Peter,
> As I recall, it was Hammersley's view that silver kept the whole Mines
Royal / Lakes venture going for as long as it did when there was no market
for the copper.
Have you ever thought that Hammersley might have been wrong? The evidence
is certainly stacked against him. If, contrary to your claim that Germany
dominated the copper market, we accept that great amounts of copper came
into England and Wales (Scotland was doing its own thing) from Sweden (which
it did) - then there was clearly a demand for the metal. The problem was
that it was both expensive and imported and that did not help the balance of
payments. Also, trouble on the continent threatened our supplies. From
1592 to 1604, Sweden had a catholic king, which presumably cut off that
supply of copper.
Allowing for the usual ups and downs of trade - where was this demand?
Copper was in great demand to make cannons at a time of rearmament (even
allowing for recycling) to fight France then Spain.
Copper was used for casting bells at a time when large numbers of churches
were built or modernised.
Copper was used in wire making - to produce the combs used by wool combers.
Copper was used in coinage.
I've just pulled Peter Fleming's paper on German Miners at Coniston off the
shelf. He is trying to relate Hechstetter's reports to field evidence, but
he does quote sections of letters. These are all concerned with the copper
veins and their richness or otherwise. Silver is not mentioned.
>The Case of Mines. You are far too trusting of the motives of the powers
that be. Yes, "the Crown chose to cite the numerous grants relating to
silver-bearing ores to prove their case", but they also probably believed
and asserted that the Sun went round the Earth - that does not make it
right. As regards
the Lake District ore being 'rich' in silver, have you ever thought that
someone might have been lying - partly to get hold of a copper supply,
partly to encourage foreign money (from Haug Lagnauer & Co.) into the
country and also to get rid of the Duke of Northumberland - who was a
political threat (his family had been involved with Lady Jane Grey for a
start).
Mike
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