Before the drainage, the river Idle, entering near the south-west point of the parish of Haxey, pursued its devious and sluggish course through the low grounds, bringing copious supplies of water to the immense pools which covered the surface of the country thereabouts. Near Wroot it received the tributary stream of the Torn, which together formed Messic Meres, in the parish of Epworth. From thence, still retaining the name of Idle, it passed close by Sandtoft, where there was a ferry, and near Dirkness, in the parish of Belton, poured its waters into the southern branch of the river Don. The Don flowed by Crowle; and then dividing again, one branch passing near Cottle Hall, fell into the Trent at Mere Dike Staith, and the other pursuing its course by Eastoft, Haldenby, and Folkerby, fell into the Humber near Adlingfleet, close to the Trent Fall. So altered, however, is the country in this respect, that the highway from Idle Stop to Dirkness Bridges crossed the old channel of the river Idle in many places. An orchard of fine fruit trees is growing in its bed, where the river first entered the Isle; and a farm yard in the parish of Epworth occupies another portion. The channel of the Don, though in some places perceptible by the inclination of the ground, is is ascertained, the work of destruction commences; the decoy man suddenly shows himself to the wild fowl, close in their rear within three yards of them. The sight of a man so near and so unexspectedly, alarms them to such a degree that they dare not offer to return, and are prevented by the nets from escaping upwards: they therefore press forward in the utmost confusion into the end of the pipe, into the funnel or purse nets prepared to receive them, while their treacherous guides remain behind in conscious security. All this is done in less than five minutes, without any noise, or the least alarm being given to the rest of the wild fowl in the pond. I have seen a dozen ducks taken in this way, when there was as many as seven hundred wild fowl in the decoy, not one of them being disturbed. The fowlers have a notion that these birds always fly in a particular direction with regard to the wind, and select a north-west, east, or south pipe for their operations, with reference to the quarter from which the wind then blows. They also believe that these birds never will face any body, which is true enough; but then it arises from no other cause than their extreme shyness. I once saw this method tried with a covey of partridges, which in a very dry season had strayed into one of the pipes of a decoy on Ashby Common, probably in search of water. The decoy man shewed himself behind them, but only one rushed into the net; all the rest flew past him, out of the mouth of the pipe, in all directions. It is an interesting sight to peep through the small aperture in the screens, about as large as a shilling, and see such a number of beautiful fowl bathing, and washing, and trimming their feathers, or resting as in perfect security, alas! when the destroyer was so near them, a single word,—a cough,—a sneeze,—they had taken flight in an instant. is most easily traced by the old willow trees which grew upon its bank; and we seek in vain for the Maiden and the Gamson, two tributary streams, which no doubt, with many others of inferior note, meandered through this marshy district. GENERAL HISTORY. THE DRAINAGE. I SHALL commence this History of the Drainage of the Commons in the Isle of Axholme with the account which De la Prymne has given us of the last Royal Hunting in Hatfield Chase, because it led immediately to this celebrated undertaking of draining the whole Level. In the reign of James the First, the accomplished Prince Henry*, his eldest son, during his progress to York, hunted in this forest. He was entertained by Sir Robert Swyfte, at Street-thorpe, on the west side of the Chase, near Doncaster; or, according to some authors, by Portington, at Tudworth, near Thorne. He probably paid a visit to both these gentlemen. "The first day's sport" says, Prymne “was a plain stag hunt." What a beautiful and animating sight must that day's sport have afforded! It seems as if the coming destruction of every thing interesting in this noble and ancient demesne, was to be ushered in by that which was the chief and peculiar grace * This Prince from his earliest youth gave infallible proofs of the best and greatest qualities. His courage, the first quality discernible in infancy, was undaunted. It is recorded that when he happened to hurt himself, even severely, in the eagerness of his infantine sports, he cried not, but concealed and denied the injury. This disposition soon took a military turn. Looking at the chase, which he was too young to be allowed to follow, one of his attendants asked him whether he should like S |