the late master William Carnsew, a Gentleman of good qualitie,
discretion, and learning, and well experienced in these mynerall
causes, who auouched himselfe an eye-witnesse of that Charter, though
now it bee not extant. Howbeit, I have learned, that in former time,
the Tynners obtained a Charter from king Iohn, and afterwards another
from king Edward the first, which were againe expounded, confirmed and
inlarged by Parliament, in the fiftieth yeere of Edward the third, and
lastly strengthened by Henrie the seuenth.

King Edward the firsts Charter, granteth them liberty of selling their
Tynne, to their best behoofe. Nisi (saith he) nos ipsi emere
voluerimus. Vpon which ground certaine persons in the Reignes of K.
Edward 6. & Queene Marie, sought to make vse of this preemption, (as I
have beene enformed) but either crossed in the prosecution, or
defeated in their expectation, gaue it ouer againe; which vaine
successe could not yet discourage some others of later times from the
like attempt, alleadging many reasons how it might proue beneficiall
both to her Highnesse and the Countrie, and preiudiciall to none saue
onely the Marchants, who practised a farre [18] worse kind of
preemption, as hath beene before expressed. This for a while was
hotely onsetted and a reasonable price offered, but (upon what ground
I know not) soone cooled againe. Yet afterwards it receiued a second
life, and at Michaelmas terme 1599. the Cornishmen, then in London,
were called before some of the principal Lords of her Maiesties
Council, and the matter there debated, by the Lord Warden, in behalfe
of the Countrie, and certaine others deputed for the Marchants, who
had set this suite on foote. In the end it grew to a conclusion, and
Articles were drawne and signed, but they also proued of void effect.

Last of all, the said Lord Warden, in the beginning of Nouember 1600.