98 
THB GEOLOGIST. 
from the boggy waste, and convert them into Mghly productive 
lands. 
One of their earliest operations appears to have been the 
enclosure of the fens, for in Thompson's Boston, I find that 
In 1549 there appears to have been some attempt made at 
closing the fens, for Stow says a proclamation for enclosing the 
commons at Somersetshire, and Lincolnshire, made a commo- 
tion/' 
The following century, in the reign of Charles I. the com- 
plete drainage of the Level was projected, and in the year 1630 
under the directon and auspices of the Earl of Bedford, this great 
work was commenced ; this enterprising nobleman however was 
destined to suffer the heavy disappointment of faihng to effect the 
object contemplated ; still, after the interval of a few years, the 
undertaking was again entered upon by his son, and in 1653 
completed, to the satisfaction of the parties interested therein, 
when the Earl and his participans received 90,500 acres, the sti- 
pulated recompense for the money expended, and the anxiety ex- 
perienced j indeed, the latter was in no trifling degree, as during 
its progress, impediments to the great work were frequently met 
with, particularly from the lower orders, who, unwilling to lose 
their occupation of fishing and taking game, their principle 
means of subsistence, and not less disinclined to forego the plea- 
sures of the chase, to which they had been so long habituated 
without molestation, they resisted the draining and enclosing of 
the lands, by repeatedly injuring the banks and drains. The 
following instance is recorded by Dugdale; speaking of the 
drainage, he says, "by which works (An. 17 Carolii.) the water 
was so well taken off, that in summer this whole fen yielded 
great stores of grass and hay ; and had been made winter ground 
in a short time, but that the country people taking advantage 
of the confusions throughout the whole kingdom, which ensued 
soon after the convention of the late long parliament (as is very 
well known) possessed themselves thereof ; so that the banks and 
