NOtwithſtanding the great benefit which divers places of this Kingdome have already in part, and are like hereafter to receive more abundantly, by the improvement of dry and barren Ground, and the increaſe of Paſture and Meadow upon them, through the Sewing of the Graſs-ſeed called St. Foine, yet there are not wanting ſome, who not only ſpeak themſelves, but would alſo engage the State againſt it; as if the common Mother of all the People, could be perſwaded to diſcourage the induſtry of ſome of her Children (for the common good and wealth of the Kingdome, as well as their own particular advantage) to gratifie ſome others with the monopoly of all the Hay and Herbage thereof; and to ſatisfie rather their imaginary fears (as anon ſhall be declared) than their real ſufferings; although all they can ſuffer, is but the abatement of that gain which they have ſo long time made by the ſufferings of their Neighbours, making their advantages upon others neceſſities: And it were very great partiality, to force any part (and by far the greater part of the Nation to labour ſtill under their neceſſities, and not to ſuffer them to ſupply themſelves by the improvement of their own Grounds (which proportionably improveth the ſtock and riches of the Nation) that ſome Men might ſtill have the opportunity to ſell their Hay, and let their Paſture ſo much the dearer.

If theſe Men could alleadge, that by this improvement of the dry and barten Ground, their rich Grounds were made poorer, or leſs fruitful, or that what was abated in their Lands was gained by Forraigners, and not by their own fellow Subjects (which ſecureth the Kingdome from any loſs) they had more colour of reaſon on their ſide; but in this caſe they have none at all: For as the Commonwealth receives no detriment by it, ſo neither doth any particular man receive any prejudice thereby, but by accident, if at all; but on the other ſide the Kingdome in general is thereby enriched, many private men advantaged in their eſtates, without the leaſt injury to any particular Man whatſoever: for it is well known how great and vaſt a quantity of Land there hath been, and ſtill is in England and Wales, which of its own nature is neither Meadow, or any confiderable paſturage, in reſpect of ſo great a proportion of ground, inſomuch that the Inhabitants of divers places have been forced to buy Hay at exceſſive dear rates, 20 s. 30 s. 40 s. and ſometimes 3 l. and 5 l. a Tun, and to fetch it by Cart, ſix, ten, fifteen miles. Others have been forced to ſupply the want of Hay by Turnips (as in Norfolk) and all this not ſufficing, men have ſet their wits on work to get more Paſture and Meadow, whereupon, great Levels of Fens have been Drained in ſome Countries; and in other places Meadow and Paſture hath been exceedingly increaſed by the watering of dry and courſe Grounds, and thoſe that having ſo done, have had opportunity to ſell their Hay, and ſet their Herbage at very dear rates to their neighbours, now that their own turn is ſerved, they would pull up the ladder (as they ſay) after them, and would hinder others from improving their dry Grounds, in ſuch ways as they are capable of improvement; as if the Rain were to fall, and the Sun to ſhine only on ſome Mens Lands. The Men of the Vale might as well deſire that thoſe of the Hill-country might not Fold, or Dung their Ground, or Sow any Corn, that ſo (having no Corn of their own) they might be forced to buy it at a higher rate from thoſe of the Dale; and with far greater appearance of reaſon might they urge ſuch a reſtraint, becauſe the Vale being the Granary of the Kingdom would thereby be encouraged to Sow more Corn, and forbear to turn ſo much Tillage into Paſture, and that the Tillage of the Hill-countries doth but waſte the ſtrength of Men and Beaſts, and the ſtock of the Kingdom to little purpoſe, and will fail the Nation in dry years, and ſupply it but a little in wet years. In like manner the Wood-land-countries might with as good reaſon deſire that no French Furze might be ſown (as in Devonſhire and Cornwall) nor any Wood planted in naked Countries, that they might ſell their Wood the dearer, or that no Turfs or Coals might be made uſe of, (as I have heard) that when Sea-coal began to be firſt burnt in London, thoſe that feared the fall of their Wood from the prizes they formerly ſold at, procured a Petition to be preferred to the Houſe of Commons, againſt the buring of Sea-coal, as corrupting the Air of the City. Now though there is hardly any thing ſo innocent, or uſeful to Mankind, but that envy, and ſelf-intereſt may find ſomewhat in it to cavil at, yet could I never hitherto hear of any thing that was objected particularly againſt this improvement by St. Foine, faving only that it fills the Nation with over much Meadow and Paſture, which if it be accompted a nuiſance, the ſame thing bath been done many other ways, and thoſe not altogether free from particular exceptions againſt them.

It cannot be objected here, as againſt the Draining of the Fens, or the watering of Meadow, that the Slabb and Mud which remains after the Water is drawn off the Ground, and the Suns heat comes upon, it corrupts the Air, and makes it unwholeſome. Nor that it indangereth Cattle with the Murrain, for want of Water, in dry years, as it is found that low and Fen-grounds do, or that it rotteth or deceiveth Gattle (as the Hay of ſome watred Ground doth) and which is but courſe, and not very good for Sheep at the beſt. Nor that it deſtroys any Fiſh, or prejudices any Mill, nor hinders Navigation, or pens the Water up too long upon other Mens Ground above, or keeps it too long from them below, or that thereby any mans ground is cut away, or that any Mans Common, Fiſhing, Fowling, or other way of livelihood is deſtroyed, or that the Water is carried off one part, to lye heavier, and more dangerouſly on another ſide. All, or ſome of which, may be truly objected againſt Draining of Fens, and Watering of Meadows, notwithſtanding all which the Kingdome hath been thought in general ſo much advantaged by the increaſe of Paſture and Meadow (all which St, Foine doth, as anon ſhall be ſhewn) that it hath by particular Acts countenanced the own, and never diſcountenanced the other.

But now ſay ſome (and this is the only objection that ever I heard againſt St. Foine) there is ſo much Meadow and Paſture in the Kingdome, that there is not ſtock to ſpend it. A ſtrange paradox, that plenty ſhould make the Kingdome poor; but before I ſpeak directly to that principle (which is that of all monopoliſts, tending to the inriching of a few, by the impoveriſhing of many) I demand how doth the truth of this aſſertion appear; becauſe in ſome parts, where in plentiful years there is always Hay to ſpare, eſpecially where they were uſed to ſell their Hay, and never look out to provide ſtock, therefore they conclude, that it is ſo generally and conſtantly; whereas there cannot be a clearer demonſtration of the contrary, than the coſt Men are ſtill at of 40 s. and 50 s. an Acre to improve their Grounds by St. Foine, which they would never do if they knew not how to get ſtock to eat their Graſs and Hay, when they had been at ſo much coſt, aad charge to promote it. Nay, it is ſo far from that, that notwithſtanding the great plenty of old Hay, that was left the laſt year, and the improvement by St. Foine, the Inhabitants (even in ſome Pariſhes where there is a conſiderable proportion of St. Foine) have yet this laſt year bought Hay at 20 s. the Tun and more, and fetched it ſix miles and more by Cart. And I know a Gentleman that hath above 40. Acres of St. Foine, and yet is forced ſtill to buy Hay for the ordinary ſtock of his Farm: And ſurely none need to fear, but if there be Meat there will be Mouths, and the increaſe of Graſs and Hay will proportionably increaſe the ſtock of the Kingdome; and as there is more ſuſtinance for Cattle, there will be more buyers of them, and then there will be more Breeders; and rather than ſtock ſhould be wanting, the Improvers by St. Foine will in time breed for themſelves and others too, that Graſs having a ſpecial quality to beget ſtore of Milk, and that very good, whence amongſt other names it is called Idygala, and will be as proper to breed, as to feed Cattel.

Now whereas ſome are ready to impute the abatement of the price of their rich Grounds and Meadow, to the improvement of St. Foine, it is in (probability) but a miſtake of non cauſa pro cauſa, for there hath not been ſo much of it yet ſown, as that it can be generally felt through the Kingdome, as the abatement of Rents hath been, and that as much or more in ſuch Countries where none of that Graſs hath been, nor in many miles near them, as in thoſe Countries where it hath been Sown. And as much or more in Farms chiefly conſiſting of Corn, and little of Meadow and Paſture, and that for theſe ten years laſt paſt, when very little St. Foine was Sown or ſpoken off. So that ſuch abatements of Rent muſt proceed from ſome other cauſes of the general decay in Trade.

On the other ſide, that which is feared will be an effect of this, and the like improvements, is not like to be, for the Sowing of St. Foine doth not make the rich Grounds, and Meadows poor, or more barren. And whereas it may be thought that the more plenty there is of Graſs and Hay, of the leſs value they will be, that doth not follow neither, and if it did, yet would there no inconvenience thereby happen to the publick. I ſay it doth not neceſſarily follow, that the more ſtore there ſhould be of Hay and Graſs, the cheaper they ſhould be, for as I ſaid before, the more meat the more mouths both of Men and Beaſts, and the more of them the more Merchandizers, the more Manufactures, and the more Money; and every way the more will be the Riches, Strength, Proſperity, and Glory of a Nation. It may be, that as an uncertain temper of weather (ſometimes heats and ſometimes colds) is prejudicial to the natural body, ſo will an uncertain and vatiable ſtate of ſcarcity and plenty prove hurtful to the body politick, the one ſtarving, and the other glutting it; but whatſoever layeth a foundation of a certain plenty, muſt needs be of great advantage to the publick; and though there may be ſome little appearing, or poſſibily ſome real loſs to ſome Men, till ſuch time as they have accommodated their particular concerns and intereſts, to ſuch alteration in Trade, as may happen upon a new Improvement, and till ſuch time as plenty hath wrought out it ſelf a vent, yet this loſs is no other than ſuch as the Husbandman ſeems to ſuſtain in caſting away his Seed, which he will find again at Harveſt with great advantage. As for example, in this Improvement whereby the ſuſtenance of all ſorts of Cattle is increaſed, as Men find they have more keeping, ſo will they look out for more ſtock of all ſorts, and the more Buyers there be the more Breeders there will alſo be, and the more Breeders the more Feeders, the means of feeding as well as of breeding being increaſed. So that ſcarcity of Hay and Graſs will ſooner make goods cheap than plenty thereof, for Men will not buy above the prop rtion of the means they have to maintain or feed of what they buy, and yet thoſe that are neceſſitated to ſell for want of means to keep their ſtock muſt ſell though at low rates, which indeed is when there are but few that have means to keep ſtock, is the advantage of thoſe few, becauſe they may buy cheap, and ſell deat, but withal it is (as all Monopolies are) very diſadvantagious to the publick; for it diſcourages the Breeders of Stock, and the leſs Stock the leſs Compoſt and Dung, and the fewer working Oxen and Horſes, and ſo the leſs Corn, and the leſs Meat, Drink, and Cloathing, the fewer people will be in a Nation, and ſo fewer Souldiers, fewer Tradeſmen, fewer Merchants, becauſe fewer Workmen, and fewer Materials to work upon, and leſſer ſuſtinance for the Workmen.

And if it ſhall be demanded where we ſhall have a ſufficient ſtock of Men? I anſwer, there is little doubt of the fertility of theſe Northern Nations of England and Scotland, if the want of means and ſubſiſtance did not put a reſtraint upon Marriage (which draws after it divers other inconveniences, of Baſtards, Beggars, &c and we find by experience that the richeſt Countries are beſt peopled, and freeſt from Beggars; and it is not to be doubted, but that as the good husbandry of Denſuring or Devonſhering of Land (and the like) hath rendred the County of Devonſhire a rich and populous Country, which of its own nature is but a barren Soill. So in time will this improvement by St. Foine, and other ſuch like, render the Downy and dry parts of England and Wales more rich and populous. And if it might be ſuppoſed that the Kings Dominions could not afford a ſufficient ſtock of Men and Cattle, for the conſumption and working of inner Commodities when increaſed: Plenty of good and valuable Commodities will draw Men from all parts of the world, or at leaſt ſuch Commodities will be of value in all parts of the world.

If we had ſuch plenty of Corn, Meat, Tallow, Leather, Butter, Cheeſe, Wax, and Honey, (for them alſo St. Foine will certainly increaſe Bees, ſo exceedingly delighting to feed on the Flowers thereof) as that with the ſurpluſage of our own Conſumption we might ſend over great quantities beyond Seas, and alſo be able out of our own aboundance to under ſell other Nations, we ſhould not need to fear the vent of them, for our Commodities would be moſt vendible, becauſe cheapeſt. Beſides, by having a great quantity of ſuch ſubſtantial Commodities for the life of Man to Tranſport, we ſhould bring our Export to be far greater than our Import, which now is feared to fall be ow it, and to be the chief cauſe of the want of Money, and Conſequently of the decay of Trade in the Kingdome, and muſt needs (if not prevented) in time begger it in the end.

But to ſuch as are afraid of plenty, I ſhall further ſay, that it is greater riches not to need, than to have much money. What are Men the worſe, though they receive leſs money from their Lands or goods, if all things they ſtand in need of for Meat, Drink, Cloathing, and other neceſſaries, may be bought with leſs money. And what if Men ſell off Goods cheaper, if they can buy them in as much cheaper.

Indeed ſome perſons would not have ſo much Money in their Pockets to carry on a Trade, which is neither proſitable to themſelves, nor the Kingdome, but very prejudicial to both; that is exceſſive Gameing, and Betting at Cockings, and Races, and other ſuperfluous, that I may not ſay, luxurious expences upon Forraign Commodities, tending (for the moſt part) to the impairing of the health of the body, or to the nouriſhing and venting of the vanity of the mind, and withal exhauſting the eſtates of particular Men, and the general ſtock of the Kingdome, or at leaſt diverting ſo much thereof from uſeful Trades and Imployments, to thoſe that are far from being uſeful or profitable. Wherein if Gentlemen would by their own moderation ſet a law to themſelves, or that there might be a reſtraint put upon them by wholeſome Laws (as the Romans both anciently, and of latter times under the Emper ours were very ſtrict therein) there would not be ſuch great ſums of money diverted from the Trade of the Nation, for the carrying on of ſuch ſuperfluous and vain expences (I ſpeak as to the exceſs) whilſt others in the mean time keep up their monies, for to be ready to purchaſe the Eſtates of ſuch Unthriſts at eaſie rates, to omit many other inconveniences that follow thereupon: If ſuch as have no Lands left to be improved by St. Foine (as few that have any conſiderable eſtates but have) would ſpare ſomewhat out of ſuch ſuperfluous and hurtful ways of expence, they may at eaſie rates enough purchaſe good quantities of ſuch Lands, which by this way of improvement they might ſufficiently ballance any dammage they doubt they might ſuſtain thereby in their rich Grounds and Meadows.

Again, as I ſaid before, that he is richer that needs not money, than he that hath it, ſo the beſt way for a Nation to have plenty of money is not to need it; for it is neceſſity that drains away the money of a Nation, and forceth them to buy of Forraigners at dear rates, but when they have abundance for all neceſſary uſes of their own, what they have to ſpare brings them in ſo much clear money without any deductions for the ſupply of their own wants from abroad; and the cheaper our Commodities are in Forraign Markers, the more money will come into the Nation in the end, and make our Commodities the moſt vendible, becauſe cheapeſt, and becauſe we are able to afford them ſo. And the contrary courſe held by our Merchant-Adventurers in ſtarving the Markets beyond Sea hath not a little prejudiced us in our Manufacture of Cloath, inforcing other Nations out of neceſſity to ſet up the Manufacture of Cloath, which they neither would, nor could have done (having none or few Materials of their own growth) if we had not held our Cloath at too high rates, and ſerved Forraign Markets ſo ſparingly, ſo that our Neighbours are now able in ſome ſort of Cloaths to under ſell us. I have ſaid all this to ſatisfie the doubts and jealouſies of ſuch as are the owners of rich Paſtures and Meadows: but now admitting they may have ſome cauſe of jealouſie and doubt; yea, ſay it be ſome dammage for a while, yet if it ſhall excite their induſtry, as neceſſity hath done theirs that were poſſeſſors of dry and barren Lands, Faelix neceſſitas quae ad meliora conducit, and thoſe that have rich Grounds, have far the better Ground to work upon, for rich Soils are capable of holding their value at leaſt, if not of improvement ſeveral ways; but the dry and high Grounds are capable of very few ways of improvement. If increaſe of Paſture and Meadow in the hill and barren Countries, ſhould induce men in the vale and other parts to return again to Tillage, and eſpecially to imploy ſome of their rich Grounds for Hemp and Flax, though it might be ſome trouble and coſt at the firſt, it would after turn to far greater profit to the owners, and of ſingular advantage to the publick, by the increaſe of ſuch fort of Commodities of our own growth, and the Manufactures relateing thereunto, beſides the advantage which would after acrew by the change of the Seed; ſometimes one ſort of Grain, and ſometimes another, which thoſe Grounds would bring forth in great abundance; as alſo Rape and Cole-ſeed, all ſorts of Fruits and Garden-ſtuff, and after return to good Paſture and Meadow again. A rich Soil is capable of any thing almoſt, and the conſtantly uſing of it one way, only gratifieth ſloath and idleneſs; but ſeaſonable change of the beſt ſuits with the nature of almoſt all Grounds, but eſpecially of rich Soils, and is moſt proſitable to the owners, and to the publick.