The Order of the Work, In three CONSIDERATIONS.

FIrst,1 That all High-Roads might be reduced unto Two Coach or Cart-Tracts, allowing convenient space between; which (if those two might be certainly and continually kept firm and good) would be sufficient for all services and occasions of Travel whatever.

Secondly, 2 That those two Tracts be drawn so straight as the Situation of the Ground will afford all along, for several good Reasons.

Thirdly, I most humbly conceive, 3 it might be extremely necessary, that (after those two Tracts are perfectly compleated) there were a Law made for Travellers to some such purpose as this: viz.

That all Travellers either with Coach, Waggon, The Law for Travellers.Wain, Cart, or Horse, coming to the City of London, shall keep in the Right-hand Tract coming.

And in their going from the City of London, shall likewise keep the Right-hand Tract going, viz. the contrary.

[Page 2]The Benefits and Conveniences of these three Considerations will be infinite, and unconceivable, till Time and Experience shall make them plain.

I will only give a glance at some few, for bre­vities sake, in each particular, thus:

First, The benefit of the first Con­sideration. If all High-ways were reduced only un­to two Coach or Cart-Tracts, doubtless then there would be an unimaginable great deal of Ground sav'd; which is now spoil'd and trampled down in all wide Roads, where Coaches and Carts take liberty to pick and chuse for their best advan­tages. This is no small Consideration, if well weighed.

Besides, such sprawling and straggling of Coa­ches and Carts utterly confound the Road in all wide places; so that it is not only unpleasurable, but extreme perplexive and cumbersome both to themselves, and all Horse-Travellers. The which will be quite taken away, and many conveniences met withall, by this Reducement.

Secondly, The benefit of the second Consideration. If again the Ways shall be regulated, as to be brought into straight-lines, (only so far as they are capable of) I do believe, that in one hundred miles Riding, the Traveller shall save at least the Riding of Ten miles, in many places. Which will be a very considerable advantage to a weary Traveller.

Thirdly, The benefit of the third Con­sideration. If there were a smart Law made, to keep all irregular and troublesome persons in an or­derly way of Civility in their Travel; And also, That their Punishment might be almost so quick and sure, as their Assront, and Injury given: then without all question, innumerable Controversies, Quarrellings, and Disturbances, which in that na­ture [Page 3]are daily committed in contesting for the way (which too often proves mortal, or of very bad consequence to many) must needs cease.

Besides, A second great benefit by this Law. there is another very great benefit by this Law, which is, That no man should be pestered by giving the way (sometimes) to hun­dreds of Pack-horses, Panniers, Whifflers, Coaches, Waggons, Wains, Carts, or whatsoever others, which continually are very grievous to weary and loaden Travellers; but more especially near the City, and upon a Market-day, a man having tra­vell'd a long and tedious Journey, his Horse well­nigh spent, shall sometimes be compell'd to cross out of his way twenty times in one miles Riding, by the irregularity, and peevish crossness of such­like Whifflers and Market-women: Yea although their Panniers be clearly empty, they will stoutly contend for the way with weary Travellers, be they never so many, or almost of what Quality soever.

Who if by such a Law were ordered all of them to keep in one Tract or way, No inconve­nience for Travellers to keep one Tract. (which they might so well do, as not, and no inconvenience to any one of them in the least) I say, what an inestimable benefit might all Travellers enjoy by such a Law? which could be prejudicial to no man, nor to the least occasion of Post-hast-business, but an assured furtherance.

For if the wayes were but thus kept certainly firm, clean, and good; if any man had a mind to Travel faster than that person which is just before him, how readily and safely might he step out of the way, and pass him by; and so as readily step into the Tract again at pleasure, without the least [Page 4] danger of deep Cart-rutts, or such unreasonable high Ridges, which now are not possible (in many places) to be passed over, without manifest dan­ger both to Man and Horse.

Nay I have often known many Travellers, ☞ and my self very often, to have been necessitated to stand stock-still behind a standing Cart or Wag­gon, in most beastly and unsufferable deep wet wayes, to the great endangering of our Horses, and neglect of important Business: Nor durst we adventure to stir, (for most imminent danger of those deep Rutts, and unreasonable high Ridges) till it has pleas'd Good Mr. Carter to Jog on, which we have taken very kindly.

The great necessity therefore of such a Law, The great ne­cessity for such a Law. I do conceive will be most desirable and gratefull to all Travellers, who shall thus be assured to Tra­vel in peace, safety and quietness; so that in his never-so-long a Journey, he shall not once be di­sturb'd or put out of his way.

Besides many other pleasures and conveniences, which I shall forbear to mention, but leave them to Travellers to discourse upon, when this most happy Day shall shew it self; that then the High­wayes, and the Law for Travellers, shall make all This (and much more) complete, gratefull, and satisfactory.

The Order of the Law.

And as to the Order of this Law of Travellers, The 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 com­pelled.

But if any person shall be quarrelsome, and op­pose, 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 Per­son 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 pay­ment, his Horse may be distrained upon till such payment be made.

This, or something to this purpose, ☞ This Law can­not be too strict. 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 [Page 6]would be prevented, and all Travellers enjoy tran­quility and much pleasure.

Thus much concerning the Law for Travellers.

Lastly, The Conclusi­on of the first Preparation. As to the more easie effecting of the business, it cannot but be thought much more feasible, Why but two Tracts. 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 Gra­vel 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 ap­pear.

The manner and means by which This so needful and profitable Work may most certainly be effected, with much ease, and no great cost.

In all Humility shewing,

THat Your Majesties High-wayes are not only unpleasant, cumbersome, and grievous; The mischie­vous dangers which attend the badness of our High-ways. but also very dangerous to the Lives and Limbs both of Men and Horses, is too obvious and apparent to all Travellers.

And in that it has been, and is still judg'd im­possible to have them bettered, and to continue them so, is still the greater grief.

The Consideration of which, has been an occa­sion unto me to exercise my Thoughts so far up­on the matter, as thus to conclude, and affirm the contrary: viz.

That it is not impossible, ☞ but very feasible and easie, both to have them well mended, and to con­tinue them so for ever.

Yet I must needs say, that according to the old, common, and general way of mending them, it is absolutely impossible, yea although there were an hundred times the cost and pains bestowed on them, as is yearly bestowed.

My Reason is This; because the Matter (viz. the cost and pains) is not so much considerable, as the Manner and Order of doing it.

[Page 8]Now as to a more particular Explanation, it is to be considered, what, and how many Causes there are of the badness of High-ways: And they are chiefly four.

• First,
  The four chief impediments to High-ways.
  Mire, Slime, or Dirt.
• 2dly. Deep Cart-rutts, with their High-ridges.
• 3dly. Ʋnevennesses and Holes.
• 4thly. and lastly, Loose-Stones.

These four things being rectified, the Wayes must needs be Good.

The first thing therefore to be done, (which was ever neglected by the old way) is to cleanse the wayes thoroughly from Dirt, before any Gravel or Stones be laid on.

Likewise all the Cart-rutts to be cut down, and carried quite away; they being only the Slime, Grease, or (as I may better say) the very Oyl expressed, by the continual grinding and squeezing of the Cart-wheels, ☞ which (according to the old way of mending) were seldom or never taken away, The old ill way of mend­ing the Ways. but only beat down and put into those Deep holes, and Cart-rutts; which with some small sprinkling of Gravel, in some places only, or a few Stones, or base ill-favour'd Rubbish: And all this (very disorderly and confusedly) was the principal and constant way of mending the High-ways. And thus were they concluded to be well mended; but indeed were made worse thereby.

For so soon as a great glut of Rain comes, the Cart-wheels having made way for its reception, in stead of being hard and firm ground, (which [Page 9]it ought to be) it becomes a Quag, or a Bog. And this is one main cause of the badness of our High-ways, in reference to the two first Incon­veniences, viz. Mire, Slime, or Dirt, with deep Cart-rutts and ridges.

Now if these two were first rectified, as I have declared, viz. taken quite away, the other two might with much ease be amended, as here I shall declare.

For Example.

First, then, The best man­ner of mend­ing them. Let it be suppos'd that the Wayes are thus prepared, so that there were neither Dirt, nor the Slime or Grease of the Cart-wheels; and that I might plainly see all those deep holes, and unevennesses; I would not doubt but very well to mend them all, both tolerably and sufficiently, without the cost of one load of Stones or Gravel; only by this means, viz.

Let but my Labourers cut down with their Mat­tocks, all those adjoyning unevennesses, (which are good Stones and Gravel in most places, on­ly ill laid) and fill up those Holes with the same. Note well.

Thus only shall the Wayes be ten times better than they were, and firm enough for present and future use, if they might be always so kept clean.

For the Wayes, if the Dirt were taken off, would in a great measure mend themselves, with a very little looking to.

Yet I would not be mistaken, as if I did intend no other mending but This; No. This is but to [Page 10]shew how (without the cost of any new Gravel or Stones, ☞ &c.) the Wayes may be made far bet­ter than they are, or ever will be, by all the labour and cost they usually bestow upon them time after time.

But now after this thorough cleansing (and not before) I would have all those Hollownesses fill'd up with the best Gravel or Stones that possibly can be got for that purpose; and where there is urgent need, some Wood, but not much.

For still I believe, (by the way which I shall direct for the constant care in looking after the Wayes, when they are once truly mended) if there were neither Wood, Stones, nor Gravel, but only good hard Earth, A seeming impossibility. (nay Plow'd Lands themselves) the Wayes could not possibly be very bad at all; no not in the depth of Winter.

However This may seem a Riddle, and impossi­ble; yet I doubt not but plainly to make it ap­pear most true and feasible, when I come to give my Directions for their perpetual maintenance, which very suddenly I shall fall upon.

There is one thing more very considerable in This work, Care taken to round the Wayes. which is the rounding and heightning [Page 11]the Wayes in all places where possibly they may be so ordered, the better to keep off the wa­ter, which is the Great Corrupter of all High­wayes.

And to this purpose, And to turn all Dreins. Care ought to be taken to divert all Dreins, which usually issue down up­on High-wayes, and to find them some other pas­sage, if possible.

Many other Curiosities and Circumstances there are, as to the compleat and exact performance in This Work, too tedious here to be inserted: But they must be left to the wit and discretion of the Ingenuous Ʋndertaker, in the time of the Opera­tion, as need shall require.

The certain way to keep and maintain the High-wayes firm and good for ever.

I Will first suppose, That the Wayes are thus regulated, cleansed, and firmly once mended, according to the Order prescribed: And that two dayes have pass'd since this work was done.

Now in these two dayes time, The first cause of the ruine of the Wayes. there are pretty deep Cart-rutts made again, but in twice two dayes, much more deep, and in a week or fort­nights time, so deep, and with high Ridges, that it will occasion a Horse to stumble in going a­cross.

[Page 12]This is the first beginning, and the chiefest cause of the ruine of all High-wayes.

How easily might this be mended, The Remedy quick and easie. if there were appointed but a Labouring man daily to look after them; so far as he might well walk in one day, and back again, with his Shovel, or Rake in his hand, and only be carefull but to turn those little Ridges into the Cart-rutts again, and the work were done.

And then again the next day, and so day after day, all the year throughout: In which work, he should not suffer so much as one loose Stone to lye or continue in either of the Horse-Tracks, nor any the least unevenness to occasion a Horse to stumble or fall; and in this posture might one man keep his 5, 6, 7, 8, or 10 miles firm, perfect and good all the year long.

The Order of the Day-man, and his Constant Work.

First, The Day-mans work. having his station or allotment given him, how far, or how many miles he is to take into his Charge and Care, (which may, and must be more or less, according to the goodness or bad­ness of the Nature of the Ground) I say, he ha­ving once settled, and entred upon his underta­king, he shall then every working day, be up and upon the High-wayes at working time, Summer and Winter, His Imple­ments or Tools. either with Mattock, Shovel, Rake, Scoop, Wood-bill, Wheel-barrow, or what other Tool or Implements may be thought needfull for such a Work.

[Page 13]And thus shall he walk and work from morn­ing to night.

First, he shall work half his station one way, for two or three days, forwards and backwards, and perform whatever may be most needfull for his days-work there.

Then the next two or three days, he shall do the like to his other half station, the other way.

So that once in a weeks time, shall his whole allotment be constantly amended: And I suppose one Man may look after ten miles very well, in most ordinary good Soyls.

So that by this Rule, One hundred miles kept well by ten men.ten Men shall constantly keep one hundred of miles perfect and firm the whole year; which cannot be esteemed a great Charge.

Here may be an Objection:

But suppose it may be objected thus, Objection. (and truly) That in some Grounds, one man cannot possibly manage ten miles, by reason of the bad­ness of the Soyl, &c.

I answer thus: Answer. Then let him (notwithstand­ing) manage so far as he can, in this manner: Although it be but five miles, viz. his two miles and a half one way in two or three days, and his two miles and a half the other way next two or three days, more or less, as shall be found by experience fit.

And if quite through the Land the work would require such a Charge as this, viz. one Day-man for every five miles, what could that signifie?

Nothing, in reference to so great a Benefit to all Travellers, and a general good to the whole Na­tion, [Page 14]as I shall declare: Therefore ought not to be repined at.

Yet I am very confident, that in most places, (and but very few excepted) that one Man may very well keep ten miles tollerably well, in al­most the worst Soyls; Yet it must be granted, that those worst Grounds can never be kept so sprucely fine (or Garden-like) as may those other Sandy or Gravelly Soyls.

However, it may most easily be conceived, that the constant attendance of a continual Day­man, must necessarily keep the very worst of wayes so, that they shall absolutely be free from those gross and common annoyances, and most grie­vous inconveniences, which we find by daily and wofull experience.

Therefore, I say, let the Cost be what it will, That should not deterr us from putting it into practice or tryal. Yet I believe I am much about the matter in respect of the Charge.

I am likewise very confident, Concerning the Cost or Charge. that after the first thorough cleansing and amending, the ordi­nary Statutable yearly Charge, viz. every man's six days work, &c. will suffice; together with those other Provisions already design'd and allowed to that purpose.

Yet if I be a little out in This, I hope I shall be excus'd when it shall be consider'd, that I am not out in the grand Cast of the design.

But at the first there must be some way found out, for more than an ordinary Charge, to have them once firmly done: And after that, these con­stant Labouring men shall keep them ever so, at a small expence.

The Conclusion and very Life of the Business.

BUt first, The Lise of the business. I would have no more common Over­seers imployed in This Work: For,

Therefore it is most necessary, What is the most necessary thing to con­firm this Work. that for every hundred or two hundred miles, (more or less, as may be thought fit) there be one Surveyor-General; some Active-trusty-honest man, who should constantly be on Horse-back himself, or his most faithfull Trustees, riding upon his station, day after day, ☜ to see that these Day-men-Labourers truly acted their parts, according to their orders given.

And in case of neglect of their parts, in any these least punctilio's, viz. as to suffer any deep Dirt to lye in the Horse-Track, loose Stone, (the great undoer of Horses, and most constant occasion of Falls) uneven-little-knubs, or any Holes or Cart­rutts unamended, or any other neglect;

Then he shall have power (at his discretion) to punish such Labourers, either by stopping some part of their Wages, or by putting them out of that so constant, good, and very easie Imployment, and to elect others into their places.

Which thing will cause them to be daily care­full and diligent; How the work may, or it may not be done. And without such an exact-continual-daily-constant-strictness, and such seve­rity, [Page 16]by such faithfull and choice persons, (who will not take an Office for any end so much, as to be active, and to see their business well per­formed) the Work will not be done: But other­wise it may, with the greatest ease and pleasure imaginable.

Yet is not the Contriver so sillily conceited, as to think the Work must necessarily be done just so, in this manner in every Punctilio, as he hath di­rected unto; or that nothing can be added where­by it may be better done; No; For he knows there are divers other particulars to be thought upon and added necessarily depending, which doubtless will be found out and appear reasona­ble, &c. if ever This which he has Thus hinted to­wards shall come to be thought fit to be taken notice of, as a way feasible and likely to take effect, although with some Addition or Alteration.

And he shall much rejoyce that any thing may be added which may be more advantageous to the Work, which doubtless will and may easily be done, according to That old Latine saying, ‘Facile est inventis addere.’

AN Abbreviation of the WORK, Being an Encouragement thereunto.

A short glance of the Conveniences, Pro­fits, and Pleasures of this Work, men­tioning only some few.

THe Conveniences, Pleasures, and Profits of such a Work as this, arising to the whole Nation, must certainly be very many, and not easily apprehended, but by experience, and con­sideration thereupon; I will only hint some few. As first,

The great pleasure and content which all Tra­vellers must needs take by such cleanly, The Tra­vellers plea­sure and con­tent.smooth, straight, delightfull, and undistur'd Wayes, both Summer and Winter, Day or Night, without fear or danger, &c.

An ordinary Horse shall carry a man further than one of a far better price.

All Trades-men and others shall have their Com­modities carried at a far easier price. The Carri­ages of all Commodities must needs be cheaper.

Most Commodities therefore must needs be cheaper.

Men may Ride Post safely so well by Night as by Day, Men may Ride safely in the dark. which in Summer time is to be chosen. Hire of Post-Horses, Hackneys, and Coa­ches cheaper.

Post-Horses and Hackneys may well be afforded at easier Rates; so likewise Coaches.

The great destruction in laming Horses, Preservati­on of Horses, therefore cheaper. must needs be prevented: Horses therefore undoubted­ly be cheaper.

Much Ground will be saved by this means; Much ground sav'd. And the length of all Long Journeys shortned. Long Jour­neys shortned.

[Page 21]Lastly, Much Corn sav'd from spoiling. There will be very much Corn saved from daily spoiling, which now cannot well be avoided.

But the vast Benefit of the Travellers Law will be so superabundantly satisfactory and contentive, The unex­pressible be­nefit to all Travellers. that the Good thereof cannot be expressed.

[Page 22]And if (by what has been Thus premised) so much notice may be taken of This Contrivance, by such Persons in Authority as may probably promote the Work, and set it on foot; the Contriver does not doubt but also (farther than he has yet ex­pressed himself in this little Book) to adde Assist­ance towards it, by finding out, or prompting unto a ready way, how to procure and raise a con­siderable sum of Money towards the necessary ex­pence thereof; without offering the least wrong, or violence to any Person, or his Purse.

For Money must be spent in the first Attempt, because the Wayes are so grosly foul and bad; al­though afterwards an easie yearly Charge will un­doubtedly serve towards their maintenance for ever.

And if (for an Experiment) a tryal might be made only for any one-half-hundred-miles, with a matter of 50 or 60 choice Labouring men; the Contriver would freely give his assistance to the Work, gratis, by beginning it, and putting them into the way, and setting a pattern. And if This may be as freely accepted of, as it is freely offered, there can (sure) be no hurt done at all.