CHAP, IV. 



Sin CORNELIUS VERMUYDEN. 



G3 



was riveted. Another important work in the South 

 Level was the cutting of a large river called St. John's, 

 or l)o\\ nliaui Eau, 1 120 feet wide, and 10 feet deep, from 

 Denver Sluice to Stow Bridge on the Ouse, with sluices 

 at both ends, for the purpose of carrying away with 

 u'i -cater facility the flood waters descending from the 

 several rivers of that level. Various new sluices were 

 also fixed at the mouths of the rivers, to prevent the 

 influx of the tides, and most of the old drains and cuts 

 were at the same time scoured out and opened for the 

 more ready flow of the surface waters. 



At length, in March, 1652, the works were declared 

 to be complete, and the Lords Commissioners of Adju- 

 dication appointed under the Act of Parliament pro- 

 ceeded to inspect them. They embarked upon the 

 New River, and sailing over it to Stow Bridge, sur- 

 veyed the new eaus and sluices executed near that 

 place, after which they returned to Ely. There Sir 

 Cornelius Yermuyden read to those assembled a discourse, 

 in which he explained the design he had carried out 

 for the drainage of the district ; in the course of which 

 he stated as one of the results of the undertaking, that 

 in the North and Middle Levels there were already 

 40,000 acres of land " sown with cole seed, wheat, and 

 other winter grain, besides innumerable quantities of 

 sheep, cattle, and other stock, where never had been 

 any before. These works," he added, "have proved 

 themselves sufficient, as well by the great tide about a 

 month since, which overflowed Marshland banks, and 

 drowned much ground in Lincolnshire and other places, 

 and a flood by reason of a great snow, and rain upon it 

 following soon after, and yet never hurt any part of the 

 whole Level ; and the view of them, and the considera- 

 tion of what hath previously been said, proves a clear 



1 The St. John's Eau, being a 

 straight cut, is known in the district 

 as "The Poker;" and Marshland Cut, 



being in the shape of a pair of tongs, 

 is commonly called " Tongs Drain." 



