The Cornish soyle, for the most part, is lifted vp into many hils,
some great, some little of quantitie, some steepe, some easie for
ascent, and parted in sunder by short and narrow vallies. A shallow
earth dooth couer their outside, the substance of the rest consisteth
ordinarily in Rockes and Shelse, which maketh them hard for manurance,
& subiect to a drie Summers parching. The middle part of the Shire
(sauing the inclosures about some few Townes and Villages) lieth waste
and open, sheweth a blackish colour, beareth Heath and spirie Grasse,
and serveth in a maner, onely to Summer Cattel. That which bordereth
vpon either side of the Sea, through the Inhabitants good husbandrie,
of inclosing, sanding, and other dressing, carrieth a better hue, and
more profitable qualitie. Meadow ground it affoordeth little, pasture
for Cattel and Sheepe, store enough, Corne ground plentie.

Hils of greatest name and height are, Hinxten, Rowtor, Brownwelly,
S. Agnes, Haynborough, the foure Boroughs, Roche, Carnbray, and the
two Castellan Danis.

In the rest of this earthy description, I will begin with such
mynerals as her bowels yeeld forth, and then passe on to those things,
of growing, and feeling life, which vpon her face doe relieue
themselues.

These mynerals are not so deepe buried by nature in the entrailes of
the Earth, nor so closely couched amongst the Rockes, but that desire
of gaine with the instrument of Art can digge them vp: they may bee
diuided into stones and mettals.

Quarrie stones are of sundrie sorts, and serue to diuers purposes.