The Hartlib Papers

           Reasons To Iustifie and to shew

     How the public and particular proffit will come

     according to the advice proposed by Hugh Lamy.

             First concerning Husbandrie

It is certain that the ground which is most improoved doth yeild most fruit whence commeth a benefit both in the increasse of graine and fourage as well for the food [of?] beasts, as for the increase of dung to fatne the ground.

And this way of Husbandrie which shall bee shewed will easily yeeld the increase of one fift part more then ordinarie at the ingathering besides this advantage that the cornes shall not bee subject to bee black, nor blasted nor to fall on the ground.

And to make good that which hath beene proposed, it suffiseth to shew the encrease of one 20th part namely out of seventie acres of graine to maintaine one man towardes the service of the Plantation for the Public good soe that three partes off the proffit shall remaine to him that shall furnish the man by vertue of this way of husbandrie for having a 5th part proffit above that which hee now hath at the ingathering hee shall give but a 9th part thereof to furnish a man towardes the service of the Plantation. Nor is there any danger or tye put upon this undertaking because, hee that bee doth undertake shall not bee constrained to continue; and none shall bee [bound? altered] to follow the way against his will.

And concerning the wooles, it is certain that the sheep which are fedde in places not so moist &c. beare wooles which are finer, more firme; &which make better cloth. Also the flesh of such sheep is more solid &healthfull for the sheep[H alters from shep] which is fedd in moist pastures hath flesh <which> is more sofft, and which breedeth consumptions the butchers cann tell that such sheep are full of reddish matters, and their bowells full of bladders, and offt times halfe rotten; whence they cause consomption in mens bodyes.

               Secondly concerning the dressing

                        of fishes.

fishes.

It is certain that if the Plantation doth furnish gray Salt &the third of the men for the fishing of new found land that the State will receive a greatt benefit, above the 30tie in the hundred to bee assured to the merchants.

And for the fishing in the North Sea the other Nations are content with 20 in the 100th therefore the English may well be content with 30tie in the 100th and the overplus of proffit in the saile shall not bee off little vallew for the State.

And concerning the Herring fishing all though the proffit will not be (30tie in the 100 for the merchants being deducted) soe great tunne for tunne as off other fishes yet because that fishing is great; the quantitie will make it up for the proffit of the State

And concerning the Salmon fishing &c. the benefit thereof will come from the qualitie of the dressing which will make it worth double or triple the price for the fishing thereof is but small in comparrison of the rest.

It is to bee considered here that the merchantes ought to bee content with this benefit seeing by this meanes their proffit is certaine and secured without the danger of evill fishing or of an ill [market?] and above this the proffit of the State will redound to their advantage because it will bee employed for the entairtaining off ships to guard the coasts and secure the fishing and serve for convoys for merchantes shippes, and withall notice is to bee taken that hee who doth offer the advice for these advantages doth appropriat the benefit to the use,[H alters and punctuates] if it shall soe please the Parlliament to dissposse of it.

And if the Earth will give towardes the public charges that which is very considerable it is iust that the Sea helpe thereunto as much as may bee, without bringing any burden or inconvenience unto the [word deleted] fishing or Trade. Thirdly concerning the Plantation. [catchword: It is]

It is evident by the practises of the Portugalls &Spaniards &c. that a Plantation is a buisnes of very great concernment nor will it bee needfull to putte any stoppe unto it by reason of the warre for wee doe <H: [offer?] to> find men enough and money more then is needfull to this effect. &c.

And yet this is a matter of greater consequence for the public &for particulars; namely that the Plantation shall bee obliged to furnish ordinarily the 12th man <H: and> [in? altered] [word deleted] case[altered from casse] of extreame necesitie the 6th man entertained for sea service.

And that the Plantation will bee able to ease men greatly of the burden of the poore (who are a shame to mankind if not conscionably releived is noe small benefit.

And to conclude touching the proposition of intertaining 24 ships of 400[altered from 4000] tunnes &24 tunnes[H deletes] <H: Pinnaces> of 150 tunnes this is spoken within compasse because more may bee done in this kind &soe much as is [H deletes word] <H: scarce> credible.

Now these advices should bee found soe much the more acceptable because without sesments and taxes they bring in freely and voluntarily the advantages for service, in the heart and hand off the Public, without any feare of a diversion from the right use For hee that holds his horse by the bridle may gette up and ride him when hee pleaseth.

And how meane soever these advices may seeme to <any> yet God willing Experience will shew forth: That affter three yeares space expired the proffit thereof will yearly bee worth foure 100 1000 lb sterling to the State besides the particular[altered from particulars] proffit of all those that shall apply themselves to follow thess wayes

                        [squiggles]