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the difference between the Marsh and the Fens:
    The Marsh is the low land of narrow dykes, meres and pools which stretches along the sea coast between the wash and the Humber. The east wind constantly blows over it from the North Sea, the water in the dykes is brackish with salt thathas percolated through the sand. These are areas of rich pasture land, stiff grass and wild fowl. The Fen is not salt, nor is it near the sea except in small patches. Most of it is drained silt-land, ditched and dried out to produce rich cornland and fields for bulbs and flowers. 3

    An example of what the fens could have looked like in the eighth century, although now so well drained and managed that the land would be unrecognisable to the people of that era.
    Ten thousand years ago, at the end of the most recent glacial period, Britain was joined to Europe via a Dutch province and the area around Norfolk. It is thought, from studies of the bed of the North Sea, that rivers in the southern part of eastern England flowed into the River Rhine and through the English Channel. From the Fens northwards, the drainage flowed into the northern part of the North Sea and when the ice melted, the rising sea level flooded the lower-level lands, including the Fenland basin, which had previously been dense woodland. This gradually led to the extensive salt and freshwater wetlands Jack Yates and Henry Thorold describe.
    Christopher Marlow relates an interesting alternate myth about how the Lincolnshire Fenlands were created. The story is set during the time of the Roman occupation, under the rule of the governor Valerian. Legend says that it was the Iceni tribe who suffered under his terrible rule and his treatment of them was vicious and callous. He would hack off prisoners’ ears and noses just for his amusement and then let them loose in the woods, only to be hunted down by savage dogs.
    However, he apparently went too far when he captured the local priest’s daughter, Rowena. She was known throughout the district for her beauty and the Iceni were extremely angry when they heard she was being used as Valerian’s play thing. Rowena’s father, Mandru, called for a meeting of fellow priests at the temple of the sea god, and many of the oppressed tribesmen attended. All present had grievances with the Romans, and all were in favour when Mandru suggested a rebellion. Unfortunately, however, their meeting was stormed by Roman guards who killed many, and seven priests, including Mandru, were taken to Valerian’s palace and tortured. Luckily, Mandru managed to escape but his six companions were hung on crosses to die. Mandru wept bitterly for his fellow priests and that day he swore an oath that he would help his people. He was not seen for some time but a few months later a stranger came to the area. He visited the streets of the town and whenever he came across a British Iceni slave he whispered a warning to them: ‘Friend, arise this night and be gone. Destruction comes fast upon this city and if thou tarry, there shall be no escape.’ 4
    On hearing this old man’s warning, many of the Iceni took heed and packed up their belongings ready to steal away in the middle of the night. Then, some time during the night, a sudden and ferocious wind blew in from the sea. It blew open the gates of the city and as every Roman was asleep, the way to escape was made clear for the British slaves. The Iceni gasped in amazement and crept out stealthily, so as not to wake the guards. When they made it to the woods, they met up with other tribes from nearby towns who had also had the warning from the mysterious stranger. As they were talking and exchanging stories, the stranger himself appeared among them and to everyone’s astonishment they discovered it was Mandru, bidding them to listen to him: ‘There is no time to delay – the gods are angry with Rome and intend to destroy every Roman city. It has been revealed to me where I shall lead you, but delay not or we shall