Whereas Wee, out of the dislike Wee had of the use of Tobacco, tending
to a generall and new corruption both of mens bodies and maners, and
yet neverthelesse holding it of the two more tolerable, that the same
should be imported amongst many other vanities and superfluities, which
came from beyond the Seas, then permitted to be planted here within
this Realme, thereby to abuse and misimploy the soile of this fruitfull
Kingdome, did by Our Proclamation dated the thirtieth day of December
now last past straitly charge and commaund all and every person and
persons, of what degree or condition soever, That they or any of them
by themselves, their servants, workemen or labourers should not from
and after the second day of February then next following, presume to
sow, set or plant, or cause to be sowen, set or planted within this
Our Realme of England, and the Dominion of Wales, any sort or Kinde of
Tobacco whatsoever, and that they, or any of them, should not maintaine
or continue any olde stockes or plants of Tobacco formerly sowen or
planted, but should forthwith utterly destroy and root up the same.
And whereas We have taken into Our Royall consideration as well the
great waste and consumption of the wealth of Our Kingdomes, as the
endangering and impairing the health of Our Subjects, by the inordinate
libertie and abuse of Tobacco, being a weede of no necessary use, and
but of late yeeres brought into Our Dominions, and being credibly
informed, that divers Tobacconists, and other meane persons taking upon
them to trade and adventure into the parts beyond the Seas for Tobacco,
to the intent to forestall and engrosse the said commoditie, upon
unmerchantlike conditions, doe transport much Gold bullion and Coyne
out of Our Kingdomes, and doe barter and vent the Staple commodities
of Our Realme at under-values, to the intent to buy Tobacco, to the
discredit of Our native merchandizes, and extreame enhansing of the
rates and prices of Tobacco, and the great disturbance and decay of
the Trade of the orderly and good Merchant: We taking the premisses
into Our Princely consideration, and being desirous to put a remedie
to the said inconveniences, which Wee have long endeavoured, though
with lesse effect then Wee expected, have resolved to make some further
redresse, by restraining the disordered traffique in that commoditie,
and reducing it into the hands of able persons that may manage the same
without inconvenience, whereby the generall abuse may be taken away,
and the necessary use (if any be) may be preserved. We doe therefore
not only by these presents, straitly charge and commaund, That Our
said Proclamation restraining the planting of Tobacco, be in every
respect observed and performed according to the tenour thereof, upon
the penalties therein contained; but also that no person or persons
whatsoever, Englishmen, Denizens or Strangers, (other then such as
shall be authorized and appointed thereunto by Letters Patents under
Our great Seale of England) doe import or cause to be imported into
this Our Realme of England or Dominion of Wales, or any part of
them or either of them, any Tobacco, of what nature, kind, or sort
soever, after the tenth day of July next ensuing the date hereof,
from any the parts beyond the Seas, upon paine of forfeiture to Us of
all such Tobacco so to be imported contrary to the true meaning of
these Presents, and upon such further paines and penalties as by the
Lawes and Statutes of this Realme, or by the severitie or censure of
Our Court of Starrechamber may be inflicted upon the offendors, for
contempt of this Our Royall command. And likewise that no Master,
Merchant, or Purser of any Ship or other Vessell, doe at any time or
times after the said tenth day of July, presume or attempt to take into
their ships to be imported into this Realme and Dominion, or either of
them, any sort, maner, or quantity of Tobacco whatsoever, but onely to
the use of such person and persons as shalbe so as aforesaid authorized
and appointed under Our great Seale of England to import the same, and
which shalbe by them, their deputies, servants or factors delivered to
the said Masters, Merchants or Pursers of Ships to be imported, upon
the paines and penalties aforesaid.
And to the intent that no such offendor may colour or hide his offence
and contempt, by shadowing the Tobacco to be brought in, contrary to
Our pleasure before expressed, under pretence of former store, We doe
hereby signifie and declare Our will and pleasure, and doe straitly
charge and command, That all and every person and persons which now
have, or hereafter shall have within or neere the Cities of London
or Westminster, in their hands, custody or possession, any Tobacco
heretofore imported, or hereafter and before the said tenth day of
July now next ensuing to be imported into this Realm, amounting to the
quantitie of ten pounds weight or above, shall before the said tenth
day of July now next comming, bring the same unto the house commonly
called, The Hawke and Feasant, situate in Cornehill in the said citie
of London, and shall cause the same to be there sealed and marked by
such person and persons, and with such marke or Seale as by Us shalbe
for that purpose assigned and appointed, without giving any Fee or
allowance for the said Seale or marke.
And to the intent that the Tobacco to be hereafter imported by Warrant
or Authoritie under Our great Seale, may be knowen and distinguished
from such as shall be secretly and without Warrant brought in by
stealth, We doe likewise charge and command, that all such Tobacco as
from and after the said tenth day of July shall be imported by force
of any such warrant or Authoritie and none other, except the old store
aforesaid to be sealed as aforesaid, shall be sealed and marked with
such Seale and marke as aforesaid. And we doe hereby prohibite all
person and persons from and after the said tenth day of July, to buy,
utter, sell or vent within the said Kingdome and Dominion, or either
of them, any Roll or other grosse quantitie of Tobacco whatsoever,
before the same be so as aforesaid marked or sealed, upon paine of
forfeiture unto Us of all such Tobacco so bought, uttered, solde
or vented contrary to the intent of these Presents, and upon such
further penalties as by Our Lawes, or by the censure of Our Court of
Starrechamber may be inflicted upon the offenders, as contemners of Our
Royall command.
And for the better execution of this Our Pleasure, Wee doe hereby
command all and singular Customers, Comptrollers, Searchers, Waiters,
and other officers attending in all and every the Ports, Creeks, or
places of lading or unlading, for the taking, collecting, or receiving
of any Our Customers, Subsidies or other duties, to take notice of this
Our pleasure: and We do hereby command, and give power and authority
unto them, and every or any of them, from time to time, as well to
search any Ship or other Vessell or Bottome, riding or lying within
any Port, Haven or Creeke within their severall charge and place of
attendance, for all Tobacco imported contrary to the intent of this Our
Proclamation, and the same being found, to seize and take to Our use;
as also to take notice of the names, and apprehend the bringers in, and
buyers of the same, to the end they may receive condigne punishment for
their offences, upon paine that every of the said Officers which shalbe
found negligent, remisse or corrupt therein, shall lose his place and
entertainment, and undergoe such paines and penalties as by Our Lawes,
or the censure of Our said Court of Starrechamber may be inflicted upon
them for the same.
And likewise We doe hereby will, ordaine, and appoint, That it shal
and may be lawfull to and for such person and persons, as shalbe so as
aforesaid authorized and appointed by Letters Patents under Our great
Seale, to import Tobacco by himselfe or themselves, or his or their
Deputie or Deputies, with a lawfull Officer to enter into any suspected
places at lawfull and convenient times, and there search, discover and
finde out any Tobacco imported, uttered, solde or vented, not marked or
sealed as aforesaid, contrary to the true meaning hereof, and all such
Tobacco so found, to seize, take away and dispose of, and the owners
thereof, or in whose custody the same shalbe found, to informe and
complaine of, to the end they may receive punishment according to Our
pleasure before herein declared.
And further, We doe by these Presents will and require all and
singular Mayors, Sheriffes, Justices of Peace, Bayliffes, Constables,
Headboroughes, Customers, Comptrollers, Searchers, Waiters, and all
other Our Officers and Ministers whatsoever, That they and every of
them in their severall places and offices be diligent and attendant in
the execution of this Our Proclamation, and also aiding and assisting
unto such person and persons, and his and their Deputies and Assignes
as we shall so as aforesaid authorize and appoint to import Tobacco,
aswell in any search for discovery of any acte or actes to bee
performed contrary to the intent of these Presents, as otherwise in the
doing or executing of any matter or thing for the accomplishment of
this Our Royall Command. And lastly Our will and pleasure is, and Wee
doe hereby charge and command Our Atturney generall for the time being,
to informe against such persons in Our Court of Starrechamber from
time to time, whose contempt and disobedience against this Our Royall
command shall merit the censure of that Court.
Given at Our Manour of Greenwich the nine and twentieth day of June,
in the eighteenth yeere of Our Reigne of England, France and Ireland,
and of Scotland the three and fiftieth.