THE DESIGN For the perfect DRAINING of the Great LEVEL of the FENS, (called Bedford Level) Lying in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Huntingtonshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, and the Isle of Ely.  
As it was delivered to the Honourable Corporation for the Draining of the said Great LEVEL, the 4 th'. of June, 1664.  
AS ALSO, Several Objections answered since the Delivery of the said Design: with Objections to the Design now in agitation.  
And as for the New Works intended in this Design, appears in the annexed Map; and the Charge of the whole Calculated, BY Colonel William Dodson.  
London, Printed by R. Wood, and are to be sold by Henry Twiford in Vine-Court in the middle Temple, and by Rich. Marriot over against the middle Temple-gate in Fleetstreet, 1665.   

To the Right Honourable, WILLIAM, Earl of Bedford, Governor of the Corporation for the Draining of the Great Level of the Fens, called Bedford Level.  
Right Honourable,  
I Have no ambition to appear in Print, but where His Majesty's Service, the Good of the Honourable Corporation, and the Improvement of the whole Level, and Counties adjacent, are effectually the Question. I shall without much difficulty subject this following Discourse to the view of the Public; and I take a Confidence to beg of Your Lordship, that it may come abroad under Your Patronage. I hope it will not be needful for me to proclaim my Integrity in this Affair, having had the Honour to spend a great deal of Time, and Money, in prompting it; and being at last dismissed for Causes, which in modesty I shall conceal. As to my Abilities of making good what I undertake, I shall readily submit my Reasons and Proposals to the strictest Examination; and if I fail in the Main, I shall patiently abide the Reproach: But if my Design shall be found in the end practicable, and not only that, but incomparably less Expensive, than any way hitherto practised, or propounded, I persuade myself, that Your Lordship will not repent the owning me in what I now say, or in what I shall hereafter do, as  
Right Honourable, Your Honour's most humble and faithful Servant, William Dodson.   

To the Reader.  
THis is the first time I have ventured myself in Print, and I might very truly take up the common Apology of doing it, to gratify the earnest desires and instance of certain Honourable, and Worthy Friends; (for I do not publish my own single Judgement) but I shall rather declare myself to be governed in this action, by the Love and Duty which I bear and owe to my Country, then by any private and particular respects: And whether my Conception be vain or profitable, let the Reader judge.  
The Point in Question, is the perfect Draining of the Great Level of the Fens, called Bedford Level; some are for cutting the whole Level into Dikes and Banks; others, to let the Sea to flow into the Level, to lodge its Silt, for the repairing of the Banks; besides several other ways, which upon Experience, and after infinite Charge, have been found fruitless at last. That which I propound is, briefly to effect the thing; and to make appear in this Discourse, to any unbiased person, the facility, and the certainty of doing of it; and finally, of doing it upon such easy Terms, that the whole Charge shall not amount unto much more, then hath formerly been spent in a Year or two Reparations: And for satisfaction herein, I shall refer the Reader to the Account and Calculation which follows.  
A MAP Of the Great Level of the FENS called BEDFORD LEVEL.  
The pricked Lines represent the New Rivers to be made in and about the Great Level▪  
By WILLIAM DODSON Gent:   

The Design, For the perfect Draining of the Great Level of the Fens, called Bedford Level.  By Colonel William Dodson. 
IT is not to be expected this whole following Discourse to be all new, since the necessity of making it to appear rational, compels me to a recital of many things as well known unto others as myself; and so to usher your judgements to approve of it as reasonable, (which the whole Level as an entire argument doth persuade) I shall extract no other cure for her present Distemper, than what Nature herself hath appointed for a Remedy.  
And, in the first place to acquaint you with the Circumference and Quantity of Ground I am to treat of; and likewise to acquaint you with the Soil, or Earth we are to work upon, and then the several Rivers and Rivilets which fall into, and run through this great Level, and how the unruly Tides do beat back our Freshes into our bosoms, when they are posting to the embraces of their Mother the Sea.  
I shall not divide this great Level into piece-meals, but as my industry, and thirty years' Experience and more hath taught me, I shall give you the Descent of each part of it, as it is naturally inclining to the Sea, as also those Rivers which Nature hath appointed to conduct the supernumerary Waters to it; and then I shall lay down the Rules, and way for the perfect Draining of this great Level, and at a small charge, and to take off all hazards of being drowned for the future, and also the vast expenses of yearly Repairs, whereby will easily appear the great advantage which will accrue to his Sacred Majesty, the Honourable Corporation, and to the whole Country, resolving as much brevity as the weightiness of so important an affair may permit.  
The Circumference beginning at Saltors' Load in Norfolk, 
The Circumference of the Level.  and so by the hard Lands of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Huntingtonshire, Northamptonshire, and Lincolnshire to Croyland, and so to South Ea Bank, to their Drain to Tidgoat, from thence to Wisbidge, so to Well, and to Saltors Load again; which Circumference contains at the least 120. miles, within which lieth at the least 400000. Acres of good Land, if once perfectly drained.  
The Soil or Earth is generally a black or red Moor, 
The Nature of the Soil or Earth.  the black Moor is naturally a rich Soil, the red is not so strong; but both the red and black being laid dry, becomes a perfect black mould, and good Soil: witness Thorney Fens, and all others which have lain dry for some years past. The Soil is good and profitable, and lies in most part of the Fens a foot deep, and in some places more, though Nature and Art have taken their way through the worst of our Fens, 
Morton's Leam and Bedford River.  I mean the two Rivers of Morton's Leame, and Bedford River, (the last made by the Right Honourable Francis Earl of Bedford, and the first by that Reverend and Learned Prelate Bishop Morton, were the two most famous Works as ever were made in this great Level, as useful to the draining of it; but the banks being made of this light Moor, 
The light Moor not good for banking.  (which could not possibly be avoided) which now being rotten with long lying dry, hath lost its tufness, and is become a light black mould, and yields to those waters lying on the banks, and makes the banks mere water, by which means they have lost their former strength to withstand a reasonable Flood.  
To and through this great Level runneth certain Rivers and Rivilets, 
The River Welland excepted in this Design.  I exclude the River Welland, as not to meddle with it in this Design; and those which I call Rivers, (which we have to deal withal) are new Nean, alias, Morton's Leame, Bedford River, and great Owse: The River Nean is very considerable, it runs out of Northamptonshire, and brings many Rivers and Rivilets which fall into it; and with reason we may believe Northamptonshire to be the highest County in all England, there being no River which runs into it, but many which run out of it East, West, North, and South.  
Bedford River is equal with Nean, 
Bedford River.  and brings with it all those Rivers and Brooks out of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.  
Old Owse I call it a considerable River for those of Grant, 
Old Owse.  Milnall, Brandon, and Stoke makes Owse (before it meet with Bedford River) at Saltors' Load, a great, and considerable River.  
As for South Ea, 
South Ee, Whittlesy Dike, March River, Bevils leam etc. useful in draining.  Peakirk Drain, Bevils Leam, Whittlesey Dike, Swards Delft, Elm Leam, March River, Ox-willow Load, Sandy Dike, Downham Load, Dr. William's Load, Reach Load, Fordhorm Load, and Samms Cut, with many other small Creeks, which are no way prejudicial to our Work, but much to our benefit, and ease, and will be much for our use.  
As for the several Descents in this Level, 
The descent of Burrough and Thorney Fen, &c  you shall find them thus, from the height of Burrough Fens, and Thorney Fens, and from Bull Dike, and Catt water; the descent lies to the lowest part of Thorney Fens by Clows Cross, and Murrow Plash.  
All those Fens and Grounds from Stanground, 
The descent of Stanground, Whittelsey Ug Ramsey etc. Mare  Whittlesey Mare, Ug Mare, and Ramsey Mare, Kings Delft, West Fen, all those Grounds or Fens of Ramsey, Pedley, Doddington, Chatris, and March; all those Grounds lie descending to the River of March, and the West Water.  
All those Grounds and Fens which lie East of the West Water to the North Bank of Bedford River, 
The descent of the Grounds on the East of the West water to the North Bank of Bedford River.  have their Descent inclining to Well River, and Welney to the Po Dike.  
All those Fens and Grounds lying Southeast of Bedford River, have still their descent Eastward to Littleport, and to Priest-houses, and so into great Owse. 
The descent of the grounds South East of Bedford River.   
Yet though it be true (as it is) that all those Lands and Fens from Morton's Leam to the River Owse, have their Descent still Eastward, yet is as true, it is not above half a foot in a mile, and that is no considerable Draught to convey our downfall to our two Rivers of great Owse and Morton's Leam, which upon necessity must drain the Country; but if Morton's Leam and great Owse cannot be brought to run so low, as to gain a Draught into them, we cannot be perfectly drained: but this without all doubt may be effected.  
Those Fens and Grounds which lie on the East side of great Owse in Norfolk and Suffolk, 
The descent of the Fens on the East side of great Owse.  with Sohame Fens, Swaffam Fens, Ditton, Burwell Fens, Isesam, Milnall, Whelps Moor, and the Fens of Feltwell have their Descent West to the River Owse, but is little or nothing. Yet there is no doubt but to gain these Rivers two foot fall into the River Owse, and that Sohame Mere shall never come within four foot of its former height in ordinary Floods.  
For besides the Sock, and down-fall into this Level, we have three considerable Rivers which runs through it into the Sea. 
Three considerable Rivers run through the Level  Morton's Leame, whose way is through Wisbidge, and so into the Washeses, and Bedford River, and great Owse, which join together at Saltors' Load, 
The Design of former Undertakers.  and run entire to Lynne, and fall into the Sea below the Washeses. There hath been great industry, and much money expended in making of great and vast Banks to keep those Rivers within their Bounds, and to carry our Freshes to run at that height as to ride the Tides; and this hath been the Design of all the Undertakers since Lyn Law was first made: but if ever they had found the Descent (which they hoped for) the Tide (their greatest enemy) could not then have possibly prevailed to flow into the very Centre of this great Level every twelve hours, 
The Tide a great enemy.  though the late made new Rivers do run high by reason of the imbanking and the flux of the Tide.  
One other enemy (though not so dangerous) to this great Level, 
Want of Freshes a great enemy.  is, the want of Freshes in the Summer to water the Grounds and Cattle, 
The light fuzzy Moor to make Ba●ks withal, another enemy.  and to scour the Outfalls. And the other enemy is the fuzzy light Moor to make Banks withal, which moorish Earth hath deceived all the worthy Undertakers from the beginning, and therefore is not to be trusted any more.  
Neither is it without reason, that those three I last named are such obstacles to the perfecting of this great work of Draining this Level. 
Reason's why the Tide is an enemy to Draining.  For if we consider the Floods which fall down into this Great Level, intending for the Sea, which for want of descent cannot run quick, and the Tide every twelve hours meets our Freshes, and beats them back; the Tide by reason of his great ascent at Sea, flows quick into the very bowels of our Fens, so far as above Welney upon Bedford River, which is no less than eight and twenty miles from the Sea: And likewise it flows above Guyheirne in Morton's Leame into the midst of our Fens; and it must be confessed the Tide flows into us three hours and an half, and we allow four hours for the same quantity of water to ebb back again, so that at the most we have but four hours and an half in twelve hours, to run out our Freshes which drown us.  
Thus the Floods increase in our Rivers between the Banks, and riseth, and lieth on them at a great height, and as I have said, these moory Banks will deceive all that trust in them: It is confessed that the moor Earth is tough so long as it lies wet, but is good no longer than till it is rotten, and that it will be if it lie dry four or five Summers, 
Reasons against the Banking with light Moor.  and then it sinks, and becomes a light black mould; and if it chance that a Flood lie upon it but three or four days, it soaks in the water and becomes sobbed, and is neither Earth nor water, and then it leaves you when you have most need of it, and drowns the Fens more, then if there were no Banks at all.  
The third enemy is the want of Freshes in the Summer, which doth not only make the Country, and the Cattle miserable, but the Outfalls will be destroyed for want of water to scour them in dry Summers: 
Reason's why the want of Freshes is a great enemy to Draining.  Nor would I have the late dripping Summers be an encouragement, that the Outfalls are so good that there is no cause to fear them, (may they always continue good I wish) but if the Outfalls once fail, it will be a greater inconvenience than the breaking of a Bank only, my fear hereof is just enough; In a dry Summer you have none, or very few Freshes, either by the River Morton's Leame, or great Owse, and ye are sure to be visited with the Tide every twelve hours; and then I may tell you, if you have Northernly winds, you will have such foul waters from the Sea, that quickly will lodge up your Out-fall at Wisbidge, and Lyn, by reason your Rivers in those places are wider than they ought to be, (which may be helped by this my Design) so that the Flux and Re-flux of the Sea, doth not grind but feed.  
The River Owse which hath its Out-fall at Lynne, 
The River Owse much obstructed with shelves of Sand below Lyn.  is for some miles at Sea below that Town much obstructed by several shelves of sands, which are movable as the wind and sea forces them; and yet the winter Chennels are kept by the winter Floods; but in Summer our want of Freshes or Floods make us not able to maintain our winter Chennel, and so we lose it till our first Floods in November (or thereabouts) can gain their own Chennel again; in the mean time all our Banks and Works are in great danger, and the poor Countryman in hazard of utter ruin, and the Navigation of Lynne very uncertain and dangerous; the same hazards in all respects are in the River of Wisbidge through the Washeses to the Sea.  
And now to prevent these dangers, and to make our Fens and Levelly secure, without trusting to the hazard of our Outfalls without us, or the breaking, or the sinking of the Banks within us, the taking away all those great charges of maintaining and repairing all those Banks made to hold up our Inland Floods at such a vast height as to rid the Spring tides (as I have said before) I dare be bold to say, that twenty years hence for want of Earth at a reasonable distance, the Banks will cost more in one year then now they do in four; I wish the Charge of those Fen Lands may not exceed the Profit, as some of them have already done, and much good Land without the Level in likelihood to come into the same condition if not prevented.  
When I was DIRECTOR, I would have cut through Murrow-gate to the Horseshooe at Wisbidge, 
Murrow-gate cut to the Horseshooe at Wisbidge.  which would have cost less than the widening of that River, and there to have fallen into Wisbidge River close to the Apron of that gallant Sleuce then standing; and so far I had (as I did then believe) obtained the Adventurers to consent unto, and they at a general meeting at Wisbidge 1649. did make a personal view of the place, and found what I affirmed to be truth; and this River I would have completed by reason of the great benefit it would have been to all the North-side of Wisbidge, and other parts adjacent, to drain them, and a certain Slaker in all Floods to ease Morton's Leam and all the Banks upon it upon all occasions.  
Then take the River Owse, 
The River Owse and Morton's Leam made to run quick below Downham and Wisbidge.  and all the Branches which fall into it before it come to Downham-Bridge, and likewise cast your eye upon the River called Morton's Leam as it runs at the Horseshooe below Wisbidge, to meet there with my new River that is to be made through Murrow-gate; and this is the first part of my Design, to bring all our Floods and Freshes to run quick below Downham, and Wisbidge.  
In the next place, to give more particular satisfaction, I question not but all rational men will grant, and allow, that if by this Design, those two considerable Rivers of great Owse, and Morton's Leam, can be be brought to run all the year, and every hour of the year, in two great Rivers at Downham-Bridge, and Wisbidge-Bridge, notwithstanding the Spring Tides or the Ebb Tides; they must needs confess that they then believe they shall be perfectly drained, yet they cannot believe this can be done, 
The Tide stopped  but that the Tide must be stopped; and it is true, and good reason for it; which as I said before, flows into us every twelve hours into the midst of our Fens, and flows no less than three hours and an half, or four, and then four hours to ebb back again, so shall we have not above four hours in twelve for our Freshes to run out of the Level.  
But it is intended, and will be made good by this my Design, the Freshes shall run quick all the year, and every hour of the year, at Downham-Bridge, and Wisbidge, if they may have leave by a Sleuce below them some miles distant; and though I name this last, 
The great Sluice to be at German-Bridge, or near Magdelen in Norfolk.  yet it is the first thing to be perfected, that is by a substantial large Sleuce made at German-bridge, or Magdelen in Norfolk; and near unto it one Soss to maintain Navigation, from Lynne to Cambridge, Wisbidge, and to all other places formerly used into the adjacent Countries: And this being once substantially performed, the whole work of Draining is in a manner perfected.  
And as for the River of Wisbidge, and the Slaker through Murrow-gate, 
A new River to be cut through Marsland.  I carry them jointly in a River through Marsland, from the Horseshooe to the great Sleuce at German-Bridge, or near Magdelen, by sufficient Banks of good solid Earth; then have I sufficient water way for all those Freshes to the Sea, which will force good Navigation, and maintain the Chennel Winter, and Summer, to the great benefit of all those Sea men which use that Port of Lynne; and all the Rivers in and out of the Level will be much bettered, and improved.  
As for the slighting any Banks upon Bedford River, 
No Banks to be slighted.  or Morton's Leam, 
A small new bank at Guyheirne.  or to make new ones, (except a small one at Guyheirne) it is no part of my Design, but I do wish those Banks which are upon Bedford River and Morton's Leam, had not been placed at so great a distance one from another.  
And as for the Sosses at Stanground, 
The Sosses at Stanground, Erith Well, etc. are useful.  Erith, Well, and others, they are of singular good use, yet I do affirm, there will be a necessity of having a Soss, and Sleuce near Ditton, otherwise the Navigation to Cambridge is lost, 
A Soss and Sluice at Ditton.  by reason the waters will be so low both Winter and Summer in the River Owse, that the Rivulets of Millnall, Brand, and Stoke, must be either held up or bottomed.  
The like it will be with Morton's Leam from Guyheirne to Peterborough, 
A Soss and Sleuce to be made at Guyheirne.  otherwise it will not be always navigable either Winter or Summer, unless we keep the waters in the new River through Marsland and in Wisbidge Town at a great height always. 
The use of that Sluice, and of that at Murrow Plash.  This Sluice, and that at Murrow Plash, commands the River through Wisbidge, and that through Murrow-gate with your new River through Marsland, by the help of the great Sluice and Soss at Germane, that if need should require, would lay the very soles dry, insomuch that at all times you drain the North-side of Wisbidge, 
North-side of Wisbidge drained with the Smee, and the great Common in Marsland.  and parts adjacent, the Smee, and the great Common in Marsland: neither will there be any need of raising the Bank from Guyheirne to Bevis-hall, for the security of the North-side of Wisbidge, whereof many complaints have been made; for here that great River will run low in a great flood with great swiftness.  
One other small work I would do, 
A small Cut from Owse to Little-port Chair.  which is a Cut from the River Owse near Ely, to the Chair at Little-port, which will be about three miles, and this I would make fifty foot wide without Banks; this is to help old Owse to take off a sudden flood, which otherwise will hang long upon Water-beach, Swaffam Fens, the Phillips, Stretham, and other Grounds adjacent, being the shelves, and stops in the River Owse are taken away.  
Croyland had always Navigation into Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire, and all other parts of this great Level, and from thence to Boston, Lynne, and unto the City of York, which is now obstructed. I mention this place, by reason I know it is very easy to make from this Town good Navigation to Stampford, 
The benefit of Navigation through Croyland.  to the great benefit of that Town, and Country, likewise to Boston, Lynne, and other parts; the Honourable Earl of Bedford is no small loser for want of this Navigation through this Town of Croyland into the River Welland, and his Tenants at great charges to cart their Corn and other commodities to the River Welland, and elsewhere, to the damage of the Earl, and his Tenants, I do verily believe Five hundred pounds per annum. But I shall say no more to this, but I know the want of Navigation makes many Towns poor, and the having of it makes many Towns and Country's rich; and the making of this Navigation good is performed at a small and inconsiderable charge, 
Great Benefit to Thorney Lordship.  and without any danger of drowning of Thorney Grounds (as some have alleged) but will prove beneneficial to all that part of the Country in a dry Summer.  
And as for Sheir-Drain I have no intentions of slighting it, 
Sheir-drain not to be slighted.  it is good to convey fresh waters into the Country, and of great use and benefit unto Holland.  
It may now be conjectured what my Design is for the perfect Draining this great Level; and lest I should be mistaken, I will farther express myself: It is to cause our Waters and Floods to run low and quick in our two great Rivers of Owse and new Morton's Leam; for if once these two great Rivers be brought to run low, the Fens cannot be drowned, nor can any other River or Rivelet in our Fens run high.  
Likewise, as for the Dimensions of these new Works I have named, and what water way I would make both in the new Rivers, and through our new Sleuces, I shall give you particularly; and in the close of this Design, I shall give you my Reasons, and show you the Benefit, the King, Kingdom, Undertakers, and the Country will receive by this my Design, and way of Draining. And likewise give you my Answers to divers Objections that are, or may be made, either out of peevishness or ignorance, self-ends or malice, whereby to obstruct the carrying on so Honourable a work, as the perfect Draining this great Level.  
The River through Marsland from the Horseshooe at Wisbidge to German-Bridge, 
The Dimention of the River through Marsland.  or near Magdelen in Norfolk, will be in length about eight miles; I make this River six foot deep to a perfect sole quite through: likewise I make it eighty foot wide, yet inclining wider toward the new Sleuce, to help the Draught of this River. I leave Foreland to this Bank to the River-ward twelve foot, the seat of this bearing Bank shall be five and forty foot; I leave Forelands' of this my bearing Bank to the Land-ward eight foot; the two In-drains▪ I make both of them eighteen foot wide, and six foot deep; by which means I gain good firm Earth out of the River, and the two In-drains, to make my bearing Bank twelve foot high from the superfices of the Soil, and ten foot broad on the top of the Bank, which being flagged to the River-ward must needs grow well.  
As for the Slaker through Murrow-gate I held it always very necessary, 
The Slaker through Murrow-gate.  by reason the River of Wisbidge was and is so full of short Angles, and every shoulder of those short Angles checks our Freshes running to the Sea, and that small neck of that River at Guyheirne too hard to be found by such a sea of Freshes between those Banks to Whittlesey, that the waters grope the way to find that small quill to creep out at; wherefore I make from Guyheirne to Murrow-plash, which is two miles, 
A single Bank from Guyheirn to Murrow-Plash, 2 miles.  one single Bank, which is on the Southside of that Bank that now is to Murrow-plash, to stand with it equal in height, and that old River to be bottomed six foot to raise that Bank to the Plash, and to have there a convenient Sluice with sufficient water-way into our Slaker in Murrow-gate; this River or Slaker from Murrow-plash to the Horseshooe is about four miles and an half: 
The river from Murrow-Plash to the Horse-shoe, four miles long, six foot deep, fifty foot wide.  I make this River fifty foot wide and six foot deep to a perfect sole throughout; I leave Foreland to each Bank to the River-ward ten foot, the seats of those Banks to be forty foot each; the Foreland from the Seat of the Bank to the Land-ward, ten foot each; the two In-drains fifteen foot each, 
The dimention of the Banks.  and six foot deep. This is all solid good Earth as Marsland, and will raise the Banks to stand at eight foot high from the superfices, and ten foot broad at the top: There will be no haste of this work, till the Banks above be sunk to about five foot high; and till then the North-side of Wisbidge hath no good Drain.  
These two Rivers leads us to the new Sluice at German-Bridge, 
The new Sluice at German-Bridge.  or near Magdelen in Norfolk; and I conceive most are at a stand in their Judgements, as believing this not easily to be performed, yet tacitly do allow, that if this can be effected to be a durable work, the Country than must needs be Drained: Yet for better satisfaction of those which doubt, it will not be unnecessary to take the judgements of able, and honest Artists, and good workmen, so to understand their sense of the feasability of this work: viz. This Large Sluice, and Navigable Soss, and to give me leave to inform them what I have known, and seen in the like Works.  
The soil, 
The Soil for the new Sluice to stand upon.  and foundation whereupon this large Sluice, and Soss is to be placed, is very good, being a firm and solid clay, or galt, which is not to be found for that purpose elsewhere; and our materials are most of them by us, 
The Materials for the new Sluice where to be had.  as Brick, at Ely and Saltors Load; at Ely and Reach, Lime plenty and cheap enough; good seasoned Oak Planks and Timber in Norfolk and Suffolk; and good Deal Timber at Lynne, and Iron, as good, and as cheap as elsewhere; and there is nothing wanting except Terrace, of which we must use in this Work good plenty, and this is to be had at Dort or Rotterdam much cheaper than here: at Peterborough and Ely, rough Stone for our Foundation and Fillings.  
Now I have brought you to the Materials, with which you are to make this Sluice, and Navigable Soss, now follows the Dimensions of them both.  
The Sluice I divide into four and twenty Arches, 
The Dimention of the new Sluice.  each Arch containing seven foot in wideness for the water-way; the sole of these Arches shall lie level with the sole of Great Owse at German-bridge, or near Magdelen; the Foundation under the sole of those Arches shall be four foot deep; the Supporters or Peers between each Arch, or Water-way, shall be six foot thick, made of good Brick, and other good Stone, for that purpose; and the outwardmost Bricks to be laid in Terrace and Lime; these Arches for the Water-way are made ten foot high from the sole, beside the Crown of the Arch, and so built, and finished above to what height and weight may be thought fitting.  
The breadth of this Sluice composed of four and twenty Arches, from their Butting upon the River Owse, to the Butting upon the new River which runs to it through Marsland, shall be forty foot, besides the Apron to the River Owse, and the Apron to the new River of Marsland.  
To finish this Sluice, 
What is required for the finishing this great Sluice.  there must be four and twenty double Gates to Seaward, to play with the Tide when need shall serve; but these cannot play but with leave of the Fall-gates, which are eight foot broad, and ten foot deep; all those Fall-gates, or so many of them as shall be needful, according to the Floods which are coming down, are drawn up, and then our Gates to Seaward play to run out our Floods. In Winter, by reason of the great Floods, they may all play; and in Summer Droughts one may be sufficient to do the work, so uncertain are our Waters, yet shut themselves at the rising of the Tide, or Back-water, and Butt in the bottom against the soles of the several Arches, and Butt on the top as well as on the sides they hang on; and these Gates are to be ten foot high, yet the Spring Tides will over-top them five or six foot, but cannot hurt us, but make us stronger. In this Sluice you have Water-way an hundred sixty eight foot in breadth, and ten foot in depth; this Sluice will vent more Water than will ever come to overcharge it.  
Your Soss for Navigation must be placed twenty Poles below this Sluice, 
The placing of your new Soss.  for if it stand in it or near it, it cannot be useful at all times, by reason of the great force and stream of water at the Sluice in a flood▪ and the Cut which leads from the new river to the Soss must be twenty Pole before the Sluice, lest that coming too near the Sluice, the great Draught of the River there may force down the Vessels to the Sluice, and there they must either break or sink.  
The Soss may be made as large as you please, to hold ten or twelve Boats at a time, 
The great use of a large Soss.  and the charge not much more than though it were made for two or three Boats, seeing we shall not need to fear the loss of waters. I do wish the Soss may be made large, for there is no question but Navigation will increase within us, being it is so feizable to be made to Stampford in Lincolnshire, to Rockingham in Rutlandshire, and to Bedford in Bedfordshire.  
As for your Sluices at Ditton, at Croyland, at Murrow-Plash, at Guyheirne, with that small Cut which I desire may be made at Littleport Chair, these are but small Works, and will cost but little money; I have given the reason for them, and the great use of them before.  
One thing more I shall add to what I have already said, The Slaker through Murrow-gate is four miles and an half long, 
The Dimention of the several Rivers.  and it is fifty foot wide; Wisbidge River from Guyheirne, with the new River to German-Bridge, or near Magdelen, is twelve miles long, and eighty foot wide; Great Owse from Saltors Load to the same Sluice at Germans is eight miles long, and an hundred and twenty foot wide; these Rivers being joined all together make a goodly Indraught, as well as Rivers, at your very Out-fall, all of them bound in with gallant Banks of good solid and durable Earth, 
The said Rivers to receive more Waters than the Receptacles now made.  as can be desired; which Rivers will receive more waters from a Flood, than all those Receptacles upon Bedford River, and Morton's Leam, which are so far within Land, to the great danger of the Country, and the vast expenses of the Undertakers; and in our greatest Floods, and most sudden Rains, our waters shall never rise so high within us at the great Sluice at Germans, as doth the half Floods at the Ordinary Tides without us; then I hope it will be confessed, that our Fens, and the whole Level, and all those Grounds mentioned, must be dry as well in Winter as in the Summer.  
This was the DESIGN I would have finished in the Year 1649. when I was DIRECTOR.  
But it will be Objected, 
This was the Design, Anno 1649.  that the former Works I mention will cost much money; I shall answer to this, and other Objections; but this first, because it concerns the Adventurers which lay out the money.  
If that the old and new Adventurers have laid out in the Draining of this Great Level, 
Several Objections answered.  these thirty years and more, five or six hundred thousand pounds, and if they believe this Design and these Works will perfect the work of Draining, surely than they will lay out one whole years Rend and an half to make all their moneys good, and free themselves from such vast expenses, which will be swallowed up in the yearly Repairs of those uncertain Banks.  
If this Design, being perfected, doth take away all fears as well as future charges, and bring the Level into repute and credit, it will be worth their expenses, and twenty times more.  
And when this Design is throughly understood, and the insufficiency of the moory Banks, this Design is to be followed, otherwise this Level must be left in a worse condition than it was found.  
And lastly, since this Objection is of such force that it will cost much money, I then say, if a year and an halfs Rend will triple my Rent yearly, to what it yields at present, I must conclude myself none of the best Husbands, that will not lay out so much money to such an advantage. I will now answer some other Objections.  
That there is as much done for the Draining of this great Level as can be done, 
1. Object.  and that it is not in the Invention of man to do more than what is already done.  
This is the opinion of those which give credit to our moory Banks, 
Answ.  and understand not the Descent nor Ascent of this Level in general, nor do they know the Descent that may be gained to the Sea, but will say, if Banks will not do the work, there is no more to be done; but do dishearten all men from doing or attempting any thing, lest their weakness should appear.  
Why did you then, 
2. Object.  when you were Director for the Work, make such great and high Banks upon Morton's Leam, of two and fifty foot in the seat, twelve foot high, and eight foot broad at the top?  
All this I did it is true, 
Answ.  but those Banks I did not make for Sea Banks, or to withstand such a Sea or Wash as now they have, but laid them near to avoid a Winde-catch; and I told the Adventurers at Wisbidge in 1649. at their Meeting there, that those Banks made so high by me then, would not stand above four or five foot high twenty years after their making; and I did promise them then, that (my Design being finished) the Floods should never charge those Banks above two foot: and it must have been so, if this Design of mine had gone on, and been perfected; neither was it possible that this two foot of a Flood should have lain out of the River three neaps of a Tide, if the Sluice at German-Bridge be suffered to run.  
Many wise men are of opinion, 
3. Object.  that the Banks being Repaired every Year, the Draining may be perfected.  
Wise men may think so, 
Answ.  and the Country men which get all the money for Repairing every Year will tell them so, till the Charge exceed the Profit; but if they look upon Deeping Fen drained with moory Banks by Captain LOVEL, and continued a small time rich Ground, till the moory Banks were rotten to a mould, than the Banks failed, though there was no cost spared by the Right Honourable the Earl of Exeter, to repair or maintain them; yet it is now, and hath been these twenty years under water, and nothing to be had from it but a little Fish; yet this Fen doth contain thirty thousand Acres of good Land (if drained.) Look upon Bishop Morton's works, the Lord Popham's works, Governor Peyton's works, the Honourable Francis Earl of Bedford's works, all these Honourable persons were wise men, and undoubtedly did act by a great scale of Prudence in their Undertake, yet could not make their moory Banks any longer durable, then till the moor became mould: These Precedents are all within our Level, and in the memory of this our age.  
But if you run our freshes so low in Winter, 
4. Object.  what shall we do for water for ourselves and Cattle in Summer?  
Whilst you have water at Deeping-Bridge, 
Answ.  at Peterborough-Bridge, Saint Ives-Bridge, Cambridge-Bridge, and at the Bridges of Milnall, Brandon, and Stoke, undoubtedly our Level cannot want water; for under these Bridges come all those waters which drown us, and under these Bridges shall come those waters for us, and our Cattle. Yet take notice, that the great Sluice at German-Bridge, or near Madelen, is able to hold up the waters, with little helps, as high as you please; than it will be confessed to be an absolute Draining, when we can Drown, and Drain at our pleasure.  
But how shall those Fens in Norfolk, 
5. Object.  Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire, which lie on the East-side of Owse, be drained, for they lie the lowest of all the Fens in this Great Level?  
If great Owse run low, 
Answ.  than all these Fens you name will lie dry, for still your great Sluice drains all your waters out of Owse, and Morton's Leam, if you please; but then Navigation will be hindered, which is to be helped by bottoming of those Rivers where there may be occasion, neither is the bottoming of a River so chargeable as banking.  
Wisbidge River may run where it doth, 
6. Object.  as well as at German-Bridge▪ to go through Marsland, the Ground will cost dear, and that money may be saved.  
To answer this I have much to say; 
Answ.  first, Wisbidge Out-fall lies high upon the Washeses, and then it is too near our Fens to check our Freshes; my drift is to keep the Sea at a greater distance, that I may have our Freshes at all times both night and day, to run quick under the Bridges of Wisbidge, and Downham, without the least check. Again, the River at German-Bridge lies lower than the River at Wisbidge-Bridge, and there is more fall from Wisbidge-Bridge to German-Bridge at low water, then at the fall from Peterborough-Bridge to Wisbidge; and our Out-fall at Lynne is below the Washeses, and this River of Wisbidge joined with the River Owse at the Sluice, makes a gallant In-draught, and will gain Lynne a complete Channel to Sea, to the great benefit of that fine Town, and the Town of Wisbidge. As for the charge of the Ground through Marsland, I may justly answer, good and great things are not done without cost; but the cost of this will not be much, by reason we may carry much of the River through the Common, viz. the great Common belonging to the seven Towns in Marsland, and the Common called the Smee, and Drain them both, which the Marsland men will thank you for.  
The River of Wisbidge is (as it is now widened) sufficient to carry in it all those waters which fall from Peterborough, 
7. Odject.  and therefore you may spare your pains and cost at Murrow-gate.  
Wisbidge River is wider than it was, 
Answ.  especially at the Out-fall, which doth, and will destroy us; but it is not the depth nor the width of the River that will drain that Level, it is the descent, and quick current, that must do our work: But this River is so full of small Angles, to shoulder up our Freshes, yet I will say, it will serve till the moory Banks in the Fen be sunk. But it is good to be sure in this great Work, for if this River should prove defective, to receive and carry away a great Flood, it is not only the loss of having our Grounds drowned, but may be the ruin of many good man's Estate, to the value of ten times the charge of making the Slaker through Murrow-gate, to the Horseshooe; beside, the benefit of this River, and the In-drains to drain all the North-side of Wisbidge, which is many thousand Acres of good Land.  
The Tide being stopped at German-Bridge, 
8. Object.  or near Magdelan, will rise higher, and run over our Banks, and drown us in Marsland.  
This Objection is easily waved, 
Answ.  the Tide hath its bounds, and cannot rise higher than its centre at Sea, and though it be stopped at German-Bridge, it shall not rise higher by the thickness of one hair, as if it never had been stopped at all.  
But your great Sluice and Soss at German-bridge, 
9 Object.  or near Maddelen, will be quickly silted up, and what will become of the Fens then?  
It is impossible it should, 
Answ.  being no silt comes near it, nor any salt water, for which I give this reason; viz. The Freshes at low water have got the Channel at Lynne, there the Tide comes in, and beats the Freshes back; the fresh and salted water unwilling to mix, the Tide beats back those Freshes to its own height, that so two miles below the Sluice at Germans it will not be brackish. I hope the River of Thames at Blackwall and London-bridge will give you an experiment; and if no salt water at the new Sluice, and Soss, it must be confessed, no silt and sand.  
We have great Frosts some years, 
10. Object.  and then upon a sudden thaw the Ice comes down and will choke your Sluice and Soss.  
Sosses and Sluices are the means to prevent the danger of the Ice in a sudden thaw. 
Answ.  It is confessed, many Bridges by the force and weight of the Ice have been beaten down, but the use of Sluices prevents that danger thus: In great and long Frosts we can have no Floods, and if our Rivers are frozen over to make it impassable for Boats, then are our Sluices to run; by this means I sink the Water, and the Ice with them, as low as I can, then by our Sluices I hold up our waters, and this water riseth one foot or two above the Ice, which is frozen fast to the bottom of our Rivers after a night or two lying there; and although they be not dissolved, yet they are so rotten, brittle, and short, and cannot hurt either Bridge or Sluice: this I have made experience of by Sluices, and can prove it; and this is practised in Holland, Freezeland, and Gronning.  
Our Division Dikes, 
11. Object.  and all our Dikes in our Fens, though they be made twelve foot wide, and six foot deep, they keep their width, yet in our dry years the bottoms rise two foot, and our Dikes become shallower, and they are no good fences.  
Observation and experience will teach you, 
Answ.  that the bottom of your Dikes grow not up, nor rise as you say, but it is your Ground lying dry, the Moor Earth groweth solid to a good and fruitful soil; and it is not your Dikes bottoms which rise, but your Grounds which sink, and become much better; therefore when your Grounds are thus sunk with lying dry, bottom then your Dikes two foot, and your Dikes will hold good for many years.  
It is perceivable by your Design for the Draining of this great Level, 
12. Object.  that in a flood we shall have no Navigation upwards from your new Sluice up Bedford River, up Owse to Cambridge, or up your new River to Wisbidge, and Peterborough▪ by reason the waters will run so quick that we cannot hale with our Horses against the stream, but our three Rivers will become like the river Rhyne for swiftness in a flood.  
It is granted, 
Answ.  the Rivers in a flood will run quick, by reason they have water-way, and fall sufficient at the great Sluice; but this force of a flood will not last for above a day or two, it may be longer, and it may be not so long, therefore you must stay while the flood be past; neither are these Rivers so much your enemies, as constantly to oppose you, as the river Rhyne doth▪ All which work against a constant stream must have patience, and so must you; yet the motions of these great Vessels down the river Rhyne are quick, and so will yours be in a flood, which lasts not long, neither will they be common with us; for the Comparison will not hold between the river Rhyne and any of our Rivers in our Level.  
If this Design of yours be perfected, 
13. Object.  we may then lay all our Boats aside, as having no use for them; for Owse, Bedford River, Morton's Leam, and the new River through Marsland, will draw in all our Land waters.  
It is confessed that Morton's Leam and Owse will run low, 
Answ.  by reason that at German-bridge at low water mark, the River will be lower than the height of the Level soil at Saltors' Load, by twelve foot, and much more; and so likewise it will stand with Guyheirne, and there shall be no need of raising the Banks from thence to Bevis-hall, for there is Bank enough, and the River will run lower than the Soil or Superficies of Wisbidge high Fen, for Wisbidge River will quickly grind itself to its old bottom, and keep it; and it is feizable and necessary to bring part of Owse from Erith unto Wisbidge, by the West-water, through the Town of March, and the other branch by Chatris, Doddington, and Wimbleton-hook, without the hazard of drowning any part of the Level; 
This is of great use to the Corporation and the Country, for Navigation, and watering the Middle Level.  and will water all the parts of the middle Level, even to Maney, the two Wells, and to Saltors Load, and will prove good for Navigation to the Undertakers, and the Country which have quantities of Grounds lying upon this West-water; and if the Divisions of the Intercommons be laid out, there will be a necessity that this Work of the West-water be made good: This (you will say) will afford you water-way for your Boats, No, ye are deceived, for without the use of means at our Outfalls into Bedford River, Owse, and Morton's Leam, to hold up your In-drains, you will still have no waters for your Boats, and this will cost money; which to do, I compare it to Paper and Packthread, in comparison of the rich Commodity bound up in it.  
We have now two gallant In-draughts, 
14. Object.  as Bedford River, and Morton's Leam, for our Floods to bed in, as Receptacles; and after the Flood is spent, those run and scour the Outfalls, and maintain them.  
I know not what you mean by an In-draught, 
Answ.  but if you believe either of those Rivers to be your In-draughts, in which your Waters now bed, whose Banks are at such a wide distance, and at so great a distance from your Out-fall, as near twenty or thirty miles, it is a Riddle to me, and beyond my understanding, and in my judgement against all the rules of Draining; for in all Draining we have respect to our Out-fall, for if we cannot be master there, all other endeavours signify nothing. You may as well call Whittlesey Mare, 
The Receptacles between the Banks no In-draughts.  Ramsey Mare, Soham Mare, In-draughts; and the Dutch may better call Harlem Mare an In-draught, for none of those I have named are In-draughts; for there can be no In-draught, but it must be close to the Out-fall, 
The proper place of the In-draught.  otherwise it works no effect. You have an example in Holland, and in all the Low Countries, their In-draughts are at their Sluices close to the neck of their Outfalls; neither is there any Haven, River, or Creek, lying upon foul Seas, that hath not sufficient Freshes to maintain its Out-fall, but he must by Art gain an In-draught, which In-draught must be at hand to use when there is occasion for it; 
The Reason wherefore.  for all true In-draughts are to be held up, and are to be made use of at the last quarter Ebb, or before, and so it works its effect; but when the In-draught is about a mile or two above its Out-fall, it is so weak upon its stream by that time it comes to its Out-fall, that it cannot work any effect to the cleansing of either Haven, River, or Creek.  
I shall only instance in two Havens or Harbours, though I could trouble you with many; 
Dunkirk and Delfts Haven.  the one is Dunkirk in Flanders, the other is Delfts' Haven in Holland: As for that of Dunkirk I have seen it when upon the Wharf they have been forced to use a Ladder to go up into a Ship of an hundred Tun at low water, the next day they have been forced to use the same Ladder down from of the Wharf into the same Ship; this might seem strange, but it was strange to me to see by what a small means this Effect was wrought, which was thus: viz. In all dry Summers the Haven is very subject to be silted up by the Sea bearing its foul waters into it, by reason of the many shelves of sand upon that Coast, so that the ordinary strength of that small River coming from Bergue, 
Wynox Bergue  is not able to carry out of that Haven what the Sea lodgeth in it, but then Reason and Industry doth the work of that Haven thus: When the Haven is silted up to such a height, the Town causes the River aforesaid to be kept up by their Sluice, or Soss, for some eight or ten days together, than they command the Ships and other Vessels in that Haven to ride in the midst of it as close to each other as they can; 
How the Haven of Dunkirk is cleansed by the In-draught.  and being thus placed, they at a Level water open their Sluices and Sosses, and give liberty to the pinned up waters from Bergue to run through the Haven, so that it grinds the bottom through the Intervals between the Ships, that it carries away all the silt and sand out of the Haven, whilst the ships rock too and fro, as if they would fall one upon another; and by this means the Haven becomes as deep again. It is much the same with Delfts Haven in Hollaud, and that small River which comes from Overkey to the Town and Haven, doth the like effect with that of Dunkirk, otherwise there could be no Haven, but by reason the Sluices which cast their In-draughts into both these Haven, stand at the very entrance of them, otherwise they could not grind and effect so great a work.  
Now look back to ourselves which have been so much mistaken, 
The Receptacles in Waldersey dangerous to Coldham and Waldersey  as to make Receptacles of In-draughts within Land so remote from the Outfalls, and you may be assured, that if the Receptacle or In-draught made at Waldersey, had taken that effect as was supposed, to have received from a Spring Tide from Sea six foot water, yet it could not have done you any good, by reason it lay so far from the Out-fall: but certain it is, that if it had proved that that In-draught had but gained from the Sea, four, five, or six foot water, the Banks had been gone long ere this; and Wildersay and Coldham had been both lost, or little worth.  
I shall give you no farther trouble, but to assure you of my readiness to answer any other Objections which may be made against this my Design, or way of Draining, to the best of my knowledge and judgement.  
Now give me leave to give you my sense of the great benefit which will arise to his Sacred Majesty, the Honourable Corporation, the Country, and the whole Kingdom.  
His Majesty's Subjects in this Level, 
Considerable benefit to the King and Kingdom.  who were formerly very poor, by reason of the uncertainty of the Banks, and their Ground lying dry, but being once perfectly Drained, will grow rich and populous, to the strengthening of the King and Kingdom.  
It will better Navigation and Trade to all his Towns in this part of the Kingdom. 
Advantageous to some Towns His Majesty's Land secured from drowning Fifty thousand Acres of good Land gained from the Sea, called the Washeses, the King's Waste.   
It secures His Majesty's Land, being ten thousand Acres lying in this Level, from all farther charge or fear of being drowned by any Flood, either in Winter or Summer.  
His Majesty gains hereby fifty thousand Acres of good Land, called now the Washeses, or Salt Marshes; this Land is equal to those Lands in Marsland, or Holland, for goodness, the one lies on the East and the other on the Westside of these Washeses or Salt Marshes, which is all the King's Waste: and I do affirm, that those Washeses contain more Land than lies in Marsland itself; and more, those Washeses lies much higher than doth Marsland or the North-side of Wisbide; yet through this Wash doth Wisbidge River, Sheir-Drain, and Spalding River make their way to the Sea. But when Wisbidge River, Sheir-Drain, with Spalding River, are forced to a better Out-fall, as Wisbidge to great Owse, and Spalding River, and Glean secured, to the great benefit of North and South Holland; then must those spacious Washeses suddenly become good Land for this reason, viz. for these Rivers by force of winter Floods do scour and cleanse these Washeses, and will not suffer the silt or sand to bed upon them; but these Rivers being taken away, which run through, and spread themselves upon these Washes every low water, doth carry away to Sea what the Tide hath left behind; but the Cause being taken away, the Effect ceaseth, and all those Washeses will become good Land at little or no considerable charge; and yet the Navigation of His Majesty's Towns of Lynne, Boston, and Wisbidge, much bettered, and prove great Outfalls, and Navigable Channels to the North Sea.  
Yet let me tell you, 
The Washeses get height upon the Freshes.  that though the Freshes work this effect, to cleanse and scour the Washeses, yet the Washeses grow and get height upon them; and though formerly Wisbidge was the best Out-fall in this Great Level, and took much of our waters into it, 
No good out-fall through the Washeses for Wisbidge, Spalding, or Sheir-Drain.  which now run by Lyn, by reason of late years the Sea hath left us, and the Washeses have gained a great height; and in my judgement it is impossible ever to gain any good Out-fall through those Washeses, either for the River of Wisbidge, Sheir-Drain, or Spalding River.  
As for the Noble and Honourable Adventurers I shall say little, only assure them, that this Design, and way of Draining this Great Level, being perfected, the Great Level will be perfectly Drained; 
The charge of two hundred miles in Banking taken off.  whereby the great charge of maintaining two or three hundred miles in Banking already made, will be taken off; which being of no farther use, will be of no farther charge: neither are they freed from this charge alone, but from the charge of many of their Sluices and Sosses; 
Some Sluices and Sosses become useless.  as that of Well-creek, and that upon Owse, at Saltors' Load, and those works at Ely, which will become as useless as the two or three hundred miles of Banking. And in fine, it may be believed, that Six pence the Acre per annum, will maintain the Charge of upholding the Works, and procure a Stock, if the beforementioned works be once sufficiently effected, for there will be no need of repairing of Banks any more.  
The benefit which will arise to the Inhabitants of this Country will be very considerable, in being freed from all danger of being drowned any more; that they may freely plow, and sow, build, and plant; and then there will be no fear of the want of water in the Summer, for themselves or Cattle; and which will be very considerable, is the Navigation to almost every small Town in this Level, especially if their Intercommons be divided, 
The Division of the Inter-Common.  which will be a great benefit both to the Lords and the Tenants: but in all these Navigable Cuts avoid Banks, and then these Cuts and Division Dikes may be done at a small charge, having a care to carry your leading Drains into their proper Outfalls of Bedford River, Great Owse, and Morton's Leam.  
I shall not deviat from my present Discourse, if I tell you, that by my Observations abroad, both in my youth and age, I gained some Experience to serve my native Country; and that one Province of Holland, 
The Province of Holland.  I compute to be equally as large as this Great Level; and I do verily believe that there is one hundred times more money expended in this Province, in Rivers, Sluices, Sosses, and Bridges, then can be needful in this Great Level of the Fens. 
The Provinces of South and North Holland, Freizeland & Gronning, admits no Tides to run into them.  The Provinces of South and North Holland, Freizland, and Gronning, admit of no Tides or Rivers from the Sea to run into them, only South Holland admits of the river Maze to run to meet the river Rhyne; yet this Holland runs her water into the river Maze by substantial Sluices, and Navigable Sosses, as I have seen at Mazelandt, Ulerdine, Skeydam, Delfts-haven, and at Rotterdam, all these play into the river Maze, which runs by the Brill to Dort. On the North-side of this Province is Harlem Mare, by Sluices and Sosses, at Amsterdam there are many, at Myden, Nardam, all these run into the Zuyder Sea, and yet those Sluices, and those upon the river Maze, have not one quarter of the ebb to run at.  
North Holland upon the Zuyder Sea hath its Sluices to run at Sardam, 
North Holland hath not a quarter Ebb to run at.  Monkenden, Horn, Ancusen, and Middle-bleak, and they have not above a quarter Ebb to run at; though they force their waters into those leading Rivers by costly Mills; and in this North Holland much of their richest Grounds, where they make their best Cheese, lie under the low water mark at Sea, 
Draining with a multitude of mills.  at least six or seven foot; as the Bempster, the Skermer, and the Wart, etc. they are all Drained by a multitude of Mills, each Mill costs near six hundred pounds Sterling. In the Skermer I have seen four Mills, 
Four mills to cast up water sixteen foot.  one standing four foot higher than the other, and they have worked one to another, till they have brought the water sixteen foot high, to run into the Drains which leads to the Sea.  
Freizland and Gronning; 
Great care to prevent the flowing in of the Sea into any part of the Provinces.  from Campen in Gilderland to Dam in Gronning, is all drained by Sosses and Sluices to Seaward; the length of those three Provinces is no less than an hundred and twenty miles along the Sea Coast, and yet they have no Rivers run into them from the Sea. I did observe in all those parts of the Netherlands where I have been, they do not admit the Sea to flow into any of their Provinces, 
The Sea kept out by Sosses and Sluices.  but keep it out by their Sluices and Sosses, so far as Art and Cost will promise them security.  
These Works of theirs will confirm all rational persons, that if they have but one quarter of the Ebb to run at, and lie dry, what can be said against a Sluice and Navigable Soss at German-bridge, 
The Sluice at Germane Bridge runs at half Ebb, and more.  upon old Owse, and new Nean, which hath half the Ebb but in a Flood more, because the Freshes do rise one foot within the Sluice, for two foot the Tide riseth against the Sluice without▪ to Seaward.  
I hope the experience we all have of Holland, 
Marsland lower than the great Level of the Fens, and yet is Drained into the River Owse.  the North-side of Wisbidge, with that of Marsland, all of them lie below the Fens of the Great Level five or six foot, yet drain themselves into great Owse and the Sea: Neither are the benefits inconsiderable, which Holland, the North-side of Wisbidge, and Marsland, will receive by this Design.  
As for Hollaud, 
South Ea bank secured.  all that Bank called South Ea Bank, from Dowesdale to Clowes-Cross, being eight miles, which was believed formerly to have been a thousand pounds per annum charge, will be secured.  
The North-side of Wisbidge will by this means save the repairing of that Bank from Clowes-Cross to Guyheirn, and part of the Bank upon Wisbidge River which formerly cost much money; but the greater benefit this North-side of Wisbidge will receive, 
The North-side of Wisbidge drained, and the flat of Tid St. Mary's  is the perfect Draining of all that flat and low Country; for which, they of the North-side of Wisbidge, and Tid St. Mary's, in the County of Lincoln, did contract for the giving a great proportion of Land for the Draining thereof.  
Now as for Marsland their benefit will be the greatest, for this work being done, they save the charge of repairing all those Banks from Germans-bride upwards, on both sides of the River Owse, 
1600l. per annum charge taken off from Marsland.  to Saltors Load, which is eight miles; and all those Banks called new and old Po Dike, which by their confession cost them yearly 1600l. And withal, they recover hereby the great Common belonging to the seven Towns in Marsland, and the Common also called the Smee, 
The great Common of the 7. Towns of Marsland Drained, and the Smee.  for which a great quantity of Land was offered to those which should undertake the Draining of it, as I have been informed. And another considerable benefit is, they will constantly have fresh water out of the River from Wisbidge to German-bridge, and the Bank lying upon the West of Marsland upon the Washeses, 
Constant fresh water in Marsland.  near fifteen miles in length, it costs much money, and many times in danger of breaking, is hereby secured, the Washeses or salt Marshes being gained from the Sea, which will be effected in a short time.  
If this Work be performed, it is at the pleasure of the Corporation to Drain the great Common in Marsland, belonging to the seven Towns, 
The Benefit to the Corporation towards their charge.  containing five thousand Acres, with the Common called the Smee, containing about fifteen hundred Acres; likewise, the Draining of the North-side of Wisbidge, containing twelve thousand Acres; also, all those Grounds in Holland, belonging to Gedney, Drove, Chapple, Holbidge, Fleet, St. James, Tid St. Mary's, which is reported to me to contain eight thousand Acres of Drowned Land: And if the Corporation please, they may Drain all that part of the Queen's Manor in Croyland, called Posant, which will be rich Ground if once Drained, and contains in it seven thousand Acres, six whereof belongs to the Queen.  
William Dodson.  
FINIS.   

Answers to the several Objections against this my Design, since the Delivery of it to the Honourable Corporation.  
FIrst, 
1. Object.  it is objected, that the place that I intent to set the great Sluice upon, which is near Magdalen, is a Quicksand.  
To this I answer, 
Answ.  that the place I have designed to set the great Sluice upon is no Quicksand, but a firm and solid Clay, as the place where Magdalen Bridge stands, or the Sluice at Saltors' Load, or Well-Creek; and this is at an easy charge made appear to them that doubt, by sinking the place twelve foot, where they will find what I have asserted in my Design to be truth.  
Secondly, 
2. Object.  It is objected, that the River is deep there, and that it is not possible to set a Sluice in the River.  
It was never intended to set this Sluice and Soss in the River, 
Answ.  for that were great folly to undertake; but this Sluice is set near the River of Owse, and so cut into the River; and although the River were as deep again as it is, it is all one; for I set not the sole of the Sluice two foot below the Channel (as it is pretended) but I set it two foot below the sole of the River, or low water mark, and therefore the depth of the River is no prejudice to me by being so deep, but contrary a great advantage, and of much benefit to carry away the Freshes.  
Thirdly, 
3. Object.  It is objected, that if a Sluice should be set there, that the Doors of that Sluice must be thirty foot in length.  
The Sluice I have Designed is in height from the lowest stone in the foundation, 
Answ.  to the highest stone in the work, but eight and twenty foot high; the several water-wayes in this Sluice but ten foot high; neither doth the greatest Freshes within us rise above ten or twelve foot upon the Sluice, why should the Floodgates than be made thirty foot high for ten or twelve foot water: you have a precedent by all those Goats that stand upon the River Owse in Marsland, that drain all Marsland into that River, otherwise Marsland could not be drained, yet their Floodgates are not above five foot high set to low water mark, so that the Spring Tides flows about thirteen foot of plum water above them.  
Fourthly, 
4. Object.  It is objected, that if this Sluice and River through Marsland were finished, it would do no good to the Draining of the Great Level, but no reason is given for it.  
If that the gaining of a great and considerable Descent to the Sea, 
Answ.  at the very Out-fall, will do no good to drain that great and flat Level, that lies in a Flood above twenty foot higher than low water mark at the Out-fall, and yet this Out-fall but twelve miles from this flat Level, makes this Objection frivolous. But to give farther satisfaction, I did desire a view might have been made of that River called the Horseshooe, below Wisbidge, where they might have seen the Tide rise to the height of eight or nine foot up the Banks of that River, higher than the Superficies of Marsland; and if you will stay until it be low water, you shall see this River two or three foot within soil, lower than the superficies of Marsland; and yet the River of Owse at the great Sluice, at low water mark, will be ten or eleven foot below the superficies of Marsland there; for all the descent of Marsland lies from the Bank upon the Horseshooe, to the new Sluice near Magdalen; and the Goats in Marsland on the River Owse doth Drain the whole Country into the said River, following the refluxes of the Tide.  
It is objected, 
5. Object.  that the stopping of the Tide by a Sluice at Magdalen, will not take away the great waters in a Flood from off the Banks at Sutton and Meapool.  
If the Tide be not stopped here at Magdalen, 
Answ.  or Germans, yea, lower to Sea, if it were convenient, it is not possible but that in a Flood, Swacy, Over, Erith, the Washeses, and those Banks about Sutton Meapool, Witham, Witchford, and Welney, must all suffer. My reasons are,  
First, 
1. Reason.  the Floods come quick from St. Ives, making their way to Sea; the water-way is large enough at Erith, it is confessed, but at Sutton, Galt, and Meapool, in the new Bedford River, there it runs upon an Ascent, the like again at Pyemoor-hill, which is a great Obstruction of the Freshes in a flood running to Sea; for Gravels and Fords in Rivers are a great hindrance to the free passage of all waters: for although the River be never so deep, it must be allowed where such Obstructions are; you can run no more waters in those Rivers then what runs over your Gravels or Fords, and it is the same with Sutton, Galt, and Pyemoor-hill, in new▪ Bedford River. Besides this, there is another great Obstruction, which is the weeds that are admitted to grow in this, and many other of our Rivers, and are of very dangerous consequence; for in a Flood, where our Freshes in this River hath but small descent, they hold them up, insomuch that the Freshes are enforced to soil through those weeds as through a C●eve, which must of necessity cause those quick waters from the Uplands to swell backwards, to the great damage of Erith, Swacy, and Over, on that side of the Country.  
Secondly, 
2. Reason.  after the Flood hath passed these three great Obstructions in this River, it meeteth with another rather worse than the former, which is the Tide, and Winde-catch; for when these great bodies of Freshes come to run to the Sea, they then at the very Out-fall meets with the Tide (who visits that River twice in four and twenty hours) and doth not only stop the Current of those Freshes, and forceth them back even as far as Sutton-bridge upon new Bedford River; and if the wind blow hard almost in any Point, when the Floods are within the great Wash of that River, the Banks are in great danger of being lost, or blown up; for it maketh so rough a Sea, that it washes and undermines the Banks; and if it do not break them, it puts the Corporation the next Summer to a vast charge of repairing.  
Now on the contrary, to free this Level from the bad Effects of this indirect River, the Tide, Winde-catch; and weeds, to give this River from Erith free passage, by the old and famous River by it, (for it is old Bedford River that is the River) though it hath been much slighted; yet if it had not been made use on of late years, it had been much worse for the Country than it was. For I dare and will affirm, that the Freshes in a Flood shall vent themselves, running from Erith a day or two, at Saltors' Load, by the old River, before they come down thither by the new: now, these two Rivers having their free passage, the weeds being cut and roded, and the Tide stopped at Germans or Magdalen, will free this part of the Level, that is so much oppressed by St. Ives waters, the Winde-catch, and the flux of the Tide up that River, for the Freshes then in those two spacious Rivers hath no Obstruction; for the Tide being stooped at Germans, these Rivers will run continually, having so great a Receptacle as seven or eight miles in length, without the Level, from Saltors Load to Germans Bridge; for the Freshes at the great Sluice must rise at least ten foot higher than its usual height, to maintain Navigation, before the water can run back at Saltors Load to obstruct the Current of this River, which is impossible, if the Sluice and Soss be admitted to run; for the water-way in this Sluice and Soss is no less than an hundred eighty two foot broad, and ten or eleven foot deep, which is more water-way by much, then runs through those two Bridges of Wisbidge and Downham; now these Rivers running thus continually in the greatest Floods, it will be allowed, that the waters cannot lie long, or rife so high as formerly, by six foot upon those Banks; if so, than the Winde-catch cannot in the least prejudice those Banks. By this, I hope, it may be perceived, that the waters cannot lie upon those Banks of Sutton and Meapool, or in the least damnify Erith, Swacy, and Over. This may be an answer for the River of Morton's Leam to Peterborough, and that part of the Country, for the Obstructions are the same.  
Sixthly, 
6. Object.  It is objected, that my Inlet of the River from Wisbidge into Marsland Cut, cannot be performed at six foot deep, at the River called the Horseshooe, as I have Designed it, and they give this reason for it, That if I make my River there six foot deep, the height of the Tide will not reach the sole of that River to be cut through Marsland.  
I shall not need to answer this Objection, 
Answ.  it being altogether without reason or sense, but refer you to my Answer to the fourth Objection, which will give any one full satisfaction.  
Seventhly, 
7. Object.  It is objected, that the Charge of a Sluice, the Purchase of the Grounds through Marsland, and the rest of the works Designed by me, will cost 200000l.  
To this I answer, 
Answ.  That certainly they that made so large an Estimate upon those works I have Designed, know how to set a price upon their own; for it is well known, the Estimate I gave in to the Honourable Corporation, with my Design, did not amount to above 46000l. for I had rather, and it was my resolution, to ask more, or at least as much as would do the work, (having so short a warning) then ask less, and the Corporation should find it more, thereby to induce the Corporation to make use of my Design; but upon further consideration, and having better digested the charge, I have since for the better satisfaction of this Honourable Corporation, made a Moddel of part of the great Sluice, and the Soss proportionable, to show the true Dimention of the same; which Sluice and Soss will be undertaken at a price, by able and sufficient Workmen. And that such mistakes as these may not affright the Corporation from going on with so Beneficial a work, I have here annexed to my Design, the Estimate of all my works▪ as they are, and will be undertaken; and shall be ready when this Honourable Corporation please, to make every particular of this Account appear.  
Eighthly, 
8. Object.  It is objected, that this Sluice is to master a quick water, which is not believed it is proper; for the reason is, they have not known the like practised elsewhere.  
As to this I hope to give full satisfaction, 
Answ.  by several Reasons, and Examples of other Countries in the like case, as also some known to ourselves within the Isle.  
I shall instance in the first place Freizland, which is a larger Country than this Level by much; here all Winter their Grounds lies very deep in water, frozen over with Ice and Snow, this they thus suffer, to keep their Ground warm, and by this means preserves the roots of their Grass from perishing by the Frost; and in February or March, when the weather breaketh, they then run all these waters out into the Sea by their Sluices, which runs quick and violently for one month and more together, (more quick than ever it will run at the great Sluice) neither have they any way to avoid their great and quick waters but by Sluices.  
Secondly, It is the like with North Holland and South Holland, by the multitude of Mills, working all the latter part of Winter, which causeth a very quick River to their Sluices at Sea: and I doubt not but these all may be termed quick waters.  
Thirdly, If we look at home, we shall find that we had a gallant Sluice upon the River of Wisbidge, which was of great use until it was overcharged by the River of Welland, which was contrary to the intentions of the then Adventurers; for there was no waters intended to that Sluice, but what run under Peterborough Bridge, from Burrough Fen and Thorney, and the water-way was made accordingly in that Sluice; and that Sluice was useful and convenient in that place, and might have been to this day.  
Fourthly, Come to the Soss at Well-Creek which is still standing, and hath to the great benefit of the Country these thirty years, preserved Navigation, and wrought that River to a great depth, and keeps it: This may be justly called a quick water, upon ever Land flood, or Down-fall.  
Fifthly, Look upon the Sluice upon old Bedford River at Saltors' Load, which is still standing, and for many years preserved the Out-fall of that River, until our Troubles began in England; and then the people stole away the Floodgates, so that the Out-fall of that River was suddenly silted up: and this Sluice stood upon a considerable quick River.  
Sixthly, Come to the open Soss and several Sluices at Saltors' Load, which was set down some fourteen years since upon this great Quick, butting upon the Tide from sea, (and although it was made of wood, which cannot be durable against the sea) neither was it set in its proper place; yet it is clear it did much preserve that part of the Level, and also maintained Navigation whilst it was kept in repair.  
Now give me leave to give you my Reasons, that a Sluice upon a Quick water is as useful, with as little danger, as a Sluice upon a Dead water, as it is termed; it is confessed, that a Sluice upon a Quick, that hath not water-way sufficient, is little better than a Dam to obstruct the Current of those Rivers in a Flood, and is destructive; but if there be water-way sufficient, and to spare, in the greatest Flood, than this Sluice or Soss preserves that Country from all sudden and quick Floods without danger. And for the prevention of all sudden Floods, it must be granted, that no Flood falls into this Level, but by great Rains, or sudden Thaws, in the Upland Countries; of which we cannot but be sensible some days before it come down, in which interim of time we pull up all our Fall-gates, and run out all our Freshes that are holden up by the Sluice to maintain Navigation, so that when the Floods come down, the Rivers are empty (if clear of weeds) to receive them; and if I run twice the water of those Bridges where the Floods must come under, certainly I may wait three hours in twelve upon the re-flux of the Tide, and yet not so much if the Flood be great; for as the Tide riseth two foot without us, the Freshes in a Flood rise one within the Sluice, by which means we run the sooner, for our Freshes run whether the Tide be coming in or going out, until the Tide rise higher than our Freshes, and shuts the Floodgates.  
These Examples and Reasons I hope may be sufficient, 
☞  and give full satisfaction to them that doubt of the truth I have asserted in my Design; for unless (in my judgement) we can master the Tide, it is not possible to Drain this Level.  
Ninthly, 
9 Object.  It is objected, that the Sluice I have designed will not bear the weight of water that will lie against it, and that the Eager will carry away the Sluice.  
To this I answer, 
Answ.  that the Sluice I have Designed is in the Foundation two and fifty foot broad; the breadth of the Sluice upwards is forty foot, and besides this breadth, between every Arch a Butterice raised from the foundation, on both sides the Sluice, of three foot square, all of good Brick, Stone, Lime, and Terrace outwardly, which I do affirm is thrice the strength of any Bank in Marsland: And further, to support this Sluice, which in my judgement needs none, I keep the water eight foot high constantly to Land-ward, to maintain Navigation, so that I can have but the weight of ten foot water upon my Sluice in the greatest Tide. Now as to the stopping of the Eager, which is no more than the flux of the Tide from Sea, which comes in quick, I shall only say this, That if the Tide be once stopped in any River whatsoever, by Sluice or Dam, it hath no more force; for when the Current of the Tide is so stopped, it riseth against that Sluice or Dam insensibly, and those Sluices or Dams bears no more but only the weight of water that riseth upon them.  
Tenthly, 
10. Object.  It is objected, that if the Tide have not his Flux and Re-flux up Owse, it may be feared that Lynne River may be lost.  
Where Sluices with In-draughts are placed to any Out-fall near the Sea, 
Answ.  they always make good the Channel or Out-fall without them, as well as deepen the Channels of those Rivers within them; now the flux of the Tide is but a small distance from this Sluice, and the re-flux the same, which continual motion of the Tides ebbing and flowing in so short a distance, it cannot filled up that River, especially when there is so great a Fresh within our In-draught, in those two great Rivers, that leads all our Freshes and Floods to that Sluice, and follows the tail of the Tide to Sea; which must in all reason grind the Channel to Sea, to a great depth, below Lynne; and as it is now uncertain and dangerous, this will improve it to the admittance of greater Vessels then formerly, to the great benefit of that Port. And if the way that I have Designed to Drain this Great-Level should prove any ways injurious to this Town of Lynne, I would soon desist from prosecuting it any further; but I hope by this they understand a benefit and no damage to that Town.  
If I divert Wisbidge River from running through the Washeses, 
11. Object.  or salt Marsh, than all those Washeses will become good Ground; but then that part of Holland from the Sheir-Drain to the River Welland, with the North-side of Wisbidge, will be lost, by reason they will lose the Out-fall of Sheir-Drain, Sutton-Goat, Fleet-Goat, Quapload-Goat, and Weston-Goat, which are their Drains into the Washeses.  
To this I answer, 
Answ.  to Drain one part and Drown another, is no part of my Design, but what I endeavour, is to perfect and Drain that part of Holland, with the North-side of Wisbidge, and yet Drain the great Washeses containing near fifty thousand Acres of the Kings and Queens Waste, without prejudice to any Land-holder in that part of Holland, or North-side of Wisbidge, but to their great benefit. For it will be confessed, that the Town and High Lands of Tid St. Mary's, Sutton, Gidney, Holbeach, Quapload, Molton, to Spalding, lies higher by six foot then the low Grounds on the North-side of Wisbidge and Holland, and all these High Lands before named, lies betwixt the Sea and these Low Grounds; so that Cubbet, Spalding, Drove-Chappel, Gidney, St. James, and Fleet, are forced to Drain themselves by small Cuts through this Ascent betwixt the Sea and them, in some place three, four, five, or six miles, and many of them seven and nine foot deep; yet for all this great depth of those Drains, a great quantity of those Low Grounds are drowned commonly two foot; although you are at great charge with the spade to keep your Goats and Sluices open into the salt Marsh or Washeses, and yet cannot Drain yourselves: (the reason is plain) for it is well known to the ancient Inhabitants, that the Sea of late years hath lodged its silt and sand some feet above your Sluices or Goats to Sea, and in short time the loss of much good Land may be feared, yet to help you I do endeavour, but to hurt you, or any part of the Country, is no part of my Design. Now to free you from these inconveniences, the turning of Wisbidge River through Marsland near to Germans-Bride, will be of much advantage and benefit to those low Grounds; for by the help of the Sluice at Germans, we keep Wisbidge River, when we please, as low as we will; and this River of Wisbidge will prove the Out-fall for all those low Grounds of Holland, and the North-side of Wisbide, and perfectly Drain them Winter and Summer: My reason is this, Those low Grounds in Holland lies higher than those low Grounds on the North-side of Wisbidge, and those waters in Wisbidge River will lie lower by six foot then the superficies of those Lands or drowned Grounds on the North-side of Wisbidge; so that at all times, by the help of a Navigable River, through that part of Holland, from Cubbit upon Welland, to Grammoke-house upon Sheir-Drain, and from thence to Murrow-gate, and so to Leverington, into the River of Wisbidge; where you have so great a fall, that it absolutely Drains all those drowned Grounds aforesaid, and the best and most certain Out-fall for Sheir-Drain, when Clowes-Cross will give leave, to the great benefit of Thorney, Burrough great Fen, and the Town of Croyland. This work will not only be of use to the perfect Draining of all those Grounds, but likewise better Navigation from Lynne, Wisbidge, and Peterborough, to Spalding, to Boston, to Croyland, to Deeping, and to Stampford, by the help of a small single. Soss placed upon Welland River near Cubbit. This I have now said may be performed at an inconsiderable Charge, considering the Profit it brings with it, with the consent and allowance from the Honourable Corporation; of which there is no doubt, but they will be very willing to serve the Country upon so Public an Account, being of so great Advantage to those parts and little or no damage to themselves.  
Thus having (to the best of my judgement) Answered the aforesaid Objections, and do confess my obligation to him, or them that did make them; by which means, Reason will find the better allowance, and truth appear with more justre. I shall now trouble the Reader with some few Objections of my own, against that Design last intended to be put in practrice, which were made according to the Order of the Honourable Corporation; and shall as willingly receive satisfaction from him, or them, which are the present Directors, as I am desirous my Judgement, in this Affair, may receive their Approbation.   

According to an Order of this Corporation, the 17 th'. of November, 1664. I do here, with submission to the said Corporation, humbly tender these my Objections following, against that Design now in agitation.  
WHereas it is designed by this last new Design, that all Rivers shall be left open to the Sea, for the Tide to have his free passage into all those great Rivers.  
First, 
1. Object.  To this I object, that if the flux of the Tide from Sea be admitted to flow up old Owse, Bedford River, and Morton's Leam, that the Banks that are made, and to be made, in Order to this Design, cannot secure the Level from Inundation, or Drowning. My Reasons are as followeth:  
First, 
1 Reason.  The Tide flowing up the River of Owse, and Wisbidge, hath been the destruction of all those Undertake, for the Draining of the Great Level, the reason is plain; the Spring Tides at Germans rise twenty foot from low water mark, and at Wisbidge it riseth fourteen foot at least above low water mark, running to Sea; now the ascent of the Tide from Sea flowing so high within our Level, obstructs the Freshes in their Current to Sea; and not only that, but bears our Freshes back (as I am credibly informed) that the Freshes have been seen to run back through Sutton-Bridge towards Erith, which is near thirty miles from Germans; the same it is with Morton's Leam up to Eldernel: therefore the flux of the Tide is not to be admitted into any of our Rivers.  
Secondly, 
2. Reason.  If the Rivers be open to Sea every Spring Tide, if the winds blow hard at North or Northwest, all the Level is in danger of drowning; (as for example) the last Winter when you had little or no Land Floods, the Spring Tides putting in with a strong North wind, put Morton's Leam in great danger; and as for Bedford River, it raised the waters so high, that it carried away a considerable part of one of the best Banks, to the great damage of the Corporation and Country.  
Thirdly, 
3. Reason.  If the three Rivers be left open, and admit of the Tide to flow up them, than Peterborough and those parts adjacent must suffer, and so must Erith, Swacy, and Over, in that part of the Country: neither can Haddenham, Swaftham, Water-beach, Stretham, or Wilberton, be freed from the said inconvenience, for it must be confessed at all hands, that Morton's Leam lies much higher than Bedford River, and Bedford River lies much higher than old Owse; and likewise it will be allowed, that the Tide will flow equally up these two Rivers of Owse and Bedford River, (for water will find his level) now certainly it was very indiscreetly done of him, whosoever he was, that did give direction for a Bank of six foot to be made upon Owse, and Grant, against the Tide, Owse being the lowest River in the whole Level, when they make Banks of ten and twelve foot upon Bedford River and Morton's Leam, which lies higher than this River by much. And as for those Banks designed to be made upon Mildenhall, Brandon, and Stoak, with those from Stretham-Ferry up to Aldry Causey, they will not be able to secure that Country; for as it is with Bedford River at Erith, Swacy, and Over, the same it will be with Stretham, Wilberton, Haddenham, and that part of the Country; yea, rather much worse, by reason the River lies so low, it will give the greater reception to the Tide: for when the Tide did flow up Owse formerly, I have seen the water rise a foot at Stretham-Ferry in a Spring Tide; and now the River being widened from Saltors Load to Littleport, you will find it will flow into those parts with a more Eager than formerly, to the destruction of that Level.  
Fourthly, 
4. Reason.  If Owse and Bedford River be open to Sea for the Tide to have his flux and re-flux, then will all Marsland be put in a hazard of utter ruin, they being now at a vast charge to keep their Banks from the fury of the Eage●, by lining their Banks with Brink wood, which is caused but by the admittance of the Tide into one River; but when it shall have its free ingress and regress into those two spacious Rivers of Owse and Bedford River, it will double the strength of the Eager in his flux from the Sea, having so great a reception above: And farther, in a Frost when the Ice shall come down those two great Rivers, expecting to go to Sea, the Tide sends it back again, so that of necessity it will gore their Banks, and hazard their Bridges; the like it will be with the Banks of Owse, Bedford River, and Morton's Leam. And whereas it is supposed, nay believed, that the flowing of the Tide up Owse will ease Bedford River, that the waters shall not rise so high there as they use to do, it is a great mistake, for the Sea is as well able to furnish the whole Level with a conflux of waters, as those two Rivers; and there is no doubt but the Tide will rise as high in both Rivers, as ever it did in new Bedford River; but if his water-way be not wide enough in Owse at present, he will run so much the stronger, and in a short time he will make his way, having so great a reception, as is now allowed him, though to the great prejudice of Marsland.  
Whereas it is likewise Designed, that a new Cut be made from Rassels Dam to Littleport Chair, and the old River Dammed up near Rassels Dam.  
To this I object, 
2. Object.  That if you make this new River from Rassels Dam to Littleport Chair, and damn out Owse, and suffer the Tide to flow up, (which must of necessity when Saltors Load Sluice is taken up) you hazard the loss both of the new Cut and old River; for the making of this new Cut is no more, than what was done by the Right Honourable, Francis Earl of Bedford, and his participants in Lynne Law, and was called Sandys River, yet they did never attempt to damn up Owse; this River was made then in a direct line to Littleport Chair, and they then admitting the Tide to flow up Owse, it was in four or five years silted up and utterly lost, although they had four times more Freshes to maintain it, than this Designed River is like to have: And as to old Owse, if you admit a Dam upon that, than the Tide will without all question silt up that River, having little or no Freshes admitted to run through it to scour the silt away; so that consequently you must lose both the new Cut and the old Rieer.  
Whereas it is Designed, that for the maintaining of Navigation, the Weeds in the Rivers are not to be cut or roded in dry Summers, that the waters may not run out of the Country, but hold up your Freshes.  
To this I object, 
3. Object.  That if you keep not your Rivers and Leading Drains to them-well roded twice in a Summer, you hazard your Meadows, and other good Grounds, to a sudden flood from the Land-water, for the Weeds hold up the Freshes more than Sluices; and these Weeds admitted, decays those Rivers and Drains they are suffered to grow in, and destroys Navigation.  
Whereas a multitude of Banks, Weer-Dikes, Cuts, In-drains, Counter-Banks, Sluices, and Tunnels are Designed for the Draining of this great and flat Level, to the vast expense and charge of the Corporation.  
To this I object, 
4. Object.  That the number of the several Works in this Design, is an hundred and odd, and most of them vast and chargeable; and if the Sea be admitted to flow into the Country, they are no ways able to withstand the flux of the Tide, brought in by a Northerly or North-West wind, meeting with the Land-floods: On the contrary, if the flux of the Sea be stopped at a distance from the Level, than they are useless, and may prove hurtful, and hinder the descent of the Down-fall, or small Drains, into the three Rivers that will run low to receive them. Now before this Design was known, it was declared, that there was no less than three hundred miles of Banking to to be repaired, and this new Design speaks of more Banks to be made, with new Cuts, In-drains, and Counter-Banks; which charge of making and repairing, I fear will cost more than the Annual Rent of the 95000. Acres is able to maintain: And although these Works mentioned were finished, the whole Level would be in a perpetual danger; for it is no other than what hath been practised these fourteen years, to carry the Freshes so high, as to ride the Tide; which I doubt not but both the Corporation and Country are sensible of the difficulty to effect it with Banks of Moor Earth, and in truth not to be performed. As for your Brick-tunnels under your Rivers, they are no ways useful in this flat Level, whether you admit the Tide in, or keep it out: If you exclude the Tide, it may be requisite to have small Sluices upon the Out-fall of your Creeks and Leading-Drains, where it may be needful, into the three Rivers, to hold up water for your Cattle, by reason your three Rivers will run so low.  
By this you see my Objections and Reasons against the flux of the Tide into this flat Level, which if that should be stopped, than you need not the help of those chargeable Moory Banks, which hath so often deceived you, excepting Bedford River, and Morton's Leam Banks, which in twenty years will require no repairing, nor can suffer any Breaches, by reason the Freshes cannot lie three neaps of a Tide two foot upon the Banks. Besides these two now named, there is Burrough single Bank, from Peakirk to Croyland, four miles in length; likewise Croyland single Bank, from Croyland to Clout-house, two miles in length; these must be kept in repair to resist the River Welland, which lies much above our Level, and is excluded from us; so that it is easily perceived, that four or five hundred miles of Banking will be laid aside as useless: For if you exclude the Tide, your vast and uncertain Charges will be taken off; but on the contrary, if you admit the Tide to flow into the Level, as is intended by this new Design, your Banks, Counter-Banks, Weer-Dikes, and Tunnels, will not secure the Level from Inundation.  
Thus, according to your Order, and for the better satisfaction, that so the truth might the better appear, I humbly tender these my Objections and Reasons against that Design now in agitation, and leave myself, with them, to the Judgement of this Honourable Corporation.  
William Dodson.   

A Breviat of the whole Charge of the Works mentioned in Colonel DODSON'S Design, for the perfect Draining of the Great Level of the Fens, called Bedford Level.  

lb s. d.  
IMprimis, The great Sluice and Soss at Germans near Magdalen, as they are Designed to be builded with Brick, Stone, Floodgates, Fall-gates, Soss-gates, Ironwork, and Workmanship, and allowed by Workmen, will cost 09833 15 06  
The making the River through Marsland, from the River called the Horseshooe to Germans-Bride, with Banks and In-drains, at 5lb. a Pole, will cost 12800 00 00  
The Purchase of the Land in Marsland, where the River, Banks, and In-drains are cut out of, at 15lb. an Acre for the Purchase, will cost 01575 00 00  
The Purchase of the Land, with the making of Banks and In-drains of the New Cut, from the River of Owse to the great Sluice, will cost 00384 07 06  
The making of Sandy's River, from Ely to Littleport Chair, at 1lb. 15s. 00 a Pole, will cost 01680 00 00  
The Sluice and Soss at Guyheirne, allowing the Timbers of the Sluice and Soss at Saltors' Load, there to be delivered, will cost 500lb. otherwise the Charge of that Sluice and Soss will be double 00500 00 00  
The Sluice and Soss at Ditton by Cambridge, allowing the Timbers of Knowl's Sluice, with the Timbers at the Brick-kills, there to be delivered, will cost 200lb. otherwise the Charge of that Sluice and Soss will be double 00200 00 00  
The taking up the Shelves and Flats in the Rivers of Owse and Grant, will cost 00600 00 00  
The making of the two Dams, one over the River of Owse by Magdalen, and the other over the River called the Horseshooe below Wisbidge, will cost 00600 00 00  
The making of the Pit for the great Sluice at Germans, or near Magdalen, may cost 00200 00 00  
The Terrace to be made use of in and about the great Sluice and Soss, may cost 00200 00 00  
The Total 28573 03 00   
FINIS.