I pray God they may do the kingdom service
therein, as they will have sufficient opportunity of doing it!
JANUARY 1, 1667-8. Dined with my Lord Crewe, with whom was Mr.
Browne, Clerk of the House of Lords, and Mr. John Crewe. Here
was mighty good discourse, as there is always: and among other
things my Lord Crewe did turn to a place in the Life of Sir
Philip Sidney, wrote by Sir Fulke Greville, which do foretell the
present condition of this nation, in relation to the Dutch, to
the very degree of a prophecy, and is so remarkable that I am
resolved to buy one of them, it being quite through a good
discourse. Here they did talk much of the present cheapness of
corne, even to a miracle; so as their farmers can pay no rent,
but do fling up their lands; and would pay in corne: but (which
I did observe to my Lord, and he liked well of it) our gentry are
grown so ignorant in every thing of good husbandry that they know
not how to bestow this corne; which, did they understand but a
little trade, they would be able to joyne together and know what
markets there are abroad, and send it thither, and thereby ease
their tenants and be able to pay themselves.
Pages:
1350
1351
1352
1353
1354
1355
1356
1357
1358
1359
1360
1361
1362
1363
1364
1365
1366
1367
1368
1369
1370
1371
1372
1373
1374