Selected quad for the lemma: king_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
king_n	earl_n	henry_n	sir_n	22,904	5	6.1717	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54599	Fodinæ regales, or, The history, laws, and places of the chief mines and mineral works in England, Wales, and the English pale in Ireland as also of the mint and mony : with a clavis explaining some difficult words relating to mines, &c. / by Sir John Pettus, Knight.	Pettus, John, Sir, 1613-1690.	1670 (1670)	Wing P1908; ESTC R190	70,019	132

reasonable amends for any damage HENRY VI. The King by his Letters Patents granted to John Sollers all Mines of Gold and Silver in Devon and Cornwall Devon and Cornwall and all Mines of Lead holding Silver or Gold Gold Silver and Lead to hold from the expiration of 12 years formerly granted to the Duke of Bedford for 20 years paying the fifteenth part of pure Gold and pure Silver with libertie to dig and work the same but not to dig under any Houses or Castles and a Clause to provide for Wood and Labourers Dat. 11 Julii Anno 17. Hen. VI. Rot. 45. HENRY VI. The King by his Letters Patents makes his Chaplain John Bottwright Comptroller of all his Mines of Gold and Silver Devon and Cornwall Gold Silver Copper Latten and Lead Copper Latten and Copper Latten Lead within these two Counties Dat. 10 Sept. Anno 30. Hen. VI. Rot. 15. 20. HENRY VI. The King by His Letters Patents granted to the said Bottwright Provost and Governour of all his Mines Devon and Cornwall Copper Tyn and Lead prout ante and grants him all Mines of Copper Tin and Lead there whereout any Gold or Silver shall be fined to hold during his good behaviour paying the tenth part of pure Gold and Silver Copper Tin and Lead to be fined at his own charge with power to let and set for twelve years paying to the King the tenth Boule of Oar of Copper Tin and Lead holding Gold or Silver and to dig without interruption with a Clause to make a Provision for Wood and Labourers the Fee of the Church excepted Dat. 20 Junii Anno 31. Hen. VI. Rot. 20. 25. HENRY VI. The King by His Letters Patents Anno 34. Rot. 24. Devon and Cornewal Gold Silver and all Mettals containing Gold or Silver gives and grants to the Duke of York all his Mines of Gold and Silver and of all other Metals containing Gold or Silver within the Counties of Devon and Cornwall to hold at the pleasure of the King for 21 years with a Clause not to dig under the Houses or Medows of any person and with a Clause to free and indemnifie the Miners without impediment of the King or his Subjects wheresoever the said Mines shall be found within the said Counties HENRY VI. Among the Remembrances of the Exchequer Devon Anno 36. Regni in the Records of Easter Term Rot. 20. inter alia Devon Memorand That John Bottwright Governour of the Mines of Berryferres in Devon complains to this Court Mines that Robert Glover at the command of Roger Champernown took away 144 Bouls of Glance oar Glance oar valued at 15 l. 6 s. 8 d. and made profit of the same without any thing allowed to the King to the Kings damage 100 l. and thereupon desireth the Advice of the Court. CHAP. XV. EDWARD IV. THe King by his Letters Pattents England Lead holding Gold or Silver dat Dec. 20. Anno 8. Regni to Richard Earl of Warwick John Earl of Northumberland and others grants all Mines of Gold and Silver c. on the North side of Trent within England And all Mines of Lead holding Gold or Silver in the parts aforesaid agreeing with the Owners of the soyle to hold from the Feast of the Purification next for 40 years paying to the King the 12. part of pure gold and silver and to the Lord of the soyle a sixteenth part as they grow liberty to dig c. except under Houses or Castles without Licence EDWARD IV. The King by his Letters Pattents 30 Julii Anno 12. Rot. 2. grants to Gallias Lynne Semerset Glou cest Lead Tin and Copper holding Silver William Marriner and Simon Pert power to dig and search for Mines within the Counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire of Lead-Oar Tin or Copper holding silver or gold for the term of five years and to agree with the Lord of the soyl paying to the King every eighth Bowle of rich Oar with a clause to make their Mills to Fine and Melt as the Owner and they can agree And all Officers c. to be assistant EDWARD IV. The King by his Letters Pattents dat 23 Northumberland Martii Anno 15. Rot. 20. grants to his brother Richard Duke of Gloucester Henry Earle of Northumberland Copper and others the Mines of Blanch Lands called Shildane in Com. Northumb. And the Mine of Alston-Moor called Fetchers The Mine of Keswick in Cumberland and the Copper Myne neer Richmond in Yorkshire To hold from Lady day next for 15 years Paying the King the eighth part neat to the Lord of the Soil the ninth and to the Curat of the place a tenth as they arise EDWARD IV. The King by his Letters Pattents Dat. 11 Martii Northumberland Gold Silver Copper Lead Anno 18 Rot. 31. Upon surrenders of the former grants to William Goderswick and Doderick Vaverswick all Mines of Gold Silver Copper and Lead in Northumberland and Westmerland To hold from Lady day next for ten years paying to the King a fifteenth part neat to the Lord of the Soil and to the Curat as they can agree CHAP. XVI HENRY the VII THe King by His Letters Patents England Wales dat 27 Feb. Anno 1. Regni Rot. 92 makes Jasper Duke of Bedford and others Earls Lords and Knights Commissioners and Governours of all his Mines of Gold Silver Tin Gold Silver Tyn Lead and Copper Lead and Copper in England and Wales to answer the profits to the King and made Sir William Taylor Comptroller To hold from Candlemass day following for 20 years with Liberties of Court and other Priviledges Paying to the King the fifteenth part of pure Gold and Silver and to the Lord of the Soil the eleventh part as it grows Liberty to dig and search c. Except under the Houses and Castles of the King and his Subjects This Henry VII a wise Prince taking notice of his interest and Prerogative in the Mines did in the very first year of his Reign grant this Commission and by this and other ways raised a vast sum of Mony and left his rich Coffers to Henry VIII Who added to the Bulk by the Sale of Abbies c. But before Henry VIII his death almost all the Treasures of his Fathers and his own were consumed and what remained was left to Edward the VI. an Infant whose experience could not guide him to the Care of such affairs then followed Queen Mary who matching with Spain was thereby interessed in the wealth of Europe and needed no other support or inspection so this concern stood neglected for above 70 years CHAP. XVII QUEEN ELIZABETH ABout the third year of Queen Elizabeth she by the advice of her Council sent over for some Germans experienced in Mines and being supplied she the tenth of October in the sixth of her reign grants the Mines of eight Counties besides those in Wales to Houghsetter a German c. whose name and

Family still continue in Cardiganshire and doubtless we had much of our knowledge from their Predecessors who revived this work in Cardiganshire They also entered upon another work of Copper at Keswick in Cumberland being within the Royalties of the Earl of Northumberland formerly granted to him from the Crown together with all Mines c. Whereupon the Earl opposed Houghsetter but the matter being brought to Tryal between the Queen and the Earl it was the opinion of the Judges that notwithstanding his Grant the Queen had power to search for Treasure in any ones ground So that it is good for Princes and even for mean Lords to keep a Claim to their Prerogatives and Customes lest time as in this case should cause an opposition For 70 years intermission made that questionable which for many ages before was out of question But this Suit being ended the Abstract of which Proceedings is hereto annexed to prevent the like occasion for the future the Queen May 28. in the 10th year of her Reign erects a Corporation of which William Earl of Pembroke was the first Governour and Robert Earl of Leicester James Lord Monjoy Sir William Cecill Assistants and many other Persons of Qualitie joyned consisting in all of 24 Persons and as many Shares and those Shares subdividable into half and quarter parts so that they might consist of 96 Persons their Votes being according to the proportion they had of Shares And this Society was and is entituled The Society for the Mines Royal and they have the Grant and care of Gold Silver Copper c. within 8 English Counties hereafter recited and of all Wales As for the Laws and Rules by which they were managed they are also annexed These Persons thus incorporated by a joynt Stock wrought several Mines with good success The Queen did also in the 7th year of her Reign grant to William Humfreys and Christopher Shute a German all Mines Minerals and Subterranean Treasures except Copperice and Allom which should be found in all other parts of England not mentioned in the former Patent or within the English pole in Ireland by the name of Gold Silver Copper Tin Lead Quicksilver Cadmian Oar or Lapis Calaminaris and all manner of Ewres or Oars simple or pure mixt or compounded for Latten Wire or Steel c. And also on the same 28th of May in the 10th of her Reign the Queen frames the Participants into a Corporation by the name of The Society for the Minerals and Buttery works As for their Laws and Rules they are also annexed with the other This also was look'd upon as so considerable a matter to the Crown that Sir Nicholas Bacon then Lord Keeper the Duke of Norfolk William Earl of Pembroke Robert Earl of Leicester William Lord Cobham Sir William Cecill Sir Walter Myldmay Sir Henry Sidney Sir Francis Jepson Sir William Gerard with 29 more considerable Persons Gentlemen Lawyers Citizens and Foreiners were Participants And this Society consisted of 36 Shares subdividable also into half and quarter parts so that it was capable of 144 Shares And this also by a joynt Stock did effect great things which turned to good advantage both to the King and to the Society THE ARMS OF THE SOCIETY OF THE MINES ROYAL Given Aug. 26 1568. Anno 10. Eliz. 1568 This Coat is blazoned in Page 24. and the other Coat in Page 23. above it As they are Blazon'd Silver with a Mount Vert. A Man working within a Mine with two Hammers and a Lamp all in their proper colours on a Chief Azure A Cake of Copper between a Bezant and a Plate on a Wreath Silver and Azure A Demy man called in Dutch the Schicht Master with an Escocheon on his Breast Or and Azure per Bend inverted in one of his Hands an Instrument called a Wedge and in the other Hand a Compass Gold mantled Silver doubled Azure supported with two Men the one called the Hammer-man with a Hammer on his Shoulder and the other the Smelter with a Fork in his Hand all in proper colours THE ARMS OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE MINERAL AND BATTERY WORKS Given also Anno 10. Eliz. As the are Blazon'd The Field Azure upon the Base point Vert a Dorick Argent supported by a Lion and a Gryffon armed and languid Gules On the top of the Pillar a Ducal Crown Or. On the Chief an Annulet Argent between two Bezants of the same The Crest on an Helmet and Wreath Argent and Vert. Two naked Arms and Hands supporting a Cake of Copper proper the Supporters an ancient Man in a Gown wearing an Headpiece on it a Cressent and holding one hand on the Escocheon in the other a Pickax on the other side a Woman holding also the Escocheon with one hand and in the other a Quadrant CHAP. XVIII KING JAMES ABout the second of King James both the Societies thought fit to renew their Charters with some Additional Powers also annexed and then William Earl of Pembroke was Governour to both Societies and so continued till his death in an Annual Election CHAP. XIX CHARLES I. AFter the death of William Earl of Pembroke in the Year 1630 Philip Earl of Pembroke was chosen Governour of both Societies and in this Kings Reign about the Year 1639 there was some Dispute between Sir Hugh Middleton and Sir Richard Price concerning the Mines at Tallabent in Wales whither Royal or not Royal and this was also about 70 years after the Tryal with the Earl of Northumberland Whereupon several Eminent Lawyers subscribed their Opinions hereto also annexed and the matter was soon quieted Then from 1641 to 1647 no Governour was chosen but the Mines in Wales continued working under Mr. Thomas Bushell who made them very serviceable to the Martial Concerns of the King during the Civil Wars CHAP. XX. CHARLES II. IN the Year 1649 Philip dies then his Son Philip now living was chosen Governour of both Companies and in 1662 the Lord Anthony Ashly-Cooper Chancellour of the Exchequer and one of His Majesty's Privy Councellours was joyned as Governour of both Societies with the Earl In 1668 the Earl of Pembroke being willing to quit the Government in respect of his retirement Pr. Rupert Duke of Bavaria and Cumberland Knight of the Order of the Garter and one of His Majesty's Privy Councellours was chosen together with the Lord Ashly-Cooper Governour of both Societies and the Deputy Governours of both Societies are now the Lord Brunker Sir Robert Murray Knight Sir John Pettus Knight Sir Francis Cobb Knight Col. Ashburnam Cofferer to His Majesty Thomas Foley Esquire Edward Swith and Edward Henshaw Esquires The Assistants to both Societies are Col. Ashburnham Edward Smith Paul Foley John Darrell John Wright Edward Henshaw Anthony Knightsbridge Dudly Dudly and Edward York Esquires Henry Kemp Thomas Hayes Roger Norton and Richard Reynoll Gentlemen and Citizens The Auditors Treasurers Register and Serjeant are chosen by the Governours and Assistants as occasion requires There are other Members

of these Societies of which some do sometimes attend as the Lord Byron Sir George Hamilton Alderman Bond Mr. Arcbold Mr. Palmer Mr. Clutterbuck and Mr. Squire Others have not attended for many years past and therefore I shall not mention them The usual place of Sitting is at Mr. Kemps House in Sheer-lane who is Register to both the Societies where all the Books of the Records remain and either there or at his Chamber in the Inner Temple all Persons who are desirous to interest themselves in this Concern may receive directions and satisfaction CHAP. XXI Of other Companies having like Appellations IN the Year 1662 His Majesty KING CHARLES II. did erect a Corporation intituling it The Royal Society for improving Knowledge whose Studies and Endeavours are to enlighten the World with all Real Experiments in Nature tending to the benefit of Mankind and of this the Lord Brunker is President His Majesty also in the Year 1663 erected another called The Royal Company whose business is to settle the Trade with Guiny in Africa concerning Gold and Silver c. whereof His Highness the DUKE of YORK is President so that there being first the Society of the Mines Royal secondly the Society for Mineral Works thirdly the Royal Society and fourthly the Royal Company it was thought fit to insert their Titles here that those who have occasion to apply themselves to either of the said Societies or Companies may not be confounded in their Appellations or Applications And these two Societies of the Mines Royal and Mineral Works have been so prudent as to make several of both the other Societies Members also of theirs for the better entercourse between them in such publick concerns CHAP. XXI Why our Mines affording Gold or Silver should properly belong to the King by His Prerogative WHere the Supreme Power of Peace and War is fixed as with us it is acknowledged in the King he ought to have those Attendances to his Power which may either continue the one or support the other And Money the Product of Metals being the Ligament of that and Nerve of this it is most reasonable that seeing the Cause is more honoured then the Effect that He whose very Image and Superscription makes Metal and Money passable should in Politicks have the command of those Mines to which after some progress of Art and Labour His mere Image gives the Reputation for that which we call Intrinsick Value is still but according to Extriusick use For we find in History that Copper Ten Lead nay even Leather have been in as great esteem and at this day Iron in some Forein parts is more passable then Gold So that having the effects of its virtue from our Casars Superscription it is just that Caesar should have his due and all the means and assistances to art in the Effects thtreof Nor doth it appear by any Record that this Prerogative was ever opposed by any Proprietor For the Earl of Northumberland's Case hereafter mentioned and set down at large by Plowden concerning the Copper Mines at Keswick in that Countie was onely whether in granting the Manour to the Earl together with all Mines within the said Manour the Mines also should pass and it was resolved by most of the Judges that though the Grant of the Manour was good yet the King could not alienate Mines being perfectly linked to the Prerogative of the Crown so that this Opposition was rather to explain his Grant then to oppose the Prerogative For the Queens Deputies workt the said Mine without any further opposition of the said Earl or his Saccessors And soon after She fix'd the Conduct of that Affair into a Corporation reserving to Her Self a proportion of what they should get and a pre-emption of what was saleable in case She had use for it and lest the benefit of the Mines should exceed the bounds of a Subjects Fortune She reserved to Her Self and Her Successors a Power at any time to reassume the management of those Affairs to Her Self paying to the Corporation such Compensation as should be indifferently awarded CHAP. XXIII Why the Government of the Mines was by Queen Elizabeth committed to the Conduct of Corporations AS it is conceived the first Reason of the Queens committing them to Corporations was that the Crowns Prerogative therein might be permanent for our Laws say that Corporations never die Next that the Arts Methods Rules and Orders by which they were to be conducted might be registred by them for the use of Posterity which in former times were but loose und uncertain and died with the Undertakers for no former extant Records do assist us herein And this makes other Nations so famous because by way of Corporation they entail their Arts and Manufactures to their Successors thinking them no derogation to any of their other Degrees of Honour to which they have by those Arts or otherwise atchieved And the Romans were so strict herein that when any Artificer died the Heir of that Artificer was convened before Judges about the things of that Art which he professed The third reason was from Her observation of the Inartificialness of former Ages in this Concern which may be collected from Her sending for and imploying so many Germans and others Foreiners where Mines were plentiful and the Arts belonging to them who might put us into the tract of managing ours in finding and diging them and in smelting and refining Metals And therefore the Queen provided in Her Charter that 8 Foreiners might be admitted and upon such admission of any Foreiner he was to have Letters Patents for his Indenization without Fees or Charge and not onely they but all persons interessed in these Operations are to be discharged of all Fifteenths Tenths Subsidies Taxes Impositions and Charges except such as are excepted in the Patent and all Officers Miners c. to be free from Juries and Arrests for which the Civil Law which is the ground of most of our Laws concerning Arts gives this reason because the Charge Care Circumspection and Labour if duly executed are so great and advantageous to the Publick that it was thought but reasonable by the Romans and by their example for us to give them encouragement by such Concessions And that this Nation was so unknowing in the guidance of this Affair is evident from the great quantities of Slags from Lead and Cinders from Iron which by former Ages were thrown aside as of no use but to mend High ways or to build with instead of Stone But of these our present Artists do make as great if not greater profit then of fresh Oars for which though Philosophers give some specious reasons yet their goodness may rather be imputed to the defect of former skill in not duly melting and refining them then from any improvement of their Nature by so long lying under the Concoction of Heat A fourth reason was that Arts and Sciences might be improved and in their very Improvement rewarded Curiosity being

them but if the Proprietor refuse to joyn in such Lease then the Lease to be to the Discoverer he Covenanting as followeth But if both shall refuse or forbear to work through disability or unskilfulness then the Corporation will reward the Discoverer according to the Nature of the Mine whether he be Proprietor or otherwise 3. If any Farmer or Possessor discover a Mine Royal which hath been wrought otherwise then as a Mine Royal he shall be proceeded with according to the second Rule 4. If any other person being neither Owner Possessor nor Farmer shall discover a Mine Royal in another mans ground he shall be proceeded with according to the second Rule 5. A Discoverer who shall be capable of a Lease in other Mens grounds is such a person as shall be the first who without fraud or Circumvention shall inform the Corporation of it 6. If any person shall undertake to work a Mine Royal that hath been long deserted by reason of water or other causes hindring the work the Owner refusing to work or joyne in the same such Undertaker shall have all reasonable encouragement from the Corporation by Lease or otherwise 7. The Term to be granted in any Lease not to exceed the Term of fourty and one years 8. The Lessee shall have power to dig c. in as full manner as is granted by the Charter Provided he dig not under any Castles Houses Gardens or Orchards without the Proprietors consent 9. The Grounds and Mines to be Leased shall not exceed one mile in Diameter which is to be measured from such a place as the Lessee shall fix upon and is to be described by the Town Village or Hamlet where it lieth or the scituation or peculiar name or distance from such remarkable place or places as Churches c. which description is to be Certified by some Justices of the Peace or the Minister of the Parish or both or by any of the sworn Officers of the Corporation or by such other way as the Corporation shall particularly direct in that case and in this allotment care to be taken that the said mile diameter do not extend or intrench upon any other Grant from the Corporation in which case the Corporation will not justifie the Lessees Incroachments but limit the Lease accordinglys 10. If the Lessee shall drive a Mine into another mans Propriety without the limit of that mile then upon that Lessees taking of a new Lease consideration shall be had of the Proprietor as the Company shall think fit it being not reasonable that he be admitted to the entire advantage of the second Rule 11. That the Fine to be paid upon every Lease granted be at least equal to a years rent reserved HEADS of the COVENANTS to be Contained in those Leases 1. For the Lessees paying the reserved rent at the time and place appointed by two equal portions 2. That the Lessee shall covenant to discharge all dues to the King and save the Company harmless and to give an Account to the Companie when required what metal he vendeth inward and outward and how the Kings dues are answered 3. Not to dig under any Castles Houses Gardens c. 4. The Lessee to Covenant immediatelie to set in hand proceed and continue the effectual working of the Mines and Mineral work demised 5. A Proviso that the Lessee may surrender his Lease after six months advertisement to the Company paying all Arrears 6. Damages for breaking ground to be referred to six indifferent persons according to the Patent 7. That every Lessee shall bring in all his Gold and Silver into the Kings Mint or otherwise forfeit the same or the value thereof 8. the Lessee to extract the Gold and Silver out of the base metal as long as it conteineth so much of both or either of them as will countervail the charge of extracting and the loss of the base mettal or else shall forfeit his Lease 9. The Lessee not to assign his Lease or make any Lease out of it without Licence from the Corporation 10. The Lessee at the end of the Term or other determination to deliver quiet possession without prejudice to the Mine 11. The Corporation to Covenant for quiet enjoyment against them and all others claiming under them CHAP. XVIII Extracts out of CAMBDENS BRITANNIA concerning the Tin Mines in Cornwall THe Inland Parts have rich and plenteous Mines of Tin Tin for there is digged out of them wonderful store of Tin yielding exceeding much profit and commodity whereof are made Houshold Pewter Vessels which are used throughout many parts of Europe in service of the Table and for their glittering Brightness compared unto Silver Plate The Inhabitants do discover these Mines by certain Tin stones lying on the face of the Ground which they call SHADD being somewhat smooth and round Of these Mines or Tin Works there are two kinds the one they call Lode Works the other Steam-Works this lieth in lower Grounds when by Trenching they follow the Veins of Tin and turn aside now and then the Streams of Water coming in their way that other is in higher places whenas upon the Hills they dig very deep Pits which they call Shafts and do undermine in working both ways there is seen wonderful Wit and Skill as well in dreining Waters aside and reducing them into one Stream as also in the underbuilding pinning and propping up their Pits To pass over with filence their devises of Breaking Stamping Drying Crusing Washing Melting and Fining the Metal then which there cannot be more Cunning shewed There are also two sorts of Tin Black Tin which is Tin Oar broken and washed but not yet founded into Metal and White Tin which is moulten into Metal and that is either soft Tin which is best Merchantable or hard Tin which is less Merchantable That the Ancient Britains practised these Tyn-works for Pliny reports Lib. 6. c. 8 9. That the Britans fetched Tyn out of the Island Ieta in Wicker boats covered and stickt about with Lether And Diodorus Siculus writes that the Britains who inhabited these parts digged Tyn out of stonie ground and at a Low-water carried the same in Carts to certain Islands adjoining from whence Merchants transported it by ships into Gaule and from thence conveied the same upon horses within 30 daies unto the Spring-head of the River Eridanus Po. or else to the City Narbone as it were to a Mart. Ethicus also insinuateth the very same and saith that he delivered Rules and Precepts to these Tyn workers But it seems that the English Saxons neglected it altogether After the coming in of the Normans the Earles of Cornwall gathered great riches out of these Mines especiallie Richard brother to King Hen. 3. and no marvel since in those daies Europe had Tynn from no other place for the Incursions of the Moors had stopped up the Tyn Mines of Spain And as for the Tyn veins in Germany which are in Misnia and Bohemia they

were not as yet known or not discovered before the year after Christs Nativitie 1240. for then as a Writer of that Age recordeth was Tyn Mettal found in Germany by a certain Cornish-man driven out of his Native soile to the great loss and hindrance of Richard Earl of Cornwall This Richard began to make Ordinances for these Tyn-works and afterwards Edmund his son granted a Charter and certain Liberties and withal prescribed certain Laws concerning the same which he ratified or strengthned under his seale and imposed a Tribute or Rent upon Tyn to be answered to the Earles These Liberties The Common-wealth of Tymurs Priviledges and Laws King Edw. 3. did afterwards confirm and augment the whole Commonwealth of those Tynners and Workmen as it were in one bodie he divided into four quarters which from the places they call Foymore Blackmore Irewarnayle and Penwith Warden of the Stannaries over them all He ordained a Warden called Lord Warden of the Stannaries of Stannum that is Tin who are to give judgment as wel according to equity and conscience as Law and appointed to every quarter their Stewards who once every three weeks every one in his several Quarter ministers justice in Causes Personal between Tinner and Tinner and between Tinner and Foreiner except in Causes of Land Life or Member from whence there lieth an Appeal to the Lord Warden from him to the Duke and from him to the King in matters of moment There are by the Warden General Parlements or several Assemblies summoned whereunto Jurats are sent out of every Stannary whose Constitutions do bind them As for those who deal with Tin they are of four sorts the Owners of the Soil the Adventurers the Merchants or Regrators and the Labourers called the Spadyards of their Spade The Kings of England and Dukes of Cornwall in their times have reserved to themselves a Preemption of Tin as well in regard of the Propriety as being Chief Lords or Proprietaries as of their total Prerogative lest the Tribute of Rent imposed should be imbezelled and the Dukes of Cornwall defrauded unto whom by the old Custom for every thousand pounds weight of Tin there is paid forty Shillings It is by a Law provided that all the Tin which is cast and wrought be brought to one of the said four appointed Towns where twice in the Year it is weighed and signed with a Stamp they call it Coinage and the said Impost accordingly paid Neither is it lawful for any man before that to sell or send it abroad under Forfeiture of their Tin And not onely Tin here is found but also therewith Gold and Silver yea and Diamonds shaped and pointed Angle-wayes Cornish Diamonds smoothed also by Nature her self whereof some are as big as Walnuts and inferiour to the Orient Diamonds onely in blackness and hardness Sir John Dodderich his History of the ancient and modern Establishment of the Dutchy of Cornwall c. is almost verbatim with what Cambden hath writ concerning Tin and both of them from Carews Survey of Cornwall But all the Laws concerning Tin are fully digested in the Lord Cokes 12th Report concerning the Case of the Stanaries CHAP. XIX Concerning the Laws of the Lead Mines in Derbyshire and Mendip in Somersetshire From the Bundle of the Exchequer and the Inquisition of the Year of the Reign of King EDWARD the First 16. EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England Derby Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain to the Sheriff of the County of Derby Greeting Know ye that We have assigned Our Faithful and Well-beloved Reynold of the Ley and William of Memill to inquire by the Oaths of good and lawful men of your County by the which the truth may best be known of the Liberty which our Miners do claim to have in those parts and which they have hitherto used to have and by what means and how and from what time and by what Warrant And therefore We do command thee that a certain Day and Place which the said Reynold and William shall appoint thee thou shalt cause to come before them so many and such good and lawful Men of thy Bailiwick by the which the truth may there the best be known in the premisses by the Inquirie and that thou have there the Writ Witness Our Well-beloved Cousin Edmond Earl of Cornwall at Westminster the 28th day of April in the Year of Our Reign the 16th By William of Hambleton and at the instance of Hugh of Cressingham the Day is appointed at Ashbourne upon Saturday next after the Feast of the Holie Trinitie An Inquisition taken at Ashbourne upon Saturday next after the Holy Trinity in the Year of the Reign of EDWARD the First the 16. before Reynold of the Ley and William of Meignil of the Liberties which the Miners of the said Sovereign Lord the King in the Peake do claim to have hitherto used to have in those part by what means and how and from what time and by what Warrant By the Oath of Tho. Foliamo Will. Hawley Ralph Cotterill William of Longsden John of Tearture Clement of Ford William of Bradlow Peter of Rowland Richard of Longsden Jur William son of the Smith of Bradwall Henry Foliambic John of Longsden All Jurors 1. Who say upon their Oaths Of a new Field that in the beginning when the Miners did come to the Field seeking for a Mine and finding a Mine they do come to the Bailiff which is called Burghmaster and did desire if it were a new Field that they might have two Meers of Ground that is to say one for the finding thereof and the other by the Miners Fine viz. paying a mere Dish of his first Oar. 2. An old Work and length of a Meer And the Miners desired also in an old Work of right to be measured to the said Miners every Meer to contain four Measures and the hole of the Mine to be 7 feet wide or broad 3. The length of the Measure the King to have a 3d. Meer in a new Field And everie Measure shall be of 24 feet and the King shall have the third Meer next the Finder and the other two Meers shall be delivered to the Workman Finder of the new Mine by the Burghmaster 4. And in an old Field everie Workman demanding such Work one Meer in the Field next our Soveraign Lord the King 5. The King is to have the 13th Dish for lot And the King shall have the 13th Dish or Measure of Oar which is called Th. Lot 6. And this hath been used and for this our Sovereign Lord the King shall find unto the Miners free ingress and egress into and from their Mines For which cause Lot is paid to carrie and bear their Oar unto the Kings High way 7. The King shall have Oar giving as much as another And the Jurie do say that they are used for coming in Mines that our Soveraign Lord the King shall