The Propositions of Sir Anthony Thomas knight, and john Worsop Esquire, for making of the bargain with the Country, and Henry Briggs Professor of the Mathematics in the university of Oxford, Heldebrand Pruson, Citizen and Salter of LONDON, and Cornelius Drible Engeneere, with the rest of the Undertakers for the draining of the Level within the six Counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge, Isle of Elie, Huntingdon, North-hampton and Lincolne-shire, on the South side of Glean.  
WHEREAS the Country have offered to Master Burrell and his Associates, for the draining of the great Level in the six Counties aforesaid, and for the maintenance of the work, being done, the quantity of 80000 Acres, of which he offereth to engage unto the Country but 10000 Acres for the maintenance of the work.  
We offer, that if the Country will or can allot the said proportion of 80000 Acres to us, we will undertake to drain the said Level, and will engage 15000 Acres, and a rent of 4 d. the Acre out of the whole 80000 Acres amounting to 1333 l. per Annum, for the maintenance of our work, and will give to every Cottager, whose house shall happen to stand upon any part of the Land allotted to us, the sum of four pounds towards the erecting of a new house, in some other part of the Common.  
But because we conceive it very difficult (if not impossible) to apportion, and set out a certain number of Acres, out of so many and various particulars, as must necessarily be contained in so great a quantity of ground, unless the same should be taken only out of the Commons, and the severals spared, which we cannot conceive reasonable, we therefore propound as followeth.  
1. FIRST, whereas by the Law, the Commissioners of Sewers have no power to make a bargain for any Composition of Land, till a tax be set, and not paid, at the day appointed: We desire that a tax of ten shilling be laid upon every Acre of land, that lieth under the high-water-marke, or is annoyed with fresh or salted water, or shall receive benefit, or ease by draining within the Level; to which low demand we are descended, for the ease of the Country, which tax must be paid at a day certain, and to remain in the hands of such as the Commissioners shall think fit to keep it, the Undertakers to have proportionably thereof, according to such parts and proportions of the said surrounded grounds, as they shall from time to time drain; PROVIDED that the said part be first adjudged drained, and exceed the quantity of 100000 Acres.  
2. SECONDLY, For so much of this tax, as shall not be paid at the day appointed; we desire of the worst Land, one half; Of the second sort, one third part; Of the third sort, one fourth part.  
3. THIRDLY, Whosoever shall think fit, to redeem such part or proportion of his own Lands, being several, as by the Commissioners shall be allotted to the Undertakers, shall (if he desire it) adventure seven shilling for every Acre of his Land, cha●ged with the said tax of ten shilling (the estimate being set down under his hand, of the whole number of Acres of his said Land) so, as it be within 5 of 100, and 50 of 1000; and so shall not part with any Land of his at all.  
4. FOURTHLY, Whosoever shall be unable or unwilling to pay the tax of ten shilling the Acre, or to venture seven shilling the Acre, and yet willing to redeem his severals, given by the Commissioners. We therefore make this offer, that he shall, if he please, have a defeasance, or such other security, as by Council shall be advised from us: That if he pay thirteen shilling four pence for eevery Acre of his said severals, charged with the said tax of ten shilling, after they are adjudged drained by the Commissioners, than he shall retain all his severals to himself. PROVIDED, that he demand the said defeasance, or other security, within one month after the Act or Decree of Sewers, whereby his Land shall be decreed to us.  
5. FIFTLY, And because we desire to give all possible ease, and content to the Country, we are content that one shilling of the tax of ten shillings for every Acre be left in the hands of the owner, and one shilling of the seven adventured, and one shilling four pence of the money due by the defeasance, shall remain in the hands of the owners, 〈◊〉 urgent occasion and necessity force us to call, for some part, or the whole, which yet we hope we shall not need. But for the further ease of the Country, we are content that they shall pay the said seven shillings Adventure, for every Acre of their severals, in manner and form following. uz. two shillings within one month after the tax is set, and two shilling two months after, and the other two shilling two months after that: one shilling being still left in their hands as aforesaid. And for the twelve shilling of the thirteen shilling four pence, to be paid after the work shall be adjudged drained, we demand to have it paid as followeth; uz. four shillings within one month, and four shillings three months after that, and the other four shilling three months after that.  
●. SIXTHLY, If the house of any Cottager shall happen to stand in any part of any Common allotted to us, we will build him an other in some convenient place in or upon the same Common.  
If any of these three particular offers be accepted, we will undertake a general draining of the Fens, and other Grounds annoyed with fresh or salted waters, within this Level, and will expect no recompense, but out of such lands, as shallbe adjudged drained, or such money as the Countries shall agree to give before hand by way of Adventure.  
We will undertake to make good and maintain for ever, at our own charge, all such drains and works, as we shall make, and will engage for the performance thereof, a reasonable proportion of Land, as shall be agreed upon between us and the Commissioners.  
That all the main works shall be made Navigable, and be built for the most part, with Brick and Stone.  
That all Owners of Land and parties interessed shall have liberty to adventure, after the rate of other adventurers.  
That we will undertake to perform all this within four years to be accounted from the time, the bargain shall be fully perfected, with the Commissioners and the country. So we receive no impediment from the Commissioners, nor the Country.  
Dated the 11. of january, 1629.