KIMMERIDGE SHALE. 175 



of the waters they worked down, wliich incurred frequent swamp- 

 ings and the necessity of making fresh adits, the evidences of which 

 are on all parts of the hilL 



■ Sir WiUiam carried on the works with success, hut disaster over- 

 took liini just as everything looked most hopeful, when they were 

 seized under the plea that they were an infringement upon a Koyal 

 Patent. Nothing daunted, Sir William converted them into a 

 manufactory of glass and salt ; he constructed a massive stone-pier 

 to facilitate the removal of the products. This was probably after the 

 year 1613, as he offered his " glass-works" to the King, which he 

 described as consisting of 40 pans, capable of yielding 500 tons of 

 alum annually, and he undertook to erect a pier at his own expense, 

 of which the remains were seen at low tide only 50 years ago. All 

 traces of it are now obliterated and a modern quay occupies the 

 site. All preliminary arrangements were terminated by the action 

 of Sir Robert Mansel, who possessed a Royal Patent which he 

 maintained was infringed upon by Sir William Clavell. 

 When the case was heard before the Privy Council Sir 

 William Clavell was sentenced to impri.sonment in the ^Marshalsea 

 Prison and the confiscation of the works. The following is a copy 

 of a petition from Sir William Clavell to the Privy Council (reign 

 James I.). 



" To the Piiglit Honorables the Lords of His Majesty's Privy Council, 

 the liunible petition of Sir William Clavell showing that there being a 

 difference between your petitioner and Sir Robert Mansel, Knight upon a 

 Patent granted by the late King's Majesty touching the making of gla^:.s, 

 your petitioner about two years past was, upon complaint of the said Sir 

 Robert Mansel, called before your Lordships at this honorable Board 

 touching the same, where your petitioner received this seizure by 

 your Lordships. That his glass-hou.ses and furnaces, built by tiie con.sent 

 and allowance of Sir Robert Mansel, should be razed and lUtorly 

 demolished, to your petitioner's great loss and prejudice, and lliat yoiu- 

 petitioners glass brought to London should be .seized and (kdiveied 

 to the said Sir Robert Man.sel, and tliat your petitioner .'^lioiild lie 

 imprisoned in the prison of the Marshal.sea, ail which was fiillilled 

 upon your Lordships' petitioner,according to his great grief and di.sgrace. 

 That, notwithstanding the said Sir Robert Mansel bearing further malice 



