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Eustachius Roche AI simulator
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Eustachius Roche AI simulator
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Eustachius Roche
Eustachius Roche (floruit 1570-1600) was a Flemish mining entrepreneur in Scotland.
Roche was granted a monopoly to mine metals in Scotland, and work salt on the shore near Edinburgh, but his contract was terminated in 1592.
His surname was sometimes written "Roghe", or Rogghe", or "Roogh". He lived in Leith.
He had a contract for lead mining in 1580. In August 1583 James VI granted Eustachius Roche a contract with monopoly rights to mine for gold, silver, copper, and lead in Scotland. He was described as a "mediciner", a physician. There were other miners at this period including George Douglas of Parkhead and Thomas Foulis. A note made in September 1584 about his work at Wanlockhead reports that Roche had worked lead and copper, and searched for copper on Langcleuch burn, but not the gold at the old mines. One of his men was called John Gibson.
He seems also to have worked for Francis Walsingham, and wrote to him in April 1583 about an opportunity to serve England involving the French ambassador which he had taken. Eustachius sent Walsingham copies of letters of Maineville carried by Rocco Bonetti. James VI gave a mineral entrepreneur, evidently Roche, a letter of introduction to Walsingham in January 1584. He was travelling abroad to find expert workmen.
On 25 September 1588 Eustachius wrote from Edinburgh to a colleague Geoffrey le Broman. He discussed their alchemical practices. He had also been making salt from sea water, and claimed to have a new method that would undercut the price of French salt. He had made a contract with James VI that would make him rich, and Robert Sidney, who had recently been English ambassador in Edinburgh, had begun to discuss a similar privilege for him in England. Sidney left Edinburgh sooner than planned because of the death of his uncle, the Earl of Leicester. Roche thought Geoffrey could forward his schemes by reminding Sidney, preferably by approaching an acquaintance, Stephen Lesieur, Sidney's secretary. Geoffrey might also speak to Francis Walsingham. He enclosed a sample of salt and some Scottish flax that might interest a Master Martin. Eustachius sent a copy of his salt contract, to work salt pans at Newhaven on the west side of Leith, as a model.
Roche had these privileges for his trade secret, "the form of his furnaces and making of his great salt, which he will he not be content be communicated to others". In April 1588 the Privy Council, impressed with his estimates to improve revenue, made an act that Roche's heirs would inherit his 10% share. The council also declared it would seek justice for the murder of his workman Nicholas Wanraust or Van Raust.
On 27 December 1588 Edinburgh council allowed Roche the same lease or "tack" of lands at Newhaven, as the Englishmen had before, meaning the works previously set to Cornelius de Vos and his partners. The works were at the shore of the Wester Links of Leith between Wardie Brow and St Nicolas Chapel. In July 1590 he was asked to pay three years arrears of rent for the Newhaven holding. He gave up his lease on 12 May 1592.
Eustachius Roche
Eustachius Roche (floruit 1570-1600) was a Flemish mining entrepreneur in Scotland.
Roche was granted a monopoly to mine metals in Scotland, and work salt on the shore near Edinburgh, but his contract was terminated in 1592.
His surname was sometimes written "Roghe", or Rogghe", or "Roogh". He lived in Leith.
He had a contract for lead mining in 1580. In August 1583 James VI granted Eustachius Roche a contract with monopoly rights to mine for gold, silver, copper, and lead in Scotland. He was described as a "mediciner", a physician. There were other miners at this period including George Douglas of Parkhead and Thomas Foulis. A note made in September 1584 about his work at Wanlockhead reports that Roche had worked lead and copper, and searched for copper on Langcleuch burn, but not the gold at the old mines. One of his men was called John Gibson.
He seems also to have worked for Francis Walsingham, and wrote to him in April 1583 about an opportunity to serve England involving the French ambassador which he had taken. Eustachius sent Walsingham copies of letters of Maineville carried by Rocco Bonetti. James VI gave a mineral entrepreneur, evidently Roche, a letter of introduction to Walsingham in January 1584. He was travelling abroad to find expert workmen.
On 25 September 1588 Eustachius wrote from Edinburgh to a colleague Geoffrey le Broman. He discussed their alchemical practices. He had also been making salt from sea water, and claimed to have a new method that would undercut the price of French salt. He had made a contract with James VI that would make him rich, and Robert Sidney, who had recently been English ambassador in Edinburgh, had begun to discuss a similar privilege for him in England. Sidney left Edinburgh sooner than planned because of the death of his uncle, the Earl of Leicester. Roche thought Geoffrey could forward his schemes by reminding Sidney, preferably by approaching an acquaintance, Stephen Lesieur, Sidney's secretary. Geoffrey might also speak to Francis Walsingham. He enclosed a sample of salt and some Scottish flax that might interest a Master Martin. Eustachius sent a copy of his salt contract, to work salt pans at Newhaven on the west side of Leith, as a model.
Roche had these privileges for his trade secret, "the form of his furnaces and making of his great salt, which he will he not be content be communicated to others". In April 1588 the Privy Council, impressed with his estimates to improve revenue, made an act that Roche's heirs would inherit his 10% share. The council also declared it would seek justice for the murder of his workman Nicholas Wanraust or Van Raust.
On 27 December 1588 Edinburgh council allowed Roche the same lease or "tack" of lands at Newhaven, as the Englishmen had before, meaning the works previously set to Cornelius de Vos and his partners. The works were at the shore of the Wester Links of Leith between Wardie Brow and St Nicolas Chapel. In July 1590 he was asked to pay three years arrears of rent for the Newhaven holding. He gave up his lease on 12 May 1592.