142 SIR HUGH MYDDELTON'S PART IT. 



first opened out by the Romans) were worked by the 

 Corporation of Mines Royal ; but it does not appear that 



of Mat /tart of 



' ttin shirt 



^arf//*/AiHes 

 *y* ****- 



and t'empfaf Mine 



CHART OP MINES IN NORTH WALES. 

 [From an old Print in the British Museum.] 



much success attended their operations. Mining was 

 little understood then, and all kinds of pumping HIM I 

 lifting machinery were clumsy and inefficient. Althoi iirl i 

 there was no want of ore, the mines were so drowned 

 by water that the metal could not well be got at and 

 worked out. 



Myddelton's spirit of enterprise was excited by the 

 prospect of battling with the water and getting at the 

 rich ore, and he had confidence that his mechanical 

 ability would enable him to overcome the difficulty. 

 The Company of Mines Royal were only too glad to get 

 rid of their unprofitable undertaking, and they airnvd 

 to farm their mines to Sir Hugh at the rental of 40 O/. 

 per annum. This was in the year 1617, some time after 

 he had completed his New River works, but before he 



