THE Tinners Greivances; OR A TRUE NARRATIVE SHOWING The REASONS of The Continual Fall of the Price of TIN: AND LIKEWISE The many Hardships the Tinners have a long Time Laboured under.  
Together with their present Deplorable Condition.  
By an Adventuring Tinner.  

Ad Reges Potestas omnium pertinet:  
Ad Singulos Proprietas. Seneca.   
LONDON: Printed for the Author, Anno Domini 1697.   

The PREFACE, To the whole Body of TINNERS.  

I. The Lords of the Soil and Bounders of Tin Grounds.  
II. The Adventuring Tinners.  
III. The Spalliards or Mine Workers.   
Gentlemen,  
LOng Experience hath taught us, That to lie in the Ditch with only Crying, God help! is not the way to redress our Greivances: And I doubt not but you will Join with me in opinion, That for the more Regular Exhibiting our Complaints, Three things chiefly (with all Caution) ought to be premised.  
I. That we wander not out of our Accustomed Road: Lest we thereby give our Enemy's Occasion, and ground to call all our Liberties, and Privileges in question, which we and our Predecessors have enjoyed for so many Ages:  
Therefore (with all submission) Leave it to your serious Considerations, how, and whom to Petition for Relief in our present Case.  
II. That it is no less necessary, The universal Assent of the whole Body of Tinners may Concur in this undertaking:  
Lest it be Objected: That it was promoted only by the Precipitate Act of a few, who understood not his Majesties, and the Tinners Interests: And thereby some specious pretences may be formed to descent: and render all our endeavours Ineffectual.  
III. And Lastly, That the Spalliards or Mineworkers of every Tin Parish do Elect any Number (not Exceeding four) of the most Intelligent in Tin affairs of their said parish (whom they may trust, and Authorise) to Transact any thing (Relating to this matter) on their behalves:  
Lest by the Appearance of so vast numbers, they hinder the proceed: and render themselves also Obnoxious to the Government.  
Now the most Expedient Method (that I could think of) to proceed in this matter Accordingly, is:  
That the Representatives (so Elected) and such other Gentlemen to whom I shall present these following greivances (either themselves or Agents) whom I hereby request to Communicate the same to such others, whom they know Concerned, (who may possibly miss my knowledge or Conveniences of waiting on) would first meet in their Respective Coinage Towns, the Second day of the next ensuing Coinage, there to Consider of, and Appoint a general Convention of such a Competent Number (as they may think needful) to assist in this Enterprise, where due measures may be taken (with all Caution and deliberation) for Relief of the present sufferers.  
Who may then and there be pleased to Add or omit any thing in the Following Narrative (tho' all true in fact) as they in their better Judgements may think most material to the purpose.  
I have likewise presumed to present you the form of a Petition to the King, which with the rest I humbly refer to your Correction:  
Hoping It may meet with your favourable Censure, being (I must Confess) first prompted hereunto by our worthy and good Conntryman Mr. John Praed, tho' I have ever been inclined (and now taught by my own sufferings and oppressions) to Sympathise with, and commiserate my afflicted Neighbours: And wherein I have erred, do Confide and depend That your goodness will Construe It (as really it is) Error Amoris, non Amor Erroris, An Error of Love, and not a Love of Error, which will farther engage my weak endeavours to serve you to my utmost power, who am  
Your Fellow Sufferer and Ready Servant Tho. Tresilian.   

To the King's most Excellent Majesty. The Humble Petition of the whole Body of Tinners, within the Counties of Cornwall and Devon.  
Humbly Sheweth,  
THAT for many Years last passed, your said Petitioners have laboured under great difficulties; and many Inconveniencies, in Adventuring for Tin, even to the wasting of our Estates, and ruin of our Families, who have been distinguished from others of your Majesty's Subjects only by our Sufferings: as more at large Appeareth in a Narrative hereunto Annexed (tho' we have always practised (under all Governments) That Passive Obedience, which others have only talked of.  
Therefore humbly pray; That your Majesty would be graciously pleased to grant us the like freedom with other of your Majesty's Loyal Subjects, in the disposal of our goods; And that we may stand on an equal foot with all other Tradesmen, which will enable us to Carry on our deserted Adventures with Alacrity; To the Advancement of your Majesty's Revenue; and the Support of our Languishing Families: And your Petitioners shall ever pray (as in duty bound) for your Majesty's long and happy Reign over us.   

THE TINNERS' GREIVANCES.  
OF all the Products this Island affords, there's no Commodity more Staple, Lasting, and Advantageous than Tin, (Peculiar only to the two Counties of Cornwall, and Devon.) nor among the many Temptations that most Kings, and Princes are Exposed unto, This is none of the least, to Receive false Representations of things on the Account of Profit and Advantage from Persons, who (for the most part make use of such pretences to promote some low, or mean Interest of their own, without Considering the whole, or the Circumstances which might Complete the truth of such Relations, by means of which Suggestions, most of the Kings of England who (being sensible of the Revenue accrueing to them by the labour of the Tinners, and being willing to Encourage their Endeavours) have been always so misled, That the only thing prescribed to Advantage them, and advance the said Revenue, hath always proved destructive to the one, and the greatest Oppression Imaginable to the other; who seem of all Men to be born Salves, And what would most Evidently appear prejudicial, to any other Native Subjects, or Tradesmen in England, must be thought none to them, (but being as it were) not only Cursed to harder labour than ever the Gibeonites Underwent, It must be Entailed on them too, to posterity, without a Competent Allowance of either Food, or Raiment.  
Now the Endeavours of this Paper shall be to Undeceive, and rightly to inform all such, who have looked into this Affair through wrong and false Optics; by showing them the true Reasons;  
First of the Continual fall of the price of Tin.  
Secondly the many Inconveniencies from time to time Imposed on the Tinners, to their great discouragements; who merit much better.  
And lastly, the Deplorable Condition they are now Reduced unto.  
First then I shall tell you (negatively) That the fall of the price of Tin proceeds not from the great Quantities made, as some vainly Imagine, (or rather pretend) which will Evidently appear by Comparing the Reign of King Charles the first (of Blessed memory) with succeeding Times: for in his said Reign, the Quantities of Tin were very Inconsiderable, Comparatively, with the succeeding days of the Common wealth, and Cromwell; as may be most demonstrable.  
First if it be Considered, That none others were Employed on the search of that Commodity at that time: but such who were wholly bred to that Employ. And Secondly, by the great increase of Blowing or Melting Houses that have been Erected since that time. And yet notwithstanding the small quantities then made, the Price was but forty Odd Shillings, when under the Preemption of the last Farmers: But as soon as the Tinners were Released from that Bondage, the price did presently rise to three Pounds, The Advancement of which encouraged most sort of Tradesmen to leave their own Callings, and put themselves to dig, and search for Tin, and yet the more the Tin, the better the Price still grew. The number of hands still increasing the Quantities Proportionably.  
Then it was that Old Works that were turned Idle many years before (which could not (by reason of the great depths, and other Charges) pay the Wages perhaps of a hundred men, were now wrought again with Advantage; and employed three or four times so many.  
Secondly, I must likewise tell you, that It proceeds not from the Cheapness of the Commodity beyond the Seas neither, (France only Excepted) the Reason I shall tell you anon) for I have been Informed by a Person of great worth and Honour, That the Turkey Company made of a hundred of Tin sold at Turkey Eighty Dollars, and by the return of Commodities it yielded Twenty four Pounds the hundred Sterling: And tho' this may not be Common, It Sufficiently Shows the Necessity they lie under for that Commodity, who would give that Price, rather than be without it: But I have often heard the Old Mr. Seyntaubyn (of our County) declare, that he made 17l. or 18l. Sterling Commonly, of every hundred of Tin he sent into those parts; who frequently Adventured his own Tin.  
(These things being premised) It rests now to declare, what the Reasons of the fall of the price may be: And these I find to be chief three.  
The first is the Constitution of the Tinners:  
In having but two free Markets a year to dispose of his Goods, which, with its Ill Consequences, are the great Grievances the Tinners have a long time laboured under: and I doubt not, but plainly to demonstrate, that it is as destructive to his Majesty's Revenue; as fatal to the Tinners to be thus Confined, which will be most Obvious to the meanest Capacity, If they did but Suppose, Any other Tradesmen in England were under the like prohibition, As for Instance, If the Pewterers, Cloathiers, Tanners, Shoemakers, or, Husbandmen themselves were confined to two, or four Times a year only to sell their Goods: Consider, I pray, how Prodigious would the Quantities then appear? How soon would the Emptor take Notice of the Indigency of the Poor Mechanics? and work on their Necessities, who have weekly Occasion for what they have earned, and for want thereof, must buy all their Provisions, and , on Trust, and Credit; to the utter Ruin of themselves, Families, and Commodity itself.  
Besides Consider farther, I pray) against which there can be no Rising up: And that is from ten or twelve years' Experience: And you know, Non est disputandum degustu, There's no disputing against one's Sense, and Common Experience) that the Tin never did rise to a value: but when the Tinners were left at liberty to sell their Tin; as soon as melted, and Cold, and had the Hammer in the House; at which Time the price of Tin always advanced, till it came from three Pounds, to six Pounds odd money a hundred.  
But as soon as the Old Constitution returned, and the Tinners again Confined to two free Markets, as in King Charles the Second, and in King James' Reigns, The Price still abated, till it came again to forty odd Shillings a hundred, which hath discouraged most men (who are not under an Obligation) to Adventure, and search for Tin, And yet the small quantities of it at home, nor the high Estimate of it abroad can prevail with the Merchant to Advance the Price, or ever will (I fear) till there be an utter desertion of that Employment, and the Pewterer and other Tradesmen who have a dependency on that Commodity, be turned Idle for want of that Metal, To work, and the whole Revenue arising to his Majesty thereby be likewise lost.  
But while the Tinners were at liberty, and the price of Tin was up (as I told you) It did not only persuade more Labourers about that Concern, but our Merchants then (and not till then) became Adventuring Tinners; on which depends the Second Reason, I promised to Show you, for the fall of the price which is viz.  
II. The Running, and Embezzling of the King's Duties, which Enables, and Capacitates such Merchants, to under-sell all others who pay it.  
Heretofore, the Londoners, and others sent, and kept their Factors in Cornwall, whose sole business it was to Execute their Merchant's Orders, Instead of which, they now send their Commissions to our Merchants, who (as I told you) are not only become Adventuring Tinners: But also are Interessed in most of the Blowing Houses, Factors, and Merchants too (as well as their Employers) who are the only persons that beat down the Price, both at home, and abroad (I mean in all our Neighbouring Countries, where they have a free Trade: but Especially in France, by underselling the Londoners their Benefactors, which I shall demonstrate; and the Case is truly and plainly thus.  
Suppose the Londoner writes his Factor in the Country, to buy him Twenty Tunn of Tin this Coinage, at the Price Current. In all probability before the Coinage comes, he hath Engrossed Thirty Tunns in his hands, by furnishing the Indigent Tinners before hand, with money, at one or two Shillings a hundred, under the Price Currant, which is Common; as it was well Observed by Judge Doderige in his History of the Ancient, and Moddern Estate of the Duke of Cornwall Dedicated to King James the First in 1630. Pa. 95. viz. (saith he) The Spalliards, or Mineworkers, who in Respect of their Poor Estate, are Eaten out by the hard and Usurious Contracts for Tin, which they are driven to make with the Merchant, or Regrator: for those poor Labourers being not able to sustain themselves and Families, until the Time of Coinage, and Marts of Tin shall come, (which are half yearly) they are by Necessity Compelled for a small Sum of money, to enter into Bonds with the said Regrators of Tin, to deliver them at the next ensuing Coinage Tin, in value much more, than the money they had Received from them) who still practise the same thing to this day; and by their long and continued Experience, have Enlarged their Power so far, as to Subject the more Substantial Adventurers now, as they did the Poor Spalliards heretofore, by which means both their Conditions are now become most grievous and Deplorable; It being hereby wholly in the Merchant's Breasts, to make the Price what they please: (But to return from whence I have degressed) The Cornish Factor sends away the 20 Tuns to London, the other 10 Tuns he keeps for his own use, and sends it (perhaps) for France, where in all Probability, it arrives long before the other can possibly reach London, who hath no Occasion to stay for the Coinage, which (you see) comes not only Cheaper to him than to the Londoners: but the Fraight much Less too, It being but cross the Channel: and the King's Duties seldom, or never paid by them: for the Tin being (as it were) Comprised all in their own hands, as Tinners, Blowers, Factor, and Merchants, have all the liberty and Freedom Imaginable, to do what they please with it, who (Instead of Carrying it to Coinage Towns,) cannot miss Opportunities to Carry it in a Night somewhere by the Sea Coast, where their Ship (being once Cleared of the Harbour) may return the Night after, and with their Boat take it on Board; There being none but his own Servants Employed about it from first to last: Nor no piece, nor parcel found wanting at the Coinage, there being no Attendance at the Blowing Houses: nor any Officer there to take an Account of the same.  
Now when the Londoner hath Occasion to send his Tin to France, for which he hath paid the uttermost penny, besides Fraight to London, Commission Money to his Factor: and the King's duties, (which he can hardly Run) He finds the Market there already supplied Cheaper, than he can possibly afford it, which causes him to lie there oftentimes on Charge, and demurrage, to his great Amazement and dissatisfaction, not knowing how it comes to pass he is thus undersold and abused.  
The Third and last Reason (which with the former, are both the true effects, and Natural Offsprings of the first, the Common Parent, of all the Mischiefs, and Inconveniencies that have so long Attended the Tinners) Is the Opportunities given; and Advantages taken by the Merchants, in meeting every Coinage where they Contrive, and Resolve what Price to give.  
The Londoner, after his bad Market, writes again to his Factor in Cornwall, and limits him now perhaps to less than he gave the last Coinage, which still proves the same, and would, did they buy it for Twenty Shillings the hundred: These fresh Orders are Communicated to the rest of the Profession, who all meet Quarterly (as I told you) and lay their heads together to Combine and make the price, who get as much by their said usurous Contracts; as they do by their Commissions, who have all gotten to themselves great Estates, by these Practices, to the great abuse of the Londoners, The defrauding his Majesty of his Revenue; and the utter Ruin of the poor Tinners, by undervaluing a Commodity of such worth, and Excellency, all over Europe.  
Ob. But here it may be demanded is there not an absolute necessity for a Say Master to Tear the Tin and prevent the debasing of so good a Commodity: And how can that be done without bringing it to the Coinage Towns as usual.  
An. To this it may be answered, That it is as much the Tinners Interest as the Merchants (to whom it is Ordinarily warranted by them) to preserve that Metal pure, and free from being Adulterated, which may be done at the Blowing Houses with far less Expense, and greater Conveniency for both, than at the Coinage Towns: for whereas the best Say Master hath no Infallible Rule to Judge, how much dross may be Contained in one Block, by which means he often distastes and abuses, either the Merchant, or Tinners; so here they will meet with a Cheaper, and more Infallible Remedy to Reconcile them both: for there may be in every Blowing House (as formerly there hath been) a Melting Kettle, to Remelt all such Tin as the Say Master Judges not Merchantable: And then it will be past all dispute to the Satisfaction of both.  
The Adventuring Tinners are now so Impoverished, as they can Employ no more men than will only preserve their Rights in such works, wherein (perhaps) they have Expended the greatest part of their Estates, to Cut Oddits, or Aqueducts to unwater the same: And those they do employ, are only for Three or Six Months at most, in Summer.  
The poor Miners wages being fallen from thirty, to fourteen, or fifteen Shillings a month, which is all he hath to maintain himself a Wife, and five, or six Children (perhaps) all the year: The Wife, nor Girls getting very little, or nothing, (Except in weeding Season or Harvest) there being no Clothing Trade, or any other to Employ them in that part of the County; so that they may be divided into two sorts.  
The first as soon as Employments sail them, and the works are Shut up, do immediately take up the Trade of Begging.  
The latter who are ashamed to beg, lie under the Temptation of Stealing, or even almost Starving: for I have Ordinarily seen such save Sheep, and Bullocks that have died in the Fields by Accident, though poor, and Lean, or at least so much of them as they could make use of while fresh, their Substance, nor Credit now, being able to purchase so much Salt, as would be necessary to preserve it longer; And I am persuaded a great many Families in the Neighbourhood I live, do not make use of any other Flesh at their own Tables four times in the year, Their ordinary food in winter being Potatoes and Barley-bread (as course as Horsebread) with gruel thickened oftener with barley meal, than oatmeal. And in Summer the same sort of bread and milk only; and could they have their fill of this they would seem very well pleased.  
And I have farther observed, in twenty or thirty years' last passed (by reason of the cold and hunger their youth suffer, having not rags enough to cover them) Men are so reduced, from well grown Persons to be now (Comparatively) mere Pigmies in Stature, and strength, which is lamentable to behold.  
Neither can I omit discovering an other Calamity that lies hard on the Tinners, which proceeds from their Stannery Courts (a thing designed and intended by most the Kings of England, for their ease, and Advantage: as may be seen by the Imunities, and privileges granted them by their Charters, which is now become none of the least of the burdens they labour under) In which said Courts they Observe neither bounds, nor limits to restrain the avaricious appetites of their Attorneys, who are now grown to that pass, as to extend a Suit by delatory practices (wherein they contrive one with the other) that the charge of a Trial in that Court, ordinarily amounts unto more than will obtain a decree in Chancery.  
And if they appeal in equity; the Warrants, Orders, and delays, before a definitive Sentence can be obtained, are generally so chargeable, that it were better for them to lose their rights, then contend for it.  
For Remedy whereof, it is hearty wished, and humbly proposed: That the Costs of all Trials; not only in the Stannaries, but in all other inferior Courts; might be ascertained, by an Act of Parliament not to exceed such a Sum, as they in their most sage Judgements; might think Convenient: which would be, a means to expedite the execution of Justice, without delay: and not only redress the present greivances of the Tinners: But be also an unspeakable case to that whole County in general.  
Their privileges likewise granted them, in lieu of their Coinage duties, of four shillings a hundred, were (amongst others) to be free of all Fairs, and markets, from any Toll, tax, or such like impossitions; which now they are denied, and deprived of: And then let it be considered, how unequal, and unjust it is to continue the poor Tinners still to their burdens, without their privileges, And to the payment of that, for which they do not enjoy the Consideration.  
And though some men were pleased to represent the Tinners of Cornwall, as dangerous, I shall make bold to vindicate them so far, as not to deserve such Treatment, who have sufficiently approved themselves to be men of Resolute Loyalty, as well as of undaunted Spirits, when backed by a Legal Authority: and then only, who have always practised that passive Obedience (under all Governments) which others have only preached, and talked of: as may appear more at large, by a Letter of thanks sent them, and the Gentlemen of that County by King Charles the First, (of Blessed memory) from Sudley Castle, which tho' well known to most of that County, yet for the Information of others, who may be strangers thereunto, I have here transcribed, and is as follows.  
To the Inhabitants of the County of Cornwall A Letter of Thanks from King Charles the First (of Blessed memory) dated Sep. the 10th. 1643. from Sudley Castle.  
CAROLUS REX.  
WE are so highly Sensible of the Extraordinary merits of our County of Cornwall, of their Zeal for the defence of our Person, and the Just Rights of our Crown, in a time, when we could Contribute so little to our own Defence, or to their Assistance, In a time when not only no reward Appeared: but great and probable dangers were threatened to Obedience, and Loyalty: of their great, and Eminent Courage, and Patience, in their Indefatigable Prosecution of their great work, against so potent an Enemy, backed with so strong, rich, and Populous Cities, and so plentifully furnish● with Men, ●rms, Money, and Ammunition, and Provisions of all kinds: and of the Wonderful Success, with which it hath pleased Almighty God (who with the loss of some Eminent Persons who shall never be forgotten by us to reward their Loyalty, and Patience) by many strange Victories over their, and our Enemies, in despite of all humane Probabilities, and all Imaginable disadvantages. That as we cannot but desire to publish to all the world, and perpetuate to all times, the memory of their merits and of our Acceptance of the same: And to that end, we do hereby render our. Royal thanks to that our County in the most public, and lasting manner we can devise, Commanding Copies hereof to be printed, and published, and one of them to be read in every Church and Chappel therein; And to be kept for ever as a Record in the same. That as long as the History of of those times, and of this Nation shall Continue, The memory of how much that County hath merited from us, and our Crown, may be derived with it to Posterity.  
Given at our Camp at Sudley Castle, the 10th. of. September 1643.  
Who (not knowing how to gratify such signal Services better) granted to the Inhabitants of that County a free trade in all parts, where the English have any Commerce. And tho' they have been opposed by the East Indian and African Companies, yet I persuade myself they would be content to be restrained from Interrupting them in their trade, by Confining themselves to Export the Products of their own County only, as Tin, Fish, and Wool Cloth: And I question very much, whether the Mob, in any other part of the Kingdom, would have endured half their Sufferings with such Submissive Patience.  
And this I can boldly farther avouch for them, that in the whole County of Cornwall, I never met with one Labouring Tinner that was either Papist, or Popishly Inclined: But all Generally tho' Rustic, and Illiterate, have as great Aversions to that persuasion as any protestant Divine in England: And, therefore do persuade myself, that Mr. Crosby his Papers were written out Book, as well of them; as of some others of that County.  
Now I foresee there are some People that may raise some Objections against the Tinners' freedom, and Common privilege of other Subjects: and they in all likelihood may be either.  
First those Merchants whose Practices I have detected.  
Or Secondly, those Attorneys who have preyed on them so long, and have been sure to go away with the profit of all such matters, and Concerns, as happen to be Controverted among them.  
Or Lastly such who reap particular Advantages by needless Offices, out of the Coinage duties.  
Therefore If any Objectors chance to appear, It will be necessary to inquire, what were the Motives that prompted them hereunto (viz.)  
Whether a private Interest, or a public good: If the former, and it be put into the Scale against a Common benefit, (I hope) it will appear so frivolous, as need not require much time to answer.  
If the latter.  
It must then necessarily relate, either to his Majesty; or the Tinners.  
If to his Majesty.  
It must be then touching his Prerogative, or his Revenue.  
Ob. If his Prerogative, the Objection than must be, That the Kings of England have Anciently had (by virtue of their Prerogative) a right of Preemption of all the Tin, before the Tinners had freedom to dispose, or the Merchant to buy the same.  
Therefore it must be brought Quarterly to the Coinage Towns in Order to his Acceptance, or Refusal.  
An. For Answer (I say) That the King's Prerogative, and Right of Preemption of the Tin is not here denied, or intended to be so, Neither doth it follow, that the Tinners must therefore keep their Goods a whole Quarter of a year, and bring it to the Coinage Towns only for that purpose.  
But first (I pray) Observe the very word Emption doth presuppose, and Imply a Contract, and there is (you know) a Correlation between the Contractor, and Contractee: for the Law of Nations requires a voluntary and mutual Consent both of the Buyer, and Seller, and therefore as the King cannot Impose a price on their Tin against the Tinners will, so neither, is he (on the other hand) obliged to bargain with every Individual Tinner, every Quarter of a year: for the Tinners being Incorporated by several Charters granted them by the Kings of England, have power to send their Representatives (by the direction of the Lord Warden) to their Parliament or Convocation, who may be qualified, and have power to treat and bargain for all the Tin, when ever his Majesty is pleased to signify, that it is his Pleasure, and Intention so to do, or any other who have a mind to farm, it under him) whose Laws and Constitutions being then Promulged will be as binding on the whole Body of Tinners of that County, as if the same were Established by the General Parliament of the Realm.  
And therefore in Case of such a bargain, the Tinners will be still Content to bring their Tin to the Coinage Towns, and Receive their money Quarterly for it as Accustomed.  
But here I cannot omit discovering another great piece of hardship, and Injustice done them, by the Mayors of the four Coinage Towns, who are now usually such Enemies to the Tinners, as I have already declared: Yet assume a Right to themselves, of Nominating, and Choosing Members, or Convocators to serve in the Tinners' Parliament, (who are to make Laws, and Constitutions to bind the whole body of Tinners) without their Privity, or Approbation; only because the Writs are directed to them (and the Tinners' unhappiness have been such, to have all their Records burned in the Time of the Late unhappy Civil Wars) which is as much, as if the Sheriffs of Counties, should take up the like freedom to Chose Knights, and Burgesses to serve in the Parliaments of the Realm without the Consent of the Freeholders, than which nothing can be more Arbitrary, or be nearer of Kin to French Slavery.  
For Remedy whereof it is humbly Proposed, That our Honourable Lord Warden, for the Time being, may for the future, direct his Writs (for the Choice of Convocators) to his Steward of the Stanneries, to Require the head Baylif of each Jurisdiction, to Summon at least 40 or 50 of the most knowing, and Substantialest Tinners to be and Attend at the next Law Court, of which the first 25 (or a less number) that Appear may (Representing the whole body of Tinners) Serve as the Grand Jury or Homage for that said Stannery, who may Elect and nominate Convocators for the said Jurisdiction: and present them under their hands to the said Steward, in order to be returned to our said Lord Warden, as they have of late been by the four Mayors of the Stanneries Corporations.  
If it Relates to his Majesty's Revenue, It must be then made appear, how it may be prejudicial thereunto: for (on the Contrary) it shall be so far from diminishing the same, as the Tinners will be Obliged to Augment it Considerably.  
As First the King's duties shall be paid Merchant weight, which is now at the King's Beam Sixscore and two.  
Secondly all Embezzling, or Running of the King's deuce shall then be prevented.  
And Thirdly all the Consultations and Contrivances of the Merchants to keep down the Price (which is the Cutthroat as well of the King's Revenue, as of the poor Tinners' weal, being both Embarked in the same Bottom) will then likewise be hindered; If the Hammer were once again in the Blowing Houses, where all the frauds are Committed, There being no Officer now that attend the same (as they ought) which are the Reasons that this Commodity is so debased, both at home and abroad: but Especially in France, where I have been Credibly Informed, that Tin hath been sold there Cheaper then at London: for the said Cornish Factors finding (by Experience) that the Quick return makes the heavy Purse, will surely abate of the Price, rather than lie there long on demurrage.  
If it Relates to the Tinners, I should gladly hear what might be offered more to their Advantage, or why a freedom to sell their Goods at pleasure, should prejudice their Interest more, than it doth any other Tradesmen in England.  
Now on the whole, it is most Obvious, and Apparent; that both his Majestics Interest, and the Tinners, are so Connexed, and interwoven, as they must be Allowed of to be Inseparable: for whatever advances the Price of Tin, Encourages the more hands, which increases the Quantities; and so the King's Revenue by Consequence.  
And whatever Occasions the diminishing or fall of the Price of Tin, discourages the Tinners, and abates the Quantities Proportionably: but more Especially at this Time, when all Materials Employed on that Concern, are sold at such Excessive Rates, which Threatens, and Endangers the sinking of the whole Revenue, by an utter desertion of that Employment. The like being already done in Devon. may be with much ease practised in Cornwall also.  
FINIS.