WHereas Your Majesty was graciously pleased not onely to command my service to be im­ployed in your Highnesse Mines Royall, upon occasion of some discourse of them at Enston-Rock, when your Majesty vouchsafed to ho­nour that place with your presence: but also to give your Majesty a true relation, what they were when I entred up­on them, what they are since at present, and of what hope for the future, if diligently pursued and cherisht by your Royall aspect. In obedience whereunto, I do in all humi­lity affirme, that the Mines at my first entrance were drown'd with water, and consequently not worth the working as by severall certificates hereunto annexed appeareth, which did then much disencourage my undertakings: but considering my deepe engagements for your Majesties, many favours extended to me, the meanest of your Sub­jects, I conceaved my selfe obliged to adventure upon the undermining of the adjacent Mountaines, thereby forth­with to make triall, whether those Mines (if once discov [...] ­red at the surface of the earth) would not prove richer in their deeper search, for experimenting whereof, ha­ving received severall opinions from the best Mineral-ma­sters of our age, as Sir Francis Godolphin, M. Alexander Ro­berts, M. Ioseph Hexsteter, and M. Walter Barksby, with divers others well practised in that way, encouraging me therein; I then resolved to hazzard my fortune on them, assuring my self that all Minerals were to be discovered by some one or other. Because originally created for mans use, and Gods glory: and thus having setled my former irresolute [Page] thoughts, I began with a cheerefull heart to cut through the maine Rockes of five severall mountaines, at their lowest levell, appearing by the Art of Dialling to be some sixtie, some eightie, and some an hundred fa­thomes perpendicular, and so continued these battery-workes foure yeares, night and day, before my hopes could give me any happie assurance that the Minerall-beds of the earths riches, lay fast lock'd in those barren Rocks, untill my charge grew so great, that I became pitied of my friends, and insulted over by my enemies, which did anew perplex my minde; yet when I considered that I was not borne for my selfe, but for the service of God, your Maje­stie, and my Countrie, and that I had not only that heaven­ly guider to direct me, but also your sacred Majestie to en­courage me, I then began to cast off these my former just­ly conceived feares, and (notwithstanding any opposition or seeming diswasive arguments or experiments by any o­ther) to pitch on this resolution, that better it were for mee to suffer shipwracke in my poore estate and credit, then that such treasures should lye buried in the BOWELS of those vast mountaines, and not be made both knowne, and be­neficiall to your gracious Majestie, being inherent to your prerogative, as by the declaration under the hands of lear­ned Councell hereunto annexed appeares, which hils al­though large in extent, yet are not considerable in her­bage, nor fit for any other plough, then the Miners sledge, gad, and twybill.

That which first wrought in me a desire to try and fa­thome those mines was a sensible discourse delivered me, by a Portugall in presence of Sir Francis Godolphin (by whose death I lost the hope of a most knowing partner) who had beene for many yeares imployed under the King of Spain in his West Indian Mines purporting that if his Master were [Page] Soveraine Lord of those Brittish hils, as is your Majestie, he would not doubt but to make them a second Indies, and affirming with deepe protestations, that the greatest riches in those Mountaines lay in their lowest levels, which I finde to be true by laborious experiment, in those five mountaines. For by this way of working, and dri­ving through the depth of Rocks, we are not only freed from the danger and deluge of waters, but also have discovered an increase of rich veines in quantity and qualitie, some containing twentie pound, some fifteene, some tenne, and some six in Silver, in the Tunne of Lead upon the great Test, which are answerable to most of the Mines, of the King of Spaine, the Emperour of Germany, and the Duke of Saxony; moreover we find that by mixing and smelting these severall veines together, the one proves a good additament to the other, and becomes thereby a meanes to advance the Mines Royall, and in them the good of your kingdome and Subjects.

We have many gracious testimonies how much the Al­mighty is pleased with these our innocent labours; by his continuall preservation, of the workemen amidst their hourely dangers, especially in one accident, which lately befell, upon occasion of driving an Addit into one of those mountaines called Tallybont, but because I was no eye-witnesse of it, I humbly desire your majesties perusall of the narration thereof (as I received it) being then in London, from a minister resident Preacher to the Minerall men, hereunto annexed.

And as I am bound to give to Caesar that which is Caesars, I must further humbly acknowledge your Majesties large addition to your former Royall favours in granting mee (the meanest of your Creatures) liberty to give your Ma­jesties impression to such Silver as the Mole-like Miners [Page] cast out of the Earth, for their speedier payment, for they are the men who make the rocks their resting place, and expect no other reward or benefit for their sweaty browes then what they gaine from out of the darke Cavernes of the earth by harmelesse and importunate labour.

And for declaration of part of my poore indeavours, your humblest suppliant begs a perusall of the annexed re­monstrance, presented by your honourable and grave mi­nisters of Justice, and other noble Gentlemen of quality, residing within your Principality of Wales, whose eyes have beene spectatators, as your servant, a diligent labourer in those Minerall Vineyards. And having thus far traced out, & dived into the secrets of natures treasures, & by the influ­ence of your majesties favours, overcome those amazing difficulties, which hindred the entrance of these great ad­ventures, (I then for better improvement of the workes, caused a meeting of Miners, Monyers, smelters and refiners, to consult debate and try, whether fuell of turfe would not separate the Oare, extract the silver, & reduce the Litharge, as well as the vast expence of whose Forrests of Woods formerly consumed for that purpose; and upon an exact triall made thereof, by altering the earthy substance of urfe into charkie cyndars, we found by infallible expe­rience, that Your Majesties Turffaries will furnish Your Mines Royall with Fuell to all future ages. So that there re­maineth nothing more to make the inside of these barren Mountains, produce an addition of gems to your Crowne, but to finish the building of your Princely foundation by your Royall recommendation thereof to your High Court of Parliament, whose judgements, will quickly discerne how much these Mines would redound to the generall good; Your Maiesties gracious letters ha­ving already caused sundry Merchants, and Gentle­men [Page] of quality, to take a personall view of the harmlesse gaine, which accrewes from this publike work of the Mines Royall, as a maenes to inrich Your subiects the ancient Britaines of those parts, with the free trade, & vent of their Home-made-Cloth, & to employ & enable them to become Merchant-adventurers, as well by land as Sea. And for ma­nifest proofe of my proceedings in this businesse, I shall with Your Royall assent, humbly desire a commission from the High Court of Parliament▪ to examine the former and present state of the Mines Royall, and Your Maiesties riches that are buried under the most inconsiderable herb­age, of these vast Mountaines, which in time may alter the name of Welch Rockes into Welch Indies, and make it plain­ly appeare to any (who is not meerely of an earthly, and avaritious temper, and can in any measure resent the nou­risher and true support of a flourishing State, that they▪ (if followed) cannot but prove flowers to the Crowne, a glo­ry to the kingdome, and a rich blessing to the subiect.

Be pleased therefore most gracious Soveraigne, to vouchsafe that the beames of Your Royall favour, may cherish the growth of this hopefull designe, so as it be not blasted in the bud, and then my affectionate endeavours prove as fruitlesse to this Common wealth, as was the neglected tender of Columbus his discovery of the West-Indian-Mines in the raigne of Henry the seaventh.

And to make it in some measure appeare to your Ma­jesty, how desirous I am to advance your revenew in an imployment so much conducing to the publick good, I doe in all humblenesse offer (as an increase of rent after the expiration of the Lady Middletons Lease assigned to me and yet in being) one thousand pounds by the yeere for and during the continuance of another lease thereof granted to me in reversion, for confirmation of which [Page] leases by your Majestie, and your High Court of Parlia­ment, I do further humbly present 1000 Markes as a pre­fine to your Majesties Privie Purse; over and above the benefit of your Majesties Mintage, the increase of shiping, and the importation of necessary commodities, occasio­ned hereby, which às I am informed by Merchants of good worth that drive the trade, will amount to 4000 li. per annum. And for grant of the custome of exportation of such Lead only, out of which the silver is refined, I will (so it please your Majestie) be bound to double the yeerely Revenew of the Farmers booke, according to a medium, of seaven yeares cast up for that Port of Dovy: your Majestie having not from any former undertaker, or Farmour of those Mines, ever received either fine or penny of rent, all which I submissively propose, & desire the ra­ther, to encourage my Coadventurers, who as they were first invited by Your Princely letters of assurance, so will they now (things being thus honourably setled) be most willing to expose their fortunes, for the consummating of so advantagious, so honourable, and so publick a good worke.

Having thus made to your Majesty a true relation of the state of your Mines Royall in Wales, and a faithfull explication of my loyall intendments & of other Mine­rall mens opinions conceived of those Mines, I professe before God and your sacred Majestie, that I therein, have no other ends, then the glory of my Maker, the honour of your Majestie, & the good of my Country. Let me there­fore on a bended knee humbly implore your Soveraigne goodnesse, not only to peruse these Petitions, and Certifi­cats annexed, but also to pardon the constrained pro­lixity of

THE Loyalty of my faithfull service, will not suffer me to conceale a bequeathed Le­gacy to your Majesty by the last Will and Testament of your most Loyall Subject IOHN Bishop of Worcester lately deceased of a treasure discovered by him, and committed to my trust, for the revealing thereof to your Majesty.

Who perceiving the inclination, and affection I had to Mynes, and Mineralls ▪ much commending it, as the most honest gaine, and greatest good to a Common-wealth, began this ensuing discourse unto me.

AS the smaller Rivulets by their natu­rall motions make haste to pay their tribute unto the vast Ocean, as well as doe the greatest rivers: So come I with humble assurance, that your Highnesse will not despise this poore present, extracted out of your Welsh Mines, wishing the coyne could speak that language of Ophir, as it doth this of Cardigan, wherein I trust by Divine Providence, and your Princely prevailing with the most honourable Court of Parliament, for the confirmation thereof; I doubt not but that in processe of time, I shall be able [Page 16] with the assistance of my Coadventurers, and helpe of their greater purse and fortunes: to make these Brittish hills, as in scituation, so in esteeme too, re­semble the West Indies, or at least wise those re­nowned mines of Saxony.

Thus I most humbly take leave of your High­nesse, hoping your Princely goodnesse will pardon my presuming to present so great a Prince, with so poore a present, as doth in all humblenesse.

AFter my very hearty Commenda­tions, I have here inclosed sent you an Order made in the House of the Lords now assembled in Parlia­ment, which you are carefully to ob­serve and performe according to the directions thereof in all things, so far as Lawfully you may. So not doubting of your readinesse therein, J bid you heartily farewell, and rest

SVffer my congratulations of your late successe at Tallibont, to be admitted amongst the rest who have represented the same to your imagination: not so much for the historicall 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 Talybont, after above 200 fathome in foure yeers driving to come at the chiefe shaft of the old drown'd worke of 38 fa­thome deep, being pearced by the water of the old worke, Iune 27. at midnight there befell two memorable accidents. The foure workmen about one in the night (as their manner was) withdrew to take Tobaco within ten fathome of the Addits mouth, lest in the forefield it should damp the ayre, which was conveyed to them by your leaden pipes with bellows. Their smoakie banquet was not yet at an end, when they heard a mighty and fearefull noise, which some of them said was thunder. But old Bartholmew Clocker (a well experienced Miner) although he left the worke without any suspition of so neere an approach, resolved suddenly, the worke is holed, come let us away. No sooner had they gotten the free ayre, but out gusheth the torrent of water with an incredible fury, such a breach it made in the solid Rocke, that it arose a full yards height at the Addits mouth and drove away above 100 Tun [Page 32] of the rockie deads, affrighting the people of Talybont, who heard the noise and felt the water in their houses. I doe not remember that I was ever more astonish'd at the prodigious­nesse of any spectacle, to see what perdition was threatned to the poore men, and they so to escape it. About foure houres 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 foure flashes, and he suddenly returning had his haire burnt off, and his cloathes scorched, in which conclusion it gave a crack like the report of a peece, and in a fierce gust of wind blew out the Candles of three more com­ming after him. To omit the Philosophicall inquisition of na­turall 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 finde the subterranean spirits, the supposed guardians of concealed treasure, as officious for you as if they were in pay with you. But in a stile more proper to my pen, Behold Sir, how deare you are to providence, which for your sake hath vouchsafed to digresse into a miracle, and such a one as is able to convert the most Sophisticall Atheist, whence your piety will inferre, that the gracious Authour of this in­comparable bounty, expects from you some gratefull service, as high above ordinary (according to mortall capacity) as this favour hath been extraordinary We are all deepely in the same engagement, and have learned by this experiment, that these Addits or approaches (for thats the sence of the name of old deluge works) are attempts of desperate hazzard. Me thinks these Mountaines are as so many pregnant wombs, and now in labour call for your fortunate hands to deliver them, to the honour of your Royall Master, and perpetuated glory of the Nation.

[Page 33]What should you doubt in an imployment so serenely smil'd upon, by the highest both of Heaven and Earth? You use no enchantment or magneticall Rod to discover the veines; your only magicke, is an ingenuous conjecture of probabilities, with a cheerfull and indefatigable industry, which hath hitherto succeeded beyond expectation of most, and (peradventure) the desires of some. But who (as Agricola makes the question) that is not of a nature impoyson'd with envy, and malitiousnesse, Lib. 1. do R.M. can beare 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 Crownes, by de­scending into such abyssesses as these; with some of whom wan­ton antiquity hath been pleased to sport her selfe, and to play upon the simplicity of many, as Midas, Gyges 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 worthy your attention, when he saies of them, that they were in a fruitlesse soyle, and on the hils, (as these with us.) And wheresoever one veine 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 veines which conveyed the blood and spirit of life through all the limmes of his victorious Host. And have you not here our Britaines Asturia before you? Who knowes whether it may not yeeld a Bebelo? at least a Sne­berg or Anneberg, who hath heretofore dream't of a Mine at Comsomloch, or of the happy lot you lately drew from the Mountaines of Keginian, Talybont, the Darren, Broom-Floyd and Cum-mervin? What did the outside of these pro­mise you mere then the countenances of their neighbours? But [Page 34] the complaint of learned D ^r. Jurdan may here take place, that much silver was lost, for want of taking it out of Lead-Oares. For whereas those Oares which are rich in silver are common­ly hard of fusion our minerall men neglect those Oares. No doubt many are concealed by reason they are Mines Royall.

Where had been the Woods and Forrests yet undestroyed on these bald-headed Promontories that might suffice had you not taught the earth to afford you all, and the worthlesse valley, to meete the barren hill, by sending in fewell, to give forme to the matter: so that here is a rich bequest you leave to posterity, I meane your Eternizing the works, by preventing the excesse of water, and defect of fire. I have no more, but to signifie my confidence, that as your desires are set on the mate­riall Rocks of Wales and Enstone, so will your better affe­ctions be firmely 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 floods they are built upon. Which will give more comfort and satisfaction to you then can be expressed by your

YOur true relation, and lively expression of the miraculous delivery of the poore Mi­ners from the deluge of Waters, which issued forth, upon the cutting through of Tallybont mountaine, seemeth by the con­tents of your Letter to promise no other reward, to the first discoverers, then imminent danger of present death, in which, as in all things, we must ascribe the glory to God alone, and as the children of Israel were to meet with many hard accidents in those desarts, so must we resolve to encounter with many bitter stormes before we can discover Natures riches hidden in those mountaines, and who can expresse my sufferings, prising my reputation above life or fortunes? For fame flying with the wings of malice, desirous to put a period to these my harmlesse endeavours, hath made as you part­ly know, my supposed friends, to become my professed Foes, and my neerest in blood, my greatest sorrow, lea­ving me as naked, as was Job in his greatest affliction, some construing these my Minerall adventures to be but the fabricke of a fantasticke braine, others alledging that the greatnesse of my charge would ruine both me, and those who gave me credit, whereby those friends that conferred on me timely curtesies, instead of en­creasing, [Page 36] or continuing them, were moved to presse me for more speedy paymēt, then my present abilities were able to make good. What throes of sorrow perplext my midnight thoughts in these deepe ingagements, I leave to you to judge. I will therefore hasten my com­ming downe, to settle the affaires of this great worke, that I might redeeme the mispent time of my youth by some memorable designe in my age, the hopefulnesse whereof you are pleased so to amplifie, which I trust will give livelyhood to many, injury to none, and be of much honour to our Nation, which was ever the height of my ambition, resolving to rest content with whatso­ever the wise disposer of all should conferre upon me, and hereafter to leave those friends in trust, whom I found firmest, thereby both to pay themselves, and sa­tisfie others, to whom I stand engaged. And thus with many thanks for your kind letter, and good counsell, I shall ever remaine