A TABLE, SETTING FORTH The manner of that great Philosopher the Lord Chancellor Bacon's Searching for Metals by making Addits' through 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 mollify the hardest Stone, without the tedious way and inestimable Charge of sinking Airy Shafts; and is now intended to be put in practice by his Menial Servant Thomas bushel, on Hingston-Downe, according to his Lordship's command, and the approbation of that great Mineralist, Sir Francis Godolphine; with the demonstrative Reasons of each particular to the Lords of the Fee, and Proprietors of Hingston-Downe, is as followeth;  

The Beacon  
Note that between every double Line is contained 40. Fathom for the close Addit, And at each end 150 Fathom for the open Addit.  


M. The Mountain  
O. The old Shafts that have been sunk.  
S. The Shafts supposed to be sunk, but avoided by the now way of Addit.  
B. The Pipe and bellows     woodcut of smith shop 
North  
Smiths-shop   woodcut of smith shop 
South  
Smiths-shop   
FIrst, the true description of Hingston-downe, lieth in Longitude East and West five Miles, with Millions of Shafts that have been visibly Sunk upon several loads of Mettle, by the Romans, Danes, Saxons, Jews, and Britan's, And is in breadth 700 Fathom, at the Basis lying North and South, as well as in depth 200 Fathom from the Becon perpendicular to the Centre of that addit now intended.  

The reason why I undertake a work of this nature, and in these parts, is as followeth;  
FIrst, the Ambition of gratitude to answer his Highness Heroic trust, reposed in me to discover this Nation's Mineral Treasure.  
Secondly, my obliged fidelity, to my Lord Chancellor 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 Pupils, the poor Miners drowned and deserted works.  
Thirdly, my Cordial desire to serve these Western parts with the benefit of so useful a precedent, 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 Smal-Coome and Hooke-Coome, to meet underneath the Becon at the aforesaid Centre, is;  
FIrst, because these Coomes lying lowest equal with my addits, all the water that shall fall from the superficies being 200 Fathom perpendicular to the level of my said Addits', may by that means be easily conveyed away.  
Secondly 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 through the aforesaid 700 Fathom, I shall command all the Loads, Rakes, and Veins of Metal in that Hill, which is conjectured by the multitude of Shafts upon the superficies to run five Miles in length as aforesaid; and how probable then may it be to re-edify a second Indies out of the drowned and deserted works of our Nation by this example, I shall leave to the rational Judgements of them who are practitioners in those affairs; Especially whither these mine endeavours will not give much hopes to verify the old proverb in this age of ours, Hingston down well wrought, is worth London town dear bought. For if the riches of those Groves in 40 Fathom sinking hath occasioned the aforesaid proverb, as well as the inundation of water hath caused them to desert from their Mineral profit, it cannot be denied 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 expense 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 expense.  
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 ways and means, not only of this great work at Hingston-down, but also of that of Coom-Martin in Devon, Guinop in Cornwall, and Mondy in Summerset, that I doubt not, but in 4 years to set a period to all expectations, if God pertuit, and I have the honour of your wellwishes.   

The reason why I make the dimension of my Addit 10 Foot broad, and 10 foot high, keeping my level equal in my open and close Aqueducts, with the lowest depth of the Coome, is,  
FIrst, because it draws the inundation of Water from the whole Hill, and conveying the more plenty of Air into the lesser Addits', which must follow the loads of Mettle when we cross them in our common shore or principal Addit, as also to prevent those Damps that frequently arise from the sulphurous nature of the earth at that Centre.  
Secondly, for the more convenient passage of Wheel Barrowes each by other in sockets of Timber, to carry the loads of Metal and Rubbish out of the several Addits'.  
Thirdly, because I have found by mine own experience in cutting through other Mountains of the like nature, the great inconvenience of little Addits', in respect of the aforesaid reasons, and likewise the prejudice I have received in being careless of losing a foot in the level, when I met with the several Loads and Veins of Mettle.   

The reason why I do not willingly desire any other Partner but Providence, and his Highness' patronising this great enterprise of Hingston-down, Coomes Martin in Devon, Guinop in Cornwall, and Mendyp in Somerset, 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, then when I had compliance with their several purses, which made me call to mind his Lordship's frequent observation, that many partners in the public acts of Mineral adventures, where greediness of gain had more rule 〈◊〉 their hearts, then to illustrate the Creator's glory, became usually the sad Elegy of Misfortune and disincouragement to others.  
Secondly, for that if those two Addits' at Hingston-downe prosper according to the Proverb, and the other two at Coomes Martin, and Guinop aforesaid, one tenth part must be solely dedicated to prosecute the like works in the other 20 Mountains, marked out by the aforesaid Lord, and that great Mineralist Sir Francis Godolphine, who both subscribed it under their hands, to be the most harmless gain and greatest good to a Commonwealth, the choicest study and endeavours of the best bred persons in other Nations, and the most Honourable Employment this world was capable of.  
Thirdly, because I have found the faithfulness of such friendship in some friends which heretofore gave me credit, as out of their own honesty, and noble nature, they have been willing to accept of their present use, and forbear their principal three years, rather than such a Mineral design should perish, and I uncapable to prosecute the same for the Public Good, and honour of the Nation.  
Lastly, because I conceive all Mines were created for Man's Use and God's Glory, but in what age to be revealed, or by whom, is only known to the searcher of all hearts, who can best judge of mine and my designed ends. So that it may be probably hoped that this age of ours which hath had such a strange revolution of Providence, is appointed by the Disposer of all things, to disclose the same to public Sight, for when I had enlarged by discourse; my Lord Bacon's observations to his Highness of the spreading Veins or Loads of Mettle in this Northern Climate, I found such a natural inclination of his Highness' wisdom, to further these Conceptions of my Quondam Master, practised by myself, as he hath granted me the whole power of his assistance to search for such Minerals; And likewise promised the continuance of his favours, and to make good my Articles, for the ends holden forth. And what person then of an ingenuous spirit that is not empoisoned with envy, will bear unfriendly thought to those that search after such subterranean treasure at their own charge, for the good and honour of their native Country, and which in a manner is presented unto them by the hands of God?