The resolutions of the judges upon the several statutes of bankrupts as also, the like resolutions upon 13 Eliz. and 27 Eliz. touching fraudulent conveyances / by T.B., Esq.

Mich. 4. Jac. Regis.

Case of the Stannaries.

It was Resolved this Term in the Star-Chamber, That the King had not the Emption of Tin in Cornwal by his Prerogative; for Stanni nec plumbi fodina, &c. or other sase Mineb, belong not to the King by his Prerogative, but to the Subject Owner of the Land. But the Empti∣on of Tin in Cornwal belongs to the King, as an antient Right and Inheritance: for though now a Reason can∣not easily be rendred of things done time out of mind; yet it may well be, that all the Land in that County was the King Demesne; and upon Grant of the Land, the King reserved the Mines to himself. These Tin Mines being of great Antiquity; as appears, Ex Diodoro Siculo, Et certo certius est. That all the Land in England, is de∣rived mediately or immediately from the Crown; and therefore such a Profit may have a reasonable Com∣mencement; Usage also allowing it to the King: for all Cornwal was within the King's Forest, which by King

John was disafforested; as by Cambden appears. And it is evident, that before 33 Ed. 1. all the Tin in Cornwal, and Devon also, was the Kings, whoever owned the Land. And this is proved by divers Records, and by an antient Charter of King John, among the Bishop of Exeters Re∣cords, In haec verba. Johannes Dei Gratia Rex Angliae, &c. Omnibus B••llivis salutem. Sciatis quod intuitu Dei, & pro salute animae nostrae, &c. dedimus &c. Deo & Eccle∣siae Beati Petri Exon, & venerabili Patri Simoni Exon. E∣piscopo & successoribus, &c. decimam de antiqua firma Stanni in Com. Devon. & Cornub. Habendum sibi & succes∣soribus, &c. cum omnibus libertatibus & liberis consuetu∣dinibus ad eam pertinentibus, per manus illius vel illorum qui stannaria habuerint in custod. &c.

Rex, Roberto de Courtney salutem, Mand••mus vobis quod sine dilatione & difficultate aliqua, habere facietis Do∣minae Johannae Reginae matri nostrae stannaria Com. Devon. &c. Paten. 1 H. 3. H. 4.

Rex concessit Johanni filio Richardi stannaria in Cornubia reddendo 1000 marks. 4 H. 3. Fines. 5 H. 3.

Rex, &c. Sciatis quod concessimus Richardo dilecto fra∣tri n••stro stannariam nostram Cornubiae cum pertinen. Prohi∣biting Tin to be transported without the said Richards Licence, 10 H. 3 M. 9.

See also 10 Ed. 2. Inqui. 2. Nu. 29.

There are two several Charters, both dated 10 April 33 Ed. 1. One, ad emendationem stannariarum nostrarum in Cornub. The other, Ad emendationem stannariarum nostra∣rum in Devon. That of Cornwall hath these word, Concessimus eisdem stannatoribus quod fodere possint stannum, et turbus ad stannum fundendum ubis{que} in terris nostris et vastis nostris, et aliorum quorumcun{que} in Com. praedict. et Aquas, et aqua∣rum cursus divertere, ubi et quoties opus fuerit, &c. ad sundaturam stanni sicut Antiquitus co••su••vit, sine impedi∣mento nostro seu aliorum quorumcun{que} Ac quod omnes stan∣natores nostri praed. totum stannum suum ponderatum, &c. licitè vendere possint cuicun{que} voluerint, faciendo nobis et hae∣redibus

nostris Cunageum, et alias Consuetudines debitas, nisi nos vel haerede nostri stannum illum emere volumus.

This was confirmed 4 Ed. 2. And also 1 & 17 Ed. 3. De Advisamento consilii nostri ordinavimus, quod stannum in Com. Cornub. et Devon. ad opus nostrum capiatur pro de∣fensione regni nostri, &c. Et ad partes marinas celeriter mittatur, &c. Ita quod hominibus quibus stannum illum ca∣pi contigerit de pretio ejusdem stami ad certos terminos sol∣vend. sufficiens securitas per nos fiat, Assignavimus vos, &c. ad capiend. ad opus nostrum totum stannum in Com. praed. Cunitum et etiam Cuniend. cum cunitum fuerit: with Au∣thority to take Carriages and Commandment to the Sheriff to pay for the same. Rot. Aml••yne An. 12. R. 2. part 1.

Edward the black Prince grant, and the King, (21 E. 3.) confirmed to Tydman of Lymberge, Cunageum Stannariae, &c. nec non emptionem totius Stanni, &c. in∣fra, &c. pro fine mille marcarum, et reddendo 3500 mar∣cas. The like done to one Brockhouse, 7 Ed. 6. The Char∣ter of 33 Ed. 1. was confirmed, 8 R. 2. 1 Ed. 4. 3 H. 7. The 11 H. 7. a certain weight and measure was or∣dained to be used through England; yet the weights be∣longing to the Carriage of Tin, were excepted in that Statute.

The Stile of the Court of Stannaries is, Magna Curia Domini Regis Ducatus sui Cornub. apud Cockerenton in Com. Devon. Johanne Comite Bedford Custode stannar. dicti Domini Regis aut Reginae in dicto Com. Devon. By which it ap∣pears, that all the Tin belonged to the King.

For the Antiquity of Tin Mines in Cornwall, see Cam∣d••n in Cornwell 121. And Diodorus Siculus, L. 5. c. 8. fo. 142. 6.

Upon which it was res••lved, 1. That the King hath all the Tin, as well in the Subjects Lands as his own.

2. It is absurd for the King to reserve Emption of his own Tin.

3. The King grants Stannatoribus divers liberties which are enjoyed by the Tinners, as well in the Subjects Lands, as the Kings own.