N U M B E R X.
Of the G O L D M I N E S of S C 0 T L A iV D !
From a MS. o f Col. B orthw ick and others.
P a r t I. p . 1 15.
MR. Cornelius Devojfec, a lapidary in London, was the firft wfcJ
difcovered gold in Scotland. In the vallies of WanlockkJk
(near Leadhills) Abraham Grey, a Dutchman, who lived fome time iJ
London, got a good quantity of natural gold. He payed his work!
men weekly, and lent to diverfe men beforehand, as it is written ill
that parchment book, faying, with this natural gold, gotten in GreJk
beard’s time (for fo he was called, becaufe.of his great lon<rbeardl
which he could have bound about his middle) was made a very fail
deep bafon, without any addition of any other gold, at Edinburgh, in
the Canongate ftreet. It was made by a Scot/man, and contained bjl
eftimation, within the brims thereof, an Englijh gallon of liquor 1
the fame bafon was of clean neat natural gold. It was then filled!
up to the brim with coyned pieces of gold, called unicorns (which*
appear to have been only coined in James III. and James IV. time.!
For this vide Anderf. Diplom. et Numifmata Scotia) which bafon and*
pieces both were prefented to the French king by the regent Earl ofl
Morton, who fignified upon his honour to the king, faying, “ My lord,!
“ behold this bafon and all that therein is ; it is natural gold got!
, within this kingdom of Scotland, by a Dutchman, named Abraham I
"Qrey.” Abraham was Handing by and affirmed it upon a folemn
oath, but he faid unto the faid king, that he thought it did ingender
ind increafe within the earth; and that he obferved it fo to do by the
influence of the heavens : then Earl Morton ftood up, faying, “ I alfo
“ believe that it engenders within the earth, but only of thefe two,
“elements, viz. water and earth; and that it was made perfeft mal-
f‘ leable gold from the beginning by God; and am certain that this.
1“ cup, and all the pieces-therein,, are of natural ¿'«/r-gold, w-ithout
any other compound or addition.” |
| Mr. Atkinfon and Mr. George Bowes, both Englijhmen, procured,
icommiffion into Scotland unto the gold mines; and I happened on
pbookof his making in England: I compared-the fame (having carped
it with me into- Scotland) with the report of the country.: and the
countrymen at Wanlockhead faid it was- fo, and mod true, that Mr.
pw« difcovered a fmall vein-of gold upon Wanlockhead. He fwore
ul his workmen, to. keep it fecret from the king of Scotland and his
council; and fo he promifed, before his departure from England, to
he Queen Elizabeth -, and by her letters to. the council of Scotland,
lot a new warrant •, fo was fuffered- to dig and delve as he would,,
after another fafhion than Mr. Btdmer, or his men did. He digged
pndrylhafts ; found-oftimes good feeling gold, and much fmall
gold, of which he gave ten or twelve ounces, to make friends in.
pfland and Scotland. He had both Englijh and Scots workmen, and
pid-them with the fame gold. Mr. Bulmer’s men. found little or
Pone. And when he and his men had filled their purfes, then he
puled the ihaft to be filled up again, fwearing his men to fecrefy,,
M keep it clofe, from the King of Scotland and his council. This
psconfefied by fome of Mr. Bowes’s chief fervants,. fince his death.
On.