William Dugdale’s Transcription

Come, Brethren of the water, and let us all assemble,
To treat upon this matter, which makes us quake and tremble;
For we shall rue it if’t be true that Fenns be undertaken,
And where we feed in Fen and Reed thei’le feed both Beef and Bacon.

Thei’l sow both Beans and Oats, where never man yet thought it,
Where men did row in Boats ere Undertakers bought it:
But Ceres, thou behold us, let wilde Oats be their venture,
Oh let the Frogs and miry Boggs destroy where they do enter.

Behold the great designe, which they do now determine,
Will make our bodyes pine, a prey to Crows and Vermine:
For they do mean all Fenns to drain and waters overmaster,
All will be drie, and we must die, ‘cause Essex-Calves want pasture.

Away with Boates and Rodder, Farewell both Bootes and Skatches,
No need of t’one nor t’other, men now make better matches;
Stiltmakers all and Tanners shall complain of this disaster;
For they will make each muddy Lake for Essex Calves a pasture.

The fethered Foules have wings, to fly to other Nations;
But we have no such things to help our transportations;
We must give place (oh grievous case) to horned Beasts and Cattell,
Except that we can all agree to drive them out by Battell.

Wherefore let us intreat our antient water Nurses,
To shew their power so great as t’help to drain their purses;
And send us good old Captain Floud to lead us out to Battel,
Then two-peny Jack, with Skakes on’s back, will drive out all the Cattel.

This noble Captain yet was never known to fail us,
But did the Conquest get of all that did assail us;
His furious rage none could asswage, but to the Worlds great wonder,
He bears down banks and breaks their ranks and Whirly-giggs asunder.

God Eolus, we do thee pray, that thou wilt not be wanting,
Thou never saidst us nay, now listen to our canting:
Do thou deride their hope and pride, that purpose our confusion;
And send a blast, that they in haste may work no good conclusion.

Great Neptune (God of Seas) this work must needs provoke thee;
They mean thee to disease, and with Fen-water Choake thee:
But with thy Mace do thou deface and quite confound this matter,
And send thy Sands to make dry lands when they shall want fresh water.

And eke we pray thee Moon, that thou wilt be propitious,
To see that nought be done to prosper the malitious;
Though Summers heat hath wrought a feat, whereby themselves they flatter,
Yet be so good as send a floud lest Essex Calves want water.