Whereas in the Reigne of Our most deare and Royall Father, King James
of blessed memory, et since Our accesse to the Crowne, severall
Proclamations have been made and published concerning Tobacco, Yet
notwithstanding all the care and providence which hath hitherto been
used, We finde the unlimited desire of gaine, and the inordinate
appetite of taking Tobacco, hath so farre prevailed, that Tobacco hath
been continued to bee planted in great quantities, in severall parts of
this Our Realme, and a vast proportion of unserviceable Tobacco made
and brought from Our Colonies of Virginia, Summer Ilands, and other Our
Forreigne Plantations, besides an incredible quantity of Brasill and
Spanish Tobacco imported hither, and secretly conveyed on Land. And it
is now come to passe, That those Our Forreigne Plantations, that might
become usefull to this Kingdome, lingering onely upon Tobacco, are in
apparant danger to be utterly ruined, unlesse Wee speedily provide for
their subsistence; The bodies and manners of Our people are also in
danger to bee corrupted, and the wealth of this Kingdome exhausted by
so uselesse a Weede as Tobacco is; which beeing represented unto Us by
the humble Petition of Our loving Subjects the Planters and Adventurers
in Virginia, and also by the like humble Petition of the Retailers and
Sellers of Tobacco in and about Our Cities of London and Westminster,
Wee have thought it worthy of Our Princely care, as a matter not only
fit for Our profit, et the profit of Our people, but much concerning
Us in Our honour and government so to regulate the same, and compell
due obedience thereto, that Our forreigne Plantations and Colonies
may bee supported and encouraged, and they made usefull to this
Kingdome, by applying themselves to more solide commodities, that the
healths of Our Subjects may be preserved, the wealth of this Kingdome
enlarged, and the manners of Our people so ordered and governed, that
the world may not justly taxe Us, that these are at once endangered
only by the licentious use of Tobacco. And therfore having seriously
advised hereof, Wee, by the advice of Our Privie Councell, have now
resolved upon, and published these Our Commands following concerning
Tobacco, which Our Royall will and pleasure is, shall be in all things
observed upon paine of Our highest displeasure, and of such paines,
penalties and punishments, as by Our Court of Exchequer, and Court of
Starre-Chamber, and by any other Courts and ministers of Justice, or by
Our Prerogative Royall can be inflicted upon the offenders.
And first, Our will and Command is, that no person whatsoever doe at
any time hereafter plant, preserve, or maintaine any Tobacco, which is,
hath been, or shall be planted in Our Kingdomes of England or Ireland,
or Dominion of Wales, or in the Islands of Jersey or Guernesey, but
that the same bee utterly displanted and destroyed, and that none
presume or adventure to Buy, Sell, or utter any such Tobacco, the same
being utterly unwholesome to bee taken.
And further, that no Tobacco whatsoever be from hencefoorth imported
into these Our realms, or any Haven, Port, Creeke or place therof,
which is, or shal be of the growth of any the parts or places beyond
the Seas, belonging to, or under the obedience of any foreine King,
Prince, or State whatsoever; But such, and so much thereof onely, as
Wee shall specially allow to be imported, untill it shal be fully
setled betweene those Forreine Princes and Us, according to those
Treaties which are betweene Us, that Our Subjects may not unthriftily
vent the solide Commidities of Our owne Kingdomes, and returne the
proceed thereof in Smoake.
And further We will and command, that no Tobacco of the growth of any
of Our English Plantations in Virginia the Sommer Islands, Caribee
Islands, or other Islands or places in America, or the Coasts thereof,
be at any time hereafter imported or brought into Our Kingdomes of
England or Ireland, or Dominion of Wales, at any other Port then
at, or in Our Port of London onely, and the same duely entred in
Our Custome-houses there, nor that any greater quantitie thereof
bee imported there, then Wee by the advice of Our Privie Councell
shall hold fit, and under Our Privie Seale, shall declare to bee
competent for the expence of these Our Kingdomes, Wee not thinking
it fit to admit of an immeasurable expence of so vaine and needlesse
a Commoditie, which ought to bee used as a Drugge onely, and not so
vainely and wantonly as an evill habite of late times hath brought it
unto.
And these sorts of Tobacco which shall be thus brought from Our owne
Colonies, Wee will take present order shall bee well ordered and made
up, and so certified to bee, under the hand of the Governour of that
place, and when the same shall be brought hither, shall bee againe
Searched, Tryed and Sealed, that Our Subjects be not abused by corrupt
Tobacco.
And Our expresse Command is, that whatsoever Tobacco shall bee taken,
which shall be imported contrary to this Our Proclamation, the same
shall be forfeited and confiscate, and by the Officers of that Port or
place where it shall bee taken, shall be immediately burnt.
And for the ordering and governing of the expence and use of Tobacco
when it shall be imported, Wee, by the advice of Our Privie Councell,
shall speedily direct such a course as Wee shall hold fit, which Wee
expect shall be also in all things observed.
And Wee straitly charge and Command all Our Customers, Comptrollers,
Searchers, and all other the Officers and Ministers of Our Ports, that
they and every of them in their severall places, doe carefully and
faithfully observe Our Royal Command, in, and concerning the premisses;
and if any of them shall be found remisse or negligent therein, or to
connive at any such offender, that hee or they shall for such their
fault, without any remission be remooved from the place or places of
his or their attendance on Our service.
And to the end Our pleasure and Command hereby published, may be the
better executed, Wee doe hereby will, require and Command, all Maiors,
Sheriffes, Justices of peace, Bayliffes, Headboroughs, and other Our
Officers and loving Subjects whatsoever, to be aiding and assisting,
and so much as in them lyeth, to take care that the premisses herein
mentioned, be duly put in execution, as they tender their duetie and
allegeance to Us, and will answere the contrary at their uttermost
perils.[1]
Given at Our Court at Whitehall the sixt day of January, in the sixt
yeere of Our Reigne.