C R  DIEV ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon or coat of arms  
By the King.  
A PROCLAMATION For the Preservation of the Great Level of the Fens, called Bedford Level, and of the Works made for the Dreining of the same.  
CHARLES R.  
WHereas the Great Level of the Fens, called Bedford Level, extending itself into the Counties of Northampton, Norfolk, Suffolk, Lincoln, Cambridge, and Huntingdon, and the Isle of Ely, or some of them, hath been drained by Our right Trusty and Well-beloved Cousin William Earl of Bedford, Participants and Adventurers for Dreining of the said Great Level at their very great costs and charges, and Ninety five thousand Acres of late Surrounded Grounds, parcel of the said Great Level, have been assigned and set forth for the recompense of Dreining and Maintaining the said Great Level, whereof Twelve thousand Acres then belonging to Us, Our Heirs and Assigns, and are now enjoyed by Us and Our Assigns, and the residue of the said Ninety five thousand Acres are enjoyed by the said Earl, Participants, and Adventurers, the which work being of public concernment, and great advantage, benefit, and profit to the whole Nation, an Act was made by Us with the Advice and Consent of the Lords and Commons assembled at Westminster, the Five and twentieth day of April, in the eight year of Our Reign, Entitled, An Act for the necessary maintenance of the Work of Dreining the Great Level of the Fens, whereby the said Earl, Participants, and Adventurers, were enabled as well to Levy Taxes then formerly imposed upon the said Ninety five thousand Acres, as then after to be imposed by virtue of the said Act, and the possession of the said Ninety five thousand Acres, settled and quieted as then it was; which said Act did expire the Nine and twentieth day of May, which was in the Thirteenth year of Our said Reign. And whereas in the Parliament begun at Westminster, the Eight day of May, in the said Thirteenth year of Our Reign, one other Act entitled, An Act for confirming and continuing an Act for the necessary maintaining of the work of Dreining the Great Level of the Fens, the said former Act was confirmed and continued until the First day of May instant; And whereas a Bill was preferred and prosecuted in Our House of Commons by the said Earl, Participants, and Adventurers, for maintaining and preservation of the said Great Level, and of all the Rivers, Dreins, Cuts, Banks, Sasses, Sluices, Tunnels, and other works made, whereby to prevent future Inundations, and had proceeded therein to settle and agree the greatest part thereof, but could not in regard of shortness of time perfect the same: And therefore both Our Houses of Parliament have severally by their Order made the Nineteenth day of May instant, recommended to Our Princely care, the preservation of the said Great Level, and more particularly by the Order of the House of Peers is further recommended to Our care the works there made, and quieting and settling of the possessions as then they were, until further Order. And whereas some attempts have been lately made by cutting of Banks, and forcible and unseasonable opening of Sasses and Sluices within the said Great Level, to the endangering of the drowning of a great part thereof. We therefore in pursuance of the said recommendation of both Our Houses of Parliament, and much minding the public peace and safety of this Kingdom, and to give all just and lawful countenance and encouragement to so public a work, and for support and preservation thereof, have already for the Government and maintenance of the said Great Level, and for laying and levying of Taxes, as well to be hereafter set, as now in arrear upon the said Ninety five thousand Acres, caused a Commission of Sewers to be issued under the Great Seal of England, for that purpose. And that so famous a work may not now miscarry, We do hereby publish and declare Our pleasure to be, That the said Commissioners do lay Taxes and Assessments upon the said Ninety five thousand Acres only, for support and maintenance of the works made for Dreining of the said Great Level, and upon no other part of the said Level. And We do straight forbid under pain of Our displeasure, and such punishment as is due to contemners of Our Royal Commands, all future Attempts, Disturbances, Interruptions, Entries, Forces, Riots, Assemblies, or any other unlawful Act or Acts tending to the disturbance of the public peace within the said Great Level, or parts adjacent, or the interruption of the said William Earl of Bedford, Participants and Adventurers, their Tenants and Assigns, or of Us or Our Assigns, in the quiet possession and enjoyment of the said Ninety five thousand Acres or any part or parcel thereof, or of, or in any of the Rivers, Dreins, Cuts, Banks, Sasses, Sluices, Tunnels, or any other works made for Dreining of the said Great Level, or interruption, molestation, or disturbance of any their Officers, Agents, or Workmen, in any of their works of the said Great Level, or collecting, or levying any Taxes, Arrear-Taxes, in order to preserve the said Great Level, until further order. And all Our justices of the Peace, Mayor, Sheriffs, and other Ministers of justice, and all other Our Officers, Military and Civil, and all Our loving Subjects, are hereby required to be aiding and assisting to the said Commissioners of Sewers, and such as they shall appoint, to see Our Royal Commands hereby published, duly observed, as often as occasion shall require, as they will avoid Our Royal displeasure.  
Given at Our Court at Hampton-Court, the Thirtieth day of May, 1662. In the Fourteenth Year of Our Reign. 
 God save the King.   

London, Printed by John Bill and Christopher Barker, Printers to the KING'S most Excellent Majesty. 1662.