To his Highness the Lord PROTECTOR of England, Scotland and Ireland, &c. The humble Petition of the Proprietors, Commoners and Mineral Bounders of the Deserted and Drowned Mines within the Counties of Cornwall and Devon. Showeth, THat your Petitioners observing the Experimental way of Mr. bushel's Proceedings, to be not only the most probable to discover the vast Mineral-Treasure supposed to lie in the Metal-loads of that Beacon-Hill called Hingston-Down, Coome-Martin in Devon, and Guynop in Cornwall; But likewise the only probable means to enrich these Western parts, and your other Territories with inestimable treasure, by following his example in all drowned and deserted Works; And because we find he hath no more desire of Partnership than the assistance of Providence, and your Highness patronising this his commendable Enterprise, nor any other ambition than gratitude to the memory of that great Philosopher, his deceased Master, the Lord Chancellor Bacon, and to make our Age the precedent and honour of fulfilling the old proverb, Hingston-Down welly wrought, is worth London-Town dearcy bought. Now in regard the Lords of the Fee, and Commoners thereof, as well as the major part of the Mineral bounders, have with all cheerful alacrity (for the public good of this Nation) subscribed their affectionate Consents to this great Work, in a Letter to Mr. bushel hereunto annexed: We your Petitioners do in the behalf of ourselves and the Mineral Bounders of Cornwall and Devon, implore your Highness speedy Confirmation of Mr. bushel's Articles, without his personal attendance in London, according to the gracious signification of your highness' favours to his Petition, that no time may be lost in so honourable a Design, nor he disabled or dismayed in so general a Concernment; since we find him exceeding active to study the preservation of your honours and Dignities, with the country's advancement, as to your highness' wisdom may appear by the demonstration of his Mineral Overtures, and a draught of his unanswerable Reasons likewise annexed. Charles Trevanion Tho. Mainard Edw. Herle Jo. Chatley John Tremenhere Phi. Lanyon William Edw. Wise Richard Arundel Fran. Buller jun. Ja. Launce David Hawes Chr. Wood Will. Wise J. Boscowen Tho. Lower. John Coryton John Lampen Tho. Grose John Fathers William Wrey Nath. Tarvanion Will. Rous. SIR, WE have seriously considered the proffered 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 verify the old proverb, Hingston-Down welly wrought, is worth London-Town dearey bought: And therefore you may rest assured, that we shall give our free consents and endeavours to procure other Gentlemen of our County to further your most noble and unparalleled design, that a speedy dispatch may be made thereof for the general good of the Nation, which is and shall be ever very much desired by Sir, Novemb. 11. 1656. Your very ready friends and Servants, Edw. Herle. Cha. Trevanion. J. Boscowen. Chicheste Wrey. Edw. Wise. William Wise. John Lampen. Ja. lance. Richard Erisey. Jo. Chatley. Phi. Lanyon. Natha. Tarvanyon. Hu. Pomeroy. Tho. Grose. Richard Arundel. William Rous. N. Borlace. Tho. Lower. Fran. Buller. John Coryton. John Harris. Nich. Sharsell. John Battersby. J. Tremenhere Will. Wrey. William Coysgrave. Edward Wilcocks. John Fathers. David Haws. For our Noble Friend Tho. bushel Esq; These. Mr. Bushel's 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 enclosed declaration for satisfaction to all moderate persons, which have not unbiased Principles against the honour of their native Country, but also am setting on foot the drowned and deserted works in the naked promontories of Hingston Down, Coom-martin in Devon, and Guynop in Cornwall: And being likewise informed by your fellow Miners, that Millions of wealth lie in Rowpits near 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 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 moiety 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. April 21. 1657. Your faithful Friend, T. B. For his very loving Friends, John Phelps, Tho. Voules, Will. Cole, Alex. Jet, 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 livelihood. 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 ourselves 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 moiety 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 ourselves 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 May 2. 1657. Your ever obliged Servants, Valen Tryme, for his part. Tho. White. Ioh. Hoskins. Andrew Baller. Nich. Barrel. John Blackhouse. John Jonson's. Will. Norman. John Thrisel. Tho. Atwood sen. John Naish. Edw. Hopkins. Nich. Plumley. John Hinsh. Rich. Friar. Jam. Midleham. John Phelps. Will. Voules. John Cole. Rob. Clark sen. Rob. Clark jun. Tho. Voules. Tho. Atwood jun. Alex. Jet. Tho. Rowles. Nich. Parker. Will. Dudden. John Radford. Rob. Radford. For Tho. Bushel, Esq; Chewton-Jury, May 28. 1657. Whereas we of this Mineral Grand Jury are credibly informed of the great design for the public good of the Miners, which do adventure in Rowpits, and is now undertaken by Tho. Bushel Esq; which were formerly the deserted Works left by Sir Bevis Bulmar in the time of Queen Elizabeth's Reign, and whereas many of the chief Adventurers in the said Rowpits do and have consented to surrender the one half of their Works and Mines there unto the said Tho. Bushel and his Assigns, when the said Tho. Bushel doth make it appear, that by his or their Workmanship they be freed of the inundation of their Waters, unto the Mineral Court for the time being: We of this Jury do order and make this Decree, that when it shall happen that the said Tho. Bushel doth prove that he hath by his Workmanship done by him and his Assigns, cleared any Miners work as aforesaid, unto the Jury as aforesaid, he shall enjoy the one half of the Works: Provided always, the said Tho. Bushel and they shall be liable to pay all Mineral costs and charges, as far as he and they are entrusted, agreeable to the custom and Law of the Occupation; and to this we all agree, and have subscribed our hands, the day and year first above written. Andrew Baller. Jo. Phelps. Thy. Attwood sen. Nich. Barrel. Will. Norman. Nich. Parker. Io. Cornish. Edw. Hopkins. Will. Dudden. Tho. Rowles. John Blackhouse. John House. John Hoskins. John Thristle. John Jonson's. Tho. Attwood jun. Nich. Plumley. Valen Dudden. To his Highness the Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland, &c. The humble Petition of the Mineral-Bounders within the County of Somerset. Showeth, THat your Petitioners observing the experimental way of Mr. Pushell's proceedings to recover the vast Mineral Treasure known to lie in the drowned and deserted Works of that ancient forest called Mendyp-hill; And being likewise the only probable means to enrich your other Territories, by following his example in concealed places of the like nature: We your Petitioners do in the behalf of ourselves, and the generality of laborious Miners, who have no other subsistence than Providence in those harmless affairs, humbly implore your highness' confirmation of Mr. bushel's Articles without his personal attendance, that no time may be lost in such an honourable concernment; since his active diligence in that Mineral proceed is to study the preservation of the poors' livelihood under ground, as well as the riches, honour and profit it may afford to the Nation by this his invention, according to your Highness trust reposed in him for that purpose, as appears by the demonstrative Reasons of his Mineral Overtures. The Grand-Jury for the liberty of the Castle of Richmond upon the forest of Mendyp. Jo. Radford Foreman Will. Collier Jo. Spiring Jo. Midell Jo. Liget Will. Ames Roger Tegg Rich. Harris Walter Hoads Will Fry Tho. Vowles Mich. Curtis Hen. Hutchins Tho. Chapman William barrel John barrel And. Spirrin Jo Bates Will. Bush Jo. Haydon Will. Haydon Rich. Haydon Will. Chyles Rich. Filer Geo. Filer Jo. Canby James Tucker Jo. Tucker Na. Brown Jo. Bary Jo. Martin James Hyden Andrew Bath Sam. Cox Jo. Tegg Tho. Blackman Anth. Eggesfield Jo. Harris. The Grand-Jury for the liberty of Charterhouse-Hydon upon the forest of Mendyp. Robert Radford James Brown Mat. Chansler Jo. Plumley Peter Herler Leonard Fox Geo. Colse Will. Bluning Will, Tucker Will. Lane sen. Jo. Lane Rich. Thomas Clark Will. Lane jun. Geo. Whithead Jo. Chansler Fra. Ozer Walter Thutchen Jo. Brock Geo Tucker Will. Cole Jo. Blackman Tho. Blackman Jo. Waker Geo. Hoskins. Mr. Basbee's Affidavit. Walter Basbee aged about eighty years, maketh oath, That he was Saymaster to goldsmith's Hall about fifty years ago, and versed in Minerals ever since both at home and abroad, and was by King James sent to the Emperor of Russia to make him a Standard of Gold and Silver in his Mint in the City of Moscovia, equivalent to the Tower 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 Emperor to be sent for England; where this Deponent hath ever since spent most of his time, under Mr. bushel's Philosophical way, taught him by the late Lord Chancellor Bacon, which (in the judgement of this Deponent) cannot be paralleled 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 Wright's 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 ann. salary: And finding the said Mr. Bushel to give such probable reasons for recovering the inundation of water out of the vast and drowned Works of Rowpits, by pursuing 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 〈…〉 Mendip had invited the said Mr. Bushel under the● hancs 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 Mineralist these hundred years, if the malicious 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 choke it, and so consequently to drown his men that came from foreign parts, and were then working twenty fathom deep, which this Deponent doth aver were forced to save their lives by running up their grooves 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 person who pulled down so much of the undertimber of his Shaft, that the whole groove 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 100ls. per week out of one Shaft this last summer, and saw 200l. per week out of another; but the charge of drawing water, though in the drought of summer, stood (as they reported) in 80 l. per week apiece, 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. Glasco●●. The Testimony of some Miners of Mendyp to the Council. WE whose names are hereunder written, being Miners, and well versed in the Mineral Rakes of Rowpits upon the forest of Mendyp, are ready to testify upon oath, That the great wrongs done to the works of Tho. 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 testify our opinions upon oath, That if the way of Mr. Bushels now proceeding to recover those drowned and deserted works, may go on without molestation, according to the Orders of the Grand Jury of Chewton made for 〈…〉 encouragement, we do believe in our consciences that the●● hath not been these hundred years such a service done 〈…〉 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 Lordship to confirm (on all points) the said Grand Jury of Chewton Orders for deterring unruly Miners from such exerbitancies as also that no persons should lose any more their Summer work to follow the Mines of Rowpits (which are now to 〈…〉 more purpose in matter of profit, then to wash the Black▪ moor) until Mr. Bushels Drift can come up to drain their inundation of waters, which (as we find expressed in his Remonstrance) he doth undertake to perfect in four years; and we do verily believe, that not only 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 o●● works drowned, and that he doth pursue likewise his Cross Rake from his Swallow to the forebreast of Sir Bevis Bulmar 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 pounds per week: For there are men yet alive that will justify, that the forebreast of Sir Bevis Bulmar's work was nine foot wide in oar; and we ourselves know, that a hundred pounds per week out of one Groove in the old work is ordinary, when the suffocation of water doth not hinder them. Jo. Bakehouse Tho. Bakehouse Jo. doxy.