A brief RELATION Discovering plainly the true Causes why the great level of fens In the several Counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge, Huntington, North-hampton, and Lincoln Shires; BEING Three hundred and seven thousand Acres of Low-Lands, have been drowned, and made unfruitful for many years past. AND As briefly how they may be drained, and preserved from Inundation in the times to come.  
Humbly presented to the Honourable House of COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT. By Andrew's Burrell, Gent.  
LONDON, Printed for Francis Constable. 1642.   

TO THE honourable House of COMMONS, Assembled in PARLIAMENT.  
GReat and Honourable works ought to be directed by great and Honourable counsels; And therefore to the intent this noble Enterprise may not be undervalued (as it is by some) I humbly inform this Honourable Court, that besides sundry attempts made by divers Noble men, who desired to improve the great level of fens; the undertaking was so well esteemed by King JAMES, that he really intended to take it into His own care; the diversion of His royal intention is unknown. After him the Late Earl of Bedford and his friends adventured great sums of money to recover them; But before their works were finished, they were circumvented and outed of all their intendments. The last undertaking was attempted by the King's Majesty that now is; but the greatest part of His money being misspent, and all his intended works misled by Sir Cornelius Vermuden's mystical design, His now Majesty hath declined His undertaking also, so that it is like to return to the now Earl of BEDFORD and his friends.  
This Noble Enterprise being thus misguided, lieth now before your grave wisdoms, expecting direction from this Honourable Assembly, and wanting a better friend to petition for them, (there being an Order made by the Honourable Committee for the Fens, the twenty five of February last, that all men whom it may concern may offer any other design; In regard a perfect design concerneth the preservation of many men's estates, which also may be ruined, impaired, or cast into eminent danger.) I am humbly bold to inform you, that unless this Honourable Court command the now intended works to be published to the several Counties (as was once intended by the Honourable Committee) so that the country's approbation, or exceptions may be valued (or at the least heard.) And that before the works begin, equal compositions may be made with all those whose Lands shall be impaired, endangered, or taken from them: many men may be ruined in their just Estates. There are two Reasons that make me earnest in this cause: The one is the former ill designing, and ill managing of the works, wherein wilfulness and Ignorance (in the King's Name) overruled the Countries. The other concerns myself, first, in taking a great part of my own Land (and some of that which I farm) from me, without satisfaction, composition, or leave to cut it; and which is much worse, by bringing all the rest of my Inheritance, and leased Lands (which together are not less than three thousand Acres) into eminent danger of drowning, by cutting my old firm bank, and exposing my Lands to be defended from the common waters by a hollow counterfeit bank, made of so light a composition, that it will both burn and swim.  
And here I beseech you give me leave to tell you, that for want of justice in ENGLAND, and Peace in IRELAND, my aged Mother; myself and four Brethren, have within a few years lost nine hundred and sixty pounds per annum: which when time will give me leave, I hope to prove before this Honourable Parliament; which makes me the more earnestly implore your aid in this my great necessity.  
To conclude, if this Noble Enterprise by your Honourable pains, be well designed, and so prosecuted; The Improvement will not only return a sufficient satisfaction to the adventurers, but the commonwealth will sweetly relish the great Improvement which will follow. But because it is not safe to be over large in great promises, I will say no more; but GOD grant the fens may in due time be made winter grounds, not impairing any private man's estate. So Prayeth  
Your honour's humble suppliant, Andrew's Burrell.   

A brief RELATION Of the true Causes why the fens In Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge, Huntington, Northampton, and Lincoln Shires, have been drowned. AND As briefly how they may be drained, and preserved from Inundation.  
BEfore I declare the Reasons why those Low Lands are subject to drowning; I conceive it is fit to discover to them that do not know those Countries, in what condition the Fens were before they were drowned: How they are seated, and how they are drowned.  
Mr. Cambden in his Brittania, folio 449. refers his Readers to William of Malmesbury, who reporteth the Lordship of Thorney in his time to be so fruitful and fragrant, that for delight it resembled Heaven itself.  
That Lordship is indeed a large and rich piece of Land, consisting of eighteen thousand Acres, or thereabouts, and pertaineth to the Earls of Bedford.  
But having lost the beauty lately mentioned (nay to be plain) being quite lost, and perpetually drowned, save only one hillock where the Abbey standeth, was the cause that induced the late Earl to undertake the draining of the great level. In which service, by reason of my employment under his Lordship in the year 1635. In deepening Wisbeach River, I discovered a stony bottom, upon which there was found lying at several distances seven boats, which for many years had lain buried eight foot under the bottom of the River, as it was before the late Earls undertaking. And it is very likely, that when Thorney flourished, Neene did run as deep as that bottom.  
After this discovery, it was intended by the late Earl that the River Neene should have been enlarged and deepned from Wisbeach to Stanground (by the tract of Mourton Leame) as now it is from Wisbeach to Guyherne. And I am very confident that if Neene were made a hundred foot broad, and so deep as it is in Wisbeach town, from Wisbeach to Stanground, Thorney Fens in a few years would be as fruitful and rich as ever they were in Malmesburies' time, whose story is,  
That they represented a very Paradise, for that in pleasure and delight, it resembled Heaven itself, in the very Marishes bearing trees, that for their straight tallness, and the same without knots, strive to touch the Stars: A plain is there as even as the sea, which with green grass allureth the eye; so smooth and level, that if any walk along the fields they shall find nothing to stumble at; there is not the least parcel of ground that lieth waste and void there. Here shall you find the Earth rising somewhere for Apple trees: there shall you have a field set with Vines, which either creep upon the ground, or mount on high upon poles to support them: A mutual strife there is between Nature and Husbandry, that what the one forgetteth, the other might supply and produce: What will be said of the fair and beautiful buildings, &c.  
This great level of Low-Lands, whereof Thorney is a part, is almost compassed about with high Lands, and lieth betwixt the high Lands and the Sea. The superficies thereof being generally as high as the superficies of the Sea in ordinary Tides, commonly called Neape Tides; But four or five foot lower than the superficies of the Sea, when the Sea is at the highest, which is in the Spring Tides, whereof some do very much exceed others, being ruled by the winds: Such Tides do happen twenty or thirty days in the course of a year; some years more than the most, and some years less than the least, as the stormy winds do force the Spring Tides into the Bay, which is betwixt Burnham in Norfolk, and Winthorp in Lincolnshire; whereby it is apparent that the Rivers which are in the Fens cannot empty themselves into the Sea, but at such times as the Sea floods are returned out of the Rivers to the place from whence they came; By reason whereof the Fens are often drowned, two, three, or four foot deep, according as the floods are greater or less.  
Betwixt the Fens and the Sea there is much good Land that is improved and defended by substantial banks made of Clay and Silt, which do preserve them from being drowned by the Sea on the one side, and the high land waters on the other: The common Fens being at the least five foot higher than some of those lands; so that the Sea cometh not near the Fens by six miles, or thereabouts.  
The fresh water Rivers which do pass through this level, are principally Owse and Neene: the rest are but branches that do fall into Owse at their several distances.  
The nearest way that any part of the River Owse doth run from the high land to the Sea, is thirty six miles, but the greatest part of it runneth fifty six miles, or thereabouts.  
The River Neene runneth through this level before it falleth into the Sea, twenty miles, or thereabouts. So much for the situation and condition of the Fens.  

The reasons why the Fens are drowned, are principally six.  
FIrst, because the superficies of the Fens lieth lower than the superficies of the Sea, when the Spring Tides are at the highest.  
Secondly, because the high land floods must of necessity pass through that great level of low Lands, having very little descent to enforce a stream from the high Lands to the Sea, but at such times as the Sea floods by retiring themselves do leave the Rivers empty, which many times is not above eight hours in twenty four.  
A third reason is, the Rivers through which the high Land waters should pass, are not large enough to convey them to the Sea, nor are they armed with sufficient banks to keep the Sea and Land floods from dilating themselves over the face of the whole level; and it is a hard question, whether the Sea or the Land floods are the most potent enemies to the fens; but this is most certain, that when the Sea floods and the Land floods meet, as they often times do, half way betwixt the high Lands and the Sea, in that very place like two powerful enemies joining in one, they do overrun the level, and drown it from one end unto the other.  
A fourth reason why the fens are drowned, is occasioned by the Sea floods, the violence whereof maketh so loud a noise at the first coming into the River Owse, that it is oft times heard by those that are two miles from it; and after the eager is past, for the space of four hours there followeth a mighty flood stream that runneth into the Country near forty miles; which waters returning more slowly, must of necessity have more time to empty themselves then was spent in receiving them; for those waters which the Sea forces into the Rivers, must all return before the high Country waters can possibly be admitted to pass. The disadvantage is very plain, the high Land waters coming from betwixt the hills are continually running into the Fens, and the Sea floods are continually interrupting and repelling them where they should pass out of the Fens into the Sea, and will not suffer them to run above four hours in twelve: which is one chief cause why the Fens near Ely are so often drowned.  
A fifth reason is the ill disposition of the Sea in those parts, which being troubled by stormy winds, do carry such abundance of Silt or Sand into the Rivers in the summer season, that for want of a fresh water stream to wash them back into the Sea, the Rivers are choked and lost; which Silt or Sands soon after the Spring Tides are past do lie dry, and presently gain a firmness, so that men and horses travel upon them; and in the beginning of Winter they do much hinder the stream of the high land waters as they pass to the Sea, until by many land floods they are removed and washed into the Sea from whence they came; but it is so long before that can be effected, in regard the high Land floods compared with the Sea floods, are very weak, that when it is done it is too late for the Country, being seldom wrought before the end of Winter: The drier the summer is, the more the Rivers are filled and choked with Silt and Sand against Winter; and it is commonly seen, that after much drought there falleth much rain, which oftentimes occasioneth the greatest Inundations.  
The sixt and last reason why the Fens are often drowned, is because there is no Land Eayes to receive the surplusage of the waters which proceed from rain and Snow falling upon the high Lands adjacent to the Fens, and to carry them into those Rivers or drains which are next unto them.   

Now I have briefly shown the true causes why and how the great level of Fens are drowned; I will particularly declare what works must be made to drain and preserve those low Lands from Inundation, so that the greatest part of them may be made Culturable grounds.  
TO remove the first and second causes of Inundation, there must be a descent gained from the high Lands to the Sea, which is a work of a double consequence, and indeed it is one of the greatest works which is to be effected. The waters in the Fens may be fitly compared to the beam of a pair of Skales when it hangeth level, which being raised at one end doth at the same instant settle as much at the other; Such a contrivement must be made of the fall that is to be gained betwixt the high Lands and the Sea; the one half must be gained by raising the waters next the high Lands by Banks of a convenient height, and by settling of the waters in that part of the Rivers that is next unto the Sea, which latter work must be wrougt by mending and enlarging of the old Rivers and drains where they are crooked, and where they are too narrow, or too shallow, and by placing of sluices to repel the Sea floods.  
To remove the third impediment, it is necessary that every River and rivulet should be enlarged to such a breadth and depth as may convey the greatest Winter floods the nearest way from the high Land to the Sea, and on either side of them to have a continued Bank able to keep the high Land waters from spreading over the superficies of the Fens; the Rivers being so perfected, there must be many drains opened which are now lost, and some new made for the leading of the waters to the next adjacent River. There must be also many division Dikes which will lead the rain waters into the neighbouring drains. The particulars will in this place take up too much time, I will therefore leave them to the design itself.  
There must be a large sluice placed upon the outfall of Owse that may be able to repel the Sea-floods, and keep up the high Land waters in dry Sommers; of which kind there is already one upon the River Neene, built by the late Earl of Bedford: at which time had Neene been enlarged to a sufficient breadth and depth, from the sluice to Peterborough, and the Banks continued and maintained on both sides at the same height that the Southside Banks were once made, having a Sasse placed at Stanground, as was intended, to keep all Neene to Wisbeach, the petty drains and division-dikes being also made, That side of the fens will be perfectly drained; but as it is, there is but a part of that work perfected. The making of sluices is very chargeable, and so difficult, that every Bank-maker doth not understand how to place them nor make them; but the advantage which they bring, being well built, cureth the fourth and fifth inconvenience, and indeed is very material to the perfect draining of the fens.  
The last work is a great work, and will cost much money: It is the making of so many Land Eayes as may receive the surplusage of the waters which do fall upon the high Lands that are next the fens, and convey them to the next River, rivulet, or drain, so that they may not offend the neighbouring fens.   

Having acquainted you with the situation and condition of the great level, and briefly declared how they may be preserved from Inundation, I am humbly bold to present my design unto this Honourable Court, therein expressing every particular work, together with the total charge and time when the works may be perfected.  
TO enlarge Wisbeach River from the sluice to Guihern, so that it may be twenty foot broader than now it is from the top to the bottom, and to take up the two ten foot Banks which do lie hid under water, on each side of the River one; and to leave a foreland of thirty foot broad on the south side from the brink upwards, being in all six measured miles, whereof there is one mile half wrought by Sir Cornelius, at the rate of forty shillings the Rod, is, three thousand five hundred and twenty pounds.  
To purchase divers Lands and Tenements which do stand upon the brink of Wisbeach River, and must be removed before the River can be enlarged, with the extraordinary charge of carting the earth out of the Town, may cost twelve hundred pounds.  
To make a wharf of Brick fourteen foot high, four foot thick in the bottom, and two foot thick on the top, from elm sluice to the Town bridge, being an hundred and twenty rods; the stuff, workmanship and earth work at the rate of seven pounds the rod, will cost eight hundred and forty pounds.  
To make a Cart bridge in Wisbeach Town in the same place where the old bridge did stand, may cost two hundred and fifty pounds.  
To remove the Bank which is now on the south side of Mourton Leame, so far back, that there may be thirty foot foreland betwixt the new Bank and the brink of the Leame, being ten miles in length, at three shillings four pence the rod, it will cost six hundred and forty pounds.  
To make Mourton Leame an hundred foot broad from Guihern to Stanground, it must be enlarged fifty six foot on the north side to the same depth which the south side now hath, which was six foot when it was wrought, being twelve miles in length at twenty four shillings the rod, will cost four thousand six hundred and eight pounds.  
To make the old and new works as deep as the bottom of Wisbeach River, being three foot and a half, and with that manure to heighten the Banks on either side of the Leame leaving thirty foot foreland to each Bank at forty shillings the rod, it will cost seven thousand six hundred and eighty pounds.  
To Pile the dike Ends, Swamps and low Lands which break off the Banks in many places, and convey by Boat so much earth thither as will make the Banks as high there as they will be elsewhere, which may be Eight foot, may cost three hundred pounds.  
To make an Indike on the southside of the south bank twenty five foot broad at Guihern, and fifteen foot broad at Witelsey high Lands, six foot deep at Guiherne, and five foot deep at Witelsey, at twelve shillings the rod, will cost one thousand nine hundred and twenty pounds.  
To make an Indike on the north side of the north Bank twenty foot broad at Guihern, and fifteen foot broad at Stanground, six foot deep at Guihern and five foot deep at Stanground, at ten shillings the rod, it will cost one thousand nine hundred and twenty pounds.  
To make the twenty five foot drain which is on the north side of the Leame, two foot deeper than now it is, will cost three shillings the rod, which is five hundred seventy six pounds.  
To make two Cart Bridges over Mourton Leame near Witelsey Town, each of them to have two peers and no more, may cost three hundred and sixty pounds.  
To make new doors for the Sasse at Stanground, with Spring doors in them that may open on a sudden; and that for the safety of the Country in times of danger, some part of the extreme floods may be turned into Witelsey Meare, and the other adjacent meres, which being empty, will receive a great water without prejudice to any, may cost fourscore pounds.  
To place a Brick Sasse on South Eay Drain near Guyherne cross twenty foot broad, the bottom to lie even with the bottom of Wisbeach River, with spring doors, that may open on a sudden to receive some part of a great flood in times of danger, the drains being empty; this Sasse may cost one thousand four hundred pounds.  
The like Sasse to be placed on Bevill Leame, that in times of danger some part of the great floods may be turned into March River: it may cost one thousand four hundred pounds.  
To make South Eay twenty five foot broad, and three foot deeper than now it is, being twelve miles in length, at eight shillings the rod, it will cost one thousand five hundred thirty six pounds.  
To make cat's Water twenty foot broad, and six foot deep, being nine miles in length, at eight shillings the rod, it will cost one thousand one hundred fifty two pounds.  
To open the Shire drain, and to continue it from Hills sluice to the South East corner of Sutton Marsh, being a mile and a quarter, at twenty shillings the rod, is six hundred pounds  
To make a Brick sluice twenty foot broad, with two pair of doors to keep out the Sea, and one pair to keep up the fresh Waters, to be placed at the South East corner of Satton Marsh, in regard it must stand very deep on a Sandy foundation: It may cost two thousand four hundred pounds.  
To bring the many crooked Channels which are in the Washes into one straight channel, is a work that must be first wrought with the Spade, and after that is accomplished, there must be many Jetties made with Piles, Stones, and Brushwood, to keep the channel straight from the lower end of Wisbeach River to the Sea deep, being a work of great consequence, it may cost four thousand pound.   

Bedford River.  
TO make Bedford River five foot broader on either side, and three foot deeper than now it is, and to cast all the manure which now lieth upon the forelands, with that which will be taken out of the bottom of the River upon the Banks, being twenty one miles and a half in length, at thirty five shillings the rod, it will cost twelve thousand and forty pounds.  
To pile the Dike ends and Swamps, which else will not be able to support the Banks when more weight shall be laid upon them, and to convey by Boat so much earth thither as will make the defective places as high as the Banks are generally else where, may cost four hundred pound.  
To make the two Indikes ten foot broader on the Fen side, and four foot deeper than now they are, and to cast all the manure that cometh out of them upon the Bank, at ten shillings the rod, for each Indike, it will cost six thousand eight hundred and fourscore pound.  
To make two Brick sluices at the outfall of the two Indikes, that each of them may have sixteen foot waterway, with a pair of doors to keep out the Sea floods, and a pair of doors to keep up the fresh waters, may cost two thousand four hundred pounds.  
To make two Bridges of four foot broad over Bedford River, one at Welney, and the other at Maney, and to make a Cart Bridge at Mepell, may cost two hundred and forty pounds.  
To make the West water twenty five foot broad and six foot deep from Erith to Plantwater, being nineteen miles in length, at twelve shillings the rod, it will cost three thousand six hundred forty eight pounds.  
To make a Sasse in the Northbank of Bedford River twenty foot broad, to be placed in the room of a little sluice at the entrance of the West water, being within half a mile of Erith: It must have two pair of doors against the water in Bedford River, that Boats may pass at all times, and may cost one thousand four hundred pounds.  
To make elm Leame forty foot broad and six foot deeper than now it is from Wisbeach River to March stream, will mend the outfall of Wisbeach River, and maintain the Navigation from Wisbeach to Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge, and Huntington Shires. The work is six miles in length, and will be very chargeable for the space of a mile, and may therefore cost five and forty shillings the rod, one with another, which is four thousand three hundred and twenty pounds.  
To make a Brick Sasse twenty foot broad, where elm Leame falls into Wisbeach River, with two pair of doors to keep out Neene, and one pair of doors to keep up the back water, may cost one thousand eight hundred pounds.  
To make two Cart bridges and one foot bridge over elm Leame, being made of oaken timber with Brick pieces, may cost three hundred and forty pounds.  
To make Witelsey Meare drain two foot deeper than now it is from Guyherne to the mere, being thirteen miles in length at four shillings the rod, it will cost eight hundred thirty two pounds.  
To make two Cart Bridges over Witelsey Meare drain right against Witelsey high Lands, may cost eighty pounds.  
These general works, together with a Land Eaye from Peterborough to the cross near Crowland and the division-dikes, will be sufficient for that part of the level which lieth on the north side of Bedford River, being much about one half of the level; Provided always that the River Welland be kept to its proper outfall, which may be effected by mending the new Bank that the late Earl of Bedford caused to be made from Waldram Hall to Crowland, and by maintaining the Queen's Bank at a sufficient height from Crowland to Spalding, which at this time is much settled and in great decay.   

The River of Owse.  
TO make a Bank of six foot high on either side of the River Owse, from Erith to Southery Ferry, on the South and East side, and to Salter's Load on the North and West side, leaving twenty foot foreland between the Banks and the River. These Banks are to be made of the manure which riseth out of the Indikes, being twenty foot broad, and six foot deep: either of these Banks will be twenty eight miles in length, and being for the most part Silt, will cost ten shillings the rod, which is eight thousand nine hundred and sixty pounds.  
To make a Bank on either side of the River Grant from Harimer to Clay Hive, six foot high, leaving twenty foot foreland between the Banks and the River. These Banks are to be made of the manure which riseth out of the twenty foot Indike, six foot deep, being ten miles in length, at ten shillings the rod, will cost three thousand two hundred pounds.  
To take up the Hards or shouldst which are in the River Grant, betwixt Harimer and Cambridge, being gravel, Sand, or Chalk, and nine in number, whereof some are long and some are short, is a work that must be performed by a water Engine, which may cost two thousand four hundred pounds.  
To maintain the Navigation from Lyn to Cambridge, there must be a Brick Sasse made at Harimer two and twenty foot broad, with four pair of doors, so that the Boats may pass at all times, which may cost sixteen hundred pounds.  
To make another Brick Sasse at Harimer on the West side of the great Sasse, sixteen foot broad for the waters of the two Indikes of Owse and Grant, with two pair of doors to keep out Owse, and one pair of doors to keep up the water in summer, may cost twelve hundred pounds.  
To make a Brick Sasse near Breame, sixteen foot broad, with two pair of doors to keep out Owse, and one other pair to keep up the water in the summer, to be placed at the outfall of the Indike, which will be between Erith and Breame, on the North side of Owse, may cost twelve hundred pound.  
To make Grunty Fen drain twenty foot broad at the outfall, and ten foot broad at the head, and six foot deep, being two miles in length, and a great part of that very deep work, it may cost ten shillings the rod, which is three hundred and twenty pounds.  
To make the new drain which is between Little-port chair and Turbesey, ten foot broader on either side, and four foot deeper than now it is, leaving twenty foot foreland between the River and the Banks; and to cast the manure which cometh out of the River upon the Banks on either side, being three miles and a half in length, at forty five shillings the rod, will cost two thousand five hundred and twenty pounds.  
To make a Sasse twenty four foot broad, at Little-port chair, at the lower end of the last work, for the preservation of the Navigation from Lyn to Cambridge, may cost two thousand and two hundred pounds.  
To make two Indikes of fifteen foot broad and six foot deep, the manure to be cast upon the main Banks, may cost six shillings the rod, is six hundred seventy two pounds.  
To make two Brick sluices of ten foot broad at the ends of the two last Indikes, may cost six hundred pounds.  
To make a Bank on either side of Milnall River from Prickwillow to Milnall, six foot high, leaving twenty foot foreland between the River and the Banks, being eleven miles in length, at ten shillings the rod, will cost three thousand five hundred and twenty pounds.  
To make a Brick Sasse twenty foot broad, with four pair of doors, so that Boats may pass at all times, and to place it at the Lower end of Milnall River, may cost eighteen hundred pounds.  
To make a Brick Sasse for the North West Indike of Milnall River, and the South Indike of Grant, sixteen foot broad, with two pair of doors to keep out Owse, and two other pair of doors to keep up the water in the summer, may cost twelve hundred pounds.  
To make a Dam cross the River of Owse at Turbesey to be piled and wrought to the same height that the Banks are else where, may cost three hundred pounds.  
To make a Bank on either side of Brandon River, from priest's Houses to Brandon, six foot high, leaving twenty foot foreland between the Bank and the River, being twenty miles in length, at ten shillings the rod, may cost six thousand four hundred pounds.  
To make a Brick Sasse at the outfall of Brandon River, twenty four foot broad, with four pair of doors, so that the Boats may pass at all times, may cost two thousand two hundred pounds.  
To make a Brick Sasse for the West Indike of Brandon River, and the South Indike of Owse, from Milnall Sasse to Brandon Sasse, sixteen foot broad, having two pair of doors to keep out Owse, and two other pair to keep up the water in the summer time, may cost fifteen hundred pounds.  
To make a Brick Sasse at Southery Ferry for the Indike which will be on the East side of Brandon River, and also for the Indike which will be on the East side of Owse, from Brandon Sasse to Southery Ferry, sixteen foot broad, with two pair of doors to keep out Owse, and two other pair of doors to keep up the water in the summer time, it may cost fifteen hundred pounds.  
To remove the Banks of Feltwell Cut, so that there may be twenty foot foreland on either side, and to make the drain two foot deeper than now it is, being five miles in length, at eight shillings the rod, it will cost six hundred and forty pound.  
To make an Indike of ten foot broad, and five foot deep on either side of Feltwell Cut, and to cast all the manure to the two Banks, at three shillings the rod, it will cost four hundred and fourscore pounds.  
To make two Brick sluices at the outfall of the two Indikes, six foot broad, with one pair of doors to keep out Owse, and one other pair to keep up the water in the summer time, may cost four hundred pounds.  
To make a Bank of six foot high on either side of Stoke River, from the River Owse to Stoke Bridge, leaving twenty foot foreland between the River and the Banks, being ten miles in length, at ten shillings the rod, it will cost three thousand two hundred pounds.  
To make a Brick Sasse at the outfall of Stoke River, twenty foot broad, having four pair of doors, so that the Boats may pass at all times, may cost eighteen hundred pounds.  
To make a Brick sluice and a Brick Sasse upon the River Owse near Mandlin Falls, that may have one hundred sixty foot water-way, with double doors in every Arch to keep out the Sea floods, and Land doors to keep up the fresh waters; and those Land doors must have Spring doors in them to discharge the fresh waters on a sudden, for the better maintaining and preserving of the channel from the sluice to the Sea. The sluice, the Sluce-pit, and the casting of water, together with the cutting of a new River to and from the sluice, and making of a Dam in the old River, may cost one and twenty thousand pounds.  
To make so many Land Eayes as may convey the downfall of all the high Land waters into their proper streams, so that they may not drown those Fens which are next them, may be a work of one hundred and five miles in length, considering one place with another, they may cost ten shillings the rod, which is sixteen thousand and eight hundred pounds.  
The purchasing of Several, through which many of the drains are to be made, may cost six thousand pounds.  
To make Horse-mills, Tun-mills, wheelbarrows, storehouses, and work houses, and to buy Spars, Deals, nails, Ginropes, and such like materials which will be used in this work, may cost four thousand five hundred pounds.  
The making of division drains may cost five thousand pounds.  
The salary of Officers employed in this work may in four years amount to four thousand pounds.  
It is known to Builders that after great care and examination of their intended charge, there will be some nails omitted. For which reason, if you please, you may cast the odd money into this estimate, and reckon the total charge to be one hundred and fourscore thousand pounds: and that with this caution, that the Springs of the years must not be lost for want of money.  
The works above mentioned cannot be performed in less time than four complete Sommers.  
The placing of a great sluice upon the River Owse near Lyn, together with those other works which are here designed under the title of that River, will drain all the fens that are on the Southside of Bedford River, so that the greatest part of them will be culturable grounds; and peradventure it will spare the charge of those Banks which are intended to be made on either side of the River Owse, from Salter's Load to Little-port. But the making of that sluice is a work of so great a consequence, that of myself I dare not absolutely resolve it. It is true that the Fens are drowned by the high Land waters only; yet an I have said before, the Sea floods are as Potent an Enemy to the fens as the Land floods are. In consideration whereof, my conclusion is, That the making of a sluice upon the River Owse, near Lyn, to keep out the Sea floods, will undoubtedly prevent and remove one half of that cause which occasioneth the drowning of that great and rich level.  
The objections that will be made against the making of that sluice will be three: And under favour of this Honourable Court, I conceive they will be weak in comparison of the great benefit which that work will produce by keeping out the Sea floods.  
The first objection is, the greatness of the charge.  
The second is, the hazard in placing of it.  
The third is, the oppositions that Cambridge and Lyn will make against it, in regard of their Navigation, which consisteth principally of three parts. 

The first and greatest is, whether the repulsing of the Sea floods will impair Lyn Haven or not.  
The second is, that for want of a flood Stream, the keels must of necessity make less speed in their passage from Lyn to Cambridge.  
The third and last objection will be, Some loss of time by staying the keels at the sluice, in regard they must take their turns in passing through it; which I humbly leave to the grave consideration of this Honourable Court.    
Being serious for the Fens, these objections were once struck out; for it is not a question whether this be the best way to Drain the Fens or not. These doubts therefore were only inserted in regard of Lyn Haven, and the Navigation from Lyn to Cambridge (as is said before.) But being awful of what I present to this Great council, I durst not omit them: And now having with all care and diligence finished my design, I earnestly implore your Noble acceptance, humbly entreating you to hear all, choose the best, and God grant the Kingdom may flourish in your Honourable Resolves.   
FINIS.