To
the
Kings
most
Excellent
Maiestie
,
the
Lords
Spirituall
and
Temporall
,
and
the
Commons
in
this
present
Parliament
assembled
.
The
humble
Petition
of
Thomas
Russell
,
Esquire
.
Sheweth
:
THAT
WHEREAS
,
the
making
of
Salt-Peter
within
His
Maiesties
Realmes
and
Dominions
,
is
a
great
safety
and
benefit
to
His
Maiestie
,
and
His
Subiects
in
generall
,
for
that
it
effecteth
and
assureth
a
certaine
prouision
thereof
,
for
the
furnishing
of
his
Maiesties
Stores
,
for
the
strength
,
defence
,
and
benefit
of
his
Maiesties
said
Realmes
and
Dominions
;
which
if
it
should
be
had
from
forreine
parts
,
is
not
to
be
obtained
,
but
at
the
pleasure
of
other
Princes
,
and
most
commonly
at
vnreasonable
Rates
,
and
the
same
so
obtained
,
might
happen
to
bee
intercepted
,
or
by
contrary
winds
hindered
,
in
time
of
need
,
or
vtterly
lost
by
Shipwracke
,
or
other
casualties
on
the
Seas
:
And
if
no
such
hazzard
were
,
yet
the
same
is
not
vsually
to
bee
bought
,
but
for
ready
mony
to
bee
transported
,
and
payd
for
the
same
;
whereby
the
Treasure
of
his
Maiesties
Realmes
would
be
diminished
,
and
other
forreine
Kingdomes
thereby
enriched
.
And
whereas
for
making
of
the
Salt-Peter
,
which
hath
been
formerly
,
and
now
is
made
in
his
Maiesties
said
Realmes
and
Dominions
,
the
Subiects
haue
had
,
and
still
haue
their
Houses
,
Douehouses
,
Cellars
,
&c.
digged
vp
to
their
great
trouble
;
and
also
their
Carts
taken
for
carying
of
the
Liquors
,
Tubbes
,
&c.
to
places
farre
remote
,
to
their
exceeding
great
preiudice
,
which
hath
occasioned
many
complaints
,
not
onely
to
the
Iustices
of
Peace
in
most
parts
of
his
Maiesties
Dominions
,
but
oftentimes
to
His
Maiestie
,
and
the
Lords
of
His
Highnesse
priuie
Counsell
.
And
whereas
also
,
there
was
neuer
yet
made
,
since
the
first
making
of
Salt-Peter
in
this
Kingdom
,
being
about
the
beginning
of
the
Reigne
of
Queene
Elizabeth
,
of
famous
memory
,
notwithstanding
all
the
trouble
and
grieuance
of
the
Subiect
,
a
third
part
of
the
Salt-peter
,
vsed
for
the
ordinary
seruice
of
the
Kingdome
,
and
in
diuers
yeeres
not
so
much
as
was
spent
for
the
Kings
Store
,
nor
neere
so
much
in
time
of
Warre
,
when
there
was
most
occasion
of
it
,
but
aswell
the
King
,
as
the
Subiect
,
were
forced
to
procure
the
same
from
Barbarie
,
France
,
Poland
,
Hamborough
,
and
other
places
in
Germany
.
The
Salt-peter-men
hauing
formerly
vsed
,
as
commonly
they
now
doe
,
to
the
abuse
of
the
King
and
the
Subiect
,
to
take
Composition
money
,
of
some
two
shillings
,
of
some
fiue
shillings
,
of
some
tenne
shillings
,
of
some
more
,
of
some
lesse
,
to
spare
their
Houses
,
Stables
,
and
Douehouses
from
digging
,
whereby
the
seruice
intended
,
for
making
Salt-Peter
,
for
his
Maiestie
is
wholly
neglected
,
though
the
Subiect
be
continually
charged
with
such
composition
money
.
And
further
if
the
Salt-Peter-men
,
in
their
accustomed
course
of
working
,
should
for
a
few
yeeres
longer
digge
Houses
,
&c.
for
making
of
so
great
a
quantity
of
Salt-Peter
as
the
Kingdome
shall
require
,
they
would
so
impouerish
the
earth
,
that
they
would
in
short
time
hardly
make
any
at
all
,
there
being
no
artificiall
meanes
vsed
by
them
for
enriching
the
earth
,
but
that
which
casually
happeneth
,
of
which
it
is
not
fit
to
make
Salt-Peter
,
againe
in
many
yeeres
.
And
whereas
his
Maiestie
was
informed
,
that
the
Petitioner
had
by
his
great
trauaile
,
paines
,
industry
,
and
charges
discouered
and
made
knowen
,
a
new
way
and
meanes
,
not
heretofore
knowen
,
practised
and
perfected
,
for
the
making
and
refining
,
of
perfect
,
good
,
seruiceable
,
and
Merchantable
Salt-Peter
,
&c.
whereby
the
Subiect
should
bee
freed
from
the
digging
of
their
houses
,
&c.
And
likewise
from
taking
vp
Carts
for
carying
their
Liquors
,
Tubbes
,
Ashes
,
&c.
from
place
to
place
.
And
withall
,
that
by
this
new
way
,
the
King
should
haue
what
quantity
of
Salt-Peter
soeuer
should
be
required
both
for
his
owne
Store
,
and
all
prouisions
of
the
Subiect
,
and
for
his
neighbour
Nations
,
being
in
league
and
amity
with
his
Maiestie
Vpon
which
Information
,
It
pleased
King
Iames
of
blessed
memory
,
to
referre
the
consideration
thereof
vnto
the
Duke
of
Buckingham
his
Grace
,
the
Right
Honourable
the
Earle
of
Middlesex
,
then
Lord
Treasurer
of
England
,
and
the
Right
honourable
the
Earle
of
Totnes
,
Master
of
the
Ordnance
:
Who
after
long
and
many
serious
debatings
(
diuers
trials
being
made
of
the
certainty
of
making
Saltpeter
in
this
new
course
proposed
,
and
the
goodnesse
therof
,
)
were
pleased
to
recommend
it
backe
to
the
said
King
Iames
,
as
a
proposition
fit
to
bee
embraced
,
and
a
Priuiledge
for
the
sayd
Worke
to
bee
granted
to
the
inuentor
(
for
his
encouragement
)
for
21.
yeeres
.
But
the
warrant
to
Master
Attourney
Generall
to
draw
vp
the
said
priuiledge
,
being
made
solely
by
the
said
Earle
of
Middlesex
,
was
so
vnequally
limited
to
price
,
and
no
certainty
for
the
payment
thereof
being
deliuered
,
with
other
strict
Conditions
and
Prouisoes
,
vnfitting
for
so
great
a
Seruice
,
intended
for
the
generall
good
;
That
those
who
intended
to
aduenture
the
Stocke
for
erecting
the
Workes
,
were
thereby
vtterly
disheartened
,
and
would
not
proceede
therein
,
whereby
all
the
former
charge
of
bringing
the
Inuention
to
perfection
,
and
procuring
the
Priuiledge
being
solely
laid
out
by
the
Inuentor
,
was
like
to
be
vtterly
lost
,
and
the
seruice
intended
for
the
good
of
the
Common-wealth
wholly
neglected
.
WHEREVPON
a
Petition
being
lately
exhibited
to
His
Maiestie
that
now
is
,
for
inlargement
of
the
said
Grant
,
It
hath
pleased
His
Maiestie
,
for
the
incouragement
of
the
Inuentor
,
and
to
ease
the
Subiect
of
the
now
grieuance
,
and
secure
the
Kingdome
with
quantity
of
Salt-Peter
,
graciously
to
condescend
thereto
:
For
the
speedy
execution
and
aduancement
of
which
worke
,
The
Inuentor
is
ready
vpon
his
owne
charge
to
erect
a
Worke
foorthwith
,
about
the
Citie
of
London
,
which
after
the
Earth
is
ripened
,
and
impregnated
for
making
of
Salt-Peter
,
shall
produce
weekely
as
much
Salt-Peter
,
as
now
is
or
vsually
hath
been
made
in
London
and
the
liberties
therof
;
notwithstanding
all
the
trouble
the
City
is
now
put
vnto
:
By
which
meanes
there
shal
be
made
a
full
demonstration
to
such
Persons
as
this
honorable
House
shall
appoint
,
both
of
the
certaintie
of
the
Workes
,
the
profit
of
it
,
the
quantitie
,
and
the
continuance
thereof
for
euer
.
And
that
the
Salt-Peter
which
shall
bee
made
in
this
new
course
,
shall
be
farre
better
,
and
more
vsefull
in
all
conditions
required
in
Salt-Peter
,
for
the
making
of
Powder
,
then
any
that
now
is
brought
into
His
Maiesties
Store-house
,
from
any
Salt-Peter-worke
in
this
Kingdome
,
or
imported
from
any
parts
from
beyond
the
Seas
.
But
because
so
great
a
worke
as
this
,
for
speedy
making
of
the
quantity
of
Salt-Peter
,
for
the
seruice
of
the
whole
Kingdome
,
cannot
conueniently
bee
effected
by
any
priuate
Purse
:
The
Inuentor
therefore
most
humble
prayeth
,
That
this
honourable
house
,
will
settle
some
present
course
,
That
vpon
the
demonstration
made
,
as
aforesaid
,
the
summe
of
20000.
li.
may
bee
in
a
readinesse
,
which
will
bee
required
for
erecting
,
and
stocking
so
many
workes
,
as
shall
be
sufficient
to
make
500.
tunne
of
Salt-Peter
yeerely
,
for
his
Maiesties
,
and
the
Subiects
expence
.
The
said
summe
of
20000.
li.
to
be
layd
out
according
to
the
direction
of
the
Inuentor
,
by
such
persons
as
this
Honourable
House
shall
for
that
purpose
select
;
which
Stocke
of
20000.
li.
shal
be
repayd
in
seuen
yeeres
,
by
euen
and
equall
portions
yeerely
,
either
in
Saltpeter
,
or
in
money
,
the
first
payment
thereof
to
commence
from
the
time
that
the
Workes
shall
bee
erected
,
and
made
fit
to
make
Salt-Peter
,
which
may
bee
compleated
and
fitted
within
one
yeere
,
and
the
Stocke
of
Coales
,
Vrine
,
and
Ashes
prouided
;
By
meanes
of
which
Stocke
of
20000.
li.
the
Petitioner
may
be
enabled
,
(
after
demonstration
vpon
his
owne
cost
and
charges
made
as
aforesaid
)
to
erect
and
stocke
so
many
workes
,
as
shall
serue
to
make
sufficient
quantitie
of
Salt-Peter
for
the
seruice
of
his
Maiestie
and
His
Subiects
,
as
aforesaid
.
It
being
a
thing
so
much
tending
to
the
Subiects
ease
,
and
the
Kingdomes
security
.
And
further
,
that
this
House
will
be
honourably
pleased
to
confirme
his
Maiesties
Graunt
to
the
Petitioner
,
for
the
said
terme
of
21.
yeeres
by
Act
of
Parliament
.
In
consideration
whereof
,
besides
all
the
former
aduantages
to
the
Subiect
,
in
freeing
them
from
the
now
grieuance
,
and
safety
of
the
King
and
Kingdomes
,
by
making
quantitie
of
Saltpeter
sufficient
for
the
seruice
of
the
Kingdome
;
The
Subiect
in
generall
,
which
haue
any
occasion
to
vse
Powder
,
shall
for
euer
reape
a
great
benefit
,
farre
beyond
the
vse
of
that
money
which
the
Petitioner
doth
require
,
for
erecting
and
stocking
the
workes
:
both
in
regard
of
the
goodnesse
of
the
Saltpeter
for
making
Powder
,
and
in
the
cheapnesse
thereof
:
For
the
Subiect
shall
haue
Saltpeter
double
refined
,
10.
li.
in
euery
Tunne
better
cheape
then
now
they
pay
for
Saltpeter
,
brought
from
beyond
the
Seas
,
which
though
it
be
but
once
refined
,
is
now
worth
90.
li.
the
Tunne
.
The
difference
of
these
two
being
aboue
5.
li.
the
Tunne
,
which
is
vpon
iust
account
15.
li.
on
a
Tunne
cheaper
;
By
which
meanes
they
will
also
haue
their
Powder
15.
s.
on
euery
Barrell
better
cheape
.
For
the
Powder
maker
will
deliuer
100.
weight
of
Powder
for
112.
li.
weight
of
Saltpeter
once
refined
,
which
loseth
12.
li.
in
the
great
hundred
at
the
second
refining
:
So
if
the
Subiect
spend
400.
Tunnes
of
Powder
a
yeere
,
the
aduantage
will
be
to
the
Subiect
in
generall
6000.
li.
yearely
.
And
in
regard
the
onely
materiall
for
the
artificiall
impregnating
of
Earth
for
engendring
Saltpeter
is
Vrine
,
there
may
be
most
of
all
the
common
Beggars
about
London
,
and
in
other
Cities
and
Townes
corporate
,
where
the
workes
shall
bee
erected
,
continually
imployed
,
for
gathering
of
Vrine
for
the
vse
of
the
said
workes
,
whereby
they
may
haue
a
competent
meanes
for
their
liuing
without
begging
.
If
it
please
this
Honorable
House
to
accept
this
offer
of
the
Petitioner
,
hee
will
make
it
apparant
by
this
course
,
that
there
may
bee
prouided
within
two
yeeres
next
following
a
Magazin
of
Powder
in
euery
Citie
,
Towne
corporate
,
Fort
,
and
Port
of
this
Kingdome
,
for
seuen
yeeres
Store
,
alwayes
before
hand
in
readinesse
,
for
any
seruice
;
there
being
sufficient
Materials
in
the
places
aforesayd
to
bee
had
euery
yeere
,
for
seuen
yeeres
prouision
,
and
the
trueth
of
this
may
bee
shewen
to
such
as
this
Honourable
House
shall
appoint
,
within
two
moneths
.
The
Petitioner
humbly
profereth
,
and
dedicateth
this
his
seruice
,
with
all
his
labour
,
time
spent
,
and
charge
formerly
bestowed
,
for
the
good
of
his
Maiestie
,
and
the
honour
and
safety
of
the
Kingdome
,
to
the
graue
consideration
of
the
Honourable
Assembly
,
in
this
high
Court
of
Parliament
;
And
if
any
can
propound
a
better
course
,
for
easing
the
Subiect
of
the
now
grieuance
,
and
the
safety
of
the
Kingdome
in
generall
,
by
prouiding
sufficient
quantity
of
Saltpeter
to
bee
alwayes
in
readinesse
in
seuerall
places
of
the
Kingdome
,
where
Workes
may
be
erected
,
the
Petitioner
will
euer
be
ready
,
to
the
vttermost
of
his
skill
and
endeauour
,
to
further
and
aduance
the
same
.