http://boar.org.uk/ariwxo3FNQ479.htm
Latest edit 2 Sep 2007.
Interactive version ©2006 R.J.PENHEY
The Bourne Archive
FNQ
Fenland Notes and Queries. Edited by Rev. W.D. Sweeting, Rector of Maxey.
Part 23. October 1894.
This quarterly periodical took the form of a forum in
which people sent in questions about the history, ecology and so on of the
Seventeenth
Century Economy
479 – Opposition to Drainage by Soke of
The Humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the Soake
of Peterborow, within the County of Northampton, containing about forty Townes
and Villages, against the Undertakers there with Exceptions to their Act : Setting forth how and wherein they abused the
Parliament, by their false suggestions; and a relation of a new reviving of an
old Court Project, terribly to threaten those who oppose self-ended Designes.
May 28. 1650.
The petition is
addressed “To the Supreme Authority of England, assembled in Parliament.” It
sets forth that the Earl of Bedford and other Undertakers had obtained an Act
by which they were authorised to Drain the Fens in the Soke of Peterborough,
estimated at 8,000 acres, of which they were to have 3,000 :
that this Act had been obtained by misrepresentations, such as statements that
the Soke was anxious to be drained by the Undertakers, that the inhabitants had
been fully heard, that their lands were hurtfully surrounded and of little or
no value. All these statements are denied, and a list of 13 exceptions given to
the provisions of the Act. The prayer is that the Petitioners may enjoy their
own property, and may not be disquieted in their possession by the Undertakers,
and that none of the Undertakers, or any persons interested in the Undertaking
in a pecuniary way, may be judges in matters of the dispute ;
and that the Act may be repealed.
A disturbance had
taken place on the bank between Peakirk and Crowland, to the Petitioners thus refer : –
About March last, the Undertakers set on work-men
to dig the ground, and make Banks and works in the Common belonging to the Soak
of Peterborow. The Petitioners (that their dissent might appeare in acts as
well as words) peaceably, and for some other reasons went to the work-men and
discharged them.
On the part of
the Undertakers an affidavit of Richard Kendall, of Crowland, Gent., was put in, taken of 3 May, 1650. This gives a
different account of the affair. According to Mr. Francis Quarles, of Ufford,
J.P., with about 100 persons, came to the bank between Peakirk and Crowland,
where about 1,000 men were at work by direction of the Earl of Bedford, and
discharged the workmen, notwithstanding their protesting that they were
authorised by the Act, “insomuch as many of the said workmen did thereupon
forsake their worke.” On leaving the bank, Mr. Quarles met Mr. Layfield, of Thorpe ; and the Deponent soon after went to see Mr.
Layfield who simply said if he had not been too late he would have helped to
discharge the workmen. The Deponent believes that if the number of workmen had
not been so considerable, and if there had not been a garrison of soldiers at
Crowland, Mr. Quarles and his party would have fallen upon the workmen. Some
Justices of the Peace (Mr. Quarles and Mr. Layfield being two of them) had
issued warrants for collecting money, a copy of one being annexed.
This so-called
warrant was in these terms : –
VALENTINE PARKER, WILLIAM MANNING, EDMUND BRAGDY.
To Peterborow.
Whereas it is apparent that the Undertakers will
take a large portion of the Commons, unlesse some speedy course be taken for
prevention thereof, Wee taking it into serious consideration, have thought fit
that a considerable summe of money may be raised by a voluntary contribution in
every Towne, which wee have indifferently computed according to the Note sent
to you, and we desire you, whose Names are above written to afford your
assistance in promoting of the business in your Towneship, and to meet us at
the next Sessions, that the Countrey may know what is done therein. Dated the 18. day of April, 1650.
FRANCIS QUARLES.
Iohn cleypole.
william leafeild.
A counter
petition was addressed to the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal by the
Adventurers, signed by Robert Henley and John Trafford, praying that Mr.
Quarles and Mr. Leafield might be called upon to answer for their “high
contempts and misdemeanours.” Accordingly the following order was made :-
4 Meii 1650.
Let the above named Francis Quarles, and William
Leafield have notice of this Petition, Warrant, and Affidavit annexed, and put
in their Answers thereunto, within 8 days after such notice.
RICHARD KEBLE, ESQ.
JOHN LISLE, ESQ.
The last article
in the pamphlet consists of the answers of the two Justices. They stated that
upon information that an Act had been passed for draining the Great Level upon
the suggestion that the Gentlemen, Freeholders, and Commoners of the Soke of
Peterborough had assented to the same, they had exhibited a petition to some
Members of Parliament to be presented to the House, setting forth the facts:
that the Undertakers had cut part of their Common (which was not within the
Great Level) and had tendered no payment for the same as required by the Act :
that, to make their dissent appear more clearly, Mr. Quarles, John Cleypole,
Esq., and others, went, to the bank and quietly discharged the workmen, till
the Parliament should declare its pleasure : that there was no violence
intended : that the account of Randall’s
interview with Mr. Leafield was untrue : that the so-called Warrant was merely
an application for subscriptions towards the expenses of the movement, and was
signed by the three Justices only as fellow Commoners with other Inhabitants of
the Soke : all which they protested was within their rights and that they
together with the said John Cleypole, are Justices of the Peace for the Soake
and Liberty of Peterborow, and humbly conceive, they have not misdemeaned
themselves in that place or trust reposed in them.
ED