1could make anything that is beautiful
and perfect without using metals?
Ev
if tools of iron or brass were not used, we could not make tools of wood a
stone without the help of metal. From all these examples are evident t
benefits and advantages derived from metals. We should not have ha
these at all unless the science of mining and metallurgy had been discovere
and handed down to us. Who then does not understand how highly usef
they are, nay rather, how necessary to the human race? In a word, ma
could not do without the mining industry, nor did Divine Providence wi
that he should.
if tools of iron or brass were not used, we could not make tools of wood a
stone without the help of metal. From all these examples are evident t
benefits and advantages derived from metals. We should not have ha
these at all unless the science of mining and metallurgy had been discovere
and handed down to us. Who then does not understand how highly usef
they are, nay rather, how necessary to the human race? In a word, ma
could not do without the mining industry, nor did Divine Providence wi
that he should.
Further, it has been asked whether to work in metals is
honourab
employment for respectable people or whether it is not degrading an
dishonourable. We ourselves count it amongst the honourable arts. Fo
that art, the pursuit of which is unquestionably not impious, nor offensive
nor mean, we may esteem honourable. That this is the nature of th
mining profession, inasmuch as it promotes wealth by good and hones
methods, we shall show presently. With justice, therefore, we may clas
it amongst honourable employments. In the first place, the occupatio
of the miner, which I must be allowed to compare with other methods o
acquiring great wealth, is just as noble as that of agriculture; for, as th
farmer, sowing his seed in his fields injures no one, however profitable they
may prove to him, so the miner digging for his metals, albeit he draws forth
great heaps of gold or silver, hurts thereby no mortal man. Certainly these
two modes of increasing wealth are in the highest degree both noble and
honourable. The booty of the soldier, however, is frequently impious,
because in the fury of the fighting he seizes all goods, sacred as well as
profane. The most just king may have to declare war on cruel tyrants,
but in the course of it wicked men cannot lose their wealth and possessions
without dragging into the same calamity innocent and poor people, old
men, matrons, maidens, and orphans. But the miner is able to accumu
late great riches in a short time, without using any violence, fraud, o
malice. That old saying is, therefore, not always true that “Every rich
man is either wicked himself, or is the heir to wickedness.”
employment for respectable people or whether it is not degrading an
dishonourable. We ourselves count it amongst the honourable arts. Fo
that art, the pursuit of which is unquestionably not impious, nor offensive
nor mean, we may esteem honourable. That this is the nature of th
mining profession, inasmuch as it promotes wealth by good and hones
methods, we shall show presently. With justice, therefore, we may clas
it amongst honourable employments. In the first place, the occupatio
of the miner, which I must be allowed to compare with other methods o
acquiring great wealth, is just as noble as that of agriculture; for, as th
farmer, sowing his seed in his fields injures no one, however profitable they
may prove to him, so the miner digging for his metals, albeit he draws forth
great heaps of gold or silver, hurts thereby no mortal man. Certainly these
two modes of increasing wealth are in the highest degree both noble and
honourable. The booty of the soldier, however, is frequently impious,
because in the fury of the fighting he seizes all goods, sacred as well as
profane. The most just king may have to declare war on cruel tyrants,
but in the course of it wicked men cannot lose their wealth and possessions
without dragging into the same calamity innocent and poor people, old
men, matrons, maidens, and orphans. But the miner is able to accumu
late great riches in a short time, without using any violence, fraud, o
malice. That old saying is, therefore, not always true that “Every rich
man is either wicked himself, or is the heir to wickedness.”
Some, however, who contend against us, censure and attack miners by
saying that they and their children must needs fall into penury after a short
time, because they have heaped up riches by improper means. According
to them nothing is truer than the saying of the poet Naevius:
saying that they and their children must needs fall into penury after a short
time, because they have heaped up riches by improper means. According
to them nothing is truer than the saying of the poet Naevius:
“Ill gotten gains in ill fashion slip away.”
The following are some of the wicked and sinful methods by which
they say men obtain riches from mining. When a prospect of obtaining
metals shows itself in a mine, either the ruler or magistrate drives out the
rightful owners of the mines from possession, or a shrewd and cunning
neighbour perhaps brings a law-suit against the old possessors in order to
rob them of some part of their property. Or the mine superintendent imposes
on the owners such a heavy contribution on shares, that if they cannot pay,
or will not, they lose their rights of possession; while the superintendent,
contrary to all that is right, seizes upon all that they have lost. Or,
they say men obtain riches from mining. When a prospect of obtaining
metals shows itself in a mine, either the ruler or magistrate drives out the
rightful owners of the mines from possession, or a shrewd and cunning
neighbour perhaps brings a law-suit against the old possessors in order to
rob them of some part of their property. Or the mine superintendent imposes
on the owners such a heavy contribution on shares, that if they cannot pay,
or will not, they lose their rights of possession; while the superintendent,
contrary to all that is right, seizes upon all that they have lost. Or,
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