68 EARLY HISTORY OF WIRKSWORTH AND ITS LEAD MINING. 
is measured in dishes which correspond with the dish you now see, 
and which is always kept chained in this hall. This dish (Plate V.) 
has upon it the following inscription :— 
This dishe was made the iiij day of Octobr, the iiij yere of the reigne of Kyng 
Henry the VIII. before George Erle of Shrowsesbury steward of ye Kyng’s 
most honourable household, and also steward of all the honour of Tutbery by 
the assent and consent as well of all the Mynours, as of all the Brenners, 
within and adjoyning the lordship of Wyrkysworth percell of the said honour. 
This dishe to remayne in the Moote Hall at Wyrkysworth, hanging by a cheyne, 
so as the Merchantes or Mynours may have resorte to the same at all tymes to 
make the tru mesur aft. the same. 
The word Bergmote means an assembly upon a hill (from A.S. 
Berg—gemote), just as the word Wztenagemote means an assembly 
of the Witan or wise men; and Bergmaster means a master or 
superintendent of the mines. 
The dues to the Crown have been let on lease certainly since 
the reign of Edward IV., and probably for a longer period. The 
Arkwright family have been the lessees for four generations. 
The working miners and the mineral proprietors in the Wapen- 
take pay dues, which are known by the terms /o¢ and cofe. Lot 
signifies every thirteenth dish of ore, and cope 4d. or 6d. (accord- 
ing to the locality) for every lode, or nine dishes of ore ; moreover, 
all mines in the parish of Wirksworth pay to the vicar every fortieth 
dish as tithe. This was in former days as much as one in ten; 
but as litigation was of frequent occurrence, this was commuted in 
1778 to one in forty by agreement made between the Rey. Richard 
Tillard, vicar of Wirksworth, of the one part, and the miners and 
maintainers of the other part. When a miner has searched and 
found ore in any land, he gives a dish to the Lord to free the 
mine ; but to get title and possession he applies to the barmaster, 
who, with at least two of the jury, marks out two meers of ground, 
each containing twenty-nine yards. 
The Barmaster (Bergmaster) was formerly the coroner of the 
mines, and he it was who investigated all cases of sudden death 
which occurred in them— 
If by perchance a miner damped be 
Or on the mine be slain by chance medley, 
The Berghmaster or else his Deputie 
Must view the corps before it buried be, 
And take inquest by jury who shall try 
By what mischance the miner there did die.* 
* Manlove. 
