A NEWE AND BETTER WAY OF IMPROVENT OF LAND AND COURSE OF HUSBANDRY THEN HAD BEENE FORMERLY PRACTISED IN WAY OF OUR KINGDOMES BY RAISINGE OF WATERS BY SEVERALL. HATCHES, BAYES ENGINES, WHEELES, MILLES, PUMPES, AND OTHER INSTRUMENT, AND BY ALTERINGE THE NATURE, QUALITY, FORME, AND SUPERFICIES OF SOME GROUND, AND BY ENLARGING OF RYVERS AND WATERHOUSES, ACCORDINGE AS THE SCITUACON OF THE PLACES AND ACCUSACONS SHOULD REQUIRE, AND BY DRAININGE AND RAISEINGE OF LOWE, WETT, FENNY, MOORISH, AND MARSH GROUND, AND BY LYMINGE AND MARLING OF SOME GROUND, AND BY VSEINGE OF GRAVELL, SAND, RUBBISH, STONES; AND, FLINT IN SOME GROUNDS, ACCORDING TO THEIR SEVERALL NATURES AND QUALI- TYES, AND BY PLANTINGE AND PDUCINGE GREATE INCREASE OF HOPPES, WITH MUCH SAVEINGE OF WOOD NOW VSED IN POLEINGE THEREOF, BY MAKINGE THEM GROWE; RUNE ALONGE, AND BEARE VPPON ROPES OR WREATHES MADE OF STRAWE, REEDE SEDGE, RUSHES, BRUSHWOOD, OR BRYERS, TO REACH FROM ONE HOPP HILL TO ANOTHER,
Year: 1640

page_text: py
grace God, Kinge
and, Scotland, France, and
Ireland, Defendor of the Faith, &c., to all to whome these psente shall
come greetinge.
WHEREAS we, by our Letters Pattente, vnder our Greate Seale of England,
bearing date the Seaventeenth day of May, in the thirteenth yeere of the
raigne, reciteinge that whereas wee were informed by the humble peticon of
our well beloved subiect, ROBERT CHIVER, Gent., that hee, with much industry
and charge, had found out "A NEWE AND BETTER WAY OF IMPROVENT OF
LAND AND COURSE OF HUSBANDRY THEN HAD BEENE FORMERLY PRACTISED IN
WAY OF OUR KINGDOMES BY RAISINGE OF WATERS BY SEVERALL. HATCHES, BAYES
ENGINES, WHEELES, MILLES, PUMPES, AND OTHER INSTRUMENT, AND BY ALTERINGE
THE NATURE, QUALITY, FORME, AND SUPERFICIES OF SOME GROUND, AND BY
ENLARGING OF RYVERS AND WATERHOUSES, ACCORDINGE AS THE SCITUACON OF THE
PLACES AND ACCUSACONS SHOULD REQUIRE, AND BY DRAININGE AND RAISEINGE OF
LOWE, WETT, FENNY, MOORISH, AND MARSH GROUND, AND BY LYMINGE AND
MARLING OF SOME GROUND, AND BY VSEINGE OF GRAVELL, SAND, RUBBISH, STONES;
AND, FLINT IN SOME GROUNDS, ACCORDING TO THEIR SEVERALL NATURES AND QUALI-
TYES, AND BY PLANTINGE AND PDUCINGE GREATE INCREASE OF HOPPES, WITH MUCH
SAVEINGE OF WOOD NOW VSED IN POLEINGE THEREOF, BY MAKINGE THEM GROWE;
RUNE ALONGE, AND BEARE VPPON ROPES OR WREATHES MADE OF STRAWE, REEDE
SEDGE, RUSHES, BRUSHWOOD, OR BRYERS, TO REACH FROM ONE HOPP HILL TO
ANOTHER, THE SAIDE ROPES OR WREATHES BEING TYED VNTO AND SOE SUPPORTED ONLY
"

page_text: .BY ONE SHORTE POLE OF ABOUT EIGHT FOOTE LONGE, PLACED VPRIGHT IN EVERY
SEVERALL HOPP HILL, OR SUPPORT BY ONE POLE OF FIFTEENE FOOTE LONGE, WITH
PINNES AND CROOKES, AND BY ARTIFICIALL ENGINES OR INSTRUMENT, TO BEE VSED
FOR EXPEDICON IN MAKEINGE GREATE TRENCHES TO CONVEY THE WATER TO THE
GROUND, AND TO RAISE AND ALTER THE FORME AND SUP'FICIES OF SOME GROUND,
AND BY PLANTINGE OF YOUNGE TREES FOR THE INCREASE OF TYMBER IN DRY AND
BARREN GROUND;" whereby would redownd much benefitt to vs and to the
comon wealth, and, to our subiects that should give way therevnto: Where-
vppon wee, of our speciall grace, certen knowleidge, and meere močon, for vs,
our heires and successors, did give and grante vnto the said Robert Chiver,
his executors, administrators, and assignes, full and sole lycense, power, privi-
leidge and authority, to vse, exercise, and putt in practise all and every the
said newe wayes, artes, engines, and invenčons therein-before menconed by
him, soe devised and found out as aforesaid, within our Kingdome of England
and Dominion of Wales, for his and theire best pfitt and advantage for the
terme of foureteene yeeres (with inhibition to all other persons to vse, exercise,
and putt in practise the said artes and invenčons dureinge the said terme,
vnder the reservacons, covenante and agreement therein pticular menconed,
as by the said Letters Pattente, amongst other thinge, more att large may
appeare: And whereas the said Robert Chiver hath lately humbly besoughte
vs, for the furtherance of the said artes and invenčons by him soe invented
and found out as aforesaid, vppon surrender of the said Letters Pattente, to
newe grant him the like lycense for the tearme of foureteene yeeres from
the date of the said Letters Pattente before menconed, with some additions
and enlargemente, for the better pforminge of the same, which we have
beene pleased to condescend therevnto,-
KNOWE YE, THERFORE, that wee, favoreinge and approveinge..of
such artes and invenĉons as may bee of good vse and benefitt to vs and
our people, of our especiall grace, certen knowleidge and meere močon, have
given and granted, and by these psente for vs, our heires and successors,
doe give and grant vnto the said Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators,
and assignes, full and sole. licence, liberty, and power, priviledge, and
authority, that hee, the said Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators, and
his assignes, and his and theire deputyes, servants, workmen, and agents, att
all tymes and from tyme to tyme dureinge the terme of yeeres heerby granted,
shall and may lawfully vse, exercise, and putt in practise, all and every of the
said severall newe wayes, artes, engines, and Invenĉons heerin-before. men-
coned by him, soe devised, invented, and found out as aforesaid within our
said Kingdomes of England, Ireland, and Dõion of Wales, for his and theire

page_text: best pfitt and advantage, and to that end and purpose shall and may have,
vse, and ymploy, any the waters, ryvers, watercourses, highwayes, wastes,
moores, marshes, fenns, land, soyle, and grounde, covered with water or not
covered with water, of or belonging to vs, our heires or successors, or of or
belonginge to any our subiects within our said Realmes of England, Ireland,
. and Dominion of Wales, apt and meete for improvement of land, and vsefull
in effecting the aforesaid designes and Invenĉons, or some of them, hee, the
said Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators, and assignes, first greetinge,
aswell with vs, our heires and successors, as with our subiecte respectivelic
beinge owners or occupiers of the said waters, rivers, watercourses, highwaies,
waste, mores, marshes, fenns, grounde, soile, in such manner as hereafter in
these sent is expressed.
And for the better pmoting and advantage of the said arte and Inven-
Cons, wee are pleased and doe by these psente for vs, our heires and
successors, declare, will, and graunt, that it shall and may be lawfull to and
for the said Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators, and assignes, for
and dureinge the terme of yeares hereby graunted, to have and vse for and
about the effectinge, and pformeing all or anie the said arte and Invencions,
anie of our water, rivers, watercourses, highwaies, waste, moors, fenns, marsh
ground, land, or soile, as well covered with water as not covered with water,
within our Realmes of England, Ireland, and Dominion of Wales, fitt and
meete for the same without the lett, trouble, impeachment, or denyall of vs,
our heires and successors, or of anie our officers and ministers, and without
yealding, rendering, or paieing anie rent, recompence, or other thing for the
same other then as hereafter in these psente is reserved and menčoned to be
answered and paide. Nevertheless, our intent and meaneing is, and wee doe
hereby for vs, our heires and successors, expresse and declare the same to bee,
that if the said Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators, or assignes, shall
have, vse, and imploye about the Pmisses anie of our waters, rivers, water-
courses, highwaies, waste, moors, fenns, marsh grounde, lande, soile, covered
with water or nor covered with water, that then and in such cases the said
Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators, and assignes, shall answere
and paie to vs, our heires and successors, such or soe much yearlie rent
for the same, and for the waies and passages to and from the same, as
vppon a survey and admeasurement thereof to be had and taken by the
Surveyor Generall of our lande for the tyme being, it shalbe valued .to
be worth according to the qualities and quantities thereof, and according
to a valuacon to be made of the said waters, rivers, watercourses, high-
waies, waste, moores, fenns, marshe grounde, lande, and soile, as the

page_text: same are or shalbe worth att the tyme when hee or they shall make vse
thereof, wch said yearelie rent the said Robert Chiver doth hereby for him,
his executors, administrators, and assignes, coveñnt, graunt, and agree to and
with vs, our heires and successors, to answere and paie to vs, our' heires and
successors during the said terme of yeares hereafter graunted, according to such
valuacon to be thereof made as aforesaide, att the Feast of the Añuncacon
of the Blessed Virgin Marie, and St. Michaell the Archangell, or within thirtie
daies after either of the said Feaste, into the receipt of our Exchequer átt
Westminster, or to the hand of the Receavor Generall of the severall counties
for the tyme beinge where the said pmisses shal be scituate or lyeinge by even
and equall porcons.
And wee doe further, for vs, our heires and successors, will, require and
appointe (soe much as in vs lyeth) by these psente that it shalbe and may
be lawefull to and for the said Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators,
and assignes, to have' and vse for the necessarie pformeing and effecting of
the said Invenĉons, anie the waters, rivers, watercourses, highwaies, waste,
moors, marshes, fenns, lande, grounde, or soile, as well covered with water
as not covered with water, of anie the subiect of vs, our heires and succes-
sors, within our Realmes of England, Ireland, and Dominion of Wales, and
to have waies and passages with carte, boate, and other carrages, by land
or water, wch hee or they shall finde to be convenient, apt, and meete for the
same, vppon composicons and agreement first had and made with the owners:
or occupiers thereof, vppon an equall and indiferent valuacon and recom
pence to be to them made and given in that behalfe, respect being had to
the values of the said lande and misses, as the same are or shalbe worth att
the tyme when hee or they shall make vse thereof.
And in case the said Robert Chiver, his executors; administrators and
assignes, and the owners or occupiers of the said waters, rivers, water->
courses, highwaies, waste, moors, marsh land, or soile, cannot betweene
themselues accord or agree touchinge a meete rent and recompence. to be:
given in the pmisses, then our will and pleasure is; that two of the next
justices of the peace shall take-heareinge thereof; and shall sett downe such
reasonable order and end therein as they shall finde agreeable to justice and
equitie.
And to the end that the said Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators,
and assignes, may have and enioy the full' and sole proffitt and. advantage of
all and everie the said severall arte; engines and Invenĉons by him soe devised
and found out as aforesaid, our will and pleasure is, and wee doe:.by these
Psente, for vs, our heires and successors, straightlie charge and commaund áll

page_text: and everie pson and psons of what estate, degree, or condicon soever, he or
they, or anie of them be, that they, nor anie of them other then the saide
Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators, and assignes, or his or their.
deputies, servant, or workmen, doe or shall, dureing the saide terme hereby
5 graunted, directly or indirectlie, vse, exercise, or put in practise within our
realmes and dominions aforesaide, the said seuerall newe waies, arte, engines,
and Invenĉons, or anie of them, of and for the improveing of land and other
the misses by him soe found out and devised as aforesaid, nor shall make,
counterfeite, or resemble the same, or anie of them, nor shall make any addičon
thereynto, nor substracĉon from the same, whereby to tend themselues inven-
tors or devisors thereof, or anie of them, without the speciall licence, consent,
and agreement of the said Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators and
assignes, in writinge first had and obteyned in that behalfe, vpon paine of our
high displeasure, and such penalties, forfeitures, and punishment as by the lawes
or statute of our said realmes or otherwise shall or may be inflicted on them
for the contempt of our royall comaunde herein; to have and to hold the said
licence, powers, priviledges, and authorities by these psente graunted or
menconed to bee graunted vnto him the said Robert Chiver, his executors,
administrators, and assignes, from the date of the afore-recited Lřes Patente,
for and durcinge the terme and vnto the full end and terme of fourteene yeares
from thenceforth next ensueinge, and fullie to be compleate and ended, yeald-
inge and paieing therefore yearelie.
And the said Robert Chiver, for himselfe, his executors, administrators, and
assignes, doth coveñnte, pmise, and agree, to and with vs, our heires and
successors, to paic yearelie vnto vs, our heires and successors, into the receipt
of our Exchequer att Westminster, att the Feast of Phillipp and Jacob
yearelie, or within thirtie daies after the said Feast, one moyetie or halfe
part of all such yearlie somes of money, benefitt, profitt, and advantage, as
hec, the said Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators, or assignes, shall
yearelie, dureinge the said terme, raise or make, of or by meanes of the vse or
practise of the said arte, engines, and invenĉons, or anie of them, on the lande
and ground of all or any pson or psons whatsoever, other then the pper lande
or ground of the said Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators, or assignes,
wch hee nowe hath, or which bis executors, administrators, or assignes
shall hereafter purchase, have, or take to farme for rent, not exceeding two
thousand acrs, all and all manner of charges and expences concerninge the same
beinge first to himselfe, his executors, administrators, and assignes deducted, and
the sole and whole benefitte and proffitt of the improvemente to be made and
raised by the said Robert Chiver, his executors and assignes, or his and their

page_text: owne lande and grounde, or lande and grounde wch hee or they shall purchase,
have, or take to farme for rent as aforesaide excepted, and being to him and
themselves wholie to be taken, reserved, and retained, w'hout rendring anie
accounte to vs, our heires or successors, for the same.
And wee doe by these psente, for vs, our heires, and successors, give and
graunt full power and authoritie vnto the said Robert Chiver, bis execu-
tors, administrators, and assignes, and his and their deputies, servante, and
agente, with the assistance of a constable or anie other lawfull officer, att con-
venient tymes and tyme, and in lawful manner, to enter and make search in
all or anie houses, warehouses, workehouses, shopps, or other place or places
whatsoever within our realmes and dominion aforesaide, where anio iust
cause of suspicon shalbe had, for the discoveringe and finding out of all such
pson or psons as shall vse, practise, make, resemble, or counterfeite the said
newe waies, devises, engines, or invenĉons, or anie of them, by him the saide
Robert Chiver soc found out and invented as aforesaide, contrarie to the true
intente and meaneing of these psente, and the delinquente being discovered,
to be peeeded against and punished, according to their contempt and offences.
And wee doe by these psente, for vs, our heires and successors, will, authorise
and require the Lord Treasurar, Chancellor, Vndertreasurar, and Barons of our
Exchequer, and all and singular maiors, sheriffes, justices of peace, bailiffes,
constables, headburroughes, and other officers and ministers of vs, our heires and
successors of our said severall realmes and dominion for the tyme being, that
they and everie of them, from tyme to tyme dureing the terme aforesaid, be
aydeng, helping, and assistinge to the said Robert Chiver, his executors, admi-
nistrators, and assignes, and his and theire deputies, servante, and agente, in
and by all thing in and about the due accomplishment of our pleasure herein
declared, and in the exercise and execucon of the said misses hereby
graunted or menconed to be graunted as aforesaid, and that they or anie of
them doe nott at anie tyme hinder, molest, or interrupt the said Robert Chiver,
his executors, administrators, deputies or assignes, or anie of them therein, in
any wise, as they tender our royall displeasure and will avoide the contraire
att their perill, and these our Lře Patente, or the inrollment thereof, shalbe
to them and everie of them a sufficient. warrant and discharge in that behalfe.
And wee doe hereby further declare our royall will and pleasure to be, that
none of our subicctf of anie our said realmes or dominion shall hinder or
interrupt the said Robert Chivor, his executors, administrators, deputies or
assignes in the vse and practize of the misses soe much conduceinge to the
comon good and benefitt of our kingdome and people, but that they and everie
of them be aideing, furthering and assistinge to the said Robert Chiver, his

page_text: executors, administrators and assignes, deputies and servants in the psecucon
and effittinge of the said severall waies, devises, arte, engines and Invenčons
soe farr fourth as the same shall non be piudiciall, but rather advantageous
to them and the common wealth of our kingdomes and dominion. And to the
intent that the said moyetie or one halfe parte of all benefitt and advantage
arriseing and accrueing by the said newe Invenčons, arte and waies, or anie
of them, all charges and expences of the saide Robert Chiver, his executors,
administrators and assignes, deputies and servante, being first deducted, and
the sole and whole benefitt and pffitt of the improvement to be made and
raised by the said Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators or assignes on
his and their owne pper lande and grounde, or farmed grounde excepted, as
aforesaid, may, from tyme to tyme dureinge the continuance of theis our Lřes
Patent of priviledge be to vs, our heires and successors, duelie answered and
payd as aforesaid, our will will and pleasure is, and the said Robert Chiver, for
him, his executors, administrators and assignes doth coveñnte and agree to,
and with vs, our heires and successors, that hee, the said Robert Chiver, his
executors, administrators or assignes, or his or their deputie or deputies shall
and will, one in everie yeare dureinge the terme aforesaid (that is to saie), in
the terme of Easter everie yeare render, yeald, and make a true and iust
accompt vppon oath, before one or more of the Barones of the Exchequer, att
Westin, of vs, our heires and successors for the tyme beinge accordinge to the
course of the said Courte, of all such sumes of money, benefitt, or advantage
as by him, them, or any of them shall bee acquired, obtayned, or gotten by vse,
exercise and practise of the Invenĉons before named or any of them, all and all
manner of charges and expences of him, the said Robert Chiver, his execu-
tors, administrators and assignes, deputyes and servante, beinge firste to him
and them deducted, and the sole and whole benefitte and pfitte. of the
improvement to raysed and made by the saide Robert Chiver, his executors
or assignes on his or theire owne prop lande and grounde, or farmed
grounde, except as aforesaid. And that hee, the said Robert Chiver, his
executors, administrators and assignes, shall and will well and truely pay
into our receipt of Exchequer, att Westminster, within one moneth after such
accompt and accompte, one full moyety or halfe parte of all such benefitt and
advantage as vpon the same accompt and accompte soe made shall appeare to
have byn raysed and made as aforesaid, all charge and expences and the
whole benefitt and proffitte of the ymprovement made of the pper lande and
farmed ground of the said Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators, or
assignes, being first deducted, as aforesaid.
'
And wee doe, by theis psente, for vs, our heires and successors, give and

page_text: gräunt vnto the said Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators,' and assignes,
that all and every the workemen, labourers, and servante of him or any of them,
necessarily ymployed in or about the said workes of ymprovement (not ex-
ceeding the number of tenn psons), shalbe exempted and freed, during such
theire ymployment, from being pressed into the service of vs, our heires, or
successors, either by land or by water, but by the consent of the said Robert
Chiver, or by the ymediate comaund of vs, our heires or successors, or by speciall
order of the Privy Counsell of vs, our heires or successors, for the tyme being;
to the end that by the divercon of theire services the said ymprovement might
not be interrupted, and soé the said Robert Chiver disturbed to pforme the
same.
And wee doe hereby further declare our will and pleasure to be, that our love-
ing subiecte, vpon such agreemente; recompence; and consent to be first had
and made to and with them in the pmisses, that they and every of them doe
admitt the said Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators, and assignes, to
make vse of such theire lande or soyle (vpon meete and reasonable condičons
as aforesaid,) as hee or they shall have necessary occasions to vse, in and about
the pforming and effecting of the pmisses tending to the common and publique
benefitt of our said kingdomes and people. Nevertheless, our intent and
meaning is, that the said Robert Chiver, his exccutors,. administrators, or
assignes, or his or theire deputies, agente, or workmen, shall not make vse of
any such highwayes in and about the effecting of the misses, as shalbe to the
nusance of vs or our subiecte in our or theire passage or travelling thereby.
And, further, wee will, and by theis psents, for vs, our heires, and successors,
doc graunt to the said Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators, and
assignes, that theis our Letters Patentes, or the enrollement or exemplificacon
thereof, shall bee in all thinges firme, good, and sufficient, and availeable in the
lawe to and for the said Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators, and
assigenes, and shall bee construed, taken, and adiudged strongely against us,
our heires and successors, and most favorably, benignely, and beneficially to and
for the said Robert Chiver, his executors, administrators, and assignes, notwith-
standing the not nameing or discribing, or not playne or certeyne nameing or
describing, the said severall newe wayes, arte, engines, and invenĉons herein-
before menconed, or any of them, or any other defecte, impfeccons, or incer-
tentyes in these. Psente in the nameinge or not rightly naminge of the nature,
kinde, quality,, and formes of the p misses heereby granted, or any parte
thereof, and any other matter or thinge whatsoever to the contrary thereof in
any wise notwithstandinge: Provided allwayes, that if the said moyety or halfe
parte of the said somes of money, benefitte, pfitte, and advantages, all manner

page_text: of charges and expences, and the whole benefitt and advantage of the impye-
mente of the land and farmed grounde of him, the said Robert Chiver, his
executors, administrators, beinge firste deducted to himselfe, his executors and
assignes, as aforesaid, from tyme to tyme dureinge the terme of yeeres heereby
graunted, ariseinge, or to bee raised or made of or by meanes of the said
newe Invenĉons, or of any 'the' lycences, powers, and priveledges heerby
graunted, shall not bec duely answered and paid to vs, our heires and suc-
cessors, as aforesaid; or if the said Robert Chiver, his executors, admini-
strators, or assignes, or some of them, shall not inrolle or cause to bee
inrolled this our sent graunt in our Courte of Exchequer att Westminster
before the Clarke of the Pipe there for the tyme being, within six moneths
next after the date hereof, that then the said Robert Chiver, his executors,
administrators, or assignes shall forfeite and pay to vs, our heires and suc-
cessors, as well the said some of one hundred pounde (noie pene) for every
moneth in which the said moyety hereby reserved to vs, as aforesaid, shall not
be duely accompted for, answeared, and payd, as aforesaid, as alsoe the some
of five pound (noie pene) for every such six monethes default of the
inrollment of theis psente, as aforesaid: Provided alsoe, and our will and
pleasure is, that if, att any tyme during the said terme of fowerteene yeares
hereby graunted, yt shall appeare to vs, our heires or successors, or vnto the
Lord and others of the Privy Counsell of vs, our heires and successors, of
our said severall realmes and domynion respectively, for the tyme being,
that this our graunt or Letters Patente of licence and priviledg is contrary to
our lawes, or in any sort mischeivous or inconvenient to the state of any our
said realmes or domynion, then vpon significacon and declaracon to be
made by vs, our heirs or successors, vnder our Signett or Privy Seale, or by
order or order of the Lorde and others of our Privy Counsell of any our said
realmes or domynion, or any six or more of them respectively for the tyme
being, of such mischeife or inconvenience, theis our Letters Patente shall
forthwith cease, determyne, and be vtterly voyde, to all intente and purposes,
any thing in theis psente conteyned to the contrary notwithstanding.
Although expresse mencon, &c.
In witnes, &c. Witnes our selfe att Westminster, the Twelveth day of