was made the first Bishop here At that time for ought I can find there was not any other access into this Isle than by Ships or Boats this Bishop therefore being desiroâ—s to have a Causey through the Fenn as it should seem but doubting whether the Monks would think the work fesible at all or if so with any indifferent chardge so contrived the business that it was set upon without any fear of either and became accomplished accordingly The story may perhaps to some seem fabulous but take it from the Authority of the Leiger book of that Monastery There appeared in a vision unto a certain Countrey-man who dwelt at Exning in Suffolk S. Edmund the King and Martyr in honour of whole memory that famous Abby of S. Edmundsbury had been long before founded and awakening the man said thus to him Good man listen well unto what I shall say unto thee and what I appoint thee to do fail not with effect to accomplish Arise and go presently to the Bishop of Ely and tell him in my name that he must make a way whereby I may visit S. Audrey Who accordingly made haste to the Bishop and acquainted him with this his Vision and command the good Bishop therefore weeping for joy delayed not to make enquiry how this business might be done and finding that no man durst for what chardge soever undertake to accomplish it there stept out a certain Monk of that Abby called Iohn a soft man to all outward appearance who told the Bishop that he would by God's help perform the work Whereupon setting in hand therewith he began to measure the distance from Soham to Ely and to cut down the Reedes which stood in his way as also to make Bridges over the Rivers and so went on in raising of the said Causey which he perfected in a very short time to the wonder of all men that then saw it that Causey being still called Soham Causey Which place viz. Soham is also famous for two other things first for the great Meer that heretofore made the passage by Ships and Boats very dangerous to those who came into the Isle that way before the said Causey was made and next for that the body of Faelix Bishop of the East-Angles was translated from Domuc hither Which Bishop dyed almost a thousand years since To Hervaeus succeeded Nigel in that Bishoprick of whom I may not omit to observe that he discerning this Isle to be a place of such great security through the advantage of the Fen wherewith it is encompassed that joyning with Baldwine de Rivers in the Rebellion against King Stephan he made a strong Fort of lime and stone within the precinct thereof but that Fort being by the power of S. Audrey as mine Author saith often destroyed he built one of timber neer to his Engines of war and walled in the round hill called the Keep which was committed to his custody by Geffrey de Magnavill Earl of Essex and Richard de Clare Earl of Hertford whereof knowledge being given to certain great men of that Country they made a confederacy with him But the King having intelligence thereof sent his Army to assault it yet prevailed little therein till he himself came with his Ships and then having prepared a multitude of Hurdles made with them a passage for his Horse which when they within discerned they threw down their Armes and ran away but the Bishop escaped and got to Maud the Empress And as for the reasons before expressed this Isle hath been in those former times of trouble esteemed a place of such great security so was it afterwards upon the like occasion for after the death of Eustace Bishop of Ely which hapned about the latter end of King Iohn's time the Monks having elected one Robert a Yorkeshire man who not only took the profits of the Bishoprick for five years without any consecration but adhered unto Lewes Son to the King of France at that time in this Realm and the King's Enemy as our Historians do at large set forth King Henry the third fearing left he should receive the said Lewes into this Isle made a very great complaint thereof to the Pope whereby representing that danger he calls it optima munitio Regni the best Fort in all his Kingdome and therefore humbly besought the Pope that he would provide a better Pastor for this Church which he accordingly did Nor had it less account as it seems in 49o. of that King's reign for after the battail of Evesham wherein the Army of the rebellious Barons was vanquisht divers of those that fled betook themselves to this place amongst which Iohn de Eyvile and Robert de Wileby were the chief commanders Against whom I find that the King about two yeares after preparing an Army appointed his faithful subject Will. Charls to bring Barges and Souldiers from the Sea coasts of Norff. and Suffolk for the assaulting thereof this being the time that the King himself with some forces came privately to Ramsey neer which place he slew and took Prisoners divers of those his Rebels who had issued out of the said Isle and plundered the parts thereabouts But notwithstanding this they were not yet subdued for the next year after it appears that Henry de Hastings was the principal Officer and Governour of this Isle on the behalf of those Rebels And now having by these sundry remarkable instances shewed how vast and deep a Fenn this great Level antiently was my next endeavour shall be to declare what I have observed to have been done in order to the drayning and improvement thereof or any part of the same beginning where I left viz. on the Northside of it CAP. XLII ON the Southern part of this Province lyeth Deping fenn which is now at least ten miles in bredth Whereof the most antient mention that I have met is about the beginning of King Edward the Confessor's reign Egelric who had been a Monk of Peterborough but at that time Bishop of Durham then making a firm Causey of Wood gravel over it from Deping to Spalding for the advantage of passengers opus sumptuosum valdè primâ—que necessarium quod usque nunc semper in futurum quamdiu duraverit de factore Egelrico cognomen habet id est Elriche rode sayth Ingulphus A most costly work but of extraordinary necessity which now doth and as long as it shall last will bear his name At that time part of this Province was a Forest as well as a Fen and possest by Leofrike Earl of Mercia for he was then Lord of Brune and the Marshes adjoyning From which Leofrike it came to Hereward his younger Son of whom I have made ample mention in my discourse touching the Isle of Ely and by his Daughter and heir Turfrida unto Hugh de Evermiâ—e â— then Lord of Deping So also by the sole daughter and
the King discerning that all his endeavours were fruitless as to the conquering this Isle by war or power having lost so many men in his attempt to that purpose he at length by the Councel of William then Bishop of Hereford and others determined that all the goods and possessions belonging to that Abby which lay without the compass of the Isle should be seised on and divided amongst his Souldiers to the end that they might keep guards on the outsides thereof Of which the Monks having knowledge they forthwith consulted together their Abbot being returned who dissembling to go with those Earles fled with the ornaments and treasure of the Church to Angerhale and resolved not only to yield peaceably to the King in case he would restore unto them freely and honourably all the lands belonging to their Church but to give him a thousand marks and accordingly sent cunningly without the knowledge of the noble Hereward to make that tender to him the King being then at Warwick who acceptably entertaining it they gave admission to him and his Souldiers to come privately into the Isle when Hereward was gone out with his men to forage to the end that the busineâ—s might be done without resistance which being discovered to Hereward by one of the said Monks whose name was Alwyne the Son of Orgar he grew so enraged that he resolved to set fire on the Church and the Town but at the earnest intreaty and prayer of that Monk wishing him rather to have regard to his own safety as also telling him that the King with all his Army was then at Wyccheford within the distance of one furlong and desiring him that he would secure himself by flight in case he had no mind to make his peace he yielded to those his perswasions because he had often accompanied him in his military adventures and been faithfull to him and thereupon presently betook himself to those his Ships which he had to guard the Isle into a certain large and spacious Meer called Wide not far from Welle this being the seventh year of their so holding of the same Isle against the King and sailed thither in regard there were free passages out of it And there resolving to stay a while employed some of his Souldiers towards Saham to plunder and pillage the Country to whom he sent out Scouts to bring them back to him lest they should be taken Which Scouts finding them in a little Island called Stuntney thought them to be their Enemies and therefore two of them viz. Scarfulte and Broher got amongst the Reedes and with their Swords each shaved the others Crown expecting thereby to find the more favour being taken but at length discovering that they were all of a side they went away together and soon got to their Master who had not been long in the said Meer but that the Country people and the King's Souldiers so beset him that being forced to flee he kill'd his own Horse lest any mean fellow should boast that he had taken him and so getting away into Bruneswald and the great woods of Northamptonshire he very much wasted the Countrey thereabouts with sire and Sword And having thus left this Isle where the vastness and depth of the waters had yielded him such great and so long security for which respect I have made this digression I shall conclude with this Characterâ— which Ingulphus the then Venerable Abbot of Crouland gives of him Porro cum supramemorati Comites Edwinus Morkerus Rogerus Comes Herefordensis Radulfus Comes Southfolciae Waldevus Comes Northumbriae inclytâ— Regi Willielmo repugnarent Helienses paludes cum aliis multis magnatibus similiter exhaeredatis occupantes celiri nuncio Herwardus ad eos accersitus Dux belli Magister militum efficitur ubi tot bellica facinora fecit toties adversarios vicit tot vicibus illusit quod perpetuam laudem meruit quippe qui ruinas suae patriae pereuntis quamdiu potuit sustentavit inultos abire ad inferos non permisit Caeteri optimates se Regi dedentes ejus gratiam tentaverunt solus hic omnibus hoc recusans se subdere distulit ac aliâs divertitâ— id est Therefore when the before mentioned Earls Edwine and Morkere Roger Earl of Hereford Raphe Earl of Suffolk and Waltheof Earl of Northumberland not submitting to the King had together with divers other great men in like sort disherited possessed themselves of the Fenns at Ely they forthwith sent for Hereward and made him General of all their forces where he did so many warlike exploits so often beat his adversaries and so many times deluded them that he obtained lasting renown for the same forasmuch as he did so long as he could sustain the tottering ruines of his Country and was not cruel to his Enemies And when the rest of the Nobles rendred themselves in hope of the King's favour he only refusing would not submit but got away Yet afterwards he made his peace And having issue one only daughter called Turfride married to Hugh de Evermuè Lord of Deping in Lincolnshire with the Forest adjoyning entertaining the said Hugh upon a time at his House in Huntendon it hapned that through a quarrel which arose then betwixt them he was there wretchedly slain by his said Son in law And buried at Crouland CAP. XLI KIng William therefore being now possessed of this Isle which he found so troublesome and chardgable in the gaining thought it no small piece of policy to secure the same from the like danger for the future and therefore having afterwards some difference with Scotland compelled the Abbot to maintain no less than xl Souldiers for the defence thereof which being such persons or their substitutes as held of him by military service had their constant dyet in his Hall as also daily pay at the hands of the Celerer But afterwards it was not long erè that this Conventual Church of Ely became a Cathedral for in the time of King Henry the first Richard the theâ— Abbot not being well pleased to live under the Bishop of Lincolne to whose Dioces Cambridgshire within which this Isle is situate then belonged suggesting to the King that this would be a fit place for an Episcopal see and procuring the Popes consent thereunto obtained his desire therein hoping to have been the first Bishop of this new Dioces but though he was prevented thereof by death yet did not the King neglect to do what he was so sollicited unto and therefore bestowing upon the Bishop of Lincolne the Mannours of Spaldwick Bricklesworth and Bokeden in recompence of the losse which the said Bishop sustained by exempting of the said County of Cambridge from his jurisdiction compleated his purpose therein And to the intent that the revenues of this Bishoprick might afford him an honourable support they reduced the number of Monks which were Lxx. to xl whereupon Hervaeus Bishop of Bangor in Wales
heir of the said Hugh unto Richard de Rulos Chamberlain to King William the Conquerour And by his daughter and heir to Baldwin fitz Gilbert Which Baldwin leaving also issue one only daughter and heir wâ—dded to Hugh Wake the said Hugh became in her right Lord and owner of those places scil Bourne and Deping and was also principal Forester to the King H. 3. for his whole Forest of Kesteven Of what extent the Forest whereof I have already made mention to have been in these parts of this Province and possest by Leofrike Earl of Mercia was I am not able to say but it appears that King Henry the first for the pleasure of Hunting doing much hurt to the Common Wealth by enlarging of Forests as his Brother King William Rufus had done did afforest thâ—se Fenns between Keâ—teven and Holand viz. from the Bridge of East Deping now Market Deping to the Church of Swaiston on the one side from the bridge of Bicker and Wragmere stake on the otherside which metâ—s dividâ—d the North pâ—rts and the river of Weland the South excepting the Fen of Goggisland in regard it was a Sanctuary of holy Church as belonging to the Abby of Crouâ—and which Fen the Monkâ— of that House having licence from the said King did cloze for their own use making the Ditches about it bigger than ordinary for the avoyding of discord And being thus made Forest it continued so untill King Henry the third's time who in the xiiiith year of his reign granted unto all the Inhabitants within the same that it should thenceforth be deaâ—forested by thâ—se subsequent bounds viz. in length on the one side from Swaftone to East Deping as Kares â—ike extends it self betwixt Swantone and East Deping And in length on the other side towards Holand from the bridge at Bikere to the great bridge at Spalding And in bredth on the one part from that great bridge at Spalding to East Deping as the river of Weland goeth betwixt Spalding and East Deping And on the other side from the land of Swaftune unto the bridge at Bikere So that all the Lands Marshes and Turbaries within those precinctsâ— were thenceforth to be quit of waste and regard In the 18 of King Edw. the first 's reign Henry then Abbot of Croyland and his Monks were impleaded by Thomas Wake of Lidell then Lord of Deping by descent as aforesaid for fishing at Est Deping in the free fishing of the said Thomas and for throwing down a certain bank in his Fen there which the said Thomas had made for the safeguard of the said Fen from being overflowen by the fresh waters But to this the said Abbot and his Monks made answer that being possest of the Mannour and Town of Crouland within which there is a certain River called Weland running time out of mind from the boundary called Kemisf stone in the West unto the site of the Abby within the said Town and so from the said Abby to Brother house towards the North he the said Abboâ— and all his predecessors Abbots of that place were always and till that time seized thereof and of the free fishing therein as Lords of that Mannour and Town And farther said that the place where this trespass was assigned to be was within those limits and precinct of that their Mannour acknowledging that he diâ— fish there as the said Thomas had alleged And as to the said Ditch he saidâ— that within the precinct also of the Mannour of Crouland there was a certain Fen callâ—d Goukeslaund which then was his proper soil and so had been of his predecessors time beyond memory as paâ—cel of the beforespecified Mannour And moreover that the course of the fresh waters flowing from the West in the said Fenn did then run as always they had used to do from the same Fen into the said River of Weland and so to the Sea And he likewise alleged that because the said Thomas had raised a bank upon the land of him the said Abbot within his Mannoâ— of Croyland in a certain place where none had ever been before by which bank the course of those fresh waters being stopt the said Fen called Goukesland and other Fens adjoyning thereto were overflown and the Abby and Town of Crouland in danger to be thereby drowned he the said Abbot perceiving that the abovespecified bank was so raised to the end that the said Aâ—by and Town might be drowned did cause several parts thereof to be thrown down But notwithstanding this answer the Abbot was by the Jurors found guilty both of the trespass in fishing as abovesaid and breaking that bank to the damage of the said Thomas Wake no less than CCCC marks In 9 E. 2. Edmund Deincourt Lambert de Trikyngham Roger de Cuppledyk and Robert de Malberthorp were constituted Commissioners to view and repair the Banks Sewers and Ditches within this Province by which the fresh waters in the Marshes betwixt this part of the Country and Holand had used to pass unto the Sea And in the same year the said Edmund d' Eyncourt Nich. de Widmerpole and Richard de Whattone were appointed to enquire touching the Rivers of Smyte Dyvâ—ne Wycheme Middelwynene and Fulbâ—k choakt up for want of scouring by reason whereof the Inhabitants in those parts did then suffer much damage In 16 E. 3. Gilbert de Umframvill Earl of Anegos exhibited a Petition to the King whereby he represented that whereas there was a certain water called the Ee of Kyme betwixt Doc dyke on the East part and Brentfen on the South within this province which did run through the lands of the said Earl for the space of six miles in length but was so obstructed and stopt by reason of mud and other filth that Ships laden with Wine Wool and other Merchandize could neither pass through the same in Summer nor Winter as they had used to do except it were scoured and clensed and the banks so raised that the tops of them might appear to Mariners passing that way whensoever the Marshes there should be overflowed And that as the said Earl had for the common benefit of those parts bestowed no small costs towards the repair of the said place called the Ee and heightning of those banks so he intended to be at much more in case the said King would please to grant unto him and his heirs for ever certain Customs of the Merchandize passing in Ships through the same to have and receive in form abovesaid viz. for every Sack of Wool carried through that Chanel four pence for every Pocket of VVool two pence For every Tun of VVine four pence for every Pipe of VVine two pence For every four quarters of Corn a peny for every thousand of Turfes a peny For every Ship laden with Catel four pence and for every ship laden with other commodities than aforesaid two pence VVhereupon the said King directed his
was amended at the time of the presentment made and long before as the said Abbot and his Tenants of UUythies had also pleaded And as to the Trees growing athwart the River at Monketon they said that they did grow above those Mills â—here boats never came nor ought of right to come as the said Abbot had also pleaded And touching the pleck of Osiars they said that the same nusance was amended and totally removed as the Tenants of the said Abbot had also pleaded And as to the ground in Monketon appropriated by the said Abbot his Servants and Tenants by planting of VVillows and other Trees thereon they likewise said that the said nusance was also amended and totally taken away as the said Abbot had alleged Upon all which considerations it was determined that the said Abbot and his Tenants and Servants excepting the before-specified amerciaments should be dischardged In 11 R. 2. there was another general Commission directed to the Abbot of Glastonbury Nicholas de Audley Guy de Brienne and others for the view and repair of all the banks Ditches c. in this County In 2 H. 4. Sir Peter Courtney Sir Humfrey Stafford Sir William Bonville Sir Thomas Brooke Knights Iohn Strech and Iohn Manyngford were appointed to view and repair the banks c. at Bristoll Mertok Taunton Yevelchestre Welyngton Dunsterre Bruton and Severne and in all places betwixt Bristoll and Dunsterre and betvvixt Bruton and Severne to do all things therein according to the Law and Custome of this Realm In 6 H. 4. the Master of S. Marks House in Bristoll was dischardged from the repair of the Bridges scouring of the Ditches and making of Sluses in the Towns and places of Powlet Combwich Pyriton Huntspill and betvvixt Blakbrig and Purytonbrugg as also from the clensing the Chanell called Hyburne and likewise that which goeth from the Town of Cork running to Hyburne betwixt the Mannour of Stokeland which belonged to the said Master and the Mannour of Wyke which was the Lord Poynings And likewise for the Sluce of Thele for shutting out the Sea-water and moreover for the stone bridge in the VVarth of Wyke In 5 H. 5. Sir Will. Botreaux Knight Thomas Chaucer and Richard Chedder Esquires Iohn Stourton William Sparow and Iohn Gregori of Bruton were assigned to view and repair the banks betvvixt the Cities of Bathe and Bristol and from Yilcestre Lamport Briggewater and Taunton and to proceed therein according to the Custome of the Marsh and the Law and Custome of this Realm The like assignation in 2 H. 6. had N. Bishop of Bathe and Welles Sir Will. Botreaux Sir Thomas Stowell Knights William Westbury Iohn Warre Iohn Stourton and Iohn Beaf for the banks in Brentmershe Wryngemershe and Pouldon and to do all things therein according to the Law and Custome of this Realm As also to take so many Labourers upon competent wages to be imployed therein as should be requisite in regard of the great necessity of expediting the vvork So also the next year following vvere Sir Thomas Broke Knight Richard Cheddre Esquire Iohn Marchant and William Newetone for those betwixt Yevelchestre Burneham and Welles and to act therein and imprest Labourers as aforesaid And in 33 H. 6. Sir Thomas Seymour Knight Robert Warre Esquire Alexander Hody Roger Fitz Iames Iohn Sidenham junior Iohn Porter and William Bodesham had the like appointment for the banks c. betvvixt the Town of Langeport-Estoner on the East side and the Town of Thurlokeston on the West as also betvvixt the Tovvn of Cory-Malet on the South part and the Tovvn of Briggewater on the North and to make Lavvs and Ordinances therein and to proceed in all things touching the same according to the Lavv and Custome of Romeney Marsh. And in 3 E. 4. Richard Chokke Sir Theobald Gorges and Sir Walter Rodeney Knights Iohn Fitz Iames senior and Robert Stowell Esquire had the like for the Banks c. from Ryngwelle to Haylake Yoo thence to Shestrygge Yoo thence to Colestoke and thence to Blakstake in the See and to proceed therein as abovesaid Thus much for the Commissions I next come to the Watercourses of Brent marsh and who did antiently repair them The Lord of Bageworthe ought to repair the Chanel from Blakelake unto the Sea And the Lord of Bitesham that from Winesbrugge to the Sea Philip the Son of Corbin that from Winesbrugge to Blakelake Hugh the Son of Auger and the same Philip from Hengestes mere to the Sea The second course from Hengestesmere to the Sea the same Hugh the son of Auger and the third course from Hengestesmere to the Sea Raph de Seinbarbe From the mouth of Mere to the Sea the Church of Glastonbury and from another part from Blakeswelleshevede to the Sea the Church of Glastonbury From Schipperide to Wakefen the Dean of Welles and so from Wakefen to the Land of Robert de Ewyas Lord of Hewisch and from Brodecrofte to the Mill of Geffrey Lord of Burham From Thipride to Baggepole the Dean of Welles and Lord of Blakeforde Also from Baggepole to Watebrok the said Lord of Blakeforde From Wathebrok the Dean of Welles upon his own Land and Robert de Countvile also for as far as his Land extended After him the Lord of Alnodestone beyond Aldodestone were beyond Wereham Bagerde superior and inferior to the Sea So also from Bethepulle unto the Land of Chalftone and from Ewendone and Chalftone unto Cosingtone and from Cosingtone to Honispel and thence to the Sea Sedgmore There is also in this County a large Fenny plain which being covered with water for the most part of the VVinter and in Summer affordeth nothing but Rushes Reeds and Sedge hath thence the name of Sedgmoore Over this level there is a fair Causey of stones and gravel from Somerton to Bridgwater about eight miles in length antiently made by one of the Abbots of Glastonbury as tradition saith which still bearing his name is called Graylock's fosse I do not find from the authority of any Records or other credible testimony that there was ever any endeavour used for the improvement of this Moor by drayning till of late dayes that King Iames of blessed memory making title to the soyl resolved to do it But as in most other places there be a perverse generation of people who of themselves are not content to sit still but will hinder others that would promote such laudable works for the publick good so was it here for divers there were that made opposition thereto But after a Bill exhibited in the Exchequer those opponents and the rest of the owners of the adjacent Lordships commoning with their Cattel upon this Moor discerning that they could make no justifiable claim to the soyl offer'd to assign unto the King four thousand Acres in lieu of his right thereto and to lay out the residue being nine thousand five hundred twenty and two Acres unto those their
here at Ely with high solemnity as the custome then was the Abbots of Ely in their turn performing the service in the King's Court as they had used to do there being no other access to it considering the bredth and depth of the Fenn but by shipping he set sayl thitherward and when he came neer to the land raising up himself commanded the Mariners to make what hast they could to a little Port but to go stedily and fixing his eyes towards the Church which stood on high on the top of the Rock he heard a pleasant voice on every side where listning farther the nearer he approached to landâ— the more sensible he was of the melody and at length perceiving that it was the Monks then singing in the Quiâ—e and with shrill voices performing their divine Offices he commanded all the rest that were in the next ships to come nearer to him and exhorting them to sing with him became so transported that expressing the joy of his heart he presently composed and sung this Hymn Merie singende Monekes ben in Ely tha chut singende therby Royal chites noer the land And here yve thes Moneks sang Which in Latine is thus Dulcè câ—ntaverunt Monachi in Ely Dumi Canutus Rex navigat propè ibiâ— And now my Knights quoth he sayl ye nearer and let us jointly hear the harmony of these Monks All which were long afterwards publickly sung in the Quire in memory of that devout King and kept in mind as Proverbs the King thereupon ceasing not thus to sing with his venerable College till he came to land where being received with solemn Procession as the Custome had been to the Prìnce or any eminent person and brought into the Church he ratified all the donations conferred thereto by his Royal Predecessors Kings of England and established them with their immunities and privileges in the face of the Church where the body of the holy Virgin S. Audrey lay entombed upon the high Altar before all the persons there present Not long afterwards it so hapned that at the solempnity of this Feast the Fen was so much frozen that the said King could not repair thither as he desired neverthelesse it did not alter his purpose though he was sorrowful and much troubled Howbeit putting his trust in God being then upon Soham mere he contrived to be drawn upon a slead over the Ice and for his better security considering the danger of the passage that one should go before him to try the way But it so fell out that as he stood thus consulting a lusty and big man and an inhabitant of the Isle who for his corpulency was called Brithmer Budde came before him and offred to lead the way whereupon the King followed on the Slead all that beheld him admiring his boldnesse and coming safe thither celebrated that solempnity according as he had wont with great joy and in gratitude to the said Brithmer made him with all his posterity â—ree mâ—n for ever In further testimony likewise of the security of this place by reason of the vast and deep waters wherein it was situate I find that in the time of King Edward the Confessor the English having advertisement of great preparations then making by the Daâ—es for another invasion of this Realm bestirred themselves in fortifying their Cities and Castles hiding their treasure and mustering of souldiers for their defence And that Alfric the Abbot of S. Albans much fearing the danger did not only take care to convey the Shrine of that glorious prothomartyr S. Alban into a secret corner where he immured it but the better to disguise the businesse wrote Letters to the Abbot of this place humbly requesting him that he would take chardge thereof till all things should be in a quiet condition again â—or saith my Author erat eorum Insula intransmeabilibus circundata paludibus arundinetis unde hostium incursus nequaquam timuerunt id est This Isle of Ely is environed with Fenns and Reed-plecks unpassible so that they feared not the invasion of the Enemy Whereunto the said Abbot assenting Alfric like a politick and wary man fearing that these of Ely having gotten such a treasure into their hands might deny to restore it when it should be again required sent instead of S. Albans Shrine the reliques of an old Monk put up in a rich Chest as if they had been S. Albans bones and kept the before-specified Shrine walled up in their own Abby as hath been said But the most signal testimony of the strength of this place by reason of the said waters encompassing it is that recourse which divers of the principal nobility of the English Nation had unto it as their greatest refuge against the strength and power of the Norman Conqueror as also the defence that they then and there made against a powerful Army brought by that King for the subduing of it the substance of which story because it is but briefly pointed at by our publick Writers I suppose it will not seem tedious if I here succinctly deliver After that William Duke of Normandy invading this Realm with a puissant Army in the year MLxvi had subdued the forces of K. Harold in open batail wherein that King lost his life Stigand Archbishop of Canterbury whom the Conqueror affected not fled into this Isle for safety So likewise did Egfrid then Abbot of S. Albans with the Reliques of that Saint and treasure of his Church As also Edwine and Morkere two great and potent Earls of this Nation with Egelwine Bishop of Durham besides many thousands of the Clergy and Laity And understanding that Hereward Lord of Brunne in Lincolnshire a younger son to the famous Leofrike Earl of Mercia being a person much renowned for his valour and military skill for at the age of xviij years being banished the land by King Edw. the Confessor for his extraordinary dissolutenesse towards his parents and others he went into Flanders and other forein parts where he gained most high repute of his prowesse and noble exploits was returned from beyond Sea they forthwith sent for him desiring that he would repair thither with all his power and joyn with them in the defence of their native Country and redeeming their just liberties And in particular they importuned him in behalf of Thurstane then Abbot of that place and his Monks whose the said Island wholly was and on whose behalf the same was then fortified against the King that he would make no delay because the said King brought in a forein Monk out of France to obtrude upon them as Abbot there and that he purposed to do the like in all other Churches throughout England To which request of theirs he willingly condescended and forthwith began his journey towards them accordingly whereof the Earl Warren having notice whose brother long before the said Hereward had killed he laid ambushes for him on the out-side of the Fens belonging to
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