[Restricting Importation of Tobacco.]

BY THE KING.

A Proclamation concerning Tobacco.

Whereas in the Reigne of Our most deare and Royall Father, King James of blessed memory, et since Our accesse to the Crowne, severall Proclamations have been made and published concerning Tobacco, Yet notwithstanding all the care and providence which hath hitherto been used, We finde the unlimited desire of gaine, and the inordinate appetite of taking Tobacco, hath so farre prevailed, that Tobacco hath been continued to bee planted in great quantities, in severall parts of this Our Realme, and a vast proportion of unserviceable Tobacco made and brought from Our Colonies of Virginia, Summer Ilands, and other Our Forreigne Plantations, besides an incredible quantity of Brasill and Spanish Tobacco imported hither, and secretly conveyed on Land. And it is now come to passe, That those Our Forreigne Plantations, that might become usefull to this Kingdome, lingering onely upon Tobacco, are in apparant danger to be utterly ruined, unlesse Wee speedily provide for their subsistence; The bodies and manners of Our people are also in danger to bee corrupted, and the wealth of this Kingdome exhausted by so uselesse a Weede as Tobacco is; which beeing represented unto Us by the humble Petition of Our loving Subjects the Planters and Adventurers in Virginia, and also by the like humble Petition of the Retailers and Sellers of Tobacco in and about Our Cities of London and Westminster, Wee have thought it worthy of Our Princely care, as a matter not only fit for Our profit, et the profit of Our people, but much concerning Us in Our honour and government so to regulate the same, and compell due obedience thereto, that Our forreigne Plantations and Colonies may bee supported and encouraged, and they made usefull to this Kingdome, by applying themselves to more solide commodities, that the healths of Our Subjects may be preserved, the wealth of this Kingdome enlarged, and the manners of Our people so ordered and governed, that the world may not justly taxe Us, that these are at once endangered only by the licentious use of Tobacco. And therfore having seriously advised hereof, Wee, by the advice of Our Privie Councell, have now resolved upon, and published these Our Commands following concerning Tobacco, which Our Royall will and pleasure is, shall be in all things observed upon paine of Our highest displeasure, and of such paines, penalties and punishments, as by Our Court of Exchequer, and Court of Starre-Chamber, and by any other Courts and ministers of Justice, or by Our Prerogative Royall can be inflicted upon the offenders.

And first, Our will and Command is, that no person whatsoever doe at any time hereafter plant, preserve, or maintaine any Tobacco, which is, hath been, or shall be planted in Our Kingdomes of England or Ireland, or Dominion of Wales, or in the Islands of Jersey or Guernesey, but that the same bee utterly displanted and destroyed, and that none presume or adventure to Buy, Sell, or utter any such Tobacco, the same being utterly unwholesome to bee taken.

And further, that no Tobacco whatsoever be from hencefoorth imported into these Our realms, or any Haven, Port, Creeke or place therof, which is, or shal be of the growth of any the parts or places beyond the Seas, belonging to, or under the obedience of any foreine King, Prince, or State whatsoever; But such, and so much thereof onely, as Wee shall specially allow to be imported, untill it shal be fully setled betweene those Forreine Princes and Us, according to those Treaties which are betweene Us, that Our Subjects may not unthriftily vent the solide Commidities of Our owne Kingdomes, and returne the proceed thereof in Smoake.

And further We will and command, that no Tobacco of the growth of any of Our English Plantations in Virginia the Sommer Islands, Caribee Islands, or other Islands or places in America, or the Coasts thereof, be at any time hereafter imported or brought into Our Kingdomes of England or Ireland, or Dominion of Wales, at any other Port then at, or in Our Port of London onely, and the same duely entred in Our Custome-houses there, nor that any greater quantitie thereof bee imported there, then Wee by the advice of Our Privie Councell shall hold fit, and under Our Privie Seale, shall declare to bee competent for the expence of these Our Kingdomes, Wee not thinking it fit to admit of an immeasurable expence of so vaine and needlesse a Commoditie, which ought to bee used as a Drugge onely, and not so vainely and wantonly as an evill habite of late times hath brought it unto.

And these sorts of Tobacco which shall be thus brought from Our owne Colonies, Wee will take present order shall bee well ordered and made up, and so certified to bee, under the hand of the Governour of that place, and when the same shall be brought hither, shall bee againe Searched, Tryed and Sealed, that Our Subjects be not abused by corrupt Tobacco.

And Our expresse Command is, that whatsoever Tobacco shall bee taken, which shall be imported contrary to this Our Proclamation, the same shall be forfeited and confiscate, and by the Officers of that Port or place where it shall bee taken, shall be immediately burnt.

And for the ordering and governing of the expence and use of Tobacco when it shall be imported, Wee, by the advice of Our Privie Councell, shall speedily direct such a course as Wee shall hold fit, which Wee expect shall be also in all things observed.

And Wee straitly charge and Command all Our Customers, Comptrollers, Searchers, and all other the Officers and Ministers of Our Ports, that they and every of them in their severall places, doe carefully and faithfully observe Our Royal Command, in, and concerning the premisses; and if any of them shall be found remisse or negligent therein, or to connive at any such offender, that hee or they shall for such their fault, without any remission be remooved from the place or places of his or their attendance on Our service.

And to the end Our pleasure and Command hereby published, may be the better executed, Wee doe hereby will, require and Command, all Maiors, Sheriffes, Justices of peace, Bayliffes, Headboroughs, and other Our Officers and loving Subjects whatsoever, to be aiding and assisting, and so much as in them lyeth, to take care that the premisses herein mentioned, be duly put in execution, as they tender their duetie and allegeance to Us, and will answere the contrary at their uttermost perils.[1]

Given at Our Court at Whitehall the sixt day of January, in the sixt yeere of Our Reigne.

God save the King.

Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majestie: and by the Assignes of John Bill. 1630.

2 pp. folio. Copies in Antiq., B. M., Canterbury, Crawf., and P. C.; also in Va. State Library. Entered on Patent Rolls. Printed in Rymer's "Foedera," xix, 235.

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