f 85 ] 



load dug on the forest within the parish of Wells only, and is it not 

 more than probable that lead, like coal, may be most valuable in 

 the deep ? 



In the parishes of Rowberow, Shipham, and Winscomb, there 

 are valuable mines of lapis calaminaris : this mineral is sometimes 

 found within a yard of the surface, and seldom worked deeper than 

 30 fathom. Between four and five hundred miners are constantly 

 employed in this business, and the average price is about 5I. per 

 ton. In the parishes of Compton Martin and Eafl Hartry are also 

 many mines of a similar nature, and a considerable number of men 

 are constantly employed therein. 



Having now comprised in as small a compass as I could, the de- 

 tail of the husbandry of these hills, I shall now leave my reader to 

 pick the corn from the chaff, and shall conclude by giving some 

 heads of a lease, comprehending many needful restrictions and 

 covenants between landlord and tenant ; to which I shall add a 

 copy of the Laws and Orders of the Mendip Miners, as settled ii< 

 the reign of Edward the Fourth. 



CLAUSES on LEASES. 



1st. Not to convert into tillage any pasture or meadow land 

 without leave. 



2d. To feed and mow the grass land alternately. 



gd. Not to pare or burn any land without leave^ 



4th. Not to plant potatoes/or sale without leave. 



5th. To spend all the hay and straw on the premises, and to 

 leave all the dung and straw to the succeeding tenant, without any 

 acknowledgment. 



6th. Not to let any parcel of the land to any under tenant withi 

 out leave. 



7th. To keep the messuage dwelling-house, barns, stables, &c. 

 in good repair, on being allowed rough timber, and the labor of 

 the thatcher. 



8th. To pay all taxes and assessments, (land tax excepted). 



9th. Not to cut down or lop timber trees, or lop any pollards 

 without leave. 



M ioth. 



