WHEREAS The said Commissioners of Sewars , by their Act , Order , and Decree of Sewars made at their last Session , holden at Ely the xxij . and xxiij . dayes of September 1619. in obseruation of his Maiesties pleasure , and for expedition of the Vndertakers in their generall Contracts with the Owners , and parties interessed in the Fennes , and drowned Lands did prouide and ordaine , that the former order of Sewars ( declaring the effect of his Maiesties Letters , and of the Letters of the right Honourable the Lords of his Maiesties most Hon . Priuie Councell , and the dutifull obedience of the said Court of Commission of Sewars thereunto , as also the carefull prouisions which in the said Order are made and set downe for the better satisfaction , and content of all people whom it may concerne ) should be published in all parish Churches , and in all Courts Leetes , and Courts Baron , before the fifth day of this present October , To the ende that all Owners , commoners , and other persons interessed in any drowned grounds within the Countie and Isle aforesaid , hauing notice thereof , might apply themselues with speede to repaire to the said Vndertakers , or their Assignes , for making and concluding their contracts ; That in default thereof , this Court of Sewars now assembled , might take further order for the said Vndertakers their speedie proceeding in their works according to his Maiesties pleasure , and accordingly the said generall notice hath been giuen by the Vniuersall publication of the said order made in forme aforesaid : Whereby no person , or persons , Lords , Owners , Commoners , or parties interessed in the said Fenne , or drowned grounds , may iustly plead excuse of ignorance of his Maiesties royall pleasure , and the straight command thereof , and of the iust proceedings of this Court : And that the said Vndertakers hauing here made their appearance , and personally attended the making and concluding of contracts with the Lords , owners , commoners , and parties interested in any the said Fenne-lands , who of their owne accord and discretions would so apply themselues to contract without delay ; And this Court likewise ( in a iudiciall and legall forme of proceeding ) haue now summoned and called the said Lords , owners , commoners , and parties interessed by the name of the Townes , Villages , Mannors , or Lordships , whereof they are to giue their immediate and direct answer , whether or not they would contract , and agree to set out certaine parts and portions of Land seuerall and Common , in all and euery the said Townes , Villages , Mannors , or Lordships , to be allotted and allowed by way of Contract ( according to the statute in that cause prouided ) vnto the said Vndertakers , and their heires , and assignes for , and in recompence of their said worthy worke of draining the said Fennes ; And now at this Court , some of the said Commoners , and parties interessed in Commons , and wast grounds , appearing before them , haue giuen their answer , that they are willing to contract , and are readie so to doe ; and others haue excused themselues by reason of the absence of the Lords of the Mannors , who are Lords of the soile wherein they haue interest in common .

THIS Court beeing therefore resolued to confirme the willingnesse of such the said Lords , Owners , Commoners , and parties interessed , as haue declared themselues readie to contract : And to reforme the defaults of such , as after so publique notice giuen ( as aforesaid ) doe absent themselues through ignorance , or negligence ( in further performance of their most awefull obedience to his most excellent Maiestie , and dutifull respect to the Right Honourable the Lords of his Maiesties Priuie Councell their directions , and Commands , by which they are straightly charged and commanded , to expedite the Contracts with the said Vndertakers to their vttermost power , and authoritie , and extent of their Commission , ) do order , enact , and decree ;

THAT for and towards the said worthy worke of draining the said hurtfully drowned grounds ( by cleansing the Out-falls of Neane and Welland ) all , and euery Lord , Owner , Commoner , and party interessed in any hurtfully drowned grounds , shall pay to the said Vndertakers the summe of twenty shillings per Acre , vpon , and for euery Acre of such hurtfully drowned grounds , as shall receiue any benefit by the said draining on this side , and before the sixt day of December next ; or in default of such payment , this Court will order and decree , such portion and portions out of the said drowned lands , respectiuely to the Vndertakers , and their heires , as shall be agreeable to the benefit which the said lands shall receiue by their draining ; And as it shall seeme meete to the nowe Commissioners of Sewars , inhabiting in the Countie of Cambridge , and Isle of Ely , or greater part of them ( with the assent of the Vndertakers ) in a Session of Sewars to be holden within the Towne of Cambridge , or Citie of Ely , the same portion or portions of Land respectiuely to be set out before the worke begin ; but the Vndertakers not to haue any interest therein , or occupation thereof , before the grounds be drained , and then the Vndertakers to secure them so drained , according to the true intent of the Order made at Ely , the xxij . and xxiij . of September , 1619. which said Order the Vndertakers promised in Court they would obserue , according to the true intent thereof .

IT IS ALSO ordered and agreed vnto , that Copies of this order shall be deliuered to the Sheriffe of the Countie of Cambridge , or his Deputie , and the Bayliffe of the Lord Bishop of Ely , to be deliuered vnto the Bayliffes of the seuerall hundreds , within the Countie and Isle aforesaid ; And they are hereby commanded with all speede to deliuer the same vnto the Ministers of the seuerall Parishes , Hamlets , and Villages , within their hundreds , to publish within their Churches , or Chappels , the next Sabbath day after the receipt thereof ; To the ende that all Owners , Commoners , and other persons interessed in any drowned grounds , within the Countie and Isle aforesaid , may take notice thereof , and repaire to the Vndertakers , or their Assignes , at the Bell in Ely , for lands lying in the Isle of Ely , the xxvj . and xxvij . dayes of this instant October , And at the Faulcon in Cambridge , the xxviij . and xxix . dayes of the same moneth for lands lying in the Countie of Cambridge , for making and concluding their Contracts according to their former offer , and the Order made at Ely , the xxij . and xxiij . of September last past : And that the Bayliffes of the said seuerall hundreds , shall truely certifie the said Commissioners of the due deliuerie of the said Copies of this Order , at their next Sessions of Sewars , which is to be holden at the Guyldhall in the Towne of Cambridge , at eight of the clocke in the forenoone , the ix . day of December next .