Bedford Level Act 1663

XLIII. Commissioners enabled to decree Recompense to Owners of Lands cut through for conveying the Waters from the Level, and repairing the Banks and Works, and in Default of Payment may tax the 95,000 Acres.

Provided also, That whereas divers Lands, in and neere adjoyning unto the said Great Levell, have been cutt through for the better conveying of the Waters from the same, and for upholding or repayring the Bankes and Workes there, without making Satisfaction to the respective Owners of the said Lands, for the D?mage they have susteyned by such cutting Bee it further enacted That the said Coo[m]missioners for the time being, or any seaven or more of them, upon Complaint to them made of such Damage susteyned as aforesaid, without Recompence for the same, shalbee, and are hereby impowered, to award and decree such Recompence and Satisfaction to the Party and Partyes greived, according to their respective D?mages susteyned by such cutting, as to the said Coo[m]missioners for the time being, or any seaven or more of them shall bee adjudged reasonable, the said Recompence and Satisfaction to bee made and given by the said Corporation, within six Monthes next after such Award, or Decree made, and in Default thereof, the said Coo[m]missioners or any seaven or more of them, shall and may and are hereby impowered, to rate and tax the said ninety and five thousand Acres, and to distreyne thereupon for the Payment of such Rate or Tax, and the Distresse taken thereupon, to sell or dispose as they shall thinke fitt, (rending the Overplus (if any bee) to the Owner) for the Payment and Satisfaction of such Moneys and D?mages, as shall bee soe awarded, Any Thing in this Act to the contrary thereof notwithstanding.