Back in highschool law, we were taught about the Salt Petre man in Britain, who was given carte blanche to enter your premises, dig up your floor (well most likely your stables and chicken coops) and extract the urine soaked soil therein to return to his/her Majesty for the production of gunpowder.
The raw product (easily obtained from liquid fertiliser these days, not needing urine, straw and dirt) was in short supply, so these measures were enacted...
1645 British legislation...
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/acts-ordinances-interregnum/pp828-830
Quote:
Power to persons named by Parlt. to dig for Saltpeter in likely places.; Saltpetermen to give satisfaction to Owners for damage.; Persons refusing to allow Saltpeter-men to dig, to be proceeded against.
Interesting reading, as it lays out that they can dig your stuff up...have to fix it, can borrow your transport and recompense you at a fixed rate per mile
The raw product (easily obtained from liquid fertiliser these days, not needing urine, straw and dirt) was in short supply, so these measures were enacted...
1645 British legislation...
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/acts-ordinances-interregnum/pp828-830
Quote:
Power to persons named by Parlt. to dig for Saltpeter in likely places.; Saltpetermen to give satisfaction to Owners for damage.; Persons refusing to allow Saltpeter-men to dig, to be proceeded against.
Interesting reading, as it lays out that they can dig your stuff up...have to fix it, can borrow your transport and recompense you at a fixed rate per mile