WHereas the Prouidence of Almighty God , amongst many other blessings to this Kingdome , hath furnished the same with Mines of Salt-Peter for making sufficient store of Gun-powder , for the Seruice and Defence of the same ; And whereas His Maiestie out of His Princely care of the safety of His Kingdomes , hath so prouided for the digging and working of Salt-Peter , and conuerting and making the same into Gun-powder within His own Dominions , as that there shall be alwayes ready in His Maiesties Magazines or Store-houses , such competent proportions of good and seruiceable Gun-powder , as shall be necessary , not only for His Maiesties owne vse , but for the supplies of His Subiects , for their expence at Sea and Land : His Maiesty therfore , for the better settling a work of such Importance as the making of Peter , and Powder in His owne Kingdomes ; And that the makers thereof , appointed by His Maiestie , may receiue no interruption or discouragement therein ; Doeth hereby signifie His Royall Will and Pleasure to bee , And doeth straitly Charge and Command , That no person or persons whatsoeuer , either His naturall borne Subiects , Denizens or Strangers , doe at any time or times hereafter Import , or bring , or cause to bee Imported or brought into His Dominions of England , Wales , or Ireland , or any of them , or into any the Ports , Hauens , Creeks , or places thereof , any Gun-powder whatsoeuer , made , or to bee made in any forreine parts or places , to bee sold or put to sale here , vpon paine of the forfeiture thereof : The same Gun-powder to be seised to His Maiesties vse , And the moity of the value thereof to be paid to such person or persons as shall make seisure of the same , vpon his or their Deliuery thereof into His Maiesties Store-house ; And also vpon paine of His Maiesties high Indignation and displeasure , and such further penalties and punishments as may be inflicted on the offendors , for the Contempt of His Royall Commandment in that behalfe .

And His Maiestie doeth also require and command all and singular the Officers of His Customes within all and euery the Ports of the same His Dominions , and the Creeks , and members thereof , That they , and euery of them , from henceforth wholly forbeare to take , or make any Entries or Compositions , for the Custome , Subsidie , or other dutie for any Gun-powder , brought , or to be brought into any His said Dominions from any forraine parts , to be vtte●… nd or sold here : And also that they , and euery of them ( whom it doth or shall concerne ) do stay and seise as forfeited to the vses aforesaid , all such forraine Gun-powder as after the date hereof shall be by any person or persons conueied , or brought into any Port or Creek of the same His Maiesties Dominions to be vttered or sold , vpon paine of forfeiture of their Offices , and of vn●ergoing His Maiesties high Indignation and displeasure , with such further punishments , as their Contempts or defaults herein shall deserue .

And to the intent His Maiesties Subiects may from time to time bee duely supplied with powder ; His Maiestie , out of His Royall Care in that behalfe , hath giuen expresse Order and Command , that His Officers shall be prouided at all times hereafter , and shall haue in their cu●… dy in His said Magazines or Store-houses , sufficient quantities of Gun-powder , from whence His Subiects shall and may from time to time , buy , and haue therof , by greater or lesser quantities at their pleasures , or lesser quantities at their pleasures , powder may be limitted to a moderate gaines thereby ; His Maiestie doth hereby declare His Royall Will and Commandment to be , That no person or persons that now dealeth , or hereafter shall deale in Retailing of Gun-powder within the Citie of London , and within thirtie miles thereof , or within thirtie miles of any of His Maiesties Ports , shall vtter or sell the same aboue the rate or price of One shilling eight pence the pound : But for such Ports or places as shall bee shirtie miles distant or more from London , or any His Maiesties said Ports , in such cases the said Retailers may sell the same at One shilling eight pence helf-peny the pound , and not aboue ; which half-peny increase of price is allowed for the Land-Carriage of the same Powder .

And His Maiestie doth hereby further declare His expresse Will and Pleasure to be , and doth straightly Charge and Command , That no person or persons whatsoeuer , other then His Maiesties Makers of Gun-powder , who now haue , or hereafter shall be contracted with , shall at any time or times hereafter make , or cause to be made any Gun-powder , within any His Maiesties Dominions of England , Wales , or Ireland , or any of them , either by the vse of Hand-mills , Water-mills , or otherwise , vpon paine of the Forfeiture as well of the same Powder so made , as if the Engines and Instruments to be vsed thereabout , and to haue the same Mills to be demolished , and the Offendors therein to bee further proceeded against in Our Court of Star-Chamber , or otherwise punished , according to their Contempts and Offences herein .