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HONI SOI QVI MAL Y PENSE  ❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation for the better making of Saltpetre within this Kingdom.  
FOrasmuch as the making of Saltpetre and Gunpowder, within Our own Realms and Dominions, is a great safety and benefit to Us and Our Subjects, assuring Us of a certain and sufficient provision thereof for Our and their defence, whereas the providing thereof from foreign parts, cannot but be full of difficulty and danger, depending upon the pleasure of other Princes and States, and when Our necessity shall most require the same, We shall be sure to purchase so precious a Commodity, at unreasonable Rates, and be enforced to pay ready Moneys, to be transported from hence, for the same, to the diminution of the Treasure of Our Realms: And if none of these inconveniences should happen, yet the bringing thereof by Sea, from foreign parts, is full of peril and hazard, being subject to the many casualties of Wind and Wether, the dangers of Shipwreck, and the interception of Pirates and enemies, and these may happen in times of our greatest necessity and want thereof.  
And whereas the practice and making of Saltpetre heretofore within this Kingdom, was, and is such, as tendeth much to the trouble, and grievance of Our loving Subjects, by digging up of their dwelling Houses, Dovehouses, and other outhouses, and also to their great charge, by removing of their Liquors, Tubs, and other Instruments, by carriages from place to place; Of which, although many complaints have been made, and often renewed, and all fit courses have been taken by Us and Our Privy Counsel, to ease Our Subjects of this trouble and charge, yet in a case of such inevitable necessity, the same cannot yet be totally taken away.  
And whereas since the first making of Saltpetre within this Realm, until this present, notwithstanding all the trouble and charge aforesaid, yet the Undertakers of the said Works, could never heretofore furnish this Realm, with a third part of the Saltpetre requisite for the service of Our own Dominions, especially in times of War, and greatest necessity thereof, But We, and Our Predecessors and Subjects, have been forced for their necessary use, to seek supplies thereof from foreign parts, which hath the rather happened, for that many to avoid the trouble of digging up their floors, have purposely prevented the growth thereof, and diverse of the Saltpetre men, have corruptly made a practice, to take Composition money of diverse, to forbear digging, or to execute their Commissions, which their partial course of proceeding, hath been very offensive to many of Our good Subjects, and if now the Saltpeter-men should continue in their accustomed course of working, & should strive to provide so great quantity of Saltpetre within these our Realms, for a few years together, as the necessity of the present times require, they would so impoverish the earth, fit for that purpose, that within a short time, We should be utterly destitute of that inestimable Treasure, there being no artificial means used for the enriching of the Earth to this use, the Earth of itself, by that which casually happeneth, not being able to engender that matter whereof Saltpetre can be extracted in many years.  
And whereas for the redress of these many inconveniences and grievances, Sir john Brooke knight, and Thomas Russell Esquire, have humbly offered their service unto us, and did undertake, both to us, and to the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, assembled in the late meeting in Parliament, by their industry and charge, to make yearly such quantities of Saltpetre, and of such good condition, as should be sufficient both for Our own and Our Subject's uses, with supply also of Our foreign neighbours in amity with Us, if occasion should so require, and that without digging any of Our Subject's houses, or outhouses of any kind, or charging them at all with carriages, as heretofore they have been, and yet are charged, to be effected and brought to pass by a new invention of them, the said Sir john Brooke and Thomas Russell, And of their abilities to perform the same, they then gave both to Ourself and to the said Lords Spiritual and Temrall good probability, and have sithence made sufficient and demonstrative proof thereof.  
And We have been graciously pleased by Our Letters Patents under the great Seal of England, bearing date the six and twentieth day of April last passed, (in compensation of their great pains and expense therein, and for encouragement of them, and all others to bend their studies to so profitable and public works, to the defence and benefit of Us and Our Subjects) to grant to them, the said Sir john Brooke and Thomas Russell, the sole Privilege of making Saltpetre, according to their said new Invention, for diverse years yet to come, with addition of such Privileges and aid on Our behalf, as the merit of so worthy an undertaking justly challengeth at Our hands, especially for their supply of such Requisites, as shall be therein necessary without charge to Our Subjects.  
And now by their humble Petition they have required none other assistance from Us, but that they might by Our Royal authority be provided of sufficient quantities of Urine, which will be useful for them to the extracting & making of Saltpetre, They the said Sir john Brooke and Thomas Russell, & their assigns, at their charges carrying away the said Urine, at due and convenient times, from the several places where the same shall be saved for their use, unto the place, or places where they shall have occasion to use the same; Which their humble Suit, We having taken into Our serious and Princely consideration, have thought fit, in a case of so great consequence, and for the redeeming of so great and continual a charge and trouble, to Our loving Subjects to grant the same.  
And therefore We do hereby publish and declare Our Royal pleasure to be, and We do strictly charge and command all and every of Our Subjects, inhabiting within Our Cities of London and Westminster, and the Suburbs of either of them, with the Borough of Southwark and all other places of the said Cities, and suburbs, aswell within liberties as without (near unto which, the said Sir john Brooke and Thomas Russell, have already erected a work for the making of Saltpetre,) and also all other Our loving Subjects inhabiting within all and every other Cities, Towns, and Villages, within this Our Realm of England, That they and every of them, from and after notice given unto them severally and respectively, or left for them at their dwelling houses, shall carefully and constantly keep and preserve, in some convenient vessels, or receptacles fit for that purpose, All the Urine of man during the whole year, and all the State of Beasts, which they can save, and gather together, whilst their Beasts are in their stables or stalls; And that they be careful to use the best means they may, for the saving, gathering together, and preserving of the said Urine and Stolen, without any mixture of water, or other things to be put therein; Which Our Commandment and Royal pleasure, being so easy to be observed, and so necessary for the public service of Us, and Our people, We expect and straight charge, shall be duly and carefully observed and performed; And if any person shall be remiss or negligent in the due observance hereof, We shall esteem of all such as persons contemptuous and ill affected both to Our Person and State, and are resolved to proceed to the punishment of every such offender, with that severity which by the Laws of this Realm, or by Our Prerogative Royal We may.  
Nevertheless, Our will and pleasure is, That no person shall incur any contempt concerning the premises, unless notice be first given, or left unto or for him or her, as aforesaid, by the Constable or Headborough of that parish or place where such person dwelleth or inhabiteth, and unless the said Sir john Brooke, & Thomas Russell, or their assigns, do once in every four & twenty hours in the Summer time, (that is to say) from the first of April, until the first day of October, and once in every eight and forty hours in the Winter time, (that is to say) from the first of October, until the first of April in every year, carry away the same from those places where the same shall be so preserved for them: And therefore We do hereby require and command all Constables and Headboroughs, That they and every of them, upon request made to them or any of them by the said, Sir john Brooke and Thomas Russell, or their assigns, be aiding, assisting, and diligent in the execution of Our pleasure herein before declared, as they and every of them will answer the contrary at their perils.  
Given at Our Court at Whitehall, the second day of januarie, in the second year of Our Reign of Great Britain, France, and Ireland.  
God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton and john Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. M.DC.XXVI.