Mr. Bushell's abridgment of the Lord Chancellor Bacon's philosophical theory in mineral prosecutions ...

A Declaration of Thomas Bushel Esq; Touching Mines Royal, to all persons whatsoever, that are Lovers of the Commonwealth, and Promoters of Pub∣like Actions, as well for the Welfare of the same, as for their own private Interest in a lawful way, to ease them of their Taxes.

WHereas his Highness the Lord Protector, having re∣ceived good assurance of the great Industry and long Experience of the said Thomas Bushel in Mineral discoveries, (demonstrated in his late Overtures presented to the Coun∣cil of State) hath been graciously pleased, by his Letters Pattents under the Great Seal of England, bearing date the

16 day of February 1654 to grant to the said Thomas Bushel, and his Coadventurers, full power and Authority to Dig, Delve, and search for all Mines Royal within the Territories of this Commonwealth, (rendring to the State every fifth Tun of all such Oar as shall hold Gold or Silver worth the re∣fining:) Provided, that if in pursuit thereof, (by carry∣ing on their chargeable Adits or Delves thorow the lowest Levels of Hills or Mountains) they discover any Mines that do not prove Royal, they shall then pay every tenth Tun of such Oar, as they shall there dig or delve, to the Proprietors of such Lands, and not to the State; that so the expectation of all moderate persons may be answered with a certain Profit without Charge, and himself and his Co-Adventurers not discouraged in a work of so publike concernment. In refe∣rence whereunto, his Highness the Lord Protector hath also graciously ratified to the said Thomas Bushel the former power he had to Coyn all such silver as he shall refine out of the Oar of the abovesaid Mines Royal: and in humble resentment of which favor, and as a grateful motive to stir up all mens affections and industries to the discovery of such Mines, the said Thomas Bushel hath engaged himself, to his Highness the Lord Protector, and his honourable Councel, and doth hereby engage himself, to free all such Parishes from their Taxes, or give to their poor the value thereof, in which any such Mine or Mines shall by the Parishoners of the same be disco∣vered unto him, so long as they shall be wrought; if by the judgement of the two next Justices of the Peace, they shall be proved rich and valuable.

The Premises seriously considered, the said Thomas Bushel earnestly entreateth all and every of you his loving Country∣men, who are well-affected to the Commonwealth, That you will unanimously be pleased to joyn your utmost Industry and Observation, in the diligent Discovery of all such Shods, Spars, Rakes, and Veins, as may (to your best judgement) appear Mineral, in your digging, delving, or plowing your Grounds: that, as much as in you lies, you may all agree in

this great Work, and act as the united Faculties of one man; whereby you may not onely prove instrumental to the mag∣nifying Gods glory in the excellency of his Creation, but per∣petuate your Memories by the noble Titles of loving Pa∣triots to your native Country: The honest desire whereof, hath so enflamed the said Thomas Bushel, that he unfeignedly professeth, as in the presence of God, That had he now an estate equal with the richest private person in England, he would employ it all in pursuance of so hopeful a Design, for the good of this Commonwealth, and in obedience to the Commands of his honoured Lord and Master, the late Lord Chancellor Bacon; albeit he hath in his former Undertakings of this nature, met with some of so contrary a disposition, that out of a poor private respect to their Herbage on some barren Mountains, by him proved to the Parliament not worth 3 d. an Acre per annum, they for seven yeers time concealed from him Mines therein so rich, that after his own happy discovery, one of them many yeers produced to him one hundred pounds sterling by the week, in Refined Silver, besides Lead to a good value. From whence may easily be inferred, that if you shall all prove cordial in this so great and good a Work, you may highly advance the honour and riches of our Country, and employ many thousands of poor men in an honest Labour, with good Wages, to support their Families, which now want employment.

The consideration whereof, hath moved his Highness the Lord Protector further graciously to promise to the said Thomas Bushel all other assistances that his honourable Councel shall hereafter conceive conducible to the perfecting of so hopeful, publike, and pious a Work.

And the said Thomas Bushel doth hereby declare, that if it shall please the Almighty to prosper him in this his underta∣king, that he shall then provide a certain convenient Place, and skilfull Artists, for the tryal and perfecting of all such Natural Experiments, as have been imparted to him by his said honoured Lord and Master: and in the mean time, he

hath prepared a Place very convenient, in Lambeth-Marsh; to which house, all persons concerned may direct their Dis∣coveries, to be assayed and tryed at the charge of me.