The Kings most Excellent Majestie, and His Royall Father of blessed
memory, having at severall times and upon severall occasions, published
their Proclamations concerning Tobacco, as well that which hath beene
indeavoured to bee planted within this Realme, as that which is of the
growth of Virginia and the Sommer Islands, and other English Colonies
and Plantations, and also concerning Spanish and other forraigne
Tobacco; And finding that the inordinate desire of taking Tobacco, and
the immoderate thirst of gaine, by the planting and selling of Tobacco,
cannot otherwise be allayed or moderated; Hath at the last, by the
advice of His Privie Counsell, determined upon this finall resolution
touching all sorts of Tobacco, in manner following.
First, His Majestie doth heereby declare His Royall Pleasure to be, and
doth heereby Will and Command, that no person whatsoever doe at any
time hereafter, plant, cherish, or preserve any Tobacco, within these
His Realmes of England or Ireland, or Dominion of Wales, or any the
Isles, parts, or places, of, or belonging to them or any of them, and
if any bee now planted or growing there, that the same bee presently
plucked up and utterly destroyed, by the Owners, Planters, Tenders, or
Dressers thereof, and lest they or any of them, should adventure to
neglect the performance hereof, His Majestie doeth further straitly
charge and command all Constables, Tything-men, Headboroughs, and other
Officers within their severall limits and Jurisdictions, carefully and
effectually to see the same executed and performed accordingly. And His
Majestie doth further Will and Command all Justices of Peace, Mayors,
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 and
executed without partialitie, as they and every of them will answere
their contempts in that behalfe at their uttermost perils.
And that the Tobacco of His Majesties own Plantations and Colonies may
not bee planted and imported hither without limitation or measure,
or under colour thereof, the Tobacco of the growth of Spaine and
other forraigne parts, may not be brought into these His Realmes, or
sold or uttered heere, to the overthrow of His Colonies abroad, and
to the wasting of the wealth and treasure of His Kingdomes at home.
His Majesty doeth further Will and straitly Command, that no person
whatsoever doe at any time heereafter import any Tobacco of the growth
of Spaine, and other forraigne parts out of His owne Dominions, nor
sell, utter, or offer to sell, or utter, or otherwise dispose or keepe
any such Tobacco, to the intent to sell or utter the same without
His Majesties speciall Commission in that behalfe, upon paine of
confiscation and forfeiture thereof, in whose hands soever the same
shall be found, and upon such further paines and penalties, as by the
Lawes of these His Realmes, or by His Prerogative Royall which in
this case He will not admit to be disputed, may be inflicted upon the
offendors.
And because such forraigne Tobacco, may not be received and uttered,
under the pretence of the Tobacco of the growth of Virginia, the
Summer-Ilands, and other Colonies and Plantations, under and within His
Majesties owne Dominions, nor the Planters, Owners, or Adventurers,
of, and in these Plantations, give themselves over to the planting of
Tobacco onely, to make a present returne of profit, and neglect to
applie themselves to solide Commodities fit for the establishing of
Colonies, which will utterly destroy these and all other Plantations;
His Majestie doth further will and command, that from henceforth no
Tobacco of the growth of Virginia, the Summer-Ilands, or any other
Plantations, or Colonies, of, or within His owne Dominions, bee
imported into these his Realmes or Dominions, or any the Ports, Havens,
Creekes, or places thereof, without His Majesties especiall licence
in that behalfe, under the great Seale of England, and that upon the
importation thereof, the same bee delivered into the hands of such
Commissioners, for his Majesties owne immediate use, as His Majestie
under His great Seale of England shal appoint, at, and for such Prices
and Rates to be paid for the same, as shall be reasonable agreed upon,
betweene the Owners or Factors of the same, and the Kings Commissioners
on His Majesties behalfe, or if they shall not agree thereon, then to
be transported againe, and sold elsewhere, upon paine of confiscation
and forfeiture thereof, and upon further paines and penalties, as by
the Law, or His Majesties Prerogative Royall may be inflicted upon them.
And further His Majestie doth straitly charge and command, that no
person whatsoever presume to buy any sort of Tobacco, within these
Realmes or Dominions, or any Haven, Port, Creeke, or place thereof,
of any other person, then of His Majesties Commissioners onely to bee
authorised under the great Seale of England, as aforesaid, and after
the same shall bee sealed with a Seale to that purpose appointed, and
that they, upon the buying thereof, doe expresse the true time when the
same was bought, the quantitie and qualitie thereof, in and by a note
in writing indented betweene the Buyer and Seller, testifying the same
upon the paines and penalties aforesayd.
And if during these times of Hostility, any Tobacco shall bee imported
by any of His Majesties owne Shippes, or by the Ships of any of
his Subjects, by way of Prize, or Letters of Marque, his further
will and pleasure is, that all such Tobacco shall be delivered unto
his Majesties Commissioners, at, and for reasonable prices, to bee
accomptable therefore to his Majesties use.
And his Majesty doeth hereby straitly charge and command, all
Customers, Controllers, Searchers, Wayters, and all other Officers,
Ministers, of, or belonging to His Customes, And also all Justices of
Peace, Mayors, Sheriffes, Constables, and other Our Officers, Ministers
and loving Subjects, in their severall places and degrees, to take
knowledge of this his Royall pleasure and Commandement, and to bee
ayding, helping and assisting to His Majesties Commissioners, and their
Deputies, Factors and servants, in all things touching and concerning
this His Service, whereof his Majestie is resolved to require a due and
strict accompt.
Given at His Majesties Court at Windsore, the ninth day of August
in the third yeere of His Reigne of England, Scotland, France, and
Ireland.