THE Rioters in Lindsey Levell, and their Abettors, would have it thought that our An­cestors were such ignorant men, as to make all the Lawes and statutes by which the Commission of Sewers is impowred 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 shew a publick good, & to sorbid the doing of it. But by a true sense of those Statutes it appears that the wisdome of those times did foresee, that by Draining the Fenns, a new Province would be added unto England, and did therefore make Lawes fully impowring a Commission of Sewers according to their judgement and wisdome, to doe these publick 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 inable men to perform what they require them to doe, and according to this, the Drainers of Lindsey Levell 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 Levell, 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 au­thorize the Draining of any part of England on good arguments, and the opinion that such a work may prove beneficiall to the Publick good of the Nation; which is all that can be said, before a worke be done! I suppose then that this Parliament hath an infallible argument to invite them to settle and secure Lindesey Levell, which is a worke already done, and so eminently honorable and profitable for the publick good; and to no mans prejudice, though many frivolous clamors be made of the Drainers dogs that barked at the Rioters when they pulled down their Masters hou­ses, (and such like stories) as also the Hospitall 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 heare and determine as it is in Bedford Levell 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 paied penny to publick con­tribution, will by this Draining contribute and ease other parts. [That the customes will increase very much, and that seventy thousand pounds ready mony, may come into the Exchequer, for land belonging to the State, when this work is done] That many thousands of poor people will be imploid about Flax, Hemp, and other Manufactures, and in Husbandry very considerable, where one Drayner in two yeares, did plant above a hundred thousand Trees, built a house that cost 3000 pound, and imployed for three moneths 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 Midsomer before the Draining; and for which the said Drayner was sued for Tythes, and made to pay them, and yet the Rioters testimonies in the consented Report, doe all sweare 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 signe left, being all destroyed and carried away by that Riot, when those publick works were ruined.

4. If the addition of a new Province to England be a Publick good, it doth concerne the Na­tion in point of honour, as well as profit, to incourage private men by their private hazard and charge to undertake the like publick workes. For what can be more censurable in a Nation, than to suffer such treasure to be lost so many yeares 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 doe, and this Riot done while the cause depended in hearing before a Parliament, and in contempt of seve­rall Orders of both Houses, issued for confirmation thereof: And yet these Rioters with their A­bettors are rewarded by 13 yeares possession of the Drayners lands for ruining those works, as if the act were praise worthy; while their Abettors doe plead Law for those that have by that Ri­ot destroyed the foundation of al Law (as much as in them lies) al which the Drayners do humbly submit unto the judgment of this Parliament, and do hope for some reparation from the Rioters and their Abettors, that may inable them to repaire those publick works, and will deter others from the lika Riots hereafter.

IT is humbly conceived, that in honour and justice no man will beleeve those scandalous re­ports which the Rioters and their Abettors doe whisper in mens eares against the Drayners, 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 Drayners, all which their great Abettors dare not so much owne, as to subscribe their Names to them; and are therefore reputed as false scandalous Libels, defaming men that rather deserve Statues of Brasse, for the good by them done unto the Common-wealth, which their Adversaries and their Ancestors have ever indea­voured, but could never effect.