THe King Our Soveraign Lord taking into His serious and provident Consideration the most necessary and important use of Gunpowder, as well for supply of His own Royal Navy and the Shipping of His loving Subjects, as otherwise for the Safety and Defence of His People and Kingdom; and that by reason of great Exportations of late, the Stores thereof are much exhausted: Now to the end His Majesties Maga­zines and Subjects may be furnished at home, without any necessity to depend upon the dangerous, casual, and chargeable supply thereof from Foreign parts; His Majesty hath thought fit (by and with the Advice of His Privy Council) to prohibit and forbid, and doth by this His Royal Proclamation prohibit and forbid, and straitly Charge and Command all and every person and persons whatsoever as well Merchants as others, of what estate or degree soever, That they or any of them, do not at any time or times within the space of Three moneths, to be accounted from the publishing of this His Royal Proclamation, Carry or Transport, or cause or procure to be Carried or Transported out of this Realm of England and Dominion of Wales, or any part thereof, into any the parts beyond the Seas, any Saltpeter whatsoever. And His Majesty doth hereby straitly Charge and Com­mand the Farmers of His Customs the Surveyors, Searchers, and other Officers of His Ports, and Members thereof, in England and Wales, and all other His Officers and Subjects whatsoever, of what qua­lity or degree soever, That they and every of them do diligently and carefully observe and take notice of this His Royal Will and Command, and not presume directly or indirectly to act or do, or permit or suffer any thing to be acted or done contrary thereunto, as they and every of them will avoid His Majesties displea­sure, and the censure of being holden Contemners of His Royal Command in a matter of high conse­quence for the publick Service and Safety of the State, and upon such further Penalties and Punish­ments, as for Example or Terrour to others, their Contempts and want of Duty shall demerit, and by His Majesties Prerogative Royal or otherwise shall be found fit in Honour and Iustice to be inflicted upon them.

Given at Whitehall this 17 ^th day of March, 1663. in the Sixteenth year of His Majesties Reign.

God save the King.