ad locandum per annum It is to be enquered how many acres of medowe ar of the demeyns and how moche euery acre is worthe to set by the yere and to what maner of beestes or catell it is most necessary vnto and howe many it wyll fynde and of what maner and what the pasture of one beest is worthe by the yere And in myne opinyon it wolde be vnderstande whether the medowes or pastures lye in the coÌ„men medowes or coÌ„men pasture at large or in seueraltie For and it lye at large in the coÌ„men medowes an acre is no better worthe than the grasse that the hey is made of is worthe for after it is coÌ„men and of lytell value And if it lye in seueraltie it is worthe halfe as moche againe as the grasse was worthe And that highe grounde and drie is moost conuenyent for shepe wode grounde and busshe for beestes and specially in wynter tyme. Lowe grouÌ„des medowe groundes and marsshe groundes for hey after for fat catell and in wynter for horses and mares and meane groundes that is bothe hylly and dalye as leyse and lowe grouÌ„des is good for all maner of catell if the grasse be good and fyne and specially for fat catell or fatte shepe horses mares and yonge coltes for that grasse that one maner of catell wyll nat eate another wyll And therfore it is good to haue a large close the dyuers maner of catell maye go togyder in it and to knowe what a beestes grasse is worthe by the yere that is as the pasture is that he gothe in is worthe and nat ouer charged with catell and the fynenesse of the grasse and the goodnesse of an acre For some acre of grouÌ„de is nat worthe a penny by the yere and some acre is worthe .xl. pens and so a beestes grasse may be dere ynoughe twelfe pens in the yere and it may be worthe .xl. pens or fyue shillynges and a horse grasse or a mare grasse maye be dere ynoughe twelfe pens or twentie pens by the yere and it maye be worthe fyue shillynges or a noble accordyng to the goodnesse of the pastures But howe these maners landes medowes and pastures shall be viewed butted bounded and valewed shall be rehersed after the statute be ones declared ¶ Of forren pastures that be commen howe many and of what maner of catell the lorde maye haue in the same and what the pasture of a beest is worthe by the yere Cap. iiii ITem inquirend est de pasturis for inficis que est coÌ„munis quot quas bestias aiÌ„alia dominus habere possit in eadem et quantuÌ„ valet pastura per annum et locand It is to be inquered of forren pastures that is coÌ„myn how many and what beestes and catell what the lorde may haue in the same and what the pastur of a beest is worthe by the yere to set This is a derke letter to be well vnderstande without a better declaracyon for where he saythe De pasturis forinficis que est coÌ„munis That may be vnderstande thre wayes for there is in many townes where as their closes and pastures lye in seueraltie There is commonly a coÌ„myn close taken in out of the coÌ„men or feldes by tenauntes of the same towne for their oxen or kyen or other catell in the whiche close euery man is stynted and sette to a certayntie howe many beestes he shall haue in the same of what maner of beestes they shal be And if the lorde shall haue any catell therin he shulde be put to a certayntie and of what maner of catell and this pasture may be well valewed And also the beestes grasse what it is worthe therin But than it ought to be shewed howe many acres be contayned in the sayd pasture and what euery acre is worthe one with another Another maner of commyn pasture is moost coÌ„menly in playne champyon countreis where their catell gothe daylye before the herdeman and lyeth nighe adioyniÌ„g to their coÌ„myn feldes and it may lye in two or thre places or mo in these it is also conuenyent that euery man be stynted to a certentie outher by yerdes landes oxgaÌ„ges rentes or suche other customes as the tenauÌ„tes vse and the lorde in lyke maner These coÌ„men pastures may be extended how many acres be in euery parcell by it selfe and what an acre is worthe by it selfe but it can nat be so well knowen what a beestes grasse is worthe yerely for they lye moost coÌ„menly with the falowe feldes some falowe feldes is better than some and so a beestes grasse may be better or worse The thirde maner of coÌ„men pasture is in the lordes out wodes that lye coÌ„men to his tenauntes as commen mores or hethes the whiche were neuer errable landes In these maner of coÌ„mens me semeth the lorde shulde nat be stynted nor sette at no certentie but put his catell vpon suche maner of coÌ„men pasture at his pleasure bycause all the whole commen is his owne and his tenauntes haue no certayne parcell therof layde to their holdyngê but all onely bytte of mouthe with their catell and it were agayne reason to a bridge a man of his owne right But his tenauntes and euery mannes tenauntes me semeth ought of ryght to be stynted what euery manne ought to haue goynge vpon all maner of commens for elles wolde the ryche men in the begynnynge of Somer byeshepe and other maner of catell and eate vp the commens and selle them againe at wynter or putte them in their pastures that they haue sparedde all the Somerr and so ouerpresse the poore men that haue no money to bye nor able to reyre ¶ Of parkes and demeyne woodes the whiche the lorde maye assarte and to do his profyte howe many acres they coÌ„teyne and what the vesture of an acre is worthe and what the grouÌ„de is worthe whan the vesture is fallen c. Cap. v. ITem inquirendum est de parcis et dnÌ„i cis boscis que ad voluÌ„tatem suam possunt assertare et excolere et quot acre in se contineÌ„tur Et quantum vestura cuiustibet acre possit appÌ„ciari et quantuÌ„ fuudus in se contineat et valeat quando prostratus fuerit et quantum valeat quelibet acra per se per annum It is to be enquered of ê‘kes and of demeyne woode the whiche at the lordes wyll may be asserted and plucked vp or fallen downe And howe many acres are conteyned in them and for howe moche the vesture of euery acre may be solde and howe moche the grounde in hym selfe conteyneth whan the wode is fallen and howe moche euery acre is worthe by it selfe by the yere This is to be vnderstande of parkes and demeyne woode that be inseueraltie wherof the lorde at his pleasure may assert stocke vp by the rootes or falle by the erthe plowe and sowe to his moost profyte as he wyll And howe many acres of woode are conteyned in the same
they wyll amende the grasse and to take good hede that ye suffre nouther breres nor blacke thornes nor none other maner of busshes to growe in your pastures and specially by the hedges c. ¶ Howe to amende busshy grounde mossy that hath ben errable lande of olde tyme. Cap. xxviii THere is none other remedy but to stocke and gette vp the busshes by the rotes and the landes plowed and sowen as I haue sayd before the reyst grounde if it be drie wyll bringe moche corne for the mosse wyll rote and the moole hyllockes wyll amende the grounde well And yf there be any marle pyttes that haue be made of olde tyme within the same cloyse thanÌ„e whan the landes begynne to weare if he haue nat sufficieÌ„t of suche busshye and mossye grouÌ„de to breke vp and sowe than there wolde be newe marle pyttes made the landes newe marled the whiche is moche better than outher donge mucke or lyme for it wyll laste twentie yeres togyder if it be well done and shall be the better whyle it is lande And I marueyle greatly that in the coÌ„men feldes where of olde tyme hath ben made many great marlepytes the whiche hath done moche good to the laÌ„des that nowe a dayes no man dothe occupy theÌ„ne make none other they nede nat to doute but ther is marle nowe aswell as was than but as me semeth ther be two causes why â–ª one is the tenauntes be so doutefull of their lande lordes that if they shulde marle and make their holdynges moche better they feare leest they shulde be putte out or make a great fyne or els to paye more rent And if a lorde so do me semeth he is vnresonable seyng that it was done all at the costes of his tenaunte and nat at his The seconde cause is that men be disposed to ydelnesse and wyll nat laboure as they haue done in tymes paste but passe forthe the tyme as his father dyd before hym but yet me semeth a freholder shuld nat be of that coÌ„dycion for he is in a suretie his chefe lorde can nat put hym out doyng his duetie And he knoweth well he shall take the profite whyle he lyueth and his heyres after hym and thus shulde gyue him a corage to improwe his owne the which is as good as he had purchased as moche as the improwment cometh to And one man this doyng wolde gyue other men a corage and a good example to folowe the same And all other countreis may take ensample at Chestershyre and Lancastershyre for many of them that haue so doone haue made the improwmente as good as the lande was before c. ¶ Howe a man shulde amende bâ—â—â—hye grounde that was neuer errable lande Cap. xxix YE must consyder what the grouÌ„de is disposed vnto wheder it be drie or wete or be disposed to beare woode grasse or corne If it be drie and full of grauell it is better to bere wode than outher corne or grasse If it be weate grounde it is nat good for corne but it wyll beare bothe wode and grasse But and it be a blacke erthe and drie it is good for corne and it wyll quyte the cost to stocke it vp by the rotes and to sowe it with corne And yf it be whyte cley it is moost commenly a weate grounde and than it is nat good for corne but it wyll beare bothe wode and grasse and an acre of wode is as good as an acre of corne grouÌ„de or of grasse and in some places moche better And if ye wyll encrease the sayd busshy grouÌ„de and to make more wode than bytwene Myghelmas and Martylmas ye must gader many akehornes and put them in erthen pottes for those will kepe them moyst and in February and Marche sette the sayd akehornes in the sayde busshes as thycke as ye wyll vndouted they wyll growe And also ye may gette the keys of asshes nuttes and suche other and set them in lyke maner and to kepe all maner of catell that wyll eate any wode out of the same grounde tyll it be past dauÌ„ger of catell c. ¶ Howe to amende wode grounde that lyeth in seuerall pasture Cap. xxx IF they be great olde trees if ye felle theÌ„ by the erthe there wyll neuer come any springe of them vp agayne except they haue many smalle pumples and springes about the rotes And therfore suche olde trees wolde be but lopped and cropped to beare more wode styll and if it be a good grounde to beare corne be but a fewe trees than it were best to stocke theÌ„ vp by the rotes and to plowe it and sowe it And if it be but yong wode ye may chose wheder ye wyll shrede it loppe it or croppe it or felle it by the erthe And if ye fell it by the erthe and kepe the springe well ye shall haue for euery tree two or thre trees so that it be felde at a due season of the yere and that is bytwene Candelmas and Maye wherof I haue spoken sufficiently ynoughe in the boke of husbandrie ¶ Howe to amende gorsty grounde that hath been errable lande Cap. xxxi yE shall vnderstande that there be two maner of gorse and some men calle them fyrse One maner wyll growe on drie grounde that maner wyll growe as hyghe as a man and haue a great stalke as moche as a walkyng staffe and if ye wyll suffre them to growe and fell them nat by processe of tyme whan beestes go amonge them and specially in wynter tyme for colde and in somer for shade that wyll cause them to dye And many tymes and longe contynuall frost in wynter wyll kyll these maner of gorse and whan they be deed if ye plowe the laÌ„de agayne and sowe it with corne whan it lyeth ley agayne the gorse wyll growe agayne And the best remedy for growynge agayne is to putte vpon suche maner of pasture many shepe to eate it bare but in many places they sette great store by those maner of gorse and speciallye for their fewell wolde nat gyue an acre of gorsty lande for two acres of errable lande And on that maner of gorsty lande wolde growe good corne with lytell donge it is more profyte to plowe it and sowe it than to lye ley except he kepe it for his fewell â–ª and they growe moost commenly vpon drie grounde somwhat sandye or grauell and Shepe is the moost conuenyent catell that maye go vpon suche pasture ¶ Howe to amende gorstye lande that was neuer errable lande Cap. xxxii IF the grounde be drie and growe full of suche maner of gorse with the great stalkes ye be at your lybertie to do as I haue sayde and yf it be of the other maner of gorse or fyrse the whiche growe lowe by the erthe and haue but lytell small stalkes that maner of gorse groweth alwaye on welspring grounde somwhat moyst and weate and it wyll neuer beare good corne but
hewe it vp to bake and brewe withall for it wyll nat lightlye be distroyed for yf it be breÌ„de it wyll growe agayne But and there be marle vnderneth in the grounde within the same close if ye make cost than bren the gorse at Marche and with a bygge and many oxen plowe it and make small laÌ„des and than marle them and sowe them with otes for that corne wyll growe best on suche grouÌ„de And if this wyll nat serue it is past remedy for marle meÌ„deth all maner of grounde but it is costely c. ¶ Howe to amende bromy grounde Cap. xxxiii BRome groweth alwaye vpon drie and sandy grounde and it wyll beare good rye and otes but it wyll nat endure to beare corne longe without it be donged with the carte or with the shepe folde or bothe And if ye let it lye ley plowe it nat the brome wyll come agayn and shepe is the best catell to holde it vnder but neuerthelesse it wyll growe Whan it is growen of a yarde of heyght or more than it is good to bake and brewe with and specially whan a house is thacked to take the brome and make it iÌ„ quarters of a yarde long or there about and to pricke them in to the thacke by and by and couer the thacke clene ouer and it shall bothe kepe out weate and also saue it from pullynge downe with crowes pyes dawes or choughes And if ye wolde distroy it whan it is growen thre or four fote of height than about saynt Iames day fell it a fote aboue therthe or more and than the stalke wyll dye for a good season but yf it be plowed agayne it wyll growe as faste as euer it dyde whan he leaueth plowyng ¶ Howe to amende heythy grouÌ„de Cap. xxxiiii ye shall vnderstande that there be four maners of heyth grouÌ„de s heyth growyng vpon grauell and heyth growyng vpon sande these two maner of heth groundes wyll beare no corne without moche donge or mucke for seldome is there any marle vnder that maner of heyth And in many countreis where plentie of lyme stonne is the husbandes do bren the lyme stonne with wode and secole and make lyme therof and do set it vpon their landes as they do their dong and do sprede it in lyke maner the whiche they calle moche better than dong for lyme is hote of hym selfe The other two maners of heyth is heyth growyng vpon white cley grounde and heyth growyng vpon blacke erthe that lyeth lowe lyke marrys grounde vnderneth these two maner of heyth groundes ther lyeth moost coÌ„menly marle Than brenne the heyth and serche for the marle and dygge it vp and ley it thycke vpon the grounde sprede it and than plowe it and sowe it and it is moche better thaÌ„ outher lyme mucke or any maner of dong and lengar it wyll last and se that there be no water standyng vpon the said grounde c. ¶ Howe to amende marres grounde Cap. xxxv THere is none other remedy but firste to dreyne the water clene awaye And this is a good meyne to dreyne the water clene away First in the lowest close wher the water maye be beste auoyded Make a great dyche and a depe that the water may auoyde And if all the water wyll nat come to that great diche but stande styll in dyuers places thauÌ„e make many smalle dyches one in to another from the sayd standyng waters so that all these standyng waters may come in to the great dyche and that by reason shulde dreyne the water clene And in a drie somer ye maye make many brode and depe diches and seuer the marres in dyuers pastures and make bridges ouer the dyches in to euery close and dyuers lanes made lyke a causey to conuey the catell in to the pastures so that one causey or lane maye serue the closes or pastures on bothe sydes And in the lowest place of euery close or pasture make a trenche or a lytell dyche in to the great dyche that gothe about And this shall ye make by processe good pastures of marres grouÌ„de and euer the lengar the better pastures and specially if ye put in moche catell it shall make the better grasse and the fyner And melche kye draught oxen and labourynge horses is the best catell to make good pasture on marres grounde and shepe on drie grouÌ„de for they wyll eate the grounde moost barest and that causeth the grasse to be good fyne And if this maner of dichynge wyll nat make the marres grounde drie than must you make a sough vnderneth therthe as men do to gette cole yron stonne leed ore or tyn And if that wyll nat serue than kepe out your catell for feare of drownyng c. ¶ Howe to amende bromy grounde and ferny grounde Cap. xxxvi BRomye grounde and fernye grounde be moch of one nature for they growe on saÌ„dye and drie grouÌ„de And they wyll bere good rye barley bygge or beyre and otes if they be donged with shepe carte or wayne For suche lyght grounde wyll soone weare and wasshe with water yf it be nat donged And yf they lye vnplowed they wyll growe full of broÌ„e and ferne and if ye wyll distroy the brome whan it is growen thre or foure fote hye In Mydsomer moâ—ne or soone after whan it is full blomed with a hedgynge byll cutte the stalkes halfe a yarde aboue the erthe so that ye leaue no grene stalke growyng vpon the rote and that wyll cause it to dye But and ye plowe it agayne and after let it lye it wyll growe agayne and if ye mowe ferne whan it is yonge so that it be mowen before Mydsomer by vse of suche mowynge it wyll weare away ¶ Of chylturne grounde flyntie grounde and chalke grounde Cap. xxxvii CHylturne grounde and flyntie grouÌ„de be lyght groundes and drie and full of small stones and chalke grouÌ„de is moche of the same nature and they wyll weare wasshe awaye with water And therfore they wolde be donged as the bromye and fernye groundes be for marle is seldome founde in these maner of groundes And therfore if ye want shepe and dong they wolde lye ley and rest theÌ„ that they maye mende with lyeng ¶ Of lyme stonne grounde Cap. xxxviii LIme stonne grounde is very good bothe for corne and grasse and yet in some places there wyll moche heyth growe vpon lyme stone grounde and that is longe of yll husbandrie For that heyth were breÌ„ned plowed sowed the first yere with otes and than falowed and sowed with whete rye barley and after with beanes or pees it wyll beare moche corne with lytell donge and shall beare alway after the better grasse And shepe is the best catell that can go vpon any of these sixe maner of grouÌ„des and best they wyll amende the grasse and kepe them selfe from rotyng And he that hath lymestone maye bren it with coole and wode and make lyme wherwith he may lyme his grounde
For in a parke or woode may be two hundred acres and more and yet nat past a hundred acres therof woode lytell more or lytell lasse and what the vesture that is to say the woode of euery acre is worthe by hym selfe for one acre maye be worthe xx.s or xl.s and another acre dere ynoughe ii.s.vi.s or x.s and howe moche the whole grounde conteyneth whan the wode is fallen And that is to be vnderstaÌ„de all the grounde within pale or hedge aswell the lauÌ„de grouÌ„de as of the wode grounde where the woode growed and what euery acre is worthe by the yere as well of the one maner as of the other ¶ Of forren woodes where other men haue coÌ„men where the lorde may improwe himselfe therof and of howe many acres and what the vesture of an acre is worthe what the grouÌ„de is worthe whan the woode is fallen and howe many acres they coÌ„tayne and what an acre is worthe Cap. vi ITem inquirendum est de boscis forinsicis vbi alii coÌ„icant quid de eisdem boscis dominus se possit approiare et de quot acris et pro quanto vestura cuiuslibet acre coÌ„muniter possit appreciari et quantum fundus valet postquam prostratus fuerit boscus quot acre iste coÌ„tineant quantuÌ„ quelibet acra valet ê‘ annuÌ„ It is to be inquered of forren wodes wher they other coÌ„men togyder what of those wodes the lorde maye improwe him selfe of howe many acres for howe moche the vesture that is to say the wode of euery acre maye be solde howe moche the grounde is worthe after the woode be fallen downe howe many acres it conteyneth what euery acre is worth by the yere The declaracyon of this statute is doutfull bycause of the none certentie therof what is sufficyent commen for it is clerely ordayned by the statute of Moreton and after confyrmed by the statute of Westmynster seconde That the lorde shall improue hym selfe of their wastes wherby is vnderstaÌ„de of their coÌ„men more 's hethes and wa st groundes as well as of wodes Thoughe the statute speke but of woodes onely leauyng their tenauntes sufficient commen the whiche in myne opinyon be those tenauntes that haue coÌ„men appendaunt and holde their landes of hym It is necessarie to be knowen what is sufficient of commen and that me semeth by reason shulde be thus To se howe moche catell the hey and the stray that a husbande getteth vpon his owne tenement wyll fynde sufficyently in wynter if they lye in house and be kept therwith all the wynter season for so moche catell shulde he haue coÌ„men in Somer and that is suffycient ye shall vnderstande that there be foure maner of commens that is to wytte coÌ„men appendant commen appurtenaunt commen in grose and commen per cause vicynage s neyghbourshepe Commen appendaunt is where a lorde of olde tyme hath graunted to a man a meseplace and certayne landes medowes and pastures with their appurtenaunces to holde of hym To this meseplace landes and medowes belongeth commen and that is called coÌ„men appendaunt But and a man graunt to another certayne landes or pastures the whiche lye in seueraltie enclosed with the appurtenauÌ„ce in fee to holde of the chefe lordes To these landes me semeth beloÌ„geth no coÌ„men without he haue suche speciall wordes in his dede Commen appendauÌ„t is where a man hath had coÌ„men to a certayne nombre of beestes or without noÌ„bre belongyng to his meseplace in the lordes wastes this is commen appurtenaunte by prescripcyon bycause of the vse out of tyme of mynde Commen ingrose is where the lordes haue graunted by their dedes commen of pasture to a straunger that holdeth no landes of hym nor ought to haue any coÌ„men but by reason of that graunt by dede Nowe the lordes maye nat improue hym selfe of any parcell for it is contrarie to his graunt thoughe there be sufficyent of commen And in lyke case if the lorde graunt commen to a man by dede and to lymitte him a certayne nombre of beestes Se what was commen at that tyme and of that the lorde shall nat improue hym selfe for and he shulde the goodnesse of the coÌ„men to that certayne nombre shulde be abridged that they shulde nat fare so well and euery maÌ„nes dede shall be taken stroÌ„gest agaynst hym selfe And in lyke maner if the lorde graunt a man commen with his catell within certayne meyres lymittes boundes the lorde shall nat improue hym selfe within those meyres and bouÌ„des CoÌ„men per cause de vicynage is wher the wast grounde of two towneshippes lye toguyder and nother hedge nor pale bytwene to kepe their catell a sonder so that the catell of one towneshyppe gothe ouer his meyre or bounde in to the waste grounde of the other towne and lykewise the catell of the other townshyppe to them And also if their commen feldes lye toguyder vnclosed in opyn tyme whan haruest is in their catell wyll go out of the one felde in to the other felde and this is called commens bycause of neyghbourshyp and is nat vsed nor laufull to pynne their catell so goyng but in good maner to driue and chace besyde suche coÌ„men And as for that maner of commens me semeth the lorde may improwe him selfe of their wast groundes leauyng their owne tenauntes sufficyent coÌ„men hauyng no regarde to the tenauntes of the other towneshyp But as for all errable landes medowes leyse and pastures the lordes maye improwe them selfe by course of the coÌ„men lawe for the statute speketh nothynge but of wast groundes And ye shall vnderstande that howbe it that a lorde maye nat improwe him selfe of his wast groundes yet may he laufully fall and selle all the wode brome gorse fyrs braken ferne busshes thornes and suche other as fre stonne lyme stone chalke turues claye sande leed ore or tynne to his owne vse for the tenaÌ„tes may haue nothyng by reason of commen but all onely bytte of mouthe with their catell And ye shall knowe that swyne and Geese haue no commen but by suffraunce without speciall wordes in their charter Also the lorde shall haue his free warren for all maner beestes foules of warren in his wast groundes as well as in his seuerall groundes and as long as the beestes or foules of warren be vpon the lordes grounde they be the lordes yf he haue warren and the lorde maye haue an actyon of Trespace agaynst any man that chaceth or kylleth any of theym in his commen as well as in his seuerall And if they go or flye out of the lordes warren than is the proê‘tie chaÌ„ged and the lorde hath lost his actyon for takynge of them whan they be oute of his warren without they come in to his warren agayne there is no man hath warren but by speciall graunt of the kynge by charter except it haue ben vsed tyme out of mynde and alowed before iustyce in heyre And as for the articles
go so ofte about as a lytell whele wyll do But the cogge whele in a corne mylne is a great helper if it be well pycked well cogged and well roÌ„ged sixe ronges .xlviii. cogges are best for a great ryuer For than the mylne stonne gothe eyght tymes about and the water whele but ones and euery rong kepeth his owne cogge et econtra changeth nat on any syde And for a meane water sixe roÌ„ges and .xlii. cogges is best And for the ouer shotte mylne sixe roÌ„ges and .xxxvi. cogges is best For the cogge whele maye nat be of so great a compase as the other cogge wheles be And in all these pyckes euery cogge kepeth his owne ronge And if ye putte in any whele a cogge or two cogges mo or lasse thanne as I haue sayd Than shall euery cogge chaunge his ronge at all tymes so that and it be nat very truely pycked it wyll nat go well and if it fortune to breke a cogge as it is lyke to do it wyll than breke many of them excepte he shote downe his draught gate shortely and lykewise a wyndmylne howbe it a wyndmylne hath neuer vnder .xlviii. cogges or .liiii. c. but they must be so pycked that euery cogge kepe his owne ronge and seuyn ronges are nat profytable for they go latte lye Of horse mylnes I do nat speke of the makyng for I haue nat thexperience of them as I haue of water mylnes ¶ Also the lordes and their tenauntes haue another maner of profyte by reason of these waters ouer and besyde these maner of mylnes or fysshingê and that is by reason of the watrynge of their catell and beestes bothe wynter and somer and specially of the rynnynge waters as ryuers brokes sucches and welspringes for they done syldome frese or neuer they wyll be colde in somer and warme in wynter and yf a close want water it hath a great meame and is moche the worse ¶ Furthermore it is coÌ„uenyent for a surueyour that whan he hath surueyed his Lordes landes and sene what profytes and approwmentes maye ryse and be made within the same that he shewe his lorde therof and aduyse hym to do it and to make the cost For it is vndouted that a man can nat make no surer purchase of any maner of lande better tytell nor lighter coste nor more aduauntage to hym selfe than to improwe amende and make better his owne olde enherytaunce I meane nat by the heyghtnynge reysyng or increasyng of the rentes of their tenauntes but all onely in mendyng and makyng better his errable landes medowes leyse pastures and in makyng of water mylnes wyndmylnes horse mylnes fullyng mylnes sythe mylnes cutteler mylnes be it by water or draught of horses smethy mylnes or suche other And also of gettynge of all maner of profytes as well vnder the erthe as aboue as before is remembred in the sixt chapiter And by the reason of these improwmeÌ„tes me semeth a man myght make euery townshyppe that standeth in the playne champyon countre and occupyed in tyllage halfe as good agayne in all maner of profytes to the tenauntes as it was before If the lordes therof their tenauÌ„tes can agre of the costes that shulde be made therof And neuer a house nor cottage to be decayed nor lette downe and to haue as moche lande in tyllage and plowing as ther was before and their corne and grasse shulde be better saued and kepte froÌ„ distroyeng ¶ Howe to make a townshippe that is worthe twentie marke a yere worthe .xx. li a yere Cap. xli IT is vndouted that euery townshyppe that staÌ„deth in tyllage in the playne couÌ„trey there be errable landes to plowe sowe and leyse to tye or tedder their horses and mares vpon and commen pasture to kepe and pasture their catell beestes shepe vpon And also they haue medowe grounde to gette their hey vpon Than lette it be knowen howe many acres of errable landes euery man hath in tyllage of the same acres in euery felde to chaunge with his neyghbours and to ley them toguyder and to make hym one seuerall close in euery felde for his errable landes and his leyse in euery felde to ley them toguyder in one felde and to make one seuerall close for theÌ„ all And also another seuerall close for his porcyon of his commen pasture and also his porcyon of his medowe in a seuerall close by it selfe and all kepte in seuerall bothe in wynter and somer and euery cottage shall haue his porcion assigned hym acordyng to his rent and than shall nat the ryche man ouerpresse the poore man with his catell and euery man maye eate his owne close at his pleasure And vndouted that hay and strawe that will fynde one beest in the house wyll fynde two beestes in the close better they shall lyke For those beestes in the house haue shorte heer thyn and towarde Marche they wyll pyll be bare And therfore they maye nat abyde in the felde before the heerdman in wynter tyme for colde And those that lye in a close vnder a hedge haue longe heer thycke and they wyll neuer pyll nor be bare and by this reason the husbande may kepe twyse so many catell as he dyde before ¶ This is the cause of this approument Nowe euery husbande hath sixe seuerall closes wherof thre be for corne the fourthe for his leyse the fyfte for his coÌ„men pastures and the sixte for his hay and in wynter tyme there is but one occupyed with corne than hath the husbaÌ„de other fyue to occupy tyll lent come and than he hath his falowe felde his ley felde his pasture felde all somer And whaÌ„ he hath mowen his medowe than he hath his medowe grounde so that he haue any weyke catell that wolde be amended or dyuers maner of catell he may put theÌ„ in any close he wyll the whiche is a great aduauÌ„tage if all shulde lye coÌ„men than wolde the edysshe of the corne feldes the aftermath of all the medowes be eaten in ten or xii dayes And the riche men that hath moche catell wolde haue the aduauntage and the poore man can haue no helpe nor relefe in wynter whaÌ„ he hath most nede And if an acre of lande be worthe sixe pens or it be enclosed it wyll be worthe eyght pens whan it is enclosed by reason of the compostyng and dongyng of the catell that shall go and lye vpon it bothe day and night And if any of his thre closes that he hath for his corne be worne or waxe bare than he may breke and plowe vp his close that he had for his leyse or the close that he had for his commen pasture or bothe and sowe them with corne and lette the other lye for a tyme and so shall he haue alway reist grounde the whiche will beare moche corne with lytell dong and also he shall haue great profite of the wode in the hedges whan it
tyll the rigge be cast downe than take thy ploughe agayne and begyn to plowe wher thou dydest plowe firste and rygge all the remynaunt vpwarde and so shalt thou bothe cast thy landes and rigge it and all at one plowyng And this wyll make the lande to lye rouÌ„de the which is good bothe for corne grasse c. ¶ Another maner of meÌ„dyng of errable lande is to mucke it marle it lyme it or dong it with the carte or wayne and as I sayde in the boke of husbandrie to sette thy dong vpon the first sturryng whan it is rygged for that is best for many causes and if thou lay it vpon the falowyng than set thy mucke hepe in the reyne of the lande and than sprede it and all that falleth in the rygge cast it out agayne for elles it dothe but lytell good for it wyll be couered with erthe and syldome sene agayne c. ¶ Another maner of mendynge of errable lande is to sette thy shepe folde vpon it and to flytte it euery daye and it is better vpon the sturrynge than vpon the falowe and the shepe folde is better vpon the rye grounde than vpon the whete grounde c. ¶ Another maner whan a husbande hath moche errable lande and hath no donge nor shepe to compost nor donge his lande with all Than let the husbande take his plough and cast all suche landes thre or four tymes togyder and make the rigge there as the reyne was before And if the landes be to brode whan it is so cast downe than rygge eyther syde by it selfe and so make two landes of one lande or thre landes of .ii landes And so shall he fynde newe moolde that was nat sene in a huÌ„dred yeres before the whiche must nedes gyue more corne than the other dyde before c. ¶ Howe a man shulde amende his medowes Cap. xxv SE that there be no moldy warpes castige in the medowes and yf there be in Aprill lette them be spradd and beaten small And this is the best way to sprede them and make them small To take a great boughe of a tree and to plass he the bowes abrode and lay them lowe and if they lye nat brode ynoughe than take other smalle bowes and bynde them faste to the same and to ley a tree or two ouerthwarte the bowes to holde them downe flatte to the erthe and to bynde the trees or the bowes that it fall nat of And than to boore an hole with an nauger in the great boughes ende or els to tye a rope fast to all the boughes endes toguyder and to fast the teym to the same and with oxen or horses to drawe the sayde boughes bothe vp and downe and ouerthwarte the sayde moldy warpe hylles the whiche shall spredde them better than any mannes handes can do that shall refresshe the grasse and make the medowes moche better ¶ Another maner of mendynge of medowes is yf tâ—ere be any rynning water or lande flode that may be sette or brought to ronne ouer the medowes from the tyme that they be mowen vnto the begynning of May and they wyll be moche the better and it shall kylle drowne driue awaye the moldywarpes and fyll vp the lowe places with sande make the grouÌ„de euyn and good to mowe All maner of waters be good so that they stande nat styll vpon the grounde But specially that water that cometh out of a towne from euery maÌ„nes mydding or donghyll is best and wyll make the medowes moost rankest And fro the begynning of May tyll the medowes be mowen and the hay goten in the waters wolde be set by and ron another way for dyuers consideracyons c. ¶ To amende and make better dyuers maners of pastures IT is vndouted but there be dyuers maners of pastures as lowe grounde lyke medowe grounde ley grouÌ„de the whiche hath ben errable grouÌ„de of late busshie grounde the whiche somtyme hath ben errable grouÌ„de busshye grouÌ„de the whiche was neuer errable grounde gorstye grounde the whiche hath ben errable grounde gorstie grounde the whiche was neuer errable Brome grouÌ„de heyth grounde marrys grounde chalke grounde flyntie grouÌ„de chylturne grounde and lymestonne grounde ¶ To amende lowe grounde lyke medowe grounde ¶ ye shall do by it as I haue shewed you in the next chapiter before of your medowes and if any water stande styll and wyll nat voyde make a dyche two or thre as nede shall requyre and opyn the sydes of the dyche that the water maye come in to it Conuey the water away and with a ploughe make dyuers sorowes from the said dyche vp in to the pastur where the water standeth and with a Carte a wayne or a sleyde cary awaye therthe that the ploughe tourneth vp or els it wyll stoppe the water on the one syde if the ploughe forowe be to lytell thanne make dyuers small dychesse and open them on bothe sydes so that thou leaue no water standyng in the pastur no tyme of the yere And melche kye draught oxen laboring horses and mares be moost conuenyent to go togyder in suche pastures c. ¶ Howe to amende ley grounde the whiche hath ben errable lande of late Cap. xxvii YE must take hede howe the leyse lye and specially that they lye nat to hyghe for they do it is more profite to the husbande to caste it downe agayne sowe it with otes one yere two or thre and to ley it lower and rounde in good temper and se that no water stande at the landes endes buttyng on the heed laÌ„des and if it so do than with a ploughe cast a forowe towarde the heed landes and than the water wyll folowe that forowe and make the landes drie But that forowe wyll nat serue paste one or two yeres but it must be renewed And yf it waxe mossye in wynter than wolde it be plowed agayne and sowen with dyuers cornes as the grounde requyreth And at the first plowynge it wolde be plowed a square forowe as depe as it is brode and layde flatte sowen with otes that the mosse maye rote and than to lye falowe one yere than to be sowen with wheat rye or barlye as the husbande thynketh moost coÌ„uenyent And if it shulde lye falowe the first yere the mosse wyll nat rote and at wynter it wyll be weate and drowne all the wheat and rye that it toucheth And if a man haue plentie of suche pasture that wyll be mossye euery thirde yere let hym breke vp a newe pese of grounde and plowe it and sowe it as I haue said before and he shall haue plentie of corne with lytell dongynge sowe it no lengar than it wyll beare plentie of corne without dong and it wyll beare moche better grasse ten or .xii. yere after And if the leyse be to brode than make two laÌ„des of one lande as I haue said before And shepe are the moost conuenyent catell that may go on suche pasture and best