Mining in Devon and Cornwall. 361 
covery and application to works of this kind form a grand 
epoch in the hiftory of mining. This, it appears, took place 
in Hungary or Germany about the year 1620, and was firft 
introduced into England at the copper mine at Eéton, i in 
Staffordfhire, ecalee the year 1670, by German miners, 
brought over by Prince Rupert; but it was not in ufg in 
Somerfetthire till 1684, after which, probably, the Cornifh 
miners became acquainted with this powerful afliftant to 
their operations. 
Tin was the firft obje& of the Cornifh miner’s fearch, and 
I fhall therefore firft take notice of the hiftory of the tin-works. 
It was probably firft found, as I have obferved, near the fur- 
face, and not in regular veins; alimoft all the low grounds in 
Cornwall, and I believe every bottom on Dartmoor foreft 
in Devon, bear the marks of having been /lreamed. The 
Romans, probably, interefted themfelves in the working of 
the mines; indeed, one principal inducement to that people’s 
turning their attention to this ifland, feems to have been the 
metals that were reported to them to be found kere. The 
Saxons neglected thefe hidden treafures, but the Normans 
worked them to great advantage. From that time to the end 
of the reign of John the mines were not profitable, and 
moftly in the hands of the Jews. They revived in the 
time of his fon Richard; but in the reign of Edward I. the 
Jews were banifhed the kingdom, and the mines neglected. 
Edmund, the eldett fon of the king, and earl of Cornwall, 
however, made fome important alterations in the regulations 
of the tin-works by a charter, which was confirmed by Ed- 
ward I. in the latter part of his reign. Indeed it is from this 
time that the peculiar Jaws and privileges relating to the 
Stannaries are chiefly to be dated. Mining infr inged j in fome 
iiftances on property, and caufed bifennecs befides requiring 
indulgences not general; and thus cafes arofe not cognilable 
by the common law. In this way a peculiar code, fpringing 
from cufiom, took its rife; and though this in fome mea- 
fure exifted before, yet it was not till this period that it was 
confirmed by royal charter, and enforced by fubfequent acts 
of pafliament. It was by this charter that the bounding 
Jgnd to the purpofe of tinners working on it, the duties to 
VoL. V. 3A, the 
