124 FROM JAMES I. TO THE RESTORATION 



Letter " in Hartlib's Legacie (1651). . He regards wastes and 

 commons as defects in English husbandry, and in defence of his 

 position asks eight questions, which he does not attempt to answer, 

 preferring to leave " the determination for wiser heads." 



1. " Whether or no these lands might not be improved very much 

 by the Husbandry of Flaunders (viz.) by sowing Flax, Turneps, great 

 Clover-Grasse, if that Manure be made by folding Sheepe after the 

 Flaunders way, to keepe it in heart ? 



2. " Whether the Rottennesse and Scabbinesse of Sheepe, Murrein 

 of Cattel, Diseases of horses, and in general all diseases of Cattel 

 do not especially proceed from Commons ? 



3. " If the rich men, who are able to keepe great stockes are not 

 great gainers by them ? 



4. " Whether Commons do not rather make poore, by causing 

 idlenesse than maintaine them : and such poor, who are trained 

 up rather for the Gallowes or beggery, than for the Commonwealths 

 service ? 



5. " How it cometh to passe, that there are fewest poore, where 

 there are fewest Commons, as in Kent, where there is scarce 6 Com- 

 mons in the County of a considerable greatnesse ? 1 



6. " How many do they see enriched by the Commons : and if 

 their Cattel be not usually swept away by the Rot, or starved in 

 some hard winters ? 



7. "If that poore men might not imploy 2 Acres enclosed to more 

 advantage, than twice as much in a Common ? 



" And lastly, if that all Commons were enclosed, and part given to 

 the Inhabitants, and part rented out, for a stock to set the poore 

 on worke in every County." 



Blith not only quoted Tusser in support of his opinion, but adds 

 that " all that ever I yet saw or read " held the same opinion. 

 " Tis true I have met with one or two small Pieces, as M. Spriggs, 

 and another whose name I remember not, that write against depopu- 

 lating Inclosure, with whom I freely joyn and approve." It is 

 probable that he alludes to Henry Halhead's Inclosure Throuw, Open 

 etc. (1650), to which Joshua Sprigge of Banbury contributed a 



1 Tusser held the same opinion that poverty and commons go together. 

 In his comparison between " Champion Country and Severall '' he writes : 



" T'one barefoot and ragged doth go 



And ready in winter to starve ; 

 When t'other you see not do so, 

 But hath that is needful to servo." 



