dieu ET MON DROIT  royal blazon surmounted by a crown and flanked by the Tudor rose on one side and the Scottish thistle on the other  
❧ By the King.  
¶ A Proclamation for the maintaining and increase of the Mines of saltpetre, and the true making and working of saltpetre and Gunpowder, and reforming of all abuses concerning the same.  
THe Kings most Excellent majesty, taking into his serious and provident consideration and care, the most important use of saltpetre and Gunpowder, as well for the supply of his own navy Royal, and other the shipping of His loving Subiects, as also for the strength, safety, and defence of His people and kingdoms, especially in these times of Hostility and danger; And calling to His Princely remembrance, how great a blessing of Almighty God it is unto this realm, that it naturally yeeldeth sufficient Mines of saltpetre, for making of Gunpowder for the ordinary store thereof, without the uncertain and hazardous dependence vpon provisions from foreign parts, if those Mines and means be husbanded, and providently used for the best advantage of the service; And remembering also, that His majesty not long since, by His royal Proclamation, hath made known his Princely care and providence, to furnish himself and his kingdoms with saltpetre, by a new invention offered unto His majesty, and found probable to take some good effect, whereby he might in time to come, ease His loving Subiects of those troubles and charges in digging for saltpetre in the old and approved way, which cannot otherwise be avoided; And being informed, that the apprehension of this new invention hath given occasion to diuers, to oppose the saltpetre men, working in the old and ordinary way, by virtue of his majesties Commission and instructions, which out of any new fancy, or imagination, may not in the mean time be neglected; Hath with the advice of His privy counsel, thought fit to quicken the former Orders and Constitutions, made and published in the first year of his majesties reign, with some additions, and explanations, for his better service, and the service and safety of his whole kingdoms and Dominions, which Orders and Constitutions, as they are hereafter expressed in these Articles following: His majesty straitly willeth and commandeth shall be from henceforth inviolably kept and observed, by all persons whom it shall concern respectively, for the better maintaining, increasing and getting of saltpetre, and true making of Gunpowder,& for the suppressing& reforming of all abuses concerning the same.  


1. FIrst, That no person or persons whatsoever within this kingdom of England, or Dominion of Wales, do from henceforth pave with ston or brick, or floor with board, any Douehouse or Doue-coat, or 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 thereof, to lie open with good and mellow earth, apt to breed increase of the said Mine and saltpetre, and so continue and keep the same.  
2. THat no innkeepers, or others that keep Stables for fellow-travelers 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 be pitched, paved, or graveled, where the horse feet use to stand, but planked onely, nor bee paved, pitched, or graveled before the planks next the Mangers, but that both places bee kept and maintained with good and mellow earth, fit and apt to breed and increase the Mine of saltpetre, and laid with nothing which may hurt the same.  
3. That all and every such person and persons, as having heretofore had any Doue-house, Doue-coat, or Stable, Teller or Ware house, which were then good nourceries for the breed of Mine of saltpetre, haue sithence carried out the good Mould from thence, and filled the place again with Lime, gravel, Sand, Rubbish, or other like stuff, or paved or floored the same, whereby the growth of saltpetre Mine there hath been decayed or destroyed, Shal, and do within three moneths next coming, take up the said pavements and Boards again, and carry out the said gravel, Lime, and offensive 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.  
4. THat no person or persons, of what degree or estate soever, shall hinder or deny any Saltpeter-man, lawfully deputed thereunto, in the digging, taking, or working of any Ground, walls, or earth, which by Commission may be taken and wrought for saltpetre; Nor any Constable, or other Officer, do, or shall forbear, or neglect to furnish any such Salpeter-man with convenient carriages necessary for his work at the prices of four pence the mile, limited, and allowed, and so long as the Saltpeter-men perform their vndertakings to His majesty, in and by His Commission, for the encouragement of the Saltpeter-men in these times of danger and necessity; And that all and every Iustice and Iustices of the Peace, of any County, city, or Corporations, to whom the said Saltpeter-man shall address himself for assistance, do not fail at his and their perils, to take present course therein, that His majesties service suffer not by his or their default.  
5. THat whensoever any old house or building in London, or within three miles thereof, shall be pulled down, and the Earth or Rubbish is to be carried away or removed, That before any part therof be stirred or removed, there be notice therof given at the Kings storehouse for the making of saltpetre in southwark, and that the Deputy or workmen for saltpetre, do, and may first take so much of the said Earth or Rubbish, as in their iudgement and experience is fittest for saltpetre for the Kings service.  
6. THat no person or persons, shall directly or indirectly, give or offer to any Saltpeter-maker, deputy Saltpeter-man, or others employed about the getting or making of saltpetre, any Gratuity, Benefit, Hire or Reward; Nor any such workman employed about saltpetre, shall take or receive any such Gratuity, Benefit, Hire, or Reward, for the sparing or forbearing of any ground or place, which should, or may be digged or wrought for saltpetre, or of any carriages thereunto belonging, or for concealing, or not discovering of any offence or offences committed against the true meaning of this Proclamation, or otherwise to the hindrance of this service.  
7. THat no Saltpeter-man, who shall hereafter use and take the Earth, or floor of any dove house, or Doue-coat, for their making of saltpetre, shall dig or carry the same Earth, but in such convenient time of the day, and work it in such manner, as may give least disturbance and hurt to the Pigeons, and increase of their breed, and in the chief times of their breeding, that it be not done above two houres in any one day, and that about the midst of the day, when the Pigeons use to be abroad; And shall in like seasonable time carry in the said Earth after it shall be wrought, and spread it there, and make flat the floor of the same Douehouse and Doue-coat, and leave it well and orderly, according to the direction and instructions given by His majesties Commission, and the Deputation thereupon made.  
8. THat all Saltpeter-men, and workers in saltpetre, after they haue broken any other sorts of Ground, and wrought over the Earth taken from thence, do, and shall afterwards, within convenient time, before the remove of their work from thence, fill up the place again, and leave it in such good and orderly case as conveniently may bee, according to their instructions aforesaid: And that no owner, or possessor of any Douehouse, or Grounds, shall hinder or disturb any workman from doing what is prescribed in this, and the next precedent Article.  
9. THat no Saltpeter-man, or maker of saltpetre, do at any time hereafter transport or cause to bee transported into the parts beyond the Seas, or sell, give, utter or put to salt, or cause to be sold, uttered, or put to sale, within the said realm or Dominion, any saltpetre, made within the said realm of England, but only to His majesties Storehouse, to His majesties Powder-maker there; And that no person presume to buy any saltpetre made by virtue of His majesties Commission, but his majesties Powder-maker onely, to whom it shall not be lawful to receive for any Powder to bee sold by him to His majesties Subiects, above ten pence the pound.  
10. THat no Powder whatsoever, either made within the realm, or imported from foreign parts, bee hereafter sold or uttered within this realm, or Dominions aforesaid, by any person or persons, before the same be first tried, proved, and allowed by the sworn proof-master already appointed, or to bee appointed, and by him marked as hath been heretofore used, whereby 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 most aptly bee applied.  
11. THat no person presume or attempt to counterfeit the mark or marks, used, or to bee used by the said 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 meaning before expressed, may be altered, diverted or abused.  
12. THat the proof-master appointed and to bee appointed, do diligently attend to do his duty faithfully and truly, in making proof of the said Gunpowder, and to mark none but that which shall bee good and sufficient, and answerable to the marks; And that he take not above six pence Fee, for any barrel of Powder of one hundred weight, which shall by him bee tried, proved, and marked, as aforesaid, and so proportionably not above that rate, for greater or lesser quantities.    
All which Articles, and every of them, His majesty doth hereby straitly charge and command all manner of persons of what quality soever they be, duly to observe and fulfil. And all Officers and persons in authority, whom it may concern duly, carefully and diligently to see, and cause the same to bee observed, fulfilled and put in execution, as they and every of them will avoid His majesties heavy displeasure, and the Censure of being holden contemners of His majesties royal Commandement, in a matter of high consequence, for the public service and safety of the State, and vpon such further penalties and punishments, as for example of terror to others, their contempts and wants of duty shall demerice, and by his majesties prerogative royal, or otherwise shall bee found fit, in Honour and Iustice, to bee inflicted vpon them.  
And, for the better and more speedy performance of this service, His majesties will and pleasure is, That the Officers for the Ordnance shall from time to time take notice of all such Complaints as shall be brought unto them, touching any offence that shall bee committed contrary to this Proclamation, either in the neglecting, hindering or disturbing this His majesties service, or in abusing the subject: And that the said Officers of the Ordnance shall certify the same to his majesties Right trusty and Right well-beloved Cousin and counselor, George Duke of Buckingham, Lord high admiral of England, and to His Right trusty and well-beloved Cousin and counsellor, George earl of Totnes, Master of the Ordnance, to whose special trust and care, His majesty hath committed the government of the said business, by Commission under the great seal of England; And that they or either of them, shall from time to time sand for all offenders complained of, and cause them to be examined by the said Officers of the Ordnance; And vpon their report, take such further order therein, by referring the offenders to bee prosecuted in the high Court of Starre-thamber, or otherwise, as to their wisedoms shall seem meet; Commanding and authorizing His majesties attorney general for the time being, vpon such reference from the said Duke of Buckingham, or earl of Totnes, or other Information given unto him, of any misdemeanour, committed contrary to the true meaning of any the Articles aforesaid, to prosecute, and proceed against the said offenders in the said high Court of starchamber: It being His majesties express pleasure, That severe punishment shall be executed vpon all the said offenders whatsoever.  
given at Our Court at Ampthell, the three and twentieth day of july, in the third 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.XXVII.