❧ By the King. ❧ A Proclamation for preservation of Grounds for making of Saltpetre, and to restore such grounds as are now destroyed, and to command Assistance to be given to His Majesty's Saltpeter-makers'.  
ALthough by Our former Proclamations We have declared the most necessary and important use of Gunpowder, as well for supply of Our own Navy Royal and the shipping of Our loving Subjects, as otherwise for the defence, strength and safety of Our people and Kingdoms, and how great a blessing it is of Almighty God to this Realm, that it naturally yields sufficient Mines of Saltpetre for making of Gunpowder, without any necessity to depend upon the dangerous, chargeable and casual supplies from Foreign parts: Yet notwithstanding, We are informed, that diverse of our Subjects of this Realm have been so fare from the apprehension of the care We have & take of the Kingdom's safety, That they have of late times sundry Ways much more impaired and destroyed the growth and Mines of Saltpetre, then formerly: But however, as We in Our Princely care, will not omit any providence against what inconveniences may ensue, so must We not endure the contempts of such as be disobedient Subjects, but (by reviving aswell that Proclamation, of the six and twentieth day of December, one thousand six hundred twenty four, published by Our late dear father, concerning Saltpetre, as that which sithence was published in the first year of Our Reign) Let all sorts of Delinquents know that We intent strictly to proceed against them according to the several branches thereof, for all offences contrary to the Tenor of the same, since the promulgation thereof, without respect of any person: saving that We think fit to declare that We will not have any sacred ground be Stirred, Digged, or Opened, by authority of any Commission granted or to be granted for this service. And the better to meet with all offenders in this behalf, We have lately Granted Our Special Commission to diverse of the Lords and others of Our Privy Council, to whom we have committed the trust and care of that important service; Giving them full power and authority, aswell to assist Our Saltpeter-makers', and their Deputies, in their lawful proceed in that employment for such Our especial service, as also upon complaint made unto them, or some of them, and due proof thereof made, to give speedy reformation to all impediments and mischiefs concerning the same.  
And to take away all pretence of ignorance of Our Royal pleasure in this behalf, We by the advice of the Lords and others of Our Privy Council, do again publish and declare, and hereby strictly charge and command all Our Subjects of whatsoever estate, degree, or condition, That no person or persons whatsoever within this Our Kingdom of England, or Dominion of Wales, do from henceforth pave with stone, or brick, or Floor with board any Dove-house, or Dove-coate, or any such warehouse, or outhouses, as are allowed by Our Commission, to be wrought for Saltpetre, or any Cellar, or Vault, (excepting only in that part of the Cellar or Vault where the Beer lieth, and excepting such Cellars and Vaults only, wherein Noblemen and Gentlemen of revenue and quality, do lay or draw their wine, beer, or cider, or other drink for the provision of their household) or do lay the same with lime, sand, gravel, or other thing, whereby the growth and increase of the Mine of Saltpetre may be hindered or impaired, but shall suffer the floor or ground of the places aforesaid, to lie open with good and mellow earth, apt to breed increase of the said Mine, and Saltpetre, and so continue the same.  
And that no Innkeeper's or others, that keep Stables for travellers and passengers, do use any deceitful means or devices, whereby to destroy or hinder the growth of Saltpetre in those stables, and that no stables at all (other than the stables of the Lords Spiritual, and Temporal, and of Gentlemen of quality) be found pitched, paved, or gravelled, where the horse feet use to stand, but plancked only, nor be paved, pitched, or gravelled before the planks next the maungers, but that both places be kept and maintained with good and mellow earth, fit and apt to breed and increase the Mine of Saltpetre, and be laid with nothing which may hinder or hurt the same. And likewise that all & every such person and persons, as having heretofore since the last Proclamation had any Dove-house, Dove-coat, Stable, Cellar, Vault, Warehouse, or other Outhouses, (which were then good Nurseries for the breed of the Mine of Saltpetre) have sithence carried out the good mould from thence, and filled the place again with lime, gravel, sand, rubbish or other like stuff; or paved, boarded, or plancked the same, whereby the Growth of the Mine of Saltpetre there hath been decayed or destroyed, shall and do within two months next coming, take up the said pavements, boards, or planks again, and carry out the said gravel, lime, and other stuff from thence, and fill the place again with good and mellow earth, fit for the increase of Saltpetre three foot deep at the least, and so continue and keep the same for the breed of Saltpetre Mine.  
And for as much as We are further advertised, that it is grown of late to a frequent practice, to erect Dovehouses, or to floor them three or four foot from the ground, whereby the quantity of the Mine of Saltpetre, which was usually wont to grow in the Floor of Dovehouses, is almost wholly decayed to the great prejudice of Our said service, and which in time will be a means to overthrew this work: Our Will and pleasure is, and We do hereby straight charge and command that such Dovehouses be forthwith by the present Owners or Occupiers thereof altered and amended, by demolishing and pulling up those Floores and false bottoms, and by laying those Dovehouses open and free to the bare earth or ground, whereby the Mine of Saltpetre may grow and increase, according as anciently hath been used & accustomed, and that from henceforth, no other or more Dovehouses be erected or suffered to be built after that way, or upon any upper lofts or Floores, so much tending to the prejudice of that which should be serviceable to the Common wealth.  
And to the end that our Royal will and pleasure may from time to time hereafter be more duly observed in the premises, We do hereby require and command all & every Our justices of Peace, and all other Our Officers whatsoever, That they & every of them, upon request to them made by Our Saltpeter-makers', or their Deputies authorised in that behalf, or any of them, do resort and enter into, and make search in all Dovehouses, Cellars, Vaults, outhouses and Stables (other then as aforesaid) there to view and see, whether they be so Paved, Gravelled, or otherwise so built, Floored or bottomed from the ground as aforesaid, Or any other way or means practised, in deceit, or evasion, or contrary to any the Proclamations of Us or Our late Fathers, published in that behalf: And thereupon to take order and see that a full and due reformation be thereof speedily had and made, according to Our Command herein, and in Our former Proclamations declared and published in that behalf.  
Lastly for that notwithstanding all Our care and providence, We may justly suspect, that there will still be discovered some refractory persons in this behalf, Therefore We do hereby require & authorise all Our judges of Assize in their several Circuits, justices of Peace in every several County of this Kingdom, Majors, Sheriffs, Bailifeses, Constables & all other Our Officers & Ministers from time to time, as occasion shall require, to be furthering, helping, aiding and assisting to Our Saltpeter-makers', and their deputies, upon request in that behalf made, according to the Tenor of Our said Commission, and the effect of this and the former mentioned Proclamations of Our Father, and of Ourself.  
And We do hereby straight charge and command all manner of persons whatsoever carefully and diligently to observe and perform the said Proclamations before mentioned, and Our Royal pleasure therein expressed, as they and every of them will avoid Our heavy displeasure, and the censure of being holden contemners of Our Royal Commandment, in a matter of so high consequence for the public service and safety of Our State and Kingdom, and upon such further penalties and punishments, as for example to others, their contempts and want of duty shall demerit and in Our High Court of Starchamber or otherwise shall be found fit to be imposed upon them.  
Given at Our Court at Whitehall, the foureteenth day of March in the tenth year of Our Reign of England, Scotland, France and Ireland.  
God save the King.   

❧ Imprinted at London by ROBERT BARKER, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majesty: And by the Assigns of john Bill. 1634.