I R  dieu ET MON DROIT HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE  royal blazon surmounted by a crown and flanked by the English lion and Tudor rose on one side and the Scottish unicorn and thistle on the other  
¶ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation for the preservation of Grounds for making of Salt-Peeter, and to restore such Grounds which now are destroyed, and to command assistance to be given to his majesties Salt-Peeter-makers.  
WHereas the making of Salt-Peeter and Gunne-powder within Our realms and Dominions, is a great benefit, strength, safety and defence to us and Our Subiects in general, in that it effecteth and assureth a certain provision thereof to be had for the furnishing of Our stores at all times, and from time to time with such needful provisions, as in time of necessity, being to be had from foreign parts, are not to be obtained but at the pleasure of other Princes, at unreasonable rates and prices, and the same being so obtained, may happen to be intercepted, or by contrary winds hindered, or utterly lost by shipwreck, or such like Casualties on the Seas; And if no such hazard were, yet the same is not to be had but for ready money to be transported and paid for the same, whereby the Treasure of Our realms would be much diminished, and other foreign realm thereby enriched: And seeing there is within Our own realms great plenty of the Mine of Salt peter( if it be preserved,& not suffered to be destroyed) the benefit whereof is not meet to be lost, nor the employment of many of Our loving Subiects thereabouts to bee neglected,( which great blessing of God unto this kingdom, in giuing it means for the defence thereof, within itself, can never be truly valued but by the want thereof) Wee heretofore, and at this time, haue committed the care of this business to persons of Honour and especial trust, to the end Our kingdoms might not be unfurnished with that provision, which so much concerns the strength, safety, and defence thereof, and of us, and all Our Subiects in general; neither on the other side Our Subiects might be wronged by the saltpeter makers, who haue authority to make the same. Yet We are credibly given to understand, that this great blessing of God unto this kingdom is abused,& like to be utterly lost, by the evil dealings of many ill disposed persons( who respecting more their own then the public good) and having dovehouses for breeding of Pigeons, being in some measure a grievance and an inconvenience, and an offence to Our Subiects in general, in destroying their corn, and other grain, much more then the profit which it any way bringeth, either to the public, or owners thereof, might therefore well, without grudging, be contented to afford the dung thereof for the increasing of so necessary a provision, as concerns both the safety of themselves, and of the whole kingdom; yet being not sensible of the great danger and inconvenience that the want of these provisions may bring vpon the kingdom in general, and themselves in particular, do take liberty unto themselves daily to use, and practise many ways and devices purposely to spoil, kill, and utterly to destroy the Mines of Salt-Peeter, and the growth and increase thereof, as well in such dovehouses and Douecoats, as in Cellars, stables, and other places in their possessions and occupations( wherein the same Mines are naturally apt to breed and increase, and which are allowed to be wrought and used for Our service) by carrying out of such places the ground or earth that is naturally good for that service,& laying the same vpon their land, and by pitching, paving and laying of such places with bricks, Stones, planks, Boardes, Lime, Sand or gravel, by which means a great part of the best and most sufficient grounds, which heretofore haue been good, and wrought for Our service, are now spoiled and destroyed, and the like practices are daily used vpon those grounds that yet remain good, although the same hath been forbidden by Our express Commandement in our Commission granted for that service from time to time, for the space of these ten yeeres, vpon pain of Contempt in that behalf. Notwithstanding which Our royal Commandement therein, the practise is still continued( as wee haue been certified, as well by some of the Lords and others of Our privy council, to whom Wee committed the care of this so important and weighty a business, as also by the Commissioners of Our navy, to whom the same was referred) to the contempt of Our royal authority, and the utter destruction of Our said service; Insomuch that if some great care and speedy course bee not taken to restrain such doings, and to preserve the Mine and grounds for Salt-peeter that yet remain good, and to restore such( as haue formerly been destroyed) to their perfection, this kingdom of England,( which hath hitherto been provided for within itself, and hath been able to furnish other Our realms and Dominions of provision for Salt-peeter in time of need) must in very short time bee driven to bee beholding to foreign parts for the same provision for the defence of Our realms.  
Wee therefore, according to Our accustomend care, taking into Our princely consideration this so weighty and important a business of State, Our care being always to watch over the weal of Our Subiects, are resolved to meet with and prevent these so eminent and perilous enormities for the time to come; And for redress thereof, do hereby signify Our pleasure to all Our loving Subiects and others: And therefore do by this Our Proclamation straitly Charge and command, That no person or persons whatsoever, of what degree or quality soever, within Our kingdom of England, and dominion of Wales, do at any time or times hereafter, pave, or lay with brick, ston, Plancke-boardes, Lime, Sand, gravel, or other thing whatsoever, that shall or may any way hurt, hinder, or prejudice the growth and increase of the Mine of Salt-peeter, any Douehouse or Douecoat, or any Warehouse or Outhouses, allowed by Our Commission to be wrought for Our service, 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 onely, wherein Noblemen and Gentlemen do lay or draw their Wine, beer or cider for the provision of their household: And that no Stables bee paved, pitched or graveled, where the Horse feet use to stand, but plancked onely, and neither gravel, Stones, nor pitch bee deceitfully( as heretofore hath been used) laid under the planks, nor before the planks next the Manger, purposely to destroy the growth of the peter, and to keep the Peter-men from working, but onely good earth, and such as is fit and apt to breed and increase the Mines of peter: And that no attorneys, or others that keep Stables for travelers and passengers, do use any deceitful means or devices, whereby to hinder or destroy the growth of Salt-peeter in those Stables, which are the principal places to bee kept for cherishing of that Mine, vpon such pains and penalties, as by the laws and Statutes of this Our realm, or by the severity or Censure of Our Court of Starrechamber may be inflicted vpon the offenders, for contempt of this Our royal Command. And whereas Wee are certified, That many of the aforenamed places haue heretofore had the Earth, that was naturally good for Our service, carried out by the owners thereof, and la● vpon the Land, purposely to destroy the Mine of saltpetre, and in the same places haue been laid Sand, gravel, Lime, ston, bricks, boards, planks and other things, which haue not onely disabled those places for being fit for Our service, as otherwise they would haue been, but do also keep such places from ever being good, or yielding any Salt-peeter, so long as they bee so kept and continued: Wee do therefore hereby straitly charge and command, vpon the pains and penalties aforesaid, That all, and every person or persons whatsoever, of what estate or degree soever, that haue in their possessions or occupations any Douehouse or Douecoat, that heretofore hath been, or now is laid with brick, ston, Sand or gravel, Lime, planks, or other things whatsoever, to hurt or hinder the growth and increase of the Mine of saltpetre in any of the places aforesaid, That they, and every of them being the owner, or present possessor or occupier of any such Douehouse or Douecoat, so heretofore, or at this present pitched, paved or laid with Bricks, Stones, Lime, Sand, gravel, Boards, planks, or other thing whatsoever, that doth or may hurt, hinder or prejudice the growth or increase of saltpeter, do within three Moneths after the date hereof, at his or their own proper costs and charges, take up and carry out of every such place or places, all such Bricks, Sand, Stones, gravel, Lime, planks, Boards or other things whatsoever, that shall stand, or lye in any such place or places, being hurtful or hindering to the growth and increase of the Mine of saltpeter; And that they and every of them being the owner or present occupier or possessor of every such place, do within the time before limited, lay again into every such place or places, out of which any ground, brick, ston, Lime, Sand, gravel, planks or boards is taken up or carried out, as is before mentioned, so much of the richest, mellowest, and best mould of earth or horse-dung, being rotten and dry, as shall level and fill up the floor of every such Douehouse or Douecoate, three foot deep at the least, to the end that all such places may bee the sooner ready to furnish Our store with the greater proportion and better saltpetre.  
And if any person, or persons, of what degree or condition soever, shall, after the publishing of this Our will and pleasure, presume to carry, or suffer to be carried out of any Douchouse, Douecoat, Cellar, or Vault, any ground or earth, that is good for this Our service, or shall lay, or suffer to be laid into any such place, any brick, Stones, Sand, gravel, Lime, planks, Boards, or other things, that shall or may hurt or hinder the growth of saltpetre, or do keep, or suffer to bee kept, contrary to the intent above mentioned, in any of their possessions, or occupations, any such place, or places, that heretofore haue been, or now are laid with brick, ston, Lime, Sand, gravel, planks, Boards, or other things hurtful, or hindering to the growth and increase of saltpetre, and do neglect or delay, to cast out the same out of every such place, or places, and to fill again and level, every such place three foot deep, at the least, with such materials as is before commanded, within the time limited; That then such pains and penalties, as aforesaid, shall bee inflicted vpon the offenders, for contempt of this Our royal command.  
And Wee do further will and Command, vpon the pains and penalties aforesaid, that from henceforth, no saltpetre makers, or their seruants, that shall dig any place, or places, allowed by Our Commission for the making of saltpetre, do leave the earth vncast in, in those places where they shall work, but do throw all such earth in the place again, and then spread, and lay the same in orderly sort, for the better increase and growth of saltpetre( according as is provided in our said Commission, and in the covenants by them sealed) and that no owners of the said grounds shall interrupt, or hinder them in their so doing.  
And moreover, Our will and pleasure is, and Wee do hereby, give full power, liberty, and authority, unto our Saltpeeter-makers, and every of them within the several divisions, where they, or any of them, shall be lawfully authorised to work for our service, that it shall, and may bee lawful, for them, and every of them, at all times in the day time, with the Constable of the town, Parish, or place, to go into the lands, houses, and possessions of any Our loving Subiects, to search and see, how Our Commandement is obeied and fulfilled, and the grounds made fit for Our service, without any let, contradiction, or interruption of any of Our Subiects.  
And whereas Wee are informed, that some of Our Subiects of eminency, place, and authority( to the ill example of others) do deny Our saltpetre makers the grounds allowed unto them, to bee wrought for Our service, by Our Commission, and are very backward, and slow in giuing unto Our Saltpeeter-makers, such assistance for taking such order, with such as deny the grounds, and carriages as by Our Commission is commanded; By which connivence, Our authority is grown to bee contemned, and Our Saltpeeter-makers sustain such great loss, and hindrance in doing of Our service, that they are utterly discouraged, and disabled in doing, or performing the service required of them: These are therefore straitly to charge and command all Our loving Subiects( vpon the pains and penalties aforesaid) that they and every of them, do from time to time quietly permit, and suffer Our Saltpeeter-makers, and every of them, that are lawfully authorised to do Our service, to haue such grounds, carriages, and other helps and assistance, as by Our Commission is allowed unto them, without any of their lets, hindrances, or delays. And whereas information is given by the deputy Saltpeeter-makers, and great complaint is made by them, that diuers evil disposed persons, do daily persuade and draw their seruants, by giuing them money corruptly to spare their grounds, from being digged for saltpetre, and thereby do not onely defraud Our service, but hinder the Saltpeeter-makers, that they cannot perform the proportion, which they are bound to deliver into Our store;  
We therefore, hereby straitly charge and command, vpon the penalties aforesaid, that no person, or persons whatsoever, vpon the pains and penalties aforesaid, shall corruptly, directly, or indirectly give unto any persons whatsoever, pretending themselves to be Saltpeeter-men, any money to spare their grounds, as aforesaid. And that no such Saltpeeter-man, or other person whatsoever, shall take any such bribes, vpon any pretence to the ends aforesaid.  
And for the more better, and speedy performance of this Our service, Our Will and pleasure is, That the Commissioners for our navy shall from time to time take notice of all such complaints, as shall be brought unto them, touehing any offence that shall bee committed contrary to this Our Proclamation; And that the Commissioners shall certify the same to Our Right trusty and Right well-beloved cousin and counselor George, Duke of Buckingham, Lord high admiral of England, and Our Right trusty and well-beloved counselor George, Lord Carew, Master of Our Ordinance, to whose especial trust and care We haue committed the government of this business, by Our Commission under Our great seal of England; And that they, or either of them, shall from time to time sand for all offenders complained of, and cause the offenders complained of, to be examined by Our said Commissioners of Our navy, and vpon their report take such further order therein, by referring the offenders to be prosecuted in Our Court of starchamber, or otherwise, as to their wisedoms shall seem meet.  
And further, We do by these presents Will and require all and singular Maiors, Sheriffes, Iustices of Peace, bailiffs, Constables, Headboroughs, and all other Our Officers, and Ministers whatsoever, that they, and every of them, in their several Offices, and places, be diligent and observant in the due execution of this Our Proclamation, and also to be aiding and assisting unto such person and persons and his and their Deputies, as are or shall be so( as aforesaid) authorised and appointed, as well for discovery of any act or acts to be performed, contrary to the intent of these presents, or the tenor of Our said Commission under Our great seal, as otherwise, in doing and executing of any matter or thing, for the accomplishing of this Our royal commandement.  
And further, Our Will and pleasure is, And We do hereby charge and command Our attorney general for the time being, to inform against such persons in Our said Court of starchamber, from time to time, whose contempt and disobedience against this Our royal commandement, shall be certified unto him, and to prosecute every such information speedily and effectually, until the same shall be brought to sentence; It being Our express Will and pleasure, that severe punishment shalbe executed vpon all the said offenders whatsoever. And, as Wee haue signified Our pleasure, how severely We will punish such as shall disobey this Our Proclamation: So We let Our loving Subiects to know, that on the other side, Our ears shall be as open to hear the just complaints of any Our Subiects against any the Salt-Peeter-makers, that shall any way misdemeane themselves towards any of Our Subiects in places where they work; It being always Our Princely care to provide, that no abuse be offered to any of Our Subiects whatsoever. And Our pleasure is, that such person or persons, who shall be appointed to take care and charge of the execution of Our pleasure in the premises, or any person or persons, that shall give information therein, and follow the same, shall haue the one half of the Fine, to be imposed vpon the offenders against this Our Proclamation, for their encouragement to be diligent and faithful therein.  
given at Our Palace of Westminster, the six and twentieth day of December, in the two and twentieth year of Our reign of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland the eight and fiftieth. 
 God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Bonham Norton and John Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent majesty. 1624.