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
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
THE HISTORY OF IMBANKING and DRAYNING OF DIVERS Fenns and Marshes Both in FOREIN PARTS AND IN THIS KINGDOM And of the Improvements thereby EXTRACTED FROM Records Manuscripts and other Authentick Testimonies BY WILLIAM DUGDALE Esquire NORROY King of Arms. LONDON Printed by Alice Warren in the Year of our Lord MDCLXII TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY Most Gratious Soveraign THE first and greatest attempt that hath been made in this Kingdom for the general Drayning of those vast Fenns lying in Cambridgeshire and the Counties adjacent was by that Prudent and Grave Prelate John Morton sometime Bishop of Ely the principal Instrument of that happy Union betwixt the two Houses of York and Lancaster as the Chanell betwixt Peterborough and Wisbeche still bearing his name doth witness And the next by your Royal Grandfather and Father of Blessed Memories the chiefest branches of that Renowned Stock Which not succeeding as it was designed by reason of the distractions of those times it will be no small Honour to your Sacred Majesty and Advantage of your Realm to compleat and make perfect that Noble undertaking To which end I most humbly offer unto your Majesty this present Historical Discourse whereby it will appear not only that divers Great and Mighty Princes and other Persons famous in their times have in Forein Parts been active in Works of this kind but how much your Majestie 's own Royal Ancestors have by several excellent and wholsome Laws promoted the like in this Kingdom Praying to the Almighty that he will bless your Majesty with a Long and Prosperous Reign that good Arts may again flourish amongst us and Virtue receive its due Encouragement to the joy of all your Loyal Subjects and amongst them of Your Majesties most Obedient Subject and Faithfull Servant WILLIAM DUGDALE TO THE READER Courteous Reader THAT the Strength of a King is in the Multitude of his Subjects is a truth which no man will gain-say Hence is it that those Countries the soil whereof is naturally fruitfull are alwaies much better esteem'd than such as be sterile in regard they afford more and better sustenance to their Inhabitants And hence is it likewise that the most civilized Nations have by so much Art and Industry endeavoured to make the best improvement of their Wasts Commons and all sorts of barren Land Amongst which advantages that of Inclosure hath not been the least whereof there is a notable instance in the Counties of Northampton and Somerset which though little differing in their extent and goodness of soyl yet if estimation may be made by Musters Subsidies Tenths and Fifteens Inclosure hath made the one more than double to exceed the other both in people and wealth as hath long ago been observed by some of great Iudgment If then the meer Inclosure and Tillage of that which naturally yielded little profit doth justly deserve so great a commendation how much more is the skill and pains of those to be had in esteem who have recovered many vast proportions of Land totally overwhelm'd with a deluge of waters And of these I need not look out for examples from abroad our own Countrey affoarding a multitude of notable Instances as the ensuing Discouâ—se will fully manifest whereby it will appear that in sundry parts of this Realm there are many thousands of Acres which do now yield much benefit yearly by Rape Cole-seed Grass Hay Hemp Flax Wheat Oats and other Grain nay by all sorts of excellent Plants Garden-stuff and fruit Trees which in former times were Drowned Lands And this was it which gave encouragement to oâ—â— two late Soveraigns of Blessed Memory viz. King James and King Charles the first to become the sole Adventurers for the Drayning of those vast Fenns of Cambridgshire and the five other adjacent Counties a worthy Work and never totally attempted till their times well discerning that by a compleat performance thereof the costly and troublesome meeting of Commissioners for Sewers the frequent great Taxes for the maintenance of divers Banks and Drains with many unhappy controversies and emulations relating thereto might be in a great measure prevented And if our industry were but comparable to that of our Neighbours in the Belgique Provinces how much more might those drayned grounds afford us for profit and pleasure than they yet do forasmuch as theirs lying below the Levell of the Sea at high Tydes is drayned by Engines which cast out the water and ours have not only a descent to the Sea but divers large Rivers and streams for leading the waters to their natural out-falls To give instance in the benefits First let us consider the large proportion of this one Levell which is no less than five hundred thousand Acres it being from the edge of Suffolk to Waynflete in Lincolnshire full Lxviii miles in a strait line And if we reckon by the bow of the Fenn which runneth up on both sides of the River Witham within a mile of Lincoln it may be well accounted Lxxx miles the bredth being in many places xxx more xx and seldom so little as ten miles so that 't is thought by some to be as good ground and as much as the States of the low Countries enjoy in the Netherlands Next for the richness of the soyl being gained from the waters doth it not for the most part exceed the high grounds thereon bordering as much as other meadows do which are ordinarily let for xxs. the Acre And do we not see that in the Marshes beyond Waynflete in Lincolnshire where the grounds are severed and trenched it is hard to find a poor man though they sit at great Rents for their Cattel being alwaies sound and thriving are therefore merchandable or if they come to a mischance yet fit for food Moreover besides the great plenty of flesh and white meats with the breed of servicable Horses let us consider the abundance of Wooll Hydes Tallow and other Commodities which this fruitfull ground now produces and that the new Chanels made for the Drayning do yield no small advantage to all those parts for the carriage of their Corn and Merchandize whereas before they were constrayned to go many miles about according to the natural bending of the Rivers And if we weigh the great inconveniences which these over-flowings have produced certainly the advantage by the general Drayning ought the more to be prized for in the Winter time when the Ice is strong enough to hinder the passage of Boats as hath been by some well observed and yet not able to bear a man the Inhabitants upon the Hards and the Banks within the Fenns can have no help of food nor comfort for body or soul no woman aid in her â—ravail no means to baptize a Child or partake of the Communion nor supply of any necessity saving what those poor desolate places do afford And what expectation of health can there be to the bodies of men where there is no element good the Air being for the most part
de Metham for those betwixt Faxflete and Cawode And in the same year to Will. de Vavasur Will. de Houk and Thomas de Fisheburne for those in the parts of Merskland Inclesmore Hovedenshire then much broken and in decay In 8 E. 2. upon complaint made by the men of Merskland inhabiting upon the River of Done that the said River whereunto the Sewers of the neighbouring parts did use to run was partly by reason of the Sea-tides and partly by undue straightnings so obstructed and stopt that most part of the lands thereabouts were overflowed VVhich complaint being exhibited to the King in Parliament then sitting at Westminster he constituted Iohn de Doncastre Roger de Cloherne and Robert de Amecotes his Commissioners to enquire thereof and proceed to the redresse of the same In 9 E. 2. the said Iohn de Doncastre Peter d'Eyvill and Alexander de Cave were assigned to enquire of the defaults in repair and clensing of certain Ditches in the parts of Spaldyngmore within the Bishop of Duresme's liberty of Hovedene whereby the low grounds there were overflowed And in the same year the said Iohn and Alexander together with Hugh de Louthre Adam de Midleton and Adam de Hopton had the like assignation for the view and repair of those Banks upon Ouse betwixt Rikhale and Hoveden dyke In 12 E. 2. Hugh de Pykworth Iohn Travers and Adam de Hopertone were appointed to view the Banks c. in Merskland upon the River of Done to make them new in such places where they should think fit The like appointment in 13 E. 2. had Iohn de Doncastre Adam de Haperton and Nich. de Sutton for those upon Ouse betwixt Bardelby and Hemingbrough So also in 14 E. 2. had Alexander de Cave Thomas de Houke and Hugh de Pikworth for those betwixt Faxflete and Cawode And in 16 E. 2. the same Thomas de Houke Gerard de Ufflet and Iohn the Son of Richard de VVhitgift had the like for those on the verge of Ouse in Merskland betwixt the River of Ayre and Trent fall So likewise the same year had the said Thomas de Houke and VVill. Basset for those upon the said stream of Ouse from Berlay Water-house to Ayremynne and thence upon the water of Ayre to the passage of Carletone neer Snaythe In that year also did the King send his Precept to Adam de Strikeland then Guardian of his Mannour of Hathelsay at that time in his hand that he should cause the banks upon the River AEre belonging to that Mannour to be repaired in all places needful according to the view and testimony of honest and lawful men of those parts In 17 E. 2. VVill. Basset Thomas de Egmanton and Iohn the Son of Richard de VVhitgift and Commission to view the defects in repair of all the banks upon Ouse in the parts of Mersklond betwixt the River of Ayre and Trentfall And the same year had Alexander de Cave Thomas Houke Peter de Saltmersh Robert D'amcotes VVill. de Lincolne and Geffrey de Edenham the like Commission for the view and repair of those betwixt Suth Cave and Barneby neer Hoveden then broken in divers places As also for the VVater-courses and Ditches of Beleby wyk Fuâ—nath Ragolf dyke Lange dyke Skelflete Hingbriksik Blaktoft damme Thornton's damme Temple damme Miklestek Hebewisgote Trakput Mulnedam of Broukflet Frisdike and Hoddeflete all which were diverted out of their right courses by which diversions and obstructions and the want of repairing those banks the low grounds betwixt Thornetone Muleburne Cathwayt Suth Cave Yverthorpe North Cave and Barneby neer Hoveden were overflowed And in case that they who had thus diverted and obstructed these VVater-courses were not able to repair them again then to distrain all such to give assistance therein as by such reducing them to their former Chanels and deobstruction of those stops should receive benefit and safeguard The next year following had Roger de Somery Hugh de Pikworth and Robert de Babthorpe the like assignation for the view and repair of those banks Ditches c. on the East part of Ouse betwixt Turneheved and Barneby ferry As also for those on the VVest part betwixt Cawode and Ayremyn and betwixt Feribrig and Ayremyn on the South and VVest part In the same year likewise were Alexander de Cave Thomas de Houke Peter de Saltmersh and Iohn de Kilvyngtone constituted Commissioners for those banks c. upon the coasts of Humbre and Use betwixt the towns of Suth Cave and Barneby neer Hoveden then broken and ruinous and also of the VVater-courses from Wartre Brunnom Brunneby Hayton Beleby Beveldale Myllington Ulvesthorp Killingwyke Pokelington Arnethorpe Wappelington Thorneton Melborne and Cathwayt then obstructed and diverted out of their right courses by reason whereof the low grounds betwixt Beleby Suth Cave and Barneby viz. Fulne Rageldyke Langdyke Skelflete Hingbrigstike Blacktoft dam Thornton dam Temple dam Mychelsyk Helewysgot Crakeput and the Mylndam of Bromflet Frisdyke were drowned And to compell all those who had so diverted and stopt the said waters to reduce them to their antient courses and where need should be to make new Chanels for that purpose The like Commission had they for the banks c. betwixt the River of Done and Bykerdyke within the Isle of Axeholme in Lincolnshire In 5 E. 3. Iohn Travers Peter de Midleton Peter de Saltmersh and Simon de Baldreston were assigned to enquire concerning the breach of a certain Causey called Foxholedyke made by certain malefactors in the parts of Merskland in this County by which breach the lands of the inhabitants of those parts were drowned In 7 E. 3. VVill. de Hathelse Iohn de Clif and Hugh de Bradeford were appointed to view and repair the banks c. betwixt AErmyne and Selby So likewise in 11 E. 3. were Will. Basset Thomas de Brayton and Iohn de Lacy of Gateford for those betwixt Temple hirst and Ayrmyne on the North side of Ayre as also upon both sides of the River Ouse betwixt Ayrmyne and Selby In 13 E. 3. the King directed his special Precept to Richard de Aldeburgh and Will. Basset whereby he made recital that whereas he had by his VVrit under the Privy seal commanded Simon de Grimesby then Guardian of his Mannor of Brustwyk that he should cause his demesne Lands Meadows and pastures and likewise the Lands of his Tenants within that Mannour to be drayned which had been drowned by the overflowing of water and to make a certain trench there whereby the water might passe away and have a direct course as before that time it had And the said Simon together with his Free-holders and Bondmen of that Lordship did by virtue of that precept make a trench there in a certain place where long before there had been one And the said King being informed
hindred so that they could go no farther except casually in the time of an exceeding great floud of the said River And they said moreover that the before-mentioned Prebendary owners of that Mill time out of mind had a Mill there for their proper benefit and kept the Mill-pool to the height above exprest untill that one Bartholmew Florentyne Prebendary of that Prebend in the reign of King Edward the first deeming that it would be more for his profit to pull down the said Mill than maintain it demolished both the Mill and the pool so that the tides of Ouse entring the before-specified Sewer and going over the Banks passing through the said pool so demolished did in every great floud of that water thenceforth till that time drown the before-specified lands and the lands of many others And they also said that there were never any other Banks nor Sluses for defence of that water nor was any one obliged to repair any banks there except they whose lands were so overflowed as aforesaid but they said that it would be more profitable and beneficial for the Inhabitants of those places to have banks raised to a fitting height and Sluses of a certain bredth for to keep back the tides of the said River at the entrance thereof that is to say upon the banks of Ouse at the mouth of the said Sewer where the said Bishop of Duresme is Lord of part of the soil and the said Prebendary Lord of the other part And they said moreover that they believed that the said water of Ouse did enter by that Sewer and passe over those banks by reason they were too low to the damage of the Inhabitants of those parts through the default and neglect of the men of those Towns which had their grounds so overflowed not of any other And that all they who had lands overflowed by the flouds of that water ought to repair those banks as also to raise them higher In 23 E. 3. Sir Thomas Ughtred Sir Gerard Oâ—sflet Knights Robert de Midelham Robert de Haldenby Thomas Proctour of Rednesse and Will. Gatorest were assigned to view and repair the banks upon the River of Ouse Done and Ayre in the parts of Merskland The next year following Will. de Percy Brian de Thornehull Raphe de Lassel Will. de Ayrmyn Will. de Nâ—tton Will. de Hinchden Illard de Usflet â—nd Thomas de Egmanton had the like assignation for those upon the Rivers of Humbre Use Derwent Ayre Skelflet Langdyk Fulne and Done in the parts of Spaldingmore Hovedenshire Draxsoken and Merskland â— and in the Wapentakes of Barston and Herthill betwixt Use and Derwent So also had Thomas de Ughtred Robert de Pikering Robert de Middelham Will. de Gateresse and Thomas Proctour of Rednesse for those upon the streams of Use Ayre and Done in the parts of Merskland and Osgodcrosse The like Commission in 26 E. 3. had William Basset Sir Miles Stapleton Knight Illard de Usflet and Iohn de Lasingcroft for those banks c. on the North side of Ayre betwixt Ayrmynne and Ferybrigg So also the same year had Thomas de Metham Alan de Shutlingden Parson of the Church of Hemyngburgh Iohn Moubray and Peter de Richmund for those upon Ouse within the Liberties of the Bishop of Duresme Other Commissions to the like purpose were shortly after directed to others viz. in 30 E. 3. to Iohn de Moubray Illard de Usflet Iohn de Walton and Iohn de Feriby for the Banks c. upon Humbre betwixt Faxflet and Paulesflâ—t In 31 E. 3. to Robâ—rt de Herle Will. de Skipwith Iohn de Moubray Iohn Knyvet Nich. Gower and Thomas Levelance for those in the VVapentakes of Strafford and Osgodcrosse In 33 E. 3. to Iohn Moubray Sir Marmaduke Constable Sir Will. de Aldeburgh Sir Raphe de Lascels Knights and others for those upon Use Derwent Ayre Skelflete Langdyke Fulne and Done in the parts of Spaldyngmore Hovedenshire Draxsoken and Merskland as also in the VVapentakes of Barston and Herthill and betwixt Use and Derwent In 36 E. 3. to the same Iohn de Moubray Thomas de Ingelby William de Fyncheden and others for all the last mentioned places In the same year there were divers Presentments made against those who ought to repair and maintain the depth of a Goul in Houk upon the River of Ouse within the parts of Merskland through whose neglect the Banks were broken to the nusance of the King 's High way betwixt Houk and Swynflet So also for neglecting to repair the said Banks upon Ouse to the damage of the Road-way betwixt Usflete and Ayrmyn Upon the pleadings whereunto the Town of Roucliff could not deny but that it ought to repair the VVater-course at Langholme gote and therefore were fined for their default In 39 E. 3. Thomas de Ingelby Miles de Stapelton Illard de Usflete and others were constituted Commissioners for the view and repair of the Banks c. on the North side of Ayre betwixt Ayremin Ferybrigg The like Commission the same year had VVill. de Skipwith Rich. de Ravensere Provost of Beverley Godfrey de Folejaumbe others for those upon the Banks of Use Ayre and Done in the parts of Merskland and Osgodcrosse and to proceed therein according to the Laws and Customes of this Realm So also had Hugh de Hastyngs VVill. de Fyncheden VVill. de Reygate and others for those on the North side of Ayre betwixt Selby and Castelford brigge In 40 E. 3. there was a Presentment made in the VVapentake of Anesty against the Prior of S. Iohns of Hierusalem for obstructing the watercourse called Langedyke in the 37th year of the said Kings reign who alleging that there was errour therein it came to be pleaded in the Kings Bench where the Jurors found that the said VVatercourse was stopped in the pasture of Temple Wetherby so that it overâ—lowed the Pasture and land of Thorparth and other Towns adjoyning and that the said VVatercourse ought to be repaired and clensed by the same Prior as in right of his Mannour of Temple Wetherby which being not done he was amerced in xxs. In the same year Thomas de Ingelby VVill. de Fyncheden Miles de Stapelton Thomas de Metham and others were appointed to view and repair the banks c. on the North side of Ayre betwixt Ayrmyn and Ferybrig and to perform all things therein according to the Law and Custome of this Realm So also were VVill. de Fyncheden Godefrey de Folejambe Thomas de Bradwell and others for those betwixt Eyrmyn and Whitley on the South side of the said River And likewise Thomas de Roos of Hamlake Thomas de Ingelby VVill. dâ— Aton and others for those upon Humbre Use Derwent Ayre Skelflete Land dyke Fulne and Done in the parts of Spaldyngmore Hovedenshire Draxsoken and Merskland and the VVapentakes of
high way which leadeth from the said town of Worsoppe to the Town of Dunham and from thence to the Rivers of Ouse and Eyre on both sides the Rivers of Idul North-Idull Done Wyk and Went in the Counties of Yorke Notingham and Lincolne And to make Statutes and Ordinances necessary thereto consonant to the Laws of Romeney Marsh c. As also to take up so many Labourers upon competent wages in respect of the great and urgent necessity of the work as should be requisite for that imployment So also in 17 H. 6. had Iohn Portyngton Guy Rouclyff Raphe Bapthorpe Peter Arderne Rob. Rouclyff and others for those upon the Sea-coasts and Marshes at Scardeburgh betwixt Southstele and the Hospital of S. Nicholas at Scardeburgh CAP. XXV IN this kind of improvement there was something also in Derbyshire as it seemeth and that very antiently though the particular places be not exprest for in 12 E. 2. there were two Commissions issued to certain persons of quality in this County for to view the banks Ditches and Sewers then broken and in decay in several parts thereof and to cause them to be repaired the first to Will. de Herle Richard de Wylughby Iohn Deincourt and Richard de Whatton and the second to the said Iohn Deincourt and Richard de Whatton together with William de Gretton and Roger de Breton CAP. XXVI TOuching the Banks and Sewers in this County the first mention that I find is in 11 E. 3. there being then a Presentment made in the wapentake of Bersetlawe against several persons for diverting the stream of the River of Iddle into the Hel-dyke without any penalty imposed upon them for so doing but they being summoned to appear in the Kings Bench to answer their doings therein said that the Shireeve had a VVrit to levy xl. upon them for damage the said Shireeve therefore was required by that Court to transmit the said presentment thither In 16 E. 3. the King being informed that the Rivers of Deven Smyte and Kersyk as also certain Ditches and places through which divers waters in certain parts of the vale of Belvoir within the Wapentakes of Bingham and Newerke betwixt the towns of Flintham and Orston so descending into the said River of Devene and thence into Trent did then run and had used to do were so much straightned by sand mud and plantation of trees that by reason thereof and for lack of certain trenches which would have been very necessary in those parts for the drayning and preserving the low grounds and meadows there the Lands Meadows and pastures of many people in those parts had been often overflowed by those waters and did so continue he constituted Iohn de Vaux Geffrey de Staunton and Iohn de Ker his Commissioners to view the said waters and Ditches and to cause new trenches to be digg'd in any of the said lands meadows or pastures there where need should be so that competent satisfaction were made to all such in whose grounds those trenches might happen to be cut according to the true value of the damage which would be thereby done thereto And in 25 E. 3. upon farther information that the said Rivers passing through the VVapentake of Newerk betwixt the towns of Staunton Kilvington Flanbergh Shelton Sibethorpe Syreston Eyleston Stoke Farmedone Thorpe Cotum and Houton and from those towns descending to the said River of Dyvene and thence into Trent were also in such sort obstructed as that the Lands Meadows and Pastures of divers persons were overflowed And moreover that the Bridges and Causeys at Wendlâ—sford Horscroft Bourbrig and Langbrig and divers other bridges and Causeys in those parts that there was scarce any passage at all by them in the VVinter time to the great peril of such as travailed over them the King appointed Geffrey de Staunton Thomas de Sibethorpe Iohn de Sutton Will. de Leyk and Simon de Leyk to view them and to cause new Chanels to be made where need should require making reasonable satisfaction to the owners of those lands through which they were to cut answerable to the damage which they might have thereby In 37 E. 3. Iohn Power Robert de Morton Oliver de Barton and Iohn Stirapp were assigned to view the passage of the River of Idel through the towns of West-Râ—tford Bolin Tilne Sutton Lound Matherseye Scroby Skaftâ—worth Claworth Everton and Herewell and to cause them to be clensed and scoured in regard that by their obstruction with sand weeds and the like the lands and meadows of divers persons had been overflowed and drowned The like Commission in 51 E. 3. had Raphe Lord Basset of Drayton Will. de Skypwith Roger de Kirketone and others for to view the Banks and Sewers betwixt Bykers dyke on both sides in this County and Done hevede and to cause them to be repaired where need was In 1 R. 2. Will. de Skipwith Robert de Morton Oliver de Barton Elias de Thoresby Iohn de Bekering Will. Power of Tylne and Iohn de Whetlay were constituted Commissioners for to view the course of the River Idâ—l through the towns of Elkeslay Gamelston Eton Ordeshale Est-Retford West-Retford Bolum Tylne Sutton Lound Mathersay Thorpe Scroby Scafteworth Claworth Everton Harewell and Hayton which for want of clensing had drowned the Lands of sundry persons and to cause the same to be scoured The like Commission in 18 R. 2. had Henry de Codyngton Clerk Iohn de Markham Sir Iohn de Burton and Sir VVill. Nevill Knights Robert Martell and Thomas de Sutton for certain Gutters in the vale of Belvoir and in the VVapentakes of Bingham and Newerk betwixt the towns of Langar and Bingham by the towns of Flyntham and Hokesworth and Hokesworth Thurvarton and Orston and other places descending unto the River of Dyvene and thence into Trent which Gutters were then also obstructed with sand weeds and other impediments to the great damage of the adjacent grounds by overflowing c. So also in 20 R. 2. had the said Iohn de Markham Sir Iohn Bozoun Knight and Richard Bercotes for the same Gutters and trenches which by reason of the like obstructions for lack of certain trenches that ought to have been made for the drayning of the grounds lying neer them especially overthwart Sireston meadow unto the said River of Devene with power to make new trenches where they should find it necessary and to compell every man having land capable of any benefit thereby according to the proportion thereof for to assist therein In 30 H. 6. Iohn Cardinal and Archbishop of Yorke Iohn Vicount Beaumont Sir Raphe Cromwell Knight Raphe Byngham Iohn Portyngton and others were appointed to view and repair the Banks and Sewâ—rs betwixt Bykers dyke and the River of Done on every side lying within this County and the Counties of Yorke and Lincolne and Confines of the same and
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
therein to the said Commissioners at Sleford And about two years after this there was a Presentment made in the Court of Kings Bench that the Chanel of this Rivâ—r in Wildemore neer Coningesby was bending and defective betwixt the said River and a Sewer called Muardyke in Coningesby so that the Marshes of Wildemore and Bolingbroke were overflowed and drowned thereby and that this was through the default of the said Town of Coningesby who ought to repair the same In 1 R 2. William de Skipwithâ— Raphe de Threske William Vincent and William de Candelesby were constituted Commissioners for to view the defects in repair of a certain Ditch lying betwixt Snartford bridge and the before-specified River of Wythom and to enquire who ought to repair the same And in 6 R. 2. the King being informed that the said River of Wythom as also that of Brant and certain Ditches and places whereby divers waters in the County of Noâ—ingham and this of Lincolne did and had used to run from the Town of Cleypole and so down by Lincolne unto the same River of Wythom were so choaked up with mud and obstructed with the planting of Trees that by reason thereof and of certain Floud-gates the current of the said water being hindred the lands meadows and pastures of divers persons had been very often overflowed and did at that time so continue he assigned Iohn Bussy Henry Asty Thomas Claymond and others to view the same and to make the said Chanels and Ditches larger so that they might be xl or xxx foot wide betwixt the Banks and ten foot in depth The like assignation had William de Crosseby Iohn de Rocheford of Boston Iohn de la Launde of Pynchebek Thomas de Tofte and Iohn Waleys in 18 R. 2. for the view and repair of those Banks and Sewers betwixt Hill dyke and Bullingbroke and betwixt this River of Wythom and the Sea and to do all things therein according to the Law and Custome of this Realm and according to the Custome of Romeney marsh As also to take so many Diggers and Labourers upon competent salaries in regard of the then urgent necessity as should be sufficient to accomplish that work So also in 3 H. 5. had Sir Robert de Wylughby and Sir Thomas de Wylughby Knights Iohn Cokayn William de Lodyngton Iames Strangways and others for all the Banks and Ditches from this River to the Sea and to proceed therein according to the Law and Custome of this Realm CAP. XXXII Observations touching the whole Great Levell HAving now done with all the Marshes situate within the Province of Lindsey in this County and continning still my course South-East wards I come next to that Great Levell which extendeth it self from about Halton Toynton in Lincolnshire through a good part of six Counties viz. Lincolne Norfolk Suffolk Cambridge Huntendon and Northampton being in length no lesse than Lx miles and in bredth from Peterborough in Northamptonshire to Brandon in Suffolk neer fourty miles all which excepting the Isle of Ely and some few places of that Kind as also Holland in Lincolnshire and Marshland in Norfolk both which have been long ago by great industry gained from the Sea as I shall clearly shew by and byâ— were for the space of many ages untill of late years a vast and deep Fen affording little benefit to the Realm other than Fish or Fowl with overmuch harbour to a rude and almost barbarous sort of lazy and beggerly people But before I begin to manifest how and by what means the drayning improvment thereof hath been accomplished it will be proper I conceive to shew 1. First what this large and spacious tract originally was 2. Next how it came to be overflowed by the Sea 3. How Holland and Marshland were first gained from the Sea 4. How the main Levell before-mentioned came first to be a Fen. 5. The rise course and outfalls of the several Rivers passing through it 6. How those their outfalls became obstructed 7. The vast extent and great depth of the fresh waters occasioned by these obstructions of their out-falls What this great Levell was at first THat this vast levell was at first a firm dry land and not annoyed with any extraordinary inundation from the Sea or stagnation of the fresh waters I shall now endeavour to manifest which may perhaps seem strange to many but when it is well considered that Timber-trees will not grow and thrive where water for the most part stands or in Moor which by tract of time is bred and increased in such moist places both the one and the other may with much probability be granted The casebeing then thus stated it nowremains for me to prove that such have heretofore been bred and prospered in sundry parts of this now Fenny Country which is no hard matter to do divers persons yet living being able to testifie that in the late digging of those Chanels anâ— Drayns as have been made for the exsiccation thereof great numbers of such Trees of several kinds have been found most of Oak and Firr and few of them severed from their Roots but of such as be so severed the Roots are observed to stand in the firm earth below the Moor of which sort I my self have seen some that were taken up in the Fens neer Thorney and have had credible information of multitudes found in other places whereof some were digg'd up at the cutting of that large Chanel called Downham Ea which extendeth it self from Salters lode about four miles Northwards towards Linne Moreover in Marshland about a mile VVestward from Magdalen bridge at the setting down of a Sluse very lately there was discovered at xvij foot deep divers Furze bushes as also Nut-trees pressed flat down with Nuts sound and firm lying by them the bushes and Trees standing in solid earth below the silt which hath been brought up by the inundations of the Sea and in time raised to that great thicknesse Add hereunto what I have already observed in the Isle of Axholme touching the Trees of Oak and Firr found in such great numbers at the making of those Ditches and Sewers for drayning of that Fenn which though it lye not contiguous to this out of all doubt is on the like levell and was apparently a woody Country at the first To give farther instance therefore to demonstrate so evident a truth there will be no need so that I shall hence proceed and in the next place manifest upon what occasion this great alteration grew CAP. XXXIII How it became overflowed by the Sea GRanting therefore that this Country though lying flat and low was not originally annoyed with the inundations of the Ocean or any stop of the fresh waters which might by overflowing and drowning make it fenny and considering the situation thereof to be such as that it is bounded on all parts by the high lands in the form of an Horshoo excepting towards
Hue aud Cry as also for blood shed within his said Lordship at all times of the year After this viz. in the same third year of the said King Henry the sixth William Babyngton Sir Iohn Colvyll and Sir Henry Rocheforth Knights Will. Paston Tho. Derham and Iohn Mannyng were constituted Commissioners to view the Banks Sewers Ditches Bridges and Causeys betwixt UUalpole and Tilney and to determine all things therein according to the Law and Custome of this Realm as also to take so many Diggers and Labourers upon competent wages as they should think necessary for that service in regard of the great expedition which through the decay of those works was then required Several other Commissions were afterwards issued out in this Kings reign to the like purpose scil in 8 H. 6. to Sir Henry Rochefort and Sir Robert Clyftone Knights William Pastone William Goodrede Thomas Derham Simon Fyncham and Thomas Shuldham for all those Banks Sewers c. in the Towns of Uppâ—welle Outwelle and Enemethe betwixt the River which goth from Wellynhee to the Priory of Mullycourt and the River which passeth from Enemethe unto the said Priory and to proceed therein as abovesaid In 22 H. 6. to Sir Thomas Scales Kt. William Yelverton Hugh Prior of Wirmegay Thomas Trusbut Iohn Fyncham Thomas Salesbury William Willy and Raphe Geytone for those throughout the whole Province of Marshland and the parts adjacent from Marham to Wigenhale and to do all things therein according to the Laws and Customes of Romeney Marsh. The like Commission had the said Sir Thomas Scales William Yelvertone Thomas Trusbut William Eweyn and Thomas Salisbury in 30 H. 6. So also had Iohn Earl of Oxford Iohn Viscount Beaumont Iohn Heydone Iohn Fyncham and Iohn Bekyswell for all those betwixt the waters of Wâ—lle and the water which leadeth from Welle to Salterys lode and Wygenhale In 21 H. 7 the said Bank called the new Pokedike was totally measured and then found to contain in length from the house of Iohn Pye at Salters lode unto the house of Iohn Bekeswell at Northdelf xviij furlongs and xxvij perches the repair thereof belonging as followeth viz. To the Tenants of the Lord Bardolf xxij perches To the Town of Wigenhale three furlongs xviij foot and four inches To the Towns of Tilney Islington and Clenchwardon three furlongs xviij foot and four inches To Tirington three furlongs xviij foot and four inches To Walpole three furlongs xviij foot and four inches To UUalton and Emneth three furlongs xviij foot and four inches To Walsoken three furlongs xviij foot and four inches To Iohn Bekyswell opposite to his house at North delf xv perches And from Northdelf to Mullycourt it contained in length xiiij furlongs and seven perches whereof the repair belonged as followeth viz. To Walsoken two furlongs xv perches five foot and four inches To UUalton and Emneth two furlongs xv perches five foot and four inches To Terington two furlongs xv perches five foot and four inches To Tilney with Islington and Clenchwarton two furlongs xv foot and four inches To Wigenhale two furlongs xv perches five foot and four inches Memorandum that upon the seventh day of Iuly 21 H. 7. every Acre of ground in Marshland was assessed at four inches for the maintenance of the said Bank But notwithstanding this care taken for repair thereof such was the wickednesse of some people that they divers times made breaches in sundry parts of it insomuch as complaint being made in Parliament Aº 22 H. 8. this ensuing Act was thereupon made WHereas before this time divers evill disposed personnes of their perverse and evill dispositions maliciously at divers and sundry times have cut cast down and broken up divers parts of the Dike called new Powdich in Marshland in the County of Norff. and the Broken dyke otherwise called Oldfield dyke by Marshland in the Isle of Ely in the County of Cambridge By reason whereof aswell by the great aboundance of the Salt water as also by the course of the Fresh water entring and coming into and by the said part of the said Ditches so broken and cast down the grounds and Pastures within the Countie of Marshland in the County aforesaid have bene divers and many times drowned and surrounded with the water aforesaid so that no profit thereof might be taken by the owners and occupyers of the said ground And the Inhabitants within the said Marshland and the Levell of the same many and sundry times have been not only put to importunate chardges and expenses to their extreme damage and costs but also to their grete undoings having lost much of their Cattel and Beasts then being and depasturing upon and within Marshland aforesaid to their grete damage and losse and to the grete decay of the Common welthe of the Country adjoyning to the same And also by reason of the same waters much people have bene drowned in their beds within their houses and have lost the most port of their goods being within the same For reformation whereof it is ordayned enacted and established by the King our Sovereign Lord by the assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in the present Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same that every such perverse and malicious cutting down and breaking up of any part or parts of the said Dikes or of any other Banks being parcell of the Rinde or uttermost part of the said Country of Mershland at every time and times hereafter from henceforth by any person or personnes committed and done otherwise than in working upon the said Banks and Dikes for the repairing fortifying and amending of the same to be taken reputed and adjudged Felony and that the offenders and doers of the same and every of them be adjudged and reputed Felons And that the Iustices of Peace of the said Counties of Norfolk and Cambridge in the said Isle at every of their Sessions within the said Isle and Counties to be kept by the authority aforesaid have full power to cause enquiry to be made after every such offence so at any time in form aforesaid hereafter to be committed and done and to award the like processe against every of the said offenders with like judgement and execution of the same if they or any of them be thereof found guilty by verdict or otherwise as the said Iustices have used and accustomed to do upon other Felonies being Felony at the common Law Which Statute was in 5 Edw. 6. by an Act of Parliament then largely made for the repeal of divers Treasons and Felonies cleerly repealed and made void But in 2 3 Ph. M. it was again revived In which year there were these ensuing Ordinances made upon the eighth day of April by the chief Inhabitants of this whole Country of Marshland and Town of Wigenhale touching the Old Powdike and Broken dike 1 That the said old Pow diche be sufficiently made
to be the charge of certain other lands of a C. Acres in Stowe on the North side of the Old Pow diche which is wholly in defect 16 All which Bank from Salters lode to the decayed messuage of North delf ought to be five foot above the Fen and in bredth in the bottom xviij foot and in bredth in the top xij foot And from the said Northdelf house to Mully court the said Bank ought to be in height vi foot and in bredth in the bottom xviij foot and in the top xij foot 17 And that the menure for the repair making of the same Bank ought to be taken on the South side xij foot from the foot of the same Bank saving in the time of great need and not on the North side of the same Bank but in the winter time and when for the inundation of the water it cannot be taken on the South side and then C. foot from the foot of the same Bank But because there is no punishment contained in the said Decrees for such offenders as take their menure within xij foot of the said Bank on the South side thereof whereby the foot of the said Bank in divers places is very sore diminished and the Lands and Tenements within the Salvation aforesaid much the more in peril wherefore we find it reasonable that it be now decreed that every person that shall take any menure on the South side of the said Bank within twelve foot of the said Bank except in time of great necessity shall lose and forfeit for every Rod so taken and decayed as aforesaid xs. the moytie to the finder of the same the other moytie to the Queens Majesty But notwithstanding all this care and cost so outragious were the storms and tempests which did beat upon these Sea-banks that on Monday and Tuesday the second and third of October in the year 1570. 12 Eliz. they made several breaches in them whereby all Marshland together with the Town of Wigenhale was overflowed with Salt water so that from old Lynne unto Magdalen bridge there were not left ten Rods of the â—aid Bank firm and whole to the extraordinary damage of all the Country How these breaches were made up I have not seen nor any thing else considerable touching these parts untill 39 Eliz. that there was complaint made at a Seâ—sion of Sewers then held at Beaupre Hall that in regard of the neglect of keeping the water in Rightforth lode within the Crests of the same the grounds on the North part of the said lode were in time of great inundations overflown which occasioned the Tenants thereof for avoiding of the water to cut the old Pow dike and to issue the said water into Marshland Fen to the great surrounding of the same and extraordinary losse to the Inhabitants and Commoners there It was therefore ordained and decreed by the said Commissioners that if any person or persons whatsoever should thenceforth attempt to cut the said Bank in any part thereof to the intent aforesaid or should lay any Pipe or Sluse for the waters to fall through the same other than such as were already laid should lose and forfeit to the said Queen her heirs and successors xxl. to be levyed of the Goods and Chatels of every such person upon every such default After this divers years there hapued a mighty tide upon the first day of April 1607. 5 Iac. which broke Catts banke and drowned Clenchwarton On the xvth of which month there was another Survey made of the before-specified New Pow dike together with an Agistment thereof by one Mr. Richard Atkins of Outwell which was performed very exactly by the Rod of xvi foot and an half of strict measure according to the number of perches charged upon every Town and began at the stone erected upon the said Bank neer Mullicourt corner by Saltham lake the number of perches from Mullicourt to Northdelf Close being there found to be CCCCxlix according to the large Hundred which perfectly agreed with the Books and Rolls of the Country From whence the repair of the said Bank on the South part and opposite to the said Northdelfe Close was assigned to the heirs of Sir Francis Gawdey Knight for the whole length thereof as antiently it had been And from that place it went on more towards the East from the East corner of the before-specified Close neer the Ditch unto a stone fixed nigh Salters lode which is the chardge belonging to Stow-Bardolf for those Lands called the Hundred Acres but this part was measured by the Rod of xvij foot and so accorded perfectly with the just number of perches antiently assigned to each Town of Marshland All which being done there were special Merestones set up by the said Richard Atkins which had peculiar names graved upon them by the consent of the Inhabitants and did distinguish the several proportions of the said Bank charged upon each Town And thence for the Hundred acres of Stow aforesaid unto the Ditch which compasseth the Tenement at Salters lode were xxiij perches and ten foot according to the said Rod. At which time it was agreed betwixt the Dyke-Reeves who were then in office that the proportion of the said Bank charged upon UUest Lynne should be transposed and agisted aswell above as below with Tilney and UUigenhale where the said Bank was more secure in regard that the Inhabitants of the said Town of Lynne had been found so negligent in repairing and maintaining their parts thereof And it was then also finally concluded betwixt the principal Guardians of the said Bank that this new survey assignation of parts should continue in force for ever and all formerly made in regard they were so confused to be utterly void The next year following on the xvith of August viz. 6 Iac. An. 1608 it was by a Law of Sewers decreed that a new Drayn or Lode should be made and maintained from the end of Chancelours lode unto Tylney Smethe on the South side of the Bank to the Fen-ward of the aforesaid antient Sewer which Drayn to be xij foot in bredth and four or five foot in depth Likewise that a Sluse or Gole should be made at the North end of Chancelour's lode to convey the waters of the Fen into the common Sewer And it was then also decreed that the Land-holders on the South side of Wisebeche should from that time forward â—ew and passe the water out of those their Lands lying on the said South side of Wisebeche between the River of Wisebeche on the North and Ingham field Halfpeny field and Spittâ—e field on the South and Gold banke on the West containing by estimation eleven hundred Acres of ground every year from the xxv of March untill the first of November by a Pipe of xviij inches square under the little River of Wisâ—beche at a place called New common into Enemeth field and so into Walsoken drayn and so to the Smethe
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
lost to the value of xl l. In this distresse the people of the Town fled to the Church for refuge some to Hay-stacks some to the baulks in the Houses till they were neer famisheâ— poor women leaving their Children swimming in their beds till good people adventuring their lives went up to the breast in the waters to fetch them out at the windows whereof Mr. Browne the Minister did fetch divers to the Church upon his back And had it not pleased God to move the hearts of the Mayor and Aldermen of Kings Lynne with compassion who sent Beer and Victual thither by Boat many had perished which Boats came the direct way over the soyl from Lynne to Terington 3 That the Creek which now runneth under Terington bank and underneath them hath within four or five years last past run half a mile off and that about xx years since it did run about a mile off 4 We think that the approach of the said Creek is the greatest cause of the decay and overthrow of the said Banks and that at this present the said Creek runneth where Banks have lately stood being xxiiij foot deep or more at a low water And that by the said outrage there are four other great Creeks worn in the whole ground to the Town-ward where there was Corn reaped the last Harvest whereof two of the said Creeks are fourscore foot broad a piece and neer xxx foot deep and are worn to the Town-ward within ten rod of the Indyke by the reflowing and ebbing of the waters from out of the Town to the Sea-ward and that these Creeks were so worn within the space of xlviij hours 5 We say that the Township of Terington standeth chardged with xiC Rod of Bank at xvi foot to the Rod which within 50 years last past cost making MMxx l. And that ninescore Rod part thereof have by the space of xx years last past been made with earth straw and wood at iiijl. the Rod per annum which is for every year 720l. There hath been more fourscore and two Rod part of the said Bank made very strongly with lime and stone which cost the first making betwixt xvi and xxl. the Rod amounting to MMMl. There was more six Rods of stone wall made which cost CCl. The yearly repair of the said stone walls having cost by the space of xij or xiiij years last past CCl. The repair of viiC Liiij Rode the residue of the said xiC rods cost seven years since CCCLxxiijl. and now upon this rage will cost more There are also two Inbanks lost by the said outrage which were made within ten years last past and cost CCCC l. Also one other Indike made the last year which cost making DXCviii l. and is now ruinated by this last rage to the value of Cxx l. There were also exposed to the Sea this last year without the said Indike Cxxxvi. Acres for which by the Law of Sewers an allowance of fifty shillings the Acre is and must be paid amounting to the sum of CCCxx l. 6 We say that the Salt Marshes of Terington are exceedingly worn away For the Kings Majesty had one Marsh in the occupation of Awdley Lad alias Baker or his assigns called the Gonge Marsh which by report hath contained about CCC Acres and within xxx years last past contained Lx. Acres which is now all worn to the Sea And his Majesty hath lost more within these xxx years C Acres of Marsh being part of other Marshes which the said Mr. Lad holdeth by Lease of his Majesty Which Marshes are as we suppose chiefly wasted or decayed for want of keeping and maintaining of divers Damms which are named and set down hereafter in the answer to the xiith Article 7 We say that the waters of Wisebeche and Elme have antiently fallen to the four Gotes as they now do and from thence they have fallen to the Sea within the memory of man more than a mile off from Terington Banks And it is very probable that in antient time they have fallen to the Sea much farther off But in our opinions upon our view taken they might be carryed at this time a neerer way to the Sea viz. from the four Gotes aforesaid over Tyd marsh and Sutton marshes unto a Creek there called Kings Creeke and there to fall into the deep called Lutton Leame and so to the Sea which is a shorter course for the River by vi miles and hath a much better out-fall 8 We say that all the Towns within the Isle which have been heretofore chardged with the maintenance of Wisebech River and such other Towns in Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire bordering on the said Isle between Peterborough and Somersham who have heretofore contributed to the maintenance of Clows crosse drayne or Wysebech River shall in our opinions be benefitted thereby And the Towns of Walpole and Terington proportionably but for the portions of money to be particularly rated upon every several Town we leave it to farther consideration 9 VVe say that we hold it convenient there be a new Indike taken at Terington for the present and better preservation of the said Town but whether the said Indike will defend the Town any long time except the waters be diverted and the Marshes imbanked we know not 10 Nihil 11 Nihil 12 We say that these Marshes following are very much decayed for want of making and maintaining of Damms viz between one Marsh in the tenure of Awdley Lad and one other Marsh called the New marsh being also the Kings Majesties being in the tenure of Sir Robert Wynde or his assigns there is a Creek called Hurdle fleet which it x rod broad and xx foot deep within the levell soyl being on the East side of the Ewe marsh and the Myssâ—e which Creek continually floweth and refloweth dangerously over the Marshes But in the memory of man it hath not been Dammed neither can we present who ought to do the same There is also another Fleet called Ground fleet upon the VVest side of Ewe marsh and the Marsh of Mr. Iudde which containeth in bredth 5 rods and in depth xvi foot within the levell soyl which Fleet was never dammed within the memory of man There is also another Fleet on the VVest side of Mr. Iudd's Marsh and the Marsh of Edmund Riches that is in bredth four rode and in depth x foot which likewise within the memory of man was never dammed which said Fleets in our opinions are great occasions of wearing away the Marshes there There is also a passage way or Chase on the VVest side of Ewe marsh which is called UUaterlese diche and on the East side of Mrs. Rachell and Anne Deane and the Marsh of Nicholas Iudde Which Chase is not maintained with Damms as within the memory of man it hath been to the damage of the Marshes but who ought to do it we are ignorant 13 Nihil 14 Nihil 15 We say that in our opinions it were very convenient
this time I suppose it to be though it have no date that there was a Survey made of the Marshes about Wisebeche as followeth whereby it was found that the Marsh called the Hey fen belonging to the said Mannour of Wisebeche and to the Towns of Leverington Neuton Tyd Elme and Welle within the liberty of Ely did begin at the Shofe an continued from thence to the Horshooe by the old River thence to the Ditch of Robert de Marshe thence to Wride by the Bank belonging to the Abbot of Thorney unto the two furlongs beyond the Knor thence to Orchard sled thence to Stod path thence to Wipe by Dede hee unto Mimers thence to West fen cote by the said River thence to Wisemouth and thence by Swerdesdelf to Great Crosse and from Great Crosse by Hiden hee to Quedale and so to Mercheford by the Crike and the Heyronâ— unto Eching hee and so all along beyond Heyront to Thermercote and from Tharmares to Stanimeres and thence all along farther unto Pealyswere and so by Hold Wellen hee to Milnested and thence to Shrewid hist where the said Towns ought to Common together with their Cattel Horn under Horn Saving always to the Bishop his Royalty and Fishing within the said bounds In 21 E. 3. Sir Iohn de Colvile Knight Iohn de L'isle Iohn de Dayvile Hugh de Walton Adam de Walsokne and Will. de Neuport were constituted Commissioners for the view and repair of the Banks Ditches and Sewers in the Towns of Dodington and Elme The like Commission in 24 E. 3. had the said Sir Iohn de Colvile Iohn de L'isle Iohn de Pelham Hugh de VValton Adam de VValsokne and VVill. de Neuport So also in 26 E. 3. had Iohn de Colevill Iohn de Pelham VVill. Muchet Iames de Grauncecete and Hugh de Walton In 32 E. 3. Sir Robert del Ilde Kt. Sir Iohn de Colvill Sir Iohn de Wilton and Sir Iohn de Vernoun Kts Thomas de Ba Hugh de Walton Thumas de Welsh and Nich. de Massingham for those Banks upon the Sea coast within the Hundred of Wysebeche and Town of Marcheford in this County And in 37 E. 3. Laurence de Flete Iohn de Wilton Hugh Lovet Iohn Hoode Will. Hyptofyt and Nich. de Massyngham for all those in the Towns of Wisebeche and Leverington with the Hamlets of Neuton Elme Welle Marchford By virtue of which Commission the said Laurence and his associates sate at ........ on Thursday next after the Feast of the Annunciation of our Lady and upon Inquisition made touching the premisses they ordained that the Pipe lying under the River of Elme at the house of Iohn Massingham should be repaired and that a Clow should be made to the end that no water might passe from that Pipe unto Ieccons gote but in a measure and under the Chanel upon penalty of stopping the said Pipe in Elme at that house And they also ordained that a Causey should be made in the Smal drove in bredth eight foot and in height three at the charge of all the Landholders in the Newland on the South part of the River of Wisebeche and likewise that another Causey of the like bredth and height should be made from the Smal drove unto the Land of Gilbert Hillary where need required at the charge of the Landholders in Beckdale field And that all the Inhabitants of Elme should at their charges scour repair the Pipe lying under the Sewer of Elme at Hillâ—â—â— dich to the land of Will. Porter And they likewise ordained that a Clow should be made in Elme at the end of Hillary dich in bredth two foot and in depth as much at the charge of the Landholders drayning by that Clow And that when the River is low that no water do run through the said Clow but in the Chanel so that all the Lands of Wisebeche lying there have no damage by the said water And if any one of Elme or any other person whatsoever shall transgress this present Ordinance that then it may be lawfull for any Inhabitant of Wisebeche to stop the water so running through that Clow. And they farther ordained that the said Bank called Hillaries diche should be amended and raised higher by three foot and made eight foot in bredth from the said Clow to the River of UUysebeche at the charge of all those that had benefit by the same Clow. And that all the Heddings of the Middle dole be stopt with Clotes As also that a sufficient Bridge be made in Hillary diche betwixt the Lands of Henry Fayer and Will. Loke And that all the Crests and Clotes be sufficiently made betwixt the said Lands from Hillaryes dich to Brig diche And they moreover ordained that a Causey should be made from the old River of Elme to the River of UUisebeche in the Bridg drove â— in height three fooâ— and in bredth eight at the charge of the Inhabitants of Elme and Brig field And that a sufficient Bridge be made in the Bridg drove at the end of Iohn Mudfish his lands at the charge of the Inhabitants of Elme And likewise a Causey from the said Bridge unto the Pipe lying over the River at Mesdrove which Causey to be three foot in height and eight foot in bredth and to be done at the charge of the Land-holders of Elme drayning thereby And that the Inhabitants of Elme should at their own charges clense and repair a certain Pipe in UUsibeche lying over Meesdrove under the Sewer of Elme running by Boulstre brigg And they likewise ordained that a Clow should be made at Boulsterbrigg in height two foot and in depth as much at the charge of all the Landholders there but not suffered to run otherwise than when that Clow which was to be made at the end of Hillary diche did run upon penalty of stopping up the Sewer of Elme at Boulsterbrigg And that a Causey lying in Reynold's drove be made from Flemyng's drove to the River three foot in height and eight foot in bredth at the charge of all the Landholders in Longland And that the drayn of the Vicaridge Lands in Wisebeche called the Werch or the Weares should be raised three foot in height and eight foot in bredth at the croft of Iohn Simonde at the charge of all the Landholders in Elme that drayned thereby And they moreover ordained that Meesdrove Bolney hirst drayne and Cromediche should be raised and amended in all places needfull by a Causey of three foot in height and eight foot in bredth at the charge of the Sewer at Elme and the Lands of Bolnehirst And that all the Pipes Bridges Causeys Croftes Clotes and Clowes which ought to be made by the men of Elme be repaired and amended and sufficiently made before the Feast of S. Peter ad vincula upon penalty of stopping all the Sewers of Elme lying in Wisebeche And that two Pipes be put in East field and
charge of each man according to the proportion of his lands And they moreover decreed that all the Sewers belonging to every hamlet of Wisebeche from the Fen-banks to the Sea-bank should be well scoured and clensed at certain times in the year by those who antiently used to scour them so that the water might have its course to the Sea without any impediment and that all the Bridges Clows Pipes and Gutters within every of those Towns be repaired and clensed well and sufficiently in all places needfull by those unto whom they belonged as aforesaid so that no loss might accrew to any person whatsoever for default of such repair And that all Banks called Wardyches betwixt every Town of the said Hundred should be raised higher repaired and maintained well and sufficiently by those unto whom they appertain as aforesaid viz. in bredth xvi foot and of a fitting height to stop the water of each Town from other so that no damage might accrue to any of them for want thereof upon penalty oâ— xls. to be paid to the Bishop of Ely for the time being And likewise that all the Crests aswell betwixt every Field as bordering on all the Sewers of each Town within the said Hundred should be raised higher repaired and maintained well and sufficiently in height bredth and thickness by those also to whom they belonged upon the like penalty of xls. to be paid to the Bishop of Ely for the time being And that no man thenceforth should presume to cut or cause to be cut any Wardiche or Crest within any of the Towns of the said Hundred under the like penalty of xls. to be paid to the said Bishop of Ely as often as there should be an offence of that kind committed And that the river of Wisebeche should be scoured and enlarged in all places defective from Gye hirne to the Sea as often as need required by all the Landholders within the said HuÌ„dred of Wisebeche each man according to the proportion of his holding And the said Jurors also presented that the Bank called Grenedyke of Welle which beginneth at the Stone Cross in Welle and extendeth to Sewalesclote in Welle should be raised and repaired higher than it was at that time by two foot and in bredth xij by the Landholders in Budbeche each man according to his proportion And that the Abbot of Bury ought to repair one Bank in Welle leading from Sewalesclote in Welle to Lakebrigge and make it higher than it was at that time by two foot and in bredth at the top eight foot And that the Landholders in Sayerfâ—ld in Welle ought to repair a certain Bank in Welle called Thornedyche from Lowndesâ—rove to the Stone Cross in that Town and to make it higher by two foot than it was at that time and in bredth eight foot And that a certain drove in Welle called Mâ—â—sdrove leading from Grenedyke unto Pyldrove be made higher by three foot than at that time it was and in bredth xij foot by the Landholders in Budbeche within the said Drove And the said Jurors also presented that there then was and had antiently been a certain Crest in Uppewelle called Pysdrove leading from Grenedike in Uppewelle unto the great River of Welle aforesaid which Crest ought and had antiently been made and repaired by the Landholders in the said Town of Uppewelle And they said that it was necessary for the safeguard of the parts adjacent that the said Crest should be made perfect and higher than it was at that time in the lowest places by three foot and to be eight foot in bredth at the top And that all persons having Landâ— or Tenements in the Field called Rudbeche in Outwelle and Uppewelle ought to repair a certain Gutter neer unto the messuage of Simon King in Outwelle aforesaid whereby the water of Rudbeche might run into the great River of Outwelle And they also said that for the safeguard of the Lands within the said Field of Rudbeche â—hat the same Gutter ought to be new made with Stone by those persons who had Lands or Tenements in the said Field of Rudbeche Whereupon the before-specified Commissioners did decree and ordain that the said Bank called Grenedyke as also that leading from Sewalesclote to Lakebrigge and the Bank called Thornedyche with the Droves called Meysdrove and Pyisdrove should be raised and repaired in manner and form above-specified by the said parties each man according to the proportion of his tenure as often as need should require and likewise that the said Gutter lying neer the messuage of Simon King should be new made of stone by the parties abovesaid And they moreover presented that the Bank called Elmfendiche beginning at Kekysmylle and leading to Benstedehyrne hence to Tilnâ—y hirnâ— and thence to Mareysdam in Elme ought to be raised three foot higher and to be sâ—x foot in bredth at the top according to an antient agistment And that the Bank called Redmoredyke in Elme beginning at Coldham Câ—ouse and leading to Fryday brigge in the same Town ought to be well and sufficiently repaired by all the Landholders in Redmoresfield and Walyschâ—feld by new agistments to be thereof made and to be made higher by four foot than it was at that time and eight foot in bredth at the top As also that the Bank which beginneth at Fryday-brigge aforesaid on the Westside of the River and reacheth to Maryesdam ought to be made three foot in height more than it was and to contain eight foot in bredth at the top And they also presented that the Bank called the Gebrynke in Elme on the East side of the River there beginning at S. Gilâ—s Drove and extending to Fryday brigge and from thence to Mareysdam ought to be repaired and raised higher than it was at that present by three foot and to be twelve foot in bredth at the top and this to be done by the Landholders in Oldfield and Needham according to an antient agistment And that the Bank called Nedham dyche in Elme beginning at Thornedyche in Welle and extending to Coldham Kyrfe in Elme ought to be repaired and raised higher in all the low places thereofâ— so that it might be equal to the Bank of Iohn Blewyk which is upon the same Dyche And they likewise presented that all persons having Lands abutting upon a certain Sewer in Elme which leadeth from the hades of the Lands in Nedham from Fryday brigge to Knytesdyke in the same Town and thence to S. Christophers Chapel in Outewelle and thence to the Clow at the Stone Cross in Outewelle ought and had used to repair and scour the said Sewer at the hades of their Lands so that the water of Nedeham might have its course to Wellescholle And that all men having Lands betwixt Fryday brigge in Elme and Grenedyke in Welle and betwixt Bishopisdyke and Nedehamdyke in Elme ought to make and repair one Clow as sufficiently as it could be done to stop the water of Outewelle in the Winter
Church of Helgay the Landholders late Massingham's and the Landholders late Bexwell's ought to dyke the said Sewer against the late Landholders of the Cellerer of Bury from the said Willow unto Pulverlake And they said that the Landholders of the late Cellerer of Bury ought to dike the one half of the said Sewer in a certain place called the Middyl in Creeklode against all men by the space of two miles The said Landholders of the Lands belonging to Ramsey ought to dyke a certain place called Balkwere abutting upon Gnatlode by the space of a quarter of a mile The Dean of Norwich the Parson of Helgay the Landholders of Massingham's and the Landholders late Bexwell's ought to dyke the said Sewer unto four lodes end The Heirs of Tho. Butler of Helgay ought to dyke a certain place in the said Sewer called Hogges myddle by the space of one furlong The King for Lands somtimes the Duke of Gloucester's ought to dike at a certain place called the great Were against all men by the space of a mile The Landholders of the late Monasteries of Castleacre and Wendlyng and the Landholders late Bexwell's ought to dyke the other part of the said Sewers against the King for the space of a mile Then the Landholders late belonging to the said Celerer of Bury ought to make a Shetting middyl in the said Sewer by the space of a mile and more The King for Lands somtime the Duke of Gloucester's ought to dyke a certain place called Chattyngs in the said Sewer by the space of half a furlong and more And the Landholders late belonging to the said Celerer of Bury ought to dyke a certain place in the said Sewer called Stream middyl by the space of a mile and then the Landholders of the late Priory of Modney ought to dyke the one half of Unge medyl in the said Sewer by the space of two furlongs against the Landholders of the late Monastery of Thetford The Heirs of Iohn Ashfeild the Landholders of the late Monastery of Ramsey somtime Nicholas Gunne's ought to dyke the said Sewer against the said Landholders of the late Priory of Modney And the Landholders late Iohn Ashfeild's ought to dyke at a certain place in the said Sewer called Lod were by the space of two furlongs The Landholders of the late Monastery of Thetford and the Landholders late Iohn Champayne ought to make the other part by the space of two furlongs The Landholders of the late Priory of Modney ought to make the one half of a certain place in the said Sewer called Bullings against the Landholders of the late Monastery of Ramsey by the space of two furlongs and more And the Landholders of the said late Priory of Modney and Massingham's ought to dyke the said Sewer called Credy-middyl by the space of one furlong The Landholders of the late Monastery of Thetford ought to dyke in the said Sewer called Iolles-middyl by the space of a mile The Township of Litilport the Landholders sometime called Nicholas Orme and the Earl of Worcester ought to dyke the said Sewer called New dyke unto the said South branch called Welney water by the space of a mile And that the persons chargable with the making scouring c. of these Sewers shall have the Fishings so far as they are so charged Also they said that there is another occasion of the drowning of the said Marish and Pasture grounds and of the whole Country of Marshland which is the decay of a certain River parcell of the North branch extending from Shrewysnest poynt unto Outwellsholl the which decay beginneth at a certain place in Outwell aforesaid called Saltham lake and extendeth to a place in Downham called North delf and so to Salters lode The which River ought to be in bredth in the narrowest place of the Chanel xxiiij foot and of convenient depth And of the bredth and depth aforesaid by the Inhabitants of Marshland and Wygenall from the said place called Salthamlake unto Salter's lode And they said that there is a certain Bank before remembred called the New Powdich set in Outwell and Downham aforesaid on the East and North part of the same River aswell for the safeguard of certain low grounds in Downham Outwell Wimbotesham and Stow Bardolf aforesaid as also of the whole Country of Marshland and Wygenall for and against the abundance of fresh waters descending to and against the same bank the which Bank beginneth at the South end of the Parish of Outwell aforesaid and extendeth South Eastward unto Mullycourt drove thence to Saltham lake thence to North delf in Dounham and thence to Salters lode and adjoyneth in part thereof to the East side of the said River and in part to the North side thereof Which Bank by all the limits thereof ought to be in bredth in the foundation xviii foot at the least and in the top xii foot And in height from the plain ground unto the top thereof from the said Saltham lake unto Northdelph six foot of lawfull measure and from North delf unto Salters lode in height five foot of like measure And they said that the Landholders of those lands in Outwell aforesaid in certain fields in the same Town called Mutlycourt field Sandy field Out-Sandy field alias Blewick field and Powdich field ought to maintain the said Bank from the Towns end of Outwell unto Mullycourt drove at their costs And the Dean of Ely for the said late Priory of Mullycourt from Mullycourt drove unto Saltham lake And the Inhabitants of Marshland and Wygenhall from the said Saltham lake unto North delph and from thence unto Salters lode c. And they said that the decay of the said Bank hath grown most especially by reason that the Earth taken for the repairing thereof hath been dyked and cast from the foot of the said Bank whereas by the antient Ordinances it hath been appointed to be taken on the South part and West part of the said River adjoyning to the said Bank in time of Summer and in the Winter upon great necessity the Country of Marshland and Wygenhall to take their manure in the common Fenns of Outwell and Dounham on the East part and North part of the said Bank in distance xl foot from the same And they said that there is another Bank extending from Salters lode aforesaid unto Dounham brigge and thence unto Stow Bardolf houses and so by the same Houses to Staple were in Stow Bardolf aforesaid made for the defence of the several and common grounds and Marishes of Dounham Wimbottesham and Stow Bardolf for and against the Floud and Spring waters coming out and from the North Seas at King's Lynne aforesaid the which Bank viz. from Salters lode to Dounham Bridge ought to be in bredth in the foundation xviii foot and on the top xii foot and in sufficient height for the defence of the floud And that the Inhabitants of Dounham ought to repair the said Bank from Salters lode
c. Whereupon complaint being made unto Mr. Justice Gawdy and other Commissioners of Sewers sitting at Sechie in Com. Norff. xi of April last past it was by them ordered 1. That the said Turks banke should be presently cut 2. That Small lode London lode and Mayd lode be sufficiently scoured by the Inhabitants of Welle and the Londoners 3. That Mayd lode be made xxx foot wide at the mouth xxv and xx foot at the Sluâ—e with Sluses to carry it and five foot in depth and so to be maintained by the Londoners as need shall require Whereupon on May day following the said Bank was cut in many places by reason whereof the water ran so forcibly through the said Cuts that for the space of x or xii days after it sucked in divers Boats and Vessels passing that way And it was farther presented that a little without the upper end of this Bank there hath been a Crest for people to travel on from Welney to Welle in the Summer time when the waters are down for which cause the said Church-path being about fifty years past made of more strength and height than in former times by one Mr. Beaupre the same was not long after cut down in many places by the expresse command of Bishop Goodrick then Lord Chancellour of England and Bishop of Ely In 44 Eliz. there was an Agreement bearing date the xx of March made by Indenture between Sir Iohn Peyton Kâ— Dame Dorothy his wife and Edmund Bell Esquire then owners of the Mannour of Upwell Iohn Richardson and divers others who were at that time the major part of the Commoners and Inhabitants of Upwell aforesaid and Iohn Watts Citizen and Alderman of London Sir William Cokain of London Skinner and others for the drayning of divers Fenny VVasts and Commoâ—s containing about three thousand acres lying in Upwell between a certain Drayn called London lode towards the North Maiden lode and Ship lode towards the South and towards the VVest adjoyning to and upon the Causey-bank extending from London lode to Welney and towards the East upon Denver Common for drayning and maintaining whereof they were to have conveyed unto them their heirs and assigns one full moytie of the said wasts Whereupon with the expence of great sums of money they did accomplish the work and accordingly had the said moytie thereof set out for them which they enjoyed for divers years till about the latter end of King Iames his Reign that the Fen-waters broke their Banks and drowned all again the Country people then turning the Adventurers out of their possessions which they kept till Francis late Earl of Bedford beâ—ame the principal undertaker for draining of the whole great Levell and did perform the work But afterwards his said drayning meeting with some disasters the whole Levell became totally surrounded again and so continued untill William Earl of Bedford and his Participants did in the year 1649. undertake to drayn it anew which in four years time he perfected as I have elswhere more fully shewed VVhereupon Sir Iohn Watts Knight and some others who claimed under the first undertakers before-mentioned were restored to the possession thereof At a Session of Sewers held at King's Lynne 1. Octob. 7 Iacobi before Sir Raphe Hare Sir Thomas Hewar and Sir Henry Spelman Knights Iohn Reppes Thomas Oxburgh Thomas Athow Rob. Gawsell and Richard Bachcroft Esquires and others it was ordained that the Decree made for the drayning of Needham fen and Buriall field the tenth of October 31 Eliz. should be confirmed in all points and an Acreshot of xd. the Acre imposed for the speedy redress of all defaults in the said Drayns Banks c. Certain Observances made upon the Marshes below the 4 Cambridgshire Gotes of the outfall of Wisbeche River and certain Creeks there with their Sands and Deeps by Richard Atkins of Utwell Gent. in June 1605. WIsbeche Chanel falleth from the 4 Gotes Eastward down by Walpole Marshes on the East and South to Crosse-Keys Corner alias Gates-end Corner and from thence passeth towards Tirington Bank leaving to the Southward an high Skore of Clay the only preservative of the Town And when it hath run East as low as against the Beacon then doth it turn flat North under the Sand called Tirington brest lying on the East of the Chanelâ— and so continueth Northwards by the said Brest by the space of 5 miles and there falleth into Blow deepe It is to be observed that upon every flow there commeth from the North out of Blow-deepe a Tide which runneth along Tirington brest on the East side and a Sand called the Thief on the West And out of the West from a Chanel called the Maids Eye commeth another tide and both these do meet within a mile of Tirington banks and so meeting do make great Seas there And many times when the wind is at West or North the Seas rise there higher than they do ten miles off at Sea These two Tides thus united with violenâ—e run right upon Tirington banks and but that God of his mercy hath there placed a Skore of Clay containing not above a furlong in bredth the Bank could not in man's reason stand the next 3 Tides This Skore of Clay by the fretting of the Sea dayly wasteth and the people of the place not understanding what a defence it is to their Banks continually bear away the same to the repair of those Banks never foreseeing their destruction if that Skore of Clay were once gone and the Sea at the ordinary depth of his Chanel suffered to come to the foot of the Bank Where Mayds Eye meeteth with Tirington deep at the very entrance thereof at a dead low water it exceedeth not 5 or 6 foot deep at this day and it hath been observed that in a great drought the whole mouth thereof of hath been stopped with sands but upon the next great fresh that hapned all those sands have been removed and the Chanel grown to the old course again Here is a special observance to be made Qui habet intellectum attendat Decursus namque aquae dulcis viam praebet marinae Oceanus interim ex duobus his canalibus aestuans fossata marina alatrandâ— alluendo inundando lacerando saepissimè gravissimeque ita excercet ut deficientibus aggeribus de quibus malè sustentatis multùm doleo de finali perditione dissolutione partium adjacentium verisimiliter quod absit formidatur nisi Hinc nascitur periculum onus illico acquirendum est remedium salus Homines verò patriae cum plerique inertes sint hebeti ingenio in se invicem nuper pro fossatorum sustentandorum oneribus obruentes de remedio ex sublatâ causâ ne somniare quidem possunt sed nec ingeniosos inertiamque suam desidiosam exosos inter se vivere vix sustinâ—re possunt The head of the 4 Lincolnshire Gotes is preserved especially in Summer by two great Finns brought
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-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-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-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
Pigs drove and Clows crosse to be made xi foot in height and xii in bredth by all the Landholders of the North side of Wysbeche and Leverington taking menure for the same at liberty and paying for every Rode of menure in length and bredth xvi foot and in depth 8 foot xvid. to the owner of the land 4. That Shofendyke otherwise called Harhold beginning at Clows crosse and extending to Goredyke in Newton be made in height 8 foot by all the Landholders in Leverington And from Gore dike to Tyd thredding in height and bredth as aforesaid by all the Landholders in Newton And from thence to Eegraynes in Tyd S. Giles in like sort by the Landholders in Tyd S. Giles 5. That the Conies be destroyed which do hurt to the Sea-bank beginning at Tyd gote and extending to Wysbeche Sluce 6 That a Crest be made from Fytton bridg against the gole in Leverington by the Landholders on the North of Wisbeche to keep the water within the Bay 6 That the Landholders in Iuly field make a Crest in Orech alias Mouth drove from the great River unto Black dyke in height six foot and bredth 8. 7. And that the Dean of Ely and Lord Berkley make a Crest in Tholomer's drove beginning at the Fendyke and reaching to Tholomers in height and bredth aforesaid 8. That the Landholders in Guyhirnfield do make a Crest from Blak-dike to Marytts brigge of the like bredth and height And from Maryts brigge to George Ramsey's house Corner on the East part of the Sewer to be made by the Landholders of Guyhirne field From Marytts bridg to Tholomers of the West side by William Butcher for his lands in Calves field so far as his lands do extend and the residue by the Inhabitants of Tholomer's drove From Guyhirn Crosse to Blakdyke end by the Landholders in Guyhirn field From Blakdike end to Mouth drove by the Landholders of Iuley field And from Mouth drove to Sondy dike alias Sorrâ—ll dike by the Landholders in Rummers field all of the like bredth and height 9 That the Landholders of Munthforth field make a Crest from George Ramsey's corner to Dods brigge Thence to Riche's stow to be made by the Landholders of Guyhirnfield William Butcher for Calves field and Munforth field From Riches stow to Belymyll brigg on the West side of the Sewer the Landholders of Richey field in height 4 foot and bredth 8. 10 That Tho. Gardner the heirs of Henry Repps Esquire the heirs of Laurence Cade and Agnes Talbot with their Coparceners do make a Crest in Ratrow from Tholomers drove unto Ratrow brigg in height 4 foot and bredth 8. 11 That the Lodebrinke in Murrow from Priors brigg to Mill lane end be made by the Tenants of the Dean of Ely Thence to Houshold brigg by the said Mr. Repps and Tho. Gardner and their Coparceners Thence to Belly myll brigg by the Landholders in Richey field in height six foot and in bredth 8. 12 That the Landholders in Willake and Munforth field make a Crest in Galles drove from Dods brigg unto Black dyke in height 4. foot and in bredth eight 13. That the Heirs of Talbot do make a Crest in Mampasse from Dodsbrigg on the South side the Common Sewer unto the East end of his Pasture of the like height and bredth 14 That Mil lane from Tholomers drove and reaching to Mill lane end to the Pipe in the Drove be made in height four foot and in bredth eight foot by the Dean of Ely and Lord Berkley 15 That the lands between Sorrel dyke and Bellymill dike from Belly mill unto Newdike otherwise called Sandy dike do make Sorrell dyke and Bely mill dike in height 6 foot and bredth 8 foot 16 That the Landholders in Sayrfield make a Crest in Wallys gate from Bellymill brigg unto Cheyneybrigg otherwise called Robbins brigg in height six foot and in bredth 8 foot 17. That the Crest beginning at Sorrel dyke and extending to the Church stile at S. Maryes ought to be made by the Lands lying between Newdrove and the said Crest in height 6. foot and bredth 8. 18. That the Landholders in Nymans dole make a Crest in a drove called Kilne house dike from Pigs drove to Cheyney brigg in height 6. foot and bredth 8. 19. The Bevys dike from Pig 's drove to Bevys crosse be made by the Landholders of Inhamfield and Newfield in height and bredth as aforesaid 20. That Newdrove be made by the Landholders of Newfield from Sorrels dike unto Bevys dike 4. foot high and 8. foot broad 21. That the Landholders in Hirnfield make a Crest in Fleming's drove from Bevys drove to Bowman's drove in like sort 22. That the Landholders in Longland make a Crest in Bowman's drove from Bowman's Crosse to Fleming's droves end in height 6. foot and in bredth 8. 23. That the Landholders in Briggefield on the North of the River make a Crest in Newfield drove unto Long drove end in like sort 24. That the Landholders of Fen-land make a Crest in Mill lane from the great River unto Barton lane in like height 25. That the Landholders in Harvey field make a Crest in Faulle lane from the great River unto Mill lane in like height and bredth 26. That the Landholders in Whitemathes from Barton cros alias Barton lane unto Wisbeche lode running to Callows bridg ought to make a Drove called Giggs drove in height 4. foot and bredth 8. 27. That the Landholders of Nyman's dole make a Crest from Barton Crosse unto Barret's Brigge in height and bredth as aforesaid 28. That the Landholders in Flatmore make a Crest in Netledyke lake from Leonards pipe unto Barton lane of the like height and bredth 21. That the Landholders of Gybesholme and all the Lands between Barton lane and Pycks make a Crest in Barton lane from the great River unto Gydges dike in height 4 foot and bredth xij 22 That the Landholders in Sondylond make a Crest in Pickards lane and Mill lane from Mill lane end unto the Dike between Leverington and Wisbeche in height six foot and bredth xvij 23. That vii acres called Gallow land make a Crest from Spittle Crosse uuto Whynney dike in height 6 foot and in bredth xii 24. That the Lowfieâ—ds on the North side of the River of Wisbeche from the Fendike to Bellymil dike shall scour the Lode from Belly mill to the nine hundred Briggs as need requireth and thence to Evildike brigg the nine hundreth to be Contributers And from Evysdike to the 4 gotes all the lands on the North side the River every man according to what he holdeth 25 That a Close Shut be made at Leonards pipe by the Landholders of the next fields Another at Evysdike brigge by the Landholders of the nine Hundreds to keep the water from running into the Low fields 26 That all Weres and Stampes from Guyhirne to Clows-crosse or elswhere within any part of the Fenn be xxiiij foot in
the Were and the dore and wider if need be so that no water be stopped or straightned 27 And from Clows Crosse unto the Northwest corner of Troknold in the river called Old Ee alias South Ee the one half of the said river to be clensed by the Landholders of Troknold and the other by those of Tyd S. Maries and Sutton and from Troknold field unto Marysh cote the one half to be clensed by the Bishop of Ely and his Tenants and the other by the Landholders of Sutton and Gedney it being the division betwixt Cambridgshire and Lincolnshire 28. That Guyhirne gole be stopped 29 That the Sewer called the New leame from Knar lake to Stanground being so grown up that no water can passe in dry years to the utter decay of Wisbeche river be diked 30 foot wide and 6 foot deep 30. That the Landholders of Wisbeche do make a Shut at Fytton brdg within the Town of Newton to stop the water when need shall be 31. That all the lands in Wisbeche on the North side the River ought to clense the high lode of Wisbeche from the 4 gotes to Eydikes brigge in Leverington in bredth xii foot and depth four and repair seven Bridges in the Town of Newton 32. That the great River of Wisbeche being greatly decayed raised and filted up by reason of the flowing and ebbing of the salt water for preservation therefore of the whole Hundred that a Sluse be made in the said River at the Horshoo in Leverington at the charge of all the Hundred of Wisbeche or any other place that shall take profit by it and to be made in bredth Lx foot and depth x foot from Guyhirne to the Sea 33. Also that there be two new rivers cast of each side of the said great river of Wisbeche the one to begin at Guy hirne Crosse and to extend to Kentoun's Corner the other at Tower house and to extend unto Kekys mill which rivers to be xv foot wide apeice and six foot deep and this to be done by the whole Hundred of Wisbeche 34. And that for the better preservation of the high Fen dike and the Countrey the Townships of Newton and Tyd S. Giles shall as oft as by any outragious tempests and waters it shall be in danger rise and come to give their attendance with the Townships of Wisbeche and Leverington to watch for the preservation of the same 35 That a Dam be made in the Lode at Hobs house to the end that by the stopping thereof in dry years the waâ—er may the better descend into the great river Leverington 36. That a Crest be made from Fytton bridge against the gole in Leverington by the Landholders on the North of UUysbeche that the water may run within the Bay 37. And that the heirs of Richard Everard Esquire shall maintain a dam in the xl acres lying between the lands late Geffrey Norman's and the heirs of the said Mr. Everard to keep out the gool water from drowning of Parkfield and UUratfield 38. That the Landholders of Harpfield and Sherefield in Leverington make a Crest in a place called two Lanes beginning at Shofendyke and leading to Blacklane in height 6 foot and in bredth 8. 39 That the Landholders in Southingham in Leverington make a dike called Overdyke beginning at Bellmylne Briggs and leading to Parson drove end and thence to Meysbrigge by the Landholders of Northinham And from thence to Blacklanffield otherwise called Lady outgote by the Landholders of Fenhalfield and thence unto Bond 's gote by the Landholders of Blacklanefield in height 6 foot and bredth xii 40. That the Landholders of Rymersfild in Leverington make a Crest in Pokle beginning at South-gate and so leading unto Birds drove in height six foot and bredth eight foot 41. That the Landholders of Newfield in Leverington make and repair a Crest in Alinne drove beginning at Bird's drove and so leading to Newfield pipe in height six footâ— and bredth 8. 42. That the Landholders of Pokefield make a Crest in Mill lane beginning at South gate and so leading to the Pipe at Birds drove in height six foot and in bredth 8 foot 43. That the Landholders of Richmund field make a Crest in Cattle dike beginning at Newer's dike and so leading unto Richmund pipe in height six foot and in bredth xij foot 44. That the Landholders in Richmund field and Newfield make a Crest in Turnmeredike beginning at Bond 's gote and so leading to Richmund pipe in height 6 foot and in bredth xii foot 45. That the Landholders of Longmeadow and Catfield make a Crest in Oldfendike lane beginning at Leonard's pipe and so leading on to Cakerow hill gate in height 4 foot and in bredth 8. 46. That a gool in Northinham and a gool in Southinham shall be agisted and made and the agistment thereof maintained by all the Landholders in Leverington the menure to be taken off the lands annexed paying to the Owners iiijd. for every Rod. 47. That the Landholders from the High Fendike to Newlane in Northinham shall make Newlane in bredth xii foot in the bottom and in height four 48. No stops to be made in those Sewers of Southinham and Northinham but that the narrowest place be six foot wide that Boats may passe 49. That the Landholders on the North of Wisâ—eche River who drayn through Leonard's pipe make sufficient a Crest beginning at Leonard's pipe and so leading by Popelane to Ives dike bridg in height four foot above the water and in bredth 6 foot And every one to keep their Heddings and their Cloues on the West side of Popelane according as heretofore 50. That the Landholders of Out Newlands in Leverington make a sufficient Dam in bredth 8 foot and height 6. at their lands ends at the North east side at the Windmill in Leverington to keep out the water from running in Wisbeche lode 51. That the Landholders of Southinham and Canonfield make a Crest from Dike corner unto Over dike in height six foot and bredth eight 52. That all the lands in Leverington ought to scour the high Lode from the Fendike unto the 4 gotes in bredth 12 foot and in depth 4. And all Stamps and Weres therein to be pulled up neverthelesse the Inhabitants to have a Common set in the said Lode at a place called Richmond greene from side to side according to antient old Custome Newton 53. That a Sewer be made in Longfield in Newton in bredth 8 foot and depth 4 between the lands of Ieffrey Colvile Esquire and Simon Trove and the lands of the said Mr. Colvile and Thomas Reynold from Mill lane unto Medow lane 54. That another Sewer be made in the midst of Longfield aforesaid from the lands of Ieffrey Colvile Esquire abutting upon the lands of Robert Roydan unto the aforesaid Sewer to be in bredth 8 foot and in depth four 55. That all Fish taken at the 4 gotes be converted to the use of the