The history of imbanking and drayning of divers fenns and marshes, both in forein parts and in this kingdom, and of the improvements thereby extracted from records, manuscripts, and other authentick testimonies / by William Dugdale.

CAP. V. Of the ROMANS

THAT the Roman works of this na∣ture, were not a few, and those very eminent, I shall next make manifest; by their drains in the Pompeian Marshes; the Fossa Mariana; the improvements about Placentia, and Gallia Cisalpina; the restraint of the River Tiber in it's over∣flowings; and the exsiccation of the great Fucine Lake in Italy.

Sect. 1. The Pompein Marshes.

In the year 593, when L. Anicius Gal∣lus, & M. Cornelius Cethegus were Consuls, the Senate, n 1.1 being in Counsel conc••rn∣ing the Provinces; because there seem∣ed not sufficient use against the Enemy, for the ordinary forces of both the Con∣suls (which are 4 Legions, besides the Auxiliaries, & socii;) there was a mo∣tion made, concerning the improvement of a great level of waste land, lying under water, about xl miles from Rome, in Latium. Which businesse was enter∣tained with great approbation; for o 1.2 like as it is esteemed a most high common∣dation, for a private man to be called a good Hus••andman, by the Consuls; So doth the Senate now think, that they should deserve the praise of good Hus∣bands for the commonwealth, if in this opportunity of leisure, they could gain such a quantity of rich Land to Italy,

which is, (the greatest part) mountain∣ous and barren.

Neither is this imployment thought too mean for the Legions, though consisting of Free men: For the Roman and Italian Infantry, as well accustomed to the Spade and Basket, as to the Sword and Buckler, use to be their own Pioners, in their day∣ly intrenchments: Neither work they for their own safety only, in time of dan∣ger; but for the common good also, in time of security. The p 1.3 Consuls A^o. 566. had herein given a president; who, lest their Souldiers should be idle, imployed them in making of High-wayes: here∣upon it was decreed, that one Consul should attend the Enemy (in Gallia) and the other undertake the drayning of the Pompeine Marshes.

All q 1.4 the Country, which lyes East∣ward of Rome, between the River Ti∣ber and Campania, is now united under the name of Latium; and in it, that place, which lyeth towards the Sea, beneath the row of Hills, which reach from Beli∣tre to Terracina, is the largest. It is denominate from Suessa Pometia, an∣tiently a rich City, and metropolitan of the Volsi, but now scarce extant. The maritime parts of this Vale, for a great extent, are drowned; not so much through any inundation of the Sea, (whose Tides are here but small) as by reason the waters of Amasenus and U∣fens the bigger River, having not their passages sufficienttly open into the Sea, diffuse themselvs over those spacious low grounds, up towards Sulmo & Setia. This tract is therefore cal'd the Pomentin, or Pomptin Fens, having been in such man∣ner surrounded beyond all memory: For Homer r 1.5 describing the arival of Ulysses, at the Circean promontory, calls it an Island, in regard of these waters on the one side, and the Sea on the other: The which I∣sland (sayes Theophrastus s 1.6) had about ten miles of circuit: But in his time (he wrote * 1.7 about twenty years after Appius had been Cen••or) the Rivers, by casting up earth, had joyned it to the continent: So as I do not perceive that hitherto (ei∣ther before the Romans were Lords of the soyl, or since) there had been any order taken for the winning of this ground from the Water. But now, by order of the Senate, the Pom∣ptin Fens are laid dry t 1.8 by Cornelius Ce∣thegus, the Consul to whom that Pro∣vince fell, and they are made good ground.

The Country people, allured there∣fore with the richnesse of the soyl, set∣led themselves here, in such abundance, that there was said u 1.9 to be, not long after this time (for I cannot understand it of any former) three and twenty Towns in this place, it being a land capable of ma∣ny thousand Hus••andmen. But w 1.10 in after times, whilst the state (distracted with ci∣vil Faction,) negl••cted the maintenance of the Works, the waters again, by de∣grees, gained upon the Land; so x 1.11 as Iu∣lius Caesar had an intention, not only to have drayned the Fenns anew, but to have brought the Appian way through them.

Whether Augus••us did any thing to them, may be doubted; for y 1.12 in Ves∣pasians time they were come to that passe, that it was esteemed a miracle they should ever have been so well inhabited. At the same time (I conjecture) when the beds of the Rivers were scoured, and the lands trenched, was that great cut made through the midst of these Fens, which served afterwards, not so much for a Sewer, as the more direct and easie pas∣sage of the Traveller: For whereas the Appian way (tracing the up-land) turned Eastward, and went in compasse about the Fens•• This, being drawn in a streight line, crosses over more directly, and meets the High-way again. About three miles from Terracina, (saith z 1.13 Strabo) as you go to Rome, this canal abutteth on the Appian way, and is replenished in many places, with the Fennish and River wa∣ters: The ordinary passage is in the night; so as they who go aboard in the Evening, land in the Morning, and go on the rest of their journey in the Appian way. They passe also in the day-time, the Boats being towed with Mules. Which water-passage is elegantly descri∣bed by Horace a 1.14; where the company parting, he mentioneth the two wayes from Forum Appii, to Terracina, the Appian, and this by Boat.

This Landing-place next to Rome, was in after-times known by the name of Forum Appii, a small Town, inhabited b 1.15 chiefly by Water-men, and Victuallers: but it is not evident whether it were formerly built, when the Appian

was first made; or whether now, upon this occasion, it was erected for the con∣venience of them that here do take wa∣ter, & named from the Road whereon it stands. The use of this passage continued long after the restagnation of the Fens, which were not again drayned, til Trajan the Emperour (performing the work, which Iulius Caesar perhaps intended) made a stone way through the Pomptin Fens, building c 1.16Inns thereon, & most mag∣nificent Bridges, for the conveyance of such waters, as were on the upper part of the Fen; In memory whereof, a monu∣mental stone, was erected, with this In∣scription, Copyed from the original at Terracina, by that learned Gentleman, Mr. Iohn Graves.

IMP. CAESAR DIVI NERVAE FILIVS NERVA TRAIANVS AVG. GERMANICVS DACICVS PONTIF. MAX. TRIB. POT. XIIII IMP. VI. COS. V. PP. * 1.17XVIIII. SILICE SVA PEGVNIA. STRAVIT LIII.

This work of Trajans had no peculiar name; but because it shortened the Ap∣pian way, was esteemed part of it: Yet about four hundred years after, from the number of Mile-stones, it was called De∣cennovium, the reckoning being d 1.18 from Forum Appii, ad Medias (the lodging of Trajan reared on the way) ix miles; From thence to Terracina, x more: And the Canal or River so called, be∣cause e 1.19 it was xix miles long. After this, Theodoricus King of Italy, authorized one Decius to drayn f 1.20 Paludem Decen∣novii•• which he performed by cutting many Trenches, that were not before; this being the third and last time, that these Marshes were laid dry; and in me∣mory thereof, caused this Inscription g 1.21 to be set up.

Anxuri, sive Terracinae, in Caesarei templo.

DN. GLORIOSISS. ADQ. IN CLVTVS. REX. THE ODORICVS. VICT. AC. TRIF. SEMPER. AVG. BONO. REIP. NATVS. CVSTOS. LIBERTATIS. ET. PROPAGATOR. ROMANI. NOMINIS. DOMITOR GENTIVM.

DECENNOVII. VIAE. APPIAE. ID EST A. TRIP. VSQ. TERRACENAM. ITER. AD. LOCA. QUAE. CONFLUENTIBUS AB. UTRAQ. PARTE. PALUDUM. PER. OMNES. RETRO-PRINCIPIVM. INVNDAVERVNT. VSVI. PVBLICO. ET. SECVRITATI. VIANTIVM. ADMIRANDA. PROPITIO. DEO. FELICITATE. RESTITVIT. OPERI. INIVNCTO. NAVITER. INSVDANTE. ADQ. CLEMENTISSIMI. PRINCIPIS. FELICITER. DESERVIENTE. PRAECONIIS. EX. PROSAPIA. DECIO RVM. CAEC. MAV. BASILIO. DECIO. VC. INL. EXPF. VRB. EXPPO. EX. CONS. ORD. PAT. QVI AD PERPETUANDAM. TANTI. DOMINI. GLORIAM. PER. PLVRIMOS. QVI. ANTE ERANT ALBEOS ..... ............................. DEDUCTA. IN. MA∣RE. AQVA. IGNO••AE. ATAVIS. ET. NIMIS. ANTIQVAE. REDDI.......................

Sect. 2. Fossa Mariana.

This was made * 1.22 by the famous Ma∣rius h 1.23 (who was seven times Consul) neer unto one of the out-falls of the great Ri∣ver Rhodanus, in that Fenny and Ma∣rish Countrey, not far from Aries; and issueth into the Sea.

Sect. 3. The Fenns about Placentia.

These being occasioned by the over∣flowings of the Po, were i 1.24 drayned by Scaurus, who caused navigable Tren∣ches to be cut, from them, into Parma. The like is still observable in the Terri∣tory of Ferrara; which, though a low ground, and receiving the current of Po, with other Rivers of Lombardy, is yet secured by Banks and Works, which hinder their inundations; parti∣cularly by the help of the Rotto di Ficarollo, and the Ramo di Polistella.

Sect. 4. Gallia Cis-Alpina.

This k 1.25 Country much aboundeth with Rivers, especially that Territory belong∣ing to the Venetians; which lying flat and towards the Sea, by the flowing of the Tides became a Fenny Marish: But by the help of Trenches and Banks (in such manner, as was long before experimented in the lower Egypt) some part thereof hath been l 1.26 drayned, and made useful for tillage; some na∣vigable, and some cut into Islands.

Sect. 5. Of the River Tiber.

To restrain the exorbitant overflow∣ings of this stream, which was not a lit∣tle choakt with dung and several old buildings that had fallen into it; I find, m 1.27 that Augustus Caesar bestowed some cost in the clearing and scouring of it: And that after this, through n 1.28 abun∣dance of rain, the low grounds about the City, suffering much by great inun∣dations thereof, the remedy in prevent∣ing the like for the future, was, by the Emperour Tiberius, committed to the care of Ateius Capito, and L. Aruntius. Whereupon it was by them discussed in the Senate, Whether for the moderating the floods of this River, the Streams and Lakes, whereby it increased, should be turned another way: But to that pro∣posal there were several objections made from sundry Cities and Colonies; the Florentines desiring, that the Clanis might not be put out of it's accustomed Chanel, and turned into the River Ar∣nus, in regard much prejudice would thereby befall them. In like manner did the Inhabitants of Terano argue; af∣firming, that if the River Nar should but cut into smaller streams, the over∣flowings thereof would surround the most fruitful grounds of Italy. Neither were those of Reate (a City in Um∣bria) silent, who refused to stop the pas∣sage of the Lake Uelinus, (now called Lago de Terni) into the said River Nar. The businesse, therefore, finding this op∣position, was let alone. After which, Nerva or Trajan attempted o 1.29 likewise, by a Trench, to prevent the fatal inun∣dations of this River; but without suc∣cesse.

Sect. 6. The Fucine Lake.

Nor is it a little to be admired, what labour and costs the Romans bestowed in endeavours of this kind; it being testi∣fied p 1.30 of the Emperour Claudius, that he imployed no lesse than thirty thousand men, for the space of eleven years, with∣out intermission, for drayning of the great Fucine q 1.31 Lake, in Italy: who digg'd for that purpose, a Chanel of three miles in length; whereof part was cut through a Mountain; yet did not ac∣complish the work. Which failing•• no whit deterred posterity for making Father attempts therein: For it appears, r 1.32 that Plinie described to the Emperour Trajan, how it might be perfected. What he did thereupon I find not; for it was his successor Adrian that finisht † 1.33 it.

Notes

• n 1.1

  L••v. 43.915.922.
• o 1.2

  Plin. l. 18 c 3•• ex Cu••ne.
• p 1.3

  Liv. l. 39.
• q 1.4

  Strab. l. 5.
• r 1.5

  Odyss. l. 10. v. 158.
• s 1.6

  Hist. plant. l. 5. c. 9.
• * 1.7

  An. 460. Plin. 3.5.
• t 1.8

  Liv. Epist. 49. Florus lib. 46.
• u 1.9

  Plin. l. 3. c. 5. è. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, sui aevi.
• w 1.10

  Pluta•••••• Caes. p. 735 C.
• x 1.11

  D••o ••. 44 p. 242. D.
• y 1.12

  Pl••n 3.5. & 26.4.
• z 1.13

  S••••••b. l. 5. p. 233. B.
• a 1.14

  lib. ••. Sat. 5••
• b 1.15

  I••id. v. ••.
• c 1.16

  Dio. l. 63. p. 777.
• * 1.17

  Decenn••∣vium.
• d 1.18

  Itin. Hieroso∣••ym.
• e 1.19

  Procop. de b. Coth. l. 1.182.
• f 1.20

  Cass••od. Va••. l. 2. Ep. 32, 33.
• g 1.21

  Gruter. p. 152.
• * 1.22

  Plutarch in vi••â C. Marii aedit Luteti•• 1624 p. 413, 414.
• h 1.23

  Ante Chri∣sti incarna. an. 65.
• i 1.24

  Strab. l. 5. p. 217.
• k 1.25

  Strab. l. 5.
• l 1.26

  p. 212.
• m 1.27

  Sueton in Aug. c. 30.
• n 1.28

  Annal. Ta∣cit. l. 1.
• o 1.29

  Plin. l. 8. Epist. 27.
• p 1.30

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 in vi••â Cl••ud••i cap. 20.
• q 1.31

  Nov. ••word de C••lan••.
• r 1.32

  C. P••in. Ep. l. x. 69. n.
• † 1.33

  〈…〉〈…〉 Sp••r••. d•• Ad iano C••. in hist. Augu••t. Paris. aedita anno 1620.