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CAP. XXXVII. How those their out-falls be∣came obstructed.
HAving thus described the rise, course, and out-falls of these se∣veral streams, I now come to the cause and occasion of their inundation and drowning of this great level; Where∣by, instead of the benefit which it might receive from their overflowings, in case they had enjoyed their free and naturall passages and out-falls, it hath been made, for the most part, for di∣vers ages, a most unhealthy stagnation of waters, yielding no considerable profit to the Inhabitants, or those that border upon it. That the obstruction, which the before specified Rivers hath had in passing out freely, to the Sea, hath been the only cause of those inundations and drownings already spoken of, is appa∣rent enough: I shall therefore, in the next place make manifest what it is that hath thus stopped and choakt up these their out-falls.
Whosoever hath observed the con∣stant tides, which flow up the River of Ouse, at Lynne, will find the water alwayes very thick and muddy there; because the Sea bearing a large bredth Northwards from thence, worketh with so much distemper: It is no won∣der therefore, that a great proportion of silt doth dayly settle in the mouth of that ostiarie, and likewise in the o∣ther; viz. Of Wisbeche, Spalding and Boston, so that in time it could not but grow to that thicknesse; with∣out some artificial helpes to quicken the current, upon its evacuation at eve∣ry ebbe, whereby it might be carried out again; that it must needs force back the fresh waters, and cause them not only to overflow, but at length to drown the whole levell, through which their streames did passe. And this we see apparently was the case here: for to such an height is the silt grown, that in the year 1635. upon the deeping of s 1.1 Wisbeche River, the VVorkmen at eight foot below the then bottome ther∣of, came to another bottome, which was stony; and in it at several distances, found seven Boats, that had lyen there overwhelmed with the silt for many ages.
So likewise at Salters lode, at the digging of a foundation for the Sasse, which was there set up (of late years) by the Adventurers in that great work of the present drayning, the silt was ob∣served to be ten foot deep; and next be∣low that, three foot thicknesse of firm Moor; then blewish gault, which the workmen judged to have been silt origi∣nally; because being dry, it not only crumbled like it, but had the Roots of Reeds in it: then below it, moor of three foot thicknesse, much firmer and clearer than the other; and lastly whi∣tish Clay, which is supposed to have been the very natural and bottome soyl at the first, before those changes hapned, either from the alteration of the course of the Sea, or choaking up these out-falls, as I have already shewed.
Add hereunto what likewise hath, of late years been observed at Witlesey, in the casting of those Moats by Mr. Under∣wood, for the fencing in of his new plan∣tation of fruit Trees; viz. that digging through the Moor at eight foot deep, they came to a perfect soil, and swaths of grasse lying thereon as they were first mowed: which clearly manifests, that some great Land-floud, many ages since, meeting with an obstruction at the natu∣ral Ostiaries towards the Sea, by reason of much silt, which after a long drouth had choakt them up, did then spread it self over the face of the whole Levell; and that the waters, till this general drayning, ever since covering the same, have produced a moor now grown to this thicknesse.
And moreover, that at the setting down of Skyrbeck Sluse, neer Boston, there was found at xvi foot deep, cove∣red with silt, a Smiths forge, and all the tooles thereunto belonging, with Hor∣shoos and other things made of Iron, as some that saw it have affirmed to me.