OF CORNWALL. 191 
and the toll-tin, which was the Lord’s fhare, might remain diftind 
and inviolated. What bounds are has been already mentioned, p. 167, 
the right granted in fuch bounds is now before us ; and for the 
better promotion of tin-working in all waft and uninclofed grounds, 
every tinner had leave to place his labour in fearching for tin ; and 
when he had difcovered tin, (after due notice given in the ftannary 
court to the Lord of the foil, and formally regiftering the intended 
bounds without oppofttion or denyal) he might, and at this time 
ftill may, mark out the ground in which he fhould chufe to purfue 
his difcovery, by digging a fmall pit at each angle of fuch wafteral, 
which pits are called bounds ; by this means he did acquire a right 
in all future workings of fuch grounds, either to work himfelf 
or fet others to work upon his own terms, referving to the Lord of 
the foil one fifteenth part of all tin raifed therein. In Devonfhire 
“ the tinners conftitution (fays Mr. Carew, page 14) enables them 
to dig for tin in any man’s ground inclofed or uninclofed, without 
licence, tribute, or fetisfadion,” which infraction of common pro- 
perty fhews that the conftitution of the ftannaries was never equi- 
tably eftablifhed in that county, as the fame judicious author ob- 
ferves. Thefe pits, all bounders, by tbemfelves or others, are ob- 
liged to renew every year, by cutting the turf and cleaning up the 
dirt and rubbifh which falls into them, to the intent that fuch land- 
marks may not be obliterated. In confideration of thefe privileges 
fo granted by charter, the gentlemen tinners obliged themfelves to 
pay unto Edmund and his fucceflors Earls of Cornwall, the linn of 
four fhillings for every hundred weight of white tin, a very high 
duty at the time it was laid on, the tinners of Devonfhire then pay- 
ing but eight pence for every hundred weight of tin ; and that the 
payment of this tax might be the better fecured, it was agreed, that 
all tin fhould be brought to places purpofely appointed by the Prince, 
there weighed, coined, and kept, till the Earl of Cornwall’s dues 
were paid. To this charter there was a feal with a pick-axe and 
fhovel in faltire (fays Carew, page 17), as he was informed by a 
gentleman who had feen this charter, though in Carew’s time it 
was not extant. 
In the thirty-third of Edward I. this charter of Edmund feems 
to have been confirmed, and the tinners of Cornwall were made a 
diftind body from thofe of Devonfhire ; whereas before, the tinners 
of both counties were accuftomed to meet on Hengfton Hill every 
feventh or eighth year to concert the common intereft of both par- 
ties \ Two coinages yearly, viz. at Midfummer and Michaelmas, 
were alfo granted by this charter, and the tinners had the liberty 
* Camden, page 26. 
of 
