CHAP. IV. sill COHNEL1US VERMUVDKN. 



wholesome and fruitful lands, however important in a 

 national point of view, as enlarging the resources and 

 increasing the Avralth of the country, had no attraction 

 whatever in the eyes of the Fen men. They muttered 

 their discontent, and everywhere met the " adventurers," 

 as the reclaimers were called, with angry though in- 

 effectual opposition. But their numbers were too few, 

 and they were too widely scattered, to make any com- 

 bined effort at resistance. They could only retreat to 

 other fens where they thought they might still be safe, 

 carrying their discontent with them, and complaining that 

 their commons were taken from them by the rich, and, 

 what was worse, by foreigners Dutch and Flemings. 

 The jealous John Bull of the towns became alarmed at 

 this idea, and had rather that the water than these 

 foreigners had possession of the land. " What ! " asked 

 one of the objectors, " is the old activitie and abilities 

 of the English nation grown now soe dull arid insuffi- 

 cient that wee must pray in ayde of our neighbours to 

 improve our own demaynes ? For matter of securitie, 

 shall wee esteem it of small moment to put into the 

 hands of strangers three or four such ports as Linne, 

 Wisbeach, Spalding, and Boston, and permit the countrie 

 within and between them to be peopled with over- 

 thwart neighbours ; or, if they quaile themselves, must 

 wee give place to our most auncient and daungerous ene- 

 mies, who will be readie enough to take advantage of 

 soe manie fair inlets into the bosom of our land, lying 

 soe near together that an army landing in each of them 

 may easily meet and strongly entrench themselves with 

 walls of water, and drowne the countrie about them at. 

 tlii-ir pleasure ? " 



1 'The Dniyucr Confirmed,' tract, 

 !<'>_".). Another violent. pamphlet 

 against the drainage was |iullishe<l 

 alnnit the same time, entitled 'The 

 Anti-1'rojecior : or, the History of the 

 I'Yiin Project;' small 4to., London, 



(circa) 1628. The writer was opposed 

 to Vemmyden, for his interference 

 with the prescriptive rights of the 

 poor and others settled in the lennv 

 districts. 



