(Vol. vii., p. 376.)
_Saltpetre-man._--An explanation of this title may be found in a
proclamation of King Charles I. (1625):
"For the Maintaining and Increasing of the Saltpetre Mines of England,
for the Necessary and Important Manufacture of Gunpowder."
This proclamation states:
"That our realm naturally yields sufficient mines of saltpetre without
depending on foreign parts; wherefore, for the future, no dovehouse
shall be paved with stones, bricks, nor boards, lime, sand, nor gravel,
nor any other thing whereby the growth and increase of the mine and
saltpetre may be hindered or impaired; but the proprietors shall suffer
the ground or floors thereof, as also all stables where horses stand,
to lie open with good and mellow earth, apt to breed increase of the
said mine. And that none deny or hinder any _saltpetre-man_, lawfully
deputed thereto, from digging, taking, or working any ground which by
commission may be taken and wrought for saltpetre. Neither shall any
constable, or other officer, neglect to furnish any such
_saltpetre-man_ with convenient carriages, that the King's service
suffer not. _None shall bribe any saltpetre-man_ for the sparing or
forbearing of any ground fit to be wrought for saltpetre," &c.
It would appear that the _saltpetre-man_ abused his authority, and that the
people suffered a good deal of annoyance from the manner in which this
{434} absurd system was carried out; for two years afterwards we find that
another proclamation was published by the King, notifying, "that the
practice of making saltpetre in England by digging up the floors of
dwelling-houses, &c. &c., tended too much to the grievance of his loving
subjects ... that notwithstanding all the trouble, not one third part of
the saltpetre required could be furnished." It proceeds to state that Sir
John Brooke and Thomas Russell, Esq., had proposed a new method of
manufacturing the article, and that an exclusive patent had been granted to
them. The King then _commands_ his subjects in London and Westminster, that
after notice given, they "carefully keep in proper vessels all human urine
throughout the year, and as much of that of beasts as can be saved." This
appeared to fail; for at the end of the same year, the "stable" monarch
proclaimed a return to the old method, giving a commission to the Duke of
Buckingham, and some others, to "... break open ... and work for
saltpetre," as might be found requisite; and in 1634, a further
proclamation was issued renewing the old ones, but excepting the houses,
stables, &c. of _persons of quality_.
During the Commonwealth the nuisance was finally got rid of; for an act was
passed in 1656, directing that "none shall dig within the houses, &c. of
any person _without their leave first obtained_."