[Importation of Tobacco.]

BY THE KING.

A Proclamation concerning Tobacco.

Whereas We have had especiall care to provide, That Our loving Subjects the Planters of and in Virginia, the Summer Islands, Caribee Islands, et other Our Forrein Plantations might be encouraged to apply themselves to staple Commodities, fit for the establishing of Colonies, that so the said Plantations might the better flourish and become usefull to Our Kingdomes, and the Planters might be enabled to fortifie and secure themselves as well against the invasion of Forrein Enemies, as the assaults and incursions of the Natives; yet notwithstanding this Our care, the said Planters finding a present though small return of profit for Tobacco, have hitherto wholly betaken themselves to the planting thereof, little minding more solid commodities, their own safetie, or any better or other way or means of supportation and subsistence.

And whereas Our Merchants working upon the necessities of the Planters, have from time to time bought their Tobacco at low and small prices, thereby occasioning the said Planters to grow negligent and carelesse of the well ordering their Tobacco, by means whereof much unserviceable Tobacco hath from Our said Colonies been imported hither, and hath been sophisticated, mixed and stamped with rotten fruits, stalks of Tobacco, and other corrupt ingredients, and afterwards sold and uttered to Our people.

And whereas the vain and wanton taking of Tobacco being at length grown to an excesse, and this excesse having begotten an inordinate desire thereof in those that use it, and much of the Tobacco of Our said Colonies imported hither, being unserviceable as aforesaid, divers of Our Merchants for their own private gain have returned the proceed of the solid Commodities of Our Kingdoms by them vented in Forreign parts in Spanish Tobacco, et many of Our Subjects here have planted great quantities of Tobacco in severall parts of this Our Realme, which Tobacco here planted through the coldnesse of the Climate, and unaptnesse of the Soil, not coming to a perfect maturitie, is altogether unwholesome to be taken. By all which means the forreigne Plantations of Our Subjects remain unfortified, and are in apparant danger to be ruined, the Planters are grieved and discouraged, the Colonies of other Nations do flourish, the wealth of Our Kingdoms is exhausted, the immoderate use of a vain and needlesse weed is continued, the health of Our Subjects is much impaired, and their manners in danger to be depraved.

And although Wee out of Our Princely care of Our said Plantations abroad, and the good of Our Subjects at home, have formerly as well by Proclamation as otherwise, given direction in the premisses, and have provided against all the afore-mentioned evils, yet this Our care hath not hitherto produced that good effect which We intended and desired, for that fit, diligent and able Agents have not hitherto been imployed in these Our services, to see Our purposes deduced into Act: For these causes, and for divers other weighty considerations tending to the honour of Our said Plantations, et to the good as wel of Our said Planters, as of Our people here, Wee by the advice of the Lords and others of Our Privy Councell, have resolved to regulate Our said Plantations, and the planting, making up, and ordering of Tobacco there, and to limit and appoint what quantities of Tobacco shall henceforth be imported into Our Kingdoms, as well for the expence of Our Realmes, as for Our own services, and also to buy and take into Our own hands and mannaging all Tobacco from henceforth so to be imported, at such reasonable prices to be given for the same, as shall be expedient for the relief and better encouragement of the said Planters, and likewise to regulate the trade and sales of Tobacco here at home, and to commit the care and trusts of the premisses unto such fit Agents as Wee shall nominate in that behalf; All which Wee intend to put in speedy execution.[1]

And to the end Our Royall intentions touching the premisses may the better take effect, Wee do hereby will and command, That no person whatsoever, do at any time hereafter plant or cause to be planted any Tobacco within Our Kingdoms of England and Ireland, or either of them, or within Our Dominion of Wales, or Town of Barwick, or within Our Islands of Jersey and Gernesey, or either of them, or within Our Isle of Man: And that all Tobacco already planted, and now growing there, be presently displanted and utterly distroyed.

And to the end the doing hereof be not in any wise omitted or neglected, Wee do charge and command all Constables, Tithingmen, Headboroughs, and other Officers within their severall limits and jurisdictions carefully to see the same executed accordingly. And further Wee do will and command all Justices of Peace, Maiors, Sheriffes, and other principall Officers in their severall places, within the compasse of their severall jurisdictions and authorities, upon complaint to them made, to cause the same to be duly performed, without partialitie, and they and every of them will answer their Contempts at their perils.

And Wee do further will and command, that no person or persons whatsoever, within our said Realms and Dominions, do from henceforth presume to buy, sell, or utter any Tobacco of the growth of our said Kingdomes of England and Ireland, Dominion of Wales, Town of Barwick, and Islands of Jersey, Gernsey and Man, or any of them, or to let their grounds to Farm to any person or persons, to plant the same with Tobacco, or to stamp, beat, or mixe any Tobacco whatsoever with rotten fruits, the stalks of Tobacco, or any other bad or corrupt Ingredient, the same being utterly unwholesome to be taken as aforesaid. And Wee do likewise will and command, That no Tobacco of the growth of any parts or places beyond the Seas, belonging to, or under the obedience of any Forreigne King, Prince or State whatsoever, or of the growth of Our said Colonies and Forreign Plantations, be from henceforth imported into Our Kingdomes of England, and Ireland, and Dominion of Wales, or any of them, or into any other Our Dominions, or into any Port, Haven, Creek, or place to them or any of them belonging, more or other, then only such and so much of the Tobacco of the growth of the Plantations of the King of Spaine, as We by Our Letters under Our Privie Seal, or otherwise shall be pleased to allow; and such and so much of the Tobacco of the growth of Our own Colonies, as We shall in like manner declare to be competent for the expence of Our Kingdomes, and fit for Our own services, and for the better relief and encouragement of the said Planters.

And We do further will and command, That no Tobacco of the growth of Our said Plantations, or any of them be from thence transported in any English or other Ship or Bottome unto any Forreigne parts under the obedience of any Forreigne King, Prince, or State whatsoever; but that the same Tobacco be first imported unto Our Port of London, and entred in Our Custome-house there: And that no Tobacco of what sort soever be from henceforth imported, landed, or unladed to, in, or at any other Port, Haven, Creek, or place within Our said Kingdomes of England and Ireland, and Our Dominion of Wales, or any of them, or within any other Our Dominions, then to, in, or at Our Port of London onely. And that all Merchants, Masters and Owners of any Ship or Ships, and other persons whatsoever within or under Our obedience, do take notice of Our Royall command and pleasure herein, and do carefully and duely observe the same accordingly.

And We do hereby further will and command, That all Tobacco so imported and entred as aforesaid (other then such as shall be imported and entred by Our said Agents) shall from henceforth be sold and delivered unto the hands of Our said Agents to Our own immediate use, at, and for such valuable rates and prices to be given for the same, as shall be reasonably agreed upon between the Planters, Owners and Factours thereof, and Our said Agents on Our behalfe.

And Our pleasure further is, and We do hereby charge and command, That none of Our loving Subjects comercing, or any way trading in or about Tobacco, no other person or persons whatsoever, do from henceforth presume to buy any Tobacco in grosse of what sort soever, in any Port, Haven, Creek, or place within Our said Realms and Dominions, at the first hand, or of any person or persons whatsoever, other then of Our said Agents onely; And that all Tobacco bought of Our said Agents, shall be sealed with a seal to be appointed for that purpose, and that the quantity and quality thereof with the time when the same was bought be expressed, in and by a Note in writing indented between the Buyer and Seller, if to Our said Agents it shall seem fitting for this Our service.

And Wee do further charge and command, That no Tobacco whatsoever be from henceforth shipped or laded to be transported from any Port, Haven, Creek, or other place of Our Realm of England, Dominion of Wales, Port or Town of Barwick, or from any other Port within Our Dominions, without the Licence and consent of Our said Agents, and the same to be done in such manner, and upon such security to be given to the use of Us, Our Heirs and Successours, as to Our said Agents in their discretions shall seem expedient for Our service in that behalf.

And further Wee do hereby strictly command, That Our Royall pleasure hereby declared be in all things duely and truely observed upon pain of confiscation and forfeiture of all Tobacco of what sort soever imported or exported, laded or unladed, bought or sold contrary to the effect and true meaning of this Our Proclamation, and under such further pains and penalties, as by the Lawes of Our Realms, or Our Prerogative Royall may be inflicted upon the Offenders. Which Tobacco so forfeited and confiscated, shall be immediately brought to Our Custome-house in London, or to such other place as shall hereafter bee appointed in that behalfe, there to bee valued or apprized; and after such valuation or apprizement made, the Officer or other person by whose diligence such forfeiture was discovered, shall have the one moity of the same forfeiture or value for his service and future encouragement, and the other part therof shall go to Our own use.

And Wee do hereby straitly charge and command all Customers, Controllers, Searchers, Waiters, and all other Officers and Ministers of and belonging to Our Customes; And also all Justices of Peace; Maiors, Sheriffs, Constables, and other Our Officers, Ministers, and loving Subjects in their severall places and degrees, to take notice of this Our Royal pleasure and commandment, and to be aiding, helping and assisting to Our said Agents and their Deputies, Factours and servants in all things touching and concerning this Our service, whereof Wee are resolved to require a due and strict account.

Given at Our Court at Whitehall, this fourteenth day of March, in the thirteenth yeer of Our Reign.

God save the King.

Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent Majestie: And by the Assignes of John Bill. 1637.

4 pp. folio. Copies in B. M., Crawf., Dalk., and P. C. Entered on Patent Rolls.

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