A. D. 1625. ^^^ 



* man, lawfully deputed thereto, from digging, taking, or working any 

 ' ground which by commiffion may be taken and wrought for faltpetre. 



* Neither fhall any conftable, or other officer, negledl to furnifh any fuch 

 ' faltpetre-men with convenient carriages, that the king's fervice fufFer 

 ' not. None fhall bribe any faltpetre-man for the fparing or forbearing 



* of any ground fit to be wrought for faltpetre. That all dovehoufes, 

 ' and other places digged for faltpetre, be, when the earth thereof is 



* wrought over, laid fmooth and flat again as before. That no faltpetre 

 ' be exported, neither fold at home to any but the king's powder-maker, 

 ' who (hall not receive for any gunpowder fold by him to any of the 



* king's fubjedls above 10^ the pound weight.' The proclamation pro- 

 ceeds to diredl the trial of the goodnefs of gunpowder before it is fold. 

 [Foedera, V. xviii, p. 23.] The faltpetre and gunpowder bufinefs was 

 •one of that king's greatefl monopoly-projeds ; and his manner of di- 

 reding it was far from fuiting the genius of a free people. 



Charles was fo much a tranfcript of his father that we are not to 

 wonder at their proclamations having fo great a refemblance. His pro- 

 <;lamation againfl new foundations in and near London, and for re- 

 building the houfes either with brick or flone, is exactly in the flile and 

 form of his father's. He alio therein gives directions for the dimenfions, 

 true making, and price of bricks, viz. that the fizc of them be, in length 

 -9 inches, in breadth 4|, and in thicknefs 2^ ; and that the price of one 

 thoufand fuch bricks at the kiln fhall not exceed 8/ No bricks fhall be 

 made within one mile of any of the gates of London, or of the palace 

 of Weflminfter. Cottages, fheds, and other nuifances, to be removed 

 from the city and fuburbs : with other commendable regulations for its 

 beauty and uniformity. A fecond alfo, of the very fame tenor, came 

 out in this fame year. ^Fcedera, V. xviii, pp. 2,3, 97-] 



King Charles granted to Sir Francis Crane L2000 yearly, for ten 

 years : the one half of which fum was what he had formerly engaged 

 to allow him for that term, for the fupport of the tapeflry manufadure 

 at Mortlake in Surry : the other half was in lieu of paying him L6000 

 due to him for three fuits of gold tapeflries, delivered for the king's 

 ufe. {Foedera, V. xviii, p. 60.] 



Another proclamation grants a commiffion to many lords and gentle- 

 inen, for certain regulations in fearching for mines of gold, lilver, or 

 copper, or of lead holdmg filver, as alfo for quickfi'ver in Cardigan- 

 fhire ; of which mines the king had granted a leafe for 31 years to Sir 

 Hugh Middleton. \Foedera, V. xviii, p. 66.] 



After the Virginia company had, at iundry times, raifed by fubfcrip- 

 tions from their adventurers a capital of no lefs than L200,ooo, flill, ni 

 vain, hopiiig for gold and filver mines, and other very rich produdions, 

 many of them at length became weary of the charge, as not findaig the 

 profit by any means to anlwer expedtution, and fold out their Ihares ; and 



