130 SIH HUGH MYDDELTON'S EMBANKMENT 



AND DESPERATELIE SURROUNDED WITHIN OUR KING/DOME OF ENG- 

 LAND AND DOMINION OF WALES/ and is now in very great hope to 

 bringe the same to good effect, the same not being heretofore 

 knowne, experimented, or vsed within our said realme or dominion, 

 whereby much benefitt, which as yet is lost, will certenly be 

 brought both to vs in particular and to our coifion wealth in 

 generall, and hath offered to publish and practise his skill 



amongest our loving subiectf , KNOWE YEE, that 



wee, tendring the weale of this our kingdom and the benefitt of 

 our subiect^, and out of our princely care to nourish all artf , 

 invencions, and studdies whereof there may be any necessary 

 or cpfntable vse within our dominions, and out of our desire to 

 cherish and encourage the industries and paynes of all other our 

 loving subiectf in the like laudable indeavors, and to recompence 

 the labors and expences of the said Hugh Middleton disbursed and 

 to be susteyned as aforesaid, and for the good opinion wee have con- 

 ceived of the said Hugh Middleton, for that worthy worke of his in 

 bringing the New Biver to our cittie of London, and his care and 

 industrie in busines of like nature tending to the publicke good 

 ....... doe give and graunt full, free, and absolute licence, 



libertie, power, and authoritie vnto the said Hughe Middleton, his 

 deputies," &c. to use and practise the same during the terme of 

 fowerteene years next ensuing the date hereof. 



No description is given of the particular method 

 adopted by Sir Hugh in forming his embankments ; but 

 it would appear that he proceeded by driving piles into 

 the bottom of the Haven near Bembridge Point where it 

 is about the narrowest, and thus formed a strong embank- 

 ment at its junction with the sea, but, as would after- 

 wards appear, without making adequate provision for the 

 egress of the inland waters. 



A curious contemporary manuscript by Sir John 

 Oglander is still extant, preserved amongst the archives 

 of the Oglander family, who have held the adjoining 

 lands from a period antecedent to the date of the Con- 

 quest, which we cannot do better than quote, as giving 

 the most authentic account extant of the circumstances 

 connected with the inning of Brading Haven by Sir 

 Hugh Myddelton. This manuscript says : 



