in from them Whereupon the business being heard at large there ensued this following Order upon the ixth of April the King himself being present and likewise the Commissioners viz. That the Undertakers should on Tuesday following exhibit in writing what it was that they promised to effect and to specifie what they would demand as a recompence for their labours c. Which accordingly was done the Propositions of the Undertakers delivered in unto the Commissioners being as followeth viz. 1. That they did intent really to perfom the work of drayning of the Fens without any tax upon the Country excepting the deep Meers and Pools c. which were under the Levell 2. That when the work should be done they would assure competent Land for ever to stand lyable for ever to maintain and repair the same 3. To effect this Drayning within 3 years after a perfect Contract made with his Majesty for such lands as should be a competent recompence for their costs and pains and the same Land set out by Metes and bounds in severalty and sufficiently assured to them their Heirs and Assigns for ever c. 4. That in order to this work they would open the out-falls of Nene and UUeland and make those Rivers navigable as high as Wisbeche and Spalding 5. And lastly not to forget to preserve the Navigation between Cambridg and Lynne In recompense whereof they demanded these proportions in the several Fens hereafter expressed viz. 1. Of Buâ—rough great Fen one third part 2. Burrough little Fen Eye-Fen and Flag Fen. a sixth part 3. Crowland Fen 3 pieces a fourth part 4. Thorney fenns a half part 5. Wisbeche high Fen Sutton and Throcknall a third part 6. Fens on both sides of March River between Darcey lode on the South and Needham fen North 2 third parts 7. Wittlesey fens 1 half part 8. Stanground 1 fift part 9. Ramsey fens 1 half part 10. Huntingdon Fenns on the West of Ramsey by the River of Nene on the North up to Yaxley and the skirts on the South and VVest one half part 11. Huntingdon Fens from Eryth bridge up to Ramsey by the West-water and the River of Nene East and North one third part 12. Donington Fens in Common one half part 13. Donington Fens in several one sixt part 14. Fens between the West-water VVest Sutton lode in the Isle of Ely and Coveney drain South Oxwillow lode East Coxlode and Chateriz lode North together with Chateriz Fens on the other side to Donington one third part 15. Hunney fen one tenth part 16. Sutton and Hadenham fens one eighth part 17. Grunty fen one third part 18. A Fen by Sutton lode and Coveney between Dounham Hards one fourth part 19. Downham Wode fen and other Fens of Ely between Litleport grounds and the Ouse Elie-uplands and Scarlet tree lode one half part 20. Litleport Fens on both sides the Ouse one third part 21. Other Fens between Darcy lode North Welney river East one third part 22. Fens in Upwell and Outwell one half part 23. Fens between Welney-river and Welney Causey one half part 24. The Hale and Mr. Hawe's fen one half part 25. Fens on the North of Stoke River to the great River between Helgay and Stoke one fourth part 26. Fens between Stoke River North and Brandon River South one fourth part 27. Fens between Brandon River North and Mildnall River South and Litleport Fens West one third part 28. Fens between Mildnall River and the great River up to Harrymere and the Uplands of Isseham Fordham and Soham one fourth part 29. Soham Fens by Wicking hards on the South one sixt part 30. Fens between Wicking hards on the South Homyng fen Quye and the River of Grant West one fourth part 31. Fens on the South of Quoy compassing of Fulberne field one fourth part 32. Fens between the River of Grant East and the Hards of Milterne UUaterbeche and Denny Abby West and so extending West between the River of Ouse on the North and the hard land South up to S. Ives bridge and a part on the other side of Ouse between Erith and S. Ives one eighth part of the better one fourth part of the worse 33. Fens or drowned Lands on the North side of Wisbeche 2 third parts The Answer of the Commissioners to these Propositions That they had no power to take away any mans land without his voluntary assent And that the authority which they had by their Commission to which they were strictly bound was only to rate the charge of every particular man towards any such general work according to the profit which every such person should receive by the same And forasmuch as 't was impossible to be discerned before the work were finished who should have profit thereby or how much they could not legally procure any such assurance before hand But if the Vndertakers would be constant to their Propositions which themselves had before that time at divers Sesions of Sewers published viz. that they required no other recompence for their intended work than a moity only of the cleer profit which by their sole industry and charge they should bring unto each particular owner of these surrounded grounds more than formerly was received they should be ready as at the first to give the said Vndertakers all lawfull furtherance and assistance Provided that before they begun their work they gave security that they would not impair the Navigation in the Rivers of Ouse and Grant Vpon which terms if the Vndertakers did refuse to proceed the said Commissioners offered to do the work themselves according to the antient course and legal power of their Commission VVhereupon ensued this Order of the Lords of the Council by reference from the King made upon this Answer of the Commissioners bearing date at White Hall 12 Iulii An. 1620. 18 Iac. 1. That according to an offer then made on the part of the Country good security should be given to the Undertakers for a moity of the cleer profits which by the drayning should be improved upon every man's ground above the rate that then the same was valued at and that the security should be partly from the Owners and partly in case of Common by aid of the Commissioners with this Condition that the lands and parts of each County should be rated by the Commissioners of the said County 2. Concerning Prejudice of Navigation in the Rivers of Ouse and Grant it was ordered that the Undertakers being agreed with for their security in form aforesaid they should shew unto the Country the means they intended in the drayning of these Levells And therefore if the Countrey should find it either prejudicial to Mershland or otherwise and present their Reasons to the Board their Lordships concurring therewith all farther proceedings to be stayed 3. That consideration should be had that particulars receive no damage by this drayning but that the Owners have satisfaction out of those that were to receive
of Idel to Trent bank men rowing also with lesser Boats to look Swans over all parts of it betwixt Lammas and Michaelmasse And in like sort over Starr Carr and Axholme Carr insomuch as there was no lesse than sixty thousand acres of land thus overflowed by the said fresh waters The said King therefore being seized of this Island and of divers lands and waste grounds belonging to the same as also of and in the Chase called Hatfield Chase with Dikes mersh together with the Lordships of Wroote and Finningley in the County of Yorke all lying upon the same flat out of his Royal and Princely care for the publick good in regaining so great a proportion of surrounded land which at the best yielded little or no profit to the Common wealth but contrariwise nourished beggars and idle persons and having a Chase of Red Deer through a good part of this Fen which much annoyed and opprest the residue resolving by the advice of his Counsel partly for the easing of his chardge and increase of his revenue and partly for the improvement and reducing of so great a quantity of drowned and boggy ground to be made good Meadow Arable and Pasture for the general good did under the great Seal of England contract with Cornelius Vermuden then of the City of London Esquire by Articles bearing date the twenty fourth day of May in the second year of his reign the substance whereof was as followeth First that the said Cornelius should at his own chardge drain and lay the same dry beginning the work within three months after the said King should have agreed with those persons that had interest of common therein and finish it with all possible expedition That he the said Cornelius in consideration thereof should have to him and his heirs for ever one full third part of the said surrounded grounds to hold of the said King his heirs and successors as of his Mannour of East Geenwiche in free and common socage That he the said Cornelius should pay and satisfie to the owners of all lands lying within the same level and so surrounded such summs of mony as the said lands should be thought worth by four Commissioners whereof two to be named by the Lord Treasurer of England for the time being and the other two by him the said Cornelius That the work being finished there should be for the better preservation thereof a Corporation made to make Acts and Ordinances to that end as occasion should require consisting of such persons as he the said Cornelius and his heirs did nominate That within three years after they should be finished six Commissioners to be appointed viz. three by the Lord Treasurer of England for the time being and three by the same Cornelius his heirs c. to view them and estimate what the future yearly chardge might amount unto for the perpetual maintaining of them whereupon the said Cornelius to convey and assure the Inheritance of lands to such a value as might be thought sufficient to support that chardge And that whereas divers did claim common of Pasture in sundry of the said grounds it was agreed that the King should issue out his Commission under the great Seal of England to certain persons to treat and conclude with those Commoners by way of composition in land or mony concerning the same VVhereupon Commissions were accordingly directed to several Gentlemen of those Counties to treat and agree with all such as pretended right of Common within any of the Mannours above-mentioned which took effect with each of them except those of the Mannour of Epworth in this Isle But Sir Robert Heath being the then Attorney General exhibiting an information in the Exchequer Chamber against them three hundred and seventy who were all that at that time could be discovered to have right of common there came and submitted to such an Award as Sir Iohn Bankes the then Attorney general should make therein Who upon several hearings of all parties and their Councell made this Award viz. that of thirteen thousand and four hundred Acres belonging to that Mannour which was then to be drayned with the rest of the levell six thousand Acres should be allotted to the Commoners as their part or portion lying next to the Towns and so preserved for ever at the chardge of the said Cornelius Vermuyden and the remaining seven thousand and four hundred Acres to be set out in the remotest parts of those wastes to Sir C. Vermuyden and his participants for their third part and for the said late King's part in right of his interest as Lord of the soil which by consent was decreed in the Exchequer Chamber and possession thereupon established with the said Cornelius Vermuyden and his participants and to their assigns The agreement being therefore thus made this great work was accordingly begun and had so successful a progresse that with the chardge of fifty five thousand eight hundred twenty five pounds or thereabouts it became fully finished within the space of five years the waters which usually overflowed the whole levell being conveyed into the River of Trent through Snow Sewer and Althorpe River by a Sluse which issued out the drayned water at every ebb and kept back the tides upon all comings in thereof And now that the world may see what an advantage accrued to the publick by this noble though chardgable work I shall here from the before-specified Depositions observe First that since the drayning of Haxey Carr a great part thereof hath been sowed with Rape and other Corn for three years together and born plentiful crops That some part of the said Carr not worth above six pence an Acre per annum was after the said drayning worth xs. the Acre That several houses have been since built and inhabited in sundry places of the said Carr which formerly was drowned land So likewise in other parts of the levell That since the drayning the gounds are better worth xiijs. iiijd. an Acre than they were two shillings an Acre before That of ten Acres of drayned land fifty quarters of Rape seed have been gotten in one year and sold at xxxs. the quarter That of the said drayned grounds thâ—y have usually had three quarters and a half of wheat upon one Acre three quarters of Rye upon one Acre and eight quarters of Oats upon one Acre And for six years together seven quarters of Oats on one Acre That before this drayning the Country thereabouts was full of wandring Beggars but very few afterwards being set on work in weeding of Corn burning of ground thrashing ditching Harvest work and other Husbandry All wages of Labourers by reason of this great use of them being then doubled Hereunto I shall add what I find in that printed Relation before-mentioned viz. the State of the Case id est that the said Cornelius Vermuyden together with his participants and their assigns being in quiet and peaceable possession of what belonged to them by
Stretham mere on the borders of the Isle of Ely unites it self to a branch of the Ouse being about xxij miles from it's first head Which River of Ouse rising neer Sisam in Northamptonshire and passing through part of Buckingham and Bedford shires whence it taketh in several petty streamlets at length descendeth by Huntendon to Erith where it divideth it self into two branches the one falling East and by North neer the bounds of the Isle of Ely to Stretham mere aforesaid where it receiveth the Grant above-mentioned and the other now called the West water North at the partition of Huntendonshire and the said Isle under Chateriz to Benwick and there in former ages meeting with a part of the River Nene at a place called Shreweshiste it joyned with the first branches thereof descending from Stretham aforesaid by Ely Littleport and Wallenea at which place so united they passed by Outwell at the partition of the Isle of Ely and Marshland to Wisheche and so to the Sea But at this present it is otherwise as I shall shew in due place as also when and how that alteration grew for the first banch whereunto Grant did unite doth now descend from Stretham to Ely thence to Littleport and so by Priests houses and Rebbech to Salters lode receiving into it betwixt Priest houses and Salters lode these other streams viz. Swafham lode and Rech lode out of Cambridgshire Mildenhall River out of Suffolk and Ouse parva out of the confines of Suffolk and Norfolk the River of Wissey falling in by Helgay and at Salters lode the other branch of Ouse and Nene united from Outwell which cometh in there by the new Pow dike and from thence in one course into Lynne deep and so to the Sea the same deep being now the best receptacle and most fit place for conducting the waters out of the Fenns and low grounds So that by this River of Ouse all the springs downfalls rills and brooks of Huntendonshire for the most part Bedfordshire totally and some part of Buckingham Oxford and Northampton shires are brought to the Sea the compasse of ground affording descent to them being sixscore miles at the least Nene whose head is about Catesby in Northamptonshire passing through a large tract of ground in that County and at length to Peterborough entreth the Fens neer that place having in it's course taken in divers petty streams In which Fenny flat it divideth it self into sundry branches whereof the chiefest now falleth under Stranground and Horsey bridge into Wittlesey mere and so passing through that mere together with Ubmere and Ramsey mere runneth to Benwick where it unites it self to the second branch of Ouse before-specified and so goeth to the Sea as I have already shewed The second branch of this River did take it's course by Thorney barre Singlesholt and Nomans land and so to the triangular bridge at Croyland where it did unite with Weland and passed away with it to Spalding and so to the Sea But this Chanel of Nene is now utterly decayed and likewise that of Weland for whereas it did antiently fall into Weland now Weland maketh a fall backwards by the same course to Nomans land and the South Ea to Dowesdale Clowescrosse and Guy hyrne and so by Wisbeche and Weile as it can to the Sea Other branches of Nene there have been in antient time within the Fens viz. Kings delph passing a little below Stanground by Ravens Willow athwart the Fens to Ramsey grounds where it falleth into the Nene Wittlesey dike a little above Horsey bridge which falling by Whittlesey Town runneth into Nene below Benwick Divers other currents of it there are by and through the bounds of Thorney chefly Knorlake the Wride and South Ea which have heretofore dischardged themselves into the Sea as some suppose by Clows Crosse but of later time since the new Leame was made by Bishop Morton from Stanground to Guy hyrne and so to Wisbeche their chiefest and best passage hath been by that Chanel This River of Nene bringeth with it into the Fenns the downfalls of the greatest part of Northamptonshire and then having no present issue into the Sea divideth it self as I have shewed and being bounded on one side with the Ouse on another with UUeland and on a third with South Ea bank and other banks in the Isle of Ely it is a principal cause of the surrounding of a great part of the body of the Fenns and not only so but occasioneth abundance of â—ock wherewith the greatest part of South Holland and UUisbeche which have made Banks against the same are afflicted UUeland having it's rise neer Sibertoft in Northamptonshire and taken in some petty streamlets cometh at length to Market Deping and S. Iames Deping where it entreth the Fenns and burdeneth them with all the water and downfalls of part of Northampton Leicester Rutland and Lincolnshires whence passing to Croyland bridge it divideth it self into two branches the one leading by South Ea towards UUisbeche the other in a most slow course to Spalding and Surflet where receiving the water of Glen it goeth on to Fosse-dike-Stow and so into Boston deep Witham having it's head at South UUitham in Kesteven a Province of Lincolnshire and received into it divers petty rivulets as it runneth on towards Boston taketh in at Anthony gote and Newgote the water from the drowned grounds of UUildemore UUest fen and part of East fen together with a streamlet falling from the Castle of Bullinbroke and lastly at Boston by Trinitie gote and through Hammon beck and Skirbeck gote divers rills and downfalls out of Kesteven between Hekington burne and the River of Glen and then passing from Boston by UUilberton rode doth run into Norman deep and so to the Sea after at least Lxvi miles progresse Which River of Witham bringing with it the springs and downfalls of a great part of Kesteven and Lindsey whereby in the winter it cannot be contained within it's banks overfloweth a large proportion of the Fenny grounds lying in Holland Kesteven and Lindsey Glen being the least River of all the rest serveth almost to none other use but to carry away so much of its own water with the rill descending from Burne as can be kept between two defensible banks by which it is carryed through the fenns into Pinchbek The bottome of this River being for the most part higher than the fenny grounds by which it passeth And therefore can be no drayn for the same except the out-fall under Surflete towards Fossedike were recovered CAP. XXXVII How those their out-falls became obstructed HAving thus described the rise course and out-falls of these several streams I now come to the cause and occasion of their inundation and drowning of this great level Whereby instead of the benefit which it might receive from their overflowings in case they had enjoyed their free and naturall passages and out-falls it hath been made for the most part for
Aug. in the said xlith year And he to be chardged with the Banks compassing the said Fens with the diking scouring and roding of both the said Rivers c. with Bridges Stakers Drayns and other things by the said Laws imposed And that he the said Thomas in consideration thereof should have a full third part of all the said Fens to be laid out by metes and bounds by certain men thereunto appointed under such conditions c. for the drayning of the other two parts c. And whereas the said Thomas by virtue c. of the said Laws had taken upon him the chardge of the said drayning c. and therein spent his whole estate to the value of twelve thousand pounds and more and yet by reason of certain questions wilfully stirred c. between the Counties of Kesteven and Holand about the metes and bounds of the said Countries lying in the said Fens whereby not only the said Thomas could not have his said third part allotted and set out unto him according to the time and manner set down in the said Laws c. And whereas for the deciding those controversies there was the 8th of April in xliiij Eliz. a solemn meeting of many Knights and Gentlemen strangers to both the said Countries who did â—ot only set down and determine the cause of the said bounds but did also set out and assign the said third part belonging to the said Thomas Lovell as by the Laws c. made at Spaldyng aforesaid the day and year aforesaid by Sir Henry North Knight Sir Iohn Bolles Knight Valentine Browne Henry Warner Robert Bevill Robert Wingfeld Anthony Ireby Rob. Cotton Richard Coxe Robert Ietherell and Iohn S. George appeareth According to which division the same was by men skilfull in surveying divided and set out Since which there hath been divers Conferences and Agreements for two several Drove-ways through the said third part which was lastly set down by way of Laws of Sewers 17th of March 45 Eliz. by Tho. Lord Burlegh Edw. Heron c. Commissioners of Sewers with allowance to the said Tho. Lovell of as much ground out of the said Fenns as the said Drove-ways contain which together with the rest making up a full third part was by metes and bounds assigned to the said Tho. Lovell and which he begun to enclose but could not perfect the same in regard of the unseasonablenesse of the times and riotous lets and disturbances of lewd people casting down his Banks c. It was therefore enacted that the said Thomas his Heirs and Assigns should for ever enjoy the same third part so set out c. upon condition that if he did not fully perfect the said drayning within the space of three years from the 20th of August then next ensuing c. And after that maintain and keep them c. firm and depasturable in Summer and Winter except three hundred Acres or thereabouts to be left in the said Fens called Spaldyng and Deping Fens and Gogsland for Lakes and Sikes and xl Acres in Borne and Thurlby Fens and excepting the Drayns and Sewers then in the said Fenns but should suffer the said two parts to be drowned c. by the space of a year together after the expiration of the said three years and the same certified by xii Commissioners of Sewers whereof six of the parts of Holand and six of Kesteven in the high Court of Chancery and there Recorded that then in case the said ground within one year following were not recovered c. then the Lords and Proprietarìes of the said Fens to re-enter And the Inhabitants of Holand and Kesteven enter upon their Common in the said third part according to their former right How far Mr. Lovell proceeded in this adventure I know not but his attempt not succeeding as it seems I find that the Commissioners for the general drayning of the great Levell whereof I shall speak at large by and by sitting at Wisebeche on the xxiijth of May 14 Caroli for the imposing of several Taxes upon the particular Fens and Marshes throughout that vast tract in order to that work assessed xxxs an Acre upon Deping Fen before-specified And afterwards scil in Iuly following sitting at Huntendon by their Letters dated the xxiiijth of that Month and directed to the Lords of his Majesties most honourable Privy Council certified that they had heard all that could be alleged by the Learned Councel of the Earl of Exeter and the Adventurers touching that Fen aswell for maâ—ter of Law as fact and Equitie and upon full debate and advised consideration thereof were unanimously of opinion that the Tax imposed by the Commissioners at Wisebeche before-mentioned was upon just grounds and â—o resolved And forasmuch as the same was not paid they might therefore lawfully proceed to make a Decree for the further and perfect drayning thereof and thereby to adjudge and order aswell from his Majesty being Lord of the soil as from the Adventurers and others interessed therein such proportion of land as might sufficiently bear the chardge of the work which would be very great notwithstanding what had been before that time disbursed by the said Earl and Adventurers And they farther certified that before they would enter into the making of any such Decree they humbly desired that they might receive his Majesties pleasure whether they should proceed therein or not and in case they should whether his Majestie would become the undertaker of the work himself and so dispose of it to the said Adventurers to do in respect of their great disbursments therein whereof they had or could receive little fruit as the state of the said Fens then stood which they wholly did submit to his Majesties wisdome and pleasure desiring that the same might be speedily signified unto them to the end they might proceed accordingly and humbly offered this advice to their Lordships that it might not be left to the power of the Adventurers or any others that should undertake the said drayning under his Majestie â—o perform it by any ways or designs other than such as his Majestie or the Commissioners should approve and direct by new Acts of Sewers in that behalf as the best and most convenient for the perfect drayning of their Fens and the benefit of other the Fens and parts of the great Levell thereunto adjoyning in regard otherwise the drayning of these migâ—t prove very prejudicial to the general work and they moreover desired that care might be taken that no more time were lost in the prosecution thereof but that the same might proceed that instant Summer in such a way as the King upon consideration thereof should please to direct In answer to which proposals I find his Majesties pleasure signified to the said Commissioners by the Lord Bishop of London from Theobalds in the same moneth of Iuly which was to let them know that they might proceed to make a Decree for the farther and more perfect drayning of
the said Deping fen and thereby to adjudge and order aswel from his Majesty being Lord of the soil as from the Adventurers and others interessed therein such proportion of land as might sufficiently bear the chardge of the work And that because his Majesty intended to see that great work of the whole Levell prosecuted according to his first Princely design it being for the Countries good and his own service in such manner as might have just regard to the perfecting of the same with most publick and general advantage to the whole Fens he was farther pleased to declare himself the sole Adventurer aswell of this particular Fen called Deping fen as of the whole great Levell and that he would afterwards in ordering the same have a just respect unto such persons of Honour and others as had any former interest or engagement therein To conclude this Chapter I find by a Law of Sewers made at St. Ives the xvth of October 17 Caroli that the Commissioners therein reciting that whereas the Earl of Exeter had a third part of this Deping fen as also of Spalding and Pinchbek fens and of Gogsland belonging to Crouland by contract made with Captain Thomas Lovell for drayning of the said Fens which being not performed the said Fens did then remain drowned they then decreed that the said Fens should be surveyed by the appointment of Sir William Ayloff and Sir Anthony Thomas undertakers and six Commissioners of Holand and Kesteven and a moytie assigned to the said Sir William and Sir Anthony and their Heirs in recompence of their chardges for drayning thereof and two thirds of all the grounds surrounded lying in Spalding and Weston called Bellesmore being the grounds of Sir Francis Iones Knight and two parts of the grounds called Turpitts lying in Weston aforesaid and a fourth part of the ground called East fen lying in Moulton and in Quaplode and Holbeche the one half After which divers Gentlemen whose names are exprest in the Map here exhibited became Adventurers for the exsiccation thereof and in order thereto caused the River of Welland from Waldram Hall to Spalding and thence to the out-fall to be made wider and deeper The drayn called the Staker draine about xx foot in bredth for to ease the River of Glen together with Hill's drayne and Uernat's drayne they likewise made new and perfected Exeter drayne from Cubbet tunnell almost to the Sea Neer Spalding they also erected a great fluce and made all the partition dikes in such sort as the Map sheweth By which works the water was so well taken off that in Summer this whole Fen yielded great store of grasse and Hay and had been made winter ground in a short time but that the Countrey people taking advantage of the Confusions throughout the whole Kingdome which ensued soon after the Convention of the late long Parliament as is very well known possest themselves thereof so that the Banks and Sewers being neglected by the Adventurers it became again overflowed and so remaineth at this time CAP. XLIV HOw the greatest part of this Province was at first gained from the Sea I have already in the Chapter of this my discourse briefly manifested that therefore which now remaineth to be spoken in reference to it shall be touching the farther improvement thereof by drayning and banking and the support of what was done in that kind before Wherein I purpose to begin with Crouland made famous of old by S. Guthlake an holy Hermite who neer a thousand years since for devotions sake betook himself hither as to a place of the greatest solitude How terrible and hideouâ— the parts hereabouts then were considering the vastnesse of the Fen I need not to make farther relation having elswhere so fully discoursâ—d of them I shall now therefore briefly point at what is most memorable touching the same in order to my present purpose After the death of this pious man S. Guthlake Ethelbald then King of Mercia whose Confessor he had been discerning how renowned he grew for sundry Miracles sought out his Sepulture and having sent for a Monk of Evesham called Kenulph who was then eminent for his holy life as also consulted with him for the gathering of a Covent did in the year of Christ DCCxvi begin the foundation of a goodly Monastery in this place which he indowed with the whole Isle of Crouland bounded with these waters viz. Schepishee towards the East Nene towards the West South Ee on the South and Asendik to the North where the common Sewer then was betwixt Spalding and the said Isle Which tract of ground containeth four miles in length and three in bredth and whereunto belonged those large adjacent Fens opposite to the said Isle on the West part lying on each side the River of Weland that towards the North called Goggislond extending two miles in length from Crouland bridge to Asaph where the entrance into the Isle is and one mile in bredth viz. from the River of Weland on the South side thereof unto Apenholt on the North to the bank of the water The other part of that fen lying Southwards of the said stream of Weland containeth also two miles in length from Crouland bridge to Southlake neer the Chanel opposite to Aspath having two miles also in bredth viz. from the said River of Weland to Fynsâ—tt on the Verge of the River Nene which is on the South side of the same Fen. And because the ground whereon the King designed to erect this Abby was so moyst and Fenny that it could not of it self bear a building of stone he brought an infinite number of mighty piles made of Oak and Alder which he caused to be driven deep into the ground as also a great proportion of firm and hard earth digged nine miles thence and upon those he raised that structure that Oratory which S. Guthlake had there being only of Timber And now though I have already pointed at the extent of this Isle from the words of the before-specified Charter of King Ethelbald neverthelesse because I find it afterwards more exactly set forth by the confirmation of other Kings and that the knowledge of those places therein exprest may give a clearer light unto what I am to say of thâ—se Fenny parts I shall take notice of two other descriptions of the said boundaries that first whereof is by Bertulph King of Mercia in the year of Christ DCCCLi viz. from Aswicktost hirne to Tedwarthar the water of Schâ—pishâ—e having the said Isle on the West part and the fen of Cappelade on the East And from Tedwarthar to Namans land hirne the water of the South Ee bounds it having the same Isle on the North thereof and the wood of Ancarig id est Thorney on the South And from Namans land hirne to Crouland bridge the River of Nene is the limit thereof having the said Isle on the East part and the Fen called Alderlound on the West And from
the same according to that rate And they also presented that there was a Bank made antiently by the Inhabitants of Wisebeche beginning at Sareshirne and extending it self to Turnelake mouth thence to the Pipes of Walterse and so to Elme Fendich by Grasner which Bank was at that time broken for want of repair And they ordained that for the more and better safeguard of all the lands in Elme lying on the South side of the said Bank that it should begin at Goneldiche so crossing the Sewer of Walterse unto Sareshirne and Blackdiche and there a Pipe to be made under the same Bank and so to extend directly to Turnelake mouth and thence to the Pipes of Walterse as antiently it had wont to do and so to the Fen ditch of Elme straight by the Mannour of Walterse Which Bank to be in part repaired and in part made new so that it might be xxiiii foot in bredth at the ground and 4 foot in height from the Level earth and to be repaired as often as need required at the charge of all the Landholders betwixt the same Bank the Bank call'd Drayner diche In 4 R. 2. there was a Session of Sewers held at Elme before Iohn Holt and others then Commissioners upon the Thursday next before the Feast of S. Gregory touching the safeguard of the said Towns of Elme and Welle at which time these ensuing Decrees and Ordinances were made viz. that the portion of the Bank called Bishop's dike which extends it self from the corner of the Bank called Uernoun's corner directly beyond the several land late Hamon Vernoun'sâ— in the Fen unto the corner of the Bank of Will. atte Lake and Iohn atte Delfe of Welle should be new made in the Summer next following as it had been decreed formerly by Iohn Cavendish and his fellow Justices And that the Bank of Welle should be newly agisted like that of Elme as it was also ordained so that all the lands on the side of Welle were to be agisted upon the Bank of UUelle called Bishopsdiche according to their proportion in the like sort as all the lands of Elme were agisted upon that Bank in Elme called Bishosdich And they ordained that the men of Elme should make their moytie thereof and the men of Welle their moytie and maintain repair the same when need should require for the future And they did likewise ordain for the better safeguard of the said bank of Elme and Welle that every man having his portion thereupon should plant VVillows opposite thereto towards the Fen for to break off the force of the waves in Floud times as also for keeping of werk and that upon occasion there should be Stakes in readiness to be made of the said VVillows for reparation thereof And they ordained that if the said VVillows so planted should happen to be destroyed by Cattel or otherwise that they should be doubly replanted again by the owners of the said Cattel or by those which should be guilty of the spoil the very next season ensuing upon lawfull request upon penalty of xld. to be paid to every man suffring hurt in that kind and that the Dike-Reeves of Elme or Welle should levy those penalties upon request made by them who should be so injured and collect the same being so forfeited And they also ordained that the Banks called Needham diche Redmore diche should be repaired and raised higher so that each of them might be 18 foot in thicknesse at the bottom and 7 foot in height and that the said Banks should be joyned together by the making of a Dam over the River of Elme at Fryday bridg of the same thicknesse and height And that the North end of Redmore diche should be annexed to the Bank of Begedale field likewise by a Dam to be made in the most proper place over Coldham Sewer Lilly field and Walterse with Bridges to the said Sewers And that the Grenediche of Welle should be repaired and raised higher in like kind from Sewalesclote unto the Stone Crosse at Welle and a Clow of four foot in bredth and three foot in height be made there at the charges of all the Landholders in Nedeham field aswell on the part of Welle as of Elme And that every man should raise his frontier towards the River of Welle from the Stone Crosse towards Welleshole And that the frontier ............ be raised higher by one foot and all other to the same height as also that soil should be taken in the River for raising of the said Frontiers so that the River of Nedeham might descend into the River of Welle upon penalty of xx s. And that the said piece be levyed by the Dike-Reeves of Elme and Welle and imployed towards the repair of the said Sewer and frontiers which Sewer beginneth at Fryday bridge and extendeth unto the Stone Crosse of Welle aforesaid And lastly that no one should permit their Swine to go upon the said Bank except they were ringed upon penalty of a peny for each Hog as often as they should be found so unringed to be levyed by the Dike-Reeves for the use of the whole Town that the party trespassed upon be likewise recompenced to the value of the damage In 15 R. 2. the Inhabitants of the said Town of Elme complained to the King that whereas their Banks Ditches and Sewers both on the Sea coast and towards the fen were by reason of divers tempests and great flouds much broken that their lands had been for the most part surrounded and did continue in such sort overflowed so that they could in no wise drayn them in regard that they had not any Gutter or Sewer without the Precincts of them as the Inhabitants of other Towns had forasmuch as the soyl where the Inhabitants and Tenants of the said Town used to have their antient Sewers was so much heightned by the silt of the Sea that those Sewers were uterly lost and the water by that means so obstructed as that it could not passe away as it had wont to do which did so impoverish the said Townsmen that many of them were constrained to seek new habitations and the rest likely to do so except some speedy remedy were applyed thereto the said King therefore appointed Sir Thomas de Bardolf Sir Tho. de Morley Sir Hugh de Louche Sir Iohn Colvill Sir Philip de Tilney Sir Iohn Inglesthorpe Sir Reginald Hakebeche and Sir Edm. Noon Kts Will. Thirning Tho. Pynchebek Iohn Markham Will. Gascoign Iohn Richeford Iohn Styvecle Tho. de Welles and Iohn Mareschall to view the same and to take such order therein as they should deem meet proceeding according to the Law and Custome of this Realm The like appointment had they for the Sewers in Wisebeche Elme and Welle so choak'd up with silt as abovesaid After this viz. in 16 H. 6. at a Session of Sewers held at Wisebeche by Iohn Colvile Gilb. Haultofte and others upon Saturday next
sewers where it divideth into two branches as before is mentioned And the one branch going South Eastward in form aforesaid extendeth in distance and length from the said great Crosse unto Shrewysnest point and so by the said South branch unto the said North Seas at K. Lynne aforesaid Liiij miles And the same River descending from the said great Crosse unto Shrewysnest point aforesaid and from thence by the North branch unto Outwell Sholle and so to the said North Seas is in distance xxxiij miles And from the said Sewer called Creeklode in March aforesaid unto the said North Seas at K. Lynne aforesaid by the said South branch is xlviij miles and by the said North branch xxviij miles And from the said Sewer called the Leame in March aforesaid unto the North Seas at K. Lynne aforesaid by the said South branch is xlvii miles and by the North branch aforesaid xxvii miles The decay of which said several Sewers with the Rivers Lodes and Drayns from them extending unto the said Town of Wisebeche they say be the chief and special occasions of the drowning aswell of the said Marish and Pasture in Upwell and Outwell as of the whole Countrey of Marshland and Wigenall adjoyning and in continuance of time as they think in their consciences will utterly drown the said Parishes and the said Country of Marshland unlesse the same decayed Sewers be scoured according to the antient Ordinances so as a great part of the said fresh waters of the same great Ee in March aforesaid may be conveyed unto the said North Seas by the Town of Wisebeche in manner and form aforetime used And they said that there is another great occasion of the drowning of the said Marish grounds by reason of the decay of the said old Sewer in Upwell aforesaid called Maide lode and a part thereof called Ship lode the which Lode beginneth at Welney water otherwise called the South branch coming from Shrewysnest poynt aforesaid and extendeth from thence unto a certain fen of the said Edmund Beaupre called Weeke fen and from thence into a certain place in Helgay called Shiplode Helgay house and there into the said great River of Ouse The which Sewer they say hath been most specially decayed by reason that there hath not been kept a good Sluce of stonework or timber with sufficient falling and hanging dores to the same to stop out the Floudsilty waters And also by reason that the same Sewer falleth not lower towards the said North Seas viz. at and against a certain place in Denver called Denver hithe at the which place they think it most meet for to set and build the said Sluce And they said that for the preservation of the said Sluce there ought to be a substantial Clouse of stone work and Timber with two sufficient drawdores to the same to be set within half a furlong of the said Sluce to stop the fresh waters aswell in the time of repairing the same Sluce as to keep and preserve a sufficient portion of waters within the said Drayn in the time of extreme drought Furthermore they said that forasmuch as there hath not been a substantial Bridge over the said Sewer called Maid lode of the length of xx foot next unto Welney water so as the same water at the entry thereof might have full passage hath been in like manner a great decay of the said Sewer And they said that the heirs of Richard Cranford ought to scour the said Mayd lode next from the said Welney water called the South branch by the space of one furlong at the widenesse of xx foot and of sufficient depth And next unto that the Inhabitants of Upwell and Welney ought to dike the same by the space of one mile for certain lands which they hold in common call'd Dunthorn's fens otherwise called our Lady fenns and one other mile for their Common called Blakmereshall And then the Landholders belonging to the Prior of Fakenham to scoure the said Lode called Shiplode by the space of half a mile And then the said Edmund Beaupre for lands belonging to Beaupre Hall in Outwell aforesaid half a mile And for his Mannour of Upwell late â—â—longing to the dissolved house of Ramsey half a mile And then Richard Fyncham Gent. for certain Fen grounds and Marish half a mile And the Landholders late belonging to the Monastery of Walsingham three quarters of a mile Then the Dean of Norwich for lands belonging to the late Celle of Monks in K. Lynne three furlongs and from thence to the said place against Denver hithe where the said Sluce shall be set the Townships of Denver Helgay and Fordham shall dyke c. the rest of said lode for four furlongs in consideration that they be not charged in any part of the said Sewer called Mayd lode and Shiplode and yet the same Townships shall drayn by the same Sewer by estimation a thousand acres of Common Fens and more And forasmuch as great Commodity shall grow aswell to the Inhabitants of Denver Helgay and Fordham as to the Inhabitants of the whole Countrey of Mershland and Wygenhall by reason that the same Sewer as well shall drayn the Fenns of Denver Helgay and Fordham as also shall receive the great abundance of fresh waters the which before this time have descended against a certain Bank in Outwell and Dounham aforesaid called the New Powdich being the only defence and safeguard of the same Country of Marshland and Wigenhall the which for lack of this provision at this present by them agreed have been divers times of late years drowned that in consideration thereof aswell the Inhabitants of Marshland and Wigenhall as of the said 4. Infields in Upwell and Outwell called Plawfield Kirkfield Budbeche field and Landy field shall bear and sustain the Costs in and about the sufficient making of the said Sluce and Clowes And that after the same Sluce and Clowes be well and sufficiently made that then the same shall be repaired at the Costs of the said Inhabitants and Landholders of Denver Fordham and Helgay aforesaid except when the yearly chardges in amending the same shall come to above the summe of xxvis. viijd. Also they said that there is another great destruction aswell to the said Fenns as to a great part of the low grounds within the I le of Ely by reason of the decay of the said drayn called in part New dike in Littilport aforesaid and in part thereof called Crikelode in Sothery aforesaid betwixt Sothery poole and Modney and there entreth into the said great River of Ouse And they said that the Bishop of Ely ought to scour the said Creeklode from the said great River of Ouse unto a certain place called the Willow by the space of two furlongs and then the Landholders of the Lands of late belonging to the Cellerer of Bury ought to dyke from the said Willough unto Pulver lake The Dean of Norwich for his Church of Fordham the Parson of Helgay for his
of the Marshes just to the mouth of them which in every Spring-tide affoard store of water to grinde down the Chanel whereof that on the North side is the more principal for the conducting whereof to the place of best advantage the Leame is embanked on that side â—y some certain space that the tide on the Marsh cannot fall into it but by that Finne at the very head and there by his plentifull descent scoureth to good purpose that which otherwise in Summer would be silted up such penury there is of fresh waters in the Country at that time In 19 Iac. there was a Decree made at Outwell by the Commissioners of Sewers then fitting there for levying the forfaitures and penalties imposed by the Jurors for the Hundred and half of Clakclose upon the Landholders of Churchfield and Plawfield â—or not making sufficient Sluses viz. one at the South end of the Pipe under Welle River the other in Plawfield Drayn in the xxx Acres of Iohn Fyncham Esquire And in 8 Caroli there having been an Agreement made with Henry Dereham of London Esquire for the drayning of certain Fens and surrounded grounds lying in the Parishes of Tyd S. Maries in the County of Lincolne Tyd S. Giles and Newton in this County of Cambridge made by the proprietaries and owners of the said Fens containing by estimation three thousand Acres by which Agreement the said Henry was to make his Draynes unto the outfall neer Eatts mere into the Sea so that the said grounds should be kept dry at least one foot under the soil and for his charges therein that a Tax of xls. the Acre should be imposed and in default of payment thereof that the said Henry should have two fift parts of the said grounds upon an equal division thereof into five parts to be established to him and his heirs for ever and a moity of the said two fift parts to be set out to the said Henry and his heirs for the maintaining of the said works after they should be perfected the said Agreement was fully ratified by a Decree made at Wisebeche upon the 20th of September the same year in a Session of Sewers then and there held CHAP. XLIX HOlding on my course more Westwards I come to that part of this County which is called the Isle of Ely the bounds whereof I shall next take notice and then of what else is most memorable touching the Fens which do belong thereto The circuit of this Isle saith the Register of Ramsey beginneth at Erith brigge and from thence extends to Sutton grove so to Mepehale thence to Wichhome brigg thence to Ely Dounhom thence to Litisport thence to the Town of Ely thence to Haveringmere thence to Stratam lode thence to Anglongwesche on the South side of the Isle thence to Aldirhethe brigge and so to Erith brigge The entrances into it are these the first at Litisport the second at Stuntmere brigge the third at Alderhethe brigge and the fourth at Erith brigge Moreover it is to be noted that the Commons in the Fens of this Isle are divided from those of Chateriz at Snarissode whence the Commons of Chateriz go on to Mepehale hee and so to Andelong bihee Howbeit the Commons of Chateriz fen to mow cut and dig beginneth at Dryebyresfen and so goeth on betwixt Arnyatesmere and thence to Blakwell and from Blakwell to By Ee and from thence compassing Hunn Eye unto Langereche thence to the River of Dodyngton then to Bilâ—ynge thence to Algaris-fen and so over the fen to Achinwerdore But the pasture belonging to Chateriz goeth first to Dounham thence to UUycheham thence to Sutton and so to Dodyngtone and Marche within which Precincts the Monks of Ramsey had enter Commom with Chateriz Belonging likewise to Chateriz are these Meadows scil Crow lode beginning neer Suth fen muthe and extending to Hol lode which Meadow is compassed with waters on every side And on the other side the water from Park hale to Fenton is UUelagh beside one piece which the Abbess hath The demesne Fen of Crow lode belonging to the Abbot of Ramsey's Mannour in Chateriz beginneth at Wolvey were which standeth in the great River neer to the place where Fenton lode descendeth thereinto hard by Horshithe and so goeth on in length by the said great River Southwards unto Croslode â— which Crosâ—lode is by some called Parkhale lode but by others the Draught and farther extends it self thwarting the Fen to the West by the Southside of the said Fen called Crow lode unto Wolvey lode which by some is called Fenton lode and thence to Wolvey welagh which standeth neer the said River on the North part of Wolvey lode and opposite to Wolvey were aforesaid within which precinct the Abbess of Chateriz holdeth one part of a Meadow which Hugh Folyot somtime Abbot of Ramesey gave unto her It is also to be noted that the Soke of Somersham ought to Common aswell in grazing as mowing in that Fen which extendeth from Erith brigge unto Parkhale lode by the River and thence to Fenton welugh to graze and mow and for Housebote and firebote and from Fenton welughe they ought to Common in grazingâ— unto Weremere and from Weremere likewise to Thornbrigge And it is likewise to be noted that within those Precincts Sir Will. le Moigne hath one Field which is gained land and a grove of Alders with two meres at Roweye The bounds of Higgen Eye fen recovered by Simon Abbot of Ramsey were these viz. from Calverwodeyate and so directly to Munke lade thence to Hokeslade descending towards Glatton and so by Hokeslade unto Byrchmere poolys thence to Walton elde lode directly to Byrch holt and thence to the dry land of Higgen Eye at the corner of Byrch holt and there by the dry land to North welne and thence unto Calverwodeyate which Fen containeth a thousand Acres Within the precincts of the waters belonging unto this Isle of Ely there is a little Island called Ehâ—eneie wherein the Monks of Ely had a Cell which by reason of those obstructions that hindred the fresh waters in their passage through this great Levell from evacuating themselves as I have before observed became by the swelling of those waters almost drowned upon a great complaint therefore made by the said Monkes unto Alberic Picot he gave them four Acres and an half of ground in the Isle of Denney which lay without the reach of the Fen to the end that they might translate their House thither and make Orchards and Gardens there for their use The next thing of note in reference to this Isle wherewith I have met is the repair of the Causey leading thereto in 5 H 3. the King then giving unto Peter de Valentiniis a Monk of Ely four Oakes to be taken out of his Forest of Wauberge in Huntendonshire for that purpose the Record terming it Calcetum de Ely which makes me think that it was
in bredth two and a half This County of Huntendon being then a Forest the Regardors did in 34 E. 1. by virtue of the King's Precept make this following Presentment at the new Temple in London viz. that the Tenants of the Abbot of Ramsey in the Town of Ramsey the Tenants of the Abbot of Thorney in Wytlesheye and the Tenants of the Prior of Ely in Wytlysheye had wasted all the Fen of Kyngesdelfe of the Alders Hassocks and Rushes estimated at a thousand Acres so that the King's Deer could not have harbour there as they had before that perambulation Likewise that the Towns of Stangrund and Farsheved had wasted the fen of Farsheved of the Alders and Rushes estimated at an hundred Acres Also that the Abbot of Thorney had made a Purpresture in the said King's Forest within Farsheved fen and inclosed the same with a double Ditch on the side towards Farsheved which contained in length two miles by estimation and two furlongs in bredth And likewise that the said Abbot had raised a new Bank without the Town of Iakele containing one mile in length against the assize of the Forest. And that Iohn le Wode of Iakele came with the men of Wytlysheye into the Fen of Kynggesdelfe and set fire therein which burnt in length and bredth about four miles by estimation which caused great loss to the King in his Harts Hinds and Goats And likewise that the men of Benewyk had destroyed a certain place in Kyngesdelf of the Alders and Rushes called Hertyngges containing a mile in length and bredth And they likewise then presented that the Banleu of Ramsey began at Humberdale and so went on to Wystowe lowe by the middle of the Town of Wystowe and so to Ranelestone and thence to Ranelesnoge thence to Obmere-bote thence to Scaldemere thence to Ayxschebeche thence to the Newe lode which leadeth betwixt Middilmore and Kynggesdelfe thence to Beaurepeyre thence to Tyrmerekote thence to Pollyngsecote thence to Caldemowchache thence to Goldepyttelade and thence to Homberdale The division betwixt this Forest and the Bishop of Ely his free Chase of Somersham began at the great River scil at the three Willowes and thence extended to Fentone lode thence to the new Bank thence to Fentone Crosse thence to the Mill at Wardeboys thence to Pydelemare thence to Pydele dam thence to Iny mede thence to Kollangeleye thence to the Hanger of Bluntesham and thence to the great River CHAP. LII THis being the last of those six Counties into which the great Level as hath been observed extendeth containeth no more than a narrow skirt of those fens at the utmost point whereof that sometime great and famous Abby of Medeshamstede since called Peterborough was for the like advantages already taken notice of in Thorney and some others first founded by Peada King of the Mercians about the year of Christ DCL and soon after amply endowed by King Wolpherus his Brother and Successor in the government As to its situation and the more exact description of the fens belonging thereto I shall exhibit what Robert de Swasham sometime a Monk of that House saith Burch verò in regione Gyrviorum est fundatus c. Burch is founded in the Country of the Gyrvii for there beginneth the Fen on the East side thereof which reacheth Lx. miles or more in length Which Fen is of no small benefit to the bordering people for there they have wood and other fewell for the fire and Hay for fodder as also Reed for thatching of their Houses with many other necessaries There are likewise divers Rivers Waters and great Meeres for fishing the Country abounding in such things in the best part whereof Burch is seated having on the one side of it the Fen and River and on the other upland ground with Woods Meadows and many Pastures which do render it most beautifull on every part having a meet access to it by land except towards the East on which side without Boats there is no comming to it On the South side of it runneth the River Nene c. And these are the limits of the possessions Pooles Fenns Lakes Fishings Lands c. which King Wolphere gave thereto that the Monks therein placed might freely serve Godâ— viz. from Medeshamstede to Norburch and thence to a place called Folies thence directly through the main Fen to Esendic and from Esendic to the place which they call Fethermute thence directy to Cuggedic ten miles distant thence to Raggewiâ—c five miles to the principal stream which goeth to Elme and Wisebeche and thence for the space of three miles up the said principal stream to Trochenholt thence directly through the vast Fen to Derevorde in length xx miles thence to Grecescros thence by a fair current called Beadan Ea six miles to Paccelode and so through the midst of many Lakes and spacious Fens in Huntendonshire together with the Pooles and Lakes called Scelfremere and Witlesmere and several others to them belonging as also with the Lands and Houses which do ly on the South side of Scelfremere and all within the Fen to Medeshamstede and thence to Welmesford and so to Clive and Estune and from Estune to Stanforde and thence as the River runneth to Norburch before-specified But touching the improvements made here by Banking and Drayning I find little in particular till of late time whereof I shall speak anon this being the utmost Corner towards the high land which the fresh waters for want of a cleer and perfect evacuation overflowed the Banks and Sewers conducing to the exsiccation thereof having been cut from the River Nene through Cambridgshire towards their most antient and natural out-fall at Wisebeche CHAP. LIII Observations upon the Commissions and Statutes of Sewers Having now done with those particular endeavours of Banking and Drayning within the precinct of the Great Level in order to the bettering that surrounded part of the Country I come lastly to speak of that eminent and signal undertaking viz. the general winning thereof by Banks and Sewers a work certainly of no less honour to the first Adventurers therein than beneficial to the present and future Age. But before I begin therewith it will be proper I conceive by way of preparation thereto to make some short observation upon the antient Commissions and most notable Statutes of Sewers And first touching the Commissions the antiquity and extent whereof do sufficiently appear in the precedent discourse I shall briefly note First that the King ratione dignitatis suae Regiae ad providendum salvationi Regni sui circumquaque fuit astrictus c. for those are the words therein was by the prerogative of his Crown obliged to see and foresee to the safety of his Realm Secondly that by virtue of them the Commissioners might enforce the neglecters of their duty by distress of their goods and likewise fine and imprison the dissobeyers of their Orders as appeareth by those words viz. ad
Beryall and Westmore fens to Wellenhey River and thence through certain Fenns of Norfolk into the Ouse about Mayd lode would be most necessary and that without so doing the Fenns could never be drayned Thence we went to Rebbech where Brandon River alias Ouse parva falleth into Ouse neer Preist houses Thence to Sotherey and Modney Thence to Helgay bridge Thence to Fordham Thence to Salters lode where Nene falleth into Ouse which is a very great descent viz. ten foot from the soil of the Fenns to the low water mark besides the natural descent of the fen-Fen-grounds from the Uplands of Huntingdon-shire thither Thence to Wisbeche Thence to Tower house and so to Hobbs house where we observed that Plantwater which cometh out of Nene at great Crosse to the said Hobbs house with Staven Ea which were wont to run to Tower house and so to Wisbeche do now run from Hobbs house by Hunster stones through Hobbs dike into March River Thence we went to Marche and Dodington and between Dodington and Chateriz there is a small lode Besselinges lode which runneth through a low Marish Fenn Thence to Chateriz Towns end where there is a Sewer called Chateriz leame growing from the West-water at Chateriz Ferry unto Dodington weeles Thence to Mephall and there saw Mephall lode which runneth from Sutton lode Thence by water to Cambridge In which passage we took notice that Harrymere gravell was a great means of the overflowing of Grant As also of Burwell lode Swaffham lode and Botesham lode all which do fall into Grant Upon this view Mr. Hunt who was the Artist for the Drayning represented to the said Commissioners what Cuts Banks Sluses Clows c. would be in his judgment farther necessary in order to the perfecting this work all which they signified under their hands to the Lords of the Council together with their opinions how much it would tend to the honor and inriching of the Kingdome but declined in regard of shortness of time to give any estimate of the charge thereof or upon what conditions it would be meet to take it in hand And upon the xxiiiith day of the same Month the King himself by his Letters bearing date at Grenewich taking notice of theirs to the Lords of his Councill as aforesaid incited them to fall in hand speedily with the work and the rather because that was a dry Summer and so the more proper for it intimating also that for the better expediting thereof he had imployed his Chief Justice Popham to take pains therein Whereupon such good speed was made that upon the xiiith of the next Month this following certificate was delivered in to the said Commissioners then sitting at Wisebeche The true content or number of Acres in the Fenns described in the general Plot lying without the Fen-dikes as it was delivered by William Hayward Gent. Surveyor upon his Oath at Wisbeche 13 Iuly 1605. Acres BUrrough-soke great Fen with some severals by Catts-water 8015 Burrough little Fen. 900 Croyland Fenns in three pieces 2000 Certain several Fens and wet Meadows lying in Ely between Borrough Little fen Borrough great Fen and Catts water 763 Thorney grounds containing in all 15850 whereof in hard land 400 Acres in Fenn 15450 UUisbeche Hundred high Fen with Sutton Fen and Throkenholt severals 8365 Ladwers Ixwell-moore the Rivers c. and other severals betwen Coldham bank Bishop's dike the division of March UUelney-River and Darcey-lode 0740 UUittlesey and Stanground Common Fenns with divers severals and half severals between the old Ea and Thorney bounds the division of UUisbeche high Fenns and Dodington fenns and from that division by the High stream and Ramsey-mere to Knuts delph and by that Delph up to Horsey brigg in which bound Ramsey hath a part of a Fen next to Ramsey mere containing 2800 Acres 24435 Other Fens between the said Delph the high stream Ubmere UUittlesey mere and so by Conquest lode to Pocket-holme and the high Land 7390 Certain Fens in Huntingdonshire between the high land skirts and Ramsey-Hards and Mere and the said high stream and Conquest lode 13455 Other Fenns of Huntindonshire lying between Ramsey Mere the high stream to Benwick the West-water to Erith brigge and the skirts of the high land between the said Bridg and Ramsey Hards 13340 The Fenns of Dodington cum membris Common and several 32000 Hony Fens in all 370. viz. Hard land 90. Fen 280 Chateryz Fens together with certain Fens of Sutton and Byall fen with some severals lying between the bounds of Dodington and Hony the West-water Sutton lode and Oxwillow lode 20700 Sutton Fens on the South of Sutton lode between the West-water Haddenham fens and the Hardes of Haddenham Sutton and Mephall 2910 Haddenham fens between the former Fens the River of Ouse Wilberton fens and Haddenham hards 3870 Willingham fens on the South of the Ouse on the West of Aldrey-Causey besides Hempsall on the East thereof 2920 Wilberton Fens with part of other Fens between the Ouse and Hard land to Ely bridge 2790 Grunty-fen encompasseth with the high lands 1694 A Fen more North between Sutton lode by Coveney and the hard land of divers Towns compassing it 3780 Downham Wodfen and other Fens between the Fens of Litle port the Ouse and Ely hard-lands to the Town 2440 The Fens of Littleport on both sides of the Ouse Common and several 12660 Westmore South of Darcey-lode and West of Welney River together with divers severals 15360 Certain Fen grounds Common and several between Welney River and the Causey dike in Upwell 1105 Certain Fens Common and several between Welney River Maid lode the Ouse and Litleport grounds 8600 Part of Wisbeche high Fen lying in Waltersey with divers severals 4320 marshland-Marshland-fen and many other grounds between Maid lode and Spalding River the Fen banks and Sea banks which will be made dry by the general drayning 4220 The Fens between Helgay brigg and Stoke brigg by the River on the South-east the high lands of Stoke Wretton Wereham Dâ—reham and Wroxham on the North and the grounds of Edmund Skipwith Gent. on the West 2900 The Fens between the high grounds of Hocwold Wilton Feltwell Methwold and Northwold high lands on the East Soke River on the North the imbanked grounds of Helgay Modney Sotâ—erey and in part the River of Ouse on the West and Brandon River from Preist houses to Brandon brigg 23290 The Fens between Brandon River on the North the River of Ouse in part and Whelpmore and Burt fen on the West Mildenhall high land and River on the South and the high lands from Mildenhall to Brandon 22120 Between Mildenhall River on the North east Ouse from Prickwillow to Ely brigg on the North West Stuntney and Soham Causey the high ground of Stuntney Noruey Soham Isleham and Worlington on the South and East contain 11780 Between the said Causey and the high lands of Stuntney on the North Ouse and Grant from Ely brigg by
these Letters of the King and Council to be published in their Churches c. And upon the xv of October following in a Session of Sewers at Huntingdon the â—aid Commissioners reciting their proceedings at several Sessions of Sewers held before that time in pursuance of the Kings direction and for the better expediting of the work decreed that for and towards the opening of the antient out-falls of Nene and Welland and all other necessary works for drayning of the said grounds c. every Acre of the said drowned grounds in those Counties of Northt Hunt Linc. and Norff. should be taxed at xxs. the Acre to be paid by the owners thereof before the 7. of Dec. then next coming unto Thomas Bishop of Peterborough Sir Francis Fane Sir Rob. Bevill c. and others by this Decree named to remain in their hands to be ratably paid over to the said Undertakers their heirs and assignes after their work of Drayning should be done whole or in part And that for want of payment thereof at the dayes and times appointed the said Commissioners should in a full Session of Sewers to be held the 21. day of Dec. following at Peterborough allow and set forth such portion of the said surrounded grounds for which the summs aforesaid were not paid unto the same Undertakers their heirs and assignes in recompence of the said drayning as should seem just c. unto them which should be enjoyed c. accordingly And that after the said work of drayning should be perfected and adjudged sufficiently done by the said Commissioners at a general Session for that purpose a competent proportion of land to be reassured by the said Undertakers and their heirs or assigns for the perpetual maintaining of the said works And lastly that Copies of this Order should be published by the Sheriffs in the several Counties c. where the said draining was But notwithstanding all this the work did not go on so effectually as the King desired which occasioned a Letter from the Lords of the Council to the said Commissioners of Sewers bearing date the 5. of December ensuing whereby taking notice of the many attendances upon them by the Undertakers in several Sessions of Sewers and yet that little progreâ—s had been made therein they desired them again to affoard their effectual assistance for removing of such difficulties as might hinder an undertaking of so great an hope nothing now resting but the putting of their own Orders in Execution for advancement of the same Whereupon the Commissioners siâ—ting at Spalding upon the xvith day of the same Month of December reciting the Decree made at Huntendon in the Session of Sewers held there upon the xv and xvi of October preceding and taking notice that no money of the said Tax of xxs. the Acre had been paid as was then ordered did judge and decree that from and after the said worthy work of Drayning the said Fens and surrounded grounds in general before-mentioned or those particulars hereafter mentioned or any of them respectively in that County of Lincolne should by Gods help be well and truly accomplished by the said Undertakers their heirs or assigns at their own proper chardges and expences and so adjudged and approved by six or more Commissioners of Sewers commorant and residing within the part of Holland for those works that should be done in those parts of Holland and six or more Commissioners of Sewers commorant and residing within the parts of Kesteven for those which should be done in the said parts of Kesteven then and from thenceforth they the said Sir William Ayloffe and Sir Anthony Thomas being the Undertakers before-mentioned thâ—ir heirs and assigns should have hold and enjoy the parts and portions of the Fens and grouâ—ds usually and hurtfully surrounded and by them undertaken to be drayned respectively as followeth viz. whereas the Earl of Exeter then had a third part of the Fens called Deping Spalding and Pinchbeck South Fenns and of Goggisland belonging to Crowland by contract heretofore made with Captain Thomas Lovell for the Drayning of the said Fens which notwithstanding being not performed the same Fens then remained drowned that therefore the said several Fens called Spalding and Pinchbeck South fen and Deping fen and Goggisland together with that part of the said Fens and grounds in the occupation and tenure of the said Earl or his Tenants should be all entirely and wholy survayed and measured by two several Surveyors whereof one to be named by the said Sir William Ayloff and Sir Anthony Thomas the said Undertakers their heirs or asâ—igns and the other by some six Commissioners of Sewers of Holland and Kesteven and the whole content and number of Acres to be exactly taken and cast up and thereof the said Sir William and Sir Anthony their heirs or assigns to have so much of the said Fens then lying open and in Common as together with the said several grounds in the tenure and occupation of the said Earl should amount unto and extend to a moity or half part of the whole content of all together to be proportionably taken out of the said several Fens viz. one part out of Spalding and Pinchbeck South fen another part out of Deping fen and a third part out of Goggisland according to the number of Acres then in them lying in Common to be set out by the said six or more Commissioners of Sewers in either of the said parts of Holland and Kesteven within their said several parts respectively And of the whole content of the Marish and drowned grounds called Bellesmore lying in Spalding and Wesson in the said County being the grounds of Sir Francis Iones Knight two third parts And of the whole content of the Marish grounds called Turpitts lying in Weston aforesaid being the grounds of William Coulson of the same Yeoman two third parts And of the whole content of the Marish ground called the East fen lying in Moulton being the grounds of Sir Iohn Payton Knight and others one fourth part And of Whaplode and Holbeche Common Marish or Fen grounds one half part And of Sutton Fen lying on the South side of South Ea two third parts And it was farther ordered and decreed that till the said Fens and grounds should be adjudged drayned and approved to be drayned as aforesaid the two Rivers of Glene and Weland and the Banks environing the said South Fen should be kept and maintained for the safety of the Country at the charges and costs of the said Earl of Exeter or his assigns according to the contract made with the said Thomas Lovell That this Decree also had little effect I am much inclined to believe For upon the last of February following the said Lords of the Council wrote again to those Commissioners requiring them to attend the King in person at his Council Board in the third week of Lent ensuing there to cleer such doubts as his Malesty should desire to be satisfied
bound by good and sufficient security to and for the costs and charges to be expended for the perpetual maintenance of the said works that is to say one thousand five hundred Acres whereof five hundred Acres of the said West fenn to be part and a thousand Acres of the best grounds of the said East fenn to be the rest yearly to be let out to the intent and purpose that two thousand pounds might be levyed and kept in the hands of the Mayor of Boston aforesaid for the time being to be imployed for and about the repairs of the said works and the profits of the said grounds to be to the use of the said Undertakers untill the value of five hundred pounds should be spent in and about the repairs of the said works and then the said profits to be imployed and made two thousand pounds to be bestowed from time to time upon the said works for ever when occasion should serve And at another Session of Sewers held at Boston aforesaid upon the xv of April the next ensuing year recital being made of the Laws before-specified and of the undertaking of the said Sir Anthony Thomas and his Participants there was another Decree made that for their charges therein they should not only have the one half of the said East fen and a third of all the severals adjoyning thereto and likewise the fourth part of all the surrounded grounds lying in the West fen and the severals thereto adjoyning limited and appointed to them by a former Decree but some farther augmentation in certain other particular places Whereupon the said Sir Anthony and his Participants began the work in September following and prosecuted it with so much diligence that at another Session of Sewers held likewise at Boston upon the xvi of Iuly 10 Caroli by Thomas Hâ—ughton Esquire Mayor of the Borough of Boston Sir Raphe Maddison Knight Walter Norton Richard Finsham George Pulton Rouland Hale Iohn Knight Esquire and Thomas Bedford Gent. Upon their view of those late surrounded grounds viz. East and West fenns North fenn Earles fen Armetre fen and Wildemore fen and other the drowned Commons and adjacent surrounded several grounds lying on the North and North East of the River of Witham within the extent of the said Commission undertaken by Sir Anthony Thomas Knight and his participants they adjudged the same to be so drayned as that they were fit for arable Meadow or Pasture And that there was not above sixteen hundred seventy and three Acres remaining drowned of three thousand Acres of Pits Holes Deeps and hollow places which were permitted to be leâ—t covered with waters besides the Rivers Drayns Sewers and VVater-courses within the whole Levell undertaken by the said Sir Anthony and his Associates to be drained within four years not then expired uâ—till Michaelmass next following according to the before-specified Law of Sewers made at Boston xv Maii 6 Caroli and of another Law of Sewers made likewise in pursuance thereof at Boston aforesaid xv Apr. 7 Caroli And in another Session of Sewers held also at Boston aforesaid upon the xi of August the next ensuing year recital being made of the former Decrees whereby the one half of the said East fen and a third part of the severals adjoyning thereto and a fourth part of the West fen as also the fourth part of all the surrounded grounds aswell Several as Common formerly taxed lying in the said West fen were decreed to the said Sir Anthony and his Participants for the Drayning thereof the Commissioners did fully ratifie the same proportions as they were then set out by particular metes and bounds CHAP. LVII The Eight Hundred fen THere is likewise another great Marsh lying in this Northern part of the great Levell called Eight hundred fen but antiently Haut huntre fen containing twenty two thousand Acres the Drayning whereof was undertaken by the late King Charles of blessed memory and to that end in a Session of Sewers held at Boston 28 Martii 13 Car. a Decree made that a Tax of xxs. the Acre should be laid upon sixteen thousand Acres thereof to be â—evyed upon the Inhabitants of Braytofte Swineshed Wigtoft Soutterby Alderchurch Fosse dyke Kirton Frampton Wiberton Hole Dockdike and Boston claiming Common therein But this Tax being not paid accordingly the said Commissioners sitting again at Boston aforesaid upon the first of Iune then next ensuing declared the said King to be the sole Undertaker for the drayning thereof and that the work should be perfected within six years next after that present Session or any other time that six of the said Commissioners should limit and did for recompence of the charge which should be expended therein Decree to him the said King his heirs and successors eight thousand Acres thereof to be set out by any six of the before-specified Commissioners after the accomplishment of the said Drayning FINIS THE INDEX IMprovements by Banking and Drayning in Forein Countries viz. Egypt pag. 1. Babylon 5. Belgique Provinces 10. Frizeland 14. Gallia Cis-Alpina 9. Greece 6. Holland 12. Holstein 15. Italy viz. Fossa Mariana 9. Fucine Lake 9. Placentia 9. Pompein Marshes 6. Zeland 15. Improvements by Banking and Drayning in England viz. in Cambridgshire 299. Isle of Ely 356.180 The siege thereof by King William the Conqueror 186. Thorney 360. Derbyshire 138. Essex viz. the Marshes on Thames 74. Havering and Dagenham Levell 82. Gloucestershire 213. Kent The Marshes on Thames 59. Lesnes Marsh 62. b. 65. a. Plumsted Marsh 62. b. East-Kent 36. The Ordinances of Edmund de Passele Iohn de Ifield and Stephan de la Dane there 36. The Ordinances of Iohn de Lovetot and Henry de Apuldrefeld there 38. Romeney Marsh 16. The Laws for Conservation thereof made by H. de Bathe a Justice Itinerant in 42 H. 3.19 The Ordinances by Iohn de Lovetot and Henry de Apletrefold 16 E. 1.24 b. The Ordinances made by Henry de Apletrefeld and Bertram de Trancrey 18 E. 1.27 a. The Ordinances made by Thomas de Lodelow 35 E. 3.31 Immunity to the Bayliff and Jurats 33. b. Incorporation of its Inhabitants 34. b. Huntendonshire 365. a. Ramsey ibid. Wittlesey mers 363. a. Kent and Sussex 83. The ordinances of Iohn Fogg and his fellow Justices concerning the Marshes betwixt Robertsbrigge and Romeney 52. b. Lincolnshire The Marshes on Ankholme 150. Axholme alias Hatfield Level 141. Holland 219. a. Crowland 219. a. 179. Kesteven 194. a. Deping fen ibid. 206. a. Lovell's undertaking to drain it 206. b. Kesteven and Holland 198. b. The Marshes in Lindsey 153. b. Folsedike 167. a. The Marshes on Witham 168. b. Middlesex The Marshes in the Suburbs of London 73. b. Middlesex and Essex The Marshes on Thames 69. Norfolk 288. a. Maâ—shland 244. The old Podike first raysed there 245. a. When first repaired and how 246. b. 248. a. The new Podike made there 264. a. Northamptonshire 368. Nottinghamshire 138. a. Somersetshire The
Westm. inchoato 8º Maii. An Act for Confirmation of certain Decrees of Sewers made by the Commissioners for the limits of the Levell of the River of Ancholme in the County of Lincolne WHereas Sir John Monson in the eleaventh year of our late King of Blessed memory Charles the first upon the request of the Commissioners of Sewers for the parts of Lindsey in the County of Lincolne And to do service for his Country did undertake the dreyning and improvement of the Fenns and Low grounds lying in those parts upon the River of Ancholme extending from Humber to Bishop-Brigge which were found and adjudged to be hurtfully surrounded both by the view of the Commissioners of Sewers and divers verdicts of Iuries impannelled of the ablest Inhabitants after several views taken And that the dreyning of those Fenns were ever heretofore much desired by the parties intressed therein and for that the designe of dreyning of the same was by the opinion of the said Commissioners held to be a work not only Honourable but Profitable for the Country therefore the said Sir John Monson according to the power and direction of divers Acts and Decrees of Sewers in that behalf ordeined undertook the dreyning of the said Fenns and low grounds and to make them fit for Arable Meadow or Pasture yet so as he admitted as many of the Lords and Owners as would adventure with him for their own upon the same terms he did and did at his own and his Participants great expences dreyn all those grounds Common and several Fenns within the parts aforesaid between Humber and Bishopp-Brigge conteining by estimation above twenty thousand acres in one intire Level or work of dreyning for the doing whereof the Commissioners of Sewers have by divers Acts or Decrees of Sewers Ordeined adjudged decreed and set out unto the said Sir John Monson five thousand eight hundred twenty seven Acres of the said grounds Commons and Fenns by certain meets and bounds whereby the same are distinguished and known from the rest of the Commons there which Decrees Schedules and Laws of Sewers upon the humble Petition of the Commissioners to his late Majesty had His Majesties Royal assent and were inrolled in the high Court of Chancery according to the Statute in that Case provided and were exemplified under the great Seal of England by vertue whereof the said five thousand eight hundred twenty and seven Acres were held and injoyed by the said Sir John Monson his Participants and Assignes untill the beginning of the late troubles the undertaking being performed and so adjudged upon the view of the Commissioners of Sewers May it please your Most Excellent Majesty that it may be Enacted And be it therefore Enacted by the Kings Most Excellent Majesty by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by authority of the same That the said Sir John Monson his Participants and Adventurers aforesaid and his and their and every of their Heirs and Assignes shall have hold possess and enjoy the said five thousand eight hundred twenty and seven Acres so set out by several Decrees of Sewers by meets and bounds therein particularly mentioned and expressed whereunto his Majesties Royal assent was had and by privy Seal certified into his Majesties high Court of Chancery and there inrolled and remaining of Record according to the several divisions and allotments since severally and respectively made between the said Sir John Monson and his Participants and Adventurers their and every of their Heirs and Assignes freed and discharged of and from all title and Interest of the former owners and Commoners whatsoever Provided all wayes and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if it shall fall out at anytime hereafter that the said Fenns and low grounds lying upon the River of Ancholme between Humber and Bishopp-Brigge for which the said Sir John Monson his Participants and Adventurers their Heirs and assignes have their said Recompence of five thousand eight hundred twenty and seven Acres set out for the dreyning of the same shall again be hurtfully surrounded in default of the said Sir John Monson his Participants and Adventurers their Heirs or Assignes and shall so continue at any time for the space of six Months together except such Lakes Draines Sewers and Portions of the said parts as were excepted upon the Contract not exceeding two hundred Acres so that the same shall be found and adjudged defective in default of the said Sir John Monson his Participants and Adventurers their Heirs or Assignes by six of the said Commissioners for the time being whereof three to be of the Quorum And that the said view and Iudgment be certified upon record into the high Court of Chancery then it shall and may be Lawfull to and for the Lords Proprietors and Owners and Commoners of and in the said Fenns and grounds and their Heirs and Assignes and for every or any of them to enter into two thousand Acres of the said five thousand eight hundred twenty and seven Acres to be set out and portioned by the said Commissioners so that the said Commissioners do set forth and allot a rateable proportion of the said two thousand Acres out of every of the said Lordships and to have hold and enjoy the same and their several Commons therein in as large and ample manner as they do and shall in the other parts left to them untill the said parts allotted and left to the said Lords Owners and Commoners be by the said Sir John Monson his Participants and Adventurers their Heirs and Assigns or some of them sufficiently drayned and again recovered at his and their own proper cost and charges as is aforesaid And that after that same shall be sufficiently recovered and drained the said Sir John Monson his Participants and Adventurers their Heirs and Assigns shall have and enjoy the said two thousand Acres as aforesaid and so in like manner from time to time to gain and lose their said Pasture and Common in the said two thousand Acres upon such and the like Certificates and recovery had and made as is aforesaid for ever Provided also that if the Lords or Owners of the Lands and Grounds within any the limits or bounds aforesaid allotted to the said Sir John Monson shall desire their Lands again be it further Enacted that if they pay to the said Sir John Monson or his Assign◠the principal money by him disbursed in draining the said Level with reasonable damages for the same at or before the first day of May which shall be in year of our Lord One thousand six hundred sixty three or if any difference shall arise or happen between the said Sir John Monson and any of the said Lords or Owners touching the said principal monies disbursed as aforesaid or damages for the same which the said Sir John Monson shall demand then such summ and summs of mony for the said Principal
Earth digg'd out of it she brought to the Banks of the Riverâ— the brims whereof she strengthened with stones in such places where the weight of the said Banks did oppresse them These two works viz. the turning of the River into that winding posture and the making that Drayn she did first to the end that the said River by the many bendings thereof might glide more gently next that the passages of Ships towards Babylon might be crooked and lastly that by those Navigations the long Turnings of the Chanel might be sustained CAP. II. GREECE I Next come to those works of this kind as were performed by the Grecians whâ—reof I shall give instance in Thessalie and Acarnania The first of these is said to have been antiently a Lake being on every side inclosed with Mountains For on the East it hath the Hills Peleon and Ossa mutually joyning at their descent to the North Olympus to the West Pindas and to the South Othris The Valley betwixt these Hills is Thessalie Among other Rivers that flow into it these five are the chiefest Peneus Apidanus Onochonus Enipeus and Pamisus which running from the Hills incompassing this Country meet in the Plain and become one stream which at one passage and that but narrow issueth into the Sea from the confluence of these waters Peneus continueth the name It is reported that in old time when as yet there was no out-let these Rivers and the Lake Bebeis besides were not called as at present although they did run no less than now but running made all Thessalie a Sea The Thessalians themselves say that Neptune made that passage by which Peneus floweth into the Sea For the Greeks ascribe all beneficial inventions to their Gods And Herodotus taketh it to be the effect of an Earthquake But no man can deny it to be a very remarkable work of Drayning And that it is now a place of extraordinary pleasantness I shall refer my reader to the Map of Tempe in Ortelius his Parergon Of Acarnania this is observable that where Achelous a River of that Country runs into the Sea it hath already made continent one half of the Islands called Echinades and that the Fable goes that Hercules here encountring with Achelous who is said to have transformed himself into a Bull because of the roaring noise of the River broke off one of his Horns and gave it to Oeneus in pledge of his marriage with Deianeira his daughter They which collect truth out of Fables say that Hercules who was generally beneficial for Oeneus his Father in Law 's sake restrained the exorbitant overflowings of this River with Banks and Trenches and drayned a great part of the adjacent Country and that this was the Cornucopia which the Poets made to be the emblem of Plenty CAP. V. Of the ROMANS THAT the Roman works of this nature were not a few and those very eminent I shall next make manifest by their drains in the Pompeian Marshes the Fossa Mariana the improvements about Placentia and Gallia Cisalpina the restraint of the River Tiber in it's overflowings and the exsiccation of the great Fucine Lake in Italy Sect. 1. The Pompein Marshes In the year 593 when L. Anicius Gallus M. Cornelius Cethegus were Consuls the Senate being in Counsel concâ—rning the Provinces because there seemed not sufficient use against the Enemy for the ordinary forces of both the Consuls which are 4 Legions besides the Auxiliaries socii there was a motion made concerning the improvement of a great level of waste land lying under water about xl miles from Rome in Latium Which businesse was entertained with great approbation for like as it is esteemed a most high commondation for a private man to be called a good Husâ—andman by the Consuls So doth the Senate now think that they should deserve the praise of good Husbands for the commonwealth if in this opportunity of leisure they could gain such a quantity of rich Land to Italy which is the greatest part mountainous and barren Neither is this imployment thought too mean for the Legions though consisting of Free men For the Roman and Italian Infantry as well accustomed to the Spade and Basket as to the Sword and Buckler use to be their own Pioners in their dayly intrenchments Neither work they for their own safety only in time of danger but for the common good also in time of security The Consuls Ao. 566. had herein given a president who lest their Souldiers should be idle imployed them in making of High-wayes hereupon it was decreed that one Consul should attend the Enemy in Gallia and the other undertake the drayning of the Pompeine Marshes All the Country which lyes Eastward of Rome between the River Tiber and Campania is now united under the name of Latium and in it that place which lyeth towards the Sea beneath the row of Hills which reach from Belitre to Terracina is the largest It is denominate from Suessa Pometia antiently a rich City and metropolitan of the Volsi but now scarce extant The maritime parts of this Vale for a great extent are drowned not so much through any inundation of the Sea whose Tides are here but small as by reason the waters of Amasenus and Ufens the bigger River having not their passages sufficienttly open into the Sea diffuse themselvs over those spacious low grounds up towards Sulmo Setia This tract is therefore cal'd the Pomentin or Pomptin Fens having been in such manner surrounded beyond all memory For Homer describing the arival of Ulysses at the Circean promontory calls it an Island in regard of these waters on the one side and the Sea on the other The which Island sayes Theophrastus had about ten miles of circuit But in his time he wrote about twenty years after Appius had been Cenâ—or the Rivers by casting up earth had joyned it to the continent So as I do not perceive that hitherto either before the Romans were Lords of the soyl or since there had been any order taken for the winning of this ground from the Water But now by order of the Senate the Pomptin Fens are laid dry by Cornelius Cethegus the Consul to whom that Province fell and they are made good ground The Country people allured therefore with the richnesse of the soyl setled themselves here in such abundance that there was said to be not long after this time for I cannot understand it of any former three and twenty Towns in this place it being a land capable of many thousand Husâ—andmen But in after times whilst the state distracted with civil Faction neglâ—cted the maintenance of the Works the waters again by degrees gained upon the Land so as Iulius Caesar had an intention not only to have drayned the Fenns anew but to have brought the Appian way through them Whether Augusâ—us did any thing to them may be doubted for in Vespasians time they
were come to that passe that it was esteemed a miracle they should ever have been so well inhabited At the same time I conjecture when the beds of the Rivers were scoured and the lands trenched was that great cut made through the midst of these Fens which served afterwards not so much for a Sewer as the more direct and easie passage of the Traveller For whereas the Appian way tracing the up-land turned Eastward and went in compasse about the Fensâ— This being drawn in a streight line crosses over more directly and meets the High-way again About three miles from Terracina saith Strabo as you go to Rome this canal abutteth on the Appian way and is replenished in many places with the Fennish and River waters The ordinary passage is in the night so as they who go aboard in the Evening land in the Morning and go on the rest of their journey in the Appian way They passe also in the day-time the Boats being towed with Mules Which water-passage is elegantly described by Horace where the company parting he mentioneth the two wayes from Forum Appii to Terracina the Appian and this by Boat This Landing-place next to Rome was in after-times known by the name of Forum Appii a small Town inhabited chiefly by Water-men and Victuallers but it is not evident whether it were formerly built when the Appian was first made or whether now upon this occasion it was erected for the convenience of them that here do take water named from the Road whereon it stands The use of this passage continued long after the restagnation of the Fens which were not again drayned til Trajan the Emperour performing the work which Iulius Caesar perhaps intended made a stone way through the Pomptin Fens building Inns thereon most magnificent Bridges for the conveyance of such waters as were on the upper part of the Fen In memory whereof a monumental stone was erected with this Inscription Copyed from the original at Terracina by that learned Gentleman Mr. Iohn Graves IMP. CAESAR DIVI NERVAE FILIVS NERVA TRAIANVS AVG. GERMANICVS DACICVS PONTIF MAX. TRIB POT XIIII IMP. VI. COS. V. PP XVIIII SILICE SVA PEGVNIA STRAVIT LIII This work of Trajans had no peculiar name but because it shortened the Appian way was esteemed part of it Yet about four hundred years after from the number of Mile-stones it was called Decennovium the reckoning being from Forum Appii ad Medias the lodging of Trajan reared on the way ix miles From thence to Terracina x more And the Canal or River so called because it was xix miles long After this Theodoricus King of Italy authorized one Decius to drayn Paludem Decennovii â— which he performed by cutting many Trenches that were not before this being the third and last time that these Marshes were laid dry and in memory thereof caused this Inscription to be set up Anxuri sive Terracinae in Caesarei templo DN GLORIOSISS ADQ. IN CLVTVS REX THE ODORICVS VICT. AC TRIF SEMPER AVG. BONO REIP. NATVS CVSTOS LIBERTATIS ET PROPAGATOR ROMANI NOMINIS DOMITOR GENTIVM DECENNOVII VIAE APPIAE ID EST A. TRIP VSQ TERRACENAM ITER AD. LOCA QUAE CONFLUENTIBUS AB UTRAQ PARTE PALUDUM PER. OMNES. RETRO-PRINCIPIVM INVNDAVERVNT VSVI. PVBLICO ET SECVRITATI VIANTIVM ADMIRANDA PROPITIO DEO FELICITATE RESTITVIT OPERI INIVNCTO NAVITER INSVDANTE ADQ. CLEMENTISSIMI PRINCIPIS FELICITER DESERVIENTE PRAECONIIS EX PROSAPIA DECIO RVM CAEC MAV BASILIO DECIO VC INL EXPF VRB. EXPPO EX CONS ORD PAT QVI AD PERPETUANDAM TANTI DOMINI GLORIAM PER. PLVRIMOS QVI. ANTE ERANT ALBEOS ..... ............................. DEDUCTA IN. MARE AQVA IGNOâ—AE ATAVIS ET NIMIS ANTIQVAE REDDI ....................... Sect. 2. Fossa Mariana This was made by the famous Marius who was seven times Consul neer unto one of the out-falls of the great River Rhodanus in that Fenny and Marish Countrey not far from Aries and issueth into the Sea Sect. 3. The Fenns about Placentia These being occasioned by the overflowings of the Po were drayned by Scaurus who caused navigable Trenches to be cut from them into Parma The like is still observable in the Territory of Ferrara which though a low ground and receiving the current of Po with other Rivers of Lombardy is yet secured by Banks and Works which hinder their inundations particularly by the help of the Rotto di Ficarollo and the Ramo di Polistella Sect. 4. Gallia Cis-Alpina This Country much aboundeth with Rivers especially that Territory belonging to the Venetians which lying flat and towards the Sea by the flowing of the Tides became a Fenny Marish But by the help of Trenches and Banks in such manner as was long before experimented in the lower Egypt some part thereof hath been drayned and made useful for tillage some navigable and some cut into Islands Sect. 5. Of the River Tiber. To restrain the exorbitant overflowings of this stream which was not a little choakt with dung and several old buildings that had fallen into it I find that Augustus Caesar bestowed some cost in the clearing and scouring of it And that after this through abundance of rain the low grounds about the City suffering much by great inundations thereof the remedy in preventing the like for the future was by the Emperour Tiberius committed to the care of Ateius Capito and L. Aruntius Whereupon it was by them discussed in the Senate Whether for the moderating the floods of this River the Streams and Lakes whereby it increased should be turned another way But to that proposal there were several objections made from sundry Cities and Colonies the Florentines desiring that the Clanis might not be put out of it's accustomed Chanel and turned into the River Arnus in regard much prejudice would thereby befall them In like manner did the Inhabitants of Terano argue affirming that if the River Nar should but cut into smaller streams the overflowings thereof would surround the most fruitful grounds of Italy Neither were those of Reate a City in Umbria silent who refused to stop the passage of the Lake Uelinus now called Lago de Terni into the said River Nar. The businesse therefore finding this opposition was let alone After which Nerva or Trajan attempted likewise by a Trench to prevent the fatal inundations of this River but without successe Sect. 6. The Fucine Lake Nor is it a little to be admired what labour and costs the Romans bestowed in endeavours of this kind it being testified of the Emperour Claudius that he imployed no lesse than thirty thousand men for the space of eleven years without intermission for drayning of the great Fucine Lake in Italy who digg'd for that purpose a Chanel of three miles in length whereof part was cut through a Mountain yet did not accomplish the work Which failingâ— no whit deterred posterity for making Father attempts therein
said bank to take care of it's amendment In 34 H. 6. Sir Iohn Fortescu Knight then chief Justice of the Kings bench Iohn Fylolle Thomas Burgoyne Walter Grene Iohn Harpour Robert Tanfeld Will. Chadworth Thomas Cornwalys and Thomas Croxton were appointed Commissioners for the view and repair of the banks c. lying betwixt S. Katherines Mill before mentioned unto the Chapel called S. Marie Matfelone thence to the Church of S. Dunstans in Stepenhithe thence to the Church of S. Leonard in Bremley thence to the River of Leye thence to the Thames and so to the said Mill And to make Laws and Ordinances according to those of Romeney marsh The like Commission in 7 E. 4. had Thomas Abbot of Graces neer the Tower of London Thomas Urswyk Thomas Frowyk Esquire and others In 14 E. 4. Sir Thomas Urswyke Knight Iohn Elryngtone Thomas Frowyk Will. Essex and others were assigned to view and take order for the repair of all those banks c. lying betwixt the Tower of London and the Town of Stratford atte Bowe and to proceed therein by making Laws c. and otherwise according to the Laws and Customes of Romeney marsh In 20 E. 4. Thomas Bishop of London Edmund Abbot of Graces Will. Wirsley Dean of Pauls Sir Iohn Elryngton and Sir Thomas Frowyk Knights Richard Gardener and others had the like assignation for those betwixt the Town of Lymeostez and the wall called Black Wall So also in the same year had the said Thomas Edmund and William together with Henry Sharpe Dean of the free Chapel of S. Stephan within the Kings Palace at Westminster Iohn Harding Master of the Hospital of S. Thomas of Acon in the City of London Sir Iohn Elryngton Knight Sir Thomas Frowyk Knight Richard Gardner and others for all the banks upon the River of Thames and Leye betwixt the metes and bounds of the City of London and the bridge of Stratford atte Bowe on the North and West side of those Rivers and the Road-way which lyeth betwixt White Chapell parish and the Town of Stratford atte Bowe before-specified CAP. XVI Marshes in the Suburbs of LONDON AND that some places in the very Suburbs of the City of London it self have originally been Fenny and Moorish though now by no small industry and cost equalling the chiefest which were naturally otherwise is apparent from undoubted testimony Fitz Stephan who lived above five hundred years since speaking of that place now called Moore Fields saying thus Cum est congelata palus illa magna quae moenia urbis Aquilonalis alluit exeunt lusum super glaciem densae juvenum turmae c. When the great Fen which watereth the walls on the North side of the City is frozen multitudes of young people go to play upon the Ice Some taking a little room to run do set their feet a good distance and glide a great way Others sit upon thick pieces of Ice as big as Mill-stones and being drawn by many who hold hand in hand when the foot of one slippeth they all tumble down together But others more expert in sporting thereon fix bones under their heeles and taking a Pike-staff do shove themselves forward with so much force that they glide with no lesse swiftnesse than a Bird flyeth or an Arrow passeth out of a Bow This Fen saith Stow stretching from the wall of the City betwixt Bishops-gate and the Posterne called Cripple-gate to Finsbury and to Holy-well continued a waste and an unprofitable ground a long time so that the same was all letten for four Marks the year in the reign of King Edward the second But in the year MCCCCxv 3 H. 5. Thomas Fawconer Maior caused the wall to be broken towards the Moor and builded the Postern called Moore gate for ease of the Citizens to walk that way upon Causeys to Iseldâ—n and Hoxton Moreover he caused the Ditches of the City and other the Ditches from Shores-ditch to Deepe Ditch by Bethlem into the Moore ditch to be newly cast and clensed by means whereof the said Fen or Moor was greatly drained and dryed And in the year MDxij Roger Atchley Maior caused divers Dikes to be cast and made to drain the waters of the said Moore fields with bridges arched over them and the grounds about to be levelled whereby the said field was made somwhat more commodious but yet it stood ful of noysome waters Whereupon in the year MDxxvij Sir Thomas Seymour Maior caused divers Sluces to be made to convey the said waters over the Town ditch into the course of Walbrooke and so into the Thames and by these degrees was this Fen or Moore at length made main and hard ground which before being overgrown with Flaggs Sedges and Rushes served to no use Nor was the ground in Fleetstreete and thereabouts long since much better than a Marish for the same Author saith that in the year MDXCv he observed that when the Labourers had broken up the pavement against Chancery lane end up towards S. Dunstan's Church and had digged four foot deep they found another pavement of hard stone more sufficient than the first and therefore harder to be broken under which were in the made-ground piles of Timber driven very thick and almost close together the same being as black as cole and many of them rotten And now to manifest that not only the Law but the usual practice is where disobedience or neglect hath been found in those as be chardgable with the maintenance of any Banks or Sewers made for the common defence of such Marshes as are in danger of surrounding that coercion is to be exercised for the performance thereof I shall here exhibit the testimony of a Decree made in a Session of Sewers held at Ilford in Essex 19º Aprilis Aº 1639. which reciting an Ordinance made in the like Session at Ilford before-specified for raising the summ of seventeen hundred and six pounds for repairing a breach in the Banks or Marsh-wall of Bromley marsh in this County whereby ninety four Acres of land were surrounded and the neglect of certain persons therein named to pay their proportion thereof which were assessed upon them a Lease for xli years was made of several parcels of ground belonging to those so neglecting unto others at the Rent of one pepper corn yearly CAP. XVII HAving now done with the Marshes in Middlesex I come to those in Essex which Counties are divided by the River of Lye antiently called Luye Of this River it is memorable that the Danes in the year of Christ 894. and 23 of King Alfred's reign sayled up it with their Ships and built a Castle on the Bank thereof about xx miles from London Neer which the Londoners giving them battail and having the better of the day put them to flight so that they were constrained to flye to that Hold whereof the King having notice he caused this River to be cut into three branches to
and covenable Laws and Statutes for the preservation of those Banks and Sewers according to the Laws and Customes of Romeney marsh As also to take and imploy so many Diggers and other Labourers in that work upon convenient wages as should be needfull for the same in regard of the urgent necessity of expedition to be had therein Howbeit after this time till the xith year of the reign of the late King Charls I have not observed any thing else of moment concerning these Marshes but then at a general Session of Sewers held at Glamford brigge upon the last day of March in the said year for drayning of the Fenns and Carrs lying on both sides of the before-specified River of Ancholme in the Lordships of Glentham Bishops Norton Atterby and several other it was then and there ordered by Will. Tirwhit Will. Anderson Marmaduke Darell Samuell Owfield Stephan Anderson Esquires and Richard Nelthorpe Gentleman his Majesties Commissioners that a Tax of s. iiij xiijd. should be assessed upon every acre of land found in a verdict of the said Session in the Towns and places aforesaid for the drayning of those Fenns c. and making a Sluse or Clow near the out-fall of the said River VVhich said summs being not paid accordingly the before-specified Fenns could not be taken in hand there was therefore another Commission shortly after directed to Sir Robert Bell Knight Sir Edward Ascogh Knight Sir William Pelham Knight Will. Tirwhit Will. Anderson Edmund Anderson George Glapthorne and Edward Tourney Esquires who by virtue thereof sate at Glamford brigge aforesaid upon the xxiiijth day of August then next following where they the said Commissioners did decree and ordain that those Fens should be forthwith taken in hand and to that end treated with some Forein Undertakers whose demands being found too high and all other Gentlemen refusing Sir Iohn Munson Knight of the Honourable Order of the Bathe a person eminently qualified with learning and sundry other ample endowments having a fair estate in this County and no small proportion of these surrounded Marshes out of a noble desire to serve his Country declared that he would be the undertaker thereof himself upon the terms that had been proposed by the Commissioners unto those Foreiners and to lay the greater obligation upon them left every Free-holder at liberty to adventure for his own share if they thought fit upon the same rates and giving them a months time to consider of it Of which offer most of the great Lords and owners of that Level accepted Whereupon the said Commissioners decreed First that he the said Sir Iohn Monson should and might forthwith set upon the work and accomplish it within the space of the six next ensuing years Secondly that all the said grounds being so drayned should for ever afterwards continue for meadow and pasture excepting some quantity thereof not exceeding CC acres which was to be left for Lakes and sikes for the reception of superfluous water within the same Thirdly that he the said Sir Iohn his heirs and Assigns should at their own costs repair and keep all Drayns and Sluses which were to be made conducing thereto And for the better preserving of the said work to make such new Drayns and Sluses with Cart bridges over them where need should be in such places as any six Commissioners of Sewers for the time being should think fit Fourthly that in consideration of this great work he the said Sir Iohn his heirs and Assigns should have and enjoy five thousand eight hundred and twenty seven acres of the said Fenns and Marshes dischardged from all Commons Titles Chardges Interest and demand of all or any persons whatsoever to be assigned and allotted to them out of the said Lordships or any six of them before the Feast-day of S. Michael the Arch-Angel in the year of our Lord 1636. to be enjoyed from the time that the said grounds should be adjudged to be drayned by the before-specified Commissioners Fiftly that if through the neglect of the said Sir Iohn Monson after the end of those six years the above-mentioned grounds should happen to be again surrounded and so continue for the space of one whole year together and that by view and judgement of the Commissioners the same should be so certified into the Chancery that then in case it were not again inned and made fit for erable within six months after such certificate transmitted into the Chancery it should be lawful for the owners of the said grounds and their heirs to enter into two thousand Acres of the said five thousand eight hundred twenty and seven Acres untill the said grounds so drowned should be again recovered by the said Sir Iohn Monson c. Sixtly that every person who had lands adjoyning to those drayned grounds which should happen to be bettered by this drayning should pay unto the said Sir Iohn his heirs or Assigns for every Acre so improved so much as by six of the Commissioners of Sewers for the time being should be adjudged fit Seventhly that in case the said River of Ankolme should in order to this drayning be diverted by any new cut such Lords of Mannours and others as have had liberty of fishing in the old Chanel should in lieu thereof have the like benefit and liberty in the new Eighthly that where any mans ground should happen to be cast from his Lordship to the other side of the River the same person his heirs and assigns to have free ingresse and egresse to and from the same through the Lordship of him to which it should be so cast VVhich Decree of the before-specified Commissioners was exemplified under the great Seal of England by the Kings Letters Patents bearing date 27º Octobris 14º Caroli After which at another Session of Sewers held by adjournment at Glamford brigge aforesaid the fourth day of May in the xiiijth year of the said K. Charles by and before William Amcot Iohn Broxholme Marmaduke Darrell Thomas Nethercot Roger Gregory and Mich. Mounckton Esquires Tho. Hely Hen-ry Sandwith Iohn Barnard Edw. Nelthorpe Tho. Farmery and William Darvin Gentlemen Commissioners appointed for this Level upon the River of Ankolme extending from Bishops brigg on the South to Ferriby brigg on the North and from thence to the low water mark in Humbre and into the Mannours of Glentham Bishop's Norton and divers others after recital of the Decrees and Ordinances made in the two former Sessions of 11º Caroli before taken notice of And that at a Session of Sewers held likewise at Glamford brigg aforesaid by and before William Amcott Marmaduke Darrell Iohn Broxholme Esquires and others it was adjudged and declared that the said Sir Iohn Monson had with the expence of great â—umms of money well and sufficiently drayned and recovered those Fens and surrounded grounds according to the tenor of the said Law made the 24th of August in the said 11th year of King Charles the said Will. Amcott and
spout be laid at the higher end of Collyson gate at the chardge of lands that should drayn by it As also another between Hall toft and Richard Lowys his land by the lands that were to drayn by it And another against one Dyke end of Iohn Holy-days by all the lands which should drain by it All which things were then decreed by the before-specified Commissioners and several other Orders by them made for the clensing and repairing of sundry Drayns Sewers and Gotes which were then defective There was also in the same second year of Queen Eliza. reign a Decree made in the Dutchy Court that the Port and Haven of Waynflete from the West end of the Eye unto the Sea or the place called Norman diepe should be repaired diked and scoured of sufficient depth and bredth as before that time had been accustomed and this to be performed by the said Queen or her Fermours of her fishing at Wainflete the heir of Sir William Brereton Kt. or his Tenants and by the Soke of Bullingbroke viz. two parts of the said Port â—â—om the said place called the VVest end of the Eye unto the Sea or plaâ—e called Norman diepe at the chardges of the said Queen or her Fermours the heir of the said Sir William Brereton Knight a fourth part and the Inhabitants of the Soke of Bullingbroke the other fourth part After this viz. 4º Aprilis Anno 1571. 13 Eliz. there was a view taken of the fresh and salt water banks in Waynflete S. Mary by Tho. Quadring Esq the high Shireeve of Lincoâ—nshire Hamond Upton Esquire William Derby and Anthony Kyme and other Justices of Sewers at which time it was presented that the North end of a bank called the Fen dyke in Waynflete S. Maries extending to Deacon gappe against the South in Friskeney being in lâ—ngth three hundred rode ought to be repaired by the Commoners of Waynflete S. Maries for that the said Commoners got Reed and did fish in two Fens adjoyning to both sides of the bank and because the said Commoners had bit for their Cattel in the said two Fens And that from the said Deacon gappe unto the Clow called the Fen Clow and thence unto Strange place the said bank being in length about three miles and in decay so that the Inhabitants of Friskeney were thereby surrounded ought to be repaired by the owners and Commoners as were before that time accustomed to do it Likewise that Simon gote being used as before had been accustomed might serve for a whole Drayn aswell for the taking away of the head of the waters out of the East fen as for the low grounds adjoyning to the same in Friskeney and Wrangle and the said low grounds in Friskeney and Wrangle to bear such reasonable chardges in the same Drayn as by the Bench should be thought meet Also that New gote in Friskenay was a sufficient Drayn for the said Town so that it were scoured and clâ—nsed with the petty Drayns belonging thereto And lastly that Waynflet S. Mary was then destitute of any Drayn whereupon they desired that it might have a Drayn into Waynflet haven All which were then decreed accordinâ—ly And in a Session of Sewers held at Alford 4º Iunii 23º Caroli there was a Decree made that the new Sea bank of Ingoldmels should be raised and skirted to the height of Hogstrop new Sea-bank viz. nine foot and an half twelve foot square and sixty foot in the skirt from the said Hogstrop Sea-bank to Watson's house in Ingoldmels at the chardge of Croft Burgh Bratoft Irby Frisby great Stâ—eping and Gunby the Landlords bearing three parts thereof and the Tenants the fourth CAP. XXX ON the South West side of this Province is Fosse dike an artificial trâ—nch extending from that great Marish below the City of Lincolne unto the River of Trent at Torkley which is about seven miles This was made by King Henry the first in the year 1121. 21 H. 1. for the bringing up of navigable Vessels from the said River unto that City for the Commodity thereof Which trench as it was of special consequence for that purpose so did it no lesse benefit to the parts adjacent by drayning that Fenny Levell from the standing water then much annoying it But this Ditch standing in such a flat that it had no quick current of water through it to scour out the mud and filth which by little and little increased therein it came in time to be so choakt up that it stood in need of clensing for supporting therefore of that chardge certain summs of money were assessed upon those Land-holders which had benefit thereby and Collectors appointed for the same which Collectors converting a great part thereof to their own use King Edward 3. in the 9th year of his reign assigned Adam de Lymberg Geffrey de Edenham Thomas de Sibethorpe and Nicholas Belowe to enquire thereof What was then done therin I find not but certain it is that within thirty years after it was grown so full of weeds and grasse and the earth so trodden into the same by driving of Cattel over it in seâ—â—â—â— places and the mud increased to such a thicknesse that the Citizens of Lincolne aswell in behalf of themselves and other Tradesmen of the City of Yorke towns of Notingham and Kingston upon Hull as several other places did in 39 E. 3. make a great complaint thereof to the King in Parliament representing the damage which accrued to them thereby in regard that ships and Boats could not passe too and fro therein with Merchandizes and Victuals as they had wont to do The said King therefore much tendring the good of that City and the benefit of all other persons who had occasion to passe through the same with Boats and other Vessels for their better advantage in the way of commerce and trade and to that â—nd being willing to apply a speedy remedy thereto constituted Philip de Lymbury Will. de Skipwith Adam de Lymbergh Illard de Usflet Robert de Morton and Walter de Poynton or any four three or two of them to view the said Chanel and the defects thereof and to enquire by the Oaths of honest and lawfull men of this County aswell within liberties as without who they were that ought and had used to clense the same and for how long time and in what manner they had so done and to distrain them and every of them whom they should find lyable thereto to repair and make good those defects as often as need should require and to compell them thereto by amerciaments and such other ways and means as they should think most fit and to hear and determine of all and singular the premisses according to the Law and Custome of this Realm But if these Commissioners did any thing therein it amounted to little for about ten years after the Term being then kept at Lincolne the Jurors of divers VVapentakes in this
Element and thereby checking the usuall tides got ground so fast upon the Ocean as it is the nature of most places to do where the Sea hath any stop that those active and industrious people the Romans who made all use of art and skill to the advancement of their profit finding the soyl thus raised above the usuall tides to be much more rich and fertile than any upland ground bestowed the pains and cost to raise strong banks of earth on that side towards the Ocean to defend it from the overflowing of the Spring-tides which commonly happen about xx or xxx times in the revolution of one year and some much higher than other through the power of the North east winds by which means the Counties of Holland and Marshland were thus won and gained For that this was a work of the Romans that expression of Tacitus whereof I have taken notice in my discourse concerning Romeney marsh doth not only imply but the coyns found in those parts with the large heaps of earth still to be seen there which without all doubt were raised for Monuments of some eminent military persons whilst their Colonies remained in this Nation do more than probably shew I cannot deny but that our Ancestors the Saxons made use of this way of sepulture Saxones gens Christi ignari in hortis amaenis si domi fortè aegroti moriebantur si foris auâ— bello occisi in aegestis per campos terrae tumulis quos Burgos appellabant sepulti sunt saith Leland The Saxons a Heathen people if by reason of sicknesse they dyed at home were buried in their Gardens but if abroad and slain in warr then in the fields under heaps of earth which they called Burrows So likewise the Danes once Masters of this Realm for awhiâ—e as Adolphus Cyprius testifieth Danos olim in memoriam Regum heroum ex terrâ coacervatâ ingentes moles montium instar eminentes erexisse credibile omnino probabile est saith he atque illis in locis ut plurimum quo homines commearant atque iter haberent ut in viis publicis quo posteritati memoriam conservarent quodamodo immortalitati mandarent That the Danes antiently in memory of their Kings and Nobles did raise exceeding great heaps of earth cast up together like unto hills is both credible and probable and for the most part in places where people travelled whereby they might perpetuate their memory to posterity and in some sort make them immortal But that these were rather of the Romans erection I do most incline to believe partly in respect that they were the most likely persons for their ingenuity experience and industry to gain these Countries from the Sea Next by reason that many of their Coyns have been found there and lastly because so many of those Tumuli of a very great magnitude are still to be seen it being the Custome of the Romans so to interr as is confirmed to us by an eminent Historian from the practice of Germanicus who thus disposed of the unburied bones of the slain Souldiers of Varus whereof I have at large elswhere taken notice as also from that passage in Lucan Et Regum Cineres excelso monte quiescunt Nor doth it a little conduce to the proof hereof that there have been divers Urnes dig'd up of late years in the cutting of some drains through the adjacent Fens So likewise in a place called Ford Ea neer Sotham within the Isle of Ely wherein were found burnt bones ashes and coles all which are undoubted testimonies that some of their Colonies had residence in these parts Touching which kind of Urne Buriall see farther in that excellent discourse of the learned Dr Tho. Brown of Norwich printed at London in An. 1658. from whom I acknowledge to have received much direction for my better guidance in this present work Neither is that long Causey made of gravell of about three foot in thicknesse and sixty foot broad now covered with the Moor in some places three and in some others five foot thick which exâ—endeth it self from Denver in Norfolke neer Salters lode over the great wash to Charke thence to March Plantwater and Eldernell and so to Peterborongh in length about xxiiij miles likely to be any other than a Roman work as may seem from the words of Herodian in the life of Severus the Emperour where taking notice how hardy and warlike a people the Britans were and of their expertnesse in swimming he saith Sed inprimis tamen curae habuit pontibus occupare paludes ut stare in tuto milites facile per eas discurrere possent atque in solido praeliari siquidem pleraque loca frequentibus Oceani alluvionibus paludescunt per eas igitur paludes barbari ipsi natant c. He therefore viz. Severus first took care to make Causeys over the Fenns that his Souldiers might stand on firm ground and with ease passing over them fight on the dry land there being many places Fenny by reason of the frequent inundations of the Sea over which those barbarous people did swim CAP. XXXV How the main Levell came first to be a Fenn BY what hath been said it being evident enough that those Counties of Holland and Marshland were first the gift of the Sea and afterwards defended with strong banks made by the industry of the Romans it would therefore not be improper for me to go on and shew with what care and cost as also by what means those Banks so made for their safeguard and preservation have been for many ages supported and maintained till this present but because I conceive it may better conduce to the more perspicuous carrying on of my story to shew how that spacious Levell lying Southwards towards the continent and bounded with the high land as I have already observed came at first to be a Fenny Lake and then increased by tract of time in depth I shall reserve what I have to say touching the repair and strengthening of those banks till I speak of the attempts and endeavours which have in several ages been made for the gaining or improving of the sundry parts thereof by the skill and labour of the Inhabitants and borderers or any other who have been Adventurers in those work CAP. XXXVI Of the rise course and out-falls of the several Rivers passing through it AND now in order to this demonstration being to consider that there are divers Rivers which rising in the adjacent high-land Countries have their issues to the Sea through several parts of this vast Levell I am next to take notice which those Rivers are whence they come and where they have their out-falls First therefore I shall begin with Grant whence Cambridge antiently called Grantbrigge took it's name This having it's original about Ashwell in Hartfordshire bringing with it the down-falls of part of that Country and part of Essex passeth through Cambridgshire and at
divers ages a most unhealthy stagnation of waters yielding no considerable profit to the Inhabitants or those that border upon it That the obstruction which the before specified Rivers hath had in passing out freely to the Sea hath been the only cause of those inundations and drownings already spoken of is apparent enough I shall therefore in the next place make manifest what it is that hath thus stopped and choakt up these their out-falls Whosoever hath observed the constant tides which flow up the River of Ouse at Lynne will find the water alwayes very thick and muddy there because the Sea bearing a large bredth Northwards from thence worketh with so much distemper It is no wonder therefore that a great proportion of silt doth dayly settle in the mouth of that ostiarie and likewise in the other viz. Of Wisbeche Spalding and Boston so that in time it could not but grow to that thicknesse without some artificial helpes to quicken the current upon its evacuation at every ebbe whereby it might be carried out again that it must needs force back the fresh waters and cause them not only to overflow but at length to drown the whole levell through which their streames did passe And this we see apparently was the case here for to such an height is the silt grown that in the year 1635. upon the deeping of Wisbeche River the VVorkmen at eight foot below the then bottome therof came to another bottome which was stony and in it at several distances found seven Boats that had lyen there overwhelmed with the silt for many ages So likewise at Salters lode at the digging of a foundation for the Sasse which was there set up of late years by the Adventurers in that great work of the present drayning the silt was observed to be ten foot deep and next below that three foot thicknesse of firm Moor then blewish gault which the workmen judged to have been silt originally because being dry it not only crumbled like it but had the Roots of Reeds in it then below it moor of three foot thicknesse much firmer and clearer than the other and lastly whitish Clay which is supposed to have been the very natural and bottome soyl at the first before those changes hapned either from the alteration of the course of the Sea or choaking up these out-falls as I have already shewed Add hereunto what likewise hath of late years been observed at Witlesey in the casting of those Moats by Mr. Underwood for the fencing in of his new plantation of fruit Trees viz. that digging through the Moor at eight foot deep they came to a perfect soil and swaths of grasse lying thereon as they were first mowed which clearly manifests that some great Land-floud many ages since meeting with an obstruction at the natural Ostiaries towards the Sea by reason of much silt which after a long drouth had choakt them up did then spread it self over the face of the whole Levell and that the waters till this general drayning ever since covering the same have produced a moor now grown to this thicknesse And moreover that at the setting down of Skyrbeck Sluse neer Boston there was found at xvi foot deep covered with silt a Smiths forge and all the tooles thereunto belonging with Horshoos and other things made of Iron as some that saw it have affirmed to me CAP. XXXVIII Of the vast extent and great depth of the fresh waters occasioned by these obstructions of their out-falls TO manifest this though there needdeth nothing more than the ocular view of the whole Levell and the observation to what a depth the Moor is increased which is meerly grown from the long stagnation of the waters it being found in some places ten in some twelve and in some fourteen or fifteen foot deep nay four foot higher than the Levell of Marshland yet will I exhibit divers evident testimonies thereof from several undoubted authorities therewithall discovering some notable pieces of story which being not commonly known to the world may not I presume seem tedious to any Reader In regione Gyrviorum est nobile Monaâ— sterium c. In the Country of the Gyrvi saith the Register of Peterborough there is a famous Monastery heretofore called Medeshamstede but now usually Burch the Gyrvii being those which inhabit neer the Fenns because Gyr in English is the same as profunda paâ—us a deep Fen in the Latine For by the inundation and overflowing of the Rivers the water standing upon the levell ground maketh a deep Lake and so rendreth it uninhabitable excepting in some high places which God of purpose raised as may be thought to be habitations for his servants who chose to dwell there For in such places within the Fen do thoy viz. the Monks of Ramâ—sey Thorney Crouland and many other reside to which there is no accesse but by navigable Vessels except unto Ramesey by a Causey raised with much labour on the one side thereof Within the same Precincts also is Ely placed being an Island seven miles in length and as much in bredth containing in it self xxij towns compassed on every side with Fenns and waters and whereunto there are only three Causeys Having thus at Peterborough made my entrance into this vast Fenn my next observation thereof shall be at Crouland the horrour of which place is lively represented in the story of S. Guthlake a devout Hermite who many ages since chose it for his retirement There is in the middle part of Britain saith the Writer of that Saints life a hideous Fen of a huge bignesse which beginning at the Banks of the River Gronte not far from a Castle bearing that name extends it self from the South to the North in a very long tract even to the Sea oft-times clouded mith moist and dark vapours having within it divers Islands and woods as also crooked and winding Rivers Wheâ— therefore that man of bleâ—â—ed memory Guthlac had found out the desart places of this vast Wildernesse and by Gods assistance had passed through them he enquired of the Borderers what they knew thereof who relating several things of it's dreadfulnesse and solitude there stood up one amongst them called Tatwine who affirmed that he knew a certain Island in the more remote and secret parts thereof which many had attempted to inhabite but could not for the strange and uncouth Monsters and several terrors wherewith they were affrighted Whereupon S. Guthlac earnestly intreated that he would shew him that place Tatwine therefore yielding to the request of this holy man taking a Fishers boat Christ being his guide through the intricacies of this darksome Fen passed thereunto it being called Cruland and situate in the midst of the Lake but in respect of it's desartnesse formerly known to very few for no Country man before that devout servant of Christ S. Guthlac could endure to dwell in it by reason that such apparitions of Devils were so frequently seen there Not long after
meerly belong to the Inhabitants and Landholders of Tilney for the drayning and avoiding of the waters from all the Tenements of the Town of Tirington betwixt New Fen ditch viz. from the house of Laurence Chapell Northwards to the great Sea bank within which space more than five thousand acres were contained excepting the great gutter called Knight's gole which was to be made and maintained aswell at the costs of Tirington Walpole Walsokâ—n and Emneth and that part of Wigenhale which hath commodity thâ—râ—by as the Towns of Tilney and Ilsington and excâ—pting the Bridge at Robert de Midleton's house which was to be alwaies made and maintained by Iohn de Engaldesthorpe and Robert de Scales in consideration of the fishing thâ—re antiently granted to them and their ancestors and accordingly enjoyed in common with the Towns of Tilney and Ilsington And excepting likewise the Bridge called Black ditch bridge unto the Fen at Tilney stowe which the Inhabitants and Land-holders of Walsoken and Emnethe were obliged to make and continually maintain for the waters descending thereby to the Sea as they had used to do for the cause aforesaid time out of mind And likewise excepting the sâ—veral Bridges of all the Tenants and persons conversant upon that Sewer which was betwixt the house of Rob. de Midleton and Gullysgole in Islington exceâ—ting all the particular Briges of such persons as were conversant upon the Sâ—â—â—rs betwixt the Fedditch and Cuntesforth brigge in Tilney because they â—elonged specially to those persons And they said that the Sewer from Custowe in Tirington to Tilney Fen brigge ought to be xii foot in bredth throughout and the Bridge there of the same wideness at the bottom And that the Sewer from thence to Islington bridge ought to contain xvi foot in bredth throughout and the same bridge xii foot at the ground And the Sewer from thence unto the gutter called Knight's gole xviii foot in bredth for the water course every Bridge beyond that Sewer upon that current xvi foot in bredth And that all the said Sewers with the Gutter called Knigâ—t's gole and tâ—e common bank adjoyning to the said Gâ—tter ought to be repaired cleansed from thenceforth aswell by the remote Towâ—s which have benefit thereby as by the saâ—d Towns of Tylney and Islâ—ngton aâ— antiently had been accustomed And that the common Sewerâ— betwixt Old fen diche and Osgood hirne should be eight â—oot in bredth at the least aâ—d that upon the cleansing and scouring thereof in every place half the â—arth so cast out to be carryed to raise the common Drave higher And all the Bridges over the said Sewer six foot in bredth at the least which Sewer to be scoured at the charge of all those that resided neer thereto And they likewise said that the Sewer from the west side of the croft belonging to the messuage of Will. de Westbrigg ought to be alwaies scoured and maintained amongst the rest of the common Sewers unto the North part of the Abbot of Dereham's Land by the Hadeland there lying and tâ—ere turning neer the same Laâ—d to the Sewer next unto the Drave And that the Trenches betwixt the tenement of Iohn the Son of Peter Drugh Iohn Sabine anâ— elswhere in the Hâ—â—eland called Sonnerâ—â—ye which is unduly made a comon path should be forthwiâ—h stopp'd up and so kept thenceforth to the end that the same path might be hindred And they moreover ordained all the Sewers belonging to the said Town of Tilney and Islington to be opened in every place and so kâ—pt for ever And they farthâ—r decreed that for the inviolable performance of all the before-specified Ordinances reasonaâ—le Taxes should be moderatâ—ly assessed by the Guardians for the safeguard of those places and chiefly by xij others authorized and associated to them and then collected by Geffrey at Falyate c. And that the said Guardians with the assistance of those twelve should diligently enquire of the transgressors of those Ordinances and compell them to make due satisfaction for the same by distress sâ—le of their goods grievous amercements as often as there should be occasion And the said Jurors did also decree that the same penalties and punishments against such as should violate those ordinances or negligently in any sort withdraw themselves in the observance of them should firmly and inviolably be imposed from thenceforth forever as were then and had time out of mind been used in Wigenhale and other Towns in these parts of Marshland for the safeguard of the Country viz. that as often as any one of what estate or condition soever should not repair his proportion of the banks ditches and causeys before-specified for the preservation of the said Towns of Tilney and Islington as also the said common Sewers belonging to him according to the Ordinances aforesaid that a fit day should be assigned him by the before-specified Guardians before which no peril might probably happen and in case he did not perform the same within that time that xiid. which is called a Bilawe should be levyed upon him fâ—r every perch unrepaired And then aâ—â—â—â—er day to be given him to accompâ—â—â—â—â—he same before which no dangâ—r might in likelyhood happen and in case he did not make performance thereof before that time that then he should pâ—y for every perch two shillings which is called Biscot And then that a third day should be allowed him to effâ—ct the same before which no peril might probably happen within which time in case he fayled to pay for every acre three shillings which is called Triscot And thenceforth that the said delinquents in those neglects to be alwaies distrained and the distresses to be prized openly and sold by xij honest and lawfull men of the said Towns of Tilney and Ilsington and the moneys arising by such sale oâ— those distresses imployed in the performance of the said repairs and the remainder in case there should happen to be any to be forthwith restored Saving alwaies to the said Guardians the forfeitures of the Bilaws Biscots and Triscots for the causes aforesaid In the Winter season of this year so great were the tempests that the Towns of Walsoken Westwalton and Enemuthe received extraordinary loss by inundations from the Sea insomuch as they became Petitioners to the King for some alleviation of the taxe of a Fifteen then granted to him in Parliament by the Commons of this Realm whereunto the said King did graciously conâ—escend and thereupon directed his Prâ—câ—pt to the Treasurer and Barons of his Exchecquer as also to the Assessors and Collectors of the same to abate unto them eight pounds thereof the whole sum being Lxâ— the next yâ—ar â—ollowing Geffrey de Colevill Roger de Hakebeche Geffrey Bryseyard and Adam de Fincham were constituted Commissioners for the view and repair of the banks and Sewers neâ—r Walpole in this Province In the winter of which year the Sea was so outragious that it brake the
this River of Well Ee neer Salters lode be made two Jettyes of wood or stone each opposite to other and distant xviij foot to hinder the tides from flowing up Westwards towards Welle and that the fresh water may have the quicker fall into the Ouse and this to be done by the Inhabitants of Marshland and Town of Wiggenhall 13 That the common Sewer called Thiefe lake lying in Denver fenne be made within xl Rood of Salters lode between Shiplode and Salters lode and x foot wide unto the Land lake with a sufficient gole by Thomas Gawswell Gent. owner of the Mannour of East Hall in Denver 14 That the Common Sewer in Denverfenn called Streme lake be made of the widenesse of x foot to bring the water out of the Fenn by the space of six furlongs to be made and kept by the Inhabitants of Denver with a sufficient gole c. That the other common Sewer called Denver hithe lying in Denver fenn between Streame lake and Shiplode be made one furlong in length or more and x foot wide with a sufficient gole by Nicholas Haâ—e Esquire owner of the Mannour of West Hall in Denver That the brinks of Ouse between Salters lode and Shiplode be made viij foot broad in the bottom and six at the top and one foot higher than the highest water mark That some provision be made for the straightning of Lynne Haven which being wider than it was wont to be causeth the tide to rise higher by a foot at Salters lode than it was wont to do within these xx years 1 The next year following I find a Certificate and Presentment made the xxxth of Iune by Richard Nicholls Thomas Hewar and others Jurats for this Country of Marshland the tenor whereof is as followeth 1 That all the Lands and Tenements c. within the Hundred of Frebridge on the West side of the great River leading from Salters lode to Lynne and all other Lands c. in the Hundred and half of Clacklosse on the West side of the said great River and on the North side of a certain Bank called the New Pow dich situate in the Hundred and half of Clackclose on the West side of the said great River made and erected in the time of the reign of King Henry the vith are defended and saved from submersion and drowning with fresh water by the said Diche or Bank called the New Pow dich Which Bank hath been kept and defended by the lands in the Hundred of Frebridge by a certain field called Hawsted and by an hundred Acres in Stow-Bardolfe and the Frontier against North delf house on the North side of the said old Powdich only yet thereby are defended all the Lands Tenements and Commons on the South side of the said old Pow dich and Emneth marsh dich and ought to be charged for their portion and profit by the said Bank taking between the Priory of Mullycourt and Salters lode aforesaid as appeareth by certain orders made before the Commissioners of Sewers in the first year of the late King Henry the sixth yet the said Lands Tenements and Commons last abovesaid are not there chardged nor defend any part thereof contrary to equity and Justice 2 And that the Inhabitants of the said Hundred of Frebridge nor any of them nor any other ought to be distrained or troubled by the Lords of the Fee nor their Ministers when they or any of them shall come thither for the making their portions of the said Bank nor for the oversight of the making thereof nor for the depasturing of their Horses there nor for their carriage but that they may return in the meetest and most convenient ways for them and have free ingresse and egresse to the same Dyke or Bank without any amerciament or other punishment Saved to the Lords Wayf Stray punishment for blood draught and for Hue and Cry 3 And that every person is chardgable to keep their portions upon the said Bank from time to time by and after the Custome of Marshland by old Custome used that is to say by Bylawe Byscot Triscot and Wopeny And that every Town of the said Hundred of Frebridge is chardgable to keep and repair their portions upon the said Bank upon pain of xxl. to be paid to the Queens Majesty her heirs and successors Kings and Queens of this Realm 4 And that the menure for the repair of the said Bank ought to be taken on the South side of the same Bank and xij foot from the foot of the said Dike or Bank and not upon the North side but when for the Inundation of the water it cannot be taken on the South side of the said Bank called the New Pow dich 5 Item they say and find that there is a certain Ward dich or Fence Bank called the Old Pow dich which doth begin at a place called the Wech or West head next unto Rightforth lode brinke and extendeth Westwards nine hundred and twenty two Rode unto a certain place called the Thwart lane or the New Pow dich of Marshland which Bank is in good repair from the West end thereof unto a certain place in Walpole charge where against Edmund Beaupre Esquire hath fixed and set certain barrs into a pasture of his there by reason the said Edmund doth keep and maintain a certain Crest or Fen-bank on the North brink of Rightforth lode which defendeth the water on the South side thereof from the Pow diche aforesaid But at a certain Gate upon the said Old Pow diche in Emneth charge in the reach aforesaid is a certain Pipe laid by the said Edmund Beaupre for the drayning of certain Lands on the South side of the said Old Pow dich which is to the surrounding of the Fen and Smethe of Marshland and of right ought not that way to drayn but by Rightforth lode And that the said Pipe ought to be taken up and the said place stopt and made higher that no water drayn that ways 6 And the residue of the said Old Pow dich in the charge of Walpole Terington Clenchwarton and part of Tylney in part is defective for lack of height and bredth and that most chiefly by the ruine and decay of a certain Crest or Fen-bank which ought to be kept on the North side brink of Rightforth lode by Nicholas Hare Esquire and others And that the residue of the said Bank of the Old Pow dich is in good repair even unto Rightforth lode brinke By the ruine and decay of which Bank the grosse Common called the Smethe and the Fen of Marshland and certain Fens and low grounds in UUigenhall and Stow-Bardolf on the North side of the said Pow dich may be surrounded and damnified 7 And that the said Thwart lane or the New Pow dich of Marshland extending from the Old Pow dich aforesaid unto a certain place of Emneth marsh dich called Abbot's hirne as we think in our consciences ought to be kept and maintained by the
lode and that in consideration thereof the said Land-holders should pay to the Inhabitants of Marshland Cl. And on the xxvi of the same month it was farther decreed that all the rinde Banks within this Country of Marshland towards the Sea should be of the height and scantling hereafter expressed viz. in Terington Walpole West Walton and Emneth in height eight foot above the ordinary Marshtides and in bredth on the top ten foot And that the residue of the rinde Banks in Islington Tilney West Lynne North-Lynne and Clenchwarton to be of such height and bredth as the Dyke-Reeves should think fit As also that Register Books of Parchment be made by the Dyke-reeves in every Town containing the number of Acres of their Lands with the quantity of their Banks Walls VVood-shores and other defences which every of the said Towns are charged to make either to the Sea or otherwise And that whereas the Towns of Terington Tilney and Clenchwarton had In-dikes for their defence against the Salt water in case any sudden breach of the Sea-bank should happen it was decreed that the said In-dikes should be carefully maintained and repaired by those Dyke-Reeves out of the Common Acre-shot assâ—ssed within every of the said Towns After this at another Session of Sewers held on the xvijth day of April in the year of our Lord 1610 8 Iac. it being considered that this Country of Marshland was subject to surrounding aswell by downfalls of Rain as by the overflowing of the Sea and fresh waters and was therefore kept drayned by Sewers descending to Knight's-Gole the common out-fall to the great River of Ouse And that the said Gole by the flowing and ebbing of the Sea was then so silted up with sand at divers times especially in Summer that it obstructed the waters in the said Sewers to the utter surrounding of all the Fens and low grounds in the said Country And moreover that the said Gole in former times had been kept and perfected as also the fleet from the same unto the before-specified River by a certain antient pair of Clows placed up higher in the Sewer thereby one appointed for the taking in of the tides and so holding up the water betweâ—n a pair of Clows untill the River of Ouse were run low and then forcibly let go for the scouring of Sand out of the said Gole and Fleet And that the setting open of the said Gole and putting down and pulling up the said Clows would be both dangerous and troublesome by reason of the greatnesse and weight of the said Clows made to that purpose It was ordained and decreed that there should in consideration thereof be yearly paid out of every hundred Acres of Land being several within the said Rinde of Marshland which were drayned by the said Gole and had usually paid thereunto the sum of ijd. ob by the owners or occupyers of the said Lands and so after that rate And of every hundred Acres of Land lying on the South side of Wisebeche and Elme Oldfield and Outwell which then were or should be drayned by the said Gole by the owners or occupyers thereof vd. and so after that Rate And whereas the Land-holders of Oldfield in Clme and certain Lands in Outwell on the East side of UUelle river from Emneth unto Beaupre Hall and so to Stoning stile and thence to the old Pow dyke had at divers times drayned their said Lands in Oldfiâ—ld into Marshland through the out-rinde Bank of Marshland called Broken dyke and so through Emneth into Marshland Fenn as also their Lands in Outwell to the great hurt of the said Country by suffering those waters to run into the said Fen without any perfect Sewer to carry them down in any Gole to the Sea and likewise without paying any Tax Acre-shot or other contribution towards any Drayn Sewer or Gole in Marshland for the same It was then also ordered that the said Lands should not thenceforth be drayned into Marshland Fenn but by and under such conditions here expressed viz. that the Land-holders of Oldfield and Outwell should before the xxiiijth of August then next ensuing give unto the Land-holders of Marshland Cl. viz. the Land-holders of Oldfield Lxxvl. and they of Outwell xxvl. towards the making of a certain lode between Marshland Fenn and Smethe called Shore lode in widenesse xij foot and in depth four or five foot and towards the making of three sufficient Stone-bridges for Carts to passe over the said Lode But it was neither the strength nor height of those their Banks so repaired as aforesaid which could secure them from that dreadfull inundation of the Sea hapning on the first of November in An. 1613. 11 Iac. the memorial whereof I shall here deliver from an Inscription upon the East wall of the South Isle in Wisebeche Church To the immortal praise of God almighty that saveth his people in all adversities be it kept in perpetual memory that on the Feast day of All Saints being the first of November in the year of our Lord 1613. late in the night the Sea broke in through the violence of a North-east wind meeting with a Spring tide and overflowed all Marshland with this Town of Wisebeche both on the North side and the South and almost the whole Hundred round about to the great danger of mens lives and the losse of some besides the exceeding great losse which these Counties sustained through the breach of Banks and spoil of Corn Cattel and Howsing which could not be estimated Which losses with other things of note relating to the said Banks and the particular Towns then surrounded as they were presented upon Oath by the Jurors for the hundred of Frethebridge before the Kings Commissioners sitting at Lynne upon the ixth day of December in the year before-specified I have here likewise thought fit to transcribe The Presentment of the Iury for the Hundred of Frebridge in Marshland made at Kings Lynne 9 Decemb. 11 Jac. An. 1613. 1 Inprimis we present and say c. that there is belonging to the Town of Terington a Sea-dyke containing xiC Rode in length or thereabouts which was in good repair before the first and second day of November last whereof CCCCxx Rode were ruinated by the rage of the Sea that then happened and also one Bridge called St. Iohns bridge was then broken up 2 That there were at that time lost by the rage of the Sea c. 1876 sheep amounting to the sum of Lviij l. and more In great Beasts lost 120 valued at 322 l. In Corn sowed in the Fields 480 acres valued at xxx s. the Acre amounting to 720 l. Hay lost in the fields and barns to the value of CC l. Corn in the barns lost to the value of DCC l. Grasse in the Fields lost to the value of D l. Dwelling houses utterly ruinated and wasted xiij And Cxlii. dwelling houses there impaired to the value of a M l. Bedding and other Houshold-stuff
to Dounham brigge unto Stow brink houses to which place it ought to be vi foot in bredth at the top and from thence unto Staple were 8 foot in bredth and of sufficient height And that the Inhabitants of Dounham Wymbottesham and Stow Bardolf ought to maintain the same in manner and form aforesaid Also they said that for the avoidance of the fresh waters falling within certain several grounds and common Fens of Denver aforesaid on the East part and South part of the said great River of Ouse there ought to be made at the costs and charges of the Inhabitants of Denver aforesaid and set at the said Hithe one good and subâ—â—antial Sluce of Stone and Timber with a falling dore for the avoidance of the said Fresh waters into the said great River And that there is an old Bank extending from Upwell Towns end by and through the Common of Upwell called Neatmore unto a place called Moule rech next unto the Common drove of Upwell extending from Upwell Towns end to Welney aforesaid the which Bank was made in the beginning as it should seem for the preservation of certain common and several Fens called Neatmore Low fen Waxbeche and Walsyngham fenns the which Fens amounting to the number of 2000 acres by estimation or more be yearly drowned by the decay of the said Bank And that the said Bank ought to be in height from the plain ground one foot and a half and in bredth in the Foundation 8 foot and in the top four foot in bredth and that the charges of making and keeping the same ought to be born by the Inhabitants of Upwell aforesaid And that there is another old Sewer called Small-lode between Upwell and Outwell aforesaid which beginneth at the great River in Upwell called Northbranch at a certain place called Welhirn yard and extending to Ingram's hirne and from thence to Seman's goole in the same Town Which Sewer ought to be scoured by the Kings Majesty for certain lands in Upwell aforesaid sometime belonging to the Monastery of West Derham by the space of three quarters of a mile And then the said Edm. Beaupre for his Mannour of Upwell â— and Will. Norman for lands sometime Iohn Aylesham's ought joyntly to keep and scour the said Smal lode from Ingram's hirne unto Seman's gole by the space of a mile And further they said that where there be 4 several fields in the Parâ—shes of Upwell and Outwell viz. Plawfield Churchfield Budbeche field and Sondy field the which fields be defended by great Banks kept by the Landholders of the said fields to their great costs they said that by reason of the aboundance of waters falling within the said fields it cannot be conveyed out of them unto the Sea by any of the Sewers before-mentioned for the avoidance therefore of the same fresh waters there ought to be made at the cost and charges of the same fields two Sewers the one to begin at a certain place in the same field called Wadingstowe and from thence directly in a Dyke by a certain Bank called Plawfield dike and so by a certain dike called Baâ—dike and then in a dyke between the Common Droves of the one part and the Lands of Robert Dannet Gent. on the other and so forth in a dike between a ground called the xxx Acres of the one part and the lands of the said Robert Dannet and Anth. Cotton on the other part and so directly into a Pipe or Sluce of Stone under the little River called the Small lode in Upwell aforesaid And the other Sewer to begin at Hilling drove in Plawfield aforesaid and to pass in two Dikes in both sides of the same Drove and so into the Common River called Hermite's Ee and from thence into a Dike between the Lands of Will. Walsyngham Gent. on both parts under the Common Drove called Sprouter's drove and so in a dike between the said Drove on the one part and the lands of William Norman on the other and from thence into the said Dike or Drayn at Bardrove and so into the said Sluce under the said River called the Smal lode and from the said Pipe or sluce unto the Dike belonging to the King in right of the late dissolved Monastery of West Dereham into the said field called Kirkfield and so in a Dike in the the same field between the Kings lands on the one part and the lands of Richard Fyncham Gent. on the other unto a certain ground of the said Richard's called Goddard's and there to be made a Dam between the lands of the King and the Lands of the said R. Fyncham And from thence the same Drayn to extend in a Dike overthware the Lands of the said Richard into a Dike of the same Richard on th' one part and the Lands of the Heirs of Peter Bateman on th' other part and there to be made a Dam between the said Lands and from thence overthwart in a Dike by the midst of certain ground of the King 's called Anbell land into a Common Drove called Dowes drove of th' one part and the said Anbell land on the other part and there to be made a new Dam between the said Lands and the said Drove And from thence to extend in a Dyke between the said Dowes drove and the lands of the King called Derebought land and the Lands late Walter Godard's and one piece of Land called Howardyn of the other part directly into Kirkfield Ditch and then overthwart in one Pipe or Gote of stone under Dowes drove aforesaid and so from thence in a Dike by a certain pasture ground of Ric. Foulesham called the xx Acres on th' other part and Kirkfield dike on the other and so in the said Dike into the Lands of Anthony Croftes and there to be made a Dam between the said Lands on the one part and the said Lands called the xx Acres on th' other part And from thence in a Dyke of the said Croftes directly by the said Kirkfield dyke unto the Common Drove called Eche drove and there to be made a Dam between the same Drove and the Lands of the said Crofte's and there to enter into a Gote or Pipe of stone under the said Drove And then in a Dike between the Lands of the said Croftes on the one part and Kirkfield Dike on the other part and there to be made a Dam on the other side of the said Drove between the same Drove and the said Lands of Croftes and so from thence in the said Dike of Croftes unto the Medow of William Norman somtime Iohn Curtis and there to be made a Dam between the Lands of the said Croftes and the said Will. Norman and from thence in a Dike between the said pasture of the said Will. on th' one part and the said Kirkfield Dike on the other part unto Kirfield Dike Corner â— and there to enter into a great Pipe of Stone and Timber under the said great River extending from
to the Sluse by Ouse Cxiiii Rods and a half And they then also decreed that for taking away of the Sock of Bishop's dike and better drayning of this Fen a Drayn should be made under Bishops dike within the said Fen xxx foot at the least from the said Bishop's dike in bredth x foot and depth ..... the menour whereof to be cast towards Bishops dike The which Drayn to begin at Fenbridge and to go to the Barrs that part the Fen in the possession of Alex. Baalam Gent. c. thence to a pair of Barrs standing on Bishops dike next to the West corner of Malles fen then to the Drain called Langbech thence to Dods stile and thence under Greendike to the Sluse lately erected at S. Christopher's Chapel And that there should be another Sewer made from Hall's fen to the said Sluce at St. Christopher's Chapel And likewise that an antient Sewer belonging to the said Fen called Knights dike beginning neer Benford's Hall now Mr. Alex. Balaam's house and so passing under Needham dike on the North so unto Elme drove and thence to the Drove in Buriall field neer S. Christopher's Chapel should be kept and maintained in bredth xii foot and in depth five And moreover that the agisted Dike called Ea brinke beginning at Needham dike and extending from Maryes dam unto Dod's stile should be from time to time repaired And that for default in payment of the Acre-shot the Dikereeves to levy for every iiiid. by them expended vid. and for every iiiid. unpaid to levy vid. Likewise that an Indike be made on the North side of the Sewer extending from Hodghirnâ— through Bardolph fen and a new Sluse neer the River Ouse at the East end of Common lode and an Acre-shot of xiid. the Acre imposed upon all the lands in Nedham and Buriall for supporting the charge thereof And that for default in payment of the Acre-shot distresses should be taken and sold restoring the Surplusage in any Market within ten miles And at a Session of Sewers holden at Lynne Regis ult Sept. 33º Eliz. before Sir Iohn Peyton Knight Nich. Hare Hâ—mfr Guibon Edm. Bell Rob. Forest Tho. Oxburgh Alex. Balam Iohn Willoughby and Miles Forest Esquires it was farther ordered that whereas the Acreshots imposed upon Richard Fyncham Gent. towards the drayning of Nedham fen amounting to xxxvil. viiis. were not paid noâ— any distresse to be found upon the grounds charged therewith and that Rich. Fyncham and Rob. Fyncham interessed in the reversion of the said lands did refuse to pay the same that Iohn Fyncham of Upwell Gent. having paid the said sum to the Dikereeves should have the said lands for a certain term of years Upon the 19 of Sept. 39 Eliz. at a Session of Sewers held by Edmund Bell Iohn Reppes Tho. Hewar Tho. Oxburge Rich. Ogle Anthony Irby Alexan. Balam William Guibon and Iohn Hunt Esquires there were certain Laws and Ordinances made concerning the course of Welney stream and Welle stream with other Sewers the substance whereof are as followeth viz. Whereas it is evident that not only the Rivers of Grant Nene Ouse and Weland but the land-waters from the Counties of Hunt Northampton Cambr. and Norâ—f and some part of Suff. which border upon the Isle of Ely do stay in the Fenny grounds of the said Isle c. forasmuch as neither the several Rivers nor the other streams that are fed with the same as March stream the New Leame the West-water and divers Lodes within those limits be sufficiently clensed not imbanked for the ready conveyance of them to the Sea by means whereof the Out-ring Banks of Deping Croyland and South Ea in Com. Linc. and the Fen dike Waltersey Bank Bishop's dike Elme Ee brinke Coldham and Redmore Bank in the said Isle of Ely and the out-ring of Marshland as also the New Powâ—ike in Com. Norff. are in years of water much chargable to the owners and Inhabitants of those Countries and those Fenny grounds lye unprofitable The said Commissioners deliberately considering the redress do conceive that by renewing of the former depth and wideness of those Rivers Lodes and streams as also of the decayed Banks and by farther imbanking in places convenient the said Marish grounds will be perfected or much amended and therefore did ordain that Welney stream and Well stream from Litelport Chayre to Well ea and so towards Elme as the same have been accustomed to have their fall And March stream unto Shrewysnest where it falleth into UUell stream As also that the water of South Ea antiently called the Old Ea from Clow's Crosse unto Guy hirne before the x of December which shall be in the year 1598. shall be clensed and scoured by such as were to do the same And that the Lode called Small lode from the great River in Upwell to Ingram's hyrn be scoured by Sir Iohn Peyton Knight Dame Dorothy his wife or Edm. Bell Esquire for their lands in Upwell and Outwell parcel of the Possessions of the late Abby of Dereham and thence to Seman's goole and thence to Northdelph by those whose lands lye adjacent thereto So also Darcey-lode and Coxlode Likewise that Maid lode and Ship lode and the moytie of London lode which endeth at Northdelph should be perfected the Banks to be made in the bottom xvi foot and four in the top and five foot in height And the said Maidlode to be five foot deep and xxx foot wide by the space of the first 2 miles thereof And for the next two miles in wideness 25 foot and for the residue of the same and Shiplode xx foot with a Sluce at its fall into the River of Ouse in widenesse xii foot of water and in depth below the low-water-mark of the said River as it hapneth to be about Bartholmew tide all to be done by those that have interest of Common in Neatmore And the other moytie of London lode beginning at Upwell Causey to be done by the Inhabitants of Upwell for the residue of their Common called Neatmore lying without the limits Likewise that a Tax of x s. the Acre be imposed for erecting of Sluces heightning of Banks and making of Drayns and in default of payment thereof the one half of their lands who shall neglect to be sold. Moreover that for drayning of Denver fen a Sewer of xviii or xx foot in bredth be cut through the same to the great River of Ouse and a Sluce at its entrance thereinto And that the Bank called the Causey extending from the Crosse at Upwell Town 's end unto London lode head and the Bank called the Indike leading from thence by the North side of London lode to Welle streme at Northdelph with sufficient Indikes to the said Bank and Causey should before the first of Ian. next following be made and maintained of the like widenesse height and bredth as those that should be Purchasors or Lessees did or should make theirs between London lode
and Maid lode on the West head thereof And lastly that the Dikereeves should levy iid. for id. upon all that did make default in paying of their proportions according to the Custome of Mershland And if the Dikâ—reeves should be remisse then the Commissioners to levy the said iid. for id. and id. upon the said Dikereeves besides Which Acre-shot being not paid by the said Sir Iohn Payton and his Lady and Edmund Bell Esquire as it was decreed by the before-specified Commissioners there was a Session of Sewers held at Sechie in Com. Norff. upon the eighth day of May the next ensuing year by Francis Gawdy Esquire one of the Queens Justices of the Pleas before her self to be holden and in that Session a demise for thirty nine years made unto Will. Ingelbert and others of divers lands belonging to the said Sir Iohn Dame Dorothy his wife and Edm. Bell to the end that the said Will. and his fellow Lessees should out of the profit of those their lands make performance of what had been so decreed by those Commissioners And at another Session of Sewers held at Dounham in Com. Norff. upon the xx of Sept. in the same year by the said Francis Gawdye Edmund Bell Clement Spelman Edmund Moundeford Iohn Reppes Thomas Hewar Thomas Oxburgh Esquires and others recital being made of the Laws and Ordinances for drayning the Fens and Marshes before-specified the said Commissioners decreed that Will. Engelbert Iohn Watts and others and their heirs and assigns being undertakers for the said drayning and to keep and maintain the same being perfected should have the full moytie of the said Fens so drayned which lye and adjoyn to the said Lode called Maid lode and likewise the moytie of all the several grounds wherein no Common is or ought to be enjoyed within the said limits between London lode and Mayd lode and other the Precincts aforesaid except of the several grounds of Sir Iohn Payton Kt. Dame Dorothy his wife and Edm. Bell Esquire or any of them within those limits After this at another Session of Sewers holden at Sechie aforesaid upon Wednesday in Easter week being the xi of April in the xli year of the said Queen by the said Francis Gawdy Clement Spelman and others recital being made of those Ordinances established in the former Session before noted held the 29 of Sept. 39 Eliz. for drayning the Marsh-grounds in Upwell before-specified by a lode called London lode provided for the drayning of Neatmore and certain grounds adjoyning on the North part and the drayns called Mayde lode and Ship lode on the South whereby the Banks were appointed to be xvi foot broad at the bottom in height five foot and in bredth at the top four foot as also the Dikes five foot deep and in widenesse at the top xxx foot for the first two milesâ— and for the next two miles xxv foot and for the residue of the same and Shiplode xx foot with a Level bottom unto the Sluse for the same at the River of Ouse which Sluse to be xii foot wide the one moytie to be done at the charge of all those as had interest of Common in the same and the other moytie to be done by the Inhabitants of Upwell for the residue of their Common called Neatmore lying without the limits aforesaid imbanked And that aswell every Acre of several ground as that wherein any had interest of Common lying within the Precincts above-mentioned was assessed at ten shillings the Acre towards the erecting of the said Sluse heightning of the said Banks and making of the Drayns or Lodes called Maid lode or Ship lode and the said moytie of the said Drayn called London lode and that the lands of such as were so taxed and in default to be sold the said Commissioners by virtue of the before-specified Ordinance did decree divers lands to be accordingly sold for such their default in payment of what the owners of them had been so assessed and taxed Extracted out of a Certificate of certain Commissioners assemled at Upwell 24º Sept. 41 Eliz. 1. That the Bank sometime called the Crest but now Turk-banke lately re-edified for the defence of the waters out of the Fen â—in Upwell lying betwixt Mayd lode and London lode will be of great advantage to many of her Majesties subjects for besides the improvement of the whole grounds imbanked which are esteemed 4000 Acres at the least from id. the Acre to 3s. 4d. or more there ariseth an improvement of a great number of Acres in Denver and likewise the defence of the Banks of Plawfield and Churchfield in Welle which were heretofore much oppressed with water as also of the new Podike against the fresh waters 2. That this Bankâ— called Turkes banke was erected about two years since but there was long before and yet is an antient Bank or Causey neer the said new Bank called Turks banke and on the West side thereof towards the Isle of Ely which Bank was originally made for defence of the waters coming out of the said Isle from overflowing the grounds now imbanked and other adjoyning grounds and for a way and passage for footmen between Welle and Welneye 3. That there hath been of antient time anoâ—her old Bank or Crest called the Common drove on the West part of the said old Bank towards the said Isle adjoyning unto the River of Wellenhe being the division between the said Isle of Ely and Norff. Which said Bank was made for keeping those waters of the said Isle in their antient and right course 4. That it appeareth by certain Court Rolls and Records that divers persons have been amerced and fined in the time of K. Edw. 1. and since for cutting of the said Bank whereby the said River of Welneye was turned out of his right course and whereby the grounds on Norff. side confining upon the said River of Wellnye part whereof is now inned were surrounded 5. That after the Drayns called Mayd lode and Ship lode are perfected as by a Law of Sewers is provided the Inhabitants of the said Isle and other the Countries confining shall receive much more benefit and be better drayned than before the inning of the said grounds and erection of the said Turks banke they have been The Presentment of the Iury for the Isle of Ely made 25º Sept. 41º Eliz. 1. That the Bank called Turks banke containing in compasse about xv miles will be a great hinderance to the fall of many waters flowing towards the Sea through the Isle of Ely it being planted between the two most natural Drayns on that side the Isle at the meeting of many waters flowing out of Neene Ouse and other streams falling by Dodington and March c. and so turneth them unto the other side of the said Isle towards Litleport and the Countries thereabouts where falling into the Ouse they stop the waters naturally flowing into those quarters from that ordinary Drayn
est from the first slope of the Bank fifty foot high and so made a new outfall from Wisbeche to the 4 Gotes and thence to the Sea 4. A branch of Nene usually passing from Peterburgh to Crowland and so to Spalding that outfall decaying was turned back by Dowesdale with the South Ee to Wisbeche and so to the Sea 5. A great part of Ouse and Nene united descending from Benwick by great-Crosse to Wisbeche but Wisbeche outfall decaying they both fall by March to Welle and so into Ouse at Salters lode 6. The waters of Welle were by a shorter cut conveyed under Broken-dyke by Hichcock's dam to Elme Floudgates the old way lying through Enmeth by the Wroe 7. The River of Elme running by divers Crooks from Elme to Wisbechâ— was cut straight and the water passed by a shorter course as by the old Chanel on both sides the new River may yet be seen 8. The River in Wisbeche a little above the great Bridge within the memory of man running crooked was cut straight and so to this day continueth 9. The River of Clows-crosse being crooked at either end was in the upper end conveyed by Willow-dike straight to Graynes Hill and in the lower end rectified by a New Cut the old Chanel being forsaken 10. Ingulphus in his History of Crouland maketh mention how Richard de Rullos Chamberlain to King William the Conqueror having marryed the Daughter of Hugh de Evermue Lord of Burne and Deping for the inlargment of his Town of Deping diverted the River of Weland Et in pratis quae erant nuper profundi lacus paludes immeabiles excluso fluvio invenit campos uberimos terram desiderabilem de puteis uliginibus maledictis fecit hortum voluptatis And in the Meadows which before were deep Lakes and drowned Fenns by excluding the River he found them fruitfull fields and as good ground as could be wished nay of the very Pits and Bogs he thereby made a Garden of pleasure Moreover the same River of Weland having antiently its course by Spalding through the decay of the outfall thâ—re a great part thereof sometime fell through grâ—at Possons and so out by Quaplode but that out-fall also decaying as most outâ—alls over the Washes have and still will do that way was stopped up and the River driven to seek a course in a very faint manner by South Ee towards Wisbeche where again through the defect of Wisbeche outfall when it meeteth with the Nene at the New Leames end at Guyhirne they both turn back under Waltersey bank to Hobbes and so to Marche stream and there meeting with the great Branch of Nene come to Welle and so to Salters lode Which River also as saith Leland by a shorter way called the new Drayne was put from Croyland to Spalding as now it goeth 12. The River of Grant by a fair Chanel passing from Beche to Charefen in Cottenham and so into Ouse was diverted and by a straightâ—r course turned down by another Branch of the same River to Harrimere where it loseth the Name 13. Lastly New Eegate in Gosberchurch found through the Marshes another outfall but because it was not so convenient as the first the Jurats as the Record saith Requisiti si cursus aquae quam nunc tenet sit sufficiens ad eductionem deliberationem aquae dicunt qoud â—ic sed dicunt qoud antiquus cursus plus competeret utilior esset quam cursus quam nunc tenet eo qoud minoribus sumptibus reparari poterit directè currendo quà m longè per cireuitum in obliquo citius aqua per ibi deliberari Being asked if the Chanel wherein that water then ran were sufficient for the carrying it away they said that it was but they farther said that the antient current thereof would be more fit and beneficial than it in regard it might be repaired at less charge by running straight than to go about by a long circuit and the water much sooner evacuated And for these two Reasons the Jurats have often proposed to Commissioners of Sewers shorter ways to pass waters as from Leonards Pipe to the four Gotes for the water on Wisbeche North side and a new Drayn xx foot wide by a shorter way from New dike in Witlesey lineally to the great River on the North of Wings lake and many more c. And in a word most of the new Courses proposed for the general draining were of that kind CHAP. LIV. For the general Drayning of the great Level IT hath been a long received opinion aswell by the borderers upon the Fens as others that the total drowning of this great Level whereof we have in our times been Eye witnesses hath for the most part been occasioned by the neglect of putting the Laws of Sewers in due execution in these latter times and that before the dissolution of the Monasteries by King H. 8. the passages for the water were kept with clensing and the Banks with better repair chiefly through the care and cost of those Religious Houses It cannot I confess be denyed but that the opening and â—couring of those many petty Draynes and Sewers which antiently had been made by sundry persons for the better drayning of their own particular lands might much conduce to the sooner taking away of these vast spreadings of water in the Summer season but wholly to clear them was impossible without the perfect opening and clensing of their natural out-falls which the daily flowing of the Tides had choakt up with so great a thickness of Silt as in the xxxviith Chapter of this discourse I have fully shewed In order whereunto the first considerable attempt whereof I have seen any notable memorial was in 20 Eliz. the Queen then granting her Commission to Sir Thomas Cecill Sir William Fitzwilliams Sir Edward Montagu and Sir Henry Cromwell Knights Robert Sapcotts Robâ— Winfeld William Hunstone Edmund Hall Robert Bevell Vincent Skinner and Iohn Mountsteving Esquires and to any four or more of them to proceed according to these following Articles intituled Articles to be enquired on by the Commissioners for the Drayning of the Fenns through and by the Drayn called Clowse Crosse and so to the Sea 1. TO cause a perfect Level to be made of the same Drayn throughout all places convenient from the Clowe-crosse to the Sea 2. Item to enquire by the Judgment of Workmen or otherwise how a perch of the same may be wrought and so consequently what the charge of the whole will amount unto 3. Item how that charge may be most easily born and by whom and how the same may be rated by the Acre or otherwise having a respect to charge the owner of the grounds in severalty with more and the Commoners with less ratably according to their portions 4. Item to enquire and certify the quantity of the grounds that are several and the grounds that ly in Common 5. Item the names of the Towns
that the Commissioners shall think meet to be charged in contribution in respect of the benefit they shâ—ll receive by the said Drayn and likewise the names of the owners in severalty chargeable for the same 6. Item what detriment loss or hindâ—anâ—â— may or is like to come to our Sovereigne Lady the Queen's Majesty or to any other person or persons by opening of the said Drayn 7. Item a Book made of the contribution to appoint for the well and perfect doing of the work certain Collectors to levy the money and certain other persons to see to the expending of the same all which to yield Accompt to the said Commissioners Hereupon the before-specified Commissioners sate at Peterborough upon the ixth of Iune in the same year and there empanelled certain Jurors viz. six for each County of the Counties of Northampton Lincolne Huntendon and Cambridge who presented as followeth viz. 1. To the first Article that there was a sufficient descent or fall between Clowse-crosse and the Sea for the Drayning of the Fenns and that the most convenient place for conducting of the Drayn was from the Windmill Corner upon the West side of the Bank called Willow dike unto a place there called Gannok and from thence to cut through the Lands of the Queens Majesty and the lands of Henry Adam Esquire in the Fenn of Tid S. Mary in the County of Lincolne unto the Ea between both Shires viz. Lincoln and Cambridge at Graynes hill and so following the course of the old Drayn dividing both the Shires unto the Gote called Shire Gote 2. To the second Article that by estimation every perch from Clowes crosse to Gannok being in number 968. every perch having xx foot in length xxiiii in bredth and six foot in depth would cost for the making thereof xvs And every perch after the quantity aforesaid from Gannok to Graines hill 61 perches would cost xs the charges of the perches aforesaid amounting 75â—l. 06s. 08d. And from Graynes hill to Shire gote being in number 1732 perches would cost for every perch scowring 03s. 04d. that summe amounting to 288l. 13s. 04d. The summe totall 1045l. Item for building of the Clowes and for every other extraordinary charges thereto belonging they judgit would cost an hundred pounds The total of the whole 1145l. 3. To the third Article they presented that the charges of the Drayn from Clowes crosse to Graines hill should be born by the equal charges of Cambridgshire to be levâ—ed of all those Towns and grounds nigh adjoining and having Common or several in any Fenns or low grounds within any of the said Countries before-named reaping or taking any profit or Commodity by Drayning of the Fenns by the Drayn through Clowes crosse and so to the Sea 4. and 5. To the fourth and fifth Articles they presented a Bill or Book of several Countries and Towns thereunto annexed of all that they knew and for farther knowledge they referred it to the good discretions of the Lords Masters owners and dwellers within any of the Towns and grounds neer adjoining to the said Fens and reaping or taking any Commodity or profit any manner of wayes by the said Drayn called Clowes crosse Drayn or Shire Drayn 6. To the sixth Article they presented that to their knowledge there was neither detriment loss or hindrance like to happen to the Queens Majesty or any person or persons by opening the said Drayn the Clowes and Bankes being sufficiently made ordered and kept except two Acres of the Queens Majesties and Henry Adam Esquire but great Commodity and profit to all the Inhabitants and Dwellers neer to any of the said grounds or Fenns above South Ea Bank 7. And to the seventh Article they presented that they left it to the good discretion of the Commissioners to appoint at their pleasures Next followeth the names of all the Towns and Lands contributory and chargeable towards this work as also of the Treasurers and Surveyors for each County but what was accomplisht therein I am yet to learn Sure I am that it would have fallen far short of performing what was aimed at there being nothing more evident than that without a general Drayning all these particular attempts how chargeable soever would be of little moment witness that fair Chanel made by Iohn Morton Bishop of Ely in King H. 7. time called Morton's Leame or the New Leame extending from below Peterborough to Guy hyrne and this of Clows crosse as also Popham's Ea the Londoners lode and many others which cost had it been at once bestowed upon the main work might have gone far towards the accomplishment of a general exsiccation of this whole Fenny tract And this was at length experimentally found to be so by such as were men of skill and judgment to the end therefore that so noble and profitable an undertaking as this of a general Drayning would might be promoted and that the interâ—st of them who were Lords id est of the soyl of those great Waste grounds or any severals as were subject to such inundation might not hinder so laudable a work tending to the disburthening from those great and constant charges in Banks and Sewers which were found to be of little avail to that publick end and prevent the extraordinary benefit which as was cleerly seen would accrue thereby to the Realm that excellent Statute of xliij Eliz. was made intituled An Act for the recovering of many Hundred thousand Acres of Marishes and other grounds subject commonly to surrounding within the Isle of Ely and the Counties of Cambridge Huntendon Northampton Lincolne Norfolke Suffolke Sussex Essex Kent and the County Palatine of Duresme the preamble whereof runs thus Whereas it is apparent to such as have travailed in the execution of Commissions of Sewers in the Iles and Counties aforesaid that the Wastes Commons Marishes and Fenny grounds there subject to surrounding may be recovered by skillfull and able undertakers whereby great and inestimable benefit would arise to her Majesty her heirs and successors disburthening her Highness of many chargable Banks and works of Sewers within those surrounded gronnds as the increase of many able subjects by habitations being there erected and in like sort profitable to many her Highnesses subjects both bodyes politick and corporate who have estates of inheritance and other interest within the same And for that the Drayning and making dry and profitable of those surrounded grounds is chiefly hindred for that the greater part of them are Wastes and Commons subject yearly to surrounding wherein divers have Common by Prescription by reason of their resiance and inhabitancy which kind of Commons nor their interest therein can by the Common Law be extinguished or granted to bind others which should inhabit there afterwards And in that also it appeareth that the Commoners in respect of their poverty are unable to pay the great charges to such as should undertake the recovery of the same It was therefore enacted that the owners of
all surrounded Wastes and Commons as also the most of the Commoners for their particular Commons might contract or bargain for part of such Commons Wastes Severals with such person or persons who would undertake the Drayning the Country themselves being not able to do it as the said Act acknowledges and that the same their contract and conveyances thereupon made should be good and available in Law against the Lords of the soyl c. and all other the Commoners therein but not against the said Queen her heirs or successors except such conveyances should be certified into the Chancery in case the said Wastes were of the possessions of the Crown and except the royal assent were obtained thereunto Howbeit upon this Act hapning so neer the latter end of that Queens reign little was done but King Iames shortly after coming to the Crown being a grave and prudent Prince as also of a most noble and publick Spirit and withall highly sensible of the general advantage which thereby would redound to whole Kingdome by his Letters directed to the Commissioners of Sewers for the Isle of Ely and Counties of Norfolk Suffolk Cambridge Huntendon Northampton and Lincolne bearing date at Westminster the xith of Iuly in the second year of his reign encouraged their proceedings therein expressing his readiness to allow a part of his own Lands to be so recovered towards the charge of the work in like proportion that other of his subjects should do and signified to them that he had appointed one Henry Totnall and Iohn Hunt respectively to take view of the said Fenns and to treat and contract with as many Lords and Commoners as they might touching the premisses desiring likewise the said Commissioners to be aiding to the said Henry Totnall and I. Hunt therein The limits of the Commission for the general Drayning attempted Aâ— 1605. The grounds lying between and within any the limits within the Isle of Ely and Country of Marshland and within all the grounds every way between the said Isle and the River of Ouse and between the Countrey of Marshland and the same River of Ouse and the Upland grounds of Norff. Suff. Cambr. and Huntingdon and between all the grounds between the Isle of Ely and the Upland grounds of Huntingdon Northampton shires and within all the grounds aswell of the Washes in Lincolnshire as those between the same washes the Isle of Ely South ea bank great Porsant bank and the River of Welland and within all the grounds between the said River of Welland great Porsant bank South Ea bank and the Upland grounds in the Counties of North. and Linc. and within all the grounds between the River of Welland and the River of Glen or in the borders and confines of the same The particular limits From the Corner of Edw. Skypwith's bank next to Creek lode by the River of Ouse and so by that Bank to Maid lode alias Shiplode and by a Bank on the North side of the said Lode to Calsey-dike and so through a part of Upwell to Lakebridg and from thence by Bishop's dike to Fryday brigge and so Elme leame to Maryes dam and to Tilnâ—y hyrne and from thence to Hob's house alias Bensted hyrne to Guy hyrne and from thence to Clowes Crosse and so by South Ea bank and through Crouland to the further end thereof towards White house from thence by a new Bank or Banks as intended to be made to the Upland neer Peykirke in Com. Northt From thence by the utmost ring of the Fenns or low ground to the Upland subject to surrounding in the said Counties of Northt and Hunt to Erith and from thence by Over fen Bank to Over hive and from thence by the utmost ring of the Fens or low grounds towards the Upland subject to surrounding in the said County of Cambridge to a Causey leading from Water beche to Clay hive Ferrey and from thence to the utmost ring of the Fenns or low grounds towards the Upland subject to surrounding in the said County of Cambridge unto Upwere and thence by the utmost ring of the Fens or low grounds towards the Upland subject to surrounding in the said Counties of Cambridge Suff. and Norff. to Stoke Causey and by it and the utmost ring of the Fenns and low grounds towards the lands subject to surrounding in the said County of Norff. to another Bank of the said Edm. Skipwith's by Stoke River and by the said Bank of Helgay Causey and from thence by the utmost ring of the Fenns or low grounds towards the Upland of Helgay and Sotherey subject to surrounding unto Sotherey Calsey and by it to the River of Ouse at Sotherey ferrey and from thence by the said River of Ouse to the said Corner of the said Mr Edw. Skipwith's Bank In order therefore to this great work direction was given to one Mr. Richard Atkins of Outwelle a person whose observations in these fenny grounds were very notable to make search with an Augar of xi foot long on the skirts of the New Leame from Guy hirne to Stanground stafe to find the soil there of at eight foot deep whereupon he began so to do on the second of April and found the first place on the North side 2 3 4 and 5. all Moor. 6. At mile and half Tree Moor 7 8. All Moor. 9. In the Leame Moor 10. On the North side Moor In Knarlake Moor at eleven foot deep 12. On the South side against Knarlake all Moor. 13. In the Leame Moor. 14. On the North side all Moor to 8. foot 15. In the Leame Moor 9. foot deep 16. By Lords dikes end black Moor mixt with earth 17. In the Leame the like 18. On the North side the like 19. On the South side Lipny holt against the Hill mixt Earth 20. Westward a furlong black Moor mixt 21. The like 22. 23. Against Easttree mixt Moor. 24. Nigh Cotes Moor on both sides 25. Against Cotes all Moor Above Cotes on the North Moor by Basually hill 26. At Stonhil doles Moor. 27. Against Calves Croft South Bassa gravel North Moor. 28. Between the Leame and the Lake against the Mills Moor. 29. Between Great Hill and Stone hill gravell Moor mixt 30. Between Stone hill gravell and Eastlong Lotts all Clay aloft and gravell at 2. foot 8. inches 31. More Westwards in the River Gravel and silt at 4 foot 32. On the North side At North Ee gravell the like 33. At North Long-lotts all Clay aloft 34. 35. By Bradley fen Clay and mixt Earth aloft about 3 foot 36. By Bradley fen to the Leames end such like above but rank Moor all the way under The Searches made from Erith bridge to Plawlis were At Erith bridg within Lx pole of the Bridg at the first Ham there at 2 foot and 2 foot and a half Clay But after under the same at 8 and 9 and 10 foot and upwards is all red Moor and so from thence
all the way over Sutton fen By Ee fen Many fen and Westmore to Wellney turf ground all red Moor. And likewise to Cotehirne nigh Franks dike end So till within Lx Rods where at â—ive foot it is mixt silt and at the water side Clay The like for 60 to 80 Rods over Welln Ee green and after right over to Mayd lode at the head of Mr. Skipwiths ground all vile Moor by the whole Tract After this viz. upon the 22 of April next following the Lords of the Kings Majesties most honourable Privy Council by their Letters to the before-specified Commissioners desired them to endeavour to satisfie all such persons as having no respect to the general good which was like to come to this Drayning should oppose it or use means to others so to do or otherwise to enjoyn them to attend the said Council And whereas some of the Commissioners intending the advantage to some particular parts of the Country doubting the success of the general work had made an Order touching that of Clows Crosse only the said Lords by this Letter did command them not to proceed therein till it should be discerned what success the general undertaking would have Upon receipt of which Letters the said Commissioners meeting at Huntendon the xixth of May ensuing made this return to that honourable Board viz. that after long debate and all objections heard they concluded with one consent that this work of Drayning was fesible and without any perill to any Haven or County and not only so but that they did reckon it the most noble work for the said Lords to further and most beneficial to the Countries interessed to have good by that ever was taken in hand of that kind in those dayes referring more particular relations concerning it to the before-mentioned Mr. Hunt and Mr. Totnall â— the Bearers of those Letters The Commissioners names subscribed thereto being there viz. Oliver Cromwell Robert Bevyll Iohn Cutts Iohn Cotton Robert Wingfield Robert Cotton Simeon Steward Richard Coxe Henry Spelman Anthony Forest. Thomas Lambert Robert Cromwell Anthony Ireby Thomas Ogle Christopher Hudson William Styrmyn Iohn Fyncham William Marshall Whereupon there was a particular view of the whole Level begun on the xxith of Iune next following by Sir Robert Bevill Sir Robert Wingfield Sir Iohn Gamlyn Sir Richard Coxe and Sir Anthony Forest Knights Christopher Hodson and Matthew Robinson Esquires and thus certified as followeth First we repaired to the out-fall to the Sea at the meeting of the two Rivers of Weland and Glen where we found the said out-fall reasonable good Thence to Cowhyrne and Pikebridg and so to Spalding bridg in all which passage we found the River very defective in bredth and depth and from Cowhyrn to Spalding bridge a great Bank lying on either side the River From Spalding bridg to Willow row end by Cubbet and Peakell to White house the River all along being defective as abovesaid having a great elbow by Cubbet and Peakell which much hindreth its course to the out-fall From White house to Crowland and by the Cross in the Ea to Waldram Hall the like defects of bredth and depth appearing as afore-said From Peterborough bridg to the Old Ea and Catts-water which antient Sewer is so grown up with earth and weeds as that it serveth neither for passage with Boats nor Drayning and so hath been of long time which ought and had wont to be for the ordinary passage to and from Spalding and other places in Holland to Peterburrow Thence to Stanground steafe where we found the River sufficient for bredth and depth Thence to Guy hirne in all which passage we found wonderfull defects in bredth and depth From thence to Wisbeche and so to the Sea in all which passage we found the like defects From thence by Elme River to Frydaybridge and so by Bishops dike to Lakebridge thence to Shrewes-nest by Welle River where we took Boat perceiving at Shrewes-nest that the Rivâ—r of Nene which cometh from the Mares hath but six miles to Salters lode to pass by Welle but by reason of the quarring of the said Chanel a great part thereof runneth from Shrewes-nest to Salters lode by Welleney Litleport Chair and Sotherey ferrey c. which is 28 miles and that the River through Welle cannot be conveniently amended To remedy which Mr. Hunt desired that a new River of 80 foot wide and 8 foot deep be made from Marche River at the Ham cross Marmound c. through Netemore to fall into Welle River neer London lode Between Shrewesnest and Forweare we found a place called the Ham not above two foot deep About 4 miles from Shrewes nest is Elme leame which is a Sewer going from Marche River to Fryday bridge through Elme River to Wisbeche which Sewer is landed up Thence we came to March leame about a mile and half short of March bridge which is much decayed to the great hindrance of navigation from St. Ives to Wisbeche and for the Drayning of all the grounds betwixt Chateriz ferrey and March River And at March bridge on either side we found divers Gravels which do stop the course of the River Thence to Great-Crosse 3 miles above March bridg and so through Ramsey Ugge and Witlesey meres Thence to Farset bridg about xvij foot broad Thence c. to Peterborow From Peterborow to Yaxley lode Thence to Ramsey lode along the skirt of the Upland Thence to Erith brigg where Mr. Hunt disireth a new River from the first corner of the West water beneath the said Bridg to begin in Midlemore Fen neer to the Severals and so to go line right unto Wellenhey-River nigh Sprall were and thence line right to the fall into Ouse at the end of Mayde lode or at some apt place between that and Salters lode which River or Rivers to contain in bredth 120 foot and in depth 8 foot And for preservation of the Navigation to and from St. Ives to Cambridge and Linne as also to Wisbeche he thinks it necessary that divers other Sluses be made viz. one in the Ouse neer the Hermitage one in the West water neer to the new River to stop the water from running to Benwick and for Navigation drayning of Huntingdon fen grounds between it and the Upland grounds and other necessary uses and so many Sluses at the ends as the said River shall be divided into parts which he thinketh to make into 3 Rivers of xl foot a piece Thence we came to Over Aldrich-Causey Haddenham Grunty fen and so to Ely In Ely town we observed that the water was but 14 Inches deep and upon the Hards 18 Inches and in some places 2 foot Thence we passed by water to Sotherey and Prick-willow where Mildenhall River falleth into Ouse And between Ely and Littleport Chair we observed that the said River of Ouse was so crooked that the making a new River from Erith bridg through Sutton
Up-were on the West Wickynhie grounds on the South and of Soham East 4297 The Fens and low grounds between Grant from Upwere to Clay hithe and Horningsey high grounds on the West the way from Quoy to Eambridge and Quoy and Bottesham high grounds on the Southâ— the two Swafhams Reach Burwell Lanward and Fordham on the East and of Soham and Wickin North 11950 The Fens between the high grounds of Teversham and Hinton West of Fulburne South of great and little Wilbram East of Bottesham and Quoy North 1240 Between Grant from Harrymere to Ditton on the East of Ouse from Harrymere to Aldrich bridg on the North Hempsall Yram and the high grounds of Rampton West and the high grounds of Cottenham and Denney Abby South 9480 Hempsall and Ireham East of Aldrich Causey 823 The low grounds from St. Ives to Erith bridge on the South the Fens of Willingham and Over on the East the high grounds of Swasey Drayton and Stanton on the South and the high grounds of St. Ives West 3529 The low grounds below St. Ives on the North side of Ouse between the said River on the South and East and the high land of Bluntesham Hallywell and St. Ives on the North and West 1871 The total sum 307242 Acres Whereupon the said Commissioners sitting at Wisebeche aforesaid upon the day and year aforesaid the Lord Chief-Justice Popham being then and there present made certain Laws and Ordinances the extract whereof is as followeth Ordered first that Sir Iohn Popham Knight Lord Chief Justice of England Sir Thomas Fleming Knight Chief Baron of the Exchequer Sir William Rumney Knight Alderman of London and Iohn Eldred Citizen and Cloth-worker of London their heirs and assigns shall within the space of 7 years next coming at their own proper costs and charges drayn all the Fens and surrounded grounds between the old course of the River of Ouse as it now runneth from Erith bridg to Salters lode and Deping and within the land Eas hereafter mentioned And convey the said River of Ouse or the greatest part thereof from some place at or neer Erith bridg aforesaid unto such place between Salters lode and Mayden lode as the said Undertakers c. shall think meet Which conveyance to be made between the bottom of the two uttermost Banks 30 pole at the least and the Rivers to be 30 foot wide and 8 foot deep And the same utmost Banks to be each of them 30 foot wide at the bottome and 7 foot in height at the least and if that height will not do to carry away the water c. then to raise them higher That the like passage be made at the entrance of the Fens neer Peterborough for the conveyance of the River Nene from thence to Wisbeche And so likewise for the River of Weland from its entrance into the Fens at Waldram Hall untill it meet with Glen That Land-Eas from Erith to Stanground and thence to Waldram hall be made to defend the grounds within them and between the said new passage of Ouse and Weland from the Land flouds falling from the Upland-Countreys which Land eas to be from the utmost part of the Fence dike 6 pole at least That a drayn be made from Salters lode unto the Ham in March River to carry away the water which shall fall into the same Land eas c. That a new Bank be made from Erith bridg to Ely to defend the grounds between that and the same new passages from the overflowing of Ouse As also other necessary Sluses and Drayns within the precincts before-mentioned with Bridges c. for passage c. That the Undertakers shall have such sums of money as the Commissioners at their Session shall think fit from those persons who shall take benefit by this drayning and not contribute part of their Lands towards the charge thereof That the Undertakers shall allow for the drayn at Clows Crosse in ease of this charge to the Countrey That a Navigable Sluse be made at Salters lode And that Well-Creeke shall be inlarged and diked to London lode and thence through Neatmore to Wadingstowe and thence over the River of Wellenhee as directly as may be unto or above the Ham in March River And a Sluse with a bridg to be made at Wadingstow to keep so much of the River Neene as shall be needfull in its old course through both the Towns of Welle In recompence of which performance the said Undertakers to have one hundred and thirty thousand Acres of statute measure of Fen grounds at fivescore to the hundred to be taken out of the worst sort of every particular Fen proportionably by the Commissioners before the Feast of the Annunciation of our Lady next coming the whole number of surrounded Acres being 307242. And that the Undertakers their heirs c. shall enjoy all the said waters Fishings and Banks of and within the Rivers with the Indikes and Land-Eas and liberty to take sufficient menure for the repairing of the said Banks c. which Rivers Banks Indikes c. to be accounted parcell of the said 130000 Acres so assigned to them And that the said Undertakers shall make good all drowned parcells out of their own proportions or in value in case the drayning be not made perfect to the Land-owners Of which quick dispatch his Majesty being advertised he wrote to them again from Theobalds upon the xxiiith of the same Month of Iuly by which Letters he commended their endeavours in the work and progress made therein and taking notice of some opposition which had been made by certain people thereto not knowing out of what spirit it proceeded desired them to take special care to suppress the spreading of all false rumours that might give distast to the Countrey touching their proceedings therein and with those who were then imployed by his Majesty in that service as also to examine the grounds of all such rumors and to punish the Offenders giving advertisement to his Majesty and the Councel of any mutinous speeches which might be raised concerning this business so generally intended for the publick good Shortly after this viz. upon Monday Aug. 5th Mr. Hunt Ric. Atkyns and others laid out the ground where the River through Neatmore should go by a straight line to Mumbes dikes end but misliking the way on Tuesday they veiwed New ditch and in the Northeast end thereof by the Pow dich laid out the Ditch to be led line-right from thence to the Cross at Upwell Towns end And upon Wednesday about 8 of the Clock the work began in the presence of Mr. Hunt who cast the first spit the wrong way Mr. Helon Mr. Totnall Mr. Hamon Mr. Iohn Fyncham Mr. Richard Atkyns and others And was prosecuted so well as that upon the xxith of December following being the Feast day of S. Thomas the Apostle the Bank at the Cross at Upwell towns end was opened and the River
suffred to run as also a Bridge presently laid over But on the xvth of March next ensuing there hapned so great a storm that it brake the Banks of this new River and drowned Neatmore with the severals adjoining So that on the xxi of the same Month of March they were constrained to stop the River at Upwell Towns end again Not long after this there was a Petition exhibited to the King by the Inhabitants of divers fen-towns without the I le of Ely in the Counties of Suff. and Cambridg humbly desiring that whereas a most laudable work of drayning the Fens c. was then recommended to the high Court of Parliament and that divers Towns lying on the skirts of those Fens would have no benefit thereby in regard their lands were very seldome surrounded they therefore might be excluded out of the intended Act of Parliament whereby a proportion of the said Fen grounds was to be allowed to the undertakers in the drayning for the supporting of their charge therein Whereupon the Lords of the Councel by their Letters dated at White-Hall upon the xxxi of August in the fourth year of the said K. Iames his Reign reciting what had been signified formerly by them as to the fecibleness of the before-specified Drayning and that the Lord Chief Justice Popham was present at the Session of Sewers held at Cambridge and gave notice to the Country that his Majesties pleasure was so far to further the same as to men of understanding might appear to be to the general good of his people as also that there was a Law then made for the said Drayning And moreover that at another Session held at Wysbeche order was taken for the drawing of a Law to be presented to the Parliament for confirmation thereof But that some persons not well understanding the state of the cause complained to his Majesty of great losses and hindrances which they were like to sustain in case the said Act should proceed and therefore desired the said Commissioners to examine the true Causes of those Complaints and to represent to them the true state of the Fens with the difference between the last years profit and that present year In answer whereunto the said Commissioners made this return to the said Lords of the Councel viz. that they did meet at Cambridge on the 22. of October 1606. for the Examination of the Petition formerly mentioned and that they found few reasons to fortify it but such as were or might be provided for in the intended Bill all persons with whom they had treated having acknowledged that the want of drayning was an inestimable hurt to those Fenny Countries And that whereas an objection had been made of much prejudice that might redound to the poor by such drayning they had information by persons of good credit that in several places of recovered grounds within the Isle of Ely c. such as before that time had lived upon Almes having no help but by fishing and fowling and such poor means out of the Common Fens while they lay drowned were since come to good and supportable Estates The Chief Contents of the Bill handled in Parliament Anno 4. Regis Jacobi touching this general Drayning The limitation of time allowed to Sir Iohn Popam Knight Lord Chief Justice and the rest of the Adventurers for accomplishing the work was to be ten years after the end of that Session of Parliament The particular Cutts and Drayns c. to be made by the Undertakers were as followeth 1. A New River with a Bank and In-dike from the Upland neer Peykirke between Weland and Burrow Bank unto or neer Heddike Corner and thence to Crouland water head and there to place a Sluse and so to great Porsand Bank with a Dam over the River to the said Bank to keep in Weland from overflowing 2. To amend the Leame from Peterborough to Guyhirne and to cut a new River and Bank on either side of the said Leame with Indikes for preserving of the Banks the North Bank to begin from Burrow little Fen Bank where six of the Commissioners shall think fit 3. To enlarge the River from Guy hirne to Wisebeche and so to the four Gotes 4. To make a sufficient passage for the River of Ouse from Erith to Salters lode either by enlarging its Chanel or embanking c. And to make two new Rivers to begin about Erith brigg and so to go by Sprall's were to Mayd lode and so through Denver fen into Ouse about Denver hithe with sufficient Banks and Indikes c. and Sluses at the upper end of the new Rivers and West water in such sort as the Navigation in old Ouse and Grant may not be impaired 5. To imbank in all needfull places Grant Mildenhall Brandon and Stoke Rivers viz. Grant from a Corner below Clayhithe ferrey Mildenhall and Brandon Rivers from their entrance into the Fens or from some other more convenient places And Stoke River from Stoke Causey unto the places where they fall into Ouse and to enlarge them where need is with Banks and Indikes c. as six of the Commissioners should think fit 6. And to make new Rivers Banks Indikes c. where need is c. yielding to the owners of the Lands such recompence as any six of the said Commissioners should think meet As also Bridges passages Sluses and Land Eas. 7. That they may take in water to maintain fishing so as the same be kept within Banks and be not hurtfull to the adjoyning Fens 8. To make Ferryes and Ferrey houses where need is 9. That for this performance the Undertakers c. to have in severalty 112000. Acres Statute measure by the small hundred by assignation of the Commissioners 10. That where there is sufficient waste to answer the Undertakers and leave sufficient for the Commoners the Land owners not to be impeached in their severals 11. That the Commissioners do respect both quantity and quality in their opportioning 12. That such opportioning be made before Michaellmass A. 1007. if they may 13. That of Waltersey the Undertakers to have 2. full parts of 3. to be set out as aforesaid 14. That the Undertakers shall have the soil waters and fishing of all the new Rivers so to be made with the Banks Indikes c. 15. That they shall begin to take their profits as they finish their draynings 16. That if any of the grounds shall be again overflowen recompence to be made to the parties damnified out of the 112000. Acres to be assessed by any six Justices of the Peace whereof 2. of the Quorum where such surrounding shall happen 17. That all grounds adjoyning to these Fens which are bettered by the Drayning shall contribute towards the charge of the Undertakers as any six or more of the Commissioners shall think meet 18. That all Mannors Wastes and Common shall have metes and boundaries set to them by the said Commissioners where the bounds are
xxvi of September in a Session held at King's Linne in the County of Norfolke there was another Law of Sewers made called Low fen and UUalsingham fen Law the tenor whereof is as followeth viz. Whereas there are about 1300 Acres of low grounds lying together in the several Parishes of Upwell and Outwell in the County aforesaid between Popham River on the South and the Bank called Bardyke and Churchfield dike on the North and Outwell Crest towards the East which are preserved from overflowing by the said Crest and by the Bank on the North side of Popham river aforesaid which low grounds may be drayned c. And that the repairing of the said Crest and of the North Bank of Popham River will be a defence to the new Powdich and a great preservation to the Countrey of Marshland And whereas the drayn from Plawfield in Upwell to Hodghyrne and there falling into Rightforth lode and thence by a Sluse neer Stow bridge into the River of Ouse is very defective c. which being repaired would be sufficient to drayn all those low grounds We do ordain and decree c. that it shall be lawfull â—or the Landholders and Commoners of and in the said low grounds c. to drayn them through the said Sewer And we do farther ordain that the said Sewer from the said Sluse to a place called West head shall be diked c. ten foot broad in the bottom at the least and in depth proportionable c. And from thence to UUelle river x foot broad and 5 foot deep and the greater part of the menure to be cast on the South side of the said Lode from UUest head to the East end of Hodg hirne for the making of a sufficient Crest to hold the waters within the brink thereof And that there shall be placed in the North end of Churchfield dike in Outwell a Sluse of Brick with a tunnel of two foot broad and three foot high with a dore to be pulled up shut c. And from the said Sluse a Drayn or Sewer to be made under Churchfield dike on the East part thereof to the North end of Champney-Corner And from thence to continue the same Drayn in an antient Dike between Outwell Common on the North c. to North delph Upon Tuesday being the 8th of October following in the night tide the Dam made by Mr. Hunt for Coldham a little below Stow bridge broke up and on Wednesday being inwardly taken with a little light Moor broke again So likewise on Thursday being taken with earth between Planks set end-wise it brake again and continued running till Sunday Oct. 13. At which place there assembled that day Sir Raphe Hare and six other Commissioners who laying the command of the work and order of it upon Mr. Richard Hunt he with the assistance of the Country took it in hand and made it firm before the return of the next Tide But as we see by how little was done in this and most of the precedent years that the general Drayning went but slowly on notwithstanding the King himself as also the Lords of the Council and those Gentlemen who were constituted Commissioners for that purpose had so earnestly endeavoured the speeding thereof so was there now such a stop for the space of five years at the least that there nothing appeareth of consequence to have been farther prosecuted therein by reason of the opposition which divers pâ—rverse spirited people made thereto by bringing of turbulent sutes in Law aswell against the said Commissioners as those whom they imployed therein and making of libellous Songs to disparage the work of which kind I have here thought fit to insert one called the Powtes Complaint COme Brethren of the water and let us all assemble To treat upon this matter which makes us quake and tremble For we shall rue it if 't be true that Fenns be undertaken And where we feed in Fen and Reed thei 'le feed both Beef and Bacon Thei 'l sow both Beans and Oats where never man yet thought it Where men did row in Boats ere Undertakers bought it But Ceres thou behold us let wilde Oats be their venture Oh let the Frogs and miry Boggs destroy where they do enter Behold the great designe which they do now determine Will make our bodyes pine a prey to Crows and Vermine For they do mean all Fenns to drain and waters overmaster All will be drie and we must dye 'cause Essex-Calves want pasture Away with Boates and Rodder Farewell both Bootes and Skatches No need of t'one nor t'other men now make better matches Stiltmakers all and Tanners shall complain of this disaster For they will make each muddy Lake for Essex Calves a pasture The fethered Foules have wings to fly to other Nations But we have no such things to help our transportations We must give place oh grievous case to horned Beasts and Cattell Except that we can all agree to drive them out by Battell Wherefore let us intreat our antient water Nurses To shew their power so great as t' help to drain their purses And send us good old Captain Floud to lead us out to Battel Then two-peny Jack with Skakes on 's back will drive out all the Cattel This noble Captain yet was never known to fail us But did the Conquest get of all that did assail us His furious rage none could asswage but to the Worlds great wonder He bears down banks and breaks their ranks and Whirly-giggs asunder God Eolus we do thee pray that thou wilt not be wanting Thou never saidst us nay now listen to our canting Do thou deride their hope and pride that purpose our confusion And send a blast that they in haste may work no good conclusion Great Neptune God of Seas this work must needs provoke thee They mean thee to disease and with Fen-water Choake thee But with thy Mace do thou deface and quite confound this matter And send thy Sands to make dry lands when they shall want fresh water And eke we pray thee Moon that thou wilt be propitious To see that nought be done to prosper the malitious Though Summers heat hath wrought a feat whereby themselves they flatter Yet be so good as send a floud lest Essex Calves want water Upon great complaint therefore of these their doings made to the Lords of the Council I find this Order made by them bearing date at White Hall upon the 8th of November in the xiiijth year of the said King's Reign viz. That whereas sundry vexatious sutes had been brought against his Majesties Commissioners of Sewers and their Officers by divers obstinate persons for executing the Orders c. of the said Commission to the great hazard of the inundation of many large Levells in the Counties of Northt Hunt Cambr. and Linc. That the said Lords well weighing these undue proceedings and the antient Laws of this Realm evidenced from divers notable Records in
diked And upon Report made to the said Lords of the Council by the before-specified Sir Clement Edmunds it was ordered by their Lordships that the Earl of Arundell the Bishop of Winchester the Lord Carew Mr. Treasurer and Mr. Comptroller of his Majesties Houshold Mr. Chancellour of the Exchequer the Mr. of the Rolls and Sir Edw. Coke or any 4. of them should take consideration of the state of the business c. and prepare some opinion to be delivered to the Board of what present course might be fit to be taken therein In pursuance of which Order the said Earl of Arundell made a journey into these parts where having treaty with Sir William Ayloff Knight and Baronet Anthony Thomas Esquire and others they the said Sir William Anthony and the rest as Undertakers in this great Adventure did in consideration of the pains and costs which they were like to bestow therein make these â—ollowing Proposalls viz. 1. To have all the Kings lands drowned with fresh or salt water which should be so recovered at the free Rent of iiijd the Acre over and above all Rents or revenues then in being or coming to his Majesty 2. To have all the Prince his lands upon the like conditions 3. To have of all Subjects lands so drowned all the year two thirds to them the said Undertakers and their heirs to hold in severalty for ever 4. And of all such lands of Subjects which lay drowned half the year to have the one half to them the said Undertakers and their heirs Of which Proposalls the King liking well he did by his Letters to the said Commissioners of Sewers bearing date the 4. of September in the xvij year of his Reign signify unto them that the said Sir William and Anthony with others had undertaken to drain all the Fens in the Counties of Cambr. and Isle of Ely Norff. Suff. Linc. Northt and Hunt with the good liking of his said Majesty and his acceptance of their Propositions And recommended them and their design to the said Commissioners to the end they might be ayding to them in expediting such Contracts as they should make and to further them therein with their Authority in all lawfull things c. And on the morrow following the Lords of the Council by their Letters to the said Commissioners of Sewers signified to them that the said Undertakers did purpose to begin their work at the Sea by opening the out-falls of Nene and Weland and to make the same navigable to Spalding and Wisbeche which would take away all fear of turning the water upon any neighbour Country and draw the same into their true and natural Chanels and that whatever Commission or assistance they should desire to further this work order should be taken for the same desiring them to observe the Kings directions therein Whereupon within three dayes after the said Commissioners met at Peterborough and in a Session of Sewers then and there held forthwith ordered That in obedience to the Instructions by them received from the Kings Majesty and the Lords of his Council the Undertakers before-specified should have the free consent and approbation of that Court to proceed with their enterprise so soon as they should think meet and likewise their furtherance in such Contracts as they should make with the Lords Owners and Commoners interessed in the said Fens And moreover that further time and longer dayes should be given to them for perfecting their works in the Rivers of Ouse Nene and Weland and all the Branches of them viz. untill the first day of August then next ensuing and no advantage taken of the Penalties in the Laws formerly made for effecting the business before that time And in a Session of Sewers held at Ely the 20 and 23 of the same Month of September having received these following Propositions from the Undertakers viz. 1. That their intent was so to drayn the said Fens and grounds as that by their said works no person should receive any hurt 2. That they would from time to time maintain and scour the same so drayned 3. That they would not receive any recompence but where through their industry an increase of benefit should be raised to the Owner thereof and that after their works should be perfected 4. That if question should arise whether any benefit were received in any particular by their industry it should be decided by a sufficient and able Jury to be named by the Commissioners of the County and such Jurors so nominated and no others to be retured by the Sheriff 5. So likewise in the Isle of Ely by a Jury of that Isle 6. And that they would give such recompence to those that should receive hurt or damage by any of their said works as the Commissioners or the greater part of them should think fit 7. That at their own charge they would make provision that water should be conveyed to stay at those Towns where water had before come and stayed for Navigation and transportation and the Townships afterwards to maintain it 8. And that they would better and not hurt or impair the Navigation in the Rivers of Grant and Ouse And did therefore order and decree that the said Undertakers should have their free consent and the approbation of that Court to proceed c. and that they would assist them c. in their Contracts c. It being not the purpose of the said Undertakers to alter or change the state of any Commons but only to have such competent part thereof to be set out in severalty to them and their heirs as should content them for their work of Drayning the same and the residue of every Common to remain in the same condition to all intents and purposes as then it did And at a Session of Sewers held at S. Ives on the morrow following they decreed that the tenor of the Order made at Peterborough 8 Sept. and that present Order should be published at every Town Village c. which the premisses should concern in all the said several Counties c. before the vith of Oct. next then coming to the end that all Owners Commoners c. Interessed in any surrounded grounds within the places aforesaid might apply themselves to the said Undertakers c. for concluding their contracts c. On the 4th of October ensuing the said Undertakers sent their Letters to the Commissioners for Norfolk sitting at a Session at Ilsington excusing their not wayting on them sooner and inclosing the Copies of those Letters of the King and the Lords of the Council to them desired that the same might be communicated to their Neighbours together with their Proposalls to the end that they might be the better prepared for contracting with them As also that they might have a meeting with the said Commissioners of Norff. at Cambridge on Wednesday the xiijth of October then next ensuing and in the mean time that they would cause
Commodity 4. That no land should contribute to this charge which was then at 8s. an Acre or upwards except it lay in small quantities and intermixt with other lands so that the work could not go forward without it and then to have a moity of profit ut supra 5. That their Lordships should not intermeddle with any part of the work which was already setled agreed on 6. That the Undertakers according to their promise should begin the work within one Month after this Agreement should be concluded All which being thus setled and agreed upon the last day of May then past with the consent of both parties for ought appeared to their Lordships Forasmuch nevertheless as the Undertakers had not then entred upon the work nor made any proceeding therein the time of the year requiring expedition it was according to his Majesties pleasure and command ordered by that Board that the said Undertakers should either go on according to the Articles so agreed on at that Board or otherwise desist from that undertaking and hold the Country no longer in suspence but to leave them to such further courses as should be expedient To which purpose it was likewise ordered that Copies of those Articles and Orders should be delivered both to the Undertakers and such Gentlemen as attended that service there for the Country And afterwards viz. upon the 25th of the same Month of Iuly the King by his Letters directed to the said Commissioners published at Cambridge 18 Aug. commending the Undertakers readiness and acceptance of such mean conditions in so hazardous an enterprise required that they might have square dealing in the valuation of the Lands as they had been truly let and security for the partage of what should be alotted to them so that there might not be any just exception thereto and likewise that the said Commissioners should give them their best assistance that they might go on with cheerfullness in the work the Lords of the Council also by their Letters to the said Commissioners inciting their assistance to the said Undertakers and for their setling of the business with them according to that Agreement In pursuance whereof in a Session of Sewers held at Cambridge upon the 17th of August following it was ordered that Sir Miles Sandys Knight and Baronet Sir Edw. Peyton Knight and Baronet and several of the Commissioners of Sewers within the County of Cambridg and Isle of Ely should view and value according to the annual worth of the same being subject to the Taxes surrounding and other inconveniences which the same had born for x. years then past all the Fen grounds within the County of Cambridge and Isle of Ely beginning at Fen-Drayton on Tuesday the 22th of that instant August And that four able and sufficient men of every Parish should attend the said Commissioners there for the better informing them in the true value of those grounds And the next year following in a Session of Sewers held also at Cambridge aforesaid it was decreed that the Adventurers in recompence of their charge of Drayning this whole Level should have out of the surrounded grounds so to be drayned one hundred and twenty thousand Acres to be set out by metes and bounds and the King himself who hath been heard to say that for the honour of his Kingdome he would not any longer suffer these Countries to be abandoned to the will of the waters nor to let them lye waste and unprofitable was then pleased to declare himself the principal Undertaker But whether it was the great disturbance he had about that time and after till the end of his reign for regaining the Palatinate then violently invaded by a powerfull Army and his Daughter with her Husband and Children exposed to the wide World for a subsistence which was the impediment or what else I shall not take upon me to say Certain it is that no farther progress was made therein nor any thing else conducing thereto till the fifth year of our late Sovereign King Charles the first of blessed memory when in a Session of Sewers held at Huntendon upon the 6th of Ianuary it was decreed that a Tax of six shillings an Acre should be laid upon all the said Marish fenny waste and surrounded grounds in order to this general Drayning Notwithstanding which Decree there was no part of the said Tax paid nor any prosecution of that work Howbeit in another Session of Sewers held at King's Lynne upon the first of September the year ensuing the Commissioners then present being xlvii in number there was a contract made with Sir Cornelius Vermuden Knight a person well experienced in works of this kind for the Drayning of this Level and he for his recompence therein to have ninety five thousand Acres of the said surrounded lands But the Country being not satisfied to deal with Sir Cornelius in regard he was an Alien they intimated their dislike to the Commissioners and withall became humble Suters to Francis then Earl of Bedford who was owner of neer twenty thousand Acres about Thorney and Wittlesey of this fenny Level to undertake the work at whose request as also of the Commissioners he condescended thereto Whereupon for the better ratifying of this Agreement there was another Session of Sewers held at King's Lynne before-specified upon the xiijth of Ianuary following and by xli Commissioners then and there present a solemn Decree made reciting these particulars viz. That the work of Drayning was first propounded 19 Iac. at Cambridg at a general Session there where the then King Iames declared by his Letters that he himself would undertake it And for satisfaction of his expence the quantity of 120000. Acres was decreed to his Majesty his heirs and successors for ever But the work being neglected by him his late Majesty King Charles the first had often recommended the care to the Commissioners of Sewers and in pursuance of this gratious intimation the Commissioners at a Session holden at Huntingdon 20 Ian. 5 Caroli did lay a tax of vis the Acre upon all and every Marsh and fen grounds which tax nor any part thereof was ever paid And moreover that whereas at a Session holden at Kings Lynne 1 Sept. then last past id est 6. Caroli the Commissioners being xlvij present did contract with Sir Cornelius Vermuden that he should undertake the work at his own charge and in recompence thereof to have 90000. Acres parcell equally and indifferently to be laid out and that the said Corn. Vermuden had presented the Commissioners with a Map and design of the work which was approved of but required 95000. Acres which the Commissioners and Country were unwilling to grant or that any contract should be made with an Alien or stranger they therefore petitioned that the Earl of Bedford then present would undertake the work which the said Earl yielded unto under the Agreements and Articles here under expressed viz. 1. That he should
might the better accomplish this so great an undertataking as also maintain and preserve the works after they should be compleated the said Francis Earl of Bedford and his Participants did in the x year of the said Kings reign obtain Lettees Patents of Incorporation bearing date 13 Martii whereby the said King making some recital of the before-specified Laws of Sewers made at King's Lynne 13 Ian. 6 Car. with his royal assent thereunto did incorporate him the said Earl and certain other persons viz. Oliver Earl of Bullingbroke Henry Lord Maltrevers Edward Lord Gorges Sir Francis Crane Knight Chancellor of the most noble Order of the Garter Sir Miles Sandis Knight and Baronet Sir Thomes Teringham Knight Sir Robert Lovell Knight Sir Filbert Vernat Knight Sir Miles Sandis Knight William Sams Doctor of Law Oliver S. Iohn Esquire Anthony Hamond Esquire and Samuell Spalding Gentleman into a Body politick to be Guardians and Conservers of the Fen lands in the Counties of Cambridge Huntington Northampton Lincolne Norfolke Suffolke and Isle of Ely by the name of a Governour Deputy Governour two Bayliffs and Commonalty of the Society aforesaid and that they and others to be elected into that Fellowship to have a perpetual succession by those Names and Titles with power to purchase lands plead and be impleaded and to have a common Seal And moreover that out of this their Society be yearly chosen upon the xxix of September one who shall bear the name of Governour another to be Deputy Governour and two others to be Bayliffs of the same Society to continue for one compleat year each of the said Commonalty having of Inheritance five hundred Acres at the least in the said Fen lands That upon Death or Removal the Survivors to elect others in their rooms And that six shall have power to make Laws for the publick benefit of the Society whereof the Governour or Deputy Governour to be one Also that the Governour Deputy Governour and Bayliffs shall make Oath for the due execution of their Offices so likewise their Servants and Ministers By this Charter of Incorporation the said Governor Bayliffs and Commonalty of this Society and their Successors are likewise constituted Guardians of all the Waters Rivers and Fens within the Precincts aforesaid with power to seise and take all Nets and other Engines made and used therein for destroying of Fish contrary to the Laws and Customes of this Realm And they be thereby impowred to enquire by Oath of all Trespasses and Offences committed contrary to the Laws and Customes of the Kingdom and to punish the Offenders by Fines and Amerciaments which Fines and Amerciaments to be levied by their Officers and to be to the use and benefit of the Society without any Estreits thereof made into the Exchequer Likewise to build Churches or Chapels and make Church-yards in such fitting places of the said Fens as they shall judge meet and to cause them to be consecrated by the Bishop And to take reasonable Tolls of all Carriages and Commodities at such Bridges as they shall erect and maintain So also for laded Boats passing under the same Bridges And lastly to Register all conveyances of these their lands within three months after the making thereof in certain Books to be kept for that purpose by the said Governour and Bayliffs All which being accomplisht about three years after in a Session of Sewers held at Peterborough xii Oct. 13 Car. the whole Levell was adjudged drayned and the ninety five thousand Acres were set out by six or more of the said Commissioners by metes and bounds unto the said Francis late Earl of Bedford his Heirs and Assignes the charge of these works to the said Earl and his Participants having been no lesse than an Hundred thousand pounds But notwithstanding this great expence it was at length evidently discerned that though the lands were very much improved by those works yet were they subject to Inundation especially in the Winter season and therefore in a Session of Sewers held at Huntendon 12 Aprilis the year ensuing the said Earl of Bedford's undertaking was adjudged defective And on the xxiii of May following in another Session held at Wisbeche the particular defects therein being considered by the Commissioners there was a new Tax of xv s. the Acre imposed by them but upon Dâ—ping fâ—n xxx s. the Acre Waldersey and Coldham xx s. the Acre Needham fen vis viijd the Acre For the Marshes within the precincts of Walton Wallokne and Walpole in the County of Norfolke Tyd S. Maries Sutton in Holand Lutton Gedney Fleâ—te Holbeche Ouaplode Moulton and Weston in the County of Lincolne Wisbeche Leverington Newton and Tyd S. Giles in the County of Cambridge xls. the Acre Marshland â—en xxs. the Acre and other the Fens and low grounds in Marshland x s. the Acre The Common and several Fen-grounds lying within the North side oâ— Wisebeche between South Ea bank Wisebeche River the old Sea-bank and the Shire drayn viz. the Common Fen-grounds lying in Neuton and Tyd within the said North side of Wisebeche xx s. the Acre and the several Fen-grounds in Neuton and Tyd aforesaid x s. the Acre and the rest of the Common Fen-grounds lying within the North side of Wisebeche vi s. viij d. the Acre The Common and several Fen-grounds in Holand in the County of Lincolne viz. the Common at xx s. the Acre and the several at x s. And it was then decreed that the said Tax should be paid in to the Treasurers appointed to receive the same before the xviijth of Iuly then next ensuing that present Session to the end that it might be speedily imployed in the work that so the said Fens might by sufficient Drayning be made aswell winter-Winter-grounds as Summer-grounds in all the parts thereof saving convenient Forelands and Receptacles for Winter flouds Hereupon his late Majesty King Charles the first of blessed memory taking this great business into his Princely consideration and foreseeing that these lands being a continent of about four hundred thousand Acres in case they were made Winter-grounds would be an extraordinary benefit to the Common-wealth viz. of six hundred thousand pounds per annum value as also a great and certain revenue to all parties interessed And likewise because the Owners who were very many could not agree to do so great a work one being willing and another not one able to contribute another not was therefore pleased to undertake the making of those lands Winter-ground at his own charge whereby the said four hundred thousand Acres might be profitable firm and good And for the better performance thereof did command divers Gentlemen expert in such adventures to give their advice how these lands might be recovered in such manner as that they might be made Winter-grounds to the end the said work might be compleated Amongst which the before-specified Sir Cornelius Vermuden was one who after view taken thereof returned their
opinions all concluding it fesible but differing much in the way to accomplish the same To give instance of the various conceipts of such whom his said Majesty imployed to inform him therein it will be needless howbeit of those that exhibited by the said Sir Cornelius Vermuden a person of greater experience in Drayning than most others were was not the least considerable and therefore it being published in Print I shall refer my Reader thereto But such speed there was made in the farther prosecution of this great and noble adventure that at a general Session of Sewers held at Huntendon on the xviijth day of Iuly then next ensuing the said King himself was declared the Undertaker and to have not only those ninety five thousand Acres which had been formerly set out for the said Earl but also fifty seven thousand Acres more from the Country his design being as by the Decree then made at Huntendon appeareth to make the said Fens as well winter-Winter-grounds as Summer-grounds as hath before been expressed viz. out of Deping Pinchbeck Spalding South fen and Croyland fen alias Gogsland fen twelve thousand Acres And out of the rest of the lands out of which the ninety five thousand Acres had been formerly assigned to and for the said Earl of Bedford and his participants First the number of twelve thousand Acres parcell of the said ninety five thousand which twelve thousand were then in the possession of his said Majesty his Fermours or under-tenants And the quantity of one hundred and fourty thousand Acres more whereof eighty three thousand residue of the said ninety five thousand to be taken in part and fifty seaven thousand in full of the said hundred and fourty thousand Acres to be indifferently taken and set out of the residue of the said Fens where or out of which the said ninety five thousand Acres were so decreed or assigned to the said Earl of Bedford viz. out of such of the said Fens as do lye on the North-West side of the said new River called Bedford River 29 thousand Acres in part of the said 57 thousand Acres And out of those on the South-East side of the said new River 28 thousand Acres in full for the said 57 thousand Acres And for the drayning of the said Common and several low grounds lying in Holand Com. Linc. within the River Weland Porson banke the South Ea banke the Shire drayne and the several high Marshes and grounds of the Towns or Parishes of Tyd S. Maries Sutton Lutton Gedney Flete Holbeche Quaplode Moulton Weston and Spalding 19 thousand eight hundred 33 Acres And for drayning the Common and several Fen-grounds lying between the South Ea banke Wisbeche River the old Sea-bank and the Shire drayne in Wisbeche Leverington Newton S. Giles Tyd S. Maries and Porson drove the quantity of 4000. Acres And for Drayning the Common Fen-grounds of the Towns of Marshland called Marshland fen containing by estimation 4000 Acres the quantity of two third parts divided into three And for drayning the Marsh lands lying open to the Sea in or neer Walton Walsoken and Walpole in com Norff. between the old Sea bank of Marshland and the old course of Wisbeche River containing by estimation 3000 Acres and of the Marsh lands and Marsh grounds lying in or neer Wisbeche Leverington Neuton and Tid S. Giles in com Cantab. and the course of Wisbeche River and the Shire Drayne there together with one piece thereof lately imbanked next the said Shire Drayne containing by estimation 1000 Acres and of the Marshes c. lying in or neer Tid S. Maries Sutton in Holand Lutton Gedney Flete Holbeche Quaplode Moulton and Weston in com Linc. between the Marsh-grounds there formerly imbanked and the Sea extending along the Sea coast there containing by estimation 5000 Acres the quantity of two full third parts And for Drayning of Stretham meere and the Meer-grounds thereof containing by estimation 300 Acres the one half thereof or of so much thereof as shall be drayned And for the drayning of the rest of the Meers Meer-grounds Lakes and Pools the quantity of 3 fourth parts of them or so much of them as shall be drayned divided equally into four parts And that though the said Earl of Bedford had not performed his undertaking he should in recompence of his great charge in those Rivers Cuts and Drayns by him and his Participants made have 40 thousand Acres to be assigned him out of the before-mentioned 83 thousand Acres residue of the said proportion of 95 thousand Acres assigned to the said Earl as aforesaid About three dayes following for it was upon the xxith of the same Month of Iuly the said Commissioners still fitting at Huntendon dispatcht away Letters of that date to the Lords of the Council concerning their transactions then in hand the tenor whereof were as followeth Touching the Great Levell we have received many and several complaints from divers Townships therein that their lands are taken from them and they have received no benefit by the Drayning upon hearring whereof and of the proofes by them made and declaration of divers Commissioners in Court we find many of them true and according to his Majesties Instructions to some of us his Commissioners we have made an Order to permit them to take the profits of their lands and Common of pasture untill the Drayning be adjudged so as they shall not pull down or deface any Mounds Fences or Drayning without due proof made and a special Order of the Court in that behalf wherein the Country have received and expressed a great deal of contentment and satisfaction We have also two several dayes heard Mr. Holborne and Mr. St. John being of Councel with the Earl of Bedford and his participants in the great Level and they have taken divers exceptions and argued at large against the Laws of Tax and proceedings upon this Commission and their main Objections tended to destroy not only these Taxes Decrees and proceedings of this kind And the same reasons if admitted would plainly overthrow all the Presentments Taxes Decrees and Proceedings for the Earl of Bedford and his participants We are now taking into consideration the force and weight of what hath been alleged and shall therein give a just and speedy resolution and with all care and diligence proceed to the further execution of this Commission and setling of this great work I have not seen any direct Answer made by the said Lords unto this Letter but on the xxiijth of the same Month there was a Letter dated at Theobalds the Court being then there from William Lord Bishop of London and sent to the said Commissioners in answer to a Letter of theirs to him dated the xxith the tenor whereof for so much as relates to this great Level I have here likewise inserted And because his Majesty intends to see this great work of the Level prosecuted according to his first Princely design being for the Countries good and his
own service in such manner as may have just regard to the perfecting the same with most publick and general advantage to the whole Fens he is farther pleased to declare himself the sole Adventurer aswell of Deping fen as the great Level and hereafter in ordering the same will have a just respect unto such persons of Honour and others as have had any former interest or engagement therein And likewise well approving the rest of your proceedings requireth you to go on with the care you have begun not doubting but to such things as have been said by the Council at Bar touching Commissions of Sewers you will consider the weight of their Arguments and give them a fitting answer thereunto At the Session of Sewers held at Huntentendon 23 Julii 14 Caroli Deeping fen 27000 Acres The charge 27500l 13750 Acres The proportion 12000 Acres whereof 9000 out of the Undertakers 3000 out of the Kings Owners and Commoners with purpose to come for more if it will not perfect The Meeres and meer-Meer-grounds 4500 Acres The proportion of 4200 Acres is 34ths 3150 Acres Stretham Meere 3000 Acres 300 Acres a moytie thereof 150 Acres Porsand and South Holland 36000 Acres the charge 11200l. 20000 of the worst at 12d. the Acre 10000 of the middle sort at 4 s. the Acre 6000 of the best at 8 s. the Acre 2 thirds of the worst 13334 Acre 1. 3d. A moytie of the middle sort 5000 Acres 1 fourth of the best being 1500 Acres In toto 19833. Acres North of Wisberhe 15000 Acres whereof 8000 Acres surrounded a moytie to be decreed 4000 Acres Marshland Common fen 4000 Acres To the undertakers two thirds viz. 2666 Acres The Marshes 9000 Acres To be imbanked 7000 Acres The charge 17500l. The recompence two thirds viz 4666. Acres and an half The Great Levell 306000 Acres whereof 12000 Acres to the King The charge 132900l. The proportion 100000 Acres Whereof of the Earl of Bedford's already set forth 43000 Acres Out of the Countrey 57000 Acres And then left to the said Earl 40000 Acres None to be taken till the work be done and Judgement upon a Winters experience and that probationary c. The whole to be bound for the works both the Kings and the Earls excepting the Kings 12000 Acres And moreover to enrich these Countries by several new Plantations and divers ample privileges Amongst which his Royal intentions that of the building of an eminent Town in the midst of the Levell at a little Village called Manea and to have called it Charlemont was one the design whereof he drew himself intending to have made a navigable stream from thence to the River of Ouse And to manifest his earnest and real purposes for the speedy performance of what was likely to redound so much to the Benefit of his People and Honour of the Realm he caused 1. A Bank on the South side of Morton's Leame extending from Peterborough to Wisbeche to be made and a navigable Sasse at Stanground and began the like Bank on the North side of that Leam 2. He caused a new River to be cut betwixt the Stone Sluse at the Horshoo and the Sea below Wisbeche of Lx foot in bredth and about two miles and an half in length with Banks on both sides thereof 3. And lastly he placed a Sluce in the Marshes below Tyd upon the out-fall of the Shire Drayn which afterwards was swallowed up by the Quick sands But here I come to a period of that noble design of this excellent Prince he being not in a condition to prosecute it any farther those fatal Clouds which began to appear in Scotland the year before by the unhappy combination of that people in a League and Covenant thickning apace that present year scil An. 1638 so that he was necessitated to raise an Army and to march thither in person for the prevention of the approaching storm which when with no small charge trouble he believed he had done disbanded his Army upon assurance of their future more stedfast obedience they soon after invaded this Kingdom with a powerfull Host which occasioned his Sacred Majesty to call a Parliament here hoping both of advice and assistance from his English Subjects for the getting out and quieting of those turbulent Spirits But instead thereof what a foundation the predominant party in the Parliament confederated with their Brethren the Scots for by that title they were then plâ—ased to call them had laid for the ruine of the King the extirpation of his posterity and enslaving of the whole Nation I shall not need here to tell the wofull dayes which we have seen being still so fresh in the minds of all good people The Kings work therefore being thus obstructed and the Country thereupon entring upon the said nineâ—y five tâ—ousand Acres the said late Earl of Bâ—dford and his Participants did in the year 1641 make their application to the then Parliament and had their Case committed but the flames of war so soon after breaking out not only hindred them from any farther prosecution of their purpose but occasioned the works made both by him the said Earl and his late Majesty to decay and become useless Whereupon William Earl of Bedford son and heir to Francis then deceased being willing to prosecute the work wherein his Father had been so great an Adventurer making his address in the behalf of himself and some other his Participants to that Convention sitting at Weâ—tminster in the year 1649. and then called by the name of a Parliament was thereby declared to be the Undertaker for the same and that he should have ninety five thousand Acres for perfecting thereof as they were set out in October 13 Caroli or thenceforth should be set out by virtue of that Act. The said Earl and his Participants therefore fell in hand with the work for the better understanding whereof it will be proper to take notice that this main body of the Fens so undertaken by them is divided into three distinct Levells viz. the North Levell the Middle Levell and the South Levell every of which hath its particular Banks and outfalls 1. That which I call the North Levell lying betwixt the River of Weland and Moretons Leame they defended from Weland by a Bank beginning at Peakirk running to Crouland and so to Brotherhouse where it unites with Holland Bank which Bank as all the rest of the great Banks are generally is seventy foot broad at the bottom and eight foot in height Peterborough water viz. the River Nene being also kept off by the like Bank extending from Peterborough to Guyhirne But the Drayns are only those that were before which were by this Earl and his Participants new scoured and opened And the outfall is also the same viz. by Shire Drayne and the Sluse at Tyd for the Sluses set in the Marshes are all lost which cost neer 25000l. Moreover they caused Wisbeche River to be opened for the length of two miles
Swinshed upon the xi of August then last past upon full debate and consideration of the former Decrees and consideration of a true and perfect scedule of all the Fens c. comprised in a Decree of Tax bearing date at Boston upon the second of March in the eighth year of the said King Charles from Kyme Ea South-wards aswell within the parts of Kesteven as Holand to the River of Glen being part of the said Level mentioned in that Decree made at Sleford c. it did at that time appear to the said Commissioners and then to those present Commissioners at Boston that that part of the Level amounted to thirty six thousand Acres or thereabouts And recitall being likewise made that whereas at the said Session of Swineshed it was proposed that the severals within the said Level lying from Kyme Ea to the River of Glen might not contribute any part of land to the making up of the said quantity of fourteen thousand Acres but that the whole proportion should be taken out of the Fens and Commons And in a Session of Sewers held at Bourne upon the xith of August the next year following there was a speciall assignation in what particular place in each of the Fens before-specified the quantities so decreed as aforesaid should be set out and a certain mistake concerning Poynton fen rectified Which said several Decrees viz. that at Sleford 2 Iunii 11 Caroli that at Boston 29 Martii 12 Car. and this at Bourne 11 Aug. 13 Car. were afterwards in a Session of Sewers held at Sleford 25 Sept. 14 Car. ratified and confirmed And in another Session held likewise at Sleford upon the xiiijth of March then next ensuing the Commissioners receiving information by the said Earl that he had then effectually drayned all the lands between the River of Glen and Kyme Ea containing more than thirty five thousand Acres and taking view of them with all the Sluses Banks Sewers c. therein did so adjudge thereof and that he had made a full performance of his said undertaking And lastly in another Session held at Sleford also upon the 14 of Iune next following reciting and confirming all the former Decrees And that whereas but three thousand Acres were by the said Law of Sleford made 2 Iunii 11 Caroli decreed for the perpetual maintenance of the works within the said whole Level and that the said Earl had nevertheless at the instance of the Commissioners condescended to ty the said fourteen thâ—usand Acres for the perpetual maintenance of the said works made between the River of Glene and Kyme Ea over and above the Rent of iiijd the Acre thereupon reserved to be paid out of the said fourteen thousand Acres in case the said iiijd. the Acre should not be sufficient they decreed and ratified the same accordingly After which the said Earl and his Participants having been at no less than fourty five thousand pounds charge therein did inclose build inhabit plant plow sow and reap two years without disturbance but the third year divers clamorous Petitions were exhibited to the Parliament then sitting by the Country people Whereupon after examination of Witnesses Orders were granted from both Houses to quiet the possession of the said Earl and his Participants and to secure their Crops then upon the land Nevertheless the Petitioners in contempt of all entred and destroyed the Drains and buildings as also the Crops then ready to be reapt to a very great value and have ever since held the possession to the great decay and ruine of those costly works and exceeding discommodity to all that part of the Country CHAP. LVI The East and West Fenns NOrthwards of this Fenny part of the Country called Lindsey Levell are divers other Marshes lying towards Waynflete the greatest whereof are called by the name of the East and West Fenns Upon a Writ of Ad quod Dampnum in 41 Eliz. concerning the Drayning of these Fens it appears that the East fen lying betwixt the parts of Holand and Lindsey was found to contain five thousand Acres or thereabouts and that the one half thereof being the Skirt Hills and Out-rings might conveniently be drayned but the other half consisting of deeps for the most part could not be recovered and moreover that the Commons and Severals pertaining to the Towns confining on the said Fen did then amount to the number of three thousand and four hundred Acres or thereabouts all which were at that time surrounded Whether any thing was done at that time towards the drayning of those Fens I am not able to say but in 6 Caroli 15 Maii there was a Decree made in a Session of Sewers held at Boston by Robert Earl of Lindsey Lord great Chamberlain of England Edward Earl of Dorset Lord Chamberlain to the Queen Iohn Shorey Mayor of Boston Sir Robert Killegrew Vice-Chamberlain to the Queen Sir Robert Bell Sir Iohn Browne Knights Robert Callice Serjeant at Law and others which Decree makes this following recital viz. that there was a Law of Sewers made at Boston 7 9 Apr. then last past by the said Sir Robert Bell and others whereby it appeared that the grounds hereafter named were overflowed with fresh waters viz. Dockdike hurne from Armitage Causey and Howbriggs East to the River of Witham VVest and from the said River of Wytham South to Hawthorne North from the East end of Hundell house grounds and so along by Raydyke to the North side of Moorhouse grounds from thence by Marcham Revesby East Kirkby and Hagnaby to Hagnaby gate from thence along by Bar loade banck and the West end of Stickney Severals to Stickney Graunge From thence on the North side of Westhouse grounds along to Blacksyke from thence on the North side of Medlam to Gamock stake from thence directly to the East end of Hundel house grounds from Stickney graunge Southwards on the VVest side of the severals of Stickney and Nordyke gate East to Nordyke stream South and the West fenne VVest wherein is included Westhouse grounds the low grounds belonging to Stickney grange and Thornedales from Norlands lane along between Sibsey severals aâ—d the new Drayn to Hale Causey from thence along to the Shottells And that all these grounds as also the grounds mentioned in a Verdict heretofore given up at a SessioÌ„ of Sewers held at Boston aforesaid 16 Ian. An. 1629. viz. the East fenne extending in length from the severals of Wainflet on the East to the severals of Stickney on the VVest and in bredth from the severals of Waynflet Friskeney Wrangle Leake and Stickney on the South and the severals of Stichford Keales Toynton Halton Stâ—ping and Thorpe on the North were for the most part surrounded grounds And likewise that certain severals and Commons of divers Lords and Owners belonging to Waynflet and Friskeney lying between a bank called Fen-dyke bank on the East and East fen on the VVest and abutting
on the old Drayn called Symon gote towards the South and upon Thorpe-Dales towards the North and certain severals of divers Lords and Owners belonging to Wrangle lying between the said old Drayn called Symon gote on the East and Leake severals on the VVest and abutting upon Lade bank towards the North and upon the old Fendike bank towards the South were surrounded grounds most part of the year And moreover that the several grounds and Commons of divers Lords and Owners belonging to Leake lying betwixt the East fen on the North and the out-weare Bank on the South and abutting upon Wrangle severals towards the East and upon Sibsey wearbank and Stikney Wydalls towards the VVest and the severals of divers Lords and Owners of grounds belonging to Stickney Wydalls lying betwixt the East fen of the East and North and abutting upon Ualentine dyke towards the VVest and upon a Drayn leading to Nordyke brigge towards the South were surrounded grounds in the winter time And lastly that the severals of certain Lords and Owners of grounds belonging to Toyntons next Spillesby called the Demesns lying between the East fen on the South and a certain Meadow called the East fen on the North and abutting upon a Drayn called Toynton beck towards the East and upon Hare hills towards the VVest were surrounded grounds also for the winter season And that it was therefore decreed that for towards the natural outfall of Wainflet Haven Black gote Symons gote Mandfoster gote New gote and Amton gote and all or part of the same as also any other antient Drayns as the Undertakers should think or find most necessary to be used should be enlarged and made deeper as need should require with all other necessary works for drayning of the said grounds within the extent of the several recited Commissions of Sewers bearing date as above is expressed And that every Acre of Land and Common mentioned in the said Verdict and exprest upon the said view within the extent of the said Commissions to be overflown with fresh waters which might receive benefit by the said Drayning should be taxed and charged with the sum of xs. the Acre to be paid at or before the xiiij day of May then next coming unto William Locton and Gervase Scroope Esquires or to any one of them The said Tax being set upon the said lands and Commons to the end that if it should not be paid the Commissioners of Sewers might be legally authorised to make bargain for land with Sir Anthony Thomas Knight and the rest of the Undertakers And the said Tax to remain in the hands under the Locks and Keys of two of the said parties named and two of the same Undertakers the sum being first certainly known to the said Undertakers by authority of the Court to be ratably paid over to the said Sir Anthony Thomas and the rest of the Undertakers to be nominated by him their Heirs and Assigns after the said Drayning should be done wholly or in part proportionable And in default of such payment of the sums of xs. so assessed upon every Acre as abovesaid the said Court at a general Session of Sewers of six Commissioners whereof three to be of the Quorum should set forth decree and establish such proportion and portions of the said ground for which the sums aforesaid were not paid unto the Undertakers their Heirs and Assigns in recompence of the said Drayning And it was also farther ordered by authority of that Court that process should be awarded per Curiam to the Shireeve of the County of Lincolne or his Deputy requiring them to give Summons and knowledge by way of Proclamation in all the Market Towns and fitting places for those parts and within the extent of the said Commissions that all Lords Owners Commoners and parties interessed in any of the grounds aforesaid might take and have notice thereof and that they should not fail to make return of the said Process at the several Sessions of Sewers to be holden for those parts at Boston aforesaid the xvth of May then next upon xll. penalty VVhich said Decree the said Robert Earl of Lindsey and other the Commissioners of Sewers before-specified did ratifie and confirm And forasmuch as it appeared to them that no part of the Tax so assessed as aforesaid was paid in unto the said Gervase Scroope and William Locton they proceeded in the execution of the said former Decree according to the true intent and meaning thereof and according to his Majesties directions formerly signified by his royal Letters And therefore being credibly informed that for the effecting of the said works of Drayning of those surrounded grounds one great and navigable stream and River ought to be cast from out of the said East fenn and grounds and so leading from thence by the space of three miles or thereabouts unto the Haven of Boston aforesaid and that one or more very large Gotes of stone and timber and other materials requisite for the effecting of so great a work ought of necessity to be built at the Haven side and that many other petty sewers gutters and streams should also be cast to have their courses to the said main River and many Bridges built over the said streams and other matters done c. at the only costs c. of Sir Anthony Thomas Knight Iohn Worsop Esquire Henry Briggs Master of Arts and Hildebrand Pruson whom the said Court did order to perform all those things within the space of four years from the Feast of St. Michael the Arch Angel then next coming which said Sir Anthony Iohn c. were thereupon appointed Undertakers of the said works accordingly it being also decreed that in consideration of such their performance they their heirs and assigns should have the one half of the said East fenn as also a third part in three parts to be divided of all the said severals which ly in or adjoyning to and upon the said East fenn and moreover that he the said Sir Anthony and the rest of his fellow undertakers for the considerations aforesaid should have a full fourth part in four parts to be divided of all the said surrounded grounds lying in the West fenne and in the said severals thereto adjoyning butted and bounded as aforesaid to have and enjoy in several after the said Drayning should be sufficiently compleated All which parts to be set forth by six or more of the Commissioners of Sewers presently after the said Drayning should be finished as aforesaid in the most fit and convenient places of the said grounds whereby the Owners and Commoners of the other parts might hold and enjoy their several and respective interests with the least prejudice and to and for their best advantage And the said Commissioners did also decree that from and after the perfecting of this work of Drayning the said Lands so assigned to the before-specified Sir Anthony Thomas and the rest of the Undertakers and their heirs should be