Catalogue description CHARLES I. to the COMMISSIONERS OF SEWERS on the north-east side of the river of Witham, co. Lincoln.

--" We are given to understand that our well-beloved subject, Sir Anthony Thomas, Knight, together with our loving subject John Worsopp, Esquire, having many yeares attempted the general worke of drayning the Fennes and surrounded groundes in our countie of Lincolne and elsewhere : And lately undertaken that particular levell on the north and north-east side of the river of Witham, called (as we are informed) the East and West fennes, North fenne, Earles fenne, Armetree fenne and Wildmore fenne commons, and the adjacent severall drowned grounds, have by God's blessing, and by and through their owne-extraordinary labour and sedulity, and their and their frends disbursements and adventures of great summes of monny expended, now lately accom-plished the drayning of the said grounds, and making of them drye and fitt for arable, or meadowe, or pasture, to the improvement (as is alledged) of fortie-five thousand acres of land, and the bettering of many thousands more, the which wee well understand to be no small inrichment of those countries : And being thereof certainly advertised by sight of an Act or Ordinance of Sewers, expressing a declaration under some of your hands and seals, that the said under-taken worke is now done by the sayd Sir Anthony Thomas and John Worsopp, within the time limited : Wee therefore in our gracious respect towards our sayd well deserving subjects, that have approved themselves therein reall performers of so great a worke, both for their remuneration and for example and incouragement to others, doe will and require you, that you faile not to doe to them speedie justice in and by an equall and most indifferent partition and setting forth by metes and bonds of such parts, portions and allot-ments of these drayned lands, as your former Acts, Orders and Decrees of Sewers did graunt, promise and appoint to them for recompence of their said undertaken worke of drayning : And that you forthwith decree the same unto the said Sir Anthony Thomas and John Worsopp, their heires and assignes for ever, to bee holden of us, our heires and successors, as of our honor of Bullingbrooke in our sayd countie of Lincolne, with such priviledges, liberties and immunities as you shall thinke fitt. And you are allso to require all those which pretend interest to any of the said lands, that they give ready obedience to your order, and quietly permitt the said Sir Anthony Thomas and John Worsopp to enjoye their allotments peaceably and without interruption, according to their agreement, as they tender our displeasure and will answere the contrary at their perills. Given under our Signet, at our Court at Apthorp the twentieth day of July in the tenth yeare of our raigne." Sign Manual.