THe Kings most Excellent Maiestie , hauing both by the iudgement and opinion of sundry persons of skill , and by diuers trials and good experiments , receiued aduertisement of great probabilities , and assured hopes of finding within His Realmes of England and Ireland , and the Dominion of Wales , many rich Mynes of Siluer and other Mettals , hauing in them Siluer and Gold , which by his Maiesties lawes and prerogatiue Royall , do of right belong to his Imperiall Crowne ; and hauing receiued diuers Ouertures and Propositions , for the discouering and working the same , hath beene pleased ( as in a matter of speciall importance for the enriching of his Kingdomes ) not onely to commend the same ot the serious consideration of His priuie Counsell , but maturely to consult and aduise thereon himselfe , and in the end , after many and deliberate debatements thereof , hath with the aduise of His priuie Counsell resolued vpon these ensuing Articles .

First , that Leases for one and twentie yeeres shall be made vnder the great Seale of England for any the said Mynes , vnto such as will vndertake the same , either in his Maiesties owne lands and soyle , or in the lands and soyle of any others within either of the said Realmes or Dominion , except the Countie of Cardigan .

Secondly , That for encouragement of the said Lessees , they shall hold the same two yeeres from the date of the said Leases free from any rent or payment to his Maiestie .

Thirdly , in case the said Lessees shall discouer any such Myne within the limits and bounds conteined in their Leases , and after opening thereof , the Veine shall be found to runne into any other grounds adiacent , and being without the limits and bounds conteined in the said Leases , the Lessees shall be enabled to follow and worke after the same Veine into all other places ( excepting Mynes opened by others in the same ground , into which the Veine runneth , before the discouery made by such Lessees ) alwayes allowing vnto such owners and possessors of the ground for the time being , into which the Ueine runneth , and is followed , double the value of the dammage they shall susteine any way , the same to be valued by the two next Iustices of Peace ; and in case that by colour hereof any wrong be maliciously done , then further recompense to be giuen to the partie grieued vpon his complaint to the Kings Ma●estie , or the Lords of the priuie Counsell , as the qualitie of the cause shal merit . And the said Leases shall ●enteine such other ample Priuiledges , Clauses and Couenants as shal be fit , and may best encourage the the said workes .

Fourthly , to the intent the said Mynes shal not lie vnprofitable , as heretofore , his Maiesties pleasure is , That the said Vndertakers shall so prepare and begin their worke with such conuenient expedition , as that from the end of two yeeres after the date of their Leases , they shall allow and pay his Maiestie the proportion of Siluer and other Mettall hereafter mentioned , and shall effectually proceede therein with ●uch competent stocke and number of workemen , as the scituation , richnesse , and condition of the Mynes shall require , and shall yeeld to his Maiestie from the end of the said two yeeres , the tenth part of all the Gold , Siluer , Copper , and Lead extracted and refined , which shall proceede or come of the sayd Mynes . And for the more ease and expedition of such as shall sue for any such Leases , the Lord Treasurer and Chancellor of the Exchequer within the Realme of England , or either of them in the vacancy of the other . shall and may , without other suit to his Maiestie , appoint the limits and bounds to be contained in each mans Lease , and giue order accordingly to his Maiesties Attourney generall . And his Maiestie in fauour to the owners of the lands , within which the sayd Mynes are , is pleased , that they , or such as they shall nominate , be preferred to the said Leases before all others , so as they attend the said Lord Treasurer or Chancellor , and take the same within three Moneths after the publishing of this his Royall Proclamation in the Countie where the said lands lie . And in case they doe not attend and take the same within that space , then such persons shall be admitted to take Leases thereof , as shall first make suit for the same .