THat whereas the right and interest in and to all Mynes Royall, which are fountains of the Treasure of the Nation, hath alwaies been an undoubted and legall right belong­ing to the Crown, and alwaies enjoyed by severall Letters Patents, and Farms taken from the Crown, and to that purpose in all grants of Lands from the Crown, the said Mynes either by ex­presse word, or else by implication of Law have alwaies been excep­ted and reserved, for that it hath been found by experience, that the owners of Land, who receive a constant profit by the Herbage and other fruits of the Earth above ground, are seldome willing to adventure any part of their fortune for discovering the hid Trea­sure in the bowels of the Earth: And whereas all Subjects were invited and encouraged by severall Proclamations from his late Majesty, and his Royall Father King James, to spend their times and pains in discovery of the said Mines.

And I Thomas Bushell having had many yeers relation to that great Secretary of Nature, the late Lord Chancellor Bacon; and thereby from him learnt many secrets in discovering and extracting Mine­rals; and that it was not onely the harmliest gain, and greatest good to the Common-wealth, but the principall study and industry of the best bred persons of other Nations, and the honourablest improve­ment that this world is capable of, which was the first inducement that encouraged me to look after the search thereof, being by good and learned Councell satisfied touching the legallity of the title and also having found out a new way of discovering the concealed trea­sure of the Earth, with more certainty and lesse hazard, by means of a Portugall with whom I advised, and likewise was assured, that in the Mountains of Broomfloid, Tallibont, Geginan, Combmerven, & the Dar­ren, there was great quantities of Silver & Lead, of which I informed his Majesty, moving him to undertake the worke; but his Majesty, for some reasons to himselfe known, declined the same, and com­mand [...]d me (the Lady Middleton holding the said Mynes Royall in Wales, by vertue of a Grant from King James) to buy the same, and to take the Mynes, which I accordingly did, paying unto the Lady Middleton 400 l. in hand, and 400 l. per annum, during the conti­nuation of her interest therein, by vertue of the said Grant; having first obtained from his said Majesty (upon my engagement to cut through the said five Mountains, at My own charge, by a new way [Page 2] of discovery) not onely a confirmation of the said Letters Patents, formerly granted to Sir Hugh Middleton, together with the severall Leases from the Governours, Assistants, and Society of the City of London, but also an absolute engagement upon his Majesties honour, and under his Signet and privy Seale, for the performance of any other Act of Grace, or assistance, that I or my Counsell should at any time desire, not being detrimentall to his Honour, or the Common­wealth, as by the ensuing Grant appeareth.

And further to prevent all disturbances which might discourage my proceedings, His Majesty gave Warrant to Mr. Atturney generall to proceed by information in the Starch amber against all such as should be so great enemies to their Country as to interrupt so pub­lique a good. The copy of which Warrant followeth.

By vertue of which Grants from his Majesty, I being interessed in some of the Mynes Royall in Wales, Devon, and Cornwall, and being desirous to know what was a Myne Royall in the sence of Law, I [Page 4] obtained the opinion of divers learned men in the Law, who decla­red their judgements therein, as followeth.

THat shortly after my first entrance upon the Mynes in Wales, there were drowned 80. plumps, by reason of a great deluge of water then happening, whereby my underta­king became unlikely in the judgement of others, to pro­duce any good effect, either to my selfe, or the Nation, that I was by my friends pittied, and by my foes laughed at; so that had I not duly considered the Justice of the undertaking in respect of God, the honour in respect of my Countrey, and the possibi­lity in respect of my self, meeting with so many discouragements I had certainly desisted: but God, who is the Author and Finisher of all just undertakings, supported me under, and carryed me through that great work; and after nigh four years night and day spent in recovering of the said decayed Mynes, by the continued mainte­nance [Page 5] and industry of five hundred Families, and the expence of about 7000 l. as a reward of my hazard, expence and labour, brought me to reap the harvest of my hope, with discovering far distant by the Art of dyalling, where the Veines of Silver and Lead Ore sprang at the superficious of the Rocks, from the old Works in new places, which the malice or ignorance of some, that knowes not the generation of Mettals, nor the largenesse of their extent in creation, of depth and length, for mans use and Gods glory, would needs affirme that it was a new worke, and not a branch of the old Myne, formerly deserted through the said deluge of water; which, to confute their incredulity therein, I have been at 10000 li. charge, for to thred the supposed new Myne to the old worke, that others of my profession might as well be verst in the mystery of Myning, and encouraged therein, when all other hopes are frustrated of re­ceiving profit from their deeper search for Mynerall treasure, as I was assured of the truth by the aforesaid L. Chancellor Bacon, and a Portugals description of such a Mynerall experiment.

Having made the discovery as aforesaid, and b [...]ing satisfied in the Legality of my undertaking in respect of man, I endeavored to proceed therein according to the Law of God, striving to do unto others as I would they should do unto me. In order where­unto (having discovered a branch that issued from the old Myne (at the mountain of Geginan) I at the generall Assize held for the County of Cardigan (Judge Turner being on the Bench) publickly propounded unto the Gentry and Freeholders of the said County, being Owners of the Herbage, That if any of them would (by my example) adventure to discover the concealed Treasure in any Herbage, belonging unto them, at their own charge, they should (although the Grant was particular to me from his Majesty) en­joy the benefit of my Grant and Mint, for their encouragement therein; But if they did (in respect of the great charge and hazard) decline the same, That then, if afterward my endeavours were cround beyond present probability or expectation, they would not envy or repine at that blessing which Gods providence as a reward of my labours, bestowed upon me: Further adding, That if, in the prosecution of the said work, I might commit any Trespasse upon the Herbage of any Gentleman, or others, I would give such answerable satisfaction as should by the next Justice of [Page 6] Peace be judged double to the damage sustained by my trespasse thereupon: which promise I have constantly performed ever since my first undertaking: The Mynes mo [...] commonly being discove­red in such Grounds as are worth not above three pence per Acre, which hath been proved upon a full Hearing this Parliament.

But to proceed.

Having by the mercy of God raised a considerable benefit, I did not cast about how to hide, but to improve my Talent for the good of my Native Country, which my gracious Maker had bestowed: As an evidence whereof I improved my ability for the recovering of severall drowned Mynes, and discovering other new branches of the old Mynes wrought by the Romans, (viz.) at the Mountains called Tall [...]bont, Broomfloid Combmervin, Geginan, Commustwith, Comsum-Lock and the Beacon hill of the Daren; by which means Trade was greatly encreased the Common wealth inriched, and many thou­sands of poor people relieved.

I applyed my self to finde out some more facile, lesse chargeable, and more expeditious way, (not only to discover new, but to re­cover the old decayed Mynes. In order whereunto I contrived a way of Addits, cutting levell through the lowest part of the Moun­tain, (and not beginning at the top, and sinking downward,) whereby the work was made more profitable, and lesse subject to the casualties of damps, and drowning, by preserving a constant water course, which was extream incident to the other way of myning, whereby most commonly the Myners were drowned out before they could attain half the riches of the Myne; and also avoyding the tedious and chargeable sinking of air-shafts, by con­veying air through the Mountain many hundred Fathoms, with Pipe and Bellows, away never before used by any undertakers, but now approved by all. And because I found that the wood of the Countrey was exceedingly wasted, by extracting the said Minerals; and that it could not be possible to afford sufficient supply, or if it did, it must be at such a rate as would devour the greatest part of the gain, besides the prejudice that would redound to the Countrey by the decay of Wood, being forc't to use such great quantities thereof; I made tryal of many expensive conclusions, and ceased not till I had contrived a way to make the defects of the Valley answer the fer­tile Mountain, by a supply of fuell; so that with Turf and Sea-coale [Page 7] charked, I have and doe refine the Silver and Lead without Wood and Charcoale, by which means the undertaking is of much more advantage as well to the Commonwealth as to the persons ingaged in the prosecution thereof.

His late Majesty having received sufficient testimony of the Pre­mises, and being sensible of the great good that was like further to redound to the Nation, by my charge and industry, for my better incouragement, and to the end that others might be induced to joyn in assisting me in a worke, conducing so much to a generall good; and in pursuance of his promise made at my entry thereupon in the year 1636. did, by and with the advice of his Privy Councel, grant the Impost and Customs of all Lead that should be transported out of England and Wales, for the Rent of 6000 l. per annum, to be paid by me to His Majesty, his Heirs, &c. for 21 years: giving me also full power to deduct out of the said Rent all such sums of money as I had formly disburst for his service, with 8 l. per Cent. for the forbearance thereof.

His Majesty seeming to be convinced by his Councel at a full debate: That it was much better that I should enjoy the Customs for a certain Rent (though happily (some years) beneath the value thereof) for that by my charge and industry the staple Com­modity of the Nation would be greatly encreased; so that if I, by the discovery of the concealed Treasure got 100 l. the Com­mon-wealth would gain 1000 l. by the advancement of Trade, in respect of exportation and Importation, then that the said customs should be trusted to the generall Farmers or Collectors, who could adde nothing to that Nationall work (unlesse it were discourage­ment to me and my fellow undertakers;) and also that the Grant of the said Customs could not be lesse then 21 years, for that no man could be encouraged otherwise to adventure his estate in the promotion thereof, since a short Lease would be expired before a man could possibly obtain the fruit of his charge and hazard, a dozen yeares being many times spent before a Myne could be at­tained.

But in the unhappy difference betweene the King and Parliament I was forced by the power of the Parliaments Army, and neces­sitated to retire my selfe into the Island of Lundy, of which His Majesty made me Governour, where I remained peaceably, with­out [Page 8] doing prejudice to any, untill the Lord Generall in his Letter bearing date the 8 of April, 1646. sent me by a Drummer this fol­lowing Order.

Together with which Order his Excellency sent a safe Conduct for me to come to the Head Quarters to treat with the Lord Say, or with such as he should appoint touching the said Proposition made by the said Committee. Some moneths after the said Committee sent another Order, thereby promising their Endevours to the Par­liament, for the taking off the Delinquency of the Souldiers that were with me in Lundy, &c.

After receipt whereof (having first obtained his Majesties con­sent for the Resignation thereof,) I informed my Lord Say by Letter, That I could willingly yeeld obedience to the said Orders, if the sight thereof would relieve my losses, or cancell my Obligati­ons; But since I could receive neither satisfaction or security by those, I proposed, That the Honorable Committee of both King­doms would be pleased to procure the restitution of my estate with all other immunities thereunto belonging by an Ordinance of Par­liament, that thereby I might be enabled to pay my debts, and pro­secute that publike employment which I had formerly undertaken, and that before my Surrender thereof, otherwise I should be con­strained to retain it as the refuge of my fortune, &c.

Many Messages, Letters and Replies passed for some months about the Surrender thereof, after which it pleased the honorable Parlia­ment to grant my desire, as appears by the ensuing Order.

The sum of my desires are,

That since his late Majesty, in pursuance of his said promise made at my entrance upon the Mines in the year 1636. being convinced by his Councel at a full debate: That it was much better that I should enjoy the Customs for a certain Rent (though happily (some years) beneath the value thereof) for that by my charge and indu­stry the staple Commodity of the Nation would be greatly encrea­sed; so that if I, by the discovery of the concealed Treasure, got 100 l. the Nation would gain 1000 l. by the advancement of Trade, in respect of exportation and Importation, then that the said customs should be trusted in common to Farmers or Collectors, who could adde nothing to that Nationall work (unlesse it were discourage­ment to me and my fellow undertakers;) and also that the Grant of the said Customs could not be lesse then 21 years, for that no man could be encouraged otherwise to adventure his estate in the promotion thereof, since a short Lease would be expired before a man could possibly obtain the fruit of his charge and hazard, a dozen yeares being many times spent before a Myne could be attained: for these and the other reasons before specified, his Majesty was pleased to sever the said Custom of Lead from the great Farm, and to grant the same to me and my Assigns for the term of twenty one years, for the Rent of 6000 l. per annum, giving me power thereby to deduct out of the said Rent, all such sums of money as I had formerly dis­bursed for his service, with an allowance of 8 l. per cent. for the for­bearance thereof, as by the said Grant appeareth: By vertue of which Grant, as by my Councell I am advised, I have a legal interest in the said Customs during that term.

And forasmuch as the Custom, which formerly was 2 l. 8 s. p [...]r Fodder, hath been by the Parliament, for the good of the Common­wealth reduced to 20 s. per Fodder; And for that the quantity of Lead now transported, is nothing near so much as was ship'd and transported formerly, as by the certificate of Customs annexed may appear: That therefore, although I might justly claim the benefit of the said Grant from His Majesty by vertue of the former recited Or­der of Parliament, which provideth, that I should upon the perfor­mance of the Conditions therein specified, be restored to all my E­state, with such right as I, or my Assigns, had, or ought to have had, in the Mines, &c. Yet declining my Interest herein, by vertue of the [Page 8] said Grant, I humbly submit my self to the Judgement of Parlia­ment, not doubting their readinesse to give all just encouragement to my endeavors, which shall tend onely to the advancement of the publique good.

In pursuance whereof I humbly propose and desire.

That forasmuch as by my charge, vast expence and hazard (be­ing thereby damnified many thousands of pounds) the Trade of Lead being a Staple Commodity, hath been, and is likely to be ad­vanced, That therefore I may be permitted to farme the said Cu­stoms of Lead, for the term of years abovesaid, paying 2500 l per annum for the same; which according to the due computation of the quantities of Lead transported for two seven years last past (abating the reducement of the Customs by the Parliament, from 2l. 8 s. per Fodder, to 20 s. per Fodder, together with the deductions and allowance of the charge of the Collection thereof, which a­mounted to above 1000 l. per annum) as a Rent sufficiently propor­tionable, as by the Certificates from the Farmers and Commissio­ners, who by order of the Committee of the Navy have examined and certified the same, may fully appear; the substance of which cer­tificates, for better satisfaction, are here inserted.

But in case it shall not be judged convenient for me to Farm the same, that then I may be permitted to enjoy the Lead and Oar Custom free, which I already have, or hereafter shall (at my own cost, or the charges of such as shall adventure with me) discover out of new Mynes, or such as have been drowned and discerted for many Ages: And to the end that a work of such Nationall advantage may not be retarded, nor my self and other undertakers discouraged; but rather, by all just wayes and means enabled to prosecute and carry on the same: I further humbly pro­pose, That for the future, the Parliament would be pleased to Or­dain, That all persons convicted of petty Felonies may be employed in the said Mynes, giving sufficient security for their true service therein, untill such time be exspired as shall be adjudged meet for the expiation of their Crimes; by which means I conceive many poor Creatures will not onely be preserved from untimely death, and removed from their idle company, but being forced to work, be made serviceable to the Common-wealth, and sensible of their own follies; the charge greatly lessned to those who venture their for­tunes in the said undertakings, for the reasons following:

These considerations, and my late practique experience at Comb­martin in Devon, did not onely invite the worthy Merchants of Barnstable and Bydifford to write this ensuing Letter unto me, for Transporting all my Lead and Oar Fraight-free in stead of Bal­last; but also divers other Merchants, by their good example, were induced to adventure upon my having a Farm of the Customs, according to the proportion of my Rent abovementioned, the severall sums hereafter expressed, as to a publique work, and in hope of enriching themselves by the same providence.

Many others have profered and promised to adventure, if the Customs be granted as desired.

Which publique Service was likewise a great motive to his Excel­lency, and the Lord Viscount Say and Seal, to direct the Letter of Request, at followeth: