GIG 
frequently in Lincolnshire whenji hoy, ascribing very remarkable 
properties to the cows and pigs of that county. It ran : “Lincolnshire, 
where the pigs dung soap and the cows dung fire,” and alluded to 
the primitive practice of converting pigs’ dung into a “lye,” for 
washing purposes, and to the storage of dried cow-dung for winter 
fuel ; — the latter suggestive of the treeless nature of the country in 
which the practice prevailed. Frogs were called “ Holland Waits,” 
and sometimes “Lincolnshire Nightingales.” 
It is not to he imagined that a great improvement like the 
drainage of the Fens, which involved such an entire change in 
the face of the country, and, consequently, in the habits of the 
people, could he carried out without serious ojjposition. The first 
act for the drainage of the Bedford Level was passed in 1578 ; 
but, owing to vexatious litigation, and even more active opposition 
still, the work was not accomplished till 1653. Dugdale tells us 
that the “ almost barbarous sort of lazy and beggarly people,” who 
lived by fishing and fowling of course, dreaded the loss of their 
occupation, which was sure to follow the subsidence of the waters, 
and opposed the improvement by all means in their power, one 
of Avhich was the making of “ libellous songs to disparage the 
Avork.” He gives one of these songs, which is curious, but too 
long to quote entire. It is headed the “ Powtes’ Complaint,” 
and in it the fishes call upon the waters to assemble, under the 
lead of “good old Captain Flood,” “ Avho Avas never known to 
fail us,” and beg Eolus, Neptune, and the Moon also to lend 
their aid : — 
“ For Ave shall rue it, if ’t be true, that Fens be undertaken. 
And where we feed in Fen and Reed, they’ll feed both Beef and Bacon.” 
“ Away Avith boats and rudder, farewell both boots and skatches. 
No need of one nor th’ other, men now make better matches ; 
Stilt-makers all and tanners shall complain of this disaster ; 
For they will make each muddy lake for Essex calves a pasture.” 
Sir Cornelius Vermuyden, a celebrated Dutch engineer, Avho 
had settled in this country, and had already done good Avork, 
suffered so severely from popular prejudice, that not only Avas his 
scheme for draining the Bedford Level rejected, in consequence of 
his being an “alien,” but also at Dagenham, Avhere, having in 1621 
repaired the banks Avhich hitherto had been too Aveak to protect 
the level against the violence of the tide, the people refused to 
