THE Rioters in Lindsey level, and their Abettors, would have it thought that our Ancestors were such ignorant men, as to make all the laws and statutes by which the Commission of Sewers is empowered to remove the surrounder of waters with such limitations as are utterly impossible to remove them, and would so construe those Statutes, as if they were only made to mock men, to show a public good, & to forbid the doing of it. But by a true sense of those Statutes it appears that the wisdom of those times did foresee, that by Draining the fens, a new Province would be added unto England, and did therefore make laws fully impowring a Commission of Sewers according to their judgement and wisdom, to do these public works so honourable and profitable unto this Nation; so that the words in the Statutes ought in all reason to be so interpreted as to enable men to perform what they require them to do, and according to this, the Drainers of Lindsey level have proceeded, and therein followed the steps of all proceedings in all undertakings of this nature, all which have been confirmed by all former Parliaments, not admitting of such construction of the said Statutes, as will make all such works utterly impossible and contradictory in themselves, as our Rioters would have it now understood. The long Parliament did Order a Bill to settle Lindsey level, which is in Master Scobels hands.  
2. It is conceived that no man will deny, but that a Parliament has power by an Act, to authorise the Draining of any part of England on good arguments, and the opinion that such a work may prove beneficial to the public good of the Nation; which is all that can be said, before a work be done! I suppose then that this Parliament hath an infallible argument to invite them to settle and secure Lindesey level, which is a work already done, and so eminently honourable and profitable for the public good; and to no man's prejudice, though many frivolous clamours be made of the Drainers dogs that barked at the Rioters when they pulled down their Master's houses, (and such like stories) as also the hospital Lands (and others) exchanged for their own good, though Master Cresset is pleased to call it taking to much land from them, which really is so: I say if all complaints of this nature, be referred unto a Commission of uninterested persons to hear and determine as it is in Bedford level Act, they will be soon accommodated, so as no man can receive prejudice, but be all benefited by this draining.  
3. It is considerable, that seventy two thousand acres that never paid penny to public contribution, will by this Draining contribute and ease other parts. [That the customs will increase very much, and that seventy thousand pounds ready money, may come into the Exchequer, for land belonging to the State, when this work is done] That many thousands of poor people will be employed about Flax, Hemp, and other Manufactures, and in Husbandry very considerable, where one drainer in two years, did plant above a hundred thousand Trees, built a house that cost 3000 pound, and employed for three months in one Summer, six hundred people to bring in his harvest of Coole and Rape seed, which grew on Land where Fish did use to swim at midsummer before the Draining; and for which the said Drayner was sued for tithes, and made to pay them, and yet the Rioters testimonies in the consented Report, do all swear positively, that the Drainers never were in possession, which makes those testimonies invallid, because contradictory. Of all which building and plantation, there is now no sign left, being all destroyed and carried away by that Riot, when those public works were ruined.  
4. If the addition of a new Province to England be a public good, it doth concern the Nation in point of honour, as well as profit, to encourage private men by their private hazard and charge to undertake the like public works. For what can be more censurable in a Nation, than to suffer such treasure to be lost so many years for want of industry? Or to see those men destroyed by a Riot, for doing that which our ancestors have so often invited them to do, and this Riot done while the cause depended in hearing before a Parliament, and in contempt of several Orders of both Houses, issued for confirmation thereof: And yet these Rioters with their Abettors are rewarded by 13 years' possession of the drainers lands for ruining those works, as if the act were praise worthy; while their Abettors do plead Law for those that have by that Riot destroyed the foundation of all Law (as much as in them lies) all which the drainers do humbly submit unto the judgement of this Parliament, and do hope for some reparation from the Rioters and their Abettors, that may enable them to repair those public works, and will deter others from the lika Riots hereafter.  
William Killigrew.  
Postscript.  
IT is humbly conceived, that in honour and justice no man will believe those scandalous reports which the Rioters and their Abettors do whisper in men's ears against the drainers, and their works of Draining nor give any credit unto the several printed Libels which have been by them delivered at the Parliament Door against the drainers, all which their great Abettors dare not so much own, as to subscribe their Names to them; and are therefore reputed as false scandalous Libels, defaming men that rather deserve Statues of brass, for the good by them done unto the commonwealth, which their Adversaries and their Ancestors have ever endeavoured, but could never effect.  
January 18. 1654. William Killigrew.