Birmingham.
_The Saltpetre Man_ (Vol. viii., p. 225.).--In addition to the curious
particulars of this office, I send you an extract from Abp. Laud's _Diary_:
"December 13, Monday. I received letters from Brecknock; that the
_saltpeter man_ was dead and buried the Sunday before the messenger
came. This _saltpeter man_ had digged in the Colledge Church for his
work, bearing too bold upon his commission. The news of it came to me
to London about November 26. I went to my Lord Keeper, and had a
messenger sent to bring him up to answer that sacrilegious abuse. He
prevented his punishment by death."