1 T8 Analysis of Scientific Books and Memoh's. 



gdil, like Indian whcate, or pearl, and blacked-eyed Hke to beanes. Anil 

 he did not mean to settle his workmen there, untill another fitter time 

 shouhl serve, for he was driven away by force of weather, and called away 

 by other great occasions, (as is said,") &c. 



It is also added, that " amongst all the gold which Mr Bulmer had got- 

 ten in Scotland, besides that which he had given amongst his friends, this 

 is to be noted, that he presented unto the late Queen Elizabeth so much 

 natural gold as made a porringer of clean gold." 



Bulraer, in the next instance, sought to gain over King James to em- 

 bark a capital in mining concerns. The monarch's cupidity for gold was 

 at first greatly excited, as appears froni the following very remarkable con- 

 versation which took place between him and Bulmer. " And shortly after 

 Bulmer said that his majesty conceived so good an opinion of the mines, 

 that he had them much in remembrance, (amongst other his great and 

 liiighty business,) esteeming them to be none of the smallest pleasing un- 

 to God, nor the least that God had ordeyned for man within the earth. 

 Therefore the king had devised a plot how the said gold works might be 

 set awork anew, and thereby become commodious unto his crowne and 

 dignity, and so a great terror to all the enemies of God, if it hitt, which I 

 will declare hereafter," &c. — ' I doubt the silver mines of England de- 

 cayes,' saith the king, * else are not found so plentiful as in times past.' — ' It 

 is true,' said Mr Bulmer, ^and therefore,' quoth the king, 'as I desire to have 

 a new onsett to find out from whence this natural gold doth descend, so I 

 have meditated thereuppon, and have devised a plott how the gold mines 

 may be set open, and thereby become profitabler than heretofore; and to that 

 purpose I have devised this plott, whereby they may continually be supplied 

 and continued in working without ceasing, and thus, with labour of man, 

 may hills and mountains be turned into dayles and tallies, and the water's 

 run over the hills, and so after courses into other places.' — And Mr Bulraer 

 liked well of the plott, and said, * That it is the most readiest way to dis- 

 cover it, but it was a chargeable way, for it is as easy to find the true phi- 

 losopher's stone.' — * I have also foreseene and prevented that,' quoth the 

 king. * It is thought fitting that Bulmer shall be a superior or chief there- 

 of, because of his trust and skill, which was liked of by the lords of the 

 counsell in Scotland. Therefore, let Bulmer procure, or move twenty-four 

 gentlemen within England, of sufficient lands and livings, or any other his 

 freinds of Scotland, that shall be willhig to be undertakers thereof, and to 

 be adventurers towards the discovery thereof, and see that all these gen- 

 tlemen be of such sufficiencie in lands, goods, or chattels, as the worst be 

 worth L. 10,000 Starling, else L. 500 per annum Starling; and all such 

 gentlemen to be moved to disburst L. 300 Starling, each man in monies or 

 victuals for maintenance of the gold mynes in Scotland ; for which dis- 

 bursement each man to have the honour of knighthood bestowed upon 

 him, and so for ever to be called the Knight of the Golden Mynes, or the 

 Golden Knyght." 



It is unnecessary to make any further remark on this quixotic pro- 

 ject, than that it was truly worthy the name and character of the Bri- 

 tish Solomon. 



