1the Fens are raiſed with great prejudice, and much grea
ter than is conceived, according to what hath been demon
ſtrated in the Second Conſideration upon the Lake of Venice.
Nor is it to any purpoſe to ſay, that if we ſhould meaſure
all the Waters that disimbogue from Fiume Siſto, and gather
them into one ſumme, we ſhould not finde them to be ſuch,
as that they ſhall be able to make the Waters of the Fens
to increaſe, by reaſon of the great expanſion of them, over
which that body of water is to diſtend: for to this inſtance we
anſwer wich that which we have given notice of in the Firſt Con
ſideration touching the Lake of Venice, treating of the abate
ment that is cauſed by the Brent let into the Lake. And more
over, if I ſhall adde thereto that which I write in the Second
Conſideration, it will be very apparent how greatly harmfull
and prejudicial theſe excurfions of Waters from Fiume Siſto
may be, which are not kept under, and confined within the
River: Therefore, proceeding to the proviſions, and ope
rations that are to be accounted Principall, I reduce them to
three Heads.
ter than is conceived, according to what hath been demon
ſtrated in the Second Conſideration upon the Lake of Venice.
Nor is it to any purpoſe to ſay, that if we ſhould meaſure
all the Waters that disimbogue from Fiume Siſto, and gather
them into one ſumme, we ſhould not finde them to be ſuch,
as that they ſhall be able to make the Waters of the Fens
to increaſe, by reaſon of the great expanſion of them, over
which that body of water is to diſtend: for to this inſtance we
anſwer wich that which we have given notice of in the Firſt Con
ſideration touching the Lake of Venice, treating of the abate
ment that is cauſed by the Brent let into the Lake. And more
over, if I ſhall adde thereto that which I write in the Second
Conſideration, it will be very apparent how greatly harmfull
and prejudicial theſe excurfions of Waters from Fiume Siſto
may be, which are not kept under, and confined within the
River: Therefore, proceeding to the proviſions, and ope
rations that are to be accounted Principall, I reduce them to
three Heads.
In the firſt place it is neceſſary to throw down thoſe Weares,
and to take the Piſciaries quite away, obſerving a Maxime, in
my judgment, infallible, that Fiſhing and Sowing are two things
that can never conſiſt together; Fiſhing being on the Water, and
Sowing on land.
and to take the Piſciaries quite away, obſerving a Maxime, in
my judgment, infallible, that Fiſhing and Sowing are two things
that can never conſiſt together; Fiſhing being on the Water, and
Sowing on land.
Secondly, it will be neceſſary to cut under Water in the bot
tome of the River thoſe Weeds and Plants that grow and in
creaſe in the River, and leave them to be carried into the Sea by
the Stream; for by this means theſe Reeds ſhall not ſpring up
and diſtend along the bottome of the River, by means of the
Beaſts treading upon them; And the ſame ought to be done
often, and with care, and muſt not be delaied till the miſ
chief increaſe, and the Champain Grounds be drowned, but
one ought to order matters ſo, as that they may not drown.
And I will affirm, that otherwiſe this principal point would be
come a moſt conſiderable inconvenience.
tome of the River thoſe Weeds and Plants that grow and in
creaſe in the River, and leave them to be carried into the Sea by
the Stream; for by this means theſe Reeds ſhall not ſpring up
and diſtend along the bottome of the River, by means of the
Beaſts treading upon them; And the ſame ought to be done
often, and with care, and muſt not be delaied till the miſ
chief increaſe, and the Champain Grounds be drowned, but
one ought to order matters ſo, as that they may not drown.
And I will affirm, that otherwiſe this principal point would be
come a moſt conſiderable inconvenience.
Thirdly, it is neceſſary to make good the Banks of Fiume Siſto
on the left hand, and to procure that thoſe Waters may run in
the Chanel, and not break forth. And it is to be noted, that
it is not enough to do one or two of thoſe things, but we are to
put them all in execution; for omitting any thing, the whole
machine will be out of tune, and ſpoiled. But proceeding with
due care, you ſhall not only Drain the Pontine Fens, but by
means of this laſt particular the Current of Fiums Sisto ſhall
ſcowr its own Chanel of its ſelf, even to the carrying part of it
away: and haply with this abundance of water that it ſhall
on the left hand, and to procure that thoſe Waters may run in
the Chanel, and not break forth. And it is to be noted, that
it is not enough to do one or two of thoſe things, but we are to
put them all in execution; for omitting any thing, the whole
machine will be out of tune, and ſpoiled. But proceeding with
due care, you ſhall not only Drain the Pontine Fens, but by
means of this laſt particular the Current of Fiums Sisto ſhall
ſcowr its own Chanel of its ſelf, even to the carrying part of it
away: and haply with this abundance of water that it ſhall