A NARRATIVE OF ALL THE Proceed in the draining of the GREAT LEVEL of the FENS, Extending into the Counties of North ton. Lincoln, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge, and Huntingdon, and the ISLE of ELY; From the time of QUEEN ELIZABETH, until this present MAY, 1661.  
For the Information of all concerned.  
By N. N.  
LONDON, Printed by A. W. for the use of the Author, 1661.   

A Narrative of all the proceed in the draining of the Great Level, etc.  
IN the 43. year of Queen Eliz. 
43 Eliz.  an Act was made to encourage any that would undertake the draining of the said great Level, which was attempted in several parts; by Carril for the draining of Thorney; by Cocking and others for Londoners Fens; which were both gained, and lost again.  
In the third year of King James, 
3 Jac.  the whole was attempted to be drained by Sir John Popham Kt. Chief Justice, Sir Thomas Fleming Chief Baron, Sir William Rumney Knight, and Alderman of London, and John Eldred Citizen of London, who were to have had for their recompense, 130000. acres, who did proceed, but could not effect that work.  
In the 16th. year of King James, 
16 Jac.  Sir William Ayloff Kt. and Anthony Thomas Esq became undertakers to drain the said Level, and were to have had two thirds of some, and half of other grounds for their recompense; 
Camebridge Law, Feb. 20. 19 Jac. Sept. 6. Car. 1.  but this draining was without success.  
Afterwards King James himself by a Law of Sewers was declared Undertaker for the draining the whole, and was to have had for his recompense, 120000. acres; But this attempt likewise failed.  
In the 6th. year of King Charles the first, (of blessed memory) The Commissioners of Sewers for the said great Level, and parts adjacent, did agree with one Sir Cornelius Vermuyden to undertake the draining the said Level, who was to have had for his recompense, 95000. acres, but nothing was done, in respect of his being an Alien.  
After in the said 6th. 
Jan. 6 Car. 1.  year of King Charles, the then Commissioners of Sewers for the said Great Level, and parts adjacent, did make it their request to Francis then Earl of Bedford to undertake the said work, who was to have for his recompense, 95000. acres, whereof the said King was to have 12000. acres for his Royal assent to that Law, and concurrence to an Act of Parliament.  
In pursuance whereof the said Earl undertook this great and hazardous work, and for his assistance therein, and by an Indenture consisting of 14. parts, Dated 27. Feb. 7. Car. 1ᵒ. 
Feb. 7. Car.  he took in divers Adventurers, and Participants with him, who adventured for these several shares following;  
Viz. 

The said Francis Earl of Bedford for three, whole shares, or lots of 4000 acres to each lot.  
Oliver Earl of Bullingbrook for one lot of 4000  
Edward Lord Gorges for one.  
Sir Robert Heath Kt. for one.  
Sir Miles Sandys Knight and Baronet for two.  
Sir William Russel Knight and Baronet for two.  
Sir Robert Bevill Knight for one.  
Sir Tho. Terringham Kt. for two.  
Sir Philbert Dernatt for one.  
William sam's Doctor at Law for one.  
Anthony Hamond Esq for two.  
Samuel Spalding Gent. for one.  
Andrew Burwell Gent. for one.  
Sir Robert Lovet Knight, for one.   In all twenty lots, each of 4000 acres divided between the said 14. parties.  
In, and by which said Indenture, amongst other things, it is agreed, as followeth.  
That if any one of the aforesaid parties, or their Assigns, after notice, should fail in the payment of such moneys, as from time to time should be imposed on them, in pursuance of the said Indenture for the carrying on the said work, that then it should be lawful to, and for the rest of the said parties, or their Assigns, to supply the same, or to admit some other person, or persons, to have the share of such defaulture, paying the sum imposed on the said share, and that all such parties as aforesaid, by himself, or his Assigns so failing, shall be wholly excluded, and for ever debarred from demanding, or receiving, all, or any such sum, or sums of money, as any such person, or persons had formerly disbursed, for, and towards the said work.  
After the executing of the said 14th. part Indenture, divers of those Participants did assign and convey unto other persons several proportions of their shares, and Adventures by them undertaken by the said Indenture.  
By virtue of this Agreement, the said Adventuturers, and their Assigns proceeded so far in this hazardous adventure, that after the expense of 100000l. therein, it was adjudged drained at Peterborough. 
12 Car.   
And in Octob. 
13 Car.  in the 13th. year of the said King Charles, by a Law of Sewers made at St. Ives, the said 95000. acres was set out by descriptions and boundaries therein mentioned, where, and how this 95000. acres should be taken out of each Parish, or Land-owners land in the whole Level, according to which setting forth, the whole 95000. acres was thus divided and allotted.  
First, 12000. acres thereof for the said late K. Charles.  
And 80000. acres thereof was divided into twenty lots, each containing 4000 acres, which was divided amongst the aforesaid parties to the 14th. part Deed, and their Assigns, as aforesaid.  
And 3000. acres did remain to be disposed of at the pleasure of the Adventurers.  
In pursuance of this Law, a great part of the said 95000. acres was divided from the Country, and some of the said Adventurers had possession of some parts of their said proportions, but had no conveyances, nor received but little rent.  
For that by a Law of Sewers made at Huntingdon in the 14th. 
14 Car.  year of the said King Charles, upon complaint that the said Level was not perfectly drained, The said King Charles (of happy memory) was declared undertaker to drain the same (inter alia) and was to have for his recompense, not only the said 95000. acres set out unto the said Earl, but also 57000. acres more out of the same Lands and Parishes within the said Level, and the said Earl and his Participants were to have had 40000. acres of the said 95000. acres freed from Taxes for their charges expended, which would have been of more advantage to them, than the whole 95000. acres on the terms they have it. After which Law the Inhabitants of the Country did re-enter upon the said 80000. acres, and 3000. acres, part of the said 95000. acres, and the said King continued the possession of the said 12000 acres, but about the year 1641. 
1641.  his said Majesty gave over his undertaking, and soon after the whole Level became drowned again, and then the Country entered upon the said 12000. acres also, and kept the whole in their own possession.  
In this Condition the said Level returned to be as bad drowned as ever before, with the loss of 100000l. to the said Earl, and his Participants; afterwards a Parliament being called in the year 1640. the said Earl and his Participants, or their Assigns, did petition the said Parliament, that they would impowr the said Earl to go on, and perfect the aforesaid work; and in 1641. their case was committed. But the said Earl dying about the said year, and the late unhappy wars being then begun, there was for some time a stop to the prosecution of the said Act, till about the year 1646. when William now Earl of Bedford, son and heir of the said Francis; the Honourable John Russell, and Edward Russell, brothers to the said William Earl of Bedford; Sir Miles Sandys, Sir John Marsham, Anthony Hamond, Robert Henly, Esquires, and others, in number and interest, for the greatest part concerned in the said 83000 acres, did address themselves to the Parliament then sitting, that they might be empowered by an Act to prosecute the said work of Drayning, for the recovery of that vast and lost Country, which after several hear of all parties before a Committee, the Act was ready to be presented to the house of Lords, but the late unhappy differences prevented for that time its further progress.  
Afterwards about the year 1648. the said William Earl of Bedford, by the assistance of Sir Miles Sandys, Robert Henly Esquires, and divers others of his said Participants, did prosecute the obtaining of an Act of that pretended Parliament, in order to the draining of the aforesaid Level. And after several hear of all parties, both of the Country, and Adventurers, before the Committee, an Act passed in the said pretended Parliament in May 1649. By colour of which pretended Act, the said Earl and his Participants did meet together in prosecution of the aofresaid 14 part Indenture: And accordingly the Earl of Arrundel, (under whom Sir William Playter claims) Colonel John Russell, and Edward Russell Esquires (brothers to the said Earl of Bedford) Sir Miles Sandys, (under whom Colonel Samuel Sandys claims) Sir John Hewett, Sir William Terringham, William Dodson, Sir John Marsham, Anthony Hamond, and Robert Henly Esquires, and divers others interessed in the said work of Drayning, who had 7 parts of 8 in the said 83000 acres, finding themselves out of possession, did in June following, resolve to raise moneys for carrying on the said work in prosecution of the aforesaid 14th part Indenture, being enabled thereto (as the times than were) by the said pretended Act. But several persons failing in the due payment of their moneys, as aforesaid; the said Earl, with the residue of his said Participants were necessitated about November following, either to admit some other persons in the room of those who failed to supply the payment of such moneys as was raised according to the said Agreement, or otherwise to lose the whole.  
By which means moneys being raised, the said work was carried on till Lady Day 1653. and then the whole Level being adjudged drained, possession of the said 95000 acres was given to them accordingly, and by virtue of an Act made in the Parliament begun the 25th. of April, 1660. it still continues.  
Several Banks which together are above 200 miles in length, 70 miles whereof are generally 9 foot high, and 60 foot wide at seat or bottom, the rest generally 5 foot high, and 24 foot wide at seat; Besides, they have cut one Navigable River 21 miles long, an 100 foot broad, besides divers Sewers and drains together above 400 miles in length, some 40 foot, some 30, some 20, none under 12 foot wide; besides, they have made divers great and Navigable Sasses and Sluices, and Bridges, for the doing whereof, and in other expenses and buildings, and improving the said Level, the said Earl and his Participants have expended at least 500000l. and great sums it will yearly cost to maintain it.  
This being the true state of the Case, as indifferent to all interests, and as an affectionate friend to the whole, I hearty wish and advise, that all parties herein concerned, would so far recede from their own opinions, and private interests, and for the preservation of the whole, unanimously submit all differences to the determination of the Parliament, or to such persons as they in their wisdoms shall think fit, whereby the whole may be preserved, and all particular interest may receive Justice, according to the Equity of their Cause.  
FINIS.