The Laws and Orders of the Mendipp Miners.
BE it known that this is a true Copy of the Inrolled in the King's Exchequer in the time of King Edward the Fourth, of a debate that was in the County of Somerset, between the Lord Benfield and the Tennants of Chewton, and the Prior of Green Oare: the said Prior complaining unto the King of great Injuries and wrongs that he had upon Mendipp, being the King's Forrest, the said King Edward commanded the Lord Chock, the Lord Chief Justice of England to go down into the County of Somerset to Mendipp, and sit in Concord and Peace in the said County concerning Mendipp, upon pain of high displeasure. The said Lord Chock sate upon Mendipp on a place of my Lords of Bath, called the Forge: Whereas he commanded all the Commoners to appear, and especially [Page 2]the four Lords Royals of Mendipp (that is to say) the Bishop of Bath, my Lord of Glaston, my Lord Benfield the Lord of Chewton, and my Lord of Richmond, with all the appearance to the Number of ten thousand People. A Proclamation was made to enquire of all the Company how they would be ordered, then they with one consent made answer, that they would be ordered and tryed by the four Lords of the Royalties; And then the four Lords Royals were agreed, that the Comminers of Mendipp should turn out their Cattle at their out-lets as much the Summer as they be able to Winter, without hownding or pounding upon whose grounds soever they went to take their course and recourse. To which the said four Lords Royals did put their Seals, and were also agreed, that whosoever should break the said Bonds should forfeit to the King a thousand Marks, and all the Comminers their bodys and goods to be at the King's Pleasure or Command that doth either hound or pound.
The old Ancient Occupation of Miners in and upon Mendipp, being the King's Forrest of Mendipp within the County of Somerset, being one of the four Staples of England, which have been exercised, used and continued through the said Forrest of Mendipp, from the time where of no man living hath not memory, as hereafter doth particularly ensue the Order.
1. FIrst, that if any man whatsoever he be, that doth intend to venture his Life to be a Workman in the said Occupation, he must first of all crave Licence of the Lord of the Soyle where he doth purpose to work, and in his absence of his Officers as the Lead Reave or Bailiff and the Lord, neither his Officers can deny him.
2. Item, That after the first Licence had, the Workman shall never need to [Page 4]ask leave again but to be at his free will, to pitch within the Forrest, and to brake the ground where and in what place it shall please him to his behalf and profit, using himself trustily & truly.
3. Item, If any man that doth begin to pitch or groof shall have his Hackes through two ways after the Rake. Note that he that doth throw the Hacke must stand to the girdle or wast in the same groof, and then no Man shall or may work within his Hackes Throwe, provided always that no Man shall or can keep but his wet and dry Groof and his Mark.
4. Item, That when a Workman have landed his Oar he may carry the same to cleansing or blowing to what Minery it shall please him for the speedy making out of the same. So that he doth truly pay the Lord of the Soyle where it was landed his due, which is the tenth part thereof.
5. Item, That if any Lord or Officer [Page 5]hath once given Licence to any man to build, or set up any Hearth or Washing-house, to wash, cleanse or blow Oar, he that once hath leave shall keep it for ever, or give it to whom he will, so that he doth justly pay his Lott Lead, which is the tenth pound, which shall be blown at the Hearth or Hearths, and also that he doth keep it tennantable as the Custome doth require.
6. Item, That if any man of that Occupation doth pick or steal any Ledd or Oare to the value of thirteen pence halfpenny, the Lord or his officer may arrest all his Lead works, House and Hearth, with all his Groofs and Works, and keep them as safely to his own use, and shall take the Person that hath so offended, and bring him where his House is, or his Work, and all his Tools or Instruments to the Occupation belongs as he useth, and put him into the said House and set fire on all together about him, and banish him from that Occupation before the Miners for ever.
[Page 6] 7. Item, If that Person doth pick or steal there any more, he shall be tryed by the Law, for this Law and Custome hath no more to do with him.
8. Item, That every Lord of the Soyle ought to keep two Miner Courts by the year, and to swear twelve Men of the same Occupation, for the redress of Misdemeanors touching the Mineries.
9. Item, That the Lord or Lords may make and grant manner of Arrests (viz.) first for strife between Man and Man, for their Works under the Ground or Earth. Secondly for his own dutys for Lead or Oare, wheresoever he findeth it upon the same Forrest.
10. Item, That if any man by means of Misfortune take his death, as by falling of the Earth upon him, by drawing or stifeling, or otherwise, as in time past many have been, the Workmen of the same Occupation are bound to setch him out of the Earth, and to bring [Page 7]him to Christian Burial at their own costs and charges, although he be forty Fathome under the Earth, as heretofore hath been done, and the Coroner or any officer at large shall not have to do with him in any respect.