INTRODUCTION 



wife seized of a " manner and a overshott 

 mill." 



And here I must note that a mill in those 

 days was apparently a very choice possession, 

 for Rowland thus comments on their owners : 

 " The mill may be worth four or five 

 pound ; but because he will win reputa- 

 tion to his demesnes on information on the 

 marriage of his son that he hath such a mill, 

 he would rather suffer muddy flouds in 

 winter and clean water in summer to breake 

 their limbs in his mill-wheels then exercise 

 his wits (by drowning) to attain a world of 

 wealth." 



When or why Rowland first thought of the 

 project which he calls his " common-wealth " 

 does not appear, but it also must have been a 

 gigantic work ; we gather it was begun after 

 the completion of the water-works, as he says, 

 " I have built my mill, and acquainted the 

 water with his course ; unto this mill I add 

 all offices," &c., &c. This commonwealth 

 was a sort of community of tradesmen, who 

 supplied each other with their specialties 

 before offering them in open market ; a clerk 

 fixed the rate at which the tanners was to 

 supply the glovers, and the carders the spin- 

 xv 



