The history and antiquities of Boston, and the villages of Skirbeck, Fishtoft, Freiston, Butterwick, Benington, Leverton, Leake, and Wrangle; comprising the hundred of Skirbeck, in the county of Lincoln. Including also a history of the East, West, and Wildmore fens, and copious notices of the Holland or Haut-Huntre fen ... sketches of the geology, natural history, botany, and agriculture of the district; a very extensive collection of archaisms and provincial words, local dialect, phrases, proverbs, omens, superstitions, etc. By Pishey Thompson. Illustrated with one hundred engravings.

SLUICE ERECTED IN 1500. 357
and recourse was had to Flanders to procure an able engineer to execute it.
The following particulars relating to this subject are derived from a series of
documents preserved among the archives of the Corporation of Boston.
A council was held the 15th of King Henry VII. (1500), to deliberate on
the best means to be adopted on this occasion. The principal persons who
formed it were c" my Lord of Duresme, my Lord of St. John, Sir John Finneux,
Sir Richard Gilford, Sir Ranold Gray, and Sir Thomas Lovell." They concluded that a sluice should be made at Boston,
"After the mind of May Hake; that an agreement be made with him for performing the
same, and rewarding him and his men. For this purpose an assessment to be made, and
the sum of 10001. borrowed of the King, lords, and great pensioners, till it could be levied
by the commissioners of sewers, according to the law of Romney Marche, whence a bailiff,
juratts, and levellers, were to be obtained. The bailiff to have, for himself and servant,
per diem, 2s. 4d., every of the said juratts, is. 4d., and each leveller, is."
New commissioners were chosen, consisting of the above-named council and
others, who were instructed to ascertain the number of acres; order statute-duty
to be performed till the work was finished; levy contributions; send ships to
Calais for Hake and his companions skilled in embanking and draining, and for
materials for the work; appoint proper officers for directing and expediting the
same; and whatever else might fall under the necessary management of the
concern.1
By a deed of agreement drawn up by the order of His Majesty in council, the
19th of February, in the fifteenth year of his reign, between Sir John Husse,
knight, and John Robinson of the one part, and Mayhave Hake, of Graveling,
"Cin the parts" of Flanders, on the other part, the said Hake covenanted
to bring with him from Flanders fourteen masons and four labourers, to
make a proper sluice and dam near the town of Boston, sufficient for its future
safeguard. The said Mayhave Hake and his companions to be remunerated for
their labour by the following wages:"Mayhave Hake to have for himself and man, holy day as well as common day, per
diem, 4s. The masons and stone-hewers, per week, 5s. The labourers per week, 4s. The
said Mayhave Hake, after the work was fully completed, to receive an additional reward of
501. Should any more workmen be necessary during the progress of the work, they should
be provided at the expense of the inhabitants of Boston, and the level of Holland and
Kesteven."
The engineer agreed to make " sure purveyance " at Calais of iron work, and
all other stuff or materials necessary for the accomplishment of the sluice, &c.
The cost and charges of the whole to be borne by the inhabitants of Boston and
the level aforesaid. And by a writ issued the 8th day of March to the Mayor,
sheriffs, bailiffs, constables, &c., the contracting parties were allowed " to take
and retain, at competent wages, such and as many workmen, labourers, and
artificers, and also as much timber, stone, and other things, together with carts
and carriages for the same, at price reasonable, as they shall think necessary and
behoveful for the speedy performance of such works as be requisite to be done
in the said partes." And the king's officers were required to aid and assist in
procuring such necessary articles from time to time, under pain of meeting the
king's displeasure. In "6the remembrance of divers articles," when examination
was to be made respecting the sluice at Boston, dated the 13th of May, fifteenth
year of Henry VII., are the following particulars:
"Itenm, that it is determined, that forthwith they, the masons, &c., shall begin and labour
upon the making the said sluce.
1 The MS. says, "Stone and all other stuff to be at Boston, to the Jersars' Hall Garth, or to John
provided against the coming of May Hake. The Hussey's place."
stuff and stone to be conveyed into the churchyard