Short title: Attorney General of the Duchy of Lancaster v Cavendish. Plaintiffs:...

Short title: Attorney General of the Duchy of Lancaster v Cavendish.

Plaintiffs: Attorney General of the Duchy of Lancaster [at the relation of Thomas Eyre].

Defendants: William, Lord Cavendish.

Documents: depositions concerning Meadow Plecke [Meadow Place] and Congesburie Moor [Conksbury] in the High Peak, Derbyshire.

Taken 4 October, 15 James I.

Deponents for plaintiffs: Thomas Heath of Over Hadden [Over Haddon], miner, aged 44, deposed that the inhabitants of Meadowplecke owe suit to the manor of High Peak, 'for heath herd' [for he has heard] that this was the case in the past. Lead has been dug at Meadowplecke for 16 or 17 years but no barmote was ever kept. Ore has been got at One Ash Grange for 10 years. Lord Cavendish owns it and Brushfield manor. Deponent has worked lead at One Ash Grange and has paid lot and cope to the Duchy of Lancaster Barmote. [Lot a mineral duty paid by the miner to the lord of the liberty to search for and mine ore. Cope duty paid by the buyer of the ore to the lord of the liberty]. [Recites custom of free mining which prevails in 'any man's ground within the hundred of high peak']; George Staley of Over Hadden, miner, aged 39, whose memory goes back 20 years and more [to 1597]; Nicholas Tym of Over Hadden, aged 40, deposed he was the first to 'break any ground' in Over Hadden with William Smith and George Staley 16 or 17 years ago; Michael Frost of Conksbury, miner, aged 60, whose memory goes back 40 years [to 1577], deposed that ore was dug in Meadplecke 37 years ago; George Bagshawe of Flagg, yeoman, aged 28, whose memory goes back 14 years [to 1603], deposed that the Countess of Shrewsbury was owner of Brushfield and Lord Cavendish was owner of One Ash Grange. 'he hath heard' [he has heard] that these territories were abbey land. Lead ore was got in both manors for 14 years and he and his father collected lot and cope there for all that time; Richard Ward of Priestcliffe, miner, aged 56.

Deponents for defendants: George Staley of Over Hadden, miner, aged 39, whose memory goes back 20 years [to 1597], deposed that he has worked in Meadowplecke for 20 years during which time he and all other miners working there have agreed with Hugh Bateman [recently deceased] '& some tymes paid unto him money in respect of theire workeing there and sometyme lot and meere dishes and sometymes allowed him lead for theire working there, and sometymes sould to him or his sonne theire lead ore at an under valew' [and sometimes paid to him money in respect of their working there and sometime lot and meer dishes and soemtimes allowed him lead for their working there, and sometimes should to him or his son their lead ore at an under value] he admitted that in his personal memory mining only resumed there 20 years ago [1597]. The miners of Meadowplecke have never been under any barmote or barmaster until last year [1616]; William Smith of Over Hadden, miner, aged 46, whose memory goes back 20 years [to 1597]; Michael Frost of Conksbury, miner, aged 60, whose memory goes back 40 years [to 1577], deposed that the Bailiff Boulton ran Meadowplecke for George [Cavendish] Earl of Shrewsbury at that time. He kept a dish to measure ore 'at meadowpleck chappell' [at Meadowpleck Chapel] and there measured ore and agreed terms with miners. [Dish measure of lead ore based on a standard brass dish, usually oblong in shape]; Mr Gibbs of Youlgreave, miner, aged 50, whose memory goes back 30 years [to 1587]; George Marple of Youlgreave, miner, aged 52, whose memory goes back 40 years [to 1577], deposed that he was a washer of lead ore in the old works that had been in Meadowplecke about 34 years ago. At that time the Bailiff Bolton measured the ore and bought it 'at under valew' [at under value] and discharged the depoennt's father and others of all duties; Steven Guyte of Youlgreave, miner, aged 56, whose memory goes back 30 years [to 1587], deposed that he and his brother WIlliam washed and dressed ore on the old works at Meadowplecke about 30 years ago [1587].