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the_o say_a work_n may_v be_v proceed_v in_o and_o for_o that_o purpose_n find_v that_o he_o can_v not_o present_o relieve_v the_o great_a distress_n the_o country_n be_v now_o in_o by_o reason_n of_o the_o inundation_n have_v remit_v unto_o the_o say_a commissioner_n the_o forenamed_a decree_n to_o enable_v they_o to_o provide_v some_o other_o more_o expedite_a way_n for_o the_o country_n relief_n by_o all_o which_o it_o appear_v that_o by_o the_o judgement_n of_o king_n james_n of_o the_o lord_n of_o the_o counsel_n and_o the_o commissioner_n of_o sewer_n the_o work_n be_v feasible_a and_o great_o desire_v for_o the_o soil_n i_o doubt_v not_o it_o be_v well_o dispose_v to_o a_o drayn_n both_o because_o it_o have_v a_o sufficient_a fall_n to_o the_o sea_n and_o because_o the_o sewer_n though_o with_o some_o difficulty_n and_o great_a charge_n which_o yet_o the_o profit_n will_v far_o surmount_v may_v be_v in_o a_o short_a time_n sufficient_o ease_v that_o the_o fen_n have_v a_o 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man_n make_v question_n of_o it_o only_o the_o difficulty_n will_v be_v think_v to_o be_v in_o the_o place_n of_o the_o work_n which_o will_v indeed_o be_v chargeable_a but_o of_o necessary_a and_o excellent_a use_n i_o will_v have_v it_o also_o consider_v that_o within_o these_o few_o year_n the_o tide_n from_o spalding_n do_v flow_v up_o beyond_o crowland_n and_o near_o thorny_a where_o as_o now_o the_o tide_n be_v seldom_o see_v above_o spalding_n a_o evident_a argument_n that_o the_o fen_n grow_v every_o year_n worse_o than_o other_o for_o the_o out_o fall_v of_o wisbich_n and_o spalding_n be_v daily_o more_o and_o more_o choke_v with_o sand_n from_o the_o sea_n and_o mud_n out_o of_o the_o drayne_n which_o can_v now_o pass_v to_o sea_n and_o the_o river_n
if_o occasion_n shall_v require_v be_v all_o public_a profit_n and_o of_o excellent_a consequence_n to_o the_o king_n and_o kingdom_n such_o also_o will_v be_v the_o restore_n of_o the_o navigation_n unto_o the_o town_n of_o wisbich_n spalding_n and_o waynflet_n and_o from_o thence_o up_o into_o the_o country_n these_o be_v public_a benefit_n and_o for_o private_a the_o drayn_n will_v increase_v the_o revenue_n of_o many_o corparation_n both_o ecclesiastical_a and_o civil_a and_o of_o many_o his_o majesty_n particular_a subject_n as_o well_o layman_n as_o rector_n and_o vicar_n of_o many_o great_a parish_n which_o now_o afford_v the_o incumbent_n very_o small_a mean_n there_o be_v one_o other_o great_a commodity_n which_o a_o drayn_n will_v produce_v worthy_a to_o be_v insist_v upon_o and_o that_o be_v the_o secure_n of_o sheep_n and_o other_o cattle_n from_o the_o rot_n for_o it_o be_v a_o true_a thing_n that_o when_o the_o fen_n yield_v most_o pasturage_n than_o they_o do_v the_o most_o mischief_n to_o man_n in_o their_o sheep_n and_o cattle_n thence_o be_v the_o common_a say_n of_o the_o country_n from_o the_o farm_n to_o the_o fen_n from_o the_o fen_n to_o ireland_n the_o reason_n be_v because_o the_o fen_n be_v never_o so_o dry_a but_o there_o be_v many_o watery_a plash_n and_o much_o rot_a spire-grasse_n in_o it_o wherewith_o the_o sheep_n be_v usual_o taint_v in_o the_o summertime_n and_o whereof_o they_o die_v in_o the_o winter_n if_o man_n be_v not_o careful_a to_o sell_v they_o to_o the_o butcher_n before_o if_o they_o be_v so_o provident_a then_o be_v the_o country_n and_o city_n too_o feed_v with_o unwholesome_a food_n as_o for_o other_o cattle_n together_o with_o the_o wet_a grass_n they_o slap_v up_o such_o a_o abundance_n of_o small_a stikleback_n that_o when_o they_o die_v of_o the_o rot_n or_o be_v kill_v for_o use_v their_o maw_n will_v be_v find_v full_a of_o they_o contrariwise_o in_o the_o marsh_n beyond_o wainflet_n in_o lincolnshire_n and_o such_o like_a where_o the_o ground_n be_v sever_v and_o trench_v it_o be_v hard_o to_o find_v a_o poor_a man_n though_o they_o sit_v at_o great_a rent_n for_o their_o cattle_n be_v always_o sound_a and_o thrive_a and_o therefore_o ever_o merchandable_a or_o if_o they_o come_v to_o a_o mischance_n yet_o fit_a for_o food_n and_o that_o this_o be_v the_o opinion_n of_o all_o the_o commissioner_n of_o sewer_n appear_v by_o the_o session_n at_o peterborough_n the_o eight_o of_o september_n 1619_o there_o be_v present_a the_o lord_n bishop_n of_o peterborough_n the_o earl_n of_o bedford_n sr_n francis_n fane_n and_o 25_o other_o knight_n and_o gentleman_n commissioner_n of_o sewer_n assist_v by_o a_o multitude_n of_o the_o country_n they_o agree_v and_o conclude_v that_o by_o a_o drayn_n a_o apparent_a great_a profit_n will_v arise_v to_o the_o country_n and_o owner_n of_o land_n &_o that_o it_o will_v be_v without_o prejudice_n public_a or_o private_a and_o thereupon_o do_v decree_v the_o design_n shall_v be_v proceed_v in_o and_o determine_v to_o give_v all_o lawful_a aid_n &_o assistance_n thereto_o according_a to_o the_o extent_n of_o the_o commission_n of_o sewer_n which_o also_o be_v confirm_v the_o 23_o of_o september_n follow_v at_o ely_n and_o the_o 24_o at_o st_n jues._n and_o the_o business_n be_v prosecute_v at_o cambridge_n the_o 15_o of_o oct._n and_o at_o st_n jue_n and_o hunting_n the_o 16_o of_o oct._n where_o there_o be_v 20._o shill_n set_v upon_o every_o acre_n for_o the_o accomplishment_n of_o the_o work_n if_o man_n descend_v unto_o particular_a objection_n then_o must_v several_a answer_n be_v give_v they_o first_o therefore_o it_o be_v object_v that_o they_o find_v less_o burden_n of_o foath_a upon_o the_o ground_n in_o dry_a year_n then_o in_o wet_a i_o answer_v it_o must_v be_v confess_v that_o ground_n which_o bear_v reed_n or_o sedge_n will_v not_o be_v so_o fruitful_a if_o it_o be_v dry_a because_o such_o rank_n trash_n require_v a_o great_a deal_n of_o moisture_n but_o when_o through_o want_n of_o such_o store_n of_o moisture_n it_o improve_v into_o grass_n as_o in_o a_o year_n or_o two_o it_o will_v certain_o do_v than_o a_o little_a moisture_n will_v suffice_v as_o we_o see_v in_o ordinary_a meadow_n it_o will_v be_v urge_v that_o even_o in_o meadow_n overflowing_n will_v do_v good_a it_o be_v true_a if_o so_o be_v the_o water_n remain_v not_o long_o upon_o the_o soil_n but_o to_o be_v surround_v or_o to_o lie_v in_o the_o sud_n as_o we_o say_v three_o quarter_n or_o half_a a_o year_n more_o or_o less_o do_v mischief_n not_o help_v the_o ground_n i_o appeal_v to_o the_o country_n if_o there_o be_v not_o in_o the_o year_n 1619_o many_o thousand_o load_n of_o foath_a get_v where_o scarce_o ever_o any_o be_v have_v in_o the_o memory_n of_o man_n witness_v the_o great_a stack_n which_o be_v then_o see_v all_o along_o the_o wild_a fen_n as_o thick_a to_o man_n seem_v that_o road_n aloof_o as_o shock_n of_o corn_n in_o a_o cornfield_n and_o that_o of_o reasonable_a good_a grass_n for_o if_o the_o water_n be_v drayn_v and_o the_o cold_a moisture_n remove_v from_o the_o root_n of_o reed-ground_n that_o reed_n will_v in_o one_o summer_n return_v into_o sedge_n and_o that_o sedge_n short_o into_o good_a grass_n of_o which_o there_o have_v be_v abundant_a experience_n throughout_o the_o fen_n in_o the_o dry_a year_n 1619_o and_o 1620._o but_o the_o drayn_n some_o say_n will_v decay_v fish_v and_o fowl_v i_o answer_v it_o be_v neither_o possible_a nor_o profitable_a to_o drayne_v porsen_a in_o crowland_n or_o some_o deep_n in_o the_o east-fen_n beyond_o boston_n or_o the_o mere_n of_o whittlesea_n ramsey_n etc._n etc._n which_o be_v the_o chief_a place_n for_o fish_n and_o fowl_n for_o other_o fen_n there_o be_v no_o fish_n or_o fowl_n take_v in_o they_o but_o only_o in_o the_o river_n or_o drayne_n and_o those_o will_v be_v both_o more_o in_o number_n and_o more_o enlarge_v after_o the_o drayn_n and_o the_o fish_n and_o fowl_n better_o contain_v in_o they_o and_o so_o more_o easy_o get_v for_o now_o the_o water_n overflow_a all_o the_o fowl_n be_v so_o disperse_v that_o man_n can_v come_v at_o they_o for_o there_o be_v not_o nor_o must_v there_o be_v any_o shoot_n in_o the_o fen_n and_o the_o fry_n of_o the_o fish_n be_v lose_v or_o devour_v in_o the_o reed_n or_o sedge_n which_o in_o the_o deep_a river_n and_o drayne_n will_v be_v secure_v but_o all_o this_o be_v not_o considerable_a in_o respect_n of_o the_o great_a benefit_n that_o will_v be_v make_v of_o grass_n in_o so_o large_a proportion_n of_o excellent_a land_n it_o will_v again_o be_v object_v that_o although_o the_o drayn_n will_v be_v benefitiall_a to_o the_o lord_n and_o owner_n yet_o the_o poor_a commoner_n shall_v be_v in_o danger_n to_o loose_v his_o common_a by_o the_o encroach_a lord_n or_o at_o lest_o when_o such_o common-fen_n be_v recover_v and_o secure_v the_o rich_a man_n will_v so_o overcharge_v they_o with_o cattle_n that_o the_o poor_a man_n shall_v not_o be_v able_a to_o make_v any_o benefit_n where_o now_o he_o get_v a_o poor_a live_n partly_o by_o the_o pasturage_n of_o a_o few_o cow_n partly_o by_o his_o labour_n in_o fish_v and_o fowl_v which_o labour_v the_o rich_a man_n will_v not_o take_v now_o say_v the_o poor_a fen-man_n we_o have_v every_o year_n a_o order_n bring_v from_o northampton_n which_o lay_v a_o law_n upon_o the_o rich_a that_o they_o oppress_v not_o the_o commons_o he_o mean_v the_o confluence_n of_o water_n which_o drown_v all_o this_o be_v a_o great_a objection_n and_o of_o consequence_n and_o have_v two_o part_n to_o the_o first_o part_n concern_v the_o lord_n encroach_a upon_o the_o commons_o i_o know_v not_o what_o provision_n the_o state_n will_v think_v fit_a to_o make_v but_o there_o be_v already_o a_o good_a care_n take_v for_o it_o in_o that_o very_a act_n of_o parliament_n which_o be_v make_v for_o approvement_n in_o this_o kind_n the_o 43._o eliz._n cap._n 11._o the_o word_n be_v these_o provide_v always_o and_o be_v it_o enact_v that_o this_o act_n nor_o any_o thing_n therein_o contain_v shall_v not_o extend_v to_o the_o impair_n diminish_v let_v take_v away_o or_o extinguish_v of_o the_o interest_n of_o the_o commoner_n or_o any_o of_o they_o or_o of_o the_o lord_n or_o owner_n of_o the_o soil_n in_o or_o to_o any_o part_n of_o the_o residue_n of_o the_o waste_v or_o commons_o which_o be_v not_o or_o shall_v not_o be_v set_v forth_o or_o assign_v to_o the_o undertaker_n nor_o to_o any_o franchise_n or_o liberty_n or_o waife_n stray_v leete_n law-day_n nor_o other_o liberty_n to_o be_v use_v or_o take_v in_o the_o part_n so_o to_o the_o undertaker_n assign_v but_o that_o as_o well_o
the_o commoner_n as_o lord_n and_o owner_n of_o that_o soil_n shall_v and_o may_v enjoy_v their_o commons_o in_o the_o residue_n thereof_o to_o the_o second_o part_n of_o the_o objection_n that_o rich_a man_n will_v over-charge_v the_o common_a when_o it_o be_v secure_v and_o so_o oppress_v the_o poor_a i_o confess_v it_o be_v a_o common_a calamity_n in_o all_o unstinted_a commons_o and_o deserve_v a_o great_a deal_n of_o wisdom_n and_o care_n in_o the_o state_n to_o prevent_v it_o especial_o in_o such_o rich_a soil_n two_o help_n there_o be_v one_o that_o the_o commoner_n who_o dwell_v upon_o or_o near_o the_o common_a will_v make_v good_a shift_n if_o the_o rich_a man_n dwell_v but_o a_o mile_n off_o as_o in_o the_o fen_n it_o will_v often_o be_v but_o if_o the_o land_n which_o be_v set_v out_o for_o the_o recompense_n of_o the_o drayn_n be_v let_v part_n to_o the_o poor_a sort_n at_o reasonable_a rent_n than_o the_o poor_a man_n have_v several_a ground_n adjoin_v to_o the_o common_a wherein_o to_o succour_v his_o cattle_n at_o need_n and_o whereupon_o to_o get_v foath_a for_o they_o he_o may_v shift_v with_o his_o rich_a neighbour_n so_o much_o the_o better_o other_o help_v i_o know_v none_o but_o a_o apportionment_n which_o in_o the_o fen_n will_v be_v more_o difficult_a then_o in_o other_o unstinted_a commons_o because_o in_o one_o fen_n many_o township_n have_v interest_n of_o common_a and_o yet_o there_o will_v be_v enough_o for_o all_o if_o it_o be_v well_o order_v it_o be_v far_a object_v that_o if_o the_o drayn_n shall_v succeed_v there_o will_v be_v then_o as_o much_o want_n of_o water_n as_o there_o have_v be_v former_o too_o much_o i_o answer_v that_o when_o the_o river_n and_o drayne_n be_v deepen_v which_o be_v a_o thing_n must_v be_v perform_v they_o will_v hold_v a_o world_n of_o water_n more_o than_o they_o now_o do_v and_o it_o will_v ordinary_o be_v hold_v up_o also_o to_o a_o sufficient_a height_n by_o the_o work_v for_o the_o drayn_n except_o when_o a_o flood_n be_v fear_v which_o if_o it_o come_v there_o will_v be_v water_n enough_o and_o two_o much_o if_o it_o come_v not_o yet_o within_o a_o few_o hour_n if_o the_o current_n of_o the_o water_n at_o the_o work_n be_v inhibit_v the_o country_n will_v be_v full_a enough_o beside_o the_o partition_n of_o the_o land_n assign_v for_o recompense_n of_o the_o drayn_n will_v in_o a_o short_a time_n make_v ditch_n enough_o to_o contain_v more_o water_n than_o the_o cattle_n in_o those_o part_n will_v use_v and_o by_o common_a intendment_n all_o good_a husband_n will_v make_v ditch_n for_o division_n in_o their_o own_o ground_n and_o sluice_n to_o detain_v or_o let_v go_v the_o water_n at_o their_o pleasure_n final_o some_o will_v say_v they_o be_v many_o time_n drayn_v from_o heaven_n and_o therefore_o need_v not_o man_n help_n true_a it_o be_v that_o god_n almighty_a have_v teach_v they_o by_o the_o experience_n of_o some_o dry_a year_n though_o rare_o the_o difference_n between_o a_o wilderness_n of_o water_n &_o a_o goodly_a green_a meadow_n to_o lead_v they_o by_o sense_n who_o be_v hardly_o govern_v by_o reason_n to_o discern_v what_o may_v be_v best_a for_o themselves_o and_o their_o posterity_n of_o which_o great_a document_n if_o they_o make_v sinister_a use_n vain_o fancy_v to_o themselves_o that_o which_o be_v to_o man_n reason_n impossible_a they_o must_v be_v content_a to_o be_v punish_v according_a to_o reason_n that_o be_v to_o say_v whereas_o such_o dry_a year_n shall_v have_v drink_v up_o the_o water_n if_o not_o of_o the_o river_n yet_o of_o many_o of_o the_o drayne_n which_o thereupon_o be_v grow_v up_o and_o pester_v with_o weed_n and_o rubbish_n it_o follow_v necessary_o that_o upon_o the_o next_o confluence_n of_o water_n into_o that_o level_n the_o sewer_n which_o contain_v they_o be_v stifle_v they_o have_v breed_v a_o great_a and_o more_o fearful_a inundation_n beside_o these_o there_o be_v certain_a tacite_fw-la and_o silent_a objection_n which_o some_o be_v either_o afraid_a or_o ashamed_a to_o utter_v and_o yet_o be_v obstinate_o govern_v by_o they_o i_o will_v name_v but_o two_o the_o one_o be_v the_o loss_n of_o their_o land_n the_o other_o be_v mere_a envy_n or_o if_o you_o will_v give_v it_o a_o gentle_a name_n private_a emulation_n the_o former_a i_o may_v more_o bold_o avouch_v because_o it_o please_v his_o late_a majesty_n to_o fasten_v upon_o it_o when_o he_o give_v gracious_a audience_n to_o a_o hear_n of_o this_o business_n in_o the_o year_n 1619._o viz._n the_o lord_n or_o owner_n have_v rather_o be_v say_v to_o be_v lord_n or_o owner_n of_o 1000_o acre_n though_o they_o be_v scarce_o worth_a to_o he_o 1000_o shill_n in_o the_o year_n than_o part_n with_o 500_o to_o make_v the_o rest_n worth_a 500_o angel_n by_o the_o year_n in_o like_a manner_n the_o commoner_n reason_n for_o this_o if_o they_o can_v give_v any_o it_o be_v likely_a i_o also_o be_v able_a to_o render_v some_o but_o in_o truth_n i_o can_v nor_o any_o shadow_n of_o reason_n but_o as_o a_o sullen_a bird_n that_o be_v take_v when_o it_o be_v old_a will_n rather_o die_v then_o feed_v so_o such_o fen-man_n not_o consider_v that_o though_o the_o alotment_n for_o the_o reward_n of_o drayn_v shall_v be_v in_o land_n yet_o the_o expense_n be_v necessary_o to_o be_v in_o money_n much_o of_o the_o land_n must_v be_v sell_v for_o supply_v thereof_o which_o they_o that_o be_v able_a and_o willing_a may_v purchase_v before_o any_o other_o to_o keep_v their_o inheritance_n entire_a be_v exceed_o improve_v for_o emulation_n it_o be_v so_o notorious_a so_o diffusive_a a_o vice_n among_o they_o as_o a_o man_n may_v imagine_v it_o to_o be_v bread_n there_o as_o hydra_n be_v in_o the_o fen_n of_o lerna_n i_o will_v put_v a_o case_n john_n a_o style_n have_v 2000_o acre_n in_o the_o fen_n worth_n he_o haply_o 50._o li._n a_o year_n and_o no_o other_o live-load_n john_n a_o nokes_n have_v 200_o acre_n in_o the_o same_o fen_n worth_a 50._o li._n a_o year_n but_o beside_o he_o have_v a_o inheritance_n of_o 300._o li._n a_o year_n and_o think_v himself_o and_o so_o be_v a_o gentleman_n of_o some_o reckon_n the_o other_o be_v but_o a_o poor_a man_n and_o life_n hardly_o when_o the_o question_n of_o the_o drayn_n of_o the_o fen_n come_v john_n a_o style_n be_v glad_a and_o promote_v it_o all_o he_o may_v but_o john_n a_o nokes_n his_o rich_a neighbour_n what_o say_v he_o shall_v john_n a_o style_n be_v a_o better_a man_n than_o i_o who_o have_v be_v always_o glad_a to_o shroud_v himself_o under_o my_o wing_n that_o i_o can_v i_o must_v not_o endure_v for_o if_o the_o fen_n be_v drayn_v his_o land_n may_v be_v worth_a 500_o li._n a_o year_n though_o he_o part_v with_o one_o half_a for_o the_o drayn_n my_o improvement_n will_v be_v little_a worth_n no_o drayn_n therefore_o by_o my_o consent_n but_o enough_o in_o a_o unpleasing_a argument_n it_o be_v against_o my_o disposition_n to_o have_v but_o touch_v so_o harsh_a a_o string_n have_v thus_o long_o hold_v the_o candle_n to_o the_o sun_n that_o be_v prove_v what_o no_o reasonable_a man_n can_v deny_v that_o the_o drayn_n of_o the_o fen_n in_o the_o six_o county_n will_v be_v both_o honourable_a and_o profitable_a to_o the_o king_n and_o kingdom_n and_o many_o particular_a person_n and_o answer_v the_o objection_n which_o some_o ignorant_a or_o wilful_a people_n stand_v most_o upon_o give_v i_o leave_v to_o proceed_v to_o the_o second_o question_n that_o be_v whether_o it_o be_v feasible_a or_o no._n first_o let_v it_o be_v for_o the_o time_n admit_v not_o grant_v that_o this_o great_a work_n can_v be_v accomplish_v i_o ask_v what_o shall_v the_o country_n loose_v for_o they_o that_o undertake_v it_o must_v have_v no_o benefit_n till_o the_o work_n be_v do_v if_o it_o be_v not_o do_v they_o indeed_o loose_v both_o labour_n and_o cost_n the_o country_n lose_v nothing_o but_o on_o the_o contrary_n must_v gain_v much_o for_o it_o can_v be_v endeavour_v that_o all_o the_o fen_n shall_v be_v drayn_v but_o at_o lest_o some_o must_v necessary_o reap_v great_a benefit_n all_o some_o by_o such_o endeavour_n but_o the_o wisdom_n of_o the_o parliament_n think_v the_o work_n feasible_a and_o that_o not_o long_o since_o to_o wit_n in_o the_o last_o parliament_n of_o queen_n elizabeth_n the_o word_n be_v these_o wherein_o it_o be_v apparent_a to_o such_o as_o have_v travail_v in_o execution_n of_o the_o commission_n of_o sewer_n in_o the_o isle_n of_o ely_n and_o counties_n adjoin_v that_o the_o waste_v commons_o marsh_n and_o fenny-ground_n there_o subject_a to_o surround_v may_v be_v recover_v by_o skilful_a and_o able_a undertaker_n and_o the_o