[1] The word "fen," a general term for low marshy land or bog, is
common to Teutonic languages, cf. Dutch _ven_ or _veen_, Ger.
_Fenne_, _Fehn_, Goth. _fani_, mud; the Indo-European root is seen in
Gr. [Greek: pelos], mud, Lat. _palus_, marsh. The word "bog" is from
the Irish or Gaelic bogach, formed from Celtic _bog_, soft, and
meaning therefore soft, swampy ground.
[2] The principles upon which he proceeded are set forth in his
_Discourse touching the Draining of the Great Fennes_ (1642),
reprinted in _Fenland Notes and Queries_ (1898), pp. 26-38 and 81-87.
[3] Set forth in _The Present State of the Navigation of the Towns of
Lyn, Wisbeach, Spalding and Boston_ (2nd ed., London, 1851), pp. 82
seq.
[4] For descriptions of these see Oldfield, Appendix, pp. 2-4, of _A
Topographical and Historical Account of Wainfleet_ (London, 1829);
and Miller and Skertchly, _The Fenland_, pp. 369-375.
[5] See De Foe's account in _A Tour through the Eastern Counties_,
1722 (1724-1725).
[6] _General View_, pp. 174-194 and 288-304.