144 



A GRIC UL TURA L WRITER S. 



TIMOTHY NOURSE. 



1635-1699 [about). 



Timothy NourSE comes next on our list, and the title-page reproduced 

 on page 145 explains his book, the contents of which were considered 

 at the time of more than commonplace order. Curiously enough, my 

 copy contains the book-plate of Thomas Boycott, a name that had great 

 significance in connection with the holding of land in Ireland some few 

 years ago. Nourse was born at Newent, Gloucestershire, entered as 

 a student at Oxford in 1655, became M.A. in 1660, entered holy orders, 

 and became a famous preacher. Later, because of his High Church 

 ideas, he was deprived of his Fellowship, and retired to his estate at 

 Newent, where he died in 1699, and was buried there. No doubt he was 

 one of those intelligent yeomen anxious to do something for his country, 

 so he committed himself to print on matters he had gained experience 

 about on his own estate. 



His first chapter describes, from his point of view, the why and 

 wherefore of " the bravest men in the first age of the world betaking 

 themselves generally to husbandry," " the advantages of our country 

 and climate above any other whatsoever," and to the " ancient gentry, 

 of which there is not a more frank, a more generous, and a more open- 

 hearted sort of men anywhere to be found, especially those who have 

 not been infected with the principles of Calvin, but that follow the true 

 Eno-lish genius, which is plain, hospitable, and debonair, without cere- 

 mony or dissimulation. But as for our common people," he adds 

 " many of them must be confessed to be very rough and savage in their 

 dispositions, being of levelling principles and refractory to government, 

 insolent and tumultuous. What gentleman soever, then, shall have the 

 misfortune to fall into the neighbourhood of such boors let him never 

 think to win them by civilities. The best way will be to bridle them 

 and make them feel the spur, too, when they begin to play their tricks 

 and kick." The saying of an English gentleman was much to the 

 purpose, " that three things ought always to be kept under, our mastiff 

 dogs, a stone horse, and a clown. Such men. then, are to be looked upon 

 as trashy weeds or nettles growing usually upon dunghills, which if 

 touched gently, will sting, but being squeezed hard will never hurt us." 



He recommends the planting of hemp and flax because the thread 

 and cloth made of it is clean and fit for ladies, whose nice fingers would 

 refuse to handle greasie wool. It was on this account that all virgins 

 through all the early ages, even of royal aegree and birth wt-re, and are 

 still, stvled spinsters. He extols the planting of mulberries for the pro- 

 duction of silk, and ladies to weave it who are much taken with the 



