Whereas in the Reigne of Our late deare Father, and since Our accesse
to the Crowne, upon mature deliberation there have been sundry
Proclamations published for restraining the landing of Tobacco to
certain Ports and Harbours within this Kingdome, and against planting
of the same within this Realme; And for that they have not been put in
due execution, divers fraudes and abuses have beene of late invented
and put in execution by mixing of Tobacco, not onely with other Tobacco
of worse condition, but also with other Materials, falsifying and
corrupting the same, to the great hurt and damage of Our people, both
in their estates and persons, which growing evill may in some measure
bee prevented, if the Tobacco brought into this Our Realme shall be
layd or landed onely in one Port and place.
For remedie therefore in that behalfe, and to the end Wee may bee the
more truely answered of the Custome, Impost, and other dueties due
unto Us for Tobacco brought into this Realme by way of Merchandize,
whereof Wee have been sundry times defrauded by landing the same at the
pleasures of the Owners: Wee doe hereby publish and declare Our Royall
will and pleasure, That no Tobacco bee hereafter landed, or imported to
bee landed at any other Porte, then in Our Port of London, and at no
other place of the sayd Port then at the Key and Wharfe commonly called
the Custome-house Key, scituate in Our Citie of London, and other Port
or place for landing of Tobacco Wee doe not admit or allow, but them
inhibite.
And Wee doe hereby straitly charge and command all and singular
Customers, Comptrollers, Searchers, Waiters and other Officers,
attending in all Our Ports, Creekes, or places of lading or unlading,
(except Our said Port of London) not to take entries of any Tobacco,
nor suffer the same to be taken, landed, or layd on shoare in any other
Harbour, Port, Creeke or place within this Kingdome, upon paine that
every of the said Officers that shall bee found negligent, corrupt or
remisse herein, shall undergoe such paines and penalties, as by the
Lawes or Censure of our Court of Starre-chamber may bee inflicted upon
them for the same.
And it is Our further will and pleasure, that if any Ship or Barque
wherein Tobacco shall be loaden shall arrive at any other Port or place
then at Our sayd Port of London, Wee doe hereby give full power and
Authoritie to all and every the Customers, Comptrollers, Surveyours,
Searchers and Waiters, and every of them there attending, and doe
command them to take and arrest the same Tobacco, and forthwith to make
Certificate to the Customers of the Port of London, of the Owners name
of such Ship or other Vessell, and his place of dwelling, the number
and names of the Officers, and Mariners in the same, the place from
whence the same Tobacco came, with the quantitie of Tobacco that shall
bee contained therein.
And also, that Our said Officers, or some of them, shall with all
convenient speed cause and procure the Tobacco so by them arrested, to
bee carefully transmitted to the said Port of London, to the Customer
there, that the same may bee there viewed, and the dueties thereof
belonging unto Us, may be duely payed and satisfied, and such further
order taken with the same, and with the Owners thereof, as shall be fit.
And whereas notwithstanding former Proclamations published to the
contrary, yet Wee are informed, that Tobacco is still planted and sowen
in divers parts of Our Realmes of England and Ireland, in contempt of
Us and Our Royall Commands declared to the contrary; We do therefore
hereby againe absolutely prohibit the Planting thereof in Our said
Kingdomes, as also the bringing into the same of any Seed for the
increase thereof, from the parts beyond the Seas; The Tobacco growing
in the Northerne and moist Climats being not onely unwholesome for mans
body, but the same maketh fertill grounds become for a long space lesse
fruitfull, that might otherwise produce Corne, Herbes and Rootes for
the sustenance of Our Subjects.
And for the more certaine depressing of the same, We doe hereby
straitly command Our Justices of Assize within their severall Circuits,
Our Justices of Peace within Our severall Counties of this Kingdome,
Maiors, Sheriffes, Bayliffes, and other Our Officers within each Cittie
and Towne Corporate, that they at their severall Sittings, Quarter
Sessions, and meetings, give the same in charge as an Offence, whereof
Wee expect due reformation, requiring a Returne thereof amongst other
the grievances of the Countrey in their Presentments, And the names and
dwelling places of any Offenders herein, and the qualities of their
Offences, to present to the Lords of Our Privie Councel, the then next
Tearme after every such Sitting or meeting, to the end the Offenders
may bee proceeded against by sentence in Our Court of Starre-chamber,
or otherwise, as in justice shall be thought fit.
And lastly, We doe by these Presents will and require all and
singular Maiors, Sheriffes, Justices of Peace, Bayliffes, Constables,
Headboroughes, Customers, Comptrollers, Searchers, Waiters, and all
other Our Officers and Ministers whatsoever, that they and every of
them in their severall places and Offices, be diligent and attendant
in the execution of this Our Proclamation, as they will answere the
contrary at their uttermost perils.
Given at Our Court at Greenewich, this nineteenth day of May, in the
tenth yeere of Our Reigne of England, Scotland, France and Ireland.