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into its crystal depths with hopes of catching sight of the vessel's
rigging, but without success.

The Tale was of the time when the sea washed the foot of
the present higher ground, how some piratical rovers returning
with their vessels from some plundering expedition higher up the
estuary the Leader's vessel on account of the receding tide was
obliged to anchor where the lake now is, and wait for the
returning waters.

How he had a valuable booty on board, but above all
his other treasures in this chieftain's eyes, was a high born and
beautiful maiden whom he had forced from her parents'
home to be his wife in his own land.

How as in all such tales the maiden had a lover and who
watched this vessels that held his betrothed; with eagle eyes
and with a few trusty friends followed her floating prison
devising schemes to recover his lost one.

How it was the time of low tides, days and nights passed
by and the waters to float the vessel came not.

How the provisions for the crew got less and less and to
appease their hunger they caught the sprats which were numerous
round their ship.

And how by a daring exploit on a raft of reeds and
bushes the lover rescued the maiden and reached the shore
without hurt.

How the doomed ship still waited for the tide to
come and take her away, and how her timbers became
rotten and she sank down in the water and was seen
no more, nor her crew of bold robbers from other lands.

And how the tide flowed no more over the ooze
and slimy mud, and in due course the place where
the vessel sank became a fresh water lake and to
this day bears the name of "Sprat-Waters."

In such like way the tale is told, and it is not improbable
that something of the like might have occured, I can only
say I have seen the water of the Lake very clear, but
I never saw the mast of the pirate ship, but various
things belonging to sea-going vessels have been at different
times dug out of this marshy tract of ground at places
as high up the country as near Norwich, a clear proof
that it once was an arm of the sea. Near Burgh
Castle an anchor was found some depth from the surface
of the marshy ground.

Rivers were the natural inlets by which the Northern pirates everywhere made their
way into Britain. [Green's?] "English People"