2. More Excellent, not onely in respect the Invention of making of Iron with Pit-cole and Sea-cole will preserve Wood and Timber of Great Brittain so greatly consumed by Iron-Works of late.
But also in respect, this my Invention will preserve many Millions of Tuns of Small-cole in Great Brittain, which will be lost in time to come, as formerly they were, for within ten miles of Dudley Castle, is annually consumed four or five thousand Tuns at least of small Pit-cole, and have been so consumed time out of mind under ground, fit to have it made Pit-iron with; which coles are and (unless Iron be made therewith) will be for ever totally and annually lost; if four or five thousand Tun of Cole be consumed within ten miles compass, what Coles is thus consumed in all England, Scotland, and Wales? which is no good Husbandry for Great Brittain, hinc ille lacrime, that our Timber is exhausted.
Must I still be opposed, and never enjoy my Inventions, nor Great Brittain the Benefit?
Must my Pattent be obstructed in Peace, as it was extinct by the Wars?
And must not my Pattent be Revived for the making of Iron with Pit-cole, Sea-cole, Peat, and Turf, but find Enemies still to oppose it?
How many thousand Tuns of Iron might have been made but since my first Invention, An. Jacob. 18th by my means with Pit-cole, and Sea-cole (lost) if I had not had Enemies; and had not wood and timber been preserved?
But most men will aver, that it doth concern the Author to Demonstrate the great losse mentioned formerly of Pit-cole annually;
It is thus,
There is at least within ten miles of the Castle of Dudley, twelve or fourteen Cole-Works, some in Worcester, and some of them in Stafford-shire (now in work, and twice as many in that Circute not in work) each of which Works get two thousand Tun of Cole yearly, some get three, four or five thousand Tun of Coles yearly: and the uppermost or top measures of Coles are ten, eleven, and some twelve yards thick; the Coles Ascending, Basseting, or as the Colliers term it, Cropping up even unto the superfices of the Earth, and there the Colliers formerly got the Coles; but where the Coles is deep and but little Earth upon the measures of Coles, there the Colliers rid off the Earth, and dig the Coles under their feet; these Works are called Foot-rids.
But of these Works there are now but few, some of these small Coles in these open Works, the poor people did carry away, but paid nothing for them in former times, termed the Brain Carriages.