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_ EARLY HISTORY OF WIRKSWORTH AND ITS LEAD MINING. 67 
was supposed at first to indicate the following, viz. :—Gedlius 
2 Prafectus Cohortis Tertie Legionis Quinte Brittanice ; but as the 
fifth Legion was never in Britain, Horsley * considers that the 
sixth Legion is implied thus :—ZLegio Sexta Victrix, the word 
“TLegio” signifying the sixth Legion and the V, VMictrix 
or Victrices. “It is also remarkable,’ writes Mr. Hayman 
Rooke, “ that the Prefect’s name should be Gellius, and that the 
urn which contained the ashes should be deposited in a barrow on 
Mr. Gell’s estate.” Mr. Rooke’s original drawings of this, as well 
as of many other Derbyshire antiquities, are now in the possession 
of Mr. E. Cooling, jun., a member of this Society. The urn was 
full of burnt bones and ashes, and was covered by the stone before 
mentioned. 
Let us now proceed to consider some of the mineral laws and 
_ customs of the Wapentake of Wirksworth—in every part of which 
any subject of the Crown may “ dig and delve” in search of lead 
ore without asking leave of or giving any payment to the owner of 
the land upon which he works—churchyards, highways, orchards, 
gardens, &c., being excepted. Manlove, a former steward of the 
Barmote, thus explains it in doggerel rhyme :— 
ints ates EO Giie Se lai ae aa 
By custom old in Wirksworth Wapentake, 
If any of this nation find a rake, 
Or sign, or leading to the same, may set 
In any ground, and there lead ore may get. 
They may make crosses, holes, and set their stowes, 
Sink shafts, build lodges, cottages and coes, 
But churches, houses, gardens, all are free 
From this strange custom of the minery. + 
The Barmote Court (originally spelled Berghmoot), which is 
held twice a year in this Moot Hall, is presided over by a steward, 
and there are also other officers, viz., a Barmaster (or Bergh- 
_ master), Deputy Barmasters, and jurymen. The Barmaster is the 
_ Officer who looks after the Lord’s dues, who gives possession to 
“new ventures in the mineral field, and who, assisted by his de- 
_ puties in the different parts of the Wapentake, sees that all the ore 
= =< * ae Ry 
* «Britannia Romana,” p. 200. 
+ ‘* Liberties and Customs of the Lead Mines,” by E. Manlove, 1653. 
