tooles heads of Brasse, which some terme Thunder-axes, but they make
small shew of any profitable vse. Neither were the Romanes ignorant
of this trade, as may appeare by a brasse Coyne of Domitian's, found
in one of these workes, and fallen into my hands: and perhaps vnder
one of those Flauians, the Iewish workmen made here their first
arriuall.

[9] They discouer these workes, by certaine Tynne-stones,lying on the
face of the ground, which they terme Shoad, as shed from the maine
Load, and made somwhat smooth and round, by the waters washing &
wearing. Where the finding of these affordeth a tempting likelihood,
the Tynners goe to worke, casting vp trenches before them, in depth 5,
or 6. foote more or lesse, as the loose ground went, & three or foure
in breadth, gathering vp such Shoad, as this turning of the earth doth
offer to their sight. If any ryuer thwart them, and that they resolve
to search his bed, hee is trained by a new channell from his former
course. This yeeldeth a speedie and gaineful recompence to the
aduenturers of the search, but I hold it little beneficiall to the
owners of the soyle. For those low grounds, beforetime fruitfull,
hauing herethrough their wrong side turned outwards, accuse the Tynners
iniurie by their succeeding barrennesse.

To find the Load-workes, their first labour is also imployed in seeking
this Shoad, which either lieth open on the grasse, or but shallowly
couered. Hauing found any such, they coniecture by the sight of the
ground, which way the floud came that brought it thither, and so giue
a gesse at the place whence it was broken off. There they sincke a
Shaft, or pit of five or six foote in length, two or three foote in
breadth, and seuen or eight foote in depth, to proue whether they may
so meete with the Load. By this Shaft, they also discerne which was