16
LETTERS ON SCIENTIFIC SUBJECTS.
commodity shold it be for the Quenens Majestie, and the common weale of this Kingdome, by such a secret, not onely threasor hid may be deciphered in precise place: but, also, it may be disclosed where, in this land, any mynes, vaynes, or owre of gold or silver be naturally planted. And here (by the way) I must note unto your Lordship the name and argument of one strange boke, ihich, in old tyme, was in this land,—Pandulphus de meatibus terræ: qui cunctas venas, meatus, atque aditus subterraneos, conflexiones, specus, antra et interiora latibula, cavernulasque terrarum, porositates, profunditates, concavitatesque totius sæculi materialis, et ambitus subtus terram enumerat singillatim. So that by this and the former boke it may appeare what manner of philosophers and mathematiciens have bin in tymes past. Conclusionally than, in respect of all the premisses, one part of my present sute unto your honor is that, by your lordships wisdome, the Queens Majestie may be induced to think somwhat favorably (as very many other, noble and lerned, of forrayn lands do) of my great travailes, patience, constancy, costs, and credit, in matters philosophicall and mathematicall: and thereuppon, in the ende of my carefull race, to let some token of her Majesties royall good affection precede toward me, whome, your lordship knoweth (or may know) that emperors, kings, princes, dukes, marchises, erles, barons, and other many men, of great powre and magnificent courrage, have sued unto (in my tyme) to enjoye my simple talent, in their service or company: to whome all, I ever have given answer (as my duety was, and my stomach served me therto) for the honor of my naturall and drad soveraigne (for that tyme) here raigning. Your honor knoweth that thresor trouvé is a very casuall thing: and of which, althowgh the prerogative of the Q. Majestic do entitle to her a proprietie, yet how seldome her Grace hath hitherto receyved any commodity therby,—it is to your honor better known, than unto me. But as for mines of gold and silver, to be in England or Ireland, many have written and reported both of old tyme, and latter: as I think, your honor hath, ere this, hard abundantly discoursed. The value of a myne is a matter for a King's threasor; but a pot of two or three hundred pownds, &c., hid in the grownd, wall, or tree, is but the price of a good boke or instrument for perspective, astronomy, or som feat of importance. And truely vulgar, obscure persons, as hosiers and tanners, can (by colour of seking assays of metalls, for the say master) enjoye liberty to content their fantasies to dig after dremish demonstrations of places, &c. May not I, than (in respect of all the former allegations of my pains,