To the Kings most Excellent Majesty, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled.  
The humble Petition of Thomas Russell, Esquire.  
Sheweth:  
THAT WHEREAS, the making of Salt-Peter within His Majesty's Realms and Dominions, is a great safety and benefit to His Majesty, and His Subjects in general, for that it effecteth and assureth a certain provision thereof, for the furnishing of his Majesty's Stores, for the strength, defence, and benefit of his Majesty's said Realms and Dominions; which if it should be had from foreign parts, is not to be obtained, but at the pleasure of other Princes, and most commonly at unreasonable Rates, and the same so obtained, might happen to be intercepted, or by contrary winds hindered, in time of need, or utterly lost by Shipwreck, or other casualties on the Seas: And if no such hazard were, yet the same is not usually to be bought, but for ready money to be transported, and paid for the same; whereby the Treasure of his Majesty's Realms would be diminished, and other foreign Kingdoms thereby enriched. And whereas for making of the Salt-Peter, which hath been formerly, and now is made in his Majesty's said Realms and Dominions, the Subjects have had, and still have their Houses, Dovehouses, Cellars, etc. digged up to their great trouble; and also their Carts taken for carrying of the Liquors, Tubs, etc. to places fare remote, to their exceeding great prejudice, which hath occasioned many complaints, not only to the justices of Peace in most parts of his Majesty's Dominions, but oftentimes to His Majesty, and the Lords of His Highness' privy Counsel. And whereas also, there was never yet made, since the first making of Salt-Peter in this Kingdom, being about the beginning of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, of famous memory, notwithstanding all the trouble and grievance of the Subject, a third part of the Saltpetre, used for the ordinary service of the Kingdom, and in diverse years not so much as was spent for the King's Store, nor near so much in time of War, when there was most occasion of it, but aswell the King, as the Subject, were forced to procure the same from Barbary, France, Poland, Hamborough, and other places in Germany. The Salt-peter-men having formerly used, as commonly they now do, to the abuse of the King and the Subject, to take Composition money, of some two shillings, of some five shillings, of some ten shillings, of some more, of some less, to spare their Houses, Stables, and Dovehouses from digging, whereby the service intended, for making Salt-Peter, for his Majesty is wholly neglected, though the Subject be continually charged with such composition money. And further if the Salt-Peter-men, in their accustomed course of working, should for a few years longer dig Houses, etc. for making of so great a quantity of Salt-Peter as the Kingdom shall require, they would so impoverish the earth, that they would in short time hardly make any at all, there being no artificial means used by them for enriching the earth, but that which casually happeneth, of which it is not fit to make Salt-Peter, again in many years. And whereas his Majesty was informed, that the Petitioner had by his great travail, pains, industry, and charges discovered and made known, a new way and means, not heretofore known, practised and perfected, for the making and refining, of perfect, good, serviceable, and Merchantable Salt-Peter, etc. whereby the Subject should be freed from the digging of their houses, etc. And likewise from taking up Carts for carrying their Liquors, Tubs, Ashes, etc. from place to place. And withal, that by this new way, the King should have what quantity of Salt-Peter soever should be required both for his own Store, and all provisions of the Subject, and for his neighbour Nations, being in league and amity with his Majesty  
Upon which Information, It pleased King james of blessed memory, to refer the consideration thereof unto the Duke of Buckingham his Grace, the Right Honourable the Earl of Middlesex, than Lord Treasurer of England, and the Right honourable the Earl of Totnes, Master of the Ordnance: Who after long and many serious debatings (diverse trials being made of the certainty of making Saltpetre in this new course proposed, and the goodness thereof,) were pleased to recommend it back to the said King james, as a proposition fit to be embraced, and a Privilege for the said Work to be granted to the inventor (for his encouragement) for 21. years. But the warrant to Master Attorney General to draw up the said privilege, being made solely by the said Earl of Middlesex, was so unequally limited to price, and no certainty for the payment thereof being delivered, with other strict Conditions and provisoes, unfitting for so great a Service, intended for the general good; That those who intended to adventure the Stock for erecting the Works, were thereby utterly disheartened, and would not proceed therein, whereby all the former charge of bringing the Invention to perfection, and procuring the Privilege being solely laid out by the Inventor, was like to be utterly lost, and the service intended for the good of the Commonwealth wholly neglected.  
WHEREUPON a Petition being lately exhibited to His Majesty that now is, for enlargement of the said Grant, It hath pleased His Majesty, for the encouragement of the Inventor, and to ease the Subject of the now grievance, and secure the Kingdom with quantity of Salt-Peter, graciously to condescend thereto: For the speedy execution and advancement of which work, The Inventor is ready upon his own charge to erect a Work forthwith, about the City of London, which after the Earth is ripened, and impregnated for making of Salt-Peter, shall produce weekly as much Salt-Peter, as now is or usually hath been made in London and the liberties thereof; notwithstanding all the trouble the City is now put unto: By which means there shallbe made a full demonstration to such Persons as this honourable House shall appoint, both of the certainty of the Works, the profit of it, the quantity, and the continuance thereof for ever. And that the Salt-Peter which shall be made in this new course, shall be fare better, and more useful in all conditions required in Salt-Peter, for the making of Powder, than any that now is brought into His Majesty's Storehouse, from any Salt-Peter-worke in this Kingdom, or imported from any parts from beyond the Seas. But because so great a work as this, for speedy making of the quantity of Salt-Peter, for the service of the whole Kingdom, cannot conveniently be effected by any private Purse: The Inventor therefore most humble prayeth, That this honourable house, will settle some present course, That upon the demonstration made, as aforesaid, the sum of 20000. li. may be in a readiness, which will be required for erecting, and stocking so many works, as shall be sufficient to make 500 ton of Salt-Peter yearly, for his Majesties, and the Subject's expense. The said sum of 20000. li. to be laid out according to the direction of the Inventor, by such persons as this Honourable House shall for that purpose select; which Stock of 20000. li. shallbe repaid in seven years, by even and equal portions yearly, either in Saltpetre, or in money, the first payment thereof to commence from the time that the Works shall be erected, and made fit to make Salt-Peter, which may be completed and fitted within one year, and the Stock of Coals, Urine, and Ashes provided; By means of which Stock of 20000. li. the Petitioner may be enabled, (after demonstration upon his own cost and charges made as aforesaid) to erect and stock so many works, as shall serve to make sufficient quantity of Salt-Peter for the service of his Majesty and His Subjects, as aforesaid. It being a thing so much tending to the Subject's ease, and the Kingdom's security. And further, that this House will be honourably pleased to confirm his Majesties Grant to the Petitioner, for the said term of 21. years by Act of Parliament. In consideration whereof, besides all the former advantages to the Subject, in freeing them from the now grievance, and safety of the King and Kingdoms, by making quantity of Saltpetre sufficient for the service of the Kingdom; The Subject in general, which have any occasion to use Powder, shall for ever reap a great benefit, fare beyond the use of that money which the Petitioner doth require, for erecting and stocking the works: both in regard of the goodness of the Saltpetre for making Powder, and in the cheapness thereof: For the Subject shall have Saltpetre double refined, 10. li. in every Tun better cheap than now they pay for Saltpetre, brought from beyond the Seas, which though it be but once refined, is now worth 90. li. the Tun. The difference of these two being above 5. li. the Tun, which is upon just account 15. li. on a Tun cheaper; By which means they will also have their Powder 15. s. on every Barrel better cheap. For the Powder maker will deliver 100 weight of Powder for 112. li. weight of Saltpetre once refined, which loseth 12. li. in the great hundred at the second refining: So if the Subject spend 400. Tons of Powder a year, the advantage will be to the Subject in general 6000. li. yearly. And in regard the only material for the artificial impregnating of Earth for engendering Saltpetre is Urine, there may be most of all the common Beggars about London, and in other Cities and Towns corporate, where the works shall be erected, continually employed, for gathering of Urine for the use of the said works, whereby they may have a competent means for their living without begging.  
If it please this Honourable House to accept this offer of the Petitioner, he will make it apparent by this course, that there may be provided within two years next following a Magazine of Powder in every City, Town corporate, Fort, and Port of this Kingdom, for seven years Store, always before hand in readiness, for any service; there being sufficient Materials in the places aforesaid to be had every year, for seven years provision, and the truth of this may be shown to such as this Honourable House shall appoint, within two months.  
The Petitioner humbly proffereth, and dedicateth this his service, with all his labour, time spent, and charge formerly bestowed, for the good of his Majesty, and the honour and safety of the Kingdom, to the grave consideration of the Honourable Assembly, in this high Court of Parliament; And if any can propound a better course, for easing the Subject of the now grievance, and the safety of the Kingdom in general, by providing sufficient quantity of Saltpetre to be always in readiness in several places of the Kingdom, where Works may be erected, the Petitioner will ever be ready, to the uttermost of his skill and endeavour, to further and advance the same.