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1 The countrie[1] enclosed I praise, the tother delighteth not me, For nothing the wealth it doth raise, to such as inferior be. How both of them partly I knowe, here somewhat I mind for to showe.[2] Champion. 2 There swineherd that keepeth the hog, there neatherd, with cur and his horne, There shepherd with whistle and dog, be fence to the medowe and corne. There horse being tide on a balke, is readie with theefe for to walke. 3 Where all thing in common doth rest, corne field with the pasture and meade, Though common ye doo for the best, yet what doth it stand ye in steade? There common as commoners vse, for otherwise shalt thou not chuse.[3] 4 What laier much better then there, or cheaper (thereon to doo well?) What drudgerie more any where lesse good thereof where can ye tell? What gotten by Sommer is seene: in Winter is eaten vp cleene. 5 Example by Leicester shire, what soile can be better than that? For any thing hart can desire, and yet doth it want ye see what. Mast, couert, close pasture, and wood, and other things needfull as good. Enclosure. 6 All these doo enclosure bring, experience teacheth no lesse, I speake not to boast of the thing, but onely a troth to expresse. Example (if doubt ye doo make): by Suffolke and Essex go take.[E385] Seuerall. 7 More plentie of mutton and biefe, corne, butter, and cheese of the best, More wealth any where (to be briefe), more people, more handsome and prest, Where find ye? (go search any coast) than there where enclosure is most. 8 More worke for the labouring man, as well in the towne as the feeld: Or thereof (deuise if ye can) more profit what countries doo yeeld? More seldome where see ye the poore, go begging from doore vnto doore? Champion countrie. 9 In Norfolke behold the dispaire of tillage too much to be borne: By drouers from faire to faire, and others destroieng the corne. By custome and couetous pates, by gaps, and by opening of gates.[4][E386] 10 What speake I of commoners by, with drawing all after a line: So noieng the corne, as it ly, with cattle, with conies,[5] and swine. When thou[6] hast bestowed thy cost, looke halfe of the same to be lost. 11 The flocks of the Lords of the soile do yeerly the winter corne wrong: The same in a manner they spoile, with feeding so lowe and so long. And therefore that champion feeld doth seldome good winter corne yeeld. Champion noiances. 12[7] By Cambridge a towne I doo knowe, where many good husbands doo dwell; Whose losses by losels doth showe,[E387] more here than is needfull to tell: Determine at court what they shall, performed is nothing at all.[E388] 13 The champion robbeth by night, and prowleth and filcheth by day: Himselfe and his beast out of sight, both spoileth and maketh away Not onely thy grasse, but thy corne, both after, and er it be shorne. 14 Pease bolt with thy pease he will haue, his houshold to feede and his hog: Now stealeth he, now will he craue, and now will he coosen and cog. In Bridewell a number be stript, lesse woorthie than theefe to be whipt.[E389] 15 The oxboy, as ill is as hee, or worser, if worse may be found: For spoiling from thine and from thee, of grasse and of corne on the ground. Laie neuer so well for to saue it, by night or by daie he will haue it. 16 What orchard vnrobbed escapes? or pullet dare walke in their jet? But homeward or outward (like apes) they count it their owne they can get. Lord, if ye doo take them,[E390] what sturs! how hold they togither like burs! 17 For commons these commoners crie, enclosing they may not abide: Yet some be not able to bie a cow with hir calfe by hir side. Nor laie not to liue by their wurke, but theeuishlie loiter and lurke. 18 The Lord of the towne is to blame, for these and for many faults mo.[E391] For that he doth knowe of the same, yet lets it vnpunished go. Such Lords ill example doth giue, where verlets[E392] and drabs so may liue. 19 What footpathes are made, and how brode! annoiance too much to be borne: With horse and with cattle what rode is made thorow erie mans corne! Where champions ruleth the roste,[E393] there dailie disorder is moste. 20 Their sheepe when they driue for to wash, how careles such sheepe they doo guide! The fermer they leaue in the lash, with losses on euerie side. Though any mans corne they doo bite, they will not alow him a mite. 21 What hunting and hauking is there! corne looking for sickle at hand: Actes lawles to doo without feare, how yeerlie[8] togither they band. More harme to another to doo, than they would be done so vntoo. 22 More profit is quieter found (where pastures in seuerall bee:) Of one seelie aker of ground, than champion maketh of three. Againe what a ioie is it knowne, when men may be bold of their owne! Champion. Seuerall. 23 The tone is commended for graine, yet bread made of beanes they doo eate: The tother for one loafe haue twaine, of mastlin, of rie, or of wheate. The champion liueth full bare, when woodland full merie doth fare. Champion. Seuerall. 24 Tone giueth his corne in a darth, to horse, sheepe, and hog euery daie; The tother giue cattle warme barth, and feede them with strawe and with haie. Corne spent of the tone so in vaine: the tother doth sell to his gaine. Champion. Seuerall. 25 Tone barefoote and ragged doth go, and readie in winter to sterue: When tother ye see doo not so, but hath that is needfull to serue. Tone paine in a cotage doth take, when tother trim bowers doo make. Champion. Seuerall. 26 Tone laieth for turfe and for sedge, and hath it with woonderfull suit: When tother in euerie hedge, hath plentie of fewell and fruit. Euils twentie times worser than thease, enclosure quickly would ease. Seuerall. 27 In woodland the poore men that haue scarse fully two akers of land, More merily liue and doo saue, than tother with twentie in hand. Yet paie they as much for the twoo as tother for twentie must doo. 28 The labourer comming from thence, in woodland to worke any where: (I warrant you) goeth not hence, to worke anie more againe there. If this same be true (as it is:) why gather they nothing of this? 29 The poore at enclosing doo grutch, because of abuses that fall, Least some man should haue but too much, and some againe nothing at all. If order might therein be found, what were to the seuerall ground?