718 REPORT—1863. 
and liberty to turn-watercourses for their works at pleasure. Thirty years. 
later certain mines of lead mixed with gold and lead ore are mentioned in 
Shropshire. “A concealed mine of gold” is referred to (1401) in a letter 
of mandamus, and in 1426 Henry VI. granted to John, Duke of Bedford, 
‘* All mines of gold and silver within his kingdom of England for 10 
years, paying the tenth part to the Holy Church, to the king the fifteenth, 
and to the lord of the soil the twentieth part.” In 1438 the same king 
granted to John Sellers all mines of gold and silver in Devon and Corn- 
wall, and all mines of lead holding silver and gold, to hold (from the 
expiration of 12 years formerly granted to the Duke of Bedford) for 20 
years, paying the fifteenth part of pure gold and pure silver. In 1451 the 
same king made his chaplain, John Boltwright, comptroller of all his 
mines of gold and silver, copper, lead, &c., within the counties of Devon 
and Cornwall, and in the following year the same Boltwright is mentioned 
as “ Provost and Governor of all his mines,’ and a grant was made to 
him of all mines of copper, tin, and lead, in Devon and Cornwall, to hold 
during his good behaviour, paying the tenth part of pure gold and silver, 
copper, tin, and lead, with power to let and set for 12 years, paying to the 
king the tenth bowl of ore, &c., holding gold or silver, and to dig without 
interruption, &e. 
These notices, some of them referring to mines generally, and others only 
as contained in certain counties, are curious as showing the manner of the 
Crown’s disposal of them. The constant mention of gold and silver is quite 
different to any mining conditions of modern times, and the limited periods 
of 10 or 12 or 20 years would seem to imply that no large works were con- 
templated—the continued security for a long period under which alone 
extensive and deep mines can now be worked not being required in virgin 
mines, when the readiness of the implements and machinery were adapted 
only for operations of an inconsiderable depth. In 1468, Edward IY. granted 
Richard, Earl of Warwick, John, Earl of Northumberland, and others, all 
mines of gold and silver, &c., on the north side of Trent, within England, 
and all mines of lead holding gold or silver in the same parts for 40 years, 
paying to the king the twelfth part of pure gold and silver, and to the lord of 
the soil a sixteenth part, with liberty to dig, except under houses and castles, 
without license. In 1475 the same king granted to Richard, Duke of Glou- 
cester, Henry, Earl of Northumberland, and others, the mines of Blanchland 
called Shildon, in the county of Northumberland, and the mine of Alston 
Moor called Fletchers; the mines of Keswick, in Cumberland, and the copper- 
mine near Richmond, to hold the same for 15 years, paying to the king the 
eighth part, to the lord of the soil the ninth part, and to the curate of the 
place a tenth part as they arise. In 1478 the same king granted, on sur- 
render of the former grants, to William Goderswick and Doderick Wavyers- 
wick, all mines of gold, silver, copper, and lead in Northumberland and 
Westmoreland, to hold the same for 10 years, paying to the king a fifteenth 
part, and to the lord of the soil, and to the curate, as they can agree. In 
1486, Henry VIL., by his letters patent, dated February 27th, made Jasper, 
Duke of Bedford, and other Earls, Lords, and Knights, commissioners and 
governors (a designation retained until very lately in the direction of the 
estates of Greenwich Hospital) of all his mines of gold, silver, tin, lead, and 
copper in England and Wales, to answer the profits to the king, and made 
Sir William Taylor comptroller to hold the same for twenty years, with 
liberties of court and other privileges, paying to the king the fifteenth part 
of pure gold and silver, and to the lord of the soil the eleventh part as it 
