282 BOOK VIII. 



beams, two other cross-beams of the same kind are again joined in a similar 

 manner ; these cross-beams have square openings, in which the iron-shod 

 stamps are inserted. The stamps are not far distant from each other, and 

 fit closely in the cross-beams. Each stamp has a tappet at the back, which 

 requires to be daubed with grease on the lower side that it can be raised 

 more easily. For each stamp there are on a cam-shaft, two cams, rounded on 



" wet method of stamping, whereas before that period the ore there was ground. In the 

 " Harz this invention was introduced at Wildenmann by Peter Philip, who was assay- 

 " master there soon after the works at the Upper Harz were resumed by Duke Henry the 

 " Younger, about the year 1524. This we learn from the papers of Herdan Hacke or 

 " Haecke, who was preacher at Wildenmann in 1572." 



In view of the great amount of direct and indirect reference to tin mining in Cornwall, 

 covering four centuries prior to Agricola, it would be natural to expect some statement 

 bearing upon the treatment of ore. Curiously enough, while alluvial washing and smelting of 

 the black-tin are often referred to, there is nothing that we have been able to iind, prior to 

 Richard Carew's " Survey of Cornwall " (London, 1602, p. 12) which gives any tangible 

 evidence on the technical phases of ore-dressing. In any event, an inspection of charters, 

 tax-rolls, Stannary Court proceedings, etc., prior to that date gives the impression that vein 

 mining was a very minor portion of the source of production. Although Carew's work 

 dates 45 years after Agricola, his description is of interest : " As much almost dooth it 

 " exceede credite, that the Tynne, for and in so small quantitie digged up with so great toyle, 

 " and passing afterwards thorow the managing of so many hands, ere it comes to sale, should 

 " be any way able to acquite the cost : for being once brought above ground in the stone, 

 " it is first broken in peeces with hammers ; and then carryed, either in waynes, or on horses' 

 " backs, to a stamping mill, where three, and in some places sixe great logges of timber, 

 " bounde at the ends with yron, and lifted up and downe by a wheele, driven with the water, 

 " doe break it smaller. If the stones be over-moyst, they are dried by the fire in an yron 

 " cradle or grate. From the stamping mill, it passeth to the crazing mill, which betweene 

 ' two grinding stones, turned also with a water-wheel, bruseth the same to a find sand ; 

 " howbeit, of late times they mostly use wet stampers, and so have no need of the crazing 

 " mills for their best stuffe, but only for the crust of their tayles. The streame, after it hath 

 " forsaken the mill, is made to fall by certayne degrees, one somewhat distant from another ; 

 " upon each of which, at every discent, lyeth a greene turfe, three or foure foote square, and 

 " one foote thick. On this the Tinner layeth a certayne portion of the sandie Tinne, and 

 " with his shovel softly tosseth the same to and fro, that, through this stirring, the water 

 " which runneth over it may wash away the light earth from the Tinne, which of a heavier 

 " substance lyeth fast on the turfe. Having so clensed one portion, he setteth the same 

 " aside, and beginneth with another, until his labour take end with his taske. The best of 

 " those turfes (for all sorts serve not) are fetched about two miles to the eastwards of S. 

 " Michael's Mount, where at low water they cast aside the sand, and dig them up : they 

 " are full of rootes of trees, and on some of them nuts have been found, which confirmeth 

 " my former assertion of the sea's intrusion. After it is thus washed, they put the remnant 

 " into a wooden dish, broad, flat, and round, being about two foote over, and having two 

 " handles fastened at the sides, by which they softly shogge the same to and fro in the water 

 " betweene their legges, as they sit over it, untill whatsoever of the earthie substance that 

 " was yet left be flitted away. Some of later time, with a sleighter invention, and lighter 

 " labour, doe cause certayne boyes to stir it up and down with their feete, which worketh 

 " the same effect ; the residue, after this often clensing, they call Blacke Tynne." 



It will be noticed that the " wet stampers " and the huddle — worked with " boyes 

 " feete " — are " innovations of late times." And the interesting question arises as to 

 whether Cornwall did not derive the stamp-mill, buddle, and strake, from the Germans. 

 The first adequate detailed description of Cornish appliances is that of Pryce (Mineralogia 

 Cornubiensis, London, 1778) where the apparatus is identical with that described by Agricola 

 130 years before. The word " stamper " of Cornwall is of German origin, from stampfer, 

 or, as it is often written in old German works, stamper. However, the pursuit of the subject 

 through etymology ends here, for no derivatives in German can be found for buddle, tye, 

 strake, or other collateral terms. The first tangible evidence of German influence is to be 

 found in Carew who, continuing after the above quotation, states : " But sithence I gathered 

 " stickes to the building of this poore nest, Sir Francis Godolphin (whose kind helpe hath much 

 " advanced this my playing labour) entertained a Dutch Mynerall man, and taking light from 

 " his experience, but building thereon farre more profitable conclusions of his owne invention, 

 " hath practised a more saving way in these matters, and besides, made Tynne with good 

 " profit of that refuse which Tynners rejected as nothing worth." Beyond this quotation 

 we can find no direct evidence of the influence of " Dutch Mynerall men " in Cornish tin 

 mining at this time. There can be no doubt, however, that in copper mining in Cornwall 

 and elsewhere in England, the " Dutch Mynerall men " did play a large part in the latter 



