WHereas His Maiestie hath beene informed , that many and great quantities of vnseruiceable Gunpowder haue beene heeretofore , and are dayly still vented within this His Kingdome , to the apparant and manifest danger , losse and preiudice of his louing Subiects , the merchants of the same , and all others that be occasioned to make vse of it , insomuch that not onely many of their Ships with their goods and merchandises , but also their persons ( by meanes of this defectiue powder being very weake and bad ) haue beene lost and surprised : And his Maiestie hath also beene certified , aswell by some of the Lords and others of his Priuie Counsell ( to whom he was pleased to commit the care of this so important a businesse ) as also by the Commissioners of his Nauie ( to whom the same was referred ) that this inconuenience is occasioned , partly by reason of importation of forreigne Gunpowder being insufficient , partly by defectiue making of powder within this Realme couertly and secretly , and without warrant of his Maiesties Commission , and especially for that the sayd defectiue powder , aswell imported as made within the Realme , is put to sale before it be duely prooued as it ought , and as all the gunpowder made for his Maiestie is tried and prooued by a proofe-master assigned and sworne for that purpose .

His most Excellent Maiesty ( whose care doth euer watch ouer the weale of his louing Subiects ) taking these things into his Royall consideration , is resolued to meet with , and preuent these so imminent and perillous enormities for the time to come : And for redresse thereof , his Maiestie doeth heereby signifie his pleasure to all his louing Subiects and others ; and his Highnesse doeth by this his Proclamation strictly charge and command , That no person or persons whatsoeuer , doe at any time heereafter make , or cause to be made for seruice against any enemy , or for sale , any gunpowder , within this Realme of England , or the Dominion of Wales , of any Saltpeeter made , or to bee made within the sayd Realme or Dominion , but of such Saltpeeter onely as is , or shal be made by warrant of his Maiesties Commission granted , or to be granted in that behalf . And that no Saltpeeterman , or maker of Saltpeeter do at any time heereafter , transport , or cause to bee transported into the parts beyond the Seas , or sell , vtter , or put to sale , or cause to be sold , vttered , or put to sale within the said Realme or Dominion , any Saltpeeter made within the sayd Realme or Dominion , but onely to his Maiesties storehouse , to his Maiesties powder-maker there . And that no person or persons whatsoeuer , doe heereafter presume to buy any Saltpeeter , made , or to bee made by vertue of his Maiesties Commission , but his Maiesties Powder-maker only , to whom it shall not be lawfull to receiue for any powder by him to be sold to his Maiesties Subiects aboue ten pence the pound : And that no gunpowder whatsoeuer , be heereafter at any time vttered , sold , or vented within this Realme or the dominion of Wales , by any person or persons whatsoeuer , before the same be tried , proued , and allowed of , by the sayd sworne proof-master , and by him marked , as heerein after is expressed , whereby all his Maiesties louing Subiects may take notice of the sorts of the sayd gunpowder , and the goodnesse thereof , and the vses to which it may the most aptly be applied .

And because much inconuenience may arise by fraud and deceit in counterfeiting the proof-masters marke , or by mingling the powder by him marked , with other decayed or insufficient stuffe , and otherwise ; His Maiestie doeth further heereby charge and command , That no person or persons whatsoeuer , doe attempt or presume to counterfeit any marke which shall heereafter bee vsed by the sayd sworne proof-master , to the purpose aforesayd , or doe worke , or put in practise any fraud , deceit , or sleight , by mixing or mingling any gunpowder , or otherwise , whereby his Maiesties intent and meaning before expressed , may bee altered , diuerted , or abused ; Letting all his Subiects and others know , that whosoeuer shall commit any offence against this his Maiesties Proclamation , or any part thereof , or in any point infringe any prohibition or declaration of his Maiesties pleasure heerein expressed , shall not only incurre his Maiesties heauy indignation and displeasure , and be subiect to such paines , penalties , imprisonment , and punishment , as by the Lawes and Statutes of this Realme can or may be inflicted vpon them , as breakers and contemners of his Maiesties Royall command , but also vndergoe the seuere censure of his high Court of Starre chamber for such their offences according to their demerites . And his Maiestie doeth heereby require and command , that the sayde sworne proof-master , which shall haue the trying and proouing of Gunpowder , bee diligent , attendant , and carefull to doe his duty therein faithfully and truely , as to him belongeth , and not to mark any vessell of powder to be sold or vented , as aforesayd , but such as shal be good and sufficient for the necessary vse of his Maiesties Subiects , and answerable to the marks : And that he do not take or receiue aboue sixe pence in currant English mony , for any barrell of powder of one hundred weight , & so proportionably , which shall by him be tried , prooued and marked , as aforesayd , as he will answer the contrary at his perill .

And his Maiesties pleasure is , That he , and all other his Highnesse Officers in generall , bee vigilant and carefull to see this his Proclamation fully executed , and to discouer all offences , fraudes and deceits , which shall bee committed , put in practise , or attempted contrary to the true meaning of the same , and to giue information from time to time to his Maiesties Attourney generall , aswell of the sayd abuses and offences , as of the offenders themselues . And also commanding and authorising his sayd Atturney Generall for the time being , vpon such information giuen vnto him , to prosecute and proceede against the sayd offenders in the Court of Star-chamber : It being his Maiesties expresse pleasure , that seuere punishment shall bee executed vpon all the sayd offenders whatsoeuer .