harmlessest gain and greatest good that could befall a Commonwealth but also found it to be the chiefest study and industry of the most knowing and best bred persons of other Nations and the highest and most honorable improvement that this world was capable of and I protest as in the presence of God such a progresse I have already made herein that if I could now command as much wealth as ever the Lydian Croesus did possesse I would gladly adventure it all in perforating the barren Mountains to discover the vast Treasures which lie hid in their Rocky entrals for the good of this Nation and to leave after my debts paid a magnificent Monument in memory of my most deserving Master by finishing his SOLOMONS House in all its dimensions and with all the accommodations and endowments thereof according to his Lordships own Heroick Idea If the honourable Parliament shall be pleased to ratifie my Articles I having already by his direction cut through five of the 28 Mountains at the lowest Level which his Lordship and Sir FRANCIS GODOLPHIN did mark out as the most pregnant Hills for discovering the Beds and spreading Branches of this Nations Mineral Treasures so that no man of known judgment but must conclude the rest to be of the same species or of richer natures in their deeper search both for quantity and quality and how happy a successe the great God of Nature hath given to my endeavours in this particular the ensuing Letter sent from Mr. Brodway a learned and judicious Divine and one constantly resident amongst the Miners will better speak than any Pen whatsoever THOMAS BUSHEL A Letter to Mr. Bushel relating some strange Accidents which happened in the Mines Honoured Sir SUffer my congratulations of your late success at Tallybont to be admitted among the rest who represented the same to your imagination not so much for the historical report of it as for speculation on it So it becomes my quality for the rest are interessed I a looker on Your Addit or great drift of Tallybont after above 400 fathome in four years driving to come at the chief â—…ast of the old droâ—ned work of 38 fathome deep beiâ—g peirced by the water of the old work June 27. at midnight there befâ—l two memorable accidents The four workmen about one in the night aâ— their manner was withdrew to take Tobacco within ten fathome of the Addits mouth lest in the fore-field it should damp the air which was coâ—veâ—ed to them by your leaden Pipes with Bellowes Their smoaky banquet was not yet at an end when they heard a mâ—ghty and fearful noise which some of them said was thunder But old Bartholmew Clocker a well experienced Miner although he left the work without any suspition of so near an approach resolved suddenly the work is holed come let us away No sooâ—er had they gotten the free air but out gusheth the torrent of water with an incredible fury such a breach it made in the solid Rock that it arose a full yards height at the Addits mouth and drove away above a hundred Tun of the rockie deads affrighting the people of Tallybont who heard the noise and felt the water in their houses I do not remember that I was ever more astonish'd at the prodigiousness of any spectacle to see what perdition was threatned to the poor men and they so to escape it About four hours after the violence of water being past Fisher one other of the Miners went in with more curiosity than wit to see what effect it had wrought there and being some sixty fathome in creeping very low his candle enkindled a vapour which came on him with three or four flashes and he suddainly returning had his hair burnt off and his clothes scorched in which conclusion it gave a crack like the report of a Piece and in a fierce gust of wind blew out the Candles of three more coming after him To omit the Philosophical inquisition of natural causes I account his preservation in as high a degree of wonder as the first Thus happy are you here when least you think of it for I find the Subterranean spirits the supposed Guardians of concealed treasure as officious for you as if they were in pay with you But in a stâ—le more proper to my pen Behold Sir how dear you are to Providence which for your sake hath vouchsafed to digress into a Miracle and such a one a is able to convert the most Sophistical Atheist whence your piety wiâ—l inferre that the gracious Authour of this incomparable bounty expects from you some grateful service as high above ordinary according to mortal capacity as this favour hath been extraordinary We are all deeply in the same engagement and have learned by this experiment that these Addits or approaches for that 's the sense of the name of old Deluge works are attempts of desperate hazard Me thinks those Mountaâ—ns a e as so many pregnant Wombs and now in labour call for your fortunate hands to deliver them to the honour of your Royal Master and perpetuated glory of the Nation What should you doubt in an imployment so serenely smiled upon by the highest both of Heaven and Earth You use no inchantment or magnetical Rod to discover the veins your onely Magick is an ingenious conjecture of Probabilities with a chearful and indefatigable Industry which hath hitherto succeeded beyond Expectation of most and peradventure the Desires of some But who as Agricola makes the question Lib. 1. de R. M. that is not of a nature impoison'd with envy and malitiousness can bear unfriendly thoughts to him whose substance is in a manner presented by the hand of God I know it would be a motive of very feeble operation to tell you how Princes and States have raised their Crowns by descending into such abysses as these with some of whom wanton Antiquity hath been pleased to sport her self and to play upon the simplicity of many as Midas Giges the Argonauts Croesus with the States of Athens over whose Minerals was that renowned Thucydides a Praefect as you are here Of which Pliny delivers what may be worth your attention when he sayes of them That they were in a fruitless soyl and on the Hills as these with us And wheresoever one vein was found it was not far from another among which was one called Bebelo that afforded him 300 pound weight of Silver a day These were then the veins which conveyed the blood and spirit of life through all the Limbs of his victorious Host And have you not here our Britans Asturia before you Who knows whether it may not yield a Bebelo at least a Sneberg or Anneberg Who hath heretofore dream't of a Mine at Comsomâ—och or of the happy Lot you lately drew from the Mountains of Kegmian Tallybont the Darren Broom-Floyd and Cum-mervin What did the outside of these promise you more than the countenances of their Neighbours But the Complaint of learned D. Jourdan may
any your lawful desires And in the mean time these Our Letters shall be a good and sufficient Testimony of Our Royal intentions towards you and our good wishes to the prosperity of your undertakings Given at Our Court at Whitehall under Our Signet the three and twentieth day of February in the twelfth year of Our Reign To Our trusty and welbeloved Subject and Servant Thomas Bushell Esq This is entred in the Signet-Book the 23 of Febr. 1636 Ja. Store The Merchants Letter of Barnstaple to Mr. Bushell concerning their accommodation of transporting his Lead and Oar gratis c. SIR SInce you have been pleased at your own great charge to discover those deserted Works at Combmartin for the publick good of our Countrey and whereas you are interessed in the Mines of Wales which furnish you both with Lead and Lead-Oar These are to request you to be pleased to make this our Harbour partaker of the Benefits may proceed therein and what we buy not from you for ready moneys we shall be ready to transport for you Frait-free instead of Ballast you rendring it aboard to all such Ports as our Vessels shall commerce withall In so doing we suppose the result thereof will more properly conduce to your hopeful proceedings in the said Works of Combmartin which we wish all happy success and remain Your Loving Friends Richard Harris William Leigh George Shurt Robert Dennis Iohn Tucker Thomas Hoâ—wood Anthony Benny William Palmer Lyonel Becher Rich. Harris William Nottel Iohn Down Walter Tucker R. Flemming Richard Medford William Wood Francis Newton Edward Flemming Tho. Cox Nathaniel Fisherleigh Robert Frayn Barnstable the 6 of Octob. 1648. The Attestation of the Physicians College in the City of London VVE whose names are hereunder written have seen a Printed Paper of Mr. Bushels concerning Minerals and opening of Mines and do conceive it fit that he be encouraged in the prosecution of that design which we conceive may be Benefit and Honour to our Commonwealth Fran. Pruiean Collegii Medicor Londines Praeses Thomas Winston H. Clerk Tho. Turner Walter Charleton S. Argall Guliel Rant Robert Loyd Iosh Hinton Tho. Nurse Geo. Bate Edw. Smith Edw. Alstone Novemb. 29. 1652. A Certificate from the Miners presented to the Right Honourable the Lordr and other of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Councel May it please your Lordships ACcording to your commands Wee whose names are under written being Miners Smelters Refiners Carryers Washers and Monyers belonging to his Majesties Mines Royal in the County of Cardigan in all humility do certifie of our certain knowledge and experience concerning the new works lately discovered by Gods providence to Thomas Bushell Esquire Farmer of his Majesties Mines Royal in these parts that the said Master Bushell at his inestimable charge having cut six hundred Fathome through the Rock at the lowest levels North and South for discovering the lost vein of Cum-sum lock lying East and West two hundred Fathome through the Mountain of Tallibont at sixty Fathome perpendicular three several Addits at Koginenn one above another twenty and thirty Fathome center another at the Darren to come under the Romans work at an hundred Fathom center another at Bryn Lloyd fifty Fathom in length and thirty Fathom center working day and night for the Drayning of the water which formerly in the time of Customer Smith and Sir Hugh Middleton in their working of the Mines Royal was never used they only working upon the Superficies of the earth the works being drowned with water before they could sink to the best of the vein both for quantity and quality and so the charge made to exceed the benefit which danger is prevented by the aforesaid Addits and the Royal Mines become more hopeful especialy by the assistance of his Majesties Mint for the speedy payment of all those that are employed in the said works And Mr. Bushels own invention to save Wood by reducing the Ore into Lead and Silver with Turff and Sea-cole Charked which happy invention had it not been found out the works must needs have been left unwrought the Country not being able to have supplyed necessary fewel And further by the prohibition of transporting Ore unwrought that holdeth silver worth the refining which His Majesty in his Princely wisdom saw to be very prejudicial even to the utter overthrow of his Mines Royal. We have therefore great reason to be confident that his way of Working with the restraint of transporting Ore will in short time greatly encrease the Bullion of this Kingdom for the honour of the King and good of the Common-wealth together with the employment of many hundred poor people which would be otherwise an unsupportable burthen to this barren Country who by their present labour in these Mines are able to subsist with their Families and thousands more might be daily set on work if Mr. Bushels undertakings in the Mines Royal may be confirmed for a certain time by this present high Court of Parliament MINERS David Fowles William Rashly Henry Cockler David Bebb. Joseph Jefferies George Turner Hugh Reece William Davids George Scotsmer Thomas Bâ—ickhead Will. Griffith Peter Baltiser Francis Pierce Maurice Lewis Peter Edriser Edward Blewys Rob Emblin Rob. Tailor Robert Lowning Thomas Fletcher David Evans George Dixon Hugh Mason David op Richard Tho. Blewys Michael Sanders Morgan Williams Tho. Clocker Tho. Green Bartho Clocker Francis Fisher Hugh Benn Iohn Mason George Tickle Iohn Mason Iohn Fisher David Loyd David Williams Henry Emblin Maurice Taylor John Emblin Edward Reece John Mason Sen. Will. Picharets Evan Thomas John Harris Will. Tyson Watkin Reece Iohn Smith Morgan Pritchet Griffith Iohn Will. Reece Iohn Tuddar Iohn Huson David Iinkins Ioseph Acherson Edmund Poole Edward Bebb. Philip Benn Thomas Iames With two Hundred more whom for brevity we omit to name Moniers Henry Such Iohn Corbet Richard Arnold Refiners Iohn Estopp David Estopp Samuel Iohnson Edw. Gibbon Tho. Parker Arthur Elissa Smelters Thomas Botham Hugh Iames. Griffith Evans Iohn Watkin Iinkin Owen Iohn Epslie Iohn Evans Iohn Lewes Ia. Meredith Washers Iohn Wringe Morgan Iohn Lewis Davy Iohn Iohn Ienkins Morgan Griff. Iohn Edmund Symons Reece Morgan Charls Williâ—mâ— Thomas Adams To the Right Honourable the Lords and others of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council ACcording to Yours Honours command we have enquired and considered how the Mines-Royal were lâ—ft to Mr. Bushel by the Lady Middleton and do in all humility declare that the Silver Mines were not worth the working untill Mr. Bushel at his great charge discovered Rich Ore in the adjacent mountains which in all likelyhood will both increase the Bullion and by his way of working in short time give his Majesty a true tryal what the invaluable riches of these his Welsh mountains are for whereas the Mines in these parts were formerly wrought by Pumps and so growing deep were left drowned with water Mr. Bushel cuts through the main Rocks at the lowest levell to an hundred fathom perpendicular according to
the German manner of working which though chargable yet certain having four several Addits which he continueth driving night and day into four several mountains his industry also hath outstript former times for by melting the poor fusible Ore with the Rich he produceth a third part more of Silver with the same charge and for accommodating the works with all materials fit for Mines-Royal he hath spared no cost about repairing the mils hath also built in his Majesties Castle of Aberystwith a fair Mint hath contracted with Merchants of our own and other Nations to supply the peoples necessity with Corn and other Provision and payeth the Miners and Carriers at the Scales and doubteth not to make them able Pyoners and fit Souldiers to do his Majesty and their Country service upon any assault of an enemy All which we commend to your Honourable consideration praying c. Your Lordships humbly to be commanded Joseph Hexsteter chief Steward of the Mines Samuel Reynish Water Barkesby Assay Masters of the Mint Humphrey Owen Clark of the Mines The Case of the Mine Royal judged to be by the most learned Lawyers under their hands ALthough the Gold or Silver contained in the base Metals of a Mine in the Land of a Subject be of less value than the baser Metall yet if the Gold or Silver do countervail the charge of the refining it or be of more worth then the base Metal spent in refining it this is a Mine Royal and as well the base Metal as the Gold and Silver in it belongs by Prerogative to the Crown Sir Ralph Whitefield his Majesties Serjeant at Law Sir Edward Herbert Attorney General Oliver St. John Solicitor General Orlando Bridegman the Princes Solicitor John Glanvil Serjeant Rich. Creswel Serjeant John Wilde Serjeant Rob. Holborn John Hern. Edward Bagshaw Thomas Lane Richard King Edmund Prideaux Esqs Jo. Maynard Edward Hide Iohn Glynne Charles Fulwood Harbottle Grimstone Iohn White George Peard Iohn Franklin Richard Weston Iohn Glover William Ellis Thomas Culpepper Iohn Goodwine William Sanford Iohn George Ia. Haward Esqs Chewton 28 of July 1658. WHereas we of the Mineral Grand Jury finding by a decretal Order of our Predecessors May 28. and their Letter May 2. in answer of Tho Bushell's Esq to incourage him to go on in his adventures for recovering the drowned works of Rowpits which were formerly the deserted works of Sir Bevis Bulmar in the time of Queen Elizabeths Reign And whereas many of the chief Adventurers in the said Rowpits do and have consented to surrender not only the one half of their works and Mines there but likewise the pre-emption of the other half paying as much as any other Merchant will give unto the said Tho Bushell and his Assigns when the said Tho Bushell doth make it appear unto the Mineral Court for the time being that by his and their workmanship they be freed from the inundation of their waters We of the Grand Jury do Order and confirm the said Decree And whereas we find the said Tho. Bushell hath in relation to his undertakings of recovering their waters brought it so near a probability of perfection that in time all persons of known Judgement cannot but conclude the same will be done for the general good of those that had formerly suffered by those Grooves and likewise a president for others to follow the like example as also the certainty of knowing the vast riches that lie in Rowpits and Green Oar And whereas we are informed by the said Tho. Bushell and others of several misdemeanors committed against him by turning floods into his swallow to choak and extirpate all his proceedings stealing of his tooles from his works depraving of his Person with scandalous language and making new pitches in Rowpits before him so soon as they saw the fore-field of Mr. Bushell's Drift from his Swallow had but a vein of ground Oare four foot wide and three fathom high to cherish his chargeable undertakings which uncivil actions of theirs were as we conceive contrary to all equity and good conscience and in a manner an Act of Tyranny in us that Mr. Bushel should drain our waters and we should suffer strangers to take the benefit of new pitches from his adventures to recover such drowned and forsaken works as the greatest Engineer hath deserted when all persons have the whole Hill of Mendyp to make their fortunes by such pitches as he allegeth and not to â—iscourage his desperate undertakings therein by such â—alicious practices and especially to such a person as Mr. Bushell that is sent by his Highness the Lord Protector to recover such drowned and deserted works for the publick good of the Nation with power to dig delve and search in the several grounds of all his Territories by Letters Patents paying double trespasse as well as in all vast Commons upon hopes from such experiments to ease in time the Taxes of the Subject and to give new birth to the drooping condition of a Miners posession We of the grand Jury of Chewton and other Workmasters and Miners for the reasons aforesaid and for preventing any just complaints to the Lord Paramount against out Lord Royal's Court of Chewton for such incivilities to the person which his Highness hath trusted in that affair do Order and make this Decree for the said Tho. Bushell's better incouragement That from the day of the date of the Order May 28 all such new pitches shall be void in Rowpits and Green Oar but such as the said Tho. Bushell shall approve and allow of and that all former works that have been wrought upon within these five years and sunk five fathom deep to stand good by consent provided that they keep them lawfull and sink them to the water when the said Thomas Bushell is come near them with his Drift of sixteen fathom deep by the approbation of this grand Jury that so the wilfulness of any malicious person might not hinder such a proceed to know the Meanders of those Mineral Rakes in their deeper search and the way to go to their recoveries for their own good as well as Mr. Bushell's reputation in the attempt of that great design And whereas the said Tho. Bushell doth aver that he never did intend to make it a Mine Royal by his Art and Skill to the prejudice of us our Laws and Liberties as it was reported unless it â—ere against the interest of some cross-grain'd scurrilous fellow that will not be governed by our own grand Jury but rather contest with his Highness right to Rowpits and bids defiance to Prerogative Power or are backt by a malicious faction that would hinder the growth of the Lord Chancellour Bacons Philosophy in recovering the same for the glory of the Nation these considerations and at our request to him upon the aforesaid agreement that he would shew his quondam Masters Philosophy for recovering Rowpits and Green Oar from their inundations of water which is well known to us to be rich
here take place that much Silver was lost for want of taking it out of Lead-Oares for whereas those Oars which are rich in Silver are commonly hard â—ffâ—sion our Mineral men neglect those Oars No doubt many are concealed by reason they are Mines Royal. Where had been the Woods and Forrests yet undestroyed on these bald-headed Promontories that migâ—t suffice had you not taught the Earth to afford you all and the Valley to meet the barren Hill by sending in Fewel to give form to the matter So that here is a rich bequest you leave to posterity I mean your eternizing the Works by preventing the excess of Water and defect of Fire I have no more but to sâ—gnifie my confidence that as your desires are set on the material Rocks of Wales and Enstone so will your better affections be firmly grounded upon the Rock Christ Jesus that no Tempest may be able to shake you when the sandy Projects of other will be laved to nothing by the Flouds they are built upon which will give more comfort and satisfaction to you than can be expressed by your True Friend and Servant THOMAS BRODWAY Julii 4. 1641. A Table setting forth the manner of that great Philosopher the Lord Chancellour Bacons searching for Metals by making Addits thorow the lowest Level of Hills or Mountains and conveying Air into the innermost parts of their Centre by Pipe and Bellows as well as by Art to mollifie the hardest Stone without the tedious way and inestimable charge of sinking Aery Shafts and is now intended to be put in practice by his Menial Servant Thomas Bushel on Hingston-Down and other places according to his Lordships command and the approbation of that great Mineralist Sir Francis Godolphin FIrst the true description of Hingston down lieth in Longiâ—ude East and West five Miles with Millions of Shafts that have been visibly Sunk upon several Loads of Metal by the Romans Danes Saxons Jews and Britans And is in breadth 700 Fathom at the Basis lying North and South as well as in depth 200 Fathom from the Beacon Perpendicular to the Centre of that Addit now intended The reasons why I undertake a work of this nature and in these parts is as followeth FIrst a gratefull Ambition to answer his Highness Heroick trust reposed in me to discover this Nations Mineral Treasure Secondly my obliged fidelity to my Lord Chancellour Bacon to practise this his Philosophical invention for the general good and in particular to give new birth to the drooping conditions of my fellow Pupills the poor Miners drowned and deserted works Thirdly my Cordial desire to serve these Western parts with the benefit of so usefull a president I having already practised the same in Wales and found the fruitful effects thereof Secondly the reasons why I begin my Addit or Aqueducts from Small-Coom and Hook Coom to meet underneath the Beacon at the aforesaid Center is FIrst for that by mine own experience I found not any of our Predecessors to search lower than 40 Fathom So that I am confidently assured that cutting North and South thorow the aforesaiâ— 700 Faâ—…om I shall command all the Loads Rakes anâ— Vâ—ins oâ— Metal in that Hill and how probable then it may be to discover another Indies out of the drowned and deserted works of our Nation by this example I shaâ—l leave to the rational Judgments of them who are practitioners in those affairs Especially whether these mine endeavours will not give much hopes to verifie the old Proverb Hingston-Down well wrought is worth London Town dearly bought For if the riches of those Groves in 40 Fathom sinking hath occasioned the afore-said Proverb as well as the inundation of water hath caused them to desert from their Mineral profit it cannot be denyed by common sense or rules of reason this Addit undermining most of the said works 150 Fathom and then ascending up into their several loads of Metal to drain the waters in their old Groves but that it carries the fairest encouragement of probable conjecture to make good the true riches of the old Proverb of Hingston-Down in this age of ours The Reason why I use Pipe and Bellows is FIrst To convey Air into the innermost part of my Addit without the sinking of Airy shafts and preventing the vast expence and tediousness of time which caused our Forefathers being ignorant of this invention to leave such supposed riches of hidden Treasure to us their posterity The Reason why I make my Addit or Aqueducts open 150 Fathom at each end is FIrst To facilitate the dispatch of 300 Fathom of the 700 the first year by the reason of the multitude of hands that may be set on work which will not be admitted if close and likewise it being the shallowest place of the Hill it will require but the same expence Secondly That the close Addit may be but in length 400 Fathom of the 700. and to shorten likewise the drift of the same in point of time I begin my Addits at each end of my open Trench as Counterdrifts to meet each other And so consequently the whole will be dispatched in half the time And therefore you may rest assured that I have so maturely calculated the wayes and means not onely of this great work at Hingston-down but also of that of Goom-Martin in Devon Guinop in Cornwal and Mendyp in Summerset that I doubt not but in four years to set a period to all expectations if God permit and I have the honour of your well wishes The Reason why I do not willingly desire any Partner but Providence in this great enterprise is FIrst Because I have had already the experience of some Partners and found the fruits of Providence to assist me more when they did ever decline the Mineral design than when I had compliance with their several Purses which made me cal to mind his Lordships frequent observation that many Partners in the publick Acts of Mineral adventures where greediness of gain had more rule in their hearts than to illustrate the Creators glory became usually the sad Elogiae of misfortune and disencouragement to others Besides one tenth part must be solely dedicated to prosecute the like works in the other 20 Mountains marked out by the aforesaid Lord that great Mineralist Sir Fran. Godolphin who both subscribed it under their hands to be the most harmless gain and greatest good to a Common-wealth the choicest study and endeavours of the best bred persons in other Nations and the most Honourable Imployment this world was capable of Lastly Because I conceive all Mines were created for Mans use and Gods glory but in what age to be revealed or by whom is onely known to the Searcher of all hearts who can best judge of mine and my designed ends And what person then of an ingenuous spirit that is not impoisoned with envy will bear unfriendly thoughts to those that search after such subterranean Treasure at their own charge for the
friends and the Angels of Heaven to rejoyce for I verily believe the true compunction of your hearts will more facilitate the penetration of our Rocky Addits than the strokes of your hands And to encourage and asist you therein I shall provide such holy and Orthodox Instructors for you that by your conscientious observance of their moral and divine Lectures as well as their examples you shall with much alacrity be able to overcome all the obstacles of this great work For they will voluntarily participate with you in all things that thereby they may cheerfully lead you into Christs own fold And therefore consult with your Consciences and they will doubtlesse dictate to your memories that the best way to pilot your sad souls bodies lives and reputations from tempestuous storms of worldly vanities into a safe harbor is with humble hearts to take this Mineral calling upon you and to think speak and deport your selves towards God in it as if all the world did behold you and to live and converse with man as in the immediate sight of our divine Creator and then we shall rejoyce in enjoying one another for as I desire the Almighty not to forgive me my sins nor receive my soul if I have any other ends than what hath been exprest so I desire none of you to remove your selves to this harmlesse and laborious calling unless your resolutions be firm to those ends which may crown your industry otherwise we must be forc'd in obedience to our trust to return you bak to the Judge of your first condemnation and pray that the All-Disposer may call you by some other means to repentance which shall be the constant and fervent Petition of Your most Compassionate Friend Thomas Bushel To my Fellow-Prisoners for Debt in Mind or Body DEarly beloved Brethren in Bonds I could heartily rejoice if we were so onely for Christs sake for then our patience therein would render us happy in his mercy Yet since the inhumanity of our Creditors through the power of the Laws usurps that revenge which is onely God's in justice let us with all humility submit our selves to his permissive will for the evil of punishment is his My honourable Master the late Lord Chancellor Bacon was wont to tell me That as Gentry bought nothing at Market so Imprisonment paid no Debts but those of the Penal Laws and that he did verily believe the fraudulent Contracts of most Creditors begot the disability of their Debtors satisfaction I shall refer to your own Consciences the respective cause of your several restraints Mine own is like that of the adventurous Merchant who having sent all his own Stock in several Vessels to far distant Factories through the various dangers of the Deep is constrained to take upon Trust at home till the return of his Cargazoons according to their success proclaim him happy or bankrupt and if I had ever any other design in borrowing let my Redeemer exclude me from the general pardon of his precious merits who came not to call the just but sinners to repentance assuring us that the blessed Angels rejoice more at the conversion of one true Penitent than the integrity of ninety nine righteous from whence we may conclude 't is ninety nine to one odds that there are very few sincere Converts But my beloved Fellow-sufferers since now the Supreme Power of this Common-wealth doth as I hear intend like S. Peters good Angel to open the doors of your Prisons by the wisdom of their mercies I earnestly exhort you to mark the first day of your unexpected Jubile with a white stone or red letter in commemoration of so happy a deliverance lest God consume your lives with new afflictions and troubles alwayes remembring his glory and your eternity And then take the grave admonition for your Cure as the Mirror of my honoured Master prescribed to me which was To deny all my treacherous Senses their most delighting Objects I fed on nothing that pleased my appetite looking willingly on nothing which I formerly liked nor accompanied any creature that affected my concupiscence But frequented devious wayes and solitary groves and at last found out a desolate Island in the Irish seas where three years I sadly lamented the errours of my youth mingling the waters which I drank with the brine of mine eyes and did sparingly eat the bread of affliction as it had been ashes These were my first steps towards Gods Mercy-seat in a most unfeigned contrition for the Treason I committed against his Eternal Majesty And surely he was not displeased therewith for out of this depâ—h of desolation he graciously called me to the publick servicâ— of my Countrey in the innocent way of a Miner and how I have proceeded therein with intention chiefly to glorifie him this annexed Treatise will give you an account But there the inhumanity of my Creditors stopt me yet I am confident so soon as the Republique affairs will permit the Honourable Parliament will enlarge me in order to my Mineral service and their own Articles as they have done you in mercy And then I say if any of you either for a present subsistence or a penitential way to expiate your former errours or to reclaim your affections or in hope to raise your lost fortunes and enable you to pay your honest Debts will sweat with me in the way of this hopeful vertuous and Philosophical labour you shall eat bread with me so long as you please whereby at last we may obtain such Mineral blessings from the Lord of Bounty that we in true charity may be able to cast our bread upon the waters by relieving many distressed Penitents whose sins have brought them to want bread and whose age or sickness hath taken away their ability to work And here I think 't is proper to give you the Epitome of my Lords Design for the regulating his Solomons House or Academy He proposes six principal Officers of State to succeeding times as Trustees six exquisite lucre-hating Philosophers to bring his Theorie into experimental practice are to be handsomly maintained upon a sacred oath to be true to the trust of his Philosophical secrets Convicted men adventurous Voluntiers are to be chief instruments of the Mineral work and are to be cloathed in good Canvas or Welsh Cottons their food Bisket Beef Pease and Bacon thrice a week the other days White-meat Oyl and Roots their Drink of allowance for the most part is to be Water but they shall not be barr'd Beer or Ale in orderly proportion they are to lie on Mats unlesse they rather choose a clean Plank Lots and Delves shall be assigned to them in which if God bless their honest diligence they shall comfortably participate whereby at last they may make themselves free if a true and constant penitence be their heavenly guide for impenitence barricadoes the Gates of Heaven faster against us than our Sins For as true Contrition makes our hearts grateful sacrifices to God so
of his mercy for the Son of his love's sake bring us all in his appointed time by what several ends he shall think fit is the prayers of your faithful Friend as well as to find out by his holy Spirit those free-born Minds of Noble Souls in either sex for my Executors as will make the World their Heir and are endowed with such vertuous Actions of Love and Charity as might eternize the memory of my old Master and magnifie the Creators glory in his works of Nature which is and shall be the ambition of Your most Humble Servant Thomas Bushel The Attestation of the Gentlemen Proprietors about Hingston-Down SIR WEE have seriously considered the profer'd Civilities in your Letter and the plain Demonstrations in your ingenuous Reasons to cut North and South through the lowest Level of Hingston-Down for crossing all such Metal-loads as lie East and West and for freeing the Mines from the impediment of water by which you may verifie the old Proverb Hingston-Down welly wrought is worth London-Town dearly bought And therefore you may rest assured that we shall give our free consents and endeavours to procure other Gentlemen of our Country to further your most noble and unparalleld design that a speedy dispatch may be made thereof for the general good of the Nation which is and shall be ever much desired by SIR Your very ready Friends and Servants Edw. Herle Cha. Trevanion John Boscowen Chichester Wrey Edw. Wise William Wise John Lampen Ja. Launce Richard Erisey Jo. Chatley Phil. Lanyon Natha Tarvanyon Hu. Pomeroy Tho. Grose Richard Arundel William Rous. N. Borlace Tho. Lower Fran. Buller John Coryton Iohn Harris Nich. Sharsell John Battersby J. Tremenhere William Wrey Will. Coysgrave Edw. Wilcocks John Fathers David Haws Novemb. 11. 1656. For our Noble Friend Tho. Bushel Esq These Mr. Bushels Letter to the Miners of Mendyp and their Answer with the Juries Order Fellow Miners UPon the Overtures of my Mineral Discoveries taught me by the Theory of my old Master the Lord Chancellor Bacon's Philosophical Conceptions His Highness the Lord Protector upon hopes of the like providence in all his other Territories to ease the Nation of their Taxes gave me power to try the aforesaid Experiments since it was conceived by the aforesaid Lord that great riches lay in the Bowels of our Mother Earth and underneath the superficies of the most barren Mountains and in order to such his commands I have not only published the inclosed declaration for satisfaction to all moderate persons which have not unbyassed Principles against the honor of their native Country but also am setting on foot the drowned and deserted works in the naked Promontories of Hingston-Down Coom Martine in Devon and Guynop in Cornwal And being likewise informed by your fellow Miners that millions of wealth lie in Row-pits neer Chewton Minery which yet cannot be recovered from the inundation of water by the greatest Artists of former Ages I have upon my own deliberation and viewing of the place thought fit to render you the Experience of my practical endeavours and with a willing mind to attempt the forelorn hope of their recoveries at my own charge if I may have the well-wishes of you in general and the moyety or half bearing equal charge when the water is drained your speedy answer shall make me decline or prosecute the same with effect which is the only ambition of Your Faithful Friend T.B. April 21. 1657. To his very loving Friends John Phelps Tho. Voules Will. Cole Alex. Jett Will. Betten Rob. Radford and Tho. Wood with the rest These deliver Right Worshipful MAnna from Heaven was not more welcome to the Pilgrims of Israel than the good news your Letter brought to us poor Miners of Mendyp who now are like Moses in the Mount which saw the Land of Promise and yet could not enjoy the propriety thereof even so fares it now with us For a month or two of a droughty Summer we behold the appearance of much treasure lying in the veins of those metal Loads and so soon as we are preparing for Harvest to reap a mite of its Mineral profit the inundation of water takes away our present possession and leaves us exposed to a sad condition having no other Profession for our livelyhood But if your goodness and charity will be pleased to extend the interest of your knowledge to drain the Rake called the Broad Rake of Sir Bevis Bulmars works in Rowpits near Chewton Minery which is known to be the lowest Level and Sole of those works We do herein engage our selves under our hands and Seals and on the behalf of all others that shall hereafter work in the said Rake that you and your Assigns shall have the moyety of the whole paying half the charge and likewise procure the Lord of the Soil to do the like if you please to proceed with speed for the perfecting of the same and in token of our affection to serve you we have presumed not only to petition his Highness in your behalf for the better encouragement but also oblige our selves to tender you the first refusal of all our parts and shares of Oar paying ready money and giving us from time to time the same rate as other Merchants shall conceive it to be worth And so we bid you heartily farewell resting Your ever obliged Servants Valen. Tryme for his part Tho. White John Hoskins Andrew Baller Nich. Barrel John Blackhouse John Johnsons Will. Norman John Thrisel Tho. Atwood sen John Naish Edw. Hopkins Nich. Plumley John Hinsh Rich. Friar James Midleham John Phelps Will. Voules John Cole Rob. Clark sen Rob. Clark jun. Tho. Voules Tho. Atwood jun. Alex. Jett Tho. Rowles Nich. Parker Will. Dudden John Radford Rob. Radford May 2. 1657. For Tho. Bushel Esq Mr. Basbee's Affidavit VVAlter Basbee aged abâ—uâ— 80 years maketh oath That he was Saymaster â—o Gâ—ldsmiâ—hs Hall about fifty years ago and vers'd in Minerals ever since both at home and abroad and was by King Jâ—mâ—s sent to the Emperour of Russia to make him a Sâ—…ndard of Gold Silver in his Mint in the City of Moscovia equivalent to the â—ower of London And no sooner was that service performed by this Deponent but his Imperial Majesty commanded him to refine the Gold of a rich Copper-mine lying in Cyberea five hundred miles beyond the River Volgo which held of Gold in every Tun to the value of three four or five hundred pounds where this Deponent did remain until he was taken Prisoner by the Tartars and afterwards exchanged by the Emperour to be sent for England where this Deponent hath ever since spent most of his time under Mr. Bushell's Philosophical way taught him by the late Lord Chancellor Bacon which in the judgement of this Deponent cannot be parallel'd by any and if now practised according to his printed Remonstrance and the Mineral Grand-Jury's Order of Chewton this Deponent doth verily believe that the Age we live in will
exceed all former Ages in Mineral Discoveries and their Separations WALTER BASBEE Sworn the 7. of December 1658. before me one of the Masters of Chancery in ordinary W. GLASCOCK Christopher Wrights Affidavit CHristopher Wright aged fifty six years maketh Oath That he was sent by Mr. Joseph Hexeter of Cumberland to be in the same place of Steward for direction of Mr. Bushels Minerals under ground as the said Mr. Hexeter was under him in Wales at 100 l. per an salary And finding the said Mr. Bushell to give such probable reasons for recovering the inundation of water out of the vast and drowned Works of Rowpits by persuing a Drift as a Common-shore from the Concaves of a natural Swallow twenty fathom deep after his industry had sunk twenty shafts to discover the same on purpose to come to the rich Loads of metal known to be buried in the adjacent Groves of water This Deponent and others upon confidence of making good his great undertakings therein although his judgement was then much questioned by the Inhabitants for the attempt did and do desire but half wages ever since the Miners of Mendip had invited the said Mr. Bushell under their hands and Decree of their Court to have half the profit bearing half the charge after the water was drained which this Deponent doth verily believe will be in a short time perfected and appear for precedent sake as well as for present profit the greatest work that hath been done by any Mineralists these hundred years if the malitious attempts of some ill-natured persons do not now hinder the growth of his proceedings therein For this Deponent doth depose That by some wicked persons there was a great Lake of muddy water turned about the hour of midnight and upon a great flood into the Swallow on purpose as is conceived to choak it and so consequently to drown his men that came from forein parts and were then working twenty fathom deep which this Deponent doth aver were forced to save their lives by running up their Groves at the same time the Swallow being not able to receive the torrent of its water And this Deponent doth likewise depose That about the 10. of October last there was some other such envious persons who pulled down so much of the under-timber of his Shaft that the whole Grove of earth fell into Mr. Bushels Drift when his men were at work underneath and it was supposed by divers never to be recovered But thanks be to God the danger is past and Mr. Bushels Drift goeth on towards the rich Works known to lie 150 fathom before him for this Deponent was one of the workmen that landed 100 l. per week out of one Shaft this last summer and saw 200 l. per week out of another but the charge of drawing water though in the drought of the summer stood as they reported in 80 l. per week a piece which Mr. Bushels Drift will prevent and likewise to 1000 more of the like nature as are supposed to be within the verge of Rowpits CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT Sworn the 3. of December 1658. before me one of the Masters of Chancery in ordinary W. GLASCOCK The Testimony of some Miners of Mendyp to the Council VVE whose names are hereunder written being Miners and well vers'd in the Mineral Rakes of Rowpits upon the Forrest of Mendyp are ready to testifie upon Oath That the great wrongs done to the Works of Thomas Bushel Esq in Rowpits as is deposed by Christopher Wright before a Master of Chancery are of a certain truth And we are likewise ready to testifie our Opinions upon Oath That if the way of Mr. Bushels now proceeding to recover these drowned and deserted works may go on without molestation according to the Orders of the Grand Jury of Chewton made for his encouragement we do believe in our Consciences that there hath not been these hundred years such a service done to this Commonwealth in advancing the knowledge of the Miners Trade for profit and precedent And we also humbly conceive That if a binding Order be made by your Lordships to confirm in all points the said Grand Jury of Chewton's Orders for deterring unruly Miners from such exorbitancies as also that no persons should lose any more their Summers work to follow the Mines of Rowpits which are now to no more purpose in matter of profit than to wash the Black-moor until Mr. Bushels Drift can come up to drain their inundation of waters which as we find exprest in his Remonstrance he doth undertake to perfect in four years and we do verily believe that not onely all the Oar may be then landed for two shillings per Tun but that we shall then also know the inestimable riches of that place without further charge or ruining more families in working upon Rowpits And we do also confidently believe in our Consciences that when Mr. Bushels now Drift from his Swallow doth come up to the old works drowned and that he doth pursue likewise his Cross-Rake from his Swallow to the forebreast of Sir Bevis Bulmars deserted work as he saith he intends to do so soon as he hath secured the place according to agreement and the Grand Jury's Order of Chewton dated the 28 of May the said Mr. Bushel will make good his Marqus of a Thousand pound per week For there are men yet alive that will justifie that the forebreast of Sir Bevis Bulmar's work was nine foot wide in Oar and we our selves know that a hundred pounds per week out of one Grove in the old work is ordinary when the suffocation of water doth not hinder them Jo. Bakehouse Tho. Bakehouse Jo. Doxie The late Kings Letter of Invitation to Mr. Bushel confirming his procedure in Mineral Discoveries CHARLES R. TRusty and welbeloved We having taken into consideration your late Relation concerning your proceedings and intentions for the perfecting of that great Work happily by you begun in Our County of Cardigan in Our Principality of Wales concerning those hopeful Mines by you discovered approving well of your beginnings proceedings intentions We have thought good out of Our Royal disposition to the encouraging of you and all such as are studious or industrious to do to Us or Our Commonwealth profitable service to assure you by these Our Letters that you shall not onely by Our Protection peaceably enjoy the Contract and Bargain by you made with the Lady Elizabeth Middleton concerning the said Mines with all things thereunto belonging but also be well assured that both you your Agents Assistants or Coadjutors shall from time to time have all the furtherance and favour We can vouchsafe to you or them And for the better encouraging of you to go cheerfully and confidently on with the Works when your learned Council at the Law shall advise you to pray any further Act or Acts from Us whereby the Design may be advanc'd and you and your assistants secured you shall find Us ready to grant unto you