CHAP. III. Sill rnUNKLlUS VERMUYDKX. 43 



V en ni i y lni did what he could to satisfy the in- 

 1 1 ; 1 1 1 i t a n ts. He employed large numbers of native work- 

 n icii, at considerably higher wages than had before 

 been paid there ; and he strenuously exerted himself to 

 relieve those who had suffered from the changes he had 

 effected, so far as could be done without incurring a 

 ruinous expense. 1 Dugdale relates that there could be 

 no question about the great benefits which the execu- 

 tion of the drainage works conferred upon the labouring 

 population ; for whereas, before the reclamation, the 

 country round about had been " full of wandering 

 beggars," these had now entirely disappeared, and there 

 was abundant employment for all who would work, at 

 good wages. An immense tract of rich land had been 

 completely recovered from the waters, but it could only 

 be made valuable and productive after long and diligent 

 cultivation. Vermuyden was supported by the Crown, 

 and on the 6th of January, 1 629, he received the honour 

 of knighthood at the hands of Charles I., in recogni- 

 tion of the skill and energy he had displayed in adding 

 so large a tract to the cultivable lands of England. In 

 the same year he took a grant from the Crown of the 



of whom is conceived to be murder in j l F. Vernatti, one of the Dutch 



all who gave direction for them to go I capitalists who had contributed largely 



armed that day. These outrages will | towards the cost of the works, writes 



produce good effects. They will pro- to Monsieur St. Gillis, in October, 



cure conformity in the people, and 1628 : " The absence of Mr. Ver- 



enforce Vermuyden to sue for favour muyden, and the great interest the 



at the Duke's hands, if not for him- 

 self, for divers of his friends, especially 

 for Mr. Saines, a Dutchman, who has 

 tin adventure of 13,OOOZ. in this work. 

 Upon examination of the rest of Ver- 

 muydeii's people, thinks it will appeal- 



writer takes in the business of em- 

 bankment at Haxey, has led him to 

 engage in it with eye and hand. The 

 mutinous people have not only de- 

 sisted from their threats, but now 

 give their work to complete the dyke, 



that lie gave them orders to go armed. which they have fifty times destroyed 



Expected to have heard from Mr. and thrown into the river. A royal 



Forthcrley about Vermuyden's defeaz- proclamation made by a serjeant-at- 



ance, but he having fallen short , arms in their village, accompanied by 



therein, it has been given out by Ver- j the sheriff and other officials, with 



muyden's party that he has bought fifty horsemen, and an exhortation 



the lordship ; but the writer, with | mingled with threats of fire and ven- 



strong assurances, has removed that | geance, have produced tliis result." 



stumbling-block." ' State Papers,' 

 vol. cxiii. 38. 



' State Papers, 1 vol. cxix. 73. 



