CHAP. X. 



MIDDLE AGES. ^97 



William, Earl of Pembroke, with whom were 

 joined in the commission, as assistants, several 

 men of high rank, some citizens and some 

 foreigners of supposed experience in what re- 

 lated to the operations of mining. About the 

 same time (1567), another corporation was 

 formed for converting the metals into articles 

 for useful domestic purposes, designated as the 

 society for the minerals and battery works. 



Elizabeth, who resolutely maintained all the 

 prerogatives of the crown, granted, in the most 

 extensive manner, the power of sinking shafts 

 and building houses, not only on the royal de- 

 mesnes, but on the land of any of her subjects. 

 Thomas, Earl of Northumberland, to whom the 

 manor of Keswick had been granted by the 

 crown, resisted this claim to the copper mines on 

 that estate ; but a decision was made against him, 

 on the ground that the crown had not the power 

 of alienating the minerals which were inseparably 

 linked to the prerogative of the monarch. This 

 was deduced from the king's right of coinage, 

 from which, however, only his right to the pre- 

 cious metals from which money was formed can 

 be inferred. 



Two opinions on this subject were contended 

 for by different legal persons. Some maintained, 

 that if any gold or silver was found in the mines 

 of baser metals, the whole would belong to the 

 king ; which, in fact, was bestowing all the 



