24 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY

ſhould forfeit to the king a thouſand marks, and all the comminers their bodys and goods to be at the king?s plea- ſure or command that doth either hound or pound.

The old ancient occupation of miners in and upon Men- dipp, being the king's foreſt of Mendipp, within the county of Somerſet, being one of the four ſtaples of England, which have been exerciſed, uſed, and continued, through the ſaid foreſt of Mendipp, from the time whereof no man living hath not memory, as hereafter doth particularly enſue the order.

1. Firft, That if any man, whatſoever he be, that doth intend to venture his life to be a workman in the ſaid occu- pation, he muſt firſt of all crave licence of the lord of the ſoyle where he doth purpoſe to work, and in his abſence, of his officers, as the lead-reave or bailiffe, and the lord, neither his officers can deny him.

2. Item. That after the firſt licence had the workman ſhall never need to aſk leave again, but to be at his free will to pitch within the foreſt, and to brake the ground where and in what place it fhall pleaſe him, to his behalf and profit, ung himſelf truſtily and truly.

3. Ttem. If any man that doth begin to pitch or groof ſhall heave his hackes through two ways after the rake. Note, that he that doth throw the hacke mußt ſtand to the girdle or waiſt in the ſame groof, and then no man hall or may work within his hackes throwe, provided always that no man ſhall or can keep but his wet and dry groof and his mark.

4. Ttem. That when a workman have landed his oar, he may carry the ſame to cleanſing or blowing to what mi- Nery it ſhall pleaſe him, for the ſpeedy making out of the ſame, ſo that he doth truly pay the lord of the ſoyle where it was landed his due, which is the tenth part thereof.

5. Ltem.

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