^^6 The ^jtturall andMoraU 



confideration, in that which Plinic faieth , they hadde 

 digged a fifteene hundred pafes in this mine of Bcbclb} 

 and that continually they found water, which is the 

 greateft hinderaunce they have todrawe foorth theyr 

 mettall. But in this ofPotofy although they have dig 

 ged two hundred ftades or heights of a man in deapth* 

 yetTdid they never findeany water, which is the great- 

 eft happinefTe of this mountaine. But the mines of Por- 

 eo , whofe mettall is good and very rich, are at this day 

 left for the difcommodi tie of water 5 which they have 

 found in their worke- for they are two infupportable 

 labours in fearching of the mettall- firffto digge and 

 breake the rockes , and then to drawe out the water all 

 together. The firft of them,that is, to cut through the 

 rockes, is paine enough; yea very hard and exceffiverji- 

 nally, at this day the King receives forhisfift yeercly,^ 1 

 from the mines ofPg/gs/, a million offilvcr , befides^ 

 the wealth that growes by quickcfilver , andotherroy- * 

 al! prerogatives , which is a great treafure . Some men 

 of iudgement having caftvptheaccomptes, fay, that 

 what hath becne. brought into the cuftomehoufeof 

 P&tofy vnto the yeere of our Lord , onejhoufandjv^ 

 hundredeiglity,and five , amounteth vnto aliundred 

 thoiiland millions of peeces of eflay, whereof every 

 fa - L , Pcccc is woorthj^irtcejieriall^and a fourth parte, not 

 ^ reckoningThelilver whicEhathbm caried away with- 

 outcuftome, or that hath beenecntredinorherroiaH 

 cuftome houfes, or the filver that hath beene wrought 

 in the country, which is not entred, the which is innu 

 merable, although the firft Rcgifters of Entries are not 

 fo exadly kept as at this day 5 for that in the beginning 

 and firft difcoveries, they made their rcceitbyflflwiffj 

 fo great was their aboundance* 



But 



