, though crabbed, 
 authority" into the Irish wars probably 
 vii 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 those of Sir Henry Sidney against the 
 O'Desmond. 
 
 Here he spent three or four years ; but 
 this time it was his body that was "too 
 tender," and the standing waist (or, to use 
 his own expression, "twist") deep in the 
 bogs, combined with fasting and ill diet, 
 sent him home invalided to Bredwardine. 
 
 That Bredwardine was a place of some 
 pretensions, we learn from some seventeenth- 
 century manuscript notes for a History of 
 Herefordshire. First in a list headed " Where 
 appeare any tokins of great old houses now 
 done desolated " we find " Castells within 
 the shire on the south side of Wye the 
 Castel of Bredwardine." Then in an account 
 of the different parishes comes, " Bredwardine 
 had a faire castel called the Castel of Grone, 
 and another at the place called the Court of 
 Vaughans, called also the Radnor; the first 
 held by appearing at Brecknocke Castle gate 
 on horseback completely armed with his 
 speare, and there to wait all day on the 
 day of . It is now honoured with a 
 
 family of the Vaughans, of the second house, 
 whose ancestors by a match with one of the 
 co-heirs of the Parrys had by her great 
 viii 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 revenues." This alludes to the marriage of 
 Rowland's father, Watkyn, with Joan Parry, 
 daughter of Henry Parry of New Court. 
 
 The manuscript goes on to state that in 
 Bredwardine Church is an effigy of a knight 
 in full armour, supposed to be "by tradition, 
 and that probable," John de Bredwardyne, 
 knighted by William the Conqueror. 
 
 Thus far goes the Harleian M.S. No. 6868. 
 M.S. No. 6726, also Harleian, written in 
 1655, tells us a little more about Bredwardine. 
 It states, "The dwelling-house, very fairly 
 built by Roger Vaughan about the year 1639- 
 1640, was an ancient and strong castle, re- 
 taining that title still. It was called anciently 
 the Castel of Grone ; the lands and tenements 
 belonging to it is still called by the name of 
 the Manor of Grone. Another Lordship in this 
 parish, which is held by the suit and doome 
 in the County Court, and belongs unto the 
 Vaughans, is called the Court of Vaughans 
 (belonging to another branch of Vaughans, 
 viz., Sir George Vaughan), was sold to those 
 Vaughans of Bredwardine about the year 
 1630. There is a small fortified hill, which 
 was for the safeguard of the inhabitants 
 against sudden invasion." 
 
 ix 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 In Rowland's day, then, the place was a 
 "faire castell." The rebuilding of 1640 was 
 not till after his death, Roger being his 
 nephew, son to his elder brother Henry 
 Vaughan of Moccas ; but two years even 
 in this "great old house" bored our hero to 
 such an extent, that he would have gone off 
 again to the wars, had not his fair kinswoman, 
 Elizabeth Vaughan, intervened, and turned his 
 thoughts towards matrimony. 
 
 Elizabeth was daughter of the abovenamed 
 Rowland of Porthamel and Elizabeth Parry 
 of New Court, co-heiress with her sister Joan, 
 who married Rowland's father, Watkyn of 
 Bredwardine, of the New Court estates. 
 
 The Parrys and Vaughans intermarried in 
 each generation, and the cross-relationships 
 are so puzzling, that I shall not attempt here 
 to follow up the pedigree of either family, 
 except to draw attention to the fact that they 
 were both very proud of their kinship with 
 David Gam, the hero of Agincourt, from 
 whose daughter, " Gladis de Gam," sprang the 
 Vaughans by her first marriage with Sir Roger 
 Vaughan, who was killed at Agincourt, and 
 the Pembrokes by a second marriage with Sir 
 William Herbert, father by her of the first 
 
 x 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 Earl of Pembroke. The Vaughans and 
 Pembrokes fought side by side in many a 
 fight, and the dedication of Rowland's book 
 to the then Earl show that the feeling of 
 kinship had survived the wear and tear of 
 nearly two hundred years. 
 
 Rowland Vaughan of Porthamel and his 
 wife, Elizabeth Parry, had two daughters 
 (their son died unmarried in 1582), Eliza- 
 beth, who married our hero, and Katherine, 
 who married Sir Robert Knollys, and so be- 
 came daughter-in-law to dear old Sir Francis 
 Knollys, whose wife, Katherine Carey, was 
 Queen Elizabeth's first-cousin. 
 
 The fair and virtuous Elizabeth Vaughan 
 was "a loving wife," according to her hus- 
 band, but apparently one who would stand 
 no nonsense. She soon put a stop to his 
 roystering with old comrades, and bade him 
 employ himself at home, by looking after her 
 property, she " being seized of a mannor and 
 overshott mill." The manor was New Court. 
 An apparent disagreeable with the miller 
 made Rowland wish to get rid of his respon- 
 sibility, but madam overruled him, and he 
 " obeyed her will, as many doe, and many 
 miseries do ensue thereby." And so, "in the 
 
 xi 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 month of March," our Rowland ("with no 
 desire, I protest, to fashion or forme hus- 
 bandry") was wandering by the mill-stream, 
 possibly whistling as he went for want of 
 thought, or thinking regretfully of those boon 
 companions, only now allowed to memory, 
 when his wandering eye fell upon a small 
 stream, or, as he would call it, a " waterprill" 
 issuing from a molehill, and from this small 
 beginning came his mighty scheme of irri- 
 gation. His difficulties were great. His 
 neighbour, Rowland Parry of Moorhampton 
 (whose son Stephen afterwards became our 
 Rowland's son-in-law), readily gave him per- 
 mission to make the necessary uses of his 
 side of the river; but one of his tenants 
 ("being very aged and simple") made such 
 a to-do, that, after Rowland had vainly tried 
 what he calls " bugg words" bribery had to be 
 resorted to, with the result that the simple(?) 
 rustic got a " meadow-plott " worth ^40, 
 instead of the three acres of old meadow-land, 
 heavily laden with moss, rush, and cowslip, 
 which his landlord so much coveted. Of the 
 money spent we can form no estimate. Over 
 one piece of trenching (which, the neighbours 
 said, would cost a thousand marks) Rowland 
 
 xii 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 saved a 100 by his crafty way of setting to 
 work. Elsewhere he mentions that a bad 
 piece of work on the part of a vain-glorious 
 carpenter cost him over ^2000. But his 
 book must have bitterly disappointed any one 
 who tried to get real practical information on 
 either of his subjects ; his wandering mind 
 flies off anywhere, wholly irrelevant anec- 
 dotes are begun and never finished, and real 
 statistics are the last things he would con- 
 descend to work out for us. Still, he states 
 that his demesne at New Court was let for 
 ^40 a year, and " is now worth ^"300 " ; that 
 one meadow, for which he got ^5 yearly, 
 now yields 1$ in hay and aftermath alone ; 
 that if at the end of four years' " drownings " 
 your outlay of ^500 has not made itself 
 ^2000 or ^3000, "your choyce" (of land) 
 " is bad, and luck worse." He offered a 
 neighbour 1 5 a year for a hundred acres of 
 arable (that being its rental) on a four years' 
 agreement, at the end of which time Bow- 
 land was to have a twenty-one years' lease 
 of it at 100 a year, all cost of putting up 
 sluices, &c., to be Rowland's; but on the 
 entering of the twenty-one years' lease the 
 neighbour was to put down ^300, which, 
 xiii 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 as Rowland observes, he gets back in three 
 years. 
 
 Though the hundred acres was " in the eye 
 of his house," and must have been unsightly 
 in its state of unculture, the neighbour re- 
 fused the offer. " He offered nothing, and he 
 hath done nothing" says Rowland, " therefore 
 this is but an accusation for negligence, setting 
 it forth in as friendly a manner as I may." 
 
 Further on we learn that three moles, suf- 
 fered to live by a servant's carelessness, cost 
 him 20 a year in damage to the " stankes," 
 and there is an amusing little homily on the 
 sin of ingratitude to these little creatures, who 
 were the originators of all the vast system of 
 irrigation ; but though they are offered the run 
 of his pleasaunce, burrowing in the " Stanke 
 Royal" is high treason, and the moles are 
 doomed, in spite of qualms of conscience. 
 
 Then, too, the saving of labour is slightly 
 touched on, but these facts are scattered all 
 about the book, and one can only guess that 
 the cost must have been immense, though 
 Rowland blames his neighbours for not fol- 
 lowing his example, in utter oblivion of the 
 fact that they may not have had any capital 
 to advance, as not to every one's share falls a 
 xiv 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 wife seized of a " manner and a overshott 
 mill." 
 
 And here I must note that a mill in those 
 days was apparently a very choice possession, 
 for Rowland thus comments on their owners : 
 " The mill may be worth four or five 
 pound ; but because he will win reputa- 
 tion to his demesnes on information on the 
 marriage of his son that he hath such a mill, 
 he would rather suffer muddy flouds in 
 winter and clean water in summer to breake 
 their limbs in his mill-wheels then exercise 
 his wits (by drowning) to attain a world of 
 wealth." 
 
 When or why Rowland first thought of the 
 project which he calls his " common-wealth " 
 does not appear, but it also must have been a 
 gigantic work ; we gather it was begun after 
 the completion of the water-works, as he says, 
 " I have built my mill, and acquainted the 
 water with his course ; unto this mill I add 
 all offices," &c., &c. This commonwealth 
 was a sort of community of tradesmen, who 
 supplied each other with their specialties 
 before offering them in open market ; a clerk 
 fixed the rate at which the tanners was to 
 supply the glovers, and the carders the spin- 
 xv 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 ners, &c. ; and justice seems to have been 
 meted out with a steady hand. Great order 
 was kept in the commonwealth ; a first offence 
 was reprimanded, a second punished, the third 
 entailed banishment from the precincts. 
 
 Rowland thus got a market for all his farm 
 produce. He grew the sheep and kine which 
 both fed and employed his glovers and weavers, 
 the tanners got their bark from his forests, 
 and he seems to have personally superin- 
 tended everything. A great number of the 
 operatives were housed on the premises ; and 
 we read of their washing-places, their eating- 
 hall, their hospital indeed, of every conveni- 
 ence that human ingenuity of those days could 
 dream of. 
 
 Two thousand " mechanicalls " had joined 
 Rowland's community by the time of his writ- 
 ing his book (1604), which was in those days 
 a very much larger number proportionately 
 to the population than it is now, especially 
 in that remote corner of England or Wales, 
 as Rowland repeatedly calls Herefordshire 
 These two thousand workmen daily assem- 
 bled to food in the big hall at sound of 
 trumpet ; but bodily food was not the only 
 thing supplied for them by their energetic 
 xvi 
 
INTEODUCTION 
 
 "protector." He built them a chapel, attended 
 by both preacher and curate, who got respec- 
 tively ^50 and ^*2O yearly good stipends for 
 those days and almshouses for the sick and 
 old. The priests must have been a great 
 boon outside the commonwealth, for in all 
 the Golden Valley, " which is seven miles long 
 and one broad," there was not one parish 
 which could afford to maintain a priest, and 
 a young "preacher" used to come over from 
 Hereford every now and then, and preach so 
 many sermons at so much a piece, charging 
 very high, Rowland hints, on account of the 
 fancied perils of the journey ! 
 
 Other ministrations the people had none, 
 except that of an old monk, survivor of the 
 " great house of White Monks " (Abbey Dor), 
 who is evidently in Rowland's eyes a great 
 deal worse than nobody ; though I cannot 
 decide whether a Papist or a Puritan was his 
 chiefest aversion probably the latter, the 
 religion which did not allow oaths being 
 quite unfit for any gentleman. 
 
 The poet, John Davies of Hereford, who 
 lauds his kinsman with such fervour that 
 only the knowledge that he was writing- 
 master to Henry Prince of Wales, and a 
 xvii b 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 great celebrity in his own line (Fuller says 
 his handwriting was so beautiful that one 
 had to examine it under a magnifier to see 
 if it were print or no), prevents one thinking 
 that he was largely in Rowland's debt, says 
 that " the Mechani calls " all wore " scarlet 
 capps," and filled their chapps and lapps from 
 the forty dishes, which we learn were daily 
 provided for them. This scarlet Rowland 
 also alludes to, saying that if he did go again 
 to Court he would be but a shabby figure, 
 though smart in a sense, as wearing " Scarlett 
 of Builth, or Welch frize." 
 
 It was twenty years from the time of that 
 walk, one day in March, before the account of 
 the water-works was begun and that appa- 
 rently took about six years to write, as he 
 notes events taking place as he writes in 
 1604, and the date of publication is 1610. 
 That he dictated it is evident, from the words 
 " take breath " written in by error on the part 
 of the secretary at the close of a sentence. 
 
 While the " Water- works" were in progress 
 old Dame Blanche died (in 1589). She left 
 Rowland ^100, a most handsome bequest in 
 those times, and also 20 for the repair of 
 the road between " Moat and Douro, and New 
 xviii 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 Court and Moorhampton." Douro sounds so 
 suggestive of Spanish settlers that I must 
 quote what my MS. says about it : " The 
 vale of Straddel is that which we call the 
 Golden Valley ystrad in Welsh is valley 
 and we may believe this is the most ancient 
 denomination of it, for dyffrin dwr being 
 sounded among the Normands, they thought 
 they had heard the word d'or, and so Eng- 
 lished it the Golden Valley, whereas the latter 
 Welsh denomination signifies noe more than 
 the Watry Valley." 
 
 Thus my manuscript ; but another legend 
 has it that when the Saxon invaders pushed 
 the Welsh back into " Welsh Wales," they 
 asked some captive the name of the little 
 brook which runs purling through the valley, 
 and were told Dwr, which means simply 
 water, but which they caught up as Dor, 
 and hereafter called the river "the Dor." In 
 later days the monks, moved either by the 
 fairness of the landscape or the golden rich- 
 ness of the fields ripe for harvest, perpetrated 
 a monkly jest, and called the valley Voile 
 d'Oro, the Golden Valley, or the Valley of the 
 Dor. However that may be, in Rowland's 
 time it was always called the Golden Valley, 
 xix 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 but the great ruined abbey at the mouth of it 
 was known as Abbey Dor or Douro, and it is 
 then between the abbey and Moat that the 
 road was to be kept up. Immediately after 
 the Reformation, John Scudamore, of Kent 
 Church, had interposed to stop the work of 
 desecration and spoliation of the abbey, and 
 turned part of it into an Anglican place of 
 worship, and I suppose it is to him alone we 
 owe the partial preservation of it all honour 
 to his name ! 
 
 From 1584 to 1600 Rowland was involved 
 in one lawsuit after another. They are 
 extremely dull lawsuits, their only interest 
 being -that they show what large possessions 
 Rowland had acquired, either by inheritance, 
 money-lending, or purchase. The suit in 
 1584 is against one Dame Anne Gresham, 
 with regard to some property which Rowland 
 owns by right of his wife, who inherited from 
 her brother William, who died childless in 
 1582. 
 
 Then in 1596 is one against James Parry 
 of Poston, who seeks to " redeem tithes 
 within the townships of Poterchurch, Hynton, 
 Taylorshope, Wilbroke, Leynalls, and Wylaw- 
 stone, in the parish of Peterchurch, which he 
 
 xx 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 held in lease for years, and the park of Snod- 
 hill, his inheritance, which he mortgaged." 
 Rowland had lent James Parry 20 on the 
 security of the abovenamed tithes. 
 
 Then comes a Star-Chamber case, and then, 
 crowning misfortune, one in the " Court of 
 Wardes," which, as Rowland pathetically says, 
 " Bredd more white haires in my head in one 
 yeare then all my wetshod water-works in 
 sixteene." This case lasted five years, and 
 during its course Rowland went home to see 
 to his "drownings" (sadly neglected, we hear, 
 during his absence), leaving his "Wanton 
 Warde," as he calls her, in charge of a 
 Puritan tailor, and the next thing he hears 
 is that his " Welsh niece," alias the Wanton 
 Warde, has married the tailor's nephew. 
 
 Rowland's wrath knows no bounds ; he 
 has a stormy interview with the tailor, who 
 declares his ignorance of the intrigue ; but 
 when Rowland wants him to swear on the 
 cross of his shears, he refuses, it being against 
 his principles to swear. It is not, however, 
 against Rowland's, and black surmises about 
 complicity are made, and our poor old squire 
 loses all chance of the customary "tip" over 
 that ward's marriage, and is not that enough 
 xxi 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 of itself to " brede white hairs in a Brittaines 
 beard?" 
 
 In 1594 Rowland's sister, "Lady Gattes," 
 died ; and as her funeral certificate is rather 
 quaint, I append it ; it is from the collection 
 at the College of Arms. 
 
 " Catherine, Lady Gattes, doughter to 
 Watkyn Vaughan of Bredwardyn, in Com. 
 Hereford, Esquire, had in her lyffe time three 
 husbands, the first James Boyle of Hereford 
 Towne, Esq., and by him had two doughters. 
 Anne, i doughter, and one of t heirs of 
 James, was marry ed to James Tompkyns of 
 Monnington, in Com. Hereford, Gent. Marye, 
 second doughter, and one of t? heirs of James, 
 was marryed to Howell Gywnne of Tre- 
 castle, Com. , Esq. 
 
 " After, the aforenamed lady marryed her 
 second husband, Sir Henry Gatte of Senne, 
 in Com. Yorke, Knight, but had no yssue. 
 Thirdlye, and lastly, she marryed Robert Whytt 
 of Aldershott, in Com. Southe, Esquire, but 
 had no yssue. Thys lady departed this lyffe 
 to the Lord the 1 5 November at Westmynster 
 (in the gat house erased), and was buried in 
 St. Margarettes Church there, the wone-and- 
 twentyeth, of the moneth aforesaid, 1594. 
 xxii 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 Chefe moorrner at her funerall the Lady 
 Hawkyns, and there servyd Clarencieux, 
 Kinge at Armes and Blew Mantle. In 
 witness whereof I have sett hereunto my 
 hand the day and yere abowsaid." 
 
 In 1609 we find Rowland joining with his 
 son John in the sale of the manor and lands 
 of Wormebridge, in Turneston parish. This 
 property Rowland had bought from Sir 
 Christopher Hatton, who had received it as 
 a grant from Queen Elizabeth. After one 
 intermediate generation this property passed 
 into the hands of the Clives of Styche (in 
 Shropshire), who in 1800 bought out some 
 descendants of the New Court Parrys, who 
 still had Wormebridge place, and pulled down 
 both houses, building in their stead their 
 present seat of Whitfield. 
 
 The last page of Rowland's book contains 
 a formal acknowledgment of a debt of forty 
 shillings. Of the four copies to which I have 
 had access, only three have the acknowledg- 
 ment, and only one has any name filled in. 
 The name has been carefully erased, not so 
 carefully, however, but that we fancy we can 
 decipher it as William Powell, in the parish 
 of Llywell, in the county of Brecknock, 
 xxiii 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 the last word being quite clear. It runs 
 thus : 
 
 "Be it known unto all men by these 
 presents, that I, Rowland Vaughan of New 
 Court, in the County of Hereford, Esquire, do 
 acknowledge myselfe to owe and stand duly 
 indebted unto , in the County of 
 
 , the sum of 40 shillings of lawfull 
 money of England, to be paid unto the said 
 
 , his heirs, executors, or adminis- 
 trators, at the full end and determination of 
 five years next ensuing the date thereof. To 
 the which paiement will and truly to be made, 
 I, the said Rowland Vaughan, doe binde mee, 
 mine heires, executors, and administrators, 
 firmly, by these presents. In witnesse thereof 
 I have caused this Bill, thus in print, to bee 
 made as my Deed, and have hereunto set my 
 name the xxix of November, in the yeare of the 
 raigne of our soveraigne Lord James, by the 
 grace of God of England, France, and Ire- 
 land, King, defender of the Faith, the VII. 
 and of Scotland the XLIII. 1609. 
 
 " By mee, Rowland Vaughan." 
 
 One copy of the book, in the British 
 Museum, has manuscript notes in a seven- 
 xxiv 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 teenth- century hand, calling attention to 
 various statements, making Chaucer the author 
 of the old saw, "Thou art an old doting 
 fool," and stating that Rowland's promise of 
 further explaining his use of the levell by a 
 picture, or, as he calls it, a mapp, has not 
 been fulfilled. 
 
 Gough, in his " Typographica Brittanica," 
 mentions two maps, but I have only been 
 able to reproduce one, from a photograph off 
 an engraving in Duncombe's copy of the 
 work, which engraving was discovered by 
 Dr. Vevers of Hereford in 1883. It should 
 be somewhere about the centre of the book ; 
 but I have, for various reasons, put it in the 
 place of the missing frontispiece. 
 
 The two main ostensible reasons for the 
 book, namely, the irrigation scheme, and the 
 commonwealth or community of trades, do 
 not by any means sum up Rowland's resources. 
 He must have had great mechanical skill, as 
 he used his water-power for all sorts of pur- 
 poses, amongst others for turning his kitchen 
 spits (at the factory, not at home), and sawing 
 timber. He soon discovered the cheapness 
 of water traffic, and built a boat to convey his 
 farm produce from the White House to New 
 xxv 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 Court, where the " Mechanicalls " had their 
 headquarters ; whilst his remarks on the 
 breeding and rearing of calves, though they 
 savour somewhat of the kindergarten system 
 of education (teaching by playing), show that 
 he took great heed to his stock as well as his 
 crop. I cannot find if any of his neighbours 
 followed his example ; for, though my manu- 
 script tells of the remains of trenches at 
 Moccas, where his brother Henry lived, one 
 can only conjecture that they might possibly 
 have been for irrigation purposes, and I have 
 searched in vain for any remark in the his- 
 tories of Shropshire about that ill-judged 
 attempt of Maister Hoord, of which Rowland 
 speaks in his book. 
 
 The date of Rowland's death and his age 
 are unknown. I can find neither will, in- 
 quisition, nor certificate ; but on a beam in 
 Peterchurch Church is the Vaughan coat-of- 
 arms, quartered with that of Gams (?), with 
 date 1612, the last figure somewhat doubtful, 
 which I take to be a monument to the old 
 man. The blazon of the Vaughan coat, which 
 is reproduced on the title-page, is Sable a 
 chevron argent between three boys' heads 
 affrontee, .couped at the shoulder proper, 
 xxvi 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 crined or, and about each neck a serpent 
 entwined vert. This coat was adopted on 
 account of the legend that Moredig Warwyn, 
 one of their ancestors, was born with a snake 
 round his neck. The Bredwardine Vaughans 
 always bore the chevron, as appears in the 
 visitation of Herefordshire of 1619, from 
 which the York herald has copied this coat 
 for me. 
 
 There is a legend that our Rowland is 
 buried at West Ham, but there are no regis- 
 ters there prior to 1653, and there is no trace 
 of a tomb ; but I found the inquisition of a 
 certain Rowland Vaughan, a city knight, who 
 died in 1612, and I consider he was probably 
 buried in the old church, not our Hereford- 
 shire Rowland ; the fact that this city man 
 had also a wife Elizabeth, and left no male 
 heir, is quite enough to account for the 
 story. 
 
 Elizabeth Vaughan re-married a certain 
 Richard Leighton, and is buried at Vow- 
 church. The date on the tomb is 1640, 
 but it is so rudely cut that it may have been 
 added later, and be quite incorrect. The in- 
 scription runs thus : "I. H. S. Here lieth 
 the body of Eliza Leighton, wife to Richard 
 xxvii 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 Leigh, and formerly married to Rowland 
 Vaughan, Esquire, deceased." 
 
 Rowland had three children. One son, 
 John, who died sans issue, I believe, before 
 his father he was alive and of age in 1 609 
 and two daughters. Jane, who had New 
 Court, married her kinsman, Stephen Parry 
 of Moorhampton, who exchanged the com- 
 bined properties for that of Arkeston, in the 
 parish of Kingston, Co. Hereford. Blanche 
 married Epiphany Haworth, and had the 
 White House, where her father had always 
 lived. This was occupied by descendants 
 of hers till about fifty years ago, when it 
 changed hands. Some chairs, which had 
 belonged to Queen Elizabeth, and which she 
 is said to have given to Henry Parry of New 
 Court, Rowland's grandfather ; and a portrait 
 of a lady in Welsh dress, bearing inscription, 
 "Blanche Parry, 1590," were bought at the 
 sale by, and still belong to, Dr. Jenkins of 
 the Copelands, Hereford. As to the original 
 of the portrait, the greatest authorities dis- 
 agree. It was long thought to be the cele- 
 brated lady of the Bedchamber, but as she 
 died very old, and blind, in 1589, that is 
 impossible. Mr. Parry of Harewood con- 
 xxviii 
 
INTKODUCTION 
 
 siders it to have been Blanche Haworth 
 herself, though I cannot see why it should 
 then be called Blanche Parry. I think it is 
 of her sister's mother-in-law, who was Blanche 
 Parry both as maid and wife, though I own 
 I cannot account for its presence at the White 
 House, unless Jane and Stephen did not 
 care to move it with them to Arkeston. 
 
 Herefordshire is singularly unlucky in its 
 county history. Duncombe, who was writing 
 one to order, was not public-spirited enough 
 to continue his work on the death of his 
 patron; and though other hands have con- 
 tinued his work with the help of his notes, 
 the Hundred of Webtree is altogether omit- 
 ted, while the Hundred of Ewyas is very 
 sketchily done, and contains no mention of 
 Eowland or his works. That they were the 
 sight and talk of the neighbourhood, is 
 evident from the fact that open table was kept 
 for visitors to the commonwealth, whose 
 coming was notified by a watchman by beat 
 of drum or blair of trumpet, according to 
 the condition of the approaching guest, 
 " whether he be horseman or footman." 
 
 In 1 80 1 Mrs. Burton, the wife of the then 
 vicar of Atcham, in Shropshire, and herself 
 xxix 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 one of the Parry family, pilgrimaged to 
 Bacton and New Court, and describes the 
 latter place as being a dreary, ruinous farm- 
 house. It had once been moated, according 
 to the custom of our ancestors. In two of 
 the rooms, which seemed to have been bed- 
 rooms, were remains of carved oak wains- 
 cotting, and an old carved staircase betrayed 
 evident traces of the splendours of past times. 
 An upper room had been curiously painted, 
 some of the figures yet remaining on the 
 walls. The ceiling appeared to have been 
 arched ; the Gothic window remained to 
 determine the architectural character of the 
 old mansion. Mrs. Burton speaks with en- 
 thusiasm of a magnificent variegated oak, and 
 describes the remains of the terraced gardens, 
 with its ruined summer-house. The old 
 farmhouse was replaced by a modern build- 
 ing shortly after this visit; and New Court and 
 Moorhampton are now farmhouses of the most 
 ordinary (I mean commonplace) description. 
 
 The absolute disappearance of all traces of 
 Rowland's irrigation works, and of the great 
 buildings necessary for the housing and 
 employing of his community, can only be 
 attributed to the civil wars, which raged 
 
 XXX 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 with great fury in Herefordshire, a most 
 obstinate stronghold of the Royalists. What 
 side the Vaughan's took, I know not; the 
 Parry's were stout Roundheads. 
 
 The fact, too, that Rowland's son-in-law 
 exchanged properties with another branch 
 of the Parrys, thus bringing New Court into 
 the hands of those who had no personal 
 interest in his experiments, may have begun 
 the end which the civil wars undoubtedly 
 finished ; but we can have little doubt that 
 2000 " Mechanicalls " could not be allowed 
 to spin and weave when stout men were 
 wanted for the fight, and who knows but that 
 these members of the "Common-wealth" were 
 all the more acceptable from the discipline 
 they had already gone through under our 
 Rowland. I must hope that they helped 
 the cause of the son of their " deare master," 
 who is spoken of with such affectionate 
 respect, and considered the embodiment of 
 human virtues, not that of the Puritan, who 
 would no more have sworn on the cross of 
 his sword than would that "tailour," who 
 behaved so " scurvily," upon his shears, and 
 whose whole conduct would have filled 
 Rowland with deep disgust. 
 xxxi 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 The absence of all outside accounts of 
 Rowland's works make a more complete 
 sketch of his life impossible, and our imagi- 
 nation alone can fill in the blanks. We 
 must, then, fancy the old squire in his scarlet 
 cape, riding-rod in hand, walking down the 
 Golden Valley from the White House to 
 New Court (some three miles) to overlook the 
 raising of the sluices and the marshalling of 
 his " Mechanicalls " to dinner, or, as one can 
 well fancy, reading the Riot Act to the unruly, 
 and intermeddling with kindly officiousness 
 in the private matters of his people. Or in 
 later days, too old now for the walk down and 
 up the valley, dictating his " Long experienced 
 Water-workes " to his admiring amanuensis, 
 interrupted now and then by his masterful 
 helpmate or his dearly loved children ; and 
 so slips the time away, till first the book 
 and then the life draws to an end, and 
 Rowland Vaughan sleeps with his fathers, 
 and of him all that remains to us is this 
 little pamphlet. 
 
 XXXll 
 
MOST APPROVED, 
 
 And 
 
 Long experienced WATER- 
 
 W O R K E S. 
 
 Containing, 
 
 The manner of Winter and Summer 
 
 drowning of Medow and Pasture^ by the advantage 
 of the least, River > Brooke , Fount ^ or Water- 
 prill adjacent ; there-by to make 
 those grounds (especially if they 
 be drye] more Fertile 
 T'en for One. 
 
 As also a demonstration of a Project 
 
 for the great benefit of the Common-wealth 
 
 generally, but of Hereford-shire 
 
 especially. 
 
 Judicium in melius perplexus cuncta referto, 
 Vera rei, donee sit manifesto, fides. 
 
 By ROWLAND VAUGHAN, Esquire. 
 
 Imprinted at London by GEORGE ELD. 
 i 6 i o. 
 
A PANEGYRICKE, 
 
 In the deserved honor of this most profitable worke, and 
 no lesse renowned then much-desired Project. 
 
 T Sing of him that is as deere to mee 
 - As to the World ; to whom both aye are bound ; 
 Then briefe, for Bond so long, I cannot be ; 
 Unlesse my Love were (like my Lines) too round. 
 
 Proportion doth so please Witte, Will, and Sense, 
 That where it wants, it grieves Sense, Will, and Witte : 
 Then by Proportion of his Excellence, 
 Thus must we shape our praise of Him, and It. 
 
 When as the Earth all soild in sinne did lye, 
 
 Th almighties long-provokt inraged-HAND 
 
 Emptied Heavns Bottles, it to purifie ; 
 
 And made that (a) FL UD that mud to countermand. 
 
 So, for like crimes, of late, we plagu'd have bin 
 With like (U) O* reflowings , washing all away 
 That lay the Earth upon, or Earth within, 
 Within the limitts where this Deluge lay ! 
 
 3 Which 
 
 (a) Noahs 
 floud. 
 (6) The 
 Inundation 
 caused by 
 the boiling 
 up of the 
 sea in Mun- 
 mouth and 
 Glamorgan 
 shire, the 
 yeare 1607. 
 
: :P.^N ECy y/R I C KE. 
 
 Which Inundations were for Earth unfit : 
 
 But hee whose Hand?a\&. Head this WORKE composed, 
 
 Shewes how to drowne the Earth to profit it : 
 
 And beeing 111, to make it Well-disposd. 
 
 (a)FewHad- 
 lands take 
 pleasure to 
 behold the 
 lands they 
 had. 
 
 (b) Trenches, 
 by which his 
 workes are 
 effected. 
 
 Some with their Lands, doe oft so sinck them-selves, 
 That they to it, and it to them yeeld nought, 
 But, in the Ocean what doe yeeld the Shelves, 
 Which when they see, they (a) flee, with pensive thought. 
 
 But in His Drownings, He makes Lands arise, 
 In grace and goodnesse to the highest pitch ; 
 And Meades, and Pastures price he multiples ; 
 So, while some lies, He rise doth in the (U) Ditch. 
 
 His royall TRENCH (that all the rest commands 
 And holds the Sperme of Herbage by a Spring) 
 Infuseth in the wombe of sterile Lands, 
 The Liquid seede that makes them Plenty bring. 
 
 By equi- 
 vocation it 
 may bee 
 taken for 
 Infants as 
 wel as 
 Barnes : 
 Barne being 
 the name of 
 1 nfant in 
 some places 
 of England. 
 
 Here, two of the inferior Elements 
 (Joyning in Co'itu) Water on the Leaze 
 (Like Sperme most active in such complements) 
 Begets the full-pancht Foison of Increase : 
 
 For, through Earths rifts into her hollow wombe, 
 (Where Nature doth her Twyning-Issue frame) 
 The water soakes, whereof doth kindly come 
 Full-(c]Barnes, to joy the Lords that hold the same : 
 
 4 For 
 
A PANEGYRICKE. 
 
 For, as all Womens wombes do barren seeme, 
 That never had societie of Men ; 
 So fertill Grounds we often barren deeme, 
 Whose Bowells, Water fills not now and then. 
 
 Then, Earth and Water, warmed with the Sunne, 
 Ingenders what doth make Man-kinde ingender : 
 For Venus quickly will to ruine runne, 
 If (a) Ceres and her Bacchus not defend her. 
 
 Then looke how much the Race of Man is worth. 
 So much is worth this Arte, maintaining it ; 
 Then 6 how deere is hee that brought it forth, 
 Withflaine and cost for Man-kinds benefit ! 
 
 (a) Sine 
 Cerere &* 
 Bacche^ 
 friget Venus. 
 
 Though present Times (that oft ungrateful I proove) 
 May under-valew both his Worke and Him ; 
 Yet After-times will prize them Price above, 
 And hold them Durt that doe their glory dim. 
 
 For He by Wisedome, over-rules the Fates, 
 By Witt defeating passions of the Ayre ; 
 When they against his well-fare nurse debates, 
 While fooles (ore-rul'd by each) die through dispaire. 
 
 In dropping Sommers, that do marre the Meads, 
 His Trenches draine the Raines superfluous Almes ; 
 And when heatewounds ti&Earth((b}tQ death thatbleeds) 
 Hee cures the chaps with richest Water-balmes. 
 
 5 So 
 
 (J) The 
 Sunne ex- 
 haling all 
 radicall 
 moysture 
 from thence 
 by the 
 wounds or 
 chaps which 
 are made 
 by summers 
 heate. 
 
A PANEGYRICKE. 
 
 (a) The 
 teares of 
 sinners, are 
 the wine of 
 Angels. 
 
 So, when Heavn (ceaselesse) weepes to see Earths sinne 
 He can restraine those Teares from hurting him ; 
 Untill his Teares the Heavens to (a) joy do win, 
 While other Grounds are torne, the life from limbe. 
 
 And when the Earth growes Iron, for Hearts so growne, 
 Hee can dissolve it straite (as Waxe it were ;) 
 Mantling the Meadowes in their Summer-Gowne ; 
 Sojoyes in hope, while others grieve infeare. 
 
 (b) Ars Thus wisemen (6) rule the Starr es, as Starr es doe fooles ; 
 dominabttur And each mans manners doe his Fortunes square ; 
 
 f*ft-r1 P 
 
 ,,Arte learnes to thrive in Natures practick Schooles ; 
 ,, And Fortune favours men of actions rare. 
 
 astris. 
 
 Such one is this rare Subject of my Rimes, 
 Who raignes by mirry motion, 'ore my Spleene ; 
 (c\ i Or cleare Such is this (c) Water-glasse, wherein these Times 
 Mirrour. j) o see } 1OW to adorne their Meades in Greene. 
 
 (d) From the 
 observation 
 whereof, pro- 
 ceeded the 
 rest of his 
 workes, as 
 in this his 
 booke more 
 at large is 
 expressed. 
 
 Hee from a Mole-kill (from whose hollow wombe 
 Issu'd a (d) Water-fount} a Mount did reare ; 
 A Mount of large Revenues thence did come ; 
 So, a Mole-hill great with yong a Mountaine bare ! 
 
 How many Rivers, Founts, and Water-prills^ 
 (Tendring their service to their Lords for Rent) 
 Are nere imployde but in poore Water-mills, 
 While the drye Grounds unto the Bones are brent. 
 
 6 
 
 To 
 
A PANEGYRICKE. 
 
 To Tantalus I can resemble those 
 That touch the water that they n'ere doe taste ; 
 And pine away, Fruite being at their Nose, 
 So, in Aboundance, they to nought do waste. 
 
 The Brookes runne murmuring by their parched Brincks 
 (Pure virgin Nimphes) and chide against the Stancks, 
 When as their sweetest profer'd service stinkes, 
 So coyly kisse the chapt-lippes of the Bankes. 
 
 And (weake as water) in their Beds do stretch 
 (As tVere to yeeld their Ghost for such disgrace) 
 Their Christall limbes unto the utmost Reach ; 
 
 And (tf)shrinke from th'Armesthat(uselesse) them imbrace. () In dry 
 
 Summers the 
 Rivers grow 
 
 When as the Meads, wherein their Beds do lye, 
 Make towards them, and fall by lumpes therein ; 
 Who (of the yellow Jaundise like to dye) 
 
 Creepe to their (ft) Beds, their love and health to winne. () When the 
 
 Bankes are 
 chapt, they 
 
 O Landlords see, O see great Lords of Land! faUby^mam- 
 
 These sencelesse creatures mov'd to cithers aid mocks into 
 
 But for your helpe, who may their helpes command : the Rlver - 
 Then well command, you shall be well obaid. 
 
 Helpe Nature in her Workes, that workes for you ; 
 And be not idle when you may do good : 
 
 ^Paines are but (c) Sports when earnest gaines insue : (c} Games 
 For, Sport, in earnest, lies in Livelihood. the^houeht 
 
 7 The ofPaines. 
 
A PANEGYRICKE. 
 
 The Golden-age is now returned againe, 
 Sith Gold's the God that all commands therein ; 
 By Gold (next God) Kings conquer, rule and raign ; 
 With Gold we may commute, or grace our sinne. 
 
 Briefly, by Him we may do what we will, 
 Although we would do more then well we may : 
 For He makes ill too good, and good too ill ; 
 And more then God, the ill do him obay. 
 
 Then if ye would be eyther Great or Good, 
 (a) Wealth Or Good and Great (all which he (a) can you make) 
 
 hfto opera- Take P leasure ( 6 ) to save 7 our Livings Bloud 
 
 tions; whose And streame it through their Limbes, for Profits sake. 
 
 hands were 
 
 else bound 
 
 a tn Vert This Esculapius of diseased Grounds, 
 (Casting their Water in his Urinalls) 
 (His Trenches'} sees what Humor ore-abounds, 
 And cures them straight by Drought or Water-falls. 
 
 This little-great-great-little Flash of Witt. 
 This Soule of Action, all compos'd of Flame, 
 (Mounting by Action to high Benefit) 
 Exalts his State, his Countries, and his Fame. 
 
 grounds re- 
 bell against 
 nature, and 
 mens profit. 
 
 He well deserves to be a Lord of Land, 
 That ore W rebellious Lands, thus Lords it well : 
 O that all Lords that can much Land command 
 Would so command it, when it doth rebell. 
 
 _ 
 IJUt 
 
A PANEGYRICKE. 
 
 But Pleasure, Pompe, and inter-larded Ease 
 Possesse great Land-lords ; who, for rebell Groundes, 
 Do Racke their Rents, and idely live on these ; 
 Or spoyle their Tenants Cropp with carelesse Houndes. 
 
 But this rare Spirit, (that hath nor Flesh, nor Bone, 
 But Man even in the Abstract) hunts for Wealth 
 With Witt) that runnes where Profit should be sowne 
 By wholesome Fames ; so, reaps both Wealth, & Health. 
 
 Whether the Cost, or Time, which he hath spent 
 Be most, it's hard to say : for, twenty yeares 
 His Pounds, by thousands, he his Grounds hath lent, 
 Which payes now use, on use, as it appeares. 
 
 The Place wherein is fall'n His happy Lott 
 Hight Golden- Valley ; and so justly held : 
 His Royall TRENCH, is as his melting Pott, 
 Whence issues Liquid-gold the Vale to gild ! 
 
 ' 
 
 that I had a World of glorious wordes, 
 
 In golden Verse (with gold) to paint his praise, 
 
 1 would blinde Envies Eyes, and make Land-lords 
 By this Sunnes rising ; see their Sonnes to raise. 
 
 But 6 ! this is not all thou dost behight 
 
 Deere Vaughan, thy Deere- Country for her good ; 
 
 For, thou resolv'st to raise that (a) benefit (a) The 
 
 Out of thy private care ; and Livlyhood. 
 
 9 Thy 
 
A PANEGYRICKE. 
 
 Thy many trades (too many to rehearse 
 That shall on thy Foundation stedfast stand) 
 Shall with their Praters, still the Heavens pierce ; 
 And blesse their founders rare Head, Heart, and Hand! 
 
 That publike Table which thou will erect 
 
 (Where forty every Meale shall freely feed) 
 
 Will be the Cause of this so good Effect 
 
 To plant both Trades and Trafficke there with speed. 
 
 There shall thy Jovialist Mechanicalls 
 
 Attend this Table all in Scarlet Cappes ;^ 
 
 (As if they were King Arthures Seneschals) 
 
 And, for their paines shall fill their Chapps and Lapps. 
 
 For, never since King Arthurs glorious dayes 
 (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 franke Table farre exceed 
 If we respect the good still done by each : 
 For, that fedde none but such as had no need ; 
 But this (like God) shall feed both poore and rich ! 
 
 This Table then (that still shall beare thy Name 
 In Hyroglip hicks of the daintiest Gates) 
 As oft as it is- spread shall spread thy Fame 
 Beyond the greatest conquering Potentates ! 
 
 10 They 
 
A PANEGYRICKE. 
 
 They spill with spite, what thou in pitty spend'st ; 
 They onely great, thou good, how ever small ; 
 Subversion they, Erection thou intend'st ; 
 They foes to most, but Thou a friend to all. 
 
 Thy vertuous care to have thy God ador'd 
 (Among thy Paines and Pleasures] all will blesse : 
 Thy Pension for a (a) Preacher of his Word, 
 Shewes thou seek'st Heaven, and earthly happinesse. 
 
 A Chappell and a Curate for the same 
 (The one maintained, the other built by Thee 
 For Gods Diurnall praise) shall make thy Name 
 In Rubricke of the Saints enrold to be. 
 
 (a) Preacher 
 & Curate 
 for daily 
 service. 
 
 Thine Almes-house for thy (b) haplesse Mechanicks 
 Shall blaze thy charity to After-ages ; 
 And longer last in Brests of men, then Bricks ; 
 Increasing still thy heavenly Masters Wages. 
 
 If holy David had great thanks from Heavn 
 But for the Thought to make the (c) Arke an House; 
 Then thanks of all, to Thee, should still be giv'n 
 Whose purpose is to all commodious. 
 
 (b) Any way 
 mischanc't 
 in their 
 Bodies, so 
 that they 
 cannot work. 
 
 (c} 2. Sam. 7, 
 2, 16. 
 
 O happy Captaine ! that hast past the Pikes 
 Of sharpest Stormes, still wounding Soldiers states, 
 To end thy Dayes in that which all men likes, 
 Joy, Mirth, and Fellowship which ends debates. 
 
 ii The 
 
A PANEGYRICKE. 
 
 The Drummes and Trumpets (Mars his melodic) 
 That wonted 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 luster of thy name, 
 
 That giv'st to both sans Parralel'd renowne, 
 
 Upon the Poles inscribed be thy Fame, 
 
 That it to Worlds unknowne may still be knowne. 
 
 i 
 
 That they may say a Nooke but of an Isle 
 That North-ward lies, doth yeeld a rarer Man, 
 Then larger Lands by many a Thousand Mile, 
 
 (a} What is Who can do (0) Thus, and will do what He can. 
 before ex- 
 pressed. 
 
 But many Monarches, many Worldes have wonne, 
 Yet, with their Winnings have not wonne that praise 
 As this great-little Lord of hearts hath done, 
 For good-deedes done to These, and After-dayes. 
 
 Now Envy swell, and breake thy bitter'st Gall 
 With ceaselesse fretting at these sweete Effects, 
 Th' eternall good which he intends to all 
 His Fame (well fenc'd) above a Foile erects. 
 
 Liv'd He among the Pagans, they would make 
 () Like His glorious (U) Mansion some auspicious Starre ; 
 Mars, And make their Altars fume still for his sake 
 
 < As to a God, to whome still bound they are. 
 
 12 For 
 
A PANEGYRICKE. 
 
 For, Bacchus but for planting, first, those (a) Plants (a} Vines. 
 Whereby mens Wealth, and Witt are oft ore'throwne 
 Which wanton Nature rather craves, then wants, 
 They, as a God, with Gods do still enthrone. 
 
 But let us Christians, though not yeeld Him this, 
 Yet give him Love and Honor due t* a Man, 
 That makes men live (like Gods) in Wealth, and Blisse, 
 And heave his Fame to Heaven if we can. 
 
 Vaine Hanno taught his lesse vaine Birds to say 
 Hee was a God : and then he turn'd them loose 
 That they abroad might chaunt it still ; but they 
 (So gon) with silence prov'd their God, a Goose. 
 
 Then, though no God he were, yet might He be 
 
 A right (U) God-keeper in the Capitoil : (b] Geese (by 
 
 They Geese (at most) and so (at least) was He; reason of 
 
 Or, if ought lesse, his God-head was a Gull. lancyj kept 
 
 the Pagan- 
 Gods in the 
 
 But what I say, none taught me but thy Worth ; ^ oinair j e 
 
 Nor shall it (like those Birds) thy Fame betray : 
 
 But these my Lines shall then best sett thee forth 
 
 When thou art worse then Wormes, and lesse then Clay. 
 
 As well thy Crest, as Coat (6 wondrous thing !) 
 A Serpent is, about an Infants Necke : 
 Who was thine Ancestor, as Bards do sing, 
 So borne (alive) the Fates to counterchecke. 
 
 1 3 From 
 
A PANEGYRICKE. 
 
 From him thou cam'st ; as one, in him preserv'd ; 
 
 (By way of Miracle) for this good end, 
 
 As, by thy skill, to have so well deserv'd 
 
 Of all the Kingdome, which it much will mend. 
 
 This praise (perhaps) which thy deserts exact, 
 By Envy will be thought poeticke skill, 
 Playing the Vice, but in a glozing Act, 
 And so wrong Witte to sooth an erring will. 
 
 But yet if Arte should leave true Arte unprais'd, 
 (The only Meed the Time all Arte affords) 
 What Spirit by Art, would then at all be raiz'd 
 (From this Worlds hel) if Art should want good words ? 
 
 Then, be the mouth of Envy wide as Hell 
 Still open in thy spight, yet say I still 
 Thy praise exceeds, because thou dost excell 
 (a] Good In these thy works, that worke Good out of (a) 111. 
 
 Grasse out 
 of ill ground, 
 
 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 Arte, 
 
 That goods thy praisers, and dispraisers too. 
 
 In short (sith on thy praise I long have stood 
 Whereon my verses Feete do freely fall) 
 As thou dost worke by Flouds, so th' art a Floud 
 Of working, running to the Good of all. 
 
 14 For 
 
A PANEGYRICKE. 
 
 For as the Sunne doth shine on good and bad ; 
 So doost thou (Sunne of Use-full Science) still : 
 Then, Floud, and Sunne^ thou art the ground to glad, 
 And make it fruitfull to the good and ill. 
 
 But sith th' obscurest Sparke of thy bright (a) Tribe (a) De- 
 Speakes thus of Thee, (thou small-great man of worth) scended 
 
 . . IT- i i from his 
 
 It may be thought 1 praise to thee ascribe Ancestors. 
 
 As part mine owne ; so falsely, set thee forth : 
 
 But those, so thinking, when thy Worth they proove, 
 With mee, will thee both honor, praise and love. 
 
 Your poore kinsman, 
 
 and honorer of true vertue 
 in whome so-ever. 
 
 JOHN DAVIES 
 of Hereford. 
 
 In 
 
In praise of this no lesse pleasant 
 
 then most profitable worke. 
 
 T Oe heere a worke ; a worke ? nay, more then so, 
 - ' A worke of workes : for all it doth containe 
 Makes wealth by Water, over Land to floe, 
 Where-to workes runne, that reach to honest gaine. 
 
 Then, hast thou Land? and Water there- with-all ? 
 A little Land and Water so may stand, 
 That Land shall rise by that small Waters fall 
 To high esteeme, and raise thee with that Land. 
 
 This is no Dreame ; or if a Dreame it bee, 
 
 It is a Golden one ; and shewes by It 
 
 That golden Worlds of wealth shall compasse thee 
 
 If, in this dreame, thou act this worke of Witte. 
 Then shalt thou (waking) see (for thine availe) 
 Thy Grasse all Golde as in the Golden- Vale. 
 
 John Strangwage. 
 
 16 
 
In Libri Auctorem. 
 
 / I v He Bee is little, yet esteemed much, 
 
 *> (With no lesse cause) for Workes as sweete, as rare 
 Who, but with Dewes, doe make their owners rich ; 
 And, but for others, worke with ceaslesse care. 
 
 Then here's a hony-Bee, that, but with Dewes, 
 (Exchequer' d in some Trench, as in a Hive) 
 So T -vre grounds with Milke and Hony over-flowes, 
 Whereon both Hee and Others sweetly live. 
 
 Which, not so much for his owne good, he gets ; 
 (Though (like a Bee) at need, hee feedes thereon) 
 But to fill others too, with honyed Sweets ; 
 So, with a Bee, holds just comparison. 
 
 In this they differ ; Bees for this doe dye, 
 
 But Hee, for this shall live immortally. 
 
 Rob: Corbet. 
 
 17 In 
 
In praise of this most profitable 
 
 worke. 
 
 NO Plant can prosper if it water wants, 
 Nor Herbage flourish in a thirsty soile; 
 But give that Drinke ; with water ply your Plants, 
 And both will yeeld you profit for your toyle. 
 
 Some Grounds yeeld Cellers, wherein Nature putts 
 Her choisest liquers to refresh the Mould ; 
 There, Founts, and Channels, for their Streames, she cuts, 
 To cheere the Grounds where they their course do hold. 
 
 But Natures providence but little bootes, 
 
 Where water runnes at waste along the Land ; 
 
 None giving drinke unto the thirsty Rootes, 
 
 Out of those Cellers, being hard at hand. 
 Then to the Common and the Private weale, 
 How deere is hee that doth this arte reveale ? 
 
 Henry Fletcher. 
 
 18 To 
 
To the worthy Author and 
 
 his worke. 
 
 UGHAN^ thou hast a Soule surmounting Soules, 
 In high Conceit, and Action ; whose bright fire 
 Mounts to the Spheare, that Gaine to Glory rowles, 
 Which Men still seeke, and Gods them-selves desire. 
 
 Who, for thy countries profit, doest not spare 
 Thy Paines, thy Meanes, thy Body, and thy Minde ; 
 Whose will is bent to make all well to fare 
 By honest labour, in a diverse kinde. 
 
 A Project heere thou hast (in pleasant phrase) 
 Objected to the worlds Desiring-eye, 
 That while some practise, some it doth amaze, 
 To see men mar'd, soone made againe thereby. 
 
 Then sith (like God) thou canst make Men of Clods, 
 We needs must ranke thee with the Semy-gods. 
 
 Richard Harries. 
 
 19 In 
 
In praise of these most praise-worthy 
 
 Water-workes. 
 
 "D Y Fire-workes many have exploited things 
 ^ Past all beliefe, and made the World admire ; 
 Which Element^ beeing on her flaming Wings, 
 So Active is, that all it strikes is Fire. 
 
 That comes to nought, that so is over-come : 
 But, these rich Water-workes worke leisurely 
 Most quick increase, in Earths most barren Wombe, 
 Which beares what One doth ten times sextuply. 
 
 Then who beleeves by Fire to finde that Stone 
 Projecting Gold, much erre in that their Creede ; 
 Sith it is Earthy that's kindly over-flowne, 
 That is the Stone (indeed) that does the Deed: 
 
 Then would'st thou make pure Gold? ore-flow thy land; 
 
 So, shall thy Soile be turn'd to golden Sand. 
 
 Silvanus Davies. 
 
 20 In 
 

 In praise of this as pleasant as 
 
 profitable worke. 
 
 'ITT'Ould'st have gpv&pleasuref then tokspaines to read 
 
 * * This little Tract: which little paines will doe : 
 Look'st thou for profit f then, thou heere maist speed; 
 Where pleasure great brings forth great profit too. 
 
 Upon a Subject rude, as is the Earth, 
 Never was Pleasure so predominant : 
 Nor ne're so blithe "was profit at her birth 
 As here, sith here, she is so puissant. 
 
 All famous Writers still directly shott 
 The Shafts of their Indevours at these two ; 
 For hitting these, they gaine and glory gott ; 
 T\it gaine of Love, and Learnings glory too. 
 
 Then /0z/ and laud him, who hath close compact 
 Pleasure and profit for thee in this Tract. 
 
 Tho : Rant. 
 21 In 
 
In the praise of the Author and 
 
 his effectuall workes. 
 
 P\Eere Rowland, let thine Oliver have leave, 
 -*^ Among thy Lauders, his short Breath to spend, 
 To helpe them so, to Heaven thy fame to heave ; 
 Whose Workes are Meanes t'an Earthly-heav'nly End. 
 Then, Rowland, take me with Thee Here, and There; 
 That Rowland still may have his Oliver. 
 
 Oliver Maynson. 
 
 In praise of the Worke 
 
 and Author. 
 
 A/TY little ROWLAND, you may looke that I 
 *-*- (All things considered) MUCH should say of you : 
 Then, this your WORKE (to say that MUCH in 
 
 few) 
 
 Shall worke the Workers endlesse Praise : and why ? 
 A worldly Witt^ with Heav'nly Helpes indow'd, 
 ,,Getts Ground, and Glory of the Multitude. 
 
 John Hoskins. 
 22 Once 
 
Once more for a Farewell. 
 
 In deserved praise of this never-too- 
 much praysed Worke. 
 
 Ood Wine doth need no Bush : (Lord ! who can tell 
 ow oft this old-said-Saw hath prais'd new Bookes?) 
 But yet good Water (drawnefromFcunts *&&Brookes) 
 By Since (the Signe] makes dry Groundes drinke it well. 
 
 Men may have store of Water, and dry Land ; 
 Yet, if they draw it not through Trenches fitt, 
 (By Since, that shewes how (well) to utter it) 
 
 It idely runnes, while scarse the Owners stand. 
 
 Good Water, then by Since, through Trench must passe 
 For good retnrne ; that else runnes to no end; 
 Which Signe doth draw it in, it selfe to spend 
 
 On dryest Grounds, that (drunken) cast up Grasse ; 
 Which giddy Simily, in sober Sence, 
 Shewes the Effect of this Workes excellence. 
 
 John Davies. 
 23 The 
 
THE AUTHOR. 
 
 T Would not feare with Cinick Doggs to fight 
 -* Came they in Front : But, this will ill be borne ; 
 Perhaps some Curres behind my Backe will bite : 
 But that's their shame^ my glory it to scorne. 
 
 ROWLAND VAUGHAN. 
 
 24 
 
TO 
 
 THE RIGHT HO- 
 
 NORABLE W1L- 
 
 IAM EARLE OF PEMBROOKE 
 LORD HERBERT OF CARDIFFE, MAR-- 
 mion a ndS. Quintin; Lord Parre of Rosse^nd 
 Kendall; Lord Warden of the Stanneries: 
 Captaine of his Majesties Garrison- 
 to wne of Portsmouth; and Knight of 
 the most Noble Order of the Garter; 
 My most honoured and re- 
 spected Lord. 
 
 OST HONOURABLE, 
 and my Noblest Lord : I 
 have out of my lives ex- 
 perience, prepared a Watry 
 workernans hipp^ which I 
 thinke the Gods forbad 
 the excellent creatures in 
 former times to handle ; but I have per- 
 formed That, that hath begott a world 
 c 25 of 
 
(a) Custome 
 is a great 
 Lord of 
 Command. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 of worke in Me (which some men say 
 will either impayre my witt, or hazard 
 my estate (they said so in the execution 
 of my water-workes (but they over-said 
 them-selves, and the most part have given 
 mee satisfaction by maine submission or 
 reconciliation) I doubt not but the rest, 
 in my mechanical undertakings, will doe 
 the like, because some have subscribed, 
 and many offer conditionall pertakings. 
 
 What blessing soever Invention doth 
 raise, your Lordshipp knowes is subject 
 to a hotch-potch of speach ; and untill it 
 bee performed, Envy, Mallice, and all 
 spitefull detraction follows ; so is it with 
 me. But (my good Lord) seeing that (a) 
 Lordly Custome wils that great Lordes 
 should patronize Invention ; I doe most 
 humbly beseech your Lordshipp (on my 
 behalfe) so to doe ; you beeing (next unto 
 my deare Soveraigne and His) heire 
 apparant to my heart ; having intaild 
 my dutifull services to the heirs male of 
 your body ; and for want of such issue, 
 to the heirs male of my Lord of Mon- 
 gomery, for ever, without revocation 
 these affections, proceed not (my honour- 
 able Lord) from any sinister respect 
 26 these 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 these following considerations be the 
 cause: The remembrance of that worthy 
 Prince your Father, and more worthy (if 
 might be) your Grand-father, and great 
 Grandsiers, from the battels of (a) Cressy, 
 Poytiers, Egincourt, and Banbury, with 
 many others before, and since. Where 
 the many services of mine to yours hath 
 bene such as Tradition will tell your 
 Lordshipp, and I tell you with all, the 
 aboundant favours we found, makes mee 
 thinke my selfe bound to your Lordship in 
 recognisance of duty, and you tyed (by 
 honourable and parrall covenants from 
 them, to protect me and all my indevors, 
 laboring for the good of the common- 
 wealth, and your glory. Now, if I 
 make it not appeare a most flourishing 
 common-wealth ; and such as never poore 
 Subject in the Kingdome did raise, put 
 me by with your hand, as unworthy of 
 any favorable respect. 
 
 Your Lordshipp shall finde no Monopole 
 required ; but, this I require at your 
 handes : In matters of common-wealth, 
 Expedition is alwayes of the Quorum ; It is 
 one of the chiefest friends (my Lord) 
 the Suter (except he be a wrangler) hath 
 27 
 
 in 
 
 (a) In these 
 several 
 battels, the 
 Vaughans 
 mine An- 
 cestors 
 followed 
 yours. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 in all the Kings courts : therefore I can 
 require no lesse then that your Lordship 
 command I may have convenient accesse, 
 without restraynt to performe my com- 
 mon-wealthes desires, with these limita- 
 tions and due observance, that I disturbe 
 not your Lordships quiet, nor confer- 
 ences, with honourable persons, & others 
 of accompt : watching, & taking the 
 advantage of Time, and Place ; a word at 
 one time, and two at another. Thinke 
 not (most Noble Lord) that I am eyther 
 insolently saucy, or too bold. Your 
 Lordshipp shall here-after understand the 
 quality and condition of my undertakings 
 will admit little delay ; I speake partly 
 out of the complaint of an old servant of 
 your Grandfather Pembrookes, my Uncle 
 Thomas Vaughan : who was to take his 
 tryall for his life at Kings-bench-Barre 
 at tenne of the clocke in the morning, 
 having forgotten my Lords remembrance 
 to some good friend, prayed passe of the 
 Groome of his chamber being French : 
 who with hard wordes stopped his pas- 
 sage ; but he putting one of his Armes 
 betwixt the French-mans twist, the other 
 about his necke, threw him at my Lordes 
 28 feete, 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 feete, and told his Lordshipp the cause 
 was, he came for his life : My Lord 
 hearing that, allowed this his coming 
 with a vengeance, in respect of his neces- 
 sity to prevent a mischief, and with 
 patience priviledg'd the offence, beating 
 the Groome for his ill respect : So good 
 my Lord, make me free of your pre- 
 sence ; and command your principall 
 Attendants (as Secretaries, but especially 
 the Gentlemen of your Chamber, and 
 Groomes) to take speciall notice, My 
 comming is to doe you all honour. If I 
 should attend Houres, Times and Seasons, 
 I should bee in that case as if I weare to 
 deale with your Lordship by Petition, 
 & to purchase your speach with a price, 
 so the memory of three hundred yeares 
 dependancy should be trodden under foot 
 as of no value. 
 
 As Lawyers not fedde every Tearme, 
 breeds neglect of their Clients, with dis- 
 continuances and cessations ; so, your 
 Lordshipp may handle the matter, and 
 post me over by discontinuance, that 
 you will forgett I have not done 
 my duty this two yeares and more. 
 But your greatest and dearest Servants 
 29 can 
 
(a) Builth. 
 
 The 
 richestCoun- 
 try breeds 
 the idlest 
 (therefore 
 the poorest) 
 people. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 can witnesse my appearance : Though 
 happily not furnished with such glitter- 
 ing Garments as might light my way to 
 you : for, Scarlet of (a) Bilth (Welch 
 frizes other name) hath now little grace 
 amongst great ones : But the Hood makes 
 not the Fryar, nor a brave Coate a brave 
 man. 
 
 Now be it knowne to your Lordship, 
 and to all men (with the helpe of my 
 Lord God, the Kings most excellent 
 Majesty, and you my deare Lorde:) I pur- 
 pose to raise a golden world (for common- 
 wealth) in the Golden-Vale in Hereford- 
 shire (being the pride of al that County) 
 bordering on Wales^ joyning to Ewyas 
 Lacy (from whence your Lordshipp is de- 
 scended) being the richest : yet (for want 
 of imployment) the plentifullest place (b) 
 of poore in the Kingdome, yeelding two 
 or three-hundred-folde : the number so 
 increasing (Idlenesse having gotten the 
 upper hand ;) if Trades bee not raised ; 
 beggery will carry such reputation in 
 my quarter of the country, as if it had the 
 whole to halves. Therefore (my honor- 
 able Lord) put not onely your hands, but 
 all your will and all your strength hereto, 
 30 praying 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 praying my Lord of Moungomery to assist 
 your Lordship (if there bee cause). Let 
 it be Vaughans supplication ofBeggers unto 
 his Royall Majestic, that they may have 
 meanes to work, and so to live. 
 
 There bee within a mile and a halfe 
 from my house every way, five hundred 
 poore habitations ; whose greatest meanes 
 consist in spinning Flaxe, Hempe, and 
 Hurdes. They dispose the seasons of the 
 yeare in this manner : I will begin with 
 May, June, and July, (three of the merriest 
 months for beggars) which yeeld the best 
 increase for their purpose, to raise multi- 
 tudes : Whey, Curdes, Butter milke, and 
 such belly-provision, abounding in the 
 neighbourhood, serves their turne. As 
 Wountes or Moles, hunt after wormes, the 
 ground being delve-able : so, these Idelers 
 live intollerablie by other meanes, and 
 neglect their painfull labours by oppress- 
 ing the neighbourhood. August, Sep- 
 tember and October, with that permission 
 which the Lord hath allowed the poorer 
 sort to gather the Eares of corne, they do 
 much harme. I have seene three hundred 
 Leazers or Gleaners in one Gentlemans 
 corne-field at once ; his servants gather- 
 3i ing 
 
 How the 
 poore of the 
 country dis- 
 pose of the 
 seasons of 
 the yeare. 
 
The Beggers 
 good hus- 
 bandry of 
 my countrey. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 ing & stouking the bound-sheaves, the 
 sheaves lying on the ground like dead 
 carcases in an over-throwne battell, they 
 following the spoyle not like souldiers 
 (which scorne to rifle) but like theeves 
 desirous to steale ; so this army holdes 
 pillaging Wheate, Rye, Barley, Pease and 
 Gates : Gates, a graine which never grew 
 in Canaan^ nor flLgypt^ and altogether out 
 of the allowance of Leazing. 
 
 Under coulour of the last graine, Gates, 
 it being the latest harvest, they doe, with- 
 out mercy in hotte bloud steale, robbe 
 Orchards, Gardens, Hop-yards and Crab- 
 trees : so what with leazing and stealing, 
 they doe poorely maintaine them-selves 
 November, December, and almost all Jan- 
 uary, with some healps from the neigh- 
 bourhood. 
 
 Thusyour Lordship sees (before God and 
 the world) the principall meanes of their 
 maintenance. The last three moneths, 
 February, March, and Aprill, little labour 
 serves their turne : they hope by the heate 
 of the Sunne, (seasoning them-selves like 
 Sna&esunder headges) to recover the month 
 of May with much poverty, long-fasting, 
 and little-praying : and so make an end 
 32 of 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 of their yeares travell in the Easter holy- 
 dayes. 
 
 There is not one amongst ten that hath 
 five shillings to buy a Bale of Flaxe, but 
 forc'd to borrow money to put up their 
 trade, and runne to Hereford (loosing a 
 dayesworke) tofetchethesame: Thisdone, 
 they bee driven to buy halfe a bushell of 
 corne three or foure miles off, and in 
 their returne attend the grinding of it ; 
 which if a better Customer come, they 
 are sure to be served last. Withall, they 
 spend one day with the Weaver, and after 
 it is wove, before they can sell, they make 
 many journey es to markets, and honest 
 mens houses : And thus many dayes are 
 mispent in most miserable maner. 
 
 Now (my Honourable Lord) to helpe 
 all these miseries ; I have, out of a yeares 
 consideration, put afoote a Remedy which 
 cannot well bee done, unlesse your Lord- 
 ship doe promise to countenance my dis- 
 covery ; if you do, He make your glory 
 shine as farre above all other Subjects, 
 as my Plot is hatefull to many envious 
 persons. 
 
 My Mill is my first Worke^ governed 
 
 by a little Bastard- Brooke, fedde with 
 
 33 eight 
 
 The meanes 
 to amend the 
 Countries 
 misery. 
 
 The first 
 worke is 
 the Mill. 
 
The use of 
 the dyning- 
 roome. 
 
 Officers. 
 
 Trades. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 eight living Springs., built with no desire 
 to intertaine Customers, but onely to grinde 
 mine owne corne. 
 
 In my first Foundation, the Countrey 
 said I should never bee able to performe 
 the same. They said with-all, I could 
 not command the water ; and that I 
 should want custome to countervail the 
 charge. I have built my Mill, and ac- 
 quainted the water with his course. 
 Unto this Mill, I build all Offices and 
 necessary roomes serving my Mechani- 
 cals. 
 
 The dining roome to entertaine Knights 
 and Gentlemen : Buttry, Pantry, Kitchin, 
 Larders, Pastry, Survey ing-roome, Back- 
 house, Brew -house, Sellors, Killning for 
 Malt, Slaughter-house, Sellors belonging 
 to the Slaughter-house, Uting-roomes, Gar- 
 ners, Malting-roomes. Officers; the Clarke, 
 Miller, Loder, Malt-maker : Butcher, 
 Chandler, Cookes, Bakers, Brewers, Tanner, 
 Shoo-maker, Cobler, Glover, Currier, Sithe 
 and Sickle-maker, Nayler, Smith, Joyner, 
 Cooper, Carpenter, Gardiner, Mercer, Cutler, 
 Barber, Stocking - knitters, Hosier, Lant- 
 horne- maker, Fletcher, Bowyer, (hold- 
 breath). The Taylor, Sempster, Laun- 
 34 derers, 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 derers, Wheeleer, Card-maker for Spinners, 
 Hatter, Point-maker, Sheapheards, Hindes, 
 Dairy-people, Swinheards ; two Vittelers, 
 and a noyse of Musitions with the Greene- 
 Dragon and Tat hot. 
 
 If I mistake in marshalling my Mecha- 
 nicals^ your Lordshipp must understand I 
 am no Herold : they be a disordered 
 Company ; the offence not great to place 
 one knave before an other. All which be 
 appointed Attendants to maintaine and 
 furnish (a) twenty broadLoomesfor the finest 
 cloth ; tenne narrow Loomes for courser 
 Wooll^ Flax, Hemp, and Hurds. Tenne 
 Fustian Loomes, with such Silk-loomes as 
 necessity shall require : A Walker, Dier, 
 Cottoner, Sher-men, Spinners, Carders, Sor- 
 ters of woo//, pickers, and Quill-winders ; 
 which number will rise to some (b) 
 two thousand and upward. For all 
 which (except Spinners and Carders] I 
 find convenient house -roome. They 
 shall never loose an houres time to pro- 
 vide for such meanes as the backe or belly 
 requires : bread, beefe, mutton, butter and 
 cheese of mine owne provision, shall 
 attend their appointed houres, without 
 their trouble or losse of labor to any 
 35 Market 
 
 (a) Twenty 
 broad loomes 
 imploide for 
 fine cloth. 
 
 (b} Two thou- 
 sand im- 
 ploide in the 
 under-busi- 
 nesse of the 
 Common- 
 wealth. 
 
The Golden 
 Valley is the 
 Paradise of 
 al the parts 
 beyond 
 Severn. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 Market or other place, at the best rates 
 of the Kingdome, unlesse it bee in the 
 Mountaines, where Owen Glindour was 
 shutt up : A place unfit for Trades. There, 
 a Crafts-man may have twenty Eggs a 
 penny, a good round Bullocke for two 
 Markes, and other necessaries rate- 
 ably. 
 
 But I speake of the Golden-Vale, the 
 Lombardy of Herefordshire^ the Garden of 
 the Old Gallants and Paradice of the back- 
 side of the Principallitie. I protest, had 
 I foure little Livings joyning to some I 
 have, I would not change my poore estate 
 to bee great Duke of Muscovia, where 
 the flesh falles from the face in a frosty 
 morning, like Lime from a Seeling 
 soaked with Raine. But to prosecute 
 mine argument, and that your Lordship 
 shall not thinke I forget my selfe, I must 
 let you know they shall neither Roste, 
 Bake, nor Boyle : mine owne Range, 
 Ovens, and Furnesse, shall ever doe them 
 that service with-out their trouble or 
 charge, with little losse unto mee. All 
 Trades under my obeysance, shall bee 
 at their election, whether they will 
 buy their flesh Rawe, Roasted, Boyled, 
 36 
 
 or 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 or cold. No Trades-man shall rate his 
 owne commodity, but the Clarke, Re- 
 corder of the company, (being of the 
 quorum) shall say to the Tanner: you 
 bought so many hundred Hides of my 
 Maister, you may affoord a Dicker of 
 Leather at such a price : and Shoo-maker, 
 you, your shooes at such a price. You 
 Glover, bought so many thousand Pelts ; 
 you may afforde your Gloves at such a rate. 
 And so every Artificer shall bee limitted 
 to Merchandize each to other, at rates 
 reasonable agreeing with their good gaine. 
 But for all out and In-commers that will 
 traffick with my Mechanicals, I leave them 
 subject to their fortune. I will have but 
 one of each trade : as a Tailor, with as 
 many servants as his Tailorship thinkes 
 good: and the rest, as each trade re- 
 quires. I hope (my Lord) I have told you 
 comfortable newes : yet I will increase 
 your comfort, with comfort upon com- 
 fort : and so comfortable, that all our 
 company will turne their Songs, and 
 Carrols, into singing of Psalmes and 
 Himmes to the honour and praise of the 
 living Lord, the Kings most excellent 
 Majesty, and your Lordship. But before 
 37 we 
 
 The com- 
 merce of the 
 Company. 
 
 But one of 
 each Trade. 
 
A famous 
 preacher 
 shall be 
 maintained. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 we shall bee able to sing in tune, you 
 must be Maister of the Musick, and Or- 
 ganist with all. 
 
 Now I have made knowne unto your 
 Lordship my morrall an AMechanicall mys- 
 teries, you see what preparation I have 
 made for the body : If care be not had 
 for the salvation of the soule, all my 
 buildings and foundations bee shuttle and 
 sandy. I am by the vertuous and honest 
 Gentlemen, and others in my neigh- 
 bourhood, importuned to raise a famous 
 Preacher amongst them. Their impor- 
 tunity shall not need, I will desire onely 
 their assistance with but a little more 
 helpe then my owne ; your Lordships 
 favour ever assisting us. The case stands 
 thus. There came unto mee, a dozen 
 yeares since, a yong Minister, having a 
 good witte, a good memory, and a pritty 
 dribble of learning : who made him- 
 selfe fitte to teach children. Hee was 
 intertained like a Levite ; and had the 
 liberty of a Levite ; but with-in short 
 time hee became a counterfeit Puritane. 
 Under coulour whereof he ingros'd halfe 
 the good opinions of the Parish, to re- 
 taile them to his profit and advantage, 
 38 and 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 and though himselfe were presisely 
 given, yet hee did little harme : I know 
 not that hee hath reconcil'd any to 
 that quick- silver -brain'd pure faction 
 (as good hap is). I had ever a good 
 hope, that hee would subscribe, and 
 obey the Cannons and Institutions of our 
 Church, as hee did. 
 
 A Benefice being voyde neere unto 
 mee (in her late Majesties gift) an honor- 
 able kinsman of mine, gave mee the pre- 
 sentation for this counterfeit. Hee had 
 Institution and Induction according to the 
 common course : but (my honorable 
 Lord), as every licquor serves not to 
 coullor all coulors : so, every soyle fitts 
 not every person. Hee had no sooner 
 received the benefit of this Benificc, but 
 the principall of his parishoners told mee 
 I had planted a Machivel amongst them ; 
 a cunning Pollitician, and an horrible 
 usurer, making complaint to the Bishop 
 thereof. But (my good Lord) because he 
 had bin my servant, I praide the Bishop 
 with patience to heare his defence, and for 
 that time prevented the likely-hood of his 
 disgrace. Where-upon I wrought with 
 him to depart with that thing^ and had 
 39 agreed 
 
 Three 
 speciall 
 vertues to 
 withstand 
 the Flesh, 
 the World, 
 and the 
 Devill. 
 
Policy, in 
 
 wordly 
 
 businesses, 
 
 prevails 
 
 more then 
 
 Piety. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 agreed for his remoove, 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 praide the Bishop that it would 
 please his Lordship, to give liberty to 
 one of his Chaplins, a learned and vertuous 
 man (Maister Best) to bee the man. That 
 one living of his, not able to maintaine a 
 preaching Minister, there was one other 
 joyning thereunto, which wee purpose to 
 unite : Having gotten the consent of the 
 Lord Bishop, with promise of his best 
 indevour. But (my honorable Lord) 
 here comes in the hindrer of the salva- 
 tion of soules, this counterfeit Puritane, 
 this Machivillian, this politician, & 
 Usurer, by the gift of a friendlye Patron, 
 hath as yet gone beyond the uniting of 
 these Churches ; and disapointed us of 
 our Preaching-Mz>zr&r, (as I learnt) by 
 plaine symonie ; and some treachery 
 (withall) to his old Maister. There were 
 not two Sermons in the Golden-Vale this 
 500. yeares, unlesse some Circumselion 
 came by chance, untill my Lord his Grace, 
 that -now is, of Canterburie his coming 
 to that See. Now, whether we deserve 
 40 to 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 to have a Preaching Minister or no, we 
 appeale to the World. 
 
 There was an old Monke uppon the 
 dissolution of the Abbey of Doier^ that 
 was cast from thence, came unto the place 
 where this Minister serves : Hee did 
 expound without licence, devide and 
 sever the corps of the word, from the 
 Spirit ; so spoyling the Scripture with 
 idle intentions, that at his end he left 
 neither Protestant^ Puritane nor Papist; 
 but a few of the simpler sort, more 
 inclined to Masse then to sound Re- 
 ligion. And of late, the late Canons do 
 straightly appoint foure Sermons^ yearly. 
 In this manner (My Lord) this Machi- 
 vilian, Polititian^ and Userer having 
 gotten two Benifices, thinks it sufficient 
 with his eight-quarter Sermons in his 
 two Churches, to cleare the infection 
 which the old Monke bred : Hee not 
 cunning ynough to dresse and cure the 
 crazed of his flocke, hath onely judge- 
 ment with his Hooke to catch and hold 
 a sheepe ; which by over-hard handling 
 hee doth so bruize, that now they can 
 by no meanes indure that all-catching- 
 fast-holding Instrument. 
 
 D 41 And 
 
() A most 
 unholy-holy 
 kind of 
 Usury. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 And of late hath lent a young Preacher 
 (being his prime practise) ten pound in 
 money to make eight (a) quarter-sermons 
 yearly : which Preacher venters his life 
 sixteene-times over the great River of 
 Wye, and as many more upp and downe a 
 huge hill lying in his way ; the danger 
 of the least of which is able so to distract 
 a good Schollers memory, as to forgette 
 a Sermon well pend, and no worse cond. 
 I have wondred many times of the young 
 Preacher, who did but learne to preach 
 the other day, how hee was furnished 
 with one in the fore-noone, and another 
 in the after : Heerein shall I use your 
 Lordshipps meanes, that wee may have 
 this Userer removed. It must bee done ; 
 and I thinke this to be the best means : 
 Your Lordshipp may commend him to 
 some strange Ambassadour out of Asia or 
 Africke ; not in Europe, hee will learne 
 the Language instantly : Hee is fit for 
 any strange Religion. Hee will serve 
 for an Intelligencer to execute any cun- 
 ning Stratagem belonging to matters of 
 State. When your Lordshipp hath under- 
 stood the trunesse of all my intention 
 (which happily you will runne over with 
 42 all 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 all expedition), like an old Priest (a) read- 
 ing an Homily to taske, (which I wish 
 not.) Then will you undo all the hopes 
 I have, in with-standing the pride of 
 many ill speakers. 
 
 If you doe not particularly examine, 
 that you may bee able to defend, and re- 
 port that wee build no Monasteries, nor 
 succor Seminaries, nor much respect un- 
 preaching Ministers. 
 
 Wee build our Church which is downe: 
 A Chappell (b) for Prayer for all my Me- 
 chanicals : A famous Preacher to rectifie 
 their hearts and shew them the way to 
 Heaven : These, with an Almes- house 
 (my Lord) to provide for the over-aged 
 persons, lame, blinde and all such as 
 necessity doth cause to for-beare their 
 own gettings. Your Lordship doth see 
 I am no Papist, nor Puritane, but a true 
 Protestant according to the Kings In- 
 junctions. And where the Puritans 
 babble against one Minister to have two 
 Livings, lett the Superintendent of them, 
 with some other of their purified number, 
 come to the Hundred I dwell in, (which, 
 is Weabtre) I will shew them foure and 
 twenty parishes ; not any one of all able to 
 43 maintain 
 
 (a) Swift 
 reading an 
 enemy to 
 like under- 
 standing. 
 
 () Chappell 
 built, and a 
 Curate main- 
 tained. 
 
Twenty foure 
 Parishes in 
 Webtre hun- 
 dred, and not 
 one able to 
 maintaine a 
 Preaching 
 Minister. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 maintain a Preaching Minister. If these 
 be they whome they call Puritans that 
 speake against a Preacher to have two or 
 three Livings together in my Hundred; 
 I wish I were a poore Burges of the 
 honourable House of Parliament, then 
 would I indeavor 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 doe say, if I hadde 
 money ynough, I might performe my 
 undertakings. So (my Lord) if a man 
 had money ynough (with the LORDS 
 permission) Hee might build a Towre of 
 EabelL I cannot see how mony can be 
 wanting, I have so many honourable 
 friendes ; Lords Spirituall and Temporall, 
 Bishoppe Babington, Bishopp Benet, and 
 Bishoppe Parrie, grave and venerable Pre- 
 lates of the Kingdome. Lords Temporall : 
 Your Lordshippe, my Lord of Mont- 
 gomery, with many other great Lordes 
 (my Kinsmen) I meane not to trouble : 
 Only my deare Lord the Lord cheefe 
 Justice, and one Judge more, who is a 
 Lord in Westminster Hall, I hope to 
 see him a Lord to the last : And doe tell 
 44 your 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 your Lordshippe (betwixt you and mee 
 bee it spoken) Hee is one of the best 
 Lawyers in the Land ; else very good 
 ones are deceived ; and though hee bee 
 so, let him use what dilatory Plea hee 
 list to putte me off, I meane to putt his 
 Purse to the push of the pike : Hee said 
 hee would doe nothing therein : but, hee 
 sware not ; or if hee had, I know hee 
 makes a difference betwixt Mee, and a 
 Rash oth. But to our purpose ; Your 
 Lordshipp is now become General! of 
 \\\&\.Army; and I your Lieutenant; If any 
 muteny against our Common-wealth, 
 or speake (out of a hott brain'd humor) 
 that that they understand not : My Lord, 
 silence them with your wisedome, or dene 
 them with your power, which can never 
 bee better imploid 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 thanke God they cannot say I want 
 honorable friends, such as the Lord 
 Bishops, your Lordships with others ; 
 which may lend me money (if please 
 you and them) I wil not for a million 
 anger any of you, to make a motion to 
 45 borrow 
 
Beginning 
 is halfe the 
 whole. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 borrow money : if lendings come in out 
 of your honourable dispositions, I would 
 I might never put upp my Trades, if 
 I refuse any for a yeare, two or three. 
 Its a better course (tenne to one) then 
 to take money to usury ; knowing what 
 I know : and I know as much (perhaps) 
 that way as any poore Gentleman in 
 Wales (without vaine glory bee it spoken). 
 First (my Lord) hee that will take 
 money uppon usury, must deale with the 
 Scrivener in Dialogue manner ; thus for 
 example : Sir, have you any money ? 
 What is your name (saith the Scrivener). 
 Sir Brute Eankcrout Knight, late of Had- 
 land in the County of Cumberland. Who 
 bee your sureties? Sir Alexander All- 
 spent^ and Sir Lancelot Little-left. I know 
 them well ; worshipfull Gentlemen : But 
 I tell you (Sir Brute] you must finde 
 Cittizens: The Scrivener (withall) rounds 
 the Knight in the eare, saying, The 
 World is dangerous and full of iniquity ', 
 but if your worship can procure such and 
 such Townes-men, you shall commaund 
 my paines from sixe to sixe months. 
 Now it may bee Sir Brute, with Sir 
 Alexander^ and Sir Lancelot^ may spend 
 46 sixe 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 sixe times sixe dayes (unlesse they meet 
 with a deare friend to furnish them after 
 twenty in the hundred) before their turne 
 bee served. Once (my Lord) I thought 
 to borrowe a hundred pound at a Pinch, 
 but the Gentlman that ow'd the money 
 would not traffick with me because I 
 dwelt beyond Severn. A foule indignity 
 to your Lordshipps Havings, having 
 such royal Livings in Monmouth and 
 Glamorganshire. I beseech your Lord- 
 ship order may be taken that we may 
 be as free of the Userers Courts of 
 Requests as other Shires be ; we are 
 out of the principallity, and the Kings 
 Subjects : then to bee barred from those 
 Benefits & Immunities which the Law 
 doth alow, were lawlesse and unreason- 
 able. Our Shire is a Shire-royall ; and 
 we pay as royally for our usury as if we 
 dealt with (a) Jewes, the cursedst Genera- 
 tion of all Adams children. Another 
 time I dealt for a hundred pound with an 
 Userer Hold-borne -'ward; and having 
 neglected my Houre, his Wives Sheet- 
 travel! with him by night, gave (O course 
 fortune) my dayes labour the Canvase: 
 & driven to become suter to her mighti- 
 47 nes 
 
 (a) Userers 
 are Jewes by 
 their trade. 
 
(a) Counter 
 in the 
 Poultry. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 nes (great Princesse of darknes) so what 
 by meanes of som ells of Lawn, a Sugar 
 loafe and a paire of Silke Stockes (wooden 
 ones being much more meete) I was be- 
 holden to neither of them, thankes be to 
 my meanes : But missing my day, with 
 this consideration taken he set Sentinel! two 
 Sergeants, on the height of the Hill neare 
 Paules; 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 overwalked 
 me ; but having gotten my broadside they 
 said stand. I had the word ready, at whose 
 sute? (thinking I had bin in the wars and 
 they Sentinel Is to give passe) they brought 
 me to a (a] Garrison neare the Exchange 
 garded with a number of Varletiers. God 
 knew my heart when I saw all Halberds, 
 and no Muskets, for then I thought the 
 dispatch in mine execution would be the 
 slower; howbeit, I did with as much 
 speed as I could, ransome my selfe : I 
 speake not as if it tended to provoke any 
 of your Lordships to pitty me ; but to 
 lesson ( such young Gentlemen as (at careles 
 liberty) serves under your Lordships 
 coulors that they accept of no office under 
 48 the 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 the Userers or Brokers cheek : your Lord- 
 ship shall have many of the Nobility (out 
 of their honorable zeale to publike profit) 
 commend my Common-wealth , yet if any 
 of them (like Puritans] turn with zeale to 
 lend me money to so good a purpose, the 
 heavens fore-fend that I should quench 
 it; no, it is good to bee zealous in a good 
 matter. 
 
 Thus having tyred your Lordships 
 attention I thought to have made an end ; 
 but my love to you exceeding the ordinary 
 love of men, drawes me on to trouble 
 you further for your (a) ease. 
 
 Once I heard your Fathers name (bee- 
 ing my Lord and Maister) ill spoken off 
 by a world of people, and two other great 
 Earles, three Knights, and divers Genie- 
 men, ill spoken off by the inhabitants 
 from Tentarne to Courtydee, on both 
 sides Wye threescore miles a head ; I 
 beeing a Servant, the Cause stood so 
 strong with the Country, I could by no 
 meanes devise how to make a quarrel 
 to defend my Lords Honour. I little 
 thought I should have beene in place to 
 have heard so many ill speakers, and so 
 few defenders, against so many honour- 
 49 able 
 
 (a) Strange 
 Paradoxe yet 
 true if a 
 mans in- 
 crease of 
 estate tends 
 to his ease. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 able persons and others of account and 
 durst doe nothing. 
 
 I praid to heare their grievances : They 
 said time out of rninde as appeared by 
 their records (kept in the Castell of the 
 Hay burnt by one Owen Glindwr) the 
 River of Wye (their free and Mother 
 River) was (in the troublesome times 
 betweene the houses of Yorke and Lan- 
 caster) so weared and fortified as if the 
 Salmons therein (on paine of imprison- 
 ment) had beene forbidden their usual 
 walkes ; and on paine of death (as in case 
 of high treason) not to trade with any of 
 the Earle of Marches men. 
 
 The humble request of foure or five 
 shires will be that your Honors (with the 
 rest) will take pitty on a whole country, 
 groning under the burthen of intolerable 
 Weares, which (for private) are the very 
 Dammes and Letts of Publicke profit. 
 Your three houses with one Lords more 
 having more interest in those shires 
 (under his Majestic) then all other Land- 
 lords. 
 
 The Counties reliefe rests almost in 
 
 your Lordships hands ; the duty you owe 
 
 my Lord of Shrewsbury, and his deare 
 
 50 respects 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 respects of your commands that Weare My 
 Brother and my selfe being Commissioners 
 in a commission of Shewres, not daring to 
 do our duties without my Lord your 
 Fathers privity (hee having one Weare 
 on the River, being Lord President of 
 Wales and our Lord and Master) wee ac- 
 quainted him with the Commission and 
 upon my salutation (I protest) he com- 
 manded us that his Weare should bee 
 puld downe, if it appeared profitable to 
 the Country. That noble Earle of Wor- 
 cester with his honorable and vertuous 
 sonne the Lord Harbart, how their weares 
 will be dispensed with-all in these daies 
 all the shires will referre unto their 
 honorable dispositions. For Sir Edward 
 Winter; there is nothing I take it but 
 true honor in him. My acquaintance 
 with him is but small; yet if I bee not 
 much deceived hee respects more the 
 common-good \ then his own private; al- 
 though (indeed) hee was (to say the truth) 
 upon the last Commission a commis- 
 sioner very bitter against the Weares 
 over-throw. I saw the reasons thereof, 
 and did allowe of his unreasonable prose- 
 cution. Hee showed much witte therein, 
 51 and 
 
 Pacience 
 perforce. 
 
A good offer 
 of a good 
 heart. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 and did us more harrne then all the rest : 
 God forgive him, and make him as firme 
 to the over-throwers of Weares as he is 
 faste to their upholders. Sir John Scuda- 
 more hath always beene the comfort of 
 the country : Nurse to the Infancie of 
 many young Gentlemen bred therein, 
 and Cherisher of the rest that were not 
 adverse. Hee hath ever said, if there 
 were any hope that the over-throwe of 
 the Weares would make the River (Wye) 
 Navigable, Portable or Sammonable, hee 
 would pull downe his first, to give an 
 instance to others. 
 
 I beseech your Lordshipp, beare wit- 
 nesse, I say nothing of Sir Roger Boden- 
 hams Weare ; nor of none of the Weares 
 above Hereford Bridge. But this I say, 
 its a pitifull thing that any of your Lord- 
 shipps Weares with the rest, (built like 
 Babell threatning the skies with their 
 eminence) should hinder the Salmon- 
 fishing, which gave that sustenance to 
 five or sixe shires, as many thousands, 
 were a thousand times better susteined 
 and comforted then now they are, or can 
 bee. 
 
 All that can be said, why the River 
 52 cannot 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 cannot bee made Port-able, is ; Some Fords 
 when they are at the lowest will want water. 
 A poore and needy speech ! As if there 
 were not meanes enough to chanell such 
 shallows^ in Summer they being at the 
 smallest, and peaceablest time to bee 
 wrought. 
 
 Goodmy LORD, down with the Weares^ 
 let us have Wine with our Venison^ the 
 carriage of it from London by land, makes 
 a cup of Claret looke like a weake leane 
 wench that hath the greene sicknesse. 
 And such as we have from Eristowe^ is 
 fitter to be drunke with a Welsh Goate, 
 then an English Buck. 
 
 Wee are barde of our Meate, bound 
 from our Drinke, and many other pro- 
 visions, which almost all other shires 
 have. During your Fathers life time our 
 hopes were a foote, wee had the Vantgard 
 in the warre : But, since his death, put 
 to the Reare, by occasion of your nonage^ 
 and such accidents as bee-fell. 
 
 But now seeing your sacred Soveraigne 
 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 feete 
 53 in 
 
 Bristoll 
 better served 
 with Sacks 
 then Gas- 
 coine wine. 
 
It is manly to 
 erre, beastly 
 to continue 
 in error. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 in favour of your Fathers favorites. If 
 a Commission of Shewres happen amongst 
 us (by Gods visitation) then I hope you 
 will most earnestly beseech his Majestic, 
 that his Supersidias knock not out the 
 braines of the Commission of Salmon-fish- 
 ing. The fore-said Supersidias hath alwayes 
 beene our utter over-throw. My good 
 Lord, compare all the Rivers in the King- 
 dome together ; and you shall see and 
 heare by all antiquitie, the River of Wye^ 
 did exceede all other for Salmon. These 
 Weares your three fore-mentioned Lord- 
 ships, with the rest doe owe. They doe 
 you and them but the least service ; they 
 bring some fewe of your Salmons in season 
 toyour Table: and a hundred thousand bee 
 served unseasonably. In my memory, it 
 hath bred an inbred murmure amongst us, 
 which hath made the most so melancholy, 
 as I thinke the braines of many be not 
 setled in their true situation. They con- 
 fesse their error, and report their mis- 
 taking : first, to bee from a worthy old 
 Gentlemen, Maister Philip Jones, who 
 out of a blind zeale (like Papists that 
 goe on pilgrimage) yet wanting the true 
 length of the three Lords legges, (but 
 54 held 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 held a true course agreeing with all 
 actes of Parliament] did put a foote the 
 Commission of Shewres, not thinking the 
 Earles of the Land to bee the Gods of 
 the Earth. His yeares worne out, and 
 memory decayed, foure-score odde yeares 
 drawing on the day of his death, never 
 trained at the Gounsell-table, durst not 
 presse into the presence, and (like a 
 dotard) did never New-yeares-gift the 
 Ladies of the Privie & Bed-chamber : 
 then 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 over-long delayes, harazed 
 and wore out all his hopes in dooing any 
 good. The first Commission having made 
 a peaceable end by Supersidias; the death 
 of which Commission bred more lamenta- 
 tion in three Shires, then the death of three 
 Earles (best common - wealths men) 
 would doe in all England. The last 
 Commission might be played on the 
 Stage : The principall persons were 
 Commissioners ; all which had Weares 
 on the River : and all had reason 
 enough to over-rule Baby-Commissioners. 
 
 55 As 
 
 The private 
 is more re- 
 spected then 
 the publike 
 weale, of 
 men private. 
 
Alluding to 
 that in 
 maister Fox 
 his Acts and 
 Monuments. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 As at a quarter Sessions, one great man 
 will under-take the managing of matters 
 belonging to all the Bench. If poore I, 
 should but speake to countenance a cause 
 (forawenchmadewomanbeforehertime.) 
 Hee lookes on the one side, as if I were 
 put in Commission onely to certifie Re- 
 cognisances for Ale-houses : or to give a 
 respective voyce if a faction happen to 
 arise : so, these Baby-commissioners for 
 the River of Wye, hold their Hattes in 
 their hands, the one legge lower then 
 the other, ready to doe all their duties at 
 once : and the grand Commissioners (like 
 Bishop Banner) with Riding-Rods, threaten 
 displeasure, or utter destruction, to all 
 that were not of their devotion towards 
 the Weares. This hath beene the Com- 
 mon course and custome of the Commission 
 of Shewres, to out-countenance 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 Verdit, a Judge- 
 ment against the Weares : & after all 
 this a Supersidias ! 6 ! The consideration 
 of it would have made old Ploy den (had 
 56 hee 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 hee beene living) forsweare the Law in 
 his latter dayes. Maister Blonden being 
 of counsel! with the Country ', it so mooved 
 him (being over-come with puffing and 
 blowing) that hee wrought upward and 
 downward, as if hee had taken a vomit 
 or a purgation. I remember in Queene 
 Elizabeths dayes my Lady of Warwick, 
 Mistresse Blanch Parry , and my Lady 
 Scudamore^ in little Laye-matters would 
 steale opportunity to serve some Jriends 
 turnes ; but where and in whome the 
 Supersidias rests at Command, this mystery 
 I would my good Lord would learne ; 
 because none of these (neere and deere 
 Ladies) durst intermeddle so farre in 
 matters of Common-wealth. Twenty Com- 
 missioners attend the service, whereof 
 foure to be of the Quorum., ever in place : 
 the greatest men of the number, having 
 no desire to proceed : Many dayes meet- 
 ing disappointed for want of appearance : 
 the Jewry sworne, their appearance, by 
 penalty, appointed twentye miles off : 
 the twenty Commissioners present, some 
 to uphold^ and some to over - throw. 
 In this manner, for a long Summers 
 day (which dured sixe months) wee bare 
 E 57 the 
 
 A Trinity of 
 Ladies able 
 to worke 
 M iracles. 
 
An assault 
 
 towards, 
 
 against 
 
 Chepstow- 
 
 bridge by 
 
 Salmons. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 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 verdit, riding 
 over the bridge] upon a sodaine saw the 
 water swolne with a sea of Salmon. The 
 Inquest enquiring of them what news ? 
 they answered by signes (sith they were 
 as mute as fishes) they were bard of their 
 native country^ where all their ancestors 
 were bred & borne : & in their infancy 
 nursd, till they came to Salmons estate. 
 This moane they made by instinct of 
 nature : the Jury praid they would com- 
 mit no ryot, but indure the day of the 
 Juries verdict with-out their further ap- 
 proach ; and order should happily be 
 taken for egresse & regresse as of old : 
 The Bridge being in a dangerous case 
 meane while ; for it seem'd their so 
 neare coming, tended to no other pur- 
 pose but to strike up the heeles of the 
 Bridge, not laying his glory in the dust, 
 but the water : For feare whereof (as if 
 the Bridge had lost his heart of Oake) it 
 fell downe (heartlesse-lubber) of it selfe 
 within one yeare following, and for the 
 Salmons further comfort, the Jewrie told 
 58 them 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 them the great Lords were Lords of the 
 stickes and stakes, not of the River ; the 
 River was the Kings : no prohibition lay 
 against them, but that they might law- 
 fully enter into their old habitations and 
 places of resort : onely the great Lords 
 will say, they have three yeares posses- 
 sion, or it may be, chalenge prescription ; 
 which cannot be ; you being the Kings 
 Tenants, no time going beyond the King. 
 I am not satisfied, how after such a world 
 of Labour and Toyle by the Commissioners 
 and Jurors, that the bare Information of 
 a Weare-owner (perhaps) could annihilate 
 all our painfull Indevors for the good of 
 sixe Shieres with a Supersidias. 
 
 If I should forget to tell your Lord- 
 shipp it hath beene in the memory of 
 many yet living, that the River of Wye 
 did yeeld Salmon so plentifully as Sturgeon 
 in some partes of Germany : & that a 
 Hereford-shire servantwould surfet onfresh 
 Salmon as oft as a Nor th-Hampton-s hire-man 
 on fatt Venison : and since my nativity, 
 till yeares of discretion had over-taken 
 mee, I could not Learne this lesson. For 
 my Foster-mother Woodhill^ old mother 
 ^ and mother Spooner (such Mothers, 
 59 there 
 
 It is most 
 strange, and 
 yet most 
 true. 
 
Behead 
 them like 
 Traytors. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 there are (my good Lord), though you 
 know not their Fathers) telling the Won- 
 ders of the Weares so pittifully, as if they 
 hadde beene in the captivity at Babilon : 
 How thirty Salmons were taken such a 
 morning at a draught, and thirty three, 
 at another time. 
 
 The Supplication of Beggers so moved 
 the heart of that famous King Henry the 
 eight in his later dayes, that hee did noth- 
 ing else but platforme Foundations for true 
 and sound Religion. 
 
 If these Weares had bin in his daies in 
 such manner as they be now, he would 
 have taken the like order with them as 
 hee didde with Abbeyes and Monasteries. 
 As an Heresie is bred and hatched 
 amongst those that understands no true 
 Religion soonest ; so, in the tender time 
 of that sweete and gratious King Edward 
 the sixt, these Weares had their breeding 
 and increase. 
 
 But GOD determining his time un- 
 timely, the Weare-owners gott a descent 
 against us : and on a sodaine wee fell 
 into . the handes of a King of a strange 
 Language ; then wee (being Brittaines] 
 could speake no Spanish; hee and his 
 60 queene 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 queene too too much troubled in estab- 
 lishing their owne Religion, wee had 
 ynough to doe to defend our bodies from 
 Bishop Bonners Bon-fiers : and deferred all 
 our intended Supplications to a hope-fuller 
 time. 
 
 Our late, and blessed Soveraigne Queene 
 Elizabeth (Englands joy, defender of the 
 faith^ & faithful establisher of true Re- 
 ligion ; (whose matchlesse Princely ver- 
 tues, the world didde, and ever shal ad- 
 mire) yet her aged yeares troubled with 
 a discontented warre (a] forced us to 
 silence with many a sorrowfull heart. 
 
 Now (my Lord) the time is come to 
 exhibite our supplications : the King of 
 glory hath sent us his sacred servant 
 King James, together with a fruitfull 
 Queene and royall Issue, according to 
 our owne heartes : A King that can 
 teach Religion ; a King from beyond his 
 Cradle, and free from strange devotion ; 
 succeeding a most religious Maiden- 
 Queene. 
 
 (b) Now, is our time most humbly to 
 
 beseech your Lordshippe (you having 
 
 immediate grace and favor from his 
 
 Majestic, wee poore wretches not daring 
 
 61 to 
 
 (a) That of 
 Tryon. 
 
 (b) Time is 
 now most 
 opportune. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 to speake, beeing people of the quietest 
 and peaceablest dispositions of the King- 
 dome) not to neglect our Common-wealth. 
 Remember the love your Father and 
 Grand-father bare their-our Countrey : 
 remember wee were their kinsmen, and 
 servants, and of the dearest respect of any 
 what-soever with them. Wee desire 
 but passage of the Law of the Land; 
 and that your Lordship wil not speak 
 in favor of your owne Weare (O super- 
 naturall vertue !) nor my Lord of Shrews- 
 buries -, nor any of the rest, no, nor suffer 
 a Super sidias to land neare Chepstows-bridge 
 least it make it shake for feare, of a second 
 Commotion of Salmons against it. I have 
 acquainted your Lordshipp with this 
 w^//T-mechanical, & made known unto 
 you the raising of our Church, the plant- 
 ing of our Preacher, the Chappel & 
 Almes-house with the rest apendant : if 
 your Lordship take but a superficial view 
 of this giddy Invention (as some of your 
 late servants term'd it) it wil satisfie me, 
 it being but a particular plot, not able to 
 be performed by any whose estate exceedes 
 mine a million ; because the place of my 
 Residence affords Meddow, Pasture, all 
 62 kinde 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 kinde of Come, Wood, Water near at 
 hand ; & especially blest with such a 
 number of Beggers as are able to undoe 
 a Countrey. But my Lord, I doe most 
 humbly pray, that in the reading & view- 
 ing of my Water-workes, you will unite 
 your heart and eyes to read respectively, 
 for retention sake, to the (a) end you 
 may call to account, your Stewards and 
 Survayors of your Lordshipps Manners, 
 Lands and Tenements; What Rivers, Brookes, 
 Fountaines and Springes do inhabite the 
 compasse of your command, and that your 
 Lordshipp will spare sporting-times for 
 some few houres, that I may give you 
 such information, and precepts withall ; 
 that (at your pleasure) you may charracter 
 what profit this Wattry ILlement will raise 
 you, more then ever was raised. 
 
 I do not say I wil, but I could, in your 
 Monmoth and Glamorgan- jvter-countrey 
 single out (in a short time) all the Rivers, 
 Brookes, Fountaines and Springs which owe 
 duty or speake well of any of your Lord- 
 shipps Lands. If my Labors bee in that 
 manner commaunded, it will cost your 
 Lordship Warrants for Bucks, and Letters 
 of Priviledge, that your Tenants raise not 
 63 head 
 
 (a) A gainful 
 end of paine- 
 full reading. 
 
(a) Feare 
 of private 
 harme makes 
 publike 
 hatred often 
 to arise from 
 long-laid 
 rest. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 (a) head against mee : weening my com- 
 ming to bee the overthrow of their Pos- 
 terity. 
 
 I protest thats not my purpose, but to 
 put a foote the Mister y of Winter and 
 Sommer-drownings, to the comfort of the 
 Countrey, and present profit of the present 
 Inhabitants : humbly praying your Lord- 
 shipp, as you shall receive a great increase: 
 so, you do not (according to the new 
 fashion) by extreme racking, ransake the 
 succeeding Issue of the faithfull Fol- 
 lowers of your eldest Ancestors, whose old 
 gotten-glory, at Rodes and Malta (in de- 
 fence of the holy land) the Brittish Tradi- 
 tions and Recordes, in great aboundance, 
 doe testifie. 
 
 I have done with my Mechanicals^ and 
 the hopefull river of Wye; only I will 
 fixe this accidentall merryment in the 
 Frontispice (or broad-brow) of my Preface 
 to my Water-workes : signifying the cause 
 of these excursions to proceed from un- 
 beleeving creatures, possessed and puf- 
 pasted with pride and peevish opposition. 
 
 An. act of Parliament will bee required 
 
 for joyning of Peter-Church^ Vow-church 
 
 and Torneston, there distance beeing not 
 
 64 a 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 a mile a sunder ; Turneston having onely 
 one inhabitant to make a congregation ; 
 the living extending it selfe but unto ten 
 pounds yearely, two of them straining 
 them-selves to make forty in the whole. 
 A most miserable alowance for a Preacher 
 and his Curate ; and most miserable the 
 time when Ignorance (out of heate of a 
 preposterous zeale not able to render a 
 reason of the faith they hold, nor well 
 know whereof they do affirme) will 
 adventure (with libellous Articles) to 
 informe (against men conformable) a 
 reverend father, Bishop Bennet (Bishop 
 of the Diocesse) whose heart was prepared 
 with all his power to the higher house 
 of the Parliament to settle this president 
 (viz : to unite three Parishes into one) 
 in the Border of the principallity ; Yet a 
 new fangl'd fellow, presumed to falsefie 
 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 ther-unto incident, unto a 
 strickt observation of quick-silver-brain'd 
 Discipline : and cause mee to bee ques- 
 tioned before the Bishopp for these mis- 
 65 demeanors, 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 demeanors, as if Heresie or Sacriledge 
 had beene the ground. But the Bishop 
 (most judiciously) quitte mee as no way 
 taxable : I desir'd by Acte 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 
 principall men, that an homily audibly red 
 would be as edifiable unto the simpler sort 
 as a preskian-Sermon unto the reformed 
 phantastiques. These troubles, the African- 
 Politicianhzth raised: And I feare a further 
 mischiefe, that he will inforce those Luna- 
 tikes to stirr upp the Patron Prebend to 
 a higher pitch ; his infirmity offering 
 nothing lesse then all the likelyhoods of 
 discontentments. But having gotten a 
 fee-simple in the Bishop, a free-hold in the 
 Deane and chapter ; an inheritance in the 
 rest of the Cathedrals^?, beg at your Lord- 
 shippes handes to add the Act of Parlia- 
 ment to put us in possession. In following 
 which Acte, it is necessary your Lordship 
 warrant my descent from Gladis de gam 
 Daughter of S. David Gam, slaine in the 
 vangard of the battell of Egincourt; who 
 beeing sent by Henry the fift to discover 
 66 the 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 the force of the French; Answered, they 
 were a-now to be slaine, e-now to be taken 
 prisoners, e-now to run away : which speech 
 continues to his everlasting praise : this 
 Gladis being mother to your Lordships 
 Ancestors & mine : the Earle of Pembrook, 
 Sir Richard Herbert, Vaughan of Erad- 
 wardin, Vaughan of Hergest, & Vaughan 
 of Tretowr hir 5. sons al 5. brethren & 
 al 5. overthrown at Banbury field. Five 
 such brethren out of one woman, the 13. 
 shires of Wales hath seldom yeelded : 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 turbulents over-frighted, 
 stir'd up the harts of the poorest people 
 to a dangerous mislike with invective 
 breathings, that they must goe above a 
 mile to a sermon; that their Church 
 would not containe the three Parishes at 
 a Sermon-time ; that it could not bee done 
 by Law, and that forty pound was suffi- 
 cient for a Preacher, and that I did it not 
 67 out 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 out of zeale, but out of ambition ; seeking 
 mine owne glory & gaine, wherin (God 
 is my judge, my Lord) they wrong me as 
 much as their own charitable judgements. 
 
 my (honorable Lord) I come to 
 the point: to make rehearsal, and 
 to demonstrate my under-takings ; setting 
 forth the Clothier (with his twenty broad 
 Loomes) for the finest cloth, to be the 
 worthiest. Ten narrow Loomes for course 
 Wool, Flaxe, Hempe, and Hurdes. Some 
 Fustian -loomes, with such silke- homes as 
 shall bee needfull : Two thousand poore 
 Spinners, Carders, Wooll-pyckers, Quti-nvin- 
 ders, with the Broad and Narrow-weavers; 
 Fifty Habitations with Shops, Chambers, 
 Chymneys, and Cesterns for washing their 
 hands ; for severall Artificers, that neither 
 Clothiers, Weavers, Pyckers of Woll, Quill- 
 winders, Spinners and Carders, shall ever 
 lose an houres labour. No women, chil- 
 dren, nor Prentises, shall be free of this 
 place, but all selected Journey-men of the 
 best ability of body and Arte that may 
 be had. I give fifty pound yearely and 
 perpetually unto a Preacher ; twenty 
 68 pound 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 pound yearely and perpetually unto a 
 Curate ; who shall alwayes attend the 
 Artificers, to read morning and evening 
 prayer in their Chappell. An Almes- 
 house for such as (I sayd before) necessitie 
 doth cause to for-beare their owne gett- 
 ing*. 
 
 Many Honorable Gentlemen finding 
 mine ability such, as not sodenly able to 
 raise the same : they wisht I would pre- 
 pare a number of benevolent Contributers, 
 persons of the greatest worth, best affected, 
 and knowne to bee most comfortable to 
 the Common-wealth : out of which Num- 
 ber^ I doe most humbly invite your Lord- 
 ship, with my Honorable Lord of Mount- 
 gomery to this benevolent preparation. 
 
 I likewise invite some venerable and 
 reverend Bishops (my especiall good and 
 loving Lords) the Lord Bishops of Wor- 
 cester ^ Hereford and Gloucester. 
 
 I invite my Honourable Lords the 
 Lord Chiefe- Justice of England, and that 
 worthye Lord Chiefe- Justice of the Com- 
 mon-pleas : the Lord Chief e-Baron, and 
 my Lords the Judges in generall. 
 
 I invite the Knights of the Bathe, 
 
 Knights of the Field, and Knights of 
 
 69 GREAT 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 GREAT BRITAINE, Maister Talbott 
 of Graf ton, Maister Sheldon of Be ley, 
 Maister Dutton of Sher borne, and Maister 
 Harley of Erompton-brian, with all TLsquires 
 and Gentle-men of all the Counties of the 
 kingdome. 
 
 I have seperated your Lordshipps (with 
 the rest) from the society of the sullied leier 
 of Subjects : so respective have I beene in 
 the execution of this Invention. 
 
 If your Lordshipp will know what hath 
 induced mee to these purposes : beeing 
 over-questioned by the Tag-ragg-rable of 
 dull-pated Ignorants ; that I had protested 
 and promised to publish my Water-workes 
 long before this : 
 
 And ever-hoping to reduce it into that 
 
 forme which might bee pleasing to allpos- 
 
 teritie, and not quarrelled at by anye, it 
 
 beeing so full of difficultie and varyetye of 
 
 forme and matter. 
 
 Not possible to give it his Ornament 
 with-out this that followes ; having ney- 
 ther President, nor Example, to stirre mee 
 uppe any waye to the like labours : Ever 
 desirous to use a correspondencie : So as 
 a Souldier I will leave some testimonie 
 or Relicke of that Honourable rancke 
 70 wherein 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 wherein I had my breeding : and end 
 my dayes with a Souldier-like fare-well. 
 
 TDEeing one of hir Majesties Captaines, 
 raisd in eighty-eight, having my direc- 
 tions from my Honourable LORD and 
 Maister your Father : I have spent that 
 small Talent & skill. Never curious in 
 concealing from my Lieutenant, Ancient, 
 Serjant, Corporalls, and Drumme, the wor- 
 thynesse of the warre : unto which I am 
 much inclin'd. 
 
 Most humblye beseeching your Lord- 
 shipp, if you heare any say, I am fantas- 
 tical^ say you (my deere 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 spende 
 some time with the Printer: and a little 
 more in sorting, couching, and planting my 
 dyning-roome, free from all disorder. 
 
 71 In 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 In what manner my Table shall be fur- 
 nished ; What attendance the Mechanicall 
 Artificers shall performe ; how industrious 
 my Ancient and Serjeant shall bee in pre- 
 paring all these Artificers for his Ma- 
 jesties service, into what place it shall 
 please his Highnesse to command them. 
 
 Now (my Lord) I end with this materiall 
 circumstance beeing extracted out of mine 
 owne meanes. I signified in mine TLpistle 
 to your Lordshipp, A dining-roome to 
 entertaine a world of worthy benevolent 
 Contributors: The Table perpetually fur- 
 nished to entertaine forty of those Con- 
 tributers dayly in expectancy ; A hundred 
 Artificers subject to the Service of the Table: 
 Twenty-five attending at Dinner^ and 
 twenty-five at supper: fifty more on the 
 morrow: and so the hundred Artificers shall 
 attend the Table in this manner Dayly and 
 Perpetually. 
 
 In recompence whereof they receive the 
 benefit of the Reversion with all the com- 
 fort I can afford them. 
 
 All the Artificers to attend the Preacher 
 
 to Sermon and home againe. The Visitor 
 
 of the Negligencers Attendant to informe 
 
 their misdemenors to the chiefe of the 
 
 72 Company 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 Company^ if there bee 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 comming thether) 
 humble them-selves with (all respective 
 obedience) acknowledging them by word 
 and deed to be the Founders of their well- 
 doing, and happy Common-wealth. 
 
 The Dining-roome wainscoted, and 
 fairly hang'd with Arras. 
 
 Touching the Fare to bee served to the 
 Table dayly and perpetually, forty full 
 dishes of variety of meats ; with a Pasty 
 of Venison to Dinner, and another to 
 supper, when they are in season. 
 
 A Sentinell sett from ten to eleven in 
 a Turret, for discovery, to see what Con- 
 tributer comes : If a Foot-man dwelling in 
 the neighbourhood ; he gives the Larum 
 by the toule of a Bell, signifying him to 
 bee a Foot-man; which heard, then the 
 Drumme soundes. If a Horse-man,bythe 
 Larum hee signifies him to bee a Horse- 
 man, and then the Trumpet soundes. And 
 upon their comming into the Dining- 
 
 F 73 roome, 
 
The Trench- 
 royall is a 
 Cesterne 
 that serves 
 al offices in a 
 Noblemans 
 house. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 roome, All Officers of the company in- 
 tertaine the Contributers with all joy and 
 merryment : the wind Instrument, with 
 all sortes of Musicke plaies Dinner and 
 Supper: and to adde all the comfortable 
 contentment to all Contributers, from 
 Bartholomew day to Mid-may. 
 
 The Groome of the Chamber shall at 
 his perill prepare a good fire with Ashe, 
 Hawthorne, and Char-cole. 
 
 My LORD, that honourable and most 
 worthy Judge the Lord Chiefe Justice 
 Poppham hearing of my Dr owning* ; said 
 Cousin, how dost thou drowne? I told him 
 by helpe of a River or Brooke ; by Weare 
 and sluce to take part, or all, into my 
 Trench-royal I . Whats thy Trench-royall 
 (saith hee?) 
 
 As a Cesterne in your Lordshipps house, 
 that serves all Offices : My Trench-royal 
 serves my Counter- Trenches ; my Def ending- 
 Trenches , my Topping or Bracing-Trenches, 
 my Winter and Sommer-Trenches ; my 
 Double and Treble-trenches; a traversing 
 trench with a point ; And my Everlasting- 
 trench, with other troublesome trenches, 
 which in my Mapp I wil more exactly 
 demonstrate. 
 
 74 The 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 The good Lord hearing all these wordes, 
 (able to raise a Spirit) sayd : Cousin art 
 thou out of thy witts? 
 
 My Lord for distinction sake (said I) 
 I must give them significant names, such 
 as my servants attending my Winter and 
 Sommer-Drownings may understand to 
 execute my commands. 
 
 So, my Lord, I having given satisfac- 
 tion to the honourable person, I will make 
 it most plainly appeare to your Lord- 
 shippe how fecible this Worke is: that 
 all Cynick-Doggs or Lamb-biters^ may with 
 shame be silenced, and their foule Mouthes 
 muzled. 
 
 It is yet wondered at, by almost <z//,how 
 a particular and private Gentleman should 
 bee able to bring all this to passe. 
 
 But my good Lord (on my behalf) I 
 humbly pray you to pray all of the better 
 sort, to bee sparing of their censures herein ; 
 for artlesse-^/^j-seldome hitts the marke. 
 
 I would that no man should say, I doe 
 it out of ambition or other sinister respect: 
 for the Rule of Charity is : in cases doubt- 
 full, wee should judge the best. 
 
 But if any (notwithstanding) should 
 
 bee so injurious to say so, then (my 
 
 75 LORD) 
 
 To speake 
 what we 
 know not, is 
 to think what 
 we should 
 not. 
 
This I mince 
 thus for ill- 
 digesting 
 stomacks. 
 
 A just ex- 
 cuse. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 LORD) they may say the Clothier; the 
 habitation for Artificers^ the Chappell^ and 
 Preacher , Curate^ Almes-house ; My Table 
 for the benefit of poore Artificers^ and 
 whatsoever else is good (yea a Common- 
 good] is out of ambition. 
 
 I hope (my good Lord) I shall heare 
 no more of such Objections ; if I doe, 
 though I am no Poet yet I can make 
 Ballads, To the tune of up-tayls-all : For 
 He lash them Ifayth with Rimes that 
 shall make it rancle where they fall. 
 
 But to take away the wonder of the 
 World, and to give satis-faction to the 
 envious-unsatisfied. 
 
 I can keepe three hundred Kine, three 
 hundred young Cattell, three thousand 
 Sheepe, all these Winter and Sommer : 
 Having besides ten Plough -Land, all 
 hard at hand ; foure Milles as neare, and 
 within two mile of the place Tymber 
 sufficient for all my Buildings. And 
 Fire-wood ynough for all the Artificers, 
 the Inholder and the rest ; Wall-stone, 
 Tyle, Lime and Bricke, as necessary as 
 any man living. 
 
 My good LORD, I doe not thus In- 
 ventory my Estate, and paint forth the 
 76 Particulers, 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 Particulars, as if I were to sell it by the 
 Drumme ; or as looking thereon with 
 Vaine-gloryous Eyes. No, no, my good 
 LORD, nothing lesse (for there is no 
 such cause, I am the more sorry). But 
 I doe it (perforce) to give the doubtfull 
 Inquisitor satisfaction for the setling of 
 his beleefe herein, That I attempt nothing 
 with out the limmitts of mine owne strength. 
 
 But now your Lordshippe shall heare 
 an end of the Wonder. All men wil 
 confesse, three hundred Kine wil raise, 
 Braunes, Bacons, Porks, Piggs, Geese, 
 Turkeis, Capons, Hens, Chickens, Ducks, 
 & the like. They wil confes ten Plow- 
 land in severall places, all with-in a myle, 
 with my Tithe-barnes, will do the like. 
 
 They will confesse my foure Milks 
 beeing within a slight shoote one of 
 another, will doe the like : They will 
 confesse my Brew-house, my Backe-house, 
 my Kitchin, my Beare-seller, my Shambles; 
 and the water from my Uting-vats will 
 doe the like. Besides in a Maste-yeare 
 I can feed a world of Hogges. 
 
 Your Lordship sees I am forc'd to doe, 
 
 and over-doe, as one that must doe All, 
 
 else nothing will bee done : I thinke I 
 
 77 have 
 
What bene- 
 fit can be 
 raised. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 have besturd my selfe pritty well, to make 
 the whole world wonder at mee. 
 
 Your Lordshipp shall now see what 
 benefit I receive for the perpetuall con- 
 tinuance of this Table. 
 
 The Butter and Cheese of my three 
 hundred Kine, I sell, and furnish the 
 Clothyer, his Broade - weavers, Spinners, 
 Carders & the rest ; with all the Mec ham- 
 calls there-with. The Corne of ten Plow- 
 lands^ Wheate, Rye, & Malt made in my 
 own Killing; I grinde at my own$Mt//es; 
 Bak'd, & Brewed in my Bake-house and 
 Brew-house ; and sold to the foresaid 
 persons : My Wooll, my Muttons, Lambes, 
 and culld-sheepe , of my three thousand I 
 sell to the sayde persons : I sell yearely 
 one hundred of my eldest Oxen, Kine, 
 and my cul'd young Cattell fatte to the 
 persons aforesaid : I finde all Artificers ; 
 and Inkeepers wood, which will bee ten 
 times more profitable unto me then now. 
 Let Men judge what benefit I may make 
 of my Brew-house, and what of my Bake- 
 house, what of my shambles, my Haye & 
 Provender; my Chandler s-shopp, my Barke 
 unto the Tanner : to whom I sell all my 
 Hides; the Glover hath all my Pelts: what 
 78 provision 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 provision my owne estate will not affoord, 
 the neighbourhood can provide it, that 
 neither want nor scarsitie shall afflict any 
 of his Majesties servants and subjects. 
 
 My good Lord, let it not seeme irk- 
 some to you, nor cloy your dainty eare, 
 that thus I belabour your attention with 
 repetition of these countrey-commodities, 
 and common-wealths Requisites ; so to 
 season your courtly pleasures, as sharpe 
 sawce doth sweete meates, but when you 
 bend your regarde to these things (as I 
 doubt not but you will : For active witte 
 in short time turnes to working wis- 
 dome :) The worlds observation will then 
 know, you waxe ripe for the highest im- 
 ployments : For it strongly argues youth is 
 then well mellowed, when it begins to 
 looke into these necessaries for mans life 
 with Ages eyes. Pleasures, that tickle 
 our sences, make us but spoile Pretious- 
 time ; while they betray our Reason, that 
 should rule rebellious affections that 
 ought to obey. The sooner these ene- 
 mies, to mans dignity, are shaken off 
 from the Minde, the sooner will the Minde 
 advance the Body to dignity. 
 
 It is a glorious (how ever troublesome) 
 79 thing 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 thing to have a chiefe Oare in the Shipp of 
 a well-governd state. The benefit of life 
 in great men cannot be better imployde 
 then to the benefit of good men. For the 
 Back andBe//y is Natures chiefe care ; these 
 beeing provided for, shee sweetly takes re- 
 pose. What is over & beside, is for Orna- 
 ment, which shee wants not : for pompe 
 which shee requires not : or for pleasure, 
 which if she wanted, shee would the more 
 abound in all goodnesse. 
 
 Now, (my good Lord) these Indevoures 
 and Workes of mine (tending to thee full 
 supply of the Each and Bellyes wants) are 
 to be needfully respected in their par- 
 ticulers, by you that one day may have 
 this care cast upon you, by God, King, &c 
 Countrey, to see to the necessities of All, 
 while you consult but with a Few. Its 
 merry in hall, when beards wagge all, (saith 
 the old Proverbe). And it's a merry 
 Weale-publick, where ever-enough is as 
 good as a feast, sufEzing all by good 
 government. 
 
 80 The 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 The manner of my 
 Drownings. 
 
 Fter I had spent some 
 yeares in Queene Eliza- 
 beths Court, and saw the 
 greatnes and glory therof 
 under the command of 
 Mist res Blanch Parry (an 
 honorable & Vertuous 
 Gentlewoman, my Aunt and Mistresse) 
 my spirite beeing too tender to indure the 
 bitternesse of her humor ; I was by her 
 carefull (though crabbed austerity) forced 
 unto the Irish wars, where I continued 
 three or foure yeares some-times twist 
 deep in that country -water : & what 
 with long fasting and ill diet, I was pos- 
 sessed with the Country-disease : the ex- 
 tremity whereof hasted mee to returne to 
 8 1 my 
 
 Flix. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 my Fathers home in the County of Heref. 
 for recovery of my health : which within 
 sixe months I obteined. After it pleased 
 GOD to give mee recovery, I resolved 
 for the Lowe-countrey-warres againe : and 
 having begun my journey thetherward, I 
 happened on a Country-Gentlewoman, who 
 was seized of a Mannor, and over-shot 
 Mill : which converted all my martiall 
 endevours and hopes of honor, to these 
 country-labours : Having sojourn'd two 
 yeares in my Fathers house, wearied in 
 doing nothing, and fearing my fortunes 
 had beene over-throwne in putting by 
 my Martiall occupation ; I began to ex- 
 postulate with my selfe what was best to 
 be done to preserve my reputation with 
 my martiall companions, and with-all to 
 give contentment to my vertuous and 
 loving wife. And while I was to settle 
 a resolution, comparing these desires to- 
 gether, my Wives importunity caused 
 mee to quitt their ordinary familiarity, 
 yet with limitation ; at such times as 
 conveniency might afforde. 
 
 This restraint of hers, drewe mee to the 
 
 attendance of home-labours; who prayed 
 
 mee with-all in my walkes abroad, to have 
 
 82 an 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 an eye to her Millers true dealing. I prayed 
 her to put over that service to some servant 
 of hers : for of all trades I had least con- 
 fidence in their truth : and therefore re- 
 quired the more paines to be taken in 
 watching their water, & looking to their 
 fingers, which I was loth to undertake: 
 not-with-standing,(upon better considera- 
 tion, least shee should have held me care- 
 lesse of her good, and so ill deserve her 
 love) I obeyed her will, as many doe, and 
 many miseries do ensew thereby : So, in the 
 month of March, falling (with the streame) 
 to the milne-ward within my Meade (with 
 no desire (I protest) to fashion or forme 
 Husbandry] I happened to finde a Mole 
 or Wants nest, raised on the brim of the 
 Brooke, like a great hillocke; from which 
 nest or hillocke, there issued a little streame 
 of water, (drawne by the working of the 
 Wante (downe a shelving or descending 
 ground, one pase broad, and some twenty 
 in length. 
 
 The running of which little Streame, 
 did, (at that time) wonderfully content 
 mee, seeing it pleasing Greene ; and that 
 other on both sides full of Mosse, and 
 Hide-bound for want of water. This 
 83 was 
 
 The first 
 cause that 
 the work was 
 undertaken. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 was the first cause I under - tooke the 
 drowning of grounds. 
 
 Now, to proceede to the execution of 
 my worke (beeing perswaded of the ex- 
 cellencie of the water) I examined how 
 many foote-fall the Brooke yeelded, from 
 my Mill to the upper-most part of my 
 grounds, beeing in length a measured 
 Mile. 
 
 There laye of old Meadow-ground thirty 
 acres over-worne with age, and heavily 
 laden with Mosse, Cowslips, and much 
 other imperfit grasse, betwixt my Mill- 
 streame, and the maine River ; which 
 (with two shillings cost) my granfather, 
 and his gransire, with the rest, might have 
 drown'd at their pleasures : But from the 
 beginning, never any thing was done, that 
 either tradition or record, could witnesse, 
 or any other testimonie. 
 
 Having vewed the convenientest place, 
 the upper-most part of my ground would 
 affbrde for placing a Commanding- We are, 
 or Sluce, I espied divers Water-falls on 
 my neighbours grounds, higher then 
 mine' by seaven or eight foote ; which 
 gave me greater advantage for drowning 
 of more ground, then I was (of my owne 
 84 power 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 power) able to doe. I acquainted them 
 with my purpose : the one (being a 
 Gentleman of worth and good nature) 
 gave mee leave to plant the one end of 
 my Weare on his side the River : the 
 other (my Tenant) beeing very aged and 
 simple) (by no persuasion I could use) 
 would yeeld his consent : aledging it 
 would marre his ground : yea, some-times 
 his Apple-trees : and men tolde him water 
 would raise the RusA, and kill his Cow- 
 slipps, which was the cheefest Flower 
 that his Daughters had, (beeing many) to 
 tricke the May-pole withall. All which 
 with silence I past over for a time, know- 
 ing his simplicity to exceed his discre- 
 tion ; yet in the end I re-enforc'd my 
 persuations, and tolde him (next unto 
 the King) I was to bee obeyed in matters 
 reasonable : and that it became him not 
 to provoke his Land-lord ; nor to stand 
 at the staffes end with his Commander. 
 Yet these Buggs-words would not moove 
 him. Then gave I a fresh charge, and 
 to draw him on with a Baite which hee 
 would soone bite at, tould him I had a 
 Meddow-plott in his neighbourhood, worth 
 forty pound, which I would part with on 
 85 reasonable 
 
For no 
 simple fee. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 reasonable termes : but before I could 
 make him beleeve hee was a foole, he 
 gott the Fee-simple thereof. Which Pre- 
 sident doth falsifie the old-said-Saw, Thou 
 art an old doting foole. After I had wrought 
 this farre, I caused my servant (a Joyner) 
 to make a level! to discover what quan- 
 titie of ground I might, (from the entry of 
 the Water) obtaine : allowing his dubling- 
 course, compassing Hills to cary it plym 
 or even : which fell out to bee some 
 three hundred Acres. After I had plim- 
 med it upon a true Levell, I be-tooke 
 my selfe 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 worke, Counter-trenches,, 
 defending -trenches, topping, or bracing- 
 trenches, Winter and Summer - trenches, 
 double and treble -trenches, a traversing 
 trench with a point, and an ever-lasting 
 trench, with other troublesome -trenches : 
 which in my Map I will more lively 
 expresse. 
 
 When the Inhabitants of the country 
 wherin I inhabit, (namely the Golden- 
 Valley) saw I had begun some part of 
 86 my 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 my worke, they summoned a consultation 
 against mee, and my man John the 
 levellour : saying our wittes were in our 
 hands, and not in our heads : so, we both 
 for three or foure yeares, laye levell to 
 the whole Country-censure for such En- 
 ginors as their fore-fathers heard not of, 
 nor they well able to endure with-out 
 merryment. 
 
 When my labours tooke beginning, 
 they became subject to discourse : Diverse 
 Gentlemen with others, inquired from 
 whence I had my Examples ; and where 
 I saw any such worke ? I could not an- 
 swere them but with an other question : 
 namely, where sawe you any such ? They 
 said, no where : Truly nor I. 
 
 In the running and casting of my 
 Trench-royall^ though it were leveld from 
 the beginning to the end, upon the face 
 of the ground, yet in the bottome I did 
 likewise levell it to avoyde error. 
 
 For the Breadth and Depth, my pro- 
 porcion is ten foote broad, and foure 
 foote deep ; unlesse in the beginning, to 
 fetch the water to my drowning-grounds, 
 I rann it some halfe mile, eight foot 
 deepe ; and in some places sixtenne-foote 
 87 broad. 
 
Ignorants 
 praise good 
 endings, but 
 doubt, or 
 dispraise 
 their begin- 
 nings. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 broad. Al the rest of the Course, for 
 two miles and a halfe in length, accord- 
 ing to my former proportion. 
 
 When my Worke began, in the Eye of 
 the Countrey, to carry a shew of profit, 
 it pleased many (out of their courtesie) 
 to give it commendations, and to applaud 
 the Invention. 
 
 The Joyner hearing the commenda- 
 tions to bee generall, and hee the Leveller 
 (which was (he thought) the cheefe 
 Agent in the Action) there grew a 
 brabble betwixt us. Hee began to insult 
 and arrogate as a Coadjutor, by reason 
 of his levelling, and desired hee might 
 bee signified a principall party to the 
 Invention. 
 
 I bad him have patience, the Invention 
 was mine, together with the dignity : 
 and told him 
 soldiers would 
 
 withal the ambition of 
 not indure society with 
 men of Mechanicall trades : I only im- 
 ploy'd his hand, and not his head. 
 
 So having compounded the brabble 
 betweene us, I fell into the handes of 
 an udskilfull Carpenter, in planting my 
 commaunding Weare or Scluce, crosse the 
 maine River. 
 
 88 Hee 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 Hee gave mee such assurance for the 
 safe continuance thereof; that hee under- 
 tooke to maintaine it with twelve pence 
 a yeare, during his life. 
 
 After hee had prepared it ready for the 
 foundation, hee planted some thousand 
 stakes in the bottom of the Brooke to carry 
 the maine Syll. When the Syll was 
 lodged uppon the Pile of Stakes, I began 
 to suspect the foundation, and told him a 
 great part of the water would undermine 
 the Syll, and that I should hardly indure 
 the want therof at my Drowning-time s ; 
 especially in Sommer. 
 
 Hee grew teasty, hott, and peremptory; 
 and sayd it was not the Maisters manner 
 to controule ; but, to examine : and that 
 all his Water-ivor kes were according to the 
 Venetian foundation, built altogether uppon 
 Piles : but the Venetian-fashion forced mee 
 to want water ten yeares space, which was 
 out of my way two thousand poundes. 
 
 The reason was this; the water under- 
 mining the Syll, it forced the Earth 
 beyond the postes, which were placed in 
 the firme ground ; and having gotten the 
 upper hand of the main-Land it could 
 not bee holp untill the Sylle were rais'd 
 
 G 89 againe. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 againe. I hadde a continual purpose to 
 re-edifie it, but that I was interupted by 
 the ordinary course of Processe out of 
 the honorable Courts of Starr e-chamber, 
 Chancery, and Wardes ; the last of the 
 three bredd more white haires in my 
 head in one yeare, then all my Wetshod- 
 water-workes did in sixteene : Not that 
 I had cause to complaine of Injustice ; 
 but, because I understood not the course 
 of the Courts, being pusled with an old 
 Feodary, and a foolish EscAefer, (the life 
 and death of my cause resting in their 
 mercy.) Twelve Jurors who passed 
 against mee, lawe, equity, and conscience: 
 Upon which Verdit, I was, by Injunction, 
 commanded to deliver the body of a Warde 
 I had in keeping, which I refused to 
 doe : It happened my C ounce I I found 
 Error in the Office, and over-threwe the 
 former proceedings, which was the over- 
 throwe of my Water-workes for five 
 yeares space. 
 
 The over-throwne-O^'a' was a stolne 
 Office, and found before I had notice of 
 it. But beeing over-throwne, matter of 
 greater consequence followed. 
 
 The Queenes Atturney commanded the 
 90 Feodary, 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 Feodary^ who had gotten a grant of the 
 Ward^ to exhibite enformation against 
 mee in his name : wee had Commission 
 upon Commission: wee indured heavye 
 and chargeable examinations. 
 
 Uppon which Examinations I had a 
 Hearing in that Honourable Courte ; and 
 though it could not passe against me, yet 
 it passed not with mee. One other Com- 
 mission came downe, A Jury impanalled, 
 Witnesses re-examined. That Jury found 
 with mee, & (in my conscience) not one 
 of the number understood his evidence : 
 All which I shew to satisfie the Inquisitor, 
 why so long I neglected my begunne 
 Water-workes. When the Esc/ieafor, Feo- 
 dary^ Commissioners^ and Jurors hadde putt 
 their hands & scales to the Office, I pre- 
 pared my self to my forsaken Water- 
 works; having left my wanton Ward 
 in London in the custody of a Precisian 
 or Puritan-Taylor^ who would not indure 
 to heare one of his servants Sweare by 
 the Crosse of his Sheares, hee was so full 
 of Sanctity in deceipt. But the first newes 
 I heard, hee marryed my Welch Neece 
 to his English Nephew; and at my returne 
 I was driven to take his word that hee 
 QI was 
 
 (a) Holy 
 fraud is the 
 falsest fraud. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 was neyther privy to the contract, nor 
 the marriage. 
 
 I desir'd but his oth for my satisfaction ; 
 hee badde mee have patience, it was not 
 his fashion to forsweare him-selfe. Thus 
 hoping I had beene quit of the cause, I 
 prayed recompence of the Offender ; But 
 within sixe months a new Commission 
 came downe ; and a new Office found 
 against mee : which manner of proceed- 
 ing (I thinke) was able to breede white 
 hay res in a Brittaines beard. 
 
 INCE THE FIRST 
 Time I undertooke the 
 drowning of my groundes, 
 I (as carefully as I could) 
 sought to better my un- 
 derstanding by other mens 
 labours: yet in the whole 
 Kingdom I never found, nor heard of a 
 work worthy observation : Having so 
 many Rivers, Brooks, Fountaines andSprings ', 
 which run idely unto the Sea : without 
 Wear'e, Sluce, stay, stanke or dam, to turne 
 some part of them upon grounds that 
 need them, or to containe the substance 
 92 of 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 of plow'd lands and dunghils, which by 
 violent showers washe away, and runnes 
 ranging by those grounds that hunger and 
 thirst for want of moisture. Our Hus- 
 bandmen brag of raising Corne : How ? 
 out of ther painfull labours : but (if they 
 want compost) their increase is but barren, 
 and for ought I have scene (except some 
 few Soiles which yeeld plenty of Hay, by 
 often overflowing of fresh Rivers, or the 
 Tide staying uppon them as it were by 
 damm) those fresh-waters yeeld their in- 
 crease by nature, without industry. I 
 would aske how many Shires bee in 
 England, and in every Shire how many 
 Rivers, Brooks, Fountaines, and Springes ? 
 If the number be great, I wou'd know 
 how they be imployed, and what our 
 Corne-maisters (which carry the reputa- 
 tion for good husbandry) will say to it ? 
 They will say (peradventure) and so will 
 all Husband-men (without peradventure) 
 it is easie to raise Corne with store of 
 Compost : but (wanting Hay ;) I would 
 learne how compost may bee raised ? The 
 question betweene errable converted to 
 medow, and errable not converted, wil be 
 this : some will say, there is no reason 
 93 to 
 
 As good no 
 running, as 
 running for 
 no good. 
 
(a} At what 
 time, with 
 what water, 
 & how long 
 you ought to 
 drowne your 
 Grounds. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 to put good errable to bad pasture. So 
 say I too. Others will say, ordinary 
 errable exceedes ordinary Pasture. It 
 may bee true : but I speake of good 
 errable appointed to bee drowned: I will 
 give no estimat of English Errable; scitu- 
 ate neare London or Haven Townes, or 
 to places more vendible then the country 
 wherein I inhabite. Yet this will I ex- 
 emplifie out of my experience, if the 
 Principality were duly imploied, & each 
 acre handled according to some plots be- 
 gun, I would hope to live to see Wales 
 called the Garden of England : for our 
 Welsh mountains yeeld infinit Fountains & 
 Springs^ the Grounds Fearny & broomy^ it 
 being of as excellent a temper to inter- 
 taine water as heart can wish ; unlesse 
 wee flye to the maine Sandy -grounds , 
 which are but sparingly found in Wales ; 
 the Country lying in a colde quarter of 
 no hotte Climate. 
 
 Now, to speake of drowning, (a) at 
 what time of the yeare, with what water, 
 how long it may continue on the ground, 
 and what effect it will worke, you shall 
 have all I know to the uttermost ; at 
 least if I remember all. 
 
 94 Now, 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 Now, fixing your fancy on this Misterie, 
 you must pry into every Fa I low-fa Id, 
 Dung-hil, and Water-course in your neigh- 
 bourhood : then compare the quantity of 
 ground unto the quantity of water you can 
 draw unto it, and if you find water ynough 
 to answer your desire, then in the begin- 
 ning of your ground, plant your weare or 
 scluce in height levell with the Bankes, 
 or exceeding it one foote (or there aboutes) 
 ore-thwart the River or Brooke : and carry 
 your Trench-Royall (which is your grand- 
 maister-Trench) so farre as your ground 
 extendes plimm or levell : that from the 
 mouth of your Weare, or Scluce, to the 
 end of the ditch or trench, your water may 
 flow backe againe over your scluce into 
 the River or brooke. In so doing, you 
 have a full command forward and back- 
 ward (without any descent) to drowne 
 at your pleasure : though your trench 
 royall rise in the end twenty, or forty 
 foote from the mouth of the scluce. 
 
 Having prepared your dro wning-course, 
 bee very (a) carefull that all your ground 
 subject to the same (whether Medow, 
 Pasture, or Errable) bee as plaine as any 
 garden-plott. If you leave any forrow, 
 95 reane, 
 
 (a) Looke 
 well to the 
 levelling of 
 the grounds 
 that are to 
 be drowned. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 reane^ or slade, unlevelled, you shall finde 
 that forrow, reane^ or slade^ will receive 
 the most part of your water idely : which 
 otherwise would disperce over the whole; 
 and comber you with the care of new 
 plowing it to make it the more plainer 
 which will hinder you two or three yeares 
 at the least. Having made your weare or 
 scluce^ your Drowning-course or Trench^ 
 your ground levelled or plimmed, then 
 followes your attendance: in flood-times 
 see you suffer not your floud-water by 
 negligence to passe away into the brooke^ 
 river & sea; but by your sluce^ com- 
 maund it to your grounds ; and continue 
 it playing theron so long as it appeares 
 muddy : and finding the substance de- 
 caying (from a fat floud unto cleare 
 water) take upp your sluce or floud-gates^ 
 and suffer the cleare water to have his 
 course unto the maine brook or river again, 
 untill new or fresh flouds appeare ; and 
 still as it riseth muddy ^ imploy it on your 
 grounds during the winter- sea son. When 
 you have spent the winter in muddy -floods ^ 
 and your grounds seasoned by sucking the 
 substance of each fallow, and dung-hill : 
 I be sure, in the beginning of March, to 
 
 96 cleare 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 cleare your ground of cold water ; and 
 keepe it as dry, as a child under the hands 
 of a dainty Nurce ; that the continuance 
 of cold water in the body of your ground 
 in the spring, breed neither Rush, Boult, 
 nor Spierygrasse : but grasse much more 
 profitable, thick, long, and fine ; voyde 
 of all Mosse, Hard-heads, Cow-slips, or any 
 weede what-so-ever. 
 
 Observe respectively your soyle, whether 
 c lay, or sand : for, sandy-grounds will en- 
 dure tenne times more water (being natu - 
 rally hotte) then the cold clay: yet some 
 washers of grounds, (in their owne con- 
 ceits) will imagine it's behoovefull to 
 turne the water at all times on their 
 lands ; or as long as they (in their dis- 
 cretion) thinke good. But so may (with 
 indiscretion) surfeit a clay ground with a 
 drunken-dropsie, as all the Phisitions in 
 the neighbourhood, with all their visitations, 
 will hardly heale in two yeares space. 
 Having sufficiently sped your clay-ground 
 in the drowning-time, (I meane Winter] you 
 may (by negligence, or ignorance) suffer 
 colde water, in the heate of Summer, 
 to coole your ground so much, that the 
 vitall spirits will bee decayed : and that 
 97 moisture 
 
 In the be- 
 ginning of 
 March cleere 
 your grounds 
 from cold 
 cleare- water. 
 
 The best 
 husbands or 
 husband- 
 men. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 moisture having gotten the upper-hand, 
 the Sunne workes, out of that drunken- 
 dropsie ground, the Rush, and all other 
 ill pleasing stuffe, and unprofitable trash. 
 I said in the Spring, you must keepe your 
 grounds drye. If March follow his kinde, 
 and Aprill drye, overflowe it with Cleare- 
 water, that it receive no drought : for, 
 all men know, if the Spring bee drye in 
 May, it's two to one Haye never goes a 
 begging. 
 
 Amongst other things, an olde Drunk- 
 ard once warned mee, I should not suffer 
 the roofe of my mouth to bee drye : yet 
 I never followed his example : I remem- 
 ber the cup was never from his mouth, 
 and hee in the end dyed of a dropsie : so, 
 in claye-ground, in the heate of Summer, 
 drowne it moderately: and, (it beeing 
 once sufficiently seasoned in May) you 
 need not drowne it untill a day, two or 
 three before you mowe. At which time 
 you provide for mowing, if sufficient 
 showers, have not quallified the drought of 
 your ground ; let downe your sluce into 
 your trench-royal I, that there-by you may 
 command so much water to serve your 
 turne as you desire. Which Trench- 
 98 royal I 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 royall running on the plimme or levell, 
 suffer it to discend, where you meane 
 first to mowe, and you shall finde this 
 manner of drowning in the morning of 
 your mowing so profitable and good, that 
 commonly you gaine ten or twelve dayes 
 advantage in growing : for, drowning 
 before mowing a day, two, or three, so 
 supples the ground that it doth most 
 sweetly release the roote of every par- 
 ticuler grasse, although the Sunne bee 
 never so extreame hotter otherwise, if 
 you drowne not before you mowe : you 
 mow one day, you ted an other, you 
 spend one in gathering it into winde- 
 cockes: and with-all, stand upon the un- 
 certainty of the weather, whether you 
 dare adventer to breake your cockes or no. 
 Beeing broken, they must have a drying- 
 time before they can bee put into greater 
 cockes; and then opening them againe 
 into the last and greatest, by tedding^ 
 gathering^ cocking^ recocking^ and treble-cock- 
 ing^ your haye continuing above a weeke 
 on the ground ; the ground being bare, 
 and induring the heate of the Sunne at 
 Mid-summer (in the hottest time) it doth 
 so drye and parch the ground, that if the 
 99 heavens 
 
 How profit- 
 able to 
 drowne a 
 little before 
 mowing. 
 
Signes 
 of well 
 seasoned 
 grounds. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 heavens yeeld not more raine then is 
 necessary for a Common-wealth, you later- 
 mathes will proove unprofitable : where 
 drowning before mowing, will make good 
 a second mowing : and in walking over 
 grounds I will tread as on Velvet, or a 
 Turkey Carpet. 
 
 This Drowning before Mowing, puts 
 wormes to execution, or forceth them to 
 flye from their habitation : for sure I am 
 that that ground will not bee troubled 
 with them untill they raise a new genera- 
 tion ; and that cannot well bee in those 
 grounds with-out great store of heate ? 
 which if it happen, to what end serves 
 your water, but to season the ground 
 againe. The Summer may bee so ex- 
 treamly hotte as the fervencie thereof 
 may force you to double or trebble 
 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 enquire where any such 
 worke is ; and having found the place, 
 to observe the Weare that commands the 
 River, and to note the length of the 
 trench-royal I, and plimme thereof: what 
 stankes, lists, or trenches bee within the 
 
 contents 
 
 100 
 
WATER-WORSES: 
 
 contents of the grounds: and, having found 
 your drowning, and fore-recited trenches, 
 observe what height every stanke or damme 
 is : and if you can see the flouds playing 
 against the damme, your experience in 
 beholding it goeth farre beyond mine. 
 
 I will not forgett the two-foote-trench, 
 topping your Maine-river, with-in foure, 
 or five foote from the Banke, as occasion 
 is offered. The use of which Trench so 
 neere the River, many may wonder at 
 (as many have done) why it should bee 
 drawne so neare the maine-r/Wr it being 
 but two foote broad and one foote deepe. 
 
 I know not how all Rivers and Brookes 
 runne else-where, but in that which I 
 labour, the ground is much higher on the 
 River side, then the maine-flatt-bottome, and, 
 where by sluce I drowne some thirty Acars 
 upon a reasonable levell ; yet upon the 
 River side the height is such, as my sluce 
 will doe no good, if I suffer the water to 
 descend into the flat bottome, not taking 
 the advantage in the beginning of my 
 Topping-trench . 
 
 If part of your ground bee drownd, and 
 some part forgotten, there is a fault some- 
 where; either by ignorance, or negligence, 
 101 or 
 
 A fault to 
 drowne 
 some, and to 
 leave some 
 of the same 
 ground 
 undrowned. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 or both : but to helpe both ; I pray you 
 forgett not to runne this trench, topping 
 and braving your River, that in the Winter , 
 you drowne that with the rest. 
 
 In Summer^ your commaund is more 
 absolute, it beeing shelving or descending 
 to your flatt-bottome-ground ; you may with 
 a boord of two foote broad, and one foote 
 deepe, stay that water, and suffer it to 
 play upon the face of the ground, halfe 
 a quarter of an houre, or little more, 
 untill it meete with your flatt bottome. 
 
 And thus you may handle the braveing- 
 trenche^ by drowning the shelving ground 
 every morning in the heate of Summer^ 
 before and after mowing; so long as you 
 finde the Sunne forceable. 
 
 ^fo\ir Jlatt-bottom-ground, beeing, in the 
 heate of Summer, drownd, suffer the 
 water from your shelving or descending 
 Trenche^ but to kisse the hand or foote of 
 the same : for it beeing claye, and once 
 drowned, before mowing in the extreame 
 heate, it will not endure a second drown- 
 ing with-out danger : unlesse the heate 
 doe so extreamlye increase, that one ex- 
 tremitie must incounter another. 
 
 So, you may fall to double drowning 
 102 (if 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 (if there bee cause) which you shall 
 easilye finde by trying the temper of 
 your ground, thus : 
 
 If a riding rodde (beeing some-what 
 stiffe) will enter into the ground two 
 foote deepe or more, it sheweth it hath 
 had moysture sufficient by the former 
 drowning ; 
 
 If the rodde will not enter in, but 
 by difficultie, or forceable handling, you 
 may judge it to bee over-dry ed : And in 
 this manner make tryall in what state 
 your ground stands, whether too drye, 
 or sufficiently seasoned. 
 
 If to drye, give it watry sustenance to 
 nourish and revive the dying roote: and, 
 having satisfied your ground, suffer your 
 two-foote-trench to have a continuall course 
 of water, Winter and Summer^ for these 
 reasons following: That is to say; In 
 Summer^ when you would drowne, your 
 trench beeing full, you neede not staye the 
 letting downe of a since out of the maine 
 River: for, so shall you staye the time 
 untill your water rise to the highest of 
 your sluce ; and beeing risen, must have a 
 time to come into your two-foote-trench, to 
 execute what you would have done : where 
 103 otherwise, 
 
 You must 
 double 
 drown in the 
 summer if 
 there be 
 cause. 
 
Wants will 
 not worke in 
 water, nor 
 where it 
 soakes. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 otherwise, your trench beeing continually 
 full, you may (as I sayd) appoint your 
 servant with a boord to stay or stoppe the 
 trench; and so from place to place, drowne 
 your shelving or descending ground from 
 the beginning of your trench, to the end 
 thereof both daylye and hourely. 
 
 This Topping or Bracing-trench ; hath 
 this excellencie with-all, that it running 
 continually in the trench, frees your 
 grounds from Moules or Wants : for they 
 will not worke in water. 
 
 If they desire to fall into the midst 
 of your other Meades, they must under- 
 mine the Trench, swimme the Trench, or 
 some way shuffle over. 
 
 If they do ; see their danger : they 
 being once found to worke in the belly 
 of your Mead, they bee subject to death, 
 by your commanding the water from your 
 two-foote-trench to descend on the rere- 
 ward ; the sodaine course whereof comes 
 so fast uppon them, and they wanting 
 foot-man shippe to rescue their lives, are 
 overtaken, to their utter overthrow. 
 
 Suffer not one Moule, or Want to live 
 betweene your tivo-foote-trench and the 
 maine River, which is not far distant. 
 
 104 They 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 They having no great scope to worke, 
 will so undermine from the brink of 
 the maine River to the brimm of your 
 Trench, that in your drowning-time, in 
 the heate of Sommer, you shall finde so 
 many Springs from their working-holes into 
 the River, which if you stop not, with 
 great care, in finding the places of breach, 
 the most part of your water will runne 
 into the River idely. 
 
 To speake of the braving-trench : Be- 
 ginning at the Commanding-wear e, or 
 Scluce, it works this effect : if the violence 
 of the flood should bee such, as uppon a 
 sodaine, your hay at Midsomer should be 
 drowned by over-flowing the banke, 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, beeing throwne on the one side 
 of the same, raiseth the Ground higher 
 then that beyond the River, by two foote 
 at the least : which forceth the Floud 
 altogether, on the other side, and keeps 
 your Hay and After-math ever in safety. 
 
 This Topping or Br ailing-Trench must 
 runne to the lower part of your Groundes, 
 
 H 105 as 
 
 The Offices 
 of the 
 Braving 
 Trench. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 as a hand-maid to the maine River, to 
 attend your pleasure Winter and Sommer. 
 
 I would have you suffer some Water 
 to runne therein continually : Which con- 
 tinuall running will scowre your Trench, 
 and lett all filth from falling therein : and 
 if it should fall you are driven to often 
 cleansing it. 
 
 Beeing sometimes with Water and 
 sometimes without, the Mole or Want 
 instantly possesseth the same, and workes 
 along the Trench an Arrow shoote in 
 length : And it beeing so exceeding 
 moist, makes many Holes, cleane through 
 into the maine River, and at your next 
 turning in of the Water will it issue out 
 at every particular Hole; and your Trench, 
 beeing but foure or five foote from the 
 River, the Ground beeing too much 
 moistned, falleth or calveth downe into 
 the same. 
 
 It's not sufficient when you have con- 
 veyed your Water from your first Sluce 
 into the Body of your ground or bracing- 
 trench, then to give it liberty to runne 
 a-heade: for so will it fall into the lowest 
 part ; but you must govern and lead it, 
 beginning at the highest of the ground, 
 i 06 unto 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 unto rising places, and so suffer it to de- 
 scend against some Stanke, or Damme ; 
 which you must raise as occasion shall 
 bee offered : As this ; if your ground falls 
 so much that the course of the 'water 
 offers to runne into the maine River 
 againe, before you have done with it : 
 Raise a Stanke a foote, two, three, foure, 
 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 Stanke, to Stanke, from the begin- 
 ning to the end thereof. 
 
 So, shall you bee sure by raising of 
 these Stankes or Damms, to stay all the 
 substance of substantiall Waters which is 
 forced by your Weares^ or Sluces, into the 
 body of your ground^ there to remaine : 
 where if there were no Stanke or Dammne, 
 the water (running headlong into the 
 lowest part) carrieth the substance so 
 mainly forward, that little or nothing at 
 all wil be left upon the face of the ground 
 to nourish the same. 
 
 Now to furnish you with the present 
 
 understanding, how to make your Flanks 
 
 or Dams; in what place, and how farre 
 
 107 you 
 
 How to 
 governe and 
 lead the 
 Water from 
 your braving 
 Trench over 
 your 
 grounds. 
 
 Howtomake 
 your Stanks 
 or Damms. 
 
Water- 
 works, be 
 most charge- 
 able to the 
 Ignorant. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 you would have it drowned ; repaire into 
 the lowest part in the beginning of your 
 uppermost ground ; where if you desire 
 to pound it to such a hight ; pitch your 
 Levell there; which Levell (or Instru- 
 ment) I will make knowne more familarly 
 unto you in the Mapp of my Worke, 
 (which you shall find in this booke in- 
 certed) and commaund your servant to 
 hold some staffe with a paper bound about, 
 some two inches broad: and looke through 
 your Levell from the lowest part of your 
 Ground, unto your desired place. In 
 this manner your Levell 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 under- 
 take to teach you, you may range over 
 the Kingdome as principall survayors of 
 Rivers, Brookes, Fountaines, and Springs, 
 and accuse the best wits of the greatest 
 negligence, in matter of the greatest 
 Common-wealth . 
 
 It hath beene sayd by some, Water- 
 worses be chargeable and dangerous. 
 They bee so ; for if you adventure to 
 commaund maine Rivers, as Thames^ 
 Severne, and the like : you may judge 
 108 with 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 with what difficulty it will bee done. 
 In their beginnings Breadth and Depth 
 is increased by a number of small Brookes, 
 the Commaund therof goeth beyond the 
 estates of the most men : yet there is no 
 River in the Realme (be it Thames, or 
 Severn) where there is any descent, but 
 that I wil steale, by Counter-trench (when 
 the muddy floud is level with the bank) so 
 much water as I desire. 
 
 If you aske mee how broad, and deepe 
 the Trench must be : I would know what 
 quantity of ground you have to drowne : 
 if much, your Trench must be the wider 
 and deeper. I need not putt you in 
 minde to raise a sluce on the mouth of 
 your trench ; if you do it not, common 
 inconvenience will compell you. 
 
 You will never drowne so oft as the 
 floud riseth to the height of the banke, 
 because of your Hay & after-math in 
 Sommer : Therfore as I sayd, you will be 
 compelled for your safety-sake to Sluce 
 your trench. 
 
 As your Trench -royall feedes your 
 
 shelving- groundes and falls into the flat- 
 
 bottome, and rising to the height of your 
 
 first, second and third stanke, with the 
 
 109 rest ; 
 
 Your Trench 
 must be 
 made great 
 or small 
 according to 
 the quantity 
 of ground 
 you are to 
 drown. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 Six-score 
 Acres may 
 be drownd 
 in three 
 houres. 
 
 rest ; take heed the water exceed not the 
 height of any of your stanks or damms a 
 hayrs-breadth : for the force of the water 
 and violence of the winde in a furious 
 tempest, will over-throw it, as if the 
 Canon plaid against it. 
 
 I have forborne to speake of my Stank- 
 Royall, which is of purpose prepared to 
 intertainethe Trench-royal I: which Trench- 
 royal!^ in the continuance of his running, 
 undertakes the safe conduct of three 
 Brookes and some Springes withall to the 
 Rendez-vous or place of generall Consulta- 
 tion, where their imployment shall be; 
 whether against the Stanke-royall, the 
 Maine-stankes, the Counter-Trench, or the 
 rest. But indeed the Stanke-royall inter- 
 taines all commers, the Trench-royall and 
 her Hand-maid Brookes : and forceth them 
 seaven foote in height. 
 
 The advantage wherof, drowneth sixe- 
 score Acres in three houres, and twenty 
 Acres in the returne backe. 
 
 In a Counter-trench forty Acres ; in a 
 Tr aver sin-Trench twenty more ; in Sommer 
 and Winter-Trenches, twenty; in double 
 and treble Trenches (and the rest) twenty 
 more. 
 
 no Take 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 Take upp the Sluce which commaunds 
 the Stanke-royall, and in one houre, my 
 Ever-lasting Trench conveyes the Trench- 
 royll and all the hand-maid Brookes, into 
 the maine River: and (for ought I have 
 heard) after I gave it passe, it had peace- 
 able progres into Severne without examina- 
 tion. 
 
 I will acquaint you with a manner of 
 drowning which you may very well like 
 off. 
 
 If you will handle two or three hun- 
 dred Acres of Ground you shall dayly 
 drowne Winter and Sommer for ever, 
 some part shelving or descending and the 
 rest Flat-bottome, devides by Defending- 
 Trenches : For, cleare Water will supple 
 your Shelving-Ground if it continue there- 
 on sixe or seaven dayes ; But, ther's a 
 discretion to bee used ; Therefore I ad- 
 vise, as you drowne the Shelving-Ground 
 with cold and cleare Water in the cold 
 of Winter, suffer none to fall into the 
 Flat-bottome ; but, your Muddy-flo uds : For 
 you well know, that the water passing 
 downeward, doth indure most violent 
 labour in running : and beeing sodainly 
 taken away, it doth sodainly drye, and 
 1 1 1 none 
 
The Rush 
 will be raised 
 by over- 
 much mois- 
 ture. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 none at all remaines to infect the 
 ground. 
 
 If it steale into the Flatt-bottome^ the 
 coldnesse of the chare-water with the 
 coldnesse of the ground^ in the cold of 
 Winter^ wanting the heat of the Sunne 
 to dry it up (it being lodged in so plaine 
 and pleasing a place) will venture life to 
 raise the rush. 
 
 Now, seeing I have spoken of the ex- 
 cellency of drowning^ I will speak som- 
 what of mine ambition therein. 
 
 / I x Her was never General of an Army- 
 royall^ nor Admirall of an Armado, 
 more ambitious, then I have beene in 
 braving my Trench-Royall : And wearied 
 with over-walking my selfe therein, I 
 repayred to my stank-royall ; and I bee- 
 ing raised seaven foote in height, I was 
 so possest with the pride of my ivalke, 
 that I thought my selfe fitter to bee 
 Governour of a Towne of Warre, then 
 Commaunder of a hungry Water-w&rke. 
 
 But remembring (within the compasse 
 
 of my age) a Create Person stood to bee 
 
 Generall of an Armie, that never saw 
 
 112 the 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 the face of the Warre nor never fought 
 Combat with an Enemy ; A Councell of 
 Warr beeing called, it was answered, by 
 a Grand-Captaine, hee had neither the 
 Words, nor Art of War : Therefore 
 dangerous for the State to adventure the 
 Kingdome to try his experience : The 
 rest more under-valued him, Saying hee 
 were fitter to bee Chauncellor to a Lord- 
 Bishoppe then Generall of an Armie- 
 Royall. 
 
 These their censures, fortified mee in 
 mine old labours : So by little and little, 
 I forgatt the Ambitious Resolutions of 
 the Honourable Warrs, and the Pleasures 
 of a Parke (withall) wherin I yearely 
 killed at least twenty Buckes and Sores. 
 
 The love of my Water-workes, stole 
 my desire from thence, that in the whole 
 number of twenty yeares, I cannot say I 
 was at the killing of one Bucke, although 
 my Parke-pale came within twenty foote 
 of my trench-Roy all, having some yeares 
 twenty Buckes, killed with a kennell of 
 Hounds, and loving the sport as much as 
 he that lov'd it most. 
 
 The Maister of a Water-worke may 
 
 well bee compared to the general! of an 
 
 113 Armie, 
 
 Sharp cen- 
 sures made 
 me fal 
 bloimtly to 
 my workes. 
 
A maister of 
 a water-work 
 compared to 
 the general! 
 of an army. 
 
 The several! 
 offices of the 
 sluces. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 Armie, which having beleagred a Towne, 
 it behooveth him for their safetie to 
 fortifie and block all passages and In-rodes, 
 that the Enemies sodaine Alarum annoy 
 them not : So, must the Maister of a 
 Water-worke attend every shutt, and shower 
 that threatens excesse (whether in mid- 
 day^ or mid-night) commanding his Centi- 
 nell-Servant to search the sluces, whether 
 they bee up or downe. 
 
 If it happen before mowing, or in your 
 after-math-time, take up the Sluce, and give 
 it passage into the maine River: for, the 
 sodaine over-plus, your Trench-royal I, will 
 convoy into your everlasting-trench; un- 
 lesse, your desire be to over-flow some 
 parcel! of pasture or meade thats over- 
 eaten. 
 
 I protest it hath beene more grievous 
 to mee in Summer-season, to see a muddy- 
 floud run idle with-out command, then to 
 see a lustie wanderer quarter the country, 
 with-out being put to worke. Touching 
 the offices of my number of sluces ; the 
 first commands the main-river in the be- 
 ginning of my Trench-royal I. The second, 
 commands the maine River into my brav- 
 ing-trench some halfe mile lower. The 
 114 third, 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 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 sluces ; the maine 
 Silles being forty foote long. The reason 
 why I planted so many within the length 
 of two miles, was this : the river being 
 thirty foote broad, and ten-foote deepe, 
 my Trench-royall beeing but ten-foote 
 broad, and foure-foote deepe, it received 
 no more water then the breadth and 
 depth would give leave. 
 
 Not-with-standing the quantity of wafer 
 my Trench-royall received, I did not find 
 the want of any in the maine-river ; which 
 caused me to raise those two other sluces : 
 grieving so commodious an Element, so 
 rich and substantiall, should fall into the 
 Bowels of the sea, with-out profit. I call 
 that a Trench-royall^ where part of the 
 maine-river is commanded by since into it. 
 I call that a counter-trench^ where part of 
 the river is stolne in by the rising of the 
 flood to the levell of the banke with-out 
 sluce. My topping or braving-trench is that 
 which hand-maides the maine-river (side by 
 side) unto the end of the worke. The 
 Winter and Summer-trenches^ bee those that 
 1 1 5 water 
 
 What 
 a trench 
 royall is. 
 
 What 
 a counter 
 trench is. 
 
 _ 
 
 a topping 
 and braving 
 trench is. 
 
What 
 the winter 
 and summer 
 trench is. 
 
 What double 
 and treble 
 trenches 
 require. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 water the grounds in the Summer-time. 
 Having drownd with clear e 'water a par- 
 cell of ground, it being satisfied and for- 
 saken, I furnish the rest of my Trenches 
 with that water, untill a Meade of thirty 
 or fortye Acres bee sufficiently seasoned. 
 You must know, you cannot drowne so 
 many Acres, not having the advantage of 
 these many Trenches and Lists, unlesse your 
 ground bee ^jlatt-bottom; having a stoute 
 and strong water with-all. My double and 
 treble-trenches, require a parcell of plaine 
 ground containing fortye Acres or more. 
 At your turning-water in, it will hardlye 
 dispeirce over the whole ; the weakenesse 
 thereof is such in Summer-season if it bee 
 not holpe and assisted with Summer-lysts, 
 that runne the length of the land you 
 labour in. You may raise the Liste in this 
 manner ; In the middest of the Meade, 
 in place of best advantage, force a couple 
 of Furrowes of each side with your Plowe, 
 encountring each other ; cleanse those 
 Furrowes, and place the earth above : by 
 this meanes your List falls out to be a 
 foote-path, when both sides of your ground 
 are drownde, Summer and Winter. 
 
 This manner of speaking may seeme 
 116 strange 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 strange unto you ; But, if you did see the 
 manner of the worke, you would say it 
 could not bee otherwise exprest. 
 
 The traversing-trench, is, that which 
 receives the water from the counter-trench; 
 and the Stanke-royall (running on a whorle, 
 his since being taken up) is received by a 
 Bastard-s/uce, which doth disperse on both 
 sides the Trenche; and that's the cause I 
 call it a Traversing-trench. 
 
 My ever lasting- trench endures more 
 trouble then all the rest : the Trench- 
 royal! running at a floud-time (as a shipp 
 under-saile, beeing Admirall of the rest) 
 and having determined of all the duties 
 of the severall Stankes, Trenches, and hand- 
 maide brookes, they humble them-selves to 
 the Stanke-royall ; and prayes no longer 
 continuance there, then they proove pro- 
 fitable to that place: which is so long as 
 they carry filth in their fore-heads.. (I meane 
 a muddy floud) and declining to a cleere 
 water, the everlasting-trenche receives it to 
 his common course, with as much joye to 
 the Maister as may bee. 
 
 I cannot well give significant names 
 to all those Trenches, which I call trouble- 
 some ; therefore I pray I may bee for- 
 117 borne 
 
 What the 
 traversing- 
 trench is. 
 
 What the 
 everlasting- 
 trench doth. 
 
Wherefore 
 the Weares 
 or sluces are 
 planted. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 borne to speake of them at this time. I 
 had almost forgotten to make a true re- 
 port of the everlasting-trench : it's but a 
 bastard brooke, falling from my Parke into 
 the mouth of my trench-royall, and his 
 course stopt by a Weare or sluce, not in- 
 feriour to any in the maine-river. This 
 bastard-brooke is commanded by that since 
 to attend the trench-royall to the rendez- 
 vous^ or place of imployment, drowning 
 altogether, which descending against the 
 stanke-royall, is forced into his ever-lasting- 
 course againe. 
 
 Against another Weare or sluce (com- 
 parable to any of the rest what-so-ever) 
 you shall understand why these two maine 
 Weares or sluces bee planted upon so 
 beggerly a brooke : the trench-royall cross- 
 ing the brooke so farre as the ground ex- 
 tends, must either have passe in the end 
 (which cannot bee with-out leave of the 
 inhabitant belowe) or forc'd backe againe 
 over the first Weare, three mile above ; 
 which may bee : 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 bredth and depth 
 118 is 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 is inlarged : for, that the floud being 
 drawne into the Trench-royal I, must fall 
 into this ever lasting -trench : and being 
 inlarged, the trench-royall intertaines 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 counter-trench hath the like command 
 else-where. And as the everlasting-trench 
 is sluced to give passe to the trench-royal 
 to the lowest part, so I place one other 
 Bastard sluce more; which receives the 
 counter-trench ; and many times, both 
 royall and counter-trenches meete against 
 that sluce ; which to his power, doth 
 yeeld as much profit as any in all my 
 workes. 
 
 If your grounds, at any time, be so hard 
 frozen, as the hardnesse thereof is like to 
 continue, such a snow may happen upon 
 your frozen grounds, as may remaine 
 thereon so long as the extremity of wether 
 indures : or so long as you and your cattell 
 will be weary off, which to prevent, let 
 downe your sluces, drowne the frozen 
 grounds when the snow begins to fall : so 
 119 shall 
 
 What is to 
 be done in 
 hard Frosts, 
 and great 
 snowes. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 shall you release the grasse being bound, 
 and spend the snowe, which threatens your 
 prejudice, and free your grounds, that all 
 kinde of cattle, (Sheepe especially) may 
 have sufficient sustenance therein. 
 
 My trench royall^ from the beginning to 
 the end, is three miles long ; it runnes so 
 precisely on the plimme or levell that 
 every fifth yeare I am driven to cleanse 
 the channel I : such store of muddy-sub- 
 stance is forc'd by my first sluce therein. 
 As the River Nilus drownes Mgipt from 
 the Abissine Mountaines, enriching the 
 countrey^ to the wonder of the world : so 
 doth the muddy-flouds from the upper 
 part of the Golden Valley^ (as from a 
 Golden Mountaine or Fountaine] improove 
 my estate beyond beleefe. It's not un- 
 knowne to my neighbourhood my demeasnes 
 at New-court was set and forsaken at forty 
 pound by year, besides my Parke, I set 
 it so my selfe, & let any man, that hath 
 an upright judgment and equall eyes in 
 his head, view and review it, hee will 
 say it will yeeld within three yeares, three 
 hundfeth pounds yearely, besides my 
 Parke. Many have said to me, no other 
 mans grounds lie so convenient to drowne 
 120 as 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 as mine at New-court. I answred them, 
 yes : for, three other livings of mine, 
 affoord the like advantage for drowning. 
 The Vale is but seaven mile in length, 
 and not a mile over any where. Yet 
 there be diverse Gentlemen therein, 
 whose livings might bee bettered, some 
 a hundred, some two hundred pounds 
 yearly : amongst the rest, there's one 
 that dwells on my right hand : the River 
 devides our demeasnes, who might stock 
 his grounds with stankes^ trenches^ lists^ 
 bastard-sluces^ and such inventions as the 
 ground requires; being all flat-bottom : and 
 I truly take it, he may drowne foure 
 hundred Acres with lesse charge tenn 
 times then mine : not having one Maine- 
 Weare or Sluce to rayse : For, those I 
 have planted, serves for both grounds : 
 but whether it be his ignorance in not 
 understanding, or negligence in forbear- 
 ing, I know not ; but, I am sure, it's 
 out of his way an hundred pounds a 
 yeare. 
 
 There is another Gentleman, who 
 dwells on my left hand, makes shew of 
 understanding it ; yet are his grounds 
 over-howed with the like neglect : but 
 
 i 121 seeming 
 
 The Golden 
 Valley is but 
 seaven miles 
 in length, 
 and one mile 
 broad. 
 
A liberall 
 offer refused, 
 which if 
 taken, had 
 benefited the 
 offerer more 
 then the 
 offered. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 seeming to excuse it by some unexpected 
 troubles (which indeed hee indured) & 
 that his weighty occasions would not 
 give him leave to under-take, nor suffer 
 his servants to attend it, hee having in 
 the eye of his house, a hundred Acres 
 of errable land, worth not above three 
 shillings an Acre, which amounts but to 
 fifteene pound a yeare. Yet I made him 
 this offer, if he would bee pleased to make 
 it plaine, as plaine might bee, for foure 
 yeares, I would give him fifteene pound 
 a yeare, beeing the true valew of his 
 land : and after the end of the foure 
 yeares, I would take it for one and twenty, 
 yeelding him a hundred pounds a yeare, 
 the charge wholy mine, in raising sluces, 
 stankes, trenches, and what else so-ever : 
 so, during the foure yeares, hee should 
 receive fifteene pound a yeare ; and ever 
 after, a hundred pound yearely to him 
 and his heires for ever. 
 
 I did not require any thing untill the 
 foure yeares were expired, and then my 
 demaund was but three hundred pound. 
 
 The yeare following, one hundred came 
 in unto him againe, the second, an other 
 hundred, & the third he received another; 
 
 122 
 
 SO 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 so in 3. yeares, he received his three hun- 
 dred pound. 
 
 He offered me nothing, and hee hath 
 done nothing ; so this is but an accusa- 
 tion for negligence, setting it forth in as 
 friendly manner as I may. O ! if the 
 Lord of a Manner did but know what an 
 offence it is to plant an under-shot-mil 
 upon a River, where the scituation of the 
 soile affords drownings : He were better 
 to put his wits aworke to make Windmils 
 in plain ground^ if hee would consider 
 what hee looseth by it. 
 
 For example ; my right-hand-neigh- 
 bour having such a Mill as I speake off, 
 worth some tenne pound by yeare, and 
 four hundred Acres of excellent ground 
 to handle: hee forbeares his Winter and 
 Sommer drowning, to give satisfaction to 
 this unsatisfiable glutton the Under-shot- 
 mil^ where, in the trunesse of husbandry, 
 hee should dayly drowne three hundred 
 Acres for ever. 
 
 As the Sun shines ever once a day in 
 Alexandria^ by reason whereof the Land 
 yeelds sweete increase ; so might he say 
 he dwelt daily in the Land of Canaan^ 
 which ever flowes with Milke and Hony. 
 123 And 
 
The length 
 of the Trench 
 Royall. 
 
 The breadth 
 and depth of 
 the Trench 
 royall. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 And as the greatnesse of the Turke 
 obscures the Persian-glory, or as the Hun- 
 garian forces are the only Obstacle, hinder- 
 ing the Turkes descending to the conquest 
 of the Christian Kingdomes ; so should his 
 stankes or Damms incounter the downe- 
 fall of the Muddy-Jtouds from the Moun- 
 taines of great Cadwalleder. 
 
 Thus much to incourage my neighbour 
 for the undertaking of Water-workes. 
 
 My Trench-royall beeing three miles 
 long, and running plimm or level forward 
 and backward ; I plant divers Bastard- 
 sluces crosse the Trench-royal I, for Winter 
 and Sommer drowning. 
 
 If any man will bee so phantasticall as 
 to carry his wife levell by water to her 
 Dairy, or build Barnes and Cattell-houses 
 over the same for ease of his Oxen, I refer 
 my selfe to his consideration whether it 
 be not possible ; the Trench-royall beeing 
 tenne foote broad, and foure foote deepe. 
 Likewise if by Boate you will carry Com- 
 post, Corne, Hey, Wood, Stone, Milke, or any 
 other. Provision, its referred to your like 
 consideration. I made two litle Ones for 
 the carriage of earth, which I found to 
 doe mee such service, as I know two 
 1 24 Teames 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 Teames in a day could not countervaile 
 any of them. 
 
 Their burden beeing but two load a 
 peece three servants commaunded them 
 both, in ; their charging and discharg- 
 ing : their length being twenty foot ; the 
 breadth but three : Had I a Boate with 
 a Keele five or six & thirty foot long, and 
 nine foot broad, I would carry seaven or 
 eight load of Compost at a time ; Corne 
 in Sheaves would conveniently bee carried; 
 but how many load of Hay, at a time, 
 I can but gesse : You must at al times 
 examine how your Trench royall is stored 
 with muddy-substance ; it beeing fur- 
 nished by the main River, every flood, 
 every second, or third yeare it riseth in 
 the bottom 2. foot at the least; especially 
 for a mile or two comming in at the mouth 
 of the Trench, it doth fil the fore-part 
 of the same : & unles you cleanse those 
 parts you cannot receive so much water 
 by 10. foot broad, and 2. foot deepe : the 
 want whereof you shall find in your lower 
 grounds. As the finest husband-men be 
 most provident and studious to make their 
 profit answer their labor ; so let not the 
 charge of clensing the Trench-royall be 
 125 greevous 
 
 The good 
 service of 
 a Boat. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 greevous unto you : in respect the recom- 
 pence shall (much more then the greatest 
 usury) outgo your laying out. 
 
 In the yeare 1601. I was forced to 
 cleanse my trench-royall^ being almost 
 fiTd to the levill of the Banke, and for 
 the excellency of the substance therein 
 conteyned, all the dung-hils in the coun- 
 trey can witnesse it was their very quint- 
 essence : the quantity thereof may be 
 estimated by the breadth and depth ; and 
 I know five hundred honest Yeomen, 
 Husbandmen, and Laborers would say, 
 the Substance would over-countervaile 
 the charge beeing imployed for Wheat, 
 Onyons, Cabiges, Carets, or any other 
 Rootes agreeing with the nature of that 
 Residence of the Trenches. 
 
 Which Muddy substance beeing put on 
 the one side of your Trench-royal I, you 
 may by Boat, carry to your wheat-land, 
 to your Garden^ or to better any other 
 barren ground that y eeldes no profit : For, 
 I will drowne Winter and Sommer at my 
 pleasure, a thousand Acres of Medow. 
 
 I will sustaine no inconvenience at any 
 time, unlesse the negligence of my ser- 
 vants suffer the Sluces to be upp when 
 126 they 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 they should be downe ; or some envious, 
 lewd, or malitious person, in the night- 
 time loose them downe of purpose to 
 harme me. 
 
 No Subject in the Kingdome can 
 certainly say hee hath the like Groundes, 
 unlesse he daily drowne as I doe. And 
 for these thousand Acres I shall bee able 
 to Mowe them twice a yeare. 
 
 If I please : The rush^ the Mosse, the 
 boult^ the hard head^ and many other un- 
 profitable wedes craves mercy at my 
 handes for their life in respect of their 
 former offences ; with protestation never 
 to trouble the ground againe. 
 
 I doe not see why the cowslip should 
 have more favour then the rest, unlesse 
 it bee to countenance the May-pole. 
 
 I have not done all I can doe, I can 
 Graze my mowing Meades, untill the 
 first of Male. I would see who can doe 
 the like, without the hazard of his Hay 
 that Sommer, unlesse hee follow my ex- 
 ample. It may bee sayd by some among 
 them-selves that you (neighbour) and I, 
 may doe the like : But then, that You, 
 and I must live by the Rivers of Leadon, 
 Dowbanke, Frommey, or in the Land of 
 127 Lombardy^ 
 
In Lum- 
 bardy grasse 
 growes ap- 
 parantly 
 twice a day 
 being cut 
 twice a day. 
 
 () Yronice. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 Lombardy, where grasse groweth appar- 
 antly twice a day. 
 
 Those young Gentlemen that have 
 scarce living ynough to maintaine them- 
 selves in the misery of this Age ; should 
 (if they did well) learne to levell and 
 quarter a ground : then sell that little 
 they have ; and afterwards examine the 
 Records in the custody of the Clarke of 
 the Statutes ; there shall they finde that 
 Clarke to have more Clyents (in my con- 
 science) then any Councellor in the 
 Kingdome. 
 
 And for mine owne part (without 
 vaine-glory bee it said) I am as well 
 knowne in that Office as a better man. 
 
 Thus, by taking paines, following the 
 Ordinaries, and being acquainted with the 
 Under- Sheriffs, & Atourneies of every 
 County ; those Gentlemen for a quart of 
 Canauary-Wine, wil give you a Kallender 
 of all (a) the Land-lords, that are before- 
 hand with the World : In which if they 
 deale not injuriously with you, you shal 
 find my name. This done, examine the 
 Rivers', Brookes, Fount aines and Springs in 
 every County, whether they bee imployed 
 or no. If they run idle, make your match 
 128 in 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 in the countrey you best like off; & I 
 assure you, you shall find more Land to 
 be sold utterly neglected (while the water 
 runnes at wast) then a thousand such 
 young Gentlemen I speake off, will buy. 
 
 I do advise all men that wil be Under- 
 takers in this Husbandry, to bee perfect in 
 the true Survey of the number of Acres 
 that may be drowned ; and that they make 
 choyce (as neare as they can) of errable 
 land : which commonly exceedes not two 
 or three shillinges an Acre yearly. Old 
 Pasture covered with mosse, that nature 
 hath forsaken, and Medow-ground (if there 
 bee any) that takes more pride in the com- 
 pany of the Cowslipp, then the gilt-cupp 
 which carrieth the garland from the rest. 
 
 And for your comfort, (bee this spoken) 
 if in the laying out of five hundred pound, 
 at the end of foure yeares, you make it 
 not two or three thousand pound, your 
 choyce is bad, and lucke worse. During 
 those forty yeares you cannot receive lesse 
 then the rate you buy it att ; which is 
 twenty yeares 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. 
 129 If 
 
 Nota. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 If you finde difficulty in my discourse; 
 any Easter or Michell-masse Tearme you 
 shall finde me in the house of a true 
 Brittaine (maister Wotton a Scrivener) in 
 Fleet-street^ over against Saint Dunstans 
 Church. And for a Supper, at John 
 Gents you shall have your Belly-full of 
 Water-workes. For my Drownings, my 
 name hath beene so scandalliz'd in open 
 Ordinary, by a Westerne Gentleman, who, 
 since the Kings Majesties comming, is 
 become a Knight of account, but rash 
 censure deserves little reckoning in mine 
 account : Many men spake diversly of 
 my labours for a long time, because the 
 Honourable Courts (as they thought) 
 had brought mee to Beggers-bay : and 
 failing in the true execution of my wor&es, 
 in not placing a Planke of foure inches 
 thicke, and twenty inches broad, under 
 the maine Syll, to prevent the water from 
 undermining the same, and withall fay- 
 ling to lay my Groundes (by the indiscre- 
 tion of my Servants) levell or plaine, and 
 not understanding of what strength my 
 Stanks should be to with-stand the weight 
 of the Water that playes against them, 
 & what alowance to give each Stanke in 
 130 his 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 his Foundation ; and forbearing the run- 
 ning of my Trench-Royal to the end of 
 his Course for many yeares, and not think- 
 ing Stankes to bee necessary for the com- 
 maunding of Grounds disoebeying my 
 desire, and withall (lately) running Coun- 
 ter-Trenches, which next the Trench-royal I, 
 have place above any ; which were not 
 drempt off before ; many sluces, and for 
 many yeares, were forborne in places most 
 convenient, and much profit lost thereby: 
 my speculation having continuance in 
 practise above twenty yeares. 
 
 But were it now to beginne againe, I 
 would performe it in one : and raise it 
 to the greatest profit in foure : so hard a 
 thing is it for any mortall man to perfitt 
 any profitable invention, without paines, 
 cost, and continuance of time. 
 
 They say now, if Maister Vaughan had 
 these & these grounds he would doe This 
 and This. This opinion have I gotten 
 in the countrey where I dwell. 
 
 There is ^Shropshire Gentleman (Maister 
 Hoord} a famous man, his labours (I know) 
 have taken tryall at Envies Barre, by igno- 
 rant Jurors and unjust Judges for a worke 
 hee performed. It was chargeable unto 
 131 him; 
 
 Twenty 
 yeares prac- 
 tise in these 
 Workes. 
 
Muddy 
 flouds often 
 happen in 
 Summer- 
 time. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 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 then countervaile the 
 charge. But had I beene acquainted with 
 him, in his first beginning, he should not 
 have spent his time to so small profit : not 
 that he mistooke in the handling therof ; 
 but knowing my owne errors, and by 
 costly experience able to instruct him; 
 I found no want of Arte in him, but the 
 want of Winter and Summer-water to serve 
 his turne. 
 
 I would have perswaded him to have 
 forborn that barren under-taking, & to have 
 gotten five or sixe thousand pound with 
 ten times lesse labour, in the choice of 
 a thousand places elsewhere, where hee 
 might have drowned dayly for ever. 
 
 Muddy -flouds doe often happen in 
 Summer-time. If the running of them 
 idle bee so unto other men as it is unto 
 mee, let them doe as I doe; ever have 
 one pasture bare eaten : and as you keepe 
 one speciall Chamber in your house to 
 entertaine a stranger^ so, you alwayes have 
 one Pasture for that muddy-Jloud, which 
 will pay you after twice twenty in the 
 132 hundred. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 hundred. It's confessed by all in the 
 Golden-Vale^ that that little land which 
 wee have would be bettred fifteene hun- 
 dred pounds a yeare. If the like were 
 done through-out England, it would profit 
 the kingdome in a yeare two Millions : 
 which would maintaine an army-royall^ to 
 the honour of Great Erittaine^ and be most 
 comfortable to all honourable Souldiers^ 
 Crest-falne for want of warre and military 
 imployment. 
 
 It pleased maister Hoord to view the 
 place where my Water-workes were per- 
 formed, accompanied with three juditious 
 and understanding Gentlemen, namely, 
 Maister Erainton^ Maister Pearle^ and 
 Maister Wolridge; what their beleefe was, 
 I referre it to those who have a desire to 
 be informed. 
 
 Any Gentleman or other having per- 
 formed a worke, and brought it to his 
 absolute perfection ; should not sit downe 
 by it : but having finished that Worke^ 
 and being Maister but of one Living^ I 
 would (as I formerly said) advise him to 
 sell it : and at the end of foure yeares 
 make good account by purchase, to gaine 
 sixe, if not ten for one. I have a Meade 
 133 called 
 
 Note the 
 profit of 
 drownings. 
 
 Note this 
 advice. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 called nine day es- math : an excellent 
 Meade, and approved for such of all my 
 neighbours. I sold the herbage thereof 
 diverse yeares for five pound per Annum: 
 but within few yeares, after the flouds 
 plaid upon it, I solde the Hey for ten 
 pound yearely : and the latter or after- 
 math was richly worth five. I will graze 
 this Meade untill May : yet notwith- 
 standing the Hey will yeeld me ten 
 pound, and the after-math five. Now 
 having (I hope) profited the intelligent 
 Reader, thus far : al the favour I desire 
 at his hands, in lue therof, is this, That 
 I may have leave to give new names 
 unto mine old grounds^ without beeing 
 laught at in ordinaries by scarce ordinary 
 understanders. Some they must have ; 
 for, those they had by drowning are 
 covered with new earth. And with-all, 
 they bee inlarged above two hundred 
 Acres. I cannot call that the nine-daies- 
 math^ which now is above 30. (unlesse 
 I should forget my counting-craft) nor 
 that a Moore which is firme and pleasing 
 ground ; nor that the rushy-leasow, which 
 is reduc'd now unto a more fruitfull and 
 profitable plot, if the rush appeare there 
 134 againe, 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 againe, he forfeits the Fee-simple of his 
 life : so having my grounds devided into 
 12. parts, their names (under favour) be 
 altered and now called in this manner : 
 the Pinck, the Gille-JJower, the Carnation, 
 the Rosemary, the Mary-gold, the gilt-cup, 
 the Honysuckle, the Daysy, the Garland, 
 the Eglentine, the Cowslip & the Primrose. 
 Some do say their Kine doe yeeld more 
 milke having often change, then those 
 that graze in only one pasture. I say 
 nothing to it: but, beleeve those dairy 
 women that affirme 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 
 bee coy to handle a Cow-shore in his 
 kinde: then thus; When the Kine bee 
 put over to some other ground, you know 
 their staine or dung by heate of the sunne 
 will grow hard : and within short time, 
 will force a proud and insolent grasse; 
 such as the Kine in their returne will not 
 touch. 
 
 When you turne out your Kine into 
 
 fresh feeding ; bee sure to disperce and 
 
 sever those Cow-shares, that the place 
 
 be not stained with any polution. They 
 
 135 being 
 
 The new 
 names of the 
 Meades and 
 Pastures. 
 
Eye-pleasers 
 are often 
 Hers. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 being dispersed ; drowne your ground 
 with cleare water : or mudd (if a floud 
 happen) the ground being bare, two 
 Blessings incounter each other, and puri- 
 fie the place where the Cow-shores were 
 falne : so, at the next turning in of your 
 Kine, some fortnight after, they shall 
 finde nothing to distemper or offend the 
 taste : the water doth cleanse and cleare 
 all annoyance to the beast, and breeds 
 perfect life in every growing grasse. 
 This last Summer 1604. in Trinity terme, 
 being above at London, I came not downe 
 till after Mid-summer: having grazed my 
 mowing Meades too too long after May. 
 Upon my returne, I enquired in what 
 state my grounds stood, my servants an- 
 swered they were sufEcientlye seasoned ; 
 but (in deed) they did (as many servants 
 doe) report the best of the worst, to ex- 
 cuse their negligence : the Meades were 
 not so sufficiently drownd, as the neces- 
 sitie thereof required : They being ne- 
 glected before mowing, not trying their 
 temper with a riding-rod^ (my beliefe was 
 so great in those greater Liers) but after 
 mowing, the truth appeared, the quantity 
 of Meade (in one place) being three score 
 136 and 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 and ten Acres^ by reason of the mowing, 
 making, and cariage, before the ground 
 were free to drowne, the extremitie of 
 the heate was so great, that the grasse 
 turned yellow ; being tainted, as a sheepe 
 on a drye rotte : or, as a man inlye sick, 
 and newly recovered faules into a relaps 
 againe. 
 
 In this manner my grounds had gotten 
 the greem-skknesse or a burning-fearer 
 (I know not well whether) If in the ex- 
 treame heate you would drowne with 
 Judgement, you should not drowne in 
 the heate of the day : but in the night 
 from sunne to sunne. But being forc'd, I 
 suffered the water to worke night and 
 day ; the season of the yeare falling out 
 to bee dry : the sunne extreamly hotte ; 
 the ground hott, dry, and hard : so what 
 betweene the heate of the sunne, and 
 heate of the ground, the water became 
 luke-warme, and faild to effect that good 
 which by Nature other-wise it would 
 have done. 
 
 And if I be not deceived, the infection 
 of the earthy had poysoned the 'water: or 
 made it so sick, as it was not able to 
 endure the ground. As a scudding shewer 
 
 K 137 of 
 
The quality 
 of ground 
 distempered 
 with heate. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 of raine, doth raise upon a dung-hill-poole 
 great bubbles (like an Oxe-eye) by falling 
 of the drops thereon ; or, as water in a 
 pott, by the heate of the fire, doth labour, 
 and shew distemper : so, did that water- 
 worke, play, and bubble on the face of 
 the ground^ shewing (for a quarter of an 
 houre) nothing but discontent. 
 
 The ground being qualified, the grasse 
 did not instantly grow (as at other times, 
 being orderly fedd) the coullour being 
 changed, the grasse standing at the point 
 of death, being in that case as a sicke 
 pacient having taken a purgation, who 
 must have a time of recovery : so did the 
 grasse^ for diverse dayes, shew nothing 
 but sorrow, heavinesse and all discomfort. 
 It beeing once made yellow by the heate 
 of the Sunne, and recovered of the Yellow- 
 Jaundies, although the comfort of the 
 water put life into it; yet, during the 
 season, it had never his perfect complec- 
 tion againe: the/w/z/ever carrying a shew 
 of poysoning; which error (with Gods 
 helpe) I will never committ hereafter. 
 
 Let all men drowne before they Mowe, 
 
 and after Mowing, your grasse will not 
 
 bee yellow, but as greene as a Leeke. 
 
 138 You 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 You must alwayes keepe your grounds in 
 a true temper ; they must never be too 
 wet in the Winter, but when you drowne; 
 nor too drye in the Summer, having 
 water enough. I had almost forgotten 
 this ; before you raise your stankes, bee 
 sure to cleare your grounds from Moles 
 or Wantes, they bee dangerous creatures 
 (like a Usurer that's hardly gotten out of 
 a mans land, wherein hee hath gotten 
 footing,) if they have possession in a 
 stanke. 
 
 You know when all other grounds be 
 drownd some part of the stanke will bee 
 free ; they will not faile to rend and 
 teare your stanke like Rabbets in a sandy 
 soile. I protest two or three Wants in 
 my stanke-royall, was out of my waye 
 twenty pound a yeare, for many yeares. 
 I put a fumbling fellowe to attend their 
 walkes, who (not beeing cunning enough 
 to destroy them) utterly plagued me ; 
 until I hapned upon a good worke-man, 
 who hath cleared my stankes & my brav- 
 ing -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 drowne in Winter- 
 
 139 
 
 time ; 
 
 Moles are 
 mischievous 
 vermin in or 
 about such 
 water-works. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 time ; which often drowning doth force 
 them to forsake the soile. 
 
 I would desire no better pastime then 
 the hunting of a Wante in a plaine Meade. 
 My br ailing-trench being close by the 
 maine River: my trench-royall lying on 
 the height of the ground: my servant 
 seeing her cast, if neare the trench-royall 
 hee commands water into a descending 
 trench; and doth force her on the face 
 of the ground with much submission, 
 praying her Clergie: her offence being 
 Burglary in breaking my stankes, although 
 she were the first meanes that occasioned 
 all these under-taking*^ yet I could not 
 bee drawne to yeeld her a pardon : had 
 she wrought in any other part of my 
 grounds, I had not taken it so grievously: 
 but, in spoyling my fundamental! parts, 
 with working cleane through my stankes^ 
 and forcing them, by the extremitie of 
 the water altogether doune, she was 
 uncapable of pardon. If he that hath 
 an over-shoote-Mill would enter into an 
 account with him-selfe, whether it were 
 more profitable for him Winter and 
 Summer to drowne grounds, or to grind 
 corne, it would put him to a pussle. 
 
 140 I 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 I know many men that have Mills, 
 who for a desire to gaine a peck of come 
 a daye (and many dayes failes to get any) 
 so that by a true computation, in the 
 whole yeare, the Mill may bee worth 
 some foure or five pound : and in drown- 
 ing, foure or five acres of barren ground, 
 I will raise a farre greater benefitt. 
 
 But because he wil give reputation 
 unto his demeasnes, or information on 
 the marriage of his sonne, that hee hath 
 such a Mill; hee had rather suffer muddy 
 Flouds in the Winter, and cleare Waters 
 in Sommer to breake their limbs on his 
 Mill wheeles, then exercise his wits (by 
 Drowning) to attaine a world of wealth. 
 
 It is grone to a kinde of proverbiall 
 speech, in the Golden-Vaile, that hee that 
 doth drowne is a good Husband : hee that 
 may and wil not, is figured out with the 
 sillable, Fu. 
 
 I know, I have as good an Over-shot- 
 mill for Water ynough as this Kingdome 
 yeeldes : yet rather then I would grinde 
 my owne Corne at a floud-time, or in my 
 drowning times in Sommer, I would 
 carry it tenne mile off to be ground, 
 though the Miller told the one halfe. 
 
 141 Beeing 
 
 Drowning 
 more pro- 
 fitable then 
 Mills. 
 
Drayning of 
 Grounds, 
 cousine- 
 Germain to 
 Drowning. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 Beeing requested by many Gentlemen 
 of the best quality, to putt these Water- 
 workes in Print : I praied those ingenious 
 Gentlemen, (Sergeant Lowell and maister 
 Coult hurst) to speake what they thought 
 concerning the same. 
 
 They both (under their handes by way 
 of subscription) said ; it would bee very 
 profitable to the Kingdome to be put in 
 execution : being of late a common thing 
 in Devonshire ; but, not in so ample 
 manner. 
 
 For drayning of groundes Maister Levell 
 is Serjeant-Major of the same ; yet He say 
 as the meane Counsellor saith to the Serjeant 
 at Law; under favour (maister Serjeant) 
 He declare what I didde in your Element 
 of Drayning, beeing but Cousin-Germaine 
 removed to mine of Drowning. 
 
 A Ring of ground (some foure-score 
 Acres) scituate stirrope-wise ; a Brook in 
 the upper-part crossing the same, in the 
 smaller point of his extent, there running 
 from Adams dayes in likely-hood: the 
 greater quantity of the ground from the 
 Creation never found : but stain'd with 
 the Boult, the Rush, a Quagmire coherent, 
 with many other Improjitables never 
 142 mowed, 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 mowed, nor grazed in the driest daies, but 
 knee deepe in water. It lay at the gaze 
 for five thousand six-hundred and six 
 yeares, and by general opinion it stood 
 in state of damnation ; as if it hadde 
 beene curs'd like Mare-mortuum for the 
 sin of Sodom. 
 
 When I hadde devided my sounde 
 Groundes from those infected with lepro- 
 sie ; with as many maister-trenches as were 
 needful to conduct my Drayning, Sucking, 
 Working, & Searching -trenches into the 
 maister-trenches ; having but two foote 
 descent to procure a passage ; all this 
 beeing performed ; that spungy bogg 
 draind, dryed and made fitt for any use : 
 I drew the Brooke which crossed the 
 upper point of the Ground downe into 
 the belly of the bogg, to make privy 
 search in every particuler Trench, what 
 filth fell therein. 
 
 Livery and Season taken, Atornement 
 of Tennants, Fealty, with all other Cere- 
 monies that Littelton layes downe to raise 
 Uses, Customes, or Estates of Inheritance, 
 with payment of pence, and the strongest 
 Fortifications my skill could afford for an 
 everlasting continuance, and cleare keep- 
 H3 ing 
 
 Livery & 
 Season 
 taken by 
 the Brooke. 
 
A necessary 
 Invention 
 for sup- 
 
 S'ing hard 
 roundes for 
 easinesse of 
 Trenching. 
 
 Country- 
 mens Con- 
 jectures ar 
 not alwaies 
 Oraclces. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 ing of the Drayning, Sucking, Working, and 
 searching Trenches. 
 
 I protest I had almost forgotten this 
 insuing most necessary Invention. 
 
 I was in the Parish of Peter-Church to 
 runne a Trench-royall some mile on the 
 plimm : The Countrey - people made 
 themselves beleeve it would cost mee a 
 thousand Markes. Before I ran any part 
 of my Trench : I planted my Sluces crosse 
 the River, at such time as my Sluces were 
 downe, the Water did rise to the levell 
 of the Greene-sward : the Sluces beeing 
 uppe, the Water suncke unto his ordi- 
 nary course againe. 
 
 So hadde I the commaund of the 
 Sluces to ryse and sinke the Water at 
 my pleasure. 
 
 Having levelled the Trench : I put 
 eight Labourers to worke therein, who, 
 (during the whole day) wrought but one 
 Pearch, which was but sixe foote broad, 
 and three foote deep : To whome I said 
 (when I perceived how little they had 
 done in a day) I see now it's true, as the 
 Country saith : It will cost me a thou- 
 sand Markes ere I effect this Worke, if 
 it go no better forward. They said unto 
 144 me 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 me they did their best indeavor : But 
 after they had taken some halfe a foot of 
 the greene sward (or face of the ground 
 away) they could not force their spades 
 or spittels one inch deepe, the hardnesse 
 of the Earth was such : and wish'd mee 
 to give over that under-taking. 
 
 It was some-what before Michelmas 
 (the Winter-raine not having suppled or 
 mollified the ground any whit at al) I 
 commanded them to attend their labour 
 on the morrow ; then did I cause them 
 to run forty pearches in length, six foot 
 broad, & but halfe a foot deepe ; which 
 halfe-foote deepe the spades did easily 
 enter : And so for that day, I ended with 
 them. Then they demaunded what im- 
 ployment I would putt them to the next 
 morrow ? I bad them good night : and 
 willed them to bee there very early in 
 the morning. After they were gone I 
 caus'd my man, to let downe the sluces^ 
 and raise the Water to the height thereof, 
 and Sodainly the Trench flowing, it 
 entred with such puissance as if it would 
 have dissolved the very Bowels of the 
 Ground. Then early before their com- 
 ming my Servant tooke up the Sluces, 
 145 sunke 
 
A notable 
 sodaine 
 effect of 
 Water on 
 hard ground 
 uneasie 
 to bee 
 Trenched. 
 
 The manner 
 of breeding 
 Calves. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 sunke the Water, and gave it the liberty 
 of the maine River, that they the next 
 day, easily forced their spades two foote 
 deepe and more. And in this manner, 
 with the water, I suppled the Trench 
 from the beginning to the end, & saved 
 therby a hundred pound at least. 
 
 Many worthy and expert men have 
 written of the breeding of Cattell, whose 
 indeavours I much reverence, and referre 
 them to bee commended by Posterity : 
 Yet, will I venter to lay downe mine 
 experience in the younger sort, for the 
 Falling, Weaning, and Raising of Calves : 
 which (breefly) is this : Those Calves you 
 meane to breed : a month before they fall, 
 lett your Cow or Kine bee well fed with 
 good Hay, that she or they may be the 
 better able to bee delivered of them, and 
 to yeeld plenty of Milke : Uppon their 
 first Calving, suffer them not to have too 
 much milke for three or foure dayes : For 
 in over-sucking them-selves, they will bee 
 so glutted with the plenty and newnesse 
 of it, that nature in them will bee over- 
 come, & be subject to Gillying or Scowr- 
 ing, which wil hinder them for a long 
 time. When they bee five or sixe dayes 
 146 old, 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 old, let them sucke as much as they can: 
 When they come to bee a month old, 
 provide a Cratch for fine Hay, and a 
 Trough for cleane Water, although you 
 have no meaning that they shall sustaine 
 them-selves thereby : but to prepare and 
 acquaint them (in a wanton manner) to 
 learne to eate Hay, and drinke Water. 
 Dayly they will bee nibling with the 
 Hay and Water as desirous as some idle 
 persons bee of Tobaco and Ale. 
 
 When they bee eight weekes old take 
 away the Milke of one Teat from your 
 Calfe in milking your Cow before the 
 Calfe bee suffered to sucke : the want of 
 which Teate (for hunger and thirst) will 
 provoke both your Calfe to eate Hay, and 
 drinke Water. Continue him so for foure 
 dayes ; then take away, or milke one other 
 Teate from your Calfe as aforesaid, which 
 is halfe the Milke; so, will you force 
 your Calfe to a greater desire of Hay and 
 Water : After this, take away the milk of 
 another Teate within foure daies after ; 
 and so after that take away all. Hand- 
 ling the matter in this manner, your 
 Calfe will never mourne, for want of 
 Milke or losse of Damme, but will cheer- 
 147 fully 
 
 How to 
 learne them 
 to eat Hay 
 & drinke 
 Water. 
 
What you 
 must do 
 when you 
 purpose to 
 turne them 
 to Grasse. 
 
 WATER-WORKES. 
 
 fully fall to eating of Hay and Drinking 
 of water immediately. 
 
 Let your servants be very carefull to 
 litter them with cleane Straw dayly, and 
 keepe them sweete with good Hay : and 
 let them never want cleare water. If 
 you have good scope of House-roome 
 lett them run and play their fils : When 
 you purpose to turne them to grasse, 
 keepe them in the House uppon Hay 
 and Water untill Mid-may : If you turne 
 them out (as the most do) in Aprill, you 
 undoe them : the nights being cold, the 
 grounds cold, the grasse weake and raw : 
 they never acquainted with the ayre, 
 will mislike with your unkinde dealing : 
 in token whereof the heyre will turne ; 
 and their bellies loose, scowre, or gilly, 
 that they never will be themselves : be- 
 cause the Sun hath not wrought suffi- 
 ciently with heate to comfort the ground 
 that should feed and comfort them. 
 
 When they have beene some month 
 in your best Meads in Mid-may, and after 
 recovered their strength : put them into 
 some higher Groundes where there is 
 Grasse, water, and shadow ynough : Lett 
 them rest there untill Bartholomew: then 
 148 put 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 put them over into your After-maths 
 before the time of the yeare growes cold, 
 and then it wil so puffe them with pride 
 that al the winter following they wil scorn 
 the malice of the hardnesse of the Season 
 if they may have their fills of Hay, and 
 fogg with a Ho veil or House in the ex- 
 treamest cold daies to shelter them. 
 
 The first yeare beeing spent, every 
 man knowes how to handle them : If 
 you will have them principall cattell, 
 give them hay ynough the second Winter. 
 
 But what a Calfe am I to teach Coun- 
 treymen to breed Calves by Art^ when 
 they (good Husbands) breed them fast 
 ynough by Nature; I therefore bequeath 
 this Doctrine to Gentlemen that can 
 better tell how to breed a Hound then 
 a Calve ; and referre what else might be 
 spoken, to the discretion of the experi- 
 enced. 
 
 Thus have I toucht what I handle with 
 as much brevity as I could : ommitting 
 nothing that may give evidence on the 
 behalfe of those Perticulers^ which will 
 fall out to bee as true in effect as in ap- 
 parance when ever they are put to their 
 strictest Triall. 
 
 149 Therefore, 
 
 Husband- 
 men breeds 
 Calves by 
 Nature. 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 T^Herefore, now nothing remaines 
 * more to be said ; but to intreat thee 
 (friendly Reader) to beare with my merry- 
 sorry Stile, if therin any where I have not 
 observed a precise scholler-like Decorum : 
 for Mars his University (wherein some- 
 time I have bene matriculated, and pro- 
 ceeded to some degrees of command, 
 according to my study and time spent 
 therein) affoords no rules of speaking in 
 Print, yet Soldiers (in their Element) best 
 speake in Print : and can expresse what 
 else lies in the compasse of their spacious 
 conceits, like men of Wit, Arte, and Courage; 
 which they that speake altogether by the 
 Booke, oft faile to performe. But how- 
 soever, as this Worke, now finished, is 
 published for thy profit, and exprest in 
 such manner as I thought would yeeld 
 thee most p/easure : 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 intreate you (my good Lord of Pem- 
 brooke] tolooke on myplainenesse, and winke 
 at my boldness* : the first, proceeding from 
 my Nature, the last, from my 'Education: 
 150 Yet, 
 
WATER-WORKES. 
 
 Yet, what is here bluntly expressed, was 
 first of all sharply conceived, with much 
 whetting of Witt, and no lesse filing of 
 Invention. But what it is, it is all 
 Yours, as he is, that will no longer bee^ 
 then he remaines 
 
 Your Lordships even 
 
 beyond his uttermost. 
 Rowland Vaughan. 
 
Those that are desirous to see a Mill 
 sawing Timber, there shall their desires 
 bee fully satisfied, seeing a Mill by a 
 Water-course^ keepe a dozen Sawes on 
 worke together. As also by the like 
 streame of water, a dozen Spitts or 
 Broches turned at once. Which turning, 
 turnes all Turn-spit Jacks out of counte- 
 nance, though they be never so sawcie, 
 and their tongues runne on Wheeles, yet, 
 this Water-worke^ workes them out of all 
 favour with the Cooke, that loves to doe 
 much with little labour, whom the Jacks 
 distemper (which often happens) soone 
 makes hott as a Tost, because (like a 
 Cricket) he lives ever about Fyre. 
 
 152 
 
The Conclusion. 
 
 1 I ^Hus runnes our Water-workes unto this end, 
 
 -** That all that worke by them, by them may play : 
 For, if they Mossy-grounds by them amend, 
 or paines and pleasures (then) they'l freely pay. 
 
 This WORKE consists not (like some idle Tracts) 
 
 In shew alone, or Speculation : 
 
 No; this \spracticall, faire shewes in ^&, 
 
 To make the poor'st, the richest Nation. 
 
 Then, chiefly amy'd I not at publick-good, 
 I would not thus divulge my private skill : 
 But, iootfrvg free-dome, my Natur'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 Worke and Author. 
 
 praise a worke of such a worth as this, 
 k That shews the way t'inrich both earth & man : 
 Deserves a witt that rare and excellent is, 
 And all to short, excell in what it can. 
 
 The Author, and his worke do merit fame ; 
 With-out the glory of a Poets name. 
 
 Anthony Davies. 
 L 153 
 
it knowne unto all men by these presents, 
 that I Rowland Vaughan of New-court 
 in the County ^Hereford Esquire, do ack- 
 nowledge my selfe to owe and stand duly 
 Indebted unto 
 
 in the Countie of the summe of 
 
 40. shillings of lawfull money of England, 
 to be paid unto the said his 
 
 heires, executors, or administrators at the full 
 end and determination of Jive yeares next en- 
 suing the date hereof. To the which paiment 
 well and truly to be made, I the said Row- 
 land Vaughan, doe binde mee, mine heires, 
 executors, and administrators, Jirmly by these 
 presents. In witnesse wherof I have caused 
 this Bill, thus in Print, to bee made as my 
 Deed, and have here-unto set my name, the 
 xxix. of November, in the ye are of the raigne 
 of our soveraigne Lord James, by the grace 
 of God, of England, France and Ireland 
 King, defender of the Faith, the vii. and of 
 Scotland the xliii. 1609. 
 
 By me Rowland Vaughan, 
 
 154 
 
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