Short title: Attorney General v William [Cavendish] Earl of Devonshire. Plaintiffs:...

Short title: Attorney General v William [Cavendish] Earl of Devonshire.

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

Defendants: William [Cavendish] Earl of Devonshire.

Documents: depositions concerning the claims of the crown to lot and cope at Little Longstone and common rights in Brushfield, Derbyshire.

Taken 4 October, 19 James I.

Deponents for defendants: Michael White of Brushfield, miner, aged 57, whose memory goes back 16 years [to 1615], deposed that the lands of Beathlie and Geatholes were part of the commons of the manor of Longstone, Monsalldale and Brushfield. Thomas Eyre has leased the right to lot and cope in the manor. The deponent has himself collected the lot and cope. [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]. 54 dishes were paid for lot at midsummer and Christmas at one of the mines at Boothley. [Dish measure of lead ore based on a standard brass dish, usually oblong in shape]; Robert White of Great Longston, yeoman, aged 40, deposed that he was a farmer of lot and cope of Little Longstone east of the Wye and of Putway Hill on the west side of the river. This delivered enough ore in the first year in lot payments to make two pigs of lead of eight in the fother. In the first year he received 11 loads and 8 dishes of lot ore and 25s. 4d. for cope; Thomas Hulley of Monksalldale, miner, aged 60, whose memory goes back 20 years [to 1601]; Roger Wibbersley of Priestcliffe, yeoman, aged 44, deposed that he was a farmer of lot and cope for Thomas Eyre at Boothley and Goatholes; John Buxtons of Brushfield, husbandman, aged 86, whose memory goes back 70 years [to 1551]; Hugh Eyley of Putway Hill, Little Longstone, miner, aged 58, whose memory goes back 20 years [to 1601]; George Holme of Brushfield, miner, aged 30; Richard Ware of Priestcliffe, yeoman, aged 58; Thomas Purlowe of London, gentleman, aged 45.