Campania fœlix, or, A discourse of the benefits and improvements of husbandry containing directions for all manner of tillage, pasturage, and plantation : as also for the making of cyder and perry : with some considerations upon I. Justices of the peace and inferior officers, II. On inns and alehouses, III. On servants and labourers, IV. On the poor : to which are added two essays : I. Of a country-house, II. Of the fuel of London / by Tim. Nourse, gent.

CHAP. I. Of Country Affairs in General.

BEFORE I come to speak particular∣ly of Matters relating to a Country Life, it will not be improper to glance a little upon this Subject as it offers it self to our General Prospect, which indeed is both

pleasant and profitable. And First for its Pleasure, what can be more suitable to a seri∣ous and well dispos'd Mind, than to contem∣plate the Improvements of Nature by the va∣rious Methods and Arts of Culture: The same spot of Ground, which some Time since was nothing but Heath and Desart, and under the Original Curse of Thorns and Bryers, after a little Labour and Expence, seems restor'd to its Primitive Beauty in the State of Paradise. Curious Groves and Walks, fruitful Fields of Corn and Wine, with Flowry Meadows, and sweet Pastures, well stor'd with all sorts of Cattle for Food and Use, together with all the Advantages and Delights of Water-Cur∣rents and Rivolets; as also with infinite Va∣riety of Fruit-bearing Trees, of beautiful Flowers, of sweet and fragrant Herbs, &c. are the familiar and easie Productions of Indu∣stry and Ingenuity; all which, as they afford extream Delight to our Senses, so must it needs be a ravishing Pleasure for the Contemplative to consider. What an Infinite Variety of Ve∣getables, so beautiful and grateful to all our Senses, and so sovereign and useful for Health, may be produc'd out of a little portion of Earth well cultivated, and all this from little Seeds or Grains of small worth in appearance: So that this kind of Employment may most properly be call'd a Recreation, not only from the Refreshment it gives to the Mind, but from the Restauration of Nature, which may be lookt upon as a New Creation of things; when from

Nothing, or from something next to Nothing, we become the Instruments of producing, or of restoring them in such Perfection.

And altho the Practice of Husbandry be a Business of some Toil and Care, of some Ha∣zard and Expence, yet there is this in it to make all these things easie, viz. When a Man shall consider the gradual Advancements of growing Nature, so that every Day represents Things under New Colours and Beauties. 'Tis pleasant to see a Field of Corn shooting out of the Earth, which Pleasure is soon lost in a new and succeeding pleasure of seeing the whole Surface of the Ground, upon the ap∣proach, perhaps of Winter, cover'd with the Blades of Green Corn, fresh and verdant as the Virgin Spring. This Pleasure likewise, is again succeeded with others, arising still from the New Appearances of Nature, which must needs be a growing Delight, forasmuch as every Day leads us to a nearer Prospect of Harvest, which is the Crown of all our Labours.

The like Content may be reap'd from all the other Employments of the Country, whether they relate to Planting, or to the Ordering of Pasturage. The Meadow which to Day is Green, two or three Days hence appears in another Livery, even that of Flowers, one Week White, anon Yellow, as soon Purple, or perhaps, in divers Colours at once, as if Na∣ture had borrow'd its Beauties from Art and Fancy. Fruit-bearing Trees, for some time, are cover'd with spotless and sweet-smell∣ing

Blossoms, such as Perfume the Air, and ra∣vish our Senses with surprising Delights: These Dropping off, the Fruit it self begins to appear in its Infancy, which every day grows more Fair till it arrive to Maturity; and then serves further to gratifie our Senses in yielding us Food of Delicacy; but more eminently, by affording us those excellent Liquors, by which the heart of Man's made glad, and his Body su∣stain'd and nourish'd.

Indeed, were we to take up always with any one Entertainment of Nature, we should soon surfeit with it, as we see it happens daily to us in other Cases, where the constant Fruition of one Thing ceases to affect us: But where there is such an infinite Variety of Things (such as are the Productions of the Earth) tendered to us successively, and in their several Seasons, this cannot but sweeten the Mind with won∣derful Content: So that as the Toils and La∣bours are still returning, in like manner are the sweet fruits of them also: And even Toil and Labour it self, has this Pleasure in it, that it quickens Appetite, and contributes to Health and Strength of Body, where 'tis not in Excess, and accompanied with Disorders. And when a Man attentively considers the Annual Pro∣gress of Nature through all its Stages and Alte∣rations, it cannot but mind him of his own continual Changes, still leading him forwards towards his End, which is, or ought to be a thing of more consequence to him than all the other Pleasures which he may justly hope to

reap from the several Blessings and Seasons of the Year.

Hence it was, that the Bravest Men in the First Ages of the World, betook themselves generally to Husbandry, which (however sim∣ple and rude, as it appear'd) was found very advantageous and delightful; insomuch that the Poets of Ancient and Modern Times, when they would describe the true Felicity of Man, and give their Fancies the largest Flights of Freedom and Gayety, borrow all these Descri∣ptions from the Pastoral Life; and even they, who give us Characters of Great Generals and Princes in Heroick Strains, still represent 'em by Metaphors of this Nature: Hence it was that they were called, Shepherds of the People, and the Scepter or Ensign of their Office was a Rod, or Staff, not a Sword. And truly, if we consider the matter with a little Attention, we may readily observe that Men, and other Animals of the Herd, or such as associate to∣gether, are to be govern'd much by the same Measures. King David, who rul'd his People certainly by good Maxims, and was the best and happiest of any of that Nation, receiv'd doubtless, much Instruction from his Pastoral Methods, of which we have many Instances through the whole Tenour of his Psalms; but to proceed.

The Great Esteem which the Ancients had for Husbandry is further legible from hence, That they ascrib'd Divine Honours to those who were the Inventers and Promoters of it, such

as Bacchus, Ceres, Pan, Diana, &c. Invocating them as the Tutelar Deities over these Affairs: Nor was there a God or Goddess to which they did not Consecrate some Tree or Plant, thereby obliging them (as they thought) to attend more particularly to the Preservation of them. But above all, the Egyptians being the greatest Corn-Masters in the World, to re∣cognize the Benefits they receiv'd from Apis or Serapis, a great Prince, who preserv'd them from Famine (which Apis is, by many, conjectur'd to have been the Patriarch Joseph) ever wor∣shipp'd him as their Supreme Deity, under the Symbol or Representation of an Ox or Calf, in consideration, that 'twas to the Labour of that Creature we chiefly owe our Sustenance and Life.

And after the Gods; Those Men were ever held in greatest Honour and Veneration, who procur'd Peace and Plenty to the World, ei∣ther by distributing their Liberality, or by protecting their Subjects from Foreign Ene∣mies, thereby leaving them at Ease to follow their Country Employments; and such an one was Augustus, under whose Reign the Temple of Janus was shut, who likewise much delighted himself in Rural Avocati∣ons, and in the Conversation of Mecoenas, the great Patron of Husbandry and Learned Men. The Figure of the World, encompassed with Olive-Branches, with the Inscription of Pax Orbis Terrarum, was justly inscrib'd by the Senate upon his Coins, for the Peace and

Plenty under the Influence of his Govern∣ment. The Forms of Plenty, the Bushels and Measures of Corn in the Ears, with the Inscriptions of Annona or Congiarium, were the fullest Demonstrations of a Prince's Greatness, and of the Peoples Gratitude: all which Testimonials, or Pompous Attributes, were still measur'd, I say, from the Fruits of the Earth; so that the Romans never thought themselves happier than under the Reigns of such Emperors, who favour'd them this way: So that the Titles which are given to Adrian (under whose Reign the Roman Em∣pire seem'd to be arriv'd to its fullest Beauty and Growth) were not dawbing Flatteries, but just acknowledgments of their Obligations to him, when in their Medals they Figur'd that Emperor with his Hand raising a pensive Woman from the Ground, having a Crown on her Head, and a Globe in her Lap, with the Inscription of Restitutori Orbis Terrarum, thereby signifying, that he rais'd the World from the Earth, as I may say, with some Par∣don for the Solecism. The like Benefits were acknowledg'd by several Provinces in particu∣lar, as appears by his Coins; for so it was, that this prudent Prince made it his business, more than any before or after him, to visit the several Regions of the Empire, setting them in good Order, and leaving Marks of his Bounty through all the Stages of his Progress. The other many Noble Inscriptions which we meet with every where in Roman Monuments,

such as, Ob Cives Servator; Salus Generis Hu∣mani; Libertas Restituta Pacator Orbis, &c. were the Fruitful Issues of Peace and Plenty, as Plenty was ever the Offspring of the well cultivated Earth.

What Estimation the Jews had for a Coun∣try Life is very clear from Sacred Writings; Most or all of the Patriarchs or Princes of the East, of whom we read, were Herdsmen and Followers of Husbandry. Job had a large Stock of Cattle under his Care, and Ab∣solom, David's Son and Darling, made a Feast for his Sheep-shearers.

As for Prophane Story; At such Time as Rome was a Commonwealth, at which Time likewise it most flourished with brave and ver∣tuous Men; 'Twas no rare thing for Plowmen to lead forth their Armies; Such an one was Atilius, who was Tilling his Ground with a Yoke of Oxen, and sowing it himself, when the Senate sent for him to be their General; those Hands of his holding the Reins of a Triumphant Carr, which but a little before, held the Plough, to which he gladly return'd again, having prosperously finish'd what he un∣dertook. No less Famous was Quintius Cin∣cinnatus, who had the Dictatorship Conferr'd upon him as he was Plowing his Four Acres of Land near the Vatican, bare-headed, or cover'd rather with Swett and Dust: Four Acres of Glebe, one would think but a small Pittance for a Roman General or Emperour;

so consistent then was Greatness of Vertue with the narrow Limits of Fortune.

And even at such Time as Rome seem'd to be en bon point, at the highest pitch of Luxury, we read of Terentius Varro, a Senator, who was the most Learned Man amongst all the Romans, and a Great Commander in the Civil Wars be∣twixt Caesar and Pompey, and of some Figure likewise during the Triumvirate, that he va∣lu'd himself much from his Breed of Mares, and from his Flock of Sheep, which was Se∣ven Hundred, as he himself tells us in the Book he has Published de Re Rustica, wherein he condescends to many Particulars relating to Husbandry and Good Houswisry, as also to the breeding and ordering of Fowl and Cattle. In the Second of which Books, being Dedicat∣ed to his Friend Niger Turranus, a Roman No∣bleman, he tells us, how this Friend of his was wont to Trudge it a Foot, from Market to Market, to buy Beasts.

To be short, There cannot be a greater Te∣stimony for the Honour of the Plough, than the Behaviour of Romulus, the First Founder of Rome, and, as I may say, of that Vast Em∣pire, as laying its Foundation in those solid Maxims by which it grew to such a prodigi∣ous Greatness in after Ages: Amongst which Fundamental Institutions, this was one (if not the greatest) viz. to Erect a College of Priests, under the Title of Sacerdotes Arrorum: Their Number was Twelve, of which he him∣self was one, condescending to be called the

Twelfth Brother of that Fraternity, being so∣lemnly Installed thereunto by Laurentia Acca, his Foster-Mother, who platting a Garland of the Ears of Corn, bound it on his Head with her White Fillet, which was lookt upon at that time to be the most Sacred Badge of Priesthood, and was the First Crown that we read of amongst the Romans: And in so great Honour was it held in after Ages, that nothing but Death could put a Period to it, and was ever enjoyed, even in Times of Exile and Captivity.

No Wonder then, if even Kings themselves delighted to write of Husbandry, such as Hiero, Philometor, Archelaus and Attalus. A∣mongst Militant Persons, Xenophon was emi∣nent this way; but much more famous was Mago, the Carthaginian, and Brother of Hani∣bal; which Works of his were held in that Esteem, as to be Translated into divers Lan∣guages, an Epitome whereof, made Greek, was sent to Dejotarus, as a Jewel of Inestima∣ble Value; and particularly, it was lookt up∣on by the Romans, to be so precious, that a∣mongst all the African Monuments of Learn∣ing, this alone was thought worthy of the Romans Care, and to be preserv'd, upon the Subversion of Carthage, being Translated like∣wise into the Roman Language, by the Care and Directions of M. Cato. Amongst Philo∣sophers, whose Works are Extant, Aristotle, Pliny and Terentius Varro signaliz'd themselves upon this Subject, as did also Theocritus, He∣siod

and Virgil, amongst the Ancient Poets, with infinite other Writers of modern Date.

And such an Influence truly had the Art and Practise of Husbandry upon the Minds of Men, that the most eminent of them in all Ages, whether for Military or Civil Employments, did ever betake themselves, in some degree or other, to this Course of Life. Hence it was that every Roman of old had his Villa where to bestow himself in time of Vacancy from Business, as they have at this Day in Italy, and elsewhere, belike thinking themselves then most happy, when they take up with the En∣tertainments of their Vineyards.

As to the Profits arising from a Country Life, it is superfluous to enlarge on that which is so obvious to all the World: And first, in respect of the General or Commonwealth. This is that great Vein by which the Blood is distri∣buted through all Parts of the Body, or ra∣ther the very Blood it self, since it is disfus'd over the Whole, nor can any Part or Mem∣ber subsist without it: It is the Foundation of Traffick and Commerce, forasmuch as all the Manufactures and Commodities which we export or receive from Foreign Parts, are but the Productions of the Earth at the first or se∣cond hand. Corn, Wine, Oil, Fruits, Cloth, Linen or Woollen, Silks, &c. are all of them the Off-spring of the Earth, cultivated by Art and Industry.

And as the Husbandman is most necessary to the Publick in Times of Peace, so is he as

useful in Times of War, since all the Stores and Magazines, by which Garrisons and Ar∣mies in the Field are sustain'd, are deriv'd from his Labour and Providence. The De∣scription therefore which the Poet gave of old Italy, that it was Potens Armis atque Ʋbere Gleba, was well concerted; for Italy, as it was one of the most fruitful, so it was the most martial and victorious Country under Hea∣ven, giving Laws to all other Nations; so that were it under the Command of one Prince, it might possibly pretend to be once more the Mistress of the World, as it was heretofore, when the Boundaries of its Empire were the Ocean, which it exceeded to in Greatness of Extent: Nor could it be possible for Flanders, with the other neighbouring Countries, to sustain such vast Armies, and to have been the Seat of War and Desolation for so many Ages together, with such immense Losses and Cala∣mities, were they not enabled thereunto by the invincible Industry of its Inhabitants, and by the Fertility of the Soil.

In the next place, if we regard the parti∣cular Interest of private Persons, no less ob∣vious is it, that nothing can more advance it than Husbandry: The great Estates and For∣tunes which many Men arrive to this way, be∣ing a certain Proof of this Truth. If some miscarry, 'tis no wonder, whether it be through their own ill course of Life, Ignorance or Negligence, or perhaps from some sinister Ac∣cidents, from which no State or Condition can

be exempted: But in the General, 'tis certain, that, considering the vast Numbers of Men who make Profession of Husbandry, none make a surer Fortune than those who follow it; there being ten Bankrupt Tradesmen or Merchants for one Husbandman, Considera∣tion being had, I say, to the Farms, which far exceed the Shops in Number.

And as to our native Country in particular, it enjoys certainly many Advantages above any Country whatsoever: For in foreign King∣doms so it happens, that one Province a∣bounds only with Corn, another is in Reputa∣tion for Wine, a third is eminent for Herbage, a fourth for Boscage; in which Case Men must be beholden to remoter Parts for Necessaries, which is a Business of great Expence, Trouble, and Delay; for Instance, Picardy and Nor∣mandy are great Corn-Countries, but have lit∣tle Wood, Wine, or Pasturage, all which Ne∣cessaries, being from far, are very chargeable. Holland is famous for Butter and Cheese, but it must be oblig'd to foreign Countries for al∣most all its other Commodities; whereas with us in England, there is rarely a Farm of Fifty Pounds per Annum, but has Meadow and Pa∣sture-Ground belonging to it, together with some Wood or Coppice, as likewise with A∣rable Land for Corn, with Sheep-Pasture, as also with Trees for building for the Occasions of Husbandry, for Fire, and in many Places for Fruit and rich Liquor, being yet farther bless'd with fresh and wholsome Water almost

in every Ground, or with some little Rivolet or Brook running near it; so that a Man en∣joys all things almost within himself, of which he can stand in need, without any De∣pendence upon others, or of being in dan∣ger of want by any Difficulties in the Convey∣ance; tho' I must confess, that in some re∣spects foreign Countries have an Advantage over us, not only from the Sun and Temper of the Soil, (which generally requires less Manurement than with us,) but also from the Woods, which in hotter Countries are much more easie, being generally dry, smooth, and fit for Teams or Carriages at all Seasons; or else they have artificial Canals, as in the Low-Countries, which indeed is a thing very consi∣derable to a Farmer who keeps the Market; so that little Profit may be expected from a Farm, be the Ground never so good, which lies not near to a good Market-Town, or which wants the Conveniencies of good Roads, or of a Navigable River.

The Italian Saying, of Buona Terra, Cati∣va Gente, hath been by some applied to our Country, with respect, doubtless, to the Pea∣santry of this Nation; for as for the ancient Gentry, probably there is not a more frank, a more generous, and a more open-hearted sort of Men any where to be found, those es∣pecially who have not been infected with the Principles of Calvin, who (to give them some part of their due) are generally a

Brood of formal, censorious, and superce∣lious Hypocrites! Some of our true English Gentry may want that flattering and comple∣mental Gayety, so natural to our Neighbours, following the true English Genius, which is plain, hospitable, and debonair, without much Ceremony and Dissimulation; tho withal they are presumptuous many times, and resentive of Injuries, which really is much more commendable than modish Hypocrisie accompanied with Cringes and Grimace.

But as for our Common People, many of them must be confess'd to be very rough and savage in their Dispositions, being of level∣ling Principles, and refractory to Govern∣ment, insolent and tumultuous: What Gen∣tleman soever then shall have the Misfortune to fall into the Neighbourhood of such Boors, let him never think to win them by Civilities; it will be much more easie for him to teach a Hog to play upon the Bagpipes, than to soften such Brutes by Courtesie; for they will presently interpret a Man's Gentleness to be the Effect of a timorous and easie Nature, which will pre∣sently make them bold and saucy. The best way therefore will be to bridle them, and to make them feel the Spur too, when they be∣gin to play their Tricks, and kick. The Say∣ing of an English Gentleman was much to the purpose, That Three things ought always to be kept under, our Mastiff-Dog, a Stone-Horse, and a Clown: And really I think a

snarling, cross-grain'd Clown to be the most unlucky Beast of the three. Such Men then are to be look'd upon as trashy Weeds or Net∣tles, growing usually upon Dunghills, which if touch'd gently will sting, but being squeez'd hard will never hurt us.

There is this Thing more to be recommen∣ded to every Gentleman who affects a Country Life, viz. Not to embarras himself with too much Business; for the Affairs of the Country consist much in Labour and Drudgery; so that he who has a great deal to manage, if he trust to Servants will certainly be cheated or neglected by them; or if he hurries about it himself, he will be in a perpetual Toil, tho' of never so great Strength of Body; and to lose all the Pleasure of his Life in endless Pains and Vex∣ations, and having many hot Irons in the Fire to be work'd upon at once, some of them will cool and miscarry upon his hands. 'Twas very well observ'd by the ingenious Bocalin, when all the Kingdoms and States presented themselves before Lorenzo Medici, to be weigh'd by his Balance, and when it came to the turn of the Spanish Monarchy to be put into the Scale, it still prov'd lighter and lighter by the Addition of new Provinces; so that Spain, under Philip the Second, being infinitely aug∣mented by the Access of Sicily, Naples, Milan, the Low-Countrys, Burgundy, &c. was less weigh∣ty, and considerable than before. The Rea∣son was, because all the Spanish Treasure was exhausted to maintain such remote and foreign

Dependencies, and serv'd but to feed the Ava∣rice of Viceroys and Governours; so that the main Body grew consumptive and feeble by having its Nourishment diverted for the use of such disproportionable and foreign Members, with their excrementitious Superfluities. The same thing happens then inevitably in a private Gentleman's Estate, when it is too great for a single Person to manage; so that there is no way for him, having sufficient to employ him∣self about, but to farm out the Overplus to others. A numerous Herd of Servants, (tho' they are necessary Helps to one who has a great deal under hand, and serve to fill up the Measures and Figure of a Family, yet) do in reality impoverish the House they belong to, being like Wenns, and the like Excrescencies, which, tho' they seem to be a Part of the Bo∣dy, and to add to the Bulk, do in Truth suck the best Juice to themselves, whilst the genu∣ine Parts languish and decay.

He likewise who affects a Country Life ought to be a Person of subdu'd Passions; for where there is a continual Hope, there will be the same, or possibly a greater degree of Fear likewise; and the various Accidents to which our Labours and the Fruits of the Earth are hourly expos'd, cannot but leave a Man frequently under the Impression of these Pas∣sions. The Seed which the Husbandman in∣tends to cast into the Earth may be good, and the Soil duly prepar'd, and yet the unseason∣ableness of the Weather, at the time of sow∣ing,

may fill him with Distrust, and frustrate his Hope. The like Frustration also may hap∣pen afterwards from extreme Frosts and Winds, from immoderate Rains and excessive Drouth: And when he is upon the Point of reaping the Fruit of his Labour, all may be lost by the In∣temperance of the Weather. Or suppose we farther, that he hath converted all the Fruits of his Labour into Money, this likewise is subject to many Dangers; or if he be so for∣tunate to lay it out for the Procurement of other Blessings, these may become a Snare to him, and he may surfeit himself by Plenty, and be cut off in the midst of his Enjoyments. How many Mischiefs are there to which Fruit-bearing Trees are obnoxious! And when all thereunto relating shall fall out according to our Desires, how easie is it for a Man to be ru∣in'd by too much delight in drinking of the juicy Blessing, falling either into a Disease, or into Habits of Intemperance, to the final Consumption of his Estate, Parts and Cre∣dit: So that the true way for a Man to be happy amidst his Travels and Labours, is not to be over-anxious about such Comforts, but to be moderate in the Fruition of them; and by this means he will secure himself from Disappointments, and have his Appetite al∣was quick to relish what is grateful, by be∣ing temperate and abstemious. And thus may a Man rejoice innocently in all his La∣bours, and be prepar'd for a more perfect Fru∣ition of what is solid and unalterable, by his

constant dependance upon Providence, and by making God's Blessings to be the daily sub∣ject of his Thoughts.

If there were a Kalendar, or Diary, kept of Weather, viz. what Rains or Winds, what severities of Heat and Cold; what Plenty or Dearth, what Vicissitudes or Accidents hap∣pen every Year, it would be a most profita∣ble Work doubtless; and of far more use than all the Prognostications of cautious A∣strologers; for it happens very frequently, that upon the same Concurrence of Causes and Circumstances, we meet with the same Effects. This Method was observ'd ever by the best Artists in Husbandry. And amongst the An∣cients, as we may read in Virgil, they had a constant regard to the Heavens, as to all the Seasons and Productions of Nature.

And as there ought to be a Diary or Regi∣ster for Seasons, so likewise for the Producti∣ons which come from Foreign Parts; and to this End and Purpose, 'twould be a Diversion well worthy the Ingenuity of many Young Gentlemen who travel, to be curious in ob∣serving what Fruits every Soil does yield, as also the Nature and Complexion of the Soil, the Temper of the Climate, the Rules of their Husbandry, the Tackle and Instruments they make use of, as also their Methods of Manure∣ment, with what Returns they make of their Labours. As for Curiosities of Plants, Fruit-Trees, Flowers, and other Rarities of the Gar∣dens, brought over from Foreign Countries,

we have certainly as great a Collection as any Nation under Heaven, there being none to be found which is so universally stor'd with all Provisions of this kind as is England, and pos∣sibly some parts of the Low Countries; which Benefit we have from the great Trade we drive in all Parts of the World; so that, whatsoe∣ver is rare, is brought over, and naturaliz'd amongst us, being made free of our Soil.

The like Improvements might be made, cer∣tainly, in matters relating to Husbandry and Planting, which would be of equal Pleasure with the Entertainments of a Garden, and of infinite more Profit, beyond all Dispute; especi∣ally if we make choice of such Experiments and Observations as are already made by many ex∣cellent Persons of this latter Age, in which, this sort of Natural History seems to have ob∣tain'd its utmost Perfection; Out of all which Writings of our Modern Times, a most ex∣cellent System or Body of Husbandry might be compiled, than which nothing could be more reputable to the Undertaker, nor more beneficial to the whole Kingdom: Not that I think it Expedient that all Foreign Growths should be encourag'd, for this in many cases, may be detrimental, as I shall shew hereafter, especially when the Introduction of some things, shall discredit and discourage the Growth of others: only then 'twill be bene∣ficial to the Publick, when 'tis of such Produ∣ctions as are imported on us from abroad; for by this means we shall never be at any straits in time of War, for what we want, and our Dis∣bursements

will be less in the course and me∣thods of Traffick. I shall instance only in Three Things, of which

The First is, The Planting of Hemp and Flax. 'Tis known to all, what Profit is made of the latter in Lombardy and some Parts of France; the Growth of Flax being esteem'd equal to that of the richest Wines in Italy, as being cultivated in the same rich Soil, such as that in the State of Milan, Parma, Modena, &c. than which there cannot be a better upon Earth: And when I consider, that the Flax Trade, and the Thread and Cloth made of it being a sedentary kind of Employment, clean and fit for Ladies, no doubt many nice Fingers which refuse to handle greasie Wooll, might easily be invited hereunto: And that this was the most honourable Vocation in which the Noblest Matrons and Virgins of Ancient Times were employed, is abundantly evident from Ancient Records, the Invention thereof being of Divine Extraction, and ascrib'd to Minerva; the like Esteem it has ever preserv'd to its self through all after Ages, insomuch that all Vir∣gins, even of Royal Degree and Birth, were, and are still, stiled Spinsters; because this was the Business they were to profess and practice: No wonder then if amongst the Familiars of the Nuptial Waggon amongst the Romans, the Wheel and Distaff was ever the chiefest, and most conspicuous: And truly, could the Profession of Spinning be separated from the Maiden State of the greatest Princesses, the Sa∣lique

Law would meet with an unlucky Rub, or perhaps a Baffle, when it bars the Distaff from Succession to the Crown, by telling us that it cannot fall en quenouille.

The Advantage to the Kingdom arising from the Linnen Manufactures, would be ve∣ry great, especially if young Children were inur'd hereunto from their Childhood, for by that means their Fingers being then young and pliable, would get such an Habit of working, as Age it self could hardly wear away. A Scheme of this Nature I have met with in a Book published by Captain Yarrington of Wor∣cestershire, a very knowing Projector, from the Observations he made of the vast Advantages they found in Holland by these and such like Arts well worthy our Imitation; such Chil∣dren being there bred up in Working-Houses or Colledges, under the Guard of honest, vi∣gilant and experienced Mistresses or Over∣seers.

Another thing of which it might be wish'd there were a Tryal made, is that of the Silk Manufacture, by planting of Mulberries, which doubtless might be made to prosper in this our Island. This likewise would be a very suita∣ble Employment or Recreation rather, for the more delicate of the other Sex, who are so much taken with the Gawderies of Butterflies: From whence also they may learn this Moral Lecture, That as the greatest Ornaments and Lustre of their Bodies are the Spoils of Worms,

so the greatest Food for Worms will be upon the Spoils of their Bodies.

The Third Thing which I would recom∣mend to be encourag'd, is the Planting of Wallnut-Trees, not for the Benefit of the Fruit to eat, which is inconsiderable; but for the Profit which might be made of the Oil, which tho of little Use with us, would be very well worth the Exportation; it being amongst the poorer sort beyond-Sea, some part of their Food, and most serviceable to the Great Ones too, in the Use they make of it, to be Fuel for their Lamps, especially in their Churches, and almost in all Private Houses. There is no Tree whatsoever growing in our English Soil, whose Timber is so useful for Curious Fur∣niture; so that every Limb or Branch of a Wall∣nut-Tree which will but carry Three Inches Square, is serviceable and of value: Nor do I find that these Trees are of any Difficulty to be rais'd as to the choice of Ground, nor sub∣ject to so much hazard as Oaks, and other Trees, upon Extremities of Weather. All that can discourage the Tryal of them is, the long Time we must wait for the Maturity of them, which exceeds the common limits of an Age; but since there is no more Care about them when they once begin to grow, than about o∣ther common Trees which grow wild and na∣tural, it seems too great an Argument of a mean Spirit in a Man, to measure all his Undertak∣ings by the returns of Profit which he may expect in his own Life-time, without regard to

the future Advantages which his Heirs and After-Ages may reap from his Industry. Tho in what I am now speaking of, there is a great Pleasure and Satisfaction in seeing the gradual Advances of Nature, and consi∣derable Profit to be expected too, by the Fruits they yield, which will be still greater the lon∣ger they grow.

'Tis much to be wish'd likewise, That the State would afford some Encouragement to Husbandry, more than what we find at present, by exempting it, or at least by easing it, as to the Publick Burthens, especially for some Years, upon any New Undertaking, which shall be judg'd profitable to the Pub∣lick: For by this Means Men would venture upon Projection. 'Tis very well observ'd by a most Ingenious and Learned Gentle∣man, in his Remarks upon one of the great∣est, most Ancient, and most polish'd Govern∣ments upon Earth, when he tells us,

[That Agriculture is encouraged by so many spe∣cial Priviledges from the Crown, and the Common Laws and Customs of the Coun∣try, that whatever Wars happen, the Til∣lers of the Ground are untouch'd, as if they were Sacred, like the Priests in other Places, so as no Country in the World was ever known to be so well cultivated, as the whole Kingdom of China.]

Whereas with us, and other neighbouring Countries, 'tis the poor Husbandman who must support in a manner, the whole Expence of a War, and

undergo greater Burthens and Drudgery than the Beasts which Till the Ground.

In fine, What I have written upon this Sub∣ject, is not grounded upon the Reports and Methods of other Authors, but upon my own Observations, towards which I have had some small Advantage by my long continu∣ance in a Private and Country Life, which Observations I shall adventure to deliver more particularly in the following Chapters.