Whereas the Kings most excellent Majestie being informed of the abuses
dayly arising of the ungoverned Selling and Retailing of Tobacco, by
his Proclamation lately published, did prohibit all his people, that
after the feast of Candlemas, which is now last past, none of them
out of certaine Cities and Townes therein specified to have beene
appointed, and within those Cities and Townes no other but certaine
persons named, as in the said Proclamation is expressed, and such as
from time to time as should be permitted, should sell or deliver any
Tobacco by Retaile, herein requiring due obedience untill his Majestie
should make other declaration, as by the same Proclamation appeareth.
Sithence which, a great number of his Majesties loving subjects have
repaired to some Lords, and others of his Majesties Privie Councell,
being his Majesties Commissioners appointed to treat with them, and
have humbly desired Letters Patents of Licence to sell Tobacco by
Retaile, whereunto his Majesties said Commissioners have consented:
but because it is both convenient and necessary that the number of
those that be Licensed to sell Tobacco by Retaile, and also their
names be knowne, that in time convenient notice may be taken from
them how much Tobacco in each yeere they Retaile and Vent: that upon
knowledge thereof, his Majesty for preventing of the issuing out of
the Realme too great a proportion of the Stocke of this Kingdome, may
give order for the quantity of Tobacco that shall be yeerely brought
in: And being resolved that any who from henceforth shall presume to
utter or sell Tobacco, not being Licensed, shall severely be proceeded
against: For these and for other causes, the King our Soveraigne
Lord straightly defendeth and commandeth, that neither such as by
pretext of being formerly nominated as meet men to Retaile Tobacco,
nor any other from henceforth presume to sell or utter Tobacco by
Retaile, untill they shall have obtained his Majesties Licence in that
behalfe, any permission or tolleration that may be pretended by the
said Proclamation, or any other signification notwithstanding, upon
such paines of censure in the Court of Star-Chamber and elsewhere, as
may be inflicted upon contemners of his Majesties commands publiquely
proclaimed. Wherein his Majestie is pleased, that a part of the Fines
set upon the Contemners of this Command, be conferred upon those that
give notice of the Offenders, so as they may be brought to judgement.
Given at Our Court at Newmarket, the thirteenth day of March, in the
ninth yeere of Our Reigne.