A PROCLAMATION COMMANDING CONFORMITY TO HIS MAJESTIES PLEASURE,
EXPRESSED IN HIS LATE CHARTER TO THE TOBACCO-PIPE-MAKERS.
Whereas divers of the poorer sort of Our Subjects have heretofore
lived by the trade of making Tobacco pipes, but for want of power to
retaine and keepe their Apprentices and servants in due obedience,
and to restraine others from intruding upon their Arte, the auncient
Makers have not so well prospered as was desired: For prevention of
which inconveniences, and for reducing the workemen in that trade to
such a competent number, as they might bee governed after the example
of other Societies, who florish by ranging themselves under good
Orders; We did by Our late Charter Incorporate a selected number of the
most ancient, and such others as they for skill and honestie should
admit into their Socitie: Thereby prohibiting all others who were not
members thereof, to make any sort of Tobacco-pipes within Our Realme
of England or Dominion of Wales; And thereby also commanding, that no
person or persons directly, or indirectly should buy Tobacco-pipes
to sell againe, of, or from the hands of any others then the knowne
Members of the said Societie. Yet neverthelesse being lately informed
by Certificate from sundry Our Justices of Peace of Our Counties of
Middlesex and Surrey (who in due obedience of Our Royall pleasure,
declared in Our said Charter, did in person assist the execution of
the same) That divers lewde and obstinate offenders, had fortified
themselves in their houses with weapons, And in contempt of Our Regall
Authority resisted them, comming with the severall Warrants of the Lord
Chiefe Justice of Our Bench, and other the Justices of Peace within
Our Citie of London, and the said counties of Middlesex and Surrey;
And also that there were divers il disposed persons (who delighting
to oppose al good orders) contemptuously maintained these underhand
offendors, some by harboring the unlawfull Makers of Tobacco-pipes
secretly in their houses, there to make them contrary to Our Charter,
to the end to partake of the stolne profit thereof; Others, by buying
secretly this under-hand made ware, in contempt of Our Authority, and
with an evill intent of overthrowing this Societie which we have sought
to establish.
Now therefore, that by the presumptuous example of these disobedient
persons, others may not be incouraged hereafter by impunity to presume
to resist and contemne Our Royall Commandement in matters of greater
moment, or to withstand the authority of Magistrates and government,
These are to charge and straitly command, that no persons whatsoever
within this Our Realme of England and Dominion of Wales shall hereafter
presume to make any manner of Tobacco-pipes, but such as are or shall
bee members of the said Societie: nor shall presume to harbour in their
houses any Tobacco-pipe-makers to use their trade there, who are not
of the said Societie; nor that any person or persons (especially who
buy Tobacco-pipes to sell againe) shall at any time, or in any place
buy or obtaine by any meanes, directly or indirectly any Tobacco-pipes
whatsoever, from any under-handmakers or others, but only from such as
are knowne members of the said Societie, and that at their common Hall,
or other knowne Warehouses appointed, or hereafter to bee appointed,
where they may bee bought by all Our loving Subjects, upon paine of Our
high displeasure, and such punishments as are due for such contempts,
whereof We shall require a strict account by proceeding against the
offendours in Our Court of Starre-Chamber.
Further commanding, that if at any time heereafter any person shall
bee so audacious as to fortifie themselves in their houses, or in the
houses of any other, or to withstand Our will and pleasure heerein,
or to resist Our authoritie given and imparted to Our Lord chiefe
Justice and others, in the search or apprehension of them, or any of
them; Then Wee doe heereby will and require, that sufficient power be
had and taken by such who shal have such Warrants, to apprehend such
obstinate and contemptuous persons, and to carry them before Our said
chiefe Justice, or other Justice of the Peace, that punishment may
be inflicted on them in the severest manner Our Lawes will permit by
imprisoning their bodie, till they have put in sufficient suretie for
their good behaviour afterwards. Heereby further, straitly charging Our
Atturney generall for the time being, that he cause all and every such
wilfull and disobedient persons, for such their high contempt in this
behalfe, to be prosecuted in Our Court of Starre-Chamber (where Our
will is they shall bee sharpely punished) according to the measure of
such their audacious and bold resistance of Our Royall commandement.
And to the intent that these fraudes and abuses may the better be found
out and punished, Our pleasure is, that it shall and may bee lawfull
for any two, or more of the said Societie, together with a lawfull
officer to enter into any suspected place or places, at lawful and
convenient times, there to search for, and finde out any under-hand
made, or sold Tobacco-pipes; And all such so found to seize, take, and
carry away, and them safelye to keepe to bee disposed of, according to
the tenor of Our sayd Charter.
And lastly, for the full execution of this Our Royall Commandement, Wee
will and require the Lord Maior of our Citie of London, for the time
being, and all other Maiors, Shiriffes, Justices of Peace, Bailiffes,
Constables, and all other Officers and Ministers whatsoever; That they
and every of them in their severall Offices and places, bee from time
to time ayding and assisting to the Master, Wardens, and Societie of
Tobacco-pipe makers in the due execution and accomplishment of this Our
Royall will and Commandement, as they tender Our pleasure, and will
answere the contrary at their perill.
Given at Our Court at Theobalds the seven and twentieth day of May,
in the eighteenth yeere of Our Reigne of Great Britaine, France and
Ireland.