This volume investigates the economic practices and social interactions of seventeenth-century English graziers through the primary source documentation of Peter Temple and Thomas Heritage. N.W. Alcock, a respected historian of vernacular architecture and social history, provides a critical edition of the account books kept by these two men. By transcribing and contextualizing these records, the author argues that such documents serve as essential evidence for understanding the transition toward commercial agriculture and the complexities of early modern trade networks.

Historians and researchers frequently cite this volume as a foundational resource for the study of early modern economic history. Experts highlight the meticulous nature of the transcription and the clarity of the contextual notes provided by Alcock.