ClIAl'. II. 



TIIK CIIKAT LKVKI, OF TIIK FKN'S. 



31 



paratively little was done to curry its provisions into 

 effect, although measures were al>out tliat time adopted, 

 under concessions made to the Cecils and the Fitx- 

 williams, which enabled them to drain, and that very 

 ineffectually, several portions of land near dough's 

 Cross, to the eastward of Peterborough* 



A. few years later James I. ascended the throne, and 

 shortly after, in 1607, a series of destructive floods 

 1 mrst in the embankments along the eastern coast of 

 England, and, sweeping away many farms and vil- 

 lages, did immense damage. One of the worst occurred 

 through the bursting of Terington Dyke, near King's 

 Lynn, by reason of the violence of a storm from the 

 north-east, which drove the spring-tide through the sea- 

 1 >anks. The jury for the hundred of Freebridge held an 

 inquest upon the bodies of those who were drowned, 

 and the following brief extract from their presentment 

 will give an idea of the horrors of the situation : "In 

 their distress the people of the town fled to the church 

 for refuge ; some to haystacks ; some to the baulks in 

 the houses, till they were near famished ; poor women 

 leaving their children swimming in their beds, till good 

 people, adventuring their lives, went up to the breast 

 in the water to fetch them out at the windows ; whereof 

 Mr. Browne, the minister, did fetch divers to the church 

 upon his back ; and had it not pleased Grod to move the 

 hearts of the mayor and aldermen of King's Lynn with 

 compassion, who sent beer and victual thither by boat, 

 many had perished ; which boats came the direct way 

 over the soil from Lynne to Terington." 1 



1 The toll, .wins description is given 

 in a curious little black-letter lxx)k of 

 tin- ju-riotl, entitled 'More strange 

 Newes of Flouds in Knghmd :' "In 

 the danger every man laved first 

 handes on what he loned best; some 

 made away with his wife, some his 

 children, some, careles both of wife 



and child, hurried away his goods. 

 He that had scene this troublesome 

 night's work would have thought upon 

 the miserable night of Troy. Here 

 waded one up to the middle loaded 

 with wealth, when noting how the 

 water increased, and calling to mind 

 his haplesse children, with a sigh, as 



