Until about a hundred years ago, men lived in houses erected on platforms sustained upon piles above the level of the water. Walls and roofs of these habitations were thatched and wattled with reeds. From the door a ladder conducted to a boat. In these houses there were hearths, but no chimneys. The smoke escaped as best it might through the thatch, or under the gables. During the winter the fen-men picked up a livelihood fishing and fowling. In summer they cultivated such patches of peat soil as appeared above the surface of the water. There were no roads; men went from place to place by water, in boats or on skates. In the reign of James I. Ben Jonson wrote his play 'The Devil is an Ass.' Into this play he introduced a speculator—a starter of bogus companies, by name Meercraft, and one of this man's schemes was the draining of the Fens. The thing is for recovery of drown'd land, Whereof the Crown's to have a moiety, If it be owner; else the Crown and owners To share that moiety, and the recoverers To enjoy the t'other moiety for their charge, * * * * * * which will arise To eighteen millions, seven the first year. I have computed all, and made my survey Unto an acre; I'll begin at the pan, Not at the skirts, as some have done, and lost All that they wrought, their timberwork, their trench, Their banks, all borne away, or else filled up By the next winter. Tut, they never went The (right) way. I'll have it all. A gallant tract of land it is; 'Twill yield a pound an acre; We must let cheap ever at first.' Jonson introduced this Meercraft as a caution to the people of his day against being induced to sink money in such ventures, which he regarded as impossible of realisation. Nevertheless, what Jonson disbelieved in has been accomplished. The work begun in 1630, was interrupted by the Civil Wars, resumed afterwards, was carried on at considerable outlay and with great perseverance, till at the beginning of the present century the complete recovery of the Fens was an accomplished fact.