THE "SALTPETER MAKER."

(Vol. vii., pp. 377. 433. 460. 530.)

The following humble petition will give an idea of the arbitrary power exercised by the "Saltpeter maker" in the days of Good Queen Bess; and of the useful monopoly that functionary contrived to make of his employment, in defiance of county government:

"Righte honorable, our humble dewties to yor good Lordshippe premised, maye it please the same to be advertised, that at the Quarter sessions holden at Newarke within this countie of Nottingham, There was a generall Complaynte made unto us by the Whole Countrie, that one John Ffoxe, saltpeter maker, had charged the Whole Countrie by his precepts for the Caryinge of Cole from Selsonn, in the Countie of Nottingham, unto the towne of Newarke wthin the same countie; beinge sixteene myles distante for the makeinge of saltpeter, some townes wth five Cariages and some wth lesse, or els to geve him foure shillinges for everie Loade, whereof he hath Recyved a great parte. Uppon wch Complaynte we called the same Ffoxe before some of us at Newarke at the Sessions, there to answere the premisses, and also to make us a propcīon what Loades of Coales would serve to make a thowsand of saltpeter, To thend we might have sett some order for the preparing of the same: But the said Ffoxe will not sett downe anie rate what would serve for the makeinge of a Thowsande. Therefore we have thoughte good to advertise your good Lordshippe of the premisses, and have appoynted the clarke of the peace of this countie of Nottingham to attend yor good Lordshippe to know yor Lordshippes pleasure about the same, who can further informe yor good Lordshippe of the particularities thereof, if it shall please yor good Lordshippe to geve him hearings, And so most humblie take our Leaves, Newarke, the viijth of Octobr, 1589.

"Your Lpp most humblie to Comaunde,

Ro. Markham,

William Sutton,

Rauf Barton, 1589,

Nihs Roos,

Brian Lassels,

John Thornhagh."

The document is addressed on the back "To the Right Honorable our verie good Lord the Lord Burghley, Lord Heighe Threasoror of England, yeve theis;" and is numbered LXI. 72. among the Lansdowne MSS., B. M.

The proposal quoted below has no date attached, but probably belongs to the former part of the seventeenth century:

"The Service.

"1. To make 500 Tunne of refined Saltpetre within his Maties dominions yearely, and continually, and cheaper.

2. Without digging of homes or charging of carts, or any other charge to the subject whatsoever.

3. To performe the whole service at our owne cost.

4. Not to hinder any man in his owne way of makeing saltpetre, nor importation from forreine parts."

The following memorandum is underwritten:

"Mr. Speaker hath our Bill; Be pleased to-morrow to call for it."

The original draft of the above disinterested offer may be seen Harl. CLVIII. fol. 272.

Furvus.

St. James's.