A PROCLAMATION PROHIBITING INTERLOPING AND DISORDERLY TRADING TO NEW
ENGLAND IN AMERICA.
As it hath ever beene held a principall Office of Christian Kings, to
seeke by all pious meanes the advancement of Christian Religion; so the
consideration thereof, hath beene a speciall motive unto Us, from time
to time, as often as cause hath required, to further, by Our Royall
authority, the good disposition of any of Our well affected Subjects,
that have a will to attempt the discovering and planting in any parts
of the World, as yet savage and unpossessed by the Subjects of any
Christian Prince or State. And now for that, by Gods sacred favour,
there is likely to ensue great advancement of his glory, Our Crown, and
State, by reason of Our grant heeretofore made to the Counsell for the
managing of the affaires of New England in America, being in breadth
from forty degrees of Northerly latitude from the Equinoctiall line
to forty eight degrees of the sayd Northerly latitude, and in length
by all the breadth aforesayd, thorowout the maine land from Sea to
Sea[1]; We cannot but continue Our speciall respect and favour unto
them in their endevours, and exercise Our Royall authority against the
hinderers thereof. Wherefore, having received certaine information of
many and intolerable abuses offered by sundry interlopers, irregular
and disobedient persons, that seeking principally their present and
private profits, have not only impeached some of the Planters there,
of their lawfull possessions, but also taken from them their Timber
without giving any satisfaction, as in justice they ought to have done:
and not therewith contented, have rined whole woods to the utter ruine
of the same for ever after; as also, by casting of their ballast in the
harbors of some of their Ilands, have almost made them unserviceable:
And yet not so contented, by their promiscuous trading, as well
Mariners as Masters with the Savages, have overthrowne the trade and
commerce that before was had, to the great profit of the Planters,
and which were indeed their principall hopes for the advancement of
that plantation, next unto the commodities that coast affords of
Fishing: Neither heerwith satisfied, but as if they resolved to omit
nothing that might be impious and intolerable, they did not forbeare
to barter away to the Savages, Swords, Pikes, Muskets, Fowling peeces,
Match, Powder, Shot, and other warlike weapons, and teach them the use
thereof; not only to their owne present punishment (divers of them
being shortly after slain by the same Savages, whom they had so taught,
and with the same weapons which they had furnished them withall) but
also to the hazard of the lives of Our good subjects already planted
there, and (asmuch as in them lay) to the making of the whole attempt
it selfe (how pious and hopefull soever) frustrate, or so much the
more difficult.[2] We, for reformation and prevention of these or
the like evils heerafter, and for the more cleare declaration of Our
Kingly resolution and just intents, both to maintayne Our Royall grant
already made, and to uphold and encourage by all wayes and meanes the
worthy dispositions of the undertakers of those designes, have thought
fit, and doe heerby straitly charge and command, That none of Our
Subjects whatsoever, (not Adventurers, Inhabitors or Planters in New
England) presume from hencefoorth to frequent those Coasts, to trade or
traffique with those people, or to intermedle in the woodes or freehold
of any the Planters or Inhabitants (otherwise then by the licence of
the sayd Counsell, or according to the orders established by Our Privy
Counsell for the releese or ease of the transportation of the Colony
in Virginia) upon paine of Our high indignation, and the confiscation,
penalties and forfeitures in Our sayd Royall grant expressed: Leaving
it neverthelesse, in the meane time, to the discretion of the sayd
Counsel for New England, to proceed against the foresayd offenders
according to the same, especially, seeing We finde the armes of the
sayd Counsell to bee open to receive into that plantation any of Our
loving Subjects, who are willing to joyne with them in the charge,
and participate in the profits thereof.
Given at Our Court at Theobalds, the sixt day of November, in the
yeere of Our Reigne of England, France, and Ireland, the twentieth,
and of Scotland the sixe and fiftieth.[3]