so he may convert all to Sheep, Wooll, and Cattell; though
the contrary be of incomparable more advantage, Credit, and Glory.
The other all for Tillage, and Plowing, that he will toyl all
his dayes himself and Family for nothing,
in and upon his common arable Field Land, up early and down late, drudge and
moyl and wear out himself and Family; ra∣ther than he will cast how he may
Improve his Lands by Im∣pasturing, and Enclosing of it, whereby he may raise
more profit in Sheep, Wools, Cattell, and far more Corn also if he please upon
every Acre.
For the discovering a little these self deceivers to
themselves, I shall speak a word or two more large to each Extreme.
The first Extreme is partly through so deep an Affe∣ctation of
Tillage and plowing in Common, although it be to his perpetuall slavery and
drudgery all his dayes, he will not leave it, and especially through a
prejudice he hath ta∣ken against Enclosure through some mens depopulation and
oppression, and destruction of Tillage, that he will not ap∣prove hereof upon
any Tearmes, but oppose with all the might and main he can; what saith he,
Enclose, depopulate, destroy the poor? no, our fathers lived well upon their
land without Enclosure, kept good hospitality, many servants, and bred up many
children, and abhominated the thoughts thereof, and so will wee prevent it if
we can; wee will toyl and moyl all our dayes, and breed up our children to keep
sheep, horse or beast, kick up their heeles upon a bank, flit our horses, and
breed them up to take our inheritance of Thirty, Forty, or Fifty pounds by the
year, with which few can scarce bring both ends together by the yeares end, as
dayly experience shewes, they not once considering the fruit of Idleness, not
the great Improvement of this honest equall Enclosure, nor their childrens ruin
for want of lear∣ning, Trade, or good breeding, the least whereof is better, or
may be better to them than all their lands. Witness