But before I proceed, I must say a word or two to this article.

The chief, and almost the only, cause of the deepness and foulness
of the roads is occasioned by the standing water, which (for want of
due care to draw it off by scouring and opening ditches and drains,
and other watercourses, and clearing of passages) soaks into the
earth, and softens it to such a degree that it cannot bear the
weight of horses and carriages; to prevent which, the power to dig,
trench, and cut down, &c., mentioned above will be of absolute
necessity. But because the liberty seems very large, and some may
think it is too great a power to be granted to any body of men over
their neighbours, it is answered:-

1. It is absolutely necessary, or the work cannot be done, and the
doing of the work is of much greater benefit than the damage can
amount to.

2. Satisfaction to be made to the owner (and that first, too,
before the damage be done) is an unquestionable equivalent; and both
together, I think, are a very full answer to any objection in that
case.

Besides this Act of Parliament, a commission must be granted to
fifteen at least, in the name of the undertakers, to whom every
county shall have power to join ten, who are to sit with the said
fifteen so often and so long as the said fifteen do sit for affairs
relating to that county, which fifteen, or any seven of them, shall
be directors of the works, to be advised by the said ten, or any
five of them, in matters of right and claim, and the said ten to
adjust differences in the countries, and to have right by process to