| Title: | Copy Petition In Scribal Hand G, John Thomas Gardner To The Council Of State |
|---|---|
| Dating: | undated |
| Ref: | 62/12/1A-4B: 3B, 4A BLANK |
| Notes: | Another copy at 8/61. |
[62/12/1A]
To the Right Honorable the Counsell of State,
The Humble Representation of Ioh: Tho: Gardner
Sheweth
A waÿ set forth by Iohn Thomas Gardner liuing in St Albones, for the good of the three Nations Bÿ improving of Land that it shall yearlÿ bring forth as much profit, As the Rent of the Land doth goe for more then now it doth.
First if all Arable & Pastour Land were planted with fruit trees in hedges: and bÿ lanes and other wast places, to the quantitie of ten trees to the Aker. that once in twentie yeare it will counteruaille the Rent of the Land euery yeare after, If theÿ plant them in Pastoure or Arable Land they will doe litle or no harme. Bÿ this meanes there will bee made of Cider and Perrie sufficient to serue the Nations and to spare. And the Cider and Perrie will bee good merchandize: And the ground that is now with drink Corne will bee employed to other Vse for the good of the Nations,
Secondlÿ for Grasse, All ground naturallÿ is giuen to grass so that if all cold grounds that carrie not good grass As Mores, Downes and Commons or barren meddowes or anÿ other
[62/12/1B]
Ground were broke up and sowed with a Cropp of Corne and hay-seed with it: bÿ that time the corne is ripe there will bee good grass and no preiudice at all to the Corne that in the ensuing yeare the grasse will so multiplÿ: it being young that it will beare a good sort of grass the Like maÿ bee done also in Arable ground.
Thirdly for Bees. there maÿ bee twentie stocks of Bees kept where there is but one: if the owners had Iudgment to order them in summer and preserue them in winter: for the Bees neuer gather their meat till the honey-dewes fall: then should wee haue plentie of honey in our owne Nations, and not bee beholding to other Nations for it as now wee are.
Fourthlÿ in satisfaction to the Parliaments desire set forth for the better setting of the poore of those Nations at worke in Generall there is not anÿ other waÿ can bee approued of but bÿ soweing of hemp and flax: which if it maÿ please this Honorable Counsell of State to proceed in: for the Generall good of all
[62/12/2A]
the poore of these Nations as well tradesmen as labourers: and the ensuing Rule to bee obserued: there need not bee one idle person in these three Nations, but that all maÿ haue sufficient emploÿment bÿ the Same Commoditie both man, women and children from seauen yeares old to seauente, bÿ which meanes wee shall need no linnen from other parts neither hemp or flax, but haue sufficient in our owne Nations for to make our owne ship-tackling and other necessaries to them belonging: which now wee pay deare Rates for and want them, besides the great gaine that will arise to the sowers thereof, and the great Increase of Trade it will bring in. Further it will redound to the good of all, bÿ taking of the greatest part of the heauie burthens that are in diuers Parishes, in these Nations. which they are at for the releef of their poore. The Rule is this: First if euerÿ one that holdeth fiue Acres of Land or upwards, may bee compelled bÿ an Act to sowe his proportionable part according to the Rate of two Acres and a [catchword: halfe or]
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or three Akers out of the hundred, there will bee emploÿment enough for all the Poore.
Now if it please this Honorable Counsell to owne this great worke for the good of the Nations, that an Act maÿ bee set forth for the performance of it, and fines upon them that will not obey the said Act, then the said worke by your Honours encuragement will come to perfection for the Honour of God and the Relief of many thousands of poore, who now for want of emploÿment are readie to Perish.
Moreouer if it shall please the Honourable Counsell, that this worke shall goe forwards then the Authors hereof will set forth Bookes so that euerÿ one that holdeth fiue Acres of Land or upwards, maÿ take a booke for his owne use, wherin shall bee plainlÿ showne euerÿ particular thing as followeth, and the price of the booke shall bee but six pence the Cheapest waÿ that can bee thought on
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for giuing the Nations true Instruction or direction. For
First the Bookes shall show how to bring up stocks to graft on. and likewise how to graft them, and how to preserue them in poore dryeland, as well as in anÿ other Land: secondlj how to sowe their haÿ seed, for it is a small seed and will quicklÿ berrie. and how to saue it: Thirdly for Bees how to Increase their stokes and to preserue them and feed them in Winter: Fourthly how to order their Land wherein hemp and flax should bee sowed, and how to order their hemp and flax, both for gathering and dressing of it euerÿ kind of waÿ. These things being most necesarie to bee set forth to the Nations or else it will bee a Long time before theÿ come to the perfect knowledge of it besides it will cost them verÿ deare to come to haue the perfect knowledge of it.
