BEDFORD-LEVEL, (Miscellaneous) is a tract of fens, consisting of 300,000 acres, in the Cos. of Norfolk, Suffolk,
Huntingdon, Northampton, Lincoln, Cambridgeshire, and the isle of Ely, which appear to have been dry land formerly, by the
ruins of houses, large trees, &c. that have been found in several parts. After divers expensive attempts to drain these
fens in the R. of Hen. VI. and Ch. I. William D. of Bedford, in 1649, undertook and compleated it, and in the R. of Ch.
II. a Corp. was established for the government and preservation of this great level, in whom the act vested 83000 acres to
be held of the manor of E. Greenwich, in free and common soccage, 10,000 were vested in the K. and 2000 in the E. of
Portland. In these fens are several duckoys, where incredible quantities of wild fowl are taken during the season, there
being no less than 3000 couple a week generally sent up to London from one single duckoy, not far from Ely, which letts
for 500 l. a year.