It flieth away in
sulphur, and the fumes are extreme unwholsom: it is full of (as it
were) brasse, and strikes fire very well. It is mundick, or mock-oare.
The Earle of Pembroke hath a way to analyse it: not by fire, but by
corroding waters.
Anno Domini, 1685, in Chilmark, was found by digging of a well a
blewish oare, with brasse-like veines in it; it runnes two foot thick.
I had this oare tryed, and it flew away in sulphur, like that of
Steeple Ashton.
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On Flamstone downe (in the parish of Bishopston) neer the Race-way a
quarrie of sparre exerts itselfe to the surface of the turfe. It is
the finest sparre that ever I beheld. I have made as good glasse of
this sparre as the Venice glasse. It is of a bright colour with a very
little tincture of yellow; transparent; and runnes in stirias, like
nitre; it is extraordinary hard till it is broken, and then it breakes
into very minute pieces.
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We have no mines of lead; nor can I well suspect where we should find
any: but not far off in Glocestershire, at Sodbury, there is. Capt.
Ralph Greatorex, the mathematical instrument maker, sayes that it is
good lead, and that it was a Roman lead-worke.
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Tis some satisfaction to know where a minerall is not. Iron or coale
is not to be look't for in a chalky country. As yet we have not
discovered any coale in this county; but are supplied with it from
Glocestershire adjoyning, where the forest of Kingswood (near
Bristowe) aboundeth most with coale of any place in the west of
England: all that tract under ground full of this fossill.
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