Middlemen in English Business 249 



and charters were usually but codifications of these existing customs. 

 The tinner was naturally induced to free-mining by the very inex- 

 pensive outlay required to set up a mine: the tin was, at least in the 

 earlier times, mostly taken from "streams" of allu\'ial deposits with the 

 simplest tools and washed in trenches of running water. ^ The burden 

 of this initial outlay was further reduced by a system of partnership. 

 The small tinner predominated in medieval times over the larger;- 

 some of them were engaged at other occupations at the same time 

 and drew part of their sustenance from husbandry. 



The freedom of "free-mining" as it existed at the close of the 

 medieval period is thus described by the surveyor of Cornwall in 

 1602: "Their workes, both Streame and Load, lie either in severall, 

 or in wastrell, that is, in enclosed grounds, or in commons." "In 

 Seuerall, no man can search for Tynne, without leave first obtained 

 from the Lord of the soile; who, when any Myne is found, may 

 worke it wholly himself e, or associate partners, or set it out at a 

 farme certaine, or leave it vnwrought at his pleasure. In Wastrel!, 

 it is lawful for any man to make triall of his fortune that way, pro- 

 vided, that hee acknowledge the Lordes right, by sharing out vnto 

 him a certaine part, which the call toll. . . . the Tynners 

 constitutions in Devon . . . enable them to digge for Tynne 

 in any mans ground, inclosed or vnclosed, without licence, tribute 

 or satisfaction. . . . The worke thus found and bounded, looke 

 how many men doe labour therein, so many Doales or shares they 

 make thereof, and proportionable divide the gaine and charges."^ 



The "Manner of setting on worke adx^enturers" was described as 

 follows: "When the new found worke intiseth mth probabilitie of 

 profit, the discouerer doth commonly associate himselfe with some 

 more partners, because the charge amounteth mostly verie high for 

 one mans purse, except lined beyond ordinarie, to reach vnto: and if 

 the worke doe faile, many shoulders \yi\] more easily support the 

 burden. These partners consist either of such Tinners as worke to 

 their owne behoofe, or of such adventurers as put in hired labourers. 

 The hirelings stand at a certaine wages, either by the day ... or 

 for the yeere." 



In the Cornish mines there are illustrated three systems of organiza- 

 tion.^ First, the discovering tinner may operate the mine independ- 



^ See description of tools and methods of mining in V. C. H., Cornwall, T, 541-6. 

 ^ See statistical indica in Lewis, 186-7. 

 ^ Carew, Survey of Cornwall, 12-13. 

 ^ Cf. Lewis, 198-9. 



