A. D. 1636. 393 



gunpowder, he now appointed a commilllon for receiving of his two 

 gunpowder-makers all the powder tliey fhould make at 7^-^ per pound 

 weight, and for again felling the fame out to his fubjeds at fuch prices 

 as the commiilioners fhould from time to time iix. 



In this commiffion we find the king was not able to carry on this- 

 monopoly without the importation of faltpetre from foreign parts, there 

 not being enough produced in England for the manufidure of all the 

 gunpowder requifite for his and his fubjeds ufe. He alfo prohibited the 

 importation of foreign gunpowder; and direded that his officers fliould 

 not take above 1/6 per pound for gunpowder fold out to his fubjeds, 

 and that no retailers of it to whom it is thus fold fhould fell it again for 

 above 1/8 in London, and i/8| per pound in the country, if diflant 

 .thirty miles or more from London. \_F^Jcra, V.. xx, pp. 93, gG, 107.] 



A malt and brewing monopoly was eftabliflied on pretence of re- 

 flraining the excellive nuniber of common maltft^jrs, by means of whom 

 not only a greater confumption and wafte of barley was occafioned, but 

 alfo fundry abufes in the bad making of malt : likewife for reftraininf 

 the great number of innkeepers and viduallers, who take upon them to 

 brew ale and beer, which they fell by retail, and make too flrong and. 

 heady, ferving for drunkennefs and excefs ; and thencei'orth the king 

 was to appoint, in fit places throughout the realm, a conipetent number 

 -of maltflers and common brewers to be incorporated, under fuch fines 

 and yearly paynaents to us as fhould be thought meet. [^Fwdera, V. \k, 

 •p. 102.] 



King Charles contracted with John Crane, Elq. iurveyor-general, for 

 victualling his navy, nearly in the form of the contracT: for the like pur- 

 =pofe already related under tlie year 1622. Mr. Crane was to be allow- 

 ed for lailors in harbour 7 jir/ per day for their provifions, and when at 

 fea 8y<^ per day. \Fcedera, V. xx, p. 103.] 



King Charles incorporated all the tradefmen and artificers inhabiting 

 fuch places in the city of London as are exempted froin the freedona 

 thereof, as alfo thole in the outparts of Weftminller and Middlefex, 

 within three miles of the laid city of London ; thereby alfo excluding 

 for the future all fuch as have not ferved i'even years to their refpedive 

 occupations, as well as all foreigners, from pradifing their relpedive 

 trades. The pretences, fcarcely plaufible, for this moft extraordinary 

 corporation, as in this proclamation, were, ' in order to prevent thofe 

 ' places from being peflered with inmates, and alio to prevent the pre- 

 ' judice done to fuch as were freemen of London, and for the more or- 

 ' derly difpofing of trade and tradefmen.' [Fofit'/fl, /^ xx, />. r 13.] Eut 

 although no payments into his exchequer are mentioned, it feems rea- 

 fonable enough to Cufped that he was thereby laying a foundation for 

 fome fuch tax. 



Vol. n. 3D 



