At a Session of Sewars holden at Cambridge, the xiij. and xiiij. dayes of October, Ann. Dom. 1619. before the reverend Father in God, NICHOLAS, Lord Bishop of Ely, Sr. Edward Peyton, Knight and baronet, Sr. Edward Radcliffe, Sr. John Cuts, Sr. Simeon Steward, Sr. Richard cox, Sr. William Wendie, Knights; John Gostlin Doctor of physic, vicechancellor of the university of Cambridge, Richard Foxton, Maior of the town of Cambridge, John Richardson, John Cropley, henry Smith, Doctors of divinity, M. Daniel Wigmore, Archdeacon of Ely, M. jerome Beale, bachelor of divinity, and Master of Pembroke Hall in the university of Cambridge, Robert Steward, Francis Brackin, Isaac Barrowe, Daniel Goodricke, Edward Fincham, Peter Franckland, Humphrie gardener, esquires; John Pepis, John Orwell, Thomas Goodricke; Edward Smith, Gentlemen, Commissioners of Sewars amongst others assigned: It is ordered as followeth: viz.  
WHEREAS The said Commissioners of Sewars, by their Act, Order, and Decree of Sewars made at their last Session, holden at Ely the xxij. and xxiij. dayes of September 1619. in observation of his majesties pleasure, and for expedition of the undertakers in their general Contracts with the Owners, and parties interested in the fens, and drowned Lands did provide and ordain, that the former order of Sewars( declaring the effect of his majesties Letters, and of the Letters of the right Honourable the Lords of his majesties most Hon. privy council, and the dutiful obedience of the said Court of Commission of Sewars thereunto, as also the careful provisions which in the said Order are made and set down for the better satisfaction, and content of all people whom it may concern) should be published in all parish Churches, and in all Courts leets, and Courts Baron, before the fifth day of this present October, To the end that all Owners, commoners, and other persons interested in any drowned grounds within the county and Isle aforesaid, having notice thereof, might apply themselves with speed to repair to the said undertakers, or their assigns, for making and concluding their contracts; That in default thereof, this Court of Sewars now assembled, might take further order for the said undertakers their speedy proceeding in their works according to his majesties pleasure, and accordingly the said general notice hath been given by the universal publication of the said order made in form aforesaid: Whereby no person, or persons, Lords, Owners, Commoners, or parties interested in the said fen, or drowned grounds, may justly pled excuse of ignorance of his majesties royal pleasure, and the strait command thereof, and of the just proceedings of this Court: And that the said undertakers having here made their appearance, and personally attended the making and concluding of contracts with the Lords, owners, commoners, and parties interested in any the said Fenne-lands, who of their own accord and discretions would so apply themselves to contract without delay; And this Court likewise( in a judicial and legal form of proceeding) haue now summoned and called the said Lords, owners, commoners, and parties interested by the name of the towns, Villages, manors, or Lordships, whereof they are to give their immediate and direct answer, whether or not they would contract, and agree to set out certain parts and portions of Land several and Common, in all and every the said towns, Villages, manors, or Lordships, to be allotted and allowed by way of Contract( according to the statute in that cause provided) unto the said undertakers, and their heires, and assigns for, and in recompense of their said worthy work of draining the said fens; And now at this Court, some of the said Commoners, and parties interested in Commons, and wast grounds, appearing before them, haue given their answer, that they are willing to contract, and are ready so to do; and others haue excused themselves by reason of the absence of the Lords of the manors, who are Lords of the soil wherein they haue interest in common.  
THIS Court being therefore resolved to confirm the willingness of such the said Lords, Owners, Commoners, and parties interested, as haue declared themselves ready to contract: And to reform the defaults of such, as after so public notice given( as aforesaid) do absent themselves through ignorance, or negligence( in further performance of their most awful obedience to his most excellent majesty, and dutiful respect to the Right Honourable the Lords of his majesties privy council their directions, and Commands, by which they are straightly charged and commanded, to expedite the Contracts with the said undertakers to their uttermost power, and authority, and extent of their Commission,) do order, enact, and decree;  
THAT for and towards the said worthy work of draining the said hurtfully drowned grounds( by cleansing the Out-falls of Neane and Welland) all, and every Lord, Owner, Commoner, and party interested in any hurtfully drowned grounds, shall pay to the said undertakers the sum of twenty shillings per Acre, vpon, and for every Acre of such hurtfully drowned grounds, as shall receive any benefit by the said draining on this side, and before the sixth day of December next; or in default of such payment, this Court will order and decree, such portion and portions out of the said drowned lands, respectively to the undertakers, and their heires, as shall be agreeable to the benefit which the said lands shall receive by their draining; And as it shall seem meet to the now Commissioners of Sewars, inhabiting in the county of Cambridge, and Isle of Ely, or greater part of them( with the assent of the undertakers) in a Session of Sewars to be holden within the town of Cambridge, or city of Ely, the same portion or portions of Land respectively to be set out before the work begin; but the undertakers not to haue any interest therein, or occupation thereof, before the grounds be drained, and then the undertakers to secure them so drained, according to the true intent of the Order made at Ely, the xxij. and xxiij. of September, 1619. which said Order the undertakers promised in Court they would observe, according to the true intent thereof.  
IT IS ALSO ordered and agreed unto, that Copies of this order shall be delivered to the sheriff of the county of Cambridge, or his deputy, and the bailiff of the Lord Bishop of Ely, to be delivered unto the bailiffs of the several hundreds, within the county and Isle aforesaid; And they are hereby commanded with all speed to deliver the same unto the Ministers of the several Parishes, Hamlets, and Villages, within their hundreds, to publish within their Churches, or chapels, the next Sabbath day after the receipt thereof; To the end that all Owners, Commoners, and other persons interested in any drowned grounds, within the county and Isle aforesaid, may take notice thereof, and repair to the undertakers, or their assigns, at the Bell in Ely, for lands lying in the Isle of Ely, the xxuj. and xxvij. dayes of this instant October, And at the falcon in Cambridge, the xxviij. and xxix. dayes of the same month for lands lying in the county of Cambridge, for making and concluding their Contracts according to their former offer, and the Order made at Ely, the xxij. and xxiij. of September last past: And that the bailiffs of the said several hundreds, shall truly certify the said Commissioners of the due delivery of the said Copies of this Order, at their next Sessions of Sewars, which is to be holden at the Guyldhall in the town of Cambridge, at eight of the clock in the forenoon, the ix. day of December next.  
Copia concordat cum originali.