WHereas the Queenes most excellent Maiestie for the increase & maintenance of her Highnesse store of powder for the seruice of the Office of her Ordinance , did heretofore graunt diuers Commissions for the making of Salt-peter within this her Maiesties Realme of England , by vertue whereof , such ( to whom the execution thereof was committed ) by colour of their said authoritie , and by reason of the generalitie of words therein contained , contrary to the true meaning of the said Commissions , haue forced and drawen from diuers and sundry her Maiesties louing subiects great seruices , and haue vnduely procured from them great exactions by taking of their woods and cariages , and by other indirect meanes , to the great grieuance , and disturbance of her Maiesties said subiects : of which misdemeanours ( her Maiestie hauing vnderstanding ) for the more ease of her Highnesse subiects , and repressing of such enormities , her Highnesse by her Maiesties letters of Commission bearing date the xxviii . day of Ianuary , in the xxx . yeere of her Maiesties raigne , did graunt vnto George Euelin Esquier and others , full power and authoritie for the making of Salt-peter aforesaid , at their owne proper charges , and therein did not onely inhibite and forbid all such forcements and exactions of seruices and other misusages of her subiects in their houses , grounds and woods , as had bene required and vrged by colour of the said former Commissions , but also by the same Commission did reuoke and call in all former Commissions before the said 28. day of Ianuary . Sithens the granting of which later Commission , diuers persons authorized by the same vnder the saide George and Iohn Euelin for the working and making of Salt-peter , haue fraudulently procured to themselues by indirect meanes some of the former Commissions , and by colour of the same haue troubled many her Maiesties subiects , contrary to the expresse will and pleasure of her Maiestie in that behalfe . Her Highnesse therefore vpon due consideration of the premisses , and to the ende her Maiesties louing subiects be not ouerpressed , charged , nor preiudiced contrary to her Maiesties said gracious intent , willeth and commandeth all Iustices of Peace , Maiors , Shiriffes , Bailiffes , Constables , and all other her Maiesties Officers & ministers , by all due meanes to search and finde out such former Commissions afore the said xxviii . of Ianuary , and the same to cancell , and all such person and persons that from the publishing of this Proclamation , shall goe about to attempt to worke or take vp any thing by colour of the said former Commissions , that such person and persons by the next Iustice of Peace ( where such offence shal be done ) be forthwith committed to prison , there to remaine during her Maiesties pleasure . And where great quantities of Salt-peter made by vertue of her Maiesties latter Commission , be , and haue bene by the said peter-makers conuerted vnto other vses then for her Maiesties seruice , as is expressed in the same Commission , to the great disappointment and disfurnishing of her Maiesties store of that prouision : Her Maiestie therefore straitly chargeth and forbiddeth all Salt-peter makers , and all other person and persons whatsoeuer , to sell , buy , or otherwise procure vnto themselues directly or indirectly by any wayes or means whatsoeuer , any Salt-peter made or hereafter to be made by vertue of her Maiesties Commission aforesaid , but that the same may be brought into her Maiesties store within the Tower of London , according to the true intent of her Maiesties Commission in that behalfe to them granted , vpon paine of sixe moneths imprisonment both to the buyer and seller , and losse of the Salt peter , or the value thereof so sold and bought . And further , her Maiestie vnderstanding of some bad and euil disposed persons ( to the hinderance of so needfull a prouision to be had and made within this her Maiesties Realme ) practise to destroy & make waste such ground as the said Petermakers ( to their great cost and charges ) haue made and founded for the seruice aforesaid : Her Maiestie therefore willeth likewise & commandeth all Iustices of peace , Maiors , Shirifes , Bailiffes and Constables , and al other Officers and ministers within their seueral limits , diligently to enquire from henceforth of such misdemeanors , & such person or persons that from henceforth shal be found faultie and to offende in the premisses , to be by the next Iustices of the peace ( where such offence shal be done ) committed to prison , there to remaine during the space of sixe moneths , without Baile or mainprise , and vntil her Maiesties pleasure bee further therein knowen . Giuen at her Maiesties mannour of Richmond , the xiii . of Ianuarie 1589. In the 32. yeere of her Highnesse raigne .