Profit, conveniency, and pleasure, to the whole nation being a short rational discourse, lately presented to His Majesty, concerning the high-ways of England : their badness, the causes thereof, the reasons of those causes, the impossibility of ever having them well-mended according to the old way of mending, but may most certainly be done, and for ever so maintained (according to this new way) substantially, and with very much ease : and so that in the very depth of winter there shall not be much dirt, no deep-cart-rutts, or high-ridges, no holes, or vneven places, nor so much as a loose stone (the very worst of evils both to man and horse) in any of the horse-tracts, nor shall any person have cause to be once put out of his way in any hundred of miles riding.

The Order of the Law.

And as to the Order of this Law of Travellers, if any Person shall happen to be in the contrary way, it shall be his part to go out of it, and give way to his opposite, or otherwise he may be com∣pelled.

But if any person shall be quarrelsome, and op∣pose, or force any other Traveller (who is in his Right-hand-lawfull way) out of it, or injure him upon that account:

Then that Person so opposed, forced, hindred, or grieved, (upon just complaint and proof made to the next Justice of Peace, Constable, or Head-Officer of the very next Town) shall have his Case immediately heard, and adjudged according to the truth of the Evidence; And that the Per∣son so offending shall immediately forfeit, and be compelled to pay, so much to the party grieved or injured, and so much to the Poor of that Parish where the case is tried: Or for want of such pay∣ment, his Horse may be distrained upon till such payment be made.

This, or something to this purpose, cannot be thought too hard for such Ʋncivil, Refractory, and Rude Ruffian-like Rake-shames, who too often make it their business and boast, thus to disturb and abuse honest, quiet, and weary Travellers; which is so great an injury, and an occasion to stir up, and inflame the Spirits of men, so grosly abused, that many times most desperate mischiess immediately ensue: But by virtue of some such Law, all These and many more Inconveniences

would be prevented, and all Travellers enjoy tran∣quility and much pleasure.

Thus much concerning the Law for Travellers.

Lastly, As to the more easie effecting of the business, it cannot but be thought much more feasible, to maintain only two Tracts, which shall constantly lie straight, and as it were in a line, than to mend and maintain wayes which lie cross, intricate and confounded, as most of our wayes throughout England do.

In the mending of which there is such strange irregularity, by the common Menders, that they (in a manner) lose the greatest part of their Gra∣vel or Stones; now laying one load here, and then another quite cross five or six Cart-wayes aside, and in a contrary Tract; whereas if there were but only two Cart-Tracks, they might with far less trouble and cost, but infinitely more easily and effectually be mended, and most certainly be for ever maintained; and with a reasonable Charge: As here following most plainly I shall make ap∣pear.

Notes

• The Law of Travellers.
• ☞ This Law can∣not be too strict.
• The Conclusi∣on of the first Preparation.
• Why but two Tracts.