I. BY reason of the many greater Affairs in Parliament, the Bill for perfecting the Earl of Lindseys Fens, hath not yet found a time to be read: by which unhappy delay the season of this yeer is neer spent for works of this na­ture; and if the work begin not till next Summer, the profit of that yeer must be also lost. By this unhappy delay also new Obstructions are now raised against this publick work; For I am credibly informed by several persons of qua­lity, that the people have been lately invited and incouraged at Boston to come up in great numbers to make new clamors, by telling them that they have a good cause, and but few friends in Parliament; that three or four onely spoke for them; that when the Vote pas­sed, but thirteen were for the Country, and twenty seven against them; that their Fens would be lost unless they did come generally up to petition; and if that failed, then they should bring up their wives and children to the Parliament door, and there leave them.

II. I do conceive, by these invitations and incouragements, many poore ignorant people are perswaded to signe Petitions they understand not, and may be did never see. And to make the noise and clamour greater, many rich men of Boston, with others bordering on the eight hundred Fens, are now come up (who would have no draining, that so themselves with their great stocks may still continue to eat out the poor Commoners, and do therefore well to declare in their last Friday books, that the poore Commoners have no interest in the Fens, but by their Landlords right: which is a pretty preamble to rob the poor people of their Commons, in case their designe should follow of inclosing all the Commons.) These men also are now come up to petition against the Drainers, in hope to stay the Act from passing, thereby to keep the said eight hundred Fens from being drained, and thereby to defraud the State of eight thousand Acres in that Fens belonging to the late King, as Lord of the Soyle, and Drainer of the said Fen.

III. I shall not trouble my self to answer their railing books given abroad on Friday last, because the substance of the same books hath by them been published long since, and long since fully answered by books of mine: nor much value what their Petition or them­selves can say after so many yeers hearing, and such full debates at so great a Committee, where all the House had Voices; and after a Bill ordered by this honourable House to be brought in to perfect the said draining: for I do humbly conceive, there being no new act done by the Drainers, these mens repetition of old clamours fully answered, can signifie nothing but some few mens endeavours to delay the Act, in hope to starve the Drainers while the cause depends; filling mens ears with terrours of the peoples discontent, as if two or three hundred Riotters, with their Abettors, signing a Petition, or as many rich mens coming up with a Petition were the voice of the whole people of Lincolnshire! and as if all England did desire the Fens should not be drained! when as most of this Nation do wonder that any should oppose so generall a good.

IV. I do glory in my part of the merit of this work, because I may safely say that no work of this nature was ever carried on with a more generall consent, and applause of the most eminent Lords, Owners, and Commoners of the Country; or with more equity pur­sued, or lesse prejudice to any man, or hath produced a greater improvement (I mean pro­portionable to its quantity) nor hath any such work been brought to a greater perfe­ction. In consideration whereof, I cannot apprehend that the whole Land shall be taken from us; but my fears are, lest some artificiall delayes, or prejudiciall accommodation be found to bring us to ruine, to wit, by recompencing our charge, hazard, and losses, which the whole twenty foure thousand Acres will not now do, nor can the Countrey ever perform it by a sum of money, though they and we should agree to it. My onely hope is, that the Parliament will think it just and honorable to settle us by the same like Act with Bedford-Levell, having the same title and merit. In which Act there are provisoes to meet with, and prevent all mischiefs and inconveniences which have, or may happen to any person concerned in this work of draining. It is therefore a vain thing by Petitions to anticipate the intentions of the Parliament, who intend so much their good, if Lindsey-Levell be established by the like Act with Bedford-Levell; the profit of these works being done, will encourage the draining of all the Fens in England, as a high improvement to the publick good of this Nation, and therefore worthy of the Parliaments protection; for which there are arguments enough to convince any opinions to the contrary.