❧ By the King.  Royal blazon or coat of arms.  
¶ A Proclamation for prevention of abuses touching Gunpowder and saltpetre.  
WHereas His majesty hath been informed, that many and great quantities of unserviceable Gunpowder haue been heretofore, and are daily still vented within this His kingdom, to the apparent and manifest danger, loss and prejudice of his loving Subiects, the merchants of the same, and all others that be occasioned to make use of it, insomuch that not onely many of their Ships with their goods and merchandises, but also their persons( by means of this defective powder being very weak and bad) haue been lost and surprised: And his majesty hath also been certified, as well by some of the Lords and others of his privy counsel( to whom he was pleased to commit the care of this so important a business) as also by the Commissioners of his navy( to whom the same was referred) that this inconvenience is occasioned, partly by reason of importation of foreign Gunpowder being insufficient, partly by defective making of powder within this realm covertly and secretly, and without warrant of his majesties Commission, and especially for that the said defective powder, as well imported as made within the realm, is put to sale before it be duly proved as it ought, and as all the gunpowder made for his majesty is tried and proved by a proof-master assigned and sworn for that purpose.  
His most Excellent majesty( whose care doth ever watch over the weal of his loving Subiects) taking these things into his royal consideration, is resolved to meet with, and prevent these so imminent and perilous enormities for the time to come: And for redress thereof, his majesty doth hereby signify his pleasure to all his loving Subiects and others; and his Highnesse doth by this his Proclamation strictly charge and command, That no person or persons whatsoever, do at any time hereafter make, or cause to be made for service against any enemy, or for sale, any gunpowder, within this realm of England, or the Dominion of Wales, of any saltpetre made, or to bee made within the said realm or Dominion, but of such saltpetre onely as is, or shalbe made by warrant of his majesties Commission granted, or to be granted in that behalf. And that no Saltpeeterman, or maker of saltpetre do at any time hereafter, transport, or cause to bee transported into the parts beyond the Seas, or sell, utter, or put to sale, or cause to be sold, uttered, or put to sale within the said realm or Dominion, any saltpetre made within the said realm or Dominion, but onely to his majesties storehouse, to his majesties powder-maker there. And that no person or persons whatsoever, do hereafter presume to buy any saltpetre, made, or to bee made by virtue of his majesties Commission, but his majesties Powder-maker only, to whom it shall not be lawful to receive for any powder by him to be sold to his majesties Subiects above ten pence the pound: And that no gunpowder whatsoever, be hereafter at any time uttered, sold, or vented within this realm or the dominion of Wales, by any person or persons whatsoever, before the same be tried, proved, and allowed of, by the said sworn proof-master, and by him marked, as herein after is expressed, whereby all his majesties loving Subiects may take notice of the sorts of the said gunpowder, and the goodness thereof, and the uses to which it may the most aptly be applied.  
And because much inconvenience may arise by fraud and deceit in counterfeiting the proof-masters mark, or by mingling the powder by him marked, with other decayed or insufficient stuff, and otherwise; His majesty doth further hereby charge and command, That no person or persons whatsoever, do attempt or presume to counterfeit any mark which shall hereafter bee used by the said sworn proof-master, to the purpose aforesaid, or do work, or put in practise any fraud, deceit, or slight, by mixing or mingling any gunpowder, or otherwise, whereby his majesties intent and meaning before expressed, may bee altered, diverted, or abused; Letting all his Subiects and others know, that whosoever shall commit any offence against this his majesties Proclamation, or any part thereof, or in any point infringe any prohibition or declaration of his majesties pleasure herein expressed, shall not only incur his majesties heavy indignation and displeasure, and be subject to such pains, penalties, imprisonment, and punishment, as by the laws and Statutes of this realm can or may be inflicted vpon them, as breakers and contemners of his majesties royal command, but also undergo the severe censure of his high Court of star chamber for such their offences according to their demerits. And his majesty doth hereby require and command, that the said sworn proof-master, which shall haue the trying and proving of Gunpowder, bee diligent, attendant, and careful to do his duty therein faithfully and truly, as to him belongeth, and not to mark any vessel of powder to be sold or vented, as aforesaid, but such as shalbe good and sufficient for the necessary use of his majesties Subiects, and answerable to the marks: And that he do not take or receive above six pence in currant English money, for any barrel of powder of one hundred weight,& so proportionably, which shall by him be tried, proved and marked, as aforesaid, as he will answer the contrary at his peril.  
And his majesties pleasure is, That he, and all other his Highnesse Officers in general, bee vigilant and careful to see this his Proclamation fully executed, and to discover all offences, fraudes and deceits, which shall bee committed, put in practise, or attempted contrary to the true meaning of the same, and to give information from time to time to his majesties attorney general, as well of the said abuses and offences, as of the offenders themselves. And also commanding and authorizing his said attorney general for the time being, vpon such information given unto him, to prosecute and proceed against the said offenders in the Court of Star-chamber: It being his majesties express pleasure, that severe punishment shall bee executed vpon all the said offenders whatsoever.  
given at our Palace of Westminster, the sixteenth day of january, in the twentieth year of Our reign of Great britain, France and Ireland.   

❧ The marks of the proof-master, whereby the goodness of the Powder may bee understood.  
If the barrel bee marked with three Crownes on the staue heads, it is of the best and principal Receipt of fine Powder which is made.  
If with two Crownes, it is new, strong, and good Powder for great Ordnance, and may serve for Musket also.  
But if you find the cask marked with O.W. and one crown, then it is old powder, new wrought, yet strong, good, and fit for great Ordnance, for one yeeres service at the least.  
God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton and John Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent majesty. M.DC.XXII