After themaximum amount of salt had been removed, a quantity of vinegar was added to themixture and then the mixture was boiled for a further period until it was concentratedenough to crystallize. It was then poured into shallow pans which, as the liquid evaporatedbecame filled with saltpetre.This was all important in history, because it was not possible for an average personto collect saltpetre and refine it into a usuable source. Therefore gunpowder and itsweapons were left to the kings, making the rule even stronger over the commons. Alsoadding to the value of gunpowder was the fact that, in the beginning, the total recipe forgunpowder was not common knowledge, and only a few special weapon-makers knewhow to make gunpowder at all. ...
