A PROCLAMATION FORBIDDING THE DISORDERLY TRADING WITH THE SALVAGES
IN NEW ENGLAND IN AMERICA, ESPECIALLY THE FURNISHING OF THE NATIVES
IN THOSE AND OTHER PARTS OF AMERICA BY THE ENGLISH WITH WEAPONS, AND
HABILIMENTS OF WARRE.
Whereas a Proclamation was heretofore published by Our deare Father
King James of blessed memorie, in the twentieth yeere of His Reigne,[1]
for the better supportation and Reiglement of the Plantations within
Our Territory of New England in America, whereby, amongst divers other
things, the insufferable abuses committed by divers Interloping and
irregular Merchants, and disobedient Fishermen and Mariners, were
prohibited, who seeking only their present and private profit, did
Trade with the Salvages of that Countrey, and to the great prejudice
and danger of Our loving Subjects the Planters there, did Barter away
to the Salvages, Swords, Pikes, Muskets, Fowling-Pieces, Match, Powder,
Shotte, and other Warlike Armes, Weapons, and Munition, and teach them
the use thereof, not onely to their owne present ruine (divers of them
having been slaughtered by the barbarous people with their owne Weapons
formerly sold by them) but also to the great hazard of the lives of the
English already, planted there, and to the apparant destruction of that
hopefull Plantation.
Wee, being informed that these abuses are still continued to the
indangering of that Plantation,[2] and that the like abuses are also
practised in other Forreigne Plantations: Out of Our Princely care for
the prosperity of these Colonies, which being well governed may be of
great use to this Nation, for the reformation and prevention of these
and the like enormities for the future.
And to the end that the Royal Grant of Our late Father to the President
and Counsell of New England aforesayd, may bee maintained and
upholden, and that the Planters there, and adventurers thither, may bee
encouraged by all good wayes and meanes to proceede in their worthy
designes, have thought it fit, and doe hereby straitly charge and
command, That none of Our Subjects whatsoever (who are not Adventurers,
Inhabiters, or Planters, authorised by Our President and Counsell for
New England, according to the sayd Letters Patents) doe presume from
hencefoorth to frequent those Coasts to Trade or Traffique at all
with the Native people of those Countreys, or to intermeddle with the
Woods, or Grounds of any of the Planters, or English Inhabitants there,
otherwise then by the Licence of the sayd President and Counsell, or
for the necessary use of their Fishing on those Coasts, in which case
of Fishing, or under colour thereof, they are not to use any Trade or
Traffique there, nor to challenge any Right to the Soyle there, or
the Woods growing or beeing thereon, and especially Wee doe charge
and command, that neither any Interlopers, Fisher-men, or Mariners,
or any other of Our Subjects whatsoever, being of the said Company
of New England or otherwise, doe at any time hereafter dare to Sell,
Barter, or any wayes to deliver or convey unto any of the Salvages or
Natives of America, where any of Our English Colonies are or shall bee
planted, any Weapons or Habiliments of Warre of any kinde whatsoever,
or to teach them or any of them the use of Gunnes, or how to make,
or amend them, or any thing, belonging to them, upon paine of Our
high indignation, and the Confiscation, Penalties and Forfeitures
expressed in the said Royall Graunt of Our sayd Father, wherein Wee
shall proceede against those who have offended, or shall offend in any
of the premisses, in such manner and measure as the qualitie of their
Offences shall deserve. And yet further Wee leave it to the discussion
of the said President and Counsell for New England, and to other the
Governours and Counsell in any other Forreigne English Colonie in their
severall places respectively, to proceede against the Offenders in any
the kindes aforesaid, according to the powers already granted unto
them, and according to Our Lawes in that behalfe.
Given at Our Court at Whitehall, the foure and twentieth day of
November, in the sixt yeere of Our Reigne of Great Britaine, France
and Ireland.